The complete inventory of receptors encoded by the rat natural killer cell gene complex.

The natural killer cell gene complex (NKC) encodes receptors belonging to the C-type lectin superfamily expressed primarily by NK cells and other leukocytes. In the rat, the chromosomal region that starts with the Nkrp1a locus and ends with the Ly49i8 locus is predicted to contain 67 group V C-type lectin superfamily genes, making it one of the largest congregation of paralogous genes in vertebrates. Based on physical proximity and phylogenetic relationships between these genes, the rat NKC can be divided into four major parts.

Association of arthritis with a gene complex encoding C-type lectin-like receptors.

Objective: To identify susceptibility genes in a rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to determine whether the corresponding human genes are associated with RA.

Methods: Genes influencing oil-induced arthritis (OIA) were position mapped by comparing the susceptibility of inbred DA rats with that of DA rats carrying alleles derived from the arthritis-resistant PVG strain in chromosomal fragments overlapping the quantitative trait locus Oia2. Sequencing of gene complementary DNA (cDNA) and analysis of gene messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were performed to attempt to clone a causal gene.

Molecular cloning of KLRI1 and KLRI2, a novel pair of lectin-like natural killer-cell receptors with opposing signalling motifs.

We here report the molecular cloning of a novel family of killer-cell lectin-like (KLR) receptors in the rat and the mouse, termed KLRI. In both species, there are two members, KLRI1 and KLRI2. While the extracellular lectin-like domains of KLRI1 and KLRI2 are similar [74% (rat) and 83% (mouse) amino acid identity], they differ intracellularly.

Identification of lectin-like receptors expressed by antigen presenting cells and neutrophils and their mapping to a novel gene complex.

In an experimental rat model, we recently mapped an arthritis susceptibility locus to the distal part of Chromosome 4 containing genes predicted to encode C-type lectin superfamily (CLSF) receptors. Here we report the cDNA cloning and positional arrangement of these receptor genes, which represent rat orthologues to human Mincle and DCIR and to mouse MCL and Dectin-2, as well as four novel receptors DCIR2, DCIR3, DCIR4 and DCAR1, not previously reported in other species. We furthermore report the cDNA cloning of human Dectin-2 and MCL, and of the mouse orthologues to the novel rat receptors.

High resolution mapping of an arthritis susceptibility locus on rat chromosome 4, and characterization of regulated phenotypes.

The rat Natural Killer cell gene Complex (NKC) encodes molecules that can regulate immunity. It is located within an interval on DA rat chromosome 4 (RNO4) that is linked to immune-mediated inflammatory joint diseases, including oil-induced arthritis (OIA). We aimed to test the hypothesis that NKC regulates arthritis, by performing advanced mapping of arthritis and additional phenotypes induced by an intradermal injection of incomplete Freund's adjuvant-oil.