Benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) induces lung injury and fibrosis through neutrophil extracellular traps

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and fibrotic diseases

Fibrosis, a common cause and serious outcome of organ failure that can affect any organ, is responsible for up to 45% of all deaths in various clinical settings. Both preclinical models and clinical trials investigating various organ systems have shown that fibrosis is a highly dynamic process. Although many studies have sought to gain understanding of the mechanism of fibrosis progression, their findings have been mixed. In recent years, increasing evidence indicates that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are involved in many inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and participate in the regulation of fibrotic processes in various organs and systems. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the role of NETs in fibrosis development and progression and their possibility as therapeutic targets.

Protective effect of gomisin N on benzyl butyl phthalate-induced dysfunction of testosterone production in TM3 Leydig cells

BACKGROUND

Exposure to benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP) may induce disorders in the male reproductive system. However, the molecular mechanisms remain unknown. Here we investigated the effect of BBP on testosterone production and its molecular mechanisms. Furthermore, we also investigated the role of gomisin N (GN) from Schisandra chinensis (S. chinensis) in testosterone synthesis in TM3 Leydig cells.

METHOD AND RESULTS

First, we examined the effects of BBP on expression levels of testosterone biosynthesis-related genes (StAR, CYP11α1, CYP17α1, 3βHSD, and 17βHSD) and attenuation-related genes (CYP1β1, CYP19α1, and Srd5α1-3). Although testosterone biosynthesis-related genes did not change, attenuation-related genes such as CYP1β1 and CYP19α1 were upregulated with ROS generation and testosterone level attenuation in the presence of 50 µM of BBP. However, the compound with the highest ROS and ONOO- scavenging activity from S. chinensis, GN, significantly reversed the expression of BBP-induced testosterone attenuation-related gene to normal levels. Subsequently, GN improved the testosterone production levels in TM3 Leydig cells. These events may be regulated by the antioxidant effect of GN.

CONCLUSIONS

On conclusion, our study suggests, for the first time, that BBP impairs testosterone synthesis by the modulation of CYP1β1 and CYP19α1 expression in TM3 cells; GN could potentially minimize the BBP-induced dysfunction of TM3 cells to produce testosterone by suppressing CYP19α1 expression.

Occurrence, ecological and health risk assessment of phthalates in a polluted urban river used for agricultural land irrigation in central Mexico

The escalating global concern on phthalate esters (PAEs) stems from their status as emerging contaminants, marked by their toxicity and their potential to harm both the environment and human health. Consequently, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence, spatial distribution, and ecological and health risks associated with PAEs in the Atoyac River, an urban waterway in central Mexico that receives untreated and poorly treated urban and industrial wastewater. Of the 14 PAEs analyzed in surface water samples collected along the river mainstream, nine were detected and quantified by GC-MS. The concentration of each detected PAE ranged from non-detected values to 25.7 μg L-1. Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di-n-hexyl phthalate (DnHP) were detected in all sampling sites, with concentrations ranging from 8.1 to 19.4 μg L-1 and from 6.3 to 15.6 μg L-1, respectively. The cumulative Σ9PAEs concentrations reached up to 81.1 μg L-1 and 96.0 μg L-1 in sites downstream to high-tech industrial parks, pinpointing industrial wastewater as the primary source of PAEs. Given that the river water is stored in a reservoir and used for cropland irrigation, this study also assessed the ecological and human health risks posed by PAEs. The findings disclosed a high ecological risk to aquatic organisms exposed to di-n-octyl phthalate (DOP), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), benzyl butyl phthalate (BBP), DEHP, and DnHP. Additionally, a high carcinogenic (CR > 10-4) and noncarcinogenic (HQ > 10) risk for the DEHP exposure through ingestion of crops irrigated with river water was identified for both children and adults. These data on PAEs provide valuable insights for the Mexican government's future strategies in regulating these pollutants in water bodies, thereby minimizing the environmental and human health risks that they pose.

Butyl benzyl phthalate exposure impact on the gut health of Metaphire guillelmi

Agricultural films are extensively utilized in high-intensity agriculture, with China's annual usage reaching 1.5 million tons. Unfortunately, the recovery rate is less than 60%, leading to an inevitable accumulation of plastic mulch in agricultural soils. This accumulation primarily introduces butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP) into soil ecosystems, whose specific effects remain largely unclear, thereby posing potential risks. The present study focuses on the exposure impact of BBP on earthworms, Metaphire guillelmi, a commonly found endogenic earthworm within real farmland, as it provides insight into the direct interaction between biota gut health and contaminants. Specifically, we studied the biomarkers related to oxidative stress, the digestive system, and neurotoxicity within the gut of Metaphire guillelmi, and the integrated biological response (IBR) index was utilized to track these markers at different timeframes after BBP exposures. Our findings indicate that BBP exposures lead to oxidative damage, digestive system inhibition, and neurotoxicity, with IBR indexes of 14.6 and 17.3 on the 14th and 28th days, respectively. Further, the underlying mechanisms at a molecular level through molecular docking were investigated. The results showed that the most unstable interaction was with the Na+K+-ATPase (binding energy: -2.25 kcal-1), while BBP displayed stable bonds with superoxide dismutase and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction. These interactions resulted in changes in protein conformation and their normal physiological functions, offering new insights into the molecular mechanism underlying enzymatic activity changes. This study has significant implications for the prediction of toxicity, environmental risk assessment, and the establishment of regulations related to BBP.

Individual and joint association of phenols, parabens, and phthalates with childhood lung function: Exploring the mediating role of peripheral immune responses

The functioning of the respiratory system can be interfered with by exposure to mixtures of environmental chemicals, however, the evidence is still ambiguous. We evaluated the association of exposure to mixtures of 14 chemicals, including 2 phenols, 2 parabens, and 10 phthalates, with four major lung function metrics. Based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012, this analysis was conducted among 1462 children aged 6-19 years. Linear regression, Bayesian kernel machine regression, quantile-based g-computation regression, and a generalized additive model were performed to estimate the associations. Mediation analyses were performed to investigate plausible biological pathways mediated by immune cells. Our results indicated that the phenols, parabens, and phthalates mixture was negatively related to lung function parameters. And BPA and PP were identified as important contributors to negative associations with FEV₁, FVC, and PEF, with non-linear relationships observed between BPA and those outcomes. The most influential factor for a probable FEF_{25-75 %} decline was MCNP. BPA, and MCNP had an interaction effect on FEF_{25-75 %}. The association of PP with FVC and FEV₁ has been postulated to be mediated by neutrophils and monocytes. The findings offer insights into the associations of chemical mixtures with respiratory health and the possible driving mechanism, which would be of significance in adding novel evidence of the role of peripheral immune responses, as well as calling for remediation actions to be prioritized during childhood.

Neutrophil extracellular traps and pulmonary fibrosis: an update

Pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is a serious and often fatal illness that occurs in various clinical settings and represents a significant unmet medical need. Increasing evidence indicates that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute significantly to the progression of PF. Therefore, understanding the pathways by which NETs contribute to the disease is crucial for developing effective treatments. This review focuses on the formation of NETs and the common mechanisms of NETs in PF.