Combined effects of thermal stress and Cd on lysosomal biomarkers and transcription of genes encoding lysosomal enzymes and HSP70 in mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis

Elevated temperature as a dominant driver to aggravate cadmium toxicity: Investigations through toxicokinetics and omics

Despite the great interest in the consequences of global change stressors on marine organisms, their interactive effects on cadmium (Cd) bioaccumulation/biotoxicity are very poorly explored, particularly in combination with the toxicokinetic model and molecular mechanism. According to the projections for 2100, this study investigated the impact of elevated pCO2 and increased temperature (isolated or joint) on Cd uptake dynamics and transcriptomic response in the marine copepod Tigriopus japonicus. Toxicokinetic results showed significantly higher Cd uptake in copepods under increased temperature and its combination with elevated pCO2 relative to the ambient condition, linking to enhanced Cd bioaccumulation. Transcriptome analysis revealed that, under increased temperature and its combination with elevated pCO2, up-regulated expression of Cd uptake-related genes but down-regulation of Cd exclusion-related genes might cause increased cellular Cd level, which not only activated detoxification and stress response but also induced oxidative stress and concomitant apoptosis, demonstrating aggravated Cd biotoxicity. However, these were less pronouncedly affected by elevated pCO2 exposure. Therefore, temperature seems to be a primary factor in increasing Cd accumulation and its toxicity in the future ocean. Our findings suggest that we should refocus the interactive effects between climate change stressors and Cd pollution, especially considering temperature as a dominant driver.

Reductive stress and cytotoxicity in the swollen river mussel (Unio tumidus) exposed to microplastics and salinomycin

Multistress effects lead to unpredicted consequences in aquatic ecotoxicology and are extremely concerning. The goal of this study was to trace how specific effects of the antibiotic salinomycin (Sal) and microplastics (MP) on the bivalve molluscs are manifested in the combined environmentally relevant exposures. Unio tumidus specimens were treated with Sal (0.6 μg L-1), MP (1 mg L-1, 2 μm size), and both at 18 °C (Mix) and 25 °C (MixT) for 14 days. The redox stress and apoptotic enzyme responses and the balance of Zn/Cu in the digestive gland were analyzed. The shared signs of stress included a decrease in NAD+/NADH and Zn/Cu ratios and lysosomal integrity and an increase in Zn-metallothioneins and cholinesterase levels. MP caused a decrease in the glutathione (GSH) concentration and redox state, total antioxidant capacity, and Zn levels. MP and Mix induced coordinated apoptotic/autophagy activities, increasing caspase-3 and cathepsin D (CtD) total and extralysosomal levels. Sal activated caspase-3 only and increased by five times Cu level in the tissue. Due to the discriminant analysis, the cumulative effect was evident in the combined exposure at 18 °C. However, under heating, the levels of NAD+, NADH, GSH, GSH/GSSG and metallothionein-related thiols were decreased, and coordination of the cytosolic and lysosomal death stimuli was distorted, confirming that heating and pollution could exert unexpected synergistic effects on aquatic life.

The influence of temperature on the effects of lead and lithium in Mytilus galloprovincialis through biochemical, cell and tissue levels: Comparison between mono and multi-element exposures

Lead (Pb) and lithium (Li) are metals which have been detected in the environment and, at high concentrations, can induce toxic effects that disturb the growth, metabolism or reproduction of organisms along the entire trophic chain. The impacts of these metals have scarcely been investigated using marine bivalves, especially when acting as a mixture. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of temperature on the ecotoxicological effects caused by Pb and Li, acting alone and as a mixture, on the mussel species Mytilus galloprovincialis after 28 days of exposure. The impacts were evaluated under actual (17 °C) and projected (+4 °C) warming conditions, to understand the influence of temperature rise on the effects of the metals (both acting alone or as a mixture). The results obtained showed that the increased temperature did not influence the accumulation of metals. However, the biomarkers evaluated showed greater responses in mussels that are exposed to metals under increased temperature (21 °C). The IBR index showed that there is a comparable toxic effect of Li and Pb separately, while exposure to a mixture of both pollutants causes a significantly higher stress response. Overall, the results obtained revealed that temperature may cause extra stress on the mussels and exposure to the metal mixture caused the greatest impacts compared to each metal acting alone.

Ecotoxicological, ecophysiological, and mechanistic studies on zinc oxide (ZnO) toxicity in freshwater environment

The world has faced climate change that affects hydrology and thermal systems in the aquatic environment resulting in temperature changes, which directly affect the aquatic ecosystem. Elevated water temperature influences the physico-chemical properties of chemicals in freshwater ecosystems leading to disturbing living organisms. Owing to the industrial revolution, the mass production of zinc oxide (ZnO) has been led to contaminated environments, and therefore, the toxicological effects of ZnO become more concerning under climate change scenarios. A comprehensive understanding of its toxicity influenced by main factors driven by climate change is indispensable. This review summarized the detrimental effects of ZnO with a single ZnO exposure and combined it with key climate change-associated factors in many aspects (i.e., oxidative stress, energy reserves, behavior and life history traits). Moreover, this review tried to point out ZnO kinetic behavior and corresponding mechanisms which pose a problem of observed detrimental effects correlated with the alteration of elevated temperature.

Autophagy contributes to increase the content of intracellular free amino acids in hard clam (Mercenaria mercenaria) during prolonged exposure to hypersaline environments

Marine bivalves in intertidal zones and land-based seawater ponds are constantly subjected to a wide range of salinity fluctuations due to heavy rainfall, intense drought, and human activities. As osmoconformers, bivalves rely primarily on rapid release or accumulation of free amino acids (FAAs) for osmoregulation. Euryhaline bivalves are capable of withstanding hyposaline and hypersaline environments through regulation of physiology, metabolism, and gene expression. However, current understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying osmoregulation and salinity adaptation in euryhaline bivalves remains largely limited. In this study, RNA-seq, WGCNA and flow cytometric analysis were performed to investigate the physiological responses of hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) to acute short-term hyposalinity (AL) and hypersalinity (AH), and chronic long-term hyposalinity (CL) and hypersalinity (CH) stress. We found that amino acids biosynthesis was significantly inhibited and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis was augmented to decrease intracellular osmolarity during hyposaline exposure. Under CH, numerous autophagy-related genes (ATGs) were highly expressed, and the autophagy activity of gill cells were significantly up-regulated. A significant decrease in total FAAs content was observed in gills after NH4Cl treatment, indicating that autophagy was crucial for osmoregulation in hard clams during prolonged exposure to hypersaline environments. To prevent premature or unnecessary apoptosis, the expression of cathepsin L was inhibited under AL and AH, and inhibitors of apoptosis was augmented under CL and CH. Additionally, neuroendocrine regulation was involved in salinity adaption in hard clams. This study provides novel insights into the physiological responses of euryhaline marine bivalves to hyposaline and hypersaline environments.

Co-exposure of environmental contaminants with unfavorable temperature or humidity/moisture: Joint hazards and underlying mechanisms

In the context of global climate change, organisms in their natural habitats usually suffer from unfavorable climatic conditions together with environmental pollution. Temperature and humidity (or moisture) are two central climatic factors, while their relationships with the toxicity of contaminants are not well understood. This review provides a synthesis of existing knowledge on important interactions between contaminant toxicity and climatic conditions of unfavorable temperature, soil moisture, and air humidity. Both high temperature and low moisture can extensively pose severe combined hazards with organic pollutants, heavy metal ions, nanoparticles, or microplastics. There is more information on the combined effects on animalia than on other kingdoms. Prevalent mechanisms underlying their joint effects include the increased bioavailability and bioaccumulation of contaminants, modified biotransformation of contaminants, enhanced induction of oxidative stress, accelerated energy consumption, interference with cell membranes, and depletion of bodily fluids. However, the interactions of contaminants with low temperature or high humidity/moisture, particularly on plants and microorganisms, are relatively vague and need to be further revealed. This work emphasizes that the co-exposure of chemical and physical stressors results in detrimental effects generally greater than those caused by either stressor. It is necessary to take this into consideration in the ecological risk assessment of both environmental contamination and climate change.

Polymer aging affects the bioavailability of microplastics-associated contaminants in sea urchin embryos

Microplastics (MPs) in the marine environment undergo complex weathering factors that can affect their ability to interact with different coexisting environmental contaminants (termed here co-contaminants). In this study, the influence of artificially aging using UV on the sorption of a complex mixture of co-contaminants onto MPs was investigated in order to provide meaningful hypotheses on their individual and combined toxicities on sea urchin embryos. A mixture of artificially aged MPs (PS particles and PA microfibers) combined with 2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47), or Cd or Cu, both alone and in a mix, were used to expose embryos of Paracentrotus lividus. The effects of polymer aging on co-contaminants bioavailability were assessed by measuring changes in the transcriptional profile of genes involved in oxidative-stress response and skeletogenic and endo-mesodermal specification. Changes in the sorption ability of MPs to co-contaminants in the aqueous phase highlighted that aging did not affect the sorption of BDE-47 and Cd on MPs, although a certain influence on Cu sorption was found. Despite no morphological effects in embryos at the gastrula stage after MPs/contaminants combinatorial exposure emerged, the greatest influence of the aging process was mainly found for combined exposures which included BDE-47. Finally, the exposure to multiple contaminants generated transcriptional profiles poorly related to those activated by single contaminant, at times suggesting a mixture-dependent different aging influence. These results open new scenarios on the controversial role of vector of co-contaminants for MPs, especially when complex and different types of mixtures were considered.

