Immunological importance of the second gut segment of carp. I. Uptake and processing of antigens by epithelial cells and macrophages

Abstract

Uptake and transport of soluble (ferritin) and particulate (Vibrio anguillarum) antigen from intestinal lumen to mucosal macrophages was studied using immunocytochemical and electronmicroscopical techniques. Both antigens were taken up by epithelial cells of the second gut segment, reached the supranuclear vacuoles and were finally transported to large intraepithelial macrophages. In contrast with particulate antigen, antigenic determinants of ferritin were demonstrated in the basal part of the epithelium and appeared to be released at the mucosal site.After anal intubation many small macrophages penetrated the intestinal epithelium, took up antigen and after 24 h disappeared again from the intestinal mucosa. This feature was antigenindependent and also occurred after anal PBS-intubation. The larger, less mobile macrophages stayed in the intestinal epithelium and finally exposed antigenic determinants (of both antigens) at their outer surface, suggesting an antigen-presenting function. Whether these large macrophages can induce a local or mucosal immune response and whether the smaller mobile macrophages are involved in a systemic response is discussed.

Humoral Immune Response of Ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis to Glugea plecoglossi (Protozoa: Microspora).

“…In this experiment, the spore uptake was observed at 8 h after administration and visible spores in the gut epithelium disappeared from 7 D.P.I. Functional phagocytes in the gut epithelium were identified by and antigen uptake was also comfirmed by Rombout and van den Berg (1989) . So spores in the gut epithelium may be the results of enteric delivery of antigens by intestinal phagocytes to elicit the immune response although electronmicroscopical study is needed for identifying the cells which phagocytize spores.…”

Intestinal histomorphology in Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum fed bovine colostrum as source of protein and bioactive peptides

“…Rombout and van den Berg (1989) administered antigens via anal to carp, and registered increased number of macrophages in the distal intestine; the authors also considered the observed, enlarged intraepithelial macrophages morphologically similar to melanomacrophages, thus able to drive local immune response. Melanomacrophages are pigmented macrophages aggregates, ordinarily found in the kidney, liver and spleen of bony fish (Agius and Roberts, 2003;Haugarvoll et al, 2006;Wolke, 1992), or adventitiously to inflamed regions (Koppang et al, 2005;Rodríguez et al, 2005); functions of melanomacrophages are multiple, complex…”

“…This ability of distal intestine may be related to its attributed immunological function (Georgopoulou and Vernier, 1986;Jenkins et al, 1994;Rombout et al, 1985;Rombout and van den Berg, 1989).…”

<b>Morphological and anatomical characterization of the digestive tract of Centropomus parallelus and <i>Centropomus undecimalis</i></b> - doi: 10.4025/actascibiolsci.v35i4.14352

“…These lymphocytes are likely to have regulatory function, suppressing the immune response to intestinal antigens and inducing an immune response in the lamina propria (PABST, 1987). Thus, the large number of lymphocytes in the intestinal mucosa of fish suggests the existence of a local immune system, namely, mucosal (ROMBOUT et al, 1989).…”