Mesoglea Extracellular Matrix Reorganization during Regenerative Process in Anemonia viridis (Forskål, 1775)
Given the anatomical simplicity and the extraordinary ability to regenerate missing parts of the body, Cnidaria represent an excellent model for the study of the mechanisms regulating regenerative processes. They possess the mesoglea, an amorphous and practically acellular extracellular matrix (ECM) located between the epidermis and the gastrodermis of the body and tentacles and consists of the same molecules present in the ECM of vertebrates, such as collagen, laminin, fibronectin and proteoglycans. This feature makes cnidarians anthozoans valid models for understanding the ECM role during regenerative processes. Indeed, it is now clear that its role in animal tissues is not just tissue su…
Inflammation events occurring upon bacterial infection in Mytilus galloprovincialis
Bivalves, and in particular the Mediterranean Mytilus galloprovincialis are important sources of food in several countries in the world. Because of that, mussels farming has a strong economic impact. Due to their status as sessile and filter-feeding animals, bivalves accumulate in their tissues environmental pollutants and a larger amount of microorganisms and between these, a multitude of infective bacteria for higher vertebrates and humans, such as Vibrio species. Several immunological responses of M. galloprovincialis were investigated and described after Vibrio infection both, in vitro and in vivo conditions, such as hemocytes count and different cellular subpopulations. Particularly, i…
Step-by-Step Regeneration of Tentacles after Injury in Anemonia viridis—Morphological and Structural Cell Analyses
Benthic marine invertebrates, such as corals, are often subjected to injury caused by several sources. Here, the differences and characteristics in injured and health tissues in terms of cellular components are shown through a histological investigation of the soft coral Anemonia viridis at 0 h, 6 h, 24 h, and 7 days after injury caused by tentacle amputation. In addition, a new tool was used for the first time in invertebrates, positron emission tomography, in order to investigate the events that occur during regeneration within a longer time period (0 h, 24 h, and 14 days after the tentacles were cut). Higher integrated density values were measured through a densitometric analysis in sect…
Invertebrate Models in Innate Immunity and Tissue Remodeling Research
The aim of this Special Issue is to highlight the close functional and highly conserved link between innate immunity, homeostasis maintenance, inflammation, tissue remodeling and regeneration [...]