title: Investigation of immunoglobulins in skin of the Antarctic teleost Trematomus bernacchii.
abstract: The presence and production of IgM in the skin of the Antarctic teleost Trematomus bernacchii were investigated in this study. Immunoglobulins purified from cutaneous mucus and analysed by SDS-PAGE run under non-reducing and reducing conditions, were composed of heavy and light chains of 78 kDa and 25 kDa respectively, with a relative molecular mass of 830 kDa indicating that mucus IgM are tetramers as the serum IgM. Mature transcripts encoding the constant domains of both the secretory and membrane-bound Igμ chain were seen in T. bernacchii skin using a PCR strategy and the expression of the secretory Igμ chain in the skin was compared with that in other tissues by Real-time PCR. Cytological investigations revealed the presence of either immunoglobulins or their transcripts in occasional lymphocytes distributed close to the basal membrane. IgM once produced here, enters the filament-containing cells and is released into the mucus when these cells degenerate and detach from the epidermis. Our findings indicate that a cutaneous defence mechanism, functioning as anatomical and physiological barrier under subzero conditions, is present in this Antarctic species as an important component of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Protein Biochemistry, CNR, via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy. Electronic address: mr.coscia@ibp.cnr.it.
authors.forename: Maria Rosaria
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Coscia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, University of Naples Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy; GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Planckstrasse 1, Darmstadt, Germany.
authors.forename: Palma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simoniello
authors.affiliation: Institute of Protein Biochemistry, CNR, via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giacomelli
authors.affiliation: Institute of Protein Biochemistry, CNR, via P. Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Oreste
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Science, University of Naples Federico II, via Mezzocannone 8, 80134 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara Maria
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Motta
mesh_terms: D000064:Acclimatization / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000864:Antarctic Regions; D003080:Cold Temperature; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000662:veterinary; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000276:immunology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000662:veterinary; D017403:In Situ Hybridization / Q000662:veterinary; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D010473:Perciformes / Q000276:immunology*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D007075:Immunoglobulin M
keywords: Cutaneous mucus; Immunohistochemistry; In situ hybridization; Skin immunity; Teleost IgM