Terminal carbohydrates abundance, immune related enzymes, bactericidal activity and physico-chemical parameters of the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) skin mucus.
Recently, interest in mucosal surfaces, more specifically fish skin and its secreted mucus, has greatly increased among immunologists. The abundance of terminal carbohydrates, several enzymes (proteases, lysozyme, peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, esterases and ceruloplasmin), bactericidal activity against fish pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and several physico-chemical parameters (protein concentration, pH, conductivity, redox potential, osmolarity, density and viscosity) in the skin mucus of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) have been evaluated. Present results evidence the abundance of N-acetylneuraminic acid, mannose, glucose and N-acetyl-galactosamine in skin mucus. The levels of lysozyme, proteases, esterases and alkaline phosphatase were very similar (from 20 to 30 Units mg-1protein). However, 93 Units mg-1protein were detected of ceruloplasmin and only 4'88 Units mg-1protein of peroxidase. Skin mucus of S. senegalensis showed high bactericidal activity against the tested pathogen bacteria but weak activity against non-pathogenic bacteria. Finally, a clear relationship between mucus density and temperature was detected, while viscosity showed a direct shear- and temperature-dependent behaviour. These results could be useful for better understanding the role of the skin mucus as a key component of the innate immune system, as well as, for elucidating possible relationships between biological and physico-chemical parameters and disease susceptibility.
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Francisco A
FA
Guardiola
Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
María
M
Cuartero
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
María
M
Del Mar Collado-González
Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
F Guillermo
FG
Díaz Baños
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
Alberto
A
Cuesta
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Málaga, 29071 Málaga, Spain.
Miguel Ángel
MÁ
Moriñigo
Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Biology, Campus Regional de Excelencia Internacional "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: aesteban@um.es.
M Ángeles
MÁ
Esteban
D000818:Animals; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000737:chemistry*; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005412:Flatfishes / Q000276:immunology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D009093:Mucus / Q000201:enzymology*; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology
D002241:Carbohydrates; D029941:Fish Proteins
Bactericidal activity; Physico-chemical parameters; Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup); Skin mucus; Teleosts