LPS induces gene expression of interleukin-1β in conger eel (Conger myriaster) macrophages: First cytokine sequence within Anguilliformes

Our aim was to comprehensively analyze the immune response in Anguilliformes macrophages and to survey cytokine genes expressed from them. We therefore used suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) to randomly clone molecules that are specifically expressed in conger eel (Conger myriaster) macrophages when cells are stimulated by LPS. As a result, we succeeded in identifying a conger eel IL-1β. This is the first report on cytokines in Anguilliformes, which is the most ancient order in living teleosts.