A novel immune-related gene, microtubule aggregate protein homologue, is up-regulated during IFN-γ-related immune responses in Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus

Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response mediated by antigen-specific Th1 cells is used as a test to detect exposure to tuberculosis in humans. Japanese flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) microtubule aggregate protein homologue (PoMTAP) was identified as a gene strongly induced during fish DTH response. In this study, PoMTAP gene was cloned and its expression profile was analyzed. The PoMTAP gene has a transcriptional regulatory region that includes two interferon-stimulated response elements and two IFN-gamma activated sites. Expressions of PoMTAP and IFN-gamma genes were up-regulated at the same time points during the DTH response, Edwardsiella tarda infection and VHSV infection. Furthermore. PoMTAP gene expressing cells also expressed CD3 epsilon, confirming that PoMTAP is expressed by T lymphocytes. These results suggest that PoMTAP is a novel immune-related gene expressed by T lymphocytes that is preferentially induced by IFN-gamma and has a role in Th1-mediated immune responses in Japanese flounder. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.