Gene expression profiles associated with lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) in experimentally infected Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis)

• Published in: Fish & shellfish immunology Vol. 66; pp. 129 - 139
• Main Authors: Carballo, Carlos, Castro, Dolores, Borrego, Juan J., Manchado, Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-07-2017
• Subjects: Animals; DNA Virus Infections - genetics; DNA Virus Infections - immunology; DNA Virus Infections - veterinary; DNA Virus Infections - virology; Fish Diseases - genetics; Fish Diseases - immunology; Fish Diseases - virology; Flatfishes; Gene Expression Regulation - immunology; Immune gene expression; Immunity, Innate - genetics; Iridoviridae - physiology; LCDV; Pathogenesis; Senegalese sole; Transcriptome; Immune gene expression; LCDV; Senegalese sole; Pathogenesis
• ISSN: 1050-4648; 1095-9947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.04.028

In the present study, the pathogenesis of lymphocystis disease virus (LCDV) and the immune gene expression patterns associated with this viral infection were determined in the flatfish Senegalese sole. The results indicate that LCDV spreads rapidly from the peritoneal cavity through the bloodstream to reach target organs such as kidney, gut, liver, and skin/fin. The viral load was highest in kidney and reduced progressively thorough the experiment in spite of the viral major capsid protein gene was transcribed. The LCDV injection activated a similar set of differentially expressed transcripts in kidney and intestine although with some differences in the intensity and time-course response. This set included antiviral-related transcripts (including the mx and interferon-related factors irf1, irf2, irf3, irf7, irf8, irf9, irf10), cytokines (il1b, il6, il8, il12 and tnfa) and their receptors (il1r, il8r, il10r, il15ra, il17r), chemokines (CXC-type, CC-type and IL-8), prostaglandins (cox-2), g-type lysozymes, hepcidin, complement fractions (c2, c4-1 and c4-2) and the antigen differentiation factors cd4, cd8a, and cd8b. The expression profile observed indicated that the host triggered a systemic defensive response including inflammation able to cope with the viral challenge.
•The LCDV spreads rapidly through the bloodstream to establish a persistent infection in different organs.•Viral DNA is mostly detected in kidney and decreases with the time in spite of transcription of viral protein mcp is detected.•LCDV triggers a wide defensive response that include several genes related to the innate and adaptive immune defence.