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De Marco G, Eliso MC, Oliveri Conti G, Galati M, Billè B, Maisano M, Ferrante M, Cappello T. Short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics hampers the cellular function of gills in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Aquat Toxicol 2023; 264:106736. [PMID: 37913686 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023]
Abstract
Plastic is undoubtedly the most useful and versatile polymeric material that man has developed in the last two centuries Despite the societal benefits, plastic is now a serious global issue because it is persistent and may bioaccumulate into aquatic biota as microplastics (MPs). This study was designed to evaluate the daily uptake and cellular effects due to a short-term (up to 72 h) exposure to 3 μm red polystyrene MPs (50 beads/mL) in the gills of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis, chosen as model species for its ecological and commercial relevance. After measuring the daily uptake of MPs and detecting their presence within the branchial epithelium at all the exposure time-points (T24, T48, T72), some cleaning mechanisms were observed by neutral and acid mucous secretions at mussel gills. The protonic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics, combined with chemometrics, allowed to comprehensively explore the time-dependent metabolic disorders triggered by MPs in mussel gills over the short-term trial. Specifically, the clear clustering between MP-treated mussel gills and those from control, together with the grouping for experimental time-points as depicted by the Principal Component Analysis (PCA), were due to changes in the amino acids and energy metabolism, disturbances in the osmoregulatory processes, as well as in the cholinergic neurotransmission. Moreover, as evidenced by enzymatic assays, even the oxidative defense systems and lipid metabolism were hampered by MP exposure. Overall, these findings provides the first insights into the early time-dependent mechanisms of toxicity of polystyrene MPs in marine mussels, and underline the potential environment and human health risk posed by MPs contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe De Marco
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Eliso
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy
| | - Gea Oliveri Conti
- Interdepartmental Research Center for the Implementation of Physical, Chemical and Biological Monitoring Processes in Aquaculture and Bioremediation Systems, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, Hygiene and Public Health "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania 95123, Italy; Research Center in Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology (NANOMED), Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Galati
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy
| | - Barbara Billè
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy
| | - Maria Maisano
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy; University Centre for the Protection and Management of Natural Environments and Agro-Ecosystems (CUTGANA), Via Santa Sofia 98, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Margherita Ferrante
- Interdepartmental Research Center for the Implementation of Physical, Chemical and Biological Monitoring Processes in Aquaculture and Bioremediation Systems, Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies, Hygiene and Public Health "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania 95123, Italy; Research Center in Nanomedicine and Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology (NANOMED), Department of Pharmaceutical and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Via Santa Sofia 87, Catania 95123, Italy
| | - Tiziana Cappello
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, Messina 98166, Italy.
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Afsa S, De Marco G, Cristaldi A, Giannetto A, Galati M, Billè B, Conti GO, Ben Mansour H, Ferrante M, Cappello T. Single and combined effects of caffeine and salicylic acid on mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis: Changes at histomorphological, molecular and biochemical levels. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2023:104167. [PMID: 37286067 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Caffeine (CAF) and salicylic acid (SA) are frequently detected in waterbody, though information on their biological impact is poor. This work assesses the effects of CAF (5ng/L to 10µg/L) and SA (0.05µg/L to 100µg/L) alone and combined as CAF+SA (5ng/L+0.05µg/L to 10µg/L+100µg/L) on mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis under 12-days exposure by histomorphology of digestive gland and oxidative stress defense at molecular and biochemical levels. Besides evaluating tissue accumulation, absence of histomorphological damage and haemocyte infiltration highlighted activation of defensive mechanisms. Up-regulation of Cu/Zn-sod, Mn-sod, cat and gst combined with increased catalase and glutathione S-transferase activity were found in CAF-exposed mussels, while SA reduced ROS production and mitochondrial activity. CAF+SA exposure induced differential responses, and the integrated biomarker response (IBR) revealed more pronounced effects of SA than CAF. These results enlarge knowledge on pharmaceuticals impact on non-target organisms, emphasizing the need for proper environmental risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrine Afsa
- Research Unit of Analysis and Process Applied to The Environment - APAE (UR17ES32) Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Mahdia, University of Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Giuseppe De Marco
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Antonio Cristaldi
