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Botryllin, a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide from the Colonial Ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:md21020074. [PMID: 36827115 PMCID: PMC9966394 DOI: 10.3390/md21020074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
By mining the transcriptome of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, we identified a transcript for a novel styelin-like antimicrobial peptide, which we named botryllin. The gene is constitutively transcribed by circulating cytotoxic morula cells (MCs) as a pre-propeptide that is then cleaved to mature peptide. The synthetic peptide, obtained from in silico translation of the transcript, shows robust killing activity of bacterial and unicellular yeast cells, causing breakages of both the plasma membrane and the cell wall. Specific monoclonal antibodies were raised against the epitopes of the putative amino acid sequence of the propeptide and the mature peptide; in both cases, they label the MC granular content. Upon MC degranulation induced by the presence of nonself, the antibodies recognise the extracellular nets with entrapped bacteria nearby MC remains. The obtained results suggest that the botryllin gene carries the information for the synthesis of an AMP involved in the protection of B. schlosseri from invading foreign cells.
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Hendin N, Gordon T, Shenkar N, Wurtzel O. Molecular characterization of the immediate wound response of the solitary ascidian Polycarpa mytiligera. Dev Dyn 2022; 251:1968-1981. [PMID: 36001356 PMCID: PMC10087333 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injury response is key to successful regeneration. Yet, transcriptome analyses of injury response were performed only on a handful of regenerative organisms. Here, we studied the injury response of the solitary ascidian Polycarpa mytiligera, an emerging model system, capable of regenerating any body part. We used the siphon as a model for studying transcriptional changes following injury, and identified genes that were activated in the initial 24 hours post amputation (hpa). RESULTS Highly conserved genes, such as bone morphogenetic protein-1 (BMP1), growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) and IL-17, were upregulated by 12 hpa, yet their expression was sustained only in non-regenerating tissue fragments. We optimized fluorescent in situ hybridization, and found that the majority of BMP1+ cells were localized to the rigid tunic that covers the animal. This highlights the importance of this tissue, particularly during injury response. BMP1 was overexpressed following injuries to other body regions, suggesting that it was a part of a common injury-induced program. CONCLUSION Our study suggests that, initially, specific injury-induced genes were upregulated in P. mytiligera organs, yet, later, a unique transcriptional profile was observed only in regenerating tissues. These findings highlight the importance of studying diverse regenerating and non-regenerating organisms for complete understanding of regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noam Hendin
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics, George S. Wise Faculty of Life SciencesTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Tal Gordon
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics, George S. Wise Faculty of Life SciencesTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
| | - Noa Shenkar
- School of Zoology, George S. Wise Faculty of Life SciencesTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- The Steinhardt Museum of Natural History, Israel National Center for Biodiversity StudiesTel‐Aviv UniversityTel‐AvivIsrael
| | - Omri Wurtzel
- The School of Neurobiology, Biochemistry & Biophysics, George S. Wise Faculty of Life SciencesTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
- Sagol School of NeuroscienceTel Aviv UniversityTel AvivIsrael
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Searching for the Origin and the Differentiation of Haemocytes before and after Larval Settlement of the Colonial Ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: An Ultrastructural Viewpoint. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse10070987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri possesses an innate immunity, which plays fundamental roles in its survival, adaptability, worldwide spread and ecological success. Three lines of differentiation pathways of circulating haemocytes are known to be present in the haemolymph, starting from undifferentiated haemoblasts: (i) the phagocytic line (hyaline amoebocytes and macrophage-like cells), (ii) the cytotoxic line (granular amoebocytes and morula cells) and (iii) the storage cell line (pigment cells and nephrocytes). Many questions remain about their origin, and thus, observations during various stages of development were undertaken in this study. Haemocytes were detected beginning from the early tailbud embryo stage. Haemoblasts were always present and morula cells were the first differentiated haemocytes detected. In both the next stage, just before hatching, and the swimming tadpole larva stage, hyaline amoebocytes and pigment cells were also recognisable. Some morula cells containing active phenoloxidase migrated from the haemolymph into the tunic after having crossed the epidermis, and this behaviour could be related to the preparation of a defensive function for spatial competition. During larval metamorphosis, macrophage-like cells appeared with their phagosomes positive to acid phosphatase activity and containing apoptotic cells from tail tissue degeneration. After metamorphosis, in the filter-feeding oozoid stage, nephrocytes involved in nitrogen catabolism finally appeared. In both the subendostylar sinus and the peripheral blind-sac vessels (ampullae), clusters of haemoblasts were recognisable, some of which showed incipient specialisations, considering the hypothesis of the presence of putative niches of haemolymph stem cells.
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Abstract
Tunicates are marine filter-feeding invertebrates that can be found worldwide and which are the closest phylogenetic group to the vertebrates (Craniata). Of particular interest, colonial tunicates are the only known chordates that can undergo Whole-Body Regeneration (WBR) via vascular budding. In Botrylloides anceps, a fully functional adult regenerates from a fragment of the vascular system in around 2 weeks after amputation. In this chapter, we present protocols to collect B. anceps colonies, confirm their species, breed them in the lab, monitor WBR and perform histological staining on cryosections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arzu Karahan
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey.
| | - Esra Öztürk
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Berivan Temiz
- Institute of Marine Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Erdemli, Mersin, Turkey
| | - Simon Blanchoud
- Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
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Peronato A, Franchi N, Loriano B. BsTLR1: A new member of the TLR family of recognition proteins from the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 106:967-974. [PMID: 32919053 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) represent a well-known family of conserved pattern recognition receptors the importance of which, in non-self recognition, was demonstrated in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Tunicates represent the vertebrate sister group and, as invertebrates, they rely only on innate immunity for their defence. As regards TLRs, two transcripts have been described and characterised in the solitary species Ciona intestinalis, referred to as CiTLR1 and CiTLR2. Using the Ciona TLR nucleotide sequences, we mined our available transcriptome of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri looking for similar sequences. We were able to identify a sequence, with similarity to CiTLR2 and, through in silico transduction and subsequent sequence analysis, we studied the domain content of the putative protein. The sequence, called BsTLR1, has a TIR and a transmembrane domain, four LLR and two LRR-CT domains. It is actively transcribed by both phagocytes and morula cells, the two circulating immunocyte types. In addition, we analysed bstlr1 transcription in vivo and in vitro, in different phases of the Botryllus blastogenetic cycle and under various experimental conditions. Our data show that there is a change in gene expression and mRNA location, according to the blastogenetic phase. Furthermore, we used a commercial antibody raised against the ectodomain of hTLR5 to study the possible functional role of Botryllus TLR(s). We observed that anti-hTLR5 significantly decreased in vitro phagocytosis and morula cell degranulation, two typical responses to the recognition of nonself. Collectively, our data add new information on the mechanisms of nonself recognition in a colonial ascidian.
