Expression of virus-responsive genes and their response to challenge with poly(I:C) at different stages of the annual fish Nothobranchius guentheri: Implications for an asymmetric decrease in immunity.

Aging deteriorates immunity. However, if aging affects immunity in an asymmetric or symmetric way remains largely unknown. In this study we clearly demonstrate that compared with adult fish, the anti-viral responses of aged annual fish Nothobranchius guentheri, as reflected by the expression levels of virus-responsive genes, including lgp2 and mda5 encoding sensor molecules, ifn-i and viperin encoding the effector molecules and irf1, irf7, stat1 and atf3 encoding the regulation elements, are either reduced remarkably or elevated markedly or show little difference depending upon the different tissues. Moreover, although challenge with poly(I:C) results in a significant decrease in the expression of virus-responsive genes in most tissues of aged N. guentheri, it also causes a considerable increase in the expression of the genes in other tissues of aged fish. Collectively, these data suggest that the anti-viral responses of the annual fish N. guentheri generally reduces with age in an asymmetric way among the most tissues.