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Molecular characterization and expression analysis of MHC class II α and β genes in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea)

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Abstract

MHC class II molecules play an important role in the activation of CD4+ T cells, which are the central orchestrating cells of an immune response. Here, we report the cloning of MHC class II α and β cDNAs from large yellow croaker (Pscr-DAAs and Pscr-DAB) by expressed sequence tags analysis and RACE-PCR techniques. Three different class II α and two class II β sequences were obtained from spleens of two individual fish. Each of the three class II α sequences encodes a polypeptide of 239 amino acids while the two class II β cDNA sequences encode for a protein of 249 aa. All the characteristic features of MHC class II chain structure could be identified in the deduced proteins of three class II α and two class II β sequences, including the leader peptide, α1/β1 and α2/β2 domains, connecting peptide and transmembrane and cytoplasmic regions, as well as conserved cysteines and N-glycosylation site. RT-PCR analysis showed that MHC class II α and β mRNAs were broadly expressed in various tissues examined, although at different levels. Upon stimulation with inactivated trivalent bacterial vaccine or polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)), the expression levels of both α and β genes were obviously up-regulated in intestine, kidney and spleen. Real-time PCR analysis demonstrated that the expression levels of class II α and β were quickly up-regulated in spleen, kidney, and intestine at 12 h after induction with poly(I:C), while their expression levels significantly increased at 48 h upon immunization with bacterial vaccine, indicating that the up-regulation of both class II α and β expression was induced by bacterial vaccine or poly(I:C) at the early phase of induction, and that class II α and β transcripts were quicker up-regulated by poly I:C than by bacterial vaccine.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by grants from Nation ‘863’ Project (2006AA10A402 and 2006AA100306), Scientific Research Foundation from Third Institute of Oceanography, SOA (2009001), and National Natural Science Foundation of China (30871925).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, School of Life Science, Xiamen University, 361005, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China

    Suhong Yu

  2. Key Laboratory of Marine Biogenetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, 361005, Xiamen, People’s Republic of China

    Suhong Yu, Jingqun Ao & Xinhua Chen

  3. Fujian Academic of Agricultural Science, 350002, Fuzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Suhong Yu

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  1. Suhong Yu
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  2. Jingqun Ao
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Correspondence to Jingqun Ao or Xinhua Chen.

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Yu, S., Ao, J. & Chen, X. Molecular characterization and expression analysis of MHC class II α and β genes in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea). Mol Biol Rep 37, 1295–1307 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-009-9504-8

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