Lycopene Prevents DEHP-Induced Leydig Cell Damage with the Nrf2 Antioxidant Signaling Pathway in Mice

Rosolic acid as a novel activator of the Nrf2/ARE pathway in arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicity: An in silico study

Male reproductive toxicity as a result of arsenic exposure is linked with oxidative stress and excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). It leads to an imbalance between ROS production and antioxidant defense mechanisms ultimately resulting in male infertility. The nuclear factor erythroid 2 (NFE2)-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is a transcription factor that responds to cellular stressors controlling the oxidative state, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and proteostasis. This study aims to investigate the potential of Rosolic acid (ROA) to act as a novel Nrf2 activator by mitigating oxidative stress to combat arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicity. The protein and ligands were prepared in the BIOVIA Discovery Studio, followed by protein-ligand docking using auto dock vina integrated with the PyRx-Virtual Screening Tool. Then the ADME properties were analyzed using the SwissADME tool to get a clear idea about the physicochemical properties, lipophilicity, water solubility, pharmacokinetics, and drug likeliness of ROA. It was followed by molecular dynamics simulation (MDS) studies using GROMACS. The 3D and 2D interaction maps revealed the interactions of Keap 1 with ROA. Keap1-ROA complex was found to have a binding energy of -7.8 kcal/mol. ROA showed 0 violations for Lipinski and 0 alerts each for PAINS and Brenk and a bioavailability score of 0.55. The BOILED-Egg representation showcases that ROA is predicted as passively crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB). The MDS described 2FLU-ROA as a stable system. This work portrays that ROA can be a potent Nrf2 activator by exhibiting an inhibitory activity against the Keap1 protein and thus mitigating oxidative stress in arsenic-induced male reproductive toxicity.

Coenzyme Q10 ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury by attenuating oxidative stress and NLRP3 inflammation through regulating mitochondrial dynamics

Increasing evidence has demonstrated that coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) exhibits a range of biological properties. Herein, we explored the protective effect and potential molecular mechanism of CoQ10 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI). We found that medium (10 mg/kg) and high (50 mg/kg) doses of CoQ10 ameliorated LPS (50 µg/µL)-induced ALI to varying degrees, as demonstrated by reduced lung coefficient, lower wet/dry weight lung tissue ratio, decreased bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein concentration, less anatomical and histopathological damage to the lung, and increased expression of proteins related to lung epithelial barrier structure. CoQ10 also alleviated LPS-induced oxidative stress and inflammation mediated by NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde, and mitochondrial ROS concentrations, increasing superoxide dismutase, glutathione, and catalase activity, and decreasing NLRP3 expression at the protein and mRNA levels. Moreover, CoQ10 alleviated structural and functional damage to the mitochondria, inhibited mitochondrial fission, and promoted mitochondrial fusion, mainly by inhibiting phosphorylation of dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) at Ser616 and Ser637. Correlation analysis revealed that mitochondrial fission (especially Drp1) was positively correlated with oxidative stress, NLRP3-mediated inflammation, and structural damage to the lung epithelial barrier. Molecular docking analysis showed that CoQ10 binds stably to Drp1, with a binding energy of -5.9 kcal/mol. Furthermore, the use of schaftoside (a Drp1 inhibitor) has further elucidated the mechanism of action of CoQ10. Together, these results suggest that CoQ10 alleviates LPS-induced ALI by regulating mitochondrial dynamics, attenuating oxidative stress, and decreasing NLRP3-medated inflammation, thereby promoting lung epithelial barrier structural remodeling.

Unlocking milk thistle's anti-psoriatic potential in mice: Targeting PI3K/AKT/mTOR and KEAP1/NRF2/NF-κB pathways to modulate inflammation and oxidative stress

Silybum marianum, known as milk thistle (MT), is traditionally used to manage liver diseases. This study aimed to investigate the role of MT extract topical application as a potential treatment for imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriatic lesions in mice with particular emphasis on phosphoinositol-3 Kinase (PI3K)/ protein kinase B (AKT)/ mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1)/ nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor (NRF2)/ nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) molecular cascades involvement. To address this aim, forty male Swiss albino mice were subdivided into four groups (n = 10 mice/group): control, IMQ model, standard group where mice were treated topically with IMQ, then the anti-psoriatic mometasone cream, and MT extract-treated group where mice were treated topically with IMQ followed by MT extract. In most measured parameters, MT extract, rich in silymarin, exhibited potent anti-psoriatic activity comparable to the standard cortisone treatment. MT extract mitigated dorsal skin erythema, scaling, and epidermal thickening, reflected by lowering the Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score. Moreover, it alleviated IMQ-induced splenomegaly. Mechanistically, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway was the main functional pathway behind such improvements, where it was significantly inhibited by MT extract application. This led to NRF2 activation via KEAP1 downregulation with subsequent anti-inflammatory effect proven by reducing NF-κB, interleukin (IL)-23, and IL-17A and antioxidant ability proven by boosting the antioxidant glutathione and heme oxygenase-1. Such improvements were confirmed by alleviating the histopathological alteration. Thus, MT extract could be a promising therapeutic agent for psoriasis treatment by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR cascade, along with NRF2 signaling activation.

Bioactive Compounds Protect Mammalian Reproductive Cells from Xenobiotics and Heat Stress-Induced Oxidative Distress via Nrf2 Signaling Activation: A Narrative Review

Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the body's antioxidant defenses. It poses a significant threat to the physiological function of reproductive cells. Factors such as xenobiotics and heat can worsen this stress, leading to cellular damage and apoptosis, ultimately decreasing reproductive efficiency. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in defending against oxidative stress and protecting reproductive cells via enhancing antioxidant responses. Dysregulation of Nrf2 signaling has been associated with infertility and suboptimal reproductive performance in mammals. Recent advancements in therapeutic interventions have underscored the critical role of Nrf2 in mitigating oxidative damage and restoring the functional integrity of reproductive cells. In this narrative review, we delineate the harmful effects of heat and xenobiotic-induced oxidative stress on reproductive cells and explain how Nrf2 signaling provides protection against these challenges. Recent studies have shown that activating the Nrf2 signaling pathway using various bioactive compounds can ameliorate heat stress and xenobiotic-induced oxidative distress and apoptosis in mammalian reproductive cells. By comprehensively analyzing the existing literature, we propose Nrf2 as a key therapeutic target for mitigating oxidative damage and apoptosis in reproductive cells caused by exposure to xenobiotic exposure and heat stress. Additionally, based on the synthesis of these findings, we discuss the potential of therapies focused on the Nrf2 signaling pathway to improve mammalian reproductive efficiency.

Recent advances in toxicological research of di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate: Focus on endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway

The plasticizer di-(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP) is the most significant phthalate in production, usage, and environmental occurrence. DEHP is found in products such as personal care products, furniture materials, cosmetics, and medical devices. DEHP is noncovalently bind with plastic therefore, repeated uses lead to leaching out of it. Exposure to DEHP plasticizers leads to toxicity in essential organs of the body through various mechanisms. The main objective of this review article is to focus on the DEHP-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway implicated in the testis, brain, lungs, kidney, heart, liver, and other organs. Not only ER stress, PPAR-related pathways, oxidative stress and inflammation, Ca2+ homeostasis disturbances in mitochondria are also identified as the relative mechanisms. ER is involved in various critical functions of the cell such as Protein synthesis, protein folding, calcium homeostasis, and lipid peroxidation but, DEHP exposure leads to augmentation of misfolded/unfolded protein. This review complies with various recently reported DEHP-induced toxicity studies and some pharmacological interventions that have been shown to be effective through ER stress pathway. DEHP exposure does assess health risks and vulnerability to populations across the globe. This study offers possible targets and approaches for addressing various DEHP-induced toxicity.

Hepatotoxic effects of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on crucian carp: Insights from multi-omics analyses

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an extensively used phthalate esters (PAEs) that raise growing ecotoxicological concerns due to detrimental effects on living organisms and ecosystems. This study performed hepatotoxic investigations on crucian carp under chronic low-dosage (CLD) exposure to DEHP at environmentally relevant concentrations (20-500 μg/L). The results demonstrated that the CLD exposure induced irreversible damage to the liver tissue. Multi-omics (transcriptomics and metabolomics) analyses revealed the predominant toxicological mechanisms underlying DEHP-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting energy production pathways and the up-regulation of the purine metabolism. Disruption of metabolic pathways led to excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and subsequent oxidative stress. The adverse metabolic effects were exacerbated by an interplay between oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. This study not only provides new mechanistic insights into the ecotoxicological effects of DEHP under chronic low-dosage exposure, but also suggests a potential strategy for further ecological risk assessment of PAEs.

Phthalate exposure aggravates periodontitis by activating NFκB pathway

BACKGROUND

Phthalates are widely used plasticizers, which were identified as risk factors in the development of many human diseases. However, the effects of phthalates in the periodontitis are unknown. We aimed to investigated the relationship of periodontitis and phthalate exposure as well as the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were employed to evaluate the association between phthalate metabolites and periodontitis. The generalized additive model and piecewise logistic regression were conducted to investigate the dose-response relationship. Cell and animal models were used to explore the role and mechanism of DEHP in the development of periodontitis. Transcriptome sequencing, bioinformatics analysis, western blot, immunofluorescence and mice model of periodontitis were also employed.

RESULTS

MEHP (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.05-1.24), MCPP (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.00-1.17), MEHHP (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08-1.29), MEOHP (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.07-1.29), MiBP (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.04-1.28), and MECPP (OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09-1.32) were independent risk factors. And MEHHP, the metabolite of DEHP, showed the relative most important effects on periodontitis with the highest weight (0.34) among all risk factors assessed. And the increase of inflammation and the activation of NFκB pathway in the periodontitis model mice and cells were observed.

CONCLUSION

Exposure to multiple phthalates was positively associated with periodontitis in US adults between 30 and 80 years old. And DEHP aggravated inflammation in periodontitis by activating NFκB pathway.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate induced lipophagy-related renal ferroptosis in quail (Coturnix japonica)

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a synthetic chemical applied as a plasticizer. As an environmental toxicant, DEHP poses a serious health threat. Many studies have revealed that DEHP can cause lead to various degrees of damage to the kidney. However, the evidence of DEHP-induced renal ferroptosis has not been reported. The purpose of this work was to probe the specific role of lipophagy in DEHP-induced renal injury and to investigate the relationship between lipophagy and ferroptosis. Quail were treated with DEHP (250 mg/kg BW/day, 500 mg/kg BW/day and 750 mg/kg BW/day) for 45 days. Microstructural and ultrastructural observations showed that DEHP caused damage to glomerular and tubular cells, and autophagy with multilayer structures were observed, suggesting that DEHP can induce lipophagy. The results indicated that the iron homeostasis was abnormal and the lipid peroxidation was increased. SLC7A11 and SLC3A2 were down-regulated. PTGS2, ACSL4 and LPCAT3 were elevated. In conclusion, DEHP could induce lipid peroxidation, lead to ferroptosis, and damage renal cells. Therefore, the relationship between lipophagy and ferroptosis was elucidated, which provided a new basis for intervention and prevention of DEHP increased diseases.

The necroptosis-mediated imbalance of mitochondrial dynamics is involved in DEHP-induced toxicity to immature testes via the PGAM5-DRP1 interaction

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer that has been shown to impair male reproduction, but the potential mechanism underlying testicular injury caused by DEHP remains unclear. In vivo, rats were gavaged consecutively from postnatal day (PND) 21 to PND 31 with 0, 250, or 500 mg/kg DEHP for 10 days, and impaired mitochondria and increased necroptosis were observed in immature testes. In vitro, the GC-1 and GC-2 cell lines were exposed to monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP) at 100, 200 and 400 μM for 24 h, and this exposure induced oxidative stress damage, necroptosis and mitochondrial injury. Necroptosis and mitochondrial fission were inhibited by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) inhibitor acetylcysteine, and the imbalanced mitochondrial dynamics were rescued by the RIPK1 inhibitor necrostatin-1. Colocalization and co-IP analyses confirmed an interaction between dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) and phosphoglycerate mutase 5 (PGAM5), indicating that PGAM5 dephosphorylates DRP1 at serine 637 to induce mitochondrial fragmentation and thereby induces germ cell damage. Drug prediction with Connectivity Map (cMap) identified sulforaphane as a therapeutic drug. In summary, our findings indicate that DEHP triggers necroptosis and mitochondrial injury via a ROS storm in immature testes and that the PGAM5-DRP1 interaction is involved in this process.

Redox mechanisms of environmental toxicants on male reproductive function

Humans and wildlife, including domesticated animals, are exposed to a myriad of environmental contaminants that are derived from various human activities, including agricultural, household, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and industrial products. Excessive exposure to pesticides, heavy metals, and phthalates consequently causes the overproduction of reactive oxygen species. The equilibrium between reactive oxygen species and the antioxidant system is preserved to maintain cellular redox homeostasis. Mitochondria play a key role in cellular function and cell survival. Mitochondria are vulnerable to damage that can be provoked by environmental exposures. Once the mitochondrial metabolism is damaged, it interferes with energy metabolism and eventually causes the overproduction of free radicals. Furthermore, it also perceives inflammation signals to generate an inflammatory response, which is involved in pathophysiological mechanisms. A depleted antioxidant system provokes oxidative stress that triggers inflammation and regulates epigenetic function and apoptotic events. Apart from that, these chemicals influence steroidogenesis, deteriorate sperm quality, and damage male reproductive organs. It is strongly believed that redox signaling molecules are the key regulators that mediate reproductive toxicity. This review article aims to spotlight the redox toxicology of environmental chemicals on male reproduction function and its fertility prognosis. Furthermore, we shed light on the influence of redox signaling and metabolism in modulating the response of environmental toxins to reproductive function. Additionally, we emphasize the supporting evidence from diverse cellular and animal studies.

Redox Homeostasis and Nrf2-Regulated Mechanisms Are Relevant to Male Infertility

Infertility represents a significant global health challenge, affecting more than 12% of couples worldwide, and most cases of infertility are caused by male factors. Several pathological pathways are implicated in male infertility. The main mechanisms involved are driven by the loss of reduction-oxidation (redox) homeostasis and the resulting oxidative damage as well as the chronic inflammatory process. Increased or severe oxidative stress leads to sperm plasma membrane and DNA oxidative damage, dysregulated RNA processing, and telomere destruction. The signaling pathways of these molecular events are also regulated by Nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). The causes of male infertility, the role of oxidative stress in male infertility and the Keap1-Nrf2 antioxidant pathway are reviewed. This review highlights the regulatory role of Nrf2 in the balance between oxidants and antioxidants as relevant mechanisms to male fertility. Nrf2 is involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis and sperm quality. Establishing a link between Nrf2 signaling pathways and the regulation of male fertility provides the basis for molecular modulation of inflammatory processes, reactive oxygen species generation, and the antioxidant molecular network, including the Nrf2-regulated antioxidant response, to improve male reproductive outcomes.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides attenuate oxidative stress and mitochondrial toxicity induced by mixed plasticizers in HepG2 cells through activation of Nrf2

AIMS

In daily life, it is common for humans to be exposed to multiple phthalate esters (PAEs). However, there is limited research on the mechanisms and intervention of combined PAEs toxicity. This study aims to explore the cytotoxicity of combined PAEs and evaluate the potential of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in mitigating the aforementioned toxicity.

MAIN METHODS

LBP (62.5, 125 and 250 μg/mL) were applied to intervene HepG2 cells treated with DEHP and DBP mixtures (50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 μg/mL). Western Blot and different kits were mainly performed in our study.

