Isolation of a novel LPS-induced component of the ML superfamily in Ciona intestinalis

2015

ML superfamily represents a group of proteins playing important roles in lipid metabolism and innate immune response. In this study, we report the identification of the first component of the ML superfamily in the invertebrate Ciona intestinalis by means of a subtractive hybridization strategy. Sequence homology and phylogenetic analysis showed that this protein forms a specific clade with vertebrate components of the Niemann-Pick type C2 protein and, for this reason, it has been named Ci-NPC2. The putative Ci-NPC2 is a 150 amino acids long protein with a short signal peptide, seven cysteine residues, three putative lipid binding site and a three-dimensional model showing a characteristic b…

LPS injection reprograms the expression and the 3′ UTR of a CAP gene by alternative polyadenylation and the formation of a GAIT element in Ciona inte…

2016

The diversification of cellular functions is one of the major characteristics of multicellular organisms which allow cells to modulate their gene expression, leading to the formation of transcripts and proteins with different functions and concentrations in response to different stimuli. CAP genes represent a widespread family of proteins belonging to the cysteine-rich secretory protein, antigen 5 and pathogenesis-related 1 superfamily which, it has been proposed, play key roles in the infection process and the modulation of immune responses in host animals. The ascidian Ciona intestinalis represents a group of proto-chordates with an exclusively innate immune system that has been widely st…

Ciona intestinalis galectin (CiLgals-a and CiLgals-b) genes are differentially expressed in endostyle zones and challenged by LPS

2015

Abstract Immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization assays were performed to answer the question whether the endostyle, that is the initial gastro-intestinal trait of Ciona intestinalis pharynx, is involved in galectin (CiLgals-a and CiLgals-b) production during the pharynx inflammatory response to LPS inoculation. Specific anti-CiLgal-a and anti-CiLgals-b antibodies, and oligonucleotide probes, that mark inflammatory hemocytes inside the pharynx vessels and vessel epithelium as shown by a previous paper, were assayed on endostyle histological sections. For the first time, we show that galectins are produced by endostyle zones, and both CiLgals-a and –b genes are upregulated by LPS. CiLg…

Ciona intestinalis interleukin 17-like genes expression is upregulated by LPS challenge

2015

In humans, IL-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a key role in the clearance of extracellular bacteria promoting cell infiltration and production of several cytokines and chemokines. Here, we report on three Ciona intestinalis IL-17 homologues (CiIL17-1, CiIL17-2, CiIL17-3). The gene organisation, phylogenetic tree and modelling supported the close relationship with the mammalian IL-17A and IL-17F suggesting that the C. intestinalis IL-17 genes share a common ancestor in the chordate lineages. Real time PCR analysis showed a prompt expression induced by LPS inoculation suggesting that they are involved in the first phase of inflammatory response. In situ hybridization assays disclo…

Upregulated transcription of phenoloxidase genes in the pharynx and endostyle of Ciona intestinalis in response to LPS

2015

We investigated the role of phenoloxidases (POs) in ascidians inflammatory reaction, a components of a copper-containing protein family involved in invertebrate immune system. In Ciona intestinalis two phenoloxidases (CinPO-1, CinPO-2) have been sequenced. In the present study, real time PCR analysis showed that both CinPO-1 and CinPO-2 genes were modulated by LPS inoculation suggesting that they are inducible and highly expressed in the inflamed pharynx. In situ hybridization disclosed CinPO-1 and CinPO-2 transcripts in pharynx hemocytes (granulocytes) and, mainly, in unilocular refractile granulocytes (URG) which mainly populated the inflamed tunic matrix. Interestingly, the genes are als…

In the ovary of Ciona intestinalis (Type A), immune-related galectin and phenoloxidase genes are differentially expressed by the follicle accessory c…

