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Shark complement: an assessment

S L Smith1

  • 1Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Florida International University, Miami 33199, USA. smiths@fiu.edu

Immunological Reviews
|January 23, 1999
PubMed
Summary
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The study details the complement system pathways in nurse sharks, identifying components analogous to mammalian systems and suggesting a lectin pathway. This research enhances understanding of innate immunity in elasmobranchs.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Marine Biology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The classical (CCP) and alternative (ACP) complement pathways are established in nurse sharks (Ginglymostoma cirratum).
  • A mannan-binding protein-associated serine protease (MASP)-1-like protein cDNA clone from Japanese dogfish (Triakis scyllia) suggests a lectin pathway in elasmobranchs.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate and characterize the components of the complement system in nurse sharks.
  • To explore the presence and nature of the lectin pathway in elasmobranchs.
  • To compare shark complement components with their mammalian counterparts.

Main Methods:

  • Isolation of cDNA clones encoding complement components.
  • Protein isolation and sequencing (N-terminal amino acid sequences).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Sequence homology analysis of deduced amino acids from cDNA clones.

    • Main Results:

    • Nurse shark complement components (C1n, C2n, C3n, C4n, C8n, C9n) show functional analogy to mammalian systems.
    • Shark C1q exhibits homology to human C1q chains A and B, with a globular domain more C1q-like than mannan-binding protein-like.
    • Shark C3 and C4 alpha and beta chains show significant identity to human counterparts, while the C4 gamma chain shows little similarity.
    • Anaphylatoxin activity is present in activated shark serum, and shark leukocytes respond to porcine C5a desArg.
    • Partial C3 cDNA from nurse shark shows 50% homology to mammalian C3.
    • Partial Bf/C2 cDNA clones suggest at least one elasmobranch species possesses two distinct Bf/C2 genes.

    Conclusions:

    • The nurse shark possesses a complex complement system with components homologous to mammalian pathways.
    • Evidence supports the presence of a lectin pathway in elasmobranchs, indicated by MASP-1-like protein.
    • Comparative analysis reveals both conserved and divergent features in complement system evolution between sharks and mammals.