The warm temperature acclimation protein (Wap65) is a plasma glycoprotein similar to the mammalian hemopexin. Hemopexin is a serum glycoprotein produced by the liver and its primary role is to bind free heme and prevent oxidative damage whilst sequestering iron away from bacteria. It has been reported an important role of hemopexin in the inflammation as an acute-phase protein and its production is up-regulated by proinflammatory cytokines. Most teleost species presents two Wap65 genes but their physiological functions have not been completely elucidated; in fact, the transcriptional patterns of Wap65 genes to stimulatory treatments are variable and contradictory. In the present study Wap65 has been characterized for the first time in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) to understand the role of Wap65 in thermal physiology and innate immunity for this species. Two types of Wap65 were identified and the differential modulation by thermal treatments, immune challenges (bacterial and viral), as well as iron supplementation, has been investigated. On the other hand, the protein was purified from the turbot serum using hemin-agarose affinity chromatography and the effect of purified Wap65 protein was studied to clarify its role on immune response

Poster.-- First International Conference of Fish and Shellfish Immunology (ISFSI), Vigo (España), 25-28 June 2013

Peer reviewed