title: Characterisation of the TNF superfamily members CD40L and BAFF in the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula).
abstract: The tumour necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF) members CD40L and BAFF play critical roles in mammalian B cell survival, proliferation and maturation, however little is known about these key cytokines in the oldest jawed vertebrates, the cartilaginous fishes. Here we report the cloning of CD40L and BAFF orthologues (designated ScCD40L and ScBAFF) in the small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula). As predicted both proteins are type II membrane-bound proteins with a TNF homology domain in their extracellular region and both are highly expressed in shark immune tissues. ScCD40L transcript levels correlate with those of TCRα and transcription of both genes is modulated in peripheral blood leukocytes following in vitro stimulation. Although a putative CD40L orthologue was identified in the elephant shark genome the work herein is the first molecular characterisation and transcriptional analysis of CD40L in a cartilaginous fish. ScBAFF was also cloned and its transcription characterised in an attempt to resolve the discrepancies observed between spiny dogfish BAFF and bamboo shark BAFF in previously published studies.
authors.affiliation: Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre (SFIRC), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Ronggai
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Centre for Genome-Enabled Biology & Medicine (CGEBM), University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anthony K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.affiliation: Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre (SFIRC), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tiehui
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Engineering, University of Waikato, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bird
authors.affiliation: Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre (SFIRC), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom. Electronic address: h.dooley@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dooley
authors.affiliation: Scottish Fish Immunology Research Centre (SFIRC), School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 2TZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Chris J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Secombes
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008934:Mitogens / Q000494:pharmacology; D000069452:Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules / Q000494:pharmacology; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary; D012754:Sharks / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D029941:Fish Proteins; D008934:Mitogens; D000069452:Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules; D023201:CD40 Ligand
keywords: BAFF; CD40L; Cartilaginous fish; Shark; TNFSF