Phenotypic and functional characterization of two coelomocyte subsets in Apostichopus japonicus.

The hemocytes of invertebrates are composed of different cell subsets with different morphologies and structures. Different cell subsets have different immune functions, which play an important role in innate immune response against pathogens. However, the understanding of the classification of Apostichopus japonicus coelomocytes and the molecular basis of immune function of different cell subsets is very limited.