Molecular cloning, characterization and gene expression analysis of twelve interleukins in obscure puffer .

Interleukins (ILs) are a subgroup of secreted cytokines, which are molecules involved in the intercellular regulation of the immune system. In this study, 12 IL homologs were cloned and functionally identified from obscure puffer , and they were termed as , and . Multiple alignment results showed that except for ToIL-24 and ToIL-27, other deduced ToIL proteins shared typical characteristics and structure with other known fish ILs.