Exposure to a mixture of heavy metals induces cognitive impairment: Genes and microRNAs involved

Molecular mechanisms of sulforaphane in Alzheimer's disease: insights from an in-silico study

This study was to identify the molecular pathways that may explain sulforaphane's Alzheimer's disease (AD) benefits using multiple advanced in silico approaches. We found that sulforaphane regulates 45 targets, including TNF, INS, and BCL2. Therefore, it may help treat AD by reducing neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, and apoptosis. The important relationships were co-expression and pathways. 45 targets were linked to the midbrain, metabolite interconversion enzymes, 14q23.3 and 1q31.1 chromosomes, and modified residues. "Amyloid precursor protein catabolic process", "regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway", and "positive regulation of nitric oxide biosynthetic process" were the main pathways, while NFKB1, SP1, RELA, hsa-miR-17-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, and hsa-miR-26b-5p were transcription factors and miRNAs implicated in sulforaphane In AD treatment, miRNA sponges, dexibuprofen, and sulforaphane may be effective. Furthermore, its unique physicochemical, pharmacokinetic, and biological qualities make sulforaphane an effective AD treatment, including efficient gastrointestinal absorption, drug-like properties, absence of CYP450 enzyme inhibition, not being a substrate for P-glycoprotein, ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, glutathione S-transferase substrate, immunostimulant effects, and antagonistic neurotransmitter effects. Sulforaphane is a promising compound for AD management. Further work is needed to elucidate its therapeutic effects based on our findings, including genes, miRNAs, molecular pathways, and transcription factors.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40203-024-00267-4.

Early prediction of cognitive impairment in adults aged 20 years and older using machine learning and biomarkers of heavy metal exposure

Background

Cognitive impairment poses a growing health challenge as populations age. Heavy metals are implicated as environmental risk factors, but their role is not fully understood. Machine learning can integrate multi-factorial data to predict cognitive outcomes.

Objective

To develop and validate machine learning models for early prediction of cognitive impairment risk using demographics, clinical factors, and biomarkers of heavy metal exposure.

Method

A retrospective analysis was conducted using 2011-2014 NHANES data. Participants aged ≥ 20 underwent cognitive testing. Variables included demographics, medical history, lifestyle factors, and blood and urine levels of lead, cadmium, manganese, and other metals. Machine learning algorithms were trained on 90 % of data and evaluated on 10 %. Performance was assessed using metrics like accuracy, AUC, and sensitivity.

Result

A final sample of 2,933 participants was analyzed. The stacking ensemble model achieved the best performance with an AUC of 0.778 for test data, sensitivity of 0.879. Important predictors included age, gender, hypertension, education, urinary cadmium and blood manganese levels.

Conclusion

Machine learning can effectively predict cognitive impairment risk using comprehensive clinical and exposure data. Incorporating heavy metal biomarkers enhanced prediction and provided insights into environmental contributions to cognitive decline. Prospective studies are needed to validate models over time.

Co-exposure to multiple heavy metals and metalloid induces dose dependent modulation in antioxidative, inflammatory, DNA damage and apoptic pathways progressing to renal dysfunction in mice

Humans are exposed to a cocktail of heavy metal toxicants at the same time in the environment rather than single metal. The kidney is often a site of early damage due to high renal contact to these pollutants. This study was done to examine the cumulative toxic effect of multiple elements prevalent in the environment. To explore the effect of subchronic exposure to heavy metal mixture male and female Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into 14 groups and given varying doses [MPL (maximum permissible limit), 1X, 5X, 10X, 50X, or 100X] of the multiple metals and metalloid mixtures via drinking water for 8 weeks. It was determined that metal treatment caused increased metal load in renal tissue. The kidney function deteriorated in response to 10X, 50X, 100X concentration of the dosing mixture was found associated to oxidative stress, glomerular damage, necrosis, cell death and further exacerbation of the inflammation.

Elucidation of toxic effects of 1,2-diacetylbenzene: an in silico study

PURPOSE

We aimed to explore the metabolite products of 1,2-diacetylbenzene (DAB) and investigate their harmful effects, physicochemical properties, and biological activities, along with those of DAB itself.

METHODS

Key approaches included MetaTox, PASS online, ADMESWISS, ADMETlab 2.0, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation to identify metabolites, toxic effects, Lipinski's rule criteria, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion properties, interactions with cytochrome (CYP) 450 isoforms, and the stability of the DAB-cytochrome complex.

RESULTS

A total of 13 metabolite products from DAB were identified, involving Phase I reactions (aliphatic hydroxylation, epoxidation, oxidative dehydrogenation, and hydrogenation) and Phase II reactions (oxidative sulfation and methylation). Molecular dynamics and modeling revealed a stable interaction between CYP1A2 and DAB, suggesting the involvement of CYP1A2 in DAB metabolism. All studied compounds adhered to Lipinski's rule, indicating their potential as inducers or activators of toxic mechanisms. The physicochemical parameters and pharmacokinetics of the investigated compounds were consistent with their harmful effects, which included neurotoxic, nephrotoxic, endocrine disruptor, and hepatotoxic consequences due to their high gastrointestinal absorption and ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Various CYP450 isoforms exhibited different functions, and the compounds were found to act as superoxide dismutase inhibitors, neuropeptide Y2 antagonists, glutaminase inhibitors, and activators of caspases 3 and 8. DAB and its metabolites were also associated with apoptosis, oxidative stress, and neuroendocrine disruption.

CONCLUSION

The toxic effects of DAB and its metabolites were predicted in this study. Further research is warranted to explore their effects on other organs, such as the liver and kidneys, and to validate our findings.

In silico exploration of promising heterocyclic molecules against both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase enzymes

