title: Metallothionein 2 and Heat Shock Protein 72 Protect Allolobophora chlorotica from Cadmium But Not Nickel or Copper Exposure: Body Malformation and Coelomocyte Functioning.
abstract: Earthworms serve as good indicators of heavy metal contamination due to their innate sensitivity towards soil pollution. However, to date, not many studies have focused on endogeic earthworms, such as the omnipresent Allolobophora chlorotica. The current study was designed to verify whether this earthworm could serve as a novel distinctively susceptible species for environmental contamination studies. We show that the dermal exposure to Cu, Ni, and Cd affected the mortality and morphology of A. chlorotica, and the number and functioning of coelomocytes. These features particularly were pronounced in animals treated with Ni and Cu and interestingly to a lesser extend with Cd. In contrast, Cd induced a strong expression of metallothioneins (MT-2) and heat shock proteins (HSP72). The presence of MT-2 was detected not only in coelomocytes but also in the intestine, blood vessels, and epidermis. In conclusion, Allolobophora chlorotica coelomocytes are adopted to respond differentially to various heavy metals, generating powerful response towards potentially most dangerous exogenous non-essential elements.
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.affiliation: Analytical and Environmental Sciences Division, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Stürzenbaum
authors.affiliation: Department of Evolutionary Immunology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 9, 30-387, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kolaczkowska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D055135:Coelomomyces / Q000187:drug effects*; D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000378:metabolism*; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D050884:HSP72 Heat-Shock Proteins; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002104:Cadmium; D009532:Nickel; D008668:Metallothionein