KEY FINDINGS

DEHP and DBP mixtures suppressed the expression of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and activated MAPK pathway by increasing ROS. Combined DEHP and DBP exposure reduced ATP content and inhibited the mitochondrial biogenesis pathway in HepG2 cells through oxidative stress, which in turn caused cytotoxicity. LBP reduced oxidative stress and cell death induced by mixed plasticizers, upregulated Nrf2 levels and mitochondrial biogenesis pathway levels and inhibited MAPK pathway activation. Notably, after treating HepG2 cells with Nrf2-specific inhibitor (ML385, 0.5 μM), we found that the activation of Nrf2 played a crucial role on LBP intervention of DEHP and DBP induced HepG2 cytotoxicity.

SIGNIFICANCE

This study not only enhances our understanding of the toxicological effects caused by combined PAEs exposure, but also has significant implications in devising strategies to mitigate the toxicological consequences of combined exposure to exogenous chemicals through the investigation of the role of LBP.

Lycopene Maintains Mitochondrial Homeostasis to Counteract the Enterotoxicity of Deoxynivalenol

The intestinal tract is a target organ for Deoxynivalenol (DON) absorption and toxicity. Mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance is the gut toxicity mechanism of DON. Lycopene (LYC) has intestinal protective effects and can maintain mitochondrial homeostasis in response to various danger signals. The purpose of this study was to explore the protective effect of LYC on DON-induced IPEC-J2 cells damage. These results showed that DON exposure induced an increase in the levels of malondialdehyde and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in IPEC-J2 cells. DON impaired IPEC-J2 cell barrier function and caused mitochondrial dysfunction by inducing mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) opening, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) reducing, destroying mitochondrial fission factors, mitochondrial fusion factors, and mitophagy factors expression. However, adding LYC can reduce the toxic effects of DON-induced IPEC-J2 cells and decrease cellular oxidative stress, functional damage, mitochondrial dynamics imbalance, and mitophagy processes. In conclusion, LYC maintains mitochondrial homeostasis to counteract the IPEC-J2 cells' toxicity of DON.

Drinking alkaline mineral water confers diarrhea resistance in maternally separated piglets by maintaining intestinal epithelial regeneration via the brain-microbe-gut axis

INTRODUCTION

Diarrhea has the fourth-highest mortality rate of all diseases and causes a large number of infant deaths each year. The maternally separated (MS) piglet (newly weaned piglet) is an excellent model to investigate the treatment of diarrhea in infants. Drinking alkaline mineral water has the potential to be therapeutic in gastrointestinal disorders, particularly diarrhea, but the supporting evidence from system studies and the mechanisms involved have yet to be reported.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine whether drinking alkaline mineral water confers diarrhea resistance in MS piglets under weaning stress and what the fundamental mechanisms involved are.

METHODS

MS piglets were used to create a stress-induced intestinal disorder-diarrhea susceptibility model. A total of 240 MS piglets were randomly divided into two groups (6 pens/group and 20 piglets/pen). IPEC-J2 cell line was used for in vitro evaluation. An alkaline mineral complex (AMC) water was employed, and its effect on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis, gut microbes, gut morphology, and intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) proliferation and differentiation were investigated using a variety of experimental methodology.

RESULTS

AMC water reduced diarrhea rate in MS piglets by inhibiting the HPA axis, ameliorating gut microbiota structure, and stimulating IEC proliferation and differentiation. Apparently, the brain-microbe-gut axis is linked with AMC water conferring diarrhea resistance in piglets. Mechanistically, AMC water decreased stress hormones (COR and Hpt) secretion by suppressing HPA axis, which then increased the abundance of beneficial gut microbes; accordingly, maintained the proliferation of IEC and promoted the differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISC) into goblet cell and Paneth cell by activating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In the absence of gut microbiota (in vitro), AMC activated the LPS-induced Wnt/β-catenin signaling inhibition in IPEC-J2 cells and significantly increased the number of Lgr5 + cells, whereas had no effect on IPEC-J2 differentiation.

CONCLUSION

Drinking alkaline mineral water confers diarrhea resistance in MS piglets by maintaining intestinal epithelial regeneration via the brain-microbe-gut axis; thus, this study provides a potential prevention strategy for young mammals at risk of diarrhea.

Associations of urinary di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate metabolites with lipid profiles among US general adult population

Background

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) a parent compound that is metabolized into 4 phthalate metabolites, which correlate to adverse cardio-metabolic risk factors. This study aimed to explore the links between urinary DEHP metabolites and serum lipids in the U.S. general adult population.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, data on 11 urinary phthalate metabolites from the 2005-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) were analyzed. Multivariate linear regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) were used to examine the relationship between phthalate metabolites [specific DEHPs: mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxy-pentyl) phthalate (MECPP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxy-hexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxo-hexyl) phthalate (MEOHP)] and serum lipids (triglycerides [TG], total cholesterol [TC], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C], and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]). To identify mixed exposure effects of phthalate metabolites, quantile g-computation (QG-C) and weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression were employed for the lipid profiles.

Results

A total of 9141 adults were included in the analysis. MECPP, MEHHP, MEHP, and MEOHP in the highest quartile had a negative relationship with HDL-C compared to the lowest quartile (All P for trend <0.05). TG showed a significant positive relation with MECPP, MEHHP, and MEOHP (All P for trend <0.05), but there was no notable association with MEHP. RCS demonstrated a linear relationship of DEHP metabolites with HDL-C, TC, TG, and LDL-C (all P for nonlinearity >0.05). The WQS index of DEHP metabolites showed independent correlations with HDL-C [β = -0.26, 95%CI (-0.43, -0.09), P = 0.002], TC [β = 0.55, 95%CI (0.13, 0.98), P = 0.011], and TG [β = 2.40, 95%CI (0.85, 3.96), P = 0.003].

Conclusion

Our study suggests that environmental DEHP exposure may affect serum HDL-C and TG levels in the general adult population. Further research is warranted to confirm these findings and illuminate the underlying mechanisms of DEHP exposure on lipids.

Revisiting carotenoids as dietary antioxidants for human health and disease prevention

Humans are unique indiscriminate carotenoid accumulators, so the human body accumulates a wide range of dietary carotenoids of different types and to varying concentrations. Carotenoids were once recognized as physiological antioxidants because of their ability to quench singlet molecular oxygen (1O2). In the 1990s, large-scale intervention studies failed to demonstrate that supplementary β-carotene intake reduces the incidence of lung cancer, although its antioxidant activity was supposed to contribute to the prevention of oxidative stress-induced carcinogenesis. Nevertheless, the antioxidant activity of carotenoids has attracted renewed attention as the pathophysiological role of 1O2 has emerged, and as the ability of dietary carotenoids to induce antioxidant enzymes has been revealed. This review focuses on six major carotenoids from fruit and vegetables and revisits their physiological functions as biological antioxidants from the standpoint of health promotion and disease prevention. β-Carotene 9',10'-oxygenase-derived oxidative metabolites trigger increases in the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Lutein and zeaxanthin selectively accumulate in human macular cells to protect against light-induced macular impairment by acting as antioxidants. Lycopene accumulates exclusively and to high concentrations in the testis, where its antioxidant activity may help to eliminate oxidative damage. Dietary carotenoids appear to exert their antioxidant activity in photo-irradiated skin after their persistent deposition in the skin. An acceptable level of dietary carotenoids for disease prevention should be established because they can have deleterious effects as prooxidants if they accumulate to excess levels. Finally, it is expected that the reason why humans are indiscriminate carotenoid accumulators will be understood soon.

Mechanism of testicular injury induced by Di-ethylhexyl phthalate and its protective agents

Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is used as an important plasticizer in a wide range of products such as paints, food packaging, medical devices and children's toys. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the toxic effects of DEHP on the male reproductive organs, the testicles. Here, we reviewed the basic pathways of testicular damage caused by DEHP. The mechanism involves oxidative stress, ferroptosis, interfering with hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis (HPGA) and testosterone level. We summarized the protective agents that have been shown to be effective in repairing this type of testicular damage in recent years. This provides a new perspective and direction for future research into the health effects and molecular mechanisms of DEHP.

