Abstract
Domoic acid (DA) is an amnesic shellfish poisoning toxin produced by some species of the genera Pseudo-nitzschia and Nitzschia. This toxin has harmful effects on various species, especially scallops. This study aimed to investigate the effects of DA exposure on the immune and physical responses of bay scallop, Argopecten irradians. Various immunological and physical parameters were assessed (acid phosphatase (ACP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), lipid peroxide (LPO), nitric oxide (NO), and the total protein content) in the haemolymph of scallops at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 48 h post-exposure to DA at different concentrations (10, 50, and 100 ng/mL). Moreover, the expression of immune-related genes (CLT-6, FREP, HSP90, MT, PGRP, and PrxV) was assessed. The activities of ACP, ALP, and LDH and the total protein content and LPO increased upon exposure to DA at different concentrations, while NO levels were decreased. Furthermore, immune-related genes were assessed upon DA exposure. Our results showed that exposure to DA negatively impacts immune function and disrupts physiological activities in bay scallops.
Highlights
Harmful algal blooms, caused by environmental changes and water pollution, have harmful effects on various organisms including humans, affecting the coastal ecology, and causing serious economic losses [1]
Acid phosphatase (ACP) activity (Figure 1A) was significantly enhanced in 10 ng/mL of Domoic acid (DA) treated group at 3–24 hours post exposure comparing with control, and the highest level of ACP activity was observed at 3 hpe
In 50 ng/mL of DA treated group, an obvious enhancement in ACP activity was observed at 3-12 hpe
Summary
Harmful algal blooms, caused by environmental changes and water pollution, have harmful effects on various organisms including humans, affecting the coastal ecology, and causing serious economic losses [1]. Acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) are important lysosomal enzymes which are involved in humoral immune responses and participate in the degradation of foreign carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids [10,11]. They are primarily present in lysosomes of granulosa cells and contribute to phagocytosis and secretion into the serum through degranulation [12]. Nitric oxide (NO) is widely distributed in various organs and participates in many important physiological and pathological activities such as immune defense [15] It is synthesized by inducible (i) NO synthase (iNOS), and usually considered to be related to the immune response in mammals. The results of current study will provide a novel insight into the immunotoxicity of DA in scallops, and the present results are of particular interest and use to toxicologists and researchers involved in studies on cellular and molecular toxicity of xenobiotics [18]
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