Identification of the product of the murine ST2 gene.

The murine ST2 gene is expressed in growth-stimulated BALB/c-3T3 cells. This gene encodes a protein that is similar to the extracellular portions of the interleukin-1 receptors (types 1 and 2). In this study, we prepared a polyclonal antibody against the recombinant ST2 protein produced in Escherichia coli. This antibody detected recombinant ST2 protein in the culture fluid of COS7 cells transfected with a mammalian expression vector (pEF-BOS) carrying ST2 cDNA. Using this antibody, we could detect the ST2 protein in the culture fluid of growth-stimulated BALB/c-3T3 cells, and in the medium of continuously growing cells, but not in that of growth-arrested cells. ST2 proteins produced in COS7 cells and BALB/c-3T3 cells were N-glycosylated as predicted from nine putative N-glycosylation sites in its deduced amino-acid sequence.