title: Expression and temperature-dependent regulation of the beta2-microglobulin (Cyca-B2m) gene in a cold-blooded vertebrate, the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.).
abstract: Expression of beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) in the common carp was studied using a polyclonal antibody raised against a recombinant protein obtained from eukaryotic expression of the Cyca-B2m gene. Beta2m is expressed on peripheral blood Ig+ and Ig lymphocytes, but not on erythrocytes and thrombocytes. In spleen and pronephros, dull- and bright-positive populations could be identified correlating with the presence of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and mature leucocytes or immature and mature cells from the lympho-myeloid lineage, respectively. Thymocytes were shown to be comprised of a single bright-positive population. The Cyca-B2m polyclonal antiserum was used in conjunction with a similarly produced polyclonal antiserum to an MHC class I (Cyca-UA) alpha chain to investigate the expression of class I molecules on peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) at different permissive temperatures. At 12 degrees C, a temporary downregulation of class I molecules was demonstrated, which recovered to normal levels within 3 days. However, at 6 degrees C, a lasting absence of class I cell-surface expression was observed, which could be restored slowly by transfer to 12 degrees C. The expression of immunoglobulin molecules on B cells was unaffected by temperature changes. The absence of the class I cell-surface expression was shown to be the result of a lack of sufficient Cyca-B2m gene transcription, although Cyca-UA mRNA was present at comparable levels at all temperatures. This suggests that class I expression is regulated by a temperature-sensitive transcription of the Cyca-B2m gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, Cell Biology and Immunology Group, Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roelofs
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Rombout
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Egberts
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pohajdak
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Stet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D002347:Carps / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D013696:Temperature; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin