LC-MSMS analysis of liver in the European pilchard depending on pollutant levels

The oceans are now all affected by human activities. The study of the impact of pollution on the health status of exploited marine populations is essential to better understand the direct constraints that stress generates on growth, reproduction, immune system and, ultimately, on the reproductive success of animals. Interactions between different stressors can generate non-additive effects ("cocktail effects"), which makes experimental models under controlled conditions based on only one or a few "stressors" insufficient. Thus, quantitative proteomics was used to analyse liver proteome of wild European pilchards evolving in the Mediterranean Sea with contrasting levels of organic and inorganic contamination. The prospects of researching biomarkers of health status that can be used as indicators of the status of a population or an ecosystem are of major interest for the monitoring and management of natural environments, hence promoting the conservation and management of marine species.