Sodium nitroprusside alleviates nanoplastics-induced developmental toxicity by suppressing apoptosis, ferroptosis and inflammation

Deficiency of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) enhances MC903-induced atopic dermatitis-like inflammation in mice

The production and secretion of inflammatory mediators contribute to the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). The production of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is essential for inflammation. Because of the association of iNOS with type 2 inflammation, upregulated iNOS expression in patients with AD suggests a potential pathogenic role of iNOS in AD. In addition, NO regulates keratinocyte and immune cell functions in various inflammatory dermatoses, contributing to the triggering and amplification of inflammation. To ascertain the role of iNOS in inflammation, we utilized a calcipotriol (CPT, MC903)-induced AD-like inflammation in C57BL/6J wildtype mice and iNOS knockout (iNOS KO) mice to investigate the role of iNOS in inflammation. The results showed that iNOS deficiency aggravated dermatitis in MC903-induced inflammation. The expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were dramatically elevated, accompanied by the activation of several pro-inflammatory signaling pathways. Moreover, immunofluorescence staining showed that iNOS was mainly expressed in the epidermis and iNOS deficiency significantly promoted the expression of inflammatory factors in keratinocytes. Additionally, topical application of NO donors ameliorated dermatitis symptoms in the iNOS KO mice. These results indicated that epidermal iNOS is important for the occurrence and development of AD. Our results also underscore the therapeutic potential of NO donors in the treatment of AD.

Effect of cadmium and fumonisin B1 co-exposure on mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a typical mycotoxin that widely contaminates food crops and their products and is known to be neurotoxic. In diverse dietary patterns, organisms are at risk of co-exposure to FB1 and the heavy metal cadmium (Cd), but how Cd affects the toxic damaging effects of FB1 is unknown. Therefore, this study explored the potential mechanism of co-exposure of Cd and FB1 using a Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model. Our findings indicate that co-exposure with FB1 (200 μg/mL) and Cd (25, 100, and 200 μg/mL) for 24 h significantly aggravated oxidative stress damage and mitochondrial dysfunction in dose-dependent. This included abnormal expression of mitochondrial membrane proteins and disruptions in the division and fusion processes of mitochondria. Moreover, the co-exposure to Cd and FB1 induced ferroptosis, characterized by abnormally high levels of unstable ferrous iron and alterations in the expression levels of ferroptosis-related genes such as aat-9, acs-17, gpx-1, ftn-1, and frh-1. Collectively, these results underscore the aggravating effect of combined exposure to FB1 and Cd on mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis pathways in C. elegans. This study offers a novel perspective for exploring the mixture toxicity between FB1 and Cd.

Ferroptosis induced by environmental pollutants and its health implications

Environmental pollution represents a significant public health concern, with the potential health risks associated with environmental pollutants receiving considerable attention over an extended period. In recent years, a substantial body of research has been dedicated to this topic. Since the discovery of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent programmed cell death typically characterized by lipid peroxidation, in 2012, there have been significant advances in the study of its role and mechanism in various diseases. A growing number of recent studies have also demonstrated the involvement of ferroptosis in the damage caused to the organism by environmental pollutants, and the molecular mechanisms involved have been partially elucidated. The targeting of ferroptosis has been demonstrated to be an effective means of ameliorating the health damage caused by PM2.5, organic and inorganic pollutants, and ionizing radiation. This review begins by providing a summary of the most recent and important advances in ferroptosis. It then proceeds to offer a critical analysis of the health effects and molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis induced by various environmental pollutants. Furthermore, as is the case with all rapidly evolving research areas, there are numerous unanswered questions and challenges pertaining to environmental pollutant-induced ferroptosis, which we discuss in this review in an attempt to provide some directions and clues for future research in this field.

