PubMed

Heliyon. 2024 May 23;10(11):e31667. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31667. eCollection 2024 Jun 15.ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common environmental endocrine disruptor that negatively impairs male reproductive ability. This study aimed to explore the alterations in serum metabolomics that occur following BPA exposure and the mechanism via which BPA induces the death of testicular cells in a male mouse model.METHODS: The mice were classified into two groups: BPA-exposed and control groups, and samples were collected for metabolomic determination, semen quality analysis, electron microscopy, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time PCR, pathological staining, and Western blot analysis.RESULTS: BPA exposure caused testicular damage and significantly decreased sperm quality in mice. Combined with non-target metabolomic analysis, this was closely related to ferroptosis induced by abnormal metabolites of arachidonic acid and phosphatidylcholine, and the expression of its related genes, acyl CoA synthetase 4, glutathione peroxidase 4, lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3, and phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein 1 were altered.CONCLUSION: BPA induced ferroptosis, caused testicular damage, and reduced fertility by affecting lipid metabolism in male mice. Inhibiting ferroptosis may potentially function as a therapeutic strategy to mitigate the male reproductive toxicity induced by BPA.PMID:38882385 | PMC:PMC11177062 | DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31667

Plant Environ Interact. 2024 Jun 15;5(3):e10155. doi: 10.1002/pei3.10155. eCollection 2024 Jun.ABSTRACTTo better understand the salt tolerance of the wild rice, Oryza coarctata, root tissue-specific untargeted comparative metabolomic profiling was performed against the salt-sensitive Oryza sativa. Under control, O. coarctata exhibited abundant levels of most metabolites, while salt caused their downregulation in contrast to metabolites in O. sativa. Under control conditions, itaconate, vanillic acid, threonic acid, eicosanoids, and a group of xanthin compounds were comparatively abundant in O. coarctata. Similarly, eight amino acids showed constitutive abundance in O. coarctata. In contrast, under control, glycerolipid abundances were lower in O. coarctata and salt stress further reduced their abundance. Most phospholipids also showed a distribution similar to the glycerolipids. Fatty acyls were however significantly induced in O. coarctata but organic acids were prominently induced in O. sativa. Changes in metabolite levels suggest that there was upregulation of the arachidonic acid metabolism in O. coarctata. In addition, the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis as well as cutin, suberin, and wax biosynthesis were also more enriched in O. coarctata, likely contributing to its anatomical traits responsible for salt tolerance. The comparative variation in the number of metabolites like gelsemine, allantoin, benzyl alcohol, specific phospholipids, and glycerolipids may play a role in maintaining the superior growth of O. coarctata in salt. Collectively, our results offer a comprehensive analysis of the metabolite profile in the roots of salt-tolerant O. coarctata and salt-sensitive O. sativa, which confirm potential targets for metabolic engineering to improve salt tolerance and resilience in commercial rice genotypes.PMID:38882243 | PMC:PMC11179383 | DOI:10.1002/pei3.10155

Drug Des Devel Ther. 2024 Jun 12;18:2227-2248. doi: 10.2147/DDDT.S458983. eCollection 2024.ABSTRACTPURPOSE: The Baihe Dihuang decoction (BDD) is a representative traditional Chinese medicinal formula that has been used to treat anxiety disorders for thousands of years. This study aimed to reveal mechanisms of anxiolytic effects of BDD with multidimensional omics.METHODS: First, 28-day chronic restraint stress (CRS) was used to create a rat model of anxiety, and the open field test and elevated plus maze were used to assess anxiety-like behavior. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), hematoxylin-eosin staining, and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate inflammatory response. Besides, 16S rRNA gene sequencing assessed fecal microbiota composition and differential microbiota. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis of feces was performed to determine fecal biomarkers, and targeted metabolomics was used to observe the levels of hippocampus neurotransmitters. Finally, Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationships among gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and neurotransmitters.RESULTS: BDD significantly improved anxiety-like behaviors in CRS-induced rats and effectively ameliorated hippocampal neuronal damage and abnormal activation of hippocampal microglia. It also had a profound effect on the diversity of microbiota, as evidenced by significant changes in the abundance of 10 potential microbial biomarkers at the genus level. Additionally, BDD led to significant alterations in 18 fecal metabolites and 12 hippocampal neurotransmitters, with the majority of the metabolites implicated in amino acid metabolism pathways such as D-glutamine and D-glutamate, alanine, arginine and proline, and tryptophan metabolism. Furthermore, Pearson analysis showed a strong link among gut microbiota, metabolites, and neurotransmitters during anxiety and BDD treatment.CONCLUSION: BDD can effectively improve anxiety-like behaviors by regulating the gut-brain axis, including gut microbiota and metabolite modification, suppression of hippocampal neuronal inflammation, and regulation of neurotransmitters.PMID:38882046 | PMC:PMC11180446 | DOI:10.2147/DDDT.S458983

Front Immunol. 2024 May 31;15:1393802. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1393802. eCollection 2024.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Mast cells are critically involved in IgE-mediated diseases, e.g., allergies and asthma. Human mast cells are heterogeneous, and mast cells from different anatomical sites have been shown to respond differently to certain stimuli and drugs. The origin of the mast cells is therefore of importance when setting up a model system, and human lung mast cells are highly relevant cells to study in the context of asthma. We therefore set out to optimize a protocol of IgE-mediated activation of human lung mast cells.METHODS: Human lung mast cells were extracted from lung tissue obtained from patients undergoing pulmonary resection by enzyme digestion and mechanical disruption followed by CD117 magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) enrichment. Different culturing media and conditions for the IgE-mediated degranulation were tested to obtain an optimized method.RESULTS: IgE crosslinking of human lung mast cells cultured in serum-free media gave a stronger response compared to cells cultured with 10% serum. The addition of stem cell factor (SCF) did not enhance the degranulation. However, when the cells were put in fresh serum-free media 30 minutes prior to the addition of anti-IgE antibodies, the cells responded more vigorously. Maximum degranulation was reached 10 minutes after the addition of anti-IgE. Both CD63 and CD164 were identified as stable markers for the detection of degranulated mast cells over time, while the staining with anti-CD107a and avidin started to decline 10 minutes after activation. The levels of CD203c and CD13 did not change in activated cells and therefore cannot be used as degranulation markers of human lung mast cells.CONCLUSIONS: For an optimal degranulation response, human lung mast cells should be cultured and activated in serum-free media. With this method, a very strong and consistent degranulation response with a low donor-to-donor variation is obtained. Therefore, this model is useful for further investigations of IgE-mediated mast cell activation and exploring drugs that target human lung mast cells, for instance, in the context of asthma.PMID:38881896 | PMC:PMC11179429 | DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2024.1393802

