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Calcineurin Immune Signaling in Response to Zinc Challenge in the Naked Carp Gymnocypris eckloni

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Abstract

Zinc pollution impairs neural processes and protein function and also effects calcium-related transcriptional regulation and enzyme activity. In this study, we investigated pathways that potentially respond to calcium signaling under Zn2+ stress. Specifically we measured relative expressions of GeCNAα, GeCNB, GeMT, GeTNF-α, GeIL-1β, and GeHsp90 in gills, livers, and kidneys of the indicator species Gymnocypris eckloni and found wide variation in their expression between tissues during the course of Zn2+ exposure. Notably, GeCNAα, GeCNB, GeTNF-α, GeIL-1β, and GeMT were rapidly and strongly up-regulated in gills; GeIL-1β and GeHsp90 transcription was quickly induced in kidneys; and GeCNB, GeTNF-α, GeIL-1β, and GeHsp90 were most rapidly up-regulated in livers. GeCNAα and GeMT showed a contrasting late transcriptional up-regulation. These results suggest independent branches for chelation and immune responses during self-protection against Zn2+ toxicity, and the immune response appears to be faster than metal chelation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC, 31460700). Authors express their gratitude to Mr. Wang Zhengang and Mr. Lu Baojun from the Fisheries Environmental Monitoring Station (Xining, China) for their support in the collection and transport of specimens.

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  1. Changzhong Li and Fengxia Ran have contributed equally to this paper.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Eco-Environmental Engineering, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, China

    Changzhong Li, Fengxia Ran, Zixuan Li, Shen Huang, Droma Duanzhi, Yanhui Liu, Minghui Wu, Qimei Li, Yuxiang Wang, Chaoxi Liu & Wenjie Jin

  2. Qinghai Provincial Fishery Environmental Monitoring Center, Xining, 810016, China

    Zhenji Wang, Guojie Wang & Shenlong Jian

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  1. Changzhong Li
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  2. Fengxia Ran
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Correspondence to Wenjie Jin.

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Li, C., Ran, F., Li, Z. et al. Calcineurin Immune Signaling in Response to Zinc Challenge in the Naked Carp Gymnocypris eckloni. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 106, 792–798 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-021-03178-8

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