A novel ferritin L (FerL) in hybrid crucian carp could participate in host defense against Aeromonas hydrophila infection and diminish inflammatory signals

Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2022 Jan:120:620-632. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2021.12.040. Epub 2021 Dec 27.

Abstract

FerL, a multifunctional iron-storage polypeptide, not only exhibited a regulatory role in iron metabolism, but also participated in the regulation of fish immunity. In this study, ORF sequence of WR-FerL was 522 bp, encoding 173 amino acid residues. Tissue-specific analysis revealed that the highest expression of WR-FerL was detected in spleen. A. hydrophila challenge and LPS stimulation could sharply enhance WR-FerL mRNA expression in tissues and fish cells, respectively. Purified WR-FerL fusion peptide exhibited in vitro binding activity to A. hydrophila and endotoxin, limited bacterial dissemination to tissues as well as attenuated A. hydrophila-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Moreover, WR-FerL overexpression could abrogate NF-κB and TNFα promoter activity in fish cells. These results indicated that WR-FerL could play an important role in host defense against A. hydrophila infection.

Keywords: Aeromonas hydrophila; Crucian carp; Ferritin L; Gene expression.

MeSH terms

  • Aeromonas hydrophila
  • Animals
  • Carps* / genetics
  • Carps* / immunology
  • Ferritins* / genetics
  • Fish Diseases* / microbiology
  • Fish Proteins* / genetics
  • Fish Proteins* / metabolism
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections* / veterinary
  • Immunity, Innate / genetics
  • Iron

Substances

  • Fish Proteins
  • Ferritins
  • Iron