脂多糖诱导许氏平鲉发生肠道炎症的实验模型初探
doi: 10.3969/j.issn.2095-9869.20250331001
杨亚鹏1,2 , 张正2 , 于永翔2 , 王印庚2 , 张志琪2 , 荣小军2 , 王浩1 , 刘定远2 , 王春元2
1. 上海海洋大学水产与生命学院 上海 201306
2. 海水养殖生物育种与可持续产出全国重点实验室中国水产科学研究院黄海水产研究所 山东 青岛 266071
基金项目: 国家重点研发计划(2023YFD2400704)、山东省重点研发计划(2024CXGC010909)和中国水产科学研究院基本科研业务费(2020TD40)共同资助
Preliminary Investigation of an Experimental Model of Intestinal Inflammation Induced by Lipopolysaccharide in Blackrock Fish, Sebastes schlegelii
YANG Yapeng1,2 , ZHANG Zheng2 , YU Yongxiang2 , WANG Yingeng2 , ZHANG Zhiqi2 , RONG Xiaojun2 , WANG Hao1 , LIU Dingyuan2 , WANG Chunyuan2
1. College of Fisheries and Life Science, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306 , China
2. State Key Laboratory of Mariculture Biobreeding and Sustainable Goods, Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, Qingdao 266071 , China
摘要
脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide, LPS)是革兰氏阴性菌细胞壁的主要成分,常用作动物肠道炎症的诱导剂。本研究以体重为(85.3±1.7) g 的许氏平鲉(Sebastes schlegelii)为对象,通过腹腔注射不同浓度的 LPS (5、10、15 mg/kg)进行炎症诱导,并采用组织病理学、免疫酶活性、紧密连接蛋白和炎症因子基因表达水平等检测技术,综合评估 LPS 诱导许氏平鲉发生肠炎的作用效果。结果表明,腹腔注射 10 mg/kg 和 15 mg/kg 的 LPS 均可导致许氏平鲉肠道出现明显的炎症反应,临床症状主要表现为活力下降、游动缓慢。剖检可见肠道长度变短、肠壁变薄、透明度增加、肠液潴留或有白色脓状物。组织学观察结果显示,肠道黏膜上皮层损伤,细胞变性、坏死,杯状细胞数量显著增加,肠道绒毛水肿,纹状缘边缘不完整,固有层充血、水肿、炎性细胞浸润加剧;肠道病变程度与 LPS 胁迫剂量呈正相关,尤以 15 mg/kg 组鱼肠绒毛大面积脱落溶解显著,杯状细胞显著减少。酶活性测定结果显示,LPS 胁迫组的肝脏抗氧化性能(SOD 和 MDA)和非特异性免疫性能(ACP 和 AKP)均出现显著性变化。肠道促炎因子基因(IL-1βIL-8)和炎症通路基因(NF-κB)相对表达量明显上调 (P<0.05),肠道紧密连接蛋白相关基因(occludin ZO-1)及抗炎因子基因(IL-10)相对表达量明显下调(P<0.05)。研究结果表明,腹腔注射 LPS 能成功诱导许氏平鲉肠道出现病理性损伤,导致肝脏的抗氧化性能降低,肠道的炎症相关因子和通路基因出现显著的表达量变化。10 mg/kg 和 15 mg/kg 的 LPS 可诱导许氏平鲉产生肠道炎症反应,为后续研发适用于深远海鱼类细菌性病害防控的高效渔药提供了支撑。
Abstract

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a major component of Gram-negative bacterial cell walls, is commonly used as an inducer of intestinal inflammation in animals, but research on its effects in aquatic animals remains limited.

This study focused on blackrock fish, Sebastes schlegelii, an important mariculture species in Shandong Province, using intraperitoneal LPS injection to establish an enteritis model. Evaluation included histopathology, immunoenzymatic activity, tight junction proteins, and inflammatory factor gene expression. The control group received sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), while experimental groups were given low-dose (5 mg/kg LPS), medium-dose (10 mg/kg LPS), and high-dose (15 mg/kg LPS). Each group consisted of three replicates, each with 30 fish (initial body weight 85.3±1.7 g). Samples were collected at 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, 72 h, and 96 h post-injection. The results showed that LPS at 5–15 mg/kg effectively induced intestinal structural lesions, inflammatory responses, and oxidative stress, with severity positively correlated to dose. Examination results indicated that the incidence of intestinal damage was 70% in the low-dose group and reached 100% in both the medium-dose and high-dose groups. Histopathological observations revealed intact intestinal structure in controls, whereas LPS groups showed dose-dependent lesions, primarily inflammatory cell infiltration, villi breakage, lysis, and detachment. In the low-dose group, some fish displayed severe villi structural damage, occasional epithelium damage, intact lamina propria, and infiltration of inflammatory cells into the lamina propria and submucosa. In the medium-dose and high-dose groups, fracturing and detachment were observed. The damage to the epithelium and lamina propria was intensified, and infiltration of inflammatory cells was more pronounced. Notably, the high-dose group showed evident villi detachment and a significant reduction in goblet cell lysis. Antioxidant enzyme assay showed that after LPS stress, SOD activity in the high-dose group was significantly reduced versus the control group at 6 h (P<0.05). Additionally, SOD activity in the medium-dose group was significantly lower than the control group at 12 h (P<0.05), and in the low-dose group at 24 h (P<0.05). The overall trend of SOD activity in all experimental groups decreased then increased, remaining significantly lower than that of the control group's at 24 h post- stress (P<0.05). MDA activity differed highly significant between the high-dose group and control group from 12 h post-injection (P<0.001), and the low-dose group differed at 12 h and 24 h (P<0.05), but no significant differences remained at 96 h. ACP activity in all experimental groups was significantly lower than the control group at 6 h (P<0.05). It reached its lowest point at 12 h in the medium-dose and 24 h in the high-dose group, with no significant difference by72 h (P>0.05). AKP activity in the high-dose group was significantly lower than the control group at 6 h (P<0.05), and in all experimental groups at 12 h(P<0.05). AKP activity in the low-dose and medium-dose groups recovered by 48 h, showing no significant difference from the control group. LPS injection altered the expression of inflammation-related genes and tight junction protein genes to varying degrees. The overall level of IL-1β gene expression increased then decreased; specifically, in the high-dose group it was significantly higher than the control group at 6 h (P<0.05). Additionally, the intestinal expression level of IL-8 in all experimental groups was significantly elevated versus the control group at 6 h (P<0.05), remaining significantly higher in the high-dose group at 96 h (P<0.001). The IL-10 gene expression level in the high-dose group was significantly lower than the control group at 6 h (P<0.001), and decreased in the low-dose and medium-dose group at 12 h (P<0.05).

After LPS stimulation, NF-κB expression showed an increasing-and-decreasing trend; it was significantly higher in the high-dose group versus the control at 6 h (P<0.05), and in the low-dose and medium-dose groups at 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h (P<0.05). In the high-dose group, the expression of occludin and ZO1 genes was significantly down regulated at 6 h (P<0.05), although not at 96 h. In the medium-dose group, their expression was significantly lower at 12 h and 24 h (P<0.001). The relative expression of the ZO1 gene in the low-dose group was significantly lower than that in the control group at 24 h (P<0.05), with no statistically significant differences at other time points. These gene expression changes indicate that LPS can induce an inflammatory response in S. schlegelii.

This study demonstrated that LPS induces intestinal tissue damage, compromises antioxidant capacity, and causes abnormal expression of inflammatory-related genes in S. schlegelii. Consequently, LPS functions as a reliable inducer for establishing intestinal inflammation models in S. schlegelii, thereby providing a robust foundation for further in-depth investigation into the pathogenesis of bacterial intestinal inflammation in marine fish and the efficient screening of preventive and therapeutic drugs.

