title: Ontogenetic onset of immune-relevant genes in the common sole (Solea solea).
abstract: Fish are free-living organisms since initial stages of development and are exposed to numerous pathogens before their lymphoid organs have matured and adaptive immunity has developed. Susceptibility to diseases and juvenile mortality represent key critical factors for aquaculture. In this context, the characterization of the appearance kinetics of the immune system key members will be useful in understanding the ability of a particular species in generating immune protection against invading pathogens at different developmental stages. The present study characterized, for the first time, the transcriptional onset of un-explored relevant genes of both innate and adaptive immune system during the Solea solea ontogenesis. Gene expression profiles of immune relevant genes was investigated, by means of DNA microarray, in ten developmental stages, from hatching (1 day post-hatching, dph) to accomplishment of the juvenile form (33 dph). The obtained results revealed that transcripts encoding relevant members of innate immune repertoire, such as lysozyme, AMPs (hepcidin, β-defensin), PPRs and complement components are generally characterized by high expression levels at first stages (i.e. hatch and first feeding) indicating protection from environmental pathogens even at early development. Transcription of adaptive immune genes (i.e. Class I and class II MHC, TCRs) differs from that of the innate immune system. Their onset coincides with metamorphosis and larvae-to-juvenile transition, and likely overlaps with the appearance and maturation of the main lymphoid organs. Finally, data collected suggest that at the end of metamorphosis S. solea cell-mediated immune system hasn't still undergone full maturation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy. Electronic address: serena.ferraresso@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferraresso
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy. Electronic address: alessio.bonaldo@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bonaldo
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy. Electronic address: luca.parma@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Parma
authors.affiliation: Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy. Electronic address: fbuono@unitus.it.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Buonocore
authors.affiliation: Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest Systems, Tuscia University, Via San Camillo de Lellis s.n.c., 01100 Viterbo, Italy. Electronic address: scapigg@unitus.it.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scapigliati
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy. Electronic address: pierpaolo.gatta@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Pier Paolo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Gatta
authors.affiliation: Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy. Electronic address: luca.bargelloni@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bargelloni
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling / Q000662:veterinary; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008675:Metamorphosis, Biological; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D010802:Phylogeny; D016415:Sequence Alignment / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D029941:Fish Proteins
keywords: Adaptive immunity; Gene expression; Innate immunity; Larval development; Ontogeny; Solea solea; Transcriptome