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Bedair NI, Abdelaziz AS, Abdelrazik FS, El-Kassas M, AbouHadeed MH. Post Covid telogen effluvium: the diagnostic value of serum ferritin biomarker and the preventive value of dietary supplements. a case control study. Arch Dermatol Res 2024; 316:336. [PMID: 38844670 PMCID: PMC11156737 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03004-1] [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: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
Telogen effluvium is characterized by excessive hair shedding usually following a stressful event. Ferritin has been used in clinical practice as a biomarker of nonanemic iron deficiency in cases of telogen effluvium. During the years of the COVID19 pandemic, telogen effluvium was reported as a part of post covid manifestations. As ferritin was also a biomarker for inflammation in cases with covid infection, this study was designed to evaluate the value of ferritin in cases with postcovid telogen effluvium one hundred patients recovering from covid 19 for 4-12 weeks were included in the study, detailed drug and laboratory history was obtained and serum ferritin level was measured. the mean serum level of ferritin among telogen effluvium patients was significantly lower than controls (68.52 ± 126 and 137 ± 137.597 ug/L respectively). Patients with telogen effluvium used significantly more azithromycin and ivermectin and significantly less vitamin C, D, lactoferrin and zinc than the controls Although serum ferritin is lower among telogen effluvium patients, it was still higher than the cutoff value for diagnosing nonanemic iron deficiency, we suggest that it will not be a good biomarkers in these cases. Our secondary outcomes showed that dietary supplements used during active infection such as vitamin C, D, lactoferrin and zinc might have a preventive value on postcovid hair loss, while azithromycin and ivermectin could have a negative long term effect on telogen effluvium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nermeen Ibrahim Bedair
- Department of Dermatology, Andrology, Sexual Medicine and STDs, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Alaa Safwat Abdelaziz
- Department of Dermatology, Banha Educational Hospital, Ministry of Health, Banha, Egypt
| | | | - Mohamed El-Kassas
- Department of Endemic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hussein AbouHadeed
- Research Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical Research and Clinical Studies Institute, National Research Centre, Giza, Egypt
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2
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Cirqueira F, Figueirêdo LPD, Malafaia G, Rocha TL. Zebrafish neuromast sensory system: Is it an emerging target to assess environmental pollution impacts? ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 344:123400. [PMID: 38272167 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123400] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Environmental pollution poses risks to ecosystems. Among these risks, one finds neurotoxicity and damage to the lateral line structures of fish, such as the neuromast and its hair cells. Zebrafish (Danio rerio) is recommended as model species to be used in ecotoxicological studies and environmental biomonitoring programs aimed at assessing several biomarkers, such as ototoxicity. However, little is known about the history of and knowledge gaps on zebrafish ototoxicity. Thus, the aim of the current study is to review data available in the scientific literature about using zebrafish as animal model to assess neuromast toxicity. It must be done by analyzing the history and publication category, world production, experimental design, developmental stages, chemical classes, neuromasts and hair cell visualization methods, and zebrafish strains. Based on the results, number, survival and fluorescence intensity of neuromasts, and their hair cells, were the parameters oftentimes used to assess ototoxicity in zebrafish. The wild AB strain was the most used one, and it was followed by Tübingen and transgenic strains with GFP markers. DASPEI was the fluorescent dye most often applied as method to visualize neuromasts, and it was followed by Yo-Pro-1 and GFP transgenic lines. Antibiotics, antitumorals, metals, nanoparticles and plant extracts were the most frequent classes of chemicals used in the analyzed studies. Overall, pollutants can harm zebrafish's mechanosensory system, as well as affect their behavior and survival. Results have shown that zebrafish is a suitable model system to assess ototoxicity induced by environmental pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Cirqueira
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Livia Pitombeira de Figueirêdo
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Malafaia
- Laboratory of Toxicology Applied to the Environment, Goiano Federal Institute - Urutaí Campus, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Thiago Lopes Rocha
- Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology and Ecotoxicology, Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil.
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3
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Davis SN, Zhu Y, Schoppik D. Multisensory strategies for postural compensation after lateral line loss. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.23.576760. [PMID: 38328242 PMCID: PMC10849565 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.23.576760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
To control elevation underwater, aquatic vertebrates integrate multisensory information (e.g., vestibular, visual, proprioceptive) to guide posture and swim kinematics. Here we characterized how larval zebrafish changed posture and locomotive strategies after imposed instability (decreased buoyancy) in the presence and absence of visual cues. We discovered that larvae sank more after acute loss of lateral line (flow-sensing) hair cells. In response, larvae engaged different compensatory strategies, depending on whether they were in the light or dark. In the dark, larvae swam more frequently, engaging their trunk to steer their nose up and climb more effectively. However, in the light, larvae climbed more often, engaging both pectoral fins and trunk to elevate. We conclude that larvae sense instability and use vestibular and visual information as available to control posture and trajectory. Our work is a step towards understanding the multisensory neural computations responsible for control strategies that allow orientation and navigation in depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha N. Davis
- Depts. of Otolaryngology, Neuroscience & Physiology, and the Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
| | - Yunlu Zhu
- Depts. of Otolaryngology, Neuroscience & Physiology, and the Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
| | - David Schoppik
- Depts. of Otolaryngology, Neuroscience & Physiology, and the Neuroscience Institute, NYU Grossman School of Medicine
- Lead Contact
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Chen C, Song J, Pu Q, Liu X, Yan J, Wang X, Wang H, Qian Q. Azithromycin induces neurotoxicity in zebrafish by interfering with the VEGF/Notch signaling pathway. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 903:166505. [PMID: 37625730 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023]
Abstract
Azithromycin (AZM) is a widely used antibiotic in both human and veterinary medicine, and its use has significantly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, potential adverse effects of AZM on aquatic organisms have not been well studied. In this study, we explored the neurotoxicity of AZM in zebrafish and delved into its underlying mechanisms. Our results showed that AZM exposure resulted in a spectrum of detrimental effects in zebrafish, encompassing abnormal behaviors, damaged neuronal development, aberrant lateral line nervous system development, vascular malformations and perturbed expression of genes related to neural development. Moreover, we observed a concentration-dependent exacerbation of these neurotoxic manifestations with increasing AZM concentrations. Notably, AZM induced excessive cell apoptosis and oxidative stress damage. In addition, alterations in the expression levels of the genes involved in the VEGF/Notch signaling pathway were evident in AZM-exposed zebrafish. Consequently, we hypothesize that AZM may induce neurotoxicity by influencing the VEGF/Notch signaling pathway. To validate this hypothesis, we introduced a VEGF signaling inhibitor, axitinib, and a Notch signaling agonist, valproic acid, alongside AZM exposure. Remarkably, the administration of these rescue compounds significantly mitigated the neurotoxic effects induced by AZM. This dual verification provides compelling evidence that AZM indeed induces neurotoxicity during the early developmental stages of zebrafish, primarily through its interference with the VEGF/Notch pathway. Innovatively, our study reveals the molecular mechanism of AZM-induced neurotoxicity from the perspective of the close connection between blood vessels and nervous system. These findings provide new insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the neurotoxic effect of antibiotics and highlight the need for further investigation into the ecotoxicological effects of antibiotics on aquatic organisms and the potential risks to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Chen
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Jie Song
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Qian Pu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Xingcheng Liu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Jin Yan
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Xuedong Wang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China
| | - Huili Wang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China.
| | - Qiuhui Qian
- National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory of Municipal Sewage Resource Utilization Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215009, China.
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Ernst A, Piragyte I, Mp AM, Le ND, Grandgirard D, Leib SL, Oates A, Mercader N. Identification of side effects of COVID-19 drug candidates on embryogenesis using an integrated zebrafish screening platform. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17037. [PMID: 37813860 PMCID: PMC10562458 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43911-3] [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: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug repurposing is an important strategy in COVID-19 treatment, but many clinically approved compounds have not been extensively studied in the context of embryogenesis, thus limiting their administration during pregnancy. Here we used the zebrafish embryo model organism to test the effects of 162 marketed drugs on cardiovascular development. Among the compounds used in the clinic for COVD-19 treatment, we found that Remdesivir led to reduced body size and heart functionality at clinically relevant doses. Ritonavir and Baricitinib showed reduced heart functionality and Molnupiravir and Baricitinib showed effects on embryo activity. Sabizabulin was highly toxic at concentrations only 5 times higher than Cmax and led to a mean mortality of 20% at Cmax. Furthermore, we tested if zebrafish could be used as a model to study inflammatory response in response to spike protein treatment and found that Remdesivir, Ritonavir, Molnupiravir, Baricitinib as well as Sabizabulin counteracted the inflammatory response related gene expression upon SARS-CoV-2 spike protein treatment. Our results show that the zebrafish allows to study immune-modulating properties of COVID-19 compounds and highlights the need to rule out secondary defects of compound treatment on embryogenesis. All results are available on a user friendly web-interface https://share.streamlit.io/alernst/covasc_dataapp/main/CoVasc_DataApp.py that provides a comprehensive overview of all observed phenotypic effects and allows personalized search on specific compounds or group of compounds. Furthermore, the presented platform can be expanded for rapid detection of developmental side effects of new compounds for treatment of COVID-19 and further viral infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Indre Piragyte
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ayisha Marwa Mp
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department for Biomedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Ngoc Dung Le
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Denis Grandgirard
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stephen L Leib
- Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Andrew Oates
- School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nadia Mercader
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Department for Biomedical Research DBMR, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
- Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares, CNIC, Madrid, Spain.
