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Jeong H, Ali W, Zinck P, Souissi S, Lee JS. Toxicity of methylmercury in aquatic organisms and interaction with environmental factors and coexisting pollutants: A review. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 943:173574. [PMID: 38823721 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173574] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 05/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Mercury is a hazardous heavy metal that is distributed worldwide in aquatic ecosystems. Methylmercury (MeHg) poses significant toxicity risks to aquatic organisms, primarily through bioaccumulation and biomagnification, due to its strong affinity for protein thiol groups, which results in negative effects even at low concentrations. MeHg exposure can cause various physiological changes, oxidative stress, neurotoxicity, metabolic disorders, genetic damage, and immunotoxicity. To assess the risks of MeHg contamination in actual aquatic ecosystems, it is important to understand how MeHg interacts with environmental factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved organic matter, salinity, and other pollutants such as microplastics and organic compounds. Complex environmental conditions can cause potential toxicity, such as synergistic, antagonistic, and unchanged effects, of MeHg in aquatic organisms. This review focuses on demonstrating the toxic effects of single MeHg exposure and the interactive relationships between MeHg and surrounding environmental factors or pollutants on aquatic organisms. Our review also recommends further research on biological and molecular responses in aquatic organisms to better understand the potential toxicity of combinational exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haksoo Jeong
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea
| | - Wajid Ali
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Artois, UMR 8181 - UCCS - Unité de Catalyse et Chimie du Solide, F-59000 Lille, France; Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR-8187-LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station Marine de Wimereux, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Philippe Zinck
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Centrale Lille, Univ. Artois, UMR 8181 - UCCS - Unité de Catalyse et Chimie du Solide, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Sami Souissi
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR-8187-LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station Marine de Wimereux, F-59000 Lille, France; Center of Excellence for Ocean Engineering, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan; Operation Center for Enterprise Academia Networking, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung 20224, Taiwan
| | - Jae-Seong Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, South Korea.
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Li Y, Yang L, Su P, Chen N. Curcumin protects against cadmium-induced germ cell death in the testis of rats. Toxicol Res (Camb) 2024; 13:tfae082. [PMID: 38841432 PMCID: PMC11149375 DOI: 10.1093/toxres/tfae082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cadmium (Cd) has been shown to disrupt the reproductive system. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of Curcumin (Cur) against Cd-induced reproductive toxicity. Methods Exploring the role of Cur in Cd-treated rat models. Results The study demonstrated that Cd treatment impaired the seminiferous epithelium, leading to increased apoptosis of germ cells. Interestingly, pretreatment with Cur ameliorated the histological damage and decreased the germ cell apoptosis induced by Cd. Furthermore, after Cd exposure, B-cell lymphoma-2 expression was significantly decreased while Bax expression was increased. Pretreatment of rats with Cur protected against germ cell apoptosis by improving the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 and reducing Bax. Additionally, Cd treatment increased reactive oxygen species, resulting in a decrease in antioxidant enzymes. However, pretreatment of rats with Cur followed by Cd administration led to a substantial decrease in reactive oxygen species levels and increased activities of antioxidant enzymes. Ultrastructural investigations revealed that damage to the mitochondrial structure was significantly ameliorated by Cur pretreatment in Cd-treated rats. Notably, Cur significantly activated the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1a/Sirtuins-3 signaling pathway. Conclusions Overall, our data suggest that Cd induces germ cell apoptosis through mitochondrial-induced oxidative stress, but Cur pretreatment offers strong protection against Cd-induced reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamin Li
- Department of Woman's Health Care, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, 745 Luoyu Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430071, P. R. China
| | - Lu Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, P. R. China
| | - Ping Su
- Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 13 HangkongAvenue, Wuhan 430030, P. R. China
| | - Na Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, 1277 Jiefang Avenue, Wuhan 430022, P. R. China
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Chen N, Wan X, Cheng S, Tang G, Xia D, Xu Y, Shen Y. Defective autophagic flux aggravates cadmium-induced Sertoli cell apoptosis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 273:116095. [PMID: 38367604 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116095] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The male reproductive dysfunction accounts for 50% of infertile couples in the world. Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most harmful heavy metals to both the environment and inhabitants. Accumulating data suggest that Cd could cause male infertility. Sertoli cell (SC) is a somatic cell of testis and a key regulator of spermatogenesis by providing physical and nutritional support for developing sperm. Many studies showed that Cd induced dysfunction of SCs was directly related to male reproductive damage. However, the mechanism of SCs injury caused by Cd remains to be clarified. We found that Cd treatment caused a significant increase of apoptosis in SCs cells, accompanied by a marked increase in the production of ROS. These results were associated with the formation of mitochondria-containing autophagosomes and increased expression of LC3-II in vitro. Interestingly, our results showed that Cd did not promote but inhibited the fusion of mitochondria-containing autophagosomes with lysosomes by reducing the function of lysosomes. Together, this study provides insight into the negative effects of Cd, which interferes with autophagic flux and induces the apoptosis of SCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Wan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510620, PR China
| | - Shun Cheng
- College of Zhixing, Hubei University, Wuhan 430011, PR China
| | - Guiju Tang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Dan Xia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China
| | - Yanling Xu
- Department of Hematology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Affiliated Ruijin Hospital Wuxi Hospital, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214000, PR China.
