Weiqing Huang , Fengfang Zhou , Zongqiang Lian , Zhideng Lin , Zipeng Zhang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Saline-alkaline stress poses a significant environmental challenge to fish in aquaculture, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying adaptation remain poorly understood. In this study, we integrated transcriptomic, metabolomic, physiological, and histological analyses to elucidate the adaptive mechanisms of Acanthopagrus latus gills under saline-alkaline water (SAW) exposure. After 40 days of treatment, SAW caused evident histological alterations in gill structures but did not significantly affect growth performance. Physiological assays showed that glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities showed no significant change, while malondialdehyde (MDA) levels increased, indicating oxidative stress and metabolic disturbance.
Transcriptomic analysis identified 2539 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), mainly enriched in immune-related pathways such as T-cell receptor signaling, Th17 cell differentiation, and IL-17 signaling. Metabolomic profiling detected 892 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), primarily involved in energy metabolism pathways, including arachidonic acid, α-linolenic acid, and linoleic acid metabolism. Integrated multi-omics analysis further revealed a significant co-enrichment in platelet activation, phospholipase D signaling, and glutathione metabolism pathways. Notably, 29 DEGs and 4 key metabolites (ATP, prostaglandin H₂, cyclic AMP, and ADP) were significantly altered in the platelet activation pathway. Among them, upregulated genes such as p2ry12, LOC119021196, and LOC119027230 were linked to energy metabolism, while lyn, fynb, pik3r1, pik3cd, and akt1 were associated with apoptosis and immune regulation.
Overall, this study provides comprehensive molecular and physiological evidence of how A. latus adapts to saline-alkaline stress through coordinated immune regulation and energy metabolism. These findings enhance our understanding of fish adaptive mechanisms and offer theoretical support for the sustainable utilization of saline-alkaline water resources in aquaculture.
期刊介绍:
Comparative Biochemistry & Physiology (CBP) publishes papers in comparative, environmental and evolutionary physiology.
Part D: Genomics and Proteomics (CBPD), focuses on “omics” approaches to physiology, including comparative and functional genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and lipidomics. Most studies employ “omics” and/or system biology to test specific hypotheses about molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying physiological responses to the environment. We encourage papers that address fundamental questions in comparative physiology and biochemistry rather than studies with a focus that is purely technical, methodological or descriptive in nature.