Viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) up-regulates the cytotoxic activity and the perforin/granzyme pathway in the rainbow trout RTS11 cell line

A survey of immune-relevant genes that might be up-regulated in response to viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) in the rainbow trout monocyte–macrophage cell line, RTS11, unexpectedly revealed an increased expression of perforin (PRF) and granzyme (GRZ) genes, which represent components of the major cytotoxic pathway. The natural killer-enhancing factor (NKEF), also known to modulate cytotoxic activity, was up-regulated at the gene but strikingly down-regulated at protein level. The expression of these genes was not affected in head kidney leukocytes (HKLs) infected with VHSV, leading us to evaluate the potential cytotoxic activity of RTS11 and HKLs. For the first time, the cytotoxic activity of RTS11 against xenogeneic targets has been demonstrated, although this was modest relative to HKLs. Yet the activity in RTS11 was significantly increased by VHSV, as in HKLs. This cytotoxic activity elicited by viral infection appeared to require viral gene expression because inactivated VHSV failed to increase RTS11 cytotoxic activity. As for other immune functions, RTS11 cells provide a model for further studying cytotoxic activities of fish monocyte–macrophages.

► In this study, we show that rainbow trout RTS11 cells have cytotoxic activity.
► RTS11 cells transcribe NKEF, granzyme and perforin.
► VHSV increases the cytotoxic activity of RTS11 and head kidney leukocytes.
► VHSV increases the transcription of NKEF, granzyme and perforin only in RTS11 cells.
► However, VHSV decreases NKEF protein levels in RTS11 cells.