Induction of a novel cellular homolog of interleukin-10, AK155, by transformation of T lymphocytes with herpesvirus saimiri

Although herpesvirus saimiri-transformed T lymphocytes retain multiple norm al T-cell functions, only a few changes have been described. By subtractive hybridization, we have isolated a novel cellular gene, ak155, a sequence h omolog: of the interleukin-10 gene. Specifically herpesvirus saimiri-transf ormed T cells overexpress ak155 and secrete the protein into the supernatan t. In other T-cell lines and in native peripheral blood cells, but not in B cells, ak155 is transcribed at low levels. AK155 forms homodimers similarl y to interleukin-10. As a lymphokine, AK155 may contribute to the transform ed phenotype of human T cells after infection by herpesvirus saimiri.