Does thermal stress modulate the biochemical and physiological responses of Ruditapes decussatus exposed to the progestin levonorgestrel?

In this study, we investigated the effects of 1000 ng/l levonorgestrel (LNG) alone or combined with increased temperature of 20, 24, and 28 °C on the biochemical and physiological responses of the clam (Ruditapes decussatus) for 28 days. Our results revealed that female clams treated with levonorgestrel (LNG) alone showed enhancement of the antioxidant defense against oxidative stress related to the inductions of catalase (CAT), gluthatione -S -transferase (GST), and protein sulfhydryl (PSH), while the elevated temperatures of 20, 24, and 28 °C diminished most of the specific responses to LNG and was the main factor in the determining the responses to combine exposures. The responses of lysosomal membrane stability, alkaline phosphatase, and NADP⁺-dependent isocitrate dehydrogenase detected were the most common signs of an adverse effect in all exposures. Female clams' testosterone and estradiol responses to LNG were the most particular manifestations depending on the exposure. Overall, these findings showed clearly that chronic warming stress caused disruption in physiological, biochemical parameters of the female clam R. decussatus, and this may have implications for the whole organism and populations.

Effects of environmental concentrations of the fragrance amyl salicylate on the mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Amyl salicylate (AS) is a fragrance massively used as a personal care product and following the discharged in wastewaters may end up in the aquatic environment representing a potential threat for the ecosystem and living organisms. AS was recently detected in water of the Venice Lagoon, a vulnerable area continuously subjected to the income of anthropogenic chemicals. The lagoon is a relevant area for mollusc farming, including the Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) having an important economic and ecological role. Despite high levels of AS occurred in water of the Lagoon of Venice, no studies investigated the possible consequences of AS exposures on species inhabiting this ecosystem to date. For the first time, we applied a multidisciplinary approach to investigate the potential effects of the fragrance AS on Mediterranean mussels. To reach such a goal, bioaccumulation, cellular, biochemical, and molecular analyses (RNA-seq and microbiota characterization) were measured in mussels treated for 7 and 14 days with different AS Venice lagoon environmental levels (0.1 and 0.5 μg L^-1). Despite chemical investigations suggested low AS bioaccumulation capability, cellular and molecular analyses highlighted the disruption of several key cellular processes after the prolonged exposures to the high AS concentration. Among them, potential immunotoxicity and changes in transcriptional regulation of pathways involved in energy metabolism, stress response, apoptosis and cell death regulations have been observed. Conversely, exposure to the low AS concentration demonstrated weak transcriptional changes and transient increased representation of opportunistic pathogens, as Arcobacter genus and Vibrio aestuarianus. Summarizing, this study provides the first overview on the effects of AS on one of the most widely farmed mollusk species.

Combined effects of polystyrene microplastics and cadmium on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and GH/IGF axis in zebrafish early life stages

The toxicological interactions of microplastics (MPs) and heavy metals have been paid much attention in aquatic organism. The mechanisms are not fully clear, particularly in fish early life stages. To the end, zebrafish embryos were exposed to 500 μg/L MPs, 5 μg/L cadmium (Cd), and their combination for 30 days. Body weight, adsorption characteristics of Cd onto MPs, Cd accumulation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor-I (GH/IGF) axis were examined. Exposure to MPs and Cd alone reduced body weight, which was aggravated by co-exposure. An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels was observed in larvae exposed to Cd or MPs + Cd, suggesting an induction of oxidative stress. Lipid peroxidation levels were not affected by exposure to MPs and Cd alone but dramatically enhanced by co-exposure, which may be explained by the reduction of total antioxidant capacity (TAOC) and activity levels of Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) and catalase (CAT) after co-exposure. Increased apoptotic cells were observed in the vertebral body of larvae exposed to Cd, the esophagus of larvae exposed to MPs, and both organs of larvae exposed to MPs + Cd, which was further confirmed by changes in the activities of Caspase-3, Caspase-8 and Caspase-9. PCR array on the transcription of genes related to growth, oxidative stress and apoptosis was examined, showing that the combined exposure resulted in greater magnitude of changes than MPs and Cd alone. The results indicate that MPs can enhance the negative effects of Cd on growth, oxidative damage and apoptosis in early life stages of zebrafish. However, the adsorption of Cd onto MPs was not observed and the combined exposure did not increase the Cd content in larvae compared to the single Cd exposure, implying that vector role of MPs in Cd uptake is negligible.

Particles rather than released Zn2+ from ZnO nanoparticles aggravate microplastics toxicity in early stages of exposed zebrafish and their unexposed offspring

Knowledge on the interaction between microplastics (MPs) and zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) is limited. Here, we investigated effects of embryo-larvae exposure to 500 μg/L polystyrene MPs (5 µm), 1200 μg/L ZnO NPs (< 100 nm), 500 μg/L dissolved Zn²⁺ from ZnSO4^, and the mixtures of MPs and ZnO NPs or ZnSO4 on exposed F0 larvae and unexposed F1 larvae. Consequently, ZnO particles adhered to MPs surfaces rather than Zn²⁺, and increased Zn transport into larvae. Growth inhibition, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and disturbance of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) axis were induced by MPs and ZnO NPs alone, which were further aggravated by their co-exposure in F0 larvae. MPs + ZnO increased apoptotic cells in the gill and esophagus compared with MPs and ZnO NPs alone. Reduced growth and antioxidant capacity and down-regulated GH/IGF axis were merely observed in F1 larvae from F0 parents exposed to MPs + ZnO. Contrary to ZnO NPs, dissolved Zn²⁺ reversed MPs toxicity, suggesting the protective role of Zn²⁺ may be not enough to ameliorate thfie negative effects of ZnO particles. To summarize, we found that particles rather than released Zn²⁺ from ZnO nanoparticles amplified MPs toxicity in early stages of exposed zebrafish and their unexposed offspring.

Does the environmental history of mussels have an effect on the physiological response to additional stress under experimental conditions?

Expected effects on marine biota of the ongoing elevation of water temperature and high latitudes is of major concern when considering the reliability of coastal ecosystem production. To compare the capacity of coastal organisms to cope with a temperature increase depending on their environmental history, responses of adult blue mussels (Mytilus spp.) taken from two sites differentially exposed to chemical pollution were investigated during an experimental exposure to a thermal stress. Immune parameters were notably altered by extreme warming and transcriptional changes for a broad selection of genes were associated to the temperature increase following a two-step response pattern. Site-specific responses suggested an influence of environmental history and support the possibility of a genetic basis in the physiological response. However no meaningful difference was detected between the response of hybrids and M galloprovincialis. This study brings new information about the capacity of mussels to cope with the ongoing elevation of water temperature in these coastal ecosystems.

Environmental concentrations of Roundup in combination with chlorpromazine or heating causes biochemical disturbances in the bivalve mollusc Unio tumidus

Bivalve molluscs represent the most recognized bioindicators of freshwater pollution. However, their ability to indicate specific xenobiotics in complex exposures is unclear. In this study, we aimed to track the particular effects of the pesticide Roundup (Rnd) and the antipsychotic drug chlorpromazine (Cpz) on the mussel Unio tumidus at the simpler environmentally relevant models. We treated the mussels by Rnd (17 μg L-1), Cpz (18 μg L-1), the mixture of Rnd and Cpz at 18 °C (RndCpz), and Rnd at 25 °C (RndT) and examined their digestive glands after 14 days of exposure. We analyzed total antioxidant capacity, glutathione (GSH&GSSG) and protein carbonyls levels, total and Zn-related concentrations of metallothioneins (MT and Zn-MT, respectively), the activities of CYP450-related EROD, glutathione S-transferase, cholinesterase, caspase-3, citrate synthase (CS), lysosomal membrane integrity (NRR), and Zn level in the tissue. Shared responses were indicated as the increase of the antioxidant, Zn-MT, and EROD levels, whereas the changes of Zn concentration, NRR, and caspase-3 activity were most diverse compared to control. According to discriminant analysis, complex exposures abolished the individual response traits and intensified the harmful effects that caused a decrease in the Zn level in the RndCpz- and RndT-groups and the loss of lysosomal integrity in the RndT-group. We concluded that multi-marker expertise with the application of integrated indices had benefits when evaluating the effects of complex exposures.

How efficient is graphene-based nanocomposite to adsorb Hg from seawater. A laboratory assay to assess the toxicological impacts induced by remediated water towards marine bivalves

Advanced investigations on the use of graphene based nanomaterials have highlighted the capacity of these materials for wastewater treatment. Research on this topic revealed the efficiency of the nanocomposite synthetized by graphene oxide functionalized with polyethyleneimine (GO-PEI) to adsorb mercury (Hg) from contaminated seawater. However, information on the environmental risks associated with these approaches are still lacking. The focus of this study was to evaluate the effects of Hg in contaminated seawater and seawater remediated by GO-PEI, using the species Ruditapes philippinarum, maintained at two different warming scenarios: control (17 °C) and increased (22 °C) temperatures. The results obtained showed that organisms exposed to non-contaminated and remediated seawaters at control temperature presented similar biological patterns, with no considerable differences expressed in terms of biochemical and histopathological alterations. Moreover, the present findings revealed increased toxicological effects in clams under remediated seawater at 22 °C in comparison to those subjected to the equivalent treatment at 17 °C. These results confirm the capability of GO-PEI to adsorb Hg from water with no noticeable toxic effects, although temperature could alter the responses of mussels to remediated seawater. These materials seem to be a promise eco-friendly approach to remediate wastewater, with low toxicity evidenced by remediated seawater and high regenerative capacity of this nanomaterial, keeping its high removal performance after successive sorption-desorption cycles.

