TL1A induces apoptosis via DR3 in grass carp ().

Tumor necrosis factor like ligand 1A (TL1A), a member of TNF superfamily, regulates inflammatory response and immune defense. TL1A homologues have recently been discovered in fish, but their functions have not been studied. In this study, a TL1A homologue was identified in grass carp () and its bioactivities were investigated. The grass carp () gene was constitutively expressed in tissues, with the highest expression detected in the liver. It was upregulated in response to infection with . The recombinant TL1A was produced in bacteria and was shown to stimulate the expression of and in the primary head kidney leucocytes. In addition, co-immunoprecipitation assay revealed that TL1A interacted with DR3 and induced apoptosis via activation of DR3. The results demonstrate that TL1A regulates inflammation and apoptosis and is involved in the immune defense against bacterial infection in fish.