Ontogenetic profile of innate immune related genes and their tissue-specific expression in brown trout, Salmo trutta (Linnaeus, 1758)

• Published in: Fish & shellfish immunology 2013-09, Vol.35 (3), p.988-992
• Main Authors: Cecchini, Stefano, Paciolla, Mariateresa, Biffali, Elio, Borra, Marco, Ursini, Matilde V., Lioi, Maria B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Base Sequence; Brown trout; Cytokines - genetics; Cytokines - metabolism; Gene expression; Gene Expression Regulation - physiology; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental - immunology; Immunity, Innate - genetics; Immunity, Innate - physiology; Innate immunity; Molecular Sequence Data; Ontogeny; RNA - genetics; RNA - metabolism; Salmo trutta; Sequence Alignment; Trout - genetics; Trout - metabolism
• ISSN: 1050-4648; 1095-9947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2013.05.026

The innate immune system is a fundamental defense weapon of fish, especially during early stages of development when acquired immunity is still far from being completely developed. The present study aims at looking into ontogeny of innate immune system in the brown trout, Salmo trutta, using RT-PCR based approach. Total RNA extracted from unfertilized and fertilized eggs and hatchlings at 0, 1 h and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 weeks post-fertilization was subjected to RT-PCR using self-designed primers to amplify some innate immune relevant genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β and lysozyme c-type). The constitutive expression of β-actin was detected in all developmental stages. IL-1β and TNF-α transcripts were detected from 4 week post-fertilization onwards, whereas TGF-β transcript was detected only from 7 week post-fertilization onwards. Lysozyme c-type transcript was detected early from unfertilized egg stage onwards. Similarly, tissues such as muscle, ovary, heart, brain, gill, testis, liver, intestine, spleen, skin, posterior kidney, anterior kidney and blood collected from adult brown trout were subjected to detection of all selected genes by RT-PCR. TNF-α and lysozyme c-type transcripts were expressed in all tissues. IL-1β and TGF-β transcripts were expressed in all tissues except for the brain and liver, respectively. Taken together, our results show a spatial-temporal expression of some key innate immune-related genes, improving the basic knowledge of the function of innate immune system at early stage of brown trout. •The appearance of some immune relevant genes during ontogenesis in brown trout was evaluated.•Lysozyme c-type transcript was detected from unfertilized egg stage onwards.•IL-1β and TGF-α transcripts were detected from 4 weeks post-fertilization onwards.•TGF-β transcript was detected only from 7 weeks post-fertilization onwards.•The expression of all selected genes was pointed out in different tissues of adult specimens.