Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenops

Abstract The kidneys of molly fish (Poecilia sphenops) exhibit complex immune and cellular activities, which are crucial for maintaining renal function and responding to environmental stressors. This study aimed to investigate the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of immune cells,...

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Main Authors: Ramy K. A. Sayed, Marwa Bakry, Doaa M. Mokhtar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11679-3
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author Ramy K. A. Sayed
Marwa Bakry
Doaa M. Mokhtar
author_facet Ramy K. A. Sayed
Marwa Bakry
Doaa M. Mokhtar
author_sort Ramy K. A. Sayed
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The kidneys of molly fish (Poecilia sphenops) exhibit complex immune and cellular activities, which are crucial for maintaining renal function and responding to environmental stressors. This study aimed to investigate the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of immune cells, autophagy, and stem cell activity within the renal tissues of molly fish. Histological analysis revealed the presence of immune cells, including macrophages and granular leukocytes, concentrated around the renal corpuscles (RC) and renal tubules (RT). Additionally, numerous lymphocytes were observed surrounding the RC, and a notable presence of rodlet cells with a thick capsule and rodlet-like inclusions was detected around the RT. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed macrophage activity through CD68 and Iba1 expression, while APG5, an autophagy marker, was observed in macrophages, rodlet cells, and podocytes, indicating active autophagic processes. Polymorphic granulocytes expressed iNOS-2. Inflammatory markers IL-1β and NF-κB were highly expressed in rodlet cells and macrophages, respectively, suggesting their role in immune modulation. The expression of S100 protein in rodlet cells and acetylcholine in macrophages further highlights their specialized functions in immune regulation. Additionally, renal stem cells were identified by expressing Nrf2 and Sox9, indicating a potential role in tissue repair and regeneration. These findings provide critical insights into the kidney’s dual function in immunity and regeneration, contributing to a better understanding of fish renal physiology and potential applications in environmental monitoring and aquaculture health management.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
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publishDate 2025-07-01
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spelling doaj-art-89b7926ed5ed4d34ac74bbe97f5e8a272025-08-20T03:42:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111310.1038/s41598-025-11679-3Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenopsRamy K. A. Sayed0Marwa Bakry1Doaa M. Mokhtar2Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag UniversityDepartment of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut UniversityDepartment of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut UniversityAbstract The kidneys of molly fish (Poecilia sphenops) exhibit complex immune and cellular activities, which are crucial for maintaining renal function and responding to environmental stressors. This study aimed to investigate the histological and immunohistochemical characteristics of immune cells, autophagy, and stem cell activity within the renal tissues of molly fish. Histological analysis revealed the presence of immune cells, including macrophages and granular leukocytes, concentrated around the renal corpuscles (RC) and renal tubules (RT). Additionally, numerous lymphocytes were observed surrounding the RC, and a notable presence of rodlet cells with a thick capsule and rodlet-like inclusions was detected around the RT. Immunohistochemical staining confirmed macrophage activity through CD68 and Iba1 expression, while APG5, an autophagy marker, was observed in macrophages, rodlet cells, and podocytes, indicating active autophagic processes. Polymorphic granulocytes expressed iNOS-2. Inflammatory markers IL-1β and NF-κB were highly expressed in rodlet cells and macrophages, respectively, suggesting their role in immune modulation. The expression of S100 protein in rodlet cells and acetylcholine in macrophages further highlights their specialized functions in immune regulation. Additionally, renal stem cells were identified by expressing Nrf2 and Sox9, indicating a potential role in tissue repair and regeneration. These findings provide critical insights into the kidney’s dual function in immunity and regeneration, contributing to a better understanding of fish renal physiology and potential applications in environmental monitoring and aquaculture health management.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11679-3MacrophagesNrf2Rodlet cellsS100 proteinSox9
spellingShingle Ramy K. A. Sayed
Marwa Bakry
Doaa M. Mokhtar
Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenops
Scientific Reports
Macrophages
Nrf2
Rodlet cells
S100 protein
Sox9
title Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenops
title_full Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenops
title_fullStr Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenops
title_full_unstemmed Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenops
title_short Immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages, rodlet cells, and stem cells in the kidney of Poecilia sphenops
title_sort immune cell diversity and regenerative markers reveal interactions among macrophages rodlet cells and stem cells in the kidney of poecilia sphenops
topic Macrophages
Nrf2
Rodlet cells
S100 protein
Sox9
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-11679-3
work_keys_str_mv AT ramykasayed immunecelldiversityandregenerativemarkersrevealinteractionsamongmacrophagesrodletcellsandstemcellsinthekidneyofpoeciliasphenops
AT marwabakry immunecelldiversityandregenerativemarkersrevealinteractionsamongmacrophagesrodletcellsandstemcellsinthekidneyofpoeciliasphenops
AT doaammokhtar immunecelldiversityandregenerativemarkersrevealinteractionsamongmacrophagesrodletcellsandstemcellsinthekidneyofpoeciliasphenops