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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Immunological Activity of Ascidian Hemocytes

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description

In ascidians, various hemocyte types and their differentiation stages may be responsible for several immune functions. A central role in the immune effector mechanisms can be assigned to PO-containing hemocytes and prophenoloxidase system. Morula cell in Styela plicata and univacuolar refringent granulocyte in Ciona intestinalis, a probable intermediate stages in the differentiation pathway of morula cell, may be cytotoxic cells. They are involved in immune reactions of solitary and colonial ascidians. We have shown that they are provided with a PO-linked spontaneous cytotoxic activity and recognize mammalian erythrocytes or tumor cells markers. The toxic molecules can be radical oxygen intermediates in Botryllus schlosseri non fusion reaction or may be quinone compounds in the two solitary species. In S. plicata two hemocyte types may be responsible for anti-erythrocyte and anti-K562 activities respectively. We propose differentiation lines for C. intestinalis and S. plicata morula cells.