Identification and immunoregulatory function of neuromedin U (Nmu) in the Japanese pufferfish Takifugu rubripes

Dev Comp Immunol. 2017 Aug:73:246-256. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2017.03.007. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

Abstract

In this study, immunoregulatory function of neuromedin U (Nmu) in the teleost fish Fugu (Takifugu rubripes) was characterized. Three splicing variants of nmu mRNA encoding preproNMUs consisting of 164 (Nmu1), 139 (Nmu2), and 129 (Nmu3) amino acid residues were found in Fugu.The biologically active C-terminal region of Fugu Nmu showed high homology among fish and other vertebrate NMUs. The genomic organization of Fugu nmu differed from those of zebrafish and mammals. However, in phylogenetic analysis, Fugu Nmu formed a cluster with NMUs of other vertebrates, in addition to neuromedin S. The splicing variants of mRNA were identified in various tissues. Nmu-21 and Nmu-9 were purified as endogenous peptides from Fugu intestine. The synthetic Nmu-21 peptide activated phagocytic cells, and elevated the expression of cytokine mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes.

Keywords: Cytokine mRNA expression; Fugu; Immune regulation; Neuromedin U; Superoxide anion production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Fish Proteins / genetics
  • Fish Proteins / immunology*
  • Neuropeptides / genetics
  • Neuropeptides / immunology*
  • Phylogeny
  • Takifugu / genetics
  • Takifugu / immunology*

Substances

  • Fish Proteins
  • Neuropeptides
  • neuromedin U