Receptors for recombinant feline interferon-ω in hemocytes of the Japanese pearl oyster Pinctada fucata martensii

Abstract

In a previous study we determined that administration of recombinant feline interferon-ω (rFeIFN-ω) could protect Japanese pearl oysters Pinctada fucata martensii from akoya-virus infection. Our results suggested that rFeIFN-ω enhanced the potential of agranulocytes to phagocytize necrotic cells and to produce collagen fibers that repair the lesions caused by the akoya-virus. In the present study, using an indirect immunofluorescence technique with an anti-rFeIFN-ω rabbit serum, we examined whether hemocytes bear receptors that bind rFeIFN-ω. rFeIFN-ω receptors were present on agranulocytes and bound rFeIFN-ω, and appeared as green fluorescent spots in the cytoplasm under a fluorescent microscope. Around 56% of agranulocytes in Japanese pearl oysters bore the rFeIFN-ω receptors.