Focal adhesion signaling pathway involved in skin immune response of tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis to Vibrio vulnificus infection

Focal adhesion (FA) plays a key role in cell adhesion, migration and antibacterial immune, but it remained unclear in fish. In this study, half-smooth tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis were infected with Vibrio vulnificus, and then immune-related protein in the skin, especially for FA signaling pathway were screened and identified by iTRAQ analysis. Results showed that the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in skin immune response (eg., ITGA6, FN, COCH, AMBP, COL6A1, COL6A3, COL6A6, LAMB1, LAMC1, FLMNA) were firstly found in FA signaling pathway. Furthermore, the validation analysis of FA-related genes were basically consistent with the iTRAQ data at 36 hpi (r = 0.678, p < 0.01), and their spatio-temporal expressions were confirmed by qPCR analysis. The molecular characterization of vinculin of C. semilaevis was described. This study will provide a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanism of FA signaling pathway in the skin immune response in marine fish.

Automated summary

In this study, immune-related protein in the skin of half-smooth tongue sole infected with Vibrio vulnificus was screened and identified using iTRAQ analysis. Differentially expressed proteins in skin immune response were found in the focal adhesion signaling pathway. Validation analysis of focal adhesion-related genes showed consistent results with iTRAQ data, and their spatio-temporal expressions were confirmed by qPCR analysis. The molecular characterization of vinculin of half-smooth tongue sole was also described. This study provides a new perspective for understanding the molecular mechanism of focal adhesion signaling pathway in the skin immune response in marine fish.