The comparative proteomics analysis revealed the modulation of inducible nitric oxide on the immune response of scallop Chlamys farreri

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important gasotransmitter which plays a key role on the modulation of immune response in all vertebrates and invertebrates. In the present study, the modulation of inducible NO on immune response of scallop Chlamys farreri was investigated via proteomic analysis. Total proteins from hepatopancreas of scallops treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or the inhibitor of vertebrate inducible NO synthase (S-methylisothiourea sulfate, SMT) for 12 h were analyzed via 2-D PAGE and ImageMaster 2D Platinum. There were 890, 1189 and 1046 protein spots detected in the groups treated by phosphate buffered saline (PBS), LPS and LPS+SMT, respectively, and 26 differentially expressed protein spots were identified among them. These proteins were annotated with binding or catalytic activity, and most of them were involved in metabolic or cellular processes. Some immune-related or antioxidant-related molecules such as single Ig IL-1-related receptor, guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-like protein and peroxiredoxin were identified, and the changes of their expression levels in LPS group were intensified significantly after adding SMT. The decreased expression level of tyrosinase and increased level of glutathione S-transferase 4 in LPS group were diametrically reversed by appending SMT. Moreover, interferon stimulated exonuclease gene 20-like protein and copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase were only induced by LPS+SMT stimulation but not by LPS stimulation. These data indicated that NO could modulate many immunity processes in scallop, such as NF-κB transactivation, cytoskeleton reorganization and other pivotal processes, and it was also involved in the energy metabolism, posttranslational modification, detoxification and redox balance during the immune response.