Chlorpyrifos induced oxidative stress to promote apoptosis and autophagy through the regulation of miR-19a-AMPK axis in common carp

Chlorpyrifos induces autophagy by suppressing the mTOR pathway in immortalized GnRH neurons

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widely used pesticide inducing adverse neurodevelopmental and reproductive effects. However, knowledge of the underlying mechanisms is limited, particularly in the hypothalamus. We investigated the mode of action of CPF at human relevant concentrations (1 nM-100 nM) in immortalized mouse hypothalamic GnRH neurons (GT1-7), an elective model for studying disruption of the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonads (HPG) axis. We firstly examined cell vitality, proliferation, and apoptosis/necrosis. At not-cytotoxic concentrations, we evaluated neuron functionality, gene expression, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and proteomics profiles, validating results by immunofluorescence and western blotting (WB). CPF decreased cell vitality with a dose-response but did not affect cell proliferation. At 100 nM, CPF inhibited gene expression and secretion of GnRH; in addition, CPF reduced the immunoreactivity of the neuronal marker Map2 in a dose-dependent manner. The gene expression of Estrogen Receptor α and β (Erα, Erβ), Androgen Receptor (Ar), aromatase and oxytocin receptor was induced by CPF with different trends. Functional analysis of differentially expressed proteins identified Autophagy, mTOR signaling and Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation as significant pathways affected at all concentrations. This finding was phenotypically supported by the TEM analysis, showing marked autophagy and damage of mitochondria, as well as by protein analysis demonstrating a dose-dependent decrease of mTOR and its direct target pUlk1 (Ser 757). The bioinformatics network analysis identified a core module of interacting proteins, including Erα, Ar, mTOR and Sirt1, whose down-regulation was confirmed by WB analysis. Overall, our results demonstrate that CPF is an inhibitor of the mTOR pathway leading to autophagy in GnRH neurons; a possible involvement of the Erα/Ar signaling is also suggested. The evidence for adverse effects of CPF in the hypothalamus in the nanomolar range, as occurs in human exposure, increases concern on potential adverse outcomes induced by this pesticide on the HPG axis.

Strobilurin fungicide increases the susceptibility of amphibian larvae to trematode infections

The global rise in fungal pathogens has driven the increased usage of fungicides, yet our understanding of their ecotoxicity remains largely limited to acute toxicity. While such data is critical for projecting the risk of fungicide exposure to individual species, the contamination of natural systems with fungicides also has the potential to alter species interactions within communities including host-parasite relationships. We examined the effects of the fungicide pyraclostrobin on the susceptibility of larval American bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) to trematode (echinostome) infections using a controlled laboratory experiment. Following a 2-wk exposure to 0, 1.0, 5.2, or 8.4 µg/L of pyraclostrobin, tadpoles were then exposed to parasites either in the 1) presence (continued/simultaneous exposure) or 2) absence (fungicide-free water) of pyraclostrobin. We found that when exposed to pyraclostrobin during parasite exposure, meta cercariae counts increased 4 to 8 times compared to control tadpoles. Additionally, parasite loads were approximately 2 times higher in tadpoles with continued fungicide exposures compared to tadpoles that were moved to fresh water following fungicide exposure. This research demonstrates that fungicides at environmentally relevant concentrations can indirectly alter host-parasite interactions, which could elevate disease risk. It also underscores the need for studies that expand beyond traditional toxicity experiments to assess the potential community and ecosystem-level implications of environmental contaminants.

Berberine alleviates chlorpyrifos-induced nephrotoxicity in rats via modulation of Nrf2/HO-1 axis

Chlorpyrifos (CPS), an organophosphorus insecticide, is widely used for agricultural and non-agricultural purposes with hazardous health effects. Berberine (BBR) is a traditional Chinese medicine and a phytochemical with anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. The present study evaluated the effects of BBR against kidney damage induced by CPS and the underlying mechanisms. An initial study indicated that BBR 50 mg/kg was optimal under our experimental conditions. Then, 24 rats (6/group) were randomized into: control, BBR (50 mg/kg/day), CPS (10 mg/kg/day), and CPS + BBR. BBR was administration 1 h prior to CPS. Each treatment was delivered daily for a period of 28 consecutive days using a gastric gavage tube. Compared to CPS-alone treated rats, BBR effectively improved renal function by preventing the rise in serum urea, creatinine, and uric levels. The reno-protective effects of BBR were confirmed through a histological examination of kidney tissues. BBR restored oxidant-antioxidant balance in renal tissues mediated by Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 axis modulation. In addition, BBR decreased nitric oxide (NO) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. This was paralleled with the potent down-regulation of NF-κB. Furthermore, BBR exhibited anti-apoptotic activities supported by the upregulation of Bcl-2 and down-regulation of Bax and caspase-3 expression. In conclusion, our data suggest that BBR attenuates CPS-induced nephrotoxicity in rats by restoring oxidant-antioxidant balance and inhibiting inflammatory response and apoptosis in renal tissue. This is mediated, at least partly, by modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis.

Fenpropathrin disrupted the gills of common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) through oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, apoptosis, and transcriptional alterations

Fenpropathrin (FEN) is an extensively utilized synthetic pyrethroid insecticide frequently found in aquatic ecosystems. However, the adverse effects and potential mechanisms of FEN on aquatic species are poorly understood. In this work, common carp were treated with FEN at concentrations of 0.45 and 1.35 μg/L FEN for 14 days, after which the tissue structure, physiological alterations, and mRNA transcriptome of the gills were evaluated. Specifically, FEN exposure caused pathological damage to the gills of carp, downregulated the levels of claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1), and inhibited Na+-K+-ATPase activity in the gills. In addition, FEN exposure promoted an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and significantly upregulated the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2 deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and protein carbonyl (PC) in the gills. Moreover, the inflammation-related indices (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IFN-γ) and the apoptosis-related parameter caspase-3 were generally increased, especially in the 1.35 μg/L FEN group, and these indices were significantly greater than those in the control group. These findings suggest that FEN exposure can cause oxidative stress, the inflammatory response, and apoptosis in carp gills. Importantly, the results of RNA-seq analysis showed that 0.45 and 1.35 μg/L FEN could significantly interfere with multiple immune and metabolic pathways, including the phagosome, NOD-like receptor (NLR) signalling pathway, Toll-like receptor (TLR) signalling pathway, necroptosis, and arachidonic acid metabolism pathways, indicating that the effects of FEN on the gills of fish are intricate. In summary, our findings confirm the toxic effects of FEN on common carp gills and provide additional comprehensive information for evaluating the toxicity and underlying molecular mechanisms of FEN in aquatic organisms.

Environmental impacts of chlorpyrifos: Transgenerational toxic effects on aquatic organisms cannot be ignored

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) has been extensively used in the world and frequently found in natural environments, might cause a range of environmental issues and pose a health risk to aquatic species. However, investigation of its toxic effects on offspring after parental exposure has been neglected, especially for aquatic organisms such as fish. In the current study, the effects of chronic CPF exposure (3 and 60 μg/L) on adult zebrafish (F0) was investigated to determine its influence on adult reproductive capacity and offspring (F1 and F2). The results showed the existence of CPF both in F0 ovaries and F1 embryos and larvae, indicating that CPF could be transferred directly from the F0 adult fish to F1 offspring. After 90 d exposure, we observed that F0 female fish showed increased proportion of perinucleolar oocyte in the ovaries, decreased proportion of mature oocyte, and decreased egg production, but not in F1 adult. The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the disruption of metabolism during oocyte maturation in the CPF treatment zebrafish might interfere with F0 oocytes development and quality and ultimately influence offspring survival. For the larvae, the parental CPF exposure distinctly inhibited heart rate at 72 and 120 hpf and increased the mortality of F1 but not F2 larvae. The changes of biochemical indicators confirmed a disturbance in the oxidative balance, induced inflammatory reaction and apoptosis in F1 larvae. Furthermore, the changing profiles of mRNA revealed by RNA-seq confirmed an increased susceptibility in F1 larvae and figured out potential disruptions of ROS metabolism, immune system, apoptosis, and metabolism pathways. Taken together, these results show that chronic CPF treatment can induce reproductive toxicity, and parental transfer of CPF occurs in fish, resulting in transgenerational alters in F1 generation survival and transcription that raising concerns on the ecological risk of CPF in the natural environment.

Identification and characterization of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos exposed zebrafish (Danio rerio) brain

Pesticides, such as cypermethrin (CYP) and chlorpyrifos (CPF), are widely used around the world and are known to cause toxicological effects in the brains of fish and other non-target organisms. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) are a new class of non-coding RNAs that are highly expressed in the brain and play crucial roles in brain function by regulating gene expression. Many studies have investigated the toxic effects of CYP and CPF on the brain. However, no study has been conducted on the relationship between LncRNAs and the toxicity caused by these chemicals. Therefore, this study aimed to determine changes in the lncRNA expression profile in the brains of fish exposed to CYP and CPF. Out of a total of 482 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed between control and CPF groups, 53 were found to be up-regulated, and 429 were down-regulated. Similarly, among the 200 lncRNAs differentially expressed between the control and CYP groups, 71 were up-regulated, and 129 were down-regulated. Additionally, 268 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified between CYP and CPF groups, with 240 being up-regulated and the rest being down-regulated. In addition, LncRNAs expressed from fish brains exposed to CYP and CPF were found to regulate multiple signaling pathways, including MAPK, FoxO, PPAR, TGF-β, and Wnt signaling pathways.

