Coelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological study
Abstract Metazoans have several mechanisms of internal defense for their survival. The internal defense system evolved alongside the organisms. Annelidae have circulating coelomocytes that perform functions comparable to the phagocytic immune cells of vertebrates. Several studies have shown that the...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Zoological Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40851-023-00203-y |
| _version_ | 1797863245952843776 |
|---|---|
| author | Alessio Alesci Gioele Capillo Angelo Fumia Marco Albano Emmanuele Messina Nunziacarla Spanò Simona Pergolizzi Eugenia Rita Lauriano |
| author_facet | Alessio Alesci Gioele Capillo Angelo Fumia Marco Albano Emmanuele Messina Nunziacarla Spanò Simona Pergolizzi Eugenia Rita Lauriano |
| author_sort | Alessio Alesci |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Metazoans have several mechanisms of internal defense for their survival. The internal defense system evolved alongside the organisms. Annelidae have circulating coelomocytes that perform functions comparable to the phagocytic immune cells of vertebrates. Several studies have shown that these cells are involved in phagocytosis, opsonization, and pathogen recognition processes. Like vertebrate macrophages, these circulating cells that permeate organs from the coelomic cavity capture or encapsulate pathogens, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). Furthermore, they produce a range of bioactive proteins involved in immune response and perform detoxification functions through their lysosomal system. Coelomocytes can also participate in lithic reactions against target cells and the release of antimicrobial peptides. Our study immunohistochemically identify coelomocytes of Lumbricus terrestris scattered in the epidermal and the connective layer below, both in the longitudinal and in the smooth muscle layer, immunoreactive for TLR2, CD14 and α-Tubulin for the first time. TLR2 and CD14 are not fully colocalized with each other, suggesting that these coelomocytes may belong to two distinct families. The expression of these immune molecules on Annelidae coelomocytes confirms their crucial role in the internal defense system of these Oligochaeta protostomes, suggesting a phylogenetic conservation of these receptors. These data could provide further insights into the understanding of the internal defense system of the Annelida and of the complex mechanisms of the immune system in vertebrates. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:32:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-18fb13b47cde43c591565c64638bfba8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-306X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T22:32:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zoological Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-18fb13b47cde43c591565c64638bfba82023-03-22T12:40:02ZengBMCZoological Letters2056-306X2023-03-019111010.1186/s40851-023-00203-yCoelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological studyAlessio Alesci0Gioele Capillo1Angelo Fumia2Marco Albano3Emmanuele Messina4Nunziacarla Spanò5Simona Pergolizzi6Eugenia Rita Lauriano7Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaDepartment of Veterinary Sciences, University of MessinaDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Padiglione C, A. O. U. Policlinico “G. Martino”Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaInstitute of Marine Biological Resources and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IRBIM, CNR)Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaDepartment of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of MessinaAbstract Metazoans have several mechanisms of internal defense for their survival. The internal defense system evolved alongside the organisms. Annelidae have circulating coelomocytes that perform functions comparable to the phagocytic immune cells of vertebrates. Several studies have shown that these cells are involved in phagocytosis, opsonization, and pathogen recognition processes. Like vertebrate macrophages, these circulating cells that permeate organs from the coelomic cavity capture or encapsulate pathogens, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and nitric oxide (NO). Furthermore, they produce a range of bioactive proteins involved in immune response and perform detoxification functions through their lysosomal system. Coelomocytes can also participate in lithic reactions against target cells and the release of antimicrobial peptides. Our study immunohistochemically identify coelomocytes of Lumbricus terrestris scattered in the epidermal and the connective layer below, both in the longitudinal and in the smooth muscle layer, immunoreactive for TLR2, CD14 and α-Tubulin for the first time. TLR2 and CD14 are not fully colocalized with each other, suggesting that these coelomocytes may belong to two distinct families. The expression of these immune molecules on Annelidae coelomocytes confirms their crucial role in the internal defense system of these Oligochaeta protostomes, suggesting a phylogenetic conservation of these receptors. These data could provide further insights into the understanding of the internal defense system of the Annelida and of the complex mechanisms of the immune system in vertebrates.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40851-023-00203-yAnnelidCoelomocytesEarthwormEvolutionImmunity |
| spellingShingle | Alessio Alesci Gioele Capillo Angelo Fumia Marco Albano Emmanuele Messina Nunziacarla Spanò Simona Pergolizzi Eugenia Rita Lauriano Coelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological study Zoological Letters Annelid Coelomocytes Earthworm Evolution Immunity |
| title | Coelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological study |
| title_full | Coelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological study |
| title_fullStr | Coelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Coelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological study |
| title_short | Coelomocytes of the Oligochaeta earthworm Lumbricus terrestris (Linnaeus, 1758) as evolutionary key of defense: a morphological study |
| title_sort | coelomocytes of the oligochaeta earthworm lumbricus terrestris linnaeus 1758 as evolutionary key of defense a morphological study |
| topic | Annelid Coelomocytes Earthworm Evolution Immunity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40851-023-00203-y |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT alessioalesci coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy AT gioelecapillo coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy AT angelofumia coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy AT marcoalbano coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy AT emmanuelemessina coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy AT nunziacarlaspano coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy AT simonapergolizzi coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy AT eugeniaritalauriano coelomocytesoftheoligochaetaearthwormlumbricusterrestrislinnaeus1758asevolutionarykeyofdefenseamorphologicalstudy |