title: Molecular characterization and expression analysis of the first Porifera tumor necrosis factor superfamily member and of its putative receptor in the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis.
abstract: Here we report the molecular cloning and characterization of the first Tumor Necrosis Factor homologous and of its putative receptor in the marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis: chTNF and chTNFR, respectively. The deduced chTNF amino acid sequence is a type II transmembrane protein containing the typical TNFSF domain. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that chTNF is more related to Chordata TNFs rather than to other invertebrates. chTNF and chTNFR are constitutively expressed both in the ectosome and in the choanosome of the sponge, with higher levels in the ectosome. chTNF and chTNFR mRNAs were monitored in sponge fragmorphs treated with Gram(+) or Gram(-) bacteria. chTNF was significantly upregulated in Gram(+)-treated fragmorphs as compared to controls, while chTNFR was upregulated by both treatments. Finally, the possible chTNF fibrogenic role in sponge fragmorphs was studied by TNF inhibitor treatment measuring fibrillar and non fibrillar collagen gene expression; results indicate that the cytokine is involved in sponge collagen deposition and homeostasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Via Pastore 3, 16132, Italy. Electronic address: marina.pozzolini@unige.it.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pozzolini
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Via Pastore 3, 16132, Italy.
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scarfì
authors.affiliation: Institute for Sustainable Plant Protection-Turin Unit (CNR), Viale Mattioli 25, 10125 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ghignone
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Via Pastore 3, 16132, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mussino
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Via Pastore 3, 16132, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vezzulli
authors.affiliation: Department of Life and Environment Sciences (DiSVA), Marche Polytechnic University, Via Brecce Bianche, 60131 Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cerrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth, Environment and Life Sciences (DiSTAV), University of Genova, Via Pastore 3, 16132, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovine
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D055252:Cell-Derived Microparticles / Q000473:pathology*; D043344:Chordata / Q000235:genetics; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000276:immunology*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011161:Porifera / Q000276:immunology*; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary / Q000235:genetics; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003094:Collagen
keywords: Chondrosia reniformis; Inflammation; Invertebrate; Porifera; TNF; TNFR