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Ren YL, Liang Q, Lian CY, Zhang W, Wang L. Melatonin alleviates glyphosate-induced testosterone synthesis inhibition via targeting mitochondrial function in roosters. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 348:123828. [PMID: 38522604 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024]
Abstract
Glyphosate (GLY) is a widely used herbicide that has been revealed to inhibit testosterone synthesis in humans and animals. Melatonin (MET) is an endogenous hormone that has been demonstrated to promote mammalian testosterone synthesis via protecting mitochondrial function. However, it remains unclear whether MET targets mitochondria to alleviate GLY-inhibited testosterone synthesis in avian. In this study, an avian model using 7-day-old rooster upon chronic exposure to GLY with the treatment of MET was designed to clarify this issue. Data first showed that GLY-induced testicular Leydig cell damage, structural damage of the seminiferous tubule, and sperm quality decrease were mitigated by MET. Transcriptomic analyses of the testicular tissues revealed the potentially critical role of mitophagy and steroid hormone biosynthesis in the process of MET counteracting GLY-induced testicular damage. Also, validation data demonstrated that the inhibition of testosterone synthesis due to GLY-induced mitochondrial dynamic imbalance and concomitant Parkin-dependent mitophagy activation is alleviated by MET. Moreover, GLY-induced oxidative stress in serum and testicular tissue were significantly reversed by MET. In summary, these findings demonstrate that MET effectively ameliorates GLY-inhibited testosterone synthesis by inhibiting mitophagy activation, which provides a promising remedy for the application of MET as a potential therapeutic agent to antagonize reproductive toxicity induced by GLY and similar contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Long Ren
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, 271018, China.
| | - Qing Liang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, 271018, China.
| | - Cai-Yu Lian
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, 271018, China.
| | - Wei Zhang
- Yantai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yan'tai City 265500, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Lin Wang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an City, Shandong Province, 271018, China.
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2
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Zeng Y, Yang Q, Ouyang Y, Lou Y, Cui H, Deng H, Zhu Y, Geng Y, Ouyang P, Chen L, Zuo Z, Fang J, Guo H. Nickel induces blood-testis barrier damage through ROS-mediated p38 MAPK pathways in mice. Redox Biol 2023; 67:102886. [PMID: 37742495 PMCID: PMC10520947 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) is an essential common environmental contaminant, it is hazardous to male reproduction, but the precise mechanisms are still unknown. Blood-testis barrier (BTB), an important testicular structure consisting of connections between sertoli cells, is the target of reproductive toxicity caused by many environmental toxins. In this study, ultrastructure observation and BTB integrity assay results indicated that NiCl2 induced BTB damage. Meanwhile, BTB-related proteins including the tight junction (TJ), adhesion junction (AJ) and the gap junction (GJ) protein expression in mouse testes as well as in sertoli cells (TM4) were significantly decreased after NiCl2 treatment. Next, the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) was co-treated with NiCl2 to study the function of oxidative stress in NiCl2-mediated BTB deterioration. The results showed that NAC attenuated testicular histopathological damage, and the expression of BTB-related proteins were markedly reversed by NAC co-treatment in vitro and vivo. Otherwise, NiCl2 activated the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. And, NAC co-treatment could significantly inhibit p38 activation induced by NiCl2 in TM4 cells. Furthermore, in order to confirm the role of the p38 MAPK signaling pathway in NiCl2-induced BTB impairment, a p38 inhibitor (SB203580) was co-treated with NiCl2 in TM4 cells, and p38 MAPK signaling inhibition significantly restored BTB damage induced by NiCl2 in TM4 cells. These results suggest that NiCl2 treatment destroys the BTB, in which the oxidative stress-mediated p38 MAPK signaling pathway plays a vital role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Qing Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Yujuan Ouyang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Yanbin Lou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Hengmin Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Huidan Deng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Yanqiu Zhu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Yi Geng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Ping Ouyang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China
| | - Lian Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, PR China
| | - Zhicai Zuo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, PR China.
| | - Jing Fang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, PR China.
| | - Hongrui Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 611130, PR China; Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agriculture University, Wenjiang, Chengdu, 611130, PR China.