We aimed to further explore the relationship between heterocyclic molecules and their associated biological activities for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes. A dataset of 36 heterocycles was used to predict the activity of AChE and BChE inhibitors (the pIC50 values ranged from 7.84 to 12.49). A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) study was generated with the help of four different models (BMA, MNLR, MLR, and ANN). Four of the models were statistically acceptable based on both internal and external validation. The descriptors used in the models were similar to the X-ray structures of the target-ligand complexes, which made it possible to predict the pIC50 for AChE and BChE enzymes. Five selected molecules (compounds 6 (C21H21F3N4O), compound 7 (C22H23F3N4O), and compound 8 (C22H23F3N4O2) belong to the oxadiazole derivative group; compound 16 (C17H13ClN2O3) is classified into the chemical structures of different N, O, and S-based heterocycle groups; and compound 25 (C19H17NO2) pertains to the pyrimidine derivative group) possessed high pIC50 values for AChE and BChE enzymes (pIC50 values for AChE and BChE ranged from 9.01 to 10.32). The range of docking scores between the AChE and BChE receptors and their respective candidates was from -8.1 to -9.2 kcal/mol. The pharmacokinetics, biological activities, and physicochemical properties of five selected compounds supported their ability to protect against AD because they are not toxic, have a cholinergic effect, can cross the blood-brain barrier, and are well absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Identification of Autophagy-Related Biomarkers and Diagnostic Model in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. Its accurate pathogenic mechanisms are incompletely clarified, and effective therapeutic treatments are still inadequate. Autophagy is closely associated with AD and plays multiple roles in eliminating harmful aggregated proteins and maintaining cell homeostasis. This study identified 1191 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) based on the GSE5281 dataset from the GEO database, intersected them with 325 autophagy-related genes from GeneCards, and screened 26 differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DEAGs). Subsequently, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis was performed and indicated that these DEAGs were primarily involved in autophagy-lysosomal biological process. Further, eight hub genes were determined by PPI construction, and experimental validation was performed by qRT-PCR on a SH-SY5Y cell model. Finally, three hub genes (TFEB, TOMM20, GABARAPL1) were confirmed to have potential application for biomarkers. A multigenic prediction model with good predictability (AUC = 0.871) was constructed in GSE5281 and validated in the GSE132903 dataset. Hub gene-targeted miRNAs closely associated with AD were also retrieved through the miRDB and HDMM database, predicting potential therapeutic agents for AD. This study provides new insights into autophagy-related genes in brain tissues of AD patients and offers more candidate biomarkers for AD mechanistic research as well as clinical diagnosis.

The role of exosome-shuttled miRNAs in heavy metal-induced peripheral tissues and neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease

Heavy metal-induced neuroinflammation is a significant pathophysiologic mechanism in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Microglia-mediated neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of AD. Multiple miRNAs are differentially expressed in peripheral tissues after heavy metal exposure, and increasing evidence suggests that they are involved in AD progression by regulating microglial homeostasis. Exosomes, which are capable of loading miRNAs and crossing the bloodbrain barrier, serve as mediators of communication between peripheral tissues and the brain. In this review, we summarize the current evidence on the link between miRNAs in peripheral tissues and neuroinflammation in AD after heavy metal exposure and propose a role for miRNAs in the microglial neurodegenerative phenotype (MGnD) of AD. This study will help to elucidate the link between peripheral tissue damage and MGnD-mediated neuroinflammation in AD after heavy metal exposure. Additionally, we summarize the regulatory effects of natural compounds on peripheral tissue-derived miRNAs, which could be potential therapeutic targets for natural compounds to regulate peripheral tissue-derived exosomal miRNAs to ameliorate heavy metal-induced MGnD-mediated neuroinflammation in patients with AD after heavy metal exposure.

Elucidation of the effects of 2,5-hexandione as a metabolite of n-hexane on cognitive impairment in leptin-knockout mice (C57BL/6-Lepem1Shwl/Korl)

Exposure to n-hexane and its metabolite 2,5-hexandione (HD) is a well-known cause of neurotoxicity, particularly in the peripheral nervous system. To date, few studies have focused on the neurotoxic effects of HD on cognitive impairment. Exposure to HD and diabetes mellitus can exacerbate neurotoxicity. There are links among HD, diabetes mellitus, and cognitive impairment; however, the specific mechanisms underlying them remain unclear. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the neurotoxic effects of HD on cognitive impairment in ob/ob (C57BL/6-Lepem1Shwl/Korl) mice. We found that HD induced cognitive impairment by altering the expression of genes (FN1, AGT, ACTA2, MYH11, MKI67, MET, CTGF, and CD44), miRNAs (mmu-miR15a-5p, mmu-miR-17-5p, and mmu-miR-29a-3p), transcription factors (transcription factor AP-2 alpha [TFAP2A], serum response factor [Srf], and paired box gene 4 [PAX4]), and signaling pathways (ERK/CERB, PI3K/AKT, GSK-3β/p-tau/amyloid-β), as well as by causing neuroinflammation (TREM1/DAP12/NF-κB), oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The prevalent use of n-hexane in various industrial applications (for instance, shoe manufacturing, printing inks, paints, and varnishes) suggests that individuals with elevated body weight and glucose levels and those employed in high-risk workplaces have greater probability of cognitive impairment. Therefore, implementing screening strategies for HD-induced cognitive dysfunction is crucial.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43188-024-00228-1.

Molecular mechanisms implicated in protein changes in the Alzheimer's disease human hippocampus

This study aimed to elucidate the specific biochemical pathways linked to changes in proteins in the Alzheimer's disease (AD) human hippocampus. Our data demonstrate a constant rise in the expression of four proteins (VGF, GFAP, HSPB1, and APP) across all eleven studies. Notably, UBC was the most centrally involved and had increased expression in the hippocampus tissue of individuals with AD. Modified proteins in the hippocampal tissue were found to activate the innate immune system and disrupt communication across chemical synapses. Four hub proteins (CD44, APP, ITGB2, and APOE) are connected to amyloid plaques, whereas two hub proteins (RPL24 and RPS23) are related to neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). The presence of modified proteins was discovered to trigger the activation of microglia and decrease the functioning of ribosomes and mitochondria in the hippocampus. Three significant microRNAs (hsa-miR-106b-5p, hsa-miR-17-5p, and hsa-miR-16-5p) and transcription factors (MYT1L, PIN1, and CSRNP3) have been discovered to improve our understanding of the alterations in proteins within the hippocampal tissues that lead to the progression of AD. These findings establish a path for possible treatments for AD to employ therapeutic strategies that specifically focus on the proteins or processes linked to the illness.

An in silico investigation of the toxicological effects and biological activities of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid and its metabolite products

We aimed to elucidate the toxic effects and biological activities of 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3PBA) and its metabolite products.

Numerous in silico methods were used to identify the toxic effects and biological activities of 3PBA, including PASS online, molecular docking, ADMETlab 2.0, ADMESWISS, MetaTox, and molecular dynamic simulation.

Ten metabolite products were identified via Phase II reactions (O-glucuronidation, O-sulfation, and methylation).

All of the investigated compounds were followed by Lipinski's rule, indicating that they were stimulants or inducers of hazardous processes.

Because of their high gastrointestinal absorption and ability to reach the blood-brain barrier, the studied compounds' physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties matched existing evidence of harmful effects, including haematemesis, reproductive dysfunction, allergic dermatitis, toxic respiration, and neurotoxicity.

The studied compounds have been linked to the apoptotic pathway, the reproductivity system, neuroendocrine disruptors, phospholipid-translocating ATPase inhibitors, and JAK2 expression.

An O-glucuronidation metabolite product demonstrated higher binding affinity and interaction with CYP2C9, CYP3A4, caspase 3, and caspase 8 than 3PBA and other metabolite products, whereas metabolite products from methylation were predominant and more toxic.

Our in silico findings partly meet the 3Rs principle by minimizing animal testing before more study is needed to identify the detrimental effects of 3PBA on other organs (liver, kidneys).

Future research directions may involve experimental validation of in silico predictions, elucidation of molecular mechanisms, and exploration of therapeutic interventions.

