Synergistic increase in cell lethality by dieldrin and H2O2 in rat thymocytes: effect of dieldrin on the cells exposed to oxidative stress

Assessment of risks, implications, and opportunities of waterborne neurotoxic pesticides

Pesticides are a well-known family of chemicals that have contaminated water systems globally. Four common subfamilies of pesticides include organochlorines, organophosphates, pyrethroids, and carbamate insecticides which have been shown to adversely affect the human nervous system. Studies have shown a link between pesticide exposure and decreased viability, proliferation, migration, and differentiation of murine neural stem cells. Besides human exposure directly through water systems, additional factors such as pesticide bioaccumulation, biomagnification and potential synergism due to co-exposure to other environmental contaminants must be considered. A possible avenue to investigate the molecular mechanisms and biomolecules impacted by the various classes of pesticides includes the field of -omics. Discovery of the precise molecular mechanisms behind pesticide-mediated neurodegenerative disorders may facilitate development of targeted therapeutics. Likewise, discovery of pesticide biodegradation pathways may enable novel approaches for water system bioremediation using genetically engineered microorganisms. In this mini-review, we discuss recently established harmful impacts of various categories of pesticides on the nervous system and the application of -omics field for discovery, validation, and mitigation of pesticide neurotoxicity.

Neural stem cell-based in vitro bioassay for the assessment of neurotoxic potential of water samples

Intensive agriculture activities, industrialization and growing numbers of wastewater treatment plants along river banks collectively contribute to the elevated levels of neurotoxic pollutants in natural water reservoirs across Europe. We established an in vitro bioassay based upon neural stem cells isolated from the subventricular zone of the postnatal mouse to evaluate the neurotoxic potential of raw wastewater, treated sewage effluent, groundwater and drinking water. The toxic potential of water samples was evaluated employing viability, proliferation, differentiation and migration assays. We found that raw wastewater could reduce the viability and proliferation of neural stem cells, and decreased the neuronal and astrocyte differentiation, neuronal neurite growth, astrocyte growth and cell migration. Treated sewage water also showed inhibitory effects on cell proliferation and migration. Our results indicated that relatively high concentrations of nitrogenous substances, pesticides, mercuric compounds, bisphenol-A, and phthalates, along with some other pollutants in raw wastewater and treated sewage water, might be the reason for the neuroinhibitory effects of these water samples. Our model successfully predicted the neurotoxicity of water samples collected from different sources and also revealed that the incomplete removal of contaminants from wastewater can be problematic for the developing nervous system. The presented data also provides strong evidence that more effective treatments should be used to minimize the contamination of water before release into major water bodies which may be considered as water reservoirs for human usage in the future.

Biphenyl-induced cytotoxicity is mediated by an increase in intracellular Zn2

Biphenyl is found both in natural and anthropogenic sources and is used as a fungistat in the packaging of citrus fruits. Acute exposure to high levels of biphenyl has been observed to cause skin irritation and toxic effects on the liver and kidneys. However, the mechanisms of cytotoxicity induced by biphenyl are not yet well understood. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of biphenyl was studied by flow cytometry with fluorescent probes. Biphenyl at 100 μM significantly increased cell lethality after 3 h in rat thymocytes. In addition, biphenyl at 100 μM or more elevated intracellular Zn²⁺ levels. N,N,N',N'-Tetrakis(2-pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN), an intracellular and extracellular Zn²⁺ chelator, but not diethylenetriamine-N,N,N',N″,N″-pentaacetic acid (DTPA), a membrane-impermeable Zn²⁺ chelator, attenuated the biphenyl-induced increase in intracellular Zn²⁺ levels and cell death. These results suggested that biphenyl-induced cytotoxicity caused an increase in intracellular Zn²⁺ levels, which was dependent on internal Zn²⁺. Moreover, biphenyl led to an increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress, while TPEN inhibited this biphenyl-induced increase. Our findings revealed that biphenyl caused an increase in the intracellular free Zn²⁺ concentration, inducing cytotoxicity, cell death, and an increase in sensitivity to oxidative stress.