Innate and adaptive immunity in teleost fish: a review

Abstract

  The immune system of fish is very similar to vertebrates, although there are some important differences. Fish are free-living organisms from the embryonic stage of life in their aquatic environment. They have mechanisms to protect themselves from a wide variety of microorganisms. Consequently, fish rely on their innate immune system for an extended period of time, beginning at the early stages of embryogenesis. The components of the innate immune response are divided into physical, cellular and humoral factors and include humoral and cellular receptor molecules that are soluble in plasma and other body fluids. The lymphoid organs found in fish include the thymus, spleen and kidney. Immunoglobulins are the principal components of the immune response against pathogenic organisms. Immunomodulatory products, including nucleotides, glucans and probiotics, are increasingly used in aquaculture production. The use of these products reduces the need for therapeutic treatments, enhances the effects of vaccines and, in turn, improves the indicators of production. The aim of this review is to provide a review of the immune system in fish, including the ontogeny, mechanisms of unspecific and acquired immunity and the action of some immunomodulators.

Haemato-biochemical disorders associated with nodavirus like-agent in adult leaping mullet Liza saliens (Risso, 1810) in the Caspian Sea

“…These are the aminotransferases that were distributed in liver and plasma whose levels are low when the animal is healthy but high in case of hepatopathy [30,31]. To our knowledge, the liver might not be a target organ for nodavirus and it could not cause hepatic failure [19,26], therefore, it seems that the rise of ALT and AST in infected group could be attributed to the participation of reactive oxygen species generated by long time starvation in liver which caused liver damage [47].…”

Effect of dietary arginine on the immune response and gene expression in head kidney and spleen following infection of Jian carp with Aeromonas hydrophila

“…Fish humoral immunity consist of two parts: non-specific and specific humoral immunity. Complement, lectin, lysozyme and transferrin are regarded as the vital components of the non-specific humoral system, and IgM was the major component of specific humoral immune system [9,11]. However, there is little information available concerning the effects of dietary arginine on fish humoral immunity of most commercially important fish species.…”

RNA-seq profiles from grass carp tissues after reovirus (GCRV) infection based on singular and modular enrichment analyses

“…However, systematic understanding is needed for the changes that occur at the molecular level in different tissues of grass carp during hemorrhagic disease. Innate immunity in fish is investigated mainly because of its importance in the early stages of embryogenesis and of the fundamental defense mechanisms against pathogens (Uribe et al, 2011;Magnadottir, 2006;Rombout et al, 2005). In fact, fish occupy an apparent crossroads between the innate immune response and the evolution of the adaptive immune response (Tort et al, 2003).…”