Front Microbiol. 2024 May 31;15:1408622. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1408622. eCollection 2024.ABSTRACTSalt stress is a major abiotic stress that affects the growth of Reaumuria soongorica and many psammophytes in the desert areas of Northwest China. However, various Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) have been known to play an important role in promoting plant growth and alleviating the damaging effects of salt stress. In this study, three PGPR strains belonging to Bacillaceae were isolated from the rhizosphere of Reaumuria soongorica by morphological and molecular identification. All isolated strains exhibited capabilities of producing IAA, solubilizing phosphate, and fixing nitrogen, and were able to tolerate high levels of NaCl stress, up to 8-12%. The results of the pot-based experiment showed that salt (400 mM NaCl) stress inhibited Reaumuria soongorica seedlings' growth performance as well as biomass production, but after inoculation with strains P2, S37, and S40, the plant's height significantly increased by 26.87, 17.59, and 13.36%, respectively (p < 0.05), and both aboveground and root fresh weight significantly increased by more than 2 times compared to NaCl treatment. Additionally, inoculation with P2, S37, and S40 strains increased the content of photosynthetic pigments, proline, and soluble protein in Reaumuria soongorica seedlings under NaCl stress, while reducing the content of malondialdehyde and soluble sugars. Metabolomic analysis showed that strain S40 induces Reaumuria soongorica seedling leaves metabolome reprogramming to regulate cell metabolism, including plant hormone signal transduction and phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways. Under NaCl stress, inoculation with strain S40 upregulated differential metabolites in plant hormone signal transduction pathways including plant hormones such as auxins (IAA), cytokinins, and jasmonic acid. The results indicate that inoculation with Bacillaceae can promote the growth of Reaumuria soongorica seedlings under NaCl stress and enhance salt tolerance by increasing the content of photosynthetic pigments, accumulating osmoregulatory substances, regulating plant hormone levels This study contributes to the enrichment of PGPR strains capable of promoting the growth of desert plants and has significant implications for the psammophytes growth and development in desert regions, as well as the effective utilization and transformation of saline-alkali lands.PMID:38881656 | PMC:PMC11176432 | DOI:10.3389/fmicb.2024.1408622

NAR Genom Bioinform. 2024 Jun 14;6(2):lqae071. doi: 10.1093/nargab/lqae071. eCollection 2024 Jun.ABSTRACTMass spectrometry is a powerful and widely used tool for generating proteomics, lipidomics and metabolomics profiles, which is pivotal for elucidating biological processes and identifying biomarkers. However, missing values in mass spectrometry-based omics data may pose a critical challenge for the comprehensive identification of biomarkers and elucidation of the biological processes underlying human complex disorders. To alleviate this issue, various imputation methods for mass spectrometry-based omics data have been developed. However, a comprehensive comparison of these imputation methods is still lacking, and researchers are frequently confronted with a multitude of options without a clear rationale for method selection. To address this pressing need, we developed omicsMIC (mass spectrometry-based omics with Missing values Imputation methods Comparison platform), an interactive platform that provides researchers with a versatile framework to evaluate the performance of 28 diverse imputation methods. omicsMIC offers a nuanced perspective, acknowledging the inherent heterogeneity in biological data and the unique attributes of each dataset. Our platform empowers researchers to make data-driven decisions in imputation method selection based on real-time visualizations of the outcomes associated with different imputation strategies. The comprehensive benchmarking and versatility of omicsMIC make it a valuable tool for the scientific community engaged in mass spectrometry-based omics research. omicsMIC is freely available at https://github.com/WQLin8/omicsMIC.PMID:38881578 | PMC:PMC11177553 | DOI:10.1093/nargab/lqae071

Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol. 2024 Jun 17. doi: 10.1152/ajpregu.00056.2024. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTCentral administration of valine has been shown to cause hyperphagia in fish. Although mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is involved in this response, the contributions on feed intake of central and peripheral metabolite changes due to excess valine are unknown. Here we investigated whether intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of valine modulates central and peripheral metabolite profiles and may provide insights into feeding response in fish. Juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were administered an ICV injection of valine (10 µg · µL-1 at 1 μL·100 g-1 body weight) and the metabolite profile in plasma, hypothalamus, and rest of the brain (comprising of telencephalon, optic tectum, cerebellum, and medulla oblongata) was carried out by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS)-based metabolomics. Valine administration led to a spatially distinct metabolite profile at 1 h post-injection in the brain: enrichment of amino acid metabolism and energy production pathways in the rest of the brain but not in hypothalamus. This suggests a role for extrahypothalamic input in the regulation of feed intake. Also, there was enrichment of several amino acids, including tyrosine, proline, valine, phenylalanine, and methionine, in plasma in response to valine. Changes in liver transcript abundance and protein expression reflect an increased metabolic capacity, including energy production from glucose and fatty acids, and a lower protein kinase B (Akt) phosphorylation in the valine group. Altogether, valine ICV administration affects central and peripheral metabolism in rainbow trout, and we propose a role for the altered metabolite profile in modulating the feeding response to this branched-chain amino acid.PMID:38881412 | DOI:10.1152/ajpregu.00056.2024

Food Funct. 2024 Jun 17. doi: 10.1039/d4fo01070a. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTAlcoholic liver injury has become a leading threat to human health, with complicated pathogenesis and limited therapeutic options. Our previous study showed that Musculus senhousei peptides (MSPs) exhibit protective potential against early-stage alcoholic liver injury, although the underlying mechanism is not yet clear. In this study, histopathological analysis, mRNA abundance of injury-associated biomarkers, the gut microbiota, and faecal metabolome were evaluated using a mouse model subjected to acute alcohol exposure, aiming to identify the mechanism by which MSP can alleviate alcoholic hepatotoxicity. The results showed that MSP intervention significantly ameliorated symptoms of liver injury (suppressed serum ALT increment, hepatic lipid accumulation, and neutrophil infiltration in liver tissue), and reversed the abnormal mRNA abundance of biomarkers associated with oxidative stress (iNOS), inflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1, TNF-R1, and TLR4), and apoptosis (Bax and Casp. 3) in the liver. Moreover, MSP improved intestinal barrier function by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins (Claudin-1 and Claudin-3). Further analysis of faecal microbiota and metabolome revealed that MSP promoted the growth of tryptophan-metabolizing bacteria (Clostridiales, Alistipes, and Odoribacter), leading to increased production of indole derivatives (indole-3-lactic acid and N-acetyltryptophan). These results suggested that MSPs may alleviate alcohol-induced liver injury targeting the gut-liver axis, and could be an effective option for the prevention of alcoholic liver injury.PMID:38881239 | DOI:10.1039/d4fo01070a

Br J Pharmacol. 2024 Jun 16. doi: 10.1111/bph.16432. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory inflammatory disease associated with immune dysregulation. Elevated levels of heat shock protein (HSP) 90 in the β but not α subtype were positively associated with disease status in UC patients. This study validated the possibility that pharmacological inhibition or reduction of HSP90β would alleviate colitis, induced by dextran sulfate sodium, in mice and elucidated its mechanisms.EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Histopathological and biochemical analysis assessed disease severity, and bioinformatics and correlation analysis explained the association between the many immune cells and HSP90β. Flow cytometry was used to analyse the homeostasis and transdifferentiation of Th17 and Treg cells. In vitro inhibition and adoptive transfer assays were used to investigate functions of the phenotypically transformed Th17 cells. Metabolomic analysis, DNA methylation detection and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to explore these mechanisms.KEY RESULTS: The selective pharmacological inhibitor (HSP90βi) and shHSP90β significantly mitigated UC in mice and promoted transformation of Th17 to Treg cell phenotype, via Foxp3 transcription. The phenotypically-transformed Th17 cells by HSP90βi or shHSP90β were able to inhibit lymphocyte proliferation and colitis in mice. HSP90βi and shHSP90β selectively weakened glycolysis by stopping the direct association of HSP90β and GLUT1, the key glucose transporter, to accelerate ubiquitination degradation of GLUT1, and enhance the methylation of Foxp3 CNS2 region. Then, the mediator path was identified as the "lactate-STAT5-TET2" cascade.CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: HSP90β shapes the fate of Th17 cells via glycolysis-controlled methylation modification to affect UC progression, which provides a new therapeutic target for UC.PMID:38881036 | DOI:10.1111/bph.16432

