Perinatal exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides impairs progeny health and placental angiogenesis by disturbing mitochondrial function

Glyphosate modifies the gene expression and migration of trophoblastic cells without altering the process of angiogenesis or the implantation of blastocysts in vitro

Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been associated with the presence of glyphosate (G) in umbilical cord, serum, and urine samples from pregnant women. Our aim was to study the effect of G on blastocyst implantation using an in vitro mouse model, and the migration and acquisition of endothelial phenotype of the human trophoblastic HTR8/SVneo (H8) cells. In mouse blastocysts, no differences in attachment time and implantation outgrowth area were observed after G exposure. H8 cell migration was stimulated by 0.625 μM G without cytotoxicity. After 6 h, the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) was upregulated in H8 cells exposed to 1.25 μM G when compared vehicle-treated cells (p ≤ 0.05). No differences were observed in interleukin 11, VEGF receptor 1, and coagulation factor II thrombin receptor in H8 cells exposed to different concentrations of G for 6 h compared to the vehicle. Interestingly, exposure to G did not alter angiogenesis as measured by a tube formation assay. Taken all together, these results suggest that G exposure may contribute as a risk factor during pregnancy, due to its ability to alter trophoblast migration and gene expression.

Dietary fat supplementation relieves cold temperature-induced energy stress through AMPK-mediated mitochondrial homeostasis in pigs

BACKGROUND

Cold stress has negative effects on the growth and health of mammals, and has become a factor restricting livestock development at high latitudes and on plateaus. The gut-liver axis is central to energy metabolism, and the mechanisms by which it regulates host energy metabolism at cold temperatures have rarely been illustrated. In this study, we evaluated the status of glycolipid metabolism and oxidative stress in pigs based on the gut-liver axis and propose that AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key target for alleviating energy stress at cold temperatures by dietary fat supplementation.

RESULTS

Dietary fat supplementation alleviated the negative effects of cold temperatures on growth performance and digestive enzymes, while hormonal homeostasis was also restored. Moreover, cold temperature exposure increased glucose transport in the jejunum. In contrast, we observed abnormalities in lipid metabolism, which was characterized by the accumulation of bile acids in the ileum and plasma. In addition, the results of the ileal metabolomic analysis were consistent with the energy metabolism measurements in the jejunum, and dietary fat supplementation increased the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and lipid metabolism. As the central nexus of energy metabolism, the state of glycolipid metabolism and oxidative stress in the liver are inconsistent with that in the small intestine. Specifically, we found that cold temperature exposure increased glucose transport in the liver, which fully validates the idea that hormones can act on the liver to regulate glucose output. Additionally, dietary fat supplementation inhibited glucose transport and glycolysis, but increased gluconeogenesis, bile acid cycling, and lipid metabolism. Sustained activation of AMPK, which an energy receptor and regulator, leads to oxidative stress and apoptosis in the liver; dietary fat supplementation alleviates energy stress by reducing AMPK phosphorylation.

CONCLUSIONS

Cold stress reduced the growth performance and aggravated glycolipid metabolism disorders and oxidative stress damage in pigs. Dietary fat supplementation improved growth performance and alleviated cold temperature-induced energy stress through AMPK-mediated mitochondrial homeostasis. In this study, we highlight the importance of AMPK in dietary fat supplementation-mediated alleviation of host energy stress in response to environmental changes.

Clarification of the molecular mechanisms underlying glyphosate-induced major depressive disorder: a network toxicology approach

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is predicted to become the second most common cause of disability in the near future. Exposure to glyphosate (Gly)-based herbicides has been linked to the onset of MDD. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of MDD induced by Gly using network toxicology approach. The MDD dataset GSE76826 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database was referenced to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood leukocytes of MDD patients and controls. The potential intersection targets of Gly-induced MDD were screened by network toxicology. The intersection targets were used for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and to construct protein-protein interaction networks. The binding potentials of hub targets with Gly were validated by molecular docking. In total, 1216 DEGs associated with Gly-induced MDD were identified. Subsequent network pharmacology further refined the search to 43 targets. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed multiple signaling pathways involved in GLY-induced MDD. Six potential core targets (CD40, FOXO3, FOS, IL6, TP53, and VEGFA) were identified. Finally, molecular docking demonstrated that Gly exhibited strong binding affinity to the core targets. The results of this study identified potential molecular mechanisms underlying Gly induced MDD and provided new insights for prevention and treatment.

