Roles of three Es-Caspases during spermatogenesis and Cadmium-induced apoptosis in Eriocheir sinensis

Abstract

Functions of Caspases remain obscure in Crustacea. We studied the existence and participations of apoptosis-related factors in Eriocheir sinensis testis. Three Es-Caspases (Es-Caspase 3/ 7/ 8) in E. sinensis were cloned and characterized. We observed that three es-caspases mRNA had specific expression patterns during spermiogenesis, with weak signal around the nucleus and invaginated acrosomal vesicle in early-stage spermatids, became stronger in middle-stage, finally focused on the acrosomal tube and nucleus in mature sperm. We then investigated the immunostaining intensity and positional alterations of Es-Caspase 3, Es-Caspase 8 and p53 during spermatogenesis, which were correlated with the differential tendencies of cells to undergo apoptosis and specific organelles shaping processes. After apoptotic induction by Cadmium, Es-Caspase 8 increased gradually, while Es-Caspase 3 increased firstly and then decreased, Es-p53 initially decreased and then increased. These results implies that Es-Caspase 3/ Es-Caspase 8/ p53 may play roles in Cadmium-induced apoptosis during spermatogenesis, and Caspase 8-Caspase 3-p53 pathway may interact with extrinsic or intrinsic pathways to regulate the destiny of sperm cells. Our study revealed the indispensable roles of Caspases during spermatogenesis and the possible molecular interactions in response to the Cadmium-induced apoptosis in E. sinensis, which filled the gap of apoptotic mechanisms of crustacean.

Antistarvation Strategies of E. Sinensis: Regulatory Networks under Hepatopancreas Consumption

“…In addition, genes expressed in the different apoptotic pathways were detected in the present study [28,29]. First, the flow cytometry results found that the MMP depolarization rate increased significantly after 42 days starvation (Figure 8(c)).…”

An inhibitor of apoptosis protein (EsIAP1) from Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis regulates apoptosis through inhibiting the activity of EsCaspase-3/7-1

“…Caspases are activated to gain the full catalytic activity after being proteolytically cleaved to initiate apoptosis 51 . Es Caspase-3, -7 and -8 are characterized to play crucial roles in Cadmium-induced apoptosis 27 , and Es Caspase-3/7-1 and Es Caspase-3-like protein are found to be involved in innate immune response and induce apoptosis under pathogen stimulation 28,29 . IAPs inhibit such proteolytically activated caspases, and further regulate apoptosis 52 .…”

“…The diverse caspase family members have also been discovered in various species of crustacean. For example, three caspases ( Es Caspase-3, -7 and -8) were characterized in E. sinensis to play crucial roles in Cadmium-induced apoptosis 27 , and two caspases ( Es Caspase-3/7-1 and Es Caspase-3-like) were involved in innate immune response under pathogen induced apoptosis 28,29 . In shrimp L. vannamei , there were four caspases ( Lv Caspase-2, -3, -4 and -5) identified to play role in the host defense against white spot syndrome virus 30 .…”

Cadmium as a testicular toxicant: A Review

“…A recent study in Shaoxing duck ( Anas platyrhyncha ) testicles has also revealed the upregulation in the mRNA levels of Bak‐1 and caspase‐3, while downregulation of the Bcl‐2 level (Dai et al, 2019). Another in vivo study has shown the possible interaction of the caspase‐8‐caspase‐3‐p53 pathway with the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of Cd‐mediated apoptosis during spermatogenesis in Eriocheir sinensis , a crustacean (Xu & Yang, 2018). Therefore, these studies represent the complexity of different apoptotic pathways through which Cd induces apoptosis of testicular germ cells in different species that will help us in elucidating a common mechanism of apoptotic induction by Cd in testes.…”

“…A recent study in Shaoxing duck (Anas platyrhyncha) testicles has also revealed the upregulation in the mRNA levels of Bak-1 and caspase-3, while downregulation of the Bcl-2 level(Dai et al, 2019). Another in vivo study has shown the possible interaction of the caspase-8-caspase-3-p53 pathway with the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of Cd-mediated apoptosis during spermatogenesis in Eriocheir sinensis, a crustacean(Xu & Yang, 2018).…”