FOXO is involved in antimicrobial peptides expression during WSSV infection in Exopalaemon carinicauda

The forkhead box transcription factor O family protein (FOXO) acts as a transcription factor that regulates biological processes regarding DNA repair, immunity, cell cycle regulation, and other biological processes. In this study, EcFOXO was identified from the ridgetail white prawn, Exopalaemon carinicauda. EcFOXO protein contains multiple low-complexity regions and a forkhead (FH) domain. Phylogenetic tree showed that EcFOXO is clustered with crustacean FOXOs. The amino acid sequences of its FH domain are highly similar to the FH domain of FOXOs from other crustaceans. The expression of EcFOXO is altered after white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) stimulation in hepatopancreas and gills. The relationship between EcFOXO and EcRelish was explored by RNA interference (RNAi). Results showed that EcFOXO and EcRelish could positively regulate each other's expression. The expression levels of various antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) significantly reduced after interfering with EcFOXO or EcRelish. These results suggest a positive regulatory loop between EcFOXO and EcRelish, which participates in the innate immunity of ridgetail white prawn by regulating the expression of AMPs during WSSV infection. This study enriches the knowledge about the regulatory mechanism of FOXO in the innate immunity of crustaceans.