An Integrated and Multibiomarker approach to delineate oxidative stress status of Bellamya bengalensis under the interactions of elevated temperature and chlorpyrifos contamination

Synergistic effects of warming on bioconcentration and receptiveness of pollutants are still poorly unravelled in conjunction with cellular and molecular responses. The present study addressed the impact of an environmental relevant dose of chlorpyrifos (organophosphate pesticide), under control (25 °C) and elevated levels of temperature (30 °C, 35 °C) in Bellamya bengalensis, a freshwater gastropod for 60 days across various endpoints. Multiple levels of biomarkers were measured: growth conditions (organ to flesh weight ratio, condition index), oxidative stress status (SOD, CAT, GST, LPO) and DNA damage (Comet assay-3^rd, 30^th and 60^th days only) after acute (24, 48 and 72 h) and long-term exposures (10^th, 20^th, 30^th, 40^th, 50^th and 60^th days). An integrated biomarker response (IBR) strategy was adapted to amalgamate results generated from various biomarkers to assess organism's vulnerability to pesticide pollution and how it may shift with warming climate. Significant changes were observed in growth conditions under longer exposure periods. Acute as well as long-term exposures enhanced the antioxidant and detoxification enzyme activity. DNA damage was extensive under longer exposure to stress howbeit was also significantly escalated under acute severe warming. Antioxidant and detoxification mechanisms fell short in counteracting cellular level damage. The IBR results indicated long-term acclimation of B. bengalensis to elevated temperatures and pesticide contamination lead to an improved tolerance level howbeit, acute stress was more detrimental. This study provided evidence for the efficiency of employing an integrated biomarker approach for B. bengalensis in future bio-monitoring studies.

Interactive effects of increased temperature and gadolinium pollution in Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin embryos: a climate change perspective

Gradual ocean warming and marine heatwaves represent major threats for marine organisms already facing other anthropogenic-derived hazards, such as chemical contamination in coastal areas. In this study, the combined effects of thermal stress and exposure to gadolinium (Gd), a metal used as a contrasting agent in medical imaging which enters the aquatic environment, were investigated in the embryos and larvae of the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Embryos were exposed to six treatments of three temperatures (18 °C, 21 °C, 24 °C) and two Gd concentrations (control: 0 μM; treated: 20 μM). With respect to developmental progression, increased temperature accelerated development and achievement of the larval stage, while Gd-exposed embryos at the control temperature (18 °C) showed a general delay in development at 24 h post-fertilization (hpf), and a stunting effect and impaired skeleton growth at 48 hpf. Elevated temperatures at near-future projections (+3 °C, 21 °C) reduced the negative effects of Gd on development with a lower percentage of abnormality and improved skeleton growth. Combined extreme warming at present-day marine heatwave conditions (+6 °C, 24 °C) and Gd treatment resulted in a lower proportion of embryos reaching the advanced larval stages compared to the 21 °C + Gd. At the molecular level, western blot analysis showed that Gd was the main driver for the induction of heat shock protein (HSP60, HSP70) expression. At 48 hpf, temperature increase was the main driver for activation of additional cellular stress response strategies such as autophagy and apoptosis. Combined treatments showed the induction of HSP60 at 24 hpf and autophagic and apoptotic processes at 48 hpf. Treatments having low levels of HSPs expression showed high levels of apoptosis, and vice versa, clearly demonstrating the antagonistic effects of HSPs expression and apoptosis. Detection of fragmented DNA in apoptotic nuclei showed selective apoptosis, likely in extremely damaged cells. Our results indicate that the negative effects of Gd-exposure on P. lividus larval development and biomineralization will be mitigated by a near-future ocean warming, up to a thermotolerance threshold when negative synergistic effects were evident. Our data highlight the use of biomarkers as sensitive tools to detect environmental impacts as well as the need for a better understanding of the interactions between the multiple stressors faced by marine species in coastal environments.

Season specific influence of projected ocean changes on the response to cadmium of stress-related genes in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Anthropogenic inputs of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are driving ocean warming and acidification. The potential threat represented by these changes for marine species could be amplified in coastal areas, characterized by higher levels of pollutants. In addition, temperate organisms may exhibit a different seasonal tolerance to stressors influenced by fluctuations of environmental and physiological factors. In this study, Mediterranean mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis collected both in summer and winter were exposed to combinations of two temperatures (SST, seasonal surface temperature and SST+5 °C) and two levels of pH (8.20 and 7.40) in clean or cadmium contaminated seawater (20 μg/L Cd). mRNA levels of genes related to metal-induced stress response were investigated, including metallothionein mt-20, heat-shock protein hsp70, superoxide dismutase Cu/Zn-sod, catalase cat, glutathione peroxidase gpx1 and glutathione S-transferase gst-pi. To further elucidate if tissues with different physiological roles could exhibit different responsiveness, such analyses were carried out in digestive gland and in gills of exposed mussels. mt-20 mRNA increase after Cd-exposure was higher in the digestive gland than in the gills, with few modulations by temperature or pH only in the latter. Acidification, alone or in combination with other stressors, increased hsp70 mRNA, with seasonal- and tissue-specificities (higher in summer and in digestive gland). Among antioxidants, gpx1 mRNA was affected by Cd in both tissues and seasons, with further modulations due to pH and temperature variation tissue- and season-specific; in winter the combination of Cd, warming and acidification affected Cu/Zn-sod both in digestive gland and gills and cat only in gills, while weak seasonal variations were observed for gst-pi transcripts only in digestive gland. The overall results highlighted the importance of considering seasonality and responsiveness of different tissues to predict the effects of sudden changes in environmental parameters on responsiveness to and toxicity of chemicals in marine coastal organisms.

Stress responses to warming in the mussel Brachidontes rodriguezii (d'Orbigny, 1842) from different environmental scenarios

The intertidal mussel B. rodriguezii is a representative species from hard bottom substrates where both anthropogenic and natural stressors are present. Pre-exposure to these different stressors can modify the tolerance to additional stressors such as warming. Moreover, this tolerance can vary depending on intraspecific variables such as the organism's sex. The effects of warming and its intraspecific variability in representative coastal species are crucial to understanding the tolerance to future environmental scenarios. The mussels were collected in different environmental scenarios, including low (Control), chemical (Harbour) and natural stressed (Estuary) sites, and then exposed to different water temperatures (10-30 °C) for 14 days. Lethal and sublethal responses were evaluated in different mussel populations. Thus, cumulative death rate, air survival time, heat shock proteins (HSC70/HSP70), total ubiquitin, catalase (CAT), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and lipid peroxidation (TBARS) were assessed in mussels from different areas and different sexes. The results revealed diminished air survival time and high cumulative mortality rate in mussels collected at the harbour and those exposed to higher temperatures, respectively. The sublethal responses of the field animals showed different patterns according to the different areas investigated. Besides, the results revealed that these differences were also observed between sexes. Regarding the sublethal responses in mussels exposed to warming, the interactive effects of temperature and sites showed a strong influence on all biochemical parameters analyzed (p < 0.001). Therefore, harbour mussels showed a distinct pattern compared to other locations and reflecting the most damaging effects of warming. The influence of sex and its interactions with warming were also crucial in most of the sublethal responses (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis was performed with all sublethal responses, and the different warming scenarios showed different groups according to the sites. In the predicted warming scenarios, males showed no differences between sites. In contrast to males, females showed differences between sites in the predicted and the worse-case warming scenarios. Our results highlight the importance of compensatory mechanisms in the mussel warming tolerance like HSP70. The influence of sex is also crucial in understanding warming tolerance in mussels chronically exposed to pollutants in their natural environment. Also, lethal endpoints are essential for understanding the non-reversibility signature of the observed biochemical responses.

Toxic impacts of rutile titanium dioxide in Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to warming conditions

Climate change is leading to a gradual increase in the ocean temperature, which can cause physiological and biochemical impairments in aquatic organisms. Along with the environmental changes, the presence of emerging pollutants such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in marine coastal systems has also been a topic of concern, especially considering the interactive effects that both factors may present to inhabiting organisms. In the present study, it has been assessed the effects of the presence in water of particles of rutile, the most common polymorph of TiO₂, in Mytilus galloprovincialis, under actual and predicted warming conditions. Organisms were exposed to different concentrations of rutile (0, 5, 50, 100 μg/L) at control (18 ± 1.0 °C) and increased (22 ± 1.0 °C) temperatures. Histopathological and biochemical changes were evaluated in mussels after 28 days of exposure. Histopathological examination revealed similar alterations on mussels' gills and digestive glands with increasing rutile concentrations at both temperatures. Biochemical markers showed that contaminated mussels have an unchanged metabolic capacity at 18 °C, which increased at 22 °C. Although antioxidant defences were activated in contaminated organisms at 22 °C, cellular damage was still observed. Overall, our findings showed that histopathological impacts occurred after rutile exposure regardless of the temperature, while biochemical alterations were only significantly noticeable when temperature was enhanced to 22 °C. Thus, this study demonstrated that temperature rise may significantly enhance the sensitivity of bivalves towards emerging pollutants.

