Dietary chlorpyrifos-methyl exposure impair transcription of immune-, detoxification- and redox signaling genes in leukocytes isolated from cod (Gadus morhua)

Abstract

Inclusion of new environmental toxicants increase with the amount of plant ingredients substituting marine proteins and oils in feed for farmed Atlantic salmon (Salma salar). Agricultural pesticides like chlorpyrifos-methyl, present in commercial salmon feeds, may affect salmon immune and detoxification responses. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), surrounding the net pens, grazing on feces and uneaten pellets may be affected accordingly. The aim of this study was to analyze transcription responses in Atlantic cod head kidney tissue and isolated leukocytes following dietary chlorpyrifos-methyl inclusions and possible interactions with proinflammatory signals. Head kidney tissues and leukocytes were isolated from cod fed diets contaminated with chlorpyrifos-methyl (0.5 mg/kg, 2.4 mg/kg, 23.2 mg/kg) for 30 days. The isolated leukocytes were further challenged with bacteria (lipopolysaccharide (LPS), virus (polyinosinic acid:polycytidylic acid (PIC) mimic and l-arginine, an immuno-modulating amino acid, in vitro. The LPS-induced transcription of the interleukin genes il-1β, il-6, il-8 increased in leukocytes isolated from cod fed chlorpyrifos-methyl 23.2 mg/kg, compared to cod fed the control diet, indicating increased inflammation. Transcriptional levels of carnitine palmitoyl transferase (cpt1a), aryl hydrogen receptor (ahr) and catalase (cat) were all reduced by dietary inclusions of chlorpyrifos-methyl in the leukocytes. The findings suggests that dietary chlorpyrifos-methyl exposure impair inflammation, detoxification and redox signaling in cod leukocytes.