title: Identification of orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) interferon regulatory factor 3 involved in antiviral immune response against fish RNA virus.
abstract: Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) is an important transcription factor which regulates the expression of interferon (IFN) and IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) following virus recognition. In this study, a novel IRF3 gene was cloned from grouper Epinephelus coioides (EcIRF3) and its effects against Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) and red spotted grouper nervous necrosis virus (RGNNV) was investigated. The full-length of EcIRF3 cDNA was composed of 2513 bp and encoded a polypeptide of 458 amino acids which shared 82% identity with European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). EcIRF3 contained three conserved domains including a DNA-binding domain (DBD), an IRF associated domain (IAD) and a serine-rich domain. Expression profile analysis revealed that EcIRF3 was abundant in head kidney, kidney, spleen and gill. Upon different stimuli in vitro, the transcript of EcIRF3 was significantly up-regulated after RGNNV infection or treatment with polyinosin-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C). During SGIV infection, the increase of the EcIRF3 transcription was only detected at the late stage, suggesting that EcIRF3 was differently regulated by different stimuli. Immune fluorescence assay indicated that the fluorescence signal of EcIRF3 was increased significantly after infection with RGNNV or treatment with poly I:C, but moderately at the late stage of SGIV infection. Reporter gene assay showed that EcIRF3 activated zebrafish type I IFN and type III IFN promoter in vitro. The viral gene transcription and virus production of RGNNV were significantly decreased in EcIRF3 overexpressing cells. However, the ectopic expression of EcIRF3 did not affect the gene transcription and virus production of SGIV. Moreover, the mRNA expression levels of type I IFN and IFN-inducible genes (MxI, ISG15 and ISG56) were increased in RGNNV infected EcIRF3 overexpressing cells compared to empty vector transfected cells. Together, our results demonstrated that IFN immune response mediated by grouper IRF3 was exerted crucial roles for fish RNA virus, but not for DNA virus replication.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China.
authors.forename: Youhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China.
authors.forename: Xiaohong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China.
authors.forename: Zhengliang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: OuYang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China.
authors.forename: Shina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China.
authors.forename: Jingguang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 164 West Xingang Road, Guangzhou 510301, China. Electronic address: qinqw@scsio.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Qiwei
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qin
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D030381:Nodaviridae / Q000502:physiology; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010473:Perciformes; D011070:Poly I-C / Q000494:pharmacology; D012327:RNA Virus Infections / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017995:Ranavirus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D050838:Interferon Regulatory Factor-3; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011070:Poly I-C
keywords: Grouper; IRF3; RGNNV; SGIV; Virus replication