These findings contribute to our understanding of the toxicological profile of 3PBA and its metabolites, which has implications for risk assessment and regulatory decisions.

Prospective findings from the Dongfeng-Tongji cohort: Exposure to various metals, the expression of microRNA-4286, and the incidence of acute coronary syndrome

Mounting evidence suggests that metal/metalloid exposure is related to the adverse health effects. Our prior investigation revealed a positive relation between the plasma level of microRNA-4286 (miR-4286) and an increased risk of developing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, it is a lack of studies evaluating the connection between metal/metalloid exposure and miRNA expression on ACS. In the prospective Dongfeng-Tongji cohort, we performed a nested case-control study. A total of 480 ACS and 480 controls were carefully selected based on similar age, sex, and blood collection time. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, we assessed the plasma concentrations of 24 different metals. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the plasma miR-4286. We examined the relations of plasma metals with miR-4286 levels, the incidence of ACS, and the potential interactions. Using the multivariate conditional logistic regression models, we observed that the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals [CI]) for incident ACS were 1.79 (1.03, 3.12; P-trend = 0.03), 0.60 (0.41, 0.87; P-trend = 0.008), and 0.66 (0.46, 0.93; P-trend = 0.02), when comparing the extreme tertiles of aluminum, rubidium, and selenium, respectively. There was a relation between the concentration of rubidium in plasma and a decrease in the level of plasma miR-4286 (percent difference [95% CI]: -13.36% [-22.74%, -2.83%]; P-trend = 0.01). Both multiplicative (P interaction = 0.009) and additive interactions (relative excess risk due to interaction [95% CI]: 0.82 [0.59, 1.06]) were noted in our observation regarding the relationship between plasma aluminum and miR-4286 in incident ACS. The findings indicated that plasma aluminum was positively while plasma rubidium and selenium were negatively linked to an increased risk of developing ACS. Plasma aluminum exposure and plasma miR-4286 expression might synergistically affect the incident ACS risk. Controlling aluminum exposure was important for ACS prevention, especially for individuals with high expression of plasma miR-4286.

Heavy metal levels are positively associated with serum periostin and miRNA-125b levels, but inversely associated with miRNA-26a levels in pediatric asthma cases. A case-control study

BACKGROUND

The study investigated heavy metals levels [urinary cadmium (U-Cd), erythrocytic cadmium (E-Cd), urinary arsenic (U-As), and whole blood lead (WB-Pb)] in children with bronchial asthma (BA) and tested their associations with serum periostin, miRNA-125b and miRNA-26a levels, and with asthma severity clinically and laboratory [blood eosinophils count (BEC) and serum total immunoglobin E (IgE)]. Also, we tested cut-off points, for the studied parameters, to distinguish BA cases from healthy children.

METHODS

This case-control study included 158 children divided into control group; n = 72 and BA group; n = 86. Heavy metals were measured by an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer. Serum periostin and IgE levels were measured by their corresponding ELISA kits. miRNAs relative expressions were estimated by RT-qPCR using the 2-ΔΔCT method.

RESULTS

Heavy metals, serum periostin, and miR-125b levels were significantly high in BA group (p < 0.001). Heavy metals levels correlated positively with serum periostin, miR-125b and IgE levels, BEC, and asthma severity. The reverse was observed regarding serum miR-26a levels. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed good to excellent abilities of U-Cd, E-Cd, U-As, WB-Pb, serum periostin, miRNA-125b, and miRNA - 26a, and total IgE levels to distinguish BA cases from healthy children.

CONCLUSIONS

Heavy metal toxicity in children is associated with BA severity, increased serum periostin and miRNA-125b levels, and decreased miRNA-26a levels. Specific measures to reduce children's exposure to heavy metals should be taken. Future research should consider blocking miRNA-125b action or enhancing miRNA-26a action to manage BA cases.

Circulating microRNA miR-425-5p Associated with Brain White Matter Lesions and Inflammatory Processes

White matter lesions (WML) emerge as a consequence of vascular injuries in the brain. While they are commonly observed in aging, associations have been established with neurodegenerative and neurological disorders such as dementia or stroke. Despite substantial research efforts, biological mechanisms are incomplete and biomarkers indicating WMLs are lacking. Utilizing data from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP), our objective was to identify plasma-circulating micro-RNAs (miRNAs) associated with WMLs, thus providing a foundation for a comprehensive biological model and further research. In linear regression models, direct association and moderating factors were analyzed. In 648 individuals, we identified hsa-miR-425-5p as directly associated with WMLs. In subsequent analyses, hsa-miR-425-5p was found to regulate various genes associated with WMLs with particular emphasis on the SH3PXD2A gene. Furthermore, miR-425-5p was found to be involved in immunological processes. In addition, noteworthy miRNAs associated with WMLs were identified, primarily moderated by the factors of sex or smoking status. All identified miRNAs exhibited a strong over-representation in neurodegenerative and neurological diseases. We introduced hsa-miR-425-5p as a promising candidate in WML research probably involved in immunological processes. Mir-425-5p holds the potential as a biomarker of WMLs, shedding light on potential mechanisms and pathways in vascular dementia.

The Role of microRNAs in Arsenic-Induced Human Diseases: A Review

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding RNAs with 20-22 nucleotides, which are encoded by endogenous genes and are capable of targeting the majority of human mRNAs. Arsenic is regarded as a human carcinogen, which can lead to many adverse health effects including diabetes, skin lesions, kidney disease, neurological impairment, male reproductive injury, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as cardiac arrhythmias, ischemic heart failure, and endothelial dysfunction. miRNAs can act as tumor suppressors and oncogenes via directly targeting oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Recently, miRNA dysregulation was considered to be an important mechanism of arsenic-induced human diseases and a potential biomarker to predict the diseases caused by arsenic exposure. Endogenic miRNAs such as miR-21, the miR-200 family, miR-155, and the let-7 family are involved in arsenic-induced human disease by inducing translational repression or RNA degradation and influencing multiple pathways, including mTOR/Arg 1, HIF-1α/VEGF, AKT, c-Myc, MAPK, Wnt, and PI3K pathways. Additionally, exogenous miRNAs derived from plants, such as miR-34a, miR-159, miR-2911, miR-159a, miR-156c, miR-168, etc., among others, can be transported from blood to specific tissue/organ systems in vivo. These exogenous miRNAs might be critical players in the treatment of human diseases by regulating host gene expression. This review summarizes the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs in arsenic-induced human diseases, including cancers, CVD, and other human diseases. These special miRNAs could serve as potential biomarkers in the management and treatment of human diseases linked to arsenic exposure. Finally, the protective action of exogenous miRNAs, including antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anti-CVD, antioxidant stress, and antivirus are described.

