We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
The Immune System in Antarctic and Subantarctic Fish of the Genus Harpagifer Is Affected by the Effects of Combined Microplastics and Thermal Increase
Summary
This study examined how rising ocean temperatures and microplastic exposure affect the immune systems of Antarctic and subantarctic fish of the genus Harpagifer, which are particularly vulnerable due to their ecological specialization. Combined climate and MP stress altered immune gene expression, suggesting these fish face compounding threats from global change.
Rising ocean temperatures due to climate change, combined with the intensification of anthropogenic activity, may lead to changes in the physiology and distribution of native species. Compounding climate stress, microplastic particles (MPs) enter the oceans through wastewater and the breakdown of macroplastics. Depending on their composition, they can be harmful and act as a vehicle for toxic substances, although their effects on native Antarctic and subantarctic species are unknown. Notothenioid fish are members of this group and are found inside and outside Antarctica, such as the Harpagifer, which has adapted to the cold and is particularly sensitive to thermal increases. Here, we aimed to evaluate the innate immune response in the head kidney, spleen, and foregut of two notothenoid fish, Harpagifer antarcticus and Harpagifer bispinis, exposed to elevated temperatures and PVC (polyvinyl chloride) microplastics. Adults from both species were collected on King George Island (Antarctica) and Punta Arenas (Chile), respectively. Specimens were assigned to a control group or exposed to a temperature increase (TI) or PVC microplastics (MPs), separately or in combination (MPs + TI). MP exposures were oral (gavage) for 24 h or aqueous (in a bath) for 24 and 48 h. Using real-time qPCR, we evaluated the relative gene expression of markers involved in the innate immune response, including tlr2 (toll-like receptor 2), tlr4 (toll-like receptor 4), myd88 (myeloid differentiation factor 88), nfkb (nuclear factor kb), il6 (interleukin 6), and il8 (irterleukin 8). We found differences between treatments when H. antarcticus and H. bispinis were exposed independently to MPs or thermal increase (TI) in the experiment with a cannula, showing an up-regulation in transcripts. In contrast, a down-regulation was observed when exposed in combination to MP + TI, which looked to be tissue-dependent. However, transcripts related to innate immunity in the bath experiment increased when exposure to both stressors was combined, mostly at 48 h. These results highlight the importance of evaluating the effects of multiple stressors, both independently and in combination, and whether these species will have the capacity to adapt or survive under these conditions, especially in waters where temperature is increasing and pollution is also rising, primarily from MP-PVC, a plastic widely used in various industries and among the population.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Combined effects of PVC microplastics and thermal rise alter the oxidative stress response in Antarctic fish Harpagifer antarcticus and Sub-Antarctic Harpagifer bispinis
Researchers studied how PVC microplastics and rising water temperatures affect oxidative stress in two species of cold-water Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fish. They found that the two species responded quite differently to the same stressors, and that the combination of microplastics and heat together sometimes triggered unexpected responses not seen with either stressor alone. The study highlights that climate change and plastic pollution may interact in complex ways that could threaten polar marine life.
Data from: Microplastic pollution and thermal increase alter cellular stress responses and microbiomes in Antarctic and SubAntarctic fish
This dataset contains raw data from experiments exposing two Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fish species (Harpagifer bispinis and Harpagifer antarticus) to combined microplastic pollution and thermal stress. The data supports research into how these dual stressors alter cellular stress responses and microbiome composition in polar fish.
Data from: Microplastic pollution and thermal increase alter cellular stress responses and microbiomes in Antarctic and SubAntarctic fish
This dataset contains raw data from experiments exposing two Antarctic and sub-Antarctic fish species (Harpagifer bispinis and Harpagifer antarticus) to combined microplastic pollution and thermal stress. The data supports research into how these dual stressors alter cellular stress responses and microbiome composition in polar fish.
Exposure to global change and microplastics elicits an immune response in an endangered coral
Researchers exposed an endangered coral species to combined stressors of elevated seawater temperature, reduced pH, and microplastics, finding that these global change factors together with local microplastic pollution elicit measurable immune responses, suggesting additive or synergistic stress effects on reef-building corals.
Exposure to global change and microplastics elicits an immune response in an endangered coral
Researchers examined how the combination of ocean warming, acidification, and microplastic exposure affects the endangered coral Acropora cervicornis over 22 days. They found that while individual stressors produced subtle gene expression changes, the combined multistressor treatment triggered the strongest response, particularly in genes related to innate immunity. The study suggests that microplastics may compound the effects of climate change on coral health by activating immune stress responses.