Effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) on the expression of immune response genes in head kidney, gill and spleen of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio L

• Published in: International immunopharmacology Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 51 - 58
• Main Authors: Yuan, Chuntao, Pan, Xuping, Gong, Yi, Xia, Aijun, Wu, Guanghong, Tang, Jianqing, Han, Xiaodong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Astragalus; Astragalus membranaceus - immunology; Astragalus polysaccharides (APS); Biological and medical sciences; Carps - immunology; Carps - metabolism; Common carp; Cyprinus carpio; Cytokines; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Genes, MHC Class II; Gills - enzymology; Gills - immunology; Gills - metabolism; IL-1β; Injections, Intraperitoneal; Interleukin-1beta - biosynthesis; Interleukin-1beta - genetics; Kidney - enzymology; Kidney - immunology; Kidney - metabolism; Lysozyme-C; Medical sciences; Muramidase - biosynthesis; Muramidase - genetics; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Polysaccharides - administration & dosage; Polysaccharides - immunology; Spleen - enzymology; Spleen - immunology; Spleen - metabolism; TNF-α; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - genetics; Common carp; Lysozyme-C; Astragalus polysaccharides (APS); Cytokines; TNF-α; IL-1β; Kidney; Gene; Pisces; Genetics; Cyprinus carpio; Tumor necrosis factor α; Lysozyme; Spleen; Head; Carp; Immune response; Enzyme; Cytokine; Interleukin 1β; Glycosylases; Vertebrata; Urinary system; Glycosidases; Hydrolases; Polysaccharide
• ISSN: 1567-5769; 1878-1705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2007.10.009

For fish immune defences, cytokines and anti-microbial peptides (lysozyme) in circulating system play important roles. In the present study, the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) injection on gene expression of interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α) and lysozyme-C in the head kidney, gill and spleen of common carp were determined using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). After injection of APS, IL-1β mRNA level increased in a dose-dependent manner in the head kidney, while no significant changes were found in the gill and spleen. High dose of APS up regulated TNF-α transcription in the gill and spleen, while TNF-α mRNA level decreased significantly in the head kidney of low dose of APS. Lysozyme-C mRNA levels were up regulated in the gill of low dose of APS and spleen of middle dose of APS. No effect of the APS on lysozyme-C expression was observed in head kidney. These results constitute a first step toward the understanding of APS effect on cytokines and immune-related gene expression in different organs of common carp.