The Role of Temperature on the Impact of Remediated Water towards Marine Organisms

Marine organisms are frequently exposed to pollutants, including trace metals, derived from natural and anthropogenic activities. In order to prevent environmental pollution, different approaches have been applied to remove pollutants from waste water and avoid their discharge into aquatic systems. However, organisms in their natural aquatic environments are also exposed to physico-chemical changes derived from climate change-related factors, including temperature increase. According to recent studies, warming has a negative impact on marine wildlife, with known effects on organisms physiological and biochemical performance. Recently, a material based on graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) proved to be effective in the remediation of mercury (Hg) contaminated water. Nevertheless, no information is available on the toxic impacts of such remediated water towards aquatic systems, neither under actual nor predicted temperature conditions. For this, the present study assessed the toxicity of seawater, previously contaminated with Hg and remediated by GO-PEI, using the clam species Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to actual and a predicted temperature conditions. The results obtained demonstrated that seawater contaminated with Hg and/or Hg+GO-PEI induced higher toxicity in clams exposed to 17 and 22 °C compared to organisms exposed to remediated seawater at the same temperatures. Moreover, similar histological and biochemical results were observed between organisms exposed to control and remediated seawater, independently of the temperatures (17 and 21 °C), highlighting the potential use of GO-PEI to remediate Hg from seawater without significant toxicity issues to the selected marine species.

The influence of temperature and salinity on the impacts of lead in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Mussels, such as the marine bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis are sentinels for marine pollution but they are also excellent bioindicators under laboratory conditions. For that, in this study we tested the modulation of biochemical responses under realistic concentrations of the toxic metal Lead (Pb) in water for 28 days under different conditions of salinity and temperature, including control condition (temperature 17 ± 1.0 °C and salinity 30 ± 1.0) as well as those within the range expected to occur due to climate change predictions (± 5 in salinity and + 4 °C in temperature). A comprehensive set of biomarkers was applied to search on modulation of biochemical responses in terms of energy metabolism, energy reserves, oxidative stress and damage occurrence in lipids, proteins as well as neurotoxicity signs. The application of an integrative Principal Coordinates Ordination (PCO) tool was successful and demonstrated that Pb caused an increase in the detoxification activity mainly evidenced by glutathione S-transferases and that the salinities 25 and 35 were, even in un-exposed mussels, responsible for cell damage seen as increased levels of lipid peroxidation (at salinity 25) and oxidised proteins (at salinity 35).

Identification of a potential tissue-specific biomarker cathepsin L-like gene from the planarian Dugesia japonica: Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression in response to heavy metal exposure

Heavy metal pollution is a global health issue affecting people worldwide, and the exploration of sensitive biomarkers to assess the toxicity of heavy metals is an important work for researchers. Cathepsin L, role as a tissue-specific biomarker to assess the biological effects of environmental pollutants, has not received much attention. In this work, the full-length cDNA of cathepsin L gene from the planarian Dugesia japonica (designated DjCatL) was cloned by rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) technique. The cDNA sequence of DjCatL is 1161 bp, which encodes a protein of 346 amino acids with a molecular weight of 39.03 kDa. Sequence analysis revealed that DjCatL contains highly conserved ERF/WNIN, GNFD, and GCXGG motifs, which are the features of the cathepsin L protein family. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) results revealed that the transcripts of DjCatL are specifically distributed in the intestinal system, suggesting that this gene is related to food digestion in planarians. Both quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and WISH results revealed that the transcriptional levels of DjCatL are inhibited significantly by heavy metal (Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺, and Cu²⁺) exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Therefore, we proposed that cathepsin L can be used as a tissue-specific biomarker to assess the heavy metal pollution in the aquatic environment.

Food-type may jeopardize biomarker interpretation in mussels used in aquatic toxicological experimentation

To assess the influence of food type on biomarkers, mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were maintained under laboratory conditions and fed using 4 different microalgae diets ad libitum for 1 week: (a) Isochrysis galbana; (b) Tetraselmis chuii; (c) a mixture of I. galbana and T. chuii; and (d) a commercial food (Microalgae Composed Diet, Acuinuga). Different microalgae were shown to present different distribution and fate in the midgut. I. galbana (≈4 μm Ø) readily reached digestive cells to be intracellularly digested. T. chuii (≈10 μm Ø and hardly digestible) was retained in stomach and digestive ducts for long times and extracellularly digested. Based on these findings, it appeared likely that the presence of large amounts of microalgal enzymes and metabolites might interfere with biochemical determinations of mussel's biomarkers and/or that the diet-induced alterations of mussels' digestion could modulate lysosomal and tissue-level biomarkers. To test these hypotheses, a battery of common biochemical, cytological and tissue-level biomarkers were determined in the gills (including activities of pyruvate kinase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and cytochrome c oxidase) and the digestive gland of the mussels (including protein, lipid, free glucose and glycogen total content, lysosomal structural changes and membrane stability, intracellular accumulation of neutral lipids and lipofuscins, changes in cell type composition and epithelial thinning, as well as altered tissue integrity). The type of food was concluded to be a major factor influencing biomarkers in short-term experiments though not all the microalgae affected biomarkers and their responsiveness in the same way. T. chuii seemed to alter the nutritional status, oxidative stress and digestion processes, thus interfering with a variety of biomarkers. On the other hand, the massive presence of I. galbana within digestive cells hampered the measurement of cytochemical biomarkers and rendered less reliable the results of biochemical biomarkers (as these could be attributed to both the mussel and the microalgae). Research to optimize dietary food type, composition, regime and rations for toxicological experimentation is urgently needed. Meanwhile, a detailed description of the food type and feeding conditions should be always provided when reporting aquatic toxicological experiments with mussels, as a necessary prerequisite to compare and interpret the biological responses elicited by pollutants.

Cadmium stress effects indicating marine pollution in different species of sea urchin employed as environmental bioindicators

In recent years, researches about the defense strategies induced by cadmium stress have greatly increased, invading several fields of scientific research. Mechanisms of cadmium-induced toxicity continue to be of interest for researchers given its ubiquitous nature and environmental distribution, where it often plays the role of pollutant for numerous organisms. The presence in the environment of this heavy metal has been constantly increasing because of its large employment in several industrial and agricultural activities. Cadmium does not have any biological role and, since it cannot be degraded by living organisms, it is irreversibly accumulated into cells, interacting with cellular components and molecular targets. Cadmium is one of the most studied heavy metal inductors of stress and a potent modulator of several processes such as apoptosis, autophagy, reactive oxygen species, protein kinase and phosphatase, mitochondrial function, metallothioneins, and heat-shock proteins. Sea urchins (adults, gametes, embryos, and larvae) offer an optimal opportunity to investigate the possible adaptive response of cells exposed to cadmium, since these cells are known to accumulate contaminants. In this review, we will examine several responses to stress induced by cadmium in different sea urchin species, with a focus on Paracentrotus lividus embryos. The sea urchin embryo represents a suitable system, as it is not subjected to legislation on animal welfare and can be easily used for toxicological studies and as a bioindicator of environmental pollution. Recently, it has been included into the guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays to monitor autophagy.

AgsA response to cadmium and copper effects at different temperatures in Escherichia coli

Small heat shock proteins (sHsps), present from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, are a highly conserved molecular chaperone family. They play a crucial role in protecting organisms against cellular insults from single or multiple environmental stressors including heavy metal exposure, heat or cold shock, oxidative stress, desiccation, etc. Here, the toxicity of cadmium and copper, and their ability to modify the cellular growth rate at different temperatures in Escherichia coli cells were tested. Also, the response mechanism of the sHSP aggregation-suppressing protein (AgsA) in such multiple stress conditions was investigated. The results showed that the half effect concentration (EC₅₀ ) of cadmium in AgsA-transformed E. coli cells at 37°C, 42°C, and 50°C were 11.106, 29.50, and 4.35 mg/L, respectively, and that of the control cells lacking AgsA were 5.05, 0.93, and 0.18 mg/L, respectively, while the half effect concentration (EC₅₀ ) of copper in AgsA-transformed E. coli cells at 37°C, 42°C, and 50°C were 27.3, 3.40, and 1.28 mg/L, respectively, and that of the control cells lacking AgsA were 27.7, 5.93, and 0.134 mg/L, respectively. The toxicities of cadmium and copper at different temperatures as observed by their modification of the cellular growth rate and inhibitory effects were in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, biochemical characterization of AgsA protein in cells subjected to cadmium and copper stresses at different temperatures implicated suppressed aggregation of cellular proteins in AgsA-transformed E. coli cells. Altogether, our data implicate the AgsA protein as a sensitive protein-based biomarker for metal-induced toxicity monitoring.

