Axial Organ Cells Research Articles

Cytotoxicity Comparisons between "Young Protein" from Sea Star Igkappa Gene and Doxorubicine against Cancerous Mcf7 Cells

Some years ago, we found that Axial organ (AO) cells exerted an induced and spontaneous cytotoxicity against SP2 and MBL2 mouse tumoral cells. Recently, we discovered a sea star Igkappa gene with immune properties. This gene was first, inserted in a CMV (cytomegalovirus) and finally in a plasmid called « young » plasmid. In the present experiment the sea star IGKappa gene was cloned in HeK human cells to produce the specific protein. The induced« young » protein exerted a weak cytotoxicity against MCF7 cells.

Evidence of Sea Star Monocytes Evolving in Phagocytes: Asterias Rubens T.E.M Observations

Sea star Axial organ (A.O) cells were observed in T.EM: Evidence of primitive monocytes was done: They contained azurophile particles and a reniform nucleus, sometimes a phagosome appeared and amoeboid images were seen. These cells, in a second time, evolve mainly in phagocytes which may be assimilated to Vertebrate Macrophages, with functional phagosomes and azurophile particles. The sea star monocytes are smaller in diameter (4 to 5µ) than Vertebrate ones.

The Sea Star Igkappa Gene and Cancerology

It was shown 32 years ago that the sea star axial organ cells (AO cells) produced a spontaneous cytotoxicity against mouse cancerous cells. Recently, we discovered a sea star Igkappa gene with immune properties. This gene was inserted in a CMV (cytomegalovirus) and finally in a plasmid called « young » plasmid. The induced« young » protein exerted a spontaneous cytotoxicity against Hela cells (cervix carcinoma cells) and at a weaker degree against dendritic celle, MSC cells.

Human kappa-like expression in the axial organ of the sea star Asterias rubens (Echinoderma).

The axial organ of sea star Asterias rubens is a primitive immune organ which in certain conditions produces an antibody-like factor (ALF). This A.L.F. presents homologies with the human kappa chain. The ALF could be composed of many kappa chains devoid of any disulfide bond. The ontogeny of kappa expression was studied. Just after metamorphosis of the sea star, certain mesodermic cells which become axial organ cells express human kappa-like activity.

Primitive cytokines and cytokine receptors in invertebrates: the sea star Asterias rubens as a model of study.

It has been previously demonstrated that the sea star axial organ is a primitive immune organ. Phagocytic, lymphoid-like cells have been characterized with properties similar to those of vertebrates. There is also evidence for an invertebrate cytokine network because IL-1 and TNF-like activities are clearly demonstrable. In addition, the authors have previously described preliminary evidence for IL-2-like activity in the sea star. In the present report, the authors obtained evidence for the presence of IL-1- and IL-2-like molecules on axial organ cells. More interestingly, the results suggested that sea star cells express structures similar to human receptors for IL-1, IL-2, IL-6 and IFN-gamma.

Evolution of immunity: Potential immunocompetence of the echinoid axial organ

AbstractAntigen‐specific recognition is a hallmark of vertebrate lymphoid immune responses. Although isolated studies have suggested specific responses in some invertebrate phyla, those claims remain to be independently verified. Echinoderms share the deuterostome lineage with vertebrates and thus represent an important group for examinations into the origins of vertebrate immune competence. Investigations in asteroids suggested axial organ involvement in an antigen‐specific immune response. To independently test this organ's role in echinoid immunity, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus axial organ cells from injected animals were monitored for the production of membrane‐bound and secreted molecules specific for the injected hapten (TNP). Cells of the axial organs were assayed for specific membrane receptors in an immunocytoadherence assay. Urchin axial organ cells did not bind TNP‐sheep red blood cells and, while hemagglutination was observed, it was neither TNP‐inhibitable, nor dependent on previous exposure to TNP. Secretion of antigen‐specific molecules was evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Coelomic fluids from several urchins contained molecules that bound TNP, but the presence of such molecules was not dependent on prior treatment. Titrational analysis revealed identical binding curves against the hapten, TNP, the carrier, LPS, or an unrelated protein, BSA, implying nonspecificity of binding. Assays were validated using rainbow trout immune responses to TNP. The data presented do not support the hypothesis that echinoid axial organ cells respond to antigenic challenge in a specific, inducible manner. The results do support the idea that the multigene complex necessary for the formation of antibodies evolved after echinoderm and chordate ancestors diverged. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Effect of silica on the spontaneous cytotoxicity of axial organ cells from Asterias rubens.

Axial organ cells (A.O.) which are composed of phagocytes and lymphocytes from the sea star Asterias rubens exert a spontaneous cytotoxicity against mouse tumour cells. This toxicity was tested in the presence or absence of silica. It appears that phagocytes play the role of killer cells.

Homologous antigen for T cell receptor in axial organ cells from the asterid Asterias rubens

The axial organ (A.O. cells) of the star Asterias rubens is a primitive immune organ. The total population was fractionated into two populations: adherent (B-like) and non-adherent (T-like) to nylon wool. The adherent cells resemble mammalian B lymphocytes and bear homologous human T cell receptor (β chain) to a higher degree than T-like cells which resemble T lymphocytes.

Properties of sea star phagocytes in axial organ cell subpopulations

The axial organ (A.O cells) of the sea star Asterias rubens is a primitive immune organ. The total population was fractionated into two populations: adherent (B-like) and non-adherent (T-like) to nylon wool. Both subpopulations adhere to glass coverslips. But phagocytosis of Candida albicans or latex beads occurs exclusively in T-like subpopulation.

In vitro effect of silica on axial organ cells in the presence and absence of mitogens

The axial organ (AO-cells) of the sea star Asterias rubens is a primitive immune organ. The total population was fractionated into two populations: adherent (B-like) and non-adherent (T-like) to nylon wool. Mitogenic responses were tested in the presence or absence of silica. Silica inhibits specifically the action of phagocytes contained in T-like and B-like subpopulations. Mitogenic responses do not occur in the presence of silica.

The heterogeneity of antibody-like membrane receptors in subpopulations of sea star axial organ cells

The sea star Asterias rubens plays a fundamental role in the phylogeny of the immune response. It was recently reported that sea star axial organ cells cultured and stimulated with hapten carrier conjugates release an antibody-like protein. In particular, B-like cells were shown to have a specific role when compared to T-like cells. We have examined membrane antibody-like receptors in axial organ cell-subpopulations by the use of flow cytofluorometry. Our results indicate that the binding distribution in B-like cells differs from that found in T-like cells which present no antibody-like receptors. This is new evidence suggesting a possible comparison between sea star B-like cells and vertebrate B lymphocytes.

In vitro effect of rabbit anti sea star lymphocyte serum on axial organ cells

The axial organ (AO-cells) of the sea star Asterias rubens is a primitive immune organ. The total population was fractionated or not into two populations: adherent (B-like) and non adherent (T-like) to nylon wool. Rabbit anti sea star lymphocyte serum induces the proliferation of axial organ cells. The T-like antiserum stimulates the T-like cells exclusively; the whole axial organ cell antiserum only stimulates the whole axial organ cell population.

Mitogens induced regulation of sea star axial organ cell humoral immune response in vitro

A specific anamnestic response occurs in the sea star, Asterias rubens after in vivo and in vitro stimulation of axial organ cells, with hapten-carrier conjugates. The effect of the mitogenic lectin Con.A on the in vitro production of antibody like factors is studied by means of a haemolytic assay. It appears that Con.A produces a modulating effect on the secondary in vitro response of sea star axial organ cells. I.O-Methyl-α-D-Mannopyranoside inhibits the modulating effect of Con.A in controls. On the other hand it appears clearly that LPS has no action on the synthesis and/or the activity of the “antibody-like” factors secreted by axial organ cells.

Production of an antibody-like factor in the sea star Asterias rubens: Role of the gastric haemal tufts

Cells from the axial organ (AO) of sea stars stimulated “in vivo” with TNP coupled to polyacrylamide beads and subsequently cultured “in vitro” were able to produce an antibody-like factor which induced the lysis of mammalian red cells sensitized with TNP. Three types of cells at least are involved in the production of the antibody-like factor. The addition of 2-mercapto-ethanol to the cultures including these 3 populations was essential but what is a novelty is the fact that cells from the gastric haemal tufts (G.H.T.), probably phagocytes, are able to replace it. Otherwise G.H.T. contain cells playing the role of nylon wool- non adherent AO cells or T like cells.

Specific immune response in the sea star Asterias rubens: Production of “antibody-like” factors

Axial organ cells from the sea star ( Asterias rubens) inoculated 7 days before with TNP- or FITC-haptenated PAA beads and subsequently stimulated in vitro with the same antigen, produced and released a specific, soluble “antibody-like” substance that induced lysis of haptenated sheep erythrocytes. Fresh normal rabbit or guinea pig serum was essential for the lysis, suggesting the participation of complement components. The factor was produced by the total population of axial organ cells but not by nylon-wool adherent (B-like) or nonadherent (T-like) cells. These results provide further evidence of the existence, in the sea star, of a primitive immune system with characteristics reminiscent of the immune system of vertebrates.

MLR-like reaction between axial organ cells from asterids

The uptake of [ 3H]thymidine by axial organ (AO) cells arising from two starfishes and mixed together, in a ratio of 50/50 was studied. Mixed leucocyte reaction (MLR) combinations gave a positive response at the fifth day of culture in about 20% of the tested combination (index: 1.8–6.7). No positive reaction was observed in an allogeneic system. More significant results seem to be obtained with the non-adherent nylon-wool subpopulation cells from the two species, rather than with the whole axial organ cells.

Spontaneous and induced cytotoxicity of axial organ cells from Asterias rubens (Asterid--echinoderm).

Spontaneously occurring cytotoxicity of starfish axial organ cells on target cells has been studied. It appears that in an allogeneic system no cytotoxic phenomenon occurs after 4 or 6 h of culture, whereas spontaneous cytotoxicity toward malignant vertebrate target cells is shown and reaches its maximum at 37 degrees C. In a certain way, the axial organ cell population includes cells, which may be compared with vertebrate natural killer cells. On the other hand, it must also be noted that axial organ cells are able to exert in a few cases, an induced cytotoxicity on MBL2 cells. This phenomenon appears at the end of the fourth day of culture.

Effect of in vivo inoculation of bacteria on the spontaneous cytotoxicity of axial organ cells from Asterias rubens

In vivo inoculation of heat-killed bacteria in the coelomic cavity of starfish induces an increase of spontaneous cytotoxicity developed by axial organ (an ancestral lymphoid organ) cells, phenomenon demonstrated by an in vitro [ 51Cr]-release assay. This observation corroborates the existence of a sophisticated immune system in the echinoderms, a first-rate model for phylogenic study of the immune response.

Properties of cell subpopulations of starfish axial organ: in vitro effect of pokeweed mitogen and evidence of lymphokine-like substances.

The in vitro effects of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) on axial organ (AO) cells of the echinoderm starfish Asteria rubens have been studied. PWM stimulates 3H-thymidine incorporation by the whole population of AO cells (index of stimulation 4-5). On the basis of surface adherence to nylon wool the AO cell population can be fractionated into adherent and non-adherent subpopulations. PWM strongly stimulates the non-adherent cells (index 14) but not the adherent cells (index 1.2-1.8). Specific soluble mediators obtained from stimulated non-adherent cells were able to stimulate the whole AO cell population but not the fractionated adherent or non-adherent cells.

Evidence of antibody-like substances secreted by axial organ cells of the starfish Asterias rubens

Evidence of antibody-like substances secreted by axial organ cells of the starfish, Asterias rubens, (invertebrate, echinoderm) was shown by the PFC method (plaque-forming cells).