Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1893/26340
Appears in Collections:Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal Articles
Peer Review Status: Refereed
Title: Echinochrome A Release by Red Spherule Cells Is an Iron-Withholding Strategy of Sea Urchin Innate Immunity
Author(s): Coates, Christopher
McCulloch, Claire
Betts, Joshua
Whalley, Tim
Contact Email: t.d.whalley@stir.ac.uk
Keywords: Coelomocytes
Damage response
Degranulation
Invertebrate immunity
Paracentrotus lividus
Psammechinus miliaris
Issue Date: Mar-2018
Date Deposited: 11-Dec-2017
Citation: Coates C, McCulloch C, Betts J & Whalley T (2018) Echinochrome A Release by Red Spherule Cells Is an Iron-Withholding Strategy of Sea Urchin Innate Immunity. Journal of Innate Immunity, 10 (2), pp. 119-130. https://doi.org/10.1159/000484722
Abstract: Cellular immune defences in sea urchins are shared amongst the coelomocytes - a heterogeneous population of cells residing in the coelomic fluid (blood equivalent) and tissues. The most iconic coelomocyte morphotype is the red spherule cell (or amebocyte), so named due to the abundance of cytoplasmic vesicles containing the naphthoquinone pigment echinochrome A. Despite their identification over a century ago, and evidence of antiseptic properties, little progress has been made in characterising the immunocompetence of these cells. Upon exposure of red spherule cells from sea urchins, i.e., Paracentrotus lividus and Psammechinus miliaris, to microbial ligands, intact microbes, and damage signals, we observed cellular degranulation and increased detection of cell-free echinochrome in the coelomic fluid ex vivo. Treatment of the cells with ionomycin, a calcium-specific ionophore, confirmed that an increase in intracellular levels of Ca2+ is a trigger of echinochrome release. Incubating Gram-positive/negative bacteria as well as yeast with lysates of red spherule cells led to significant reductions in colony-forming units. Such antimicrobial properties were counteracted by the addition of ferric iron (Fe3+), suggesting that echinochrome acts as a primitive iron chelator in echinoid biological defences.
DOI Link: 10.1159/000484722
Rights: This item has been embargoed for a period. During the embargo please use the Request a Copy feature at the foot of the Repository record to request a copy directly from the author. You can only request a copy if you wish to use this work for your own research or private study. This is the peer-reviewed but unedited manuscript version of the following article: Coates CJ, McCulloch C, Betts J & Whalley T, ‘Echinochrome A Release by Red Spherule Cells Is an Iron-Withholding Strategy of Sea Urchin Innate Immunity’, Journal of Innate Immunity 2018;10:119–130 (DOI: 10.1159/000484722)]. The final, published version is available at http://www.karger.com/?doi=10.1159/000484722

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