A Toxicological and Ecotoxicological Assay Based on Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Hemocytes Motility.

Hemocytes are the circulating immune-competent cells in bivalve mollusks and play a key role in several important functions of cell-mediated innate immunity. During the early stages of the immune response, hemocytes actively migrate to the site of infection. This inherent motility is a fundamental characteristic of these cells.

Motility of Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes: Sensitivity to paracetamol in vitro exposure.

Pharmaceuticals released into the environment (PiEs) represent an environmental problem of growing concern for the health of ecosystems and humans. An increasing number of studies show that PiEs pose a risk to aquatic organisms. The aim of the present work was to contribute to increasing the knowledge of the effects of PiE on marine biota focusing on the effect of paracetamol on the motility of hemocytes in Mytilus galloprovincialis, a bivalve mollusk species widely utilized as bioindicator organism.

In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory and Vasculoprotective Effects of Red Cell Extract from the Black Sea Urchin .

Sea urchins have emerged as an important source of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties relevant to human health. Since inflammation is a crucial pathogenic process in the development and progression of atherosclerosis, we here assessed the potential anti-inflammatory and vasculoprotective effects of coelomic red-cell methanolic extract of the black sea urchin in an in vitro model of endothelial cell dysfunction. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were pretreated with red-cell extract (10 and 100 μg/mL) before exposure to the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α.

Cytoskeletal Responses and Aif-1 Expression in Caco-2 Monolayers Exposed to Phorbol-12-Myristate-13-Acetate and Carnosine.

The dis(re)organization of the cytoskeletal actin in enterocytes mediates epithelial barrier dys(re)function, playing a key role in modulating epithelial monolayer's integrity and remodeling under transition from physiological to pathological states. Here, by fluorescence-based morphological and morphometric analyses, we detected differential responses of cytoskeletal actin in intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cell monolayers at two different stages of their spontaneous differentiation, i.e.

Microalgae: A Promising Future.

Microalgae are photosynthetic unicellular microorganisms that represent an extremely important component of the aquatic ecosystem productivity, diversity, and functioning [...

Chemical characterization of red cells from the black sea urchin by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.

Red spherula cells (RSC) from sea urchin coelomic fluid have attracted great interest for their specific and intriguing properties, such as for example antimicrobial activities and immune response, that probably tie in with their red characteristic pigments. Although to date different studies have been reported aimed to chemically characterize their pigments extracted from the cells, few data are available about the chemical characterization of the cell surface. In this work, a systematic chemical characterization of the RSC surface by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis is described.

Bioactive Potential of Two Marine Picocyanobacteria Belonging to and Genera.

Coccoid cyanobacteria produce a great variety of secondary metabolites, which may have useful properties, such as antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulant or anticancer activities. These cyanobacterial metabolites have high ecological significance, and they could be considered responsible for the widespread occurrence of these microorganisms. Considering the great benefit derived from the identification of competent cyanobacteria for the extraction of bioactive compounds, two strains of picocyanobacteria (coccoid cyanobacteria < 3 µm) ( sp.

Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 in Metazoans: Focus on Invertebrates.

Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is a calcium-binding scaffold/adaptor protein often associated with inflammatory diseases. Originally cloned from active macrophages in humans and rats, this gene has also been identified in other vertebrates and in several invertebrate species. Among metazoans, AIF-1 protein sequences remain relatively highly conserved.

Screening of Three Echinoderm Species as New Opportunity for Drug Discovery: Their Bioactivities and Antimicrobial Properties.

Echinoderms are a renewable resource with an economic value due to their increasing demand as food and/or source of bioactive molecules exerting antitumor, antiviral, anticoagulant, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. In this framework, the present study is aimed at investigating the antibacterial, antioxidant, and hemolytic activities in the three Echinoderm species , , and . The sea star showed lysozyme-like activity (mean diameter of lysis of 13.

Molecular and expression analysis of the Allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1) in the coelomocytes of the common sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus.

Allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1) is a highly conserved gene involved in inflammation, cloned and characterized in several evolutionary distant animal species. Here, we report the molecular identification, characterization and expression of AIF-1 from the common sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. In this species, AIF-1 encodes a predicted 151 amino acid protein with high similarity to vertebrate AIF-1 proteins.

The sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus immunological response to chemical pollution exposure: The case of lindane.

In the marine environment organochlorine insecticides can be broadly detected in water, sediments, and biota. These pollutants may have major ecological consequences since they may affect marine organisms and endanger organismal growth, reproduction or survival. In this study we investigated the modification of some sea urchin immunological parameters in response to subchronic lindane (γ-HCH) exposure.

Toxicity assessment of Amphidinium carterae, Coolia cfr. monotis and Ostreopsis cfr. ovata (Dinophyta) isolated from the northern Ionian Sea (Mediterranean Sea).

In many coastal areas the abundant proliferation of microalgae producing biotoxins determines the occurrence of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Their presence in temperate waters is well documented and often associated with marine toxin-derived disease. The occurrence and toxicity of three harmful microalgae (Amphidinium carterae, Coolia cfr.

Zinc effect on the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus immunological competence.

Pollution by heavy metals has become one of the most important problems in marine coastal areas as a consequence of anthropogenic inputs. Among metal contaminants, zinc, being considered not very toxic, is sometimes released into the sea in appreciable quantities and its concentration is loosely regulated. In this work we analyzed the effects of a high zinc concentration on the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus immune system.

