Lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα factor (LITAF) promotes inflammatory responses and activates apoptosis in zebrafish Danio rerio

Kangyong Chen; Jiayin Tian; Junya Wang; Zhao Jia; Qin Zhang; Wenji Huang; Xin Zhao; Zhipeng Gao; Qian Gao; Jun Zou

doi:10.1016/j.gene.2021.145487

Lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα factor (LITAF) promotes inflammatory responses and activates apoptosis in zebrafish Danio rerio

Gene. 2021 May 15:780:145487. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145487. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Authors

Kangyong Chen¹, Jiayin Tian¹, Junya Wang¹, Zhao Jia¹, Qin Zhang¹, Wenji Huang¹, Xin Zhao¹, Zhipeng Gao², Qian Gao¹, Jun Zou³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, China.
² Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Featured Aquatic Resources Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Exploration and Utilization of Aquatic Genetic Resources, Ministry of Education, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China; International Research Center for Marine Biosciences at Shanghai Ocean University, Ministry of Science and Technology, China; Hunan Engineering Technology Research Center of Featured Aquatic Resources Utilization, College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha 410128, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, China. Electronic address: jzou@shou.edu.cn.

PMID: 33588039
DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2021.145487

Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα factor (LITAF) is an important transcription factor which activates the transcription of TNFα and regulates cell apoptosis and inflammatory response. In the present study, a LITAF gene homologue was identified in zebrafish (Danio rerio) and was shown to be well conserved in the protein sequence, genomic organization and synteny with human LITAF. DrLITAF was constitutively expressed in tissues, with the highest expression detected in the gills. Its expression could be modulated by LPS, poly(I:C), and infection with Edwardsiella tarda, Aeromonus hydrophila and septicemia viremia of carp virus (SVCV). DrLITAF, when overexpressed, was shown to be located on the cellular membrane and nuclear membrane of HEK293T and ZF4 cells and was associated with the endoplasmic reticulum. Stimulation with LPS resulted in rapid translocation of DrLITAF into the nucleus. In addition, DrLITAF was able to induce cell apoptosis and the expression of caspase 3. The results demonstrate that DrLITAF is involved in the immune defence against bacterial and viral infection and plays a role in regulating inflammation and apoptosis.

Keywords: Apoptosis; Inflammation; Lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα factor; TNFα; Zebrafish.

MeSH terms

Aeromonas hydrophila / metabolism
Animals
Apoptosis / drug effects*
DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis*
Edwardsiella tarda / metabolism
Enterobacteriaceae Infections / metabolism
Fish Diseases / chemically induced
Fish Diseases / metabolism
Fish Diseases / microbiology
Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / metabolism
Humans
Inflammation / chemically induced
Inflammation / metabolism
Inflammation / microbiology
Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity*
Membrane Proteins / biosynthesis*
Zebrafish / metabolism*
Zebrafish Proteins / biosynthesis*

Substances

DNA-Binding Proteins
Lipopolysaccharides
Membrane Proteins
Zebrafish Proteins
litaf protein, zebrafish