Ontogenic development of kidney, thymus and spleen and phenotypic expression of CD3 and CD4 receptors on the lymphocytes of cobia (Rachycentroncanadum )

ABSTRACT

In the present study was evaluated the ontogenic of immunocompetent organs of cobia up to 53 days after hatching (dah) through histology and immunohistochemistry techniques. The kidney was the first lymphohematopoietic organ to appear, at 1 dah, followed by the spleen at 5 dah and the thymus at 7 dah. The first CD3 receptors on the lymphocytes were observed in 27% of the thymic tissue at 7 dah and in 99% at 53 dah. The phenotypic expression of CD3 receptors was registered in 10% of the kidney at 8 dah and in 32% at 53 dah. CD4 receptors were observed in 5% and 63% of the thymic area at 7 and 53 dah, respectively. In the kidney, T4 lymphocytes were first observed at 13 dah in 9% of the organ and in 28% at 53 dah, defining the functional development of the specific system associated with immunological memory capacity.

Key words:
cobia; immune system; ontogeny; immunohistochemistry; lymphoid organs

RESUMO

No presente estudo foi realizada uma análise ontoge­nética dos órgãos imunocompetentes do bijupirá até 53 dia após a eclosão (dae) com técnicas histológica e imunohistoquímica. O rim foi o primeiro órgão linfo­hematopoiético a aparecer, ao 1 dae, seguido pelo baço aos 5 dae e pelo timo aos 7 dae. Os primeiros receptores CD3 em linfócitos foram observados em 27% no tecido do timo aos 7 dae e 99% aos 53 dae. A expressão fenotípica de receptores de CD3 foi registrada em 10% do rim aos 8 dae e em 32% aos 53 dae. Os recep­tores CD4 foram observados em 5% e 63% da área do timo aos 7 e 53 dae, respectivamente. No rim, linfócitos T4 foram primeiramente observados aos 13 dae em 9% do órgão e em 28% aos 53 dae, definindo o desenvolvimento funcional do sistema específico associado com a capacidade de memória imunológica.

Palavras-chave:
bijupirá; sistema imune; ontogenia; imunohistoquímica; órgãos linfoides

INTRODUCTION

The cobia Rachycentron canadum (Rachycentridae) is a carnivorous fish widely distributed in tropical and subtropical waters in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans, except for in the eastern Pacific.

This species has many favorable characteristics for aquaculture, especially its high growth rate, adaptability to confinement, acceptance of dry diets, ease of spawning in captivity (Chou et al. 2001) and excellent flesh characteristics (Craig et al. 2006,Liao and Leaño 2007, Liao et al. 2004). However, cobia is a recent addition to aquaculture species, and very little is known regarding biological concerns, such as the physiology of the immune system; the cells, tissues and organs that participate in the immune response; and the ontogeny of this system (Holt et al. 2007).

The immune system of teleost is divided into the innate or nonspecific immune system and the adaptive or specific immune system. The nonspecific immune system is antigen- independent and has no immunological memory. The specific or adaptive immune response is antigen-dependent, generating a specific response against one antigen, resulting in immunological memory.

To establish the ontogeny of the immune system of fish, it is necessary to analyze the lymphoid organs, thymus, kidney and spleen through histology. The thymus in teleost fishes shows structural and functional similarity to the thymus of mammals and is the key organ in the differentiation and maturation of the T lymphoid lineage (Zapata et al. 1996). The kidney, in addition to the thymus, plays an important role in the functioning of the immune system of teleost fishes. The head kidney is responsible for lymphohematopoiesis (Zapata et al. 1996). The spleen consists of splenic sinusoids, surrounded by lymphoid cells that contain red blood cells. Its functional unit is the ellipsoid corpuscle, composed a capillary surrounded by melanomacrophages, which is apparently involved in the elimination of the antigen-antibody complex and the destruction of old blood cells (Danneving and Landsverk 1995).

