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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #171082
Title: ACTIVATION OF TLR3 AND TLR5 IN CHANNEL CATFISH EXPOSED TO VIRULENT EDWARDSIELLA ICTALURI

Author
item Bilodeau, Lanie
item Waldbieser, Geoffrey - Geoff

Submitted to: Developmental and Comparative Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/2/2004
Publication Date: 4/24/2005
Citation: Bilodeau, A.L., Waldbieser, G.C. 2005. Activation of tlr3 and tlr5 in channel catfish exposed to virulent edwardsiella ictaluri. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 29:713-721.

Interpretive Summary: Gene expression of two toll-like receptors (TLRs) was measured in channel catfish exposed to virulent Edwardsiella ictaluri to determine their role in early host-response to an infectious agent. TLR5 was more highly expressed than TLR3 which was expected based on presumed ligands of each gene in the human model. However, TLR3 was upregulated, which was unexpected. Upregulation of TLR3 suggests a more widespread function in primitive fish. TLR5 was highly expressed in liver tissue, which may be due to macrophage aggregation during ESC infection. This suggests that toll-like receptors are an important component of the innate immune system of catfish.

Technical Abstract: Two toll-like receptors (TLR3 and TLR5) were identified from a catfish cDNA fry library based on sequence similarity to other vertebrate TLR genes. Expression (using real-time PCR) of TLR3 and TLR5 was measured for two strains of channel catfish in previously non-exposed fish 2, 5, 8, and 21 days after experimental Edwardsiella ictaluri challenge to determine if TLRs are associated with host response to E. ictaluri infection. Expression of TLR5 was higher than TLR3 (P < 0.0001). TLR3 expression in kidney was elevated in Norris strain (P = 0.480) and differed over time in spleen (P = 0.0134). Fold induction of TLR5 compared to non-exposed fish increased on days 5 (Norris; 154.72 +/- 62.12 fold induction) and 8 (USDA103; 164.65 +/- 50.56) post-exposure in liver and was slightly increased on day 5 (Norris; 10.17 +/- 24.73, USDA103; 42.56 +/- 24.73) in kidney. Upregulation of TLR3 suggests a more widespread function in primitive fish. TLR5 was highly expressed in liver tissue, which may be due to macrophage aggregation during ESC infection. This suggests that toll-like receptors are an important component of the innate immune system of catfish.