Lipopolysaccharides induce intestinal serum amyloid A expression in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima

• Published in: Developmental and comparative immunology Vol. 27; no. 2; pp. 105 - 110
• Main Authors: Santiago-Cardona, Pedro G, Berrı́os, César A, Ramı́rez, Francisco, Garcı́a-Arrarás, José E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.02.2003
• Subjects: amyloid A; Animals; Bacteria; Coelomocytes; Echinoderms; Holothuria glaberrima; Holothuroids; Immune activation; Intestinal regeneration; Intestines - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharides; Lipopolysaccharides - pharmacology; Marine; Phagocytosis; Regeneration; RNA, Messenger - analysis; Sea Cucumbers - immunology; Serum amyloid A; Serum Amyloid A Protein - genetics; Serum amyloid A; Intestinal regeneration; Coelomocytes; SAA, serum amyloid A; Immune activation; Echinoderms; Holothuroids; Phagocytosis; Lipopolysaccharides; LPS, lipopolysaccharides
• ISSN: 0145-305X; 1879-0089
• DOI: 10.1016/S0145-305X(02)00068-X

We have previously characterized the first invertebrate homolog of serum amyloid A (SAA) proteins in the sea cucumber Holothuria glaberrima, where its expression is associated with intestinal regeneration, suggesting a possible involvement of SAA proteins in intestinal morphogenesis. Here we show that bacterial lipopolysaccharides (LPS) trigger a coelomocyte-mediated immune response in H. glaberrima, inducing an approximately threefold increase in coelomocyte phagocytic activity. Furthermore, LPS induces an approximately fourfold increase in SAA mRNA levels in non-regenerating intestines. These results show that in H. glaberrima, LPS act as an immune activator and that SAA expression can be modulated by immune-associated processes.