Therapeutic potential of hydrogen-rich water in zebrafish model of Alzheimer's disease: targeting oxidative stress, inflammation, and the gut-brain axis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder, with amyloid-beta (Aβ) aggregation playing a key role in its pathogenesis. Aβ-induced oxidative stress leads to neuronal damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and apoptosis, making antioxidative strategies promising for AD treatment. This study investigates the effects of hydrogen-rich water (HRW) in a zebrafish AD model. Zebrafish were exposed to aluminum chloride to induce AD-like pathology and then treated with HRW using a nanobubble device. Behavioral assays, ELISA, Hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) and neutrophil fluorescence labeling were employed to assess HRW's impact. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing analyzed HRW's effect on gut microbiota. HRW can significantly improve cognitive impairment and depression-like behavior in zebrafish AD model, reduce Aβ deposition (p < 0.0001), regulate liver Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) levels (p < 0.05), reduce neuroinflammation, and reduce oxidative stress. Furthermore, HRW reduced the number of harmful bacteria linked to AD pathology by restoring the balance of microbiota in the gut. These findings suggest that HRW has potential as a therapeutic strategy for AD by targeting oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut-brain axis modulation.

Amino modifications exacerbate the developmental abnormalities of polystyrene microplastics via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway in zebrafish larvae

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in the environment and have been identified as a potential threat to ecosystems. However, the mechanisms of toxicity of modified MPs remain unknown. This study investigated the developmental toxicity of amino-modified polystyrene microplastics (PS-NH2) with environmentally relevant concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 100 μg/L in the early developmental stages of zebrafish. Adding amino functional groups resulted in significant alterations in the surface morphology and zeta potential of traditional polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs). Zebrafish larvae exposed to PS-NH2 exhibited increased developmental toxicity compared to PS-MPs, as indicated by reduced body length, heart rate, and spontaneous movement. The expression of cat1, sod1, gstr1, nrf2a, nrf2b, and HO-1, as well as alterations in ROS, SOD, CAT, and MDA levels, all demonstrated oxidative damage caused by PS-NH2 exposure. Mitochondrial dysfunction was also induced, as evidenced by changes in the expression of cox4i1, ndufs1, and uqcrc1, as well as changes in the levels of ATP, cytochrome c, NAD, and NADH. Furthermore, PS-NH2 exposure disrupted apoptosis regulation, increasing apoptotic cells and caspase activity, along with changes in caspase-3 and bcl-2 expression. Molecular docking showed that PS-NH2 interacts with bcl-2 with high binding energy. This study contributes to understanding the toxic effects and mechanisms of charge-modified MPs in zebrafish.

Toxic effects of microplastic and nanoplastic on the reproduction of teleost fish in aquatic environments

Microplastics and nanoplastics are widely present in aquatic environments and attract significant scholarly attention due to their toxicity, persistence, and ability to cross biological barriers, which pose substantial risks to various fish species. Microplastics and nanoplastics can enter fish through their digestive tract, gills and skin, causing oxidative damage to the body and adversely affecting their reproductive system. Given that fish constitute a crucial source of high-quality protein for humans, it is necessary to study the impact of microplastics on fish reproduction in order to assess the impact of pollutants on ecology, biodiversity conservation, environmental sustainability, and endocrine disruption. This review explores the reproductive consequences of microplastics and nanoplastics in fish, examining aspects such as fecundity, abnormal offspring, circadian rhythm, gonad index, spermatocyte development, oocyte development, sperm quality, ovarian development, and changes at the molecular and cellular level. These investigations hold significant importance in environmental toxicology.