Effects of mixed heavy metals on obstructive lung function: findings from epidemiological and toxicogenomic data

The molecular mechanisms and associations of mixed heavy metals (lead, mercury, and cadmium) on obstructive lung function (OLF) in males and females remain unknown. Here, we evaluated the interaction between the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio and three common heavy metals in males and females (n = 6221). Molecular processes involved in OLF development caused by mixed heavy metals were also identified to corroborate the earlier findings. In both males and females, as well as across the entire population, we found that serum cadmium levels were inversely related to the FEV1/FVC ratio. Interactions between serum cadmium and lead, as well as cadmium and mercury, were observed in relation to the FEV1/FVC ratio. Additionally, we observed negative correlations between the FEV1/FVC ratio and mixed serum cadmium, lead, and mercury in both men and women as well as in the overall population. Seven genes were identified as contributing to the etiology of OLF and targeted by combined heavy metals in silico analysis (CYP1A1, CRP, CXCL8, HMOX1, IL6, NOS2, and TNF). The primary relationships between these genes were co-expression interactions. The significant transcription factors and miRNAs associated with OLF and a combination of the examined heavy metals were identified as NFKB2, hsa-miR-155-5p, and hsa-miR-203a-3p. The main biological processes involved in the emergence of OLF induced by mixed heavy metals were listed as inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, lung fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, as well as cytokine activity, monooxygenase activity, oxidoreductase activity, and interleukin-8 production. Threshold estimations and miRNA sponge patterns for heavy metal exposure levels associated with OLF were evaluated for both males and females. This study found that cadmium plays the most important role in the mixture of cadmium, lead, and mercury in the pathogenesis of OLF. Future studies are required to verify our findings and uncover the molecular mechanisms of long-term exposure to a variety of heavy metals, especially cadmium, in other populations, including children, adolescents, and the elderly.

Assessment of health risks associated with heavy metal concentration in seafood from North-Western Croatia

The following study aims at assessing the health risks associated with the consumption of the most commonly consumed seafood in the north-western part of Croatia due to the presence of heavy metals. Samples of seafood were collected and analysed for lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg) content. Analyses of Cd and Pb were carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) whereas Hg content was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Metal concentrations were in the following order Hg > Pb > Cd for the gilthead seabream, European hake, sardines, and tuna fish whereas in the Patagonian squid cadmium (Cd) was the heavy metal with the highest concentration, with the order of other metals being Cd > Hg > Pb. The heavy metal concentrations have been used to address the health risks using the Estimated Weekly Intake (EWI), Target Hazard Quotients (THQ), and Hazard Indices (HI). The findings revealed that the concentrations of the tested heavy metals, expressed on a per wet weight basis, did not exceed the Maximum Residue Levels (MRL) for those compounds mandated by national Croatian legislation. However, the HI for Hg was above 1, indicating a risk of adverse health effects due to the presence of this heavy metal in the consumed seafood. We conclude that the consumption of certain type of seafood such as the tuna fish should be limited when sensitive segments of the population such as children, elderly and pregnant women are concerned. Our results strongly advocate for a more stringent seafood quality control in the region.

Exposure to mixed chemicals elevated triiodothyronine (T3) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels: epidemiology and in silico toxicogenomic involvement

There is a dearth of evidence on the effects of a mixture of numerous different types of chemicals on hormone functions. We hypothesized that exposure to mixed chemicals may alter hormone levels. Thus, this study was to identify an association between the mixed chemicals (25 chemicals) and hormone levels (thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) among 5687 Korean adults using four different statistical approaches. Furthermore, we elucidate the effects of the key chemicals on thyroid disease and infertility based on the findings from epidemiology data. The positive associations between mixed chemicals and T3 and between mixed chemicals and FSH were observed across different methods after adjusting for all possible confounders. In the weighted quantile sum regression models, there were positive associations between mixed chemicals and T3 (β = 4.43, 95%CI: 2.81-5.88) and ln-transformed FSH (lnFSH) (β = 0.15, 95%CI: 0.10-0.20). In the quantile g-computation models, positive associations were found between mixed chemicals and T3 (β=2.15, 95%CI: 0.17-4.14) and lnFSH (β=0.15, 95%CI: 0.07-0.22). In the Bayesian kernel machine regression models, culminative effects of mixed chemicals showed positive associations with T3 and lnFSH; mercury (group posterior inclusion probabilities (PIPs) = 0.557 and conditional PPI = 0.556) and lead (group PIP group = 0.815 and conditional PPI = 0.951) were the most important chemicals for T3 and FSH, respectively. The results obtained were partially robust when subjected to in silico toxicogenomic data. We identified several molecular mechanisms that were implicated in Hg-induced thyroid disease, including the selenium micronutrient network, oxidative stress response, IL-17 signaling pathway, poorly differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and primary hyperthyroidism. The molecular processes implicated in Pb-induced infertility were "response to nutrient levels," "gonad development," "male infertility," "female infertility," and "intrinsic pathway for apoptosis," with a particular focus on FSH. The present study investigated the threshold levels of the studied chemicals and their potential impact on the disruption of T3 and FSH hormones. Future research is warranted to determine the effects of mixed chemicals on various hormones because there have been few studies on the disruption of hormones caused by such mixed chemicals.

An evaluation of the effects of mixed heavy metals on prediabetes and type 2 diabetes: epidemiological and toxicogenomic analysis

The link between mixed heavy metals (mercury, lead, and cadmium), prediabetes, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially molecular mechanisms, is poorly understood. Thus, we aimed to identify the association between mixed heavy metals and T2DM and its components using a data set from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We further analyzed the main molecular mechanisms implicated in T2DM development induced by mixed heavy metals using in-silico analysis. Our findings observed that serum mercury was associated with prediabetes, elevated glucose, and ln2-transformed glucose when using different statistical methods. "AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications", "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease", "metabolic Syndrome X", and three miRNAs (hsa-miR-98-5p, hsa-let-7a-5p, and hsa-miR-34a-5p) were listed as the most important molecular mechanisms related to T2DM development caused by mixed heavy metals. These miRNA sponge structures were created and examined, and they may be beneficial in the treatment of T2DM. The predicted cutoff values for three heavy metal levels linked to T2DM and its components were specifically identified. Our results imply that chronic exposure to heavy metals, particularly mercury, may contribute to the development of T2DM. To understand the changes in the pathophysiology of T2DM brought on by a combination of heavy metals, more research is required.

Genome-wide identification of nitrate-responsive microRNAs by small RNA sequencing in the rice restorer cultivar Nanhui 511

Rice productivity relies heavily on nitrogen fertilization, and improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) is important for hybrid rice breeding. Reducing nitrogen inputs is the key to achieving sustainable rice production and reducing environmental problems. Here, we analyzed the genome-wide transcriptomic changes in microRNAs (miRNAs) in the indica rice restorer cultivar Nanhui 511 (NH511) under high (HN) and low nitrogen (LN) conditions. The results showed that NH511 is sensitive to nitrogen supplies and HN conditions promoted the growth its lateral roots at the seedling stage. Furthermore, we identified 483 known miRNAs and 128 novel miRNAs by small RNA sequencing in response to nitrogen in NH511. We also detected 100 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 75 upregulated and 25 downregulated DEGs, under HN conditions. Among these DEGs, 43 miRNAs that exhibited a 2-fold change in their expression were identified in response to HN conditions, including 28 upregulated and 15 downregulated genes. Additionally, some differentially expressed miRNAs were further validated by qPCR analysis, which showed that miR443, miR1861b, and miR166k-3p were upregulated, whereas miR395v and miR444b.1 were downregulated under HN conditions. Moreover, the degradomes of possible target genes for miR166k-3p and miR444b.1 and expression variations were analyzed by qPCR at different time points under HN conditions. Our findings revealed comprehensive expression profiles of miRNAs responsive to HN treatments in an indica rice restorer cultivar, which advances our understanding of the regulation of nitrogen signaling mediated by miRNAs and provides novel data for high-NUE hybrid rice cultivation.

Roles of mixed nutrient intakes on metabolic syndrome among korean adults 19-80 years old: molecular mechanisms involved

Purpose

We aim to identify the association between nutrient intake mixtures (22 micro-macro nutrients) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) or its components, including molecular mechanisms involved, among 16,807 Korean adults aged 19-80.

Methods

The associations of mixed nutrient intakes on MetS or its components were identified using linear regression models, WQS regression, qgcomp, and BKMR regression. Genes, transcription factors, miRNA, biological processes, and pathways were assessed using GeneMania, CHEA3, MIENTURNET, and ToppFun functions.

Results

We found that the overall effect of mixed nutrient intakes was also related to MetS and its components. In silico analysis, we found that a mixture of nutrients interacted with the IL6 gene and was linked with MetS. Physical interactions were the key interactions (77%) involved in the mutual genes and MetS targeted by a mixture of nutrients. IL6 related pathways, "positive regulation of type B pancreatic cell apoptotic process", "regulation of glucagon secretion", "LDL pathway during atherogenesis", and "IL-10 anti-inflammatory signaling pathway" were identified as key molecular mechanisms that may be targeted by mixed nutrients implicated in MetS. The key miRNAs and transcription factors involved in the process of MetS targeted by a mixture of nutrients were also described. The cutoff levels for nutrient intake levels associated with MetS and its components were also described.

Conclusion

Our findings will pave the way for further research to evaluate the interactions between a mixture of nutrients and non-communicable diseases.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40200-022-01158-1.

The emerging role of N6-methyladenine RNA methylation in metal ion metabolism and metal-induced carcinogenesis

N⁶-methyladenine (m⁶A) is the most common and abundant internal modification in eukaryotic mRNAs, which can regulate gene expression and perform important biological tasks. Metal ions participate in nucleotide biosynthesis and repair, signal transduction, energy generation, immune defense, and other important metabolic processes. However, long-term environmental and occupational exposure to metals through food, air, soil, water, and industry can result in toxicity, serious health problems, and cancer. Recent evidence indicates dynamic and reversible m⁶A modification modulates various metal ion metabolism, such as iron absorption, calcium uptake and transport. In turn, environmental heavy metal can alter m⁶A modification by directly affecting catalytic activity and expression level of methyltransferases and demethylases, or through reactive oxygen species, eventually disrupting normal biological function and leading to diseases. Therefore, m⁶A RNA methylation may play a bridging role in heavy metal pollution-induced carcinogenesis. This review discusses interaction among heavy metal, m⁶A, and metal ions metabolism, and their regulatory mechanism, focuses on the role of m⁶A methylation and heavy metal pollution in cancer. Finally, the role of nutritional therapy that targeting m⁶A methylation to prevent metal ion metabolism disorder-induced cancer is summarized.

The Effects of a Mixture of Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury on Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components, as well as Cognitive Impairment: Genes, MicroRNAs, Transcription Factors, and Sponge Relationships : The Effects of a Mixture of Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury on Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components, as well as Cognitive Impairment: Genes, MicroRNAs, Transcription Factors, and Sponge Relationships

Converging evidence indicates heavy metal-induced genes, transcription factors (TFs), and microRNAs (miRNAs) are critical pathological components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and cognitive impairment. Thus, our goals are to identify the interaction of mixed heavy metals (cadmium + lead + mercury) with genes, TFs, and miRNAs involved in MetS and its components, as well as cognitive impairment development. The most commonly retrieved genes for each disease were different, but essential biological pathways such as oxidative stress, altered lipoprotein metabolism, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, apoptosis, the IL-6 signaling pathway, and Alzheimer's disease were highlighted. The genes CASP3, BAX, BCL2, IL6, TNF, APOE, HMOX1, and IGF were found to be mutually affected by the heavy metal mixture studied, suggesting the importance of apoptosis, inflammation, lipid, heme, and glucose metabolism in MetS and cognitive impairment, as well as the potentiality of targeting these genes in prospective therapeutic intervention for these diseases. EGR2, ATF3, and NFE2L2 were noted as the most key TFs implicated in the etiology of MetS and its components, as well as cognitive impairment. We also found six miRNAs induced by studied heavy metals were the mutual miRNAs linked to MetS, its components, and cognitive impairment. In particular, we used miRNAsong to construct and verify a miRNA sponge sequence for these miRNAs. These sponges are promising molecules for the treatment of MetS and its components, as well as cognitive impairment.

Computational assessment of the biological response of curcumin to type 2 diabetes mellitus induced by metal exposure

The current study aimed to identify the molecular mechanisms of a metal mixture (cadmium, nickel, and lead) involved in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) development and the therapeutic effect of curcumin in this metal mixture-induced T2DM. To accomplish this, SwissADME assessed the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of curcumin and the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances evaluates its biological activities. The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, Cytoscape, AutoDock Vina, and MicroRNA ENrichment TURned NETwork were used as tools to perform data-mining approaches and molecular docking. Curcumin properties were fitted within the acceptable range to be a promising drug candidate. The mixed metal altered 23 genes linked to T2DM development and targeted by curcumin. Curcumin had a dual-natured effect or antagonistic effect for most of the involved genes in T2DM and metal mixture. The most prominent biological processes were identified as ''response to external stimulus'', ''regulation of programmed cell death'', ''programmed cell death'', ''cell death'', and ''response to stress''. Three highly interacted miRNAs related to metal mixture-induced T2DM and targeted by curcumin (hsa-miR-98-5p, hsa-miR-34a-5p, and hsa-miR-155-5p) were identified. These findings could pave the way for further studies to evaluate the link between these genes and T2DM.

