Starvation decreases immunity and immune regulatory factor NF-κB in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis
Files
First author draft
Date
2022-06-11
Authors
Gilmore, Thomas
Aguirre Carrion, Pablo
Desai, Niharikia
Brennan, Joseph J.
Fifer, James
Davies, Sarah W.
Version
First author draft
OA Version
Citation
T. Gilmore, P. Aguirre Carrion, N. Desai, J. Brennan, J. Fifer, S. Davies. 2022. "Starvation Decreases Immunity and Immune Regulatory Factor NF-κB in the Starlet Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis" bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.09.495518
Abstract
Lack of proper nutrition (malnutrition) or the complete absence of all food (starvation) have important consequences on the physiology of all organisms. In many cases, nutritional status affects immunity, but, for the most part, the relationship between nutrition and immunity has been limited to studies in vertebrates and terrestrial invertebrates. Herein, we describe a positive correlation between nutrition and immunity in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. Gene expression profiling of adult fed and starved anemones showed downregulation of many genes involved in nutrient metabolism and cellular respiration, as well as immune-related genes, in starved animals. Starved adult anemones also had reduced protein levels and DNA-binding activity of immunity-related transcription factor NF-κB. Starved juvenile anemones had increased sensitivity to bacterial infection and also had lower NF-κB protein levels, as compared to fed controls. Weighted Gene Correlation Network Analysis (WGCNA) revealed significantly correlated gene networks that were inversely associated with starvation. Based on the WGCNA and a reporter gene assay, we identified TRAF3 as a likely NF-κB target gene in N. vectensis. Overall, these experiments demonstrate a correlation between nutrition and immunity in a basal marine metazoan, and the results have implications for the survival of marine organisms as they encounter changing environments.
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This version posted June 11, 2022. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license
This version posted June 11, 2022. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under a CC-BY 4.0 International license