13 research outputs found
The Ciona intestinalis immune-related galectin genes (CiLgals-a and CiLgals-b) are expressed by the gastric epithelium
The transcription of two Ciona intestinalis galectin genes (CiLgals-a and CiLgalseb) is uparegulated by LPS
in the pharynxis (hemocytes, vessel epithelium, endostilar zones) which is retained the main organ of
the immunity. In this ascidian, for the first time we show, by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization
methods, that these two immune-related genes are expressed in the gastric epithelium of
na\uefve ascidians, whereas the galectins appear to be only contained in the intestine columnar epithelium.
In addition, according to previous results on the pharynx, the genes are also expressed and galectins
produced by hemocytes scattered in the connective tissue surrounding the gut. The genes expression and
galectin localization in several tissues, including the previous findings on the transcription upregulation,
the constitutive expression of these genes by endostylar zones and by the gastric epithelium suggest a
potential multifunctional role of these galectins. In this respect, it is of interest to define where the
CiLgals are normally found as related to the tissue functions. Such an approach should be a starting point
for further investigations