New insights into brain injury in chickens induced by bisphenol A and selenium deficiency-Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and mitophagy-apoptosis crosstalk homeostasis

Naringenin counteracts LPS-induced inflammation and immune deficits in chicken thymus by alleviating mtROS/ferroptosis levels

Naringenin is a flavonoid with significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Mitochondrial dynamics, the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and mtROS are closely related to each other and regulate various biological processes. Ferroptosis is closely related to inflammatory responses and immune function in multiple tissues and organs. However, whether naringenin can alleviate LPS-induced inflammation and immune disorders in the chicken thymus via mtROS/ferroptosis has not been reported. Therefore, in this study, we constructed chicken thymus and MSB-1 cell models of LPS and naringenin based on screening for naringenin concentrations that have positive effects on inflammation and immune function to further investigate the anti-inflammatory, antiferroptosis, and maintenance of the immune function of naringenin. The results showed that 40 mg/kg naringenin alleviated LPS-induced tissue damage, elevated serum inflammatory factors, and decreased serum immune factors. The mechanism by which naringenin attenuates mtROS release by alleviating the imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics and the blockage of the respiratory chain. The effect of naringenin on alleviating LPS-induced lipid peroxidation, disruption of the GSH/GSSG system, iron overload, and GPx4 inactivation, thereby attenuating ferroptosis in thymus tissue, was inhibited by the addition of mtROS activators. In conclusion, naringenin alleviates LPS-induced ferroptosis in chicken thymus by attenuating mtROS release.

Unveiling the interplay of MAPK/NF-κB/MLKL axis in brain health: Omega-3 as a promising candidates against copper neurotoxicity

Excessive intake of copper (Cu) may lead to increased inflammatory responses in brain, which can cause damage to neurons and glial cells, thereby affecting normal brain function. Omega-3 (ω-3) is a common dietary supplement, particularly rich in DHA in the brain, known for its anti-inflammatory properties and its role in lipid balance regulation and structural maintenance. Here, ω-3 is supplemented to Cu-exposed chickens to assess its neuroprotection in vivo and in vitro. Pathologically, ω-3 significantly alleviated structural and functional abnormalities in brain under excess Cu, including barrier disruption, neuronal shrinkage necroptosis and increased release of inflammatory factors such as IL-1β. The molecular docking analyses unveiled high enrichment values of inflammation and MAPK pathway, with IL-1β gene enrichment the highest value. Mechanistically, DHA stabilized the active site of IL-1β, thereby reducing the activation of NF-κB signal and phosphorylation of MAPK/MLKL cascades, ultimately mitigating Cu-induced inflammatory effects. These mechanisms elucidate the action mode of Cu neurotoxicity from aspect of MAPK/NF-κB/MLKL axis and the promising neuroprotection of ω-3.

New insights into the spleen injury by mitochondrial dysfunction of chicken under polystyrene microplastics stress

Microplastics biological toxicity, environmental persistence and biological chemicals have been paid widespread attention. Microplastics exposed to chicken spleen injury of the specific mechanism is unclear. Thus, we randomly assigned chickens to 4 groups: C (normal diet), L-MPs (1 mg/L), M-MPs (10 mg/L), and H-MPs (100 mg/L), and assessed spleen damage after 42 d of exposure. Morphologically, the boundary between the red and white pulp of the spleen was blurred, along with the expansion of the white pulp. It was further speculated that microplastics induced mitochondrial dynamic homeostasis (Drp1 upgraded, Mfn1, Mfn2, and OPA1 reduced), and provoked the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway (Bcl-2/Bax decreased, cytc, caspase3, and caspase9 raised), resulting in redox imbalance and lipid peroxide accumulation (MDA increased, CAT, GSH, and T-AOC plummeted), and further stimulated ferroptosis (FTH1, GPX4, and SLC7A11 decreased). Here we explored the impact of polystyrene microplastics on the spleen, as well as the programmed death (apoptosis and ferroptosis) involved, and the regulative role of mitochondria in this process. This could be of significant importance in bridging the gap in laboratory research on microplastics-induced spleen injury in chicken.

By regulating the IP3R/GRP75/VDAC1 complex to restore mitochondrial dynamic balance, selenomethionine reduces lipopolysaccharide-induced neuronal apoptosis

Selenium (Se), as one of the essential trace elements, plays an anti-inflammatory, antioxidation, and immune-enhancing effect in the body. In addition, Se can also improve nervous system damage induced by various factors. Earlier studies have described the important role of mitochondrial dynamic imbalance in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nerve injury. The inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R)/glucose-regulated protein 75 (GRP75)/voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1) complex is considered to be the key to regulating mitochondrial dynamics. However, it is not clear whether Selenomethionine (SeMet) has any influence on the IP3R/GRP75/VDAC1 complex. Therefore, the aim of this investigation was to determine whether SeMet can alleviate LPS-induced brain damage and to elucidate the function of the IP3R/GRP75/VDAC1 complex in it. We established SeMet and/or LPS exposure models in vivo and in vitro using laying hens and primary chicken nerve cells. We noticed that SeMet reversed endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and the imbalance in mitochondrial dynamics and significantly prevented the occurrence of neuronal apoptosis. We made this finding by morphological observation of the brain tissue of laying hens and the detection of related genes such as ERS, the IP3R/GRP75/VDAC1 complex, calcium signal (Ca2+), mitochondrial dynamics, and apoptosis. Other than that, we also discovered that the IP3R/GRP75/VDAC1 complex was crucial in controlling Ca2+ transport between the endoplasmic reticulum and the mitochondrion when SeMet functions as a neuroprotective agent. In summary, our results revealed the specific mechanism by which SeMet alleviated LPS-induced neuronal apoptosis for the first time. As a consequence, SeMet has great potential in the treatment and prevention of neurological illnesses (like neurodegenerative diseases).