Zearalenone induces liver injury in mice through ferroptosis pathway

Hyperoside alleviates zearalenone-induced liver injury by regulating mitochondrial calcium overload mediated excessive autophagy

BACKGROUND

Zearalenone (ZEA), one of the most common mycotoxins in moldy plants, can cause ferroptosis in the liver. Hyperoside (Hyp) is mainly derived from Hypericum perforatum and exerts hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. It is not known whether Hyp alleviates ZEA-induced ferroptosis-related damage AIM: The protective effect of Hyp on ZEA-induced liver injury was studied and its underlying mechanisms were elucidated.

METHODS

The protective effect of Hyp on ZEA-induced liver injury was determined based on ALT and AST levels and by using H&E staining and transmission electron microscopy. The protective effect of Hyp in attenuating ferroptosis was determined by measuring mitophagy- and ferroptosis-related indices. CETSA and siRNA transfection were used to determine the targeting of Hyp to MCU protein.

RESULTS

Hyp attenuated ZEA-induced ferroptosis and excessive mitophagy in hepatocytes, and use of Hyp or FUNDC1 knockdown by siRNA decreased ferroptosis in AML12 cells. Furthermore, Hyp attenuated ZEA exposure-induced Gpx4 interaction with FUNDC1 and reversed the recruitment and degradation of glutathione peroxidase 4 to mitochondria. Hyp was found to target MCU protein to attenuate mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and mitophagy induced by upregulated ZEA exposure. MCU knockdown reversed ZEA-induced mitophagy. Hyp also reversed ZEA-induced excessive mitochondrial fission and impairment in mitochondrial function.

CONCLUSION

Our study demonstrated that Hyp could alleviate ZEA induced ferroptosis by targeting MCU to inhibit mitochondrial Ca2+overloaded mitophagy.Our findings provide evidence for Hyp as an effective treatment in alleviating ferroptosis-related liver injury.

Comparative effects of 6PPD and 6PPD-Quinone at environmentally relevant concentrations on hepatotoxicity, glucolipid metabolism and ferroptotic response in adult zebrafish

The antioxidant 6PPD and its oxidized product 6PPD-Quinone (6PPDQ) have attracted considerable attention due to their various acute toxicities to aquatic organisms. However, the chronic toxicity of two compounds in aquatic animals is still unknown. Here, adult zebrafish were exposed to 6PPD and 6PPDQ at environmentally relevant concentrations (20 μg/L) for 28 days, and histological analysis showed that 6PPD caused more severe hepatic vacuolization than 6PPDQ. Meanwhile, 6PPD induced more serious lipid accumulation and a higher increase in triglyceride and total cholesterol levels than 6PPDQ, suggesting higher hepatotoxicity of 6PPD. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed that both compounds disturbed glucolipid metabolism to different degrees by altering the expression of different peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), in which 6PPD inhibited gene expressions in glucolipid metabolism possibly by PPARα, PPARβ and RXR, while 6PPDQ disrupted the expressions of partial genes in similar pathways probably via PPARγ. Additionally, 6PPD but not 6PPDQ increased Fe2+ content, decreased the protein levels of ferroportin 1, ferritin and glutathione peroxidase 4, accompanied with the increase of malondialdehyde level and the decrease of glutathione content, suggesting ferroptotic response by 6PPD. Overall, our data deepened the understanding of 6PPD- and 6PPDQ-induced hepatotoxicity association with glucolipid metabolism disorders and ferroptotic responses.

Unraveling the impact of micro- and nano-sized polymethyl methacrylate on gut microbiota and liver lipid metabolism: Insights from oral exposure studies

Microplastics, particularly polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), have emerged as significant environmental pollutants, with growing concerns about their impact on various biological processes. However, the effects of chronic PMMA exposure on hepatic lipid metabolism remain insufficiently studied. This research aimed to examine the consequences of chronic exposure to PMMA particles of different sizes (100 nm and 2 μm) on hepatic lipid metabolism in mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were administered PMMA particles in drinking water over an 8-week period, and the effects on intestinal and liver morphology and function were evaluated. Histopathological analyses, gut microbiota profiling, and serum and liver assays were conducted to assess oxidative stress, lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, and liver metabolomics. The results revealed that PMMA particles accumulated in both the liver and colon, causing liver injury characterized by elevated ALT and AST levels. The exposure also induced oxidative stress by inhibiting the NRF2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Furthermore, PMMA exposure resulted in significant alterations to the gut microbiota and hepatic metabolism. These changes were linked to increased microbial diversity, which impacted cholesterol metabolism through the gut-liver axis. Additionally, the activation of the PI3K/AKT/PPARγ signaling pathway disrupted hepatic lipid metabolism, leading to increased cholesterol synthesis and hepatic lipid accumulation. This study underscores the potential of PMMA to disrupt both hepatic lipid metabolism and gut microbiota composition, suggesting a novel mechanism by which PMMA exposure could contribute to metabolic disorders and liver disease.

