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Activation of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) T cells involves NFAT-like transcription factors

H Park1, H Zhou, E Bengtén

  • 1Department of Microbiology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 North State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, USA.

Developmental and Comparative Immunology
|October 16, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Cyclosporin A inhibits catfish T cell activation by blocking NFAT-like molecule nuclear translocation. This suggests conserved T cell activation pathways across species, involving cytokines in teleost immunity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Comparative immunology
  • Fish immunology

Background:

  • Cyclosporin A (CsA) is a known inhibitor of mammalian T cell activation.
  • CsA targets the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) pathway, crucial for cytokine gene expression.
  • Understanding fish T cell activation is vital for comparative immunology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of CsA on catfish T cell activation.
  • To explore the role of NFAT-like molecules in fish T cell signaling.
  • To determine if T cell activation mechanisms are conserved between fish and mammals.

Main Methods:

  • Treatment of catfish peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and T cells with CsA.
  • Assessing T cell proliferation using Concanavalin A (Con A) and antigen stimulation.
  • Utilizing phosphatase assays and Western blot analysis with anti-NFAT antibodies.
  • Employing nuclear protein selection to identify DNA-binding proteins.

Main Results:

  • CsA inhibited Con A and alloantigen-stimulated catfish T cell proliferation.
  • The inhibitory effect of CsA was overcome by prior T cell activation.
  • CsA prevented the dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of an NFAT-like molecule in catfish T cells.
  • A catfish NFAT-like protein was found to bind to a murine IL-2 promoter sequence.

Conclusions:

  • CsA interferes with catfish T cell activation via an NFAT-like pathway.
  • Cytokine signaling is implicated in teleost T cell activation.
  • T cell activation mechanisms exhibit conservation across a broad phylogenetic range.

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