Ciona robusta macrophage migration inhibitory factor (Mif1 and Mif2) genes are differentially regulated in the LPS-challenged pharynx.

The effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Mif (macrophage migration inhibitory factor) gene expression in the pharynx (hemapoetic tissue) of Ciona robusta was investigated using qRT-PCR, and ISH (in situ hybridisation). To verify the induction of an inflammatory response in the pharynx, a qRT-PCR analysis was performed to evaluate the change in expression of proinflammatory marker genes such as Mbl, Ptx-like, Tnf-α and Nf-kb, which were shown to be upregulated at 1 hour post LPS challenge. The change in expression of the two Mif paralogs in the pharynx were assessed prior to and following stimulation and qRT-PCR, and ISH results showed that, while Mif2 and Mif2 were expressed in clusters of hemocytes in pharynx vessels, only Mif1 expression increased following LPS stimulation. This indicates that the Mif genes are differently regulated and respond to different ambient inputs that are in need of further analysis. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.