Blimp-1 is involved in B cell activation and maturation in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

• Published in: Developmental and comparative immunology 2019-09, Vol.98, p.137-147
• Main Authors: Wu, Liting, Zhou, Enxu, Gao, Along, Kong, Linghe, Wu, Siwei, Bian, Xia, Li, Yuan, Li, Bingxi, Fu, Shengli, Guo, Zheng, Ye, Jianmin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; Animals; B cell activation; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; B-Lymphocytes - immunology; B-Lymphocytes - metabolism; Blimp-1; Cell activation; Cell Differentiation - genetics; Cell Differentiation - immunology; Cichlids - genetics; Cichlids - immunology; Cichlids - metabolism; Differentiation; Domains; Fish Proteins - genetics; Fish Proteins - immunology; Fish Proteins - metabolism; Gene Expression Profiling - methods; Homology; IgM+ B cell; Immunoglobulin M; Leukocytes; Lipopolysaccharides; Lipopolysaccharides - immunology; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Lymphocyte Activation - genetics; Lymphocyte Activation - immunology; Lymphocytes; Lymphocytes B; Maturation; Molecular weight; Monoclonal antibodies; Oreochromis niloticus; Peripheral blood; Ponds; Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1 - genetics; Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1 - immunology; Positive Regulatory Domain I-Binding Factor 1 - metabolism; Proteins; sIgM; Spleen; Tilapia; Zinc; Zinc finger proteins
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.05.002

B lymphocyte-induced maturation protein 1 (Blimp-1), a transcription factor containing zinc finger, is required and sufficient to trigger terminal differentiation of B cells in mammals. The Blimp-1 (OnBlimp-1) from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was identified and characterized its expression pattern during B cell activation and maturation. The cDNA of OnBlimp-1 open reading frame is 2547 bp encoding a protein of 848 amino acids and the predicted molecular weight is 93.36 kDa. OnBlimp-1 contains a SET domain and five ZnF_C2H2 domains, which shares high homology with that of other species. OnBlimp-1 transcription was detected in all examined tissues with high expression in the spleen (SPL). Analysis of sorted lymphocyte populations, including IgM+ and IgM− cells from peripheral blood (PBL), SPL and anterior kidney (AK), indicated that the OnBlimp-1 transcription was highly expressed in the IgM+ B cells. Upon LPS stimulation, OnBlimp-1 expression was up-regulated in tissues of PBL, SPL and AK significantly. The expression of OnBlimp-1, as well as the secreted IgM, was significantly up-regulated in the SPL and AK leukocytes stimulated with anti-OnIgM monoclonal antibody and LPS in vitro, respectively. Above results suggest that OnBlimp-1, a cytokine regulating the terminal differentiation of activated B cells to antibody-secreting cells, is likely to play important roles in B cell activation and maturation in Nile tilapia. •Blimp-1 (OnBlimp-1) gene was cloned and identified in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).•OnBlimp-1 expressed at high levels in the spleen tissue as well as IgM+ B lymphocytes.•LPS stimulation increased OnBlimp-1 expressions in peripheral blood, spleen and anterior kidney in vivo.•OnBlimp-1 and sIgM expressions in spleen and anterior kidney leukocytes were up-regulated with LPS stimulation in vitro.