Cancer Control. 2024 Jan-Dec;31:10732748241261539. doi: 10.1177/10732748241261539.ABSTRACTCervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. Advanced stage and metastatic disease are often associated with poor clinical outcomes. This substantiates the absolute necessity for high-throughput diagnostic and treatment platforms that are patient and tumour specific. Cervical cancer treatment constitutes multimodal intervention. Systemic treatments such as chemotherapy and/or focal radiotherapy are typically applied as neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant strategies. Cisplatin constitutes an integral part of standard cervical cancer treatment approaches. However, despite initial patient response, de novo or delayed/acquired treatment resistance is often reported, and toxicity is of concern. Chemotherapy resistance is associated with major alterations in genomic, metabolomic, epigenetic and proteomic landscapes. This results in imbalanced homeostasis associated with pro-oncogenic and proliferative survival, anti-apoptotic benefits, and enhanced DNA damage repair processes. Although significant developments in cancer diagnoses and treatment have been made over the last two decades, drug resistance remains a major obstacle to overcome.PMID:38881031 | DOI:10.1177/10732748241261539

Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2024 Jun 16;16(1):131. doi: 10.1186/s13098-024-01365-1.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is an endocrine disorder characterized by compromised insulin sensitivity that eventually leads to overt disease. Adipose stem cells (ASCs) showed promising potency in improving type 2 diabetes and its complications through their immunomodulatory and differentiation capabilities. However, the hyperglycaemia of the diabetic microenvironment may exert a detrimental effect on the functionality of ASCs. Herein, we investigate ASC homeostasis and regenerative potential in the diabetic milieu.METHODS: We conducted data collection and functional enrichment analysis to investigate the differential gene expression profile of MSCs in the diabetic microenvironment. Next, ASCs were cultured in a medium containing diabetic serum (DS) or normal non-diabetic serum (NS) for six days and one-month periods. Proteomic analysis was carried out, and ASCs were then evaluated for apoptosis, changes in the expression of surface markers and DNA repair genes, intracellular oxidative stress, and differentiation capacity. The crosstalk between the ASCs and the diabetic microenvironment was determined by the expression of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines and cytokine receptors.RESULTS: The enrichment of MSCs differentially expressed genes in diabetes points to an alteration in oxidative stress regulating pathways in MSCs. Next, proteomic analysis of ASCs in DS revealed differentially expressed proteins that are related to enhanced cellular apoptosis, DNA damage and oxidative stress, altered immunomodulatory and differentiation potential. Our experiments confirmed these data and showed that ASCs cultured in DS suffered apoptosis, intracellular oxidative stress, and defective DNA repair. Under diabetic conditions, ASCs also showed compromised osteogenic, adipogenic, and angiogenic differentiation capacities. Both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression were significantly altered by culture of ASCs in DS denoting defective immunomodulatory potential. Interestingly, ASCs showed induction of antioxidative stress genes and proteins such as SIRT1, TERF1, Clusterin and PKM2.CONCLUSION: We propose that this deterioration in the regenerative function of ASCs is partially mediated by the induced oxidative stress and the diabetic inflammatory milieu. The induction of antioxidative stress factors in ASCs may indicate an adaptation mechanism to the increased oxidative stress in the diabetic microenvironment.PMID:38880916 | DOI:10.1186/s13098-024-01365-1

