Effect of Dietary Administration of Green Macroalgae (Ulva intestinalis) on Mucosal and Systemic Immune Parameters, Antioxidant Defence, and Related Gene Expression in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of adding green macroalgae gutweed (Ulva intestinalis) powder to zebrafish (Danio rerio) feed at different levels on innate immune responses, antioxidant defence, and gene expression. A total of 600 zebrafish ( 0.3 ± 0.08 g) were randomly allocated to 12 aquariums in four treatments with three replicates (50 fish per aquarium). Zebrafish were fed with different levels of U. intestinalis powder 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% for eight weeks. Whole-body extract (WBE) immune parameters including total protein level, globulin level, and lysozyme activity were evaluated and revealed statistically significant increased in all U. intestinalis supplemented groups compared to the control ( P < 0.05 ). However, mucus immune parameters (total protein, globulin, and lysozyme) were statistically different in only 1% gutweed supplemented groups from other groups. While glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) increased with the addition of gutweed ( P < 0.05 ), catalase (CAT) did not change ( P > 0.05 ). The study results showed that dietary gutweed remarkably upregulated immune-related genes such as lysozyme (Lyz) and Interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β). Antioxidant-related genes (SOD and CAT) and growth-related genes, including growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1), were remarkably upregulated with gutweed treatment ( P < 0.05 ). In conclusion, dietary U. intestinalis showed beneficial effects on immunity, and same effects were observed in case of antioxidant and growth related genes expression in zebrafish.

Effects of dietary nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) seed meals on growth, non-specific immune indices, antioxidant status, gene expression analysis, and cold stress tolerance in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

“…In response to nutmeg inclusion in the diet, innate-immune parameters including total protein, total Ig, and lysozyme in both mucus and serum were significantly elevated. Moreover, the transcripts of immune-related genes, that is, IL-1 β and lysozyme , were remarkably upregulated in fish fed with different doses of nutmeg powder, similar to other plant- and algae-supplementary diets application to zebrafish, D. kotaschyi ( 39 ) and Ulva intestinalis ( 45 ). Lysozyme acts as the main antibacterial enzyme by catalyzing the hydrolysis of 1,4-beta-linkages in the peptidoglycan of gram-positive bacteria, or indirectly against gram-negative bacteria ( 46 ).…”

Immunomodulatory, Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Pharmacokinetic Activity of Ulvan, a Seaweed-Derived Sulfated Polysaccharide: An Updated Comprehensive Review

“…Gutweed treatment significantly increased the expression of antioxidant-related genes (SOD and CAT) and growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1). Furthermore, dietary U. intestinalis improved immunity, and the same effects were observed on antioxidant and growth-related gene expression in zebrafish [ 141 ]. The Molecular weight of ulvan influences the inflammatory response of murine macrophages in vitro [ 142 ].…”

Peluang dan Tantangan Pengembangan Bioteknologi Melalui Pemanfaatan Makroalga Laut sebagai Imunostimulan dalam Mendukung Akuakultur Berkelanjutan

“…Salah satu studi lain yang relevan juga menemukan bahwa ekstrak rumput laut tertentu mampu meningkatkan aktivitas fagositosis dan produksi antibodi pada udang (Abdel-Latif et al, 2022;Citarasu et al, 2022). Selain itu, pemberian suplemen rumput laut pada pakan udang dapat meningkatkan aktivitas enzim antioksidan dan ekspresi gen imun terkait (Abbas et al, 2023;Rouhani et al, 2022).…”