Comparison of cellular mechanisms induced by pharmaceutical exposure to caffeine and its combination with salicylic acid in mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Cellular pathway disturbances elicited by realistic dexamethasone concentrations in gills of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as assessed by a multi-biomarker approach

The growing usage of glucocorticoids for a variety of diseases raises concerns since these drugs, including the anti-inflammatory dexamethasone (DEX), are frequently found in the environment. The impact of DEX was evaluated on mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819) by exposure to environmental concentrations (C1: 4 ng/L; C2: 40 ng/L; C3: 400 ng/L; C4: 2000 ng/L), and sampling at 3 (T3), 6 (T6), and 12 (T12) days. A multi-biomarker approach was applied on gills, involved in gas exchange, feed filtering, and osmoregulation. A dose- and time-dependent uptake of DEX was recorded, besides haemocyte infiltration, increased neutral and acid mucopolysaccharides, and a general pro-oxidant effect witnessed by lipid peroxidation and altered antioxidant system. Metabolomics revealed rise in protein turnover and energy demand by fluctuations in free amino acids (alanine, glycine) and energy-related metabolites (succinate, ATP/ADP). It is necessary to reduce DEX dosage from the environment by recovery strategies and effective eco-pharmacovigilance programs.

The influence of temperature on the impacts of caffeine in mussels: Evaluating subcellular impacts and model predictions

In aquatic ecosystems, the presence of pharmaceuticals, particularly caffeine (CAF), has been linked to wastewater discharge, hospital waste, and the disposal of expired pharmaceutical products containing CAF. Additionally, rising temperatures due to climate change are anticipated in aquatic environments. This study aimed to assess the toxicity of various CAF concentrations under current (17 °C) and projected (21 °C) temperature conditions, using the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis as a bioindicator species. Subcellular impacts were evaluated following 28 days of exposure to four CAF concentrations (0.5; 1.0; 5.0; 10.0 μg/L) at the control temperature (17 °C). Only effects at an environmentally relevant CAF concentration (5.0 μg/L) were assessed at the highest temperature (21 °C). The overall biochemical response of mussels was evaluated using non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) and the Integrated Biomarker Response (IBR) index, while the Independent Action (IA) model was used to compare observed and predicted responses. Results showed that at 17 °C, increased CAF concentrations were associated with higher metabolism and biotransformation capacity, accompanied by cellular damage at the highest concentration. Conversely, under warming conditions (21 °C), the induction of antioxidant enzymes was observed, although insufficient to prevent cellular damage compared to the control temperature. Regarding neurotoxicity, at 17 °C, the activity of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme was inhibited up to 5.0 μg/L; however, at 10.0 μg/L, activity increased, possibly due to CAF competition for adenosine receptors. The IA model identified a synergistic response for most parameters when CAF and warming acted together, aligning with observed results, albeit with slightly lower magnitudes.

The odd couple: Caffeine and microplastics. Morphological and physiological changes in Mytilus galloprovincialis

In recent years, the presence of pharmaceuticals and microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems has raised concerns about their environmental impact. This study explores the combined effects of caffeine, a common pharmaceutical pollutant, and MPs on the marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Caffeine, at concentrations of 20.0 μg L-1, and MPs (1 mg L-1, 35-50 μm size range), was used to mimic real-world exposure scenarios. Two hundred M. galloprovincialis specimens were divided into four groups: caffeine, MPs, Mix (caffeine + MPs), and Control. After a two-week acclimation period, the mollusks were subjected to these pollutants in oxygen-aerated aquariums under controlled conditions for 14 days. Histopathological assessments were performed to evaluate gill morphology. Cellular volume regulation and digestive gland cell viability were also analyzed. Exposure to caffeine and MPs induced significant morphological changes in M. galloprovincialis gills, including cilia loss, ciliary disk damage, and cellular alterations. The chitinous rod supporting filaments also suffered damage, potentially due to MP interactions, leading to hemocyte infiltration and filament integrity compromise. Hemocytic aggregation suggested an inflammatory response to caffeine. In addition, viability assessments of digestive gland cells revealed potential damage to cell membranes and function, with impaired cell volume regulation, particularly in the Mix group, raising concerns about nutrient metabolism disruption and organ function compromise. These findings underscore the vulnerability of M. galloprovincialis to environmental pollutants and emphasize the need for monitoring and mitigation efforts. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: The synergy of caffeine and microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems warrants investigation. MPs and caffeine could affect gill morphology of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Caffeine-exposed cells had lower viability than the control group in the NR retention test. MPs and mix-exposed cells struggled to recover their volume.

The pharmaceutical triclosan induced oxidative stress and physiological disorder in marine organism and nanoparticles as a potential mitigating tool

Environmental research plays a crucial role in formulating novel approaches to pollution management and preservation of biodiversity. This study aims to assess the potential harm of pharmaceutical triclosan (TCS) to non-target aquatic organism, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Furthermore, our study investigates the potential effectiveness of TiO2 and ZnO nanomaterials (TiO2 NPs and ZnO NPs) in degrading TCS. To ascertain the morphology, structure, and stability of the nanomaterials, several chemical techniques were employed. To evaluate the impact of TCS, TiO2 NPs, and ZnO NPs, both physiological (filtration rate (FR) and respiration rate (RR)), antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)) activities and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were measured in M. galloprovincialis gills and digestive gland. The mussel's responses varied depending on the contaminant, concentration, and organ, underscoring the significance of compiling these factors in ecotoxicity tests. The main toxic mechanisms of TCS and ZnO NPs at a concentration of 100 μg/L were likely to be a decrease in FR and RR, an increase in oxidative stress, and increased lipid peroxidation. Our findings indicate that a mixture of TCS and NPs has an antagonist effect on the gills and digestive gland. This effect is particularly notable in the case of TCS2 = 100 μg/L combined with TiO2 NP2 = 100 μg/L, which warrants further investigation to determine the underlying mechanism. Additionally, our results suggest that TiO2 NPs are more effective than ZnO NPs at degrading TCS, which may have practical implications for pharmaceutical control in marine ecosystems and in water purification plants. In summary, our study provides valuable information on the impact of pharmaceuticals on non-target organisms and sheds light on potential solutions for their removal from aqueous environments.

Exploring toxicological interactions in a changing sea: The case of the alkaloids caffeine and caulerpin

The bisindolic alkaloid caulerpin (CAU) is a bioactive compound isolated from green algae of the genus Caulerpa that are highly invasive in the Mediterranean Sea. On the other side, the purine alkaloid caffeine (CAF) is one of the most globally consumed psychoactive substances and a widespread anthropogenic water pollutant. Both compounds display a large panel of biological properties and are well known to accumulate in the tissues of aquatic organisms and, in certain circumstances, co-occur in the human diet. On this premise, the present study aimed to investigate possible synergistic interactions between CAU and CAF by using the bivalve Mytilus galloprovincialis as a model organism. Mussels were exposed to CAF via medium while they were fed with food enriched with CAU. After treatments, biochemical analysis confirmed the toxic potential of CAF, with increased AChE activity and lipid peroxidation. Also, histopathological alterations were observed in the gills and digestive tubules. The NMR-based metabolomics analysis detected higher levels of free amino acids under CAF treatments. Conversely, the food administration of CAU did not affect the above toxicological biomarkers. In addition, we did not observe any cumulative effect between CAF and CAU toward increased cellular damage and neurotoxicity. On the other hand, a possible action of CAU in decreasing CAF toxicity could be hypothesized based on our results. This hypothesis is supported by the activity of CAU as an agonist of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). PPARs mediate xenobiotic detoxification via cytochromes P450, which is involved in CAF metabolism. Overall, the results obtained not only rule out any cumulative adverse effects of CAF and CAU but also encourage further research to evaluate the possible use of CAU, a compound easily obtained through the valorization of biomass from invasive species, as a food additive to improve the clearance of xenobiotics.

Short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics hampers the cellular function of gills in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Plastic is undoubtedly the most useful and versatile polymeric material that man has developed in the last two centuries Despite the societal benefits, plastic is now a serious global issue because it is persistent and may bioaccumulate into aquatic biota as microplastics (MPs). This study was designed to evaluate the daily uptake and cellular effects due to a short-term (up to 72 h) exposure to 3 μm red polystyrene MPs (50 beads/mL) in the gills of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, chosen as model species for its ecological and commercial relevance. After measuring the daily uptake of MPs and detecting their presence within the branchial epithelium at all the exposure time-points (T24, T48, T72), some cleaning mechanisms were observed by neutral and acid mucous secretions at mussel gills. The protonic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics, combined with chemometrics, allowed to comprehensively explore the time-dependent metabolic disorders triggered by MPs in mussel gills over the short-term trial. Specifically, the clear clustering between MP-treated mussel gills and those from control, together with the grouping for experimental time-points as depicted by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), were due to changes in the amino acids and energy metabolism, disturbances in the osmoregulatory processes, as well as in the cholinergic neurotransmission. Moreover, as evidenced by enzymatic assays, even the oxidative defense systems and lipid metabolism were hampered by MP exposure. Overall, these findings provides the first insights into the early time-dependent mechanisms of toxicity of polystyrene MPs in marine mussels, and underline the potential environment and human health risk posed by MPs contamination.

Effect of an environmental microplastic mixture from the Seine River and one of the main associated plasticizers, dibutylphthalate, on the sentinel species Hediste diversicolor

The aim of this study was to explore the adverse effects of a microplastic (MP) mixture obtained from litter accumulated in the Seine River (France) compared to those of their major co-plasticizer, dibutylphthalate (DBP), on the sentinel species Hediste diversicolor. A suite of biomarkers has been investigated to study the impacts of MPs (100 mg kg-1 sediment), DBP (38 μg kg-1 sediment) on worms compared to non-exposed individuals after 4 and 21 days. The antioxidant response, immunity, neurotoxicity and energy and respiratory metabolism were investigated using biomarkers. After 21 days, worms exposed to MPs showed an increasing aerobic metabolism, an enhancement of both antioxidant and neuroimmune responses. Energy-related biomarkers demonstrated that the energy reallocated to the defence system may come from proteins. A similar impact was depicted after DBP exposure, except for neurotoxicity. Our results provide a better understanding of the ecotoxicological effects of environmental MPs and their associated-contaminants on H. diversicolor.

Single and combined effects of caffeine and salicylic acid on mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis: Changes at histomorphological, molecular and biochemical levels

Caffeine (CAF) and salicylic acid (SA) are frequently detected in waterbody, though information on their biological impact is poor. This work assesses the effects of CAF (5ng/L to 10µg/L) and SA (0.05µg/L to 100µg/L) alone and combined as CAF+SA (5ng/L+0.05µg/L to 10µg/L+100µg/L) on mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis under 12-days exposure by histomorphology of digestive gland and oxidative stress defense at molecular and biochemical levels. Besides evaluating tissue accumulation, absence of histomorphological damage and haemocyte infiltration highlighted activation of defensive mechanisms. Up-regulation of Cu/Zn-sod, Mn-sod, cat and gst combined with increased catalase and glutathione S-transferase activity were found in CAF-exposed mussels, while SA reduced ROS production and mitochondrial activity. CAF+SA exposure induced differential responses, and the integrated biomarker response (IBR) revealed more pronounced effects of SA than CAF. These results enlarge knowledge on pharmaceuticals impact on non-target organisms, emphasizing the need for proper environmental risk assessment.

Time- and dose-dependent biological effects of a sub-chronic exposure to realistic doses of salicylic acid in the gills of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Among nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) commonly found in seawater and wastewater, salicylic acid (SA) represents one of the most persistent and hazardous compounds for aquatic organisms. This study was therefore designed to elucidate the biological effects of SA in mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. During a sub-chronic exposure (12 days), mussels were exposed to five realistic concentrations of SA (C1: 0.05 μg/L; C2: 0.5 μg/L; C3: 5 μg/L; C4: 50 μg/L; C5: 100 μg/L) and gills, selected as the target organ, were collected at different time points (T3: 3 days; T5: 5 days; T12: 12 days). Exposure to SA induced no histological alterations in mussel gills, despite a relevant hemocyte infiltration was observed throughout the exposure as a defensive response to SA. Temporal modulation of glutathione S-transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities suggested the occurrence of antioxidant and detoxifying responses against SA exposure, while lipid peroxidation (LPO), except for a partial increase at T3, was prevented. Inhibition of the cholinergic system was also reported by reduced acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, mainly at T12. Overall, findings from this study contribute to enlarge the current knowledge on the cytotoxicity of SA, on non-target aquatic organisms, and might for the enhancement of new ecopharmacovigilance programs and optimization of the efficacy of wastewater treatment plants for mitigation of pharmaceutical pollution in coastal areas.

