Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids alleviate bisphenol A-induced apoptosis of testicular cells in male mice offspring

Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids alleviate ovarian damage in offspring female mice induced by BPA exposure during pregnancy by regulating the central carbon metabolism pathway

Pregnancy is a sensitive window period for bisphenol A (BPA) exposure. BPA can pass through the placenta and cause reproductive damage in offspring female mice. Even BPA that is not metabolized during lactation can be passed through milk. Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids (CCFs) can alleviate reproductive damage caused by BPA, but the mechanism of action is unclear. To investigate the potential mitigating impact of CCFs on ovarian damage resulting from BPA exposure during pregnancy, we administered BPA and CCFs to pregnant mice during the gestational period spanning from 0.5 to 17.5 days. Aseptic collection of serum and ovaries from female mice was conducted on postnatal day 21 (PND21). Serum hormone levels and tissue receptor levels were quantified utilizing ELISA and PCR, while ovaries underwent sequencing and analysis through transcriptomics and metabolomics techniques. Additionally, the assessment of ovarian oxidative stress levels was carried out as part of the comprehensive analysis. The results showed that CCFs administration mitigated the adverse effects induced by BPA exposure on ovarian index, hormone levels, receptor expression, and mRNA expression levels in female offspring mice. The joint analysis of transcriptome and metabolome revealed 48 enriched pathways in positive ion mode and 44 enriched pathways in negative ion mode. Among them, the central carbon metabolism pathway is significantly regulated by BPA and CCFs. The screened sequencing results were verified through qPCR and biochemical kits. In this study, CCFs may participate in the central carbon metabolism pathway by reducing the expression of Kit proto-oncogene (Kit), hexokinase 1 gene (Hk1) and pyruvate kinase M (Pkm) mRNA and increasing the expression of h-ras proto-oncogene (Hras), sirtuin 3 (Sirt3), sirtuin 6 (Sirt6) and TP53 induced glycolysis regulatory phosphatase gene (Tigar) mRNA, thereby resisting the effects of BPA on the body. At the same time, the metabolic levels of D-Fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and L-Asparagine tend to be stable. Moreover, CCFs demonstrated a capacity to diminish the BPA-induced escalation in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Simultaneously, it exhibited the ability to elevate levels of glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT), thereby effectively preventing peroxidation. In summary, CCFs alleviate BPA-induced ovarian damage in offspring female mice by regulating the central carbon metabolism pathway. This study will improve the information on BPA reproductive damage antagonist drugs and provide a theoretical basis for protecting animal reproductive health.

Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids reducing oxidative stress of the improve sperm damage in bisphenol A exposed mice offspring

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common environmental endocrine disruptor, and overexposure is a threat to male reproduction. Although studies have confirmed that BPA exposure causes a decrease in sperm quality in offspring, the dosage used, and the underlying mechanism is not clear. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids (CCFs) can antagonize or alleviate BPA-induced reproductive injury by analyzing the processes associated with BPA's impairment of sperm quality. BPA and 40 mg/kg bw/day of CCFs were administered to the dams at gestation day (GD) 0.5-17.5. Testicles and serum of male mice are collected on postnatal day 56 (PND56), and spermatozoa are collected to detect relevant indicators. Our results showed that compared with the BPA group, CCFs could significantly increase the serum contents of luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and testosterone (T) in males at PND 56, as well as the transcription levels of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and Cytochrome P450 family 11, subfamily A, and member 1 (CYP11A1). CCFs also significantly inhibit the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduce oxidative stress, increase mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduce sperm apoptosis. It also has a certain regulatory effect on sperm telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number. These results suggest that CCFs can increase reproductive hormone and receptor levels in adult males by regulating the expression of oxidative stress correlated factors, and ultimately mitigate the negative effects of BPA on sperm quality in male mice.

A Case-Control Study on the Effects of Plasticizers Exposure on Male Fertility

Male infertility is a serious concern for public health, and the possible role of exposure to plasticizers such as phthalates and bisphenol A in contributing to the condition is widely debated. We have herein enrolled 155 infertility cases attending an infertility center and 211 controls (fathers of a spontaneously conceived newborn) to investigate this issue. The urinary levels of seven phthalates and BPA were analyzed through HPLC/MS/MS. All data were statistically elaborated considering information about clinical situation, life habits, occupational activity, and, for cases, semen parameters (volume, sperm concentration, total count of spermatozoa, and sperm motility). Results showed significantly higher urinary concentrations for all the phthalates in cases compared to controls, except for monoethylphthalate and BPA. In total, 90.07% of cases had sperm motility lower than the WHO reference value (2010), while 53.69%, 46.31%, and 16.56% had sperm total number, concentration, and volume, respectively, out of the reference range. Regarding the possible source of exposure, the use of scents seems to be a significant source of DEP (diethylphthalate). When considering occupational settings, industrial workers, dental technicians, artisans, and farmers using chemicals showed higher risk (OR = 2.766, 95% CI 1.236-6.185), particularly in relation to DnBP (di-n-butyl phthalate) and DEHP (di-ethyl-hexyl phthalate) exposure. No clear quantitative correlation between specific plasticizers and sperm parameters could be demonstrated but these findings call for future studies about the risks associated with exposure to their mixture.

Impact of Bisphenol A on Structure and Function of Mitochondria: A Critical Review

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used extensively to manufacture polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Because of its estrogen-mimicking properties, BPA acts as an endocrine-disrupting chemical. It has gained attention due to its high chances of daily and constant human exposure, bioaccumulation, and the ability to cause cellular toxicities and diseases at extremely low doses. Several elegant studies have shown that BPA can exert cellular toxicities by interfering with the structure and function of mitochondria, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. Exposure to BPA results in oxidative stress and alterations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), mitochondrial biogenesis, bioenergetics, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decline, mitophagy, and apoptosis. Accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in conjunction with oxidative damage may be responsible for causing BPA-mediated cellular toxicity. Thus, several reports have suggested using antioxidant treatment to mitigate the toxicological effects of BPA. The present literature review emphasizes the adverse effects of BPA on mitochondria, with a comprehensive note on the molecular aspects of the structural and functional alterations in mitochondria in response to BPA exposure. The review also confers the possible approaches to alleviate BPA-mediated oxidative damage and the existing knowledge gaps in this emerging area of research.

Cineole alleviates the BPA-inhibited NETs formation by regulating the p38 pathway-mediated programmed cell death

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disruptor, that can cause immune dysfunction. Cineole (CIN) has that effect of regulating immune function and resist oxidation. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are one of the ways to resist pathogen invasion. In order to explore the effects of BPA and CIN on the release of chicken NETs and the antagonistic effect of CIN, take chicken peripheral blood neutrophils as object of study, grouping as NC, CIN, BPA + CIN and BPA. SEM, flow cytometry, RT-PCR, Western-blot and other methods were used to detect related indicators. The results showed that BPA inhibited the activities of GPX, SOD and CAT, increased the contents of MDA and NO, increased the activity of iNOS. BPA exposure inhibited the expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO), neutrophil elastase (NE) and histone, and inhibited the release of NETs. BPA activated downstream apoptosis and necroptosis through the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38-MAPK) pathway, which increased the expression of cytochrome C (CytC), bcl-2 associated K protein gene (bak), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 3 (caspase-3), cysteinyl aspartate specific proteinase 9 (caspase-9), receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), decreased the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl-2). However, the co-exposure of CIN and BPA partially recovered the release of NETs, alleviated BPA-induced oxidative stress, and inhibited the activation of p38-MAPK pathway, necroptosis, and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. These results indicated that CIN modulated p38 pathway alleviated BPA-induced neutrophil necroptosis and apoptosis, and increased NETs formation.