BMC Plant Biol. 2024 Jun 17;24(1):567. doi: 10.1186/s12870-024-05278-z.ABSTRACTCadmium (Cd) is a nonessential element in plants and has adverse effects on the growth and development of plants. However, the molecular mechanisms of Cd phytotoxicity, tolerance and accumulation in hyperaccumulators Solanum nigrum L. has not been well understood. Here, physiology, transcriptome, and metabolome analyses were conducted to investigate the influence on the S. nigrum under 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 µM Cd concentrations for 7 days. Pot experiments demonstrated that compared with the control, Cd treatment significantly inhibited the biomass, promoted the Cd accumulation and translocation, and disturbed the balance of mineral nutrient metabolism in S. nigrum, particularly at 100 µM Cd level. Moreover, the photosynthetic pigments contents were severely decreased, while the content of total protein, proline, malondialdehyde (MDA), H2O2, and antioxidant enzyme activities generally increased first and then slightly declined with increasing Cd concentrations, in both leaves and roots. Furthermore, combined with the previous transcriptomic data, numerous crucial coding-genes related to mineral nutrients and Cd ion transport, and the antioxidant enzymes biosynthesis were identified, and their expression pattern was regulated under different Cd stress. Simultaneously, metabolomic analyses revealed that Cd treatment significantly changed the expression level of many metabolites related to amino acid, lipid, carbohydrate, and nucleotide metabolism. Metabolic pathway analysis also showed that S. nigrum roots activated some differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) involved in energy metabolism, which may enhance the energy supply for detoxification. Importantly, central common metabolism pathways of DEGs and DEMs, including the "TCA cycle", "glutathione metabolic pathway" and "glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism" were screened using conjoint transcriptomics and metabolomics analysis. Our results provide some novel evidences on the physiological and molecular mechanisms of Cd tolerance in hyperaccumulator S. nigrum plants.PMID:38880885 | DOI:10.1186/s12870-024-05278-z

Plant Sci. 2024 Jun 14:112158. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112158. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTArtemisia argyi is an herbaceous plant of the genus Artemisia. Its young and mature leaves are used as food and medicine, respectively. Glandular trichomes (GTs) are distributed on the leaf surface in A. argyi and are generally considered the location of flavonoid biosynthesis and accumulation. However, the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis and accumulation in A. argyi remains unclear. In this study, the coregulatory genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and trichome development in this species were screened and evaluated, and the biosynthetic pathways for key flavonoids in A. argyi were uncovered. AaMYB1 and AaYABBY1 were screened using weighted gene co-expression network analysis, and both genes were then genetically transformed into Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. K326 (tobacco). Simultaneously, AaYABBY1 was also genetically transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana. The total flavonoid and rutin contents were increased in tobacco plants overexpressing AaMYB1 and AaYABBY1, and the expression levels of genes participating in the flavonoid synthesis pathway, such as PAL, FLS, and F3H, were significantly up-regulated in plants overexpressing these genes. These results indicated that AaMYB1 and AaYABBY1 promote flavonoid biosynthesis in tobacco. Furthermore, compared to that in the wild-type, the trichome density was significantly increased in tobacco and A. thaliana plants overexpressing AaYABBY1. These results confirm that AaYABBY1 might be involved in regulating trichome formation in A. argyi. This indicates the potential genes involved in and provides new insights into the development of trichome cellular factories based on the "development-metabolism" interaction network and the cultivation of high-quality A. argyi.PMID:38880338 | DOI:10.1016/j.plantsci.2024.112158

Genomics. 2024 Jun 14:110886. doi: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110886. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTBACKGROUND: Fibre diameter is an important economic trait of wool fibre. As the fibre diameter decreases, the economic value of wool increases. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of wool fibre diameter regulation is important in improving the value of wool.RESULTS: In this study, we used non-targeted metabolome and reference transcriptome data to detect differences in metabolites and genes in groups of Alpine Merino sheep with different wool fibre diameter gradients, and integrated metabolome and transcriptome data to identify key genes and metabolites that regulate wool fibre diameter. We found 464 differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) and 901 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in four comparisons of groups with different wool fibre diameters. Approximately 25% of the differentially abundant metabolites were lipid and lipid-like molecules. These molecules were predicted to be associated with skin development and keratin filament by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) functional enrichment analyses. Key genes, including COL5A2, COL5A3, CREB3L4, COL1A1, and SFRP4, were identified by gene set enrichment analysis.CONCLUSIONS: Key genes regulating wool fibre diameter were identified, the effects of lipid molecules on wool performance were investigated, and potential synergies between genes and metabolites were postulated, providing a theoretical framework for fine wool sheep breeding.PMID:38880312 | DOI:10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110886