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Zhang Z, Wei J, Ren R, Zhang X. Anti-virus effects of interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) identified in ascidian Ciona savignyi. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 106:273-282. [PMID: 32750546 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2020.07.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2020] [Revised: 07/24/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Interferon regulatory factors (IRFs) are key transcription factors that function in the immune system via the interferon (IFN) pathway. In the current study, we identified and characterized three IRFs (CsIRFL1, CsIRFL2, and CsIRFL3) from ascidian Ciona savignyi. Phylogenetic analysis showed that CsIRFL1 was clustered with two IRFs from Ciona robusta and shrimp IRF apart from the vertebrate IRFs, whereas CsIRFL2 and CsIRFL3 were grouped with an unnamed protein from Oikopleura dioica into a sub-branch highly identifying with the vertebrate IRF4, IRF8, and IRF9. Gene expression analysis revealed that CsIRFL1 and CsIRFL2 expressed in all the examined adult tissues (stomach, intestines, eggs, hemocytes, gonad, heart, and pharynx) and predominantly in hemocytes. However, the expression of CsIRFL3 was undetectable in the tested adult tissues. Furthermore, in situ hybridization showed that CsIRFL1 and CsIRFL2 mainly expressed in immunocytes within hemolymph, including phagocytes, macrophage-like cells, morula cells, and amoebocytes, suggesting CsIRFL1 and CsIRFL2 were involved in ascidian immune responses. We then performed LPS and poly(I:C) challenge assay and found that CsIRFL1 highly expressed in the cultured hemocytes following LPS infection for 24 h. After viral analogue poly(I:C) stimulation, the expression of CsIRFL2 was dramatically upregulated from 12 to 24 h. Meanwhile, two critical components of the IFN signaling pathways, STAT and TBK1, showed the increased expression as well after poly(I:C) induction, indicating that CsIRFL2 and IFN pathways genes were activated under the infection of viral analogue. Thus, our findings suggested that CsIRFL2 was a potential transcriptional regulatory factor that participated in regulating the ascidian anti-virus immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaoxuan Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China
| | - Jiankai Wei
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Ruimei Ren
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Xiaoming Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding, College of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China; Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, China; Institute of Evolution and Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
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Insights into the Complement System of Tunicates: C3a/C5aR of the Colonial Ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9090263. [PMID: 32882947 PMCID: PMC7565592 DOI: 10.3390/biology9090263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
As an evolutionary ancient component of the metazoan immune defense toolkit, the complement system can modulate cells and humoral responses of both innate and (in jawed vertebrates) adaptive immunity. All the three known complement-activation pathways converge on the cleavage of C3 to C3a and C3b. The anaphylatoxin C3a behaves as a chemokine in inflammatory responses, whereas C3b exerts an opsonic role and, ultimately, can activate the lytic pathway. C3aR, one of the mammalian receptors for C3a, is a member of the G-protein-coupled receptor family sharing seven transmembrane alpha helixes. C3aR can act as a chemokine and recruit neutrophils, triggering degranulation and respiratory burst, which initiates an inflammatory reaction. Mining the transcriptome of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, we identified a transcript showing homology with both mammalian C3aR and C5aR. The gene (bsc3/c5ar) is actively transcribed in morula cells, the circulating immunocyte triggering the inflammatory reactions in response to the recognition of nonself. Its transcription is modulated during the recurrent cycles of asexual reproduction known as blastogenetic cycles. Moreover, the treatment of hemocytes with C3aR agonist, induces a significant increase in the transcription of BsC3, revealing the presence of an autocrine feedback system able to modulate the expression of C3 in order to obtain a rapid clearance of potentially dangerous nonself cells or particles. The obtained results support the previously proposed role of complement as one of the main humoral components of the immune response in tunicates and stress the importance of morula cells in botryllid ascidian innate immunity.
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Peronato A, Drago L, Rothbächer U, Macor P, Ballarin L, Franchi N. Complement system and phagocytosis in a colonial protochordate. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 103:103530. [PMID: 31669308 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2019.103530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In the present work, we investigated, in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, the role of complement C3 (BsC3) in phagocytosis. We studied the modulation of BsC3 transcription in the course of the colonial blastogenetic cycle, with particular reference to the takeover, when apoptotic cells in the tissues of old zooids are cleared by circulating phagocytes. In situ hybridisation with BsC3 riboprobes labelled only morula cells, the most abundant haemocytes. Anti-hC3 antibody recognised morula cells and also phagocytes when haemocytes were previously incubated with zymosan. The inhibition of C3 activation prevented the labelling of phagocytes. In phagocytosis assays with haemocytes from colonies injected with anti-hC3 antibody or bsc3 iRNA, the capability to ingest target cells was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced. Therefore, our results strongly support a key role of BsC3 in phagocytosis and open to new investigations on the nature of the receptors of the products of BsC3 activation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Laura Drago
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Macor
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy
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Franchi N, Ballarin L, Peronato A, Cima F, Grimaldi A, Girardello R, de Eguileor M. Functional amyloidogenesis in immunocytes from the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: Evolutionary perspective. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 90:108-120. [PMID: 30236880 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2018.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Cytotoxic morula cells (MCs) and phagocytes are the circulating immunocytes of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: Both these cells can synthesise amyloid fibrils, supporting the idea that physiological amyloidogenesis is involved in inflammation and modulation of immune responses. Intriguingly, amyloid of B. schlosseri immunocytes is made of two different proteins. MCs, the first cells to sense non-self and involved in the allorejection reaction between contacting genetically incompatible colonies, use melanin encapsulation as the principal method to fight non-self. They release amyloid fibrils formed by p102 protein that allow the packaging and deposit of melanin and other toxic molecules nearby the invader or in the contact region of incompatible colonies. Phagocytes release amyloid-based extracellular traps when challenged with microbes: their amyloid fibrils harbour BsAPP, an orthologue of the vertebrate amyloidogeneic protein APP. This strategy of immune response, present also in human neutrophils, allows phagocytes to block and engulf bacteria and fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Franchi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Anna Peronato
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Cima
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Annalisa Grimaldi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Rossana Girardello
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Magda de Eguileor
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
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10
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Blanchoud S, Rutherford K, Zondag L, Gemmell NJ, Wilson MJ. De novo draft assembly of the Botrylloides leachii genome provides further insight into tunicate evolution. Sci Rep 2018; 8:5518. [PMID: 29615780 PMCID: PMC5882950 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-23749-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Tunicates are marine invertebrates that compose the closest phylogenetic group to the vertebrates. These chordates present a particularly diverse range of regenerative abilities and life-history strategies. Consequently, tunicates provide an extraordinary perspective into the emergence and diversity of these traits. Here we describe the genome sequencing, annotation and analysis of the Stolidobranchian Botrylloides leachii. We have produced a high-quality 159 Mb assembly, 82% of the predicted 194 Mb genome. Analysing genome size, gene number, repetitive elements, orthologs clustering and gene ontology terms show that B. leachii has a genomic architecture similar to that of most solitary tunicates, while other recently sequenced colonial ascidians have undergone genome expansion. In addition, ortholog clustering has identified groups of candidate genes for the study of colonialism and whole-body regeneration. By analysing the structure and composition of conserved gene linkages, we observed examples of cluster breaks and gene dispersions, suggesting that several lineage-specific genome rearrangements occurred during tunicate evolution. We also found lineage-specific gene gain and loss within conserved cell-signalling pathways. Such examples of genetic changes within conserved cell-signalling pathways commonly associated with regeneration and development that may underlie some of the diverse regenerative abilities observed in tunicates. Overall, these results provide a novel resource for the study of tunicates and of colonial ascidians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Blanchoud
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.,Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Kim Rutherford
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Lisa Zondag
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand
| | - Megan J Wilson
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin, 9054, New Zealand.