许氏平鲉(Sebastes schlegelii)隶属于平鲉科(Sebastidae)、平鲉属(Sebastes),是我国北方为缓解近海渔业资源枯竭和养殖环境压力,开展深远海网箱养殖模式的主要鱼种之一。然而,随着水产养殖产业规模的持续扩张,海水网箱养殖水产动物病害发生率逐年上升。由革兰氏阴性病原菌引发的疾病因其高死亡率和较快的传播速度,已成为海水鱼类养殖生产中的重大威胁(Sharma et al,2017)。海水中的革兰氏阴性病原菌主要包括溶藻弧菌(Vibrio alginolyticus)、哈维氏弧菌(V. harveyi)、鳗弧菌(V. anguillarum)、美人鱼发光杆菌(Photobacterium damselae)、爱德华氏菌属(Edwardsiella sp)、杀鲑气单胞菌(Aeromonas salmonicida)等。这些革兰氏阴性病原菌感染鱼类后常会出现体表出血、溃疡、内脏病变、败血症等症状,其中肠道炎症最为常见。肠道也是病原最先入侵的内脏器官之一,鱼类肠道发生炎症后通常会引起活力变差、摄食减少、免疫力降低,从而加速病原的感染或引起继发性感染,造成持续性的经济损失(Kumar et al,2015)。
脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)又称内毒素,是革兰氏阴性菌细胞壁的关键成分,主要由高度保守的脂质 A、核心寡糖链(core oligosaccharide)和高度变异的 O 抗原多糖(O-antigen polysaccharide)共同构成。脂质 A 作为内毒素活性的中心,通过特异性结合宿主固有免疫系统的模式识别受体(如 Toll 样受体 Toll-like receptor,TLR),激活 MyD88 依赖性信号转导通路,驱动 NF-κB 核转位,并引发促炎因子(TNF-αIL-6 等)的级联释放,调节机体免疫或炎症反应(Yao et al,2024)(Wang et al,2021)。目前,LPS 诱导肠道炎症实验模型的研究对象多为哺乳动物。不同物种之间 LPS 诱导肠炎反应的剂量也存在差异。用 0.15 mg/kg 的 LPS 腹腔注射可诱导小鼠(Mus musculus)肠道发生炎症反应(Wu et al,2024),在 LPS 诱导肉鸡(Gallus gallus domesticus)肠炎反应时,5 mg/kg 剂量组出现明显症状(Tong et al,2023),而斑马鱼(Danio rerio)单次注射 LPS(1 mg/kg)后出现炎症反应(Singh et al,2022)。水生动物由于生活习性和环境的原因,出现肠道炎症反应时往往不易发现,对肠道炎症的响应机制仍需进行更多研究。因此,构建海水鱼类肠道炎症的实验模型,对于深入解析水生动物的炎症发生机制具有重要意义。
本研究以许氏平鲉为对象,通过腹腔注射不同浓度的 LPS 溶液构建肠道损伤模型,通过对临床症状、剖检病变、组织学病变、炎症相关基因表达量和免疫相关酶活性的综合分析,研究 LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道健康及抗氧化能力的影响,以期为构建鱼类肠炎的实验动物模型和高效筛选防治肠炎的药物奠定基础。
1 材料与方法
1.1 实验材料及分组
健康许氏平鲉 400 尾,购自山东省日照市某养殖场,初始体重为(85.3±1.7)g。实验养殖用水为过滤海水,水温为(20±2)℃,pH 值为 7.7~8.5,24 h 连续充气增氧,暂养 1 周。实验开始前,选 360 尾健康、活力旺盛的鱼随机分配到 12 个 160 L 的养殖桶内,每桶 30 尾。
取适量 LPS 粉末(大肠杆菌 Escherichia coli,055:B5,北京索莱宝科技有限公司)溶于无菌 PBS 中。根据预实验结果,腹腔注射 PBS 溶液的许氏平鲉作为空白对照组(0 mg/kg),实验组分别为 LPS 低剂量组(5 mg/kg)、中剂量组(10 mg/kg)和高剂量组(15 mg/kg)。腹腔注射剂量为 0.1 mL/尾,每组 3 个平行(2 个平行用于采集样品,1 个平行用于统计死亡数量),每个平行 30 尾。实验持续时间为 96 h,实验期间暂停投喂,每日观察并记录许氏平鲉的临床症状和死亡情况。
1.2 样品采集与处理
分别于腹腔注射 LPS 溶液后第 0、6、12、24、 48、72 和 96 小时采集样品。每个时间点每组随机取许氏平鲉 6 尾,用 MS-222 麻醉后剖检(杨林等,2024),观察并记录表观病症变化,取肝脏样品用于酶活性测定,取中段肠道样品分别用于组织病理学检查和炎症相关基因表达水平的测定。
