Surface Marker-Defined Head Kidney Granulocytes and B Lymphocytes of Rainbow Trout Express Benzo[a]pyrene-Inducible Cytochrome P4501A Protein

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are immunotoxic to fish. Metabolism of PAHs in immune cells has been implicated in PAH immunotoxicity in mammals, but for fish the presence of metabolic enzymes in immune cells is less clear. The objective of this study was to examine localization and induction of the BaP-metabolizing biotransformation enzyme, cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), in head kidney immune cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In the first step, we measured induction of CYP1A-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and CYP1A protein in head kidney of rainbow trout treated with a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 25 mg BaP/kg body weight. From days 3 to 10 postinjection, the BaP treatment led to a significant elevation of EROD and CYP1A protein in head kidney and liver, with CYP1A expression levels in the head kidney being much lower than in the liver. Next, we examined the cellular localization of CYP1A protein in the head kidney cell types: vascular endothelial, endocrine and lymphoid cells. CYP1A immunoreactivity was detectable only in BaP-treated trout, where it was localized in endothelial and lymphoid cells. Finally, we aimed to clarify which of the hematopoietic cell types possess CYP1A protein. Using double immunostaining for CYP1A and surface markers of rainbow trout immune cells, we identified B lymphocytes and granulocytes expressing inducible CYP1A protein and being the likely sites of BaP metabolism in the head kidne

Surface Marker-Defined Head Kidney Granulocytes and B Lymphocytes of Rainbow Trout Express Benzo[a]pyrene-Inducible Cytochrome P4501A Protein

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are immunotoxic to fish. Metabolism of PAHs in immune cells has been implicated in PAH immunotoxicity in mammals, but for fish the presence of metabolic enzymes in immune cells is less clear. The objective of this study was to examine localization and induction of the BaP-metabolizing biotransformation enzyme, cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), in head kidney immune cells of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). In the first step, we measured induction of CYP1A-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and CYP1A protein in head kidney of rainbow trout treated with a single intraperitoneal (ip) injection of 25 mg BaP/kg body weight. From days 3 to 10 postinjection, the BaP treatment led to a significant elevation of EROD and CYP1A protein in head kidney and liver, with CYP1A expression levels in the head kidney being much lower than in the liver. Next, we examined the cellular localization of CYP1A protein in the head kidney cell types: vascular endothelial, endocrine and lymphoid cells. CYP1A immunoreactivity was detectable only in BaP-treated trout, where it was localized in endothelial and lymphoid cells. Finally, we aimed to clarify which of the hematopoietic cell types possess CYP1A protein. Using double immunostaining for CYP1A and surface markers of rainbow trout immune cells, we identified B lymphocytes and granulocytes expressing inducible CYP1A protein and being the likely sites of BaP metabolism in the head kidney

Immunotoxic effects of environmental toxicants in fish — how to assess them?

Numerous environmental chemicals, both long-known toxicants such as persistent organic pollutants as well as emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, are known to modulate immune parameters of wildlife species, what can have adverse consequences for the fitness of individuals including their capability to resist pathogen infections. Despite frequent field observations of impaired immunocompetence and increased disease incidence in contaminant-exposed wildlife populations, the potential relevance of immunotoxic effects for the ecological impact of chemicals is rarely considered in ecotoxicological risk assessment. A limiting factor in the assessment of immunotoxic effects might be the complexity of the immune system what makes it difficult (1) to select appropriate exposure and effect parameters out of the many immune parameters which could be measured, and (2) to evaluate the significance of the selected parameters for the overall fitness and immunocompetence of the organism. Here, we present — on the example of teleost fishes — a brief discussion of how to assess chemical impact on the immune system using parameters at different levels of complexity and integration: immune mediators, humoral immune effectors, cellular immune defenses, macroscopical and microscopical responses of lymphoid tissues and organs, and host resistance to pathogens. Importantly, adverse effects of chemicals on immunocompetence may be detectable only after immune system activation, e.g., after pathogen challenge, but not in the resting immune system of non-infected fish. Current limitations to further development and implementation of immunotoxicity assays and parameters in ecotoxicological risk assessment are not primarily due to technological constraints, but are related from insufficient knowledge of (1) possible modes of action in the immune system, (2) the importance of intra- and inter-species immune system variability for the response against chemical stressors, and (3) deficits in conceptual and mechanistic assessment of combination effects of chemicals and pathogen

