Diversity of lectins in Macrobrachium rosenbergii and their expression patterns under spiroplasma MR-1008 stimulation

• Published in: Fish & shellfish immunology 2013-08, Vol.35 (2), p.300-309
• Main Authors: Zhu, Huanxi, Du, Jie, Hui, Kai-Min, Liu, Peng, Chen, Jing, Xiu, Yunji, Yao, Wei, Wu, Ting, Meng, Qingguo, Gu, Wei, Ren, Qian, Wang, Wen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; C-type lectins; Gene Expression Profiling; Gene Expression Regulation; Hepatopancreas - metabolism; Immunity, Innate; L-type lectins; Lectins - genetics; Lectins - metabolism; Low-density lipoprotein class A; Macrobrachium rosenbergii; Organ Specificity; Palaemonidae - genetics; Palaemonidae - immunology; Palaemonidae - metabolism; Spiroplasma - physiology; Spiroplasma MR-1008
• ISSN: 1050-4648; 1095-9947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2013.04.036

Lectins play important roles in crustacean innate immunity through recognition of foreign pathogens. In this study, 20 lectins including C-type lectins [dual-carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) type and single-CRD type], L-type lectin, and lectin with low-density lipoprotein class A (LDLa) domain were identified from the freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The tissue distribution and expression patterns of these lectins under spiroplasma strain MR-1008 challenge were investigated. Most of the lectins were found to be mainly distributed in the hepatopancreas. Lectin5, Lectin14, Lectin17, and Lectin18 exhibited the highest expression level in the hemocytes, nerve, intestine, and heart, respectively. MrLec1 to MrLec6 (dual-CRD lectins) in the hepatopancreas were up-regulated by spiroplasma challenge. Single-CRD lectins reached the highest level at 72 h after spiroplasma challenge. Lectin9 and Lectin15 both belong to L-type lectins. At post-spiroplasma challenge, Lectin9 expression was up-regulated, whereas Lectin15 expression was down-regulated. Lectin11 with LDLa domain showed the highest level after 12 h Lectin18 and Lectin20, namely, CD209, were also up-regulated by spiroplasma challenge. Lectin14, a C-type lectin, quickly reached the highest level after 2 h Lectin16 showed the highest level after 72 h Lectin5 reached the highest level in cultured hemocytes after 6 h Lectin17 in the intestine and Lectin14 in the nerve were slightly up-regulated after 6 and 2 h, respectively. Our research results indicate that lectins may play important roles in early or late immune responses against spiroplasma challenge. •Sixteen lectins from M. rosenbergii were detected in 8 tissues.•Diverse expression patterns of lectins were detected both in vivo and in vitro.•Most lectin expression is highest in hepatopancreatic tissue.•Lectins transcripts were induced by spiroplasma both in vivo and in vitro.•Lectins play important roles in innate immune defense of spiroplasma.