Chlorpyrifos-mediated mitochondrial calcium overload induces EPC cell apoptosis via ROS/AMPK/ULK1

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a typical organophosphate insecticide known to has serious toxicological effects on aquatic animals and causes many environmental contamination problems. To assess the effects of CPF on the epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells of the common carps from the point of calcium ion (Ca2+) transport, the CPF-exposed EPC models were primarily established, and both AO/EB staining and Annexin V/PI assay with flow cytometry analysis were subsequently implemented to identify that CPF-induced EPC cell apoptosis, in consistent with the up-regulated expression of BAX, Cyt-c, CASP3 and CASP9, and down-regulated BCL-2 expression. Then, Mag-Fluo-4 AM, Fluo-4 AM and Rhod-2 AM staining probes were co-stained with ER-Tracker Red and Mito-Tracker Green applied to image cellular Ca2+ flux, illuminating Ca2+ depleted from ER and flux into mitochondria, resulting in ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, 2-Aminoethyl Diphenylborinate (2-APB), 4-Phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) and Dorsomorphin (Compound C) were performed as the inhibitor of Ca2+ transition, ER stress and AMPK phosphorylation, suggesting CPF-mediated Ca2+ overload triggered ER stress. And the over-generation of Mito-ROS intensified oxidative stress, promoting the phosphorylation of AMPK and deteriorating cell apoptotic death. The results of this study demonstrated Ca2+ overload-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction engages in the CPF-induced apoptosis, providing a novel concept for investigating the toxicity of CPF as environmental pollution on aquatic organisms.

Effects of microplastics, pesticides and nano-materials on fish health, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense mechanism

Microplastics and pesticides are emerging contaminants in the marine biota, which cause many harmful effects on aquatic organisms, especially on fish. Fish is a staple and affordable food source, rich in animal protein, along with various vitamins, essential amino acids, and minerals. Exposure of fish to microplastics, pesticides, and various nanoparticles generates ROS and induces oxidative stress, inflammation, immunotoxicity, genotoxicity, and DNA damage and alters gut microbiota, thus reducing the growth and quality of fish. Changes in fish behavioral patterns, swimming, and feeding habits were also observed under exposures to the above contaminants. These contaminants also affect the Nrf-2, JNK, ERK, NF-κB, and MAPK signaling pathways. And Nrf2-KEAP1 signalling modulates redox status marinating enzymes in fish. Effects of pesticides, microplastics, and nanoparticles found to modulate many antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione system. So, to protect fish health from stress, the contribution of nano-technology or nano-formulations was researched. A decrease in fish nutritional quality and population significantly impacts on the human diet, influencing traditions and economics worldwide. On the other hand, traces of microplastics and pesticides in the habitat water can enter humans by consuming contaminated fish which may result in serious health hazards. This review summarizes the oxidative stress caused due to microplastics, pesticides and nano-particle contamination or exposure in fish habitat water and their impact on human health. As a rescue mechanism, the use of nano-technology in the management of fish health and disease was discussed.

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants evoked hepatoxicity in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) through modulating the ROS-PI3K/mTOR/AKT pathway: Apoptosis-autophagy crosstalk

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are an environmental concern due to their persistence nature and bioaccumulation. However, the hepatoxicity and mechanisms of SPAs in aquatic organisms remain poorly understood. In this study, grass carp were exposed to two representative SPAs (BHA and BHT) at environmentally relevant levels (0.1 μM) for 30 days. We observed that BHA and BHT exposure significantly increased the levels of serum aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in grass carp, accompanied by mild inflammatory cell infiltration and irregularity in the shape of hepatocytes. Dihydro ethylenediamine staining showed that BHA and BHT exposure resulted in elevated levels of superoxide levels, accompanied by increased antioxidant enzyme activities (T-AOC, SOD, CAT, GSH-PX) and MDA levels, which is suggestive of oxidative stress responses in the liver of grass carp. Besides, BHA and BHT could dock into the pocket of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K) and thereby inhibiting PI3K/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling cascades. Meanwhile, our results clarified that BHA and BHT could promote autophagosome production and increase the expression of key autophagy proteins, likely due to inhibition of PI3K/mTOR/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, BHA and BHT could induce apoptotic process by upregulating the expression of Bax, Caspase3 and Caspase8 and downregulating Bcl2 expression. Notably, BHT exhibited more hepatoxicity on the indicators of the apoptosis and oxidative stress than BHA. In summary, our findings demonstrated that BHA and BHT exposure could induce liver damage induced via regulating ROS/PI3K-mediated autophagic hyperactivation, which is a crucial step in triggering hepatocyte death. This study provides novel insight into the potential mechanisms underlying liver damage caused by BHA and BHT in aquatic organisms, and offers a new theoretical basis for ecological risk assessment of SPAs.

Chlorpyrifos induced autophagy and mitophagy in common carp livers through AMPK pathway activated by energy metabolism disorder

Water pollution caused by widely used agricultural pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) has aroused extensive public concern. While previous studies have reported on toxic effect of CPF on aquatic animal, little is known about its effect on common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) livers. In this experiment, we exposed common carp to CPF (11.6 μg/L) for 15, 30, and 45 days to establish a poisoning model. Histological observation, biochemical assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot, and integrated biomarker response (IBR) were applied to assess the hepatotoxicity of CPF in common carp. Our results displayed that CPF exposure damaged histostructural integrity and induced liver injury in common carp. Furthermore, we found that CPF-induced liver injury may be associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy, as evidenced by swollen mitochondria, broken mitochondrial ridges, and increased the number of autophagosomes. Moreover, CPF exposure decreased the activities of ATPase (Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, Ca²⁺-ATPase, Mg²⁺-ATPase, and Ca²⁺Mg²⁺-ATPase), altered glucose metabolism-related genes (GCK, PCK2, PHKB, GYS2, PGM1, and DLAT), and activated energy-sensing AMPK, indicating that CPF caused energy metabolism disorder. The activation of AMPK further induced mitophagy via AMPK/Drp1 pathway, and induced autophagy via AMPK/mTOR pathway. Additionally, we found that CPF induced oxidative stress (abnormal levels of SOD, GSH, MDA, and H₂O₂) in common carp livers, which further contributed to the induction of mitophagy and autophagy. Subsequently, we confirmed a time-dependent hepatotoxicity caused by CPF in common carp via IBR assessment. Our findings presented a new insight into molecular mechanism of CPF induced-hepatotoxicity in common carp, and provided a theoretical basis for evaluating CPF toxicity to aquatic organisms.

Malathion alters the transcription of target genes of the tumour suppressor tp53 and cancerous processes in Colossoma macropomum: Mechanisms of DNA damage response, oxidative stress and apoptosis

Different classes of pesticides such as fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides, can induce differential expression of genes that are involved in tumorigenesis events in fish, including the expression of tumor suppressor tp53. The degree and duration of the stressful condition is decisive in defining which tp53-dependent pathway will be activated. Herein we evaluate the target genes expression that participates in the regulation pathway of the tumor suppressor tp53 and in the cancerous processes in tambaqui after exposure to malathion. Our hypothesis is that malathion promotes a gene response that is differentially regulated over time, with positive regulation of tp53 target genes related to the apoptotic pathway and a negative regulation of genes that promote antioxidant responses. The fish were exposed to a sublethal concentration of the insecticide for 6 and 48 h. Liver samples were used to analyze the expression of 11 genes using real-time PCR. Overall, the malathion promoted over time increases in tp53 expression and differential expression of tp53 related genes. The exposure resulted in the activation of damage response related genes, caused a positive expression of atm/atr genes. The pro-apoptotic gene bax was up-regulated and the anti-apoptotic bcl2 was down-regulated. Increased expression of mdm2 and sesn1 in the first hours of exposure and no effect on the antioxidant genes sod2 and gpx1 were also observed. We also witnessed an increase in the expression of the hif-1α gene, with no effect on ras proto-oncogene. The extension of this stressful condition accentuated tp53 transcription, and minimized the levels of mdm2, sens1 and bax; however, it down regulated the levels of bcl2 and the bcl2/bax ratio, which indicates the maintenance of the apoptotic response to the detriment of an antioxidant response.

Impact of Pesticide Residues on the Gut-Microbiota–Blood–Brain Barrier Axis: A Narrative Review

Accumulating evidence indicates that chronic exposure to a low level of pesticides found in diet affects the human gut-microbiota–blood–brain barrier (BBB) axis. This axis describes the physiological and bidirectional connection between the microbiota, the intestinal barrier (IB), and the BBB. Preclinical observations reported a gut microbial alteration induced by pesticides, also known as dysbiosis, a condition associated not only with gastrointestinal disorders but also with diseases affecting other distal organs, such as the BBB. However, the interplay between pesticides, microbiota, the IB, and the BBB is still not fully explored. In this review, we first consider the similarities/differences between these two physiological barriers and the different pathways that link the gut microbiota and the BBB to better understand the dialogue between bacteria and the brain. We then discuss the effects of chronic oral pesticide exposure on the gut-microbiota-BBB axis and raise awareness of the danger of chronic exposure, especially during the perinatal period (pregnant women and offspring).