Urinary exosomal microRNAs as predictive biomarkers for persistent psychotic-like experiences

Psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) occur occasionally in adolescence and mostly disappear with increasing age. Their presence, if persistent, is considered a robust risk factor for subsequent psychiatric disorders. To date, only a few biological markers have been investigated for persistent PLE prediction. This study identified urinary exosomal microRNAs that can serve as predictive biomarkers for persistent PLEs. This study was part of a population-based biomarker subsample study of the Tokyo Teen Cohort Study. A total of 345 participants aged 13 (baseline) and 14 (follow-up) years underwent PLE assessments by experienced psychiatrists using semi-structured interviews. We defined remitted and persistent PLEs based on longitudinal profiles. We obtained urine at baseline and the expression levels of urinary exosomal miRNAs were compared between 15 individuals with persistent PLEs and 15 age- and sex-matched individuals with remitted PLEs. We constructed a logistic regression model to examine whether miRNA expression levels could predict persistent PLEs. We identified six significant differentially expressed microRNAs, namely hsa-miR-486-5p, hsa-miR-199a-3p, hsa-miR-144-5p, hsa-miR-451a, hsa-miR-143-3p, and hsa-miR-142-3p. The predictive model showed an area under the curve of 0.860 (95% confidence interval: 0.713-0.993) for five-fold cross-validation. We found a subset of urinary exosomal microRNAs that were differentially expressed in persistent PLEs and presented the likelihood that a microRNA-based statistical model could predict them with high accuracy. Therefore, urine exosomal miRNAs may serve as novel biomarkers for the risk of psychiatric disorders.

Neurotherapeutic Effects of Quercetin and Its Metabolite Compounds on Cognitive Impairment and Parkinson's Disease: An In Silico Study

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Little is known about the metabolomic profile of quercetin and its biological effects. This study aimed to determine the biological activities of quercetin and its metabolite products, as well as the molecular mechanisms of quercetin in cognitive impairment (CI) and Parkinson's disease (PD).

METHODS

Key methods used were MetaTox, PASS Online, ADMETlab 2.0, SwissADME, CTD MicroRNA MIENTURNE, AutoDock, and Cytoscape.

RESULTS

A total of 28 quercetin metabolite compounds were identified by phase I reactions (hydroxylation and hydrogenation reactions) and phase II reactions (methylation, O-glucuronidation, and O-sulfation reactions). Quercetin and its metabolites were found to inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A, CYP1A1, and CYP1A2. The studied compounds demonstrated significant gastrointestinal absorption and satisfied Lipinsky's criterion. Due to their high blood-brain barrier permeability, P-glycoprotein inhibition, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant capabilities, quercetin and its metabolite products have been proposed as promising molecular targets for the therapy of CI and PD. By regulating the expression of crucial signaling pathways [mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, and neuroinflammation and glutamatergic signaling], genes [brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), human insulin gene (INS), and dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2), miRNAs (hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-26b-5p, hsa-miR-30a-5p, hsa-miR-125b-5p, hsa-miR-203a-3p, and hsa-miR-335-5p], and transcription factors [specificity protein 1 (SP1), v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA), and nuclear factor Kappa B subunit 1 (NFKB1)], quercetin exhibited its neurotherapeutic effects in CI and PD. In addition to inhibiting β-N-acetylhexosaminidase, quercetin also showed robust interactions and binding affinities with heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1), superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), INS, DRD2, and γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAa).

CONCLUSION

This study identified 28 quercetin metabolite products. The metabolites have similar characteristics to quercetin such as physicochemical properties, absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME), and biological activities. More research, especially clinical trials, is needed to find out how quercetin and its metabolites protect against CI and PD.

Effects of mixed heavy metals on kidney function in premenopausal and postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationships between heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury) and their mixtures and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

METHODS

Using data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2009-2017), multivariate linear regression models, marginal effects, and weighted quantile sum regression, we assessed the associations between single heavy metals and their mixtures and eGFR among 5,372 women.

RESULTS

Risks of reduced eGFR, comorbidities, and heavy metal exposure were found to be higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. A negative association of cadmium ( β = -2.97; 95% CI, -5.10 to -0.85) and a positive association of mercury ( β = 2.97; 95% CI, 1.49 to 4.44), with eGFR in postmenopausal women. Inverse associations of lead with eGFR in both premenopausal women ( β = -4.75; 95% CI, -6.04 to -3.46) and postmenopausal women ( β = -4.54; 95% CI, -6.96 to -2.13). Interactions were identified between lead and mercury, as well as cadmium and lead for eGFR among premenopausal women ( β = -2.04; 95% CI, -2.98 to -1.10) and postmenopausal women ( β = -3.52; 95% CI, -6.04 to -1.01), respectively. There was a negative association between mixed heavy metals and eGFR in both premenopausal women ( β = -2.23; 95% CI, -3.51 to -0.96) and postmenopausal women ( β = -3.86; 95% CI, -6.89 to -0.83). Lead was found as a key chemical related to reduced eGFR. Cutoff values for each heavy metal concentration related to eGFR were provided.

CONCLUSION

Postmenopausal women were more influenced by mixed heavy metals' effects on kidney function than premenopausal women. Early interventions (eg, water filtering, heavy metal yearly screening) in women, especially postmenopausal women, are needed to reduce the incidence of chronic kidney disease.

Exosomes: A missing link between chronic systemic inflammation and Alzheimer's disease?

Exosomes are potent mediators of physiological and pathological processes. In Alzheimer's disease and inflammatory disorders, due to exosomes' distinctive ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, a bidirectional communication between the periphery and the central nervous system exists. Since exosomes can carry various biochemical molecules, this review investigates the role of exosomes as possible mediators between chronic systemic inflammatory diseases and Alzheimer's disease. Exosomes carry pro-inflammatory molecules generated in the periphery, travel to the central nervous system, and target glial and neuronal cells. Microglia and astrocytes then become activated, initiating chronic neuroinflammation. As the aging brain is more susceptible to such changes, this state of neuroinflammation can stimulate neuropathologies, impair amyloid-beta clearance capabilities, and generate dysregulated microRNAs that alter the expression of genes critical in Alzheimer's disease pathology. These processes, individually and collectively, become significant risk factors for the development of Alzheimer's disease.

Resveratrol, Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Neurodegenerative Diseases and Depression: Genes, Transcription Factors, microRNAs, and Sponges Involved

We aimed to examine the molecular basis of the positive effect of resveratrol against amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), cognitive impairment (CI), and depression induced by a mixture of bisphenol A (BPA), BPS, and BPF. The CTD, GeneMania, Metascape, SwissADME, Cytoscape, MIENTURNET, miRNAsong, and Autodock Vina were the fundamental tools for analysis. Resveratrol exerts its protective effects on selected diseases induced by a mixture of BPA, BPS, and BPF through the following genes: PTGS2 and GSR for ALS; INS, IL6, BDNF, and SOD1 for PD; BDNF, CASP3, TNF, INS, IGF1, IL1B for CI; and BDNF, PTGS2, and IL6 for depression. Detoxification was noted as the most important for ALS, dopamine metabolism for PD, apoptosis for CI, and the selenium micronutrient network for depression. hsa-miR-377-3p, hsa-miR-1-3p, hsa-miR-128-3p, and hsa-miR-204-5p were highlighted. We created and tested in silico sponges that inhibited these miRNAs. NFE2L2, BACH1, PPARG, and NR4A3 were listed as the key transcription factors implicated in resveratrol's protective effect against harmful studied chemicals. Furthermore, resveratrol's physicochemical properties and pharmacokinetics are consistent with its therapeutic benefits in ALS, PD, CI, and depression, owing to its high gastrointestinal absorption, drug-likeness, non-P-glycoprotein substrate, and capacity to penetrate the blood-brain barrier.

Risperidone ameliorated 1,2-Diacetylbenzene-induced cognitive impairments in mice via activating prolactin signaling pathways

Cognitive impairment and organic solvent exposure have been becoming public health concerns due to an increasingly aging population, increased life expectancy, urbanization, and industrialization. Converging evidence indicates the link between 1,2-diacetylbenzene (DAB), prolactin (PRL), risperidone, and cognitive impairment. However, these relationships remain unclear. We investigated the therapeutic properties of risperidone in DAB-induced cognitive impairment using both in vivo and in silico methods. Risperidone alleviated DAB-induced cognitive impairment in hippocampal mice, possibly by inhibiting GSK-3β, β-amyloid, CDK5, BACE, and tau hyperphosphorylation. Risperidone also attenuated the activation of TREM-1/DAP12/NLRP3/caspase-1/IL-1β, and TLR4/NF-κB pathways caused by DAB. Furthermore, risperidone inhibited DAB-induced oxidative stress, advanced glycation end products, and proinflammatory cytokines, as well as increased the expression of Nrf2, IL-10, Stat3, MDM2, and catalase activity. On the other hand, risperidone activated the expression of IRS1, PI3K, AKT, BDNF, Drd2, Scna5, and Trt as well as reduced the Bax/Bcl2 ratio and Caspase-3 levels. In silico analyses identified the prolactin signaling pathway, miR-155-5p, miR-34a-5p, and CEBPB as the main molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of DAB-induced cognitive impairment and targeted by risperidone. Our results suggest that risperidone could be used to treat cognitive impairment caused by organic solvents, especially DAB.

Common Genetic Factors and Pathways in Alzheimer's Disease and Ischemic Stroke: Evidences from GWAS

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and ischemic stroke (IS) are common neurological disorders, and the comorbidity of these two brain diseases is often seen. Although AD and IS were regarded as two distinct disease entities, in terms of different etiologies and clinical presentation, recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) revealed that there were common risk genes between AD and IS, indicating common molecular pathways and their common pathophysiology. In this review, we summarize AD and IS risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their representative genes from the GWAS Catalog database, and find thirteen common risk genes, but no common risk SNPs. Furthermore, the common molecular pathways associated with these risk gene products are summarized from the GeneCards database and clustered into inflammation and immunity, G protein-coupled receptor, and signal transduction. At least seven of these thirteen genes can be regulated by 23 microRNAs identified from the TargetScan database. Taken together, the imbalance of these molecular pathways may give rise to these two common brain disorders. This review sheds light on the pathogenesis of comorbidity of AD and IS, and provides molecular targets for disease prevention, manipulation, and brain health maintenance.

Interactions between heavy metals and sleep duration among pre-and postmenopausal women: A current approach to molecular mechanisms involved

The effects of heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury) and their mixtures on sleep duration in pre-and postmenopausal women, particularly the molecular mechanisms, remain unknown. Here, we assessed the interaction between heavy metals and sleep duration among pre-and postmenopausal women (n = 1134). Furthermore, molecular mechanisms related to sleep disorders induced by studied heavy metals were further analyzed to support the previous findings. We found that serum lead levels were positively related to weekend and weekday sleep duration in premenopausal women. There were interactions between serum lead and mercury and menopausal status for sleep duration. Serum lead and mercury levels were shown to be inversely related to sleep duration in postmenopausal women. Despite the lack of statistically significant associations between mixed heavy metals and sleep duration, there were increasing trends in premenopausal women's sleeping patterns and decreasing trends in postmenopausal women's sleeping patterns. In silico analysis, IL1B, hsa-21-5p, hsa-887-3p, hsa-877-3p, and NR4A1 were identified as the most relevant genes, miRNAs, and transcription factors linked with sleep disorders induced by combined heavy metals (cadmium, lead, and mercury). Furthermore, "type 1 melanocortin receptor binding," "endocrine hormone secretion," "interleukin-1 receptor antagonist activity," "altered melanocortin system," and "sleep wake disorders" were identified as the predominant molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of sleep disorders induced by the studied heavy metals. Cut off point values and miRNA sponge templates for heavy metal exposure levels relevant to sleep disorders in pre- and postmenopausal women were reported. Future research is needed to verify our findings and provide insight into the molecular processes of long-term mixed heavy metal exposure in various populations, such as children and the elderly.

Combination of Donepezil and Memantine Attenuated Cognitive Impairment Induced by Mixed Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: an In Silico Study

Little is known about the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and the combination of memantine and donepezil on the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment. Here, we aimed to identify in silico the molecular mechanisms of the combination of memantine and donepezil that combat cognitive impairment induced by nine common EDCs using GeneMania, AutoDock Vina, Metascape, SwissADME, MIENTURNET, and miRNAsong. We observed that the mixture of memantine and donepezil had therapeutic effects on mixed EDC-induced cognitive impairment via five genes (TNF, ACHE, BAX, IL1B, and CASP3). With ACHE and TNF, donepezil and memantine both had a high docking score, respectively. The predominant connections among five mutual genes were physical interactions (77.6%). The major pathways associated with memantine and donepezil countering cognitive impairment generated by mixed EDCs were discovered to be "AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications," "pro-survival signaling of neuroprotectin D1," and "non-alcoholic fatty liver disease." The miRNAs and transcription factors implicated in memantine and donepezil protecting against mixed EDCs were hsa-miR-128-3p and hsa-miR-34a-5p, NFKB1, NFKB2, IRF8, and E2F4. The sponges' tertiary structure predictions for two major miRNAs were provided. The physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of memantine and donepezil highlighted the need for a therapeutic combination of these medications to treat cognitive impairment.