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Vazzana M, Celi M, Chiaramonte M, Inguglia L, Russo D, Ferrantelli V, Battaglia D, Arizza V. Cytotoxic activity of Holothuria tubulosa (Echinodermata) coelomocytes. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 72:334-341. [PMID: 29138098 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The immune system of marine invertebrates, in particular that of holothurians, still requires further study. Our research showed that coelomocyte cells contained in the coelomic fluid of the sea cucumber, Holothuria tubulosa, are able to lyse, in vitro, red blood cells in rabbits and sheep. A plaque-forming assay showed spherule cells to be the effector cells, able to release cytotoxic molecules after xenogenic cell contact. The coelomocyte lysate supernatant, analysed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis overlay technique, using rabbit and sheep erythrocytes, showed two different haemolytic protein patterns: one calcium dependent and the other calcium independent. The fractions of each pattern were resolved on a polyacrylamide gel and calcium-dependent and independent coelomocyte lysate patterns were compared.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirella Vazzana
- Dept. STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Monica Celi
- Dept. STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Marco Chiaramonte
- Dept. STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Luigi Inguglia
- Dept. STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Debora Russo
- Dept. STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Ferrantelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sicilia, via G. Marinuzzi, 3, 90129, Palermo, Italy
| | - Dominique Battaglia
- Dept. STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Arizza
- Dept. STEBICEF, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via Archirafi, 18, 90123, Palermo, Italy.
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Kuang QF, Abebe A, Evans J, Sugumaran M. Oxidative transformation of tunichromes – Model studies with 1,2-dehydro-N-acetyldopamine and N-acetylcysteine. Bioorg Chem 2017; 73:53-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2017.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 05/09/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Franchi N, Ballarin L. Immunity in Protochordates: The Tunicate Perspective. Front Immunol 2017; 8:674. [PMID: 28649250 PMCID: PMC5465252 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tunicates are the closest relatives of vertebrates, and their peculiar phylogenetic position explains the increasing interest toward tunicate immunobiology. They are filter-feeding organisms, and this greatly influences their defense strategies. The majority of the studies on tunicate immunity were carried out in ascidians. The tunic acts as a first barrier against pathogens and parasites. In addition, the oral siphon and the pharynx represent two major, highly vascularized, immune organs, where circulating hemocytes can sense non-self material and trigger immune responses that, usually, lead to inflammation and phagocytosis. Inflammation involves the recruitment of circulating cytotoxic, phenoloxidase (PO)-containing cells in the infected area, where they degranulate as a consequence of non-self recognition and release cytokines, complement factors, and the enzyme PO. The latter, acting on polyphenol substrata, produces cytotoxic quinones, which polymerize to melanin, and reactive oxygen species, which induce oxidative stress. Both the alternative and the lectin pathways of complement activation converge to activate C3: C3a and C3b are involved in the recruitment of hemocytes and in the opsonization of foreign materials, respectively. The interaction of circulating professional phagocytes with potentially pathogenic foreign material can be direct or mediated by opsonins, either complement dependent or complement independent. Together with cytotoxic cells, phagocytes are active in the encapsulation of large materials. Cells involved in immune responses, collectively called immunocytes, represent a large fraction of hemocytes, and the presence of a cross talk between cytotoxic cells and phagocytes, mediated by secreted humoral factors, was reported. Lectins play a pivotal role as pattern-recognition receptors and opsonizing agents. In addition, variable region-containing chitin-binding proteins, identified in the solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis, control the settlement and colonization of bacteria in the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Franchi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Blanchoud S, Zondag L, Lamare MD, Wilson MJ. Hematological Analysis of the Ascidian Botrylloides leachii (Savigny, 1816) During Whole-Body Regeneration. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2017; 232:143-157. [PMID: 28898595 DOI: 10.1086/692841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Whole-body regeneration (WBR)-the formation of an entire adult from only a small fragment of its own tissue-is extremely rare among chordates. Exceptionally, in the colonial ascidian Botrylloides leachii (Savigny, 1816) a fully functional adult is formed from their common vascular system after ablation of all adults from the colony in just 10 d, thanks to their high blastogenetic potential. While previous studies have identified key genetic markers and morphological changes, no study has yet focused on the hematological aspects of regeneration despite the major involvement of the remaining vascular system and the contained hemocytes in this process. To dissect this process, we analyzed colony blood flow patterns using time-lapse microscopy to obtain a quantitative description of the velocity, reversal pattern, and average distance traveled by hemocytes. We also observed that flows present during regeneration are powered by temporally and spatially synchronized contractions of the terminal ampullae. In addition, we revised previous studies of B. leachii hematology as well as asexual development using histological sectioning and compared the role played by hemocytes during WBR. We found that regeneration starts with a rapid healing response characterized by hemocyte aggregation and infiltration of immunocytes, followed by increased activity of hemoblasts, recruitment of macrophage-like cells for clearing the tissues of debris, and their subsequent disappearance from the circulation concomitant with the maturation of a single regenerated adult. Overall, we provide a detailed account of the hematological properties of regenerating B. leachii colonies, providing novel lines of inquiry toward the decipherment of regeneration in chordates.
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Franchi N, Ballin F, Ballarin L. Protection from Oxidative Stress in Immunocytes of the Colonial Ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: Transcript Characterization and Expression Studies. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2017; 232:45-57. [PMID: 28445096 DOI: 10.1086/691694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Botryllus schlosseri is a cosmopolitan colonial ascidian that undergoes cyclical generation changes, or take-overs, during which adult zooids are resorbed and replaced by their buds. At take-over, adult tissues undergo diffuse apoptosis and effete cells are massively ingested by circulating phagocytes, with a consequent increase in oxygen consumption and in production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The latter are responsible for the death of phagocytes involved in the clearance of apoptotic cells and corpses by phagocytosis-induced apoptosis. However, the majority of phagocytes and hemocytes do not die, even if they experience oxidative stress. This fact suggests the presence of detoxification mechanisms assuring their protection. To test this assumption, we searched for transcripts of genes involved in detoxification in the transcriptome of B. schlosseri. We identified and characterized transcripts for Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD), γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase modulatory subunit (GCLM), glutathione synthase (GS), and two glutathione peroxidases (i.e., GPx3 and GPx5), all involved in protection from ROS. We also carried out a phylogenetic analysis of the putative amino acid sequences, confirming their similarity to their vertebrate counterparts, and studied the location of their mRNAs by in situ hybridization on hemocyte monolayers. We also analyzed gene transcription during the colonial blastogenetic cycle, which is the interval of time between one take-over and the next, by qRT-PCR. In addition, we investigated the effects of cadmium (Cd), an inducer of oxidative stress, on gene transcription. Our results indicated that i) antioxidant gene expression is modulated in the course of the blastogenetic cycle and upon exposure to Cd, and ii) hemocytes synthesize both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants, in line with the idea that they represent a major detoxification system for ascidians.
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Key Words
- AG, adenine guanine (splicing consensus signal)
- ATG, start signal
- CDS, coding sequences
- Cd, cadmium
- Cu/Zn SOD, Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase
- EST, expressed sequence tag
- FSW, filtered seawater
- GCL, γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase
- GCLC, catalytic subunit of γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase
- GCLM, modulatory subunit of γ-glutamyl-cysteine ligase
- GPx, glutathione peroxidase
- GS, glutathione synthase
- GSH, glutathione
- GSSG, oxidized glutathione
- GT, guanine timine (splicing consensus signal)
- ISH, in situ hybridization
- MC, mid-cycle
- ME, minimum evolution
- ML, maximum likelihood
- MP, maximum parsimony
- NADPH, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
- NJ, neighbor-joining
- PBS, phosphate-buffered saline
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- PO, phenoloxidase
- RACE, rapid amplification of the cDNA ends
- ROS: reactive oxygen species
- SEC, selenocysteine
- SECIS, selenocysteine insertion sequence
- SOD, superoxide dismutase
- SODb, type B SOD
- TAG, stop codon
- TGA, thymine, guanine, and adenine nucleotides (stop codon)
- TO, take-over
- UPGMA, unweighted pair group with arithmetic mean
- UTR, untranslated region
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Di Bella MA, Carbone MC, De Leo G. Ultrastructural aspects of naturally occurring wound in the tunic of two ascidians: Ciona intestinalis and Styela plicata (Tunicata). Micron 2015; 69:6-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micron.2014.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/27/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Taketa DA, De Tomaso AW. Botryllus schlosseri allorecognition: tackling the enigma. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 48:254-65. [PMID: 24709050 PMCID: PMC4185259 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2013] [Revised: 02/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Allorecognition has been well-studied in the context of vertebrate adaptive immunity and recognition of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC), which is the central event of vertebrate immune responses. Although allorecognition systems have been identified throughout the metazoa, recent results have shown that there is no apparent conservation or orthologous relationship between the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon in different organisms. Thus the origin of the vertebrate adaptive immune system as well as these other complex recognition systems is a complete mystery. This review will focus on allorecognition in Botryllus schlosseri, a basal chordate which undergoes a natural transplantation reaction following contact between two individuals, and, analogous to vertebrates, is controlled by a single locus. We will summarize each of the known candidate genes within this locus and their potential roles in allorecognition, and speculate on how these findings may in fact be revealing potential functional relationships between disparate allorecognition systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryl A Taketa
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA
| | - Anthony W De Tomaso
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Development Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
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18
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Menzel LP, Tondo C, Stein B, Bigger CH. Histology and ultrastructure of the coenenchyme of the octocoral Swiftia exserta, a model organism for innate immunity/graft rejection. ZOOLOGY 2014; 118:115-24. [PMID: 25596959 DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2014] [Revised: 09/09/2014] [Accepted: 09/09/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The octocoral Swiftia exserta has been utilized extensively in our laboratory to study innate immune reactions in Cnidaria such as wound healing, auto- and allo-graft reactions, and for some classical "foreign body" phagocytosis experiments. All of these reactions occur in the coenenchyme of the animal, the colonial tissue surrounding the axial skeleton in which the polyps are embedded, and do not rely on nematocysts or directly involve the polyps. In order to better understand some of the cellular reactions occurring in the coenenchyme, the present study employed several cytochemical methods (periodic acid-Schiff reaction, Mallory's aniline blue collagen stain, and Gomori's trichrome stain) and correlated the observed structures with electron microscopy (both scanning and transmission). Eight types of cells were apparent in the coenenchyme of S. exserta, exclusive of gastrodermal tissue: (i) epithelial ectoderm cells, (ii) oblong granular cells, (iii) granular amoebocytes, (iv) morula-like cells, (v) mesogleal cells, (vi) sclerocytes, (vii) axial epithelial cells, and (viii) cnidocytes with mostly atrichous isorhiza nematocysts. Several novel organizational features are now apparent from transmission electron micrographs: the ectoderm consists of a single layer of flat epithelial cells, the cell types of the mesoglea extend from beneath the thin ectoderm throughout the mesogleal cell cords, the organization of the solenia gastroderm consists of a single layer of cells, and two nematocyst types have been found. A new interpretation of the cellular architecture of S. exserta, and more broadly, octocoral biology is now possible.
