Recent Advances in Elasmobranch Immunology

Carl A. Luer, Catherine J. Walsh, and Ashby B. BodineCONTENTS13.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 403 13.2 Elasmobranch Immune Cells and Their Sites of Origin ....................................................................................... 40313.2.1 Leukocytes ..................................................................................................................................................... 403 13.2.2 Lymphoid and Lymphomyeloid Tissues ................................................................................................... 40513.3 Antigen Receptor Molecules ..................................................................................................................................... 407 13.3.1 Immunoglobulins ......................................................................................................................................... 407 13.3.2 T-Cell Receptors ............................................................................................................................................. 40913.4 Immune System Genes ............................................................................................................................................... 409 13.4.1 Immunoglobulin and TCR Genes ............................................................................................................... 409 13.4.2 Major Histocompatibility Complex ............................................................................................................ 410 13.4.3 Transcription Factors .....................................................................................................................................41113.5 Gene Expression by Elasmobranch Immune Cells .................................................................................................411 13.5.1 Expression of Ig and TCR ..............................................................................................................................411 13.5.2 Cell Surface Markers ..................................................................................................................................... 412 13.5.3 Experimentally Induced Changes in Gene Expression ........................................................................... 41213.6 Immune Factors as Modulators of Apoptosis ......................................................................................................... 415 13.6.1 Apoptotic Pathway ........................................................................................................................................ 415 13.6.2 Induction of Apoptosis by Shark Immune-Cell-Derived Factors .......................................................... 41513.7 Summary and Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 417 Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................................................................. 417 References ................................................................................................................................................................................ 417