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Stanic B, Kokai D, Opacic M, Pogrmic-Majkic K, Andric N. Transcriptome-centric approach to the derivation of adverse outcome pathway networks of vascular dysfunction after long-term low-level exposure of human endothelial cells to dibutyl phthalate. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174918. [PMID: 39038667 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2024] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is an endocrine disruptor that adversely affects reproduction; however, evidence suggests it can also impact other systems, including vascular function. The mechanisms underlying DBP-induced vascular dysfunction, particularly after long-term low-level exposure of endothelial cells to this phthalate, remain largely unknown. To address this gap, we used experimentally derived data on differentially expressed genes (DEGs) obtained after 12 weeks of exposure of human vascular endothelial cells EA.hy926 to the concentrations of DBP to which humans are routinely exposed (10-9 M, 10-8 M, and 10-7 M) and various computational tools and manual data curation to build the first adverse outcome pathway (AOP) network relevant to DBP-induced vascular toxicity. DEGs were used to infer transcription factors (molecular initiating events) and molecular functions and biological processes (key events, KEs) using the Enrichr database. The AOP-helpFinder 2.0, an artificial intelligence-based web tool, was used to link genes and KEs and assign confidence scores to co-occurred terms. We constructed the AOP networks using Cytoscape and then manually arranged KEs to depict the flow of mechanistic information across different levels of network organization. An AOP network was created for each DBP concentration, revealing several distinct high-confidence subnetworks that could be involved in DBP-induced vascular toxicity: the insulin-like growth factor subnetwork for 10-7 M DBP, the CXCL8-dependent chemokine subnetwork for 10-8 M DBP, and the fatty acid subnetwork for 10-9 M DBP. We also developed an AOP network providing a mechanistic insight into the dose-dependent effects of DBP in endothelial cells leading to vascular dysfunction. In summary, we present novel putative AOP networks describing the mechanistic flow of information involved in DBP-induced vascular dysfunction in a long-term low-level exposure scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojana Stanic
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia
| | - Dunja Kokai
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia
| | - Marija Opacic
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia
| | | | - Nebojsa Andric
- University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Serbia.
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Chen H, Wang Y, Liang H. The combined neurotoxicity of DBP and nano-TiO 2 in embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio) revealed by oxidative activity, neuro-development genes expression and metabolomics changes. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2024; 269:106881. [PMID: 38430782 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2024.106881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Dibutyl phthalate (DBP) is a commonly used plasticizer that is frequently detected in water samples due to its widespread use. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (n-TiO2) have been found to enhance the harmful effects of organic contaminants by increasing their bioavailability in aquatic environments. However, the combined toxic effects of DBP and n-TiO2 on aquatic organisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the neurotoxicity of DBP and n-TiO2 synergistic exposure during the early life stage of zebrafish. The results of the study revealed that co-exposure of DBP and n-TiO2 led to an increase in deformities and a significant reduction in the active duration of zebrafish larvae. Furthermore, the co-exposure of DBP and n-TiO2 resulted in elevated levels of oxidative stress and altered gene expression related to neurodevelopment and apoptosis. Notably, n-TiO2 exacerbated the oxidative damage and apoptosis induced by DBP alone exposure. Additionally, co-exposure of the 1.0 mg/L DBP and n-TiO2 significantly affected the expression of genes associated with neurodevelopment. Moreover, disturbances in amino acid metabolism and interference with lipid metabolism were observed as a result of DBP and n-TiO2 co-exposure. In general, n-TiO2 aggravated the neurotoxicity of DBP in the early life stage of zebrafish by increasing oxidative stress, apoptosis, and disrupting amino acid synthesis and lipid metabolism. Therefore, it is essential to consider the potential risks caused by DBP and nanomaterials co-existence in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyue Chen
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control & Waste Resource Reuse, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hohhot College Road No. 235, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Yingjia Wang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control & Waste Resource Reuse, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hohhot College Road No. 235, Hohhot, 010021, China
| | - Hongwu Liang
- Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control & Waste Resource Reuse, School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region Hohhot College Road No. 235, Hohhot, 010021, China.
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Li L, Xia Y, Chen J, Han X, Hao L, Li D, Liu Y. DBP exposure induces thyroid inflammatory impairment through activating AKT/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 264:115385. [PMID: 37625334 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies exhibited reproductive and neurodevelopmental toxicity in rats exposed to Di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP). However, the effects of DBP exposure on the other endocrine organ are still unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of DBP exposure on the thyroid of male rats and the associated mechanisms. Here, rats were respectively treated with DBP at 0 (control), 50 (low dose), 250 (medium dose), or 500 (high dose) mg/kg/day dissolved in 1 ml quantity of corn oil by intragastrical administration for two weeks. The results demonstrated that the proliferation and inflammatory response changes were significantly different compared to the control. In vivo DBP is mainly converted to mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), an active form producing untoward reactions of DBP exposure. Therefore, for in vitro experiments, we treated the thyroid follicular epithelial cell line (Nthy-ori 3-1) in a temporal gradient using 1 mM MBP. Further in vitro studies showed that MBP exposure upregulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) by activating AKT/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling. Meanwhile, we detected that Pellino2 (Peli2) played an essential role in promoting the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. Briefly speaking, this study confirmed that DBP exposure caused impaired thyroid structure and thyroid inflammation in male rats, which offered new views into the harm of DBP exposure on the endocrine organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Endocrinology Department, Yancheng No.1 People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, China
| | - Yunhui Xia
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Junhan Chen
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Xiaodong Han
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China
| | - Lanxiang Hao
- Endocrinology Department, Yancheng No.1 People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, China.
| | - Dongmei Li
- Immunology and Reproduction Biology Laboratory & State Key Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry for Life Science, Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210093, China.
| | - Yanmei Liu
- Endocrinology Department, Yancheng No.1 People's Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Yancheng, Jiangsu 224001, China.
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Liu C, Wang LQ, Zhang M, Deng YL, Luo Q, Liu EN, Chen PP, Miao Y, Yang P, Zeng Q. Oxidative stress mediates the associations between phthalate exposures and thyroid cancer/benign nodule risk. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 326:121462. [PMID: 36958664 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiological studies have suggested that phthalate exposures are associated with increased risks of thyroid cancer and benign nodule, while the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we explored the mediation effects of oxidative stress (OS) biomarkers in the associations between phthalate exposures and the risks of thyroid cancer and benign nodule. Urine samples collected from 143 thyroid cancer, 136 nodule patients, and 141 healthy controls were analyzed for 8 phthalate metabolites and 3 OS biomarkers [8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal-mercapturic acid (HNE-MA), and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α (8-isoPGF2α)]. Multivariable linear or logistic regression models were used to explore the associations of OS biomarkers with phthalate metabolite concentrations and the risks of thyroid cancer and nodule. The mediation role of OS biomarkers was also investigated. Urinary monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monomethyl phthalate (MMP), mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP), mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), and mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP) were positively associated with at least 2 OS biomarkers (all P-values<0.01), and part of these positive associations varied in different subgroups. All 3 OS biomarkers were positively associated with the risks of thyroid nodule and cancer (P-values<0.001). The mediation analysis showed that OS biomarkers significantly mediated the associations between urinary MEHOP concentration and nodule, as well as between urinary MMP, MEHP, and MEHHP concentrations and cancer and nodule, with the estimated proportions of mediation ranging from 15.8% to 85.6%. Our results suggest that OS is a potential mediating mechanism through which phthalate exposures induce thyroid carcinogenesis and nodular formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Long-Qiang Wang
- Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, The Central Hospital of Wuhan, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yan-Ling Deng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Qiong Luo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Er-Nan Liu
- Wuhan Center for Disease Prevention and Control, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Pan-Pan Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Yu Miao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Pan Yang
- Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, PR China; School of Environment, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, Guangdong, PR China
| | - Qiang Zeng
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China.
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Morsi AA, Mersal EA, Alsabih AO, Abdelmoneim AM, Sakr EM, Alakabawy S, Elfawal RG, Naji M, Aljanfawe HJ, Alshateb FH, Shawky TM. Apoptotic susceptibility of pancreatic alpha cells to environmentally relevant dose levels of bisphenol-A versus dibutyl phthalate is mediated by HSP60/caspase-3 expression in male albino rats. Cell Biol Int 2022; 46:2232-2245. [PMID: 36168861 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Unfortunately, humanity is exposed to mixed plasticizers such as bisphenol-A (BPA) and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) that are leached from the daily used plastic products. Previous studies have demonstrated their potential in pancreatic beta cell injury and diabetes induction. The study hypothesized that both compounds would affect the pancreatic alpha cells in albino rats when administered at environmentally relevant doses. Heat shock protein 60 (HSP60) and caspase-3 protein expression was also investigated as potential mechanisms. Thirty-six male Wistar albino rats were separated into four equal groups: control, BPA alone, DBP alone, and BPA + DBP combined groups. BPA and DBP were given in drinking water for 45 days in a dose of 4.5 and 0.8 µg/L, respectively. Fasting blood glucose, serum insulin, pancreatic tissue levels of malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase were measured. Pancreatic sections were subjected to hematoxylin & eosin (H & E) staining, glucagon, HSP60, and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry. Although all three experimental groups showed diffuse islet cell HSP60 immunoreactivity, rats exposed to BPA alone showed α-cell-only apoptosis, indicated by H & E changes and caspase-3 immunoreactivity, associated with reduced glucagon immunoreaction. However, rats exposed to DBP alone showed no changes in either α or β-cells. Both combined-exposed animals displayed α and β apoptotic changes associated with islet atrophy and reduced glucagon expression. In conclusion, the study suggested HSP60/caspase-3 interaction, caspase-3 activation, and initiation of apoptosis in α-cell only for BPA-alone exposure group, meanwhile DBP alone did not progress to apoptosis. Interestingly, both α/β cell effect was observed in the mixed group implying synergetic/additive action of both chemicals when combined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Morsi
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Ezat A Mersal
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.,Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed O Alsabih
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Abdelmoneim
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt
| | - Eman M Sakr
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries (NIOF), Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Shaimaa Alakabawy
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riham G Elfawal
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
| | - Mohammed Naji
- Medical students, Vision Colleges, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Tamer M Shawky
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
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