| | - Yi Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, PR China.
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Zhang X, Hao H, Ma K, Pang H, Li X, Tian T, Hou S, Ning X, Wu H, Hou Q, Li M, Sun Y, Song X, Jin M. The role and mechanism of unfolded protein response signaling pathway in methylmercury-induced apoptosis of mouse spermatocytes germ cell-2 cells. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:472-482. [PMID: 36330985 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to explore the role and mechanism of unfolded protein response (UPR) in methylmercury (MeHg)-induced Mouse Spermatocytes (GC-2spd[ts]) apoptosis. Methods such as MTT, flow cytometry, and Western Blot were used to evaluate the cell viability, membrane potential (MMP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), calcium ion (Ca2+ ), rate of cell apoptosis, and the expression of apoptosis-related and UPR-related protein. The results showed that with the increase of MeHg concentration, cell viability and MMP decreased, ROS, Ca2+ , rate of cell apoptosis, and the expression of apoptosis-related protein and UPR-related protein increased. To further explore the effect of ROS-induced oxidative damage on it, the ROS inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was used. The effects of MeHg on germ cell (GC-2) cells were partially inhibited after NAC pretreatment. Our present study proved that MeHg might induce cell apoptosis by activating the UPR signaling pathway in GC-2 cells and affect normal reproductive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiayu Zhang
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Huifang Hao
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Kai Ma
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Huan Pang
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyue Li
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Tiantian Tian
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Shanshan Hou
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofan Ning
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Wu
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaohong Hou
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Li
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunxiang Sun
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiuling Song
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
| | - Minghua Jin
- School of Public Health, Jilin University, Changchun, People's Republic of China
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Ma H, Zhang H, Yu J, Wang Z, Zeng X, Ye J, Wang C. Integrated analysis of microRNA expression profiles and function network in mice testes after low dose lead exposure from early puberty. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 454:116260. [PMID: 36183778 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
There is evidence suggesting the participation of non-coding RNAs in male reproductive dysfunction induced by lead, and the significance of microRNAs has been highlighted recently because of their essential roles in gene regulatory networks. To comprehensively understand the functions of miRNA and the regulatory networks, RNA sequencing was carried out to obtain miRNA expression profiles in mice testes exposed to low dose Pb for 90 days at the onset of puberty. In total, 44 differentially expressed miRNAs with 26 up-regulated and 18 down-regulated were identified between 200 mg/L Pb group and control group (p < 0.05). Enrichment analysis confirmed that the target genes of DE miRNAs might participate in the metabolism of testicular cells. Furthermore, a miRNA-mRNA co-expression network consisting of 19 miRNAs and 106 mRNAs and a competing endogenous RNA network of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA including 179 genes were established. Finally, the expressions of 4 miRNAs (mmu-miR-451a, mmu-miR-133a-3p, mmu-miR-1a-3p and mmu-miR-486a-3p) and 4 mRNAs (Gramd1b, Tcf7l2, Mov10 and Srcin1) involved in regulatory networks were verified by RT-qPCR. In conclusion, our research might provide targets for the mechanism studies of miRNAs in reproductive toxicity of Pb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitao Ma
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Haoran Zhang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, Hubei Province, China
| | - Ziqiong Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Xiangchao Zeng
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jingping Ye
- Department of Pediatrics, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China.
| | - Chunhong Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Public Health, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, Hubei Province, China.
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Zhou L, Yu Z, Xia Y, Cheng S, Gao J, Sun W, Jiang X, Zhang J, Mao L, Qin X, Zou Z, Qiu J, Chen C. Repression of autophagy leads to acrosome biogenesis disruption caused by a sub-chronic oral administration of polystyrene nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 163:107220. [PMID: 35381522 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
As a new widespread contaminant, nanoplastics (NPs) pose a potential risk to human health. Nevertheless, the adverse effects of NPs on the male reproductive system are poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to determine the effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs) (50 nm) on sperm quality, with a focus on the acrosome defects. After 35 days of intragastric administration, sperm quality was decreased and testicular structures were impaired in mice exposed to PS-NPs in both the medium (1.0 mg/kg) and high dose (10 mg/kg) groups. No significant changes were observed in the low dose (0.2 mg/kg) group. Meanwhile, acrosome parameters including acrosome integrity and acrosome reaction were decreased after the administration of PS-NPs. These findings were consistent with the disruption of acrosome biogenesis, as identified by the changed testicular ultrastructure. Additionally, the findings were further validated using seven marker genes (Gba2, Pick1, Gopc, Hrb, Zpbp1, Spaca1 and Dpy19l2) essential for acrosome formation, which showed that two of these genes (Gopc and Dpy19l2) were significantly down-regulated. Moreover, repressed autophagy was observed in the testes of PS-NPs-exposed mice based on autophagy-related protein expression. This phenomenon was further verified in GC-2spd cells treated with PS-NPs (50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, 200 μg/mL for 24 h). The potential role of autophagy in such acrosome defects was explored by using the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA), autophagy activator rapamycin or beclin-1 siRNA. The results showed that Golgi-associated vesicle disorganization was exacerbated with the 3-MA and beclin-1 siRNA pretreatments, but decreased with the rapamycin pretreatment, and the expression of GOPC and DPY19L2 was also altered. These results indicated that autophagy might be involved in the PS-NPs-induced acrosome lesions based on the regulation of two key acrosome-formation proteins, GOPC and DPY19L2. Altogether, our results will provide new insights into the PS-NPs-induced male reproductive impairment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixiao Zhou
- Department of Health Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziying Yu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinyin Xia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuqun Cheng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jieying Gao
- Department of Health Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Sun
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuejun Jiang
- Center of Experimental Teaching for Public Health, Experimental Teaching and Management Center, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China; Dongsheng Lung-Brain Disease Joint Lab, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Dongsheng Lung-Brain Disease Joint Lab, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China; Molecular Biology Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Lejiao Mao
- Dongsheng Lung-Brain Disease Joint Lab, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China; Molecular Biology Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Qin
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen Zou
- Dongsheng Lung-Brain Disease Joint Lab, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China; Molecular Biology Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases, Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jingfu Qiu
- Department of Health Laboratory Technology, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China.
| | - Chengzhi Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China; Dongsheng Lung-Brain Disease Joint Lab, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, People's Republic of China.
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Zhang Q, Cao S, Qiu F, Kang N. Incomplete autophagy: Trouble is a friend. Med Res Rev 2022; 42:1545-1587. [PMID: 35275411 DOI: 10.1002/med.21884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Incomplete autophagy is an impaired self-eating process of intracellular macromolecules and organelles in which accumulated autophagosomes do not fuse with lysosomes for degradation, resulting in the blockage of autophagic flux. In this review, we summarized the literature over the past decade describing incomplete autophagy, and found that different from the double-edged sword effect of general autophagy on promoting cell survival or death, incomplete autophagy plays a crucial role in disrupting cellular homeostasis, and promotes only cell death. What matters is that incomplete autophagy is closely relevant to the pathogenesis and progression of various human diseases, which, meanwhile, intimately linking to the pharmacologic and toxicologic effects of several compounds. Here, we comprehensively reviewed the latest progress of incomplete autophagy on molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways. Moreover, implications of incomplete autophagy for pharmacotherapy are also discussed, which has great relevance for our understanding of the distinctive role of incomplete autophagy in cellular physiology and disease. Consequently, targeting incomplete autophagy may contribute to the development of novel generation therapeutic agents for diverse human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Shijie Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Component-based Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Ning Kang
