Effects of Microplastics on Immune Responses of the Yellow Catfish Pelteobagrus fulvidraco Under Hypoxia

Compared with marine organisms, research on microplastics (MPs) in freshwater organisms is still less although MPs have been widely found in the freshwater ecosystem. Hypoxia is a ubiquitous issue in freshwater aquaculture, and under such scenarios, the toxic effects of MPs on typical aquaculture fish need to be clarified. In this study, we studied the effects of MPs (polystyrene) on specific growth rate (SGR), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and interferon (IFN) in the yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) under hypoxic conditions. After 15 days of exposure, the SGR was not affected by MPs or hypoxia. MPs significantly increased the expressions of HIF-1 alpha and TNF-alpha but inhibited the expression of IFN at high concentration MPs under normoxia. However, hypoxia significantly inhibited the expression of IL-8 and TNF-alpha under high MP concentration and low MP concentration, respectively. In addition, MPs had significant concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on IFN under hypoxia. Surprisingly, a positive correction between HIF-1 alpha and TNF-alpha was found in fish. Although hypoxia might alleviate the effects of MPs with low concentrations, the interaction of hypoxia and MPs aggravated the negative effects of MPs on immune factors at high concentration MPs. This study provided new insight into the complex effects of hypoxia and MPs on aquatic organisms, and future studies should focus on the cellular pathways of immune cells in fish. Given that MPs could induce the immune response in fish, considerations should be paid to the impacts of MPs on freshwater aquaculture, and hypoxia should be taken into consideration when evaluating the effects of MPs.

Automated summary

Research on microplastics (MPs) in freshwater organisms is less compared to marine organisms, but the toxic effects of MPs on typical aquaculture fish need to be clarified. Hypoxia complexly interacts with MPs in fish, potentially exacerbating the negative effects on immune factors. Further studies should focus on cellular pathways of immune cells in fish to better understand the impacts of MPs and hypoxia on aquatic organisms.