Bisphenol A disturbs hepatic apolipoprotein A1 expression and cholesterol metabolism in rare minnow Gobiocypris rarus

Qixian granule inhibits ferroptosis in vascular endothelial cells by modulating TRPML1 in the lysosome to prevent postmenopausal atherosclerosis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

QiXian Granule (QXG) is an integrated traditional Chinese medicine formula used to treat postmenopausal atherosclerotic (AS) cardiovascular diseases. The previous studies have found that QXG inhibited isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial remodeling. And its active ingredient, Icraiin, can inhibit ferroptosis by promoting oxidized low-density lipoprotein (xo-LDL)-induced vascular endothelial cell injury and autophagy in atherosclerotic mice. Another active ingredient, Salvianolic Acid B, can suppress ferroptosis and apoptosis during myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury by reducing ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of Glutathione Peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and down-regulating the reactive oxygen species (ROS)- c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this research was to assess the possible impact of QXG on atherosclerosis in postmenopausal individuals and investigate its underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Female ApoE-/- mice underwent ovariectomy and were subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD) to establish a postmenopausal atherosclerosis model. The therapeutic effects of QXG were observed in vivo and in vitro through intraperitoneal injection of erastin, G-protein Coupled Estrogen Receptor (GPER) inhibitor (G15), and silent Mucolipin Transient Receptor Potential Channel 1 (TRPML1) adenovirus injection via tail vein. UPLC-MS and molecular docking techniques identified and evaluated major QXG components, contributing to the investigation of QXG's anti-postmenopausal atherosclerotic effects.

RESULTS

QXG increased serum Estradiol levels, decreased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels, which indicated QXG had estrogen-like effects in Ovx/ApoE-/- mice. Furthermore, QXG demonstrated the potential to impede the progression of AS in Ovx/ApoE-/- mice, as evidenced by reductions in serum triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. Additionally, QXG inhibited ferroptosis in Ovx/ApoE-/- mice. Notably, UPLC-MS analysis identified a total of 106 active components in QXG. The results of molecular docking analysis demonstrated that Epmedin B, Astragaloside II, and Orientin exhibit strong binding affinity towards TRPML1. QXG alleviates the progression of atherosclerosis by activating TRPML1 through the GPER pathway or directly activating TRPML1, thereby inhibiting GPX4 and ferritin heavy chain (FTH1)-mediated iron pendant disease. In vitro, QXG-treated serum suppressed proliferation, migration, and ox-LDL-induced MMP and ROS elevation in HAECs.

CONCLUSION

QXG inhibited GPX4 and FTH1-mediated ferroptosis in vascular endothelial cells through up-regulating GPER/TRPML1 signaling, providing a potential therapeutic option for postmenopausal females seeking a safe and effective medication to prevent atherosclerosis. The study highlights QXG's estrogenic properties and its promising role in combating postmenopausal atherosclerosis.

Reproductive and transgenerational toxicity of bisphenol S exposure in pregnant rats: Insights into hormonal imbalance and steroid biosynthesis pathway disruption

Bisphenol S (BPS) is an alternative chemical to bisphenol A commonly used in food packaging materials. It raises concerns due to potential adverse effects on human health. However, limited evidence exists regarding reproductive toxicity from BPS exposure, and the mechanism of associated transgenerational toxicity remains unclear. In this study, pregnant SD rats were exposed to two different doses of BPS (0.05 or 20 mg/kg) from GD6 to PND21. The objective was to investigate reproductive and transmissible toxicity induced by BPS, explore endocrine effects, and uncover potential underlying mechanisms in rats. Perinatal exposure to BPS in the F0 generation significantly decreased the rate of body weight, ovarian organ coefficient, and growth and development of the F1 generation. Notably, these changes included abnormal increases in body weight and length, estrous cycle disruption, and embryonic dysplasia in F1. 4D-DIA proteomic and PRM analyses revealed that exposure to 20 mg/kg group significantly altered the expression of proteins, such as Lhcgr and Akr1c3, within the steroid biosynthetic pathway. This led to elevated levels of FSH and LH in the blood. The hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis, responsible for promoting fertility through the cyclic secretion of gonadotropins and steroid hormones, was affected. RT-qPCR and Western blot results demonstrated that the expression of GnRH in the hypothalamus was decreased, the GnRHR in the pituitary gland was decreased, and the expression of FSHβ and LHβ in the pituitary gland was increased. Overall, BPS exposure disrupts the HPO axis, hormone levels, and steroid biosynthesis in the ovaries, affecting offspring development and fertility. This study provides new insights into the potential effects of BPS exposure on the reproductive function of the body and its relevant mechanisms of action.