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ontogeny of immune system organs of cobia through conventional histology techniques and the phenotypic expression of the CD3 and CD4 lymphoid receptors through immunohistochemistry. Thus, the age at which the immune system is developed and is apparently functional, as indicated by the presence of a mixed lymphoid population and immunologic memory would be able to be established.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Ethics Committee approved this research for Animal Research of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande (23116.00197/2014-99).

Obtaining and Maintenance of Larvae and Juveniles in Laboratory

Cobia larvae were produced at Aqualider Inc., Pernambuco, Brazil, according to the protocol established for the species (Benetti et al. 2008).

Newly hatched larvae were stocked in a fiberglass tank with 12,000 L at a density of 15 larvae per liter. The tanks were kept in a flow-through system with a water exchange rate of 500% per day. The water temperature was kept at 29.5 ± 0.3 °C with a salinity of 35 ppt. The oxygen concentration and pH were 6.5 mg L^-1 and 8.09, respectively.

The enrichment of rotifers and Artemia sp. was performed with 85% Algamac 3050, 10% Algamac ARA, and 5% Algamac Astaxanthin. During the enrichment period, the concentration of rotifers was maintained between 500-600 rot mL^-1, and 0.6 g L^-1 of enrichment solution was used for every 1,000,000 rotifers for 6 h. Artemia sp. were kept at a concentration of 250-300 art mL^-1, and 0.6 g L^-1 of enrichment solution was offered for every 1,000,000 Artemia sp. for 24 h.

The first feeding was offered 2 days after hatching (dah), and it was composed only of enriched rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis ) at a density of 5 rotifers mL^-1 until 6 dah. At 7 and 8 dah, the larvae were fed with enriched rotifers and newly hatched Artemia sp. nauplii. During the entire period of rotifer administration, the microalgaeNannochloropsis oculatta was inoculated at a density of 15 x 10⁴ cells mL^-1. Next, the larvae were exclusively fed with Artemia sp. nauplii 9 dah, and from 11 to 15 dah, larvae were fed only with enriched Artemia sp. From 16 to 27 dah, enriched Artemia sp. and a commercial diet (NRD, Inve, USA - 59% protein, 16% lipids) were offered every 4 hours. Finally, all fish were weaned to the commercial diet 28 dah.

Histological and Morphometric Analysis

Larvae and juveniles (0 to 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 28, 49 and 53 dah) (n per day = 15), were euthanized with 50 ppm Aqui-S(r). To perform the histological analysis of the kidney, thymus and spleen and subsequent morphometric analysis, the animals were fixed in 20% buffered formaldehyde. Then the samples were dehydrated in graded ethanol series, incorporated with Paraplast Plus (Sigma Aldrich, Brazil) and cut in longitudinal sections (3 -5 µm thick). The resulting sections were subsequently stained with hematoxylin, eosin and PAS. For morphometric analysis of the thymus and head kidney, longitudinal sections of about 0.5 mm in thickness were prepared. The area of these organs was measured using the Weibel graticules, with lines, according to Weibel (1979).

Immunohistochemistry

In the immunohistochemistry of the kidney and thymus the same animals processed for histological analyses were used. The ABC peroxidase method was applied (Vectastain Elite ABC Kit, Canada), as described by Hsu et al. (1981). The sections were incubated with a human monoclonal antibody, anti CD3 and anti CD4 (Dako, Argentina), previously tested for fish in Xiphophorus helleri and Danio rerio (Romano et al. 2004, Batista et al. 2014). The evaluation of CD3 and CD4 receptors was performed by quantitative analysis of the phenotypic percentage by mm² of tissue. The expression of these receptors was quantified using Bioscan OPTIMAS 6.1 software (Romano et al. 1996, Batista et al. 2014).

RESULTS

Histological Analysis

The lymphoid organs appear in the following sequence: anterior kidney, spleen and thymus. The kidney is anatomically located in the retroperitoneal space between the parietal peritoneum and spine. The kidney was observed at 1 dah with only two renal tubules, and lymphoid cells were observed after 2 dah. In the head kidney, the hematopoietic tissue mass increased progressively with age. At 4 dah, the lymphohemopoietic cell population and the number of renal tubules increased, and the first glomerulus was also observed. Between 5 and 8 dah, the volume of lymphohemopoietic tissue increased. After 9 dah, the size of the kidney augmented and renal structures became more evident. By 49 and 53 dah, glomeruli and renal tubules were distributed uniformly and were surrounded by a large number of lymphohemopoietic cells (Fig. 1).

Figure 1
a Kidney of larvae 2 dah, with tubules (T), capillary sinusoids (SC) and erythrocytes (arrow). Lymphohematopoietic cells were not observed. (Bar= 200 µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin; b Kidney at 19 dah with tubules (T), hematopoietic tissue (THP), capillary sinusoids (long arrow) and melanomacrophages (short arrow) (Bar= 100 µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin; c Kidney of juvenile at 53 dah with a tubule (T), glomeruli (G), capillary sinusoids (SC) and abundant lymphohematopoietic tissue (THP) (Bar= 100 µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin.

The thymus is a bilateral organ that consists of a uniform mass of lymphoid cells surrounded by a thin capsule of connective tissue and is linked to the pharyngeal epithelium located in the dorsal region of each branchial cavity. The thymus can be observed at 7 dah as a small population of lymphocytes that increases with time. After 15 dah, the lymphoid cells and the pharyngeal epithelium became evident. At 23 dah, the thymus appears to be divided into three lobes, and between 49 and 53 dah, it in volves a large portion of the pharyngeal epithelium. At 53 dah, Hassal-like corpuscles, which are similar to the corresponding structures in mammals and humans, are found among the lymphocytes (Fig. 2).

Figure 2
(Bar= 200µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin; b Thymus (T) at 28 dah with the pharyngeal epithelium (EF) and Hassal-like corpuscles (arrow) (Bar = 100 µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin- Eosin; c Thymus at 53 dah, with lymphocytes, capillaries (C) and Hassal-like corpuscles (arrow), (Bar= 50 µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin.

The spleen was first observed at 5 da has a few splenic cells in the peritoneal cavity adjacent to the intestine wall and next to the pancreatic tissue. At 10 dah, there was an increase in the number of splenic cells. After 53 dah, the ellipsoid corpuscle was observed, composed of capillaries surrounded by melanomacrophage PAS positive (Fig. 3).

Figure 3
a Spleen at 19 dah with two networks, connective tissue and capillary sinusoids (SC). The cells filling up the spaces within the networks (arrows) (Bar= 200 µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin; b Spleen at 53 with increase in the number of splenic cells (SC) and the ellipsoid corpuscle, composed of capillaries surrounded by melanomacrophage PAS positive (arrow) (Bar= 100 µm). Section was stained with Haematoxylin-Eosin.

Morphometric Analysis

The mean length of the larvae and juveniles was 3.8 ± 0.04 mm at 1 dah, with exponential growth throughout the period studied, before reaching the final length of 154 ± 4.6 at 53 dah.

The kidney, spleen and thymus showed a gradual increase in size relative to the total length of larvae and juveniles.

The kidney had a length (L) of 0.11 mm and total area (TA) of 0.11 mm²1 dah (3.8 ± 0.04 mm), a L = 2.6 mm and TA = 1.18 mm² at 12 dah (8.3 ± 0.4 mm), and a L = 3.3 mm and TA = 12.3 mm² 53 dah (154 ± 4.6 mm) (Fig. 4).

Figure 4
Growth of kidney in larvae and juvenile cobiaRachycentron canadum . (a) Length of kidney. (b) Area of kidney.

The thymus measured L = 0.14 mm and TA = 0.17 mm² at 7 dah (5.4 ± 0.20 mm), L = 0.32 mm and TA = 0.28 mm² at 21 dah (29.8 ± 2.1 mm) and L = 0.49 mm and TA = 1.68 mm² at 53 dah (154 ± 4.6 mm) (Fig. 5).

Figure 5
Growth of thymus in larvae and juvenile cobiaRachycentron canadum . (a) Length of thymus. (b) Area of thymus.

At 5 dah, the spleen was (4.8 ± 0.2 mm) L = 0.2 mm and TA = 0.17 mm², and it gradually increased in size until 53 dah (154 ± 4.6 mm), reaching L = 1.54 mm and TA = 16.5 mm² (Fig. 6).