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Affiliation(s)
- L P Menzel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA.
| | - C Tondo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
| | - B Stein
- Indiana Molecular Biology Institute, Indiana University, Myers Hall 040, 915 E. Third Street, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
| | - C H Bigger
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA
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Franchi N, Ballarin L. Preliminary characterization of complement in a colonial tunicate: C3, Bf and inhibition of C3 opsonic activity by compstatin. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 46:430-438. [PMID: 24877658 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2014] [Revised: 05/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The complement system is a fundamental effector mechanism of the innate immunity in both vertebrates and invertebrates. The comprehension of its roots in the evolution is a useful step to understand how the main complement-related proteins had changed in order to adapt to new environmental conditions and life-cycles or, in the case of vertebrates, to interact with the adaptive immunity. Data on organisms evolutionary close to vertebrates, such as tunicates, are of primary importance for a better understanding of the changes in immune responses associated with the invertebrate-vertebrate transition. Here we report on the characterization of C3 and Bf transcripts from the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri (BsC3 and BsBf, respectively), a reliable model organism for immunobiological research, and present a comparative analysis of amino acid sequences of C3s and Bfs suggesting that, in deuterostomes, the structure of these proteins remained largely unchanged. We also present new data on the cells responsible of the expression of BsC3 and BsBf showing that cytotoxic immunocytes are the sole cells where the relative transcripts can be found. Finally, using the C3 specific inhibitor compstatin, we demonstrate the opsonic role of BsC3 in accordance with the idea that promotion of phagocytosis is one of the main function of C3 in metazoans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Franchi
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35100 Padova, Italy.
| | - Loriano Ballarin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35100 Padova, Italy
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20
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Li J, Zhang Y, Xiang Z, Xiao S, Yu F, Yu Z. High mobility group box 1 can enhance NF-κB activation and act as a pro-inflammatory molecule in the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2013; 35:63-70. [PMID: 23583349 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2013.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2013] [Revised: 03/11/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a highly conserved DNA-binding protein, is involved in nucleosome formation and transcriptional regulation, and can also act as an extracellular cytokine to trigger inflammation and immune responses. In this study, we identified a HMGB1 gene (hereafter designated as CgHMGB1) in the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas. The full-length CgHMGB1 cDNA is 833 bp including 5' and 3'-untranslated regions (UTRs) of 145 and 79 bp, respectively, and an open reading frame (ORF) of 609 bp. The gene encodes a 202 amino acid polypeptide with an estimated molecular mass of 23.3 kDa. Sequence alignment shows that CgHMGB1 contains two basic HMG boxes and a highly acidic C-terminal domain. Recombinant CgHMGB1 proteins can enhance the mRNA level of various inflammatory cytokines in vivo. Typically, CgHMGB1 is localized in the nucleus, though lipopolysaccharide can induce its release to cytoplasm. Moreover, luciferase reporter assays reveal that CgHMGB1 cannot stimulate Nuclear Factor-κB reporter activity alone, but it can enhance Rel-dependent NF-κB activation in a dose-dependent manner. CgHMGB1 is highly expressed in hemocytes and its transcripts are significantly more abundant following bacterial challenge. Our results suggest that CgHMGB1 plays an essential role in innate defense by enhancing Rel-activated NF-κB activity and inducing the expression of inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- Key Laboratory of Marine Bio-resources Sustainable Utilization, Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510301, China
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21
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Zaika OA, Dolmatova LS. Cooperative apoptosis of coelomocytes of the holothurian <i>Eupentacta fraudatrix</i> and its modulation by dexamethasone. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.4236/abb.2013.49119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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22
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Oren M, Paz G, Douek J, Rosner A, Amar KO, Rinkevich B. Marine invertebrates cross phyla comparisons reveal highly conserved immune machinery. Immunobiology 2012; 218:484-95. [PMID: 22884351 DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2012.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2011] [Revised: 06/11/2012] [Accepted: 06/12/2012] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Naturally occurring histocompatibility responses, following tissue-to-tissue allogeneic contacts, are common among numerous colonial marine invertebrate taxa, including sponges, cnidarians, bryozoans and ascidians. These responses, often culminating in either tissue fusions or rejections, activate a wide array of innate immune components. By comparing two allorejection EST libraries, developed from alloincompatible challenged colonies of the stony coral Stylophora pistillata and the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri, we revealed a common basis for innate immunity in these two evolutionary distant species. Two prominent genes within this common basis were the immunophilins, Cyclophilin A (CypA) and FK506-binding protein (FKBP). In situ hybridizations revealed that mRNA expression of the coral and ascidian immunophilins was restricted to specific allorecognition effector cell populations (nematoblasts and nematocytes in the coral and morula cells in the ascidian). The expressions were limited to only some of the effector cells within a population, disclosing disparities in numbers and location between naïve colonies and their immune challenged counterparts. Administration of the immunosuppression drug Cyclosporine-A during ascidian's allogeneic assays inhibited both fusion and rejection reactions, probably through the inhibition of ascidian's immunocytes (morula cells) movement and activation. Our results, together with previous published data, depict an immunophilins-based immune mechanism, which is similarly activated in allogeneic responses of distantly related animals from sponges to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matan Oren
- Israel National Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 8030, Haifa 31080, Israel.
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Structure, biosynthesis and possible function of tunichromes and related compounds. Comp Biochem Physiol B Biochem Mol Biol 2012; 163:1-25. [PMID: 22580032 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpb.2012.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/03/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Several species of ascidians (phylum Chordata, subphylum Urochordata) contain a group of oligopeptides called "tunichromes" in their blood cells. These peptides have been implicated in (a) metal chelation and accumulation/sequestration of vanadium or iron; (b) crosslinking of structural fibers in tunic formation, (c) wound healing and (d) defense reactions. However, their biosynthesis, metabolism, and biological function remain largely un-elucidated due to their extreme instability and high reactivity. Tunichromes and related compounds uniquely possess dehydrodopamine moieties, all originating from post-translational modification of peptidyl tyrosine. It is conceivable that the presence of such novel post-translationally modified groups provide attributes that are crucial for their biological roles. Therefore, we examined the chemistry and reactivity of tunichromes in light of the available knowledge of the biochemistry of simple monomeric dehydro-N-acyldopamine units. Based on the reactivity of such simple compounds, the potential biological activities of tunichromes are predicted. Their possible biosynthetic route from peptidyl tyrosine is critically evaluated to provide a better basis for unraveling their biological functions. Prevalence of dehydro-N-acyldopamine units in different tunichromes, some marine antibiotic compounds, insect cuticular sclerotizing precursors and some bioadhesive marine proteins may aid in the de novo design of unique biomaterials with potential antibiotic/adhesive properties.
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Di Bella MA, Fedders H, De Leo G, Leippe M. Localization of antimicrobial peptides in the tunic of Ciona intestinalis (Ascidiacea, Tunicata) and their involvement in local inflammatory-like reactions. RESULTS IN IMMUNOLOGY 2011; 1:70-5. [PMID: 24371555 DOI: 10.1016/j.rinim.2011.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2011] [Revised: 09/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Tunicates comprising a wide variety of different species synthesize antimicrobial peptides as important effector molecules of the innate immune system. Recently, two putative gene families coding for antimicrobial peptides were identified in the expressed sequence tag database of the tunicate Ciona intestinalis. Two synthetic peptides representing the cationic core region of one member of each of the families displayed potent antibacterial and antifungal activities. Moreover, the natural peptides were demonstrated to be synthesized and stored in distinct hemocyte types. Here, we investigated the presence of these natural peptides, namely Ci-MAM-A and Ci-PAP-A, in the tunic of C. intestinalis considering that the ascidian tunic is a body surface barrier exposed to constant microbial assault. Furthermore, as the tunic may represent a major route of entry for pathogen invasion after its damage we monitored the location of these peptides upon a local inflammatory-like reaction induced by injection of foreign cells. Using immunocytochemistry and electron microscopy both peptides were localized to the tunic and were massively present in granulocytes of inflamed tissue. Conclusively, antimicrobial peptides may constitute a chemical barrier within the tunic of urochordates.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Di Bella
- Department of Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Sezione di Biologia e Genetica, University of Palermo, Via Divisi 83, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - H Fedders
- Department of Zoophysiology, Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - G De Leo
- Department of Biopatologia e Biotecnologie Mediche e Forensi, Sezione di Biologia e Genetica, University of Palermo, Via Divisi 83, 90133 Palermo, Italy
| | - M Leippe
- Department of Zoophysiology, Zoological Institute, University of Kiel, Olshausenstr. 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany
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Immune roles of a rhamnose-binding lectin in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Immunobiology 2011; 216:725-36. [DOI: 10.1016/j.imbio.2010.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2010] [Accepted: 10/29/2010] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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26
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Ballarin L, Del Favero M, Manni L. Relationships among hemocytes, tunic cells, germ cells, and accessory cells in the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION 2011; 316:284-95. [PMID: 21246708 DOI: 10.1002/jez.b.21400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2010] [Revised: 10/09/2010] [Accepted: 12/15/2010] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies were raised against hemocytes of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri as possible tools to study hemocyte differentiation. In this species, blood cells are involved in various biological functions, such as immunosurveillance, encapsulation of foreign bodies, metal accumulation, and allorecognition. The latter process drives the fusion or rejection of contacting colonies, according to whether they do or do not share at least one allele at the fusibility/histocompatibility (Fu/HC) locus. Hemocytes take part in the rejection reaction, which suggests that they express molecules, coded by the Fu/HC locus, on their surface. A homozygous colony at the Fu/HC locus was used to produce the antibodies, which were screened by immunocytochemistry on hemocyte monolayers, immunohistochemistry on colony paraffin sections, and immunoblotting on colony homogenates. Here, we report on one of the obtained antibodies (1D8), which recognized a surface epitope on hemocytes of the donor colony and other colonies, apparently in a manner specific to the Fu/HC genotype. It also labeled a single 80-kDa band in colony homogenates. In addition, it specifically recognized tunic cells, germ cells, and their accessory cells. These results strengthen the assumption of a close relationship among these types of cells and blood cells, and suggest a close relationship among the above cells, probably deriving from undifferentiated blood cells.
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27
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Burkhard MJ, Leavell S, Weiss RB, Kuehnl K, Valentine H, Thomas Watters G, Wolfe BA. Analysis and cytologic characterization of hemocytes from freshwater mussels (Quadrulasp.). Vet Clin Pathol 2009; 38:426-36. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-165x.2009.00148.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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28
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De Zoysa M, Jung S, Lee J. First molluscan TNF-alpha homologue of the TNF superfamily in disk abalone: molecular characterization and expression analysis. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2009; 26:625-31. [PMID: 18984056 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2008.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2008] [Revised: 10/04/2008] [Accepted: 10/07/2008] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) is considered as a multifunctional immune modulator that plays an important role in the innate and adaptive immune systems in vertebrates. Here, we described the characterization and expression analysis of the first TNF-alpha homologue in mollusk abalone, named as AbTNF-alpha. It has 930-bp full length with a 717-bp open reading frame (ORF), encoding 239 amino acids. The AbTNF-alpha amino acid sequence shows the characteristic TNF family signature, N-terminal transmembrane domain consisting of a hydrophobic amino acid cluster and cell attachment sequence at (155)RGD(157). Phylogenic analysis results showed that AbTNF-alpha is more related to the invertebrate Ciona savignyi TNF superfamily ligand member (CsTL). Quantitative real-time PCR expression results showed that AbTNF-alpha was constitutively expressed in both immune and non-immune tissues in a tissue specific manner. The highest constitutive expression was in the gill tissue with a 1.5-fold compared to hemocytes expression. The AbTNF-alpha mRNA expression in gill tissue was monitored in vivo stimulated by a mixture of pathogenic bacteria (Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio parahemolyticus, and Lysteria monocytogenes), viral haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The AbTNF-alpha expression was significantly (p<0.05) induced by bacteria, VHSV and LPS compared to the control animals. Moreover, the highest level expressions of each induction were at 24 h (5.2-fold), 48 h (2.8-fold), and 48 h (3.3-fold) by bacteria mixture, VHSV and LPS, respectively. These results indicate that AbTNF-alpha could respond to pathogenic infection or stimulation and may play an important role in the abalone immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahanama De Zoysa
- Department of Biotechnology, College of Ocean Science, Cheju National University, Ara-Dong, Jeju 690-756, Republic of Korea
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29
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Menin A, Ballarin L. Immunomodulatory molecules in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri: Evidence from conditioned media. J Invertebr Pathol 2008; 99:275-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jip.2008.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2008] [Revised: 08/06/2008] [Accepted: 08/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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30
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Enhanced expression of a cloned and sequenced Ciona intestinalis TNFα-like (CiTNFα) gene during the LPS-induced inflammatory response. Cell Tissue Res 2008; 334:305-17. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-008-0695-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2008] [Accepted: 09/04/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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The fetal allograft revisited: does the study of an ancient invertebrate species shed light on the role of natural killer cells at the maternal-fetal interface? Clin Dev Immunol 2008; 2008:631920. [PMID: 18615195 PMCID: PMC2443424 DOI: 10.1155/2008/631920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2008] [Accepted: 05/12/2008] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Human pregnancy poses a fundamental immunological problem because the placenta and fetus are genetically different from the host mother. Classical transplantation theory has not provided a plausible solution to this problem. Study of naturally occurring allogeneic chimeras in the colonial marine invertebrate, Botryllus schlosseri, has yielded fresh insight into the primitive development of allorecognition, especially regarding the role of natural killer (NK) cells. Uterine NK cells have a unique phenotype that appears to parallel aspects of the NK-like cells in the allorecognition system of B. schlosseri. Most notably, both cell types recognize and reject "missing self" and both are involved in the generation of a common vascular system between two individuals. Chimeric combination in B. schlosseri results in vascular fusion between two individual colonies; uterine NK cells appear essential to the establishment of adequate maternal-fetal circulation. Since human uterine NK cells appear to de-emphasize primary immunological function, it is proposed that they may share the same evolutionary roots as the B. schlosseri allorecognition system rather than a primary origin in immunity.