Maternal exposure to nanopolystyrene induces neurotoxicity in offspring through P53-mediated ferritinophagy and ferroptosis in the rat hippocampus

There are increasing concerns regarding the rapid expansion of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs), which could impact human health. Previous studies have shown that nanoplastics can be transferred from mothers to offspring through the placenta and breast milk, resulting in cognitive deficits in offspring. However, the neurotoxic effects of maternal exposure on offspring and its mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, PS-NPs (50 nm) were gavaged to female rats throughout gestation and lactation to establish an offspring exposure model to study the neurotoxicity and behavioral changes caused by PS-NPs on offspring. Neonatal rat hippocampal neuronal cells were used to investigate the pathways through which NPs induce neurodevelopmental toxicity in offspring rats, using iron inhibitors, autophagy inhibitors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scroungers, P53 inhibitors, and NCOA4 inhibitors. We found that low PS-NPs dosages can cause ferroptosis in the hippocampus of the offspring, resulting in a decline in the cognitive, learning, and memory abilities of the offspring. PS-NPs induced NOCA4-mediated ferritinophagy and promoted ferroptosis by inciting ROS production to activate P53-mediated ferritinophagy. Furthermore, the levels of the antioxidant factors glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and glutathione (GSH), responsible for ferroptosis, were reduced. In summary, this study revealed that consumption of PS-NPs during gestation and lactation can cause ferroptosis and damage the hippocampus of offspring. Our results can serve as a basis for further research into the neurodevelopmental effects of nanoplastics in offspring.

Integrated transcriptomics and proteomics analyses reveal the ameliorative effect of hepatic damage in tilapia caused by polystyrene microplastics with chlorella addition

Fish exhibit varying responses to polystyrene microplastics (MPs) depending on particle size. Previous studies suggested that microorganisms adhering to the surface of MPs can induce toxic effects. In this study, Tilapia were exposed to MPs of control (group A), 75 nm (B), 7.5 μm (C), 750 μm (D), as well as combinations of all sizes (E) and 75 nm MPs with Chlorella vulgaris addition (F) for 7, 10 and 14 days. Histopathological changes in liver of tilapia were assessed using enzyme activities, transcriptomics and proteomics. The results showed that in groups combined MPs of different particle sizes and those supplemented with chlorella, MPs were localized on the surface of goblet cells, leading to vacuoles, constricted hepatic sinuses and nuclei displacement. Exposure to 7.5 and 750 μm MPs significantly increased the contents of fatty acid synthase (FAS), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyceride (TG) contents at 7 and 10 days. In particular, cytochrome p450 1a1 (EROD), reactive oxygen species (ROS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were markedly elevated following exposure to MPs. Apoptotic markers caspase-3, and inflammatory markers, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), had a similar upward trend in comparisons of group C vs A at 7 d, group D vs A at 14 d. The peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) signaling pathway, spliceosome, was highly enriched during the 7-day exposure of medium sized MPs, while largest MPs in the comparison of group D vs A at 14 d activated pathways such as phagosome, apoptosis, salmonella infection. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that after 14 days, the kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathways associated with protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum and the PPAR signaling has been significantly enriched in the Chlorella-supplemented group, which was further confirmed via the proteomic analysis. Overall, the findings highlight the size-dependent effects of MPs on histopathological changes, gene and protein expression in the liver of tilapia, and C. vulgaris effectively attenuated liver damages, likely through modulation of endoplasmic reticulum protein processing and PPAR signaling pathways.

Protective effects of dietary additive quercetin: Nephrotoxicity and ferroptosis induced by avermectin pesticide

In recent years, contamination of aquatic systems with Avermectin (AVM) has emerged as a significant concern. This contamination poses substantial challenges to freshwater aquaculture. Plant-derived Quercetin (QUE), known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and ferroptosis-inhibiting properties, is commonly employed as a supplement in animal feed. However, its protective role against chronic renal injury in freshwater carp induced by AVM remains unclear. This study assesses the influence of dietary supplementation with QUE on the consequences of chronic AVM exposure on carp renal function. The carp were subjected to a 30-day exposure to AVM and were provided with a diet containing 400 mg/kg of QUE. Pathological observations indicated that QUE alleviated renal tissue structural damage caused by AVM. RT-QPCR study revealed that QUE effectively reduced the increased expression levels of pro-inflammatory factors mRNA produced by AVM exposure, by concurrently raising the mRNA expression level of the anti-inflammatory factor. Quantitative analysis using DHE tests and biochemical analysis demonstrated that QUE effectively reduced the buildup of ROS in the renal tissues of carp, activity of antioxidant enzymes CAT, SOD, and GSH-px, which were inhibited by AVM, and increased the content of GSH, which was induced by prolonged exposure to AVM. QUE also reduced the levels of MDA, a marker of oxidative damage. Furthermore, assays for ferroptosis markers indicated that QUE increased the mRNA expression levels of gpx4 and slc7a11, which were reduced due to AVM induction, and it caused a reduction in the mRNA expression levels of ftl, ncoa4, and cox2, along with a drop in the Fe2+ concentration. In summary, QUE mitigates chronic AVM exposure-induced renal inflammation in carp by inhibiting the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines. By blocking ROS accumulation, renal redox homeostasis is restored, thereby inhibiting renal inflammation and ferroptosis. This provides a theoretical basis for the development of freshwater carp feed formula.

SNP alleviates mitochondrial homeostasis dysregulation-mediated developmental toxicity in diabetic zebrafish larvae

The incidence of diabetes is increasing annually, and the disease is uncurable due to its complex pathogenesis. Therefore, understanding diabetes pathogenesis and developing new treatments are crucial. This study showed that the NO donor SNP (8 µM) significantly alleviated high glucose-induced developmental toxicity in zebrafish larvae. High glucose levels caused hyperglycemia, leading to oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage from excessive ROS accumulation. This promoted mitochondrial-dependent apoptosis and lipid peroxidation (LPO)-induced ferroptosis, along with immune inflammatory reactions that decreased mitochondrial function and altered intracellular grid morphology, causing imbalanced kinetics and autophagy. After SNP treatment, zebrafish larvae showed improved developmental toxicity and glucose utilization, reduced ROS accumulation, and increased antioxidant activity. The NO-sGC-cGMP signaling pathway, inhibited by high glucose, was significantly activated by SNP, improving mitochondrial homeostasis, increasing mitochondrial count, and enhancing mitochondrial function. It's worth noting that apoptosis, ferroptosis and immune inflammation were effectively alleviated. In summary, SNP improved high glucose-induced developmental toxicity by activating the NO-sGC-cGMP signaling pathway to reduce toxic effects such as apoptosis, ferroptosis and inflammation resulting from mitochondrial homeostasis imbalance.

Research Progress on Micro(nano)plastic-Induced Programmed Cell Death Associated with Disease Risks

Due to their robust migration capabilities, slow degradation, and propensity for adsorbing environmental pollutants, micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) are pervasive across diverse ecosystems. They infiltrate various organisms within different food chains through multiple pathways including inhalation and dermal contact, and pose a significant environmental challenge in the 21st century. Research indicates that MNPs pose health threats to a broad range of organisms, including humans. Currently, extensive detection data and studies using experimental animals and in vitro cell culture indicate that MNPs can trigger various forms of programmed cell death (PCD) and can induce various diseases. This review provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of different MNP-induced PCD processes, including pyroptosis, ferroptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, and apoptosis, based on recent research findings and focuses on elucidating the links between PCD and diseases. Additionally, targeted therapeutic interventions for these diseases are described. This review provides original insights into the opportunities and challenges posed by current research findings. This review evaluates ways to mitigate various diseases resulting from cell death patterns. Moreover, this paper enhances the understanding of the biohazards associated with MNPs by providing a systematic reference for subsequent toxicological research and health risk mitigation efforts.