2017

Abstract Riboprobes (in situ hybridization) and antibodies (immunohistochemistry), previously used to show the upregulation of Ciona intestinalis (Type A) galectins (CiLgals-a, CiLgals-b) and phenoloxidase (CinPO2) immune-related genes, were tested on histological sections of the ovary. The ovarian follicles are composed of oocytes encased by follicular cells (FCs) and test cells (TCs). Results show the transcription upregulation of both CiLgals and CinPO2 genes in the vitellogenic FCs, conversely distinct cytolocalization of the proteins are shown. At vitellogenic stage, the CiLgals are localized in the FCs, in the oocyte cytoplasm, and close to the germinal vesicle (GV), whereas the CinPO…

The expression of an immune-related phenoloxidase gene is modulated inCiona intestinalisovary, test cells, embryos and larva

2015

Two distinct Ciona intestinalis phenoloxidases (CinPO1, 2) had previously been cloned and sequenced. The CinPO2 is involved in innate immunity and is expressed by inflammatory hemocytes that populate the tunic and pharynx vessels as a response to LPS inoculation. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry assays on histological section, showed that the expression of this gene and the produced protein are shared with oogenesis, embryogenesis and larval morphogenesis. Intriguingly, upregulation of gene transcription was found in the test cell layer that envelopes the ovary follicle, ovulated egg, and gastrula, as well as it was modulated in the zygotic nucleus of outer balstomers of 32-ce…

Differential expression of two glucocorticoid receptors in seabass (teleost fish) head kidney after exogeneous cortisol inoculation

2009

Stressful conditions include a prompt release of corticosteroid hormones which can mediate gene expression through glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Since two seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) GRs have been cloned and sequenced from peritoneal cavity cells (DlGR1) and liver (DlGR2), a comparative amino acid sequence analysis that included Haplochromis burtoni HbGRs, was carried out and homologies disclosed. The DlGR1 and DlGR2 deduced aminoacid sequences showed 61% identity (I) and 70% similarity (S). Moreover, DlGR2 was similar to HbGR2b (69% I, 73% S), and the DlGR1 to HbGR1 (72% I, 78% S). In addition, we examined the expression of the DlGRs after exogeneous cortisol inoculation into the perit…

Inducible galectins are expressed in the inflamed pharynx of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis

2011

Although ascidians belong to a key group in chordate phylogenesis, amino acid sequences of Ciona intestinalis galectin-CRDs (CiLgals-a and -b) have been retained too divergent from vertebrate galectins. In the present paper, to contribute in disclosing Bi-CRD galectin evolution a novel attempt was carried out on CiLgals-a and -b CRDs phylogenetic analysis, and their involvement in ascidian inflammatory responses was shown. CiLgals resulted aligned with Bi-CRD galectins from vertebrates (Xenopus tropicalis, Gallus gallus, Mus musculus, Homo sapiens), cephalochordates (Branchiostoma floridae), echinoderms (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) and a mono-CRD galectin from the ascidian Clavelina pict…

Inflamed adult pharynx tissues and swimming larva of Ciona intestinalis share CiTNFalpha-producing cells.

2010

In situ hybridisation and immunohistochemistry analyses have shown that the Ciona intestinalis tumour necrosis factor alpha gene (CiTNFalpha), which has been previously cloned and sequenced, is expressed either during the inflammatory pharynx response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or during the swimming larval phase of development. Granulocytes with large granules and compartment/morula cells are CiTNFalpha-producing cells in both inflamed pharynx and larvae. Pharynx vessel endothelium also takes part in the inflammatory response. Haemocyte nodules in the vessel lumen or associated with the endothelium suggest the involvement of CiTNFalpha in recruiting lymphocyte-like cells and promoting the…

Ciona intestinalis peroxinectin is a novel component of the peroxidase–cyclooxygenase gene superfamily upregulated by LPS

2013

Peroxinectins function as hemoperoxidase and cell adhesion factor involved in invertebrate immune reaction. In this study, the ascidian (Ciona intestinalis) peroxinectin gene (CiPxt) and its expression during the inflammatory response have been examined. CiPxt is a new member of the peroxidase-cyclooxygenase gene superfamily that contains both the peroxidase domain and the integrin KGD (Lys-Gly-Asp) binding motif. A phylogenetic tree showed that CiPxt is very close to the chordate group and appears to be the outgroup of mammalian MPO, EPO and TPO clades. The CiPxt molecular structure model resulted superimposable to the human myeloperoxidase. The CiPxt mRNA expression is upregulated by LPS …

Transforming growth factor β (CiTGF-β) gene expression is induced in the inflammatory reaction of Ciona intestinalis.

2016

Transforming growth factor (TGF-β) is a well-known component of a regulatory cytokines superfamily that has pleiotropic functions in a broad range of cell types and is involved, in vertebrates, in numerous physiological and pathological processes. In the current study, we report on Ciona intestinalis molecular characterisation and expression of a transforming growth factor β homologue (CiTGF-β). The gene organisation, phylogenetic tree and modelling supported the close relationship with the mammalian TGF suggesting that the C. intestinalis TGF-β gene shares a common ancestor in the chordate lineages. Functionally, real-time PCR analysis showed that CiTGF-β was transcriptionally upregulated …

Elevated cortisol modulates hsp70 and hsp90 gene expression and protein in sea bass head kidney and isolated leukocytes

2012

In fish, interactions between Hsps and cortisol are involved in stress modulated physiological processes including innate immune responses. Cortisol exerts a role in the regulation of Hsps synthesis. Fish head kidney is a lymphomieloid and endocrine organ releasing cortisol, and it is the central organ for immune-endocrine interactions. In sea bass, cortisol intraperitoneal injection and in vitro treatment of head kidney cells show that inducible Hsp70 and Hsp90 are modulated by this hormone. However, an inverse relationship between mRNA expression (real-time PCR) and Hsp70 and Hsp90 protein levels (densitometric band analysis) was found. Time-course assays indicate a cortisol-mediated regu…

The Ciona intestinalis immune-related galectin genes (CiLgals-a and CiLgals-b) are expressed by the gastric epithelium.

2017

The transcription of two Ciona intestinalis galectin genes (CiLgals-a and CiLgalseb) is uparegulated by LPS in the pharynxis (hemocytes, vessel epithelium, endostilar zones) which is retained the main organ of the immunity. In this ascidian, for the first time we show, by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization methods, that these two immune-related genes are expressed in the gastric epithelium of naïve ascidians, whereas the galectins appear to be only contained in the intestine columnar epithelium. In addition, according to previous results on the pharynx, the genes are also expressed and galectins produced by hemocytes scattered in the connective tissue surrounding the gut. The ge…

Specific inflammatory response of Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria) after bacterial injection causes tissue reaction and enzymatic activity alteration

2015

The evolution of multicellular organisms was marked by adaptations to protect against pathogens. The mechanisms for discriminating the ’’self’’ from ’’non-self” have evolved into a long history of cellular and molecular strategies, from damage repair to the co-evolution of host-pathogen interactions. We investigated the inflammatory response in Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) following injection of substances that varied in type and dimension, and observed clear, strong and specific reactions, especially after injection of Escherichia coli and Vibrio alginolyticus. Moreover, we analyzed enzymatic activity of protease, phosphatase and esterase, showing how the injection of different ba…

The ascidian Styela plicata hemocytes as a potential biomarker of marine pollution: In vitro effects of seawater and organic mercury.

2017

Toxic metals, such as mercury, contribute substantially to anthropogenic pollution in many estuarine environments. Animals living in those environments, particularly invertebrate filter feeders like tunicates, can be used as bioindicators. In an attempt to identify cellular markers for revealing pollution, this study examined in vitro the effects of different concentrations of methyl mercury on Styela plicata hemocytes. The harvested hemocytes from S. plicata that were exposed to the metal had a significant mortality, cellular count and morphometric alterations. These findings provided evidence of MeHg immunotoxic effects on S. plicata, resulting in hemocyte death and morphological changes …

LPS challenge regulates gene expression and tissue localization of a Ciona intestinalis gene through an alternative polyadenylation mechanism.

