1
|
Brasseur L, Hennebert E, Fievez L, Caulier G, Bureau F, Tafforeau L, Flammang P, Gerbaux P, Eeckhaut I. The Roles of Spinochromes in Four Shallow Water Tropical Sea Urchins and Their Potential as Bioactive Pharmacological Agents. Mar Drugs 2017; 15:E179. [PMID: 28621734 PMCID: PMC5484129 DOI: 10.3390/md15060179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinochromes are principally known to be involved in sea urchin pigmentation as well as for their potentially interesting pharmacological properties. To assess their biological role in sea urchin physiology, experiments are undertaken on crude extracts from four species and on four isolated spinochromes in order to test their antibacterial, antioxidant, inflammatory and cytotoxic activities. First, the antibacterial assays show that the use of crude extracts as representatives of antibacterial effects of spinochromes are inaccurate. The assays on purified spinochromes showed a decrease in the growth of four strains with an intensity depending on the spinochromes/bacteria system, revealing the participation of spinochromes in the defense system against microorganisms. Secondly, in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl antioxidant assays, spinochromes show an enhanced activity compared to the positive control. This latter observation suggests their involvement in ultraviolet radiation protection. Third, spinochromes present a pro-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, highlighting their possible implication in the sea urchin immune system. Finally, cytotoxicity assays based on Trypan blue exclusion, performed in view of their possible future applications as drugs, show a weak cytotoxicity of these compounds against human cells. In conclusion, all results confirm the implication of spinochromes in sea urchin defense mechanisms against their external environment and reveal their potential for pharmacological and agronomical industries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lola Brasseur
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 23 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
| | - Elise Hennebert
- Cell Biology Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 23 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
| | - Laurence Fievez
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Service, Giga Research, University of Liège (ULG), 1 Quartier HOPITAL, 11 Avenue de l'hôpital, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Guillaume Caulier
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 23 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
| | - Fabrice Bureau
- Cellular and Molecular Immunology Service, Giga Research, University of Liège (ULG), 1 Quartier HOPITAL, 11 Avenue de l'hôpital, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | - Lionel Tafforeau
- Cell Biology Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 23 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
| | - Patrick Flammang
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 23 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
| | - Pascal Gerbaux
- Organic Synthesis and Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 23 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
| | - Igor Eeckhaut
- Biology of Marine Organisms and Biomimetics Unit, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons (UMONS), 23 Place du Parc, B-7000 Mons, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|