Lycopene ameliorates aflatoxin B1-induced testicular lesion by attenuating oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage with Nrf2 activation in mice

Aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) is an extremely hazardous and unavoidable pollutant for cereals and feedstuff. AFB₁ can cause testicular lesion, and how to alleviate its testicular toxicity has received much attention in recent years. Lycopene (LYC), a foodborne nutrient derived from red fruits and vegetables, has protective effects against sperm abnormality and testicular lesions. To confirm the beneficial effects and mechanisms of LYC on AFB₁-induced testicular lesion, 48 male mice were exposed to 0.75 mg/kg AFB₁ or/and 5 mg/kg LYC for consecutive 30 days. Results demonstrated the LYC significantly restored the lesions of testicular microstructure and ultrastructure, and sperm abnormalities in AFB₁-exposed mice. Furthermore, LYC effectively attenuated AFB₁-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, including ameliorative mitochondrial structural, and elevated mitochondrial biogenesis for maintaining mitochondrial function. Meanwhile, LYC resisted AFB₁-induced mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis. In addition, LYC promoted nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, and upregulated the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Collectively, our findings demonstrate LYC ameliorates AFB₁-induced testicular lesion by attenuating oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage, which is related to the activation of Nrf2.

Integrated metabolomics and transcriptomics reveal glyphosate based-herbicide induced reproductive toxicity through disturbing energy and nucleotide metabolism in mice testes

Glyphosate is a widely used herbicide that has deleterious effects on animal reproduction. However, details regarding the systematic mechanisms of glyphosate-induced reproductive toxicity are limited. This study aimed to investigate the toxic effects of glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) on reproduction in mice exposed to 0 (control group), 50 (low-dose group), 250 (middle-dose group), and 500 (high-dose group) mg/kg/day GBH for 30 days. Toxicological parameters, metabolomics, and transcriptomics were performed to reveal GBH-induced reproductive toxicity. Our findings demonstrated that GBH exposure damaged mitochondrial pyknosis and the nuclear membrane of spermatogonia. GBH triggered a significant increase in sperm malformations in the high-dose group. Omics data showed that GBH impaired the Krebs cycle and respiratory chain, blocked pyruvate metabolism and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and influenced the pentose phosphate pathway and nucleotide synthesis and metabolism. Overall, the multi-omics results revealed systematic and comprehensive evidence of the adverse effects of GBH exposure, providing new insights into the reproductive toxicity of organophosphorus pesticides.

Lycopene ameliorates DEHP exposure-induced renal pyroptosis through the Nrf2/Keap-1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is commonly used as a plasticizer in plastic products, and due to its unique chemical composition, it frequently dissolves and enters the environment. Lycopene as a natural carotenoid has been shown to have powerful antioxidant capacity and strong kidney protection. This study aimed to investigate the role of the interplay between oxidative stress and the classical pyroptosis pathway in LYC alleviating DEHP-induced renal injury. ICR mice were given DEHP (500 mg/kg/d or 1000 mg/kg/d) and/or LYC (5 mg/kg/d) for 28 days to explore the underlying mechanisms of this hypothesis. Our results indicated that DEHP caused the shedding of renal tubular epithelial cells, increased the content of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the tissue, the decrease of antioxidant activity markers and the increase of oxidative stress indexes. It is gratifying that LYC alleviates DEHP-induced renal injury. The expression of nuclear factor erythrocyte 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream target genes is improved in DEHP induced renal injury through LYC mediated protection. Meanwhile, LYC supplementation can inhibit DEHP-induced Caspase-1/NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis and inflammatory responses. Taken together, DEHP administration resulted in nephrotoxicity, but these changes ameliorated by LYC may through crosstalk between the Nrf2/Keap-1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway. Our study provides new evidence that LYC protects against kidney injury caused by DEHP.

Lycopene prevents Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced mitophagy and oxidative stress in mice heart via modulating mitochondrial homeostasis

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer that is easily found in the environment. Excessive daily exposure of it may lead to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Lycopene (LYC), as a natural carotenoid, has been shown to have the potential to prevent CVD. However, the mechanism of LYC on cardiotoxicity caused by DEHP exposure is unknown. The research was aimed to investigate the chemoprotection of LYC on the cardiotoxicity caused by DEHP exposure. Mice were treated with DEHP (500 mg/kg or 1,000 mg/kg) and/or LYC (5 mg/kg) for 28 d by intragastric administration, and the heart was subjected to histopathology and biochemistry analysis. The results indicated that DEHP caused cardiac histological alterations and enhanced the activity of cardiac injury indicators, and interfered with mitochondrial function and activating mitophagy. Notably, LYC supplementation could inhibit DEHP-induced oxidative stress. The mitochondrial dysfunction and emotional disorder caused by DEHP exposure were significantly improved through the protective effect of LYC. We concluded that LYC enhances mitochondrial function by regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and dynamics to antagonize DEHP-induced cardiac mitophagy and oxidative stress.

Cerebellar injury induced by cadmium via disrupting the heat-shock response

Cadmium (Cd) is a food contaminant that poses serious threats to animal health, including birds. It is also an air pollutant with well-known neurotoxic effects on humans. However, knowledge on the neurotoxic effects of chronic Cd exposure on chicken is limited. Thus, this study assessed the neurotoxic effects of chronic Cd on chicken cerebellum. Chicks were exposed to 0 (control), 35 (low), and 70 (high) mg/kg of Cd for 90 days, and the expression of genes related to the heat-shock response was investigated. The chickens showed clinical symptoms of ataxia, and histopathology revealed that Cd exposure decreased the number of Purkinje cells and induced degeneration of Purkinje cells with pyknosis, and some dendrites were missing. Moreover, Cd exposure increased the expression of heat-shock factors, HSF1, HSF2, and HSF3, and heat-shock proteins, HSP60, HSP70, HSP90, and HSP110. These changes indicate that HSPs improve the tolerance of the cerebellum to Cd. Conversely, the expressions of HSP10, HSP25, and HSP40 were decreased significantly, which indicated that Cd inhibits the expression of small heat-shock proteins. However, HSP27 and HSP47 were upregulated following low-dose Cd exposure, but downregulated under high-dose Cd exposure. This work sheds light on the toxic effects of Cd on the cerebellum, and it may provide evidence for health risks posed by Cd. Additionally, this work also identified a novel target of Cd exposure in that Cd induces cerebellar injury by disrupting the heat-shock response. Cd can be absorbed into chicken's cerebellum through the food chain, which eventually caused cerebellar injury. This study provided a new insight that chronic Cd-induced neurotoxicity in the cerebellum is associated with alterations in heat-shock response-related genes, which indicated that Cd through disturbing heat-shock response induced cerebellar injury.

Protective efficacy of dietary natural antioxidants on microplastic particles-induced histopathological lesions in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Microplastic particles (MPs) are a common environmental pollutant easily ingested by fish in aquaculture. The current study evaluated the protective efficacies of some antioxidant, e.g., lycopene, citric acid, and chlorella, against the toxic effects of MP ingestion by Clarias gariepinus using histopathological biomarkers. Five experimental groups were established, a control group receiving only a standard diet, a group exposed to 500 mg/kg MP concomitant with the standard diet, and three antioxidant groups exposed to MPs plus either lycopene (500 mg/kg), citric acid (30 g/kg), or chlorella (50 g/kg) in the standard diet. After 15 days, fish were sacrificed for histological and histochemical examinations. Histological analysis of the kidney for group 2 (fed 500 mg/kg MPs alone) revealed distributed tissue dissociation, regional glomerular hypertrophy or shrinkage, melanomacrophage accumulation, and expansion of Bowman's space, while liver tissue exhibited dilation and rupture of the central vein wall, hemorrhage, cytoplasmic vacuolation, and cellular necrosis or apoptosis. Fish exposed to MPs also exhibited connective tissue fiber accumulation around renal blood vessels, renal tubules, the central hepatic vein, hepatic blood sinusoids, and serosal, muscle, and submucosal layers of the intestine. In addition, MP exposure reduced carbohydrate (mainly glycogen) contents in the brush borders and basement membranes of renal tubules, glomeruli, and intestinal tissues as well as in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. These signs of renal, hepatic, and intestinal histopathology were fully or partially reversed by dietary lycopene, chlorella, or citric acid. Enhancing dietary antioxidants is an effective strategy for preventing MP toxicity in Clarias gariepinus in aquaculture.