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Asad A, Shahidan NO, de la Vega de León A, Wiggin GR, Whitfield TT, Baxendale S. A screen of pharmacologically active compounds to identify modulators of the Adgrg6/Gpr126 signalling pathway in zebrafish embryos. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2023; 133:364-377. [PMID: 37394692 PMCID: PMC10952222 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13923] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Adhesion G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are an underrepresented class of GPCRs in drug discovery. We previously developed an in vivo drug screening pipeline to identify compounds with agonist activity for Adgrg6 (Gpr126), an adhesion GPCR required for myelination of the peripheral nervous system in vertebrates. The screening assay tests for rescue of an ear defect found in adgrg6tb233c-/- hypomorphic homozygous mutant zebrafish, using the expression of versican b (vcanb) mRNA as an easily identifiable phenotype. In the current study, we used the same assay to screen a commercially available library of 1280 diverse bioactive compounds (Sigma LOPAC). Comparison with published hits from two partially overlapping compound collections (Spectrum, Tocris) confirms that the screening assay is robust and reproducible. Using a modified counter screen for myelin basic protein (mbp) gene expression, we have identified 17 LOPAC compounds that can rescue both inner ear and myelination defects in adgrg6tb233c-/- hypomorphic mutants, three of which (ebastine, S-methylisothiourea hemisulfate, and thapsigargin) are new hits. A further 25 LOPAC hit compounds were effective at rescuing the otic vcanb expression but not mbp. Together, these and previously identified hits provide a wealth of starting material for the development of novel and specific pharmacological modulators of Adgrg6 receptor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anzar Asad
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | | | | | | | | | - Sarah Baxendale
- School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
- Sheffield Zebrafish Screening Facility, School of BiosciencesUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
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Barrallo-Gimeno A, Llorens J. Hair cell toxicology: With the help of a little fish. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1085225. [PMID: 36582469 PMCID: PMC9793777 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1085225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hearing or balance loss are disabling conditions that have a serious impact in those suffering them, especially when they appear in children. Their ultimate cause is frequently the loss of function of mechanosensory hair cells in the inner ear. Hair cells can be damaged by environmental insults, like noise or chemical agents, known as ototoxins. Two of the most common ototoxins are life-saving medications: cisplatin against solid tumors, and aminoglycoside antibiotics to treat infections. However, due to their localization inside the temporal bone, hair cells are difficult to study in mammals. As an alternative animal model, zebrafish larvae have hair cells similar to those in mammals, some of which are located in a fish specific organ on the surface of the skin, the lateral line. This makes them easy to observe in vivo and readily accessible for ototoxins or otoprotective substances. These features have made possible advances in the study of the mechanisms mediating ototoxicity or identifying new potential ototoxins. Most importantly, the small size of the zebrafish larvae has allowed screening thousands of molecules searching for otoprotective agents in a scale that would be highly impractical in rodent models. The positive hits found can then start the long road to reach clinical settings to prevent hearing or balance loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Barrallo-Gimeno
- Department de Ciències Fisiològiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Campus de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut D'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain,*Correspondence: Alejandro Barrallo-Gimeno,
| | - Jordi Llorens
- Department de Ciències Fisiològiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Campus de Bellvitge, Universitat de Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain,Institut de Neurociències, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain,Institut D'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge, IDIBELL, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
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