Mild thermal elevation phase-advances metabolic and matrix transcriptomic programs during koi scale regeneration
Abstract
Mild warming can alter regeneration kinetics in ectotherms, yet its influence on temporal coordination of transcriptional programs remains incompletely characterized. Using a scale-removal model in koi scale ( Cyprinus carpio ), we compared spontaneous healing at 22 °C (SI), waterborne vitamin C exposure at 25 mg/L at 22 °C (VC), and mild thermal elevation at 24 °C without vitamin C supplementation (TF) over two weeks using histology and time-series RNA sequencing. Histologically, TF showed earlier scale-forming cell aggregation at the pocket base and advanced collagen organization relative to SI and VC. Transcriptomically, SI followed three phases: early amino acid metabolism and inflammatory modulation (Days 1–3), mid-stage lipid oxidative metabolism and extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly (Days 5–7), and late ECM remodeling with autophagy signatures (Days 10–14). Under TF, metabolic and matrix modules typically emerging in the SI mid-window appeared earlier (Days 1–3), indicating a selective forward shift rather than uniform acceleration. Time-series clustering identified nine gene modules; Cluster 8 showed sustained upregulation under TF but not SI, with enrichment for cell differentiation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, ATPase activity, and ion channel regulation. Machine-learning feature selection prioritized LOC109073349 as the top candidate, with maximal TF–SI divergence at Day 14. These findings support a temporal phase realignment model for thermal management in aquaculture wound care.
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BibTeX
@article{liu2026mild,
title = {{Mild thermal elevation phase-advances metabolic and matrix transcriptomic programs during koi scale regeneration}},
author = {Lili Liu and Jingwen Bai and Rong Zhang and Huijuan Li and Xiaowen Wang and Hua Zhu},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-73846-4},
url = {https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73846-4},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mild thermal elevation phase-advances metabolic and matrix transcriptomic programs during koi scale regeneration
AU - Lili Liu
AU - Jingwen Bai
AU - Rong Zhang
AU - Huijuan Li
AU - Xiaowen Wang
AU - Hua Zhu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/23
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-73846-4
UR - https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-73846-4
AB - Mild warming can alter regeneration kinetics in ectotherms, yet its influence on temporal coordination of transcriptional programs remains incompletely characterized. Using a scale-removal model in koi scale ( Cyprinus carpio ), we compared spontaneous healing at 22 °C (SI), waterborne vitamin C exposure at 25 mg/L at 22 °C (VC), and mild thermal elevation at 24 °C without vitamin C supplementation (TF) over two weeks using histology and time-series RNA sequencing. Histologically, TF showed earlier scale-forming cell aggregation at the pocket base and advanced collagen organization relative to SI and VC. Transcriptomically, SI followed three phases: early amino acid metabolism and inflammatory modulation (Days 1–3), mid-stage lipid oxidative metabolism and extracellular matrix (ECM) assembly (Days 5–7), and late ECM remodeling with autophagy signatures (Days 10–14). Under TF, metabolic and matrix modules typically emerging in the SI mid-window appeared earlier (Days 1–3), indicating a selective forward shift rather than uniform acceleration. Time-series clustering identified nine gene modules; Cluster 8 showed sustained upregulation under TF but not SI, with enrichment for cell differentiation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, ATPase activity, and ion channel regulation. Machine-learning feature selection prioritized LOC109073349 as the top candidate, with maximal TF–SI divergence at Day 14. These findings support a temporal phase realignment model for thermal management in aquaculture wound care.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -