1
|
Su Z, Zhang Y, Hong S, Zhang Q, Xu J, Hu G, Zhu X, Yuan F, Yu S, Wang T, Jia G. Relationships between blood chromium exposure and liver injury: Exploring the mediating role of systemic inflammation in a chromate-exposed population. J Environ Sci (China) 2024; 143:224-234. [PMID: 38644019 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Hexavalent chromium and its compounds are prevalent pollutants, especially in the work environment, pose a significant risk for multisystem toxicity and cancers. While it is known that chromium accumulation in the liver can cause damage, the dose-response relationship between blood chromium (Cr) and liver injury, as well as the possible potential toxic mechanisms involved, remains poorly understood. To address this, we conducted a follow-up study of 590 visits from 305 participants to investigate the associations of blood Cr with biomarkers for liver injury, including serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TBIL), and direct bilirubin (DBIL), and to evaluate the mediating effects of systemic inflammation. Platelet (PLT) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were utilized as biomarkers of systemic inflammation. In the linear mixed-effects analyses, each 1-unit increase in blood Cr level was associated with estimated effect percentage increases of 0.82% (0.11%, 1.53%) in TBIL, 1.67% (0.06%, 3.28%) in DBIL, 0.73% (0.04%, 1.43%) in ALT and 2.08% (0.29%, 3.87%) in AST, respectively. Furthermore, PLT mediated 10.04%, 11.35%, and 10.77% increases in TBIL, DBIL, and ALT levels induced by chromate, respectively. In addition, PLR mediated 8.26% and 15.58% of the association between blood Cr and TBIL or ALT. These findings shed light on the mechanisms underlying blood Cr-induced liver injury, which is partly due to worsening systemic inflammation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zekang Su
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Yali Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Shiyi Hong
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qiaojian Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiayu Xu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Guiping Hu
- School of Engineering Medicine and Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaojun Zhu
- National Center for Occupational Safety and Health, Beijing 102308, China
| | - Fang Yuan
- Department of Occupational Health and Radiological Health, Chongqing Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Chongqing 400042, China
| | - Shanfa Yu
- Henan Institute for Occupational Medicine, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Tianchen Wang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Third Hospital of Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Guang Jia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Role of ER Stress in Xenobiotic-Induced Liver Diseases and Hepatotoxicity. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY 2022; 2022:4640161. [PMID: 36388166 PMCID: PMC9652065 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4640161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The liver is a highly metabolic organ and plays a crucial role in the transportation, storage, and/or detoxication of xenobiotics. Liver damage induced by xenobiotics (e.g., heavy metal, endocrine disrupting chemicals, Chinese herbal medicine, or nanoparticles) has become a pivotal reason for liver diseases, leading to great clinical challenge and much attention for the past decades. Given that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the prominent organelle involved in hepatic metabolism, ER dysfunction, namely, ER stress, is clearly observed in various liver diseases. In response to ER stress, a conserved adaptive signaling pathway known as unfolded protein response (UPR) is activated to restore ER homeostasis. However, the prolonged ER stress with UPR eventually leads to the death of hepatocytes, which is a pathogenic event in many hepatic diseases. Therefore, analyzing the perturbation in the activation or inhibition of ER stress and the UPR signaling pathway is likely an effective marker for investigating the molecular mechanisms behind the toxic effects of xenobiotics on the liver. We review the role of ER stress in hepatic diseases and xenobiotic-induced hepatotoxicity, which not only provides a theoretical basis for further understanding the pathogenesis of liver diseases and the mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by xenobiotics but also presents a potential target for the prevention and treatment of xenobiotic-related liver diseases.
Collapse
|
3
|
Jin L, Kom MC, Fu G, Xie Y, Gao Y, Shen J, Huang H, Hu B, Yan J. Hexavalent chromium induces hepatocyte apoptosis via regulation of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1/c-Jun amino-terminal kinase signaling. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2022; 37:1288-1296. [PMID: 35166444 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
With the spread of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) contamination, Cr(VI)-induced hepatotoxicity has attracted increasing attention in recent years. To date, however, the exact mechanism of Cr(VI) toxicity remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)/c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) in Cr(VI)-induced hepatic toxicity and the possible related mechanisms. AML-12 hepatocyte cell-lines were treated with 0, 1, 4, and 16 μmol/Lof Cr(VI) with or without GS-444271 (an ASK1 inhibitor). Adult male mice were administered with 0, 2, 8, and 32 mg/kg body mass (BM)/day of Cr(VI) for 5 days. The level of hepatocyte apoptosis/proliferation, generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and expression levels of mRNAs and proteins related to ASK1/JNK and nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling were assessed. Results showed that high Cr(VI) exposure induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury by generation of ROS and down-regulation of Nrf2 signaling. In addition, ASK1/JNK signaling activity was upregulated in the Cr(VI)-treated group. Furthermore, GS-444217 treatment significantly rescued Cr(VI)-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver dysfunction in vitro and in vivo by down-regulation of ASK1/JNK signaling. Thus, ASK1/JNK signaling appears to play an important role in Cr(VI)-induced hepatocyte apoptosis and liver injury. This study should help improve our understanding of the mechanism of Cr(VI)-induced liver injury and provide support for future investigations on liver disease therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lifang Jin
- School of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
| | | | - Guoquan Fu
- School of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yixia Xie
- School of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yue Gao
- School of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jiayuan Shen
- School of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Pathology, Affiliated Hospital of Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huarong Huang
- College of Life and Environmental Science, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Baowei Hu
- School of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junyan Yan
- School of Life Science, Shaoxing University, Zhejiang, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Peng Y, Li H, Shen K, Pan W, Zhang J, Zhou D. Nano-selenium alleviating the lipid metabolism disorder of LMH cells induced by potassium dichromate via down-regulating ACACA and FASN. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:69426-69435. [PMID: 34302249 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-14775-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Chromium (Cr) VI is a common environmental contaminant highly toxic to livers. To explore the protective effect of nano-selenium (NANO-Se) on broiler liver damage caused by Cr (VI), this experiment was conducted with chicken hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (LMH) as the research object, using potassium dichromate (PDC) and NANO-Se gel for culturing cells. The results indicated that: (1) in the PDC-exposure group, LMH cells being treated with 20 μmol/L PDC for 24 h, IC50 (median inhibition concentration) = 23.427 could significantly reduce cell activity (p < 0.01) which decreased over time. PDC markedly increased the concentration of triglycerides (TG) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in LMH cells (p < 0.01), which increased over time. In addition, PDC could substantially augment the transcription and protein levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylases alpha (ACACA) and fatty acid synthase (FASN) in LMH cells (p < 0.01). (2) Compared with the PDC-exposure group, the addition of 8 μmol/L NANO-Se after 12 h of PDC treatment could significantly increase the cell viability (p < 0.01) but decreased over time; the levels of TG and LDL-C in LMH cells declined markedly (p < 0.01). In addition, the transcription and protein levels of ACACA and FASN in LMH cells were significantly reduced (p < 0.01). (3) The LMH cells were cultured in advance with 8 μmol/L NANO-Se for 12 h and then with PDC for 24 h. The obtained results were similar to the above. There were no obvious differences in TG and LDL-C levels (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were found in the activity of LMH cells and the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism (p < 0.05).All these results suggest that the exposure to PDC promotes the increase of lipid synthesis in LMH cells and causes disorders in the lipid metabolism. Moreover, NANO-Se can partially attenuate the damage caused by PDC through down-regulating of the lipid metabolism-related genes (ACACA and FASN) in LMH cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Peng
- Veterinary Clinical Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Street, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Li
- Veterinary Clinical Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Street, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Shen
- Veterinary Clinical Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Street, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen Pan
- Veterinary Clinical Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Street, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiabin Zhang
- Veterinary Clinical Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Street, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Donghai Zhou
- Veterinary Clinical Medicine Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Shizishan Street, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|