STUDY OF MACROPHAGES FROM SPLEEN OF TILAPIA (Oreochromis sp.) TO EVALUATE IMMUNE MECHANISMS IN FISH Authors: Guria S
ABSTRACT
Increased understanding of fish antimicrobial host defences is an important step in
aquaculture setting. Much of the information of macrophage biology comes from research in
mammalian models, where distinct macrophage subsets have been noticed, including classically
activated cells (M1) and alternatively activated cells (M2) which are associated with “kill” or
“heal” response. In teleosts, the best characterized macrophage phenotype is that comparable to
the M1 activation state, which act to induce inflammatory responses. Recent fish immunology
research has focused on fish macrophage biology. In present research, the understanding of teleost
macrophage morphology, study of phagocytosis, cell aggregation and functional heterogeneity has
been addressed. Analysis from tilapia (Oreochromis sp.) splenic macrophages showed numerous
macrophages as free or in aggregates (MAs). Formation of filopodia like extension, attachment of
charcoal particles on cell surface, cell fusion, poorly organized cell aggregation was noticed.
Numerous studies have shown an increase in number and size of macrophage aggregates (MAs),
Melano-Macrophage Centres (MMCs) in fish collected at contaminated sites. These results can be
used to study the role of macrophages against various immunomodulators.
Keywords: Macrophage aggregates (MA), Spleen, Phagocytosis, Cell – cell fusion Publication date: 01/03/2024 https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2024/March/MS_IJBPAS_2024_7895.pdfDownload PDFhttps://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2024/13.3.7895