Chemosphere. 2024 Jun 14:142619. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142619. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe present study aims to compare and assess the toxicity induced by aged (irradiated with ultraviolet radiation for 120 days) polyethylene microplastics (PE-MPs) in comparison to virgin (non-irradiated) ones, after feeding the freshwater fish Perca fluviatilis. To this end, MPs mediated genotoxicity was assessed by the investigation of micronucleus nuclear abnormalities frequency in fish blood, and the degree of DNA damage in the liver and muscle tissues, while metabolic alterations were also recorded in both tissues. Results showed that both virgin and aged PE-MPs induced signaling pathways leading to DNA damage and nuclear abnormalities, as well as metabolites changes in all tissues studied. Metabolic changes revealed that the metabolism of nucleic acids, energy, amino acids, and neurotransmitters was more disrupted in the liver and by aged PE-MPs compared to muscles. Fish fed with aged PE-MPs exhibited greater DNA damage, while blood cells of fish fed with virgin PE-MPs seemed to be more vulnerable to nuclear abnormalities in relation to those fed with aged PE-MPs. Moreover, aged PE-MPs induced more acute overall effects on the metabolic profiles of fish tissues, and initiated stronger stress responses, inflammation, and cellular damages in fish tissues in relation to virgin ones. Characterization of both virgin and aged MPs revealed that the latter exhibited lower crystallinity and melting point, more irregular shapes and higher moiety of oxygen and carbonyl groups, which could be attributed for their observed higher toxicity. The research outcomes provide significant insights for advancing toxicological investigations in this field.PMID:38880257 | DOI:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142619

Dev Comp Immunol. 2024 Jun 14:105213. doi: 10.1016/j.dci.2024.105213. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTRegulation of neuroimmune interactions varies across avian species. Little is presently known about the interplay between periphery and central nervous system (CNS) in parrots, birds sensitive to neuroinflammation. Here we investigated the systemic and CNS responses to dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced subclinical acute peripheral inflammation in budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus). Three experimental treatment groups differing in DSS and LPS stimulation were compared to controls. Individuals treated with DSS showed significant histological intestinal damage. Through quantitative proteomics we described changes in plasma (PL) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) composition. In total, we identified 180 proteins in PL and 978 proteins in CSF, with moderate co-structure between the proteomes. Between treatments we detected differences in immune, coagulation and metabolic pathways. Proteomic variation was associated with the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in intestine and brain. Our findings shed light on systemic impacts of peripheral low-grade inflammation in birds.PMID:38880215 | DOI:10.1016/j.dci.2024.105213

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jun 14:173913. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173913. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe globally distributed harmful algal blooms (HAB) species, Heterosigma akashiwo, has been found to exhibit ichthyotoxicity. Previous studies have shown that H. akashiwo achieves a competitive edge during bloom occurrences by inhibiting the growth of a coexisting diatom, Skeletonema costatum, through allelopathy. However, the specific allelopathic mechanisms underlying the allelopathic effects of H. akashiwo on S. costatum remain unknown. To bridge this gap, our study utilized a combination of quantitative real-time PCR and metabolomics to examine the allelopathic processes of H. akashiwo on S. costatum. Our results demonstrate that the growth of S. costatum is hindered when co-cultured with H. akashiwo (initial cell concentration, 2 × 104 cell/mL). Gene expression investigation showed a substantial reduction in the mRNA levels of cytochrome b6, ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase large chain, and silicon transporter in S. costatum when grown in co-culture conditions. Furthermore, metabolic pathway analysis suggested that the allelopathic effects of H. akashiwo disrupted several vital metabolic pathways in S. costatum, including a reduction in purine and pyrimidine metabolism and an increase in fatty acid biosynthesis. Our investigation has revealed the intricate and substantial involvement of allelopathy in the formation of H. akashiwo blooms, demonstrating the complexity of the allelopathic interaction between H. akashiwo and S. costatum. These insights also contribute significantly to our understanding of the dynamics within HAB species.PMID:38880157 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.173913

