Sequencing of Sylvilagus VDJ genes reveals a new VHa allelic lineage and shows that ancient VH lineages were retained differently in leporids

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Ana Pinheiro (Author) Other; Jose Melo Ferreira (Author) Other; Joana Abrantes (Author) Other; Nicola Martinelli (Author) Other; Antonio Lavazza (Author) Other; Paulo C Alves (Author) FCUP; Christian Gortazar (Author) Other; Pedro J Esteves (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Immunogenetics

Vol. 66

Pages: 719-726

ISSN: 0093-7711

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 6 Citations

Scopus - 6 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-063

DOI: 10.1007/s00251-014-0807-0

Abstract (EN): Antigen recognition by immunoglobulins depends upon initial rearrangements of heavy chain V, D, and J genes. In leporids, a unique system exists for the VH genes usage that exhibit highly divergent lineages: the VHa allotypes, the Lepus sL lineage and the VHn genes. For the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), four VHa lineages have been described, the a1, a2, a3 and a4. For hares (Lepus sp.), one VHa lineage was described, the a2L, as well as a more ancient sL lineage. Both genera use the VHn genes in a low frequency of their VDJ rearrangements. To address the hypothesis that the VH specificities could be associated with different environments, we sequenced VDJ genes from a third leporid genus, Sylvilagus. We found a fifth and equally divergent VHa lineage, the a5, and an ancient lineage, the sS, related to the hares' sL, but failed to obtain VHn genes. These results show that the studied leporids employ different VH lineages in the generation of the antibody repertoire, suggesting that the leporid VH genes are subject to strong selective pressure likely imposed by specific pathogens.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8