Effects of heavy metals on cardiovascular diseases in pre and post-menopausal women: from big data to molecular mechanism involved

To assess the link between a mixed heavy metal (cadmium, lead, and mercury) and the 10-year risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in pre- and post-menopausal Korean women aged ≥20 years, as well as identify potential molecular mechanisms of mixed heavy metal-induced CVDs. Multivariate linear regression, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (gqcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were used to examine the effects of mixed heavy metals and the 10-year risk of CVDs. The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, MicroRNA ENrichment TURned NETwork, and the microRNA sponge generator and tester were used as the key data-mining approaches. In our BKMR analysis, we found that the overall effect of mixed heavy metals was linked to the 10-year risk of CVDs in postmenopausal women in the upper 20^th percentiles and in premenopausal women in the upper 55^th percentiles. Mercury was identified as the key chemical for the 10-year risk of CVDs in pre- and postmenopausal women. In silico analysis revealed that a heavy metal mixture interacted with six genes associated with CVD development. Physical interactions (77.6%) were found to be the most common among CVD-related genes induced by the heavy metals studied. Several pathways have been identified as the main molecular mechanisms that could be affected by studied heavy metals and are implicated in the development of CVDs (e.g., lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, lipoprotein metabolism, cholesterol metabolism, and cardiovascular disease). ALB, APOE, ATF5, and CREB3L3 were the key genes and transcription factors related to CVDs induced by the mixture of the investigated heavy metals, respectively. The two miRNAs with the highest interaction and expression in the development of CVDs were hsa-miR-199a-5p and hsa-miR-199a-3p. We also designed and tested miRNA sponge sequences for these miRNAs. The cutoff thresholds for each heavy metal level linked with the 10-year risk of CVDs were described. A mixture of heavy metal exposures, especially mercury, was more strongly linked with the 10-year risk of CVDs in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women. Early interventions in postmenopausal women should be considered to reduce CVD risks.

Effects of chemical mixtures on liver function biomarkers in the Korean adult population: thresholds and molecular mechanisms for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease involved

There is a scarcity of research on the effects of a mixture of chemicals on liver function biomarkers and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) indices, including FSI, HIS, and FBI-4. Thus, we aimed to explore whether there is an association between chemical mixtures, including 26 chemicals found in blood and urine, liver function biomarkers, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) indices in Korean adults. The effects of exposure to chemical mixtures on liver function biomarkers and NAFLD indices were investigated using linear regression models, weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) among 3669 adults. In silico toxicogenomic data-mining, we evaluated molecular mechanisms associated with NAFLD, including pathways, diseases, genes, miRNAs, and biological processes. The linear regression models showed blood or urine Hg levels were the most important factors associated with AST, ALT, GGT, FSI, and HSI levels, and significant trends were observed for these chemical quartiles (p < 0.01). The WQS index was significantly associated with ALT, GGT, FSI, and HSI. The qgcomp index also found an association between chemicals and AST, ALT, GGT, and FSI. In the BKMR model, the overall effect of the mixture was significantly related to ALT, GGT, FSI, and HSI. In silico analysis, we found mixed chemicals interacted with the CYP1A2 gene and were associated with NAFLD. Seventy-eight percent of interactions were identified as physical interactions in the CYP1A2 gene related to NAFLD. Transcription factor regulation in adipogenesis and lipid metabolic processes are fundamental molecular mechanisms that could be influenced by NAFLD-related mixed chemicals. Cutoff thresholds for chemical exposure levels associated with liver function indicators and NAFLD indices were also reported. The strongest interactions and expression of miRNAs involved in NAFLD development were also identified.

The role of mixed B vitamin intakes on cognitive performance: Modeling, genes and miRNAs involved

OBJECTIVE

To assess the relationships between mixed B vitamin intakes (B1, B2, B3, B6, B9, B12) and cognitive performance, as well as their molecular mechanisms.

METHODS

The associations of mixed B vitamin intakes with cognitive function were assessed using multivariate regression models, weighted quantile sum (WQS), quantile g-computation (qgcomp), and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR). GeneMANIA, Comparative Toxicogenomics Database, MIENTURNET, miRNAsong were employed as the main data-mining methods.

RESULTS

Overall effects of the B vitamin intake mixture were significantly associated with global cognition in the WQS, qgcomp, and BKMR models. A mixture of B vitamins (B1, B2, B3, B9) interacted with the five genes (IL1B, BCL2, CASP3, BAX, PTGS2) and was associated with better cognitive function, especially CASP3 and BAX. Physical interactions (77.6%) were observed to be the most important interactions in gene networks. The IL-18 signaling pathway, apoptosis, and Alzheimer's disease were annotated as the key molecular mechanisms involved in mixed B vitamins' improving cognitive function. NFKB1, ATF3, and NR3C1 were the key significant transcription factors associated with cognitive function targeted by a mixture of B vitamins. The strong interaction and expression of hsa-miR-34a-5p, hsa-miR-128-3p, hsa-miR-181a-5p, and hsa-miR-204-5p are involved in mixed B vitamins' better cognitive performance. We also created and evaluated miRNA sponge sequences for these miRNAs, which might be used to alleviate cognitive decline. The cutoff thresholds for B vitamin intake levels that are associated with cognition performance were reported.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the increased incidence of dementia across the world, increasing daily mixed B vitamin intake via regular meals may contribute to minimizing dementia risk. Further studies are warranted to identify these links in well-characterized cohorts of diverse populations, either independently or together.

Curcumin-Attenuated TREM-1/DAP12/NLRP3/Caspase-1/IL1B, TLR4/NF-κB Pathways, and Tau Hyperphosphorylation Induced by 1,2-Diacetyl Benzene: An in Vitro and in Silico Study

We aimed to evaluate the effects of 1,2-diacetylbenzene (DAB) and curcumin on neuroinflammation induced by DAB via triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 1 (TREM-1), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLP3)/calcium-dependent activator protein for secretion 1 (CAPS1)/interleukin 1 beta (IL1B) pathways; tau hyperphosphorylation; reactive oxygen species (ROS); and advanced glycation end-product (AGE) in microglia cells; and explore the molecular mechanisms involved in the key genes induced by DAB and targeted by curcumin in silico analysis. In this study, Western blot, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and immunocytochemistry were used as the key methods in vitro. In silico analysis, GeneMANIA, ToppFun feature, Metascape, CHEA3, Cytoscape, Autodock, and MIENTURNET were the core approaches used. Curcumin inhibited both the DAB-induced TREM-1/DAP12/NLRP3/caspase-1/IL1B pathway and the TLR4/NF-κB pathway. In BV2 cells, curcumin inhibited ROS, AGE, hyperphosphorylation, glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β), and β-amyloid while activating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression. In silico studies showed that tumor necrosis factor (TNF), IL6, NFKB1, IL10, and IL1B, as well as MTF1 and ZNF267, were shown to be important genes and transcription factors in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment produced by DAB and curcumin. Three significant miRNAs (hsa-miR-26a-5p, hsa-miR-203a-3p, and hsa-miR-155-5p) implicated in the etiology of DAB-induced cognitive impairment and targeted by curcumin were also identified. Inflammation and cytokine-associated pathways, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive impairment were characterized as the most significant biological processes implicated in genes, miRNAs, and transcription factors induced by DAB and targeted by curcumin. Our findings provide new insight into fundamental molecular mechanisms implicated in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment caused by DAB, particularly the effects of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, this study suggests that curcumin might be a promising therapeutic molecule for cognitive impairment treatment through modulating neuroinflammatory responses.