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The identification and expression of an interleukin-21 receptor in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea)

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Abstract

Background

We identified a homologue of IL-21R (LcIL-21R) in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea, Lc). Our investigation focused on understanding the molecular structural features and immune function of LcIL-21R.

Methods

We cloned the LcIL-21R gene from the genome of Larimichthys crocea by RT‒PCR, and the molecular and structural characteristics of LcIL-21R were analyzed by a series of protein analysis tools. We used real-time PCR to investigate the tissue distribution of LcIL-21R, and LcIL-21R gene expression regulation was also measured in head kidney leukocytes under trivalent bacterial vaccine or poly (I:C) stimulation.

Results

The open reading frame (ORF) of the LcIL-21R gene is 1629 bp long and encodes a precursor protein of 542 amino acids (aa), with a 23-aa signal peptide and a 519-aa mature peptide containing four putative N-glycosylation sites. LcIL-21R has two fibronectin type III (FNIII)-like domains (D1 and D2), a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic region. A conserved WSXWS motif was also found in the D2 domain. The predicted structure of the extracellular region of LcIL-21R (LcIL-21R-Ex) is highly similar to that of human IL-21R. LcIL-21R was constitutively expressed in all tissues examined, and LcIL-21R mRNA levels were increased in the head kidney and spleen upon inactivated trivalent bacterial vaccine or poly(I:C) stimulation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that LcIL-21R shares structural and functional properties with IL-21Rs found in other vertebrates, indicating its potential involvement in the IL-21-mediated immune response to pathogenic infections. These findings contribute to our understanding of the evolutionary conservation of IL-21 signaling and its role in the immune system.

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Data Availability

The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China Grant 2022YFD2401001, the China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA Grant CARS-47, the Institute of Oceanology of Fuzhou (2021F02), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant 42106135).

Funding

National Key Research and Development Program of China Grants, 2022YFD2401001; National Natural Science Foundation of China, 42106135; China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA Grant, CARS-47; Institute of Oceanology of Fuzhou, 2021F02.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Breeding, Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology of Fujian Province, College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, No.15 Shangxiadian Road, Fuzhou, 350002, China

    Hanyu Wu, Yan Teng, Pengfei Mu, Jingjie Chen & Xinhua Chen

  2. Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, 519000, China

    Xinhua Chen

  3. Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine, Fujian Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Fuzhou, 350013, China

    Qiuling Fu

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  1. Hanyu Wu
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Contributions

Hanyu Wu and Pengfei Mu and Jingjie Chen wrote the main manuscript text. Xinhua Chen reviewed the manuscript.Qiuling Fu and Yan Teng prepared Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

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Correspondence to Xinhua Chen.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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The animal study was reviewed and approved by Ethical Review Board of Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (ethical approval number: PZCASFAFU22018). All animal housing and experiments were conducted in strict accordance with the instituticral wnidsines for care and use of laboratory animals.

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Wu, H., Fu, Q., Teng, Y. et al. The identification and expression of an interleukin-21 receptor in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). Mol Biol Rep 50, 10121–10129 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-023-08827-1

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