Two peptides derived from trout IL-1β have different stimulatory effects on immune gene expression after intraperitoneal administration

The aim of this study was to examine the biological activities of two IL-1β derivatives on immune gene expression (i.e. IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8, MX, lysozyme) in fish using RT-PCR analysis, as a means to establish whether such peptides have value as immunostimulants in vivo. Two functional domains (P1 and P3) of the trout IL-1β molecule were produced as synthetic peptides and tested for biological effects following intraperitoneal administration into rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). P1 and P3 showed different regulatory effects on the examined genes. P1 did not stimulate proinflammatory gene expression but induced rapid expression of the antiviral gene MX. In contrast, P3 showed more widespread stimulatory effects, and increased expression of the proinflammatory genes IL-1β and IL-8, as well as the antibacterial lysozyme gene. Such data confirm that it is possible to produce bioactive peptide derivatives of cytokine molecules, and in addition that it is possible to engineer the peptides for different stimulatory repertoires, that may have value in enhancing particular types of immune response to enhance disease resistance in fish.