The value of stress protein 70 as an environmental biomarker of fish health under field conditions

Abstract

Hsp70 protein in three tissue types (gill, liver, and muscle) from black bream (Acanthopagrus butcheri) collected in a highly variable estuarine environment was investigated to determine which tissue provides better intersite discrimination. The usefulness of hsp70 expression to identify anthropogenic stress under field conditions was evaluated. Intersite differences were detected in hsp70 levels in gill and white muscle of black bream while liver showed no spatial difference. There was high interfish variability in hsp70 levels in each tissue group. A post hoc power analysis of the datasets for each tissue found that in black bream, white muscle provided the best discriminatory power to elucidate spatial variability. Only 11 fish per site are required to identify significant intersite differences in white muscle whereas for gill and liver tissues 14 and 21 fish per site, respectively, would be required. Because of high intertissue and interindividual variability, field measurement of hsp70 should be complemented by evidence of changes in other biomarkers of fish health.

HSP70 Abundance and Antioxidant Capacity in Feeding and Fasting Gray Seal Pups: Suckling Is Associated with Higher Levels of Key Cellular Defenses

“…Certainly, circulating HSP70 changes with other physiological states, such as pregnancy, in humans and other animals (Molvarec et al 2010). HSP70 levels must thus be used with a battery of other stress markers due to high levels of interindividual and between-tissue variability in expression (Webb and Gagnon 2009;Gupta et al 2010;Morris et al 2013). Future studies should measure both constitutive and stress-induced HSP70 responses to different stressors in a range of tissues from seals of different ages, sexes, and species.…”

Heat shock proteins in toxicology: How close and how far?

“…While evaluating the power of Hsp70 as an environmental biomarker of fish health under field conditions, Webb and Gagnon (2009) reported that Hsp70 measurement alone is less than sufficient to evaluate fish health conditions. The group argued that because of high variability between tissues and also between individuals, field measurements of Hsp70 should be complemented by evidence of changes in metabolic enzyme activity, DNA damage, and/or blood cortisol levels.…”

Multilevel ecotoxicity assessment of polycyclic musk in the earthworm Eisenia fetida using traditional and molecular endpoints

“…Recently several studies suggested that heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) may serve as a potential biomarker for monitoring environmental pollutants (Scheil et al 2010;Webb and Gagnon 2009). Changes of Hsp70 gene expression in E. fetida were assessed after a 28-day exposure to AHTN and HHCB (Fig.…”