Abd-Elhafeez HH, Soliman SA, Attaai AH, Abdel-Hakeem SS, El-Sayed AM, Abou-Elhamd AS. Endocrine, Stemness, Proliferative, and Proteolytic Properties of Alarm Cells in Ruby-Red-Fin Shark (Rainbow Shark),
Epalzeorhynchos frenatum (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF MICROSCOPY SOCIETY OF AMERICA, MICROBEAM ANALYSIS SOCIETY, MICROSCOPICAL SOCIETY OF CANADA 2021;
27:1-14. [PMID:
34344492 DOI:
10.1017/s1431927621012265]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The current study investigated the morphological, histochemical, and immunohistochemical characteristics of alarm cells and their precursors in ruby-red-fin shark (rainbow shark), Epalzeorhynchos frenatum (Teleostei: Cyprinidae). Precursor alarm cells were shown to be small, cuboidal, pyramidal, or round in shape, with eosinophilic cytoplasm, resting on the basement membrane of the epidermis. The cells later elongated to become columnar in shape. Subsequently, they enlarged and became large oval-shaped cells. They then underwent shrinkage and vacuolation. The superficial alarm cells were collapsed. Alarm cells were found to have an affinity for different histochemical stains, including bromophenol blue, iron hematoxylin, Sudan black, Mallory triple trichrome, Crossman's trichrome, Safranin O, and Weigert's stains, as well as lipase and alkaline phosphatase. Endocrine properties of the alarm cells were identified by silver staining and synaptophysin immunostaining. Alarm cells exhibited stemness activities and had a strong immunoaffinity for CD117. They had a proteolytic function, as identified by lysosome-specific staining with acridine orange and strong immunoaffinity for matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-9). They also exhibited proliferatively, reflected by immunological staining by proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In conclusion, alarm cells are unique epidermal cells with multiple functions. They play immunological, and endocrine, roles. They also retain stemness and proliferative properties.
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