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Melano-macrophage characterization and their possible role in the goldfish (Carassius auratus) antibody affinity maturation
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- Author / Creator
- Diaz Satizabal, Laura P
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During the antibody affinity maturation process, changes to the immunoglobulin genes are initiated by the B-cell specific enzyme activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID). These changes are randomly generated and produce antibodies with different affinities for the antigen. In mammals, this process occurs in highly regulated environments known as germinal centres (GCs). Although conventional GCs are absent in fish, AID expressing B-cells are found in close proximity to pigmented myeloid cells called melano-macrophages (MMs). Previous in vivo work suggested that MMs have functions consistent with those of follicular dendritic cells (trapping antigen) and tingible body macrophages (phagocytosis of apoptotic cells) found in the GC. Quantitative PCR used to assess gene expression of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in MMs under in vivo and in vitro conditions revealed that these cells may have different roles in the immune response depending on their anatomical location.
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- Subjects / Keywords
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- Graduation date
- Spring 2013
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- Type of Item
- Thesis
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- Degree
- Master of Science
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- License
- This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.