Expression of immunoglobulin heavy chain transcripts (VH-families, IgM, and IgD) in head kidney and spleen of the Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.)

Abstract

Expression of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chain transcripts in spleen and head kidney of the Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua L.) was investigated using in situ hybridization (ISH) and northern blotting. Specific detection of plasma cells was done with a probe for secretory IgM transcripts (μ4). The plasma cells were often clustered close to blood vessels. Cells expressing surface IgM and IgD transcripts were detected using ISH with tyramide signal amplification (TSA). The positive cells were more abundant than plasma cells, had a lymphocyte-like morphology, and were evenly distributed throughout the tissues. This suggests that cod IgD mainly is expressed as a B-cell receptor akin to IgD in mammals. The VH-III family dominated the repertoire within the plasma cells, in agreement with data from cDNA cloning. Immunization with hapten-carrier antigen did not induce a systemic antibody response, and neither was any change in the clustering or distribution pattern of plasma cells within the tissues seen. A few clusters of plasma cells expressed only the rare VH-I and VH-II families, suggesting an ongoing clonal expansion and differentiation in these regions independently of immunization.