title: Epigenetic modification in neurons of the mollusc Pomacea canaliculata after immune challenge.
abstract: In human and rodents, the transcriptional response of neurons to stress is related to epigenetic modifications of both DNA and histone proteins. To assess the suitability of simple invertebrate models in studying the basic mechanisms of stress-related epigenetic modifications, we analyzed epigenetic modifications in neurons of the freshwater snail Pomacea canaliculata after the injection of Escherichia coli-derived lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The phospho-acetylation of histone H3, together with the induction of stress-related factors, c-Fos and HSP70, were evaluated in large and small neurons of the pedal ganglia of sham- and LPS-injected snails. Immunocytochemical investigations showed that after LPS injection, the immunopositivity towards phospho (Ser10)-acetyl (Lys14)-histone H3 and c-Fos increases in the nuclei of small gangliar neurons. Western blot analysis confirmed a significant increase of phospho (Ser10)-acetyl (Lys14)-histone H3 in nuclear extracts from 2h LPS-injected animals. c-Fos protein levels were significantly augmented 6h after LPS injection. Immunocytochemistry and western blot indicated that no changes occurred in HSP70 distribution and protein levels. To our knowledge this is the first demonstration of epigenetic changes in molluscan neurons after an immune challenge and indicate the gastropod P. canaliculata as a suitable model for evolutionary and translational studies on stress-related epigenetic modifications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. Electronic address: enzo.ottaviani@unimore.it.
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ottaviani
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Accorsi
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rigillo
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malagoli
authors.forename: Joan M C
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Blom
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tascedda
mesh_terms: D000107:Acetylation / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006657:Histones / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D008974:Mollusca / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D010766:Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000187:drug effects; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013312:Stress, Physiological
chemical_list: D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006657:Histones; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos
keywords: Epigenetic change; Histone H3; LPS; Molluscan nervous system; Stress; c-Fos