Role of miRNAs in mediating organophosphate compounds induced toxicity

Organophosphate compounds (OPCs) are a diverse class of chemicals utilized in both industrial and agricultural settings. The exact molecular pathways that OPCs-induced toxicity is caused by are still being investigated, despite the fact that studies on this topic have been ongoing for a long time. As a result, it's important to identify innovative strategies to uncover these processes and further the understanding of the pathways involved in OPCs-induced toxicity. In this context, determining the role of microRNAs (miRs) in the toxicity caused by OPCs should be taken into consideration. Recent research on the regulation function of miRs presents key discoveries to identify any gaps in the toxicity mechanisms of OPCs. As diagnostic indicators for toxicity in people exposed to OPCs, various expression miRs can also be used. The results of experimental and human studies into the expression profiles of miRs in OPCs-induced toxicity have been compiled in this article.

Non-coding RNAs targeting NF-κB pathways in aquatic animals: A review

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways have a close relationship with many diseases, especially in terms of the regulation of inflammation and the immune response. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a heterogeneous subset of endogenous RNAs that directly affect cellular function in the absence of proteins or peptide products; these include microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), circular RNAs (circRNAs), etc. Studies on the roles of ncRNAs in targeting the NF-κB pathways in aquatic animals are scarce. A few research studies have confirmed detailed regulatory mechanisms among ncRNAs and the NF-κB pathways in aquatic animals. This comprehensive review is presented concerning ncRNAs targeting the NF-κB pathway in aquatic animals and provides new insights into NF-κB pathways regulatory mechanisms of aquatic animals. The review discusses new possibilities for developing non-coding-RNA-based antiviral applications in fisheries.

Polystyrene microplastics induce autophagy and apoptosis in birds lungs via PTEN/PI3K/AKT/mTOR

Microplastics (MPs) seriously pollute and potentially threaten human health. Birds are sentinels of environmental pollutants, which respond quickly to contamination events and reveal current environmental exposure. Therefore, birds are good bioindicators for monitoring environmental pollutants. However, the mechanism of lung injury in birds and the role of the PTEN/PI3K/AKT axis are unknown. In this study, broilers treated with different polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) (0, 1, 10, and 100 mg/L) were exposed to drinking water for 6 weeks to analyze the effect of PS-MPs on lung injury of broilers. The results showed that with the increase of PS-MPs concentration, malonaldehyde (MDA) content increased, and catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) activity decreased, further leading to oxidative stress. PS-MPs caused the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway to be inhibited by phosphorylation, and autophagy accelerated formation (LC3) and degradation (p62), causing autophagy. In PS-MPs exposed lung tissues, the expression of Bax/Bcl-2 and Caspase family increased, and MAPK signaling pathways (p38, ERK, and JNK) showed an increase in phosphorylation level, thus leading to cell apoptosis. Our research showed that PS-MPs could activate the antioxidant system. The antioxidant system unbalance-regulated Caspase family, and PTEN/PI3K/AKT pathways initiated apoptosis and autophagy, which in turn led to lung tissue damage in chickens. These results are of great significance to the toxicological study of PS-MPs and the protection of the ecosystem.

Decoding the coupled decision-making of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metabolic reprogramming in cancer

Cancer metastasis relies on an orchestration of traits driven by different interacting functional modules, including metabolism and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). During metastasis, cancer cells can acquire a hybrid metabolic phenotype (W/O) by increasing oxidative phosphorylation without compromising glycolysis and they can acquire a hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) phenotype by engaging EMT. Both the W/O and E/M states are associated with high metastatic potentials, and many regulatory links coupling metabolism and EMT have been identified. Here, we investigate the coupled decision-making networks of metabolism and EMT. Their crosstalk can exhibit synergistic or antagonistic effects on the acquisition and stability of different coupled metabolism-EMT states. Strikingly, the aggressive E/M-W/O state can be enabled and stabilized by the crosstalk irrespective of these hybrid states' availability in individual metabolism or EMT modules. Our work emphasizes the mutual activation between metabolism and EMT, providing an important step toward understanding the multifaceted nature of cancer metastasis.

Chlorpyrifos stimulates ABCC-mediated transport in the intestine of the rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss

The organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos, detected in water and food worldwide, has also been found in the Río Negro and Neuquén Valley, North Patagonia, Argentina, where the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, is one of the most abundant fish species. We analyzed whether chlorpyrifos affects the transport activity of the ATP-binding cassette protein transporters from the subfamily C (ABCC), which are critical components of multixenobiotic resistance. We exposed ex vivo O. mykiss middle intestine strips (non-polarized) and segments (polarized) for one hour to 0 (solvent control), 3, 10, and 20 μg L^-1 and to 0, 10, and 20 μg L^-1 chlorpyrifos, respectively. We estimated the Abcc-mediated transport rate by measuring the transport rate of the specific Abcc substrate 2,4-dinitrophenyl-S-glutathione (DNP-SG). In addition, we measured the enzymatic activity of cholinesterase, carboxylesterase, glutathione-S-transferase, and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD, indicative of the activity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase 1A, CYP1A). We also measured lipid peroxidation using the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances method and the gene expression of Abcc2 and genes of the AhR pathway, AhR, ARNT, and cyp1a, by qRT-PCR. Chlorpyrifos induced the DNP-SG transport rate in middle intestine strips in a concentration-dependent manner (49-71%). In polarized preparations, the induction of the DNP-SG transport rate was observed only in everted segments exposed to 20 μg L^-1 chlorpyrifos (40%), indicating that CPF only stimulated the apical (luminal) transport flux. Exposure to chlorpyrifos increased GST activity by 42% in intestine strips and inhibited EROD activity (47.5%). In addition, chlorpyrifos exposure inhibited cholinesterase (34-55%) and carboxylesterase (33-42.5%) activities at all the concentrations assayed and increased TBARS levels in a concentration-dependent manner (71-123%). Exposure to 20 μgL^-1 chlorpyrifos did not affect the mRNA expression of the studied genes. The lack of inhibition of DNP-SG transport suggests that chlorpyrifos is not an Abcc substrate. Instead, CPF induces the activity of Abcc proteins in the apical membrane of enterocytes, likely through a post-translational pathway.

Cadmium induces apoptosis by miR-9-5p targeting PTEN and regulates the PI3K/AKT pathway in the piglet adrenal gland

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant that can cause endocrine organ damage. To explore the effect of subacute CdCl₂ exposure on piglet adrenal gland tissue and its mechanism based on the establishment of this model, bioinformatics, TUNEL assay, western blot (WB), and qRT-PCR methods were used to detect related indicators. The results showed that after Cd exposure, antioxidant enzymes decreased, heat shock protein increased, and miR-9-5p-gene of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) upregulates the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K/AKT) pathway. After this pathway was activated, the expression of the apoptosis-related factors cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase 3 and 9 (caspase 3 and 9), B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X (BAX) was increased sharply, and the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) was significantly decreased. The changes in these indicators indicate that Cd exposure induces apoptosis and causes tissue damage in the adrenal gland of piglets. This study aims to reveal the toxic effects of CdCl₂ in animals and will provide new ideas for the toxicology of Cd.

Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate and Microplastics Induced Neuronal Apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT Pathway and Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Di-(2-Ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and microplastics (MPs) have released widespread residues to the environment and possess the ability to cause damage to humans and animals. However, there are still gaps in the study of damage to neurons caused by DEHP and MPs in mice cerebra and whether they have combined toxic effects. To investigate the underlying mechanism of action, mice were fed 200 mg/kg DEHP and 10 mg/L MPs in vivo. In vitro, NS20Y (CBNumber: CB15474825) cells were treated with 25 μM DEHP and 775 mg/L MPs. Next, qRT-PCR and western blot analysis were performed to evaluate PI3K/AKT pathway genes, mitochondrial dynamics-related genes, apoptosis-related genes, and GSK-3β and its associated genes, mRNA, and protein expression. To determine pathological changes in the mice cerebra, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining, transmission electron microscopy, and TUNEL staining were employed. To determine the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and apoptosis cells in vitro, ROS staining, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining, and flow cytometry were performed. Our results demonstrated that DEHP and MPs caused changes in mitochondrial function, and GSK-3β and its associated gene expression in mice through the PI3K/AKT pathway, which eventually led to apoptosis of neurons. Moreover, our findings showed that DEHP and MPs have a combined toxic effect on mice cerebra. Our findings facilitate the understanding of the neurotoxic effects of DEHP and MPs on neurons in the cerebra of mice and help identify the important role of maintaining normal mitochondrial function in protecting cerebrum health.

Eucalyptol relieves imidacloprid-induced autophagy through the miR-451/Cab39/AMPK axis in Ctenopharyngodon idellus kidney cells†

Imidacloprid (IMI) is a widely used neonicotinoid insecticide that has toxic effects on nontarget organisms. 1,8-Cineole (eucalyptol) is purified from essential oils in several aromatic plants and can prevent xenobiotic toxicity. The kidney is a major organ for xenobiotic elimination and thus has high risk of exposure. The purpose of this research was to clarify the effect of IMI exposure on autophagy in fish kidney cells, determine the potential of eucalyptol to provide cytoprotection from the toxicity of the neonicotinoid pesticide IMI, and identify its mechanism of action. Therefore, the Ctenopharyngodon idellus kidney cell line (CIK cell) was treated with 20 mg/L IMI and/or 20 μM eucalyptol for 48 h as the research objective. The results showed that IMI exposure induced autophagy accompanied by advanced autophagy markers BNIP3, Beclin1 and LC3Ⅱ/Ⅰ in CIK cells, reduced the levels of miR-451, increased the expression of Cab39 and AMPK, inhibited AKT/mTOR signaling, and activated the JNK pathway. Eucalyptol treatment alleviated IMI-induced autophagy and relieved the activation of autophagy-associated signals. These results indicate that eucalyptol could alleviate IMI-induced autophagy through the miR-451/Cab39/AMPK axis in fish kidney cells. These results partly explained the mechanism of biological threat on fish under IMI exposure and the potential application value of EUC in aquaculture.

