Mechanisms of Gills Response to Cadmium Exposure in Greenfin Horse-Faced Filefish (Thamnaconus septentrionalis): Oxidative Stress, Immune Response, and Energy Metabolism

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) pollution has become a global issue due to industrial and agricultural developments. However, the molecular mechanism of Cd-induced detrimental effects and relevant signal transduction/metabolic networks are largely unknown in marine fishes. Here, greenfin horse-faced filefish (Thamnaconus septentrionalis) were exposed to 5.0 mg/L Cd up to 7 days. We applied both biochemical methods and multi-omics techniques to investigate how the gills respond to Cd exposure. Our findings revealed that Cd exposure caused the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn activated the MAPK and apoptotic pathways to alleviate oxidative stress and cell damage. Glycolysis, protein degradation, as well as fatty acid metabolism might assist to meet the requirements of nutrition and energy under Cd stress. We also found that long-term (7 days, “long-term” means compared to 12 and 48 h) Cd exposure caused the accumulation of succinate, which would in turn trigger an inflammatory response and start an immunological process. Moreover, ferroptosis might induce inflammation. Overall, Cd exposure caused oxidative stress, energy metabolism disturbance, and immune response in greenfin horse-faced filefish. Our conclusions can be used as references for safety risk assessment of Cd to marine economic fishes.

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of the Hepatopancreas from Macrobrachium rosenbergii Exposed to the Heavy Metal Copper

“…However, the present study revealed that NOX (CL1542.Contig3_All) was significantly induced at both 3 and 48 h time points, whereas GST (CL355.Contig7_All) was suppressed. In addition, the transcription level of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) (CL5985.Contig3_All) was up-regulated at 3 h and downregulated at 48 h. Similar to our results, in Thamnaconus septentrionalis exposed to cadmium (Cd), the increase in antioxidant enzyme activity in the short term can effectively remove ROS, but long-term Cd exposure weakens the organism's antioxidant defense ability [72]. Therefore, we speculated that after Cu exposure, GPx has a stronger protective effect on M. rosenbergii compared to GST.…”