Functional characterization of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) interleukin-2 in head kidney leukocytes

Granzyme B secreted by T cells is involved in anti-bacterial immune response of tilapia

Secreted by natural killer cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes, Granzyme B is involved in regulating the adaptive immune response in vertebrates and plays a pivotal role in resisting virus invasion and removing pathogens. Although it had been extensively studied in mammals, the involvement of Granzyme B in adaptive immune response of early vertebrates remained elusive. In this study, we investigated the Granzyme B in Oreochromis niloticus (OnGrB), found that its function domain was conserved. Additionally, OnGrB was widely expressed in various tissues and could respond to T-cell activation in vitro at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, we prepared the recombinant OnGrB (rOnGrB) as an immunogen to develop a mouse anti-OnGrB monoclonal antibody (mAb). Using this anti-OnGrB mAb as a tool, we explored the expression of OnGrB in the adaptive immune response of tilapia. Our findings revealed that T cell was a significant source of OnGrB production, the expression of OnGrB at the protein level and the proportion of OnGrB + T cells increased after both T cell activation in vitro and infection with Edwardsiella piscicida in vivo. More importantly, our findings also preliminarily illuminated that p65 could regulate the transcriptional activity of OnGrB. These results indicated that OnGrB was involved in the adaptive immunity of tilapia and played a critical role in T cell function in teleost. Our study provided theoretical support and new perspectives for understanding adaptive immunity in teleost.

Large yellow croaker (Lrimichthys crocea) IL-2 modulates humoral immunity via the conserved JAK-STAT5 signal pathway

The terminal differentiation of B cells into plasma cells is central to the generation of protective, long-lived humoral immune responses. In mammals, interleukin-2 (IL-2) has been shown to play a role in B cell proliferation and differentiation. However, it remains unclear whether fish IL-2 is involved in B cell proliferation and differentiation. To this end, we investigated the regulatory role of IL-2 in B cell proliferation and differentiation in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). We found that L. crocea IL-2 (LcIL-2) significantly increased IgM⁺ B cells proliferation both in vivo and in vitro and facilitated IgM⁺ B cells differentiation into plasma cells. Furthermore, LcIL-2 increased the production of specific antibodies after immunization with the Vibrio alginolyticus subunit vaccine, recombinant dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (rDLD); simultaneous administration of LcIL-2 and rDLD prior to challenge with Vibrio parahaemolyticus or V. alginolyticus significantly increased relative percent survival. Mechanistically, LcIL-2 promoted B cell proliferation and regulated B cell differentiation by triggering the JAK-STAT5 signaling pathway. Collectively, our results demonstrated that LcIL-2 improved B cell proliferation and specific antibody production via the conserved JAK-STAT5 signaling pathway in large yellow croaker, providing valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the IL-2-mediated regulation of the humoral immune response in fish.

Response of immunoglobulin M in gut mucosal immunity of common carp (Cyprinus carpio) infected with Aeromonas hydrophila

Immunoglobulin (Ig) M is an important immune effector that protects organisms from a wide variety of pathogens. However, little is known about the immune response of gut mucosal IgM during bacterial invasion. Here, we generated polyclonal antibodies against common carp IgM and developed a model of carp infection with Aeromonas hydrophila via intraperitoneal injection. Our findings indicated that both innate and adaptive immune responses were effectively elicited after A. hydrophila infection. Upon bacterial infection, IgM+ B cells were strongly induced in the gut and head kidney, and bacteria-specific IgM responses were detected in high levels both in the gut mucus and serum. Moreover, our results suggested that IgM responses may vary in different infection strategies. Overall, our findings revealed that the infected common carp exhibited high resistance to this representative enteropathogenic bacterium upon reinfection, suggesting that IgM plays a key role in the defense mechanisms of the gut against bacterial invasion. Significantly, the second injection of A. hydrophila induces strong local mucosal immunity in the gut, which is essential for protection against intestinal pathogens, providing reasonable insights for vaccine preparation.

Regulation of Il-2 on the expression of granzyme B- and perforin-like genes and its functional implication in grass carp peripheral blood neutrophils

Granzyme (Gzm) B and perforin, both as cytotoxic proteins, can collaborate to induce the death of target cells as well as the microbes. They were originally discovered in cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and natural killer (NK) cells and confer the cytotoxic activities of these cells. In the present study, the coding sequences of a granzyme b-like (gcgzmbl) and a perforin-like (gcprfl) genes were cloned from grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) and their specific antibodies were subsequently prepared and validated. The mRNA and protein expression of these two cytotoxic proteins in grass carp peripheral blood neutrophils was demonstrated by quantitative PCR (qPCR) and immunofluorescence staining, respectively. In the same cell model, expression of gcGzmbl and gcPrfl was stimulated by grass carp interleukin (Il)-2 in a dose- and time-dependent manners and Erk, NF-κB and Stat5 pathways were found to be involved in the regulation of Il-2 on the genes' expression. Additionally, glycolysis was proved to play a role in the stimulation of Il-2 on gcGzmbl and gcPrfl expression in peripheral blood neutrophils. As combating the invading microorganisms is one of the main functions of neutrophils, the roles of gcGzmbl and gcPrfl in the anti-bacterial activities of grass carp peripheral blood neutrophils were explored. Results showed that immunoneutralization of gcGzmbl or gcPrfl significantly attenuated the antimicrobial abilities of the neutrophils enhanced by Il-2. These findings shed a light on the expression, regulation and functions of granzyme B- and perforin-like proteins in fish peripheral blood neutrophils and enrich the understanding of Il-2 function in fish innate immunity.

Structural insights into the co-evolution of IL-2 and its private receptor in fish

Interleukin (IL) -2, a member of the four α-helical cytokine family, has broad regulatory roles in mediating vertebrate immune response. In mammals, IL-2 and IL-15 share a common evolutionary origin and possess overlapping but distinct functions. IL-2 and IL-15 bind to distinct private receptors for signaling. However, fish appear to possess a single IL-15Rα like gene whilst lack additional gene(s) coding for IL-2Rα. Whether the IL-2 and IL-15 interact with the same receptor in fish and how their functions and receptors have evolved are not fully understood. In this study, homologues of IL-2 and IL-2/15Rα were sequenced from a teleost species, grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), and the crystal structure of IL-2 was determined. The grass carp IL-2 (termed CiIL-2) displayed a classical cytokine structure consisting of four helical bundles which shares significant similarity with human IL-15. The key amino acids involved in the interface interaction of IL-2/15 and their receptors are well conserved. The CiIL-2 has been shown to bind the IL-2/15Rα like homologue with an affinity of 2.45 nM, supporting the notion that fish IL-2 and IL-15 may share a single common private receptor for exerting functions. Syntenic analysis suggests that the IL-2Rα of tetrapods has evolved from an IL-15Rα like homologue, in which a second sushi domain (D2) in the extracellular region has been duplicated to facilitate the specific interaction with IL-2. The CiIL-2 was predominantly expressed in lymphocyte-rich tissues such as the spleen, kidney and thymus, and could be induced by PHA and IL-21. In vivo challenge with grass carp reovirus and Flavobacterium columnare also resulted in upregulation of CiIL-2 expression. The recombinant CiIL-2 was shown to activate expression of STAT5b, IL-1β, IL-22 and IFN-γ, and to promote the proliferation of the primary cell cultures from head kidney leucocytes. Our results shed lights into the co-evolution of IL-2 and its private receptor, and the functional divergence of IL-2 and IL-15 during evolution.