Gene structure and differential modulation of multiple rockbream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) hepcidin isoforms resulting from different biological stimulations

Dev Comp Immunol. 2009;33(1):46-58. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2008.07.009.

Abstract

Hepcidin, an antimicrobial and iron-regulating peptide, is a key molecule of the innate immune system of bony fish. In this study, four isoforms of hepcidin genes were characterized from a marine Perciform fish, rockbream (Oplegnathus fasciatus), and the transcriptional modulations of these isoforms in response to different biological stimulations were also examined. All rockbream hepcidin isoform genes exhibited a tripartite structure and their promoter regions displayed typical binding motifs for the transcription factors including C/EBP, HNF, AP, NF-kbeta, GATA, USF and/or STAT. Hepcidin transcripts in juvenile or fingerling tissues were dramatically induced during experimental challenges with various bacterial species, iron overload and rockbream iridovirus infection. The transcription ofhepcidins was regulated in an isoform- and tissue-specific fashion. In addition, we identified for the first time that partially processed hepcidin transcripts were significantly elevated during bacterial infection and iron overload. Results from this study provide a good basis to better understand the isoform-specific role of hepcidin in the fish innate immune system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Infections / metabolism
  • Bacterial Infections / veterinary
  • Base Sequence
  • Fish Diseases / metabolism
  • Fish Diseases / microbiology
  • Hepcidins
  • Iridovirus / physiology
  • Iron Overload / metabolism
  • Iron Overload / veterinary
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Organ Specificity
  • Perciformes / genetics
  • Perciformes / metabolism*
  • Perciformes / microbiology
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Protein Isoforms / genetics
  • Protein Isoforms / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Hepcidins
  • Protein Isoforms
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Transcription Factors