Basic Human Body Dimensions Relate to Alcohol Dependence and Predict Hospital Readmission

Alcohol dependence is a severe mental illness and there is a need for more effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. Translational research suggests that intrauterine sex hormone exposure modulates the risk and course of alcohol dependence during adulthood. During development, sex hormones permanently shape sexually dimorphic body dimensions. Thus, these dimensions may provide insight into sex hormone organization. Here, we compared body measurements (absolute, relative to, and residualized on height) between 200 alcohol-dependent in-patients and 240 age-matched healthy control subjects and investigated how these measurements associate with the patients’ prospective 12- and 24-month outcome. The results show that alcohol dependence is related to lower absolute, relative, and residualized body measurements for height and weight, head circumference, bitragion head arc, lip-chin distance, hip, thigh, and calf circumference, and foot length and breadth. In male alcohol-dependent in-patients, higher risk, shorter latency, and more alcohol-related readmissions were predicted by higher absolute, relative, and residualized thigh and calf circumferences. The second-to-fourth finger length ratio, a putative proxy for prenatal sex hormone organization, was not convincingly correlated with the body dimensions, suggesting that the results represent pubertal (or later) effects. The study’s findings have implications for further research. The body measurements’ high accessibility may facilitate the future transition into clinical settings

Variations in Rainbow Trout Immune Responses against A. salmonicida: Evidence of an Internal Seasonal Clock in Oncorhynchus mykiss

publishedVersio

Revisiting the teleost thymus : Current knowledge and future perspectives

Funding: This work was supported by RCUK-CONICYT MR/N02625X/1 and BB/N0240521/1, FONDECYT 1161510, FONDECYT 1201664, FONDECYT 11171057 (KM) and USA1899 VRIDEI/DICYT-USACH 021943IB-PAP. RM was financed by the Scholarship Program Becas Chile-DAAD: Doctoral scholarship with bilateral agreement abroad CONICYT-DAAD. Acknowledgments: We thank Carolina Espinoza for excellent technical assistance.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Tagungsband zum 4. BIH-Treffen 2019: Interdisziplinäre Forschung - Chancen und Herausforderungen: Fachtagung für wissenschaftlich Beschäftigte und Nachwuchskräfte an Bauingenieur-Institutionen deutscher Hochschulen

