title: Sequences and expression of pathway-specific complement components in developing red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura).
abstract: Marsupials are born immunologically premature, relying on cells and molecules in maternal milk for immune protection. Both immunoglobulin and complement proteins have been identified in marsupial milk, but the expression of specific complement proteins remains largely unexplored. We report partial cDNA sequences for two complement-activating proteins, C3, C1r, CFP and MASP2, in liver tissues from red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura). Conservation of functionally relevant motifs were identified in the translated cDNA sequences from phascogale C3, CFP and MASP2 and their eutherian homologues. Gene expression of representative molecules from each of the major complement pathways was also investigated in whole body tissues from 1 to 18 day old animals and liver tissues from 31-day to 14-month old animals. Average complement expression in whole bodies and liver tissues of C1r, CFP, MASP2 and C3 increased significantly in juveniles compared to pouch young, presumably due to the maturation of the young's own complement system. Comparing expression in liver tissues only, we found that the average CFP expression were higher in pouch young compared to juveniles, while results were still statistically similar to the average expression of all tissues for C1r, MASP2 and C3. The average complement expression then significantly decreased as the animals aged into adulthood.
authors: School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors: Oselyne T W
authors: OTW
authors: Ong
authors: School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
authors: Lauren J
authors: LJ
authors: Young
authors: School of Science and Health, Hawkesbury, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia. Electronic address: j.old@westernsydney.edu.au.
authors: Julie M
authors: JM
authors: Old
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015923:Complement C1r / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008099:Liver / Q000502:physiology*; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000276:immunology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D003176:Complement C3; C501971:Cxxc1 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators; C491340:MASP-2 protein, mouse; D050606:Mannose-Binding Protein-Associated Serine Proteases; D015923:Complement C1r
keywords: C3; Dasyurid; Immunology; MASP2; Marsupial; qPCR