Heat stress induced hepatocyte apoptosis in largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides via IRE1α/TRAF2/ASK1/JNK pathway

Heat stress(HS)has been shown to adversely affect fish livers and can lead to extensive apoptosis.To investigate the relationship between endoplasmic reticulum(ER)stress and HS-induced apoptosis in fish livers,we isolated and cultured primary hepatocytes of largemouth bass,Micropterus salmoides by trypsin method,then established an in-vitro model of liver cells under HS(35℃).The contents of lactic dehydrogenase(LDH)and hydrogen peroxide(H2O2)were determined to evaluate the effects of HS on hepatocyte injury and oxidative stress.RT-qPCR was performed to discover the key genes in unfolded protein response(UPR)pathways involved at different HS duration.ERS inhibitor 4-PBA and IRE1αinhibitor 4μ8C were used to further investigate the effects of HS on IRE1αapoptosis pathway in hepatocytes.Results show that HS led to significant increases in the release of LDH,the content of H2O2,and the expressions of oxidative protein folding genes(ero1αand pdi)under HS,suggesting severe hepatocyte injury and oxidative stress happened in heat-stressed largemouth bass hepatocytes.The continuous activation of IRE1αpathway genes(grp78,grp94,atf6,perk,eif2a,atf4,chop,ire1α,traf2,ask1,jnk1,and jnk2)indicated that HS led significantly to ER stress.In particular,the mRNA expression levels of ER stress-related genes(grp78,grp94,atf6,perk,ire1α,chop,jnk1,and jnk2)in the high temperature(HT)+4-PBA group and the HT+4μ8C group were significantly down-regulated under HS.After 4μ8C treatment,the expression levels of apoptosis-related genes(caspase-2,caspase-3,caspase-6,caspase-7,caspase-8,caspase-9,and caspase-10)and LDH content were significantly decreased,whereas the cell survival rate was significantly increased when given 4-PBA or 4μ8C treatment.These findings demonstrate that HS could induce liver apoptosis of largemouth bass through the IRE1αpathway,which may act as a key switch mediating liver apoptosis of largemouth bass under HS.

Differential expression of miRNAs and mRNAs in the livers of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides under heat stress

Global warming threatens freshwater ecosystems and compromises fish survival.To elucidate the role of miRNAs in the livers of heat stressed largemouth bass,juvenile fish was subject to heat stress under 37°C.Both mRNA-seq and miRNA-seq were conducted on the liver tissues under control and heat stress conditions.Differential gene expression analysis and enrichment analysis were performed on mRNA and miRNA expression profiles.A total of 406 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were discovered,of which 212 were up-regulated and 194 were down-regulated.Most of the DEGs were significantly implicated in the regulation of“protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum”,“proteasome”,“steroid biosynthesis”,and“ornithine decarboxylase inhibitor activity”pathways.In addition,47 differentially expressed miRNAs(DEMs)were identified in largemouth bass livers under heat stress,including 21 up-regulated and 25 down-regulated miRNAs.A negatively regulated miRNA-mRNA network including 12 miRNAs and 19 mRNAs was constructed with DEMs involved in“protein degradation”,“calcium ion regulation”,“cell apoptosis”,and“lipid metabolism”.Moreover,this study indicated novel-miR-144 activated the IRE1 signaling pathway by targeting txndc5 to induce liver apoptosis in largemouth bass under heat stress.This study revealed the involvement of miRNA regulation in largemouth bass in response to heat stress.