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Campbell JH, Dixon B, Whitehouse LM. The intersection of stress, sex and immunity in fishes. Immunogenetics 2021; 73:111-129. [PMID: 33426582 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-020-01194-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
While sexual dimorphism in immune responses has been documented in other vertebrates, evidence for a similar phenomenon in fish is lacking. Here, we review the relationship between immunity, stress, spawning, and sex hormones in fish to gain a better understanding of sex-based differences in fish immune responses and its consequences for aquaculture. It is well known that there is a strong link between the stress response and immune function in fish. In addition, research to date has demonstrated that sexual dimorphism in the stress response exists in many species; yet, the relationship between the sexual dimorphic stress responses and immune function has rarely been explored together. Aside from stress, spawning is also known to trigger changes in fish immune responses. Estrogens and androgens have been shown to modulate the immune system which could account for differences between the two sexes of fish when spawning; however, evidence regarding the sexual dimorphism of these changes varies between fishes and is likely related to the spawning strategy employed by a given species. Sex hormones are also used in aquaculture practices to produce monosex populations, and exposure to these hormones early in development has been shown to impact the development of immune organs in several fishes. While female fish are generally thought to be more robust than males, aquaculture practices should also consider the role that maternal stress has on the immune function of the offspring and what role this plays in compromising the immune response of farmed fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- James H Campbell
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, USA
| | - Brian Dixon
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, USA.
| | - Lindy M Whitehouse
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, USA
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Ye RR, Peterson DR, Kitamura SI, Segner H, Seemann F, Au DWT. Sex-specific immunomodulatory action of the environmentalestrogen 17α-ethynylestradiol alongside with reproductive impairment in fish. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2018; 203:95-106. [PMID: 30099325 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2018.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 07/25/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Estrogenic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EEDCs) are present ubiquitously in sediments and aquatic ecosystems worldwide. The detrimental impact of EEDCs on the reproduction of wildlife is widely recognized. Increasing evidence shows the immunosuppressive effects of EEDCs in vertebrates. Yet, no studies have considered concomitantly EEDC-induced impacts on reproductive impairment and immune suppression in vivo, which are deemed essential for risk assessment and environmental monitoring. In this study, EE2 was used as a representative EEDC, for parallel evaluation of EEDC-induced immune suppression (immune marker gene expression, leukocyte numbers, host resistance assay, and immune competence index) and reproductive impairment (estrogen responsive gene expression, fecundity, fertilization success, hatching success, and reproductive competence index) in an established fish model (marine medaka Oryzias melastigma), considering sex-specific induction and adaptation and recovery responses under different EE2 exposure scenarios. The findings in marine medaka reveal distinct sex differences in the EE2-mediated biological responses. For female fish, low concentration of exogenous EE2 (33 ng/L) could induce hormesis (immune enhancement), enable adaptation (restored reproduction) and even boost fish resistance to bacterial challenge after abatement of EE2. However, a prolonged exposure to high levels of EE2 (113 ng/L) not only impaired F0 immune function, but also perturbed females recovering from reproductive impairment, resulting in a persistent impact on the F1 generation output. Thus, for female fish, the exposure concentration of EE2 is more critical than the dose of EE2 in determining the impacts of EE2 on immune function and reproduction. Conversely, male fish are far more sensitive than females to the presence of low levels of exogenous EE2 in water and the EE2-mediated biological impacts are clearly dose-dependent. It is also evident in male fish that direct contact of EE2 is essential to sustain impairments of immune competence and reproductive output as well as deregulation of immune function genes in vivo. The immunomodulatory pathways altered by EE2 were deciphered for male and female fish, separately. Downregulation of hepatic tlr3 and c3 (in female) and tlr3, tlr5 and c3 (in male) may be indicative of impaired fish immune competence. Taken together, impaired immune competence in the EE2-exposed fish poses an immediate thread on the survival of F0 population. Impaired reproduction in the EE2-exposed fish can directly affect F1 output. Parallel evaluation of immune competence and reproduction are important considerations when assessing the risk of sublethal levels of EE2/EEDCs in aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy R Ye
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Drew R Peterson
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Shin-Ichi Kitamura
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, Matsuyama, 790-8577, Japan
| | - Helmut Segner
- Centre for Fish and Wildlife Health, University of Bern, CH3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Frauke Seemann
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong; Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi, TX, 78412, USA.
