Regulation of genes related to immune signaling and detoxification in Apis mellifera by an inhibitor of histone deacetylation

Abstract

The western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is essential for the global economy due to its important role in ecosystems and agriculture as a pollinator of numerous flowering plants and crops. Pesticide abuse has greatly impacted honeybees and caused tremendous loss of honeybee colonies worldwide. The reasons for colony loss remain unclear, but involvement of pesticides and pathogen-pesticide interactions has been hypothesized. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACis) inhibit the activity of histone acetylase, which causes the hyperacetylation of histone cores and influences gene expression. In this study, sodium butyrate, an HDACi, was used as a dietary supplement for honeybees; after treatment, gene expression profiles were analyzed using quantitative PCR. The results showed that sodium butyrate up-regulated genes involved in anti-pathogen and detoxification pathways. The bioassay results showed that honeybees treated with sodium butyrate were more tolerant to imidacloprid. Additionally, sodium butyrate strengthened the immune response of honeybees to invasions of Nosema ceranae and viral infections. We also performed a bioassay in which honeybees were exposed to pesticides and pathogens. Our results provide additional data regarding the mechanism by which honeybees react to stress and the potential application of HDACis in beekeeping.

Histone deacetylase inhibitor treatment restores memory‐related gene expression and learning ability in neonicotinoid‐treated Apis mellifera

“…Sodium butyrate is an HDACi that inhibits the deacetylation of the histone core and results in increased gene expression (Hu et al ., ). Here, we used western blotting to test whether this is true in the heads of the bees.…”

“…A, B, Lane 2). Previous studies demonstrated that sodium butyrate at 10 mM does not induce apoptosis (Hu et al ., ; although there is evidence suggesting otherwise at higher concentrations). Based on these results, we exposed bees to 10 mM sodium butyrate for 7 days with the goal of increasing the acetylation of H3 and H4.…”

“…). Memory impairment by imidacloprid must be investigated in further detail at the gene level (Stanley et al ., ; Hu et al ., ).…”

Metabolic and gene expression hallmarks of seed germination uncovered by sodium butyrate in Medicago truncatula

“…Because no ROS accumulation was detected in NaB‐treated seeds, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the overall up‐regulation of antioxidant genes might be due to increased histone acetylation rather than oxidative stress. NaB has been reported to improve cell viability through the up‐regulation of antioxidant genes in insects (Hu et al, ) and human (Tang et al, ). It is worth noting that oxidative injury, such as enhanced DNA damage, as well as exposure to NaB can induce ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress (Zhang et al, ).…”

The genomic footprint of climate adaptation in Chironomus riparius

“…Evidence suggests that insecticide sensitivity in insects might be regulated by epigenetic mechanisms involving DNA methylation (Oppold et al, 2015) and chromatin modifications (Hu et al, 2017;Scientific Reports 7:41255 Involves any process to change state and activity of molecular processes. The herewith associated gene "transient receptor potential channel pyrexia" is responsive to high temperatures and involved in protection and tolerance from high temperature stress in D. melanogaster (Lee et al, 2005).…”