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Petrescu AD, Venter J, Danilenko DD, Medina D, Grant S, An SY, Williams E, Mireles P, Rhodes K, Tjahja M, DeMorrow S. Exposure to Gulf war illness-related chemicals exacerbates alcohol-induced liver damage in rodents. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14981. [PMID: 38951546 PMCID: PMC11217429 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65638-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) describes a series of symptoms suffered by veterans of the Gulf war, consisting of cognitive, neurological and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Two chemicals associated with GWI are the insecticide permethrin (PER) and the nerve gas prophylactic pyridostigmine-bromide (PB). In this study we assessed the effects of PER and PB exposure on the pathology and subsequent alcohol (EtOH)-induced liver injury, and the influence of a macrophage depletor, PLX3397, on EtOH-induced liver damage in PER/PB-treated mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were injected daily with vehicle or PER/PB for 10 days, followed by 4 months recovery, then treatment with PLX3397 and a chronic-plus-single-binge EtOH challenge for 10 days. PER/PB exposure resulted in the protracted increase in liver transaminases in the serum and induced chronic low-level microvesicular steatosis and inflammation in GWI vs Naïve mice up to 4 months after cessation of exposure. Furthermore, prior exposure to PER/PB also resulted in exacerbated response to EtOH-induced liver injury, with enhanced steatosis, ductular reaction and fibrosis. The enhanced EtOH-induced liver damage in GWI-mice was attenuated by strategies designed to deplete macrophages in the liver. Taken together, these data suggest that exposure to GWI-related chemicals may alter the liver's response to subsequent ethanol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca D Petrescu
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Juliet Venter
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Daria D Danilenko
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
| | - Daniela Medina
- Department of Health and Societies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Stephanie Grant
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Su Yeon An
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Elaina Williams
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Patrick Mireles
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
| | - Kathryn Rhodes
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA
| | - Matthew Tjahja
- Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health, Temple, TX, 76502, USA
| | - Sharon DeMorrow
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, 1601 Trinity St Bldg. B, Austin, TX, 78701, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, Dell Medical School, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
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Petrescu A, Venter J, Danilenko DD, Medina D, Grant S, An SY, Williams E, Mireles P, Tjahja M, DeMorrow S. Exposure to Gulf war illness-related chemicals exacerbates alcohol- induced liver damage in rodents. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3838282. [PMID: 38313276 PMCID: PMC10836102 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3838282/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2024]
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) describes a series of symptoms suffered by veterans of the Gulf war consisting of cognitive, neurological and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Two chemicals associated with GWI are the insecticide permethrin (PER) and the nerve gas prophylactic pyridostigmine-bromide (PB). In this study we assessed the effects of PER and PB exposure on pathology and subsequent alcohol (EtOH)-induced liver injury, and the influence of a macrophage depletor, PLX3397, on EtOH-induced liver damage in PER/PB- treated mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were injected daily with vehicle or PER/PB for 10 days, followed by 4 months recovery, then treatment with PLX3397 and a chronic-plus-single-binge EtOH challenge for 10 days. PER/PB exposure resulted in the protracted increase in liver transaminases in the serum and induced chronic low-level microvesicular steatosis and inflammation in GWI vs Naïve mice up to 4 months after cessation of exposure. Furthermore, prior exposure to PER/PB also resulted in exacerbated response to EtOH-induced liver injury, with enhanced steatosis, ductular reaction and fibrosis. The enhanced EtOH-induced liver damage in GWI-mice was attenuated by strategies designed to deplete macrophages in the liver. Taken together, these data suggest that exposure to GWI-related chemicals may alter the liver's response to subsequent ethanol exposure.
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Malhotra D, Boyle SH, Gifford EJ, Sullivan BA, Nguyen Wenker TH, Abs ND, Ahmed ST, Upchurch J, Vahey J, Stafford C, Efird JT, Hunt SC, Bradford A, Sims KJ, Hauser ER, Helmer DA, Williams CD. Self-reported gastrointestinal disorders among veterans with gulf war illness with and without posttraumatic stress disorder. Neurogastroenterol Motil 2023; 35:e14548. [PMID: 36942766 DOI: 10.1111/nmo.14548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multi-symptom disorder affecting 25%-32% of Gulf War veterans. Veterans with GWI disproportionately suffer from gastrointestinal (GI) disorders. Given the increasing evidence supporting a gut-brain axis, we explore the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), GWI, and self-reported GI disorders among GW veterans. METHODS Veterans from the Gulf War Era Cohort and Biorepository responded to a mail-based survey (N = 1058). They were stratified by GWI (Centers for Disease Control definition) and PTSD status. This yielded three groups: GWI-, GWI+/PTSD-, and GWI+/PTSD+. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for demographic and military characteristics examined associations between GWI/PTSD groups and GI disorders. Results were expressed as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). KEY RESULTS The most frequently reported GI disorders were irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and colon polyps (CP). The GWI+/PTSD+ group had a higher odds of these disorders than the GWI+/PTSD- group (aORIBS = 3.12, 95% CI: 1.93-5.05; aORGERD = 2.04, 95% CI: 1.44-2.90; aORCP = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.23-2.80), which had a higher odds of these disorders than the GWI- group (aORIBS = 4.38, 95% CI: 1.55-12.36; aORGERD = 2.51 95% CI: 1.63-3.87; aORCP = 2.57, 95% CI: 1.53-4.32). CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES GW veterans with GWI and PTSD have significantly higher odds of specific self-reported GI disorders than the other groups. Given the known bidirectional influences of the gut and brain, these veterans may benefit from a holistic healthcare approach that considers biopsychosocial contributors to the assessment and management of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Malhotra
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - S H Boyle
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - E J Gifford
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Center for Child and Family Policy, Duke Margolis Center for Health Policy, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - B A Sullivan
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - T H Nguyen Wenker
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nono-Djotsa Abs
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
- Big Data Scientist Training Enhancement Program (BD-STEP), VA Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC, Washington, USA
| | - S T Ahmed
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - J Upchurch
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - J Vahey
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics Program, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - C Stafford
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - J T Efird
- VA Cooperative Studies Program Coordinating Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - S C Hunt
- VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - A Bradford
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - K J Sims
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - E R Hauser
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Duke University Medical Center, Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - D A Helmer
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- VA HSR&D Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuEST), Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - C D Williams
- Cooperative Studies Program Epidemiology Center, Durham VA Medical Center, Durham VA Health Care System, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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