Transcriptome analysis of Apostichopus japonicus early in the regeneration process after evisceration

Abstract

In extreme salt stress and anaerobic conditions, Apostichopus japonicus survives by "evisceration." The species can eject its viscera and create a new organ if the habitat is suitable. The molecular response of A. japonicus coelomocytes and visceral regeneration is examined. Previous research found A. japonicus coelomocyte volume recovery 2 h-p-e (two hours post-evisceration) mirrored fast human hematopoiesis. Coelomocytes returned to pre-evisceration levels 6 h-p-e (six hours post-evisceration). First, KCL solution was artificially injected at A. japonicus body mass. Subsequently, evisceration occurred. Immunological tissue coelomocytes were taken at 2 h and 6 h-p-e, and those from the control group (0 h) were also collected. Coelomocyte transcriptome was sequenced. Transcriptome sequencing was applied to the collected coelomocytes. At 2 h-p-e, 860 differentially expressed genes were identified, with 639 upregulated and 221 downregulated. At 6 h-p-e, 1638 genes were upregulated and 432 downregulated. Immunity genes were predominantly differentially expressed in the ‘Molecular function’ category, the major category for these immunity - related differentially expressed genes. Gene differences were analyzed using KEGG annotation. At 2 h-p-e, by comparing the gene expression of A. japonicus coelomocytes with that of the non - eviscerated control group (0h), 860 DEGs were identified. These DEGs were associated with 53 pathways, 22 of which were related to illnesses and the immune system, like the ECM - receptor interaction pathway. 6 h-p-e, 20 major enrichment routes were selected, and 11 of them, including the Phagosome pathway, were associated with regeneration. [Abstract cut for lenght]