Sexual dimorphism in the DNA methylation pattern after immune stimulation in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) gonads
The results support the presence of an epigenetic interplay between sex and immune response in the fish gonads. Sex-dependent methylation changes in <i>Casp9</i> following LPS exposure, together with the inherent sexual dimorphism observed in <i>Il1β</i>, indicate that immune stimulation and sex jointly shape epigenetic landscapes of innate immune genes in reproductive tissues. Although the feminization effect was not statistically significant, the observed trend suggests that immune activation during the critical gonadal differentiation window may influence sex outcomes. Overall, these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying sexually dimorphic immune responses in reproductive tissues and highlight important avenues for future research.
Authors
- Tosca A. van Gelderen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9859-0058)
- Laia Ribas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5538-6236)
- Anna Esteve‐Codina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0361-2873)
- Margareta Krabbe
- Marcela Salazar (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-4776-9396)
- Marta Caballero‐Huertas (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2616-1094)
- Simon Heath (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9550-0897)
- Marta Ortova Gut (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4063-7159)
Institutions
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement (FR)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (ES)
- Université de Montpellier (FR)
- Institut Català de Ciències del Clima (ES)
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution de Montpellier (FR)
- Amélioration Génétique et Adaptation des Plantes méditerranéennes et tropicales (FR)
- Centro Nacional de Análisis Genómico (ES)
- Institut de Ciències del Mar (ES)
- Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (FR)
- Universitat de Barcelona (ES)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
- Published
- 2025-12-19
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2025.1720219
- Primary Topic
- Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Generalitat de Catalunya
- Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación
- Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- European Regional Development Fund
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación