title: Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of macrophage migration inhibitory protein (MIF) in Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis.
abstract: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) as a multi-functional cytokine mediating both innate and adaptive immune responses, however, their function within the innate immune system of invertebrates remains largely unknown. Therefore, we investigated the immune functionality of MIF in Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), a commercially important and disease vulnerable aquaculture species. The full-length MIF cDNA (704 bp) was cloned via PCR based upon an initial expressed sequence tag (EST) isolated from a E. sinensis cDNA library. The MIF cDNA contained a 363 bp open reading frame (ORF) that encoded a putative 120 amino acid (aa) protein. Comparisons with other reported invertebrate and vertebrate MIF sequences revealed conserved enzyme active sites. MIF mRNA expression in E. sinensis was (a) tissue-specific, with the highest expression observed in hepatotpancreas, and (b) responsive in hemocytes, hepatopancreas and gill to a Vibrio anguillarum challenge, with peak exposure observed 8 h, 12 h and 12 h post-injection, respectively. Collectively, data demonstrate the successful isolation of MIF from the Chinese mitten crab, and its involvement in the innate immune system of an invertebrate.
authors.affiliation: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, North Zhong-Shan Road, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Wei
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xing-Kun
authors.initials: XK
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Li-Li
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003386:Brachyura / Q000378:metabolism*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D008263:Macrophage Migration-Inhibitory Factors