| | - Doris W T Au
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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Yip BW, Mok HO, Peterson DR, Wan MT, Taniguchi Y, Ge W, Au DW. Sex-dependent telomere shortening, telomerase activity and oxidative damage in marine medaka Oryzias melastigma during aging. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 124:701-709. [PMID: 28129920 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Marine medaka Oryzias melastigma at 4months (young), 8months (middle-aged) and 12months old (senior) were employed to determine age-associated change of sex ratios, sex hormones, telomere length (TL), telomerase activity (TA), telomerase transcription (omTERT) and oxidative damage in the liver. Overall, O. melastigma exhibited gradual senescence, sex differences in longevity (F>M), TL (F>M) and oxidative damage (F<M) during aging. In females, the plasma E2 level was positively correlated with TL (TRF>5kb), TA and omTERT expression (p≤0.01), and negatively correlated with liver DNA oxidation (p≤0.05). The results suggest high levels of E2 in female O. melastigma may retard TL shortening by enhancing TA via TERT transcription and/or reducing oxidative DNA damage. The findings support TL shortening as a biomarker of aging and further development of accelerated TL shortening, abnormal suppression of TA and excessive oxidative DNA damage as early molecular endpoints, indicative of advanced/premature aging in marine medaka/fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Wp Yip
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Helen Ol Mok
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Drew R Peterson
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Miles T Wan
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, China
| | - Y Taniguchi
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, School of Medicine, Kyorin University, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan
| | - Wei Ge
- Centre of Reproduction, Development and Aging, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China
| | - Doris Wt Au
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Biology and Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, China.
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Dong M, Seemann F, Humble JL, Liang Y, Peterson DR, Ye R, Ren H, Kim HS, Lee JS, Au DWT, Lam YW. Modification of the plasma complement protein profile by exogenous estrogens is indicative of a compromised immune competence in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma). FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 70:260-269. [PMID: 28882797 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Revised: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 09/03/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Growing evidence suggests that the immune system of teleost is vulnerable to xenoestrogens, which are ubiquitous in the marine environment. This study detected and identified the major circulatory immune proteins deregulated by 17α-ethinylestradiol (EE2), which may be linked to fish susceptibility to pathogens in the marine medaka, Oryzias melastigma. Fish immune competence was determined using a host resistance assay to pathogenic bacteria Edwardsiella tarda. Females were consistently more susceptible to infection-induced mortality than males. Exposure to EE2 could narrow the sex gap of mortality by increasing infection-induced death in male fish. Proteomic analysis revealed that the major plasma immune proteins of adult fish were highly sexually dimorphic. EE2 induced pronounced sex-specific changes in the plasma proteome, with the male plasma composition clearly becoming "feminised". Male plasma was found to contain a higher level of fibrinogens, WAP63 and ependymin-2-like protein, which are involved in coagulation, inflammation and regeneration. For the first time, we demonstrated that expression of C1q subunit B (C1Q), an initiating factor of the classical complement pathway, was higher in males and was suppressed in both sexes in response to EE2 and bacterial challenge. Moreover, cleavage and post-translational modification of C3, the central component of the complement system, could be altered by EE2 treatment in males (C3dg down; C3g up). Multiple regression analysis indicated that C1Q is possibly an indicator of fish survival, which warrants further confirmation. The findings support the potential application of plasma immune proteins for prognosis/diagnosis of fish immune competence. Moreover, this study provides the first biochemical basis of the sex-differences in fish immunity and how these differences might be modified by xenoestrogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Dong
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Frauke Seemann
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Joseph L Humble
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Yimin Liang
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Drew R Peterson
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Rui Ye
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong
| | - Honglin Ren
- Key Laboratory of Zoonosis Research, Ministry of Education, Institute of Zoonosis, College of Veterinary Medicine, Jilin University, Xi An Da Lu 5333, Changchun 130062, China
| | - Hui-Su Kim
- Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Jae-Seong Lee
- Department of Biological Science, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Doris W T Au
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
| | - Yun Wah Lam
- State Key Laboratory in Marine Pollution, Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
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Waits ER, Martinson J, Rinner B, Morris S, Proestou D, Champlin D, Nacci D. Genetic Linkage Map and Comparative Genome Analysis for the Atlantic Killifish (<i>Fundulus heteroclitus</i>). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.4236/ojgen.2016.61004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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