Cytotoxic and antimitotic activities in aqueous extracts of eight cyanobacterial strains isolated from the marine sponge Petrosia ficiformis.

Marine cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes of significant ecological interest, living free or in association with invertebrates. They are also considered as excellent sources of antineoplastic, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal compounds. In this work, aqueous extracts from eight cyanobacterial strains isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Petrosia ficiformis have been investigated for their bioactive properties.

Effect of zinc on lysozyme-like activity of the seastar Marthasterias glacialis (Echinodermata, Asteroidea) mucus.

Lysozyme represents the best characterized enzyme involved in the self-defense from bacteria. In this study we analysed the effects of zinc on the lysozyme-like activity of the seastar Marthasterias glacialis mucus. This activity, detected by measuring the cleared lysis area of dried Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell walls on Petri dishes, was significantly reduced in presence of zinc.

Differentiation of monocytic U937 cells under static magnetic field exposure.

We present here a morphological, cytochemical and biochemical study of the macrophagic differentiation of human pro-monocytic U937 cells exposed to moderate intensity (6 mT) static magnetic fields (MF). It was found that the following substances induced differentiation in U937 cells to a progressively lower degree: 50 ng/mL 12-0-tetradecanoyl-13-phorbol acetate (TPA), low concentration of glutamine (0,05 mM/L), 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and 100 mM/L Zn++. Differentiated U937 cells shift from a round shape to a macrophage-like morphology, from suspension to adhesion growth and acquire phagocytotic activity, the cytoskeleton adapting accordingly.

Cell shape and plasma membrane alterations after static magnetic fields exposure.

The biological effects of static magnetic fields (MFs) with intensity of 6 mT were investigated in lymphocytes and U937 cells in the presence or absence of apoptosis-inducing drugs by transmission (TEM) and scanning (SEM) electron microscopy. Lectin cytochemistry of ConA-FITC conjugates was used to analyze plasma membrane structural modifications. Static MFs modified cell shape, plasma membrane and increased the level of intracellular [Ca++] which plays an antiapoptotic role in both cell types.

The spherule cells of Holothuria polii Delle Chiaie, 1823 (Aspidochirota, Holothuroidea) during brown body formation: an ultrastructural study.

Spherule cells are specific types of coelomocytes found in both the coelomic fluids and the connective tissues of many echinoderm groups and are characterised by large membrane-bound inclusions which completely fill their cytoplasm. In holothurians they are present in massive number in the coelomic fluids and are employed in brown body formation. Brown bodies are products of encapsulation and mainly consist of phagocytic amoebocytes and spherule cells: they surround foreign particles too large to be ingested by circulating phagocytes.

Kupffer cells promote lead nitrate-induced hepatocyte apoptosis via oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND: Apoptosis and its modulation are crucial factors for the maintenance of liver health, allowing hepatocytes to die without provoking a potential harmful inflammatory response through a tightly controlled and regulated process. Since Kupffer cells play a key role in the maintenance of liver function, the aim of this study was to verify whether Kupffer cells are involved in the induction of liver apoptosis after i.v.

Morphological and ultrastructural analysis of Turritopsis nutricula during life cycle reversal.

The hydrozoa life cycle is characterized, in normal conditions, by the alternation of a post-larval benthic polyp and an adult pelagic medusa; however, some species of Hydrozoa react to environmental stress by reverting their life cycle: i.e. an adult medusa goes back to the juvenile stage of polyp.

Hepatic clearance of apoptotic lymphocytes: simply removal of waste cells?

The in situ liver recognition of apoptotic lymphocytes was studied by using different sources of lymphocytes (i.e. human, rat and mouse) and animal models (i.

Lead nitrate and gadolinium chloride administration modify hepatocyte cell surfaces.

Modifications of hepatocyte cell surface were determined after single i.v. injection to rats of Pb(NO(3))(2) (known to induce liver hyperplasia followed by apoptosis) or GdCl(3) (known to induce proliferation of parenchymal cells and Kupffer cell depletion) or administration of GdCl(3) 24 h before Pb(NO(3))(2) injection (known to reduce hyperplasia and apoptosis induced in the parenchymal liver cells by the single Pb(NO(3))(2) injection).

Lymphocytes apoptosis: young versus aged and humans versus rats.

This paper deals with a comparative study of lymphocyte apoptosis in young versus aged and humans versus rats. Apoptotic rate achieved by the use of different apoptogenic inducers, acting at different cellular levels, and cell surface modifications were analyzed. The results showed that aged human lymphocytes and freshly isolated rat lymphocytes were more prone to undergo apoptosis.

Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells by liver: a morphological study.

The present review deals with the morphological features of the removal of apoptotic cells by liver. The engulfment of cells undergoing apoptosis can be considered a specialized form of phagocytosis, playing a major role in the general tissue homeostasis in physiological and pathological conditions. In fact, defects of phagocytosis of apoptotic cells might have deleterious consequences for neighboring healthy cells, i.

Synchronized onset of nuclear and cell surface modifications in U937 cells during apoptosis.

In this study we investigated the relationship between nuclear and cell surface modifications (i.e. blebbing, phosphatidylserine [PS] and sugar residues exposure) in a monocytic cell line, U937, during apoptosis induced by oxidative stress (1 mM H2O2) or inhibition of protein synthesis (10 microg/ml puromycin).