The impact of rising sea temperature on innate immune parameters in the tropical subtidal sea urchin Lytechinus variegatus and the intertidal sea urchin Echinometra lucunter.
Ocean temperatures are rising throughout the world, making it necessary to evaluate the impact of these temperature changes on sea urchins, which are well-known bioindicators. This study evaluated the effect of an increase in temperature on the immune response of the subtidal Lytechinus variegatus and the intertidal Echinometra lucunter sea urchins. Both species were exposed to 20 (control), 25 and 30 °C temperatures for 24 h, 2, 7 and 14 days. Counting of coelomocytes and assays on the phagocytic response, adhesion and spreading of coelomocytes were performed. Red and colorless sphere cells were considered biomarkers for heat stress. Moreover, a significant decrease in the phagocytic indices and a decrease in both cell adhesion and cell spreading were observed at 25 and 30 °C for L. variegatus. For E. lucunter, the only alteration observed was for the cell proportions. This report shows how different species of sea urchins respond immunologically to rising temperatures.
Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Av. Prof. Lineu Prestes, 1524, CEP 05508-000, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: pbranco@usp.br.
Paola Cristina
PC
Branco
João Carlos Shimada
JC
Borges
Marinilce Fagundes
MF
Santos
Bernard Ernesto
BE
Jensch Junior
José Roberto Machado Cunha
JR
da Silva
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D005260:Female; D018869:Heat-Shock Response / Q000502:physiology; D047331:Lytechinus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013696:Temperature; D014329:Tropical Climate
Biomarker; Coelomocytes; Echinometra lucunter; Effects physiology; Global warming; Immune function; Lytechinus variegatus; Phagocytosis; Temperature; Tropical sea urchins