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Tiwari J, Sur S, Naseem A, Rani S, Malik S. Photoperiodic modulation of melatonin receptor and immune genes in migratory redheaded bunting. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2023; 279:111381. [PMID: 36724811 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2023.111381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional regulation of innate immune function across annual life history states (LHS) remains obscure in avian migrants. We, therefore, investigated this in a migratory passerine songbird, redheaded bunting (Emberiza bruniceps), which exhibits long-distance vernal migration from India to Central Asia. We exposed the birds (N = 10) to differential photoperiodic conditions to induce a non-migratory (NM), pre-migratory (PM), migratory (MIG), and refractory (REF) state, and performed gene expression assays of melatonin receptors (MEL1A and MEL1B), and innate immunity-linked genes (IL1B, IL6, TLR4, and NFKB) in spleen and blood. We found a significant reduction in splenic mass and volume, and a parallel increase in fat accumulation, and testicular growth in birds under migratory state. The gene expression assay revealed an upregulation of MEL1A and MEL1B mRNA levels in both the tissues in MIG. Additionally, we found a nocturnal increase of splenic IL1B expression, and IL1B, IL6, and TLR4 expression in the blood. The mRNA expression of melatonin receptors and proinflammatory cytokine showed a positive correlation. These results suggest that melatonin relays the photoperiodic signal to peripheral immune organs, which shows LHS-dependent changes in mRNA expression of immune genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Tiwari
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India. https://twitter.com/JyotiTiwari2711
| | - Sayantan Sur
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India. https://twitter.com/sayantansur008
| | - Asma Naseem
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Sangeeta Rani
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Shalie Malik
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India.
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Tiwari J, Sur S, Yadav A, Kumar R, Rai N, Rani S, Malik S. Photoperiod-driven concurrent changes in hypothalamic and brainstem transcription of sleep and immune genes in migratory redheaded bunting. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222374. [PMID: 36750197 PMCID: PMC9904947 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The molecular regulation of sleep in avian migrants is still obscure. We thus investigated this in migratory redheaded buntings, where four life-history states (LHS; i.e. non-migratory, pre-migratory, migratory and refractory states) were induced. There was increased night-time activity (i.e. Zugunruhe) during the migratory state with reduced daytime activity. The recordings of the sleep-wake cycle in buntings showed increased night-time active wakefulness coupled with drastically reduced front and back sleep during migratory phase. Interestingly, we found the buntings to feed and drink even after lights-off during migration. Gene expression studies revealed increased hypothalamic expression of glucocorticoid receptor (nr3c1), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (il1b and il6) in pre-migratory and migratory states, respectively, whereas in brainstem Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase 2 (camk2) was upregulated during the migratory state. This suggested a heightened pro-inflammatory state during migration which is a feature of chronic sleep loss, and a possible role of Ca2+ signalling in promoting wakefulness. In both the hypothalamus and brainstem, the expression of melatonin receptors (mel1a and mel1b) was increased in the pre-migratory state, and growth hormone-releasing hormone (ghrh, known to induce sleep) was reduced during the migratory state. The current results demonstrate key molecules involved in the regulation of sleep-wake cycle across LHS in migratory songbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Tiwari
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Sayantan Sur
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Anupama Yadav
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Raj Kumar
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Niraj Rai
- Ancient DNA Lab, Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Sangeeta Rani
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
| | - Shalie Malik
- Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh 226007, India
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Sharma A, Tripathi V, Kumar V. Control and adaptability of seasonal changes in behavior and physiology of latitudinal avian migrants: Insights from laboratory studies in Palearctic-Indian migratory buntings. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY. PART A, ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 337:902-918. [PMID: 35677956 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Twice-a-year migrations, one in autumn and the other in spring, occur within a discrete time window with striking alterations in the behavior and physiology, as regulated by the interaction of endogenous rhythms with prevailing photoperiod. These seasonal voyages are not isolated events; rather, they are part of an overall annual itinerary and remain closely coupled to the other annual subcycles, called seasonal life history states (LHSs). The success of migration depends on appropriate timing of the initiation and termination of each LHS, for example, reproduction, molt, summer nonmigratory, preautumn migratory (fattening and weight gain), autumn migratory, winter nonmigratory (wnM), prevernal (spring) migratory (fattening and weight gain), and spring migratory LHSs. Migration-linked photoperiod-induced changes include the body fattening and weight gain, nocturnal