Characterization of Mechanisms of Glutathione Conjugation with Halobenzoquinones in Solution and HepG2 Cells

Amorphous/Crystalline Urchin-Like TiO2 SERS Platform for Selective Recognition and Efficient Identification of Glutathione

Glutathione serves as a common biomarkers in tumor diagnosis and treatment. The levels of its intracellular concentration permit detailed investigation of the tumor microenvironment. However, low polarization and weak Raman scattering cross-section make direct and indirect Raman detection challenging. This study designs an amorphous-crystalline urchin-like TiO2 (AC-UL-TiO2) for the accurate identification of GSH and GSSG. By synergistically regulating the crystalline core and amorphous shell, the bandgap structure is optimized, thereby enhancing charge transfer efficiency. AC-UL-TiO2 demonstrates excellent SERS performance in detecting dye molecules with good selectivity for mixed analytes. The enhancement factor (EF) for R6G is 6.89 × 106, and the limit of detection (LOD) is 10-10 M. A SERS-colorimetric dual-modality platform is developed based on the AC-UL-TiO2@DTNB system to accurately monitor GSH concentrations from 0 to 1000 µM, providing a robust dual-confirmation result. Importantly, combined with the principal component analysis method, the AC-UL-TiO2 SERS platform can directly distinguish GSH and GSSG molecules. Besides, direct SERS detection LOD for GSH and GSSG are 10-8 M, which is 100 times higher than that of indirect detection. These findings indicate that AC-UL-TiO2 holds potential for biomarkers trace detection in tumor microenvironments.

In vivo oxidative stress responses and mechanism to chlorinated and methylated p-benzoquinone oxidation byproducts: A comparison study

Halogen-substituted para-benzoquinones (p-BQs) are emerging disinfection byproducts known to induce oxidative damage both in vitro and in vivo. However, as ubiquitous oxidation byproducts, the in vivo toxicity and transport mechanism of non-halogenated p-BQs with similar structure of α, β-unsaturated ketones to halogenated p-BQs have not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, the effect of substituents on toxicity and transportation of 2-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (CBQ) and 2-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone (MBQ) was systematically investigated. The results show that MBQ exhibits slightly lower acute toxicity to zebrafish embryos compared to CBQ. Exposure to both CBQ and MBQ at concentration of 10 μg/L and 100 μg/L significantly increased the levels of reactive oxygen species, and enhanced the activities of total superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase, while malformations were primarily observed in the 100 μg/L exposure groups. The varying developmental toxicity was associated with significant upregulation of 10 genes by CBQ compared to only 6 by MBQ. Using the high-resolution mass spectrometry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, the hydroxylation of both CBQ and MBQ, and the production of semiquinone radicals and hydroxyl radicals in aqueous environments have been revealed. This study has demonstrated that the toxicity of non-halogenated p-BQs should not be overlooked and contributes to the understanding of the generated radicals, leading to excessive oxidative-stress in vivo.

A Low-Cost Electrochemical Cell Sensor Based on MWCNT-COOH/α-Fe2O3 for Toxicity Detection of Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts

The disinfection of drinking water is essential for eliminating pathogens and preventing waterborne diseases. However, this process generates various disinfection byproducts (DBPs), which toxicological research indicates can have detrimental effects on living organisms. Moreover, the safety of these DBPs has not been sufficiently assessed, underscoring the need for a comprehensive evaluation of their toxic effects and associated health risks. Compared to traditional methods for studying the toxicity of pollutants, emerging electrochemical sensing technologies offer advantages such as simplicity, speed, and sensitivity, presenting an effective means for toxicity research on pollutants. However, challenges remain in this field, including the need to improve electrode sensitivity and reduce electrode costs. In this study, a pencil graphite electrode (PGE) was modified with carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT-COOH) and nano-iron (III) oxide (α-Fe2O3) to fabricate a low-cost electrode with excellent electrocatalytic performance for cell-active substances. Subsequently, a novel cellular electrochemical sensor was constructed for the sensitive detection of the toxicity of three drinking water DBPs. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 2-chlorophenylacetonitrile (2-CPAN), 3-chlorophenylacetonitrile (3-CPAN), and 4-chlorophenylacetonitrile (4-CPAN) for HepG2 cells were 660.69, 831.76, and 812.83 µM, respectively. This study provides technical support and scientific evidence for the toxicity detection and safety assessment of emerging contaminants.

