Identification and expression of IL-1β in the endangered Dabry's sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus)

Dabry's sturgeon (Acipenser dabryanus), mainly distributed in the upper Yangtze River, is considered as a rare and endangered species in China. To date, its innate immune system remains largely undetermined. In the present study, we identified an interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta) gene with a 6-exon/5-intron structure from Dabry's sturgeon. The predicted protein sequence has a typical IL-1 family signature, containing 12 beta-strands and no signal peptide. Although the predicted amino acid sequence encoded by the IL-1 beta gene had low sequence identity and similarity to other fish IL-1 beta s, the Dabry's sturgeon IL-1 beta protein clustered together with proteins from other fish IL-1 beta type II group homologous proteins. The different expression levels of the IL-1 beta gene in various embryonic developmental stages implied that IL-1 beta might be subject to maternal transmission and mediate embryonic development. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that the IL-1 beta was ubiquitously expressed (especially in the skin and gill), suggesting that the IL-1 beta could play a vital role in the first immune barrier under normal conditions. Transcriptional analysis indicated that the IL-1 beta gene transcription levels in spleen leukocytes following polyinosinicpolycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation were 3-fold and 12-fold higher than those in the control, respectively. The different IL-1 beta gene responses to poly I:C and LPS suggested differences in defense mechanisms against viruses and bacteria in Dabry's sturgeon.

Automated summary

The Dabry's sturgeon, a rare and endangered species in China, has an IL-1β gene that plays a crucial role in immune response and development, exhibiting different defense mechanisms against viruses and bacteria.