Abstract
Sea urchins are noted for the absence of neoplastic disease and represent a novel model to investigate cellular and systemic cancer protection mechanisms. Following intracoelomic injection of the DNA alkylating agentmethylmethane-sulfonate, DNA damage was detected in sea urchin cells and tissues (coelomocytes, muscle, oesophagus, ampullae and gonad) by the alkaline unwinding, fast micromethod. Gene expression analyses of the coelomocytes indicated upregulation of innate immune markers, including genes involved in NF-κB signalling. Results suggest that activation of the innate immune system following DNA damage may contribute to the naturally occurring resistance to neoplastic disease observed in sea urchins.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 2015.1057 |
Journal | Biology Letters |
Volume | 12 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Feb 2016 |
Keywords
- DNA damage
- Innate immune genes
- Methyl methanesulfonate
- Sea urchins