Sci Total Environ. 2024 Jun 14:174014. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174014. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe threat of neonicotinoids to insect pollinators, particularly honeybees (Apis mellifera), is a global concern, but the risk of chiral neonicotinoids to insect larvae remains poorly understood. In the current study, we evaluated the acute and chronic toxicity of dinotefuran enantiomers to honeybee larvae in vitro and explored the mechanism of toxicity. The results showed that the acute median lethal dose (LD50) of S-dinotefuran to honeybee larvae was 30.0 μg/larva after oral exposure for 72 h, which was more toxic than rac-dinotefuran (92.7 μg/larva) and R-dinotefuran (183.6 μg/larva). Although the acute toxicity of the three forms of dinotefuran to larvae was lower than that to adults, chronic exposure significantly reduced larval survival, larval weight, and weight of newly emerged adults. Analysis of gene expression and hormone titer indicated that dinotefuran affects larval growth and development by interfering with nutrient digestion and absorption and the molting system. Analysis of hemolymph metabolome further revealed that disturbances in the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway and energy metabolism are the key mechanisms of dinotefuran toxicity to bee larvae. In addition, melatonin and vitellogenin are used by larvae to cope with dinotefuran-induced oxidative stress. Our results contribute to a comprehensive understanding of dinotefuran damage to bees and provide new insights into the mechanism of enantioselective toxicity of insecticides to insect larvae.PMID:38880156 | DOI:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174014

J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2024 Jun 3;1242:124189. doi: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124189. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTGrape and grape derived products contain many bioactive phenolics which have a variety of impacts on health. Following oral ingestion, the phenolic compounds and their metabolites may be detectable in human urine. However, developing a reliable method for the analysis of phenolic compounds in urine is challenging. In this work, we developed and validated a new high-throughput, sensitive and reproducible analytical method for the simultaneous analysis of 31 grape phenolic compounds and metabolites using Oasis PRiME HLB cleanup for sample preparation combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS). Using this new method, the accuracy achieved was 69.3 % ∼ 134.9 % (except for six compounds), and the recovery achieved was 52.4 % ∼ 134.7 % (except for two very polar compounds). For each of the 31 target analytes, the value of intra-day precision was less than 14.3 %. The value of inter-day precision was slightly higher than intra-day precision, with a range of 0.7 % ∼ 19.1 %. We report for the first time on the effect of gender and BMI on the accuracy and recovery of human urine samples, and results from analysis of variance (ANOVA), and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated there was no difference in the value of accuracy and recovery between different gender or BMI (>30) using our purposed cleanup and UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS method. Overall, this newly developed method could serve as a powerful tool for analyzing grape phenolic compounds and metabolites in human urine samples.PMID:38880055 | DOI:10.1016/j.jchromb.2024.124189

Plant Physiol Biochem. 2024 Jun 15;213:108843. doi: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108843. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTHibiscus hamabo Siebold & Zuccarini is one of the few semi-mangrove plants in the genus Hibiscus that can survive in saline-alkali soil and flooded land, but the mechanism underlying its adaptation to salt soil remains unknown. Here, to uncover this unsolved mystery, we characterized the changes in the accumulation of specific metabolites under salt stress in H. hamabo by integrating physiological, metabolic, and transcriptomic data, and found that osmotic adjustment and abscisic acid (ABA) is highly associated with the salt stress response. Further, a weighted gene co-expression network analysis was performed on the root transcriptome data, which identified three key candidate transcription factors responsive to salt stress. Among them, the expression HhERF9 was significantly upregulated under salt stress and ABA treatment and was involved in regulating the expression of genes related to the salt stress response. Further research indicated that HhERF9 enhances the accumulation of proline and soluble sugars by regulating the expression of genes such as NHX2 and P5CS. These findings provide a reference for improving H. hamabo through targeted genetic engineering and lay a theoretical foundation for its future promotion and cultivation in saline-alkali areas.PMID:38879985 | DOI:10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108843