Article
Environmental Sciences
Liyuan Qiang, Jinping Cheng
Summary: This study found that exposure to polystyrene microplastics can induce molecular responses and histological alterations in fish gonads, potentially causing adverse effects on fish reproductive organs.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoxia Yu, Fei Meng, Ju Huang, Weidong Li, Jiaming Zhang, Shen Yin, Liangran Zhang, Shunxin Wang
Summary: This study demonstrated that exposure to 1-NP disrupts mouse oocyte maturation by affecting meiotic spindle assembly, chromosome alignment, first polar body extrusion, fertilization capability, mitochondrial function, intracellular redox balance, and gene expression related to antioxidant enzymes.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yaming Ge, Fei Ren, Lingli Chen, Dongfang Hu, Xinrui Wang, Yunli Cui, Yu Suo, Hongli Zhang, Junping He, Zhihong Yin, Hongmei Ning
Summary: The study revealed that BPA exerts toxic effects on the development and behavior of Xenopus embryos, inducing DNA damage, apoptosis, and multiple malformations.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yanhe Zhang, Jie Cui, Kan Li, Shuang Xu, Hang Yin, Shu Li, Xue-jiao Gao
Summary: TMT, a highly toxic organotin compound, accumulates through the environment and food chain, leading to disorders of glucolipid metabolism and obesity. This study found that TMT exposure increased fasting blood glucose and blood lipid content in mice, as well as causing inflammatory reactions and necrosis in pancreatic tissue. In cell experiments, different concentrations of TMT disrupted autophagy, leading to apoptosis and necrosis.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
John P. Incardona, Tiffany L. Linbo, Barbara L. French, James Cameron, Karen A. Peck, Cathy A. Laetz, Mary Beth Hicks, Greg Hutchinson, Sarah E. Allan, Daryle T. Boyd, Gina M. Ylitalo, Nathaniel L. Scholz
Summary: The study reveals that crude oils can cause toxicity in fish hearts, leading to impaired cardiac development and function. This cardiac toxicity is mainly attributed to the inhibitory effects of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) on specific ion channels and proteins. The findings suggest that the observed cardiac injury may arise from the disruption of calcium cycling and contractility in cardiomyocytes.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Jiangbo Yan, Yunzepeng Li, Tianlu Zhang, Yin Shen
Summary: Numb protein plays an important role in the development of the retina, and its deficiency can lead to structural and functional impairments in the retina. Knockout of Numb in mice results in eye cell apoptosis and retinal neuron damage.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elisabetta Catalani, Silvia Bongiorni, Anna Rita Taddei, Marta Mezzetti, Federica Silvestri, Marco Coazzoli, Silvia Zecchini, Matteo Giovarelli, Cristiana Perrotta, Clara De Palma, Emilio Clementi, Marcello Ceci, Giorgio Prantera, Davide Cervia
Summary: The absence of full-length dystrophin leads to structural damages and impaired autophagy in the retina, affecting neuronal survival and visual properties. Reactivation of autophagy can prevent cell death and structural changes, improving the response to light in mutant flies. Overall, functional dystrophin is crucial for synapsis stabilization and proper neuronal survival in the retina.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Muhammed Ashiq Thalappil, Elena Butturini, Alessandra Carcereri de Prati, Ilaria Bettin, Lorenzo Antonini, Filippo Umberto Sapienza, Stefania Garzoli, Rino Ragno, Sofia Mariotto
Summary: This study identified Pinus mugo essential oil (PMEO) as an inhibitor of STAT3 signaling in human prostate cancer cells, leading to inhibition of cell migration and apoptotic cell death. PMEO treatment also induced mild oxidative stress, which could be reversed by pretreatment with an antioxidant. Furthermore, combination therapy with PMEO and cisplatin showed synergistic cytotoxic effect. These findings highlight the importance of STAT3 signaling in PMEO cytotoxic activity and suggest the potential for developing adjuvant therapy or sensitizing cancer cells to conventional chemotherapy.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xishan Li, Deqi Xiong, Zhonglei Ju, Yijun Xiong, Guanghui Ding, Guoxiang Liao
Summary: The study on the effects of exposure to chemical dispersants and crude oil on zebrafish embryos reveals that chemically enhanced water-accommodated fractions (CEWAF) exposure results in more severe developmental delays and higher frequencies of teratogenic effects, indicating that ocular impairment serves as a more sensitive biomarker.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Zhaojun Geng, Yongxun Jin, Fushi Quan, Siyi Huang, Shuming Shi, Bing Hu, Zhichao Chi, Ilkeun Kong, Mingjun Zhang, Xianfeng Yu
Summary: This study found that MXC has significant effects on the development of early porcine embryos, leading to decreased cleavage rate, blastocyst rate, hatching rate, and total cell count. Moreover, MXC increases the production of reactive oxygen species, decreases mitochondrial membrane potential, and reduces mitochondrial copy number during early embryo development. Furthermore, MXC treatment leads to increased blastocyst apoptosis and DNA damage, decreased cell proliferation, and altered expression of pluripotency-related and apoptosis-related genes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yun Luo, Shan Lu, Xiao Sun, Ye Gao, Guibo Sun, Meihua Yang, Xiaobo Sun
Summary: The study demonstrated that exposure to PBZ results in inhibition of cell viability, increased oxidative stress, and apoptosis in HepaRG hepatocytes. The mechanism involves the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway, leading to impaired autophagy and ultimately cell apoptosis.
JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMICAL AND MOLECULAR TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiang Zhou, Tongtong Zhang, Lebin Song, Yichun Wang, Qijie Zhang, Rong Cong, Chengjian Ji, Jiaochen Luan, Liangyu Yao, Wei Zhang, Ninghong Song, Shangqian Wang
Summary: The study found that prenatal exposure to DBP can lead to erectile dysfunction in male adult rats, potentially by activating the Akt/Bad/Bax/caspase-3 pathway and suppressing the NOS/cGMP pathway.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Daowei Zhang, Jiawen Wu, Jihong Wu, Shenghai Zhang
Summary: The study found that Pae treatment can reduce apoptosis of LD-induced RP cells and increase cell viability and autophagy in 661W cells. Pae enhances cell antioxidant capacity and protects retinal function by regulating autophagy pathways.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fabrizio Bonatesta, Victoria L. Messerschmidt, Leah Schneider, Juhyun Lee, Amie K. Lund, Edward M. Mager
Summary: This study examined the acute effects of crude oil exposure during early-life stage zebrafish on pronephros function. It found that high concentrations of crude oil exposure led to decreased pronephric function and failed glomerular perfusion.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jingjing Wang, Qi Su, Qing Wu, Kun Chen, Asmat Ullah, Mohsin Ahmad Ghauri, Yanmin Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the antitumor effects of sanguinarine (Sang) on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and found that Sang impairs lysosomal function, induces ROS-dependent mitophagy and apoptosis in HCC cells. The findings suggest that Sang could be a potential therapeutic option for treating HCC by targeting these mechanisms.