Immunotoxicity of microplastics in fish

Plastic waste degrades slowly in aquatic environments, transforming into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs), which are subsequently ingested by fish and other aquatic organisms, causing both physical blockages and chemical toxicity. The fish immune system serves as a crucial defense against viruses and pollutants present in water. It is imperative to comprehend the detrimental effects of MPs on the fish immune system and conduct further research on immunological assessments. In this paper, the immune response and immunotoxicity of MPs and its combination with environmental pollutants on fish were reviewed. MPs not only inflict physical harm on the natural defense barriers like fish gills and vital immune organs such as the liver and intestinal tract but also penetrate cells, disrupting intracellular signaling pathways, altering the levels of immune cytokines and gene expression, perturbing immune homeostasis, and ultimately compromising specific immunity. Initially, fish exposed to MPs recruit a significant number of macrophages and T cells while activating lysosomes. Over time, this exposure leads to apoptosis of immune cells, a decline in lysosomal degradation capacity, lysosomal activity, and complement levels. MPs possess a small specific surface area and can efficiently bind with heavy metals, organic pollutants, and viruses, enhancing immune responses. Hence, there is a need for comprehensive studies on the shape, size, additives released from MPs, along with their immunotoxic effects and mechanisms in conjunction with other pollutants and viruses. These studies aim to solidify existing knowledge and delineate future research directions concerning the immunotoxicity of MPs on fish, which has implications for human health.

Oridonin-induced ferroptosis and apoptosis: a dual approach to suppress the growth of osteosarcoma cells

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma (OS) is one of the most common aggressive bone malignancy tumors in adolescents. With the application of new chemotherapy regimens, finding new and effective anti-OS drugs to coordinate program implementation is urgent for the patients of OS. Oridonin had been proved to mediate anti-tumor effect on OS cells, but its mechanism has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

The effects of oridonin on the viability, clonal formation and migration of 143B and U2OS cells were detected by CCK-8, colony formation assays and wound-healing test. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was used to explore the mechanism of oridonin on OS. Western blot (WB), real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) were used to detect the expression levels of apoptosis and ferroptosis-relative proteins and genes. Annexin V-FITC apoptosis detection kit and flow cytometry examination were used to detect the level of apoptosis. Iron assay kit was used to evaluate the relative Fe2+ content. The levels of mitochondrial membrane potential and lipid peroxidation production was determined by mitochondrial membrane potential detection kit and ROS assay kit.

RESULTS

Oridonin could effectively inhibit the survival, clonal formation and metastasis of OS cells. The KEGG results indicated that oridonin is associated with the malignant phenotypic signaling pathways of proliferation, migration, and drug resistance in OS. Oridonin was capable of inhibiting expressions of BAX, cl-caspase3, SLC7A11, GPX4 and FTH1 proteins and mRNA, while promoting the expressions of Bcl-2 and ACSL4 in 143B and U2OS cells. Additionally, we found that oridonin could promote the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Fe2+ in OS cells, as well as reduce mitochondrial membrane potential, and these effects could be significantly reversed by the ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1).

CONCLUSION

Oridonin can trigger apoptosis and ferroptosis collaboratively in OS cells, making it a promising and effective agent for OS therapy.

Understanding the mechanistic roles of microplastics combined with heavy metals in regulating ferroptosis: Adding new paradigms regarding the links with diseases

As a new type of pollutant, microplastics (MPs) commonly exist in today's ecosystems, causing damage to the ecological environment and the health of biological organisms, including human beings. MPs can function as carriers of heavy metals (HMs) to aggravate the enrichment of HMs in important organs of organisms, posing a great threat to health. Ferroptosis, a novel process for the regulation of nonapoptotic cell death, has been shown to be closely related to the occurrence and processes of MPs and HMs in diseases. In recent years, some HMs, such as cadmium (Cd), iron (Fe), arsenic (As) and copper (Cu), have been proven to induce ferroptosis. MPs can function as carriers of HMs to aggravate damage to the body. This damage involves oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid peroxidation (LPO), inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and so on. Therefore, ferroptosis has great potential as a therapeutic target for diseases induced by MPs combined with HMs. This paper systematically reviews the potential effects and regulatory mechanisms of MPs and HMs in the process of ferroptosis, focusing on the mitochondrial damage, Fe accumulation, LPO, ERS and inflammation caused by MPs and HMs that affect the regulatory mechanism of ferroptosis, providing new insights for research on regulating drugs and for the development of ferroptosis-targeting therapy for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease.