The herbicide dicamba (2-methoxy-3,6-dichlorobenzoic acid) interacts with mitochondrial bioenergetic functions

Biosafety assessment of novel organoselenium zidovudine derivatives in the Caenorhabditis elegans model

Antiretrovirals have improved considerably since the introduction of 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine (zidovudine or AZT), a molecule with also anticancer effects. Subsequently, a variety of other nucleosides have been synthesized. However, these medications are often associated with serious adverse events and the onset or exacerbation of degenerative processes, diseases, and syndromes, affecting mainly the mitochondria. In this study, we used Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the toxicity potential of AZT and three new organoselenium derivatives with modifications in the 5' position of the sugar ring in place of the 5'-OH group, with the insertion of a neutral, an electron-withdrawing and an electron-donating group attached to the aryl selenol moiety: 5'-seleno-(4-chloro-phenyl)-3-(amino)-thymidine (ASAT-4-Cl), 5'-seleno-(phenyl)-3-(amino)-thymidine (ASAT-Ph), and 5'-seleno-(4-methoxyphenyl)-3-(amino)- thymidine (ASAT-4-OMe). Analyzes included worm survival, behavior parameters, high-resolution respirometry, citrate synthase activity, and ATP levels. Although all compounds negatively affected C. elegans, ASAT-4-Cl and ASAT-Ph showed lower toxicity compared to AZT, especially in mitochondrial viability and ATP production. Therefore, more studies must be carried out on the use of these new compounds as pharmacological interventions.

A Common Feature of Pesticides: Oxidative Stress-The Role of Oxidative Stress in Pesticide-Induced Toxicity

Pesticides are important chemicals or biological agents that deter or kill pests. The use of pesticides has continued to increase as it is still considered the most effective method to reduce pests and increase crop growth. However, pesticides have other consequences, including potential toxicity to humans and wildlife. Pesticides have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer, and birth defects. Labels on pesticides also suggest limiting exposure to these hazardous chemicals. Based on experimental evidence, various types of pesticides all seem to have a common effect, the induction of oxidative stress in different cell types and animal models. Pesticide-induced oxidative stress is caused by both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), which are associated with several diseases including cancer, inflammation, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. ROS and RNS can activate at least five independent signaling pathways including mitochondrial-induced apoptosis. Limited in vitro studies also suggest that exogenous antioxidants can reduce or prevent the deleterious effects of pesticides.

Hiding in Plain Sight: Modern Thiamine Deficiency

Thiamine or vitamin B1 is an essential, water-soluble vitamin required for mitochondrial energetics—the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). It is a critical and rate-limiting cofactor to multiple enzymes involved in this process, including those at the entry points and at critical junctures for the glucose, fatty acid, and amino acid pathways. It has a very short half-life, limited storage capacity, and is susceptible to degradation and depletion by a number of products that epitomize modern life, including environmental and pharmaceutical chemicals. The RDA for thiamine is 1.1–1.2 mg for adult females and males, respectively. With an average diet, even a poor one, it is not difficult to meet that daily requirement, and yet, measurable thiamine deficiency has been observed across multiple patient populations with incidence rates ranging from 20% to over 90% depending upon the study. This suggests that the RDA requirement may be insufficient to meet the demands of modern living. Inasmuch as thiamine deficiency syndromes pose great risk of chronic morbidity, and if left untreated, mortality, a more comprehensive understanding thiamine chemistry, relative to energy production, modern living, and disease, may prove useful.

Dicamba elevates concentrations of S-adenosyl methionine but does not induce oxidative stress or alter DNA methylation in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes

Dicamba is a benzoic acid herbicide used to target woody and broadleaf weeds in industrial, domestic, and municipal spheres. Because of its widespread use, dicamba is frequently detected in surface waters near sites of application. However, little is known regarding the effects of dicamba on freshwater fishes. In the present study, primary cultures of hepatocytes from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were exposed to either an environmentally relevant (0.22 or 2.2 μg L^-1) or supra-environmental (22 μg L^-1) concentration of dicamba for 48 h to investigate if oxidative stress is a mechanism of toxicity. mRNA abundances of genes involved in the response to oxidative stress, levels of lipid peroxidation, and concentrations of glutathione and s-adenosyl methionine (SAM) were quantified. Results indicate that dicamba does not induce oxidative stress. However, exposure to 2.2 μg L^-1 of dicamba did cause a 5.24-fold increase in concentrations of SAM. To investigate the mechanisms of increased SAM, effects of dicamba on global and genome-wide DNA methylation were quantified. Dicamba did not cause changes to DNA methylation. Overall, dicamba was not acutely toxic to hepatocytes and did not cause oxidative stress or changes in DNA methylation at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Clinical characteristics of patients after dicamba herbicide ingestion

OBJECTIVE

Despite a widespread use of dicamba herbicide and numerous animal model studies, there had not been studies on acute toxicity of this chemical compound in human subjects following ingestion. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate clinical characteristics of dicamba poisoning and to guide physicians treating patients intoxicated with dicamba herbicide.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A retrospective observational case series was conducted for 14 patients with history of dicamba herbicide ingestion. Data were collected for clinical manifestation, patient management, and final outcome.

RESULT

The most common symptom was altered mental state (Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 14). Laboratory abnormalities were elevations in lactate, and creatine kinase, metabolic acidosis (pH < 7.35, and HCO3(-) < 20 mmol/L), and elevated lipase. QTc prolongation was commonly observed. These abnormal clinical findings had normalized within two days of supportive treatment after dicamba ingestion. One patient did demonstrate corrosive esophagitis.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Acute toxicity of dicamba herbicide in human following oral exposure was manageable with supportive treatment. However, physician should take into account for corrosive effect on GI tract, rhabdomyolysis, or acute pancreatitis.

Mitochondrial and liver oxidative stress alterations induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine: relevance for hepatotoxicity

The most significant toxicological effect of nitrosamines like N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) is their carcinogenic activity, which may result from exposure to a single large dose or from chronic exposure to relatively small doses. However, its effects on mitochondrial liver bioenergetics were never investigated. Liver is the principal organ responsible for BBN metabolic activation, and mitochondria have a central function in cellular energy production, participating in multiple metabolic pathways. Therefore any negative effect on mitochondrial function may affect cell viability. In the present work, ICR male mice were given 0.05% of BBN in drinking water for a period of 12 weeks and were sacrificed one week later. Mitochondrial physiology was characterized in BBN- and control-treated mice. Transmembrane electric potential developed by mitochondria was significantly affected when pyruvate-malate was used, with an increase in state 4 respiration observed for pyruvate-malate (46%) and succinate (38%). A decrease in the contents of one subunit of mitochondrial complex I and in one subunit of mitochondrial complex IV was also observed. In addition, the activity of both complexes I and II was also decreased by BBN treatment. The treatment with BBN increases the susceptibility of liver mitochondria to the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore. This susceptibility could be related with the increase in the production of H2 O2 by mitochondria and increased oxidative stress confirmed by augmented susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. These results lead to the conclusion that hepatic mitochondria are one primary target for BBN toxic action during liver metabolism.

Evaluation of olive oil mill wastewaters acute toxicity: a study on the mitochondrial bioenergetics

Acute toxicity of olive mill wastewaters (OMW), collected from a continuous olive mill, was evaluated in rat liver mitochondrial bioenergetics. Inhibition of respiratory activities in state 4, state 3, and uncoupled respiration are essentially mediated through partial inhibitions of mitochondrial complexes II and III. ATPase activity was considerably less depressed by OMW than ATP synthase activity (a difference of 42%). The inhibition observed on ATP synthase is mostly the result of an inhibition on the redox complexes. Ultimately, the OMW-induced loss of phosphorylation capacity was not only the result of a direct effect of OMW on the enzymatic complex (F(0)-F(1) ATPase), but also the result of a deleterious effect on the integrity of the mitochondrial membrane, which can promote an inhibition of the respiratory complexes and an increase of the proton permeability of the inner membrane.

Genotoxicity analysis of the phenoxy herbicide dicamba in mammalian cells in vitro

The cytogenetic effects exerted by the phenoxy herbicide dicamba and one of its commercial formulations banvel (57.71% dicamba) were studied in in vitro whole blood human lymphocyte cultures. The genotoxicity of herbicides was measured by analysis of the frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and cell-cycle progression assays. Both dicamba and banvel activities were tested within 10.0-500.0 microg/ml doses range. Only concentrations of 200.0 microg/ml of dicamba and 500.0 microg/ml of banvel induced a significant increase in SCE frequency over control values. The highest dose of dicamba tested (500.0 microg/ml) resulted in cell culture cytotoxicity. The cell-cycle kinetics was affected by both test compounds since a significant delay in cell-cycle progression and a significant reduction of the proliferative rate index were observed after the treatment with 100.0 and 200.0 microg/ml of dicamba and 200.0 and 500.0 microg/ml of banvel. For both chemicals, a progressive dose-related inhibition of the mitotic activity of cultures was observed. Moreover, only the mitotic activity statistically differed from control values when doses of both chemicals higher than 100.0 microg/ml were employed. On the basis of our results, the herbicide dicamba is a DNA damage agent and should be considered as a potentially hazardous compound to humans.

Effect of two insecticides and two herbicides on the porcine sperm motility patterns using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) in vitro

The recent decline in sperm concentration observed in men has developed over a short period of time, suggesting that it could be the result of environmental factors. The present study has evaluated the effects of insecticides Malathion and Diazinon, and herbicides Atrazine and Fenoxaprop-Ethyl on porcine sperm viability and motility patterns in vitro using the eosin-nigrosin staining and a computer-assisted semen analyzer (CASA), respectively. Malathion and Fenoxaprop-Ethyl exerted more deleterious effects than Diazinon and Atrazine. Progressive sperm motility was strongly affected whereas the effect on sperm viability was less pronounced. This suggests that a reduction of sperm motility is not necessarily the result of sperm death. Since sperm motility is dependent on energy metabolism the mechanism of action of these pesticides might be mediated at the level of the mitochondrion, producing a delay in motility and eventual cell death.

Comparative effects of the Roundup and glyphosate on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation

The potential toxicity of the herbicide Roundup and its fundamental substance (glyphosate) was tested in bioenergetic functions of isolated rat liver mitochondria. Roundup stimulates succinate-supported respiration twice, with simultaneous collapse of transmembrane electrical potential, while glyphosate used in the same concentrations does not induce any significant effect. Additionally, Roundup depresses state 3 respiration by about 40%, at 15 mM, whereas uncoupled respiration in the presence of FCCP is depressed by about 50%. Depression of uncoupled respiratory activity is mediated through partial inhibition of mitochondrial complexes II and III, but not of complex IV. The phosphorylative system was affected by both a direct and an indirect effect on the F0F1 ATPase activity. The addition of uncoupled concentrations of Roundup to Ca2+-loaded mitochondria treated with Ruthenium Red resulted in non-specific membrane permeabilization, as evidenced by mitochondrial swelling in isosmotic sucrose medium. Therefore, the uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation is also related to the non-specific membrane permeabilization induced by Roundup. Glyphosate alone does not show any relevant effect on the mitochondrial bioenergetics, in opposition to Roundup formulation products. The differences in the toxicity observed could be either attributed to some products of Roundup or to a synergic effect of glyphosate and formulation products. Bearing in mind that mitochondria is provided with a variety of bioenergetic functions mandatory for the regulation of intracellular aerobic energy production and electrolyte homeostasis, these results question the safety of Roundup on animal health.

The novel herbicide oxaziclomefone inhibits cell expansion in maize cell cultures without affecting turgor pressure or wall acidification

Oxaziclomefone [OAC; IUPAC name 3-(1-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-1-methylethyl)-3,4-dihydro-6-methyl-5-phenyl-2H-1,3-oxazin-4-one] is a new herbicide that inhibits cell expansion in grass roots. Its effects on cell cultures and mode of action were unknown. In principle, cell expansion could be inhibited by a decrease in either turgor pressure or wall extensibility. Cell expansion was estimated as settled cell volume; cell division was estimated by cell counting. Membrane permeability to water was measured by a novel method involving simultaneous assay of the efflux of (3)H(2)O and [(14)C]mannitol from a 'bed' of cultured cells. Osmotic potential was measured by depression of freezing point. OAC inhibited cell expansion in cultures of maize (Zea mays), spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and rose (Rosa sp.), with an ID(50) of 5, 30 and 250 nm, respectively. In maize cultures, OAC did not affect cell division for the first 40 h. It did not affect the osmotic potential of cell sap or culture medium, nor did it impede water transport across cell membranes. It did not affect cells' ability to acidify the apoplast (medium), which may be necessary for 'acid growth'. As OAC did not diminish turgor pressure, its ability to inhibit cell expansion must depend on changes in wall extensibility. It could be a valuable tool for studies on cell expansion.