title: Immune suppression of the echinoderm Asterias rubens (L.) following long-term ocean acidification.
abstract: We compared effects of exposure to predict near-future (2100) ocean acidification (OA; pH 7.7) and normal seawater (Control; pH 8.1) on immune and stress responses in the adult sea star Asterias rubens. Analyses were made after one week and after six months of continuous exposure. Following one week exposure to acidified water, the pH of coelomic fluid was significantly reduced. Levels of the chaperon Hsp70 were elevated while key cellular players in immunity, coelomocytes, were reduced by approximately 50%. Following long-term exposure (six months) levels of Hsp70 returned to control values, whereas immunity was further impaired, evidenced by the reduced phagocytic capacity of coelomocytes and inhibited activation of p38 MAP-kinase. Such impacts of reduced seawater pH may have serious consequences for resistance to pathogens in a future acidified ocean.
authors.affiliation: The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, The Sven Lovén Centre for Marine Sciences, Kristineberg 566, 450 34 Fiskebäckskil, Sweden. bodil.hernroth@marecol.gu.se
authors.forename: Bodil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernroth
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Baden
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Thorndyke
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dupont
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D047271:Asterias / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000633:toxicity*; D057232:Global Warming; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002245:Carbon Dioxide