Functional, signalling and transcriptional differences of three distinct type I IFNs in a perciform fish, the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi

Teleost fish are unique in having type I and type II interferons (IFNs) only, and the type I IFNs are classified into Group one and Group two based on the presence of two or four cysteines respectively, and are further classified into seven subgroups. In the present study, three distinct type I IFNs, IFNc, IFNd and IFNh, have been identified in the genome sequences of a perciform fish, the mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi. These IFNs are induced following the stimulation of Polyinosinic polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) and Resiquimod (R848) either in vivo or in vitro. But, the infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV) infection caused a delayed response of IFNs, which may be resulted from the viral inhibition of type I IFN production and related signalling. The three receptor subunits, cytokine receptor family B 1 (CRFB1), CRFB2 and CRFB5 are also expressed in a similar manner as observed for the IFNs, and IFNc, IFNd and IFNh use preferentially the receptor complex, CRFB2 and CRFB5, CRFB1 and CRFB5, CRFB1 and CRFB5 respectively for their effective signalling in the induction of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Moreover, the IFNs are able to induce their own expression, and also the IRF3 and IRF7 expression, leading to the amplification of IFN cascade. It is further revealed that these three IFNs are transcribed differently by IRF7 and IRF3. The composition, function, signalling and transcription of type I IFNs have been investigated in detail in a teleost fish. •Three type I IFNs, IFNc, IFNd and IFNh were identified in mandarin fish Siniperca chuatsi.•Three subunits of type I IFN receptors, CREB1, CREB2 and CREB5 were also identified in the fish.•The three IFNs use preferentially the receptor complex, CRFB2 and CRFB5, CRFB1 and CRFB5, CRFB1 and CRFB5 respectively.•IFNc and IFNh was found to phosphorylate STAT1 and STAT2, thus leading to the production of ISGs.•The promoter activity of the three IFN genes was analyzed, with the transcription regulated differently by IRF7 and IRF3.