Transcriptome-based protein-protein interaction analysis reveals immune gene network elucidating white body immunity mechanisms in response to LPS stimulation in Amphioctopus fangsiao

One of the major challenges in the aquaculture of marine organisms is the susceptibility to pathogens. Immune cells defend bacterial invasion by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in Gram-negative bacteria. The white body are key organs for immune response and hematopoiesis, and play an important role in understanding the antimicrobial biological response in gold-ringed octopus (Amphioctopus fangsiao). In the present research, transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were conducted on A. fangsiao white body tissue after 6 h and 24 h of LPS stimulation. The results showed 2,029 and 73 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at the 6- and 24-hour time points, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were beneficial in determining immune-related terms and signaling pathways. Subsequently, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and 20 hub genes, such as AKT3, MAPK14, and PIK3CA, were identified. These genes are involved in a variety of signaling pathways, including the Hippo signaling pathway, chemokine signaling pathway, and leukocyte trans endothelial migration. Using qRT-PCR, the accuracy of the 20 hub genes was verified. The present study provides a substantial theoretical foundation for the research on A. fangsiao white body immunity, enhancing the current understanding of cephalopods' innate immunity.