The protective effect of blueberry anthocyanins against perfluorooctanoic acid-induced disturbance in planarian (Dugesia japonica)

Itaconic Acid Alleviates Perfluorooctanoic Acid-Induced Oxidative Stress and Intestinal Damage by Regulating the Keap1/Nrf2/Ho-1 Pathway and Reshaping the Gut Microbiota

Itaconic acid (IA) is recognized for its potential application in treating intestinal diseases owing to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) can accumulate in animals and result in oxidative and inflammatory damages to multi-tissue and organ, particularly in the intestinal tract. This study aimed to explore whether IA could mitigate intestinal damage induced by PFOA exposure in laying hens and elucidate its potential underlying mechanisms. The results showed that IA improved the antioxidant capacity of laying hens and alleviated the oxidative damage induced by PFOA, as evidenced by the elevated activities of T-SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT, and the decreased MDA content in both the jejunum and serum. Furthermore, IA improved the intestinal morphological and structural integrity, notably attenuating PFOA-induced villus shedding, length reduction, and microvillus thinning. IA also upregulated the mRNA expression of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1, and Mucin-2 in the jejunum, thereby restoring intestinal barrier function. Compared with the PF group, IA supplementation downregulated the gene expression of Keap1 and upregulated the HO-1, NQO1, SOD1, and GPX1 expression in the jejunum. Meanwhile, the PF + IA group exhibited lower expressions of inflammation-related genes (NF-κB, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6) compared to the PF group. Moreover, IA reversed the PFOA-induced imbalance in gut microbiota by reducing the harmful bacteria such as Escherichia-Shigella, Clostridium innocuum, and Ruminococcus torques, while increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus. Correlation analysis further revealed a significant association between gut microbes, inflammatory factors, and the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway expression. In conclusion, dietary IA supplementation could alleviate the oxidative and inflammatory damage caused by PFOA exposure in the intestinal tract by reshaping the intestinal microbiota, modulating the Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory response, thereby promoting intestinal homeostasis.

Red Bull Energy Drink Impact on Salivary Glands in Wistar Rats: Can Blueberry Extract Reverse the Damage?

Energy drink (ED) consumption has become increasingly popular. Due to a lack of evidence, it was crucial to assess the effects of Red Bull (RB) consumption on the rat submandibular salivary gland and the potential therapeutic impact of blueberry (BB). Thirty rats were randomly assigned to five groups. Group 1 (Control) received distilled water. Group 2 (RB) received RB (10 mL/100 g/day) for 8 weeks. Group 3 (BB) rats were administered BB (500 mg/day for 8 weeks). Group 4 (RB + BB (L)) received RB for 8 weeks, and from the 5th week, were concurrently given BB (250 mg/day) for 4 weeks. Group 5 (RB + BB (H)) received RB for 8 weeks, and from the 5th week, were concurrently given BB (500 mg/day) for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected, the animals were euthanized, and their submandibular salivary glands were harvested. Oxidative stress markers (MDA, GPx, CAT, and SOD) were assessed in both serum and tissue. Inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) were quantified in tissue. Submandibular gland specimens were prepared for light microscopy, and immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti-α-SMA. RB consumption resulted in a significant increase in MDA, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10, while GPx, CAT, and SOD levels decreased significantly. Degenerative changes in the gland's structure were observed in the RB group. A significant increase in α-SMA immunoreaction was detected in myoepithelial cells. Administration of BB, particularly at a high dose, ameliorated the aforementioned findings. In conclusion, blueberry administration exhibited therapeutic effects due to its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.

Graphene oxide disruption of homeostasis and regeneration processes in freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica via intracellular redox deviation and apoptosis

The aquatic system is a major sink for engineered nanomaterials released into the environment. Here, we assessed the toxicity of graphene oxide (GO) using the freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica, an invertebrate model that has been widely used for studying the effects of toxins on tissue regeneration and neuronal development. GO not only impaired the growth of normal (homeostatic) worms, but also inhibited the regeneration processes of regenerating (amputated) worms, with LC₁₀ values of 9.86 mg/L and 9.32 mg/L for the 48-h acute toxicity test, respectively. High concentration (200 mg/L) of GO killed all the worms after 3 (regenerating) or 4 (homeostasis) days of exposure. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) and immunofluorescence analyses suggest GO impaired stem cell proliferation and differentiation, and subsequently caused cell apoptosis and oxidative DNA damage during planarian regeneration. Mechanistic analysis suggests that GO disturbed the antioxidative system (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) and energy metabolism in the planarian at both molecular and genetic levels, thus causing reactive oxygen species (ROS) over accumulation and oxidative damage, including oxidative DNA damage, loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity, lack of energy supply for cell differentiation and proliferation leading to retardance of neuron regeneration. The intrinsic oxidative potential of GO contributes to the GO-induced toxicity in planarians. These data suggest that GO in aquatic systems can cause oxidative stress and neurotoxicity in planarians. Overall, regenerated tissues are more sensitive to GO toxicity than homeostatic ones, suggesting that careful handling and appropriate decisions are needed in the application of GO to achieve healing and tissue regeneration.

Molecular and Supramolecular Structure of the Mitochondrial Oxidative Phosphorylation System: Implications for Pathology

Under aerobic conditions, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) converts the energy released by nutrient oxidation into ATP, the currency of living organisms. The whole biochemical machinery is hosted by the inner mitochondrial membrane (mtIM) where the protonmotive force built by respiratory complexes, dynamically assembled as super-complexes, allows the F1FO-ATP synthase to make ATP from ADP + Pi. Recently mitochondria emerged not only as cell powerhouses, but also as signaling hubs by way of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, when ROS removal systems and/or OXPHOS constituents are defective, the physiological ROS generation can cause ROS imbalance and oxidative stress, which in turn damages cell components. Moreover, the morphology of mitochondria rules cell fate and the formation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in the mtIM, which, most likely with the F1FO-ATP synthase contribution, permeabilizes mitochondria and leads to cell death. As the multiple mitochondrial functions are mutually interconnected, changes in protein composition by mutations or in supercomplex assembly and/or in membrane structures often generate a dysfunctional cascade and lead to life-incompatible diseases or severe syndromes. The known structural/functional changes in mitochondrial proteins and structures, which impact mitochondrial bioenergetics because of an impaired or defective energy transduction system, here reviewed, constitute the main biochemical damage in a variety of genetic and age-related diseases.

Neurotoxicity of perfluorooctanoic acid and post-exposure recovery due to blueberry anthocyanins in the planarians Dugesia japonica

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a widely used synthetic industrial chemical which accumulates in ecosystems and organisms. Our study have investigated the neurobehavioral effects of PFOA and the alleviation effects of PFOA-induced neurotoxicity by blueberry anthocyanins (ANT) in Dugesia japonica. The planarians were exposed to PFOA and ANT for ten days. Researchs showed that exposure to PFOA affected locomotor behavior and ANT significantly alleviated the reduction in locomotion induced by PFOA. The regeneration of eyespots and auricles was suppressed by PFOA and was promoted by ANT. Following exposure to PFOA, acetylcholinesterase activity continually decreased and was unaffected in the ANT group, but was elevated after combined administration of PFOA and ANT. Oxidative DNA damage was found in planarians exposed to PFOA and was attenuated after administration of ANT by the alkaline comet assay. Concentrations of three neurotransmitters increased following exposure to PFOA and decreased after administration of ANT. Furthermore, ANT promoted and PFOA inhibited neuronal regeneration. DjotxA, DjotxB, DjFoxG, DjFoxD and Djnlg associated with neural processes were up-regulated following exposure to PFOA. Our findings indicate that PFOA is a neurotoxicant while ANT can attenuate these detrimental effects.

Evaluation of joint effects of perfluorooctane sulfonate and wood vinegar on planarians, Dugesia japonica

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant and can cause oxidative stress in animals. Wood vinegar (WV) is the water condensate of smoke produced during wood carbonization. It was used for antibacterial application, pest control, and antioxidant. In the study, PFOS and WV were used to treat the planarian, and then the oxidative stress induced by PFOS on the planarian (Dugesia japonica) and the protective effects of WV on lipid peroxidation, related antioxidant enzyme activity, and mRNA expression in the planarian were studied. PFOS caused an increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and a change in glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR) activities. The mRNA levels of glutathione peroxidase gene (gpx), glutathione S-transferase enzyme gene (gst), and glutathione reductase gene (gr) are upregulated or downregulated to varying degrees. The WV and co-treatment planarians reduced MDA levels, increased the activities of oxidative stress biomarker enzymes, and restored gene expression levels. Our results show that low concentration of WV has protective effects on the oxidative damage caused by PFOS in the planarian.

Green tea polyphenols and epigallocatechin-3-gallate protect against perfluorodecanoic acid induced liver damage and inflammation in mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation

Perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) is a highly toxic food contaminant that is extensively used in food applications as surface antifouling agent. In this present study, we aimed to assess whether green tea polyphenols (GTPs) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) exert protective effects against PFDA-induced liver damage and inflammation in mice. A mouse model to evaluate liver toxicity was established by giving mice drinking water containing different concentrations of PFDA. GTPs or EGCG (0.32%, w/v) were co-administered to mice exposed to PFDA in drinking water. Overall, GTPs and EGCG extended the survival time and inhibited weight loss among mice who received a lower dose of PFDA. Moreover, GTPs and EGCG ameliorated hepatic oxidative stress, cell apoptosis, necrosis, steatosis, edema, and degeneration, reduced hepatic inflammation and NLRP3 inflammasome activation caused by a moderate dose of PFDA. Taken together, these results show that GTPs or EGCG (or green tea intake) supplements can be beneficial for people exposed to PFDA.

Neuroprotective effects of blueberry anthocyanins against perfluorooctanoic sulfonate on planarian Dugesia japonica

In this study, the planarian Dugesia japonica was exposed to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and blueberry anthocyanins (ANT) for 1-10 days to investigate the protective effects of ANT on neurotoxicity and DNA damage induced by PFOS. The expression of neural related genes (Djnlg, DjFoxD, DjFoxG, DjotxA, and DjotxB) in D. japonica following exposure was determined using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Immunofluorescence was performed to determine the alterations in neural morphology. In addition, ELISA kits were used to measure level of the neurotransmitters Dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-HT) and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Furthermore, single cell gel electrophoresis was measured to analyze DNA damage. In this study, PFOS treatment induced neural morphology defects, alterations in neural-related gene expression, alterations in neurotransmitter levels, and DNA damage. However, co-exposure to ANT and PFOS mitigated the damage to D. japonica induced by PFOS. Restoration of neurotransmitter contents and neural related genes expression were observed in planarians following co-application of ANT and PFOS, immunofluorescence showed that nerve morphology almost recovered, and DNA damage was decreased. The results of this study showed that ANT may have a protective effect against PFOS induced neurotoxicity and DNA damage.

Blueberry anthocyanin alleviate perfluorooctanoic acid-induced toxicity in planarian (Dugesia japonica) by regulating oxidative stress biomarkers, ATP contents, DNA methylation and mRNA expression

Blueberry anthocyanin (BA) have strong health benefits as an active natural antioxidant and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) can result in oxidative stress in animals. In our study, the protective effects of BA against stress induced by PFOA was investigated in the planarian Dugesia japonica using oxidative stress biomarkers, ATP contents, ATPase activity, DNA methylation and mRNA expression. PFOA exposure could resulted in malondialdehyde production. At the same time, treatment with BA decreased the production of malondialdehyde in BA-exposed and co-treatment planarians. PFOA caused activities increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and activities decrease in glutathione reductase (GR). PFOA exposure decreased the GSH and ATP contents. Additionally, it increased the GSSG contents and ATPase activity. BA administration increased the activities of GPx, GST and GR in BA and co-treatment planarians. Meanwhile BA maintained the contents of ATP, ATPase activity, GSH and GSSG by alleviating PFOA toxicity. Moreover, PFOA and BA increased the contents of 5-methylcytosine and decreased 5-hydroxymethylcytosine in all group. In addition, PFOA and BA treated planarians significantly altered the expression of genes associated with above biochemical parameters. The results showed that the mRNA expression of gpx, Djgst, gr, Djnak and dnmt1 were significantly elevated in all groups. Alterations in the mRNA expression levels indicated a stress response to PFOA exposure and anthocyanin protection. These alterations regulated biomarkers of oxidative stress, energy metabolism and DNA methylation levels in planarians. These results indicate that BA attenuated PFOA-induced oxidative stress, energy metabolism, DNA methylation and gene expression disorders.

Molecular cloning, characterization, expression and enzyme activity of catalase from planarian Dugesia japonica in response to environmental pollutants

Catalase (CAT) is an important antioxidant enzyme that protects aerobic organisms against oxidative damage by degrading hydrogen peroxide to oxygen and water. CAT mRNAs have been cloned from many species and employed as useful biomarkers of oxidative stress. In the present study, we cloned the cDNA sequence of CAT gene from freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica (designated as DjCAT) by means of RACE method. Sequence analysis and multiple alignment jointly showed that the full-length cDNA sequence consists of 1734 nucleotides, encoding 506 amino acids. Three catalytic amino acid residues of His71, Asn144 and Tyr354, two CAT family signature sequences of a proximal active site signature (60FDRERIPERVVHAKGGGA77) and a heme-ligand signature motif (350RLFSYRDTQ358) are highly conserved, suggesting that the DjCAT belongs to the NADPH and heme-binding CAT family and has similar functions. In addition, the transcriptional level of CAT gene and activity of CAT enzyme upon acute exposure of environmental pollutants glyphosate and 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C10mim]Br) were investigated systematically. The variation of CAT mRNA expression in D. japonica was quantified by real-time PCR and the results indicated that it was up-regulated after exposure to glyphosate or [C10mim]Br with a dose-dependent manner but not linearly. Even though the variation trend of CAT activity upon glyphosate stress was not monotonously increased and inconsistent with that after [C10mim]Br exposure on day 1 and 3 sampling time, with the duration prolonged to day 5 they both presented a dose-dependent increase and the differences achieved extreme significance in all treated groups compared to the control. These findings suggested that DjCAT plays an important role in antioxidant defense in D. japonica, and the mRNA expression of CAT would also be used as an effective biomarker to monitor the pollution in aquatic environment just like its corresponding enzyme.

Blueberry extract attenuates γ-radiation-induced hepatocyte damage by modulating oxidative stress and suppressing NF-κB in male rats

Radiation exposure is known to produce many harmful effects in biological systems, and these effects are often mediated by oxygen free radicals. Because blueberries are rich in antioxidant compounds such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids, we divided forty adult rats into four treatment groups of 10 (G1-4) as follows: G1 rats were used as a control, G2 rats were irradiated with 8 Gy at 2 Gy/week at a dose rate of 0.5 Gy/min, G3 rats were administered blueberry extract (200 mg/kg) and G4 rats were administered blueberry extract during the same irradiation period. In subsequent determinations, γ-irradiated rats had increased levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL), and significantly elevated liver enzyme activities, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin. In contrast, significant reductions in albumin, total protein and globulin were observed, whereas gamma irradiation decreased activities of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). We also observed incremental increases in DNA fragmentation percentages and histopathological changes in liver tissues. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α) were significantly elevated and hepatic NF-кB was upregulated. In G4 rats, treatments with blueberry extract restored liver pro-oxidant status, reduced cytokine levels, ameliorated histopathological parameters and reduced DNA damage. In conclusion, γ-radiation exerts toxic effects in the rat livers, and blueberry extract is protective against these.

Perfluorooctane sulfonate induced neurotoxicity responses associated with neural genes expression, neurotransmitter levels and acetylcholinesterase activity in planarians Dugesia japonica

As a persistent and widespread toxic organic pollutant in the environment, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has the potential to cause great harm to wildlife. In our study, the effects of PFOS on neurodevelopment gene expression, neurotransmitter content, neuronal morphology, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were examined, and the potential neurotoxicity mechanisms of PFOS were also investigated in planarians, Dugesia japonica. Using quantitative real-time PCR analysis, five neurodevelopmental related genes were measured, among which, DjotxA, DjotxB, DjFoxD, and DjFoxG were found to be down-regulated, while Djnlg was found to be up-regulated, following exposure to PFOS for 10 days compared with control groups. In addition, the neurotransmitters including dopamine, serotonin, and γ-aminobutyricacid as well as the acitivity of AChE were altered by PFOS exposure. Furthermore, PFOS exposure altered brain morphology as well as smaller cephalic ganglia which displayed reduced nerve fiber density decreased brain branches compared to controls. Our results demonstrate that neurotransmission was disturbed after exposure to PFOS and that exposure to this pollutant can cause neurotoxic defects. Results from this study provide valuable information regarding the neuro- and ecological toxicity of PFOS in aquatic animals and aquatic environments.

Genotoxicity Evaluation of an Urban River on Freshwater Planarian by RAPD Assay

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of an urban river - the Wei River in Xinxiang, China using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay in planarians. The results showed that the total number of polymorphic bands and varied bands in RAPD patterns of treated planarians decreased with the water sample site far away from the sewage outlet of a factory. In addition, the genome template stability of treated groups decreased and the degree of the decline was negatively related to the distance between the sample site and the sewage outlet, suggesting that the Wei River water had genotoxicity effects on planarians and strengthening the management of the Wei River was necessary. Furthermore, this work also indicated that RAPD assay in planarians was a very promising test for environmental monitoring studies.

Effects of blueberry anthocyanins on retinal oxidative stress and inflammation in diabetes through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling

Anthocyanins, which are abundant in blueberries, provide significant protection against many chronic diseases. We investigated the effects of blueberry anthocyanins (BA) on diabetes-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in rat retinas. Male rats were divided randomly into five groups. Intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ, 60mg/kg) was used to induce a rat diabetes model. BA at 20, 40, and 80mg/kg were given orally for about 12weeks. The results showed that BA could prevent diabetes-induced weight loss and increased blood glucose. BA also upregulated the antioxidant capacity of the retina, increased the content of glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the serum of diabetes model rats were upregulated, and BA reversed these changes significantly. Furthermore, BA increased the mRNA levels of Nrf2 and HO-1, as well as the nuclear location of Nrf2 and protein levels of HO-1. These results suggested that BA can protect retinal cells from diabetes-induced oxidative stress and inflammation, and this may be regulated through Nrf2/HO-1 signaling.

Genotoxicity evaluation of ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide in freshwater planarian Dugesia japonica using RAPD assay

The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay has been used to detect DNA alternation and mutation recently. However, the effectiveness of this method in detecting DNA damage in planarians, a model organism for assessing the toxicity of environmental pollutants is unknown. In the present study, RAPD assay was used to detect the DNA damage in planarians treated by the ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₈mim]Br) for the first time. Among the 20 test RAPD primers, 13 primers with 60-70% GC content produced unique polymorphic band profiles. A total of 60 bands were observed in the untreated control planarians. In comparison with the control group, the [C₈mim]Br-treated groups displayed differences in RAPD patterns in the band intensity, disappearance of normal bands and appearance of new bands. The variation of RAPD profiles showed both concentration- and time-effect relationships. Meanwhile, the genomic template stability (GTS) of treated planarians decreased and exhibited negative correlation to the exposure concentration and time of [C₈mim]Br. Our results suggested that [C₈mim]Br had genotoxic effects on planarians, and this DNA damage analysis would lay the foundation for further elucidating the toxicity mechanisms of ionic liquids on planarians. Furthermore, RAPD analysis was proved to be a highly sensitive method for the detection of DNA damage induced by environmental pollutants like toxic chemicals on planarians.