title: A CXC chemokine gene, CXCL12, from rock bream, Oplegnathus fasciatus: Molecular characterization and transcriptional profile.
abstract: Chemokines are small, structurally related chemotactic cytokines characterized by the presence of conserved cysteine residues. In the present study, we identified the cDNA of a CXC chemokine from Oplegnathus fasciatus, designated as OfCXCL12. An open reading frame of 297 bp encoded a 98 amino acid peptide with a putative signal peptide of 23 amino acids. The CXC family-specific small cytokine domain (SCY), which is highly conserved among vertebrates, was located between residues 29 and 87. The characteristic conserved cysteine residues in the CXC motif of OfCXCL12 were separated by tyrosine (Y). Similar to other vertebrate CXCL12 proteins, OfCXCL12 also lacked the ELR motif and hence belongs to ELR(-) subfamily. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct clades, consisting of fish and tetrapod CXCL12 homologs. Constitutive expression with significantly higher levels of OfCXCL12 mRNA transcription was detected in immune-related organs, including the head kidney, spleen, and kidney. Infection with bacterial and viral agents led to significant upregulation of mRNA expression in both the head kidney and spleen, in a stimulant-specific manner. Stimulation of peripheral blood leukocytes by the mitogen concanavalin-A significantly induced OfCXCL12 transcription. Results from the present study suggest an important role for OfCXCL12 in immune defense against bacterial and viral infection in rock bream.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Life Sciences, School of Marine Biomedical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea; Fish Vaccine Development Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: William Shanthakumar
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Thulasitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Life Sciences, School of Marine Biomedical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea; Fish Vaccine Development Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Navaneethaiyer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Umasuthan
authors.affiliation: Fish Vaccine Development Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ilson
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Whang
authors.affiliation: Fish Vaccine Development Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bong-Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Fish Vaccine Development Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Bok
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Genetics & Breeding Research Center, National Fisheries Research & Development Institute, Geoje 656-842, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jae Koo
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Noh
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Life Sciences, School of Marine Biomedical Sciences, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea; Fish Vaccine Development Center, Jeju National University, Jeju Self-Governing Province 690-756, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: jehee@jejunu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Jehee
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D054377:Chemokine CXCL12 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004266:DNA Virus Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D020609:Edwardsiella tarda; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005880:Gills / Q000378:metabolism; D060226:Head Kidney / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007497:Iridoviridae; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009132:Muscles / Q000378:metabolism; D010473:Perciformes / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D013291:Streptococcus; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D054377:Chemokine CXCL12; D029941:Fish Proteins
keywords: CXCL12; Chemokines; Immune challenge; mRNA expression