The lagged effects of environmentally relevant zinc on non-specific immunity in zebrafish

Responses to zinc (Zn) during exposure have well studied but the effects after the exposure are commonly neglected. In the study, non-specific immune response to zinc in blood and spleen of zebrafish was evaluated after exposure. At first, fish were subjected to 0 (control) and 200 μg/L zinc (Zn) for 6 weeks. Specific growth rate, survival rate, blood albumin level, and the activities of Cu/Zn-SOD and iNOS were not significantly changed by Zn exposure. Conversely, Zn increased the levels of globulin and hemoglobin, CAT activity, and mRNA levels of nrf2, sod1, cat, hsf1, hsp70, p65, il-6, il-1β, tnf-α and inos. In the second experiment, zebrafish were transferred to a recovery period for 4 and 8 days. The increased activities of Cu/Zn-SOD and CAT and the up-regulated mRNA levels of nrf2, cat, p65, tnf-α, and inos still were observed. In the third experiment, zebrafish from 4 d post-exposure were re-exposed to the high levels of Zn and cadmium (Cd) (600, 1200 μg/L Zn; 100, 200 μg/L Cd) for 4 days. 100 μg/L Cd caused a higher survival rate in the Zn-exposed fish than the control, suggesting Zn pre-exposure might develop the tolerance to Zn and Cd. Although transcriptional levels of sod1, hsf1, hsf2, hsp70, il-6 and il-1β and activity levels of iNOS recovered to the control levels at 4 and 8 d post-exposure, differences in magnitude of responsiveness were observed between normal fish and Zn-exposed fish. Overall, Zn acclimation persisted when fish recovered, which provides a new perspective about Zn toxicology.

RNA-sequencing to assess the health of wild yellow perch (Perca flavescens) populations from the St. Lawrence River, Canada

This study aimed to better understand in situ cumulative effects of anthropogenic stressors on the health of St. Lawrence River (QC, Canada) yellow perch populations using high-throughput transcriptomics and a multi-biological level approach. Fish were collected in the upstream fluvial Lake Saint-François (LSF) with low degree of environmental perturbations; Lake Saint-Louis (LSL) considered having a moderate degree of anthropogenic stressors, and Lake Saint-Pierre (LSP) a sector where the perch population has been severely declining. Morphometric results indicated that fish from the downstream LSP showed lower body condition compared to LSF and LSL. Liver transcriptomic responses were assessed by RNA-sequencing. Two hundred and eighty genes were over-transcribed in LSP perch while 200 genes were under-transcribed compared to LSF and LSL. In LSP fish, genes transcripts related to reproduction, retinol, iron, thyroid hormones, oxidative stress, lipid metabolism and immune functions were among the most abundant suggesting that multiple metabolic and physiological pathways were impacted by environmental stressors at this site. Inhibition of liver superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione S-transferase activities were also observed at the cellular level. Overall, identified impacted biological pathways in perch from LSP may help understand the precarious state of this population and identify the factors inhibiting its recovery.

Effects of nanoplastics on Mytilus galloprovincialis after individual and combined exposure with carbamazepine

Plastic pollution is a worldwide problem, highlighted by the fact that plastic materials degrade into nano-size particles (<100 nm), potentially becoming more bioavailable as well as a source of entry of other contaminants into organisms. The present study aimed to assess the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS), individually or combined with carbamazepine (Cbz), on the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. For this purpose, mussels were exposed for 96 h to a concentration range of PS (from 0.05 up to 50 mg L^-1), to Cbz (6.3 μg L^-1) alone and to the mixture of PS + Cbz (0.05 mg L^-1+ 6.3 μg L^-1). Molecular and biochemical biomarkers were assessed in the digestive glands, gills and haemolymph. The abundance of mRNA in the digestive glands and gills revealed significant alterations in the expression of genes associated with biotransformation, DNA repair, cell stress-response and innate immunity. Combined exposure of PS + Cbz induced significant downregulation in gene expression (e.g., hsp70) when compared to individual exposure. Total oxidant status increased in digestive glands after exposure to 0.5 mg L^-1 PS. Moreover, increased total antioxidant capacity and esterase activity were observed for PS 50 mg L^-1, in digestive glands and gills, respectively. The PS induced effects on neurotransmission, measured as inhibition of cholinesterase activity in haemolymph. Genotoxicity was found in haemocytes after exposure to PS, Cbz and their mixture. Moreover, lipid peroxidation was observed for 0.05 mg L^-1 PS exposure, showing that nanoplastics can induce oxidative damage. The present study demonstrated that PS, even at low concentrations, led to alterations on the assessed mussels' endpoints.

Effects of ocean warming and acidification on accumulation and cellular responsiveness to cadmium in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis: Importance of the seasonal status

Ocean warming and acidification could represent an additional threat to marine organisms already coping with other anthropogenic impacts, such as chemical contamination in coastal areas. In this study, interactions between such multiple stressors and their synergistic effects in terms of accumulation, detoxification and biological effects of metals were investigated in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Organisms sampled during the winter period were exposed for 28 days to different combinations of two temperatures (10 °C and 15 °C), two pH/pCO₂ (8.20/∼400μatm and 7.4/∼3000μatm) and two cadmium concentrations (0 and 20 μg/L). Cadmium concentrations increased in digestive glands and gills of metal-exposed mussels and were further enhanced by co-exposure at higher temperature. Interactive effects of temperature and/or pH were observed on Cd-mediated metallothionein induction, responsiveness of antioxidant system and onset of oxidative damages in lipids, with tissue-specific effects. Immunological effects showed a generalized sensitivity of lysosomal membrane stability toward the investigated stressors with major effects in co-exposed organisms. Cadmium and temperature affected phagocytosis efficiency and composition of haemocyte populations probably influencing the micronucleus frequency through varied mitotic rate. Several differences were highlighted between these results and those previously obtained from mussels exposed in summer, supporting the importance of season when addressing the tolerance of temperate organisms to variations of environmental factors. The elaboration of the whole biomarker results through weighted criteria allowed to summarize specific hazard indices, highlighting tissue-specific sensitivity toward multiple stressors and the need of improving the knowledge on interactions between multiple stressors.

Molecular and cellular effects of temperature in oysters Crassostrea brasiliana exposed to phenanthrene

Exposure of aquatic organisms to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), such as phenanthrene (PHE), may increase the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cause changes in the biotransformation systems. In addition, changes in water temperature can cause adverse effects in the organisms. Estuarine species, like the oyster Crassostrea brasiliana, can adapt and tolerate temperature variation. To evaluate the influence of temperature on biological responses of C. brasiliana exposed to PHE, oysters were maintained at three temperatures (18, 24 and 32 °C) for 15 days and co-exposed afterwards to 100 μg.L^-1 of PHE for 24 and 96 h. Levels of PHE in the water and oyster tissues were determined, respectively after 24 and 96 h. In addition, thermal stress, biotransformation and oxidative stress-related genes were analyzed in oyster gills, together with the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione-S-transferases (GST) and levels of lipid peroxidation. Oyster accumulated significant levels of PHE. HSP70-like transcripts were affected by PHE exposure only at 32 °C. Transcript levels of cytochrome P450 isoforms (CYP2-like2 and CYP2AU1) were down-regulated in oysters exposed to PHE for 24 h at 32 °C. GSTΩ-like transcript levels were also down-regulated in the PHE-exposed group at 32 °C. After 96 h, CYP2-like2 transcripts were higher in the PHE exposed groups at 32 °C. Oysters kept at 18 °C showed higher levels of SOD-like transcripts, together with higher GST, GPx and G6PDH activities, associated to lower levels of lipoperoxidation. In general the biological responses evaluated were more affected by temperature, than by co-exposure to PHE.

Uptake and transcriptional effects of polystyrene microplastics in larval stages of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

The widespread occurrence of microplastics (MP) in the marine environment is cause of increasing concerns about the safety of the exposed ecosystems. Although the effects associated to the MP uptake have been studied in most marine taxa, the knowledge about their sub-lethal impacts on early life stages of marine species is still limited. Here, we investigated the uptake/retention of 3-μm polystyrene MP by early stages of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, and the related effects on gut clearance, feeding efficiency, morphological and transcriptional parameters involved in embryo-larval development. Uptake measurements were performed on larvae at 48 h, 3, 6 and 9 days post fertilization (pf) after exposure to a range of 50-10,000 particles mL^-1. At all tested pf periods, treatments resulted in a significant and linear increase of MP uptake with increasing concentrations, though levels measured at 48 h pf were significantly lower compared to 3-9 d pf. Ingested MP were retained up to 192 h in larvae's gut, suggesting a physical impact on digestive functions. No change was noted between the consumption of microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata by larvae when administered alone or in the presence of an identical concentration (2000 items mL^-1) of MP. The exposure to 50-10,000 MP mL^-1 did not alter the morphological development of mussel embryos; however, transcriptional alterations were observed at 50 and 500 MP mL^-1, including the up-regulation of genes involved in shell biogenesis (extrapallial protein; carbonic anhydrase; chitin synthase) and immunomodulation (myticin C; mytilin B), and the inhibition of those coding for lysosomal enzymes (hexosaminidase; β-glucorinidase; catepsin-L). In conclusion, though not highlighting morphological or feeding abnormalities, data from this study revealed the onset of physical and transcriptional impairments induced by MP in mussel larvae, indicating sub-lethal impacts which could increase their vulnerability toward further environmental stressors.