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3
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Zhou S, Li H, Wang H, Wang R, Song W, Li D, Wei C, Guo Y, He X, Deng Y. Nickel Nanoparticles Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice via Lipid-Metabolism-Dysfunction-Regulated Inflammatory Injury. Molecules 2023; 28:5757. [PMID: 37570729 PMCID: PMC10421287 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28155757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Nickel nanoparticles (NiNPs) have wide applications in industry and biomedicine due to their unique characteristics. The liver is the major organ responsible for nutrient metabolism, exogenous substance detoxification and biotransformation of medicines containing nanoparticles. Hence, it is urgent to further understand the principles and potential mechanisms of hepatic effects on NiNPs administration. In this study, we explored the liver impacts in male C57/BL6 mice through intraperitoneal injection with NiNPs at doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg/day for 7 and 28 days. The results showed that NiNPs treatment increased serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and induced pathological changes in liver tissues. Moreover, hepatic triglyceride (TG) content and lipid droplet deposition identified via de novo lipogenesis (DNL) progression were enhanced after NiNPs injection. Additionally, sustained NiNPs exposure induced a remarkable hepatic inflammatory response, significantly promoted endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) sensors Ire1α, Perk and Atf6, and activated the occurrence of liver cell apoptosis. Overall, the research indicated that NiNPs exposure induced liver injury and disturbance of lipid metabolism. These findings revealed the public hazard from extreme exposure to NiNPs and provided new information on biological toxicity and biosafety evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Zhou
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
- Beijing Institute of Technology, School of Life Science, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Hua Li
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Hui Wang
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Rui Wang
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Wei Song
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Da Li
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Changlei Wei
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Yu Guo
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Xueying He
- Beijing Institute of Medical Device Testing, Beijing Center for Testing and Research of Medical Biological Protective Equipment, Beijing 101111, China; (S.Z.)
| | - Yulin Deng
- Beijing Institute of Technology, School of Life Science, Beijing 100081, China
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Li Y, Guo M, Niu S, Shang M, Chang X, Sun Z, Zhang R, Shen X, Xue Y. ROS and DRP1 interactions accelerate the mitochondrial injury induced by polystyrene nanoplastics in human liver HepG2 cells. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 379:110502. [PMID: 37084995 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have become a serious environmental pollutant and subsequently have harmful effects on human health. Thus, the impacts of microplastics on human cells need to be explored. In the present study, the cytotoxic effects at the subcellular-organelle levels to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, diameter 21.5 ± 2.7 nm) were investigated in the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell line. The cell viability exposed to PS-NPs at the concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25 and 50 μg/mL for 24 h diminished in a concentration-dependent manner. The PS-NPs treatment induced mitochondrial injuries, including morphological changes, decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potentials (MMP). The PS-NPs treatment could further spark cell apoptosis by upregulating caspase 3, caspase 9, cytochrome c, and Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) in HepG2 cells, which is related to the mitochondrial dysfunction. PS-NPs exposure stimulated the excessive cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and also induced mitochondrial fission by upregulating dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) and P-DRP1, but downregulating optic atrophy protein 1 (OPA1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1α) expression levels. The above effects on mitochondria damage induced by PS-NPs were reversed by the pretreatment of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) and DRP1 siRNA. The results suggested that the interaction between ROS and DRP1-dependent mitochondrial division could promote mitochondrial lesions and mitochondria-related apoptosis caused by PS-NPs. These findings on molecular mechanisms provide a theoretical basis for preventing the hazards caused by microplastics to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjing Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Menghao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Shuyan Niu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Mengting Shang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Xiaoru Chang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Zuoyi Sun
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Xin Shen
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China
| | - Yuying Xue
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine and Engineering, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, PR China.
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Yuan J, Mo Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Q. Nickel nanoparticles induce autophagy and apoptosis via HIF-1α/mTOR signaling in human bronchial epithelial cells. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 329:121670. [PMID: 37080518 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid development of nanotechnology, the potential adverse health effects of nanoparticles have been caught more attention and become global concerns. However, the underlying mechanisms in metal nanoparticle-induced toxic effects are still largely obscure. In this study, we investigated whether exposure to nickel nanoparticles (Nano-Ni) and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Nano-TiO2) would alter autophagy and apoptosis levels in normal human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells and the underlying mechanisms involved in this process. Our results showed that the expressions of autophagy- and apoptosis-associated proteins were dysregulated in cells exposed to Nano-Ni. However, exposure to the same doses of Nano-TiO2 had no significant effects on these proteins. In addition, exposure to Nano-Ni, but not Nano-TiO2, led to nuclear accumulation of HIF-1α and decreased phosphorylation of mTOR in BEAS-2B cells. Inhibition of HIF-1α by CAY10585 abolished Nano-Ni-induced decreased phosphorylation of mTOR, while activation of mTOR by MHY1485 did not affect Nano-Ni-induced nuclear accumulation of HIF-1α. Furthermore, both HIF-1α inhibition and mTOR activation abolished Nano-Ni-induced autophagy but enhanced Nano-Ni-induced apoptosis. Blockage of autophagic flux by Bafilomycin A1 exacerbated Nano-Ni-induced apoptosis, while activation of autophagy by Rapamycin effectively rescued Nano-Ni-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that Nano-Ni exposure caused increased levels of autophagy and apoptosis via the HIF-1α/mTOR signaling axis. Nano-Ni-induced autophagy has a protective role against Nano-Ni-induced apoptosis. These findings provide us with further insight into Nano-Ni-induced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Yuan
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Yiqun Mo
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Yue Zhang
- Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Yuanbao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA
| | - Qunwei Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
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6
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Iftikhar M, Noureen A, Jabeen F, Uzair M, Rehman N, Sher EK, Katubi KM, Américo-Pinheiro JHP, Sher F. Bioinspired engineered nickel nanoparticles with multifunctional attributes for reproductive toxicity. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 311:136927. [PMID: 36273609 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) have potential applications in high-tech sectors such as battery manufacturing, catalysis, nanotube printing and textile. Apart from their increasing utilisation in daily life, there are concerns about their hazardous nature as they are highly penetrable in biological systems. The carcinogenic and mutagenic ability of Ni-NPs is evident but the research gaps are still there concerning the safety evaluation of Ni-NPs regarding male reproductive ability. This controlled randomized research was planned to assess the male reproductive toxicity of Ni-NPs in Sprague Dawley rats. Ni-NPs of spherical shape and mean particle size of 56 nm were used in the study, characterized by SEM, EDS and XRD. The twenty-five healthy rats (200-220 g) were used for toxicity investigation of Ni-NPs and divided into five groups; negative control (0 Ni-NPs), placebo group (0.9% saline) and three Ni-NPs treated groups (@ 15, 30 and 45 mg/kg BW). The results of 14 days of intraperitoneal exposure to Ni-NPs revealed that a higher dose (45 mg/kg BW) of Ni-NPs caused a significant reduction in body weight, serum testosterone, daily sperm production while the testis index and Ni accumulation and histological changes (necrosis in basement membrane and seminiferous tubules, vacuole formation) in testicular tissues increased with increasing dose of Ni-NPs. It can be concluded from the study that Ni-NPs have potential reproductive toxicity. This study provided the baseline data of Ni-NPs toxicity for the male reproductive system and can be applied for risk assessment in Ni-NPs based products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehwish Iftikhar
- Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Aasma Noureen
- Department of Biology, Virtual University of Pakistan, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan; Department of Zoology, Government College for Women University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Farhat Jabeen
- Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Uzair
- Department of Biochemistry, Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Nagina Rehman
- Department of Zoology, Government College University, Faisalabad, 38000, Pakistan
| | - Emina Karahmet Sher
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom
| | - Khadijah Mohammedsaleh Katubi
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia
| | - Juliana Heloisa Pinê Américo-Pinheiro
- Department of Forest Science, Soils and Environment, School of Agronomic Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Ave. Universitária, 3780, Botucatu, SP, 18610-034, Brazil; Graduate Program in Environmental Sciences, Brazil University, Street Carolina Fonseca, 584, São Paulo, SP, 08230-030, Brazil
| | - Farooq Sher
- Department of Engineering, School of Science and Technology, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham NG11 8NS, United Kingdom.
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Maciejewski R, Radzikowska-Büchner E, Flieger W, Kulczycka K, Baj J, Forma A, Flieger J. An Overview of Essential Microelements and Common Metallic Nanoparticles and Their Effects on Male Fertility. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191711066. [PMID: 36078782 PMCID: PMC9518444 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191711066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Numerous factors affect reproduction, including stress, diet, obesity, the use of stimulants, or exposure to toxins, along with heavy elements (lead, silver, cadmium, uranium, vanadium, mercury, arsenic). Metals, like other xenotoxins, can cause infertility through, e.g., impairment of endocrine function and gametogenesis or excess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The advancement of nanotechnology has created another hazard to human safety through exposure to metals in the form of nanomaterials (NMs). Nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit a specific ability to penetrate cell membranes and biological barriers in the human body. These ultra-fine particles (<100 nm) can enter the human body through the respiratory tract, food, skin, injection, or implantation. Once absorbed, NPs are transported to various organs through the blood or lymph. Absorbed NPs, thanks to ultrahigh reactivity compared to bulk materials in microscale size, disrupt the homeostasis of the body as a result of interaction with biological molecules such as DNA, lipids, and proteins; interfering with the functioning of cells, organs, and physiological systems; and leading to severe pathological dysfunctions. Over the past decades, much research has been performed on the reproductive effects of essential trace elements. The research hypothesis that disturbances in the metabolism of trace elements are one of the many causes of infertility has been unquestionably confirmed. This review examines the complex reproductive risks for men regarding the exposure to potentially harmless xenobiotics based on a series of 298 articles over the past 30 years. The research was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases searching for papers devoted to in vivo and in vitro studies related to the influence of essential elements (iron, selenium, manganese, cobalt, zinc, copper, and molybdenum) and widely used metallic NPs on male reproduction potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Wojciech Flieger
- Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Kinga Kulczycka
- Institute of Health Sciences, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jacek Baj
- Department of Anatomy, Medical University of Lublin, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Alicja Forma
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, ul. Jaczewskiego 8B, 20-090 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jolanta Flieger
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-81448-7182
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