1.3 组织病理学观察
取各组许氏平鲉的肠道组织切成适当大小后用 Davidson’s 固定液固定 24 h,通过全自动脱水机进行脱水、浸蜡,之后包埋、切片,最后放入染色机中进行 HE 染色。染色结束后使用中性树脂封片,将载玻片置于显微镜下观察分析并拍照记录。
1.4 免疫指标测定
为了检测 LPS 诱导的炎症模型对许氏平鲉体内非特异性免疫酶活性的影响,实验以非特异性代谢组织肝脏为靶标,利用检测试剂盒测定总蛋白(TP)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、丙二醛(MDA)、酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP),均购自南京建成生物技术有限公司,相关实验操作按试剂盒说明书进行。
1.5 实时荧光定量 PCR(RT-qPCR)检测
将收集的肠道组织样品进行液氮研磨预处理,称取适量研磨后的肠道组织样品于 1.5 mL 无菌离心管中,加入无菌钢珠和裂解液后进行二次研磨,利用 RNA 提取试剂盒提取肠道组织 RNA,凝胶电泳检测 RNA 完整性。根据测定的 RNA 浓度,用反转录试剂盒进行 cDNA 合成,再按照荧光定量试剂盒说明书配制 RT-qPCR 体系,检测相关基因的表达水平。相关试剂盒均购自南京诺唯赞生物有限公司。RT-qPCR 程序:预变性 95℃,30 s;95℃、10 s,60℃、30 s,40 个循环;机器默认熔解曲线。选取核糖体蛋白基因 RPL17 作为管家基因进行归一化处理,目的基因相对表达水平以 2–∆∆Ct 方法进行计算。实验所用引物根据 Ma 等(2013)和王晓艳等(2024)及 NCBI 进行设计,具体序列见表1
1本研究所用实时荧光定量 PCR 引物序列
Tab.1The primers for RT-qPCR used in this study
1.6 数据分析
实验数据以平均值±标准误(Mean±SE)表示,并采用专业的统计分析软件进行单因素方差分析(one-way ANOVA),以 Duncanʼs 检验多重比较,P<0.05 表示差异显著,P>0.05 表示差异不显著。
2 结果与分析
2.1 LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道的影响
LPS 胁迫后,实验组鱼的活力降低,游动性下降,体色正常或偏暗,腹部正常,部分鱼肛门出现轻度红肿,但无渗出物。剖检可见,实验组鱼的肠道长度相比对照组明显变短,肠壁水肿、变薄、透明度增加,肠液潴留或有白色脓状物(图1)。经统计,注射 LPS 96 h 后,低剂量组鱼的肠道损伤率为 70%,中、高剂量组鱼的肠道损伤率均为 100%,肠道损伤程度与 LPS 胁迫剂量呈正相关性。
组织病理学检查结果显示,空白对照组的肠道无明显损伤,组织结构完整,肠绒毛完整性良好,黏膜上皮和固有膜细胞形态完整(图2A)。注射 LPS 的各实验组许氏平鲉肠道组织出现不同程度的病变,低剂量组个别鱼出现部分肠绒毛结构不完整现象,肠道绒毛水肿,纹状缘边缘不完整,上皮偶有损伤,固有层结构完整但有炎性细胞浸润(图2B)。中、高剂量组黏膜上皮层损伤,细胞变性、坏死,杯状细胞数量显著减少,肠道绒毛水肿,纹状缘边缘不完整,固有层充血、水肿、炎性细胞浸润加剧(图2C、图2D)。其中,尤以高剂量组病变最为明显,肠绒毛大面积脱落溶解,杯状细胞大量减少。3 个实验组鱼肠道的黏膜下层、肌肉层以及浆膜层未见明显组织病理变化。经分析,肠道的组织病变程度与 LPS 胁迫剂量呈正相关。通过临床症状、鱼体剖检、发病率统计、肠道组织病理学检查等综合评价,按照 10 mg/kg 和 15 mg/kg 剂量腹腔注射 LPS 可诱导许氏平鲉肠道发生明显的炎症损伤。
1不同实验组许氏平鲉的肠道组织
Fig.1Intestinal tract of S. schlegelii in different experiment groups
A:空白对照组(0 mg/kg);B:LPS 低剂量组(5 mg/kg); C:LPS 中剂量组(10 mg/kg);D:LPS 高剂量组(15 mg/kg)。红圈代表组织病变部位。
A: Control group (0 mg/kg) ; B: LPS low-dose group (5 mg/kg) ; C: LPS medium-dose group (10 mg/kg) ; D: LPS high-dose group (15 mg/kg) . The presence of tissue lesions is indicated by the red circles.
2腹腔注射后许氏平鲉肠道组织病理变化
Fig.2Histopathological changes in the intestinal of S. schlegelii after intraperitoneal injection
A:空白对照组(0 mg/kg);B:LPS 低剂量组(5 mg/kg); C:LPS 中剂量组(10 mg/kg);D:LPS 高剂量组(15 mg/kg)。黑色箭头指向肠绒毛断裂或脱落处。空心箭头指向炎症细胞浸润处。红圈代表杯状细胞区域。
A: Control group (0 mg/kg) ; B: LPS low-dose group (5 mg/kg) ; C: LPS medium-dose group (10 mg/kg) ; D: LPS high-dose group (15 mg/kg) . The black arrow points to where the intestinal villi are broken or detached. The hollow arrow indicates inflammatory cell infiltration. The area of cup cells is denoted by the red circle.
2.2 LPS 对许氏平鲉抗氧化性能的影响
各实验组在腹腔注射后 SOD 活性和 MDA 含量变化如图3所示。LPS 胁迫 6 h 之后,高剂量组 SOD 活性显著低于对照组(P<0.05),24 h 时与对照组存在极显著差异(P<0.001)。中剂量组 SOD 活性在 12 h 时显著低于对照组(P<0.05),24 h 差异极显著(P<0.001), 48 h 出现回升趋势,96 h 时与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05);低剂量组 SOD 活性 24 h 时显著低于对照组(P<0.05),其余时间点与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05)。各实验组 SOD 活性整体趋势均为先下降后上升,不同实验组 SOD 活性降到最低点的时间虽然存在差异,但在 LPS 胁迫后 24 h 所有实验组 SOD 活性均显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。
高剂量组 MDA 含量在注射后 6 h 时开始显著高于对照组(P<0.05),高峰出现于注射后 12 h,差异达到极显著(P<0.001);中剂量组 MDA 含量在 LPS 胁迫后 12 h 时开始与对照组差异显著(P<0.05),24 h 和 48 h 时相较于对照组极显著升高(P<0.001);低剂量组在 12 h 和 24 h 时 MDA 含量与对照组存在显著差异(P<0.05);在 96 h 时所有实验组与对照组之间 MDA 含量差异不显著(P>0.05)。
2.3 LPS 对许氏平鲉非特异性免疫性能的影响
在腹腔注射 LPS 之后,许氏平鲉的非特异免疫酶 ACP、AKP 活性变化如图4所示。各实验组相较于对照组免疫酶活性出现了不同程度的降低。在注射后 6 h 各实验组 ACP 活性均显著低于对照组(P<0.05),中、高剂量组分别在 12 h 和 24 h 时 ACP 活性降到最低点,48 h 出现回升,72 h 各实验组与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05)。在 LPS 胁迫后 6 h 仅高剂量组 AKP 活性显著低于对照组(P<0.05),LPS 胁迫 12 h 后,所有实验组 AKP 活性均显著低于对照组(P<0.05);48 h 后低、中剂量组 AKP 活性回升,与对照组无显著差异(P>0.05)。
3LPS 对许氏平鲉 SOD 活性(a)和 MDA 含量(b)的影响
Fig.3Effects of LPS on the SOD activity (a) and the MDA content (b) of S. schlegelii
与对照组相比,*为具有统计学差异(P<0.05);**为具有显著性差异(P<0.01);***为具有极显著差异(P<0.001)。下同。
Compared with the control group, * represents significant difference (P<0.05) ; ** represents highly significant difference (P<0.01) ; *** represents extremely significant difference (P<0.001) . The same below.
4LPS 对许氏平鲉 ACP(a)和 AKP(b)活性的影响
Fig.4Effects of LPS on the activities of ACP (a) and AKP (b) of S. schlegelii
2.4 LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道促炎基因表达量的影响
图5可见,与对照组相比,各实验组许氏平鲉在 LPS 胁迫 12 h 之后 IL-1β 出现显著上调(P<0.05),且基因表达的总体水平呈现先上升后下降的趋势。高剂量组的鱼肠道 IL-1β 基因表达水平在 LPS 胁迫 6 h 后开始显著高于对照组(P<0.05),至 96 h 恢复正常水平。中、低剂量组从 LPS 胁迫 12 h 后开始出现显著升高(P<0.05),中、低剂量组分别至 96 h 和 72 h 后恢复正常水平。各实验组鱼肠道的 IL-8 基因表达水平在 LPS 胁迫 6 h 后开始显著高于对照组(P<0.05),高剂量组在 96 h 仍显著高于对照组(P<0.001),中、低剂量组鱼肠道 IL-8 基因表达水平在 96 h 后恢复正常,与对照组差异不显著(P>0.05)。
5LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道促炎基因表达量的影响
Fig.5Effect of LPS on intestinal pro-inflammatory genes expression in S. schlegelii
2.5 LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道抑炎基因和炎症通路基因表达量的影响
LPS 对许氏平鲉抑炎基因及炎症通路基因表达情况的影响如图6所示。在 LPS 胁迫后,抑炎基因 IL-10 与炎症通路基因 NF-κB 均与对照组差异显著(P<0.05)。LPS 胁迫 6 h 时,高剂量组 IL-10 基因表达水平显著低于对照组(P<0.001)。低剂量组和中剂量组肠道 IL-10 基因表达量在 LPS 胁迫 12 h 后显著低于对照组(P<0.05),在 72 h 后表达量回升到对照组水平。在 LPS 胁迫后,各实验组鱼肠道的炎症通路基因 NF-κB 表达水平相较于对照组呈现先上升后下降的趋势。高剂量组的 NF-κB 相对表达量在 LPS 胁迫 6 h 开始显著高于对照组(P<0.05),在 12 h 极显著高于对照组(P<0.001)。低剂量组和高剂量组在 12 h、24 h 和 48 h时 NF-κB 基因相对表达水平显著高于对照组(P<0.05),在 96 h 时与对照组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。炎症基因以及通路基因相对表达量出现明显变化,证实 LPS 能够诱导许氏平鲉出现肠道炎症反应。
2.6 LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道紧密连接蛋白基因表达量的影响
LPS 胁迫后,许氏平鲉肠道的紧密连接蛋白基因表达量变化如图7所示。高剂量组在 6 h 时 occludinZO-1 基因表达量相较于对照组显著下调(P<0.05), 24 h 后达到最低值,48 h 开始逐渐回升,96 h 时 occludin ZO-1 基因表达量与对照组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。中剂量组 occludin ZO-1 基因表达量在 12 h 和 24 h 时显著低于对照组(P<0.05),72 h 之后恢复至对照组水平(P>0.05)。低剂量组在 24 h 时 ZO-1 基因相对表达量显著低于对照组(P<0.05),其他时间 occludinZO-1 基因表达量与对照组无统计学差异(P>0.05)。
6LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道抑炎基因(a)和通路基因(b)表达量的影响
Fig.6Effect of LPS on intestinal anti-inflammatory (a) and pathway (b) genes expression in S. schlegelii
7LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道紧密连接蛋白基因表达量的影响
Fig.7Effect of LPS on intestinal tight junction protein genes expression in S. schlegelii
3 讨论
