Increased gene expression of a cytokine-related molecule and profilin after activation of Suberites domuncula cells with xenogeneic sponge molecule(s)

Porifera (sponges) constitute the lowest metazoan phylum, Experiments examined whether sponges can recognize self/nonself molecules. Cells from the marine sponge Suberites domuncula were incubated with membranes from either S. domuncula or another marine sponge, Geodia cydonium, as well as with recombinant alpha-integrin from G. cydonium. The cells responded immediately with a rise of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca-i(2+)]) if they were treated with membranes from G. cydonium but not after treatment by those from S. domuncula. This change of [Ca-i(2+)] was also recorded with G. cydonium alpha-integrin. In parallel, the expression of two genes was strongly upregulated; one codes for a cytokine-relat…