Isolation of a cDNA encoding a novel chicken chemokine homologous to mammalian macrophage inflammatory protein-1 beta.

A cDNA encoding a novel chicken chemokine homologous to mammalian chemokine macrophage inflammatory protein 1 beta (MIP-1 beta) was isolated and characterised. The cDNA encodes a protein which is 75-80% homologous to human and mouse MIP-1 beta. All conserved amino acids characteristic of the mammalian chemokine family have been evolutionarily preserved in chicken MIP-1 beta, suggesting similar protein folding patterns and functional properties.