Heme-oxygenase-1 as a target for phthalate-induced cardiomyocytes ferroptosis

Phthalates as a large group of environmental pollutants are used primarily as plasticizers and solvents, which have become a growing problem worldwide. Epidemiological results show that severity of heart disease is related to degree of environmental contamination. As the most usually used phthalate, di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) has toxic effects on organism health and is also a major cause of heart damage. Ingestion of food, liquid, or dust contaminated with DEHP are major routes of exposure. The purpose of the present research was to determine the mechanism of cardiotoxicity in mice after exposure to DEHP. Here, male mice were treated by gavage with three different doses of (50, 200 and 500 mg/kg b.w.) DEHP for 28 days. Our research showed that DEHP brought about histopathological changes involving cardiomyocyte lysis and rupture, and ultrastructural damage such as dissolution and loss of mitochondrial cristae. Furthermore, DEHP induced oxidative stress and a significant decline in the antioxidant function, which activates nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme-oxygense-1 (HO-1) signaling pathways. Interestingly, DEHP resulted in lipid peroxidation and increased ferrous ion content, suggesting that ferroptosis occurred in mouse hearts. Therefore, our findings demonstrated that DEHP could induce cardiac ferroptosis via upregulation of HO-1. The present study provides novel evidence of HO-1 as a target for DEHP-induced cardiotoxicity.

Xenobiotic-sensing nuclear receptors as targets for phthalates-induced lung injury and antagonism of lycopene

Phthalates are extensively used in the production of plastics products and have been verified to induce lung injury. Lycopene (LYC) has proved an effective preventive and can be utilized to prevent phthalates-induced toxicity. However, the role of phthalate in pathogenesis of lung injury remain poorly researched, and little work has been devoted whether LYC could alleviate phthalate-induced lung toxicity via modulating nuclear xenobiotic receptors (NXRs) response. Here, di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is used as the representative of phthalates for further studies on toxicity of phthalates and the antagonistic role of LYC in phthalates-induced lung injury. We found that DEHP exposure caused alveoli destruction and alveolar epithelial cells type II damage. Mechanistically, DEHP exposure increased nuclear accumulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and its downstream genes level, including cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase (CYP) 1A1 and CYP1B1. Constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and their downstream gene level, including CYP2E1 are also increased after phthalates exposure. Significantly, LYC supplementation relieves lung injury from DEHP exposure by inhibiting the activation of NXRs. We confirm that NXRs plays a key role in phthalates-induced lung injury. Our study showed that LYC may have a positive role in alleviating the toxicity effects of phthalates, which provides an effective strategy for revising phthalates-induced injury.

Disrupted microbiota-barrier-immune interaction in phthalates-mediated barrier defect in the duodenum

As one of the most used phthalates, Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widespread environmental contaminant. Extremely persistent plastic can enter the food chain of animals through the aquatic environment, affect metabolic pathways and cause damage to the digestive system. But the molecular mechanism of its toxic effects on the duodenum in birds has not been elucidated. To investigate the toxicity of phthalates in the duodenum, quails were gavaged with 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg doses of DEHP for 45 days, and water and oil control groups were retained. This study revealed that subchronic exposure to DEHP could lead to duodenal barrier defect in quail. The damage to duodenum was reflected in a reduction in V/C and tight junction proteins. Moreover, DEHP also led to a breakdown of antimicrobial defenses through the flora derangement, which acted as a biological barrier. The massive presence of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) led to the activation of TLR4 receptors. In addition, DEHP activated oxidative stress, which synergized the inflammatory response induced by the TLR4-NFκB pathway, and further promoted duodenum damage. This study provides a base for the further effect of phthalates on the microbiota-barrier-immune interaction.

Nano-selenium alleviates cadmium-induced cerebellar injury by activating metal regulatory transcription factor 1 mediated metal response

This study aims to investigate the role of metal regulatory transcription factor 1 (MTF1)-mediated metal response in cadmium (Cd)-induced cerebellar injury, and to evaluate the antagonistic effects of nano-selenium (Nano-Se) against Cd toxicity. A total of 80 chicks (1 d old, male, Hy-Line Variety White) were randomly allocated to 4 treatment groups for 3 months: the control group (fed with a basic diet, n = 20), the Nano-Se group (basic diet with 1 mg/kg nano-Se 1 mg/kg Nano-Se in basic diet, n = 20), the Nano-Se + Cd group (basic diet with 1 mg/kg Nano-Se and 140 mg/kg CdCl₂, n = 20) and the Cd group (basic diet with 140 mg/kg CdCl₂ , n = 20). The results of the experiment showed that the Purkinje cells were significantly decreased with their degradation and indistinct nucleoli after Cd exposure. Moreover, exposure to Cd caused a significant accumulation of Cd and cupper. However, the contents of Se, iron, and zinc were decreased, thereby disturbing the metal homeostasis in the cerebellum. The Cd exposure also resulted in high levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and down regulation of selenoprotein transcriptome. Furthermore, the expressions of MTF1, metallothionein 1 (MT1), MT2, zinc transporter 3 (ZNT3), ZNT5, ZNT10, zrt, irt-like protein 8 (ZIP8), ZIP10, transferrin (TF), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), ATPase copper transporting beta (ATP7B), and copper uptake protein 1 (CTR1) were inhibited by Cd exposure. However, all these changes were significantly alleviated by the supplementation of Nano-Se. This study proved that Cd could disorder metal homeostasis and induce oxidative stress, whereas Nano-Se could relieve all these negative effects caused by Cd via activating the MTF1-mediated metal response in the cerebellum of chicken.

DEHP triggers a damage severity grade increase in the jejunum in quail (Coturnix japonica) by disturbing nuclear xenobiotic receptors and the Nrf2-mediated defense response

As a plasticizer, di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) has been listed as a potential endocrine disruptor by The World Health Organization. The toxicity of DEHP has been widely studied, but its toxicity on the digestive tract of birds has not been clarified. Female quail were treated by gavage with DEHP (250, 500, 750 mg/kg), with the blank and vehicle control groups reserved. The result showed that DEHP raised the damage severity grade, and decreased the ratio of villus length to crypt depth. The content and activity of cytochrome P450 system (CYP450s) were increased by DEHP. DEHP interfered with the transcription of nuclear xenobiotic receptors (NXRs), CYP isoforms, and the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway. This study revealed DEHP could cause the imbalance in CYP450s mediated by NXRs, and then promote Nrf2 mediated antioxidant defense. This study provided new evidence about the mechanisms of DEHP-induced toxic effects on digestive tract.

Multi-omics profiling and biochemical assays reveal the acute toxicity of environmental related concentrations of Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) on the gill of crucian carp (Carassius auratus)

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is one of the most extensively utilized plasticizers in the plastic manufacturing process. It is widely used in various fields due to its low cost and excellent effect. Although there is evidence that DEHP is harmful to animal and human health, DEHP-induced gill toxicity in aquatic organisms is inconclusive, and its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. Here, we investigated the effects of DEHP acute exposure on crucian carp gills at environmentally relevant concentrations of 20, 100, and 500 μg/L. Multi-omics profiling and biochemical assays were employed to characterize the potential toxicological mechanisms. The results showed that acute exposure to 100 and 500 μg/L of DEHP leads to oxidative stress in gills, as evidenced by overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and the transformation of glutathione from reduced to oxidized form, resulting in lipid peroxidation. Integrative analysis of transcriptomics and metabolomics indicated that increased purine metabolism was the potential source of increased ROS. Moreover, lipid metabolism disorder, including arachidonic acid metabolism, induces inflammation. Further, DEHP causes the imbalance of the CYP enzyme system in the gill, and DEHP-induced gill toxicity in crucian carp was associated with interference with CYP450 homeostasis. Taken together, this study broadens the molecular understanding of the DEHP-induced gill toxicity in aquatic organisms and provides novel perspectives for assessing the effects of DEHP on target and non-target aquatic organisms in the environment.

Phthalate-induced testosterone/androgen receptor pathway disorder on spermatogenesis and antagonism of lycopene

Male infertility is an attracting growing concern owing to decline in sperm quality of men worldwide. Phthalates, in particular to di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) or its main metabolite mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), affect male reproductive development and function, which mainly accounts for reduction in male fertility. Lycopene (LYC) is a natural antioxidant agent that has been recognized as a possible therapeutic option for treating male infertility. Testosterone (T)/androgen receptor (AR) signaling pathway is involved in maintaining spermatogenesis and male fertility. How DEHP causes spermatogenesis disturbance and whether LYC could prevent DEHP-induced male reproductive toxicity have remained unclear. Using in vivo and vitro approaches, we demonstrated that DEHP caused T biosynthesis reduction in Leydig cell and secretory function disorder in Sertoli cell, and thereby resulted in spermatogenic impairment. Results also showed that MEHP caused mitochondrial damage and oxidative damage, which imposes a serious threat to the progress of spermatogenesis. However, LYC supplement reversed these changes. Mechanistically, DEHP contributed to male infertility via perturbing T/AR signaling pathway during spermatogenesis. Overall, our study reveals critical role for T/AR signal transduction in male fertility and provides promising insights into the protective role of LYC in phthalate-induced male reproductive disorders.

Effects of a phthalate metabolite mixture on both normal and tumoral human prostate cells

Phthalates represent a group of substances used in industry that have antiandrogenic activity and are found in different concentrations in human urine and plasma. More than 8 million tons of phthalates are used each year, predominantly as plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products. Phthalates are widely used in everyday consumer products and improperly discarded into the environment. Furthermore, in vivo studies carried out in our laboratory showed that a mixture of phthalates, equivalent to the mixture used in this study, deregulated the expression of genes and miRNAs associated with prostatic carcinogenic pathways. Thus, this study was designed to establish an in vitro model to assess pathways related to cell survival, proliferation, apoptosis, and biosynthesis of miRNAs, using both normal and tumoral prostatic epithelial cells exposed to an environmentally relevant mixture of phthalate metabolites. Tumor (LNCaP) and normal (PNT-2) prostatic epithelial cell lines were exposed for 24 and 72 h to vehicle control or the phthalate mixture. The selected metabolite mixture (1000 μmol/L) consisted of 36.7% monoethyl phthalate (MEP), 19.4% mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), 15.3% monobutyl phthalate (MBP), 10.2% monoisobutyl phthalate (MiBP), 10.2% monoisononyl phthalate (MiNP), and 8.2% monobenzyl phthalate (MBzP). Gene expression was performed by qRT-PCR and cell migratory potential was measured using cell migration assays. Our results showed that the mixture of phthalates increased cell turnover, oxidative stress, biosynthesis, and expression of miRNAs in LNCaP cells; thus, increasing their cellular expansive and migratory potential and modulating tumor behavior, making them possibly more aggressive. However, these effects were less pronounced in benign cells, demonstrating that, in the short term, benign cells are able to develop effective mechanisms or more resistance against the insult.

Exploring Nrf2 as a therapeutic target in testicular dysfunction

Testicular dysfunction, a major contributory factor to infertility, has received a lot of attention over the recent years. Several studies have linked abnormal sperm function and morphology with an enhanced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. The nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2 (Nrf2) is a transcriptional response to cellular stresses (intrinsic or extrinsic) that regulates the oxidative status, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, and proteostasis. In this review, the therapeutic role of Nrf2 was explored. To do so, scientific data were retrieved from databases such as Elsevier, Wiley, Web of Science, Springer, PubMed, Taylor and Francis, and Google Scholar using search terms such as "Nrf2" and "testis," "sperm," "testicular function," and "testosterone." It has been noted that Nrf2 influences the physiology and pathology of testicular dysfunction, especially in the spermatogenic process, by regulating cellular resistance to oxidative stress, inflammation, and environmental toxicants. However, numerous compounds serve as activators and inhibitors of testicular Nrf2. Nrf2 activators might play a therapeutic role in the prevention and treatment of testicular dysfunction, while molecules that inhibit Nrf2 might induce dysfunction in testis components. Nrf2 activators protect cells against oxidative damage and activate Nrf2/KEAP1 signaling which promotes its movement to the nucleus, and increased Nrf2 function and expression, along with their downstream antioxidant gene. Nrf2 inhibitors facilitate oxidative stress via interfering with the Nrf2 signal pathway. The Nrf2 activation could serve as a promising therapeutic target for testicular dysfunction. This review explored the effect of Nrf2 on testicular function while highlighting potential activators and inhibitors of Nrf2.

Connexin-43 is a promising target for lycopene preventing phthalate-induced spermatogenic disorders

INTRODUCTION

Male infertility is a multifactorial pathological condition and may be a harbinger of future health. Phthalates are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that have been implicated in the global decline in male fertility. Among them, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is the most prevalently used. Lycopene (LYC) is a possible preventive and therapeutic agent for male infertility owing to its antioxidant properties. The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is formed between Sertoli cells where it creates a unique microenvironment for spermatogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

We hypothesize that phthalate caused male infertility and LYC plays an important role in phthalate-induced male fertility disorders.

METHODS

Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, ultrastructure observation, and fluorescence microscopy were used to examine the morphological changes. RNA-Seq, and western blotting were conducted to detect gene and protein levels. Routine testing for sperm morphology and sperm-egg binding assay were conducted to examine the morphological structure and function of sperm. Cell scratch assay and transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) were used to detect cell migration capacity and barrier integrity.

RESULTS

In vivo experiments, we showed that LYC prevented DEHP-induced impairment of BTB integrity, which provided a guarantee for the smooth progress of spermatogenesis. LYC improved DEHP-induced change in sperm parameters and fertilization ability. Subsequent in vitro experiments, LYC alleviated MEHP-induced disruption of intercellular junctions in mouse Spermatogonia cells (GC-1 cells) and mouse Sertoli cells (TM4 cells). In MEHP-induced BTB impairment models of Sertoli cells, treatment with LYC or overexpressing connexin-43 (Cx43) promoted cell migration capacity and normalized BTB integrity. Cx43 knockdown inhibited cell migration capacity and perturbed BTB reassembly in LYC preventing DEHP-induced BTB impairment.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides evidence for the role of LYC in phthalates-induced spermatogenic disorders and points to Cx43 as a potential target for male fertility.

Role of Toll-like Receptor/MyD88 Signaling in Lycopene Alleviated Di-2-ethylhexyl Phthalate (DEHP)-Induced Inflammatory Response

Lycopene (Lyc) has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant biological functions. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is an extremely harmful and persistent environmental pollutant and is a threat to animal health. The toll-like receptor (TLR)/MyD88 pathway is an important pathway in the inflammatory response. To illustrate the potential antagonistic action of Lyc against DEHP by the TLR/MyD88 pathway, 140 ICR mice were randomly assigned groups and continuously gavaged with corn oil, distilled water, different DEHP concentrations (500 or 1000 mg/kg BW/day), and/or Lyc (5 mg/kg BW/day) for 28 days. The data show that Lyc effectively attenuates the DEHP-induced activation of the TLR/MyD88 pathway, the upregulation of JNK expression, the content of IL-6 and TNF-α, and the downregulation of the IL-10 content, which eventually inhibit the inflammatory response and mitochondrial injuries. These findings underline the TLR/MyD88 pathway as a potential therapeutic target in DEHP and Lyc as a new therapeutic method to inhibit DEHP toxicity.

