Birgit H. Dannevig

Immune-complex trapping in the splenic ellipsoids of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), immunised with horseradish peroxidase, were given horseradish peroxidase intravenously, and the trapping of antigen in the spleen was followed 1, 24, and 48 h after injection. After 1 h, the localisation of horseradish peroxidase indicated that the antigen had been extensively trapped in the walls of the splenic ellipsoids. The colocalisation of horseradish peroxidase with rainbow trout immunoglobulin M and complement factor 3 was shown with a double immunofluorescence technique and suggested that horseradish peroxidase was trapped in the form of immune complexes. After 24 and 48 h, very little horseradish peroxidase was detected in the ellipsoids, and horseradish peroxidase was mainly found in association with large cells with prominent cytoplasmic extensions. In nonimmunised fish given horseradish peroxidase intravenously, antigen was not detected in ellipsoids. Thus, the observed difference between immunised and nonimmunised trout suggests a specific role for the splenic ellipsoids in rapid immune-complex trapping and invites speculation on its significance in a secondary immune response.

Desaturation and chain elongation of essential fatty acids in isolated liver cells from rat and rainbow trout

Isolated hepatocytes from rainbow trout and rat were incubated with14C-labeled linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dihomogammalinolenic acid or eicosapentaenoic acid. The most striking difference in the desaturase activity was the lower level of Δ5 desaturase in trout than in rat. No Δ4 desaturation of 22∶4(n−6) to 22∶5(n−6) was observed in either of the two species, while the conversion of 22∶5(n−3) to 22∶6(n−3) was significant in both groups and highest in rainbow trout. The chain-elongating activity was remarkably similar in the two species, except for the “dead-end” elongation which was distinctly more important in fish.

Endocytosis of galactose-terminated glycoproteins by isolated liver cells of the rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri)

Intravenously injected 125I-labeled galactose-terminated glycoproteins were mainly recovered in the liver of the rainbow trout. After injection of [14C]sucrose-labeled asialofetuin, the liver cells were isolated and separated by differential centrifugation. The radioactivity was located in the parenchymal cells. Uptake of asialoglycoproteins in liver cells was inhibited by EGTA, lactose and excess unlabeled ligand. Degradation was inhibited by ammonium chloride, suggesting a lysosomal process. Internalization of 125I-asialoglycoproteins was demonstrated by removing receptor-bound ligand with EGTA at different time points during the incubation. The cellular uptake occurred even at 0 degree C.

Endocytosis of a mannose-terminated glycoprotein and formaladehyde-treated human serum albumin in liver and kidney cells from fish (Salmoalpinus L.)

The uptake and degradation of a mannose-terminated glycoprotein, yeast invertase, in char (Salmo alpinus L.) tissue was studied after intravenously injection of the 125I-labelled protein. 125I-labelled formaldehyde-treated human serum albumin (fHSA) and native HSA was also injected for comparison. Labelled invertase was rapidly cleared from blood and at about the same rate as labelled fHSA (at 8 degrees C). Approximately 50% of the initial concentration remained in blood 15 min after the injection of the ligands. Acid soluble degradation products appeared in the circulation about 60 min after the injection of the proteins. 125I-labelled invertase was recovered in the liver, pronephros and kidney. The clearance of labelled invertase from blood and the uptake in the organs were inhibited by co-injection of excess unlabelled invertase. fHSA was taken up in the pronephros and kidney tissue, while HSA was not taken up in any organs. In vitro degradation of the labelled ligands was studied in isolated pronephros cells, which had taken up the proteins in vivo. The degradation of invertase in isolated cells was partly inhibited by ammonium chloride. Ammonium chloride and chloroquine inhibited degradation of fHSA, but not leupeptin. These results together suggest that invertase and fHSA were taken up in the organs described by the receptor-mediated endocytosis. The degradation was partly or wholly lysosomal.