Halobenzoquinone-induced potential carcinogenicity associated with p53-mediated cell cycle pathway

2,6-Dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-DBBQ) and 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-DCBQ), two emerging halobenzoquinones (HBQs), have the highest detection frequencies and levels in drinking water among all HBQs. They are more toxic than the regulated disinfection byproducts. Quantitative structure toxicity relationship analysis predicted that HBQs are a class of potential bladder carcinogens. However, direct experimental evidence for the carcinogenicity of 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ is lacking and the associated toxicity mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we confirmed the potential carcinogenicity of 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ using an in vitro malignant transformation assay, evaluated their cytotoxicity and genotoxicity, and investigated their toxicity mechanisms. The results showed that 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ significantly decreased the viability of human uroepithelial SV-HUC-1 cells and induced DNA damage in SV-HUC-1 cells, and chromosomal damage in HepG2 cells, and malignant transformation of SV-HUC-1 cells. Moreover, transcriptome sequencing revealed that 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ activated the p53-mediated cell cycle pathway in bladder cancer. In the p53-mediated cell cycle pathway, 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ induced cell cycle arrest at the S phase by downregulating p53 and upregulating p21. Additionally, 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ may have produced excessive reactive oxygen species, damaging DNA and chromosomes. These results not only first confirm the potential carcinogenicity of 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ but also provide an important reference for exploring the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity mechanisms of these HBQs.

Metabolite identification of emerging disinfection byproduct dibromo-benzoquinone in vivo and in vitro: Multi-strategy mass-spectrometry annotation and toxicity characterization

Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) are emerging disinfection byproducts (DBPs) of high toxicity and also are shared active toxic intermediates of multiple halogenated organic pollutants. Due to the strong oxidizing property and electrophilicity, HBQs exhibit extremely diverse metabolism pathways in organisms. The identification of toxic-decisive metabolites is pivotal, albeit challenging, for understanding the toxicity mechanisms of HBQs. We employed dibromo-benzoquinone (DBBQ) as a representative HBQ, and established a systematic analytical strategy using high-resolution mass spectrometry, which collectively coupled suspect screening (SS), mass defect filtering (MDF), product ion filtering (PIF), isotopic signature filtering (ISF), and molecular networking (MN). As a result, 20 biotransformation products of DBBQ were identified in vivo and in vitro, involving metabolism reactions such as hydroxylation, methylation, methoxylation, acetylation, sulfonation, glucuronidation, glutathionylation, dimerization, and conjugation with amino acids or fatty acids. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis and cytotoxicity experiments consistently demonstrated the significantly high toxicity of the fatty acid conjugate compared to the parent compound DBBQ and other metabolites, pinpointing the important role of the fatty acid conjugation in determining the metabolism and toxicity of HBQs. The research conducted a comprehensive evaluation of the metabolism of a typical HBQ with the combination of multiple analytical and toxicity characterization methods, therefore screen out the most important metabolism pathway of HBQs.

The key to 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone reproductive toxicity and green tea detoxification: Covalent binding and competitive binding

Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) are ubiquitous disinfection by-products (DBPs) in chlorinated drinking water with various health risks including reproductive toxicity, while the potential mechanisms are still unclear. Although green tea exhibits common detoxifying properties, its ability to mitigate the toxicity of HBQs still needs to be further deepened and explored. This study attempted to investigate the possible mechanism of the most common HBQ, 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-DCBQ) induced reproductive toxicity and elucidate the protective effect of green tea using a series of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS) approaches. Firstly, in vivo experiments showed that 2,6-DCBQ could induce testicular damage in male rats via significantly decreasing sperm-associated Leydig cells and seminiferous tubules. Then, in vitro incubation of 2,6-DCBQ with amino acids suggested that 2,6-DCBQ could bind to proteins via residues of cysteine or lysine and provided five additional modification patterns. Following, proteomics analysis revealed that at least 42 proteins were modified by 2,6-DCBQ, which were mainly enriched in the reproductive system. These results highlighted the significance of covalent protein modification in 2,6-DCBQ reproductive toxicity. Fortunately, we found that catechins (a class of major components of green tea) could competitively bind to 2,6-DCBQ in vivo and in vitro, reducing the amount and type of 2,6-DCBQ-protein adducts, thereby attenuating the reproductive system damage caused by 2,6-DCBQ. This study provides new insights into 2,6-DCBQ-induced reproductive system damage and reveals a new mechanism of green tea detoxification. Moreover, these findings offer potential strategies for alleviating the harmful impacts of environmental toxicants on human health.

Molecular mechanism for the unusual enhancement of the second-step chemiluminescence production from the carcinogenic tetrabromohydroquinone and H2O2

We have found recently that two-step intrinsic hydroxyl radical (·OH)-dependent chemiluminescence (CL) could be produced by carcinogenic tetrahaloquinone and H2O2. However, the first-step CL was too fast to clearly detect the stepwise generation of ·OH and CL, and to distinguish the exact dividing point between the first-step and second-step CL. Here we found that, extremely clear two-step intrinsic CL could be produced by the relative slow reaction of tetrabromohydroquinone (TBHQ) with H2O2, which was directly dependent on the two-step ·OH generation. Interestingly, the second-step, but not the first-step CL production of TBHQ/H2O2 (CRET donor) was markedly enhanced by fluorescein (a typical xanthene dye, CRET acceptor) through a unique chemiluminescence resonance energy transfer (CRET) process. The novel CRET system of TBHQ/H2O2/fluorescein was successfully applied for the sensitive detection of TBHQ with the detection limit as low as 2.5 µmol/L. These findings will help to develop more sensitive and highly efficient CL or CRET systems and specific CL sensor to detect the carcinogenic haloquinones, which may have broad environmental applications.

Thiol Reactome: A Nontargeted Strategy to Precisely Identify Thiol Reactive Drinking Water Disinfection Byproducts

The precise identification of predominant toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from disinfected water is a longstanding challenge. We propose a new acellular analytical strategy, the 'Thiol Reactome', to identify thiol-reactive DBPs by employing a thiol probe and nontargeted mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Disinfected/oxidized water samples had reduced cellular oxidative stress responses of 46 ± 23% in Nrf2 reporter cells when preincubated with glutathione (GSH). This supports thiol-reactive DBPs as the predominant drivers of oxidative stress. This method was benchmarked using seven classes of DBPs including haloacetonitriles, which preferentially reacted with GSH via substitution or addition depending on the number of halogens present. The method was then applied to chemically disinfected/oxidized waters, and 181 tentative DBP-GSH reaction products were detected. The formulas of 24 high abundance DBP-GSH adducts were predicted, among which nitrogenous-DBPs (11) and unsaturated carbonyls (4) were the predominant compound classes. Two major unsaturated carbonyl-GSH adducts, GSH-acrolein and GSH-acrylic acid, were confirmed by their authentic standards. These two adducts were unexpectedly formed from larger native DBPs when reacting with GSH. This study demonstrated the "Thiol Reactome" as an effective acellular assay to precisely identify and broadly capture toxic DBPs from water mixtures.

Methoxylated Modification of Glutathione-Mediated Metabolism of Halobenzoquinones In Vivo and In Vitro

Xenobiotics were generally detoxified in organisms through interaction with endogenous molecules, which may also generate metabolites of increased toxicity. Halobenzoquinones (HBQs), a group of highly toxic emerging disinfection byproducts (DBPs), can be metabolized by reacting with glutathione (GSH) to form various glutathionylated conjugates (SG-HBQs). In this study, the cytotoxicity of HBQs in CHO-K1 cells showed a wavy curve as a function of increased GSH dosage, which was inconsistent with the commonly recognized progressive detoxification curve. We hypothesized that the formation and cytotoxicity of GSH-mediated HBQ metabolites contribute to the unusual wave-shaped cytotoxicity curve. Results showed that glutathionyl-methoxyl HBQs (SG-MeO-HBQs) were identified to be the primary metabolites significantly correlated with the unusual cytotoxicity variation of HBQs. The formation pathway was initiated by stepwise metabolism via hydroxylation and glutathionylation to produce detoxified hydroxyl HBQs (OH-HBQs) and SG-HBQs, followed by methylation to generate SG-MeO-HBQs of potentiated toxicity. To further verify the occurrence of the aforementioned metabolism in vivo, SG-HBQs and SG-MeO-HBQs were detected in the liver, kidney, spleen, testis, bladder, and feces of HBQ-exposed mice, with the highest concentration quantified in the liver. The present study supported that the co-occurrence of metabolism can be antagonistic, which enhanced our understanding of the toxicity and metabolic mechanism of HBQs.

Cytotoxicity of nitrogenous disinfection byproducts: A combined experimental and computational study

Nitrogenous disinfection byproducts (N-DBPs), such as halocetamides (HAcAms), haloacetonitriles (HANs) and halonitromethanes (HNMs), are emerging DBPs in drinking water. They are more toxic than currently regulated DBPs, attracting more attention to their toxic effects and mechanism. In this study, human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells were employed to explore the cytotoxicity of 29 N-DBPs. The influence of molecular structures and different halogenations on cytotoxicity has been comparatively analyzed. As toxicity is the downstream of chemico-biological interactions, the thiol reactivity of 29 N-DBPs has thus been evaluated by using glutathione (GSH) as a model nucleophile, which is the most prevalent cellular thiol and acts as an antioxidant to protect cells by detoxifying electrophilic compounds. Results show that the cytotoxicity of N-DBPs follows by the order of HAcAms > HANs > HNMs, which is different from their reactivity with GSH (the median of k_GSH ranks as HNMs > HAcAms > HANs). However, a significant correlation (p < 0.001) between log k_GSH and log IC₅₀ (concentration causing 50% inhibition) has been respectively observed for HAcAms and HANs subset and HNMs subset, indicating such chemical reaction is a probable trigger for these DBPs to result in cytotoxicity. Finally, two separate quantitative structure - activity relationship (QSAR) models based on HANs & HAcAms subset and HNMs subset have been developed for estimating IC₅₀ values. The good statistical performance makes the models possible to quickly and accurately predict IC₅₀ values of other N-DBPs, providing basic data for their health risk assessment and greatly reducing in vivo and in vitro experiments.

Emerging Disinfection Byproduct 2,6-Dichlorobenzoquinone-Induced Cardiovascular Developmental Toxicity of Embryonic Zebrafish and Larvae: Imaging and Transcriptome Analysis

Epidemiological studies have observed the potential association of water disinfection byproduct (DBP) exposure with cardiac defects. Aromatic DBPs represent a significant portion of total DBPs, but their effects on cardiovascular development are unclear. In this study, we examined the effects of an aromatic DBP, 2,6-dichlorobenzoquinone (DCBQ), on the cardiovascular development of zebrafish embryos. After exposure to 2, 4, and 8 μM DCBQ, morphological images of growing zebrafish embryos clearly showed cardiovascular malformation. Fluorescent images of transgenic zebrafish strains with fluorescently labeled heart and blood vessels show that DCBQ exposure resulted in deformed atrium-ventricle looping, degenerated abdomen and trunk vessels, pericardial edema, and decreased blood flow. Furthermore, the expression of the marker gene myl7 (essential for the differentiation and motility of cardiomyocytes) was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by DCBQ exposure. Finally, transcriptome analysis found that in the 4 μM DCBQ exposure group, the numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were 113 (50 upregulated and 63 downregulated) at 24 hpf, 2123 (762 upregulated and 1361 downregulated) at 48 hpf, and 61 (11 upregulated and 50 downregulated) at 120 hpf; in the 8 μM DCBQ exposure group, the number of DEGs was 1407 (647 upregulated and 760 downregulated) at 120 hpf. The FoxO signaling pathway was significantly altered. The in vivo results demonstrate the effects of 2,6-DCBQ (0-8 μM) on cardiovascular development, contributing to the understanding of the developmental toxicity of aromatic DBP halobenzoquinones (HBQs).

Untargeted metabolomics of human keratinocytes reveals the impact of exposure to 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone and 2,6-dichloro-3-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone as emerging disinfection by-products

INTRODUCTION

The 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ) and its derivative 2,6-dichloro-3-hydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ-OH) are disinfection by-products (DBPs) and emerging pollutants in the environment. They are considered to be of particular importance as they have a high potential of toxicity and they are likely to be carcinogenic.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, human epidermal keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) were exposed to the DCBQ and its derivative DCBQ-OH, at concentrations equivalent to their IC20 and IC50, and a study of the metabolic phenotype of cells was performed.

METHODS

The perturbations induced in cellular metabolites and their relative content were screened and evaluated through a metabolomic study, using 1H-NMR and MS spectroscopy.

RESULTS

Changes in the metabolic pathways of HaCaT at concentrations corresponding to IC20 and IC50 of DCBQ-OH involved the activation of cell membrane α-linolenic acid, biotin, and glutathione and deactivation of glycolysis/gluconeogenesis at IC50. The changes in metabolic pathways at IC20 and IC50 of DCBQ were associated with the activation of inositol phosphate, pertaining to the transfer of messages from the receptors of the membrane to the interior as well as with riboflavin. Deactivation of biotin metabolism was recorded, among others. The cells exposed to DCBQ exhibited a concentration-dependent decrease in saccharide concentrations. The concentration of steroids increased when cells were exposed to IC20 and decreased at IC50. Although both chemical factors stressed the cells, DCBQ led to the activation of transporting messages through phosphorylated derivatives of inositol.

CONCLUSION

Our findings provided insights into the impact of the two DBPs on human keratinocytes. Both chemical factors induced energy production perturbations, oxidative stress, and membrane damage.

The involvement of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) in aromatic trihalogenated DBP exposure-induced kidney damage in mice

Disinfection by-products (DBPs) are inevitably generated in the process of disinfection. Among them, aromatic halogenated DBPs, such as 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (TCP), 2,4,6-tribromophenol (TBP) and 2,4,6-triiodophenol (TIP), have attracted considerable interest for their high toxicity. A systematic nephrotoxicity evaluation of 2,4,6-trihalophenols is still lacking. In this study, mice were exposed to TCP, TBP and TIP ranging from environmental-related low concentration to high concentration that commonly used in animal study (0.5-200 μg/L). Kidney histopathology, urine protein detection and urine metabolomics were performed. Remarkable changes including kidney damage, proteinuria and glomerular mesangial cell proliferation were observed after three 2,4,6-trihalophenol exposure, even at low concentration of 0.5 μg/L. The nephrotoxicity rank order was TIP > TBP > TCP. Additionally, in vivo exposure to 2,4,6-trihalophenols also led to apparent changes in urinary metabolic profiles. Biosynthesis pathways of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs, containing valine, leucine and isoleucine) were disturbed even at the early stage of exposure (4 weeks). Intriguingly, it has been reported that BCAAs could promote the proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells. Thus, in vitro cell experiments were further performed on mouse glomerular mesangial cell line MES-13. Consistently with in vivo results, cell proliferation was observed in MES-13 cells after exposure to 2,4,6-trihalophenols, especially to TBP and TIP. Meanwhile, TCP at high concentration, TBP and TIP at not only high concentration but also low concentration, induced BCAAs accumulation in glomerular mesangial cells, which was completely commensurate to that observed in cell proliferation assay. Then the proliferation of MES-13 cells induced by 2,4,6-trihalophenols was remarkably inhibited after BCAAs interference. Here we provide direct link between disturbed BCAAs and the nephrotoxicity of 2,4,6-trihalophenols. 2,4,6-trihalophenols could induce excess BCAAs, which further led to proliferation of glomerular mesangial cells and renal injury. This study revealed the nephrotoxicity of aromatic trihalogenated DBPs and provided new insights into the potential toxic mechanisms.

Occurrence and transformation of newly discovered 2-bromo-6-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone in chlorinated drinking water

Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) have been reported as an emerging category of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water with relatively high toxicity, and the previously reported HBQs include 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,3,6-trichloro-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,6-dichloro-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone, 2,6-diiodo-1,4-benzoquinone, 2-chloro-6-iodo-1,4-benzoquinone, and 2-bromo-6-iodo-1,4-benzoquinone. In this study, another HBQ species, 2-bromo-6-chloro-1,4-benzoquinone (2,6-BCBQ), was newly detected and identified in drinking water. The occurrence frequency and levels of 2,6-BCBQ were investigated, and its cytotoxicity was evaluated. Since the formed 2,6-BCBQ was found to be not stable in chlorination, its transformation kinetics and mechanisms in chlorination were further studied. The results reveal that 2,6-BCBQ was generated from Suwannee River humic acid with concentrations in the range of 4.4-47.9 ng/L during chlorination within 120 h, and it was present in all the tap water samples with concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 15.7 ng/L. Among all the tested bromochloro-DBPs, 2,6-BCBQ showed the highest cytotoxicity on the human hepatoma cells. The transformation of 2,6-BCBQ in chlorination followed a pseudo-first-order decay, which was significantly affected by the chlorine dose, pH, and temperature. Seven polar chlorinated and brominated intermediates (including HBQs, halohydroxybenzoquinones, and halohydroxycyclopentenediones) were detected in chlorinated 2,6-BCBQ samples, according to which the transformation pathways of 2,6-BCBQ in chlorination were proposed. Besides, four trihalomethanes and four haloacetic acids were also generated during chlorination of 2,6-BCBQ with molar transformation percentages of 1.6-13.7%.

Molecular composition of halobenzoquinone precursors in natural organic matter in source water

Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) are emerging disinfection byproducts generated during the reaction of chlorine disinfectant with natural organic matter (NOM) in source water. In this study, the correlations between molecular weight and HBQs generation of river NOM was evaluated. The compositional and functional characteristics of primary HBQs precursors were revealed by using Orbitrap mass spectrometry combined with molecular tagging. The NOM fraction larger than 50 kDa resulted in approximately 9 times more HBQs (50.9 ± 2.7 ng/mgC) than low molecular weight fractions. Significant correlations were found between the yields of HBQs and lignin-like and highly oxygen compounds in NOM, suggesting their critical roles in HBQs formation. Derivatizating the aldehydes, ketones, hydroxyl and carboxyl groups in NOM could reduce HBQs yields by 90.7%-100%. Unraveling the molecular characteristics of HBQs precursors in NOM would greatly benefit the prediction of HBQs yields of different source water, and develop more efficient disinfection byproduct control strategies.

Analytical discovery of water disinfection byproducts of toxicological relevance: highlighting halobenzoquinones

Analytical advancement enables discoveries in water research, and challenges in the identification and determination of a wide range of trace level toxic compounds in water drives the development of new analytical platforms and tools. The identification of toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in disinfected drinking water is an excellent example. Water disinfection is necessary to protect the public from waterborne disease. However, an unintentional consequence is the formation of DBPs resulting from reactions of disinfectants with natural organic matter in source water. To date, regulated DBPs do not account for the increased bladder cancer risk estimated in epidemiological studies. The majority of halogenated DBPs remain unidentified and the discovery of unknown DBPs of toxicological relevance continues to be a major focus of current water research. This review will highlight halobenzoquinones as a class of DBPs that serves as an example of analytical development and toxicological studies. We will feature recent trends and gaps in analytical technologies for identification of unknown DBPs and bioassays for evaluation of the toxicological effects of specific DBPs and their mixtures.

3,3'-Dichlorobiphenyl Is Metabolized to a Complex Mixture of Oxidative Metabolites, Including Novel Methoxylated Metabolites, by HepG2 Cells

3,3'-Dichlorobiphenyl (PCB 11) is a byproduct of industrial processes and detected in environmental samples. PCB 11 and its metabolites are present in human serum, and emerging evidence demonstrates that PCB 11 is a developmental neurotoxicant. However, little is known about the metabolism of PCB 11 in humans. Here, we investigated the metabolism of PCB 11 and the associated metabolomics changes in HepG2 cells using untargeted high-resolution mass spectrometry. HepG2 cells were exposed for 24 h to PCB 11 in DMSO or DMSO alone. Cell culture media were analyzed with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry. Thirty different metabolites were formed by HepG2 cells exposed to 10 μM PCB 11, including monohydroxylated, dihydroxylated, methoxylated-hydroxylated, and methoxylated-dihydroxylated metabolites and the corresponding sulfo and glucuronide conjugates. The methoxylated PCB metabolites were observed for the first time in a human-relevant model. 4-OH-PCB 11 (3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl-4-ol) and the corresponding catechol metabolite, 4,5-di-OH-PCB 11 (3',5-dichloro-3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl), were unambiguously identified based on liquid and gas chromatographic analyses. PCB 11 also altered several metabolic pathways, in particular vitamin B6 metabolism. These results demonstrate that complex PCB 11 metabolite profiles are formed in HepG2 cells that warrant further toxicological investigation, particularly since catechol metabolites are likely reactive and toxic.

Two-Dimensional Device with Light-Controlled Capability for Treatment of Cancer-Relevant Infection Diseases

Concurrent infection in cancer treatment is the leading cause of high cancer mortality that requires urgent action. Currently developed diagnostic methods are hindered by the difficulty of rapidly and reliably screening small amounts of pathogens in the blood and then release pathogens for downstream analysis, limiting the advance of cancer concurrent infection diseases diagnosis and targeted treatment. Herein, we present a near-infrared (NIR) light-responsive black phosphorus (BP)-based device that effectively captures and releases pathogen for downstream drug-resistance analysis. The aptamer-modified BP nanostructures exhibit enhanced topographical interactions and binding capabilities with pathogen, enabling highly efficient and selective capture of pathogen in serum. NIR light irradiation induces BP nanostructure to generate a local thermal effect, which regulates the three-dimensional structure of the aptamer and causes efficient release of pathogen from the substrate surface. The released pathogen is resistant to ampicillin as demonstrated by downstream genetic analysis. The design of the functionalized light-controlled device for monitoring pathogen behavior shows great potential for assisting in cancer therapy and promoting personalized healthcare.

Characterization of covalent protein modification by triclosan in vivo and in vitro via three-dimensional liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry: New insight into its adverse effects

Triclosan (TCS), an antimicrobial agent widely used in personal care products and ubiquitously exists in environment, has drawn increasing concern due to its potential to exert multiple adverse effects, ranging from endocrine disruption to carcinogenesis. However, the mechanism of these adverse effects is still not fully elucidated. More and more studies have shown that chemical reactive metabolites (RMs) covalently binding to proteins is a possible reason for these adverse effects, but there is still a lack of appropriate methods to predict or evaluate these adverse effects due to the extremely low abundance of the modified proteins in complex biological samples. In this study, we attempted to address this problem and investigate the possible mechanism of TCS adverse effects by a shotgun proteomics approach based on three-dimensional-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (3D-LC-MS). First, the in vitro incubation with model amino acids and protein in microsomes showed that TCS could react with cysteine residue of proteins through 3 types of RMs. Then, a 3D-LC-MS approach was developed to sensitively determine the low abundant modified proteins, which resulted in the identification of 45 TCS-modified proteins, including albumin, haptoglobin and NR1I2, in rats. STRING analysis indicated that these modified proteins mainly were involved in reproductive and development system, endocrine and immune system, and carcinogenesis, which were in accord with the main reported TCS-induced adverse effects and suggested that the covalent modification of TCS RMs for proteins might affect their activities and functions, thus inducing serious adverse effects. This study provided a new insight into the mechanism of TCS adverse effects and may serve as a valuable method to predict or evaluate adverse effects of ubiquitous chemicals.

Assessment of the in vitro toxicity of the disinfection byproduct 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone and its transformed derivatives

An emerging class of unregulated disinfection byproducts, halobenzoquinones (HBQs), has gained recent interest following suggestions of enhanced toxicity compared to regulated disinfection byproducts. While the kinetics of HBQ hydrolysis in water have been well characterized, the stability of HBQs in cell culture media, a critical parameter when evaluating toxicity in vitro, has been overlooked. The objective of this study was: (1) to contrast the stability of a prevalent HBQ, 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ), in cell culture media and water, and (2) to evaluate the cytotoxicity of parent and transformed DCBQ compounds as well as the ability of these compounds to generate intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in normal human colon cells (CCD 841 CoN) and human liver cancer cells (HepG2). The half-life of DCBQ in cell media was found to be less than 40 min, compared to 7.2 h in water at pH 7. DCBQ induced a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability and increase in ROS production in both cell lines. The parent DCBQ compound was found to induce significantly greater cytotoxicity compared to transformed DCBQ products. We demonstrate that the study design used by most published studies (i.e., extended exposure periods) has led to a potential underestimation of the cytotoxicity of HBQs by evaluating the toxicological profile primarily of transformed HBQs, rather than corresponding parent compounds. Future in vitro toxicological studies should account for HBQ stability in media to evaluate the acute cytotoxicity of parent HBQs.

Occurrence, Formation, and Oxidative Stress of Emerging Disinfection Byproducts, Halobenzoquinones, in Tea

Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) are frequently detected disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water with high toxicity and relevance to public health. In this study, we characterized the occurrence, formation, and oxidative stress of the HBQs in tea. 2,6-DCBQ and TetraC-1,2-BQ were identified in all prepared teas at total concentrations of 1.3-2.0 ng/L. 2,6-DCBQ originated from drinking water DBPs, while TetraC-1,2-BQ originated from tea leaves or were generated during tea polyphenol chlorination. HBQs in tea induced the formation of reactive oxygen species and semiquinone radicals, and the oxidative stress could be depleted by tea polyphenols, e.g., (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). High-resolution mass spectrometry analysis indicated that the HBQs combined with EGCG and formed adducts at a ratio of 1:1 or 2:1 with the binding sites on the A ring and B ring of EGCG. The viability of HepG2 cells exposed to 50 μM 2,6-DCBQ was increased from 20.0% to 65.2% when 50 μM of EGCG was added. These results demonstrated that various HBQs can occur in tea due to the HBQ DBPs in drinking water, the leachate from tea leaves, and the chlorination of tea polyphenols; furthermore, the oxidative stress and cellular toxicity induced by HBQs in tea could be decreased by tea polyphenols. This is the first study to report HBQs in tea, elucidate the sources of HBQs, and assess relevant health risks.

Halobenzoquinone-Induced Developmental Toxicity, Oxidative Stress, and Apoptosis in Zebrafish Embryos

The developmental toxicity of water disinfection byproducts remains unclear. Here we report the study of halobenzoquinone (HBQ)-induced in vivo developmental toxicity and oxidative stress using zebrafish embryos as a model. Embryos were exposed to 0.5-10 μM of individual HBQs and 0.5-5 mM haloacetic acids for up to 120 h postfertilization (hpf). LC₅₀ values of the HBQs at 24 hpf were 4.6-9.8 μM, while those of three haloacetic acids were up to 200 times higher at 1900-2600 μM. HBQ exposure resulted in significant developmental malformations in larvae, including failed inflation of the gas bladder, heart malformations, and curved spines. An increase in reactive oxygen species was observed, together with a decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content. Additionally, the antioxidant N-acetyl-l-cysteine significantly mitigated all HBQ-induced effects, supporting that oxidative stress contributes to HBQ toxicity. Further experiments examined HBQ-induced effects on DNA and genes. HBQ exposure increased 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis in larvae, with apoptosis induction related to changes in the gene expression of p53 and mdm2. These results suggest that HBQs are acutely toxic, causing oxidative damage and developmental toxicity to zebrafish larvae.

Halobenzoquinone-Induced Alteration of Gene Expression Associated with Oxidative Stress Signaling Pathways

Halobenzoquinones (HBQs) are emerging disinfection byproducts (DBPs) that effectively induce reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage in vitro. However, the impacts of HBQs on oxidative-stress-related gene expression have not been investigated. In this study, we examined alterations in the expression of 44 genes related to oxidative-stress-induced signaling pathways in human uroepithelial cells (SV-HUC-1) upon exposure to six HBQs. The results show the structure-dependent effects of HBQs on the studied gene expression. After 2 h of exposure, the expression levels of 9 to 28 genes were altered, while after 8 h of exposure, the expression levels of 29 to 31 genes were altered. Four genes ( HMOX1, NQO1, PTGS2, and TXNRD1) were significantly upregulated by all six HBQs at both exposure time points. Ingenuity pathway analysis revealed that the Nrf2 pathway was significantly responsive to HBQ exposure. Other canonical pathways responsive to HBQ exposure included GSH redox reductions, superoxide radical degradation, and xenobiotic metabolism signaling. This study has demonstrated that HBQs significantly alter the gene expression of oxidative-stress-related signaling pathways and contributes to the understanding of HBQ-DBP-associated toxicity.