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Guerrero-Limón G, Zappia J, Muller M. A realistic mixture of ubiquitous persistent organic pollutants affects bone and cartilage development in zebrafish by interaction with nuclear receptor signaling. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298956. [PMID: 38547142 PMCID: PMC10977810 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
"Persistent organic pollutants (POPs)" have a plethora of deleterious effects on humans and the environment due to their bioaccumulative, persistent, and mimicking properties. Individually, each of these chemicals has been tested and its effects measured, however they are rather found as parts of complex mixtures of which we do not fully grasp the extent of their potential consequences. Here we studied the effects of realistic, environmentally relevant mixtures of 29 POPs on cartilage and bone development using zebrafish as a model species. We observed developmental issues in cartilage, in the form of diverse malformations such as micrognathia, reduced size of the Meckel's and other structures. Also, mineralized bone formation was disrupted, hence impacting the overall development of the larvae at later life stages. Assessment of the transcriptome revealed disruption of nuclear receptor pathways, such as androgen, vitamin D, and retinoic acid, that may explain the mechanisms of action of the compounds within the tested mixtures. In addition, clustering of the compounds using their chemical signatures revealed structural similarities with the model chemicals vitamin D and retinoic acid that can explain the effects and/or enhancing the phenotypes we witnessed. Further mechanistic studies will be required to fully understand this kind of molecular interactions and their repercussions in organisms. Our results contribute to the already existing catalogue of deleterious effects caused by exposure to POPs and help to understand the potential consequences in at risk populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Guerrero-Limón
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Jérémie Zappia
- Bone and Cartilage Research Unit, Arthropôle Liège, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Medicines (CIRM) Liège, Institute of Pathology, CHU-Sart Tilman, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Marc Muller
- Laboratory for Organogenesis and Regeneration, GIGA Institute, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
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Dalle Carbonare L, Minoia A, Braggio M, Bertacco J, Piritore FC, Zouari S, Vareschi A, Elia R, Vedovi E, Scumà C, Carlucci M, Bhandary L, Mottes M, Romanelli MG, Valenti MT. Modulation of miR-146b Expression during Aging and the Impact of Physical Activity on Its Expression and Chondrogenic Progenitors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13163. [PMID: 37685971 PMCID: PMC10488278 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713163] [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: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The finding of molecules associated with aging is important for the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases and for longevity strategies. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators involved in many biological processes and miR-146b-5p has been shown to be involved in different degenerative diseases. However, miR-146b-5p modulation has not been evaluated in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) commitment or during aging. Therefore, the modulation of miR-146b-5p in the commitment and differentiation of mesenchymal cells as well as during maturation and aging in zebrafish model were analyzed. In addition, circulating miR-146b-5p was evaluated in human subjects at different age ranges. Thus, the role of physical activity in the modulation of miR-146b-5p was also investigated. To achieve these aims, RT (real-time)-PCR, Western blot, cell transfections, and three-dimensional (3D) culture techniques were applied. Our findings show that miR-146b-5p expression drives MSCs to adipogenic differentiation and increases during zebrafish maturation and aging. In addition, miR-146b-5p expression is higher in females compared to males and it is associated with the aging in humans. Interestingly, we also observed that the physical activity of walking downregulates circulating miR-146b-5p levels in human females and increases the number of chondroprogenitors. In conclusion, miR-146b-5p can be considered an age-related marker and can represent a useful marker for identifying strategies, such as physical activity, aimed at counteracting the degenerative processes of aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Dalle Carbonare
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (L.D.C.); (A.M.); (M.B.); (S.Z.); (A.V.); (R.E.)
| | - Arianna Minoia
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (L.D.C.); (A.M.); (M.B.); (S.Z.); (A.V.); (R.E.)
| | - Michele Braggio
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (L.D.C.); (A.M.); (M.B.); (S.Z.); (A.V.); (R.E.)
| | - Jessica Bertacco
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (J.B.); (F.C.P.); (M.M.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Francesca Cristiana Piritore
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (J.B.); (F.C.P.); (M.M.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Sharazed Zouari
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (L.D.C.); (A.M.); (M.B.); (S.Z.); (A.V.); (R.E.)
| | - Anna Vareschi
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (L.D.C.); (A.M.); (M.B.); (S.Z.); (A.V.); (R.E.)
| | - Rossella Elia
- Department of Engineering for Innovative Medicine, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (L.D.C.); (A.M.); (M.B.); (S.Z.); (A.V.); (R.E.)
| | - Ermes Vedovi
- Recovery and Functional Rehabilitation, Integrated University Hospital of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (E.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Cristina Scumà
- Recovery and Functional Rehabilitation, Integrated University Hospital of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (E.V.); (C.S.)
| | - Matilde Carlucci
- Health Directorate, Integrated University Hospital of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy;
| | | | - Monica Mottes
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (J.B.); (F.C.P.); (M.M.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Maria Grazia Romanelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (J.B.); (F.C.P.); (M.M.); (M.G.R.)
| | - Maria Teresa Valenti
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy; (J.B.); (F.C.P.); (M.M.); (M.G.R.)
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Damiani E, Sella F, Astolfi P, Galeazzi R, Carnevali O, Maradonna F. First In Vivo Insights on the Effects of Tempol-Methoxycinnamate, a New UV Filter, as Alternative to Octyl Methoxycinnamate, on Zebrafish Early Development. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076767. [PMID: 37047738 PMCID: PMC10094805 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The demand for organic UV filters as active components in sunscreen products has rapidly risen over the last century, as people have gradually realized the hazards of overexposure to UV radiation. Their extensive usage has resulted in their ubiquitous presence in different aquatic matrices, representing a potential threat to living organisms. In this context, the need to replace classic UV filters such as octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), one of the most popular UV filters reported to be a potential pollutant of aquatic ecosystems, with more environmentally friendly ones has emerged. In this study, using zebrafish, the first in vivo results regarding the effect of exposure to tempol-methoxycinnamate (TMC), a derivative of OMC, are reported. A comparative study between TMC and OMC was performed, analyzing embryos exposed to similar TMC and OMC concentrations, focusing on morphological and molecular changes. While both compounds seemed not to affect hatching and embryogenesis, OMC exposure caused an increase in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response genes, according to increased eif2ak3, ddit3, nrf2, and nkap mRNA levels and in oxidative stress genes, as observed from modulation of the sod1, sod2, gpr, and trx mRNA levels. On the contrary, exposure to TMC led to reduced toxicity, probably due to the presence of the nitroxide group in the compound's molecular structure responsible for antioxidant activity. In addition, both UV filters were docked with estrogen and androgen receptors where they acted differently, in agreement with the molecular analysis that showed a hormone-like activity for OMC but not for TMC. Overall, the results indicate the suitability of TMC as an alternative, environmentally safer UV filter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Damiani
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Fiorenza Sella
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Paola Astolfi
- Department of Science and Engineering of Materials, Environment and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Roberta Galeazzi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Oliana Carnevali
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesca Maradonna
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy
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