Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) is a major cause of infertility, often triggered by inflammation and oxidative stress. Pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death, has been implicated in DOR pathogenesis. Itaconic acid (IA), an endogenous metabolite, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to explore whether IA could alleviate lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced DOR in mice by inhibiting pyroptosis through the NRF2 pathway.

A DOR mouse model was established by administering LPS for 5 consecutive days, followed by IA treatment. Ovarian function was assessed by follicle count and hormone levels. Inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis-related proteins were evaluated in both in vivo and in vitro models. The molecular mechanism was further investigated using inhibitors and molecular docking studies.

IA significantly improved ovarian function in LPS-induced DOR mice by increasing the number of follicles and normalizing hormone levels. IA also reduced inflammation, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis, as evidenced by lower expression of NLRP3, cleaved-caspase-1, and N-GSDMD, while increasing NRF2 expression. In vitro, IA enhanced granulosa cell (GC) viability, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), and decreased pyroptosis in LPS-treated GCs. Additionally, the beneficial effects of IA were mediated via the NRF2 pathway, as NRF2 inhibition (ML385) reversed these improvements. Additionally, we identified GSDMD as a downstream target of IA, with inhibition of GSDMD ameliorating DOR progression and inflammatory responses.

IA alleviates LPS-induced DOR by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis through activation of the NRF2 signaling and direct inhibition of the GSDMD pathway. These findings suggest that IA may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for improving ovarian reserve and fertility.

Copper is a vital trace metal that facilitates cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and tumour spread. The liver is essential for copper metabolism, hence regulating copper levels is crucial for hepatic health. Hepatocellular carcinoma is a primary liver cancer characterised by a high death rate, and extensive research has shown the substantial impact of copper on its progression. This research primarily examines the molecular mechanisms involved, summarises the regulation of copper homeostasis, and addresses the role of copper metabolism in the promotion and inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma development. Furthermore, it investigates prospective clinical approaches for targeting copper in the treatment of this disease, intending to establish a theoretical basis for the clinical use of copper in the management of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Oral mucositis (OM) is a severe inflammatory and ulcerative condition of the oral mucosa commonly induced by chemotherapy. Photobiomodulation (PBM) therapy has been proposed for preventing and treating OM. However, the understanding of light interaction with biological tissues and the variability in light sources and protocols limit its widespread application. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PBM on salivary nitrite levels, a marker of oxidative stress associated with inflammation and tissue damage. Materials and Methods: This prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial included 45 patients, evenly divided into three age- and sex-matched groups. Group 1 received basic oral care instructions prior to chemotherapy. Group 2 received these instructions plus PBM using a 650 nm intraoral diode laser. Group 3 received basic oral care instructions combined with PBM using both a 650 nm intraoral diode laser and a 980 nm extraoral diode laser. OM severity was assessed using World Health Organization criteria, and salivary nitrite levels were measured using the Griess reagent kit (Biotium®) according to the manufacturer's instructions 1 and 2 weeks after the first chemotherapy session. Results: Our study included 45 patients who were evenly distributed into three groups, matched for age, sex, tumor type, and type of chemotherapy. Significant differences in OM severity were observed among the groups at both 1 and 2 weeks (p = 0.000). Salivary nitrite levels also showed significant differences between groups at these time points (p = 0.00). Significant differences were found between the control group and both laser treatment groups, but no significant difference was noted between the two laser treatment groups. Conclusions: PBM effectively reduces OM severity, whether used intraorally alone or combined with extraoral application. This effect is likely due to PBM's ability to lower salivary nitrite levels, indicating reduced oxidative stress and inflammation.

Pardosa spiders, belonging to the wolf spider family Lycosidae, play a vital role in maintaining the health of forest and agricultural ecosystems due to their function in pest control. This study presents chromosome-level genome assemblies for two allied Pardosa species, P. laura and P. agraria. Both species' genomes show a notable expansion of helitron transposable elements, which contributes to their large genome sizes. Methylome analysis indicates that P. laura has higher overall DNA methylation levels compared to P. agraria. DNA methylation may not only aids in transposable element-driven genome expansion but also positively affects the three-dimensional organisation of P. laura after transposon amplification, thereby potentially enhancing genome stability. Genes associated with hyper-differentially methylated regions in P. laura (compared to P. agraria) are enriched in functions related to mRNA processing and energy production. Furthermore, combined transcriptome and methylome profiling has uncovered a complex regulatory interplay between DNA methylation and gene expression, emphasising the important role of gene body methylation in the regulation of gene expression. Comparative genomic analysis shows a significant expansion of cuticle protein and detoxification-related gene families in P. laura, which may improve its adaptability to various habitats. This study provides essential genomic and methylomic insights, offering a deeper understanding of the relationship between transposable elements and genome stability, and illuminating the adaptive evolution and species differentiation among allied spiders.

