title: Dermal exposure to immunostimulants induces changes in activity and proliferation of coelomocytes of Eisenia andrei.
abstract: Due to the specific habitat conditions in which they live, earthworms are constantly exposed to pathogens. Consequently, they have evolved various immuno-defense mechanisms, including cellular (coelomocytes) and humoral responses, which may help to eliminate deleterious micro-organisms but also repair and/or protect host cells and tissues. Similar to mammalian phagocytes, coelomocytes can kill ingested pathogens with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide. In the present work, we studied the effects of the dermal exposure of Eisenia andrei earthworms to different immuno-stimulants: phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or concanavalin A (ConA). After 3 days of treatment with all immuno-stimulants, decreased numbers and changed composition of the coelomocytes were observed. The immuno-stimulants also induced numerous changes in bactericidal activity, including ROS production. Furthermore, all stimulants increased cell proliferation while only LPS-treatment significantly elevated apoptosis of coelomocytes. These results demonstrate that in vivo treatment of earthworms with immuno-stimulants induces various changes in their coelomocyte response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387 Krakow, Poland. joanna.homa@uj.edu.pl
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Homa
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zorska
authors.forename: Dawid
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wesolowski
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chadzinska
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D007111:Immunity, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects*; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010703:Phorbol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D016897:Respiratory Burst / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010703:Phorbol Esters; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003208:Concanavalin A; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C032974:12-O-retinoylphorbol-13-acetate