- Environmental and Food Hygiene (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Alessia Giannetto
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Mariachiara Galati
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Barbara Billè
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Gea Oliveri Conti
- Environmental and Food Hygiene (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Hedi Ben Mansour
- Research Unit of Analysis and Process Applied to The Environment - APAE (UR17ES32) Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Mahdia, University of Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Margherita Ferrante
- Environmental and Food Hygiene (LIAA), Department of Medical, Surgical and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Tiziana Cappello
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
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De Marco G, Billè B, Brandão F, Galati M, Pereira P, Cappello T, Pacheco M. Differential Cell Metabolic Pathways in Gills and Liver of Fish (White Seabream Diplodus sargus) Coping with Dietary Methylmercury Exposure. Toxics 2023; 11:181. [PMID: 36851056 PMCID: PMC9961322 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11020181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a dangerous and persistent trace element. Its organic and highly toxic form, methylmercury (MeHg), easily crosses biological membranes and accumulates in biota. Nevertheless, understanding the mechanisms of dietary MeHg toxicity in fish remains a challenge. A time-course experiment was conducted with juvenile white seabreams, Diplodus sargus (Linnaeus, 1758), exposed to realistic levels of MeHg in feed (8.7 μg g-1, dry weight), comprising exposure (E; 7 and 14 days) and post-exposure (PE; 28 days) periods. Total Hg levels increased with time in gills and liver during E and decreased significantly in PE (though levels of control fish were reached only for gills), with liver exhibiting higher levels (2.7 times) than gills. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics revealed multiple and often differential metabolic changes between fish organs. Gills exhibited protein catabolism, disturbances in cholinergic neurotransmission, and changes in osmoregulation and lipid and energy metabolism. However, dietary MeHg exposure provoked altered protein metabolism in the liver with decreased amino acids, likely for activation of defensive strategies. PE allowed for the partial recovery of both organs, even if with occurrence of oxidative stress and changes of energy metabolism. Overall, these findings support organ-specific responses according to their sensitivity to Hg exposure, pointing out that indications obtained in biomonitoring studies may depend also on the selected organ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe De Marco
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Barbara Billè
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Fátima Brandão
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Mariachiara Galati
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Patrícia Pereira
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Tiziana Cappello
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Mário Pacheco
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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De Marco G, Afsa S, Galati M, Billè B, Parrino V, Ben Mansour H, Cappello T. Comparison of cellular mechanisms induced by pharmaceutical exposure to caffeine and its combination with salicylic acid in mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 93:103888. [PMID: 35598756 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.103888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Urban and hospital-sourced pharmaceuticals are continuously discharged into aquatic environments, threatening biota. To date, their impact as single compounds has been widely investigated, whereas few information exists on their effects as mixtures. We assessed the time-dependent biological impact induced by environmental concentrations of caffeine alone (CAF; 5 ng/L to 10 µg/L) and its combination with salicylic acid (CAF+SA; 5 ng/L+0.05 µg/L to 10 µg/L+100 µg/L) on gills of mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis during a 12-day exposure. Although no histological alteration was observed in mussel gills, haemocyte infiltration was noticed at T12 following CAF+SA exposure, as confirmed by flow cytometry with increased hyalinocytes. Both the treatments induced lipid peroxidation and cholinergic neurotoxicity, which the antioxidant system was unable to counteract. We have highlighted the biological risks posed by pharmaceuticals on biota under environmental scenarios, contributing to the enhancement of ecopharmacovigilance programmes and amelioration of the efficacy of wastewater treatment plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe De Marco
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Sabrine Afsa
- Research Unit of Analysis and Process Applied to The Environment - APAE (UR17ES32) Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Mahdia, University of Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Mariachiara Galati
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Barbara Billè
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Parrino
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy
| | - Hedi Ben Mansour
- Research Unit of Analysis and Process Applied to The Environment - APAE (UR17ES32) Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology of Mahdia, University of Monastir, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Tiziana Cappello
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, 98166 Messina, Italy.
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