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Origins of immunity: transcription factors and homologues of effector genes of the vertebrate immune system expressed in sea urchin coelomocytes

Pancer, Zeev and Rast, Jonathan P. and Davidson, Eric H. (1999) Origins of immunity: transcription factors and homologues of effector genes of the vertebrate immune system expressed in sea urchin coelomocytes. Immunogenetics, 49 (9). pp. 773-786. ISSN 0093-7711. doi:10.1007/s002510050551. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20160411-105627291

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Abstract

Echinoderms share common ancestry with the chordates within the deuterostome clade. Molecular features that are shared between their immune systems and that of mammals thus illuminate the basal genetic framework on which these immune systems have been constructed during evolution. The immune effector cells of sea urchins are the coelomocytes, whose primary function is protection against invasive marine pathogens; here we identify six genes expressed in coelomocytes, homologues of which are also expressed in cells of the mammalian immune system. Three coelomocyte genes reported here encode transcription factors. These are an NFKB homologue (SpNFKB); a GATA-2/3 homologue (SpGATAc); and a runt domain factor (SpRunt-1). All three of these coelomocyte genes respond sharply to bacterial challenge: SpNFKB and SpRunt-1 genes are rapidly up-regulated, while transcripts of SpGATAc factor disappear within hours of injection of bacteria. Sham injection also activates SpNFKB and SpRunt, though with slower kinetics, but does not affect SpGATAc levels. Another gene, SpHS, encodes a protein related to the signal transduction intermediate HS1 of lymphoid cells. Two other newly discovered genes, SpSRCR1 and SpSRCR5, encode proteins featuring SRCR repeats. These genes are members of a complex family of SRCR genes all expressed specifically in coelomocytes. The SRCR repeats most closely resemble those of mammalian macrophage scavenger receptors. Remarkably, each individual sea urchin expresses a specific pattern of SRCR genes. Our results imply some shared immune functions and more generally, a shared regulatory architecture which underlies immune system gene expression in all deuterostomes. We conclude that the vertebrate immune system has evolved by inserting new genes into old gene regulatory networks dedicated to immunity.


Item Type:Article
Related URLs:
URLURL TypeDescription
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002510050551DOIArticle
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s002510050551PublisherArticle
Additional Information:© 1999 Springer-Verlag. Received: 1 September 1998. Revised: 20 January 1999. We are grateful to our Caltech colleagues, Prof. Ellen Rothenberg, Dr. Kevin Peterson, and Dr. Michele Anderson, for reviews and discussion of this manuscript. Miki Yun provided invaluable assistance in the analysis of the many new clones described in this work, and Patrick Leahy was of enormous assistance in handling the sea urchins and for the immune response induction experiments. We thank Michael Rhoades for assistance in cloning the GATA factors. The research was supported by HFSP Grant RG-333/96; Z.P. was supported by NIH Training Grant HD-07257; and J.P.R. by NIH Individual NRSA GM-18478.
Funders:
Funding AgencyGrant Number
Human Frontier Science ProgramRG-333/96
NIH Predoctoral FellowshipHD-07257
NIHGM-18478
Subject Keywords:NFKB; GATA; Runt; HS1; SRCR
Issue or Number:9
DOI:10.1007/s002510050551
Record Number:CaltechAUTHORS:20160411-105627291
Persistent URL:https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20160411-105627291
Usage Policy:No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided.
ID Code:66049
Collection:CaltechAUTHORS
Deposited By: Ruth Sustaita
Deposited On:11 Apr 2016 20:22
Last Modified:10 Nov 2021 23:52

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