We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Transcriptomic analysis reveals nanoplastics-induced apoptosis, autophagy and immune response in Litopenaeus vannamei
Summary
Shrimp exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics for 28 days showed dose-dependent damage to their immune systems, including increased cell death, tissue destruction in the liver-like organ, and disrupted antioxidant defenses. At high concentrations, the nanoplastics overwhelmed the shrimp's ability to fight off threats. Since shrimp are an important food source, these findings raise concerns about the quality and safety of seafood from nanoplastic-contaminated waters.
Increasing attention is being paid to the toxic physiological effects of nanoplastics (NPs) on aquatic organisms. However, few studies have systematically evaluated the regulatory mechanisms of NPs on immune response in crustaceans. In this study, a 28-day chronic exposure experiment was conducted in which shrimps were exposed to various 80-nm polystyrene NPs concentrations (0, 0.1, 1, 5 and 10 mg/L). Transcriptomic analysis was used to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of NPs in immune response of Litopenaeus vannamei. With increasing NPs concentration, the total hemocyte count (THC) content decreased, while phagocytosis rate (PR) and respiratory burst (RB) showed trends of first rising and then falling. High concentration (10 mg/L) of NPs caused the destruction of hepatopancreas tissue structure, the shedding of microvilli, the increase number of hepatocyte apoptosis and autophagy structure. With increasing NPs concentration, the lysozyme (Lys), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities first increased and then decrease, while contents of lipid peroxidation and malondialdehyde increased; the expression levels of Toll, MyD88, GPx, SOD, proPO, Lys, and ALF generally increased at first and then decreased. Transcriptional sequencing analysis showed that the pathway of differentially expressed genes in KEGG enrichment mainly included lysosome (ko04142), apoptosis (ko04210) pathways, indicating that the NPs mainly affected the immune regulatory mechanism. Further analysis by Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) showed that the up-regulation pathways of NPs activation mainly included immune response-related pathways such as mitochondrial autophagy, DNA repair, autophagosomes signaling pathway. Our results indicated that NPs exposure induced oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy in shrimps. This study provides a basis for further understanding of the mechanisms of antioxidant immune regulation by NPs in shrimp and may serve as a reference for healthy ecological culture of shrimp.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces apoptosis, autophagy, histopathological damage, and intestinal microbiota dysbiosis of the Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Exposing Pacific white shrimp to nanoplastics caused intestinal damage, cell death, disrupted immune function, and increased the abundance of harmful gut bacteria. Higher concentrations of nanoplastics led to more severe effects, including visible damage to the intestinal lining and formation of autophagosomes (cellular waste structures). These findings add to growing evidence that nanoplastic contamination in seafood farming can compromise the health of organisms that many people eat.
Transcriptomic analysis following polystyrene nanoplastic stress in the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei
Researchers used transcriptomic analysis to study how polystyrene nanoplastics affect gene expression in Pacific white shrimp. They found that nanoplastic exposure activated lysosome pathways and disrupted genes involved in immune response, protein processing, and metabolism. The study provides molecular-level evidence that nanoplastics can interfere with multiple biological systems in commercially important shrimp species.
Toxicological effects of polystyrene nanoplastics on marine organisms
Researchers exposed Pacific white shrimp to polystyrene nanoplastics at various concentrations and measured immune, antioxidant, and tissue responses after seven days. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune function, increased oxidative stress, and caused tissue damage, particularly in the hepatopancreas and gills. The study adds to growing evidence that nanoplastics can harm the health of commercially important marine species.
Polystyrene nanoplastics induce lipid metabolism disorder and alter fatty acid composition in the hepatopancreas of Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei)
Researchers exposed Pacific whiteleg shrimp to different concentrations of polystyrene nanoplastics for 28 days and found significant disruption to fat metabolism in the shrimp's digestive organ. Higher concentrations caused tissue damage, reduced protein and fat content, and altered the activity of enzymes that control how the body processes fats. Since shrimp is a widely consumed seafood, these findings raise questions about how nanoplastic contamination in aquaculture could affect the nutritional quality and safety of shellfish for human consumption.
Microplastic-Contaminated Feed Interferes with Antioxidant Enzyme and Lysozyme Gene Expression of Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) Leading to Hepatopancreas Damage and Increased Mortality
Researchers fed Pacific white shrimp diets contaminated with high-density polyethylene microplastics and observed dose-dependent immune suppression and organ damage. The microplastics disrupted the expression of antioxidant enzyme and lysozyme genes and caused significant histopathological changes in the hepatopancreas. The study demonstrates that dietary microplastic exposure can compromise the immune defenses of commercially important crustaceans, potentially increasing their susceptibility to disease.