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Fu K, Hua J, Zhang Y, Du M, Han J, Li N, Wang Q, Yang L, Li R, Zhou B. Integrated Studies on Male Reproductive Toxicity of Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate: in Silico, in Vitro, ex Vivo, and in Vivo. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:194-206. [PMID: 38113192 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Bis(2-ethylhexyl)tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) has been widely detected in the environment and organisms; thus, its toxic effects on male reproduction were systematically studied. First, we found that TBPH can stably bind to the androgen receptor (AR) based on in silico molecular docking results and observed an antagonistic activity, but not agonistic activity, on the AR signaling pathway using a constructed AR-GRIP1 yeast assay. Subsequently, we validated the adverse effects on male germ cells by observing inhibited androgen production and proliferation in Leydig cells upon in vitro exposure and affected general motility and motive tracks of zebrafish sperm upon ex vivo exposure. Finally, the in vivo reproductive toxicity was demonstrated in male zebrafish by reduced mating behavior in F0 generation when paired with unexposed females and abnormal development of their offspring. In addition, reduced sperm motility and impaired germ cells in male zebrafish were also observed, which may be related to the disturbed homeostasis of sex hormones. Notably, the specifically suppressed AR in the brain provides further evidence for the antagonistic effects as above-mentioned. These results confirmed that TBPH affected male reproduction through a classical nuclear receptor-mediated pathway, which would be helpful for assessing the ecological and health risks of TBPH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianghuan Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Yindan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Mingpu Du
- Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Ecology and Environment Administration of Yangtze River Basin, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430010, China
| | - Jian Han
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Qiangwei Wang
- Institute of Pesticide and Environmental Toxicology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Lihua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ruiwen Li
- Ecology and Environment Monitoring and Scientific Research Center, Ecology and Environment Administration of Yangtze River Basin, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Wuhan 430010, China
| | - Bingsheng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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Yuan Y, Zhuang Y, Cui Y, Liu Y, Zhang Q, Xiao Q, Meng Q, Jiang J, Hao W, Wei X. IL-10-TG/TPO-T4 axis, the target of bis (2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate on thyroid function imbalance. Toxicology 2024; 501:153713. [PMID: 38135142 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153713] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Bis (2-ethylhexyl) tetrabromophthalate (TBPH) is a new type of brominated flame retardant. Some studies suggest that TBPH exposure may be associated with thyroid damage. However, there is a paucity of research on the authentic exposure-related effects and molecular mechanisms in animals or cells. In this study, we used male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats and the Nthy ori3-1 cell line (the human thyroid follicular epithelial cell) to explore the potential effects of TBPH (5, 50, 500 mg/kg and 1, 10, 100 nM) on the thyroid. The genes and their proteins of cytokines and thyroid-specific proteins, thyroglobulin (TG), thyroid peroxidase (TPO), and sodium iodide cotransporter (NIS) were examined to investigate the possible mechanisms. At the end of the experiment, it was found that 50 and 500 mg/kg TBPH could increase the levels of total thyroxine (TT4) and free thyroxine (FT4) significantly. The messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of Tg, Tpo, Interleukin-6 (Il6), and Interleukin-10 (Il10) in the thyroid tissues from the rats treated with 500 mg/kg were enhanced clearly. Meanwhile, the mRNAs of TG, TPO, IL6, and IL10 were elevated in Nthy ori3-1 cells treated with 100 nM TBPH as well. The mRNAs of TG and TPO were elevated after the knockdown of IL6. To our surprise, after the knockdown of IL10 or the treatment of anti-IL-10-receptor (anti-IL-10-R) antibody, the mRNAs of TG and TPO were significantly reduced, and the effects of TBPH were diminished. In conclusion, our results suggested that the IL-10-IL-10R-TG/TPO-T4 axis is one important target of TBPH in the thyroid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuese Yuan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Yimeng Zhuang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Yuan Cui
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Yuetong Liu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Qiong Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Qianqian Xiao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Qinghe Meng
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Jianjun Jiang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Weidong Hao
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Xuetao Wei
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Toxicological Research and Risk Assessment for Food Safety, Beijing 100191, PR China.
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Wang N, Lai C, Xu F, Huang D, Zhang M, Zhou X, Xu M, Li Y, Li L, Liu S, Huang X, Nie J, Li H. A review of polybrominated diphenyl ethers and novel brominated flame retardants in Chinese aquatic environment: Source, occurrence, distribution, and ecological risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:166180. [PMID: 37562617 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Due to the widespread commercial production and use of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) in China, their potential impact on human health development should not be underestimated. This review searched the literature on Polybrominated diphenyl ethers and Novel brominated flame retardant (PBDEs and NBFRs) (broad BFRs) in the aquatic environment (including surface water and sediment) in China over the last decade. It was found that PBDEs and NBFRs entered the aquatic environment through four main pathways, atmospheric deposition, surface runoff, sewage effluent and microplastic decomposition. The distribution of PBDEs and NBFRs in the aquatic environment was highly correlated with the local economic structure and population density. In addition, a preliminary risk assessment of existing PBDEs and PBDEs in sediments showed that areas with high-risk quotient values were always located in coastal areas with e-waste dismantling sites, which was mainly attributed to the historical legacy of electronic waste. This research provides help for the human health development and regional risk planning management posed by PBDEs and NBFRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neng Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Cui Lai
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China.
| | - Fuhang Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Danlian Huang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China.
