Apoptosis in the immune system of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio: a cellular and molecular approach

Chakravarthy, Chitra

Abstract

Apoptosis is an active form of cell death or cell suicide that is programmed by a cascade of events controlled by genes. It is not only as essential component of the normal development of an animal, but also plays a vital role in the immune response to stress and disease. Leucocytes exhibit a differential response to induced apoptosis based on various factors including their origin and stage of maturation. Immunocompetent cells from the head kidney (pronephros) and the thymus of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio are susceptible to apoptosis. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid analogue that functions in a manner similar to that of cortisol, a stress hormone. Both dexamethasone and cortisol increased the incidence of apoptosis in cells of the pronephros and thymus in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In general, B-cells and T-cells from both organs are more susceptible to dexamethasone-induced apoptosis when compared to the non-B and -T cells. Cortisol begins to have an effect on the increase in incidence of apoptosis in vitro within one hour of culturing the cells. In addition, withdrawal of cortisol contact from the cells does not affect the increase in incidence of apoptosis in the cell population. APAF-1 and BCL-2 are two genes active in the apoptotic cascade. APAF-1 accelerates the apoptotic pathway and thereby cell death, while BCL-2 regulates apoptosis and prevents cells from dying. Both these genes are highly conserved through evolution. Initial, partial sequences obtained from carp cells suggest that the two genes might be conserved in the teleost fish, Cyprinus carpio, when compared with the homologous regions of Homo sapiens, Danio rerio and Xenopus laevis.

Citation

Chakravarthy, C. Apoptosis in the immune system of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio: a cellular and molecular approach. (Thesis). Keele University. https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/925874

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Sep 26, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 26, 2024
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/925874
• Award Date: 2003-06