ARCHIVES OF PHARMACAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Jason T. Magnuson, Rachel R. Leads, Victoria McGruer, Le Qian, Philip Tanabe, Aaron P. Roberts, Daniel Schlenk
Summary: The global sequencing of microRNA (miRNA) and mRNA expression profiles in fish exposed to crude oil revealed consistently dysregulated miRNAs with predicted roles in cardiovascular, neurological, and visually-mediated pathways. Two miRNAs, miR-203a and miR-34b, were found to be primary targets of crude oil. Inhibition of miR-203a and overexpression of miR-34b resulted in neurological and eye toxicity responses similar to those caused by oil exposure.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoqi Zhu, Chuanxuan Wang, Xiaoyu Duan, Boxuan Liang, Elvis Genbo Xu, Zhenlie Huang
Summary: This article reviews the latest research on the cardiovascular toxicity and mechanisms of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the past decade. MNPs have been found to have toxic effects on cardiac functions and microvasculature, with mechanisms involving oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, pyroptosis, and interaction with cellular components. However, the lack of information on the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of MNPs, as well as the absence of guidelines for cardiotoxicity testing, makes it impossible to assess the risk to cardiac health. Further research is needed to enable more accurate risk assessment of MNPs on cardiovascular health.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Beatriz Zachello Nunes, Yuyue Huang, Victor Vasques Ribeiro, Siqi Wu, Henrik Holbech, Lucas Buruaem Moreira, Elvis Genbo Xu, Italo B. Castro
Summary: Despite the existing literature on microplastics in marine environments, their status and impacts on global Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) remain unknown. This study collected extensive data and used a GIS-based approach to analyze microplastic occurrence in MPAs, finding that 68 out of 52 MPAs were contaminated. The study also summarized the wide range of microplastic levels in MPAs and discussed the limitations and future directions for addressing microplastic pollution in MPAs.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiqing Chen, Zhuo Gao, Kang Wang, Jason T. Magnuson, Yuye Chen, Mingyuan Li, Huahong Shi, Li Xu
Summary: Fiber shedding from artificial textiles is a major source of microplastics in aquatic habitats. Triphenyl phosphate (TPhP), a flame retardant additive, is commonly used in textile fibers. However, the role of microplastic fibers (MFs) as a vehicle for TPhP is still largely unknown.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jason T. Magnuson, Neil Fuller, Victoria McGruer, Shawn Acuna, Kara E. Huff Hartz, Gregory W. Whitledge, Michael J. Lydy, Daniel Schlenk
Summary: Projected water temperature increases based on predicted climate change scenarios and concomitant pesticide exposure raises concern about the responses of aquatic organisms. To better understand the effect of pesticide mixtures and influence of water temperature to fish, juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) were dietarily exposed to a mixture of legacy and current use pesticides (p,p'-DDE, bifenthrin, chlorpyrifos, esfen-valerate, and fipronil) at concentrations detected from field-collected prey items in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California (Delta) and exposed under current and predicted future water temperature scenarios, 11, 14, or 17 degrees C, for 14 days. The expression of a subset of genes (deiodinase 2-dio2, gonadotropin releasing hormone 2-gnrh2, and catechol-o-methyltransferase-comt) involved in neuroendocrine, dopaminergic, and olfactory function previously shown to be altered by individual pesticide exposures germane to this study were determined and olfactory function assessed using a Y-maze behavioral assay. When total body burdens of pesticides were measured, a significant decrease in dio2 expression was observed in Chinook salmon exposed at 14 degrees C compared to fish kept at 11 degrees C. Increases in gnrh2 expression were also observed in fish exposed to 14 degrees C. Similarly, in-creases in comt expression was noted at 14 and 17 degrees C. Additionally, altered expression of all transcripts was observed, showing interactions between temperature and individual pesticide concentrations. Chinook salmon spent significantly more time actively avoiding the odorant arm at baseline conditions of 11 degrees C in the Y-maze. At higher temperatures, Chinook spent significantly more time not making a choice between the odorant or clean arm following exposure to the low pesticide mixture, relative to 11 degrees C. These results suggest that dietary exposure to pesticide mixtures can potentially induce neuroendocrine effects and behavior. Impaired olfactory responses exhibited by Chinook salmon could have implications for predator avoidance in the wild under increased temperature scenarios and impact populations in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Yinfeng Zhou, Lang Gui, Wenbo Wei, Elvis Genbo Xu, Wenzhong Zhou, Inna M. Sokolova, Mingyou Li, Youji Wang
Summary: New research suggests that chronic exposure to low concentrations of nanoplastics can have toxic effects on fish, including damage to the intestinal tract and changes to digestive enzymes, immunity, and gut microbiota. The study highlights the need for long-term toxicological studies to accurately assess the risks of nanoplastics.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Himani Yadav, Md Rakib Hasan Khan, Mohiuddin Quadir, Kelly A. A. Rusch, Partho Pritom Mondal, Megan Orr, Elvis Genbo Xu, Syeed Md Iskander
Summary: This study investigated the contribution of plastic cutting boards to the presence of microplastics in human food. The chopping style and board material were found to influence the release of microplastics. Polypropylene cutting boards released more microplastics than polyethylene boards, and chopping with vegetables resulted in higher microplastic release. The study estimated the annual exposure of microplastics from chopping boards and found that they could be a substantial source in human food. Preliminary toxicity tests showed no adverse effects of polyethylene microplastics on cell viability.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Liang Tang, Wenhui Qiu, Shuwen Zhang, Jiazhen Wang, Xin Yang, Bentuo Xu, Jason T. Magnuson, Elvis Genbo Xu, Minghong Wu, Chunmiao Zheng
Summary: Through experiments, it was found that perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBA), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) with different carbon chain lengths significantly reduced the antibacterial ability of zebrafish during the early-life stage, suppressed the innate and adaptive immune systems, and showed a positive correlation with carbon chain length. It was also discovered that PFASs exerted immunomodulatory effects by activating downstream genes of the Toll-like receptor, and inhibiting the Toll-like receptor pathway could alleviate the immunotoxicity of PFASs.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuai Liu, Wenhui Qiu, Rongzhen Li, Bei Chen, Xin Wu, Jason T. Magnuson, Bentuo Xu, Shusheng Luo, Elvis Genbo Xu, Chunmiao Zheng
Summary: This study investigated the neurological effects of PFNA exposure in zebrafish embryos. The results showed that PFNA exposure led to decreased neurotransmitter levels and a reduced number of GABAergic neurons, as well as significant effects on swimming ability and behavior in the fish. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the neurotoxicity mechanisms of PFNA in aquatic organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Beatriz Zachello Nunes, Lucas Buruaem Moreira, Elvis Genbo Xu, Italo Braga Castro
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the occurrence, abundance, and distribution of microplastics (MPs) in Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) worldwide, highlighting the potential impacts on these areas. MPs were found in 186 MPAs, with concentrations varying in sediment and biota samples. The findings raise urgent concerns about the effectiveness of the global system of protected areas and their proposed conservation goals.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuwen Zhang, Ming Zheng, Ge Yang, Ting Zhang, Jason T. Magnuson, Honghong Chen, Chunmiao Zheng, Wenhui Qiu
Summary: This study evaluated the solar activating properties of CaO2 for inactivating pathogens in contaminated water and explored the contributions of reactive species to pathogen inactivation. Direct photoinactivation and indirect mechanisms were found to be the main pathways for pathogen inactivation, with different reactive species playing corresponding roles. Experimental results also showed cell membrane rupture and DNA damage during the photoinactivation process. Furthermore, it was found that copper and iron ions promoted pathogen inactivation, while fulvic acids and humic acid had the opposite effect. This study revealed the potential of CaO2/sunlight for pathogen inactivation and laid a foundation for its application in surface water.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jason T. T. Magnuson, Mark B. B. Sandheinrich
Summary: This study examined the relationship between selenium (Se), methylmercury (MeHg), inorganic mercury (IHg), total mercury (THg), and the expression of biomarkers of oxidative stress and metal regulation in northern pike livers. The results showed a positive correlation between THg and Se concentrations, with a mercury:selenium molar ratio less than one. There was no significant relationship between biomarker expression and mercury:selenium molar ratios, except for catalase and superoxide dismutase, which were significantly related to the increase in MeHg concentration relative to THg.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Wei Yang, Qian Tan, Shenhua Qian, Yuyue Huang, Elvis Genbo Xu, Xizi Long, Wei Li
Summary: Natural infochemicals, such as DMSP, may promote the trophic transfer of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems via olfactory traps.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
