A multiparametric approach for monitoring immunotoxic responses in mussels from contaminated sites in Western Mediterranea.
As a part of the multidisciplinary program Biological Effects of Environmental Pollution in Marine Coastal Ecosystems of the European Commission, this study aimed to validate immunological alterations as biomarkers of exposure to chemical contamination in polluted areas of Western Mediterranea. The status of the immune system has been assessed in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) by measuring several immunopathological and immunocompetence parameters. Alterations of total hemocyte counts, lysosomal stability, and phagocytosis were among the most reliable effects observed in polluted sites and suggested immunosuppressive conditions in contaminated mussels. An immunotoxicological index was calculated from the set of individual data. By providing a single value per sampling station to score immunological alterations in mussels, this novel approach allowed recognition of a gradient of perturbation correlated to pollution intensity in two of the three sites monitored. Processing a set of biological parameters by this method was found to increase the ecotoxicological relevance of such multiparametric studies for the assessment of chemical contamination in coastal waters.
Auffret
Michel
M
Laboratoire des Sciences de l'Environnement Marin, UMR CNRS 6539-LEMAR, Technopôle Brest-Iroise, 29280 Plouzane, France. Michel.Auffret@univ-brest.fr
Rousseau
Sabrina
S
Boutet
Isabelle
I
Tanguy
Arnaud
A
Baron
Jacques
J
Moraga
Dario
D
Duchemin
Matthieu
M
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000276:immunology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008247:Lysosomes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D015415:Biomarkers; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical