title: A highly phagocytic cell line TO from Atlantic salmon is CD83 positive and M-CSFR negative, indicating a dendritic-like cell type.
abstract: Leucocyte cell lines are valuable tools for immunological studies. In this study the TO cell line, originating from Atlantic salmon head kidney leucocytes, is described with respect to enzyme cytochemistry, functional studies, reactivity with leucocyte specific antibodies and immune gene expression. Pronounced characteristics of the TO cell line are the rapid adherence to the plastic growth surface, high phagocytic capacity and bactericidal functions. No respiratory burst activity, and little or no NO production were detected under the experimental conditions tested, and thus the TO cells appear to have other effective killing mechanisms. The cells are reactive with a leucocyte specific monoclonal antibody (MAb), but does not bind a neutrophil specific MAb or stain for myeloperoxidase. Real-time RT-PCR showed the expression in TO cells of several immune genes, some of which were significantly regulated following LPS stimulation. The expression of CD83 might indicate a dendritic cell (DC) origin of the TO cells, as this marker is considered a hallmark for DC. Expression of TCR-alpha or the macrophage marker M-CSFR was not detected. Based on the present analyses the TO cells display a mixture of known characteristics for macrophages and DCs. At the same time the TO cells lack some central functions of phagocytic/myeloid cells. As the TO cells are developed to a long-term culture one cannot exclude that some functions might have been lost in this process. Nevertheless, the features of the TO cells indicate their potential as a model system for immunological studies of salmon phagocytic cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen High-Technology Center, PO Box 7800, NO-5020 Bergen, Norway. eirin.pettersen@bio.uib.no
authors.forename: Eirin Fausa
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Pettersen
authors.forename: Hans-Christian
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ingerslev
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stavang
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Egenberg
authors.forename: Heidrun I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Wergeland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D002460:Cell Line; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000662:veterinary; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique / Q000662:veterinary; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000662:veterinary; D009281:Naphthalenes; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D016184:Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000276:immunology*; D000097802:CD83 Antigen
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D001391:Azo Compounds; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D009281:Naphthalenes; D012313:RNA; D016184:Receptors, Colony-Stimulating Factor; D000097802:CD83 Antigen; C016118:Sudan Black B