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L’Abbate S, Nicolini G, Marchetti S, Forte G, Lepore E, Unfer V, Kusmic C. Lithium Treatment Induces Cardiac Dysfunction in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15872. [PMID: 37958854 PMCID: PMC10650075 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242115872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Lithium (Li) salts are commonly used as medications for bipolar disorders. In addition to its therapeutic value, Li is also being increasingly used as a battery component in modern electronic devices. Concerns about its toxicity and negative impact on the heart have recently been raised. We investigated the effects of long-term Li treatment on the heart, liver, and kidney in mice. Sixteen C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned to receive oral administration of Li carbonate (n = 8) or act as a control group (n = 8) for 12 weeks. We evaluated the cardiac electrical activity, morphology and function, and pathways contributing to remodelling. We assessed the multi-organ toxicity using histopathology techniques in the heart, liver, and kidney. Our findings suggest that mice receiving Li had impaired systolic function and ventricular repolarisation and were more susceptible to arrhythmias under adrenergic stimulation. The Li treatment caused an increase in the cardiomyocytes' size, the modulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, along with some minor tissue damage. Our findings revealed a cardiotoxic effect of Li at therapeutic dosage, along with some histopathological alterations in the liver and kidney. In addition, our study suggests that our model could be used to test potential treatments for Li-induced cardiotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Serena L’Abbate
- Health Science Interdisciplinary Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Giuseppina Nicolini
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.N.); (S.M.)
| | - Sabrina Marchetti
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.N.); (S.M.)
| | - Gianpiero Forte
- R&D Department, Lo.Li Pharma, 00156 Rome, Italy; (G.F.); (E.L.)
| | - Elisa Lepore
- R&D Department, Lo.Li Pharma, 00156 Rome, Italy; (G.F.); (E.L.)
| | - Virginia Unfer
- A.G.Un.Co. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Center, 00155 Rome, Italy;
| | - Claudia Kusmic
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), 56124 Pisa, Italy; (G.N.); (S.M.)
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Martins A, da Silva DD, Silva R, Carvalho F, Guilhermino L. Warmer water, high light intensity, lithium and microplastics: Dangerous environmental combinations to zooplankton and Global Health? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 854:158649. [PMID: 36089038 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Nowadays there is a high concern about the combined effects of global warming and emerging environmental contaminants with significant increasing trends of use, such as lithium (Li) and microplastics (MPs), both on wildlife and human health. Therefore, the effects of high light intensity (26,000 lx) or warmer water temperature (25 °C) on the long-term toxicity of Li and mixtures of Li and MPs (Li-MPs mixtures) were investigated using model populations of the freshwater zooplankton species Daphnia magna. Three 21-day bioassays were done in the laboratory at the following water temperatures and light intensities: (i) 20 °C/10830 lx; (ii) 20 °C/26000 lx (high light intensity); (iii) 25 °C/10830 lx (warmer temperature). Based on the 21-day EC50s on reproduction, high light intensity increased the reproductive toxicity of Li and Li-MPs mixtures by ~1.3 fold; warmer temperature increased the toxicity of Li by ~1.2 fold, and the toxicity of Li-MPs mixtures by ~1.4 fold based on the concentration of Li, and by ~2 fold based on the concentrations of MPs. At high light intensity, Li (0.04 mg/L) and Li-MPs mixtures (0.04 Li + 0.09 MPs mg/L) reduced the population fitness by 32 % and 41 %, respectively. Warmer temperature, Li (0.05 mg/L) and Li-MPs mixtures (0.05 Li + 0.09 MPs mg/L) reduced it by 63 % and 71 %, respectively. At warmer temperature or high light intensity, higher concentrations of Li and Li-MPs mixtures lead to population extinction. Based on the population growth rate and using data of bioassays with MPs alone done simultaneously, Li and MPs interactions were antagonistic or synergistic depending on the scenario. High light intensity and chemical stress generally acted synergistically. Warmer temperature and chemical stress always acted synergistically. These findings highlight the threats of long-term exposure to Li and Li-MPs mixtures to freshwater zooplankton and Global Health in a warmer world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Martins
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health (ECOTOX), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Diana Dias da Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; TOXRUN - Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU CRL, Rua Central de Gandra, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