Potential mechanisms of Na+/K+-ATPase attenuation by heat and pesticides co-exposure in goldfish: role of cellular apoptosis, oxidative/nitrative stress, and antioxidants in gills

In this study, we examined the dose-dependent effects of an environmentally relevant pesticide cocktail (metalachlor, linuron, isoproturon, tebucanazole, aclonifen, atrazine, pendimethalin, and azinphos-methyl) and temperature change (22 vs. 32 °C for 4-week exposure) on Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, 3-nitrotyrosine protein (NTP), dinitrophenyl protein (DNP), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expressions in gills of goldfish (Carassius auratus). Histopathological analysis showed widespread damage to gill in elevated temperature (32 °C) and pesticide co-exposure groups, including fusion of secondary lamellae, club-shaped primary lamellae, rupture of epithelial layer, loss of normal architecture, and hemorrhaging. Immunohistochemical and qRT-PCR analyses showed significant decreases in Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase protein and mRNA expressions in gills exposed to higher temperature and pesticides; however, combined exposure to heat and pesticides significantly increases NTP, DNP, CAT, and SOD expressions. In situ TUNEL assay revealed elevated levels of apoptotic cells in response to combined exposure. Collectively, our results suggest the combined effects of heat and pesticide stress cause cellular damage, upregulate oxidative/nitrative stress biomarkers, and increase apoptotic cells, downregulate Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase expression in gills. This provides new evidence for oxidant/antioxidant-dependent mechanisms for downregulation of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase expression in gills during combined exposure.

circRNA-based biomarker candidates for acute cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos toxication in the brain of Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a new class of non-endogenous coding RNA and an area with a lot of research interest and activity. Cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos have been shown to cause serious toxicological damage in the brain of fish and other non-target organisms. However, circRNAs associated with acute brain toxicity caused by cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos have not been studied yet. In this study, circRNAs were identified and characterized using RNA-seq in Zebrafish brains exposed to acute cypermethrin and chlorpyrifos toxicity. A total of 10,375 circRNAs were detected. It was determined that 6 circRNAs were up-regulated, 10 circRNAs were down-regulated in CYP brain samples compared to controls. In addition, it was found that 57 circRNAs are up-regulated and 3 circRNAs down-regulated in CPF brain samples compared to controls. Moreover, 62 circRNAs were down-regulated in the CYP samples, when CYP and CPF samples were compared. However, up-regulated circRNA could not be detected. It was revealed that the detected circRNAs specifically regulated the MAPK signaling pathway, endocytosis mechanism, apoptosis, and p53 signaling pathway. This study, which was conducted for the first time in terms of the subject of the study, could bring a different perspective, especially to pesticide toxicity studies.

JNK and Jag1/Notch2 co-regulate CXCL16 to facilitate cypermethrin-induced kidney damage

Cypermethrin (CYP), a widely-used composite pyrethroid pesticide, has underlying nephrotoxic effects. To elucidate potential roles of the MAPK pathway, the Jag/Notch pathway, and miRNAs in CYP-mediated kidney lesion, Sprague-Dawley rats and glomerular mesangial cells were used in this work. Results displayed that β-CYP abnormally altered renal histomorphology and ultrastructures, induced renal DNA damage, and impaired renal functions, as evidenced by the increase in plasma levels of Cys-C and β2-Mg. β-CYP activated the JNK/c-Jun pathway by inducing ROS and oxidative stress. Meanwhile, β-CYP changed the miRNA expression profile, miR-21-5p showing the most significant increase. Moreover, the Jag1/Notch2/Hes1 pathway was directly targeted by miR-21-5p, the mRNA and protein expression of Jag1, Notch2, and Hes1 being declined in vivo and in vitro. The chemokine CXCL16 was induced by β-CYP, accompanied by the inflammatory factor production and inflammatory cell infiltration in kidneys. The specific JNK inhibitor, Jag1 overexpression, Hes1 overexpression, bidirectional Co-IP, ChIP, and CXCL16 silencing demonstrated that CXCL16 co-regulated by the JNK/c-Jun and Jag1/Notch2/Hes1 pathways elicited renal inflammation. Collectively, our findings indicate that β-CYP is of nephrotoxicity and it not only directly changes renal histomorphology and ultrastructures, but induces CXCL16 to trigger renal inflammation via the JNK/c-Jun and Jag1/Notch2/Hes1 pathways, finally synergistically contributing to kidney damage.

miRNAs: A potentially valuable tool in pesticide toxicology assessment-current experimental and epidemiological data review

miRNAs are responsible for the regulation of many cellular processes such as development, cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, and tumor growth. Several studies showed that they can also serve as specific, stable, and sensitive markers of chemical exposure. In this review, current experimental and epidemiological data evidencing deregulation in miRNA expression in response to fungicides, insecticides or herbicides were analyzed. As shown by Venn's diagrams, miR-363 and miR-9 deregulation is associated with fungicide exposure in vitro and in vivo, while let-7, miR-155, miR-181 and miR-21 were found to be commonly deregulated by at least three different insecticides. Furthermore, let-7, miR-30, miR-126, miR-181 and miR-320 were commonly deregulated by 3 different herbicides. Notably, these 5 miRNAs were also found to be deregulated by one or more insecticides, suggesting their participation in the cellular response to pesticides, regardless of their chemical structure. All these miRNAs have been proposed as potential biomarkers for fungicide, insecticide, or herbicide exposure. These results allow us to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of toxicity upon pesticide exposure, although further studies are needed to confirm these miRNAs as definitive (not potential) biomarkers of pesticide exposure.

Zinc Alleviates Arsenic-Induced Inflammation and Apoptosis in the Head Kidney of Common Carp by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Arsenic (As) pollution is ubiquitous in water, which shows immunotoxicity to aquatic organisms. As an indispensable regulator of gene transcription and enzymatic modification, zinc (Zn) may play a preventive and therapeutic effect on As toxicity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interactions of As and Zn on the head kidney of common carp Cyprinus carpio. Herein the carp were treated alone or in combination with waterborne As³⁺ (2.83 mg/L) and/or Zn²⁺ (1 mg/L). Results suggested a head kidney-toxic effect of As exposure, which was manifested by the histopathological damage of the head kidney, elevation of nuclear translocation of pro-inflammatory nuclear factor-kappa light chain enhancer of B cells (NF-κB), and blockage of the anti-oxidative nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. The global activation of three endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathways led to the execution of programmed cell death, including ER apoptosis mediated by C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), death receptor-mediated exogenous cell apoptosis, and the endogenous apoptosis executed by Caspases9. The combined application of Zn can significantly improve the histopathological damage of the head kidney, the imbalance of the antioxidant system, and the apoptosis outcomes due to ER stress. In conclusion, this study indicates that Zn has an antagonistic effect on the head kidney injury of common carp induced by sub-chronic As exposure. The results of this study provide basic data for the risk assessment of As accumulation in an aquatic environment and a reference for the use of Zn preparation in aquaculture.

Chronic Perigestational Exposure to Chlorpyrifos Induces Perturbations in Gut Bacteria and Glucose and Lipid Markers in Female Rats and Their Offspring

An increasing burden of evidence is pointing toward pesticides as risk factors for chronic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, leading to metabolic syndrome. Our objective was to assess the impact of chlorpyrifos (CPF) on metabolic and bacteriologic markers. Female rats were exposed before and during gestation and during lactation to CPF (1 mg/kg/day). Outcomes such as weight, glucose and lipid profiles, as well as disturbances in selected gut bacterial levels, were measured in both the dams (at the end of the lactation period) and in their female offspring at early adulthood (60 days of age). The results show that the weight of CPF dams were lower compared to the other groups, accompanied by an imbalance in blood glucose and lipid markers, and selected gut bacteria. Intra-uterine growth retardation, as well as metabolic disturbances and perturbation of selected gut bacteria, were also observed in their offspring, indicating both a direct effect on the dams and an indirect effect of CPF on the female offspring. Co-treatment with inulin (a prebiotic) prevented some of the outcomes of the pesticide. Further investigations could help better understand if those perturbations mimic or potentiate nutritional risk factors for metabolic syndrome through high fat diet.

Chlorpyrifos triggers epithelioma papulosum cyprini cell pyroptosis via miR-124-3p/CAPN1 axis

Chlorpyrifos (CPF), a widely used organophosphorus pesticide has caused water pollution, threatening aquatic organisms. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) highly conserved noncoding RNAs, that regulate various cell death processes, including pyroptosis. To investigate the effect of CPF exposure on epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cell pyroptosis and the role of the miR-124-3p/CAPN1 axis, we established miR-124 overexpression and inhibition EPC cell models of CPF exposure. The target of the miR-124-3p/CAPN1 axis was primarily confirmed by the double luciferase reporter assay. Pyroptosis was demonstrated to occur in CPF-exposed EPC cells and was accompanied by mitochondrial membrane potential depletion, ROS level elevation and pyroptotic indicator expression upregulation. PD150606 was supplied as a CAPN1 inhibitor, alleviating CPF-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, and alleviating the increased expression of NLRP3, CASP1, IL1β and GSDMD. In conclusion, CPF induces pyroptosis by regulating the miR-124-3p/CAPN1 axis. This study enriches the cytotoxicity study of CPF, and provides new theoretical fundamentals for exploration of miRNA and its target protein response to water contaminants.

Advances in organophosphorus pesticides pollution: Current status and challenges in ecotoxicological, sustainable agriculture, and degradation strategies

Organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) are one of the most widely used types of pesticide that play an important role in the production process due to their effects on preventing pathogen infection and increasing yield. However, in the early development and application of OPPs, their toxicological effects and the issue of environmental pollution were not considered. With the long-term overuse of OPPs, their hazards to the ecological environment (including soil and water) and animal health have attracted increasing attention. Therefore, this review first clarified the classification, characteristics, applications of various OPPs, and the government's restriction requirements on various OPPs. Second, the toxicological effects and metabolic mechanisms of OPPs and their metabolites were introduced in organisms. Finally, the existing methods of degrading OPPs were summarized, and the challenges and further addressing strategy of OPPs in the sustainable development of agriculture, the environment, and ecology were prospected. However, methods to solve the environmental and ecological problems caused by OPPs from the three aspects of use source, use process, and degradation methods were proposed, which provided a theoretical basis for addressing the stability of the ecological environment and improving the structure of the pesticide industry in the future.

miR-130-CYLD Axis Is Involved in the Necroptosis and Inflammation Induced by Selenium Deficiency in Pig Cerebellum

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element in creatures which deficiency can cause necroptosis and inflammation of multiple tissues. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been identified to participate multiple biological processes by regulating the expression of target genes. In the present study, the Se-deficient pig cerebellar model was established and conducted by light microscopy, qRT-PCR, and Western blot. Morphological observation exhibited necrosis-like lesions and inflammatory infiltration in the cerebellum of the Se-deficient group. Quantitative analysis result showed that Se deficiency significantly suppressed miR-130 expression, which in turn disinhibited the expression of CYLD. Meanwhile, in comparison to the control group, the expression levels of TNF-α pathway genes (TNF-α, TNFR1, and NF-κB p65) and necroptosis-related genes (RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL) in Se deficiency group were obviously increased (P < 0.05). Moreover, Se deficiency induced the occurrence of inflammation by upregulating the expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-8, IL-18, IFN-γ, COX-2, PTGEs, and NLRP3). In conclusion, we proved Se deficiency could induce the deregulation of miR-130-CYLD axis to cause RIPK3-dependent necroptosis and inflammation in pig cerebellum.

Metabolite profiling of the post-ovulatory oocytes of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio: A 1H NMR-based metabolomics approach

A metabolomics study was conducted to investigate the molecular bases of oocyte over-ripening in common carp, Cyprinus carpio from a metabolic point of view. The ovulation was induced in fish brooders by intramuscular injection of pituitary extract and oocytes were collected four times post-ovulation with 30 min intervals. A set of 32 metabolites were identified on the NMR spectra of the oocytes, which mainly included energy-linked metabolites, amino acids, methylated metabolites and citric acid cycle (TCA) intermediates. PCA and PLS-DA models clearly separated the post ovulations times, indicating the effects of post-ovulation time on oocyte metabolome content. Based on the loading plot outputs, 15 metabolites including tryptophan, cysteine, AMP, tyrosine, valine, creatine phosphate (PCr), ATP, leucine, inosine, malate, acetate, TMAO, glucose, fumarate and lysine had more effects on the separation of post ovulation times. According to the results of metabolite profiling, the concentrations of glutamine, alanine, tryptophan, lysine and cysteine mostly significantly (P < 0.01) increased at 90 and 120 min post-ovulation. The concentrations of PCr, ATP, inosine and guanosine were relatively stable until 60 min post-ovulation, while significantly (P < 0.01) decreased at 90 and 120 min post ovulation. The TCA metabolites succinate, malate and fumarate significantly (P < 0.01) elevated at 90 and 120 min post-ovulation. AMP concentrations remained relatively unchanged until 30 min and then progressively decreased with time post ovulation (P < 0.01). The concentrations of lactate showed significant elevations at 90 and 120 min post ovulation (P < 0.01). In conclusion, the energetic potentials of the oocytes reduced with time post ovulation. There were apparent elevations in the concentrations of free amino acids, which may be associated with the onset of proteolytic activities in the post ovulatory oocytes. In addition, we found some changes in the apoptotic-related metabolites, which may support the results of previous studies regarding the oxidative stress and following apoptosis in post ovulatory oocytes of fish.

Calcium overload and reactive oxygen species accumulation induced by selenium deficiency promote autophagy in swine small intestine

Selenium (Se) deficiency can seriously affect the small intestine of swine, and cause diarrhea in swine. However, the specific mechanism of Se deficiency-induced swine diarrhea has rarely been reported. Here, to explore the damage of Se deficiency on the calcium homeostasis and autophagy mechanism of swine, in vivo and in vitro models of swine intestinal Se deficiency were established. Twenty-four pure line castrated male Yorkshire pigs (45 d old, 12.50 ± 1.32 kg, 12 full-sibling pairs) were divided into 2 equal groups and fed Se-deficient diet (0.007 mg Se/kg) as the Se-deficiency group, or fed Se-adequate diet (0.3 mg Se/kg) as the control group for 16 weeks. The intestinal porcine enterocyte cell line (IPEC-J2) was divided into 2 groups, and cultured by Se-deficient medium as the Se-deficient group, or cultured by normal medium as the control group. Morphological observations showed that compared with the control group, intestinal cells in the Se-deficiency group were significantly damaged, and autophagosomes increased. Autophagy staining and cytoplasmic calcium staining results showed that in the Se-deficiency group, autophagy increased and calcium homeostasis was destroyed. According to the reactive oxygen species (ROS) staining results, the percentage of ROS in the Se-deficiency group was higher than that in the control group in the in vitro model. Compared with the control group, the protein and mRNA expressions of autophagy-calcium-related genes including Beclin 1, microtubule-associated proteins 1A (LC3-1), microtubule-associated proteins 1B (LC3-2), autophagy-related protein 5 (ATG5), autophagy-related protein 12 (ATG12), autophagy-related protein 16 (ATG16), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase β (CAMKK-β), adenosine 5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA), and calpain in the Se-deficiency group were significantly increased which was consistent in vivo and in vitro (P < 0.05). Altogether, our results indicated that Se deficiency could destroy the calcium homeostasis of the swine small intestine to trigger cell autophagy and oxidative stress, which was helpful to explain the mechanism of Se deficiency-induced diarrhea in swine.

Evaluation of toxicological effects of organophosphorus pesticide metabolites on human HepG2 cells

Trichloropyridinol (TCP); 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol is the primary metabolites of the organophosphorus pesticide chlorpyrifos. It is more highly persistent than parent compounds in the environment and might represent serious risks to human health. In this study, we investigated the toxicological effects and mechanism of TCP on HepG2 cells. The results revealed that TCP induced DNA damage and apoptosis on HepG2 cells. Besides, up-regulating the expression level of Bax /Bcl-2, a reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential, caspase-9/-3 activation and the release of cytochrome-c are contributed to the toxicological effects of TCP on HepG2 cells. These data indicated that the cytotoxic effects of TCP might be associated with the activity of mitochondrial apoptotic pathways. In conclusion, the results demonstrated that TCP poses a potential threat to human health by inducing toxicological effects in the liver.

Chlorpyrifos caused necroptosis via MAPK/NF-κB/TNF-α pathway in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) gills

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate insecticide and can cause cell death of animals. In the study, the common carp were exposed to CPF at 0 μg/L (the control group), 1.16 μg/L (the low dose group), 11.6 μg/L (the medium dose group), and 116 μg/L (the high dose group), respectively. The carp were euthanized at the 30th day and gills were collected immediately. The ultrastructural and histopathological observations showed obvious necrosis characteristics and inflammatory injury in the CPF-treated groups. CPF exposure activated the MAPK pathway, in which the mRNA and protein expressions of extracellular signal-regulated (ERK), p38 MAP kinase (p38), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were increased; the mRNAs and proteins of NF-κB and TNF-α were activated; and the mRNAs and proteins of necroptosis related genes were changed (the mRNA and protein expression of RIPK1, RIPK3, MLKL, and FADD were increased and caspase-8 was decreased) with concentration dependency. Taken together, we concluded that CPF exposure activated the MAPK/NF-κB/TNF-α pathway, promoted inflammatory injure and evoked necroptosis in common carp gills. In addition, CPF-induced inflammation and necroptosis was concentration dependency. The toxic effects of CPF on gills provided data for both aquaculture and toxicological studies.

Antagonizing effects of curcumin against mercury-induced autophagic death and trace elements disorder by regulating PI3K/AKT and Nrf2 pathway in the spleen

Mercury is a naturally occurring element and highly toxic to humans even at a low dosage. Curcumin is a polyphenol found in turmeric (Curcuma longa), widely used as a treatment strategy to improve antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential protective mechanisms of curcumin in spleen damage induced by HgCl₂. The mice were given curcumin by intragastric administration 2 h before HgCl₂ injection for 24 h. At first, splenic transcriptome analysis showed that 3334 genes (2134 up and 1200 down) were differently expressed in HgCl₂-induced spleen damage model. Notably, KEGG enrichment showed phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT might be a key signaling pathways in HgCl₂-induced spleen damage. Furthermore, our data demonstrated that HgCl₂ could induce autophagic cell death, evidenced by increases the protein expression of PI3K, AKT, LC3-II and p62 and the number of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, we found that curcumin significantly combated autophagic cell death, sodium overload and calcium leak induced by HgCl₂. Simultaneously, further studies demonstrated that curcumin significantly activated nuclear factor (erythroid-derived-2)-like 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway, and subsequent enhancing antioxidant defenses. Taken together, our data indicated that inorganic mercury could result in autophagic cell death, which may be related to the regulation of PI3K-AKT signaling cascades. Furthermore, Nrf2-mediated antioxidant defenses may be the target of curcumin to confers an adaptive survival response to resist spleen damage induced by HgCl₂. The present study perfects the mechanism theory of HgCl₂-induced spleen damage and provides a way for pharmacological intervention to prevent spleen injury.

Translation, ribosome biogenesis, and oxidative damage caused by chlorpyrifos exposure to common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) liver: application of combined RNA-seq with sRNA-seq in risk evaluation of environmental toxicant chlorpyrifos

Pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) is a widespread environmental pollutant gaining attention as it is highly injurious to aquatic life. Although the toxicity of CPF is well characterized, but the mechanism of toxic response especially, the hepatotoxicity remained unclear. In this study, we performed integrated analysis, including micro-RNA (miRNA) and small RNA (sRNA) to analyze CPF exposure responding genes and enrichment pathways. A total of 23,742 expressed genes were detected and out of these expression levels of 1746 were changed significantly. Majority of them participated in protein biosynthesis, nucleotide binding, and oxidation-reduction activities. In extensive analysis of micro-RNA (miRNA) expression profiles by comparing CPF treated carp with control, we identified 214 novel miRNAs with CPM > 5 in at least one sample. The miRNAs have the same change in direction compared with overlapped mRNA pairs in upregulated genes, suggesting potential positive correlation. As a whole, we detected many differently expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs, which may be used as the biomarkers for the detection of CPF pollution in water and aquatic product safety. However, their functions are required to be deeply analyzed, especially more samples or time pointed data are needed to illustrate their concrete mechanism.

In vivo assessment of dichlorvos induced histological and biochemical impairments coupled with expression of p53 responsive apoptotic genes in the liver and kidney of fish, Channa punctatus (Bloch, 1793)

Sub-lethal exposure of dichlorvos induces oxidative stress, consequent genetic instability and apoptosis coupled with impairments in biochemical, histopathological and transcription of genes in Channa punctatus. Exposure of 5% (0.041 mg/L; E2) and 10% (0.082 mg/L; E3) of 96 h-LC₅₀ of dichlorvos significantly (p < 0.05) elevated the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and activities of SOD and CAT, as compared to control (E1) after 30 d. The maximum reduction in reduced glutathione (GSH) was recorded in the liver (18.53 ± 0.81 μg/mg of protein) and kidney (19.32 ± 0.97 μg/mg of protein); while the total protein contents were also found reduced, 278.38 ± 8.40 μg/mL (liver) and 248.44 ± 7.28 μg/mL (kidney), after 30 days in E3, in comparison to respective controls. Further, significant (p < 0.05) induction in micronuclei (MN) and apoptotic cells (AC), in a dose- and exposure-based manner were also recorded. Moreover, a significant (p < 0.05) up-regulation of p53 (2.51-fold in liver), bax (2.03-fold in liver; 1.99-fold in kidney) and casp3a (2.26-fold in liver; 2.10-fold in kidney) together with an elevated expression of cat (1.73-fold in liver; 1.12-fold in kidney), p53 (1.27-fold in kidney) and apaf-1 (1.72-fold in liver) in fish exposed to higher dose of dichlorvos for 30 d evidently reflects geno-toxicological potential of referenced pesticide. Disturbed biochemical and molecular parameters evince that the fish experienced oxidative stress as is further supported by prominent pathological observations in liver and kidney. Findings are, thus, helpful in organ-specific molecular scanning against aquatic toxicants like dichlorvos.

Vitamin C rescues inflammation, immunosuppression, and histopathological alterations induced by chlorpyrifos in Nile tilapia

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an extensive environmental contaminant and disrupts the physiological status of living organisms. CPF is found to hinder the health of aquatic organisms and ecological function in aquatic systems. The current study aimed at evaluating the protective effects of vitamin C (VC) on the immune response, hematological parameters, and histopathological alterations in Nile tilapia exposed to CPF. Nile tilapia were exposed to waterborne CPF (15 μg/L) for 30 days. Fish were divided into control group: received basal diet; CPF group: received basal diet and exposed to waterborne CPF; VC group: received basal diet plus 0.8 mg VC/kg; and CPF/VC group: received basal diet plus 0.8 mg VC/kg and exposed to waterborne CPF. Blood samples were taken after 15 days and 30 days of the treatment. Liver, gills, and intestine tissues were collected on the 30th day of treatment. CPF showed a deleterious effect on fish's growth performance; it decreased the weight gain by 6%, while VC increased it by 17-23% compared to the control group. CPF group recorded the lowest survival rate (83%), while VC achieved survivability of 96.7% and 93.3% in VC and CPF/VC groups, respectively. The blood picture revealed moderate changes in the CPF group, where the marked alteration was in the hemoglobin concentration and white blood cells. CPF disrupted the hepatic and renal function. Serum lysozyme activity, phagocytic activity, and phagocytic index displayed a dramatic decline in the CPF group but enhanced in VC and CPF/VC groups. An upregulation was observed in antioxidant genes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase), heat shock protein 70, caspase-3, and the cytokines interleukin 1β, interleukin 8, and interferon-gamma in the CPF group. Simultaneously, moderate or normal levels were shown in the VC and CPF/VC groups. CPF altered the histoarchitecture of gills, intestine, and hepatopancreas with apparent degenerative changes possibly resulted from the oxidative stress. At the same time, VC retained the normal structure of the studied tissues. This study raises concerns about the safety of CPF and its impact on the aquatic environment. VC has a high potential to restore the normal physiology of fish exposed to CPF.

Knockdown of AMP-activated protein kinase increases the insecticidal efficiency of pymetrozine to Nilaparvata lugens

Insecticides are the main tools used to control Nilaparvata lugens (Stål), a serious pest of rice in Asia. However, repeated application of insecticides has caused many negative effects. Reducing the amount of insecticide used, while maintaining good pest population control, would be valuable. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a sensor of cellular energy status, helps to maintain insect energy balance at the cellular and whole-body level. The role of AMPK in insect response to insecticide stimulation is unknown. We studied the functions of AMPK catalytic subunit alpha (NlAMPKα) in the development of N. lugens and in response to pymetrozine, an insecticide used to control insect pests with piercing-sucking mouthparts. A phylogenetic analysis of protein sequences from 12 species in six orders showed that insects have only the AMPKα 2 subtype. RNA interference against NlAMPKα demonstrated that blocking the AMPK pathway led to a decrease in the systemic ATP level and an increase in N. lugens mortality. NlAMPKα responded to the energy stress caused by pymetrozine treatment, which activated downstream energy metabolic pathways to compensate for the energy imbalance. However, the ATP level in pymetrozine- treated nymphs was not increased, suggesting that ATP is consumed more than synthesized. When NlAMPKα expression was reduced in pymetrozine-treated nymphs by RNAi, the ATP level was decreased and the mortality was significantly increased. At day eight post 0.5 g/3 L of pymetrozine and dsNlAMPKα treatment, nymph survival was 29.33%, which was similar to the 27.33% survival of 1 g/3 L pymetrozine-treated nymphs. Addition of dsNlAMPKα can reduce the concentration of pymetrozine used by 50% while providing comparable efficacy. These results indicate that AMPK helps maintain the energy metabolism of N. lugens in response to pymetrozine treatment. Knockdown of NlAMPKα increases the insecticidal efficiency of pymetrozine to N. lugens.

miR-151 Affects Low-Temperature Tolerance of Penaeus vannamei by Modulating Autophagy Under Low-Temperature Stress

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play key roles in many physiologic and pathologic processes, including autophagy. Autophagy is cellular in an emergency response mechanism of environment stress, but their complex molecular regulatory mechanism under low-temperature stress is largely unknown in shrimp, especially miRNA-mediated regulation of autophagy in low-temperature tolerance. In this article, a shrimp PvTOR and miRNA pva-miR-151 cooperation in response to low-temperature stress has been reported. Pva-miR-151 showed expression patterns opposite to target PvTOR under low-temperature stress. The pva-miR-151 targets the 3'-UTR region of PvTOR, regulate the formation of autophagosome, which contribute to the degradation and recycling of damaged organelles. In addition, the low-temperature tolerance was correlated positively with autophagy in shrimp. Silenced pva-miR-151 increased sensitivity to low-temperature stress, whereas overexpression pva-miR-151 decreased the expression of PvTOR and p-TOR and increased tolerance to low-temperature stress by improving the formation of autophagosome and total hemocyte count. In addition, the TOR activator 3BDO can partially rescue autophagy induced by overexpression of pva-miR-151; these results indicate that miR-151 was necessary for the low-temperature tolerance in shrimp. Taken together, we provide a novel strategy and mechanism for shrimp breeding to improve shrimp low-temperature tolerance.