2013

A subtractive hybridization strategy for the identification of differentially expressed genes was performed between LPS-challenged and naive Ciona intestinalis. This strategy allowed the characterization of two transcripts (Ci8short and Ci8long) generated by the use of two Alternative Polyadenylation sites. The Ci8long transcript contains a protein domain with relevant homology to several components of the Receptor Transporting Protein (RTP) family not present in the Ci8short mRNA. By means of Real Time PCR and Northern Blot, the Ci8short and Ci8long transcripts showed a different pattern of gene expression with the Ci8short mRNA being strongly activated after LPS injection in the pharynx. …

Galectine nella risposta infiammatoria di Ciona intestinalis cDNA ed espressione genica

2009

Inflammatory-like reaction following bacterial injection and antimicrobial peptide isolation from Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria)

2013

Antimicrobial response in Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria)

2014

Putative rhamnose-binding lectin in the solitary ascidian Ciona intestinalis.

2013

Components of hemocyte extracts from marine invertebrates exert antimicrobial activity

2013

Cellule che producono ciTNFalfa sono attive nell'infiammazione e nello sviluppo larvale di Ciona intestinalis

2010

The Expression of an Immune-Related Phenoloxidase Gene is Modulated in Ciona Intestinalis Ovary, Test Cells, Embryos and Larva

2015

Two distinct Ciona intestinalis phenoloxidases (CinPO1, 2) had previously been cloned and sequenced. The CinPO2 is involved in innate immunity and is expressed by inflammatory hemocytes that populate the tunic and pharynx vessels as a response to LPS inoculation. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry assays on histological section, showed that the expression of this gene and the produced protein are shared with oogenesis, embryogenesis and larval morphogenesis. Intriguingly, upregulation of gene transcription was found in the test cell layer that envelopes the ovary follicle, ovulated egg, and gastrula, as well as it was modulated in the zygotic nucleus of outer balstomers of 32-ce…

Exosome release by crustacean hyaline haemocytes in vitro

2010

Exosomes are small microvesicles (40–100 nm) that are formed from the endosome to generate multi-vesicular bodies (MBVs). In mammals, exosomes play a significant role in cellular communication. Exosomes have also been reported for salmon and fruit fly but have not previously been studied in crustaceans. Therefore we undertook to study them in decapods. We chose the hyaline haemocytes of brachyuran crabs, Carcinus maenas and Hyas araneus, because these cells are abundant in haemolymph, are phagocytic and can be cultured on glass or plastic surfaces. Furthermore these cells have been observed to contain MVB-like structures that bear some resemblance to those in mammals that produce exosomes. …

Effects of exogenous cortisol on the expression of glucocorticoid receptor (DIGR1) and hsp70 in head-kidney and peritonel cavity cells from Dicentrar…

2008

From Cnidarian immunobiology to cultural heritage applications

2016

The study of cnidarians immunity, as model systems of metazoans, lead additional informations on the first steps of the immunity evolution. The functions of the genes and cellular pathways in higher vertebrates are conserved during the evolution of metazoans, as shown by the discovery of homologues in cnidarians. These basal metazoans in fact, are far from "simples" in the range of methods at their disposal to deal with potential prey but also invading microbes and pathogens. They can give informations about the invertebrates innate immune repertoire. We investigated the immunobiology starting from the inflammatory response in Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria: Anthozoa) following injection of sub…

Citochine nell'ascidia Ciona intestinalis.

2011

Inflamed adult pharynx tissues and swimming larva of Ciona intestinalis share CiTNFalfa-producing cells

2010

Il sistema della profenolossidasi in Ciona intestinalis. Caratterizzazione e interazione tra fenolossidasi, perossinectina e superossido dismutasi Cu…

2013

Molecular cloning, characterization and expression analysis of peroxinectin from Ciona intestinalis

2013

LPS challenge regulates gene expression and tissue localization of a Ciona intestinalis gene through an alternative polyadenylation mechanism

2013

Isolation and characterization of a LPS induced MD2-like protein in Ciona intestinalis

2015

The MD2 (Myeloid Differentiation factor-2) protein belongs to the ML superfamily. This group of proteins contain a specific lipid binding domain (ML domain) that plays an important role in lipid recognition and metabolism. In vertebrates, MD-2 is involved in innate immune response as co-receptor in the LPS/TLR4 signaling pathway; MD2 recognizes and binds the bacterial lipid A and drives the TLR4 activation. Two TLR isoforms, CiTLR-1 and CiTLR-2, were identified in Ciona intestinalis with a TIR domain most similar to human TLR4 and TLR 6 respectively. Using a PCR-based subtractive hybridization strategy for isolation of differentially expressed genes between LPS-challenged and naïve C. intes…

AMPs and biotechnology application for new generation of medical devices

2013

Studio preliminare sulla caratterizzazione degli emociti di Cancer pagurus

2011

specific inflammatory response of Anemonia sulcata (cnidaria) after bacterial injection cause tissue rejection and enzymatic activity alteration

2015

The evolution of multicellular organisms was marked by adaptation to protect against pathogens. The mechanisms for discriminating the ''self'' from ''non-self” have evolved into a long history of cellular and molecular strategies from damage repair to the co-evolution of host-pathogen interaction. The phylum of Cnidaria is one of the first branches in the tree of animal life to provide crucial insights on the evolution of immunity. Sea anemones (Anthozoa, Cnidaria) are benthic sessile species able to maintain the integrity of the tissues and allorecognition in colonial forms and to differentiate between symbionts and pathogenic intruders. We investigated the inflammatory response in sea ane…

An Attempt to re-examine the immune role of Ciona intestinalis hemocytes

2009

Reazione infiammatoria ed isolamento di un peptide antimicrobico da Anemonia sulcata (Cnidaria)

2013

Espressione di galactine nell'infiammazione e nella larva natante di Ciona intestinalis

2010

Enhanced CiTNFα expression is an inflammatory response of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis

2009

cytokines in the inflammatory response of the ascidian ciona intestinalis

2015

The Ciona intestinalis inflammatory response to several irritants have been demonstrated to be composed of a complex set reaction. The cellular reactions involve hemocyte infiltration, hemocyte and epidermis activities, vacuolization, cell disruption, while cell products can contribute to form capsule components and/or cause a wound. In this response the involvement of the pharynx, as the main immune-competent organ, has been disclosed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge that upregulates innate immunity genes. In vertebrate cytokines modulate the balance between humoral and cell-based immune responses, and they regulate the maturation, growth, and responsiveness of cell populations that h…

Modificazioni indotte dal metilmercurio sugli emociti dell’ascidia Styela plicata

2011

Interleukin 17 genes as mediators of inflammatory responses in Ciona intestinalis.

2015

Inflammation is a complex reaction of host defence mechanisms aiming at neutralization of an insult and restoring normal tissue structure and function. In human IL-17 is T-cell derived cytokine plays a key role in the clearance of extracellular bacteria promoting cell infiltration and production of several cytokines and chemokines. Here, we report on three Ciona intestinalis IL-17 homologues (CiIL17-1, CiIL17-2, CiIL17-3). The gene organization, phylogenetic tree and modeling supported the close relationship with the mammalian IL-17A and IL-17F suggesting that the C. intestinalis IL-17 genes share a common ancestor in the chordate lineages. Real time PCR analysis showed a prompt expression …

Espressione di DlGR1 nell'intestino di D.labrax dopo trattamento in vivo con cortisolo

2009

Enhanced expression of a CinTNF gene in the LPS challenged inflammatiry responses of the ascidian Ciona intestinalis

2008