肠绒毛萎缩、粘连和脱落是肠道组织出现炎症损伤时的典型症状(Liu et al,2022)。研究发现,小鼠连续 LPS 灌胃后,0.2 mg/kg 组在 32 d 时肠绒毛出现溶解,1 mg/kg 组在 16 d 时便出现肠绒毛溶解脱落现象(Li et al,2020)。在 LPS 诱导大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)肠道损伤的实验中发现,按照 0.28 mg/尾的剂量连续饲喂 7 d 之后,实验组相较于对照组肠绒毛和微绒毛高度显著降低(Zhang et al,2020)。本研究中,许氏平鲉按照 5~15 mg/kg 的剂量腹腔注射 LPS 溶液后,肠道组织结构出现不同程度的损伤,肠绒毛断裂、溶解、脱落和粘膜层炎性细胞浸润,且肠道损伤程度随着 LPS 胁迫剂量的增加而加重,表明 LPS 作为炎症诱导剂,能够影响许氏平鲉肠道组织的健康,使其出现明显的病理性改变。
在识别到病原的侵入后,鱼类通过调节自身各种免疫机制来减轻或消除外来病原对机体的损害。研究表明,高活性氧(ROS)的过量产生是机体发生炎症反应后氧化应激的典型症状(Kim et al,2012),具有清除活性氧自由基能力的 SOD 和具有毒性的机体脂质氧化终产物 MDA 在机体出现氧化应激时往往表现为负相关联系(Chen et al,2025)。团头鲂(Megalobrama amblycephala)在腹腔注射 LPS 后,SOD 活性也出现下降趋势(Chen et al,2021)。鲤鱼(Cyprinus carpio)肝脏和脾脏中的 SOD活性和 MDA浓度水平在经过 LPS 胁迫后呈现相反的变化趋势(Giri et al,2020)。许氏平鲉在遭受 LPS 胁迫后,10 mg/kg 剂量组和 15 mg/kg 剂量组持续出现 SOD 活性降低和 MDA 含量增加等氧化应激反应,表明 LPS 引发了炎症反应造成机体抗氧化功能紊乱。ACP 和 AKP 是两种在消除、消化病原体方面具有至关重要作用的与免疫防御相关的酶(Zhu et al,2022)。杂交鳢(Channa maculate ♀ × Channa argus )在感染迟缓爱德华氏菌(E. tarda)6 h 之后 ACP 活性显著降低(Guo et al,2022)。鲤鱼在感染嗜水气单胞菌(A. hydrophila)后 SOD和 AKP活性显著降低,MDA 含量相较于对照组显著增加(Xiong et al,2021)。本研究发现,LPS 胁迫后各实验组许氏平鲉的 ACP 和 AKP 活性相较于空白对照组出现了不同程度的降低,呈现出与其他鱼类感染病原菌以及 LPS 胁迫后相似的趋势。本研究中单次腹腔注射 5、10、 15 mg LPS/kg 降低许氏平鲉非特异性免疫能力的持续时间不同,利用 LPS 剂量稳定的特性,可通过多次注射达到鱼类感染病原菌后的长期损伤效果。
上皮细胞是粘膜防御的第一道防线,肠道黏膜作为选择性的渗透屏障,具有支持营养物质的吸收、代谢产物的分泌和防止潜在有害物质泄漏的功能。上皮细胞的紧密连接(tight junction,TJ)对于密封细胞旁空间和防止肠壁内外物质无限制泄漏具有重要作用。 Occludin 和 ZO-1 是维持肠上皮屏障所必需的关键紧密连接蛋白,其中 ZO-1 形成了一个在紧密连接处组织蛋白质的支架,它在调节上皮细胞增殖、有丝分裂纺锤体取向和粘膜修复中起到重要作用。Occludin 是紧密连接的跨膜蛋白,也是上皮细胞存活的关键调节因子,其在炎症性疾病中的下调对于限制细胞凋亡具有重要作用(Yang et al,2024)。Occludin 通过其 C 端的 OCEL(occludin conserved essential like)结构域与 ZO-1 的 U5-GuK 结构域结合,共同维持紧密连接屏障功能,其表达或功能异常通过凋亡失调、增殖缺陷和内吞降解等机制促进肠炎发生(Kuo et al,2022)。当鱼类出现肠道炎症反应时往往伴随肠道黏膜的损伤,中性粒细胞与巨噬细胞通过趋化因子介导的定向迁移机制,在病灶区域形成炎性细胞浸润灶。此类免疫细胞活化后触发促炎因子级联释放,诱导微血管内皮屏障功能失稳,进而导致血浆蛋白外渗及血细胞外溢,黏膜下层出现水肿和点状出血性病变,紧密连接蛋白复合体结构解离及细胞旁路通透性异常,肠壁的通透性增加,更加有利于有害微生物及其代谢产物通过肠道进入机体。研究发现,哲罗鱼(Hucho taimen)在注射 LPS 后,促炎基因 IL-1βIL-8 表达量显著升高,紧密连接蛋白基因 occludin 表达量显著下降,出现了明显的肠道炎症反应(Ren et al,2019)。鲤鱼在注射 LPS 后也出现急性炎症反应,IL-8 NF-κB 表达水平显著升高,抑炎基因 IL-10 表达水平显著降低(Nguyen et al,2022)。本研究采用 LPS 胁迫后,剖检可见 10 mg/kg 和 15 mg/kg 剂量组许氏平鲉肠道水肿、肠液潴留以及肠壁透明度显著高于空白对照组,肠道紧密连接蛋白基因 occludinZO-1 表达量显著下降,同时促炎基因 IL-1β IL-8 表达量增加、抑炎基因 IL-10 的表达量下降,本研究结果与上述文献报道结果相近。
