Sexual dimorphism in NLR transcripts and its downstream signaling protein IL-1ꞵ in teleost Channa punctata (Bloch, 1793)

Abstract

Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptors (NOD-like receptors or NLRs) are a family of intracellular pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) that initiates as well as regulate inflammatory responses. NLRs are characterized by a centrally located nucleotide binding domain and a leucine rich repeat domain at the C-terminal responsible for the recognition of intracellular microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). In the present study in adult spotted snakehead we have investigated the sex-dependent tissue distribution of NLRs known to be associated with inflammation in teleost namely NOD1, NOD2, NLRC3, NLRC5, and NLRX1. Further, the sexual dimorphism in the expression of NLR transcript as well as the pro-inflammatory protein IL-1β was explored in fish under normal conditions, and in fish exposed to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The NLRs show ubiquitous and constitutive expression in all the tissues. Moreover, a prominent disparity between males and females was observed in the basal expression of these genes in various tissues. The sexual dimorphism in NLR expression was also prominent when fish were exposed to LPS. Similarly, IL-1β exhibited sexual dimorphism in both normal as well as LPS-exposed fish.