Dynamic expression of immune response genes in the sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, experimentally infected with the monogenean Diplectanum aequans

Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2008 Jun;24(6):759-67. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2008.02.011. Epub 2008 Feb 21.

Abstract

The sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, is one of the most extensively farmed marine fishes in the Mediterranean. Under the high-density condition common in aquaculture, the monogenean gill parasite Diplectanum aequans can cause significant economic losses. This study used real-time quantitative PCR to investigate the dynamic expression of immune response genes in sea bass infected with Diplectanum aequans. The target genes, interleukin-1 (IL-1beta, transforming growth factor (TGF-beta and T-cell receptor (TCR-beta), were studied in the gills and spleen of the sea bass from the first day of infection until thirty days post- infection. Our results showed that there was an increase in IL-1beta gene expression in the spleen and gills and in TGF-beta gene expression in the gills of infected fish. These results show that parasitic infection induced a local inflammatory reaction and that reaction was restricted to the site of infection. Finally, the absence of relationship between TCR-beta expression and the parasitic infection suggests that the adaptive immune system is not involved in the response against this parasite.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bass / genetics
  • Bass / immunology*
  • Bass / parasitology*
  • Body Size / immunology
  • Fish Diseases / genetics
  • Fish Diseases / immunology*
  • Fish Diseases / parasitology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genes, T-Cell Receptor beta / genetics
  • Gills / immunology
  • Interleukin-1beta / genetics
  • Spleen / immunology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / genetics
  • Trematoda / immunology*
  • Trematode Infections / genetics
  • Trematode Infections / parasitology
  • Trematode Infections / veterinary*

Substances

  • Interleukin-1beta
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1