Age-Related Diazinon Toxicity Impact on Blood Glucose, Lipid Profile and Selected Biochemical Indices in Male Rats

The diabetogenic effects of pesticides: Evidence based on epidemiological and toxicological studies

While the use of pesticides has improved grain productivity and controlled vector-borne diseases, the widespread use of pesticides has resulted in ubiquitous environmental residues that pose health risks to humans. A number of studies have linked pesticide exposure to diabetes and glucose dyshomeostasis. This article reviews the occurrence of pesticides in the environment and human exposure, the associations between pesticide exposures and diabetes based on epidemiological investigations, as well as the diabetogenic effects of pesticides based on the data from in vivo and in vitro studies. The potential mechanisms by which pesticides disrupt glucose homeostasis include induction of lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, acetylcholine accumulation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The gaps between laboratory toxicology research and epidemiological studies lead to an urgent research need on the diabetogenic effects of herbicides and current-use insecticides, low-dose pesticide exposure research, the diabetogenic effects of pesticides in children, and assessment of toxicity and risks of combined exposure to multiple pesticides with other chemicals.

Decreased SLC27A5 Suppresses Lipid Synthesis and Tyrosine Metabolism to Activate the Cell Cycle in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Tyrosine is an essential ketogenic and glycogenic amino acid for the human body, which means that tyrosine is not only involved in protein metabolism, but also participates in the metabolism of lipids and carbohydrates. The liver is an important place for metabolism of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins. The metabolic process of biological macro-molecules is a basis for maintaining the physiological activities of organisms, but the cross-linking mechanism of these processes is still unclear. Here, we found that the tyrosine-metabolizing enzymes, which were specifically and highly expressed in the liver, were significantly down-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and had a correlation with a poor prognosis of HCC patients. Further analysis found that the reduction of tyrosine metabolism would activate the cell cycle and promote cell proliferation. In addition, we also found that the solute carrier family 27 member 5 (SLC27A5) regulates the expression of tyrosine-metabolizing enzymes through nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2). Therefore, the SLC27A5 and tyrosine-metabolizing enzymes that we have identified coordinate lipid and tyrosine metabolism, regulate the cell cycle, and are potential targets for cancer treatment.

The effect of diazinon on blood glucose homeostasis: a systematic and meta-analysis study

Though evidence exists on the association between diazinon (DZN), an organophosphate pesticide, with hyperglycemia, contrasting reports also exist. Herein, we performed a systematic and meta-analysis study to address this issue. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Ovid Medline, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science up to April 5, 2020, searching for animal studies (rodents and fish) that assessed the impact of DZN on blood glucose concentration. The risk of bias was assessed by the SYRCLE's RoB scale. Once each article's quality was assessed, a random-effects meta-regression was used to pool the data into a meta-analysis. Heterogeneity between the studies was evaluated with the I square and Q test. Random-effect meta-analysis of 19 studies (I² = 90.5%, p < 0.001) indicated low heterogeneity between the studies. DZN significantly increased blood glucose levels in the exposed versus control groups (95% CI: 2.46-4.94; Z = 5.86; p < 0.001). Subgroup analysis indicated that the effect of high-dose (3.40 (95% CI: 2.03-4.76)) DZN on changes in blood glucose was more pronounced than in the low dose (4.83 (95% CI: 1.56-8.11)). It was also ascertained that the blood glucose level was significantly higher in females (3.55 (95% CI: 2.21-4.89)) versus males (4.87 (95% CI: 0.20-9.55)) exposed to DZN. No publication bias was observed. Sensitivity analysis showed the robustness of the (standardized mean differences: 3.26-4.03). Our findings establish an association between DZN exposure and hyperglycemia in rodents and fish, which is both dose- and gender-dependent.

The association between diazinon exposure and dyslipidemia occurrence: a systematic and meta-analysis study

The effects of diazinon (DZN), an organophosphate pesticide, on lipid profiles have been extensively reported. However, controversy on this issue persists. Here, we performed a systematic and meta-analysis study to investigate the association between DZN exposure and dyslipidemia in rodents and fish species. This systematic review was prepared according to the PRISMA guidelines. Main databases, including Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and Web of Science, were systematically searched through March 4, 2020. The risk of bias was evaluated with the SYRCLE's RoB tool. Once all articles were assessed for scientific quality, a random-effects model was applied to perform a pooled analysis. I² and Q test were used to assess the heterogeneity between articles, and Forest plots, indicating point and pooled estimates, were drawn. Twenty-eight articles were included; between them, 13 publications were selected for meta-analysis. Random-effects meta-analysis showed low heterogeneity between the articles. A pooled analysis indicated that DZN significantly increased total cholesterol levels (95% CI: 0.86-3.79; Z = 3.10; p = 0.002), triglyceride (95% CI: 0.38-3.22; Z = 2.48; p = 0.09), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (95% CI: 0.25-2.85; Z = 2.34; p = 0.7) in the DZN vs. control groups. In addition, DZN significantly decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (95% CI: - 2.92, - 0.42; Z = 2.62; p = 0.07) in the DZN vs. control groups. No publication bias was observed. Our findings suggest that DZN induces dyslipidemia in rodents and fish species in a dose-dependent manner.

Oxidative Stress in NAFLD: Role of Nutrients and Food Contaminants

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is often the hepatic expression of metabolic syndrome and its comorbidities that comprise, among others, obesity and insulin-resistance. NAFLD involves a large spectrum of clinical conditions. These range from steatosis, a benign liver disorder characterized by the accumulation of fat in hepatocytes, to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is characterized by inflammation, hepatocyte damage, and liver fibrosis. NASH can further progress to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The etiology of NAFLD involves both genetic and environmental factors, including an unhealthy lifestyle. Of note, unhealthy eating is clearly associated with NAFLD development and progression to NASH. Both macronutrients (sugars, lipids, proteins) and micronutrients (vitamins, phytoingredients, antioxidants) affect NAFLD pathogenesis. Furthermore, some evidence indicates disruption of metabolic homeostasis by food contaminants, some of which are risk factor candidates in NAFLD. At the molecular level, several models have been proposed for the pathogenesis of NAFLD. Most importantly, oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage have been reported to be causative in NAFLD initiation and progression. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the contribution of nutrients and food contaminants, especially pesticides, to oxidative stress and how they may influence NAFLD pathogenesis.

Effect of chronic exposure to monocrotophos on white adipose tissue in rats and its association with metabolic dyshomeostasis

Earlier, we demonstrated that chronic exposure to monocrotophos (MCP) elicits insulin resistance in rats along with increased white adipose tissue (WAT) weights. This study was carried out to delineate the biochemical and molecular changes in adipose tissues of rats subjected to chronic exposure to MCP (0.9 and 1.8 mg/kg bw/d for 180 days). Pesticide-treated rats exhibited increased fasting glucose and hyperinsulinemia as well as dyslipidemia. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and leptin levels were elevated, while adiponectin level was suppressed in plasma of treated rats. MCP treatment caused discernable increase in the weights of perirenal and epididymal WAT. Acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, lipin-1, and lipolytic activities were elevated in the WAT of MCP-treated rats. Corroborative changes were observed in the expression profile of proteins that are involved in lipogenesis and adipose tissue differentiation. Our results clearly demonstrate that long-term exposure to organophosphorus insecticides (OPIs) such as MCP has far-reaching consequences on metabolic health as evidenced by the association of adipogenic outcomes with insulin resistance, hyperinsulinemia, endocrine dysregulations, and dyslipidemia. Taken together, our results suggest that long-term exposure to OPI may be a risk factor for metabolic dysregulations.