Forschung und Wissenschaft sind wichtige Standbeine einer modernen Hochschule. Sie stellen eine Grundlage für die primäre Aufgabe der Hochschulen dar, die praxisnahe und berufsbefähigende Lehre auf dem aktuellen Stand der Technik und Wissenschaft. Mittlerweile widmen sich auch die Hochschulen der Ausbildung von wissenschaftlichem Nachwuchs. Prosperierende Forschungsarbeit ist dafür ein unverzichtbarer Bestandteil. Der Leitgedanke „Interdisziplinäre Forschung – Chancen und Herausforderungen“ des BIH-Treffens 2019 soll zum fachübergreifenden Austausch von Know-how in Forschungs- und Lehrmethoden anregen. Eine große Bandbreite an Fachbeiträgen bietet spannende Einblicke in die Arbeit der Kolleginnen und Kollegen in den unterschiedlichen Fachbereichen des Bauwesens der zahlreichen deutschen Hochschulen. Dazu gehören Beiträge zu modernen Messmethoden in der Geotechnik und dem Bahnbau ebenso wie Forschungsergebnisse aus dem konstruktiven Ingenieurbau, der Baukonstruktion, der Haustechnik und der Verkehrsplanung und nicht zuletzt Erfahrungen zu interdisziplinären Lehrmethoden.:Einfluss der Nachverdichtung granularer Böden auf die Phasengeschwindigkeiten von Rayleighwellen Sommerliche Überhitzung in Wohngebäuden – Baukonstruktive und haustechnische Anpassungsmaßnahmen Die „Hochschulweite Interdisziplinäre Projektwoche (HIP)“ an der TH Köln – andere Welten kennenlernen! Forschungsprojekt „Duale Radlösung“ – Wahlfreie Führung als Mittel der Radverkehrslösung Zwang in Hochbaudecken aus Stahlbeton (Kooperative Promotion) Robustheit und Vulnerabilität der Wasserstraßeninfrastruktur Vergleichbarkeit der Messsysteme an Zug- und Biegeproben aus den Werkstoffen Stahl und Holz Entwicklung einer Messmethodik zur Bestimmung der Schienenbewegung unter dem rollenden RadResearch and science are important mainstay of a modern university. They provide a basis for the primary task of the universities, the practical and occupational teaching on the current state of technology and science. In the meantime, the universities are also dedicating themselves to the training of junior scientists. Prospering research is an indispensable part of this. The guiding idea 'Interdisciplinary Research - Opportunities and Challenges' of the BIH meeting 2019 is intended to stimulate the interdisciplinary exchange of expertise in research and teaching methods. A wide range of specialist contributions provides exciting insights into the work of colleagues in the various specialized fields of civil engineering at numerous German universities. This includes papers to modern measuring methods in geotechnical engineering and railway construction, as well as research results from structural engineering, building construction, building technology and traffic planning, and last but not least, experience in interdisciplinary teaching methods.:Einfluss der Nachverdichtung granularer Böden auf die Phasengeschwindigkeiten von Rayleighwellen Sommerliche Überhitzung in Wohngebäuden – Baukonstruktive und haustechnische Anpassungsmaßnahmen Die „Hochschulweite Interdisziplinäre Projektwoche (HIP)“ an der TH Köln – andere Welten kennenlernen! Forschungsprojekt „Duale Radlösung“ – Wahlfreie Führung als Mittel der Radverkehrslösung Zwang in Hochbaudecken aus Stahlbeton (Kooperative Promotion) Robustheit und Vulnerabilität der Wasserstraßeninfrastruktur Vergleichbarkeit der Messsysteme an Zug- und Biegeproben aus den Werkstoffen Stahl und Holz Entwicklung einer Messmethodik zur Bestimmung der Schienenbewegung unter dem rollenden Ra

Evaluation of immune functions of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) how can environmental influences be detected?

In fish, the first line of defense against infectious microorganisms is based on a broad range of nonspecific humoral and cellular immune mechanisms ( innate immunity ) which without prior specific activation can act in forming a more static barrier (Fish Shellfish Immunol. 10 (2000) 243; Dev. Comp. Immunol. 25 (2001) 827). This natural resistance is normally effective enough to protect fish from infectious diseases until specific immune responses are being induced (Fig. 1; Dev. Comp. Immunol. 25 (2001) 841). Healthy fish exhibit both nonspecific and specific immune responses depending directly on environmental temperature. Pollution of the natural aquatic environment with industrial or agricultural sewage is an important immunosuppressing factor resulting in higher susceptibility to infectious diseases. To date, the possible immunotoxicity of a substance is evaluated using quantification of humoral factors like lysozyme, complement, C-reactive protein or total immunoglobulins but less often using functional assays. Furthermore, most of the functional assays (phagocytosis, respiratory burst, proliferative response) are based on the measurement of the response of resting but not of specific activated immune cells. However, the physiological responses of the immune system to an infection are based on a complex, stepwise activation and proliferation, especially of the specific immune functions after first contact to the microorganisms. In this report we describe in vitro methods for the evaluation of cellular immune functions of different leukocyte populations after specific in vivo triggering of the immune system. Parameters to be evaluated are activation and proliferation of leukocyte populations, phagocytosis and respiratory burst, secretion of antigen-specific antibodies and specific cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, challenge models with bacterial (Aeromonas salmonicida) and viral pathogens (Viral Haemorrhagic Septicemia Virus, VHSV) are presented