title: Lipopolysaccharides induce intestinal serum amyloid A expression in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima.
abstract: We have previously characterized the first invertebrate homolog of serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima, where its expression is associated with intestinal regeneration, suggesting a possible involvement of SAA proteins in intestinal morphogenesis. Here we show that bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) trigger a coelomocyte-mediated immune response in H. glaberrima, inducing an approximately threefold increase in coelomocyte phagocytic activity. Furthermore, LPS induces an approximately fourfold increase in SAA mRNA levels in non-regenerating intestines. These results show that in H. glaberrima, LPS act as an immune activator and that SAA expression can be modulated by immune-associated processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Puerto Rico, UPR Station, PR 00931-3360, Río Piedras, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Pedro G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Santiago-Cardona
authors.forename: César A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Berríos
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ramírez
authors.forename: José E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: García-Arrarás
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012038:Regeneration; D012616:Sea Cucumbers / Q000276:immunology*; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000685:Serum Amyloid A Protein