Ameliorative Hematological and Histomorphological Effects of Dietary Trigonella foenum-graecum Seeds in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Exposed to Copper Oxide Nanoparticles

Different types of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) are being used for wastewater treatment worldwide but concerns have been raised regarding their potential toxicities, especially toward non-targeted aquatic organisms including fishes. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity of copper oxide (CuO) NPs (1.5 mg/L; positive control group) in a total of 130 common carp (Cyprinus carpio), as well as the potential ameliorative effects of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) seed extracts (100 mg/L as G-1 group, 125 mg/L as G-2 group, and 150 mg/L as G-3 group) administered to fish for 28 days. Significant changes were observed in the morphometric parameters: the body weight and length of the CuO-NP-treated fish respectively decreased from 45.28 ± 0.34 g and 14.40 ± 0.56 cm at day one to 43.75 ± 0.41 g and 13.57 ± 0.67 cm at day 28. Conversely, fish treated with T. foenum-graecum seed extract showed significant improvements in body weight and length. After exposure to CuO NPs, a significant accumulation of Cu was recorded in the gills, livers, and kidneys (1.18 ± 0.006 µg/kg ww, 1.38 ± 0.006 µg/kg ww, and 0.05 ± 0.006 µg/kg ww, respectively) of the exposed common carp, and significant alterations in fish hematological parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers (lipid peroxidation (LPO), glutathione (GSH), and catalase (CAT)) were also observed. However, supplementing diets with fenugreek extracts modulated the blood parameters and the oxidative stress enzymes. Similarly, histological observations revealed that sub-lethal exposure to CuO NPs caused severe histomorphological changes in fish gills (i.e., degenerative epithelium, fused lamellae, necrotic lamellae, necrosis of primary lamellae, complete degeneration, and complete lamellar fusion), liver (i.e., degenerative hepatocytes, vacuolization, damaged central vein, dilated sinusoid, vacuolated degeneration, and complete degeneration), and kidney (i.e., necrosis and tubular degeneration, abnormal glomerulus, swollen tubules, and complete degeneration), while the treatment with the fenugreek extract significantly decreased tissue damage in a dose-dependent manner by lowering the accumulation of Cu in the selected fish tissues. Overall, this work demonstrated the ameliorative effects of dietary supplementation with T. foenum-graecum seed extract against the toxicity of NPs in aquatic organisms. The findings of this study therefore provided evidence of the promising nutraceutical value of fenugreek and enhanced its applicative potential in the sector of fish aquaculture, as it was shown to improve the growth performance and wellness of organisms.

Toxicological impact of environmental microplastics and benzo[a]pyrene in the seaworm Hediste diversicolor under environmentally relevant exposure conditions

Nowadays, marine ecosystems are under severe threat from the simultaneous presence of multiple stressors, including microplastics (MPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). In addition to their presence in various marine compartments, there are increasing concerns on the potential capacity of MPs to sorb, concentrate and transfer these pollutants in the environment. Although their ecotoxicological impacts are currently evident, few works have studied the combined effects of these contaminants. Therefore, the major purpose of this work was to assess the toxicity of environmental relevant concentrations of MPs (<30 μm) and B[a]P, alone and in mixture, in the seaworm Hediste diversicolor by exploring their accumulation and hazardous biological effects for 3 and 7 days. Environmental MPs were able to increase B[a]P in a time-dependent manner. The obtained results showed that individual treatments, as well as co-exposure to contaminants, caused cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in the cœlomic fluid cells, while oxidative stress effects were observed at tissue and gene levels associated with alteration in neurotransmission. Overall, our findings provide additional clues about MPs as organic pollutant vectors in the marine environment, and contribute to a clearer understanding of their toxicological risk to aquatic invertebrates.

The effect of ocean warming on accumulation and cellular responsiveness to cobalt in Mytilus galloprovincialis

Cobalt (Co) is among the hazardous substances identified in aquatic environments. Industrialization and population growth have also contributed to climate change, namely in what concerns ocean temperature rise. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of temperature rise on the impacts caused by Co on Mytilus galloprovincialis. To this end, mussels were exposed for 28 days to 17 °C and 21 °C, without and with 200 μg L^-1 of Co. Results showed no significant differences in Co bioaccumulation by the organisms between temperatures. A significant interaction between temperature and Co contamination was observed in terms of oxidative damage, detoxification capacity, and neurotoxicity, with a synergistic effect particularly evident in terms of biotransformation enzymes' activity. The obtained results point out that population survival and distribution may be limited in the long term, highlighting the need for future research on the combined effects of both stressors.