Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functions

The common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, as all cephalopods, presents highly evolved characteristics compared to other classes of molluscs and the whole invertebrate phyla. However, to date, there is not much information about its immune system, and studying the defense mechanisms is a key...

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Main Authors: María M. Costa, Estefania Paredes, Mercedes Peleteiro, Lucía Sánchez-Ruiloba, Francisco Gambón, Sonia Dios, Camino Gestal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1543587/full
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author María M. Costa
Estefania Paredes
Mercedes Peleteiro
Lucía Sánchez-Ruiloba
Francisco Gambón
Sonia Dios
Camino Gestal
author_facet María M. Costa
Estefania Paredes
Mercedes Peleteiro
Lucía Sánchez-Ruiloba
Francisco Gambón
Sonia Dios
Camino Gestal
author_sort María M. Costa
collection DOAJ
description The common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, as all cephalopods, presents highly evolved characteristics compared to other classes of molluscs and the whole invertebrate phyla. However, to date, there is not much information about its immune system, and studying the defense mechanisms is a key step in understanding their response to external aggressions, having the tools to anticipate animal health problems and ensure their welfare. The lack of cell cultures in molluscs is a major problem when carrying out in vitro assays that help to deepen our knowledge of this species’ main immune cells. Cryopreservation becomes an alternative to maintaining viable and functional cells after freezing/thawing processes. Having access to good high-quality cells for long periods allows cover a wider repertoire of studies, time courses, and the avoidance of logistical issues such as loss of viability and/or functionality, time constraints, or sample transport challenges. Additionally, high-quality cell suspensions are essential for successful applications, such as single-cell sequencing, where viability and functionality are the key to optimal identification. The optimal medium, cryoprotective agent, and freezing/thawing protocol for octopus hemocytes have been selected. We show here the first functional results from cryopreserved hemocytes. Cells cryopreserved in MAS medium supplemented with EG maintained viability above 80% after 15 weeks post cryopreservation storage at -80°C, and their functional ability to phagocytize bacteria similar to fresh cells. Moreover, thawed acclimated cells exhibited a gene expression pattern comparable to fresh cells, as opposed to directly thawed cells. The acclimation process after thawing was essential to recover the functional activity of the cells and to return to levels of gene expression involved in oxidative stress similar to fresh cells.The results presented here will facilitate functional studies of octopus immune cells and provide tools for cell preservation in other molluscs species.
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spelling doaj-art-21bbd8350ef94d978ed39f333b9b37692025-08-20T03:41:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-03-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.15435871543587Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functionsMaría M. Costa0Estefania Paredes1Mercedes Peleteiro2Lucía Sánchez-Ruiloba3Francisco Gambón4Sonia Dios5Camino Gestal6Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Vigo, SpainCoastal Ecology Research Group (ECOCOST), Department of Ecology and Animal Biology, Marine Research Center, University of Vigo, Vigo, SpainCINBIO, Universidade de Vigo, Vigo, SpainInstituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Vigo, SpainDepartment of Immunology, Vigo University Hospital Complex, Vigo, SpainInstituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Vigo, SpainInstituto de Investigaciones Marinas (IIM), CSIC, Vigo, SpainThe common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, as all cephalopods, presents highly evolved characteristics compared to other classes of molluscs and the whole invertebrate phyla. However, to date, there is not much information about its immune system, and studying the defense mechanisms is a key step in understanding their response to external aggressions, having the tools to anticipate animal health problems and ensure their welfare. The lack of cell cultures in molluscs is a major problem when carrying out in vitro assays that help to deepen our knowledge of this species’ main immune cells. Cryopreservation becomes an alternative to maintaining viable and functional cells after freezing/thawing processes. Having access to good high-quality cells for long periods allows cover a wider repertoire of studies, time courses, and the avoidance of logistical issues such as loss of viability and/or functionality, time constraints, or sample transport challenges. Additionally, high-quality cell suspensions are essential for successful applications, such as single-cell sequencing, where viability and functionality are the key to optimal identification. The optimal medium, cryoprotective agent, and freezing/thawing protocol for octopus hemocytes have been selected. We show here the first functional results from cryopreserved hemocytes. Cells cryopreserved in MAS medium supplemented with EG maintained viability above 80% after 15 weeks post cryopreservation storage at -80°C, and their functional ability to phagocytize bacteria similar to fresh cells. Moreover, thawed acclimated cells exhibited a gene expression pattern comparable to fresh cells, as opposed to directly thawed cells. The acclimation process after thawing was essential to recover the functional activity of the cells and to return to levels of gene expression involved in oxidative stress similar to fresh cells.The results presented here will facilitate functional studies of octopus immune cells and provide tools for cell preservation in other molluscs species.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1543587/fullMAS mediumacclimationoptimal thawingfunctional activitycell viabilityphagocytosis
spellingShingle María M. Costa
Estefania Paredes
Mercedes Peleteiro
Lucía Sánchez-Ruiloba
Francisco Gambón
Sonia Dios
Camino Gestal
Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functions
Frontiers in Immunology
MAS medium
acclimation
optimal thawing
functional activity
cell viability
phagocytosis
title Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functions
title_full Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functions
title_fullStr Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functions
title_full_unstemmed Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functions
title_short Successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long-term studies of common octopus, Octopus vulgaris Cuvier 1797, hemocyte immune functions
title_sort successful cryopreservation of marine invertebrates immune cells enables long term studies of common octopus octopus vulgaris cuvier 1797 hemocyte immune functions
topic MAS medium
acclimation
optimal thawing
functional activity
cell viability
phagocytosis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1543587/full
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