title: Effects of benzo(a)pyrene on differentially expressed genes and haemocyte parameters of the clam Venerupis philippinarum.
abstract: In this study a suppression subtractive hybridisation method was employed to identify differentially expressed genes of the clam Venerupis philippinarum exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Nineteen known transcripts and seven predicted proteins were found from the subtractive cDNA library of the clam, which could provide more sequence information for further study. Seven of the differentially expressed genes were selected for mRNA expression analysis. Real-time PCR analysis revealed that the expression level of the selected cDNAs of clams was up-regulated to varying degrees by different concentration of BaP. They are suggested as potential molecular biomarkers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution monitoring in aquatic ecosystems. In addition, haemocyte parameters were also measured, and a decrease of total haemocyte counts and suppression of antibacterial and bacteriolytic activities were detected in BaP-stressed clams. We suggest that the modulation of the expression of the selected genes caused by PAHs probably leads to the disturbance of the immune defense of the clam. Meanwhile, the adverse effects of PAHs on haemocyte parameters caused the suppression of the immune defense and susceptibility to infectious diseases. Therefore, it is inferred that PAHs pollutants could interact with components of the immune system and interferes with defense functions of the clam V. philippinarum.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ministry of Education, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Luqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: XiaoLi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yanxia
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Jingjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D019295:Computational Biology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D015723:Gene Library; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene