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The genome sequence of Atlantic cod reveals a unique immune system.
Nature. 2011 Sep 8; 477(7363):207-10
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17 Aug 2011
Confirmation, New Finding
DOI: 10.3410/f.12723956.13987055
Living without classical CD4+ T cells: this paper shows that the Atlantic cod has lost its genes for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, invariant chain, and CD4. Interestingly, genes encoding MHC class I proteins and certain Toll-like receptors show substantial expansions, most probably...Continue reading
Living without classical CD4+ T cells: this paper shows that the Atlantic cod has lost its genes for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II, invariant chain, and CD4. Interestingly, genes encoding MHC class I proteins and certain Toll-like receptors show substantial expansions, most probably as a consequence of adapting to the loss of classical CD4+ T helper cells. This paper is a further highly instructive example of the immune system's plasticity.
Disclosures
None declared
Add Comment
Walter L: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Star B et al., Nature 2011, 477(7363):207-10]. In F1000Prime, 17 Aug 2011; DOI: 10.3410/f.12723956.13987055. F1000Prime.com/12723956#eval13987055
16 Sep 2011
Siamak Bahram
F1000 Immunology
Centre de Recherche d'Immunologie et d'Hematologie, University of Strasbourg,
Strasbourg, Cedex, France.
F1000 Immunology
Centre de Recherche d'Immunologie et d'Hematologie, University of Strasbourg,
Strasbourg, Cedex, France.
New Finding
DOI: 10.3410/f.12723956.14596054
This manuscripts somewhat shakes up the field as, up to now, it had been believed that major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules were more indispensable than MHC-I. The authors carried out whole-genome sequencing of the Atlantic cod and did not find any trace of not only MHC-II but...Continue reading
This manuscripts somewhat shakes up the field as, up to now, it had been believed that major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) molecules were more indispensable than MHC-I. The authors carried out whole-genome sequencing of the Atlantic cod and did not find any trace of not only MHC-II but they also did not find genes for 'invariant chain' (critical in antigen presentation by MHC-II) or CD4 (a co-receptor for MHC-II) (despite the presence of a pseudogene).
The advent of molecular components of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates is of great interest to immunologists and evolutionary geneticists. With regard to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, the conventional knowledge until the present was that MHC class II (MHC-II) molecules show a much stronger evolutionary conservation than MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules. Hence, the data reported in this manuscript are of utmost interest.
The advent of molecular components of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates is of great interest to immunologists and evolutionary geneticists. With regard to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules, the conventional knowledge until the present was that MHC class II (MHC-II) molecules show a much stronger evolutionary conservation than MHC class I (MHC-I) molecules. Hence, the data reported in this manuscript are of utmost interest.
Disclosures
None declared
Bahram S: F1000Prime Recommendation of [Star B et al., Nature 2011, 477(7363):207-10]. In F1000Prime, 16 Sep 2011; DOI: 10.3410/f.12723956.14596054. F1000Prime.com/12723956#eval14596054
F1000Prime Recommendations, Dissents and Comments for [Star B et al., Nature 2011, 477(7363):207-10]. In F1000Prime, 21 May 2013; F1000Prime.com/12723956
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Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is a large, cold-adapted teleost that sustains long-standing commercial fisheries and incipient aquaculture. Here we present the genome sequence of Atlantic cod, showing evidence for complex thermal adaptations in its haemoglobin gene cluster and an unusual immune architecture compared to other sequenced vertebrates. The genome assembly was obtained exclusively by 454 sequencing of shotgun and paired-end libraries, and automated annotation identified 22,154 genes. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II is a conserved feature of the adaptive immune system of jawed vertebrates, but we show that Atlantic cod has lost the genes for MHC II, CD4 and invariant chain (Ii) that are essential for the function of this pathway. Nevertheless, Atlantic cod is not exceptionally susceptible to disease under natural conditions. We find a highly expanded number of MHC I genes and a unique composition of its Toll-like receptor (TLR) families. This indicates how the Atlantic cod immune system has evolved compensatory mechanisms in both adaptive and innate immunity in the absence of MHC II. These observations affect fundamental assumptions about the evolution of the adaptive immune system and its components in vertebrates.
DOI: 10.1038/nature10342
PMID: 21832995
