Cg-TGF- β, a TGF- β/activin homologue in the Pacific Oyster Crassostrea gigas, is involved in immunity against Gram-negative microbial infection

• Published in: Developmental & Comparative Immunology Vol. 31; no. 1; pp. 30 - 38
• Main Authors: Lelong, C., Badariotti, F., Le Quéré, H., Rodet, F., Dubos, M.P., Favrel, P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Activins - genetics; Activins - immunology; Amino Acid Sequence; Animals; Bivalvia; Crassostrea; Crassostrea - immunology; Crassostrea - microbiology; Crassostrea gigas; Cytokine; Cytokines - immunology; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - immunology; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections - veterinary; Immunity; Life Sciences; Marine; Molecular Sequence Data; Mollusc; Transforming Growth Factor beta - genetics; Transforming Growth Factor beta - immunology; Transforming growth factor β; Transforming growth factor β; Mollusc; Immunity; Crassostrea gigas; Cytokine
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2006.05.005

Transforming growth factor- β (TGF- β) members represent a widespread protein superfamily in the animal kingdom, but few members have been characterised in lophotrochozoans, a major clade of invertebrates. Here, we report the identification of Crassostrea gigas-TGF- β (Cg-TGF- β), a homologue of vertebrate TGF- β and activin, from the bivalve mollusc C. gigas. Phylogenetic analysis suggests an early ancestral origin of this subgroup of TGF- β superfamily member. Investigation of the spatio–temporal expression of Cg-TGF- β gene by real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed a ubiquitous pattern in all adult tissues. These findings imply that Cg-TGF- β has multiple functions as described for its vertebrate counterparts. Moreover, Cg-TGF- β was upregulated in haemocytes during infection by a Gram-negative bacterium, suggesting that it could act as a cytokine involved in immunity in molluscs.