Isolation and functional characterization of neutrophil-like cells, from goldfish (Carassius auratus L.) kidney

Neutrophils are one of the first cells to arrive at the site of inflammation and are central cells of innate immunity of vertebrates. Upon activation, neutrophils are capable of producing an intense respiratory burst response, they rapidly degranulate in the presence of pathogens, and deploy neutrophil extracellular traps that efficiently remove infections agents. We report on the isolation, cultivation and characterization of neutrophil-like cells isolated from the goldfish kidney. Neutrophil-like cells stained positive for acid phosphatase and Sudan black, expressed MPO, and produced a dose-dependent respiratory burst response after stimulation with phorbol esters (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187 (CaI). Treatment of neutrophil-like cultures with PMA, CaI or zymosan induced a dose-dependent non-reversible degranulation of neutrophil-like cells. Goldfish neutrophil-like cells also exhibited a chemotactic response, degranulation, and respiratory burst response when exposed to the virulent fish pathogen, Aeromonas salmonicida A449.