The many faces of transferrin: Does genotype modulate immune response?

In this study, the expression of pro-inflammatory and iron metabolism genes were analysed under Trypanoplasma borreli (T. borreli) challenge in common carp. Three transferrin (Tf) genotypic groups: two homozygous - DD, GG, and heterozygous DG were intraperitoneally infected with a dose of 2.16 × 10/100 μL parasites. Organ and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals. During the infection period, mortality and parasitaemia were assessed along with measurements of blood iron concentrations and antibody levels. Expression of Tf, Fer, IRP1 and 2, TfR 1a and 1b, Hep, TNF α1 and α2, and IL-1 β was measured in the peak of parasitaemia and the week preceding the peak. Study revealed, that changes in iron blood level induced by parasite were not correlated with the activities of iron homeostasis genes. Neither iron content nor the specific antibody response correlated with survival. We demonstrate that challenged carp, display three distinct, Tf genotype dependent activity patterns of iron homeostasis genes expression. The expected, "classical" way of up-regulation represented homozygous DD individuals. In contrast, GG individuals demonstrated downward trend, while gene expressions of heterozygous DG carp could be defined as an intermediate. We speculate, whether this phenomenon is related to the transferrin molecule itself or to Tf-genotypes being markers of other factors, that influence the iron homeostasis genes activities. We discussed the role of alarmins in triggering the immune response. Distinct genes activating patterns of homozygous genotypes DD and GG had no consequences in terms of mortality rates caused by T.borreli. The highest mortality was observed in the heterozygous group DG. In conclusion, this study suggest that transferrin variant, but not iron blood concentration, has a significant impact on carp immune response to blood parasite infection. This research sheds a new light on the inflammation process and interaction between a host and invaders.