Styrene impairs normal embryo development in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis)

This study analysed the effects of styrene, a main monomer in plastic manufacturing and acknowledged to be amongst the most common plastic leachates, on early embryo development of the Mediterranean mussel. Embryotoxicity tests showed that styrene impaired normal embryo development at concentrations (0.01 μg/L-1 mg/L) encompassing the environmental range. Occurrence of normal D-veligers was significantly reduced up to 40% of the total, and larval size was reduced of about 20%. D-veligers grown in the presence of styrene (0.1 and 10 μg/L) showed significant reduction of total Multixenobiotic resistance (MXR) efflux activity that was not apparently related to transcriptional expression of genes encoding P-glycoprotein (ABCB) and Mrp (ABCC), the two main ABC transporters of embryonal MXR system. Indeed, ABCB transcription was not affected by styrene, while ABCC was up-regulated. At these same concentrations, transcriptional profiles of 15 genes underlying key biological functions in embryo development and potential targets of adverse effects of styrene were analysed. Main transcriptional effects were observed for genes involved in shell biogenesis and lysosomal responses (down-regulation), and in neuroendocrine signaling and immune responses (up-regulation). On the whole, results indicate that styrene may affect mussel early development through dysregulation of gene transcription and suggest the possible conservation of styrene mode of action across bivalve life cycle and between bivalves and humans, as well as through unpredicted impacts on protective systems and on shell biogenesis.

Effects of heat and cadmium exposure on stress-related responses in the liver of female zebrafish: Heat increases cadmium toxicity

In this study, female zebrafish (Danio rerio) were exposed to 26°C or 34°C, 0 or 197μg/L cadmium (Cd), singly or in combination for 7days. Multiple stress-related indicators were evaluated in the liver. Mortality, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and ultrastructural damage increased significantly by Cd exposure alone, and were not affected by heat alone. Interestingly, the combined exposure increased LPO, ultrastructural damage, and mortality compared with Cd exposure alone. The results indicated that elevated temperature increased Cd toxicity, which could be explained by several reasons. Firstly, Cd-exposed fish failed to activate the antioxidant defense system under heat stress. Secondly, expression levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) were not significantly up-regulated by heat in Cd-exposed fish but increased by 117 times in Cd-free fish. Besides, hypermethylation of heat shock factor (HSF) binding motif in HSP70 promoter was observed during the combined exposure, indicating that simultaneous exposure may have partially suppressed the cytoprotective up-regulation of HSP70. Thirdly, heat induced an immunosuppressive effect in Cd-exposed fish, as reflected by the reduced mRNA and activity levels of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) expression levels. Finally, heat down-regulated Zir-, Irt-like protein 8 (ZIP8) and copper transporter 1 (CTR1) and up-regulated metallothioneins (MTs) in Cd-exposed fish, possibly suggesting Cu and Zn depletion and Cd accumulation. Hence, our data provide evidences that warmer temperatures can potentiate Cd toxicity, involved in the regulation of gene transcription, enzymatic activity, and DNA methylation. We found that heat indicators showed varied sensitivity between normal and Cd-exposed fish, emphasizing that the field metal pollution should be carefully considered when evaluating effects of climate change.

Biochemical responses and accumulation patterns of Mytilus galloprovincialis exposed to thermal stress and Arsenic contamination

Organisms in marine systems are exposed to multiple stressors that create a range of associated environmental and ecotoxicological risks. Examples of stressors include alterations related to climate change, such as temperature increase, and the exposure to pollutants arising from human activities. The present study evaluated the impacts of Arsenic exposure (1mg/L) and warming (21°C) in Mytilus galloprovincialis, acting alone and in combination. Our results demonstrated that both Arsenic exposure and warming induced oxidative stress and reduced mussels metabolism, with changes becoming more prominent with the exposure time and when mussels were exposed to both stressors in combination. Furthermore, results obtained showed higher As accumulation in organisms exposed to warming treatments. The present study showed that under warming scenarios, the negative impacts induced by As may be enhanced in ecologically and economically relevant bivalves, with potential impacts on population stocks due to increased sensitivity to pollutants, which may eventually result in biodiversity loss and socio-economic impacts.

Does pre-exposure to warming conditions increase Mytilus galloprovincialis tolerance to Hg contamination?

The degree to which marine invertebrate populations can tolerate extreme weather events, such as short-term exposure to high temperatures, and the underlying biochemical response mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Furthermore, scarce information is available on how marine organisms respond to the presence of pollutants after exposure to heat stress conditions. Therefore, the present study aimed to understand how the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis responds to Hg pollution after pre-exposure to warming conditions. Mussels were exposed to control (17°C) and warming (21°C) conditions during 14days, followed by Hg contamination during 28days under different temperature regimes (17 and 21°C). The results obtained demonstrated significantly higher Hg concentrations in mussels under 17°C during the entire experiment than in organisms exposed to 21°C during the same period, which resulted in higher oxidative stress in mussels under control temperature. Significantly higher Hg concentrations were also observed in mussels pre-exposed to 21°C followed by a 17°C exposure comparing with organisms maintained the entire experiment at 21°C. These results may be explained by higher metabolic capacity in organisms exposed to 17°C after pre-exposure to 21°C that although induced antioxidant defences were not enough to prevent oxidative stress. No significant differences in terms of Hg concentration were found between mussels exposed to 17°C during the entire experiment and organisms pre-exposed to 21°C followed by a 17°C exposure, leading to similar oxidative stress levels in mussels exposed to both conditions. Therefore, our findings demonstrated that pre-exposure to warming conditions did not change mussels' accumulation and tolerance to Hg in comparison to Hg contaminated mussels maintained at control temperature. Furthermore, the present study indicate that organisms maintained under warming conditions for long periods may prevent the accumulation of pollutants by decreasing their metabolism which will limit cellular injuries.

CAPSULE

Mussels under warming conditions presented reduced metabolic capacity, resulting in lower Hg accumulation, which in turn prevented higher damages and, consequently, physiological impairments.

Biochemical impacts of Hg in Mytilus galloprovincialis under present and predicted warming scenarios

The interest in the consequences of climate change on the physiological and biochemical functioning of marine organisms is increasing, but the indirect and interactive effects resulting from warming on bioconcentration and responsiveness to pollutants are still poorly explored, particularly in terms of cellular responses. The present study investigated the impacts of Hg in Mytilus galloprovincialis under control (17°C) and warming (21°C) conditions, assessing mussels Hg bioconcentration capacity, metabolic and oxidative status after 14 and 28days of exposure. Results obtained showed greater impacts in mussels exposed for 28days in comparison to 14days of exposure. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the increase in temperature from 17 to 21°C reduced the bioconcentration of Hg by M. galloprovincialis, which may explain higher mortality rates at 17°C in comparison to 21°C. Lower Hg concentration at 21°C in mussels tissue may result from valves closure for longer periods, identified by reduced energy reserves consumption at higher temperature, which in turn might also contributed to higher oxidative stress in organisms exposed to this condition. The highest LPO levels observed in mussels exposed to higher temperatures alone indicate that warming conditions will greatly affect M. galloprovincialis. Furthermore, the present study showed that the impacts induced by the combination of Hg and warming were similar to the ones caused by increased temperature acting alone, mainly due to increased antioxidant defenses in organisms under combined effects of Hg and warming, suggesting that warming was the factor that mostly contributed to oxidative stress in mussels. Although higher mortality was observed in individuals exposed to 17°C and Hg compared to organisms exposed to Hg at 21°C, the oxidative stress induced at higher temperature may generate negative consequences on mussels reproductive and feeding capacity, growth and, consequently, on population maintenance and dynamics.

Heat indicators of oxidative stress, inflammation and metal transport show dependence of cadmium pollution history in the liver of female zebrafish

Environmental stressors such as high temperature and metal exposure may occur sequentially, simultaneously, previously in aquatic ecosystems. However, information about whether responses to high temperature depend on Cd exposure history is still unknown in fish. Zebrafish were exposed to 0 (group 1), 2.5 (group 2) and 5μg/L (group 3) cadmium (Cd) for 10 weeks, and then each group was subjected to Cd-free water maintained at 26°C and 32°C for 7days respectively. 26 indicators were used to compare differences between 26°C and 32°C in the liver of female zebrafish, including 5 biochemical indicators (activity of Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT and iNOS; LPO; MT protein), 8 molecular indicators of oxidative stress (mRNA levels of Nrf2, Cu/Zn-SOD, CAT, HSF1, HSF2, HSP70, MTF-1 and MT), 5 molecular indicators of inflammation (mRNA levels of IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS and NF-κB), 8 molecular indicators of metal transport (mRNA levels of, ZnT1, ZnT5, ZIP8, ZIP10, ATP7A, ATP7B and CTR1). All biochemical indicators were unchanged in group 1 and changed in group 2 and 3. Contrarily, differences were observed in almost all of molecular indicators of inflammation and metal transport in group 1, about half in group 2, and few in group 3. We also found that all molecular indicators of oxidative stress in group 2 and fewer in group 1 and 3 were significantly affected by heat. Our data indicated that heat indicators of oxidative stress, inflammation and metal transport showed dependence of previous cadmium exposure in the liver of zebrafish, emphasizing metal pollution history should be carefully considered when evaluating heat stress in fish.

Preheating mitigates cadmium toxicity in zebrafish livers: Evidence from promoter demethylation, gene transcription to biochemical levels

The working hypothesis for this study was that moderate heat stress would alleviate the deleterious effects of subsequent cadmium (Cd) exposure on fish. Thus, zebrafish (Danio rerio) were subjected to water maintained at 26°C and 34°C for 4days, and then exposed to 0 or 200μg/L Cd for 1 week at 26°C. Multiple indicators were measured from livers of zebrafish at different levels, including DNA, RNA, protein and enzymatic activity associated with oxidative stress, inflammation and metal transport. The ameliorative effect of preheatinging on Cd toxicity was demonstrated. In the Cd-exposed groups, preheating decreased mortality and lipid peroxidation, increased activity levels of catalase (CAT) and copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), and up-regulated mRNA levels of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and heat shock factor 2 (HSF2). Preheating also mitigated Cd-induced increases in protein and mRNA levels of metallothioneins (MTs), and mRNA levels of several inflammation-related genes. Furthermore, preheating alone dramatically up-regulated mRNA levels of genes related to antioxidant and immune defenses, zinc and copper transporters, protein folding, and reduced methylation levels in the HSF binding motif of the HSP70 promoter. Overall, preheating-induced accumulation of transcripts via demethylation might support the rapid defense responses at post-transcriptional levels caused by subsequent Cd exposure, indicating an adaptive mechanism for organisms exposed to one mild stressor followed by another.

Analysis of transcriptional responses of normalizing genes on Crassostrea brasiliana under different experimental conditions

Bivalves show remarkable plasticity to environmental changes and have been proposed as sentinel organisms in biomonitoring. Studies related to transcriptional analysis using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in these organisms have notably increased, imposing a need to identify and validate adequate reference genes for an accurate and reliable analysis. In the present study, 9 reference genes were selected from transcriptome data of Crassostrea brasiliana to identify their suitability as qRT-PCR normalizer genes. The transcriptional patterns were analyzed in gills of oysters under 3 different conditions: different temperatures (18, 24, or 32 °C) and phenanthrene (100 µg L^-1 ) combined exposure; different salinities (10, 25, or 35‰) and phenanthrene combined exposure; and 10% of diesel fuel water-accommodated fraction (diesel-WAF) exposure. Reference gene stability was calculated using 5 algorithms (geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, ΔCt, RefFinder). Transcripts of ankyrin-like (ANK), glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase-like (GAPDH), and α-tubulin-like (TUBA) genes showed minor changes in different temperature/phenanthrene treatment. Transcripts of ANK, β-actin-like, and β-tubulin-like genes showed better stability at salinity/phenanthrene treatment, and ANK, TUBA, and 28S ribosomal protein-like genes showed the most stable transcription pattern in oysters exposed to diesel-WAF exposure. The present study constitutes the first systematic analysis of reference gene selection for qRT-PCR normalization in C. brasiliana. These genes could be employed in studies using qRT-PCR analysis under similar experimental conditions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2190-2198. © 2017 SETAC.

Response of the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera to cadmium and chromium: Identification of molecular biomarkers

This study was designed to identify in the pearl oyster Pinctada margaritifera, used as a bio-accumulator, molecular biomarkers for the presence of heavy metals in the lagoon environment. Pearl oysters were exposed to 2 concentrations (1 and 10μgL^-1) of cadmium (Cd) and chromium (Cr) compared to a control. Twelve target genes encoding proteins potentially involved in the response to heavy metal contamination with antioxidant, detoxification or apoptosis activities were selected. P. margaritifera accumulated Cd but not Cr, and mortality was related to the amount of Cd accumulated in tissues. In response to Cd-Cr contamination, metallothionein (MT) was significantly up-regulated by Cd-Cr at both concentrations, while 7 others (SOD, CAT, GPX, GSTO, GSTM, CASP, MDR) were down-regulated. Based on the development of these molecular tools, we propose that the pearl oyster, P. margaritifera, could be used as a sentinel species for heavy metal contamination in the lagoons of tropical ecosystems.

Chronic environmental stress enhances tolerance to seasonal gradual warming in marine mussels

In global climate change scenarios, seawater warming acts in concert with multiple stress sources, which may enhance the susceptibility of marine biota to thermal stress. Here, the responsiveness to seasonal gradual warming was investigated in temperate mussels from a chronically stressed population in comparison with a healthy one. Stressed and healthy mussels were subjected to gradual temperature elevation for 8 days (1°C per day; fall: 16–24°C, winter: 12–20°C, summer: 20–28°C) and kept at elevated temperature for 3 weeks. Healthy mussels experienced thermal stress and entered the time-limited survival period in the fall, became acclimated in winter and exhibited sublethal damage in summer. In stressed mussels, thermal stress and subsequent health deterioration were elicited in the fall but no transition into the critical period of time-limited survival was observed. Stressed mussels did not become acclimated to 20°C in winter, when they experienced low-to-moderate thermal stress, and did not experience sublethal damage at 28°C in summer, showing instead signs of metabolic rate depression. Overall, although the thermal threshold was lowered in chronically stressed mussels, they exhibited enhanced tolerance to seasonal gradual warming, especially in summer. These results challenge current assumptions on the susceptibility of marine biota to the interactive effects of seawater warming and pollution.

Indirect effects of climate changes on cadmium bioavailability and biological effects in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Despite the great interest in the consequences of climate change on the physiological functioning of marine organisms, indirect and interactive effects of rising temperature and pCO₂ on bioaccumulation and responsiveness to environmental pollutants are still poorly explored, particularly in terms of cellular mechanisms. According to future projections of temperature and pH/pCO₂, this study investigated the main cellular pathways involved in metal detoxification and oxidative homeostasis in Mediterranean mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis, exposed for 4 weeks to various combinations of two levels of pH/pCO₂ (8.2/∼400 μatm and 7.4/∼3000 μatm), temperature (20 and 25 °C), and cadmium addition (0 and 20 μg/L). Bioaccumulation was increased in metal exposed organisms but it was not further modulated by different temperature and pH/pCO₂ combinations. However, interactions between temperature, pH and cadmium had significant effects on induction of metallothioneins, responses of the antioxidant system and the onset of oxidative damages, which was tissue dependent. Multiple stressors increased metallothioneins concentrations in the digestive gland revealing different oxidative effects: while temperature and cadmium enhanced glutathione-dependent antioxidant protection and capability to neutralize peroxyl radicals, the metal increased the accumulation of lipid peroxidation products under acidified conditions. Gills did not reveal specific effects for different combinations of factors, but a general stress condition was observed in this tissue after various treatments. Significant variations of immune system were mainly caused by increased temperature and low pH, while co-exposure to acidification and cadmium enhanced metal genotoxicity and the onset of permanent DNA damage in haemocytes. Elaboration of the whole biomarker data in a cellular hazard index, corroborated the synergistic effects of temperature and acidification which increased the toxicological effects of cadmium. The overall results confirmed that climate change could influence ecotoxicological effects of environmental contaminants, highlighting the importance of a better knowledge of cellular mechanisms to understand and predict responsiveness of marine organisms to such multiple stressors.

Relationships between lines of evidence of pollution in estuarine areas: Linking contaminant levels with biomarker responses in mussels and with structure of macroinvertebrate benthic communities

Data obtained in a pollution survey performed in estuarine areas were integrated using multivariate statistics. The sites selected for the study were areas affected by treated and untreated urban discharges, harbours or industrial activities as well as reference sites. Mussels were transplanted to each site and after different times of exposure, samples of water, sediments and mussels were collected. Biomarkers were analysed on mussels after 3 and 21 days of transplant whereas concentrations of contaminants were measured in water, sediments and mussels after 21 days of transplant. The structure of macroinvertebrate benthic communities was studied in sediment samples. Studied variables were organised into 5 datasets, each one constituting a line of evidence (LOE): contaminants in water, contaminants in sediments, contaminants accumulated by transplanted mussels, biomarkers in transplanted mussels and changes in the structure of macroinvertebrate benthic communities of each sampling site. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) identified the variables of each LOE best explaining variability among sites. In order to know how LOEs relate to each other, Pearson's correlations were performed. Contaminants in sediments were not correlated with the rest of LOEs. Contaminants in water were significantly correlated with contaminants and biomarkers in mussels and with structure of macroinvertebrate benthic communities. Similarly, significant correlations were found between contaminants and biomarkers in mussels and between biomarkers in mussels and structure of macroinvertebrate benthic communities. In conclusion, biomarker responses give relevant information on pollution in estuarine areas and provide a link between chemical and ecological statuses of water bodies in the context of the Water Framework Directive.

Oxidative responsiveness to multiple stressors in the key Antarctic species, Adamussium colbecki: Interactions between temperature, acidification and cadmium exposure

High-latitude marine ecosystems are ranked to be among the most sensitive regions to climate change since highly stenothermal and specially adapted organisms might be seriously affected by global warming and ocean acidification. The present investigation was aimed to provide new insights on the sensitivity to such environmental stressors in the key Antarctic species, Adamussium colbecki, focussing also on their synergistic effects with cadmium exposure, naturally abundant in this area for upwelling phenomena. Scallops were exposed for 2 weeks to various combinations of Cd (0 and 40 μgL-1), pH (8.05 and 7.60) and temperature (-1 and +1 °C). Beside Cd bioaccumulation, a wide panel of early warning biomarkers were analysed in digestive glands and gills including levels of metallothioneins, individual antioxidants and total oxyradical scavenging capacity, onset of oxidative cell damage like lipid peroxidation, lysosomal stability, DNA integrity and peroxisomal proliferation. Results indicated reciprocal interactions between multiple stressors and their elaboration by a quantitative hazard model based on the relevance and magnitude of effects, highlighted a different sensitivity of analysed tissues. Due to cellular adaptations to high basal Cd content, digestive gland appeared more tolerant toward other prooxidant stressors, but sensitive to variations of the metal. On the other hand, gills were more affected by various combinations of stressors occurring at higher temperature.