Figure 6
Growth of the spleen of larvae and juvenile cobiaRachycentron canadum . (a) Length of spleen. (b) Area of spleen.

Analysis of the Phenotypic Expression of CD3 and CD4

The phenotypic expressions of CD3 and CD4 lymphoid receptors increased with the age of larvae and juveniles. In the thymus, the first CD3 receptors were observed at 7 dah (5.4 ± 0.2 mm), occupying 27% /mm² of thymic tissue. At 53 dah they occupied 99%/mm² of the thymic tissue (154 ± 4.6 mm). The phenotypic expression of the CD3 receptors in the kidney started at 8 dah (6.5 ± 0.1 mm) in 10%/mm² of the kidney tissue and reached 32%/mm² of the kidney tissue at 53 dah (Fig. 7a).

Figure 7
Phenotypic expression of CD3 (a) and CD4 (b) in lymphocytes presents in the thymus and kidney of cobia Rachycentron canadum .

The phenotypic expression of CD4 lymphoid receptors (T4 lymphocytes) started in the thymus at 7 dah, with 5%/mm² of thymic tissue. At 53 dah they occupied 63% /mm² of thymic tissue. In the kidney, the T4 lymphocyte population was first registered at 13 dah (12.4 ± 0.7 mm) with 9% /mm² presented 28% /mm² at 53 dah (Fig. 7b).

DISCUSSION

The immune system of teleost fishes is similar to that in mammals with respect to its cells and molecules, but the morphology of this system is different regarding the organs and the functions they perform. A crucial difference between the systems in fish and that in comparison to that of mammals, is the absence of bone marrow in fish. Hematopoiesis occurs in the anterior portion of the kidney, which serves as an important lymphoid organ. In addition, lymph nodes, which have an important role in the immune response in mammals and humans, are also absent in fish (Zapata 1996).

Regarding lymphoid organs in fish, there are frequent reports of variations in the morphology of the thymus due to the absence of the cortico-medullary junction. However, it is important to recognize that these differences mainly occur between species and are age-dependent. The location of the thymus has been reported in some species with different results (Bowden et al. 2005). The initial development of this organ in fish has been studied for several species of teleosts (Chantanachookhin 1991, Lam et al. 2002), such as the Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus ) where the thymic cells expand and the organ protrudes into the opercular cavity (Bowden et al. 2005). However, in other species, such as the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) and snook (Centropomus sp.), the predominant growth of the thymus is internal (Bowden et al. 2005). In this study, it was found that the thymus of cobia involves the pharyngeal epithelium located in the dorsal region of each branchial cavity.

Structures known as Hassall corpuscles are found in the medulla of the thymus of mammals and humans and are formed by lymphoepithelial cells connected by desmosomes. These cells, especially those in the center of the organ, can degenerate and die, leaving cellular debris that may calcify; however, their functions are unknown (Watanabe et al. 2005). Similar structures have been found in the thymus of cobia, in contrast to most studies, which describe an absence of Hassall structures in the thymus of teleost (Hibiya 1982), although others studies describe similar structures in fish (Bowden et al. 2005, Ellsaesser et al. 1988, Chilmonczyk 1992). In rainbow trout, it is possible to observe thymic cells with an eosinophilic hyaline material deposit, which can be mistaken for Hassall corpuscles due to the fact that because these structures are strictly epithelial and are similar to onion layers (Palestro et al. 1998).

Studies of the human thymus have demonstrated that thymic cells produce proinsulin (Wentworth et al. 1992), and other researchers have shown that this proinsulin factor is produced in the Hassall corpuscle in the mouse thymus (Chentoufi et al. 2004). Considering the importance of this factor in the growth of all vertebrates, the observation of structures similar to those of Hassall corpuscles in the thymus of cobia could be related to the production of a proinsulin factor that would stimulate growth in this species, which presents a high growth rate (Liao and Leaño 2007).

