Immunomodulatory effects of dietary intake of chitin on gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.) innate immune system

To determine the effects of chitin (poly [1→4]-β-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) on the innate immune response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.), fish were fed diets containing 0mg (control), 25, 50 or 100mg kg−1chitin for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Lysozyme and natural haemolytic complement activities, togeth...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Fish & shellfish immunology 2001-05, Vol.11 (4), p.303-315
Main Authors: Esteban, M.A., Cuesta, A., Ortuño, J., Meseguer, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Chitin - administration & dosage
Chitin - pharmacology
chitin, immunostimulation, innate immune response, leucocytes, phagocytosis, cytotoxicity, gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.)
Complement System Proteins - drug effects
Cytotoxicity, Immunologic - drug effects
Diet
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Leukocytes - drug effects
Leukocytes - immunology
Marine
Muramidase - blood
Muramidase - drug effects
Phagocytosis - drug effects
Random Allocation
Respiratory Burst - drug effects
Sea Bream - growth & development
Sea Bream - immunology
Sparus aurata
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Summary:To determine the effects of chitin (poly [1→4]-β-N-acetyl-D-glucosamine) on the innate immune response of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata L.), fish were fed diets containing 0mg (control), 25, 50 or 100mg kg−1chitin for 2, 4 and 6 weeks. Lysozyme and natural haemolytic complement activities, together with head-kidney leucocyte respiratory burst, phagocytic and cytotoxic activities, were studied at each of the assayed times. Lysozyme activity was unaffected by the administration of chitin. The innate humoral and cellular immune response activities assayed were enhanced by the dietary intake of chitin, each increasing at a different time: natural haemolytic complement activity and cytotoxic activity after 2 weeks of treatment, respiratory burst activity from 4 weeks and phagocytic activity after 6 weeks, although, unlike the other activities, no statistically significant differences were observed in the first. The results indicate that chitin increases the activity of the seabream innate immune system, and its use as an immunostimulant is discussed, especially with regards to the protective role.
ISSN:1050-4648
1095-9947
DOI:10.1006/fsim.2000.0315