title: Identification, characterization and expression of a novel cytokine M17 homologue (MSH) in fish.
abstract: Members of the interleukin 6 (IL6)-cytokine subfamily of proteins are involved in numerous physiological processes including cellular development, inflammatory function, and acute phase and immune responses. Previously, a cytokine-like gene named M17, which is closely associated with the IL6 subfamily, has been identified in fish with no apparent orthologue in higher vertebrates. Here, we cloned a novel cDNA from Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, which had significant identity but exhibited contrasting expression with fish M17s, named here as M17 Homologue (MSH). With subsequent in silico search and full annotation of the M17 orthologue in zebrafish (Danio rerio), MSH orthologues in tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes), green spotted pufferfish (Tetraodon nigroviridis) and stickleback (Gastorosteus aculeatus), as well as structural, synteny comparisons and phylogenetic analysis with known IL6-cytokines, we determined the novelty of the fish MSH. Japanese flounder MSH was observed to be highly expressed in immune-related tissues and are induced by immune stimulants, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), polyI:C and peptidoglycan (PG) in vitro suggesting that it is involved in fish immunity particularly against viral and bacterial agents, a functional feature exhibited by previously reported fish cytokines.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Genome Science, Graduate School of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Konan 4-5-7, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan.
authors.forename: Jee Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Mudjekeewis D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Hidehiro
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kondo
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hirono
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D005432:Flounder / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D026801:Synteny / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D016207:Cytokines; D011070:Poly I-C