| | - Mingming Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Xuerong Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Mengyi Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Yixia Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Ling Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Shiyu Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Xinyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry and Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Resources Utilization, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, PR China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, PR. China
| | - Jinxin Nie
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
| | - Hanxi Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University and Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha 410082, Hunan, China
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Shin B, Hong SH, Seo S, Jeong CH, Kim J, Bae E, Lee D, Shin JH, Shim M, Han SB, Lee DK. Hepatocellular Metabolic Abnormalities Induced by Long-Term Exposure to Novel Brominated Flame Retardant, Hexabromobenzene. TOXICS 2023; 11:101. [PMID: 36850976 PMCID: PMC9962401 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11020101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) are widely used to avoid environmental accumulation concerns and because of the regulations imposed on classical BFRs. However, recent studies have not revealed the negative effects of NBFR accumulation and exposure on humans. We conducted a metabolomics study on hexabromobenzene (HBB), one of the NBFRs, to investigate its effect on hepatocytes. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolite profiling was performed to observe metabolic perturbations by treating human livertissue-derived HepG2 cell lines with HBB for maximum 21 days. Metabolic pathway enrichment using 17 metabolite biomarkers determined via univariate and multivariate statistical analysis verified that long-term accumulation of HBB resulted in distinct diminution of eight amino acids and five other metabolites. Molecular docking of the biomarker-related enzymes revealed the potential molecular mechanism of hepatocellular response to HBB exposure, which disrupts the energy metabolism of hepatic cells. Collectively, this study may provide insights into the hidden toxicity of bioaccumulating HBB and unveil the risks associated with non-regulated NBFRs.
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Liu M, Li A, Meng L, Zhang G, Guan X, Zhu J, Li Y, Zhang Q, Jiang G. Exposure to Novel Brominated Flame Retardants and Organophosphate Esters and Associations with Thyroid Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study in Eastern China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:17825-17835. [PMID: 36468700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Novel brominated flame retardant (NBFR) and organophosphate ester (OPE) exposure may engender adverse effects on human health. However, present epidemiological information regarding the effects of such exposure is limited and controversial. In this case-control study, 481 serum samples were collected from patients with thyroid cancer (n = 242) and healthy controls (n = 239) in Shandong Province, eastern China. The levels of NBFRs and OPEs, thyroid hormones, and serum lipid parameters were measured in all the participants. Pentabromotoluene, 2,3-dibromopropyl 2,4,6 tribromophenyl ether, decabromodiphenylethane (DBDPE), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPP) were widely detected (detection frequency > 60%) in all the participants. A significantly high risk association was found between exposure of NBFRs and OPEs (namely 1,2,3,4,5-pentabromobenzene, DBDPE, tri-n-propyl phosphate, tri[(2R)-1-chloro-2-propyl] phosphate, tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, and tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate) and thyroid cancer in both males and females. In the females of the control group, TCEP levels exhibited a significantly positive association with thyroid-stimulating hormone and a negative association with triiodothyronine (T3), free triiodothyronine (FT3), and free thyroxine (FT4) levels. Weighted quantile sum regression evaluated the mixed effects of the compounds on thyroid hormones levels and thyroid cancer. As a result, TPP accounted for the majority of the T3, thyroxine, and FT3 amounts. Our results suggest that NBFR and OPE exposure contributes to alterations in thyroid function, thereby increasing thyroid cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - An Li
- School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, United States
| | - Lingling Meng
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Gaoxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Key Laboratory of Eco-Environment-Related Polymer Materials Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Polymer Materials Ministry of Gansu Province, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730070, China
| | - Xiaoling Guan
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong 250014, China
| | - Jiang Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yingming Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qinghua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang, Hangzhou 310000, China
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Hepatic Gene Expression Profiling of American Kestrels (Falco sparverius) Exposed In Ovo to Three Alternative Brominated Flame Retardants. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11091341. [PMID: 36138821 PMCID: PMC9495696 DOI: 10.3390/biology11091341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Brominated flame retardants are added to many consumer products to reduce flammability. While some of these compounds have been or are being phased out due to toxicity concerns, many other substitute or alternative flame retardant chemicals are still in use and being detected in the environment. There is growing evidence that these alternatives exhibit properties and environmental fates similar to those they replaced. However, little information is available on their potential toxic effects in wildlife. Here, the effects of several flame retardants on American kestrel hatchlings at concentrations observed in wild birds, were investigated by examining gene expression changes in the liver. Effects on the immune, thyroid, and other biological pathways were observed, suggesting that birds exposed as developing embryos in the egg can still exhibit effects upon hatching. Abstract A number of brominated flame retardants (BFRs) have been reported to interfere with the thyroid signaling pathway and cause oxidative stress in birds, yet the underlying shifts in gene expression associated with these effects remain poorly understood. In this study, we measured hepatic transcriptional responses of 31 genes in American kestrel (Falco sparverius) hatchlings following in ovo exposure to one of three high-volume alternative BFRs: 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTPBE), bis(2-ethylhexyl)-2,3,4,5-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH), or 2-ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (EHTBB). Hatchling kestrels exhibited shifts in the expression of genes related to oxidative stress (CYP, GSTA, SOD, and GPX1), thyroid hormone metabolism and transport (DIO1, DIO2, and TTR), lipid and protein metabolism (PPAR, HMGCR, FAB1, and LPL), and cytokine-mediated inflammation (TLR3, IL18, IRF7, STAT3, RACK1, and CEBPB). Male and female hatchlings differed in which genes were differentially expressed, as well as the direction of the effect (up- vs. downregulation). These results build upon our previous findings of increased oxidative stress and disrupted thyroid signaling pathway in the same hatchlings. Furthermore, our results indicate that inflammatory responses appear to occur in female hatchlings exposed to BTBPE and EHTBB in ovo. Gene expression analysis revealed multiple affected pathways, adding to the growing evidence that sublethal physiological effects are complex and are a concern for birds exposed to BTBPE, EHTBB, or TBPH in ovo.
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