Molecular characterization of the human interleukin (IL)-17 receptor

Human interleukin 17 (hIL-17) is a T-cell-derived cytokine that exhibits 63% amino acid sequence identity to mouse IL-17 (mIL-17) and 57% identity to a viral protein encoded by the herpesvirus saimiri (HVS) gene 13 (HVS13). The IL-17 family of proteins binds to a unique mouse receptor (mIL-17R), Using nucleic acid hybridization techniques, a cDNA encoding a human homologue of the mIL-17R (hIL-17R) was isolated from a human T cell library, The predicted amino acid sequence of the hIL-17R is 69% identical to the mIL-17R, shares no homology with previously identified cytokine receptor families, and exhibits a broad tissue distribution, The hIL-17R gene was localized to chromosome 22, Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) generated against the hIL-17R were able to block the IL-17-induced production of cytokine from human foreskin fibroblast (HFF) cells, Binding studies suggest that recombinant hIL-17 binds to the hTL-17R with low affinity. (C) 1997 Academic Press Limited.