此外,本研究结果显示,LPS 能成功诱导许氏平鲉发生肠道炎症,但其诱导所需的剂量(10~15 mg/kg)明显高于哺乳动物(Zeyneb et al,2025)。哺乳动物中,TLR4 能招募髓样分化因子 2(MD2,又称 LY96)形成能够识别 LPS 的异源二聚体(Shimazu et al,1999)。在 2 种辅助蛋白 LPS 结合蛋白(LBP)和 CD14 的帮助下,LPS 转移到 TLR4-MD2 复合物,通过 MyD88 依赖或 TRIF 依赖的信号通路招募适配分子 TRAM(TICAM2)和 TRIF(TICAM1),启动级联信号,产生促炎细胞因子和 IFN-β(Zughaier et al,2005)。稀有鲫(Gobiocypris rarus)(Su et al,2009)和斑点叉尾Ictalurus punctatus)(Zhang et al,2013)感染 LPS 后,检测到了 TLR4 表达的上调。但由于物种的差异,很多鱼类没有 TLR4(Oshiumi et al,2003)和 CD14(Baoprasertkul et al,2006)或 MD2(He et al,2019),部分鱼类 TLR4 与人类的同源物在氨基酸序列水平上只有 30%的相似性。因此,LPS 在鱼类体内的识别机制可能与哺乳动物不同,存在另一种识别策略。研究发现,东方鲀属(Takifugu)鱼类 TLR23 可能参与 LPS 的识别,弥补了 TLR4 的缺失(Iliev et al,2005)(Roach et al,2005)。长江鲟(Acipenser dabryanus)在 LPS 刺激后 TLR2 和 TLR13 表达显著上调,表明其可能代替 TLR4 发挥了识别 LPS 的功能(Tang et al,2020)。Cao 等(2020)在许氏平鲉中检测到除 TLR4 之外的 17 种 TLR 家族基因,许氏平鲉是否缺少 TLR4 而导致 LPS 诱导肠道炎症剂量的升高,尚需进行深入的研究。
本研究表明,10 mg/kg 和 15 mg/kg 的 LPS 能稳定引起许氏平鲉肠道组织结构损伤、抗氧化能力受损和炎症相关基因异常表达。因此,LPS 可以用作构建许氏平鲉肠炎模型的诱导剂,为后续深入解析海水鱼类细菌性肠炎的发病机制以及高效筛选防治药物奠定基础。
1不同实验组许氏平鲉的肠道组织
Fig.1Intestinal tract of S. schlegelii in different experiment groups
2腹腔注射后许氏平鲉肠道组织病理变化
Fig.2Histopathological changes in the intestinal of S. schlegelii after intraperitoneal injection
3LPS 对许氏平鲉 SOD 活性(a)和 MDA 含量(b)的影响
Fig.3Effects of LPS on the SOD activity (a) and the MDA content (b) of S. schlegelii
4LPS 对许氏平鲉 ACP(a)和 AKP(b)活性的影响
Fig.4Effects of LPS on the activities of ACP (a) and AKP (b) of S. schlegelii
5LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道促炎基因表达量的影响
Fig.5Effect of LPS on intestinal pro-inflammatory genes expression in S. schlegelii
6LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道抑炎基因(a)和通路基因(b)表达量的影响
Fig.6Effect of LPS on intestinal anti-inflammatory (a) and pathway (b) genes expression in S. schlegelii
7LPS 对许氏平鲉肠道紧密连接蛋白基因表达量的影响
Fig.7Effect of LPS on intestinal tight junction protein genes expression in S. schlegelii
1本研究所用实时荧光定量 PCR 引物序列
Tab.1The primers for RT-qPCR used in this study
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