Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy.
Microsc Res Tech. 2022 Jul;85(7):2651-2658. doi: 10.1002/jemt.24119. Epub 2022 Apr 8.
The endostyle is the first component of the ascidian digestive tract, it is shaped like a through and is located in the pharynx's ventral wall. This organ is divided longitudinally into nine zones that are parallel to each other. Each zone's cells are physically and functionally distinct. Support elements are found in zones 1, 3, and 5, while mucoproteins secreting elements related to the filtering function are found in zones 2, 4, and 6. Zones 7, 8, and 9, which are located in the lateral dorsal section of the endostyle, include cells with high iodine and peroxidase concentrations. Immunohistochemical technique using the following antibodies, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR-2) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and lectin histochemistry (WGA-wheat-germagglutinin), were used in this investigation to define immune cells in the endostyle of Styela plicata (Lesueur, 1823). Our results demonstrate the presence of immune cells in the endostyle of S. plicata, highlighting that innate immune mechanisms are highly conserved in the phylogeny of the chordates. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Immune cells positive to TLR-2 and VIP in the endostyle of Styela plicata. Expression of WGA in several zones of endostyle. Use of comparative biology to improve the knowledge about immunology in ascidians.
内柱是文昌鱼消化道的第一个组成部分，呈贯通状，位于咽部的腹侧壁。该器官纵向分为九个彼此平行的区。每个区的细胞在生理和功能上都不同。支撑元素存在于 1、3 和 5 区，而与过滤功能相关的粘蛋白分泌元素存在于 2、4 和 6 区。位于内柱背侧外侧的 7、8 和 9 区包含具有高碘和过氧化物酶浓度的细胞。本研究采用免疫组织化学技术，使用以下抗体，Toll 样受体 2（TLR-2）和血管活性肠肽（VIP），以及凝集素组织化学（WGA-小麦胚芽凝集素），来定义 Styela plicata（Lesueur，1823）的内柱中的免疫细胞。我们的结果表明，S. plicata 的内柱中存在免疫细胞，这突显了先天免疫机制在脊索动物的系统发育中高度保守。研究亮点：内柱中的 TLR-2 和 VIP 阳性免疫细胞。WGA 在几个内柱区的表达。利用比较生物学来提高对文昌鱼免疫学的认识。
