Carotenoid-based immune response in sea cucumbers relies on newly identified coelomocytes-the carotenocytes.

ABSTRACT: Sea cucumbers are marine deuterostomes possessing a complex innate immune system composed of a wide diversity of immune cells-coelomocytes-making them compelling models for exploring the evolution of immunity. This study investigates the functional specialisation of coelomocytes within the two main echinoderm body fluids, namely, the perivisceral fluid (PF) from the perivisceral cavity and the hydrovascular fluid (HF) from the hydrovascular-ambulacral system. Given their distribution restricted to the HF, haemocyte-like cells (HELs) are particularly investigated. In echinoderms, haemocytes have been described as reddish cells containing haemoglobin and thus presenting a function in oxygen transport. Using an integrative approach that combines cell morphological analyses, pigment profiling,

SUBMITTER: Wambreuse N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12631484 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature