The CD8[alpha] gene in duck (Anatidae): cloning, characterization, and expression during viral infection

Cluster of differentiation 8 alpha (CD8[alpha]) is critical for cell-mediated immune defense and T-cell development. Although CD8[alpha] sequences have been reported for several species, very little is known about CD8[alpha] in ducks. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in the innate and adaptive i...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular biology reports 2015-02, Vol.42 (2), p.431
Main Authors: Xu, Qi, Chen, Yang, Zhao, Wen Ming, Huang, Zheng Yang, Duan, Xiu Jun, Tong, Yi Yu, Zhang, Yang, Li, Xiu, Chang, Guo Bin, Chen, Guo Hong
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cloning
Gene expression
Immune system
Molecular biology
Viruses
Wildfowl
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Cluster of differentiation 8 alpha (CD8[alpha]) is critical for cell-mediated immune defense and T-cell development. Although CD8[alpha] sequences have been reported for several species, very little is known about CD8[alpha] in ducks. To elucidate the mechanisms involved in the innate and adaptive immune responses of ducks, we cloned CD8[alpha] coding sequences from domestic, Muscovy, Mallard, and Spotbill ducks using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Each sequence consisted of 714 nucleotides and encoded a signal peptide, an IgV-like domain, a stalk region, a transmembrane region, and a cytoplasmic tail. We identified 58 nucleotide differences and 37 amino acid differences among the four types of duck; of these, 53 nucleotide and 33 amino acid differences were between Muscovy ducks and the other duck species. The CD8[alpha] cDNA sequence from domestic duck consisted of a 61-nucleotide 5' untranslated region (UTR), a 714-nucleotide open reading frame, and an 849-nucleotide 3' UTR. Multiple sequence alignments showed that the amino acid sequence of CD8[alpha] is conserved in vertebrates. RT-PCR revealed that expression of CD8[alpha] mRNA of domestic ducks was highest in the thymus and very low in the kidney, cerebrum, cerebellum, and muscle. Immunohistochemical analyses detected CD8[alpha] on the splenic corpuscle and periarterial lymphatic sheath of the spleen. CD8[alpha] mRNA in domestic ducklings was initially up-regulated, and then down-regulated, in the thymus, spleen, and liver after treatment with duck hepatitis virus type I (DHV-1) or the immunostimulant polyriboinosinic polyribocytidylic acid (poly I:C).
ISSN:0301-4851
1573-4978
DOI:10.1007/s11033-014-3784-3