Epigonal conditioned media from bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo, induces apoptosis in a T-cell leukemia cell line, Jurkat E6-1.

Representatives of Subclass Elasmobranchii are cartilaginous fish whose members include sharks, skates, and rays. Because of their unique phylogenetic position of being the most primitive group of vertebrates to possess all the components necessary for an adaptive immune system, the immune regulatory compounds they possess may represent the earliest evolutionary forms of novel compounds with the potential for innovative therapeutic applications. Conditioned medium, generated from short term culture of cells from the epigonal organ of bonnethead sharks (Sphyrna tiburo), has been shown to have potent reproducible cytotoxic activity against a variety of human tumor cell lines in vitro.

Electrosensory ampullary organs are derived from lateral line placodes in cartilaginous fishes.

Ampullary organ electroreceptors excited by weak cathodal electric fields are used for hunting by both cartilaginous and non-teleost bony fishes. Despite similarities of neurophysiology and innervation, their embryonic origins remain controversial: bony fish ampullary organs are derived from lateral line placodes, whereas a neural crest origin has been proposed for cartilaginous fish electroreceptors. This calls into question the homology of electroreceptors and ampullary organs in the two lineages of jawed vertebrates.

In vivo exposure of clearnose skates, Raja eglanteria, to ionising X-radiation: acute effects on the peripheral blood, spleen, and epigonal and Leydig organs.

The effects of ionising radiation on the peripheral blood, spleen, and epigonal and Leydig organs of cartilaginous fishes were investigated using juvenile clearnose skates, Raja eglanteria. Skates (N = 80) were sacrificed 12 days after exposure to 0-75 Gy of X-radiation, and morphometrics (body mass, disc width, total length), mass of spleens and epigonal organs, and peripheral blood leucocyte (PBL) counts were compared to controls using ANOVA. Spleen and epigonal organ mass and PBL counts declined logarithmically as a function of radiation dose.

Elasmobranch immune cells as a source of novel tumor cell inhibitors: Implications for public health.

SYNOPSIS: Reports that elasmobranchs (sharks, skates, and rays) may have a low incidence of disease have stimulated interest in understanding the role of their immune system in this apparent resistance. Although research in this area may potentially translate into applications for human health, a basic understanding of the elasmobranch immune system components and how they function is essential. As in higher vertebrates, elasmobranch fishes possess thymus and spleen, but in the absence of bone marrow and lymph nodes, these fish have evolved unique lymphomyeloid tissues, namely epigonal and Leydig organs.

Nitric oxide production by nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) and clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria) peripheral blood leucocytes.

Reactive nitrogen intermediates, such as nitric oxide (NO), are important immunomodulators in vertebrate immune systems, but have yet to be identified as mediators of host defence in any member of class Chondrichthyes, the cartilaginous fishes. In the present study, production of NO by nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum) peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL) stimulated with bacterial cell wall lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated. PBL were cultured for 24 to 96 h following stimulation with LPS at concentrations ranging from 0 to 25 microg ml(-1), in both serum-supplemented and serum-free culture conditions.

In vivo exposure of clearnose skates, Raja eglanteria, to ionizing X-radiation: acute effects on the thymus.

To investigate for the first time the effects of ionizing radiation on thymus of a representative cartilaginous fish, juvenile clearnose skates, Raja eglanteria, were exposed to 0-75 Gy of X-radiation and sacrificed after 12 days. Morphometrics (weight, disc width and total length) and thymus and thymic cyst area were compared to controls using ANOVA. Thymus area declined logarithmically and medullary cysts increased as a function of dose (P < or = 0.

Effects of environmental stressors on lymphocyte proliferation in Florida manatees, Trichechus manatus latirostris.

The health of many Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is adversely affected each year by exposure to cold weather or harmful algal blooms (red tide; Karenia brevis). Exposures can be sublethal, resulting in stressed animals that are rescued and taken to authorized facilities for rehabilitation, or lethal if exposures are prolonged or unusually severe. To investigate whether sublethal environmental exposures can impair immune function in manatees, rendering animals vulnerable to disease or death, mitogen-induced proliferation was assessed in lymphocytes from manatees exposed to cold temperatures (N=20) or red tide (N=19) in the wild, and compared to lymphocyte responses from healthy free-ranging manatees (N=32).

Expression of individual immunoglobulin genes occurs in an unusual system consisting of multiple independent loci.

Humoral immunity is effected through the rearrangement of immunoglobulin (Ig) genes in individual somatic cells committed to the B lymphocyte lineage. Haplotype or allelic exclusion restricts B lymphocytes to the expression of a single Ig receptor that can sustain further somatic modification. In most species, a specific Ig chain is encoded at a single genetic locus.

Evolutionary origins of lymphocytes: ensembles of T cell and B cell transcriptional regulators in a cartilaginous fish.

The evolutionary origins of lymphocytes can be traced by phylogenetic comparisons of key features. Homologs of rearranging TCR and Ig (B cell receptor) genes are present in jawed vertebrates, but have not been identified in other animal groups. In contrast, most of the transcription factors that are essential for the development of mammalian T and B lymphocytes belong to multigene families that are represented by members in the majority of the metazoans, providing a potential bridge to prevertebrate ancestral roles.