The neuroendocrine immunomodulatory axis-like pathway mediated by circulating haemocytes in pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas

• Published in: Open Biology
• Main Authors: Zhaoqun Liu, Zhi Zhou, Qiufen Jiang, Lingling Wang, Qilin Yi, Limei Qiu, Linsheng Song
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Royal Society 2017
• Subjects: crassostrea gigas; neuroendocrine immunomodulatory axis; circulating haemocyte; membrane receptor; immune regulation; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Pacific; Crassostrea gigas; Pacific oyster
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.160289; https://doaj.org/article/29551c6b88ec437e9bc58dfe17b0d9b3

The neuroendocrine-immune (NEI) regulatory network is a complex system, which plays an indispensable role in the immunity of host. In this study, a neuroendocrine immunomodulatory axis (NIA)-like pathway mediated by the nervous system and haemocytes was characterized in the oyster Crassostrea gigas. Once invaded pathogen was recognized by the host, the nervous system would temporally release neurotransmitters to modulate the immune response. Instead of acting passively, oyster haemocytes were able to mediate neuronal immunomodulation promptly by controlling the expression of specific neurotransmitter receptors on cell surface and modulating their binding sensitivities, thus regulating intracellular concentration of Ca2+. This neural immunomodulation mediated by the nervous system and haemocytes could influence cellular immunity in oyster by affecting mRNA expression level of TNF genes, and humoral immunity by affecting the activities of key immune-related enzymes. In summary, though simple in structure, the ‘nervous-haemocyte’ NIA-like pathway regulates both cellular and humoral immunity in oyster, meaning a world to the effective immune regulation of the NEI network.