The enhancement of stress resistance is crucial for delaying aging and extending a healthy lifespan. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), a cherished treasure of Chinese heritage, has shown potential in mitigating stress and promoting longevity. This study integrates network pharmacology and in vivo analysis to investigate the mechanisms and effects of Curcumae Rhizoma (C. Rhizoma), known as "E Zhu" in Chinese. Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) identified 10 active compounds in its aqueous extract, interacting with 128 stress-related targets. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses revealed pathways such as stress response, FoxO signaling, and insulin resistance. In Caenorhabditis elegans, 10 mg/mL of C. Rhizoma aqueous extract improved resistance to UV, thermal, oxidative, and pathogen-induced stress, extending lifespan in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, it reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and enhanced UV resistance via the insulin/IGF-1 pathway and DAF-16 translocation. Molecular docking highlighted hexahydrocurcumin (HHC) and related compounds as key bioactives. Furthermore, we also observed that C. Rhizoma aqueous extract significantly extended both the lifespan and healthspan of nematodes. These findings highlight the potential of C. Rhizoma in stress mitigation and longevity promotion, offering valuable insights into the therapeutic applications of TCM.

Chronic exposure to arsenic can lead to various health issues, including cancer. Concerns have been mounting about the enhancement of arsenic toxicity through co-exposure to various prevalent lifestyle habits. Smokeless tobacco (SLT) products are commonly consumed in South Asian countries, where their use frequently co-occurs with exposure to arsenic from contaminated groundwater. To decipher the in vitro molecular and cellular responses to arsenic and/or smokeless tobacco, we performed temporal multi-omics analysis of the transcriptome and DNA methylome remodeling in exposed hTERT-immortalized human normal oral keratinocytes (NOK), as well as arsenic and/or smokeless tobacco genotoxicity and mutagenicity investigations in NOK cells and in human p53 knock-in murine embryonic fibroblasts (Hupki MEF). RNAseq results from acute exposures of NOK cell to arsenic alone and in combination with smokeless tobacco extract revealed upregulation of genes with roles in cell cycle changes, apoptosis and inflammatory responses. This was in keeping with global DNA hypomethylation affecting genes involved in the same processes after chronic treatment. At the phenotypic level, we observed a dose-dependent decrease in NOK cell viability, induction of DNA damage, cell cycle changes and increased apoptosis, with the most pronounced effects observed under arsenic and SLT co-exposure conditions. Live-cell imaging experiments indicated that the DNA damage likely resulted from induction of apoptosis, an observation validated by a lack of exome-wide mutagenesis in response to chronic exposure to arsenic and/or smokeless tobacco. In sum, our integrative omics study provides novel insights into the acute and chronic responses to arsenic and smokeless tobacco (co-)exposure, with both types of responses converging on several key mechanisms associated with cancer hallmark processes. The resulting rich catalogue of molecular programs in oral cells regulated by arsenic and smokeless tobacco (co-)exposure may provide bases for future development of biomarkers for use in molecular cancer epidemiology studies of exposed populations at risk.

N, N-Dimethylaniline is an important chemical intermediate and an important metabolite of the pesticide Fenaminosulf. It is widely used in chemical production, but there is an extreme paucity of environmental risk assessments for N, N-dimethylaniline.: In this study, the cardiotoxicity of continuous exposure to N, N-dimethylaniline (20, 40, and 80 μg/mL) for 72 h was evaluated using zebrafish embryos.: The study found that N, N-dimethylaniline not only exhibits developmental toxicity to zebrafish embryos, leading to abnormalities such as pericardial edema, yolk sac edema, and spinal curvature, but also induces oxidative stress, lipid accumulation, and apoptosis, particularly affecting the heart region. Cardiac function indicators such as pericardial area, sinus venosus (SV) and bulbar artery (BA) distance, heart rate, and red blood cell (RBC) rate were all significantly altered due to exposure to N, N-dimethylaniline, with impaired cardiac morphology and structure and the downregulation of gene expression related to heart development and function (myl7, vmhc, myh6, bmp4, tbx2b, and has2).: The research findings suggest that the heart may be the potential target organ for the toxic effects of N, N-dimethylaniline, providing a scientific basis for the rational use of this compound and environmental protection. Furthermore, it enhances public awareness of the safety of substances that may degrade to produce N, N-dimethylaniline during their use.

