title: Effects of the organochlorines p,p'-DDE and lindane on gilthead seabream leucocyte immune parameters and gene expression.
abstract: Toxicological effects of pesticides in water-living animals are very important, especially when these animals are for human consumption. Thus, in vitro tests were performed to evaluate the immunotoxicological impact of two organochlorines, lindane and p,p'-DDE, on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) leucocytes, an economically important fish-farmed species in the Mediterranean area. Leucocyte viability (apoptosis and necrosis), innate immune parameters (phagocytosis, respiratory burst and cell-mediated cytotoxicity) and immune-relevant gene expression were determined after incubation of head-kidney leucocytes with the pesticides (0 - control, 5 ng to 50 microg ml(-1) for 4 or 24h). These pesticides had no negative effects on leucocyte viability and produced very slight variations in the immunological parameters. However, both p,p'-DDE and lindane up-regulated to varying degrees some immune-related genes such as IL-1beta, TNFalpha, MHCIalpha, MHCIIalpha, Mx, TLR9, IgML and TCRalpha. Further studies are needed to ascertain how pesticides affect the immune system of farmed fish and the mechanisms involved.
authors.affiliation: Fish Innate Immune System Group, Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cuesta
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meseguer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angeles Esteban