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Zhang X, Luan W, Jin S, Xiang J. A novel tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member (CsTL) from Ciona savignyi: molecular identification and expression analysis. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 32:1362-1373. [PMID: 18579203 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2008.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2008] [Revised: 05/04/2008] [Accepted: 05/06/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
A novel invertebrate TNF ligand was identified and characterized in Ciona savignyi. The CsTL cDNA consisted of 995 nucleotides and encoded 281 amino acids. A conserved TNF family signature and several motifs of TNF ligand superfamily were identified in deduced amino acid sequence of CsTL. Phylogenetic analysis grouped CsTL, CiTNF (predicted TNF ligand superfamily homolog in Ciona intestinalis) and urchin TL1A with their own cluster apart from mammalian TNFalpha, LTA, TNFSF15 and fish TNFalpha proteins. Expression studies demonstrated that CsTL mRNA is present in all tested tissues from unchallenged ascidians and its expression was significantly upregulated in hemocytes following LPS injection. The recombinant CsTL protein expressed using a baculovirus expression system showed potential cytotoxic activity in L929 cells. Present results indicated that TNF ligand superfamily molecules are present in marine invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Zhang
- Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 7 Nanhai Road, Qingdao 266071, PR China
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AMANO SHIGETOYO, HORI ISAO. Hemocyte differentiation in the juveniles of the ascidianHalocynthia roretzi. INVERTEBR REPROD DEV 2008. [DOI: 10.1080/07924259.2008.9652252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Rosner A, Rabinowitz C, Moiseeva E, Voskoboynik A, Rinkevich B. BS-cadherin in the colonial urochordate Botryllus schlosseri: one protein, many functions. Dev Biol 2007; 304:687-700. [PMID: 17316601 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2006] [Revised: 12/14/2006] [Accepted: 01/10/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Botryllus schlosseri is a colonial urochordate composed of coexisting modules of three asexually derived generations, the zooids and two cohorts of buds, each at disparate developmental stage. Functional zooids are replaced weekly by the older generation of buds through a highly synchronized developmental cycle called blastogenesis (which is, in turn, divided into four major stages, A to D). In this study, we examined the mode of expression of BS-cadherin, a 130-kDa transmembrane protein isolated from this species, during blastogenesis. BS-Cadherin is expressed extensively in internal organs of developing buds, embryos, ampullae and, briefly, in the digestive system of zooids at early blastogenic stage D (in contrast to low mRNA expression at this stage). In vitro trypsin assays on single-cell suspensions prepared from blastogenic stage D zooids, confirmed that BS-cadherin protein is expressed on cell surfaces and is, therefore, functional. BS-Cadherin expression is also upregulated in response to various stress conditions, such as oxidative stress, injury and allorecognition. It plays an important role in colony morphogenesis, because siRNA knockdown during D/A blastogenic transition causes chaotic colonial structures and disrupts oocytes homing onto their bud niches. These results reveal that BS-cadherin protein functions are exerted through a specific spatiotemporal pattern and fluctuating expression levels, in both development/regular homeostasis and in response to various stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Rosner
- National Institute of Oceanography, Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, Tel Shikmona, P.O. Box 8030, Haifa 31080, Israel.
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Cima F, Sabbadin A, Zaniolo G, Ballarin L. Colony specificity and chemotaxis in the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2006; 145:376-82. [PMID: 16962802 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2006.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2006] [Revised: 06/30/2006] [Accepted: 07/18/2006] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We re-investigated the behavior of hemocytes during the non-fusion (rejection) reaction between genetically incompatible colonies of the ascidian Botryllus schlosseri. In the course of the reaction, hemocytes - mainly morula cells - crowd inside the blind ends of marginal vascular vessels (known as ampullae) of the colonial leading edge (LE) facing the foreign colony which suggests the occurrence of chemotactic attraction of circulating hemocytes towards the ampullar lumen. Then, cells migrate, through the ampullar tips, into the partially fused tunics and contribute to the formation of the necrotic spots along the contact borders which characterize the reaction. Studies on histological sections clearly indicate that, although morula cell concentration is always higher in ampullae of the LE than in those of the lateral (L) part of the colony, their frequency significantly increases in LE ampullae of rejecting colonies with respect to LE ampullae of both fusing and isolated colonies. In addition, in vitro chemotaxis experiments demonstrated that blood plasma from incompatible colonies can stimulate morula cell migration through polycarbonate filters and this passage is inhibited by antibodies raised against mammalian pro-inflammatory cytokines. The possible nature and role of molecules recognized by anti-cytokine antibodies in hemocyte migration are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Cima
- University of Padova, Department of Biology, Via U. Bassi 58/B, 35100 Padova, Italy
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Rinkevich B. Rejection patterns in botryllid ascidian immunity: the first tier of allorecognition. CAN J ZOOL 2005. [DOI: 10.1139/z04-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Botryllid ascidians, a small but geographically widely distributed group of compound tunicates, are being used as a model system for the study of allorecognition. Botryllid ascidians possess a unique type of immunity. Pairs of colonies that meet through their extending ampullae either fuse to form a chimera or develop cytotoxic lesions at contact zones (rejection). This first tier of allorecognition is succeeded (in cases of fusion) by two additional tiers, not reviewed here (the colony resorption phenomenon and the phenomenon of somatic and germ cell parasitism). Fusion and rejection are controlled by a single highly polymorphic gene locus termed the fusibility/histocompatibility (Fu/HC) locus. One shared allele on the Fu/HC locus is enough for fusion. Rejecting colonies do not share any Fu/HC alleles. To date, 14 botryllid ascidians have been studied for their fusibility patterns; of these, the cosmopolitan species Botryllus schlosseri (Pallas, 1766) has emerged as the most studied taxon. This review summarizes studies revealing the various types of noncompatible responses that are expressed following the application of the "colony allorecognition assay" and the "cut surface assay". These include divergent alloresponses related to different populations of the same botryllid species, distinctive allorecognition sites, polymorphism and a repertoire of Fu/HC alleles, a state of low responsiveness as opposed to the expected immunological memory, the retreat growth phenomenon, and the irreversible nature of the rejection process. A detailed description of the accumulated knowledge on the effector cells (morula cells and macrophages), the humoral and cellular molecules (at the biochemical and molecular levels), and the prophenoloxidase system is given. Links between allogeneic responses and the evolutionary ecology of botryllid ascidians are revealed. Since tunicates occupy a key phylogenetic position in the origin of the vertebrates, the study of colony allorecognition in this group may shed light on self/nonself recognition elements in other multicellular organisms, including vertebrates.
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Raftos D, Nair S. Tunicate cytokine-like molecules and their involvement in host defense responses. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR AND SUBCELLULAR BIOLOGY 2004; 34:165-82. [PMID: 14979668 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-18670-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Tunicates (ascidians or sea squirts) are a large group of invertebrate chordates that are closely related to vertebrates. Their critical phylogenetic position has stimulated substantial interest in their host defense ("immune") responses. Whilst this interest has generated a wealth of knowledge regarding the humoral and cellular mechanisms that undertake defensive responses, there is less known about the regulation of those reactions. This chapter focuses on three cellular responses (cell proliferation, phagocytosis and chemotaxis) that are known to be regulated by cytophilic humoral molecules. Some of the humoral factors that affect these responses have functional and physicochemical similarities to vertebrate cytokines, like interleukin-1. However, the only regulatory molecules that have been characterized at a molecular level bear far greater similarity to C-type lectins or complement components.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Raftos
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW 2109, Australia
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Hirose E. Colonial allorecognition, hemolytic rejection, and viviparity in botryllid ascidians. Zoolog Sci 2003; 20:387-94. [PMID: 12719640 DOI: 10.2108/zsj.20.387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Allorecognition is a fundamental system that animals use to maintain individuality. Although embryos are usually semiallogeneic with their mother, viviparous animals are required to allow these embryos to develop inside the maternal body, but must also eliminate an "invasion" by nonself. In colonial ascidians of the family Botryllidae, when two colonies are brought into contact at their growing edges, a hemolytic rejection reaction occurs between allogeneic colonies. Morula cells, a type of hemocyte, are the major effector cells in the hemolytic rejection. Morula cells infiltrate and aggregate where the two colonies make contact, and then discharge their vacuolar contents, which contain phenoloxidase and quinones. In viviparous botryllids, colonial contact at artificially cut surfaces always results in colonial fusion and establishment of a common vascular network even between allogeneic colonies in which the growing-edge contact results in rejection. This colonial fusion between incompatible colonies (surgical fusion) suggests that the allorecognition sites are not distributed in the vascular system in which the embryos are brooded. It is supposed that a common ancestor of the viviparous species lost the capacity for allorecognition in their vascular system to protect its embryos from alloreactivity, when it changed from ovoviviparous to viviparous in the course of evolution. The limited distribution of allorecognition sites would be a solution to the embryo-parent histoincompatibility in viviparity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euichi Hirose
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Marine Science, Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan.
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Ottaviani E, Malagoli D, Franchini A. Invertebrate Humoral Factors: Cytokines as Mediators of Cell Survival. INVERTEBRATE CYTOKINES AND THE PHYLOGENY OF IMMUNITY 2003; 34:1-25. [PMID: 14979662 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-18670-7_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The presence and the different functional aspects of cytokine-related molecules in invertebrates are described. Cytokine-like factors affect immune functions, such as cell motility, chemotaxis, phagocytosis and cytotoxicity. In particular, cell migration shows a species-specific effect for IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha and a dose-correlated effect for IL-8, PDGF-AB and TGF-beta1. Apart from some exceptions, the phagocytic effect increases significantly at all the concentrations tested and with all the species used. PDGF-AB, TGF-beta1 and IL-8 provoke conformational changes in mollusk immunocytes, involving the signaling transduction pathways of phosphatidylinositol and cAMP. PDGF-AB and TGF-beta1 partially inhibit the induced programmed cell death in an insect cell line, and the survival effect is mediated by the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, PKA and PKC. The exogenous administration of these growth factors in an invertebrate wound repair model showed that they are able to control the wound environment and promote the repair process by accelerating the coordinated activities involved. Moreover, IL-1alpha, IL-2 and TNF-alpha are able to induce nitric oxide synthase. PDGF-AB and TGF-beta1 provoke an increase in neutral endopeptidase-24.11 (NEP)-like activity in membrane preparations from mollusk immunocytes, while NEP deactivates the PDGF-AB- and TGF-beta1-induced cell shape changes. Cytokines are also involved in invertebrate stress response in a manner extremely similar to that in vertebrates. Several studies suggest the existence on the mollusk immunocyte membrane of an ancestral receptor capable of binding both IL-2 and CRH. Furthermore, the competition found between CRH and a large number of cytokines supports the idea that invertebrate cytokine receptors show a certain degree of promiscuity. The multiple functions of cytokines detected in invertebrates underline another characteristic of mammalian cytokines, i.e. their great pleiotropicity. Altogether, the studies on the function of the invertebrate humoral factors show a close overlapping with those found in vertebrates, and the hypothesized missing correlation between invertebrate and vertebrate cytokine genes that is emerging from the limited molecular biology data present in literature might represent a very peculiar strategy followed by Nature in the evolution of cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Ottaviani
- Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 213/D, 41100 Modena, Italy
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Rinkevich B. The colonial urochordate Botryllus schlosseri: from stem cells and natural tissue transplantation to issues in evolutionary ecology. Bioessays 2002; 24:730-40. [PMID: 12210534 DOI: 10.1002/bies.10123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The urochordates, whose stem groups may have included the direct predecessors of the chordate line, serve as an excellent model group of organisms for a variety of scientific disciplines. One taxon, the botryllid ascidian, has emerged as the model system for studying allorecognition; this work has concentrated on the cosmopolitan species Botryllus schlosseri. Studies analyzing self-nonself recognition in this colonial marine organism point to three levels of allorecognition, each associated with different outcomes. The first level controls natural allogeneic rejections and fusions, in which blood-shared chimeras are formed. The second level leads to morphological resorption of partners within chimeras while the third allows the development of somatic and germ cell parasitic events. Recent studies on multi-chimeric entities formed in allogeneic fusions reveal evolutionary links between allorecognition, stem cell biology and ecology. Thus, the Botryllus system generates perspectives from different biological disciplines to yield a unique life history portrait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baruch Rinkevich
- National Institute of Oceanography, Tel Shikmona, PO Box 8030, Haifa 31080, Israel.
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