Cathelicidin modulates the function of monocytes/macrophages via the P2X7 receptor in a teleost, Plecoglossus altivelis

• PaCATH had a dose-dependent effect on ayu MO/MФ chemotaxis.
• PaCATH altered the mRNA and protein expression of PaP2X7R on ayu MO/MФ.
• Knockdown of PaP2X7R inhibited the chemotactic effect of PaCATH on ayu MO/MФ.
• Knockdown of PaP2X7R inhibited the effect of PaCATH on the functions of ayu MO/MФ.
• The immunomodulatory effect of PaCATH on ayu MO/MФ is mediated by PaP2X7R.

Cathelicidins (CATHs) are a family of endogenous antimicrobial peptides that are capable of both direct bacteria-killing and immunomodulatory effects. P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) is a mediator of CATH in mammalian immune cells. Here, we studied the function and regulation of CATH in head kidney-derived monocytes/macrophages (MO/MФ) from ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis. We investigated the chemotaxis of MO/MФ in response to ayu CATH (PaCATH), and found that PaCATH had a dose-dependent effect on MO/MФ chemotaxis with the optimal concentration of 10.0 μg/ml. The qPCR and Western blot analysis revealed that PaCATH inhibited the expression of ayu P2X7R (PaP2X7R) at both mRNA and protein levels. Knockdown of the PaP2X7R expression in ayu MO/MФ by RNA interference not only significantly inhibited the chemotactic effect of PaCATH on MO/MФ, but also obviously reduced the effect of PaCATH on the phagocytosis, bacteria-killing, respiratory burst, and cytokine expression of ayu MO/MФ. Our study revealed that the immunomodulatory effect of fish CATH is mediated by P2X7R.