Prenatal di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure induced myocardial cytotoxicity via the regulation of the NRG1-dependent ErbB2/ErbB4-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in fetal mice

Environmental sanitation of maternal contact during pregnancy is extremely important for the development of different fetal tissues and organs. In particular, during early pregnancy, any adverse exposure may cause abnormal fetal growth or inhibit the development of embryogenic organs. The potential risks of phthalate exposure, which affects the development of humans and animals, are becoming a serious concern worldwide. However, the specific molecular mechanism of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP)-induced cardiotoxicity in fetal mice remains unclear. In this study, animal models of DEHP gavage at concentrations of 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day within 8.5-18.5 days of pregnancy were established. The cell proliferation, survival, and apoptosis rates were evaluated using CCK8, EdU, TUNEL and flow cytometry. The molecular mechanism was assessed via transcriptome sequencing, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot analysis. In vivo, DEHP increased apoptosis, decreased Ki67 and CD31 expression, reduced heart weight and area, slowed down myocardial sarcomere development, and caused cardiac septal defect in fetal mice heart. Transcriptome sequencing showed that DEHP decreased NRG1 expression and downregulated the ErbB2/ErbB4-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway-related target genes. In vitro, primary cardiomyocytes were cultured with DEHP at a concentration of 150 μg/mL combined with ErbB inhibitor (AG1478, 10 μmol/L) and/or NRG1 protein (100 ng/mL) for 72 h. After DEHP intervention, the expression of NRG1 and the phosphorylation level of ErbB2, ErbB4, PI3K, and AKT decreased, and the apoptosis-related protein levels increased. Moreover, the apoptosis rate increased. After adding exogenous NRG1, the phosphorylation level of the NRG1/ERbB2/ERbB4-PI3K/AKT pathway increased, and the apoptosis-related protein levels decreased. Further, the apoptosis rate reduced. Interestingly, after exposure to DEHP and AG1478 + NRG1, the anti-apoptotic effect of NRG1 and cardiomyocyte proliferation decreased by inhibiting the NRG1/ERbB2/ERbB4-PI3K/AKT pathway. Hence, the NRG1-dependent regulation of the ERbB2/ERbB4-PI3K/AKT signaling pathway may be a key mechanism of DEHP-induced myocardial cytotoxicity.

Lycopene alleviates di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced splenic injury by activating P62-Keap1-NRF2 signaling

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an omnipresent environmental pollutant. It has been determined that DEHP is involved in multiple health disorders. Lycopene (Lyc) is a natural carotenoid pigment, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it is not clear whether Lyc can protect the spleen from DEHP-induced oxidative damage. A total of 140 mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 20) and continuously gavaged with corn oil, distilled water, DEHP (500 or 1000 mg/kg BW/day) and/or Lyc (5 mg/kg BW/day) for 28 days. Histopathological and ultrastructural results showed a DEHP-induced inflammatory response and mitochondrial injuries. Moreover, DEHP exposure induced redox imbalance, which resulted in the up-regulation of ROS activity and MDA content, and the down-regulation of T-AOC, T-SOD and CAT in the DEHP groups. Simultaneously, our results also demonstrated that DEHP-induced kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) expression was downregulated, and the expression levels of P62, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2) and their downstream target genes were up-regulated. However, the supplementary Lyc reverted these changes to normal levels. Together, Lyc prevented DEHP-induced splenic injuries by regulating the P62-Keap1-NRF2 signaling pathway. Hence, the protective effects of Lyc might be a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate DEHP-induced splenic damage.

Evaluation of Proanthocyanidins from Kiwi Leaves (Actinidia chinensis) against Caco-2 Cells Oxidative Stress through Nrf2-ARE Signaling Pathway

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are considered to be effective natural byproduct and bioactive antioxidants. However, few studies have focused on their mode of action pathways. In this study, reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative stress indices, real-time PCR, Western blotting, confocal microscopy, and molecular docking were used to investigate the protective effect of purified kiwi leaves PAs (PKLPs) on Caco-2 cells’ oxidative stress mechanisms. The results confirmed that pre-treatment with PKLPs significantly reduced H2O2-induced oxidative damage, accompanied by declining ROS levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation in the Caco-2 cells. The PKLPs upregulated the expression of antioxidative enzymes (GSH-px, CAT, T-SOD) and the relative mRNA (Nrf, HO-1, SOD-1, CAT) of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) signaling pathway. The protein-expressing level of the Nrf2 and its relative protein (NQO-1, HO-1, SOD-1) were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the PKLPs pre-treatment group compared to the model group. In conclusion, the novelty of this study is that it explains how PKLPs’ efficacy on the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway, in protecting vital cells from oxidative stress, could be used for cleaner production.

Lycopene regulates the mitochondrial unfolded protein response to prevent DEHP-induced cardiac mitochondrial damage in mice

Lycopene (LYC), as a kind of carotene, has antioxidant effects. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) was used to improve the flexibility of plastics. However, the potential role of LYC in DEHP induced cardiac injury in mice remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role and mechanism of LYC in DEHP induced cardiac injury. Male ICR mice were treated with DEHP (500 or 1000 mg per kg BW per day) and/or LYC (5 mg per kg BW per day) for 28 days. The results of histopathology and ultrastructure showed that LYC relieved the decrease of mitochondrial volume density and myocardial fibre disorder induced by DEHP. Subsequently, LYC attenuated DEHP-induced mitochondrial damage, mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) activation, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mediated oxidative stress and heat shock response (HSR) activation induced by DEHP. LYC regulates UPR^mt to prevent DEHP-induced cardiac mitochondrial damage. Thus, this study provided new evidence of UPR^mt as a target for LYC treatment preventing DEHP-induced cardiac disease.

Testicular toxicity of cisplatin in rats: ameliorative effect of lycopene and N-acetylcysteine

Lycopene (LP) and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) protective effects were assessed for testicular toxicity mediated by cisplatin (CP) in rats. Forty-nine rats were divided into 7 groups (n = 7); these groups included the control group (saline, PO), LP (10 mg/kg, PO), NAC (150 mg/kg, PO), CP (7.5 mg/kg, IP) on the 27th day of the study, LP + CP, NAC+CP, and LP + NAC + CP. Serum levels of testosterone were decreased following CP injection. Malondialdehyde (MDA) has been increased with considerable glutathione (GSH), and dismutase superoxide (SOD) and catalase (CAT) decline in the testis tissues after CP injection. CP caused severe alterations in testicular tissues and elevated caspase-3 expression. Besides that, LP and/or NAC administration improved CP-induced testicular toxicity and apoptosis, probably via their antioxidant properties.

The protective role of lycopene against toxic effects induced by the herbicide Harness® and its active ingredient acetochlor on the African catfish Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822)

The effects of Harness® toxicity on fish health are little known. So, current work aimed to study the impact of sub-lethal doses of Harness® (an acetochlor-based herbicide) on the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, and also investigated the potential role of lycopene (LYCO) administration in alleviating Harness® negative effects. Fish were divided into five groups in triplicates as follows: group 1 (control) received no treatment, group 2 was exposed to 10 μm Harness®/L, group 3 was orally administered 10 mg LYCO/kg body weight and exposed to 10 μm Harness®/L, group 4 was exposed to 100 μm Harness®/L, and group 5 was orally administered 10 mg LYCO/kg body weight and exposed to 100 μm Harness®/L for 2 weeks. Some hemato-biochemical parameters, genotoxicity, and histopathological changes were assessed at the end of this period. Sub-lethal doses of Harness® altered the shape of erythrocytes in contrast to the control sample. Also, hematological parameters of exposed fish exhibited a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in the values of red blood cell count (RBCs), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), and platelets (PL), as well as an insignificant (P > 0.05) drop in mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Harness® was also found to cause genotoxicity as well as histopathological alterations. LYCO administration decreased hemato-biochemical changes and returned them to near-normal levels. The findings showed that LYCO administration (10 mg LYCO/kg body weight) decreased Harness® toxicity in C. gariepinus and alleviated its destructive effects.