Ratiometrically electrochemical and colorimetric dual-mode detection of glyphosate based on 2D Cu-TCPP(Fe) NSs

In this work, a dual-signal output sensor was developed for the ratiometrically electrochemical and colorimetric detection of glyphosate (GLYP) based on the duplex nature of 2D Cu-TCPP(Fe) nanosheets (2D Cu-TCPP(Fe) NSs). Cu active center sites in 2D Cu-TCPP(Fe) NSs could transform into CuCl for signal amplification in the presence of chloride ions (Cl-), which dropped dramatically upon GLPY addition due to the strong interaction between GLYP and cuprous ion triggering the competitive reaction with the conversion of CuCl into Cu-GLYP complex. Meanwhile, the constant current signals of Fe2+/3+ in the iron-porphyrin structure of Cu-TCPP(Fe) served as an inner reference, resulting in a ratiometrically electrochemical GLYP sensor. Moreover, 2D Cu-TCPP(Fe) NSs with intrinsic peroxidase-like activity was employed for the colorimetric determination of GLYP based on the specific inhibitory effect of GLYP on the peroxidase activity of 2D Cu-TCPP(Fe) nanozyme. GLYP concentrations can be quantified in the range from 1.0 × 10-10 M to 1.0 × 10-6 M and 1.0 × 10-9 M to 1.0 × 10-7 M, with detection limits of 3.9 × 10-12 M and 1.89 × 10-11 M for ratiometrically electrochemical method and colorimetric assay, respectively. Such a dual-mode sensor with remarkable selectivity, reproducibility, and stability was finally applied for GLYP detection in real samples and reliable outcomes were achieved.

Effects of triclosan exposure on stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) fate

Triclosan (TCS), a widely used broad-spectrum antibacterial agent and preservative, is commonly found in products and environments. Widespread human exposure to TCS has drawn increasing attention from researchers concerning its toxicological effect. However, minimal studies have focused on the impact of TCS exposure on human stem cells. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of TCS exposure on stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED) and its molecular mechanisms. A series of experimental methods were conducted to assess cell viability, morphology, proliferation, differentiation, senescence, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress after SHED exposure to TCS. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis was applied to investigate the response of SHED to different concentrations of TCS exposure and to explore the molecular mechanisms. We demonstrated that TCS has a dose-dependent proliferation and differentiation inhibition of SHED, while promoting cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and oxidative stress, as well as significantly induces apoptosis and autophagy flux inhibition at high concentrations. Interestingly, no significant morphological changes in SHED were observed after TCS exposure. Transcriptome analysis of normal and TCS-induced SHED suggested that SHED may use different strategies to counteract stress from different concentrations of TCS and showed significant differences. We discovered that TCS mediates cellular injury of SHED by enhancing the expression of PTEN, thereby inhibiting the phosphorylation levels of PI3K and AKT as well as mTOR expression. Collectively, our findings provide a new understanding of the toxic effects of TCS on human stem cell fate, which is important for determining the risk posed by TCS to human health.

Non-12α-Hydroxylated Bile Acids Improve Piglet Growth Performance by Improving Intestinal Flora, Promoting Intestinal Development and Bile Acid Synthesis

As an emulsifier and bioactive substance, bile acids (BAs) participate in the absorption of nutrients and in various physiological processes. The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of non-12α-hydroxylated BAs (including hyocholic acid, hyodeoxycholic acid and chenodeoxycholic acid, from now on referred to as NBAs) on growth performance, BAs metabolism and the intestinal flora of piglets. The experiment included four groups, with eight piglets per group. The four groups of pigs were fed 0, 60, 120 and 180 mg/kg of NBAs, respectively. The results show that adding NBAs significantly increased the final weight (FW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily gain (ADG), and digestibility of crude fat (EE) and organic matter (OM) in piglets (p < 0.05). Adding NBAs significantly increased the villus height (VH) of the jejunum and ileum (p < 0.05). In addition, NBAs supplementation increased the content of urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) as well as the ratio of urea nitrogen to creatinine (BUN/CREA) in serum (p < 0.05). Adding NBAs can affect the genes related to BAs enterohepatic circulation. Specifically, adding NBAs significantly decreased the relative mRNA abundance of FXR in the liver (p < 0.05), significantly increased the relative mRNA abundance of CYP27A1 (p < 0.05), and significantly increased the relative mRNA abundance of NTCP (p < 0.05). Adding NBAs also significantly decreased the relative mRNA abundance of FXR in the ileum (p < 0.05). In the full-length 16S rDNA sequencing analysis, ten biomarkers were found from the gate to the species level. NBAs mainly enriched Lactobacillus_Johnsonii and decreased the abundance of Streptococcus_alactolyticus. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) content in the colon was significantly increased (p < 0.05). These results indicate that NBAs supplementation can improve the growth performance of piglets, promote the development of the bile acid replacement pathway and improve intestinal flora.

Glyphosate induces autophagy in hepatic L8824 cell line through NO-mediated activation of RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway and energy metabolism disorders

Glyphosate is an herbicide commonly used worldwide, and its substantial use causes widespread pollution with runoff. However, research on glyphosate toxicity has mostly remained at the embryonic level and existing studies are limited. In the present study, we investigated whether glyphosate can induce autophagy in hepatic L8824 cells by regulating energy metabolism and rat sarcoma (RAS)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (RAF)/mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK)/extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling by activating nitric oxide (NO). First, we selected 0, 50, 200, and 500 μg/mL as the challenge doses, according to the inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC50) of glyphosate. The results showed that glyphosate exposure increased the enzyme activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which in turn increased the NO content. The activity and expression of enzymes related to energy metabolism, such as hexokinase (HK)1, HK2, phosphofructokinase (PFK), phosphokinase (PK), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with hydrogen (NADH), were inhibited, and the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway was activated. This led to the negative expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and P62 in hepatic L8824 cells and the activation of the autophagy marker genes microtubule-associated proteins light chain 3 (LC3) and Beclin1 to induce autophagy. The above results were dependent on glyphosate concentration. To verify whether autophagy can be excited by the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway, we treated L8824 cells with the ERK inhibitor U0126 and found that the autophagy gene LC3 was reduced due to the inhibition of ERK, thus demonstrating the reliability of the results. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that glyphosate can induce autophagy in hepatic L8824 cells by activating NO, thus regulating energy metabolism and the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

Glyphosate-induced autophagy inhibition results in hepatic steatosis via mediating epigenetic reprogramming of PPARα in roosters

Glyphosate (Gly) is the most widely used herbicide with well-defined hepatotoxic effects, but the underlying mechanisms of Gly-induced hepatic steatosis remain largely unknown. In this study, a rooster model combined with primary chicken embryo hepatocytes was established to dissect the progresses and mechanisms of Gly-induced hepatic steatosis. Data showed that Gly exposure caused liver injury with disrupted lipid metabolism in roosters, manifested by significant serum lipid profile disorder and hepatic lipid accumulation. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that PPARα and autophagy-related pathways played important roles in Gly-induced hepatic lipid metabolism disorders. Further experimental results suggested that autophagy inhibition was involved in Gly-induced hepatic lipid accumulation, which was confirmed by the effect of classic autophagy inducer rapamycin (Rapa). Moreover, data substantiated that Gly-mediated autophagy inhibition caused nuclear increase of HDAC3, which altered epigenetic modification of PPARα, leading to fatty acid oxidation (FAO) inhibition and subsequently lipid accumulation in the hepatocytes. In summary, this study provides novel evidence that Gly-induced autophagy inhibition evokes the inactivation of PPARα-mediated FAO and concomitant hepatic steatosis in roosters by mediating epigenetic reprogramming of PPARα.

Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance-Based Nanosensor for Rapid Detection of Glyphosate in Food Samples

In this study, we developed a biosensor based on the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to detect the widely used herbicide glyphosate in food samples. To do so, either cysteamine or a specific antibody for glyphosate were conjugated to the surface of the nanoparticles. AuNPs were synthesized using the sodium citrate reduction method and had their concentration determined via inductively plasma coupled mass spectrometry. Their optical properties were analyzed using UV-vis spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Functionalized AuNPs were further characterized via Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman scattering, Zeta potential, and dynamic light scattering. Both conjugates succeeded in detecting the presence of glyphosate in the colloid, although nanoparticles functionalized with cysteamine tended to aggregate at high concentrations of the herbicide. On the other hand, AuNPs functionalized with anti-glyphosate functioned at a broad concentration range and successfully identified the presence of the herbicide in non-organic coffee samples and when it was added to an organic coffee sample. This study demonstrates the potential of AuNP-based biosensors to detect glyphosate in food samples. The low-cost and specificity of these biosensors make them a viable alternative to current methods for detecting glyphosate in foodstuffs.

Perinatal exposure to high concentration glyphosate-based herbicides induces intestinal apoptosis by activating endoplasmic reticulum stress in offspring

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs), the most widely used pesticide worldwide, have been reported to impair organ function in humans and animals. However, research on the effect of maternal GBHs exposure on the intestinal health of offspring has received little attention. Based on the glyphosate limits defined by Codex Alimentarius Commission and European Food Safety Authority, this study established pregnant sow exposure models to investigate the influence of low (L-GBHs, 20 mg/kg) and high concentration GBHs (H-GBHs, 100 mg/kg) on the intestinal health of offspring and proposed the protective mechanism mediated by betaine. The results showed that the intestinal morphology and barrier function of suckling piglets were damaged in the H-GBHs group. H-GBHs increased the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and levels of methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and inflammatory factors (tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10)) in suckling piglets and activated Nrf2-mediated antioxidant signaling pathway. Subsequently, we found that exposure to H-GBHs triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and further induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), Caspase3, Caspase9 and Caspase12. Moreover, H-GBHs exposure perturbed mitochondrial membrane fusion and electron transport in mitochondrial respiratory chains by increasing the mRNA expression of mitofusin-2 (MFN2) and succinate dehydrogenase subunit A (SDHA), causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Dietary supplementation with betaine provided modest protection against GBHs-induced intestinal damage in suckling piglets. These findings reveal the mechanism of GBHs-induced intestinal damage in offspring, improving our understanding of the risk of GBHs exposure in pregnant women and suggesting the potential protective effects of betaine against GBHs poisoning.