ABSTRACT. Interleukin (IL)-13 is a central mediator in allergic asthma. Our previous results have indicated that sulfatase-modifying factor 2 (SUMF2) interacts with IL-13 and inhibits its secretion. In this study, we investigated the interactions between SUMF2 subtypes and 2 types of IL-13. Wild type IL-13 (wh-IL-13) and its mutated counterpart (mh-IL-13) were analyzed and cloned into pSos yeast expression vectors. Protein was expressed in host cdc25H yeast strains. A quartet of agar growth plates was prepared for the yeast twohybrid system, which was used to detect IL-13 and SUMF2 subtype interactions. Both yeast expression vectors, pSos/whIL-13 and pSos/ whIL-13, and recombinant expression vectors for the 5 subtypes of SUMF2 (pMyr/SUMF2-Vx) were constructed. Our data showed that all of the SUMF2 subtypes bound to whIL-13 and mhIL-13 in the CytoTrap system. Five SUMF2 subtypes -SUMF2-V2, SUMF2-V3,
5665©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 12 (4): 5664-5672 (2013) SUMF2 subtype interaction with IL-13 SUMF2-V4, SUMF2-V5, and SUMF2-V7 -interacted with whIL-13 and mhIL-13. These subtypes may contribute to allergic asthma by mediating IL-13 release.