K. Austin et Kt. Paynter, CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CHEMILUMINESCENCE MEASURED IN HEMOCYTES OF THE EASTERN OYSTER, CRASSOSTREA-VIRGINICA, The Journal of experimental zoology, 273(6), 1995, pp. 461-471
Hemocytes of the Eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica, produce react
ive oxygen intermediates (ROIs) during phagocytosis to destroy foreign
cells. Although evidence suggests that oyster hemocytes generate supe
roxide anions (Oz) following phagocytic stimulation, the production of
other ROI species such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), singlet oxygen (O
-1(2)), hydroxyl radical (. OH), and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) has not
been directly investigated. In this study, ROI production by oyster he
mocytes was measured by quantifying the production of chemiluminescenc
e (CL) amplified with different luminescent probes. The ROIs involved
in CL production were identified by testing the effects of scavengers
and inhibitors of particular ROI species on CL. Taurine completely inh
ibited luminol-dependent CL, indicating that HOCl production was prima
rily responsible for the CL generated by hemocytes during phagocytosis
of yeast granules. In addition, azide strongly inhibited luminol CL,
implicating the involvement of myeloperoxidase in the production of HO
Cl and the resulting CL. Superoxide dismutase partially inhibited CL,
indicating that superoxide ions were also produced and contributed to
CL. Luminol CL was significantly higher in hemocytes from oysters heav
ily infected with the parasite Perkinsus marinrcs and remained complet
ely inhibitable by taurine suggesting that HOCl production was enhance
d by infection. Last, the concentration of taurine measured in oyster
hemolymph was sufficient to quench a significant amount of the HOCl ge
nerated by the hemocytes and may reduce the effectiveness of the oyste
r's defense response to infections. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.