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
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Ni L, Wei Y, Pan J, Li X, Xu B, Deng Y, Yang T, Liu W. Shedding New Light on Methylmercury-induced Neurotoxicity Through the Crosstalk Between Autophagy and Apoptosis. Toxicol Lett 2022; 359:55-64. [PMID: 35122893 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2022.01.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a bio-accumulative global environmental contaminant present in fish and seafood. MeHg accumulates in the aquatic environment and eventually reaches the human system via the food chain by bio-magnification. The central nervous system is the primary target of toxicity and is particularly vulnerable during development. It is well documented that developmental MeHg exposure can lead to neurological alterations, including cognitive and motor dysfunction. Apoptosis is a primary characteristic of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity, and may be regulated by autophagic activity. However, mechanisms mediating the interaction between apoptosis and autophagy remains to be explored. Autophagy is an adaptive response under stressful conditions, and the basal level of autophagy ensures the physiological turnover of old and damaged organelles. Autophagy can regulate cell fate through different crosstalk signaling pathways. A complex interplay between autophagy and apoptosis determines the degree of apoptosis and the progression of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity as demonstrated by pre-clinical models and clinical trials. This review summarizes recent advances in the roles of autophagy and apoptosis in MeHg neurotoxicity and thoroughly explores the relationship between them. The autophagic pathway may be a potential therapeutic target in MeHg neurotoxicity through modulation of apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlin Ni
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfeng Wei
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Pan
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyang Li
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Deng
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianyao Yang
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
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Transport and Toxicity of Methylmercury-Cysteine in Cultured BeWo Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010394. [PMID: 35008820 PMCID: PMC8745507 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury is a heavy metal toxicant that is prevalent throughout the environment. Organic forms of mercury, such as methylmercury (MeHg), can cross the placenta and can lead to lasting detrimental effects in the fetus. The toxicological effects of MeHg on the placenta itself have not been clearly defined. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to assess the transport of MeHg into placental syncytiotrophoblasts and to characterize the mechanisms by which MeHg exerts its toxic effects. Cultured placental syncytiotrophoblasts (BeWo) were used for these studies. The transport of radioactive MeHg was measured to identify potential mechanisms involved in the uptake of this compound. The toxicological effects of MeHg on BeWo cells were determined by assessing visible pathological change, autophagy, mitochondrial viability, and oxidative stress. The findings of this study suggest that MeHg compounds are transported into BeWo cells primarily by sodium-independent amino acid carriers and organic anion transporters. The MeHg altered mitochondrial function and viability, decreased mitophagy and autophagy, and increased oxidative stress. Exposure to higher concentrations of MeHg inhibited the ability of cells to protect against MeHg-induced injury. The findings show that MeHg is directly toxic to syncytiotrophoblasts and may lead to disruptions in the fetal/maternal transfer of nutrients and wastes.
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Arsenic and toxic metals in meat and fish consumed in Niger delta, Nigeria: Employing the margin of exposure approach in human health risk assessment. Food Chem Toxicol 2021; 159:112767. [PMID: 34906653 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2021.112767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This study provides information on the health risk of As, Cd, Hg, Pb and V exposure from Nigerian foods consumption (fish, cow, goat and chicken meat) in different age-groups (children, adolescent, adult, senior) and six areas of Niger Delta, Nigeria (Choba, Khana, Eleme, TransAmadi, Uyo, and Yenogoa). The health risk assessment was performed by estimating the weekly or monthly intake of metals from foods and Margin of Exposure (MOE) approach by using established benchmark dose levels (BMDLs). Regarding As, cow and chicken meat products contributed to As exposure intake especially in children resulting in values higher than BMDL0.1 for cancer risk in TransAmadi and Uyo areas. Cadmium exposure was due to cow, chicken and goat meat ingestion mostly in adolescent above the tolerable monthly intake limit in TransAmadi and Uyo areas. Concerning Hg and V, the exposure from Nigerian food did not constitute a potential health hazard. Lead exposure in children were above or close to BMDL0.1 for developmental neurotoxicity by ingestion of cow and goat meat in all the Nigerian areas. In adult and senior the Pb dietary exposure were above the BMDL10 providing a low to negligible risk for kidney effects. The potential concern for health effects in Niger Delta population needs further efforts to decrease As, Cd and Pb dietary exposure especially for children and adolescent, who are more vulnerable to adverse life events.