Zugunruhe (migratory restlessness), elevated triglycerides and free fatty acids, triiodothyronine and corticosterone levels. Hypothalamic expression of the thyroid hormone-responsive dio2 and dio3, light-responsive per2, cry1, and adcyap1 and th (tyrosine hydroxylase, involved in dopamine biosynthesis) genes also show significant changes with transition from wnM to the vernal migratory LHS. Concurrent changes in the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism and its transport also occur in the liver and flight muscles, respectively. Interestingly, there are clear differences in the behavioral and physiological phenotypes, and associated molecular changes, between the autumn and vernal migrations. In this review, we discuss seasonal changes in the behavior and physiology, and present molecular insights into the development of migratory phenotypes in latitudinal avian migrants, with special reference to Palearctic-Indian migratory buntings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aakansha Sharma
- Department of Zoology, IndoUS Center in Chronobiology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Vatsala Tripathi
- Department of Zoology, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Zoology, IndoUS Center in Chronobiology, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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Photoperiodically driven transcriptome-wide changes in the hypothalamus reveal transcriptional differences between physiologically contrasting seasonal life-history states in migratory songbirds. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12823. [PMID: 34140553 PMCID: PMC8211672 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91951-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated time course of photoperiodically driven transcriptional responses in physiologically contrasting seasonal life-history states in migratory blackheaded buntings. Birds exhibiting unstimulated winter phenotype (photosensitive state; responsive to photostimulation) under 6-h short days, and regressed summer phenotype (photorefractory state; unresponsiveness to photostimulation) under 16-h long days, were released into an extended light period up to 22 h of the day. Increased tshβ and dio2, and decreased dio3 mRNA levels in hypothalamus, and low prdx4 and high il1β mRNA levels in blood confirmed photoperiodic induction by hour 18 in photosensitive birds. Further, at hours 10, 14, 18 and 22 of light exposure, the comparison of hypothalamus RNA-Seq results revealed transcriptional differences within and between states. Particularly, we found reduced expression at hour 14 of transthyretin and proopiomelanocortin receptor, and increased expression at hour 18 of apolipoprotein A1 and carbon metabolism related genes in the photosensitive state. Similarly, valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation pathway genes and superoxide dismutase 1 were upregulated, and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript and gastrin-releasing peptide were downregulated in the photosensitive state. These results show life-history-dependent activation of hypothalamic molecular pathways involved in initiation and maintenance of key biological processes as early as on the first long day.
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Sharma A, Singh D, Gupta P, Bhardwaj SK, Kaur I, Kumar V. Molecular changes associated with migratory departure from wintering areas in obligate songbird migrants. J Exp Biol 2021; 224:269085. [PMID: 34105726 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.242153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Day length regulates the development of spring migratory and subsequent reproductive phenotypes in avian migrants. This study used molecular approaches, and compared mRNA and proteome-wide expression in captive redheaded buntings that were photostimulated under long-day (LD) conditions for 4 days (early stimulated, LD-eS) or for ∼3 weeks until each bird had shown 4 successive nights of Zugunruhe (stimulated, LD-S); controls were maintained under short days. After ∼3 weeks of LD, photostimulated indices of the migratory preparedness (fattening, weight gain and Zugunruhe) were paralleled with upregulated expression of acc, dgat2 and apoa1 genes in the liver, and of cd36, fabp3 and cpt1 genes in the flight muscle, suggesting enhanced fatty acid (FA) synthesis and transport in the LD-S state. Concurrently, elevated expression of genes involved in the calcium ion signalling and transport (camk1 and atp2a2; camk2a in LD-eS), cellular stress (hspa8 and sod1, not nos2) and metabolic pathways (apoa1 and sirt1), but not of genes associated with migratory behaviour (adcyap1 and vps13a), were found in the mediobasal hypothalamus (MBH). Further, MBH-specific quantitative proteomics revealed that out of 503 annotated proteins, 28 were differentially expressed (LD-eS versus LD-S: 21 up-regulated and 7 down-regulated) and they enriched five physiological pathways that are associated with FA transport and metabolism. These first comprehensive results on gene and protein expression suggest that changes in molecular correlates of FA transport and metabolism may aid the decision for migratory departure from wintering areas in obligate songbird migrants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aakansha Sharma
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Devraj Singh
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
| | - Priya Gupta
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, Delhi 110 067, India
| | | | - Inderjeet Kaur
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, Delhi 110 067, India.,Department of Biotechnology, Central University of Haryana, Mahendergarh, Haryana 123031, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Zoology, University of Delhi, Delhi 110 007, India
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