Chen Huijie, Wang Yin, Liu Jieya, Yang Qiushi, Lu Jiamin, Xu Tingting, Tang Rong, Li Dapeng
Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture; Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
College of Life Sciences and Technology, Tarim University, Alar, 843300, Xinjiang, China.
Fish Physiol Biochem. 2025 Aug 7;51(4):140. doi: 10.1007/s10695-025-01553-4.
Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), as the highest-yielding freshwater species in China, has become a focus of muscle quality research. Previous studies have shown that natural grass feeding (GF) mode can improve the muscle quality of grass carp compared with artificial feeding (AF) mode, but its mechanism has not been revealed. In this study, we identified that interferon-γ2 (IFN-γ2) can be induced in the muscle tissues under GF mode. Therefore, recombinant IFN-γ2 protein was obtained to study its effect on grass carp muscle cells (GCMCs). We found that IFN-γ2 can facilitate the proliferation of GCMCs, and promote the myotube enlargement of GCMCs. Meanwhile, mRNA level investigations indicated that IFN-γ2 can regulate the expression of genes related to cell physiological processes. By transcriptome analysis, we screened a series of genes related to cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. Using STAT1 inhibitor fludarabine in vitro, we confirmed that IFN-γ2 regulates the physiological development of GCMCs through JAK/STAT1. Finally, by knocking down IFN-γ2 in grass carp individuals, we verified that IFN-γ2 has an effective regulatory effect in vivo. This study provides novel target for improving the muscle quality of grass carp and provides inspiration for the development of aquaculture feeding mode. HIGHLIGHTS: 1. Natural grass feeding mode induces IFN-γ2 expression in grass carp muscle. 2. IFN-γ2 promotes the proliferation of grass carp muscle cells via JAK/STAT1. 3. IFN-γ2 regulates the expression of genes related to muscle proliferation in vivo.
草鱼（Ctenopharyngodon idella）作为中国产量最高的淡水鱼类，已成为肌肉品质研究的焦点。先前的研究表明，与人工投喂（AF）模式相比，天然草料喂养（GF）模式可改善草鱼的肌肉品质，但其机制尚未明确。在本研究中，我们发现GF模式下草鱼肌肉组织可诱导干扰素γ2（IFN-γ2）产生。因此，我们获得重组IFN-γ2蛋白，以研究其对草鱼肌肉细胞（GCMCs）的影响。我们发现IFN-γ2可促进GCMCs增殖，并促使GCMCs的肌管增大。同时，mRNA水平研究表明，IFN-γ2可调节细胞生理过程相关基因的表达。通过转录组分析，我们筛选出一系列与细胞增殖、分化和迁移相关的基因。在体外使用STAT1抑制剂氟达拉滨，我们证实IFN-γ2通过JAK/STAT1调节GCMCs的生理发育。最后，通过敲低草鱼个体中的IFN-γ2，我们验证了IFN-γ2在体内具有有效的调节作用。本研究为改善草鱼肌肉品质提供了新靶点，并为水产养殖投喂模式的发展提供了思路。要点：1. 天然草料喂养模式可诱导草鱼肌肉中IFN-γ2表达。2. IFN-γ2通过JAK/STAT1促进草鱼肌肉细胞增殖。3. IFN-γ2在体内调节与肌肉增殖相关基因的表达。
