Benzo[a]pyrene exposure under future ocean acidification scenarios weakens the immune responses of blood clam, Tegillarca granosa

• Main Authors: Su, Wenhao, Zha, Shanjie, Wang, Yichen, Shi, Wei, Xiao, Guoqiang, Chai, Xueliang, Wu, Hongxi, Liu, Guangxu
• Format: Dataset
• Language: English
• Published: PANGAEA 2017
• Subjects: Alkalinity; total; standard deviation; Animalia; Aragonite saturation state; Benthic animals; Benthos; Bicarbonate ion; Brackish waters; Calcite saturation state; Calculated using CO2SYS; Calculated using seacarb after Nisumaa et al. (2010); Carbon; inorganic; dissolved; standard error; Carbonate ion; Carbonate system computation flag; Carbon dioxide; Containers and aquaria (20-1000 L or < 1 m**2); Date; Experiment duration; Figure; Fugacity of carbon dioxide (water) at sea surface temperature (wet air); Gene expression; Gene expression (incl. proteomics); Granulocyte; basophil; red; Hemocyte count; Ocean acidification
• Online Access: https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.875000; https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.875000

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are known to converge into the ocean and accumulate in the sediment, posing great threats to marine organisms such as the sessile bottom burrowing bivalves. However, the immune toxicity of POPs, such as B[a]P, under future ocean acidification scenarios remains poorly understood to date. Therefore, in the present study, the impacts of B[a]P exposure on the immune responses of a bivalve species, Tegillarca granosa, under present and future ocean acidification scenarios were investigated. Results obtained revealed an increased immune toxicity of B[a]P under future ocean acidification scenarios in terms of reduced THC, altered haemocyte composition, and hampered phagocytosis, which may attribute to the synergetic effects of B[a]P and ocean acidification. In addition, the gene expressions of pathogen pattern recognition receptors (TLR1, TLR2, TLR4, TLR6), pathway mediators (TRAF6, TAK1, TAB2, IKKalpha and Myd88), and effectors (NF-kB) of the important immune related pathways were significantly down-regulated upon exposure to B[a]P under future ocean acidification scenarios. Results of the present study suggested an increased immune toxicity of B[a]P under future ocean acidification scenarios, which will significantly hamper the immune responses of T. granosa and subsequently render individuals more susceptible to pathogens challenges.