A Toxicological and Ecotoxicological Assay Based on Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) Hemocytes Motility

Hemocytes are the circulating immune-competent cells in bivalve mollusks and play a key role in several important functions of cell-mediated innate immunity. During the early stages of the immune response, hemocytes actively migrate to the site of infection. This inherent motility is a fundamental characteristic of these cells. It represents a key cellular function that integrates multiple processes, such as cell adhesion, cell signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics, and changes in cell volume. Therefore, alterations in cell motility following exposure to drugs or pollutants can serve as a useful toxicological endpoint. Despite the fundamental role of cell motility in cellular physiology, it has been poorly investigated from a toxicological perspective. This work proposes a novel in vitro method for the rapid and sensitive assessment of the toxicity and ecotoxicity of pollutants, based on evaluating the hemocyte motility of Mytilus galloprovincialis. We developed a cell motility assay on hemocytes adhering to the bottom of a 96-well polystyrene microplate. Following exposure to increasing concentrations of drugs, cell trajectories, and velocities were quantified by cell tracking under time-lapse microscopy, allowing us to measure the effects on hemocyte motility. Due to the ease of hemocyte collection from the animals in a relatively non-invasive manner, the proposed method offers an alternative test for screening the effects and mechanisms of action of pollutants and drugs. It aligns with the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement) criteria, addressing ethical concerns and contributing to the reduction of vertebrate in vivo animal testing.