Transcriptome Analysis of Brain and Skin Reveals Immune Responses to Acute Hypoxia and Reoxygenation in Pseudobagrus ussuriensis

Abstract

Pseudobagrus ussuriensis is an unscaled fish that is more susceptible to skin damage than scaled fish. To investigate the impacts of hypoxia and reoxygenation on skin and brain immunity, juvenile P. ussuriensis were subjected to hypoxia conditions (DO: 0.8 ± 0.05 mg/L) for durations of 0, 3, 6, and 12 h, followed by 12 h of reoxygenation (DO > 6 mg/L). Histological analysis showed a significant increase in the number of skin mucosal cells after 12 h of hypoxia and a significant decrease after 12 h of reoxygenation when compared to the control group. As the duration of hypoxia increased, an increase in antioxidant (SOD, CAT, GSH, MDA) and immune (cortisol, LZM) physiological parameters of the skin and brain appeared. The results of transcriptomic studies showed that the number of differential genes was greater in skin than in brain. Most of the immune pathways in both tissues under hypoxia conditions were all nonspecific immunity (TNF, IL-17, chemokines), while both tissues maintained their homeostasis through active energy supply and cell cycle regulation. Meanwhile, both physiological parameters and RNA transcriptome results showed that 12 h of reoxygenation could not completely eliminate the negative effects of 12 h of hypoxia. This study offers new insights into the immune responses of P. ussuriensis skin and brain during acute hypoxia and reoxygenation.