Erythrocyte-Associated Immunity in Aquatic Organisms
Summary
Traditionally regarded as specialised gas carriers, nucleated erythrocytes in non-mammalian vertebrates have emerged as active participants in host defence. Far from being passive oxygen shuttles, fish and amphibian red blood cells possess pattern recognition receptors that detect pathogen-associated molecular patterns, and they swiftly respond by synthesising and secreting pro-inflammatory cytokines. These cells generate reactive oxygen species, engage in phagocytic uptake of microbial particles and employ autophagy to restrict viral replication. Moreover, transcriptomic and proteomic analyses reveal that erythrocytes contribute to antigen processing and presentation, expressing components of the major histocompatibility complex and co-stimulatory markers typically associated with professional antigen-presenting cells. Such multifunctionality positions erythrocytes at the intersection of innate and adaptive immunity, with broad implications for understanding disease resistance in wild populations, improving vaccine design in aquaculture and safeguarding global food security.
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Erythrocyte-Associated Immunity in Aquatic Organisms publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in erythrocyte-associated immunity in aquatic organisms across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Erythrocyte: A red blood cell responsible for gas exchange and, in non-mammalian vertebrates, active immune functions.
Nucleated erythrocyte: A red blood cell retaining its nucleus, capable of transcriptional responses to pathogens.
Pattern recognition receptor: A molecule that detects conserved microbial structures and initiates immune signalling.
Cytokine: A small secreted protein that modulates immune cell communication and inflammation.
Autophagy: A cellular process of degrading and recycling components, utilised for antiviral defence.
Phagocytosis: The uptake of particles or microbes by a cell, leading to their destruction.
Major histocompatibility complex (MHC): Cell-surface proteins that present antigenic peptides to T cells.
References
- Erythrocytes of the common carp are immune sentinels that sense pathogen molecular patterns, engulf particles and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines against bacterial infection. Frontiers in Immunology (2024).
- In Silico Functional Networks Identified in Fish Nucleated Red Blood Cells by Means of Transcriptomic and Proteomic Profiling. Genes (2018).
- Rainbow Trout Red Blood Cells Exposed to Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus Up-Regulate Antigen-Processing Mechanisms and MHC I&II, CD86, and CD83 Antigen-presenting Cell Markers. Cells (2019).
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