Molecular characterization and expression of Lck in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in response to Streptococcus agalactiae stimulus

Appl Biochem Biotechnol. 2015 Mar;175(5):2376-89. doi: 10.1007/s12010-014-1443-8. Epub 2014 Dec 10.

Abstract

Lymphocyte-specific protein tyrosine kinase (Lck) plays a critical role in effective signal transductions that are fundamental to T cell differentiation, proliferation, and effector functions. In this paper, the Lck gene of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (designated as On-Lck), was cloned and its expression pattern under the stimulation of Streptococcus agalactiae was investigated. Sequence analysis showed important structural characteristics required for T cell receptor (TCR) signal transduction were detected in the deduced amino acid sequence of On-Lck, and the deduced genomic structure of On-Lck was similar to the known Lck. In healthy Nile tilapia, the On-Lck transcripts were mainly detected in the thymus, spleen, head kidney, and gill. When immunized with inactivated S. agalactiae, the On-Lck mRNA expression was significantly upregulated in the thymus, spleen, and head kidney. Moreover, there was a clear time-dependent expression pattern of On-Lck after immunization, and the expression reached the highest level at 48 h in the spleen and thymus and at 72 h in the head kidney, respectively. This is the first report on the expression of Lck induced by intracellular bacteria vaccination in teleosts. These findings indicated that On-Lck may play an important role in the immune response to intracellular bacteria in Nile tilapia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cichlids / genetics
  • Cichlids / immunology
  • Cichlids / microbiology
  • Fish Diseases / enzymology*
  • Fish Diseases / genetics
  • Fish Diseases / immunology
  • Fish Diseases / microbiology*
  • Fish Proteins / genetics*
  • Fish Proteins / metabolism
  • Kidney / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / genetics*
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck) / immunology
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Streptococcal Infections / enzymology
  • Streptococcal Infections / genetics
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary*
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / genetics
  • Streptococcus agalactiae / physiology*
  • Thymus Gland / immunology
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Fish Proteins
  • Lymphocyte Specific Protein Tyrosine Kinase p56(lck)