Transcriptome analysis revealed multiple immune processes and energy metabolism pathways involved in the defense response of the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea against Pseudomonas plecoglossicida

• Published in: Comparative biochemistry and physiology. Part D, Genomics & proteomics Vol. 40; p. 100886
• Main Authors: Zhang, Yameng, Lu, Lixia, Li, Chengwei, Shao, Guangming, Chen, Xinhua
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Animals; antibacterial properties; Antimicrobial Peptides; aquaculture industry; ATP synthesis; chemokines; complement; energy; Energy Metabolism; enzymes; fish; Fish Diseases; Fish Proteins - genetics; Gene Expression Profiling; gluconeogenesis; glycolysis; hepcidin; Immune-related genes; Immunity; interleukin-17; Larimichthys crocea; Perciformes - genetics; Pseudomonas; Pseudomonas plecoglossicida; spleen; Transcriptome; transcriptomics; tricarboxylic acid cycle; ATP synthesis; Pseudomonas plecoglossicida; Larimichthys crocea; Transcriptome; Immune-related genes
• ISSN: 1744-117X; 1878-0407; 1878-0407
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2021.100886

The large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) aquaculture industry is suffering substantial financial losses caused by visceral white nodules disease resulting from Pseudomonas plecoglossicida infection. However, how L. crocea responds to P. plecoglossicida infection remains largely unknown. Here, we characterized the changes in the mRNA profile in the spleen of L. crocea upon P. plecoglossicida infection and explored the related defensive strategies. Sample clustering analysis and qRT-PCR indicated that P. plecoglossicida induced profound and reproducible transcriptome remodeling in the L. crocea spleen. Many innate immune-related genes, such as IL-17 signaling molecules, chemokines and chemokine receptors, complement components, TLR5 signaling molecules, and antimicrobial peptide hepcidins (Hamps), were upregulated by P. plecoglossicida and may play important roles in the L. crocea defense against P. plecoglossicida. The antibacterial activity of Hamp2–5 against P. plecoglossicida was further confirmed by using synthetic mature peptide of Hamp2–5. Additionally, significant enrichment of “Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis”, “Citrate cycle” and “Oxidative phosphorylation” pathways and a significant upregulation of all 6 rate-limiting enzyme genes (HK1, PFK, PKM, CS, IDH2, DLST) in the Glycolysis and Citrate cycle pathways in P. plecoglossicida-infected fish suggested that ATP synthesis may be accelerated to ensure energy supply in response to pathogenic infection. Altogether, our results not only identified the key immune-related genes and immune pathways that participated in the defense response of L. crocea against P. plecoglossicida, but also revealed a novel defensive strategy involving ATP synthesis in this species. [Display omitted] •P. plecoglossicida induced transcriptome remodeling in the L. crocea spleen.•P. plecoglossicida upregulated expression of multiple innate immune-related genes.•Accelerated ATP synthesis in L. crocea is a novel defensive strategy.