Work

Hydrogen sulfide mitigates the immunotoxicity and neurotoxicity induced by cadmium in Tegillarca granosa

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The blood clam Tegilarca granosa is an economically important shellfish in Asia. The complex living environment often exposes the clams to cadmium (Cd) and hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). H 2 S is well-known for its toxic effects, however, it is still unclear whether it can participate in regulating the heavy metal adaptation in clams. Here, we subjected T. granosa to chronic Cd stress (50 μg/L, 14 days) to explore their physiological and molecular response patterns under the addition of 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mM H 2 S. The results indicated that the Cd stress induced the immune-toxicity and neurotoxicity in the gills and viscera. H 2 S could alleviate the toxicity by inducing phagocytosis rate, maintaining AChE and Ca 2 + - ATPase activities, reducing MDA and O 2 - contents, promoting the excretion or degradation of Cd, and inhibiting the Ca 2+ signaling pathway ( CaM , CaMK2 , CaMKK2 ). However, high concentrations of H 2 S also inhibited the ATPase activities and the apoptotic signaling pathway. Altogether, our results indicated that H 2 S has a special regulatory mechanism for Cd toxicity in the clam T. granosa , and this regulation may depend on the Ca 2+ signaling pathway. Our results would offer insights into the sulfide and Cd - tolerant molecular mechanisms in this species and provide a useful tool for assessing the integrated biological impacts of Cd and sulfide on shellfish.

Source: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118294

Authors: Feiyu Xia, Zhengkuan Yang, Shunan Jia, Xiumei Zhang, Yihang Wang

Institution: Zhejiang Ocean University

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Life below water

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,650