Zearalenone Exposure Damages Skeletal Muscle Through Oxidative Stress and Is Alleviated by Glutathione, Nicotinamide Mononucleotide, and Melatonin

Zearalenone (ZEN), a mycotoxin, is toxic to skeletal muscle, and the solution to alleviate its damage remains unknown. Here, we analyzed the toxic effect of ZEN on muscle and the mitigation of antioxidants (GSH, NMN, and melatonin) for this toxicity. The results showed that 0.02 mmol/L ZEN inhibited myoblast viability and myogenic differentiation, accompanied by reducing Type I and Type IIA and increasing Type IIX myofibers. Antioxidants (NMN with 0.5 mmol/L, GSH with 1 mmol/L, and melatonin with 1 mmol/L) rescued these phenotypes. Mice that were delivered 3 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day of ZEN by gavage for 35 days exhibited a similar trend of muscle fiber composition, but the gavage of antioxidants (NMN with 500 mg/kg BW/day, GSH with 300 mg/kg BW/day, and melatonin with 100 mg/kg BW/day) abolished this phenotype. Mechanistically, ZEN treatment increased ROS production, resulting in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and, subsequently, myofiber changes. Additionally, ZEN indirectly contributed to its damage, decreasing the abundance of Lactobacillus at the genus level and increasing Streptococcus sp. at the species level, which was associated with lactic acid production. Antioxidants partially rescued this microbiota composition. This study explores ZEN toxicity effects and alleviation of antioxidants, which provides new insights and attenuation solutions for ZEN damage to skeletal muscle. However, the underlying molecular mechanism of ZEN and antioxidants in the skeletal muscle still needs to be explored.

Glycyrrhizin Alleviates the Damage Caused by Zearalenone and Protects the Glandular Stomach of Chickens

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a kind of mycotoxin that widely contaminates food and feed and poses a threat to poultry farming. As a natural extract, glycyrrhizin acid (GA) has antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Although studies have revealed the toxic effects of ZEA on the liver, the mechanism by which GA reduces ZEA's toxic protective glandular stomach remains unclear. In order to study the therapeutic effect of GA on tissue damage caused by ZEA, we conducted in vivo and in vitro experiments to compare the expression of inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and necrosis. The results showed that ZEA can induce inflammation in tissues and cells, inducing apoptosis and necrosis. In addition, GA can alleviate the toxic effects caused by ZEA and protect cells. Dietary GA significantly increased the antioxidant capacity of glandulae and inhibited the overexpression of NFκB/IκB-α and its mediated inflammatory response. Moreover, GA decreased the expression of pro-apoptotic factors and necrosis factors, thereby alleviating apoptosis and necrosis of chicken glandular stomach cells. At present, the mechanism of ZEA damage to livers and lungs has been confirmed by studies. However, there have been no studies on GA alleviating the damage caused by ZEA to the glandular stomach. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the mechanism of GA alleviating the damage caused by ZEA in the glandular stomach through in vivo and in vitro experimental comparison. The results may provide some reference for the solution of feed contamination.

Investigating the role of the ROS/CncC-xenobiotics signaling pathway in the response to Fenpropathrin in Cyprinus carpio lymphocytes: Involving lipid peroxidation and Fe2+ metabolism imbalance

Fenpropathrin (FPT) is a synthetic pyrethroid insecticide, the persistence and accumulation in water of which could cause harmful effects on vulnerable groups like aquatic creatures, particularly posing significant risks to fish immune systems. This study aimed to investigate how environmentally relevant FPT concentrations (10-1000 μ/M) affect lipid peroxidation and Fe2+ metabolism in Cyprinus carpio head kidney lymphocytes, and its relationship with oxidative stress and immunotoxicity. Firstly, CCK-8 results demonstrated that FPT caused a significant increase in lymphocyte death. Secondly, lymphocytes exposed to FPT could lead ferroptosis in lymphocytes, accompanied by evidence of the Fe2+ transporter imbalance, lipid peroxidation, Fe2+ accumulation and ferroptosis related protein increment. Thirdly, we found that FPT esposure leads to a decrease in ATP, mitochondrial DNA and NADPH/NADP+ levels, and the mRNA associated with mitochondrial function-related genes (Fis1, Drp1, and OPA1) in lymphocytes. Additionally, FPT induced the increased the levels of inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6) in head kidney lymphocytes. Importantly, exposure to FPT induced oxidative stress to produce intracellular ROS, disrupting the function of the CncC signaling pathway and expression disorder of xenobiotics detoxification (CYP 450 family) genes. Notably, Treatment with NAC (a ROS inhibitor, 5 μM) demonstrated that inhibiting ROS alleviated FPT-induced lymphocyte ferroptosis and inflammatory response via the ROS/CncC-xenobiotics signaling pathway. These findings not only introduces a novel approach to investigating the immunotoxicity of FPT but also offers critical insights into mitigating the adverse effects of FPT on aquatic animal health.

Protective and Detoxifying Effects of Resveratrol on Zearalenone-Mediated Toxicity: A Review

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium spp. fungi and is widely found in moldy corn, wheat, barley, and other grains. ZEA is distributed to the whole body via blood circulation after metabolic transformation in animals. Through oxidative stress, immunosuppression, apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction, ZEA leads to hepatitis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, abortion, and stillbirth in female animals, and decreased sperm motility in male animals. In recent years, due to the influence of climate, storage facilities, and other factors, the problem of ZEA pollution in global food crops has become particularly prominent, resulting in serious problems for the animal husbandry and feed industries, and threatening human health. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural product with therapeutic activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. RSV can alleviate ZEA-induced toxic effects by targeting signaling pathways such as NF-κB, Nrf2/Keap1, and PI3K/AKT/mTOR via attenuating oxidative damage, inflammatory response, and apoptosis, and regulating cellular autophagy. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the protective effect of RSV against ZEA-induced toxicity and its molecular mechanism, and discusses the safety and potential clinical applications of RSV in the search for natural mycotoxin detoxification agents.