Mitochondrial impairment related to the immunotoxicity of the herbicides clomazone, glyphosate and sulfentrazone in THP-1 cells

In vitro immunotoxic evaluation of herbicides in RAW 264.7 cells

Weeds are a concern in agriculture and the use of herbicides constitutes an effective, efficient, and economical way to control their growth. Recent discoveries of herbicides are promising for the management of resistant weeds. However, there is a gap in the knowledge of the toxic effects of some herbicides previously reported on immune cells. The present study aimed to examine cellular immunotoxicity of three herbicides (clomazone, glyphosate, and sulfentrazone) after 96 hr incubation utilizing RAW 264.7 BALB/c mouse monocyte/macrophage-like cell line to elucidate the role of some toxicological pathways. Data demonstrated the herbicides clomazone, glyphosate, and sulfentrazone initiated a cytotoxic effect as evidenced by EC50 values of 429.2; 53.7; 866.6 mg/L, respectively. Clomazone and sulfentrazone, at all concentrations, induced excess production of reactive oxygen (ROS) and reactive nitrogen (RNS) free radicals. An immunosuppression was observed in RAW 264.7 cells after incubation with 50 or 100 mg/L glyphosate and 500 or 1000 mg/L sulfentrazone. In addition, all herbicides produced mitochondrial depolarization and decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. This constitutes the first report of the effects of clomazone and sulfentrazone on RAW 264.7 cells, including reduced TNF-α levels, indicating the adverse influence of herbicides on the immune system.

Are glyphosate or glyphosate-based herbicides linked to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)? The weight of current evidence

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) affects around 30 % of the world's population, increasing its prevalence by 50 % in the last three decades. MASLD pathogenesis is considered multiaxial, involving disturbances in the liver, adipose tissue (AT), and gut microbiome. In parallel with MASLD increasing trends, the total herbicide use has nearly tripled over the last three decades. Glyphosate (GLY) is the most used herbicide worldwide (825 mi kg/year). The intensive use of GLY-based herbicides (GBH) - largely driven by the adoption of glyphosate-tolerant genetically modified crops over the past two decades - has led to environmental (soil and water) and food contamination, resulting in continuous human exposure. Emerging (pre)clinical data highlights the significant implications of this herbicide on MASLD, marking a critical research area. Thus, this narrative review paper aimed at gathering and evaluating all epidemiological and (pre)clinical data on the implications of GLY or GBH on MASLD outcomes. Our work encompassed literature published between 2008-2025. Human urinary GLY levels are associated with different MASLD outcomes (steatosis risk, advanced fibrosis, increased transaminases) and comorbidities (higher risk for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases) (6 studies). In vitro data indicate that GBH/GLY cause oxidative stress, genomic instability, apoptosis, and membrane disruption in hepatocytes, while promoting apoptosis and lipid peroxidation in (pre)adipocytes and cytokine production in monocytes (15 studies). In rodent studies (21 studies), GLY/GBH - in doses based on human exposure/toxicological limits - induces inflammatory and oxidative responses in the liver and AT, while causing dysbiosis and metabolic alterations in the gut microbiome axis. In the light of populational-, cell- and animal-based evidence, GLY/GBH disturbs key axis of MASLD pathogenesis and is hypothesized to be associated with its clinical outcomes.

The impact of the herbicide glyphosate and its metabolites AMPA and MPA on the metabolism and functions of human blood neutrophils and their sex-dependent effects on reactive oxygen species and CXCL8/IL-8 production

Significant levels of glyphosate, the world's most widely used herbicide, and its primary metabolites, AMPA and MPA, are detected in various human organs and body fluids, including blood. Several studies have associated the presence of glyphosate in humans with health problems, and effects on immune cells and their functions have been reported. However, the impact of this molecule and its metabolites on neutrophils, the most abundant leukocytes in the human bloodstream, is still poorly documented. We isolated neutrophils from human donor blood and investigated the effects of exposure to glyphosate, AMPA, and MPA on viability, energy metabolism, and essential antimicrobial functions in vitro. We observed that neutrophil viability was unaffected at the blood-relevant average concentrations of the general population and exposed workers, as well as at higher intoxication concentrations. Neutrophil energy metabolism was also not altered following exposure to the chemicals. However, while phagocytosis was unaffected, reactive oxygen species generation and CXCL8/IL-8 production were altered by exposure to the molecules. Alterations in function following exposure to glyphosate and metabolites differed according to the sex of the donors, which could be linked to glyphosate's known role as an endocrine disruptor. While ROS generation was increased in both sexes, male neutrophils exposed to glyphosate had increased intracellular production of CXCL8/IL-8, with no effect on female neutrophils. Conversely, exposure to the metabolites AMPA and MPA decreased extracellular production of this chemokine only in female neutrophils, with MPA also increasing intracellular production in male cells exposed to the chemoattractant N-formyl-methionine-leucyl-phenylalanine. Our study highlights the effects of glyphosate and its metabolites on the antimicrobial functions of neutrophils, which could be associated with health problems as future studies provide a better understanding of the risks associated with glyphosate use. Advances in knowledge will enable better and potentially stricter regulations to protect the public.