Gliomas, particularly high-grade gliomas such as glioblastoma, represent a major challenge due to their poor prognosis. While dietary factors have been proposed as potential modulators of glioma risk, causal inference has been hindered by confounding and reverse causality in observational studies. This study employs Mendelian randomization to investigate the causal relationship between dietary factors and glioma risk.

A two-sample MR framework was applied, utilizing genome-wide association study data for 22 dietary exposures and glioma risks, including both GBM and non-GBM subtypes. Instrumental variables (genetic variants) were identified for each dietary factor to address confounding and pleiotropy. Causal inference was conducted using inverse-variance weighted regression, complemented by MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO analyses to assess and correct for potential pleiotropy.

A positive causal association was observed between the intake of cooked vegetables and the GBM risk (OR = 6.55, 95% CI: 1.86-23.12, p = 0.00350). While alcohol intake demonstrated a protective effect for non-GBM risk (OR = 0.770, 95% CI: 0.61-0.97, p = 0.029), beer was substantially linked to an increased risk of non-GBM gliomas (OR = 4.82, 95% CI: 1.84-12.59, p = 0.0014). Other dietary factors did not exhibit significant causal associations.

These findings suggest that certain dietary factors, including cooked vegetable intake, beer consumption, and alcohol intake, may exert a causal influence on glioma risk. This study provides new insights into the potential dietary determinants of glioma and underscores the need for further investigation into modifiable risk factors for glioma prevention.

Chronic asthma caused by allergies is a lung illness marked by airway remodeling and hyperresponsiveness. Guben Kechuan (GK) granule is a clinically proven formula for treating lung disease. It relieves cough and helps to clear phlegm, but the mechanisms underlying its treatment for asthma are not clear.

We aimed to elucidate the efficacy and potential mechanisms by which GK ameliorates allergic asthma.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) identified the main chemical components of GK. The efficacy of GK was studied in an ovalbumin/alum (OVA)/AL(OH)3-sensitized rat model of bronchial asthma by measuring cytokine concentrations in serum and alveolar lavage samples, examining tissue pathology, and performing leukocyte counts. The mechanisms underlying its effectiveness in asthma were investigated by both transcriptomic and proteomic analyses.

GK relieved asthma-induced airway inflammation and remodeling, reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, and decreased the levels of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-10. Analysis of the transcriptomic and proteomic results found that asthma activated the transcription factors STAT3 and NF-κB and induced oxidative-stress damage and apoptosis. GK was found to reduce Bax and caspase-3 expression, increase Bcl-2 expression, and inhibit asthma-induced apoptosis. GK downregulated the expression of the transcription factors STAT3 and NF-kB, which decreased the inflammatory response. Decreases in CAT, SOD, and GSH reduced asthma-induced oxidative-stress damage.

Our findings provide evidence that GK alleviates bronchial asthma by inhibiting apoptosis and oxidative stress damage mediated by the NF-κB/STAT3 signaling pathway.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity of fruit wines and their protective effects against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in rat synaptosomes in vitro. The wines were produced from strawberries and drupe fruits (i.e., plum, sweet cherry, peach, and apricot) through microvinification with a pure S. cerevisiae yeast culture. Fruit wines were produced with and without added sugar before the start of fermentation, whereas subvariants with and without pits were only applied to drupe fruit wines. First, synaptosomes were treated with the wines, while oxidative stress was induced with H2O2. Subsequently, the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), an indicator of membrane injury, were determined. In addition, the Briggs-Rauscher reaction (BR) was used to evaluate the inhibition capacity against free radicals. All investigated fruit wines increased the activity of the studied antioxidant enzymes and decreased MDA content compared to the corresponding controls (synaptosomes treated with H2O2). After synaptosomal treatment with plum wine, the highest activities were observed for SOD (5.57 U/mg protein) and GPx (0.015 U/mg protein). Strawberry wine induced the highest CAT activity (0.047 U/mg protein) and showed the best ability to reduce lipid peroxidation, yielding the lowest MDA level (2.68 nmol/mg). Strawberry, plum, and sweet cherry wines were identified as samples with higher antioxidant activity in both principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Finally, plum wine exhibited the highest inhibitory activity in the BR reaction (397 s). The results suggest that fruit wines could be considered potential functional food due to their protective effects against oxidative stress.

