ABIO Journal

1.      Introduction

It is important to speak, first of all, of adipokine biology. Adipokine polypeptides produced by adipocytes, include adinopectin and many cytokines of the immune system, such as TNF. They have potent autocrine, paracrine and endocrine functions [1]. They are characteristics of Vertebrates as complement activators we have, nevertheless , discovered in an Invertebrate: the sea star Asterias rubens [2].

Complement activator is an important component of the innate immune response against viral infection and also shapes adaptative immune responses. VACCC complement control protein C3 Vaccinia Virus: A Complement Control Protein (VCP) plays a role  as modulator of the complement activation in mouse [3]: it was found also in Asterias rubens genome when compared to mouse one..

2.      Review

1.       Sea stars were obtained from the Biology Institute (Gothenburgh University)

2.       Immunizations to HRP, genomic studies were already described [4]

3.       After ligation of adapters for Illumina's GSII sequencing system, the cDNA was sequenced on the Illumina GSII platform sequencing.

4.       1.100 bp from one side of the approximately 200 bp fragments sequences were assembled using Velvet [5].

3.      Results

First, results in non-immunized sea stars were given:

Control: Contig13514    sp|Q9ES30|C1QT3_MOUSE Complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 OS=Mus musculus GN=C1qtnf3 PE=2 SV=1

Control: Contig3127    sp|Q8K479|C1QT5_MOUSE Complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 5 OS=Mus musculus GN=C1qtnf5 PE=1 SV=1

Second, results in HRP sea stars which have been immunized to HRP were presented:

HRP: Contig1946|m.5489    sp|Q9ES30|C1QT3_MOUSE Complement C1q tumor necrosis factor-related protein 3 OS=Mus musculus GN=C1qtnf3 PE=2 SV=1

HRP: c43408_g1_i1|m.4242    sp|P68639|VCP_VACCC Complement control protein C3 OS=Vaccinia virus (strain Copenhagen) GN=C3L PE=1 SV=1

4.      Conclusion

The dispatching of genes is different from a point of view of sea star immunization to HRP (Horse-Radish Peroxydase). So the VACCC Complement control protein C3 was only found in immunized sea star genome. The question is:  Is it the fact of immunization which induces such gene in sea star? In all our experiments which present such phenomenon, we have not given  elaborated responses. In the present case we consider that it is a mystery for us. So further studies are necessary to clarify the question.

We just may say that the found genes are usually described  in Vertebrates. Two out of three could be considered as cytokines of The TNF family genes.

The third one plays a role in innate immune response and adaptative one: it's a regulator of Complement

It is the first time we analyse such sophisticated genes belonging to the Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF) family, in an Invertebrate.

1.   Otani M, Furukawa S, Wakisaka S, Maeda T (2015) A Novel Adipokine C1q/TNF-related Protein 3 Is Expressed in Developing Skeletal Muscle and Controls Myoblast Proliferation and Differentiation. Cell Biochem 409: 271-282.

2.  Leclerc M (2016) Evidence of Complement C1q Tumor Necrosis Factor-Related Protein 4 in the Sea Star Asterias Rubens: A New Sea Star Cytokine. EC Micobiology 5: 172-173.

3.  Girgis NM, DeHaven BC, Xiao Y, Alexander E, Viner KM, et al. (2011) The Vaccinia Virus Complement Control Protein Modulates Adaptive Immune Responses during Infection. J Virol 85: 2547-2556

4.    Leclerc M (2013) Complement Genes In The Asterids Comparisons With The Echinids (Echinoderma). Amer J Immunol 9: 26-29.

5.   Zerbino DR, Birney E (2008) Velvet: algorithms for de novo short read assembly using de Bruijn graphs. Genome Res 18: 821-829.