Tilikj, NatashaDe la Fuente, MercedesMuñiz González, Ana BelénMartínez Guitarte, José LuisNovo Rodríguez, Marta2024-12-182024-12-182024-06Tilikj N, De La Fuente M, González ABM, Martínez-Guitarte J-L, Novo M. Surviving in a multistressor world: Gene expression changes in earthworms exposed to heat, desiccation, and chemicals. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology 2024;108:104428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104428.1382-668910.1016/j.etap.2024.104428https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/112974Funding: This study was funded by grants PGC2018-094112-A-I00 and PID2021–122243NB-I00 from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033, and by “ESF: Investing in your future” and “ERDF: A way of making Europe.” Marta Novo was supported by a Ramón y Cajal Fellowship (RYC2018–024654-I).An investigation of the effects of anthropogenic stress on terrestrial ecosystems is urgently needed. In this work, we explored how exposure to heat, desiccation, and chemical stress alters the expression of genes that encode heat shock proteins (HSPs), an enzyme that responds to oxidative stress (CAT), hypoxia-related proteins (HIF1 and HYOU), and a DNA repair–related protein (PARP1) in the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Exposure to heat (31°C) for 24 h upregulated HSPs and hypoxia-related genes, suggesting possible acquired thermotolerance. Desiccation showed a similar expression profile; however, the HSP response was activated to a lesser extent. Heat and desiccation activated the small HSP at 24 h, suggesting that they may play a role in adaptation. Simultaneous exposure to endosulfan and temperature for 7 h upregulated all of the evaluated genes, implicating a coordinated response involving multiple biological processes to ensure survival and acclimation. These results highlight the relevance of multistress analysis in terrestrial invertebrates.engAttribution 4.0 Internationalhttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/journal article1872-7077https://doi.org/10.1016/j.etap.2024.104428https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1382668924000681open access591.5575.1:574.4591.1595.14Climate ChangeSoil pollutantsInvertebratesBiomarkersHeat shock responseEcología (Biología)GenéticaFisiología animal (Biología)Invertebrados2401.06 Ecología Animal2401.08 Genética Animal2401.13 Fisiología Animal2401.91 Invertebrados no Insectos