Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis Based on Stimulation by Lipopolysaccharides and Polyinosinic:polycytidylic Acid Provides a Core Set of Genes for Understanding Hemolymph Immune Response Mechanisms of Amphioctopus fangsiao

Abstract

The primary influencer of aquaculture quality in Amphioctopus fangsiao is pathogen infection. Both lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid (Poly I:C) are recognized by the pattern recognition receptor (PRR) within immune cells, a system that frequently serves to emulate pathogen invasion. Hemolymph, which functions as a transport mechanism for immune cells, offers vital transcriptome information when A. fangsiao is exposed to pathogens, thereby contributing to our comprehension of the species’ immune biological mechanisms. In this study, we conducted analyses of transcript profiles under the influence of LPS and Poly I:C within a 24 h period. Concurrently, we developed a Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify key modules and genes. Further, we carried out Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses to investigate the primary modular functions. Co-expression network analyses unveiled a series of immune response processes following pathogen stress, identifying several key modules and hub genes, including PKMYT1 and NAMPT. The invaluable genetic resources provided by our results aid our understanding of the immune response in A. fangsiao hemolymph and will further our exploration of the molecular mechanisms of pathogen infection in mollusks.

Exploration of Molecular Mechanisms of Immunity in the Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in Response to Vibrio alginolyticus Invasion

“…ARF1, a member of the ARFs family, regulates intracellular vesicle transport and participates in intracellular signaling [ 71 ]. The expression of ARF1 was upregulated in vivo when Amphioctopus fangsiao was subjected to pathogen stress, affecting humoral immunity and thus regulating the in vivo immune process [ 72 ]. CDC42 acts as a regulatory factor to control the production of functional granulocytes in the oyster, thereby regulating the phagocytosis of hemocytes [ 73 ].…”

Transcriptome-based protein-protein interaction analysis reveals immune gene network elucidating white body immunity mechanisms in response to LPS stimulation in Amphioctopus fangsiao

“…Using the Trizol method, total RNA extraction was conducted [ 29 ]. The prepared tissues were treated with Trizol reagent.…”