Identification and comparative analysis of complement C3-associated microRNAs in immune response of Apostichopus
Lei Zhong1, Feng Zhang1, Yu Zhai1
1Key Laboratory of Mariculture &Stock Enhancement in North China's Sea, Ministry of Agriculture, Dalian Ocean University, Dalian, 116023, P.R. China.
Abstract:
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important effectors in mediating host-pathogen interaction. In this report, coelomocytes miRNA libraries of three Japanese sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus were built by Illumina(®) Hiseq2000 from different time points after lipopolysaccharide challenge (at time 0 h, 6 h and 12 h). The clean data received from high throughput sequencing were used to sequences analysis. Referenced to the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus genome, 38 conserved miRNAs were found, and three miRNA candidates were predicted by software. According to the evidence resulting from the expression of AjC3, expressing levels of spu-miR-133, spu-miR-137 and spu-miR-2004 altered along with the expression of AjC3 changing at different time points after LPS injection. Thus, we speculated that the three miRNAs may have influence on A. japonicus complement C3. The spu-miR-137 and miR-137 gene family in miRBase were analyzed by bioinformatics. There is an obvious discrepancy between invertebrates and vertebrates. The first and ninth nucleotides in invertebrate miR-137 are offset compared vertebrate miR-137. Importantly, this is the first attempt to map the stage of immune response regulome in echinoderms, which might be considered as information for elucidating the intrinsic mechanism underlying the immune system in this species.
Insights
Japanese sea cucumbers
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Immunology
- Genomics
Background:
- MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a crucial role in host-pathogen interactions.
- Understanding immune responses in marine invertebrates like sea cucumbers is vital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of miRNAs in the immune response of Apostichopus japonicus after lipopolysaccharide challenge.
- To identify specific miRNAs that may regulate the complement C3 pathway in sea cucumbers.
Main Methods:
- Construction and sequencing of coelomocyte miRNA libraries from Apostichopus japonicus at different time points post-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge.
- Bioinformatic analysis using the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus genome to identify conserved and novel miRNAs.
- Expression analysis of selected miRNAs (spu-miR-133, spu-miR-137, spu-miR-2004) and their correlation with AjC3 expression.
Main Results:
- 38 conserved miRNAs and 3 novel miRNA candidates were identified in Apostichopus japonicus.
- Expression levels of spu-miR-133, spu-miR-137, and spu-miR-2004 significantly altered following LPS injection.
- A potential regulatory relationship between these miRNAs and the sea cucumber complement C3 (AjC3) was suggested.
- Bioinformatic analysis revealed sequence discrepancies in miR-137 between invertebrates and vertebrates.
Conclusions:
- The study identified key miRNAs (spu-miR-133, spu-miR-137, spu-miR-2004) potentially involved in the immune response of Apostichopus japonicus.
- These findings suggest a role for specific miRNAs in modulating the complement system in sea cucumbers.
- This research provides novel insights into the immune regulome of echinoderms, contributing to understanding invertebrate immune mechanisms.