Microplastic (MP) represent a pervasive and escalating threat to aquatic ecosystems, impacting organisms from cellular to population levels. To investigate the immediate molecular impacts of MP exposure, we exposed Daphnia magna, a keystone species in freshwater ecosystems, to polystyrene microplastic particles (5 μm, 5 μg/L) for 48 h. Through proteomic and biochemical analyses, we identified extensive disruptions in key physiological pathways. Notably, proteins involved in energy metabolism, including glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, were downregulated, suggesting a metabolic shift away from growth-related processes. Elevated levels of oxidative stress markers such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione reductase reflected a pronounced response to reactive oxygen species. The upregulation of endocytosis-related proteins, including caveolin-1 (CAV1) and phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate 5-kinase (PIP5K), highlights their role in actively internalizing and compartmentalizing MP, potentially as a protective mechanism against oxidative damage. These findings reveal that short-term MP exposure triggers a complex, multi-pathway stress response in D. magna, underscoring potential vulnerabilities that could impact broader ecological dynamics. This study emphasizes the urgency of understanding MP toxicity to guide environmental policies and conservation efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of plastic pollution.

Free radicals have been implicated in the pathogenesis of cancer along with cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, pulmonary and inflammatory disorders. Further, the relationship between oxidative stress and disease is distinctively established. Clinical trials using anti-oxidants for the prevention of disease progression have indicated some beneficial effects. However, these trials failed to establish anti-oxidants as therapeutic agents due to lack of efficacy. This is attributed to the fact that living systems are under dynamic redox control wherein their redox behavior is compartmentalized and simple aggregation of redox couples, distributed throughout the system, is of miniscule importance while determining their overall redox state. Further, free radical metabolism is intriguingly complex as they play plural roles segregated in a spatio-temporal manner. Depending on quality, quantity and site of generation, free radicals exhibit beneficial or harmful effects. Use of nonspecific, non-targeted, general ROS scavengers lead to systemic elimination of all types of ROS and interferes in cellular signaling. Failure of anti-oxidants to act as therapeutic agents lies in this oversimplification of extremely dynamic cellular redox environment as a static and non-compartmentalized redox state. Rather than generalizing the term "oxidative stress" if we can identify the "type of oxidative stress" in different types of diseases, a targeted and more specific anti-oxidant therapy may be developed. In this review, we discuss the concept of redox dynamics, role and type of oxidative stress in disease conditions, and current status of anti-oxidants as therapeutic agents. Further, we probe the possibility of developing novel, targeted and efficacious anti-oxidants with drug-like properties.

Bixafen (BIX), a member of the succinate dehydrogenase inhibitor (SDHI) class of fungicides, has seen a surge in interest due to its expanding market presence and positive development outlook. However, there is a growing concern about its potential harm to aquatic life, largely due to its resistance to breaking down in the environment. In this study, we thoroughly examined the toxicological impact of BIX on zebrafish as a model organism. Our results revealed that BIX significantly hindered the development of zebrafish embryos, leading to increased mortality, hatching failures, and oxidative stress. Additionally, we observed cardiovascular abnormalities, including dilated cardiac chambers, reduced heart rate, sluggish blood circulation, and impaired vascular function. Notably, BIX also altered the expression of key genes involved in cardiovascular development, such as myl7, vmhc, nkx2.5, tbx5, and flt1. In summary, BIX was found to induce developmental and cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish, underscoring the risks associated with SDHI pesticides and emphasizing the need for a reassessment of their impact on human health. These findings are crucial for the responsible use of BIX.

N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) as n-nitrosamine and alkylating agent, ubiquitous within living cells and in the environment can act as a full carcinogen and induce tumor formation in various tissues such as liver. In this study, gallic acid-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (GANPs) were synthesized and evaluated for their chemopreventive effect against ENU-induced hepatotoxicity and mortality in rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were divided into four groups including: control, ENU (single doses of 50 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injection), GA + ENU and GANPs + ENU. Animals were orally pretreated with GA (50 mg/kg) and GANPs (50 mg/kg) for 30 days, and liver injuries induced by ENU on the 31st day of study. After ENU administration, weight changes and mortality were monitored during 30 days, and then the animals were sacrificed and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) as a tumor marker, liver function tests (ALT, AST and ALP), oxidative stress markers (GSH and MDA), mitochondrial toxicity parameters, and histopathological assessment were evaluated. Except for AFP and MDA, ENU caused significant elevation of liver enzymes, mitochondrial ROS formation, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential depletion of GSH, histopathological abnormalities and mortality in rats. Our data showed that GANPs significantly increased the survival of rats by up to 66%, delayed in death time and prevented weight changes after exposure to ENU. Moreover, GANPs restored liver enzyme levels, ROS formation, mitochondrial dysfunction, GSH levels, and histopathological abnormalities towards normal. Our findings suggest that GANPs revealed a significant protective effect against deadly toxicity induced by ENU as an alkylating full carcinogen agent in liver tissue.

Congenital heart defects (CHDs) have a complex etiology, and environmental factors play an important role in their occurrence. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous chemicals, and some have teratogenic potential. However, few studies have examined PAHs exposure and CHD risk. We investigated the association between PAHs in maternal scalp hair and CHD risk.

A case-control study involving 170 severe CHD cases and 170 healthy controls was conducted, and the concentrations of 11 PAHs in maternal hair grown during the periconceptional period were quantified. A generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) was used to determine the effects of each PAHs on the risk for CHDs. Weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) were used to assess the overall effects of the 11-PAHs mixture on the risk for CHDs.

The median concentration of chrysene (CHR) was higher in CHD cases (9.75 ng/g) than in controls (6.50 ng/g). In GLMM, higher levels of CHR were associated with a 4.88-fold greater risk for CHDs (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.69-8.89). In WQS regression, higher levels of PAHs mixture were associated with a 2.03-fold greater CHD risk (95 % CI: 1.75-2.31), and CHR had the highest weighting (weighted 0.9346). In BKMR, CHD risks increased steadily with the levels of the PAHs mixture. CHR showed a toxic effect when the other PAHs were fixed at their 25th, 50th, or 75th percentile. No interactions among PAHs were found.

When examined individually, a high concentration of CHR in periconceptional maternal hair was associated with an increased risk for CHDs. When considering the 11 PAHs together, higher levels of the PAHs mixture were associated with increased odds of CHD occurrence.

Lonicera japonica Thunb.,commonly referred to as Caprifolium japonicum (Thunb.) Dum. Cours.,is a perennial herb classified under the caprifoliaceae family. It is utilized worldwide as a medicinal plant and also serves as food source and an ornamental plant. Lonicera japonica Thunb. polysaccharides (LJP) constitute one of its primary components, demonstrating a wide range of biological activities including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, anti-Alzheimer's, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer effects. This paper reviews and summarizes recent research advancements on the extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of LJP, offering a valuable foundation and up-to-date insights for the continued development and application of LJP in pharmaceutical and functional food sectors.

Chronic arsenic exposure can lead to various health issues, including cancer. Concerns have been mounting about the enhancement of arsenic toxicity through co-exposure to various prevalent lifestyle habits. Smokeless tobacco products are commonly consumed in South Asian countries, where their use frequently co-occurs with exposure to arsenic from contaminated groundwater. To decipher the in vitro molecular and cellular responses to arsenic and/or smokeless tobacco, we performed temporal multi-omics analysis of the transcriptome and DNA methylome remodelling in exposed hTERT-immortalized human normal oral keratinocytes (NOK), as well as arsenic and/or smokeless tobacco genotoxicity and mutagenicity investigations in NOK cells and in human p53 knock-in murine embryonic fibroblasts (Hupki MEF). RNAseq results from acute exposures to arsenic alone and in combination with smokeless tobacco extract revealed upregulation of genes with roles in cell cycle changes, apoptosis and inflammation responses. This was in keeping with global DNA hypomethylation affecting genes involved in the same processes in response to chronic treatment in NOK cells. At the phenotypic level, we observed a dose-dependent decrease in NOK cell viability, induction of DNA damage, cell cycle changes and increased apoptosis, with the most pronounced effects observed under arsenic and SLT co-exposure conditions. Live-cell imaging experiments indicated that the DNA damage likely resulted from induction of apoptosis, an observation validated by a lack of exome-wide mutagenesis in response to chronic exposure to arsenic and/or smokeless tobacco. In sum, our integrative omics study provides novel insights into the acute and chronic responses to arsenic and smokeless tobacco (co-)exposure, with both types of responses converging on several key mechanisms associated with cancer hallmark processes. The generated rich catalogue of molecular programs in oral cells regulated by arsenic and smokeless tobacco (co-)exposure may provide bases for future development of biomarkers for use in molecular epidemiology studies of exposed populations at risk of developing oral cancer.

