MICA expression as toxicological stress marker in fibroblast cell cultures of cetaceans

• Published in: Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part A: Molecular & Integrative Physiology
• Main Authors: Marsili, L., Maltese, S., Carletti, L., Coppola, D., Casini, S., Fossi, M. C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: MICA; cell cultures; Balaenoptera physalus; Physeter macrocephalus
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11365/40902; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbpa.2010.06.069

The skin is an important tissue of the immune systemand contributes to this biological structure by acting not only as a protective physical barrier, but also as a target for immune components that mount the initial defense against invading pathogens, noxious stimuli, and resident neoplastic cells. However, little is known about immune cells in dolphin skin. The genes encoding MICA and MICB are found within the Major Histocompatibility Complex. Although MIC products have been found in various cells/tissues, the current consensus is that MIC genes are mainly expressed in gastrointestinal epithelium, endothelial cells and fibroblasts. MIC molecules are considered to be stress-induced antigens that are recognized by cytotoxic Tcells and natural killer (NK) cells,which play an important role in the surveillance of transformed infected and damaged cells. The aim of this studywas to evaluate theMICA protein expression in fibroblast cell cultures of cetaceans (skin biopsies of free-ranging specimens and skin samples of stranded cetaceans dead from 12–24 h). Here we present the immunofluorescence technique in cultured fibroblasts used for qualitative and quantitative evaluations of MICA expression, induced by treatment with organochlorine compounds (DDTs and PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as toxicological stress marker of the immune system of different species of cetaceans odontocetes (Stenella coeruleoalba, Delphinus capensis, Physeter macrocephalus) and mysticetes (Balaenoptera physalus, Balaenoptera edeni).