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American Zoologist 1983 23(1):221-227; doi:10.1093/icb/23.1.221
© 1983 by The Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology
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Ecteinascidia turbinata Extract Activates Components of Inflammatory Responses Throughout the Phylogenetic Spectrum1

M. MICHAEL SIGEL, LARRY J. MCCUMBER, JAMES A. HIGHTOWER, STEVEN S. HAYASAKA, EDGAR M. HUGGINS, JR. and JAMES F. DAVIS
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Department of Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Department of Microbiology, Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 29631
Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Department of Microbiology, Clemson University Clemson, South Carolina 29631

The tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata contains a substance or substances capable of exerting a number of biological effects. Extracts of tunicate tissues have been shown to kill tumor cells in vitro and arrest tumor growth in vivo. The extracts also suppress allograft rejection, graft-US.-host reactions and lymphocyte proliferative responses as well as humoral responses to immunization. By modifying the conditions, the extracts could potentiate antibody responses. In addition, they augment functions of monocyte-macrophages as evidenced by in vitro phagocytosis, in vivo clearance, and cytotoxic activity against target cells. After studies in mice, we were able to demonstrate that the extracts could activate the phagocytic systems of shrimp, blue crab, and fish (the American eel). In fish, the intraperitoneal route was superior to the intravenous route for promotion of phagocytosis, increase in percent presentation of granulocytes and for enhancement of resistance to bacterial infection. Intrarriuscular and intraperitoneal injection led to local inflammation with accumulation of granulocytes and macrophages.


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