DEHP-induced mitophagy and mitochondrial damage in the heart are associated with dysregulated mitochondrial biogenesis

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a plasticizer widely used in agricultural and industrial plastic products. Many researchers have demonstrated that DEHP can cause varying degrees of harm to the heart. This research investigated the mechanism by which DEHP causes heart damage in quail. The quail were treated with DEHP (250 mg/kg BW/day, 500 mg/kg BW/day or 750 mg/kg BW/day) for 45 days. The present study suggested that DEHP could cause varying levels of heart damage, including disordered myocardial fiber arrangements, myocardial fiber breakage and myocardial cell swelling. The results showed that DEHP induced mitochondrial damage, such as cavitation lesions and mitochondrial crest breakage. DEHP damaged mitochondria and inhibited nuclear respiratory factor 1 (Nrf1)-mediated mitochondrial biogenesis, which led to mitochondrial damage. DEHP caused oxidative stress in the heart and activated the defense mechanism of the nuclear factor red blood cell 2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) system. DEHP-induced mitophagy was related to a decline in mitochondrial biogenesis and disordered mitochondrial dynamics. The data indicated that DEHP exposure damaged cardiac mitochondria and caused mitophagy and cardiotoxicity. Of note, this study showed that DEHP-induced mitophagy and mitochondrial damage are associated with the dysregulation of mitochondrial biogenesis.

Lycopene mitigates DEHP-induced hepatic mitochondrial quality control disorder via regulating SIRT1/PINK1/mitophagy axis and mitochondrial unfolded protein response

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a hazardous chemical which is used as a plasticizer in the plastic products. Lycopene (LYC) is a carotenoid that has protective roles against cellular damage in different organs. The present study sought to explore the role of the interaction between mitophagy and mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt) in the LYC mitigating DEHP-induced hepatic mitochondrial quality control disorder. The mice were treated with LYC (5 mg/kg) and/or DEHP (500 or 1000 mg/kg). In our findings, LYC prevented DEHP-induced histopathological alterations including steatosis and fibrosis, and ultrastructural injuries including decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and mitochondria volume density. Furthermore, LYC alleviated DEHP-induced mitochondrial biogenesis disorder by suppressing SIRT1-PGC-1α axis, PINK1-mediated mitophagy and the activation of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR^mt). This research suggested that LYC could prevent DEHP-induced hepatic mitochondrial quality control disorder via regulating SIRT1/PINK1/mitophagy axis and UPR^mt. The present study provided a current understanding about the potential implication of the SIRT1/PINK1/mitophagy axis and UPR^mt in LYC preventing DEHP-induced hepatic mitochondrial quality control disorder.

Toxicity and endocrine-disrupting potential of PM2.5: Association with particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, phthalate esters, and heavy metals

The adverse effects of fine atmospheric particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters of ≤2.5 μm (PM_2.5) are closely associated with particulate chemicals. In this study, PM_2.5 samples were collected from highway and industry sites in Hangzhou, China, during the autumn and winter, and their cytotoxicity and pulmonary toxicity and endocrine-disrupting potential (EDP) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo; the particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), phthalate esters (PAEs), and heavy metals were then characterized. The toxicological results suggested that the PM_2.5 from highway site induced higher cytotoxicity (cell viability inhibition, intracellular oxidative stress, and cell membrane injury) and pulmonary toxicity (inflammatory response (IR) and oxidative stress (OS)) than the samples from industry site, while the PM_2.5 from industry site exhibited higher EDP (estrogenic and anti-androgenic activity). The cytotoxicity and pulmonary toxicity of PM_2.5 in the winter were higher than those in the autumn, while no seasonal difference in the endocrine-disrupting potential was observed (p > 0.05). The Pearson correlation analysis between the biological effects and particulate chemicals revealed that the PM_2.5-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress were closely associated with the particulate PAHs and heavy metals (Pearson correlation coefficients: r_{IR, PAHs} = 0.822-0.988, r_{IR, heavy metals} = 0.895-0.971, r_{OS, PAHs} = 0.843-0.986, and r_{OS, heavy metals} = 0.887-0.933), while particulate di (2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) substantially contributed to the EDP of PM_2.5 (r_{EDP, DEHP} = 0.981). This study indicated that the toxicity and EDP of PM_2.5 could vary with the surrounding environment and season, which was closely associated with the variations of particulate chemicals. Further studies are needed to clarify the associations between the harmful effects of PM_2.5 and other contributing factors.

IL-6/STAT3/Foxo1 Axis as a Target of Lycopene Ameliorates Atrazine-Induced Thymic Mitophagy and Pyroptosis Cross-talk

The intensive adoption of atrazine (ATZ) has been a persistently widespread pollutant in daily life. However, ATZ is still used as an essential herbicide in numerous countries because its toxic...

Exposure to DEHP induces testis toxicity and injury through the ROS/mTOR/NLRP3 signaling pathway in immature rats

As the most abundantly used phthalate derivative, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) leads to reproductive disorders, especially in males. Testicular injury can be triggered when the testis is exposed to DEHP during the immature stage. However, the potential mechanism is largely unclear. In the present study, Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day DEHP from postnatal day (PND) 20 to PND 30. The spermatogonia cell line GC-1 and spermatocyte cell line GC-2 were exposed to different doses of monoethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), a metabolite of DEHP. Testicular injury was observed. Oxidative stress was evaluated both in vivo and in vitro. Our results showed that after DEHP exposure, the testicular structure was damaged and spermatogenesis was disturbed. We also found that oxidative stress was increased, as indicated by the upregulation of the important factors in the antioxidant pathway. Furthermore, the expression of autophagy-related proteins was significantly downregulated. Autophagy inhibition led to activation of the pyroptosis pathway. Nucleotide-binding and oligomerisation (NOD) domain-like receptor (NLR) family pyrin domain (PYD)-containing 3 (NLRP3), Caspase-1 and cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were significantly upregulated. Additionally, an imbalance in self-renewal and differentiation was observed in germ cells after DEHP exposure, causing the cessation of germ cell development. In summary, these data suggest that DEHP exposure enhances oxidative stress, downregulates autophagy, induces NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequently triggers pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro, which provides novel insight into DEHP-related injury in immature testes in the context of pyroptosis.

The novel role of the aquaporin water channel in lycopene preventing DEHP-induced renal ionic homeostasis disturbance in mice

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), an extensively used plasticizer, can cause environmental pollution and organ injury. Lycopene (LYC) is a natural carotene that has the potential to prevent chronic diseases. To reveal the effect of DEHP and/or LYC on the kidney, male mice were treated with LYC (5 mg/kg) and/or DEHP (500 mg/kg or 1000 mg/kg) by gavage for 28 days. The study indicated that DEHP caused glomerular atrophy, tubular expansion, disappearance of the mitochondrial membrane, and cristae rupture. DEHP exposure can increase the expression of aquaporin (AQP) subunits and the activity of Ca²⁺-Mg²⁺-ATPase and decrease the activity of Na⁺-K⁺-ATPase, which results in ion disorder. However, LYC can relieve kidney injury by regulating the activity of ATPase, the expression of ATPase subunits, and AQP subunit expression. The results indicated that AQP was a target for LYC in antagonizing the disturbance of DEHP-induced renal damage.

Lycopene prevents DEHP-induced testicular endoplasmic reticulum stress via regulating nuclear xenobiotic receptors and unfolded protein response in mice

Lycopene (LYC) is a potent antioxidant synthesized by red vegetables or plants. Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is frequently detected in diverse agricultural environments and considered as a reproductive toxicant. The present research was designed to assess the potential mechanisms of DEHP-induced testicular toxicity and the treatment efficacy of LYC. In this study, after the oral administration of LYC at the dose of 5 mg per kg b.w. per day, mice were given 500 or 1000 mg per kg b.w. per day of DEHP. This research suggested that LYC prevented the DEHP-induced disorder at the levels of activity and content of CYP450 enzymes. LYC attenuated DEHP-caused enhancement in nuclear xenobiotic receptors (NXRs) and the phase I metabolizing enzymes (CYP1, CYP2, CYP3, etc.) levels. Furthermore, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was induced by DEHP and triggered unfolded protein response (UPR). Interestingly, LYC could effectively ameliorate these "hit". The present study suggested that LYC prevents DEHP-induced ER stress in testis via regulating NXRs and UPRER.