Identification and characterization of CD5 in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Abstract

CD5 is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein acting as a pleiotropic functional receptor in the mammalian immune response system, mainly presents on the surface of cells associated with the immune system, and is essential for the classification of B cells. In this study, we identify a CD5 homologue in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). The open reading frame of OnCD5 is 507 bp, encoding 168 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence contains a signal peptide region, a transmembrane region and a conserved portion of the cytoplasmic region. Expression analysis indicates that the OnCD5 exhibits constitutive expression in the tested tissues, with the highest expression in thymus. Analysis of the OnCD5 transcription in the classified IgMand IgMlymphocytes from anterior kidney, spleen and peripheral blood, and IgMand IgMlymphocytes from peripheral blood, indicates that the OnCD5 is highly expressed in the IgM  lymphocytes, especially in the IgMB lymphocytes. Furthermore, the OnCD5 expression is up-regulated significantly in anterior kidney and spleen following challenges of Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus agalactiae in vivo and in vitro, likewise in IgMB lymphocytes sorted from peripheral blood upon stimulation with LPS. Further, the recombinant OnCD5 protein has the bacteria-binding activity. Taken together, these results reveal that OnCD5 participates in host's defense during pathogen infection, and may play an important role in tilapia B cells.