Transcription Factor T-Bet in Atlantic Salmon: Characterization and Gene Expression in Mucosal Tissues during Aeromonas Salmonicida Infection

• Published in: Frontiers in Immunology
• Main Authors: Kumari, Jaya, Zhang, Zuobing, Swain, Trilochan, Chi, Heng, Niu, Cuijuan, Bøgwald, Jarl, Dalmo, Roy Ambli
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2015
• Subjects: Immunology; Atlantic salmon
• Online Access: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4492157/; http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26217339; https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2015.00345

The T-box transcription factor T-bet is expressed in a number of hematopoietic cell types in mammals and plays an essential role in the lineage determination of Th1 T-helper cells and is considered as an essential feature for both innate and adaptive immune responses in higher vertebrates. In the present study, we have identified and characterized the full-length Atlantic salmon T-bet cDNA (3502 bp). The putative primary structure of the polypeptide deduced from the cDNA sequence contained 612 aa, which possessed a T-box DNA binding domain. Phylogenetic study and gene synteny revealed it is as a homolog to mammalian T-bet. Quantitative PCR analysis of different tissues in healthy fish showed that salmon T-bet gene was highly expressed in spleen, followed by head kidney, and was expressed in intestine, skin, and liver at lower levels. Moreover, the time-dependent expression profile of T-bet, interferon gamma (IFNγ), interleukin-22 (IL-22), and natural killer enhancement factor in mucosal tissues during water-borne infection with live Aeromonas salmonicida, indicated the involvement of T-bet in mucosal immune response in Atlantic salmon.