G protein-coupled estrogen receptor activation by bisphenol-A disrupts lipid metabolism and induces ferroptosis in the liver

As a metabolic disruptor, bisphenol A (BPA) has been widely reported to disrupt lipid balance. Moreover, BPA has gained significant attention due to its estrogenic activity. While both ferroptosis and the G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) have been implicated in lipid metabolism, their link to BPA-induced lipid accumulation remains unclear. In this study, chickens were randomly assigned to three groups and housed them for 4 weeks: a control group (0 μg/L BPA), a low dose group (50 μg/L BPA) and a high dose group (5000 μg/L BPA) to investigate the underlying mechanism of BPA-induced hepatotoxicity. Our results showed that BPA exposure significantly increased the contents of TG, TC, and LDL-C while decreasing HDL-C levels. We also found that BPA treatment altered the levels of genes involved in fatty acid β-oxidation (ampkα, cpt-1, and ppaα), synthesis (acc, fas, scd-1, and srebp-1) and absorption (lpl and cd36). Moreover, the results showed that the BPA group had higher levels of IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α. These results indicated that BPA exposure disrupted lipid metabolism and induced inflammation in the liver. We also demonstrated that BPA caused hepatic ferroptosis by raising iron content and the expression of genes related to lipid peroxidation (lpcat3, acsl4 and alox15), while reducing the expression of antioxidant system-associated genes (gpx4, slc7a11 and slc3a2). Importantly, BPA remarkably activated GPER expression in the liver. Interestingly, inhibition of GPER remarkably ameliorated BPA-induced lipid metabolism disorder, inflammatory response, and ferroptosis, indicating the crucial role of GPER in BPA-induced liver abnormalities. These findings highlight the link between GPER and ferroptosis in BPA-induced hepatotoxicity, providing new insights into the potential hazard of BPA.

Bisphenol A and its substitutes in the aquatic environment: Occurrence and toxicity assessment

Bisphenol A is classified as a high production volume chemical commonly used in the manufacture of polycarbonate plastics, epoxy resins and thermal paper. The endocrine disrupting properties of this xenobiotic have led to the restriction and prohibition of its use in many consumer products. To date, many chemical compounds with a chemical structure similar to bisphenol A have been used in consumer products as its replacement. The ubiquitous occurrence of bisphenol A and its substitutes in the environment and their endocrine activity as well as adverse effects on aquatic organisms is a global concern, especially because many available literature reports show that many substitutes (e.g. bisphenol AF, bisphenol AP, bisphenol B, bisphenol C, bisphenol F, bisphenol G, bisphenol FL, tetrabromobisphenol A) exert adverse effects on aquatic organisms, similar to, or even stronger than bisphenol A. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the production, sources, occurrence and associated toxicity, as well as the endocrine activity of bisphenol A and its substitutes on aquatic species. The environmental levels and ecotoxicological data presented in this review allowed for a preliminary assessment and prediction of the risk of bisphenol A and its substitutes for aquatic organisms. Furthermore, the data collected in this paper highlight that several compounds applied in bisphenol A-free products are not safe alternatives and regulations regarding their use should be introduced.