The use of glial data in human health assessments of environmental contaminants

Effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals on myelin development and diseases

In the central and peripheral nervous systems, myelin is essential for efficient conduction of action potentials. During development, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells differentiate and ensure axon myelination, and disruption of these processes can contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. In adults, demyelination can lead to important disabilities, and recovery capacities by remyelination often decrease with disease progression. Among environmental chemical pollutants, endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are of major concern for human health and are notably suspected to participate in neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we have combined the current knowledge on EDCs impacts on myelin including several persistent organic pollutants, bisphenol A, triclosan, heavy metals, pesticides, and nicotine. Besides, we presented several other endocrine modulators, including pharmaceuticals and the phytoestrogen genistein, some of which are candidates for treating demyelinating conditions but could also be deleterious as contaminants. The direct impacts of EDCs on myelinating cells were considered as well as their indirect consequences on myelin, particularly on immune mechanisms associated with demyelinating conditions. More studies are needed to describe the effects of these compounds and to further understand the underlying mechanisms in relation to the potential for endocrine disruption.

Role of astrocytes-derived d-serine in PFOS-induced neurotoxicity through NMDARs in the rat primary hippocampal neurons

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is one of the perfluorinated compounds (PFCs), and has been used in industrial and consumer products. It has already been shown that PFOS could be detected in the environmental media and biological species including humans, due to its resistance to environmental degradation. PFOS is known to induce a series of adverse impacts on human health, e.g., as a potential neurotoxic substance. Recent studies suggest that astrocytes act as the mediator in PFOS-induced neurotoxicity; however, the underlying molecular mechanism needs further investigation. Under the physiological condition, astrocytes play an important role in maintaining brain functions through releasing and up-taking of neurotransmitters between astrocytes and neurons. In the present study, astrocytes-derived d-serine was shown to be involved in PFOS-induced apoptosis and death in the rat primary hippocampal neurons. Significant alterations in d-serine were found in astrocytes, mediated by the molecules in d-serine synthesis (serine racemase), metabolism (d-amino acid oxidase) and delivery (calcium, vacuolar type H+-ATPase, alanine-serine-cysteine transporter and connexin 43 hemichannels). Meanwhile, the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subunits (NR1, NR2 A and NR2B) gene and protein expressions were significantly increased in the hippocampal neurons exposed to the PFOS-activated astrocytes-conditional medium (ACM). Further, the adverse effects of PFOS could be attenuated by the fluorocitrate (an inhibitor for d-serine up-taken by the glial cells) application. Our data indicated that astrocytes-derived d-serine was involved in PFOS-induced neurotoxicity through the NMDARs in the rat primary hippocampal neurons.

Diurnal variation in the proinflammatory activity of urban fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) by in vitro assays

Background: Ambient particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM 2.5) undergoes diurnal changes in chemical composition due to photochemical oxidation. In this study we examine the relationships between oxidative activity and inflammatory responses associated with these diurnal chemical changes. Because secondary PM contains a higher fraction of oxidized PM species, we hypothesized that PM 2.5 collected during afternoon hours would induce a greater inflammatory response than primary, morning PM 2.5. Methods: Time-integrated aqueous slurry samples of ambient PM 2.5 were collected using a direct aerosol-into-liquid collection system during defined morning and afternoon time periods. PM 2.5 samples were collected for 5 weeks in the late summer (August-September) of 2016 at a central Los Angeles site. Morning samples, largely consisting of fresh primary traffic emissions (primary PM), were collected from 6-9am (am-PM 2.5), and afternoon samples were collected from 12-4pm (pm-PM 2.5), when PM composition is dominated by products of photochemical oxidation (secondary PM). The two diurnally phased PM 2.5 slurries (am- and pm-PM 2.5) were characterized for chemical composition and BV-2 microglia were assayed in vitro for oxidative and inflammatory gene responses. Results: Contrary to expectations, the am-PM 2.5 slurry had more proinflammatory activity than the pm-PM 2.5 slurry as revealed by nitric oxide (NO) induction, as well as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and CCL2 (MCP-1), as assessed by messenger RNA production. Conclusions: The diurnal differences observed in this study may be in part attributed to the greater content of transition metals and water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) of am-PM 2.5 (primary PM) vs. pm-PM 2.5 (secondary PM), as these two classes of compounds can increase PM 2.5 toxicity.

Diurnal variation in the proinflammatory activity of urban fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) by in vitro assays

Background: Ambient particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM 2.5) undergoes diurnal changes in chemical composition due to photochemical oxidation. In this study we examine the relationships between oxidative activity and inflammatory responses associated with these diurnal chemical changes. Because secondary PM contains a higher fraction of oxidized PM species, we hypothesized that PM 2.5 collected during afternoon hours would induce a greater inflammatory response than primary, morning PM 2.5. Methods: Time-integrated aqueous slurry samples of ambient PM 2.5 were collected using a direct aerosol-into-liquid collection system during defined morning and afternoon time periods. PM 2.5 samples were collected for 5 weeks in the late summer (August-September) of 2016 at a central Los Angeles site. Morning samples, largely consisting of fresh primary traffic emissions (primary PM), were collected from 6-9am (am-PM 2.5), and afternoon samples were collected from 12-4pm (pm-PM 2.5), when PM composition is dominated by products of photochemical oxidation (secondary PM). The two diurnally phased PM 2.5 slurries (am- and pm-PM 2.5) were characterized for chemical composition and BV-2 microglia were assayed in vitro for oxidative and inflammatory gene responses. Results: Contrary to expectations, the am-PM 2.5 slurry had more proinflammatory activity than the pm-PM 2.5 slurry as revealed by nitric oxide (NO) induction, as well as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and CCL2 (MCP-1), as assessed by messenger RNA production. Conclusions: The diurnal differences observed in this study may be in part attributed to the greater content of transition metals and water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) of am-PM 2.5 (primary PM) vs. pm-PM 2.5 (secondary PM), as these two classes of compounds can increase PM 2.5 toxicity.

Diurnal variation in the proinflammatory activity of urban fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) by in vitro assays

Background: Ambient particulate matter (PM) smaller than 2.5 µm in diameter (PM 2.5) undergoes diurnal changes in chemical composition due to photochemical oxidation. In this study we examine the relationships between oxidative activity and inflammatory responses associated with these diurnal chemical changes. Because secondary PM contains a higher fraction of oxidized PM species, we hypothesized that PM 2.5 collected during afternoon hours would induce a greater inflammatory response than primary, morning PM 2.5. Methods: Time-integrated aqueous slurry samples of ambient PM 2.5 were collected using a direct aerosol-into-liquid collection system during defined morning and afternoon time periods. PM 2.5 samples were collected for 5 weeks in the late summer (August-September) of 2016 at a central Los Angeles site. Morning samples, largely consisting of fresh primary traffic emissions (primary PM), were collected from 6-9am (am-PM 2.5), and afternoon samples were collected from 12-4pm (pm-PM 2.5), when PM composition is dominated by products of photochemical oxidation (secondary PM). The two diurnally phased PM 2.5 slurries (am- and pm-PM 2.5) were characterized for chemical composition and BV-2 microglia were assayed in vitro for oxidative and inflammatory gene responses. Results: Contrary to expectations, the am-PM 2.5 slurry had more proinflammatory activity than the pm-PM 2.5 slurry as revealed by nitric oxide (NO) induction, as well as the upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and CCL2 (MCP-1), as assessed by messenger RNA production. Conclusions: The diurnal differences observed in this study may be in part attributed to the greater content of transition metals and water-insoluble organic carbon (WIOC) of am-PM 2.5 (primary PM) vs. pm-PM 2.5 (secondary PM), as these two classes of compounds can increase PM 2.5 toxicity.

The Differentiation of Rat Oligodendroglial Cells Is Highly Influenced by the Oxygen Tension: In Vitro Model Mimicking Physiologically Normoxic Conditions

Oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) constitute one of the main populations of dividing cells in the central nervous system (CNS). Physiologically, OPCs give rise to mature, myelinating oligodendrocytes and confer trophic support to their neighboring cells within the nervous tissue. OPCs are known to be extremely sensitive to the influence of exogenous clues which might affect their crucial biological processes, like survival, proliferation, differentiation, and the ability to generate a myelin membrane. Alterations in their differentiation influencing their final potential for myelinogenesis are usually the leading cause of CNS dys- and demyelination, contributing to the development of leukodystrophic disorders. The evaluation of the mechanisms that cause oligodendrocytes to malfunction requires detailed studies based on designed in vitro models. Since OPCs readily respond to changes in local homeostasis, it is crucial to establish restricted culture conditions to eliminate the potential stimuli that might influence oligodendrocyte biology. Additionally, the in vitro settings should mimic the physiological conditions to enable the obtained results to be translated to future preclinical studies. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate OPC differentiation in physiological normoxia (5% O₂) and a restricted in vitro microenvironment. To evaluate the impact of the combined microenvironmental clues derived from other components of the nervous tissue, which are also influenced by the local oxygen concentration, the process of generating OPCs was additionally analyzed in organotypic hippocampal slices. The obtained results show that OPC differentiation, although significantly slowed down, proceeded correctly through its typical stages in the physiologically relevant conditions created in vitro. The established settings were also conducive to efficient cell proliferation, exerting also a neuroprotective effect by promoting the proliferation of neurons. In conclusion, the performed studies show how oxygen tension influences OPC proliferation, differentiation, and their ability to express myelin components, and should be taken into consideration while planning preclinical studies, e.g., to examine neurotoxic compounds or to test neuroprotective strategies.

Trace determination of carbamate pesticides in medicinal plants by a fluorescent technique

The safety issue of using carbamate pesticides in medicinal plants (MPs) has been a global concern and hence attracted attention of many researchers to develop analytical tools for trace pesticides detection. Derived from the fluorescence-based techniques, a rapid, convenient and efficient method for the detection of three carbamate pesticides, including carbofuran, aldicarb and methomyl has been developed by using core-shell QDs. By optimizing experimental parameters, the system demonstrated high detection sensitivities for the investigated carbamates, with the lowest detectable concentrations less than 0.05 μM. The molecular docking study indicated that the selected carbamate pesticides bound to the catalytic active site of acetylcholinesterase via π-π or H-π interactions, which also revealed the potential mechanism of the differences in inhibition strength among the three pesticides on AChE. Moreover, in order to investigate the applicability and reliability of the proposed method for the pesticide analysis in real sample with complex matrix, the matrix effects of eight common MPs have been systematically explored. These findings suggested that this technique was a simple, sensitive and reliable method for rapid determination of carbamate pesticides in real samples, especially those with complex matrices like MPs, vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural crops.