Metabolomics analysis of Semen Cuscutae protection of kidney deficient model rats using ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry

The traditional Chinese medicine syndrome "Kidney yang deficiency" is a kind of chronic kidney disease. With the development of society, the incidence of chronic kidney disease is increasing year by year, which also brings great economic pressure to people. Semen Cuscutae is an important traditional Chinese medicine to tonify liver and kidney, mainly used to tonify deficiency of liver and kidney, spleen and kidney deficiency and diarrhea. Although there are a lot of research at the molecular and cellular level to study the Semen Cuscutae on the treatment of Kidney yang deficiency syndrome, but there's no comprehensive research complete with metabolomics method from plasma, feces and urine metabolites aspects. The purpose of this study is to find the potential differential biomarkers of the Kidney yang deficiency model and blank group rats in plasma, urine and feces, and to investigate the mechanism of Semen Cuscutae in the treatment of Kidney yang deficiency syndrome. In this study, ultra high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS) was used to identify potential biomarkers. Through the analysis of metabolic profiles of plasma, urine, and feces, as well as multivariate statistical analysis and pathway analysis, the therapeutic mechanism of Semen Cuscutae for Kidney yang deficiency syndrome was described. The results showed that there were 69 differential metabolites in plasma, 93 differential metabolites in feces and 62 differential metabolites in urine, and the changes of the levels of these biomarkers showed that Semen Cuscutae had a good therapeutic effect on Kidney yang deficiency syndrome. Through the analysis of the channel, the metabolite changes mainly affected the steroid hormone biosynthesis, arachidonic acid metabolism, primary bile acid biosynthesis, sheath lipid metabolism and biosynthesis of tyrosine, phenylalanine metabolism, retinol metabolism,taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, lysine degradation and vitamin B6 metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, terpenoid backbone biosynthesis and starch and sucrose metabolism. Therefore, the results suggested that Semen Cuscutae could exert a good therapeutic effect by reversing the levels of some biomarkers.

Naringenin protects swine testis cells from bisphenol A-induced apoptosis via Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway

Bisphenol A (BPA) has caused serious pathologies in varying organs of humans and animals, especially reproductive organs. Naringenin (NRG) is a flavanone compound that has shown protective effects against several environmental chemicals through suppression of oxidative stress and activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway. Herein, we described the discovery path of NRG inhibition on apoptosis in BPA exposed swine testis (ST) cells through targeting Kelch-like ech-associated protein (Keap1). We found that NRG could specifically bound to the active residues of DGR domain in Keap1, thereby activating Nrf2 signaling pathway, and then increasing the levels of SOD, GPx and CAT, and finally inhibiting oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis induced by BPA in ST cells. Altogether, our results showed that NRG inhibits oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis induced by BPA in ST cells by targeting Keap1/Nrf2 signaling pathway, indicating that NRG could serve as an antagonistic therapy against BPA.

Enhanced Healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans Treated With Extracts From the Traditional Chinese Medicine Plants Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and Eucommia ulmoides Oliv

To uncover potential anti-aging capacities of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was used to investigate the effects of Eucommia ulmoides and Cuscuta chinensis extracts, selected by screening seven TCM extracts, on different healthspan parameters. Nematodes exposed to E. ulmoides and C. chinensis extracts, starting at the young adult stage, exhibited prolonged lifespan and increased survival after heat stress as well as upon exposure to the pathogenic bacterium Photorhabdus luminescens, whereby the survival benefits were monitored after stress initiation at different adult stages. However, only C. chinensis had the ability to enhance physical fitness: the swimming behavior and the pharyngeal pumping rate of C. elegans were improved at day 7 and especially at day 12 of adulthood. Finally, monitoring the red fluorescence of aged worms revealed that only C. chinensis extracts caused suppression of intestinal autofluorescence, a known marker of aging. The results underline the different modes of action of the tested plants extracts. E. ulmoides improved specifically the physiological fitness by increasing the survival probability of C. elegans after stress, while C. chinensis seems to be an overall healthspan enhancer, reflected in the suppressed autofluorescence, with beneficial effects on physical as well as physiological fitness. The C. chinensis effects may be hormetic: this is supported by increased gene expression of hsp-16.1 and by trend, also of hsp-12.6.

Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids down-regulate the DNA methylation of the H19/Igf2 imprinted control region and estrogen receptor alpha promoter of the testis in bisphenol A exposed mouse offspring

Exposure to the emerging contaminant bisphenol A (BPA) is ubiquitous and associated with reproductive disorders. The BPA effect as an endocrine disruptor is widely known but other mechanisms underlying developmental disease, such as epigenetic modifications, still remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate whether Cuscuta chinensis flavonoids (CCFs) can be used as a dietary supplement to reverse BPA-induced epigenetic disorders, by analyzing the molecular processes related to BPA impairment of testicular development. BPA and different concentrations of CCFs were administered to the dams at gestation day (GD) 0.5-17.5. The testis and serum of male mice were collected at postnatal day (PND) 21 and PND 56 for the detection of related indicators. Our results showed that compared with the BPA group, CCFs could significantly increase the serum contents of testosterone (T), estradiol (E2) in males at PND 21 and PND 56, as well as the contents and transcription levels of DNA methyltransferase 3A (Dnmt3A), Dnmt3B in males at PND 21 and that of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) at PND 56. The expressions of Dnmt1 and ERα at PND 21 and ERβ at both PND 21 and PND 56 in males were significantly decreased with the administration of different concentrations of CCFs (P < 0.01 or P < 0.05). CCFs also significantly inhibited the BPA-induced hypermethylated status of the ERα promoter and H19/Igf2 imprinting control region (ICR) in the testis at PND 56. These results indicated that CCFs could decrease the methylation levels of ERα and H19/Igf2 genes by inhibiting the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), thereby decreasing the levels of reproductive hormones and receptors in adult males, and ultimately alleviating the negative effect of BPA on testicular development in male mice.

Oxidative Stress and BPA Toxicity: An Antioxidant Approach for Male and Female Reproductive Dysfunction

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a non-persistent anthropic and environmentally ubiquitous compound widely employed and detected in many consumer products and food items; thus, human exposure is prolonged. Over the last ten years, many studies have examined the underlying molecular mechanisms of BPA toxicity and revealed links among BPA-induced oxidative stress, male and female reproductive defects, and human disease. Because of its hormone-like feature, BPA shows tissue effects on specific hormone receptors in target cells, triggering noxious cellular responses associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. As a metabolic and endocrine disruptor, BPA impairs redox homeostasis via the increase of oxidative mediators and the reduction of antioxidant enzymes, causing mitochondrial dysfunction, alteration in cell signaling pathways, and induction of apoptosis. This review aims to examine the scenery of the current BPA literature on understanding how the induction of oxidative stress can be considered the "fil rouge" of BPA's toxic mechanisms of action with pleiotropic outcomes on reproduction. Here, we focus on the protective effects of five classes of antioxidants-vitamins and co-factors, natural products (herbals and phytochemicals), melatonin, selenium, and methyl donors (used alone or in combination)-that have been found useful to counteract BPA toxicity in male and female reproductive functions.

Cross Sectional Study on Exposure to BPA and Phthalates and Semen Parameters in Men Attending a Fertility Center

Among the possible risk factors for male reproduction, exposure to phthalates and alkylphenols is widely documented. This study evaluated the possible association between chemical exposure and the quality of the seminal fluid of 105 subjects in a fertility clinic. The urinary levels of seven phthalate metabolites (monoethylphthalate, MEP; monobenzylphthalate, MBzP; mono n-butylphthalate, MnBP; mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, MEHP; mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, MEHHP; mono-n-octylphthalate, MnOP; mono-isononylphthalate, MiNP) and bisphenol A (BPA), were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry HPLC/MS/MS. The regression analysis showed that the semen volume was positively associated with MnBP, MnOP and BPA levels while was negatively associated with MiNP levels. The sperm concentration had a significant inverse relationship with MEP levels. A negative association was found between the use of plastic containers for food storage (p = 0.037) and semen volume (3.06 vs. 2.30 mL as average values, never vs daily). A significant positive correlation emerged (p < 0.005) between the consumption of canned food and the levels of BPA (2.81 vs. 0.14 µg/g creat as average values, daily vs. never) and between the use of perfumes and levels of MEP (389.86 vs. 48.68 µg/g creat, as average values, daily vs. never). No further statistically significant associations were found, even considering the working activity. Some evidence emerged about the possible link between exposure and seminal fluid quality: further case/control or prospective studies will allow us to confirm this causality hypothesis.