Lysosomal responses to heat-shock of seasonal temperature extremes in Cd-exposed mussels

The present study was aimed at determining the effect of temperature extremes on lysosomal biomarkers in mussels exposed to a model toxic pollutant (Cd) at different seasons. For this purpose, temperature was elevated 10°C (from 12°C to 22°C in winter and from 18°C to 28°C in summer) for a period of 6h (heat-shock) in control and Cd-exposed mussels, and then returned back to initial one. Lysosomal membrane stability and lysosomal structural changes in digestive gland were investigated. In winter, heat-shock reduced the labilisation period (LP) of the lysosomal membrane, especially in Cd-exposed mussels, and provoked transient lysosomal enlargement. LP values recovered after the heat-shock cessation but lysosomal enlargement prevailed in both experimental groups. In summer, heat-shock induced remarkable reduction in LP and lysosomal enlargement (more markedly in Cd-exposed mussels), which recovered within 3 days. Besides, whilst heat-shock effects on LP were practically identical for Cd-exposed mussels in winter and summer, the effects were longer-lasting in summer than in winter for control mussels. Thus, lysosomal responsiveness after heat-shock was higher in summer than in winter but recovery was faster as well, and therefore the consequences of the heat shock seem to be more decisive in winter. In contrast, inter-season differences were attenuated in the presence of Cd. Consequently, mussels seem to be better prepared in summer than in winter to stand short periods of abrupt temperature change; this is, however, compromised when mussels are exposed to pollutants such as Cd.

The effects of zinc nanooxide on cellular stress responses of the freshwater mussels Unio tumidus are modulated by elevated temperature and organic pollutants

Nanoparticle toxicity is a growing concern in freshwater habitats. However, understanding of the nanoparticle effects on aquatic organisms is impeded by the lack of the studies of the nanoparticles effects in the environmentally relevant context of multiple stress exposures. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (n-ZnO) are widely used metal-based nanoparticles in electronics and personal care products that accumulate in aquatic environments from multiple non-point sources. In this study, we evaluated the effects of n-ZnO in a model organism, a mussel Unio tumidus, and the potential modulation of these effects by common co-occurring environmental stressors. Male U. tumidus were exposed for 14 days to n-ZnO (3.1 μM), Zn(2+) (3.1 μM), Ca-channel blocker nifedipine (Nfd 10 μM), combinations of n-ZnO and Nfd or n-ZnO and thiocarbamate fungicide Tattoo (Ta, 91 μg L(-1)) at 18 °C, and n-ZnO at 25 °C (n-ZnO+t°). Total and metallothionein-bound Zn levels as well as levels of metallothioneins (MT), cellular stress responses and cytotoxicity biomarkers were assessed in the mussels. The key biomarkers that showed differential responses to different single and combined stressors in this study were activities of caspase-3 and lysosomal cathepsin D, as well as protein carbonyl content. At 18 °C, exposures to n-ZnO, organic pollutants and their combinations led to a prominent up-regulation of MT levels (by ∼30%) and oxidative stress response including up-regulation of superoxide dismutase activity, an increase in oxyradical production, and a 2-3-fold decrease in the levels of protein carbonyls in all exposures except nZnO+Ta. Expos ure to n-ZnO in the absence of other stressors also led to a strong (∼7-fold) elevation of cathepsin D activity. Cellular responses to Zn(2+) and n-ZnO were different indicating that n-ZnO was not due exclusively to Zn release. Ca-channel blocker Nfd affected intracellular Zn distribution (reflected in the prominent elevation of Zn-MT levels) and caused reductive stress indicated by elevated levels of reduced glutathione levels and an increase in lactate/pyruvate ratio (reflecting higher NADH/NAD ratio). Elevated temperature (25 °C) abolished most of the typical responses to n-ZnO and induced oxidative injury, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 mediated apoptosis in n-ZnO-exposed mussels. DNA fragmentation was also induced by exposure to organic toxins (alone and in combination with n-ZnO) but not by n-ZnO alone. These data indicate that n-ZnO toxicity to freshwater organisms is modulated by organic pollutants and enhanced by elevated temperatures.

Differences in copper bioaccumulation and biological responses in three Mytilus species

Mytilus species are important organisms in marine systems being highly abundant and widely distributed along the coast of Europe and worldwide. They are typically used in biological effects studies and have a suite of biological effects endpoints that are frequently measured and evaluated for stress effects in laboratory experiments and field monitoring programmes. Differences in bioaccumulation and biological responses of the three Mytilus species following exposure to copper (Cu) were investigated. A laboratory controlled exposure study was performed with three genetically confirmed Mytilus species; M. galloprovincialis, M. edulis and M. trossulus. Chemical bioaccumulation and biomarkers were assessed in all three Mytilus species following a 4 day and a 21 day exposure to waterborne copper concentrations (0, 10, 100 and 500μg/L). Differences in copper bioaccumulation were measured after both 4 and 21 days, which suggests some physiological differences between the species. Furthermore, differences in response for some of the biological effects endpoints were also found to occur following exposure. These differences were discussed in relation to either real physiological differences between the species or merely confounding factors relating to the species natural habitat and seasonal cycles. Overall the study demonstrated that differences in chemical bioaccumulation and biomarker responses between the Mytilus spp. occur with potential consequences for mussel exposure studies and biological effects monitoring programmes. Consequently, the study highlights the importance of identifying the correct species when using Mytilus in biological effects studies.

Season-dependent effects of elevated temperature on stress biomarkers, energy metabolism and gamete development in mussels

In coastal areas, sessile species can be severely affected by thermal stress associated to climate change. Presently, the effect of elevated temperature on metabolic, cellular and tissue-level responses of mussels was determined to assess whether the responses vary seasonally with seawater temperature and reproductive stage. Mussels were collected in fall, winter and summer, and (a) maintained at 16, 12, and 20 °C respectively or (b) subject to gradual temperature elevation for 8 days (+1 °C per day; from 16 to 24 °C in fall, from 12 to 20 °C in winter and from 20 to 28 °C in summer) and further maintained at 24 °C (fall), 20 °C (winter) and 28 °C (summer) for the following 6 days. Temperature elevation induced membrane destabilization, lysosomal enlargement, and reduced the aerobic scope in fall and summer whereas in winter no significant changes were found. Changes at tissue-level were only evident at 28 °C. Gamete development was impaired irrespective of season. Since the threshold of negative effects of warming was close to ambient temperatures in summer (24 °C or above) studied mussel populations would be vulnerable to the global climate change.

Assessment of thermal stress adaptation by monitoring Hsp70 and MnSOD in the freshwater gastropod, Bellamya bengalensis (Lamark 1882)

Expression of the stress biomarkers 70-kDa heat shock proteins (Hsp70) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) was measured as the molecular basis of adaptive response against increased experimental temperatures (32-40 °C for a span of 24-72 h) on the fresh water molluscan species, Bellamya bengalensis (Lamark 1882). The experimental snail specimens were collected during summer and winter seasons from two contrasting wetlands: an ecorestored (free from human interference) site (SI) and other experiencing anthropogenic stresses (SII). The mortality rate of the B. bengalensis and the immunoblotting of MnSOD and Hsp70 of their digestive glands were performed at regular intervals during the period of heat stress. The SI provided a lower stress environment based on physicochemical parameters such as pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and alkalinity for the survival of test species, although both sites experienced mortality due to thermal stresses. The parity in protein expressions displayed a uniform mode of adaptive impact to temperature elevations in both field and laboratory exposure. The Hsp70 expression was minimal at lower thermal stress, but increased with a rise in temperature. It is very likely that higher Hsp70 levels are not directly related to survival or adaptation. In contrast, MnSOD levels appeared to be an indicator of adaptive responses vis-a-vis survival of the animals. So, the expression levels of a universal free radical scavenger like MnSOD are recognized as a potential biomarker in a bioindicator species like Bellamya.

Seasonal variations of gene expression biomarkers in Mytilus galloprovincialis cultured populations: temperature, oxidative stress and reproductive cycle as major modulators

The blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis has been used as monitoring organism in many biomonitoring programs because of its broad distribution in South European sea waters and its physiological characteristics. Different pollution-stress biomarkers, including gene expression biomarkers, have been developed to determine its physiological response to the presence of different pollutants. However, the existing information about basal expression profiles is very limited, as very few biomarker-based studies were designed to reflect the natural seasonal variations. In the present study, we analyzed the natural expression patterns of several genes commonly used in biomonitoring, namely ferritin, metallothionein, cytochrome P450, glutathione S-transferase, heat shock protein and the kinase responsive to stress KRS, during an annual life cycle. Analysis of mantle-gonad samples of cultured populations of M. galloprovincialis from the Delta del Ebro (North East Spain) showed natural seasonal variability of these biomarkers, pointing to temperature and oxidative stress as major abiotic modulators. In turn, the reproductive cycle, a process that can be tracked by VCLM7 expression, and known to be influenced by temperature, seems to be the major biotic factor involved in seasonality. Our results illustrate the influence of environmental factors in the physiology of mussels through their annual cycle, a crucial information for the correct interpretation of responses under stress conditions.