title: Evolution, immune responses and stress: studies on molluscan cells.
abstract: Using a variety of techniques we found the presence of ACTH and opioid-like molecules in the phagocytic spreading hemocytes (SH) and the serum of the mollusc Planorbarius corneus. In vitro experiments have shown that ACTH and beta-endorphin exert chemotactic activity on SH, while ACTH, but not beta-endorphin increases the phagocytic activity of SH. Moreover, ACTH and CRF provoked the release of biogenic amines from the hemocytes, mimicking a proto-stress type of response. Thus, the same mobile cell is capable of immune and proto-stress responses by using as mediators neuropeptides which remained fundamentally similar throughout evolution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Biology, University of Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ottaviani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Caselgrandi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fontanili
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001679:Biogenic Amines / Q000276:immunology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008974:Mollusca / Q000276:immunology*; D015213:Neuroimmunomodulation; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000276:immunology; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001679:Biogenic Amines; D009479:Neuropeptides; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone