Cloning and sequence analysis of llama (lama glama): Th2 (IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13) cytokines

This paper describes the cloning and sequence analysis of the cDNAs encoding the T helper (Th) 2 cytokines of llama including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and IL-13. The cDNAs encoding for IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 were amplified using specific primers designed from reported sequences of bovine cytokine genes. The cDNAs for llama IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 were found to be 402, 537 and 411 bp in length, with open reading frames encoding 133, 178 or 136 amino acids, respectively. Homology analyses of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences of llama IL-4, IL-10 and IL-13 and phylogenetic analysis based on their nucleotide sequences indicated the close relationship in these cytokine genes between llama and eutherian mammalian order Artiodactyla (pig, cattle) and Perissodactyla (horse).