L-type calcium channel blockers decrease the iron overload-mediated oxidative stress in renal epithelial cells by reducing iron accumulation

Ecological assessment of stream water polluted by phosphorus chemical plant: Physiological, biochemical, and molecular effects on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

The rapid development of the phosphorus chemical industry has caused serious pollution problems in the regional eco-environment. However, understanding of their ecotoxic effects remains limited. This study aimed to investigate the developmental toxicity of a stream polluted by a phosphorus chemical plant (PCP) on zebrafish embryos. For this, zebrafish embryos were exposed to stream water (0, 25, 50, and 100% v/v) for 96 h, and developmental toxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and DNA damage were assessed. Stream water-treated embryos exhibited decreased hatching rates, heart rates, and body lengths, as well as increased mortality and malformation rates. The general morphology score system indicated that the swim bladder and pigmentation were the main abnormal morphological endpoints. Stream water promoted antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage. It also triggered apoptosis in the embryos' heads, hearts, and spines by activating apoptotic enzymes (Caspase-3 and Caspase-9). Additionally, stream water influenced growth, oxidative stress, and apoptosis-related 19 gene expression. Notably, tyr, sod (Mn), and caspase9 were the most sensitive indicators of growth, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, respectively. The current trial concluded that PCP-polluted stream water exhibited significant developmental toxicity to zebrafish embryos, which was regulated by the oxidative stress-mediated activation of endogenous apoptotic signaling pathways.

Iron chelators as a therapeutic option for Alzheimer's disease-A mini-review

Neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), remain a great challenge regarding the finding of effective treatment, one main reason being the incomplete understanding of their etiology. With many intensely debated hypotheses, a newer approach based on the impact of iron imbalance in sustaining neurodegeneration in the central nervous system becomes increasingly popular. Altered iron homeostasis leads to increased iron accumulation in specific brain areas, explaining the clinical picture of AD patients. Moreover, growing evidence sustains the significant impact of iron metabolism in relationship to other pathological processes encountered in the AD-affected brain, such as the amyloidogenic pathway, chronic inflammation, or oxidative stress. In this context, this mini-review aims to summarize the novel data from the continuously expanding literature on this topic in a didactic manner. Thus, in the first part, the authors briefly highlight the most relevant aspects related to iron absorption, transport, regulation, and elimination at the cerebral level, focusing on the role of the blood-brain barrier and the newer concept of ferroptosis. Subsequently, currently available iron chelation therapies are discussed, including an overview of the most relevant clinical trials on this topic. In the final part, based on the latest results from in vitro and in vivo studies, new research directions are suggested to enhance the development of effective antidementia therapies.

Heavy metals exposure is associated with early liver dysfunction among rural residents aged 40-75 years in southwest China

Heavy metals exposure has been associated with liver dysfunction in recent reports, while the hepatoxicity of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) has been well established. However, the combined effects of multi-metal in real-world scenario on liver dysfunction are still unclear. This cross-sectional study examined associations between 10 biomarkers of early liver injury and multiple heavy metals levels. The levels of heavy metals/metalloid (magnesium [Mg], calcium [Ca], iron [Fe], zinc [Zn], arsenic [As], Cd, copper [Cu], and Pb) were measured in blood and urinary sample collected from 725 participants in a Cd-polluted area and an unpolluted area in southwest China. The early liver dysfunction biomarkers included the liver enzymes (ALT, ALP, AST, and GGT), proteins (TP, ALB, and GLO), and bilirubin (TBIL, DBIL, and IBIL). Confounder-adjusted beta coefficients were determined using multiple linear regression model analysis for the group-classified and gender-classified samples. Our results showed that blood Fe, Cd, and Cu levels were found to be positively related to elevated ALT levels and blood Cu was positively associated with AST levels in the Cd-polluted area, while the highest blood Zn quartile in the polluted area and blood Mg quartile in the unpolluted area were associated with lower ALT levels. Our finding implies that industrial pollution results in heavy metals of Cd and Pb exposure and effects of Fe, Cd, Cu, and Pb in the Cd-polluted area may be the main contributors to increase the risk of liver dysfunction while Zn in the Cd-polluted area and Mg in the unpolluted area may be the protective factors.

Dysregulation of iron metabolism in cardiovascular diseases: From iron deficiency to iron overload

Iron deficiency and iron overload are the most prevalent and opposite forms of dysregulated iron metabolism that affect approximately 30 percent of the world population, in particularly, elderly and patients with chronic diseases. Both iron deficiency and overload are frequently observed in a wide range of cardiovascular diseases, contributing to the onset and progression of these diseases. One of the devastating seqeulae for iron overload is the induction of ferroptosis, a newly defined form of regulated cell death which heavily impacts cardiac function through ferroptotic cell death in cardiomyocytes. In this review, we will aim to evaluate iron deficiency and iron overload in cardiovascular diseases. We will summarize current therapeutic strategies to tackle iron deficiency and iron overload, major pitfalls of current studies, and future perspectives.