RGD-containing molecules induce macropinocytosis in ascidian hyaline amoebocytes

RGD-dependent mechanisms in the endoneurial phagocyte response and axonal regeneration in the nervous system of the snail Lymnaea stagnalis

“…the spreading response and the production of ROS) as well as with the process of phagocytosis itself. Similar effects of RGD-peptides have been demonstrated in circulating immune effector cells in a variety of species ranging from insects to mammals, indicating that RGDdependent, integrin-mediated processes are an evolutionarily conserved feature in the regulation of metazoan cellular host defence systems (Ballarin and Burighel, 2006;Ballarin et al, 2002;Davids and Yoshino, 1998;Gresham et al, 1989;Hanayama et al, 2002;Moita et al, 2006;Pech and Strand, 1995;Plows et al, 2006). Our results indicate that particle internalization by activated Lymnaea endoneurial phagocytes involves at least one RGDdependent and one RGD-independent pathway.…”

“…endoneurial phagocytes). Although RGD-dependent mechanisms have been implicated in the regulation of the activity of various circulating vertebrate and invertebrate phagocytic cell types outside the nervous system (Ballarin and Burighel, 2006;Ballarin et al, 2002;Berton and Lowell, 1999;Davids and Yoshino, 1998;Gresham et al, 1989;Hanayama et al, 2002;Pech and Strand, 1995;Plows et al, 2006), comparatively little is known about their role in the regulation of immune effector cells residing in the nervous system. Yet, recent studies suggest that they may serve a similar function in the control of microglial activity in inflammatory conditions of the rodent nervous system (Milner and Campbell, 2003;Milner et al, 2007).…”

Botryllus schlosseri: A model ascidian for the study of asexual reproduction

“…Hemocytes can also easily be obtained by puncturing blood vessels in the tunic with a fine tungsten needle to prepare short-term primary cultures. Using this technique, morphological, ultrastructural, cytochemical, immunocytochemical, and cyto-enzymological analyses have been performed to clarify hemocyte differentiation pathways and mutual relationships (Sabbadin, 1955b;Milanesi and Burighel, 1978;Burighel et al, 1983;Schlumpberger et al, 1984a,b;Ballarin et al, 1993;Ballarin and Cima, 2005;Lapidot and Rinkevich, 2005), their role in immunobiology (Ballarin et al, 1994(Ballarin et al, , 2002bBallarin and Burighel, 2006;Cima et al, 2006a), and alterations in functionality when exposed to environmental pollutants Kamer and Rinkevich, 2002;Cima and Ballarin, 2004).…”

“…Embryogenesis is rapid, and larvae for dispersal of new colonies can be obtained within a week from fertilization. In addition, it is already known as a valid model organism for studying natural apoptosis and clearance of effete cells (Burighel and Schiavinato, 1984;Lauzon et al, 1992Lauzon et al, , 1993Lauzon et al, , 2002Cima et al, 2003), allorecognition (Sabbadin, 1962(Sabbadin, , 1982Sabbadin and Astorri, 1988;Ballarin et al, 1995Ballarin et al, , 2002aRinkevich et al, 1998a;Cima et al, 2004a;De Tomaso et al, 2005;Nyholm et al, 2006), immunobiology (Ballarin et al, 1994(Ballarin et al, , 2002bBallarin and Burighel, 2006), and regeneration (Berrill, 1951;Zaniolo and Trentin, 1987;Laird et al, 2005a).…”

Earthworm coelomocytes as nanoscavenger of ZnO NPs

“…In mammals, macropinocytosis initiates with cell membrane ruffling via actin rearrangement, suggesting an intriguing possibility of passive uptake of NPs that are membrane-adhered. Amongst invertebrates, ascidian haemocytes are able to engulf particles via RGD motif-dependent macropinocytosis [40]. However, such mechanisms are not yet known in earthworms.…”