In contrast to mammals and humans, the spleen of fish did not differentiate into white pulp and red pulp, which was also observed in the histological study of the spleen of Paralichthys olivaceus (Liu et al. 2004). The functional unit of this organ is the ellipsoid corpuscle, composed of capillaries surrounded by melanomacrophage and lymphoid tissue. The immune function of splenic lymphoid tissue has been controversial, mainly because of the differences found between species. Ontogenic studies on Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout suggest that the spleen is not essential for immune maturation, and lymphocytes from the thymus and head kidney perform many functions, whereas the spleen is still a rudimentary organ (Razquin et al. 1990).

Ontogeny is a sequence of molecular and cellular events ruled by time and space, leading to the development of a functional organism. According to research on ontogeny, it is clear that young fish rely on innate defense mechanisms during the first weeks/months of their development. Because of these findings, ontogeny studies are important for understanding the evolutionary paths and defense mechanisms of fish, against pathogens, at an early age (Rombout et al. 2005). It is also critical to study new species, such as cobia, because there are no reports in the literature concerning the development of its immune system; the present study is the first.

Compared to other teleost, the development of lymphoid organs in cobia was similar to that in other marine fish. The kidney in cobia was already present on the first day after hatching, with only a few renal tubules, which is the same age observed forParalichthys olivaceus. In addition, the hematopoietic tissue mass increased gradually with the age of the fish (Liu et al. 2004).

The lymphoid organs of cobia appeared in the following sequence: anterior kidney, spleen and thymus, in accordance with those of other marine teleost, including flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus ), sea bream (Sparus aurata ), yellowtail (Seriola dumerili ) and red sea bream (Pagrus major ) (Chantanachookhin et al. 1991, Liu et al. 2004, Padros and Crespo 1996,Josefsson and Tatner 1993). However, in freshwater fish, such as salmon, trout and carp (Grace and Manning 1980, Bothamand Manning 1981), the thymus is the first lymphoid organ to appear in the development.

During the ontogeny of the immune system, it is possible to establish the moment when T lymphocytes repopulate the kidney. The lymphocytes that migrate from the head kidney to the thymus acquire specific T-cell receptors (thymus- dependent) (Nielsen and Esteve-Gassent 2006) and then return to the kidney and maintain the immune activities of B and T lymphocytes, as noted in this study through the analysis of the phenotypic expression of CD3 and CD4 receptors. From that moment, the thymus involutes in most species of fish at the time of sexual maturity (Fishelson 1995), although this involution can also be related to other factors, such as age, season, environmental stress and hormonal cycles (Press and Evensen 1999).

Morphological studies on the development of the immune systems of fish have shown that immune system mechanisms among teleost are very similar, showing differences only in the development of the adaptive immune system (Mulero et al. 2007). In this study, it was possible to establish when the specific immune system became functional from, based on the presence of T4 lymphocytes (CD4 receptors) in the thymus at 7 dah and in the kidney at 13 dah, which indicates the presence of immunological memory. The absence of CD3 and CD4 receptors in spleen lymphocytes is possibly caused by its predominant population of B lymphocytes and few T lymphocytes, which are insufficient for positive immunohistochemistry (Mishell and Dutton 1967).

Some authors report that due to the lack of appropriate cell markers for T lymphocytes in fish, the characteristics of T-cell populations have not yet been fully defined in teleost (Laing et al. 2006). The use of cross-reactivity is only possible because molecules present on T cell receptors of some species, are conserved during evolution (Romano et al. 2004, Conrad et al. 2007, Batista et al. 2014). This work has demonstrated the usefulness of classical histology and immunohistochemistry, which are accessible and technically simple tools, to evaluate the ontogenic development of the cobia and contribute o the cultivation and future research of this fish.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to thank the staff at the Marine Aquaculture Station. M. Klosterhoff and E. Gusmão are graduate students of Aquaculture at FURG and supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES). Ricardo V. is supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). L.A. Romano and Luís A. Sampaio are research fellow of CNPq.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  27 Nov 2015
• Date of issue
  Oct-Dec 2015

History

• Received
  23 Jan 2015
• Accepted
  17 Feb 2015