Das Immunsystem der marinen Säugetiere

Zusammenfassung

Die Morphologie der primären und sekundären lymphatischen Organe von Walen und Delphinen zeigt weitreichende Homologien zu denen terrestrischer Säugetiere. Es finden sich jedoch artspezifische anatomische Besonderheiten, wie beispielsweise die komplexen lymphoepithelialen Drüsen im Kehlkopf der Cetaceen (Waltiere), die eine Anpassung an den marinen Lebensraum darstellen. Weiterhin müssen physiologische Veränderungen, wie die altersabhängige Thymusatrophie und Zystenbildungen in der “analen Tonsille” der Waltiere, bei der Interpretation pathologischer Befunde dieser lymphatischen Einrichtungen mit berücksichtigt werden. Der Einsatz von spezifischen Leukozytenmarkern ermöglicht die nähere Charakterisierung von immunologischen und entzündlichen Reaktionen auf zellulärer Ebene. Mittels Durchflusszytometrie und Immunhistologie können so verschiedene T-und B-Zell-Subpopulationen sowie antigenpräsentierende Zellen der Wale und Delphine phänotypisiert werden. Für diese Tierarten liegen jedoch bisher nur wenige Berichte über kreuzreagierende oder speziesspezifische Antikörper vor. Pathologische Veränderungen in lymphatischen Organen finden sich infolge von verschiedenen neoplastischen und infektiösen Erkrankungen. In diesem Zusammenhang kommt es im Verlauf der verheerenden Morbillivirus-Seuchenzüge unter anderem zur generalisierten lymphatischen Depletion der infizierten Meeressäuger. Weiterhin führen chronische Erkrankungen und Abmagerung zum Verlust von Immunzellen und damit zu einer verminderten Resistenz gegenüber opportunistischen Infektionen. Neuere Studien geben vermehrt Hinweise auf die immuntoxische Wirkung verschiedener Schadstoffe in der Umwelt und die daraus resultierende Immunsuppression bei Walen, Delphinen und Robben.

Summary

The majority of primary and secondary lymphoid organs of whales and dolphins are homologous to those organs of terrestrial mammals. However, some unique anatomical structures, such as the complex lymp-hoepithelial laryngeal glands in cetaceans represent an adaptation to the marine environment. Additionally, physiologic changes, such as age-related thymic atrophy and cystic degeneration of the “anal tonsil” of whales have to be considered in the interpretation of pathologic lesions in these lymphoid structures. Specific leukocyte-markers enable the detailed characterization of cellular responses during immunological and inflammatory processes. Using immunological methods, such as flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry, different T and B cell subsets as well as antigen-presenting cells can be detected in whales and dolphins. However, onlya few reports mention the usefulness of cross-reacting or species-specific antibodies in these animals. Pathological lesions in lymphoid organs can be observed during several infectious and neoplastic diseases in marine mammals. Regarding this, systemic morbillivirus infections lead to devastating mass mortalities associated with severe lymphoid depletions in cetaceans and pinnipeds worldwide. Furthermore, chronic diseases and starvation are associated with a loss of functional lymphoid cells and decreased resistance against opportunistic infections. Additionally, there is growing evidence for the immunotoxic effect of different environmental contaminants and their immunosuppressive potentials in whales, dolphins and seals.

Schlüsselwörter

Meeressäugetiere - lymphatische Organe - Immunphänotypisierung - lymphatische Depletion

Key words

Marine mammals - lymphoid organs - immunophenotype - lymphoid depletion

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