Blood cell characterization and transcriptome analysis reveal distinct immune response and host resistance of different ploidy cyprinid fish following Aeromonas hydrophila infection

Fish Shellfish Immunol. 2022 Jan:120:547-559. doi: 10.1016/j.fsi.2021.12.024. Epub 2021 Dec 17.

Abstract

Aeromonas hydrophila can pose a great threat to survival of freshwater fish. In this study, A. hydrophila infection could decrease blood cell numbers, promote blood cell damage as well as alter the levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lysozyme (LZM), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in immune-related tissues of red crucian carp (RCC, 2 N = 100) and triploid cyprinid fish (3 N fish, 3 N = 150). In addition, the significant alternation of antioxidant status was observed in PBMCs isolated from RCC and 3 N following LPS stimulation. The core differential expression genes (DEGs) involved in apoptosis, immunity, inflammation and cellular signals were co-expressed differentially in RCC and 3 N following A. hydrophila challenge. NOD-like receptor (NLR) signals appeared to play a critical role in A. hydrophila-infected fish. DEGs of NLR signals in RCCah vs RCCctl were enriched in caspase-1-dependent Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion, interferon (IFN) signals as well as cytokine activation, while DEGs of NLR signals in 3Nah vs 3Nctl were enriched in caspase-1-dependent IL-1β secretion and antibacterial autophagy. These results highlighted the differential signal regulation of different ploidy cyprinid fish to cope with bacterial infection.

Keywords: Aeromonas hydrophila; Gene expression; Hybrid fish; Transcriptome.

MeSH terms

  • Aeromonas hydrophila
  • Animals
  • Antioxidants
  • Blood Cells
  • Carps* / genetics
  • Carps* / immunology
  • Caspases
  • Dietary Supplements
  • Disease Resistance
  • Fish Diseases* / immunology
  • Fish Diseases* / microbiology
  • Fish Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections* / immunology
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections* / veterinary
  • Immunity, Innate
  • Ploidies
  • Transcriptome*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Fish Proteins
  • Caspases