Cadmium-induced Oxidative Stress and Immunosuppression Mediated Mitochondrial Apoptosis via JNK-FoxO3a-PUMA pathway in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) Gills

Cadmium (Cd)-caused water environment pollution has become a matter of concern. Gill is an organ with respiratory and mucosal immune functions, and is also one of the organs directly attacked by pollutants. It was found that excess Cd could cause Cd accumulation and gill injury in carp. However, the mechanism of Cd-caused damage in common carp gills is still unclear. Oxidative stress, immunosuppression, and apoptosis took part in the mechanism of poisoning caused by some harmful substances. The aim of the study was to investigate complex molecular mechanism of apoptotic injury caused by Cd in common carp gills. Hence, in this study, we established a Cd poisoning model to explore whether excess Cd can induce apoptosis through observing histomorphology and apoptotic cells; and determining mineral elements, oxidative stress-related factors, immune-related, and apoptosis-related genes in common carp gills. Fifty-four fish were randomly separated into the control group and the Cd group and were cultured for 45 days. The water of the control group was drinking water and the water of the Cd group was CdCl₂-added drinking water (0.26 mg/L Cd). In our results, we found that excess Cd increased Cd level, decreased the levels of essential mineral elements (Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn), damaged mitochondria, and increased apoptotic cells in common carp gills, meaning that excess Cd caused Cd accumulation and apoptotic injury via mitochondrion in common carp gills. Furthermore, we found that Cd inhibited anti-apoptosis-related gene Bcl-2 and stimulated pro-apoptosis-related genes (JNK, FoxO3a, PUMA, Bax, Apaf-1, Caspase-9, and Caspase-3) on 15th, 30th, and 45th days. Above data meant that Cd exposure caused apoptosis via mitochondrion and JNK-FoxO3a-PUMA pathway in common carp gills. In addition, in our experiment, Cd treatment increased oxidants (H₂O₂ and MDA) and decreased antioxidants (CAT, GPx, GST, SOD, T-AOC, and GSH), indicating that Cd caused oxidative stress via oxidation/antioxidation imbalance. Meanwhile, compared to the control group, T-help 17 (Th17) cell-related factors (IL-17, TNF-α, and RORγ) were up-regulated, regulatory T (Treg) cell-related factors (IL-10 and Foxp3) were down-regulated, and IL-17/IL-10, TNF-α/IL-10, and RORγ/Foxp3 were increased in Cd-exposed group; meaning that excess Cd induced immunosuppression via the imbalance of Th17/Treg cells. Taken together, our findings indicated that JNK-FoxO3a-PUMA pathway and mitochondrion participated in oxidative stress and immunosuppression-mediated apoptosis caused by Cd in common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) gills. Our data provided new perspectives on the negative effects of heavy metal pollutants on fish.

Cadmium and molybdenum co-exposure triggers autophagy via CYP450s/ROS pathway in duck renal tubular epithelial cells

Cadmium (Cd) and excessive molybdenum (Mo) are detrimental to animals, but the combined nephrotoxic impacts of Cd and Mo on duck are still unclear. To evaluate the combined impacts of Cd and Mo on autophagy via Cytochrome P450s (CYP450s)/reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway, duck renal tubular epithelial cells were treated with 3CdSO₄·8H₂O (4.0 μM Cd), (NH₄)₆Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O (500.0 μM Mo), butylated hydroxy anisole (BHA) (100.0 μM) and combination of Cd and Mo or Cd, Mo and BHA for 12 h, and combined cytotoxicity was investigated. The results indicated that Mo or/and Cd induced CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP2C9, CYP3A8 and CYP4B1 mRNA levels, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) content, and increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) contents. Besides, Mo or/and Cd elevated the number of autophagosome and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) puncta, upregulated mRNA levels of Beclin-1, LC3A, LC3B, Atg5 and adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase α1 (AMPKα-1), inhibited Dynein, p62 and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) mRNA levels, increased Beclin-1 and LC3II/LC3I protein levels. Moreover, the changes of these factors in Mo and Cd co-treated groups were more apparent. Additionally, BHA could efficiently alleviate the changes of above these indicators co-induced by Mo and Cd. Overall, these results manifest Cd and Mo co-exposure may synergistically trigger autophagy via CYP450s/ROS pathway in duck renal tubular epithelial cells.

Immune, inflammatory, autophagic and DNA damage responses to long-term H2O2 exposure in different tissues of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) is a stable reactive oxygen species (ROS) in aquatic environment, and high concentration of ambient H₂O₂ may directly or indirectly affect aquatic animal health. However, the response mechanism of fish to ambient H₂O₂ has not been well studied yet. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the immune, inflammatory, autophagic and DNA damage responses to long-term H₂O₂ exposure in different tissues of common carp. The results showed that H₂O₂ exposure induced a significant immune response, with alterations in the levels of immune parameters including AKP, ACP, LZM, C3, HSP90 and HSP70 in different tissues. The inflammatory response evoked by H₂O₂ exposure was associated with the activations of TLRs and NF-κB (P65) in the majority of tested tissues. The autophagy process was significantly affected by H₂O₂ exposure, evidenced by the upregulations of the autophagy-related genes in liver, gills, muscle, intestines, heart and spleen and the downregulations in kidney. Meanwhile, the mRNA level of atm, a primary transducer of DNA damage response, was upregulated in liver, gills, intestines and spleen, and the DNA damage was evidenced by increased 8-OHdG level in intestines after H₂O₂ exposure. Moreover, cell cycle regulation-related genes, including cyclin A1, B and/or E1, highly expressed in all tested tissues except heart after H₂O₂ exposure. Interestingly, IBR analysis exhibited that immune, inflammatory, autophagic and DNA damage responses to H₂O₂ exposure were in a dose-dependent and tissue-specific manner. These data may contribute to understanding H₂O₂ toxicity for fish and assessing potential risk of H₂O₂ in aquatic environment.

The blood and mRNA levels of antioxidant-related factors in common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fed p-Coumaric acid

The natural antioxidants are well known for their antioxidative activity without side effects when compared to antibiotics. Hence, the present study aimed at evaluating p-Coumaric acid as an antioxidant additive on the blood and mRNA levels of antioxidant-related factors in common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Fish fed the basal diet supplemented with p-Coumaric at 0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 g/kg for 56 days, then the serum, intestine, and liver samples were collected. The growth performance of fish fed with CA showed significantly (P < 0.05) improved FW, WG, and SGR compared to those of the control one. However, the feed conversion ratio was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced in fish fed 1 and 1.5 g/kg diet levels. SOD was not significantly differed among the groups fed with varied p-Coumaric acid (P > 0.05). Serum GPX and TAC were enhanced considerably by p-Coumaric acid regarding the control with the highest being in fish fed 1.5 g/kg diet (P < 0.05). Serum CAT was more elevated in fish provided p-Coumaric acid at 1 or 1.5 g/kg than the control while fish fed 0.5 g/kg did not display significant changes. MDA level significantly decreased by all p-Coumaric acid groups compared to the control one, and the lowest level was observed in 1.5 g/kg (P < 0.05). The mRNA level of CAT was significantly upregulated in the liver by p-Coumaric acid at 1 or 1.5 g/kg (P < 0.05), while the intestine CAT did not influence by p-Coumaric acid (P > 0.05). The measured SOD in the liver and intestine samples revealed no changes in common carp fed p-Coumaric acid (P > 0.05). GPX was significantly upregulated in the intestine by p-Coumaric acid at 1 or 1.5 g/kg (P < 0.05), whereas the liver GPX was upregulated by p-Coumaric acid at 1.5 g/kg. The mRNA level of the GST gene in the intestine of common carp was upregulated by p-Coumaric acid at 1.5 g/kg, whereas the liver displayed upregulated GST in fish fed 1 g/kg diet. The present study approved the application of p-Coumaric acid as a natural antioxidant for friendly, sustainable aquaculture.

Acetylcholine esterase and antioxidant responses in freshwater teleost, Channa punctata exposed to chlorpyrifos and urea

We aimed to understand the toxic effects of two crop protecting agents, organophosphate pesticide, chlorpyrifos (CPF) and fertilizer, urea (U), and their binary mixtures at sublethal concentrations for 28-d in a freshwater fish Channa punctata with a battery of biochemical biomarkers in gill and liver. The study has practical value as such mixtures, so often present together in water in the agro-intensive areas, might be predicted to cause cocktail effects. Both CPF and U inhibited AChE, augmented SOD, CAT, GPx activities, and caused lipid peroxidation and depletion in tissue macromolecules in a concentration and duration-dependent manner. While U alone had less severe effects compared to CPF treatments, complex interactions were observed for three combination doses (1CPF + 1U, 2CPF + 1U, 1CPF + 2U). In their mutual effects, antagonism prevailed over other interactions when CPF and U were in equal proportion in the mixture, while synergism was observed for AchE and key antioxidant enzymes when more U was in the mixture. The present study concluded that urea in water bodies might impart adverse effects in combination with pesticides in non-target aquatic organisms such as fish, and there should be a restriction in its excessive usage.

