Characterization of cathepsin C from orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides involved in SGIV infection. Issue 84 (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wei, Shina; Wang, Shaowen; Yang, Min; Huang, Youhua; Wei, Jingguang; Huang, Xiaohong; Qin, Qiwei
• Is Part Of: Fish & shellfish immunology. Issue 84(2019)
• Page Start: 423
• Page End: 433
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: Epinephelus coioides -- Cathepsin C -- Molecular characterization -- Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV); Fishes -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Shellfish -- Immunology -- Periodicals; Poissons -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; Crustacés -- Immunologie -- Périodiques; 571.9617
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2018.10.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1050-4648

Abstract

Abstract: The lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin C plays a pivotal role in regulation of inflammatory and immune responses. However, the function of fish cathepsin C in virus replication remains largely unknown. In this study, cathepsin C gene (Ec-CC) was cloned and characterized from orange-spotted grouper, Epinephelus coioides . The full-length Ec-CC cDNA was composed of 2077 bp. It contained an open reading frame (ORF) of 1374 bp and encoded a 458-amino acid protein which shared 89% identity to cathepsin C from bicolor damselfish ( Stegastes partitus ). Amino acid alignment analysis showed that Ec-CC contained an N-terminal signal peptide, the propeptide region and the mature peptide. RT-PCR analysis showed that Ec-CC transcript was expressed in all the examined tissues which abundant in spleen and head kidney. After challenged with Singapore grouper iridovirus (SGIV) stimulation, the relative expression of EC-CC was significantly increased at 24 h post-infection. Subcellular localization analysis revealed that Ec-CC was distributed mainly in the cytoplasm. Further studies showed that overexpression of Ec-CC in vitro significantly delayed the cytopathic effect (CPE) progression evoked by SGIV and inhibited the viral genes transcription. Moreover, overexpression of Ec-CC significantly increased the expression of proinflammatory cytokines during SGIV infection. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Ec-CC might play a functional role in SGIV infection by regulating the inflammation response. Highlights: Cathepsin C gene from Epinephelus coioides (Ec-CC) was identified and characterized. The expression of Ec-CC was up-regulated in the spleen of grouper challenged with SGIV. Overexpression of Ec-CC significantly inhibited SGIV replication. Overexpression of Ec-CC regulated inflammation response during SGIV infection.