上海海洋大学胡鹏等研究人员合作揭示调控鱼类免疫细胞冷应激反应的染色质介导转录调控网络。这一研究成果于2025年1月21日在线发表在国际学术期刊《遗传学报》上。

研究人员揭示了尼罗罗非鱼（Oreochromis niloticus）在冷应激下头肾和胸腺组织中的染色质和转录变化，该物种是具有重要经济价值的热带鱼类。通过分析开放染色质区域中的顺式调控元件及其相关转录因子（TF），研究人员构建了一个全面的转录调控网络（TRN），该网络调控免疫反应，包括DNA损伤引起的凋亡。

研究人员的分析识别了TRN中的119个转录因子，其中Stat1作为一个中心枢纽，在冷应激下表现出独特的结合动态，正如足迹分析所揭示的那样。Stat1在免疫细胞中过表达会导致凋亡并增加与凋亡相关的基因表达，其中许多基因在其调控区域中含有Stat1结合位点，突显了其在冷应激期间免疫细胞生存中的关键作用。

这些结果为了解罗非鱼对冷应激的免疫反应的转录和表观遗传调控提供了新的见解，并强调了Stat1作为增强热带鱼类冷耐受性的潜在靶点。

据悉，温度波动对外温性物种构成挑战，尤其是对依赖外部温度调节生理功能的热带鱼类。然而，低温应激如何影响这些物种的免疫反应，特别是与染色质可及性和表观遗传调控相关的分子机制仍然知之甚少。

附：英文原文

Title: Uncovering the chromatin-mediated transcriptional regulatory network governing cold stress responses in fish immune cells

Author: Songqian Huang a b , Liangbiao Chen a b, Peng Hu a b e

Issue&Volume: 2025/01/21

Abstract: Temperature fluctuations challenge ectothermic species, particularly tropical fish dependent on external temperatures for physiological regulation. However, the molecular mechanisms through which low-temperature stress impacts immune responses in these species, especially in relation to chromatin accessibility and epigenetic regulation, remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigate chromatin and transcriptional changes in the head kidney and thymus tissues of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a tropical fish of significant economic importance, under cold stress. By analyzing cis-regulatory elements in open chromatin regions and their associated transcription factors (TFs), we construct a comprehensive transcriptional regulatory network (TRN) governing immune responses, including DNA damage-induced apoptosis. Our analysis identifies 119 TFs within the TRN, with Stat1 emerging as a central hub exhibiting distinct binding dynamics under cold stress, as revealed by footprint analysis. Overexpression of Stat1 in immune cells leads to apoptosis and increases the expression of apoptosis-related genes, many of which contain Stat1 binding sites in their regulatory regions, emphasizing its critical role in immune cell survival during cold stress. These results provide insights into the transcriptional and epigenetic regulation of immune responses to cold stress in tilapia and highlight Stat1 as a promising target for enhancing cold tolerance in tropical fish species.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2025.01.008

Source: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1673852725000232