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Guo Y, Du X, Wang F, Fu Y, Guo X, Meng R, Ge K, Zhang S. Co-exposure of microcystin-LR and nitrite induced kidney injury through TLR4/NLRP3/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 281:116629. [PMID: 38917587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024]
Abstract
The degradation of cyanobacterial blooms releases hazardous contaminants such as microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and nitrite, which may collectively exert toxicity on various bodily systems. To evaluate their individual and combined toxicity in the kidney, mice were subjected to different concentrations of MC-LR and/or nitrite over a 6-month period in this study. The results revealed that combined exposure to MC-LR and nitrite exacerbated renal pathological alterations and dysfunction compared to exposure to either compound alone. Specifically, the protein and mRNA expression of kidney injury biomarkers, such as kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), were notably increased in combined exposure group. Concurrently, co-exposure to MC-LR and nitrite remarkedly upregulated levels of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β, while decreasing the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Notably, MC-LR and nitrite exhibited synergistic effects on the upregulation of renal IL-1β levels. Moreover, MC-LR combined with nitrite not only elevated mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines but also increased protein levels of pyroptosis biomarkers such as IL-1β, Gasdermin D (GSDMD), and Cleaved-GSDMD. Mechanistic investigations revealed that co-exposure to MC-LR and nitrite promoted pyroptosis both in vivo and in vitro, possibly through the activation of the TLR4/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway. Pretreatment with TLR4 inhibitor and NLRP3 inhibitor effectively suppressed pyroptosis induced by the co-exposure of these two toxins in HEK293T cells. These findings provide compelling evidence that MC-LR combined with nitrite synergistically induces pyroptosis in the kidney by activating the TLR4/NLRP3/GSDMD pathway. Overall, this study significantly enhances our comprehension of how environmental toxins interact and induce harm to the kidneys, offering promising avenues for identifying therapeutic targets to alleviate their toxic effects on renal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Guo
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xingde Du
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Fufang Wang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yu Fu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xing Guo
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Ruiyang Meng
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Kangfeng Ge
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Shenshen Zhang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China; Food Laboratory of Zhongyuan, Luohe, Henan, China.
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2
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Spencer PS, Valdes Angues R, Palmer VS. Nodding syndrome: A role for environmental biotoxins that dysregulate MECP2 expression? J Neurol Sci 2024; 462:123077. [PMID: 38850769 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.123077] [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: 10/01/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024]
Abstract
Nodding syndrome is an epileptic encephalopathy associated with neuroinflammation and tauopathy. This initially pediatric brain disease, which has some clinical overlap with Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) Duplication Syndrome, has impacted certain impoverished East African communities coincident with local civil conflict and internal displacement, conditions that forced dependence on contaminated food and water. A potential role in Nodding syndrome for certain biotoxins (freshwater cyanotoxins plus/minus mycotoxins) with neuroinflammatory, excitotoxic, tauopathic, and MECP2-dysregulating properties, is considered here for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Spencer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Gulu University School of Medicine, Gulu, Uganda.
| | - Raquel Valdes Angues
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Valerie S Palmer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA; Gulu University School of Medicine, Gulu, Uganda
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3
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Yang J, Zhang Z, Du X, Wang Y, Meng R, Ge K, Wu C, Liang X, Zhang H, Guo H. The effect and mechanism of combined exposure of MC-LR and NaNO 2 on liver lipid metabolism. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:119113. [PMID: 38729410 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) co-exist in the environment and are hepatotoxic. The liver has the function of lipid metabolism, but the impacts and mechanisms of MC-LR and NaNO2 on liver lipid metabolism are unclear. Therefore, we established a chronic exposure model of Balb/c mice and used LO2 cells for in vitro verification to investigate the effects and mechanisms of liver lipid metabolism caused by MC-LR and NaNO2. The results showed that after 6 months of exposure to MC-LR and NaNO2, the lipid droplets content was increased, and the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were raised in the liver (P < 0.05). Moreover, MC-LR and NaNO2 synergistically induced hepatic oxidative stress by decreasing total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels and increasing malondialdehyde (MDA) content levels. In addition, the levels of Nrf2, HO-1, NQO1 and P-AMPK was decreased and Keap1 was increased in the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway. The key factors of lipid metabolism, SREBP-1c, FASN and ACC, were up-regulated in the liver. More importantly, there was a combined effect on lipid deposition of MC-LR and NaNO2 co-exposure. In vitro experiments, MC-LR and NaNO2-induced lipid deposition and changes in lipid metabolism-related changes were mitigated after activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway by the Nrf2 activator tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). Additionally, TBHQ alleviated the rise of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in LO2 cells induced by MC-LR and NaNO2. Overall, our findings indicated that MC-LR and NaNO2 can cause abnormal liver lipid metabolism, and the combined effects were observed after MC-LR and NaNO2 co-exposure. The Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway may be a potential target for prevention and control of liver toxicity caused by MC-LR and NaNO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Zongxin Zhang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xingde Du
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yongshui Wang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Ruiyang Meng
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Kangfeng Ge
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Chunrui Wu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Xiao Liang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Huizhen Zhang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
| | - Hongxiang Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, 450002, China.
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4
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Yang H, Ou-Yang K, He Y, Wang X, Wang L, Yang Q, Li D, Li L. Nitrite induces hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism disorders in zebrafish through mitochondrial dysfunction and ERs response. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 273:107015. [PMID: 38996482 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.107015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
Nitrite, a highly toxic environmental contaminant, induces various physiological toxicities in aquatic animals. Herein, we investigate the in vivo effects of nitrite exposure at concentrations of 0, 0.2, 2, and 20 mg/L on glucose and lipid metabolism in zebrafish. Our results showed that exposure to nitrite induced mitochondrial oxidative stress in zebrafish liver and ZFL cells, which were evidenced by increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Changes in these oxidative stress markers were accompanied by alterations in the expression levels of genes involved in HIF-1α pathway (hif1α and phd), which subsequently led to the upregulation of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis-related genes (gk, pklr, pdk1, pepck, g6pca, ppp1r3cb, pgm1, gys1 and gys2), resulting in disrupted glucose metabolism. Moreover, nitrite exposure activated ERs (Endoplasmic Reticulum stress) responses through upregulating of genes (atf6, ern1 and xbp1s), leading to increased expression of lipolysis genes (pparα, cpt1aa and atgl) and decreased expression of lipid synthesis genes (srebf1, srebf2, fasn, acaca, scd, hmgcra and hmgcs1). These results were also in consistent with the observed changes in glycogen, lactate and decreased total triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) in the liver of zebrafish. Our in vitro results showed that co-treatment with Mito-TEMPO and nitrite attenuated nitrite-induced oxidative stress and improved mitochondrial function, which were indicated by the restorations of ROS, MMP, ATP production, and glucose-related gene expression recovered. Co-treatment of TUDCA and nitrite prevented nitrite-induced ERs response and which was proved by the levels of TG and TC ameliorated as well as the expression levels of lipid metabolism-related genes. In conclusion, our study suggested that nitrite exposure disrupted hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism through mitochondrial dysfunction and ERs responses. These findings contribute to the understanding of the potential hepatotoxicity for aquatic animals in the presence of ambient nitrite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Yang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Kang Ou-Yang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Ya He
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Liangmou Wang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Qing Yang
- Institute of Hydroecology, Ministry of Water Resources & Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Dapeng Li
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, PR China
| | - Li Li
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan 430070, PR China; Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430070, PR China.
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5
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Liu H, Du X, Zhang Z, Ge K, Chen X, Losiewicz MD, Guo H, Zhang H. Co-exposure of microcystin and nitrite enhanced spermatogenic disorders: The role of mtROS-mediated pyroptosis and apoptosis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108771. [PMID: 38805914 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024]
Abstract
Microcystins (MCs) and nitrites are coexisted in the environment and have reproductive toxicity. The combined toxic effect and mechanism of MCs and nitrite on spermatogenesis remain largely unclear. In the present study, co-exposure to microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) and sodium nitrite (NaNO2) aggravated testicular damage of Balb/c mice and mitochondrial impairment of spermatogonia, Sertoli cells, and sperm. Furthermore, MC-LR and NaNO2 reduced sperm density with a synergistic effect. In addition, MC-LR and NaNO2 synergistically induced oxidative stress in the reproductive system by decreasing superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) levels and increasing levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). More importantly, mitoquidone mesylate (MitoQ), an inhibitor of mtROS, blocked MC-LR and NaNO2-induced spermatogonia and Sertoli cell apoptosis by inhibiting high expression of Bax, Fadd, Caspase-8, and cleaved-Caspase-3. On the other hand, MitoQ suppressed pyroptosis of Sertoli cells by inhibiting the expression of NLRP3, N-GSDMD, and cleaved-Caspase-1. Additionally, MitoQ alleviated co-exposure-induced sperm density reduction and organ index disorders in F1 generation mice. Together, co-exposure of MC-LR and NaNO2 can enhance spermatogenic disorders by mitochondrial oxidative impairment-mediated germ cell death. This study emphasizes the potential risks of MC-LR and NaNO2 on reproduction in realistic environments and highlights new insights into the cause and treatment of spermatogenic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haohao Liu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China; Department of Public Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xingde Du
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Zongxin Zhang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Kangfeng Ge
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China
| | - Xinghai Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, St Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Michael D Losiewicz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, St Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Hongxiang Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002 Henan, China.
| | - Huizhen Zhang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, Henan, China.
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6
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Ou-Yang K, Zhang Q, Wang L, Yang H, He Y, Li D, Li L. New insights into endocrine reproductive toxicity of Microcystis aeruginosa combined with ammonia exposure in zebrafish. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 342:123021. [PMID: 37995953 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.123021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
The ecological risk posed by MCs-producing M. aeruginosa and elevated ammonia to fish in actual aquatic environments remains uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted simulations to investigate the endocrine-reproductive toxicity of prolonged exposure (45 d) to Microcystis aeruginosa (2 × 10^6 cells/mL) and 30 mg/L total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) in zebrafish under environmentally relevant conditions. Our results showed that exposure to M. aeruginosa significantly inhibited the body weight, increased gonadosomatic index (GSI), delayed oocyte development, and disrupted endocrine hormonal balance (reduced gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), and increased estradiol (E2) and testosterone (T)). Mechanistically, it should be attributed to the over-expression of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver (HPGL) axis-related genes (cyp11a and cyp17) induced by M. aeruginosa. On the other hand, TAN exposure caused mild damage to zebrafish ovarian tissue and promoted an increase of T levels by inducing the upregulation of steroid hormone synthesis gene (3βhsd) expression in the ovary. It is worth noting that the dysregulation of E2/T ratio in zebrafish ovaries may be attributed to the inhibition of cyp19a1a by both M. aeruginosa and TAN. These results were further confirmed by changes in steroidogenic enzymes activities in the M. aeruginosa or TAN treated groups. Our findings indicated that exposure to M. aeruginosa and TAN had adverse impacts on the reproductive system of zebrafish. And the combined exposure of M. aeruginosa and TAN had more severe effects on the body weight, GSI, pathological changes, hormone levels and HPGL-axis related gene expression in female zebrafish. These results provide compelling evidence regarding the potential risks for reproductive health associated with M. aeruginosa and TAN in eutrophic water bodies experiencing M. aeruginosa blooms, and contribute to the development of effective strategies for monitoring and managing these toxins in aquatic ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Ou-Yang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Qian Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Liangmou Wang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Hui Yang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Ya He
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Dapeng Li
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, PR China
| | - Li Li
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Engineering Research Center of Green development for Conventional Aquatic Biological Industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan, 430070, PR China; Freshwater Aquaculture Collaborative Innovation Center of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, PR China.
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7
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Huang W, Shi X, Zhang Q, Chen Y, Zheng S, Wu W, Luo C, Wu K. Transgenerational effects of BDE-47 to zebrafish based on histomorphometry and toxicogenomic analyses. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 344:140401. [PMID: 37839753 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to 2, 2', 4, 4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-47) has been found to have an impact on reproductive output and endocrine function in female zebrafish (Danio rerio). However, the transgenerational effects of BDE-47 have not been fully explored in previous reports. In this study, female zebrafish were exposed to BDE-47 for three consecutive weeks. The oogenesis, sex hormones, reproductive histology, and transcriptional profiles of genes along the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad (HPG) axis were assessed in the exposed-F0 generation. After mating with unexposed males, the transgenerational effects of BDE-47 were evaluated on the basis of histopathology, morphometry and toxicogenome of the unexposed F1 generations at the larval stage. Results indicated that exposure to BDE-47 impaired reproductive capacity, disrupted endocrine system in F0 zebrafish, and compromised craniofacial skeletons and vertebrae development in F1 generations. In addition, through the use of toxicogenomics approach, immune-responsive pathways were found to be significantly enriched, and the transcript expression profiling of immune-related DEGs (IRDs) were dramatically inhibited in F1 generations following maternal BDE-47 exposure, indicating its immunotoxicity to offspring larvae. These findings advance our understanding of the transgenerational toxicity of BDE-47 and advocate for a more comprehensive assessment of other PBDE congeners through histomorphometry and toxicogenomic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenlong Huang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoling Shi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuequn Chen
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Shukai Zheng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenying Wu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Congying Luo
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China
| | - Kusheng Wu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, 515041, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
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8
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Wei L, Fu J, He L, Wang H, Ruan J, Li F, Wu H. Microcystin-LR-induced autophagy regulates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in grass carp ovary cells in vitro. Toxicol In Vitro 2023; 87:105520. [PMID: 36410616 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
MC-LR is one of the cyanotoxins produced by fresh water cyanobacteria. Previous studies showed that autophagy played an important role in MC-LR-induced reproduction toxicity. However, information on the toxicological mechanism is limited. In this study, MC-LR could induce autophagy and apoptosis in GCO cells in vitro. In GCO cells that had been exposed to MC-LR, the inhibitor of 3-MA effectively decreased cell viability and damaged cell ultrastructure. Oxidative stress was significantly increased in the 3-MA + MC-LR group, accompanied by significantly increased MDA content and decreased CAT activity and GST, SOD1, GPx, and GR expression levels (P < 0.05). Inflammation was more serious in the 3-MA + MC-LR group than that of MC-LR group, which was evidenced by increasing expression levels of TNFα, IL11, MyD88, TNFR1, TRAF2, JNK, CCL4, and CCL20 (P < 0.05). Interestingly, the significant decrease of Caspase-9, Caspase-7, and Bax expression and significant increase of Bcl-2 and Bcl-2/Bax ratio in 3-MA + MC-LR group compared to MC-LR group, suggesting that extent of apoptosis were reduced. Taken together, these results indicated that MC-LR induced autophagy and apoptosis in GCO cells, however, the inhibition of autophagy decreased the extent of apoptosis, induced more serious oxidative stress and inflammation, which eventually induced cell death. Our findings provided some information for exploring the toxicity of MC-LR, however, the role of autophagy require further study in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Wei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China.
| | - Jianping Fu
- College of life sciences, Jiangxi Normal university, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330022, PR China
| | - Li He
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China
| | - Hui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China
| | - Jiming Ruan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China
| | - Fugui Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China
| | - Huadong Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province 330045, PR China.
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9
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Casas-Rodriguez A, Cameán AM, Jos A. Potential Endocrine Disruption of Cyanobacterial Toxins, Microcystins and Cylindrospermopsin: A Review. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14120882. [PMID: 36548779 PMCID: PMC9785827 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14120882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Microcystins (MCs) and cylindrospermopsin (CYN), although classified as hepatotoxins and cytotoxins, respectively, have been shown to also induce toxic effects in many other systems and organs. Among them, their potential endocrine disruption (ED) activity has been scarcely investigated. Considering the increasing relevance of ED on humans, mammals, and aquatic organisms, this work aimed to review the state-of-the-art regarding the toxic effects of MCs and CYN at this level. It has been evidenced that MCs have been more extensively investigated than CYN. Reported results are contradictory, with the presence or absence of effects, but experimental conditions also vary to a great extent. In general, both toxins have shown ED activity mediated by very different mechanisms, such as estrogenic responses via a binding estrogen receptor (ER), pathological changes in several organs and cells (testis, ovarian cells), and a decreased gonad-somatic index. Moreover, toxic effects mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), changes in transcriptional responses on several endocrine axes and steroidogenesis-related genes, and changes in hormone levels have also been reported. Further research is required in a risk assessment frame because official protocols for assessment of endocrine disrupters have not been used. Moreover, the use of advanced techniques would aid in deciphering cyanotoxins dose-response relationships in relation to their ED potential.
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10
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Zheng JL, Zhu QL, Hu XC, Parsons D, Lawson R, Hogstrand C. Transgenerational effects of zinc in zebrafish following early life stage exposure. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 828:154443. [PMID: 35278549 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Although toxic effects of zinc (Zn) have been well established in the different developmental stages in fish, long-lasting effects of Zn exposure during embryonic development have not been explored. Exposure to an environmentally relevant Zn concentration of 10 μM (650 μg/L) during the first five days after fertilization did not affect survival, body weight, malformations or overall hatching success of F0 and F1 larvae. Zn exposure did, however, result in delayed hatching in both the F0 and F1 generations and caused significant changes in homeostasis of Zn and selenium (Se) in F0 and F1 fish. This was especially pronounced when F1 embryos from Zn-exposed parents were treated with 30 μM (2000 μg/L) Zn. In the F0 generation, skewed sex ratio towards males and changes in homeostasis of Zn, Se and manganese (Mn) in the brain, gill, liver and gonad of adult fish were also observed. These changes were associated with altered expression of Zn- and Mn-regulatory genes and sex differentiation genes in F0 and F1 fish. The present study suggests that fish may carry memory from embryo-larval Zn exposure into adulthood and further to the next generation. The present study shows that ecotoxicological risk of an exposure to Zn during embryo-larval development may persist long after recovery and may also manifest in the F1 generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Lang Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China; King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Qing-Ling Zhu
- National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, PR China; King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Xiu-Chuan Hu
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Douglas Parsons
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Rebecca Lawson
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK
| | - Christer Hogstrand
- King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Metal Metabolism Group, London, UK.
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11
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Xu G, Luo Y, Xu D, Ma Y, Chen Y, Han X. Male reproductive toxicity induced by Microcystin-leucine-arginine (MC-LR). Toxicon 2022; 210:78-88. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2022.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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12
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Vicentini M, Fernandes LDSP, Marques AEML, Osório FHT, Baika LM, Risso WE, Martinez CBDR, Grassi MT, Fávaro LF, Mela M, Cestari MM, Silva de Assis HC. Effects of cadmium on the female reproductive axis of a Neotropical fish. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131639. [PMID: 34346330 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Metals are one of the contaminants released from the increase of anthropic activities. They can be classified as endocrine disruptors once they can affect the reproductive parameters of different organisms. The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential effects of cadmium on regulatory reproduction axis (Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Gonadal-Liver, the HPGL axis) in females of Rhamdia quelen exposed to nominal concentrations of 0.1; 1; 10 and 100 μg.L-1 of cadmium. After 15 days, tissues were collected for hormonal quantification, brain aromatase (cyp19a1b), hepatic vitellogenin (vtg) gene expression, and biomarkers analysis. Cadmium was quantified in water, gonad and liver samples. The plasma levels of estradiol, testosterone and gonad and hepatosomatic indexes did not changed after Cd exposure. The cyp19a1b was not different among the groups. Cadmium was detected at higher concentrations in the liver compared to the gonads. No genotoxicity was observed, only erythrocytes nuclear alterations. Metallothionein was reduced at 10 μg.L-1 in the liver and 10 and 100 μg.L-1 in the gonad. Hepatic superoxide dismutase activity increased and this can lead to a hydrogen peroxide increase, one of reactive oxygen species. This increase without a compensation of other enzymes of the antioxidant system can lead to lipoperoxidation, as occurred at 100 μg.L-1. Hepatic vitellogenin gene expression increased as well as the injury index at 0,1 and 100 μg.L-1. The tested cadmium concentrations have been found in the freshwater ecosystems and can affect the female reproductive regulation axis HPGL of the Neotropical species R. quelen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maiara Vicentini
- Ecology and Conservation Post-Graduation Program, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil; Pharmacology Department, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Maritana Mela
- Genetics Department, Federal University of Paraná, Brazil
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13
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Xu D, Yu W, Ma Y, Luo Y, Xu G, Xiang Z, Chen Y, Han X. Association between Semen Microcystin Levels and Reproductive Quality: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jiangsu and Anhui Provinces, China. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:127702. [PMID: 34851688 PMCID: PMC8635298 DOI: 10.1289/ehp9736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Dihui Xu
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wen Yu
- Department of Andrology, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital, School of Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuhan Ma
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yang Luo
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Guanghui Xu
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zou Xiang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yabing Chen
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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14
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Zheng JL, Peng LB, Xia LP, Li J, Zhu QL. Effects of continuous and intermittent cadmium exposure on HPGL axis, GH/IGF axis and circadian rhythm signaling and their consequences on reproduction in female zebrafish: Biomarkers independent of exposure regimes. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 282:130879. [PMID: 34087554 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Typical biomarkers of cadmium (Cd) pollution have well been confirmed in fish from continuous exposure pattern. However, in a natural environment, fish may be exposed to Cd intermittently. In this study, juvenile female zebrafish were exposed for 48 days to 10 μg/L Cd continuously, 20 μg/L for 1 day in every 2 days or 30 μg/L for 1 day in every 3 days. The toxic effects were evaluated using 8 various physiological and biochemical endpoints like specific growth rate (SGR), 17β-estradiol (E2) and vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations in plasma, reproductive parameters (gonadosomatic index (GSI), egg-laying amount, spawning percentage, and hatching and mortality rate of embryos). Transcription of 59 genes related to hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal-liver (HPGL) axis, circadian rhythm signaling and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system was examined. SGR, spawning percentage, E2 and VTG levels declined in fish exposed to 10 and 20 μg/L Cd but remained relatively stable in fish exposed to 30 μg/L Cd. Exposure to 10, 20 and 30 μg/L Cd significantly reduced GSI, hatching rate and mortality rate. Similarly, mRNA expression of 27 genes were sensitive to both continuous and intermittent Cd exposure. Among these genes, expression levels of 10 genes had more than 5-fold increase or decrease, including mRNA levels of vtg1, vtg2, vtg3, esr1, igf2a, igf2b, igfbp5b, nr1d1, gnrh3 and gnrhr4. The most sensitive molecular biomarker was vtg3 expression with 1500-3100 fold increase in the liver. The present study, for the first time, provides effective candidate biomarkers for Cd, which are independent of exposure regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Lang Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China.
| | - Li-Bin Peng
- National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China
| | - Li-Ping Xia
- National Engineering Research Center of Marine Facilities Aquaculture, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China
| | - Jiji Li
- College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China
| | - Qing-Ling Zhu
- College of Marine Science and Technology, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan, 316022, PR China.
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15
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Chen L, Shi T, Wang YT, He J, Zhao X, Wang YK, Giesy JP, Chen F, Chen Y, Tuo X, Chen J, Xie P. Effects of acute exposure to microcystins on hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), -gonad (HPG) and -thyroid (HPT) axes of female rats. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 778:145196. [PMID: 34030373 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microcystins (MCs) are common, well-known cyanobacterial toxins that can affect health of humans. Recently, it has been reported that MCs affect endocrine functions. In the present study, for the first time, histopathology, concentrations of hormones and transcription of genes along the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA), hypothalamic-pituitary-gonad (HPG) and hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axes were examined in rats exposed to microcystin-LR (MC-LR). Female, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were exposed acutely to MC-LR by a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection at doses of 0.5, 0.75, or 1 median lethal dose (LD50), i.e. 36.5, 54.75, or 73 μg MC-LR/kg body mass (bm) then euthanized 24 hours after exposure. Acute exposure to MC-LR significantly increased relative mass of adrenal in a dose-dependent manner, but relative mass of hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and thyroid were not significantly different from respective mass in controls. However, damage to all these tissues was observed by histology. Along the HPA axis, lesser concentrations of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone (CORT) were observed in blood serum of exposed individuals, relative to controls. For the HPG axis, concentrations of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and estradiol (E2) were significantly less in rats treated with MC-LR, but greater concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and testosterone (T) were observed. Along the HPT axis, MC-LR caused greater concentrations of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), but lesser concentrations of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH), free tetra-iodothyronine (fT4) and tri-iodothyronine (fT3). Significant positive/negative correlations of concentrations of hormones were observed among the HPA, HPG and HPT axes. In addition, profiles of transcription of genes for synthesis of hormones along the endocrine axes and nuclear hormone receptors in adrenal, ovary and thyroid were significantly altered. Therefore, these results suggested that MC-LR affected HPA, HPG and HPT axes and exerted endocrine-disrupting effects. Effects of MC-LR on crosstalk among these three axes need further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; State Key Laboratory of Eco-hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Faculty of Water Resources and Hydroelectric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an 710048, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ting Shi
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yu-Ting Wang
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Jun He
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
| | - Ye-Ke Wang
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China
| | - John P Giesy
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada; Zoology Department, Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, 1129 Farm Lane Road, East Lansing, MI, USA; Department of Environmental Sciences, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA
| | - Feng Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yang Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xun Tuo
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China; College of Chemistry, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Ping Xie
- Donghu Experimental Station of Lake Ecosystems, State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Wuhan 430072, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing 100049, China; Institute for Ecological Research and Pollution Control of Plateau Lakes, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
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16
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Guo J, Wei J, Huang F, Massey IY, Luo J, Yang F. Optimization of microcystin biodegradation by bacterial community YFMCD4 using response surface method. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 274:129897. [PMID: 33979923 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.129897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The increasing production of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) causing animal and human health issues is found in eutrophic water bodies, marine habitats and desert environments. The health threat posed by MC-LR has led to the establishment of World Health Organization's water guideline value of 1 μg/mL. Combating this has increased the search for cost-effective approach to degrade MC-LR. The study aimed to optimize the MC-degrading environmental factors of bacterial community YFMCD4. Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the influence of varying temperatures, pH and initial MC-LR concentration on the biodegradation efficiency of MC-LR by bacterial community YFMCD4. The optimal MC-LR biodegradation environmental factors were found to be 30 °C, pH 7 and 2 μg/mL initial MC-LR. The biodegradation rate reached 100% after 10 h. YFMCD4 mainly consisted of genera Alacligenes, Sphingobacterium and Pseudomonas using High-throughput pyrosequencing technology. The mlrA gene encoding MlrA enzyme considered most important for MC-LR biodegradation was obtained from YFMCD4. Data demonstrated that the bacterial structure and biodegradation efficiency of YFMCD4 varied with the change of environmental factors including temperature, pH and MC-LR concentrations. RSM is considered a good method to examine the optimal biodegradation environmental conditions for MC-LR. To date, RSM and High-throughput pyrosequencing technology are employed to optimize the biodegradation conditions (30 °C, pH 7 and 2 μg/mL initial MC-LR) and analyze the structure of bacterial community for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Guo
- Xiangya Stomatological Hospital & Xiangya School of Stomatology, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
| | - Jia Wei
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
| | - Feiyu Huang
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
| | - Isaac Yaw Massey
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
| | - Jiayou Luo
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
| | - Fei Yang
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards, School of Public Health, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China; Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Epidemiology, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, 410078, China.
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17
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Guo D, Liu W, Yao T, Ma M, Wang Q, Qiu J, Qian Y. Combined endocrine disruptive toxicity of malathion and cypermethrin to gene transcription and hormones of the HPG axis of male zebrafish (Danio rerio). CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 267:128864. [PMID: 33340882 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128864] [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: 08/09/2020] [Revised: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cypermethrin (CYP) and malathion (MAT) have been widely used and are frequently detected in surface waters. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the endocrine disrupting toxicity of CYP, MAT, and CYP + MAT to 5-month-old male zebrafish (Danio rerio). After exposure, the hepatosomatic index (HSI) and gonadosomatic index (GSI) did not change significantly. Following exposure to the combination of 0.1 μg/L CYP +25 μg/L MAT, the E2 and VTG levels of male zebrafish were significantly increased compared to those after individual pesticide treatments. The molecular level of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in zebrafish was studied; it was found that the expression of the estrogen-related genes, especially the vtg1 gene, was significantly altered in 0.1 μg/L CYP + 25 μg/L MAT. Overall, our observation indicated that CYP or MAT could disturb the hormonal balance, and their combination of 0.1 μg/L CYP +25 μg/L MAT could significantly enhance the estrogenic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Guo
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenping Liu
- Crop Germplasm Resources Institute, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, 136100, China
| | - Tingshan Yao
- Citrus Research Institute, Southwest University, Chongqing, 400712, China
| | - Mengmeng Ma
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- Institute of Agro-product Safety and Nutrition, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, 310021, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jing Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
| | - Yongzhong Qian
- Key Laboratory of Agro-Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Quality Standards and Testing Technology for Agro-Products, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China.
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18
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Zhang S, Du X, Liu H, Losiewic MD, Chen X, Ma Y, Wang R, Tian Z, Shi L, Guo H, Zhang H. The latest advances in the reproductive toxicity of microcystin-LR. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 192:110254. [PMID: 32991922 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Revised: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is an emerging environmental pollutant produced by cyanobacteria that poses a threat to wild life and human health. In recent years, the reproductive toxicity of MC-LR has gained widespread attention, a large number of toxicological studies have filled the gaps in past research and more molecular mechanisms have been elucidated. Hence, this paper reviews the latest research advances on MC-LR-induced reproductive toxicity. MC-LR can damage the structure and function of the testis, ovary, prostate, placenta and other organs of animals and then reduce their fertility. Meanwhile, MC-LR can also be transmitted through the placenta to the offspring causing trans-generational and developmental toxicity including death, malformation, growth retardation, and organ dysfunction in embryos and juveniles. The mechanisms of MC-LR-induced reproductive toxicity mainly include the inhibition of protein phosphatase 1/2 A (PP1/2 A) activity and the induction of oxidative stress. On the one hand, MC-LR triggers the hyperphosphorylation of certain proteins by inhibiting intracellular PP1/2 A activity, thereby activating multiple signaling pathways that cause inflammation and blood-testis barrier destruction, etc. On the other hand, MC-LR-induced oxidative stress can result in cell programmed death via the mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum pathways. It is worth noting that epigenetic modifications are also involved in reproductive cell apoptosis, which may be an important direction for future research. Furthermore, this paper proposes for the first time that MC-LR can produce estrogenic effects in animals as an environmental estrogen. New findings and suggestions in this review could be areas of interest for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Zhang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xingde Du
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Haohao Liu
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Michael D Losiewic
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, St Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Xinghai Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, St Mary's University, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Ya Ma
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Rui Wang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Zhihui Tian
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Linjia Shi
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Hongxiang Guo
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
| | - Huizhen Zhang
- College of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China.
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Zhao S, Yuan C, Tuo X, Zhou C, Zhao Q, Shen T. MCLR induces dysregulation of calcium homeostasis and endoplasmic reticulum stress resulting in apoptosis in Sertoli cells. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 263:127868. [PMID: 32828052 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Microcystins-LR (MCLR) is a potent reproductive system toxin. We have previously shown that MCLR induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis in testis. ER is the main calcium storage site in cells, and its calcium homeostasis plays an important role in the regulation of apoptosis. Hence, in the present study, we have investigated the role of calcium (Ca2+) in inducing apoptosis and how it affect the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in TM4 cells. Our study found that MCLR induced an increase in Ca2+ concentration in TM4 cells. Compared to the controls, MCLR induced phosphorylation of calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) which was involved in MAPKs activation, resulting in the induction of mitochondrial apoptosis pathways. Ca2+ chelator Bapta-AM partially reversed MCLR-induced apoptosis, confirming the possible involvement of calcium homeostasis disruption after MCLR exposure. Meanwhile, MCLR activated unfolded protein response and activated the ER apoptotic pathway by activating caspase-12. In addition, exposure to MCLR causes mitochondrial defects and increased apoptosis by up-regulating caspase 3 and cytosol cytochrome c expression. Collectively, these results demonstrated that MCLR disturbed calcium homeostasis, which caused ER-mitochondria dysfunction, ultimately promoted cell apoptosis in Sertoli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujuan Zhao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Chunyang Yuan
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xun Tuo
- College of Chemistry, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, China
| | - Chengfan Zhou
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qihong Zhao
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Tong Shen
- School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
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20
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Qian L, Qi S, Zhang J, Duan M, Schlenk D, Jiang J, Wang C. Exposure to Boscalid Induces Reproductive Toxicity of Zebrafish by Gender-Specific Alterations in Steroidogenesis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:14275-14287. [PMID: 33138376 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c02871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Boscalid is a succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor fungicide and is frequently detected in surface water. Due to the frequent detection of boscalid, we evaluated its impact on the reproduction of adult zebrafish following a 21 d exposure to 0, 0.01, 0.1, and 1.0 mg/L. Following exposure to boscalid, the fertility of female zebrafish and fertilization rate of spawning eggs were reduced in a concentration-dependent manner up to a respective 87% and 20% in the highest concentration. A significant 16% reduction in the percentage of late vitellogenic oocytes was noted in ovaries, and a significant 74% reduction in the percentage of spermatids in testis was also observed after treatment with 1.0 mg/L. 17β-Estradiol (E2) concentrations decreased significantly in females (34% decrease) but significantly increased in males (15% increase) following 1.0 mg/L boscalid treatment. The expression of genes (such as era, er2b, cyp19a, and cyp19b) related to the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis was significantly altered and positively correlated with E2 concentrations in female and male zebrafish (p < 0.05). Molecular docking results revealed that the binding modes between boscalid and target proteins (ER and CYP19) of zebrafish were similar to that of the reference compounds and the target proteins. The binding energies indicate that boscalid may have a weak estrogen-like binding effect or CYP19 inhibition, potentially altering the HPGL axis, thereby reducing E2 concentrations and fecundity in females. In contrast, boscalid caused significant induction of E2 steroidogenesis and subsequent feminization of gonads in males, indicating gender-specific adverse outcome pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Qian
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Suzhen Qi
- Risk Assessment Laboratory for Bee Product Quality and Safety of Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Agricultural Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100093, People's Republic of China
| | - Jie Zhang
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Manman Duan
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Daniel Schlenk
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Jiazhen Jiang
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengju Wang
- College of Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, People's Republic of China
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21
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Meng X, Zhang L, Hou J, Ma T, Pan C, Zhou Y, Han R, Ding Y, Peng H, Xiang Z, Li D, Han X. The mechanisms in the altered ontogenetic development and lung-related pathology in microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR)-paternal-exposed offspring mice. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 736:139678. [PMID: 32479959 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
A father's lifetime experience is a major risk factor for a range of diseases in an individual, and the consequences of the exposure can also be transmitted to his offspring. Our previous work has demonstrated that damage to testicular structures and decline in sperm quality in male mice can be caused by microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), but the overall effects of the scope and extent of paternal exposure on health and disease in the offspring remain underexplored. Here, we report that MC-LR-paternal-exposed offspring mice showed reduced litter size and body weight accompanied by increased abnormalities in the lung. Analyses of the small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) in the sperm from MC-LR-exposed males demonstrated the downregulation of a wide range of piRNAs enriched for those target genes involved in the regulation of the embryo implantation pathways. Gene and protein expression analyses, as well as biochemical and functional studies, revealed suppressed expression of Hsp90α in testicular tissues from MC-LR-exposed males. Decreased Hsp90α in testicular tissues impaired the development of the offspring. In this study, we revealed that MC-LR alters the expression of Hsp90α in testicular tissues to cause changes in the expression profiles of sperm piRNAs produced by paternal mice. These changes lead to aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in pulmonary tissues of offspring mice, causing lung tissue damage and abnormal development. We hereby confirmed that MC-LR-induced alterations in epigenetic inheritance are capable of contributing to intergenerational developmental defects in paternal-exposed offspring mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiannan Meng
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Jiwei Hou
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Tan Ma
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Chun Pan
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Yuan Zhou
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Ruitong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Yuanzhen Ding
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Haoran Peng
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Zou Xiang
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Dongmei Li
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
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22
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Zhan C, Zhang F, Liu W, Zhang X. Microcystin-LR promotes zebrafish (Danio rerio) oocyte (in vivo) maturation by activating ERK1/2-MPF signaling pathways, and cAMP is involved in this process. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 259:113843. [PMID: 31887595 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial blooms and their secondary metabolites, microcystins (MCs), are not only toxic to aquatic organisms, but also to humans. MCs exert reproductive toxicity in female fish by affecting the oocyte development. However, the mechanism behind MC-LR interference in oocyte development remains largely unknown. In our study, adult female zebrafish were exposed to MC-LR (0, 1, 5, 20 μg/L) for 30 d. After exposure to MC-LR for 30 d, fertilized eggs from the treated females and healthy males were collected and cultured in water without MC-LR. Histomorphological observations showed pathological damage in the ovary after MC-LR exposure, which was mainly characterized by enlarged intercellular spaces, detachment of follicular cells from oocytes, and vacuolation of parenchymal tissues. The 20 μg/L MC-LR treatment caused a remarkable increase in the rate of the zebrafish oocytes germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and a significant decrease in the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and vitellogenin (VTG). In addition, the phosphorylation levels of the extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) were elevated in ovaries from zebrafish exposed to 5 and 20 μg/L MC-LR, and cyclinB phosphorylation levels were also upregulated notably in the 20 μg/L MC-LR group. However, MC-LR exposure did not cause any change in the levels of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) protein and cdc2 phosphorylation in all the treatments. All the doses of MC-LR reduced the number of eggs, prematurely hatched the fertilized eggs and increased the abnormal rate of offspring generation. In summary, the present study demonstrates that MC-LR promotes oocyte maturation by activating the ERK1/2 and MPF signaling pathways, and cAMP is involved in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhua Zhan
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Wanjing Liu
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Xuezhen Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Huazhong Agricultural University, Hubei Provincial Engineering Laboratory for Pond Aquaculture, Wuhan 430070, China.
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23
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Meng X, Peng H, Ding Y, Zhang L, Yang J, Han X. A transcriptomic regulatory network among miRNAs, piRNAs, circRNAs, lncRNAs and mRNAs regulates microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR)-induced male reproductive toxicity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 667:563-577. [PMID: 30833255 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) which is produced by cyanobacteria is a potent toxin for the reproductive system. Our previous work has demonstrated that both acute and chronic reproductive toxicity engendered by MC-LR can result in the decline of sperm quality and damage of testicular structures in male mice. The present study was designed to investigate the impact of chronic low-dose exposure to MC-LR on the regulation of RNA networks including mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), piwi-associated RNA (piRNA), covalently closed circular RNA (circRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in testicular tissues. By high-throughput sequencing analysis, 1091 mRNAs, 21 miRNAs, 644 piRNAs, 278 circRNAs and 324 lncRNAs were identified to be significantly altered in testicular tissues treated with MC-LR. We performed gene ontology (GO) analysis to ascertain the biological functions of differentially expressed genes. Among the altered 21 miRNAs and 644 piRNAs, the miRNA chr13_8977, which is a newly discovered species, and the piRNA mmu_piR_027558 were dramatically down-regulated after exposure to MC-LR. Consistently, both mRNA levels and protein expression levels of their predicted targets were increased significantly when chr13_8977 and mmu_piR_027558 were each down-regulated. Testicular structures, germ cell apoptosis and sperm quality were also affected by the altered expression of chr13_8977 and mmu_piR_027558 severally. We further investigated the differential expression of circRNAs and lncRNAs and their biological functions in testicular tissues following treatment with chronic low-dose exposure to MC-LR. We also constructed a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network to predict the functions of the altered expressed RNAs using MiRanda. Our study suggested a crucial role for the potential network regulation of miRNAs, piRNAs, circRNAs, lncRNAs and mRNAs impacting the cytotoxicity of MC-LR in testicular tissues, which provides new perspectives in the development of diagnosis and treatment strategies for MC-LR-induced male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiannan Meng
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Haoran Peng
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Yuanzhen Ding
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Ling Zhang
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Jingping Yang
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
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