Selenium-mediated gga-miR-29a-3p regulates LMH cell proliferation, invasion, and migration by targeting COL4A2

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element that has several functions in cellular processes related to cancer prevention. While the cancericidal effect of Se has been reported in liver cancer, the mechanism has not been clarified. MiR-29a has widely been reported as a tumor suppressor; however, it also acts as a carcinogenic agent by increasing cell invasion in human epithelial cancer cells and hepatoma cells. In a previous study, we found that miR-29a-3p is a Se-sensitive miRNA. However, its effect in the chicken hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (LMH) is still unknown. In the present study, we found that the expression of miR-29a-3p in LMH cells was decreased by Se supplementation and increased under Se-deficient conditions. Flow cytometry and CCK-8 results suggested that Se decreased LMH cell proliferation induced by miR-29a-3p overexpression. Transwell and gap-closure assays implied that Se mediated LMH cell invasion and migration by downregulating miR-29a-3p. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting results suggested that Se mitigated miR-29a-3p overexpression-induced LMH cell proliferation by downregulating CDK2, cyclin-D1, CDK6, and cyclin-E1. We further demonstrated that collagen type IV alpha 2 (COL4A2) is a target gene of miR-29a-3p. COL4A2 activates the RhoA/ROCK pathway to promote LMH cell invasion and migration. In conclusion, Se mediated miR-29a-3p overexpression induced LMH cell invasion and migration by targeting COL4A2 to inactivate the RhoA/ROCK pathway.

Metformin relieves H/R-induced cardiomyocyte injury through miR-19a/ACSL axis - possible therapeutic target for myocardial I/R injury

This study proposed to investigate the function of miR-19a/ACSL axis in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced myocardial injury and determine whether metformin exerts its protective effect via miR-19a/ACSL axis. Firstly, bioinformatics analysis of data from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database indicated that miR-19a was downregulated in patients with myocardial infarction (MI) compared to that in control group. H/R model was constructed with AC16 cells in vitro. qRT-PCR assay revealed that miR-19a was downregulated in H/R-treated AC16 cells. Then, CCK-8 assay demonstrated that upregulation of miR-19a significantly alleviated H/R-induced decline of cell viability. Moreover, bioinformatics prediction, western blotting and dual-luciferase reporter assays were performed to check the target genes of miR-19a, and ACSL1 was determined as a downstream target gene of miR-19a. Besides, the analysis based on Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) suggested that metformin targeting ACSL1 can be used as a potential drug for further research. Biological function experiments in vitro revealed that H/R markedly declined the viability and elevated the apoptosis of AC16 cells, while metformin can significantly mitigate these effects. Furthermore, overexpression of miR-19a significantly strengthened the beneficial effect of metformin on H/R-induced AC16 cells injury, which can be reversed by upregulation of ACSL1. In conclusion, metformin can alleviate H/R-induced cells injury via regulating miR-19a/ACSL axis, which lays a foundation for identifying novel targets for myocardial I/R injury therapy.

Exposure to hydrocarbons and chlorpyrifos alters the expression of nuclear receptors and antioxidant, detoxifying, and immune response proteins in the liver of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The development of oil and gas production together with the fruit production in nearby areas of North Patagonia, Argentina, suggests aquatic pollution scenarios which include permanent oil pollution combined with short events of pesticides application. It has been reported that oil hydrocarbons activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, and that the insecticide Chlorpyrifos (CPF) interacts with these effects. Thus, it is interesting to investigate whether hydrocarbons and insecticides, applied by separate or combined, can affect fish health and reproductive signaling by acting on different nuclear receptors' regulatory pathways. To study this kind of interactions, we exposed juvenile rainbow trout to water accommodated fraction (WAF) of crude oil (62 μg L^-1 TPH) for 48 h and subsequently exposed the livers ex vivo to the insecticide Chlorpyrifos (CPF) (20 µg L^-1) for 1 h. We analyzed the mRNA expression of nuclear receptors and proteins involved in detoxifying, antioxidant, immune and apoptosis responses by qRT-PCR. We also performed histopathological analysis. WAF induced the expression of the androgen (AR) and the Liver X receptor (LXR) by 8- and 3-fold, respectively. AR induction was reversed by subsequent exposure to CPF. The progesterone receptor (PR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) were increased 2-fold and 3-fold by WAF respectively, while estrogen and mineralocorticoid receptors were not affected. GR was also induced by CPF with an additive effect in the WAF-CPF treatment. The antioxidant genes, gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), superoxide dismutase (SOD1) were induced by WAF (2-3-fold). WAF upregulated the ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 2 (ABCC2, MRP2) (4-fold) and downregulated alkaline phosphatase. WAF also induced the inflammatory interleukins (IL) IL-8, and IL-6 and the anti-inflammatory IL-10, while CPF induced the inflammatory tumor necrosis factor (-α) and IL-6, and activated the intrinsic apoptotic pathway through the induction of caspases 3 and 9. Both, WAF and CPF downregulated the expression of the extrinsic apoptosis initiator caspase 8 and the inflammatory caspase 1. In conclusion, WAF hydrocarbons alter O. mykiss endocrine regulation by inducing AR, PR and GR. The subsequent exposure to CPF reverses AR, suggesting a complex interaction of different pollutants in contaminated environments, WAF hydrocarbons alter liver metabolism by inducing the expression of LXR, GR, antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes, and both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and causing mild hepatic steatosis. CPF activates inflammatory and stress responses associated with the induction of inflammatory cytokines together with apoptosis initiator and executioner caspases.

Ameliorative effect of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oil on chlorpyrifos toxicity in Cyprinus carpio

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate pesticide that is frequently and widely used to control both agricultural and domestic pests worldwide. In this study, the protective effect of Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) essential oil (FEO) was investigated in carp (Cyprinus carpio) exposed to CPF. The fish were divided into six groups that one control group (no treatment) and five experimental groups (FEO (3ml/100g diet) group, CPF₁ (0.023 mg/l) group CPF₂ (0.046 mg/l) group, CPF₁ (0.023 mg/l) plus FEO (3ml/100g diet) group, CPF₂ (0.046 mg/l) plus FEO (3ml/100g diet) group). Blood and tissue (liver, kidney, gill, and brain) samples were taken from the fish at the end of 14 days of application. Hemoglobin (Hb) level, nitoblue tetrazolium (NBT) activity, and total immunoglobulin (TI) level were measured in blood samples of fish. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was determined in brain tissue while malondialdehyde (MDA) level, reduced glutathione (GSH) level, catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were determined in liver, kidney, and gill tissues. The results showed that there was a significant decrease in Hb level, NBT activity, and TI levels in CPF-treated fish compared to the control group. In addition, increased in MDA levels and significant decreases in GSH level, AChE, CAT, and GPx activities were observed in CPF-treated groups. However, FEO-treated was showed a significant improvement in all parameters except AChE activity compared to CPF groups. These study findings showed that FEO could improve CPF-induced toxicity in C. carpio, except inhibition of AChE activity.

Maternal exposure during organogenesis to chlorpyrifos insecticide induce apoptosis process

OBJECTIVE

Nowadays, one of the issues that matter in infertility is abortion or teratogenicity of embryos, followed by environmental pollution. Additionally, the continuous use of pesticides as the requirements of modern agriculture can increase the number of released radicals, which ultimately affects cell membranes and cell death via apoptosis pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

NMRI mice were divided into 3 groups: (1) Chlorpyrifos received group, (2) DMSO received as the sham group, (3) Control group. The mice were mated and euthanized 10 days post gestation. The number of embryos, progesterone and estradiol hormones and the liver enzymes levels of mouse mothers were evaluated in each group. The apoptosis pathway genes (Bax and Bcl2) and protein expressions (Caspase3 and Caspase9) were evaluated in the embryos of each group by qPCR and immunohistochemistry staining, respectively.

RESULTS

The number of embryos in the experimental group was significantly lower than from the other groups. The liver enzymes and hormone levels were higher in CPF induced mice in comparison to the others. The mRNA expression of Bax in the embryos was significantly higher in the CPF group compared to sham and control groups. Caspase3 and Caspase9 protein expression revealed a higher rate of apoptosis in CPF group embryos.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous use of Chlorpyrifos can be regarded as having a negative effect on pregnancy as well as raising the mechanism of apoptosis in the development of embryos that may contribute to abortion or the birth of teratogenic disorders embryos.

Inhibition of autophagy enhances cadmium-induced apoptosis in duck renal tubular epithelial cells

Increasing evidence indicates autophagy and apoptosis are involved in the toxicity mechanism of heavy metals. Our previous studies showed that cadmium (Cd) could induce autophagy and apoptosis in duck kidneys in vivo, nevertheless, the interaction between them has yet to be elucidated. Herein, the cells were either treated with 3CdSO₄·8H₂O (0, 1.25, 2.5, 5.0 μM Cd) or/and 3-methyladenine (3-MA) (2.5 μM) for 12 h and the indictors related autophagy and apoptosis were detected to assess the correlation between autophagy and apoptosis induced by Cd in duck renal tubular epithelial cells. The results demonstrated that Cd exposure notably elevated intracellular and extracellular Cd contents, the number of autophagosomes and LC3 puncta, up-regulated LC3A, LC3B, Beclin-1, Atg5 mRNA levels, and Beclin-1 and LC3II/LC3I protein levels, down-regulated mTOR, p62 and Dynein mRNA levels and p62 protein level. Additionally, autophagy inhibitor 3-MA decreased Beclin-1, LC3II/LC3I protein levels and increased p62 protein level. Moreover, co-treatment with Cd and 3-MA could notably elevate Caspase-3, Cyt C, Bax, and Bak-1 mRNA levels, Caspase-3 and cleaved Caspase-3 protein levels, and cell apoptotic rate as well as cell damage, decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), Bcl-2 mRNA level and the ratio of Bcl-2 to Bax compared to treatment with Cd alone. Overall, these results indicate Cd exposure can induce autophagy in duck renal tubular epithelial cells, and inhibition of autophagy might aggravate Cd-induced apoptosis through mitochondria-mediated pathway.