Endocytosis via the scavenger- and the mannose-receptor in rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) pronephros is carried out by nonphagocytic cells

Endocytosis of modified human serum albumin (HSA) and mannose-terminated glycoproteins was studied in pronephros cells from rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). Blood clearance and tissue uptake of dinitrophenylated human serum albumin (DNP-HSA) was dependent on the number of DNP-groups conjugated to the albumin molecule. Uptake of DNP35-HSA in isolated pronephros cells was saturable. Pronephros cells also internalized the mannose-terminated glycoprotein invertase by a receptor-mediated process. DNP-HSA and invertase were recovered in the same cell fractions when pronephros cells containing in vivo endocytosed ligands were separated by density gradient centrifugation. The cells endocytosing these ligands were apparently not macrophages. The macrophages were recovered in cell fractions with higher densities. They were identified by their ability to adhere to glass and to carry out phagocytosis. Cultured macrophages did not endocytose chemically modified albumin (DNP-HSA and formaldehyde-treated albumin) and mannose-terminated glycoproteins (ovalbumin) in vitro. These ligands were not recovered in glass adherent pronephros cells after in vivo endocytosis of the proteins. The present data suggest that macrophages in rainbow trout pronephros possess neither the receptor for chemically modified albumin, the scavenger receptor, nor the mannose-specific receptor.

Uptake and proteolysis of denatured human serum albumin by kidneys in chars (Salmo alpinus L.)

Abstract 1. 1. 125 I-labelled formaldehyde-treated human serum albumin injected intravenously into chars was taken up mainly by the kidneys. 2. 2. Char kidney homogenates prepared 2 hr following the injection of 125 I-labelled human serum albumin degraded the labelled protein effectively at 4–35°C. 3. 3. Char kidney contains high activities of lysosomal proteases. The possible role of kidney lysosomes in degrading labelled denatured albumin is discussed.

Invitro degradation of endocytosed protein in pronephros cells of the char (Salmoalpinus L.). The effects of temperature and inhibitors

In vitro degradation of 125I-formaldehyde treated human serum albumin (fHSA) in char (Salmo alpinus L.) pronephros cells was studied. The labelled protein was injected intravenously and after various intervals of time pronephros cells were isolated and degradation of internalized protein was measured. No degradation could be observed in cells isolated 30 min after injection. The degradation was very effective in cells isolated at later time points (60-90 min); as much as 65% of the initial cell associated labelled protein was degraded during 90 min incubation at 15 degrees C. The effect of temperature on degradation showed a linear course in the temperature range 0-20 degrees C when plotted in an Arrhenius plot. Monensin and ammonium ions inhibited degradation while colchicine had no effect when pronephros cells were isolated 75 min after the injection.

Esterification of cholesterol in fish plasma: studies on the cholesterol esterifying enzyme in plasma of char (Salmo alpinus L.).

1. Plasma of sea char (Salmo alpinus L.) has the ability to esterify cholesterol in vitro. Heat inactivation of the plasma totally inhibited the esterification. 2. Arrhenius plot of the esterification of [3H]cholesterol was linear in the temperature range 5-35 degrees C. 3. Cholesterol esterification in sea char plasma could not be reversibly inhibited by sulphydryl-blocking agents. Total equilibration of the added [3H]cholesterol and the endogenous cholesterol could therefore not be obtained. 4. Comparison of esterification of endogenous and labelled cholesterol revealed that the isotopic method was valid only in qualitative measurements.

The liver parenchymal cells of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) endocytose mannose-terminated glycoproteins.

A mannose-terminated glycoprotein,125I-invertase, was taken up and degraded by isolated rainbow trout liver cells at 12°C. The uptake was inhibited by EGTA and no degradation occurred in the presence of ammonium ions. The liver cell suspension was fractionated by differential centrifugation in parenchymal and nonparenchymal cells, respectively. The parenchymal liver cells seemed to be the most active cells in uptake of labelled invertase bothin vitro andin vivo. Only negligible amounts of ligand were recovered in the nonparenchymal cells. Internalization of125I-invertase at different temperatures was demonstrated indirectly by releasing surface-bound ligand with EGTA. Ligand was internalized even at 0°C in trout liver cells.In vitro uptake of125I-invertase was inhibited by excess unlabelled invertase, by mannan and by N-acetylglucosamine.These data suggest that invertase is endocytosed by a mannose-specific pathway by the parenchymal liver cells of rainbow trout.

Effects of fasting on plasma lipids and cholesterol esterification in plasma, liver and intestinal mucosa in the char (Salmo alpinus L.)

1. CoA-dependent cholesterol esterification, measured as esterification of 3H-cholesterol, was demonstrated in homogenates of liver and intestinal mucosa of the char (Salmo alpinus L.). 2. Plasma concentration of triacylglycerols, unesterified and total cholesterol were significantly reduced to 43, 58 and 72% of the control values, respectively, after 6 weeks fasting. 3. The rate of cholesterol esterification in plasma and liver homogenate was significantly lower in the fasted fish compared to the controls, but the esterification activity in the homogenate of intestinal mucosa increased twofold in the fish fasted for 6 weeks.