Immunopotentiating Effect of Small Peptides on Primary Culture Coelomocytes of Sea Cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus

The in vitro effect of small peptides on the nonspecific immune response of sea cucumber, Apostichopus japonicus , coelomocytes was studied. Coelomocytes were cultured in L-15 medium containing different concentrations of small peptide (0, 5, 25, and 100 µg/mL). Coelomocytes were incubated with the above immunostimulant for 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. Coelomocytes incubated in the medium without immunostimulants were taken as controls at each incubation time. After exposure to small peptides, the coelomocytes were sampled and immune parameters namely, phagocytosis activity, respiratory burst activity, as well as activities of acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (AKP), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined. All immune parameters were significantly ( P in vitro .