| | - Renata Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Félix Carvalho
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Lúcia Guilhermino
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health (ECOTOX), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
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Martins A, da Silva DD, Silva R, Carvalho F, Guilhermino L. Long-term effects of lithium and lithium-microplastic mixtures on the model species Daphnia magna: Toxicological interactions and implications to 'One Health'. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 838:155934. [PMID: 35577095 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination with lithium (Li) and microplastics (MP) has been steadily increasing and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Many freshwater ecosystems, which are crucial to reach the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, are particularly vulnerable to Li and MP contamination, and other pressures. The long-term effects of Li, either alone or combined with MP (Li-MP mixtures), were investigated using the freshwater zooplankton micro-crustacean Daphnia magna as model species. In the laboratory, D. magna females were exposed for 21 days to water concentrations of Li (0.02, 0.04, 0.08 mg/L) or Li-MP mixtures (0.02 Li + 0.04 MP, 0.04 Li + 0.09 MP mg/L, 0.08 Li + 0.19 MP mg/L). In the range of concentrations tested, Li and Li-MP mixtures caused parental mortality, and decreased the somatic growth (up to 20% and 40% reduction, respectively) and the reproductive success (up to 93% and 90% reduction, respectively). The 21-day EC50s of Li and Li-MP mixtures on D. magna reproduction were 0.039 mg/L and 0.039 Li + 0.086 MP mg/L, respectively. Under exposure to the highest concentration of Li (0.08 mg/L) and Li-MP mixtures (0.08 Li + 0.19 MP mg/L), the mean of D. magna population growth rate was reduced by 67% and 58%, respectively. Based on the population growth rate and using data from a bioassay testing the same concentrations of MP alone and carried simultaneously, the toxicological interaction between Li and MP was antagonism under exposure to the lowest and the highest concentrations of Li-MP mixtures, and synergism under exposure to the medium concentration of Li-MP mixtures. These findings highlight the need of further investigating the combined effects of contaminants, and the threat of long-term environmental contamination with Li and MP to freshwater zooplankton, biodiversity, ecosystem services and 'One Health'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Martins
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health (ECOTOX), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Diana Dias da Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; TOXRUN - Toxicology Research Unit, University Institute of Health Sciences, CESPU CRL, Rua Central de Gandra, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal.
| | - Renata Silva
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Félix Carvalho
- Associate Laboratory i4HB - Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; UCIBIO - Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge de Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Lúcia Guilhermino
- ICBAS - School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Porto, Department of Population Studies, Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Ecology (ECOTOX), Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Research Team of Ecotoxicology, Stress Ecology and Environmental Health (ECOTOX), Terminal de Cruzeiros do Porto de Leixões, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal.
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Lachowicz JI, Lecca LI, Meloni F, Campagna M. Metals and Metal-Nanoparticles in Human Pathologies: From Exposure to Therapy. Molecules 2021; 26:6639. [PMID: 34771058 PMCID: PMC8587420 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26216639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of pathologies correlates with both toxic and essential metal ions dyshomeostasis. Next to known genetic disorders (e.g., Wilson's Disease and β-Thalassemia) other pathological states such as neurodegeneration and diabetes are characterized by an imbalance of essential metal ions. Metal ions can enter the human body from the surrounding environment in the form of free metal ions or metal-nanoparticles, and successively translocate to different tissues, where they are accumulated and develop distinct pathologies. There are no characteristic symptoms of metal intoxication, and the exact diagnosis is still difficult. In this review, we present metal-related pathologies with the most common onsets, biomarkers of metal intoxication, and proper techniques of metal qualitative and quantitative analysis. We discuss the possible role of drugs with metal-chelating ability in metal dyshomeostasis, and present recent advances in therapies of metal-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marcello Campagna
- Division of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, 09048 Monserrato, CA, Italy; (J.I.L.); (L.I.L.); (F.M.)
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