Page 28 - 《水产学报》2026年第2期

2 期 郭利荣，等：中华绒螯蟹转录因子 Runx (EsRunx) 在调控血细胞生成分化中的作用 50 卷

The role of transcription factor Runx (EsRunx) in the formation and
differentiation of hemocytes in Eriocheir sinensis

1,2
1,2
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GUO Lirong , XIAO Xiyue , YAO Xiangyun , LIU Fang ,
1,2*
SUN Jinsheng , WANG Liyan 1,2*
(1. College of Life Sciences, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China;
2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Conservation and Utilization of Animal Diversity,
Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin 300387, China)

Abstract: Runx transcription factors play crucial roles in hematopoiesis and cell differentiation in higher animals and insects.
However, their transcriptional regulation in crustacean hematopoiesis remains unclear. To elucidate the regulatory role of Runx
in hematopoiesis in crustaceans, a partial open reading frame (ORF) of the Runx transcription factor was cloned from Eriocheir
sinensis and named as EsRunx. Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was employed to detect its tissue-specific expression. Hyalinocytes
(HCs) and granulocytes (GCs) were isolated via Percoll gradient centrifugation, and real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was
used to analyze EsRunx expression differences between HCs and GCs. Dynamic expression changes of EsRunx in hematopoi-
etic tissue (HPT) and hemocytes under exsanguination and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation were further examined. Addi-
tionally, dsRNA interference combined with flow cytometry was applied to investigate its impact on hemocyte differentiation.
The partial ORF of EsRunx spans 650 bp, encoding 216 amino acids with a conserved Runt domain. Tissue expression analysis
revealed specific high expression of EsRunx in hemocytes, with significantly higher levels in GCs than in HCs. Following
exsanguination stimulation, EsRunx expression in HPT was significantly upregulated at 12 and 24 h, while in hemocytes, signi-
ficant upregulation occurred at 2, 6, and 12 h. Under LPS stimulation, EsRunx expression in HPT increased markedly from 6 to
24 h, and in hemocytes, from 9 to 48 h. Silencing EsRunx gene led to a significant reduction in the percentage of medium and
large granulocytes, while the percentage of HCs was notably increased. These findings demonstrate that EsRunx regulates
hemocyte production in E. sinensis by promoting granulocyte differentiation. This study provides critical insights into the tran-
scriptional regulatory mechanisms of hematopoiesis in crustaceans.
Key words: Eriocheir sinensis; transcription factor; EsRunx; hematopoietic tissue; hemocyte differentiation
Corresponding authors: SUN Jinsheng. E-mail: skysjs@tjnu.edu.com;
WANG Liyan. E-mail: wly712@163.com
Funding projects: Aquaculture Seed Innovation Project of Tianjin Agricultural Commission (SCZYGG202402); Tianjin
Development Program for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (TD13-5076); Open Fund Project for Tianjin Key Laboratory of
Aquatic Ecology and Aquaculture (53H15034); Tianjin Normal University Talent Introduction Fund Project (5RL130)

中国水产学会主办 sponsored by China Society of Fisheries https://www.china-fishery.cn
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