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Wang Y, Wu N, Jiang N. Autophagy provides a conceptual therapeutic framework for bone metastasis from prostate cancer. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:909. [PMID: 34611139 PMCID: PMC8492756 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04181-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a common malignant tumor, which can spread to multiple organs in the body. Metastatic disease is the dominant reason of death for patients with prostate cancer. Prostate cancer usually transfers to bone. Bone metastases are related to pathologic fracture, pain, and reduced survival. There are many known targets for prostate cancer treatment, including androgen receptor (AR) axis, but drug resistance and metastasis eventually develop in advanced disease, suggesting the necessity to better understand the resistance mechanisms and consider multi-target medical treatment. Because of the limitations of approved treatments, further research into other potential targets is necessary. Metastasis is an important marker of cancer development, involving numerous factors, such as AKT, EMT, ECM, tumor angiogenesis, the development of inflammatory tumor microenvironment, and defect in programmed cell death. In tumor metastasis, programmed cell death (autophagy, apoptosis, and necroptosis) plays a key role. Malignant cancer cells have to overcome the different forms of cell death to transfer. The article sums up the recent studies on the mechanism of bone metastasis involving key regulatory factors such as macrophages and AKT and further discusses as to how regulating autophagy is crucial in relieving prostate cancer bone metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- YouZhi Wang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 300211, Tianjin, China
| | - Ning Wu
- The First Department of Breast Cancer, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, 300060, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin's Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University, Ministry of Education, 300060, Tianjin, China
| | - Ning Jiang
- Department of Urology, Tianjin Institute of Urology, The Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, 300211, Tianjin, China.
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12
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Yuan L, Shi X, Tang BZ, Wang WX. Real-time in vitro monitoring of the subcellular toxicity of inorganic Hg and methylmercury in zebrafish cells. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 236:105859. [PMID: 34004410 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2021.105859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a prominent environmental contaminant and can cause various subcellular effects. Elucidating the different subcellular toxicities of inorganic Hg (Hg2+) and methylmercury (MeHg) is critical for understanding their overall cytotoxicity. In this study, we employed aggregation-induced emission (AIE) probes to investigate the toxicity of Hg at the subcellular level using an aquatic embryonic zebrafish fibroblast cell line ZF4 as a model. The dynamic monitoring of lysosomal pH and the mapping of pH distribution during Hg2+ or MeHg exposure were successfully realized for the first time. We found that both Hg2+ and MeHg decreased the mean lysosomal pH, but with contrasting effects and mechanisms. Hg2+ had a greater impact on lysosomal pH than MeHg at a similar intracellular concentration. In addition, Hg2+ in comparison to MeHg exposure led to an increased number of lysosomes, probably because of their different effects on autophagy. We further showed that MeHg (200 nM) exposure had an inverse effect on mitochondrial respiratory function. A high dose (1000 nM) of Hg2+ increased the amount of intracellular lipid droplets by 13%, indicating that lipid droplets may potentially play a role in Hg2+detoxification. Our study suggested that, compared with other parameters, lysosome pH was most sensitive to Hg2+ and MeHg. Therefore, lysosomal pH can be used as a potential biomarker to assess the cellular toxicity of Hg in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liuliang Yuan
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clearwater Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiujuan Shi
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ben Zhong Tang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, HKUST, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Wen-Xiong Wang
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Research Centre for the Oceans and Human Health, City University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen518057, China.
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13
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Wang S, Yang Y, Luo D, Zhai L, Bai Y, Wei W, Sun Q, Jia L. Bisphenol A increases TLR4-mediated inflammatory response by up-regulation of autophagy-related protein in lung of adolescent mice. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 268:128837. [PMID: 33187652 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In previous studies we found that bisphenol A (BPA) aggravated OVA-induced lung inflammation. The aim of this research was to determine whether BPA exposure alone also induced inflammatory response in the lungs, which mechanism was associated with TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and the activation of mTOR-mediated autophagy. Female C57BL/6 mice aged 4 weeks were randomly divided into three groups (10/group): control group, 0.1 and 0.2 μg mL-1 BPA groups. BPA induced the pathological changes in the lung and increased the levels of cytokines and inflammatory cells, as well as affected autophagy related proteins expression. In addition, the RAW264.7 cell culture experiment was conducted in order to confirm the role of autophagy. We found that BPA can enhance autophagy flux by enhancing autophagosome formation. It was further confirmed the details of the mechanism of action with chloroquine (CQ, a compound that inhibits the fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes) intervention. The inhibition of autophagy led to down-regulation of expression levels associated with inflammation. This research results indicated that BPA induced inflammatory response in vitro and in vivo, and its mechanism may be related to TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and the activation of mTOR-mediated autophagy. After autophagy was suppressed, the inflammatory response also weakened. Our findings provide a new perspective into the mechanisms underlying inflammatory responses induced by the environmental exposure. These findings indicate that therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy may provide a new method for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeng Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
| | - Yilong Yang
- Department of Social Medicine, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
| | - Dan Luo
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
| | - Lingling Zhai
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
| | - Yinglong Bai
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
| | - Qi Sun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
| | - Lihong Jia
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning, 110122, PR China.
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Zhou CC, Fu H, Zhang GY, Ma JW, Ni M, Li DJ, Shen FM, Huang F. Effects of low-level mercury exposure on brain-derived neurotrophic factor in preschool children. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111642. [PMID: 33396162 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Mercury (Hg), a ubiquitous heavy metal, could affect the neurodevelopment of the children, however, these associations are still equivocal. Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) plays an essential role in the central nervous system development in children. This study aimed to investigate the effects of low-level mercury exposure on serum BDNF levels and the influence of sex and dietary intake on these relationships in children. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a total of 541 pre-school children were recruited, the blood mercury concentrations and serum BDNF levels were measured. The background information on demographic characteristics and dietary habits of the children was collected through questionnaires. Multivariable linear models after adjustment for potential confounders were used to evaluate the associations between mercury exposure and levels of BDNF in children. RESULTS The GMs of blood mercury concentrations and serum BDNF levels were 1.06 μg/L, 20.4 ng/mL, respectively. A significant positive association between blood mercury concentrations and serum BDNF levels was found. After stratification by sex, the blood mercury concentrations in children were positive associated with serum BDNF levels in girls but not in boys. However, these associations were attenuated when we further adjusted the children's dietary intake variables. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that low-levels of mercury exposure may have sex-specific effects on BDNF levels in young children and that dietary intake may be potential confounders in these relationships. However, further studies are warranted to investigate the role of BDNF in the effects of mercury on neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can-Can Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Fu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guo-Yan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jia-Wei Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Min Ni
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dong-Jie Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fu-Ming Shen
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fang Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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15
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Liu T, Gao Q, Yang B, Yin C, Chang J, Qian H, Xing G, Wang S, Li F, Zhang Y, Chen D, Cai J, Shi H, Aschner M, Appiah-Kubi K, He D, Lu R. Differential susceptibility of PC12 and BRL cells and the regulatory role of HIF-1α signaling pathway in response to acute methylmercury exposure under normoxia. Toxicol Lett 2020; 331:82-91. [PMID: 32461003 PMCID: PMC7366344 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a critical nuclear transcription factor for adaptation to hypoxia; its regulatable subunit, HIF-1α, is a cytoprotective regulatory factor. We examined the effects of methylmercury (MeHg) in rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells and the rat hepatocyte cell line BRL. MeHg treatment led to time- and concentration-dependent toxicity in both lines with statistically significant cytotoxic effects at 5 μM and 10 μM in PC12 and BRL, respectively, at 0.5 h. HIF-1α protein levels were significantly decreased at 2.5 (PC12) and 5 (BRL) μM MeHg. Furthermore, MeHg reduced the protein levels of HIF-1α and its target genes (glucose transporter-1, vascular endothelial growth factor-A and erythropoietin). Overexpression of HIF-1α significantly attenuated MeHg-induced toxicity in both cell types. Notably, cobalt chloride, a pharmacological inducer of HIF-1α, significantly attenuated MeHg-induced toxicity in BRL but not PC12. In both cell lines, an inhibitor of prolyl hydroxylase, 3, 4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and the proteasome inhibitor carbobenzoxy-L-leucyl-L-leucyl-L-leucinal(MG132), antagonized MeHg toxicity, while 2-methoxyestradiol, a HIF-1α inhibitor, significantly increased it. These data establish that: (a) neuron-like PC12 cells are more sensitive to MeHg than non-neuronal BRL cells; (b) HIF-1α plays a similar role in MeHg-induced toxicity in both cell lines; and (c) upregulation of HIF-1α offers general cytoprotection against MeHg toxicity in PC12 and BRL cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Liu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Qianqian Gao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Bobo Yang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Changsheng Yin
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Jie Chang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Hai Qian
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Guangwei Xing
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Suhua Wang
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Yubin Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Jiyang Cai
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Oklahoma Health Science Center, Lindsay, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Haifeng Shi
- Institute of Life Sciences, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Kwaku Appiah-Kubi
- Department of Applied Biology, C. K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, Navrongo, UK-0215-5321, Ghana
| | - Dawei He
- Center for Experimental Research, Kunshan Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215130, China
| | - Rongzhu Lu
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212013, China; Center for Experimental Research, Kunshan Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215130, China.
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