Dieldrin is an organochlorine insecticide that was widely used until 1970 when its use was banned because of its liver carcinogenicity in mice. Several long-term rodent bioassays have reported dieldrin to induce liver tumors in in several strains of mice, but not in rats. This article reviews the available information on dieldrin liver effects and performs an analysis of mode of action (MOA) and human relevance of these liver findings. Scientific evidence strongly supports a MOA based on CAR activation, leading to alterations in gene expression, which result in increased hepatocellular proliferation, clonal expansion leading to altered hepatic foci, and ultimately the formation of hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas. Associative events include increased liver weight, centrilobular hypertrophy, increased expression of Cyp2b10 and its resulting increased enzymatic activity. Other associative events include alterations of intercellular gap junction communication and oxidative stress. Alternative MOAs are evaluated and shown not to be related to dieldrin administration. Weight of evidence shows that dieldrin is not DNA reactive, it is not mutagenic, and it is not genotoxic in general. Furthermore, activation of other pertinent nuclear receptors, including PXR, PPARα, AhR, and estrogen are not related to dieldrin-induced liver tumors nor is there liver cytotoxicity. In previous studies, rats, dogs, and non-human primates did not show increased cell proliferation or production of pre-neoplastic or neoplastic lesions following dieldrin treatment. Thus, the evidence strongly indicates that dieldrin-induced mouse liver tumors are due to CAR activation and are specific to the mouse, which are qualitatively not relevant to human hepatocarcinogenesis. Thus, there is no carcinogenic risk to humans. This conclusion is also supported by a lack of positive epidemiologic findings for evidence of liver carcinogenicity. Based on current understanding of the mode of action of dieldrin-induced liver tumors in mice, the appropriate conclusion is that dieldrin is a mouse specific liver carcinogen and it does not pose a cancer risk to humans.

There is limited information available on cardiovascular toxicity of 2-Aminobenzothiazole (NTH), a derivative of benzothiazole (BTH) commonly used in tire production, in aquatic organisms. In the present study, the zebrafish embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of NTH (0, 0.05, 0.5, and 5 mg/L) until adulthood and the potential cardiovascular toxicity was assessed. NTH exposure resulted in striking aberrations in cardiac development, including heart looping failure and interference with atrioventricular canal differentiation. RNA-sequencing analysis indicated that NTH causes oxidative damage to the heart via ferroptosis, leading to oxygen supply disruption, cardiac malformation, and ultimately, zebrafish death. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis demonstrated the dysregulation of genes associated with early heart development, contraction, and oxidative stress. Additionally, reactive oxygen species accumulation and glutathione/malondialdehyde levels changes suggested a potential link between cardiac developmental toxicity and oxidative stress. In adult zebrafish, NTH exposure led to ventricular enlargement, decreased heart rate, reduced blood flow, and prolonged RR, QRS, and QTc intervals. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to provide evidence of cardiac toxicity and the adverse effects of ontogenetic NTH exposure in zebrafish, revealing the underlying toxic mechanisms connected with oxidative stress damage. These findings may provide crucial insights into the environmental risks associated with NTH and other BTHs.

A series of thiazolyl-catechol compounds with antioxidant and cytotoxic activities were synthesized by a Hantzsch heterocyclization, using diverse thioamides as the thiocarbonyl component and 4-chloroacetyl-catechol as haloketone. These compounds were characterized by MS, IR spectroscopy, and NMR. Their antioxidant potential was evaluated by antiradical, electron transfer, and ferrous ion chelation assays using ascorbic acid, Trolox, and EDTA-Na2 as references. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated on two different cell types, normal human foreskin fibroblasts (BJ) and human pulmonary malignant cells (A549), using gefitinib as a reference anticancer drug. The results obtained from the tests highlighted compounds 3g and 3h with significant antioxidant activities. The highest cytotoxic potency against A549 cells was exhibited by compounds 3i and 3j, while compound 3g demonstrated exceptional selectivity on malignant cells compared to gefitinib. These promising results encourage further investigation into targeted modifications on position 2 of the thiazole ring, in order to develop novel therapeutic agents.

The growing exposure to occupational chemicals and the spread of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are major global health issues. However, there is little data on the carcinogenic risk profile of HIV-infected individuals who have been occupationally exposed to chemical mixtures. This study therefore investigated the levels of cancer risk biomarkers in HIV-infected individuals exposed to occupational chemicals, exploring the relationship between apoptotic regulatory and oxidative response markers as a measure of cancer risk. Study participants (mean age 38.35±0.72 years) were divided into four groups according to their HIV status and occupational chemical exposure: 62 HIV-positive exposed (HPE), 66 HIV-positive unexposed (HPU), 60 HIV-negative exposed (HNE), and 60 HIV-negative unexposed (HNU). Serum p53, β-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl2), 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using standard methods. Clusters of differentiation 4 (CD4+) T-lymphocytes were enumerated using flow cytometry. Serum p53 and bcl2 levels in HPE (0.91±0.11ng/ml and 122.37±15.77ng/ml) were significantly lower than HNU (1.49±0.15ng/ml and 225.52±33.67ng/ml) (p < 0.05), respectively. Wildtype p53 and bcl2 were positively and significantly correlated with 8-OHdG (r = 0.35, p<0.001; r = 0.36, p<0.001) and SOD (r = 0.38, p<0.001; r = 0.39, p<0.001). After controlling for gender, age, BMI, and cigarette smoking, both HIV status and SOD activity were significantly associated with wildtype p53 and bcl2 (p < 0.05). Malondialdehyde was significantly higher in the HPE (0.72 ± 0.01 mg/ml) than in the HNE (0.68 ± 0.01 mg/ml) and HNU (0.67 ± 0.01 mg/ml) groups (p < 0.05). The HPE group showed significantly lower CD4 counts than the HNE and HNU groups. Individuals who are HIV-infected and occupationally exposed to chemicals have a constellation of depressed immunity, elevated oxidative stress, and loss of tumour suppressive functions, which together intensify cancer risk, providing valuable scientific and public health bases for preventive measures in this vulnerable population.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated condition that affects the digestive system and includes Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). Although the exact etiology of IBD remains uncertain, dysfunctional immunoregulation of the gut is believed to be the main culprit. Amongst the immunoregulatory factors, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), components of the oxidative stress event, are produced at abnormally high levels in IBD. Their destructive effects may contribute to the disease's initiation and propagation, as they damage the gut lining and activate inflammatory signaling pathways, further exacerbating the inflammation. Oxidative stress markers, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and serum-free thiols (R-SH), can be measured in the blood and stool of patients with IBD. These markers are elevated in patients with IBD, and their levels correlate with the severity of the disease. Thus, oxidative stress markers can be used not only in IBD diagnosis but also in monitoring the response to treatment. It can also be targeted in IBD treatment through the use of antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E, glutathione, and N-acetylcysteine. In this review, we summarize the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of IBD, its diagnostic targets, and the potential application of antioxidant therapies to manage and treat IBD.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are crystalline porous materials with a long-range ordered structure and excellent specific surface area and have found a wide range of applications in diverse fields, such as catalysis, energy storage, sensing, and biomedicine. However, their poor electrical conductivity and chemical stability, low capacity, and weak adhesion to substrates have greatly limited their performance. Doping has emerged as a unique strategy to mitigate the issues. In this review, the concept, classification, and characterization methods of doped MOFs are first introduced, and recent progress in the synthesis and applications of doped MOFs, as well as the rapid advancements and applications of first-principles calculations based on the density functional theory (DFT) in unraveling the mechanistic origin of the enhanced performance are summarized. Finally, a perspective is included to highlight the key challenges in doping MOF materials and an outlook is provided on future research directions.

Alkylating agents such as N-Ethyl-N-Nitrosourea (ENU) are ubiquitous within living cells and in the environment. This study designed to evaluate the chemopreventive activity of vanillic acid on ENU-induced toxicity and carcinogenesis in mice as an animal model of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The female, Swiss albino mice were divided into three groups each with 7 mice, group I received normal saline, group II, mice received ENU at a dose of 80 mg/kg body weight i.p. to induce CLL on the 31th day of the study, and group III, the mice pretreated with vanillic acid at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight/day, i.p. up to 30 days and received ENU. The animals were monitored for weight changes and mortality during 120 days, and then were sacrificed for isolation of lymphocytes, as target cells in CLL. Cellular parameters like reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, depletion of glutathione (GSH), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and lysosomal membrane integrity were studied. We found that pretreatment with vanillic acid significantly increased the survival of mice up to 57%, delay in death time (30%) and prevented weight changes after exposure to ENU. In addition, it was found that vanillic acid protected ROS formation, lipid peroxidation mitochondrial dysfunction, and lysosomal membrane destabilization in isolated lymphocytes. These data suggest that vanillic acid exhibited significant protection against ENU-induced toxicity and carcinogenicity, which might be related to the protection of the mitochondria and lysosomes and the reduction of ROS formation and oxidative stress.

The administration of NAD+ precursors is a potential approach to protect against liver damage and metabolic dysfunction. However, the effectiveness of different NAD+ precursors in alleviating metabolic disorders is still poorly elucidated. The current study was performed to compare the effectiveness of four different NAD+ precursors, including nicotinic acid (NA), niacinamide (NAM), nicotinamide riboside (NR), and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) in alleviating high-glucose-induced injury to hepatocytes in a fish model, Megalobrama amblycephala. An in vitro high-glucose model was successfully established to mimic hyperglycemia-induced damage to the liver, which was evidenced by the reduced cell viability, the increased transaminase activity, and the depletion of cellular NAD+ concentration. The NAD+ precursors all improved cell viability, with the maximal effect observed in NR, which also had the most potent NAD+ boosting capacity and a significant Sirt1/3 activation effect. Meanwhile, NR presented distinct and superior effects in terms of anti-oxidative stress, inflammation inhibition, and anti-apoptosis compared with NA, NAM, and NMN. Furthermore, NR could effectively benefit glucose metabolism by activating glucose transportation, glycolysis, glycogen synthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway, as well as inhibiting gluconeogenesis. Moreover, an oral gavage test confirmed that NR presented the most potent effect in increasing hepatic NAD+ content and the NAD+/NADH ratio among four NAD+ precursors. Together, the present study results demonstrated that NR is most effective in attenuating the high-glucose-induced injury to hepatocytes in fish compared to other NAD+ precursors.

Reductive stress is characterized by an excess of cellular electron donors and can be linked with various human pathologies including cancer. We developed melanoma cell lines resistant to reductive stress agents: rotenone (ROTR), n-acetyl-L-cysteine, (NACR), or dithiothreitol (DTTR). Resistant cells divided more rapidly and had intracellular homeostatic redox-couple ratios that were shifted towards the reduced state. Resistance caused alterations in general cell morphology, but only ROTR cells had significant changes in mitochondrial morphology with higher numbers that were more isolated, fragmented and swollen, with greater membrane depolarization and decreased numbers of networks. These changes were accompanied by lower basal oxygen consumption and maximal respiration rates. Whole cell flux analyses and mitochondrial function assays showed that NACR and DTTR preferentially utilized tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates, while ROTR used ketone body substrates such as D, L-β-hydroxybutyric acid. NACR and DTTR cells had constitutively decreased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), although this was accompanied by activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), with concomitant increased expression of the downstream gene products such as glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP). Further adaptations included enhanced expression of endoplasmic reticulum proteins controlling the unfolded protein response (UPR). Although expression patterns of these UPR proteins were distinct between the resistant cells, a trend implied that resistance to reductive stress is accompanied by a constitutively increased UPR phenotype in each line. Overall, tumor cells, although tolerant of oxidative stress, can adapt their energy and survival mechanisms in lethal reductive stress conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying zinc (Zn) levels on the growth performance, non-specific immune response, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota of red claw crayfish (Procambarus clarkii (P. clarkii)). Adopting hydroxy methionine zinc (Zn-MHA) as the Zn source, 180 healthy crayfish with an initial body mass of 6.50 ± 0.05 g were randomly divided into the following five groups: X1 (control group) and groups X2, X3, X4, and X5, which were fed the basal feed supplemented with Zn-MHA with 0, 15, 30, 60, and 90 mg kg-1, respectively. The results indicated that following the addition of various concentrations of Zn-MHA to the diet, the following was observed: Specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain rate (WGR), total protein (TP), total cholesterol (TC), the activities of alkaline phosphatase (AKP), phenoloxidase (PO), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and catalase (CAT), the expression of CTL, GPX, and CuZn-SOD genes demonstrated a trend of rising and then declining-with a maximum value in group X4-which was significantly higher than that in group X1 (P < 0.05). Zn deposition in the intestine and hepatopancreas, the activity of GSH-PX, and the expression of GSH-PX were increased, exhibiting the highest value in group X5. The malonaldehyde (MDA) content was significantly reduced, with the lowest value in group X4, and the MDA content of the Zn-MHA addition groups were significantly lower than the control group (P < 0.05). In the analysis of the intestinal microbiota of P. clarkii, the number of operational taxonomic units in group X4 was the highest, and the richness and diversity indexes of groups X3 and X4 were significantly higher than those in group X1 (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the dietary addition of Zn-MHA decreased and increased the relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Tenericutes, respectively. These findings indicate that supplementation of dietary Zn-MHA at an optimum dose of 60 mg kg-1 may effectively improve growth performance, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal microbiota richness and species diversity in crayfish.

Despite the invaluable role of transition metals in every living organism, it should be remembered that failure to maintain the proper balance and exceed the appropriate dose may have the opposite effect. In the era of such a popular and propagated need for supplementation in the media, one should bear in mind the harmful effects that may become the result of improper and excessive intake of transition metals. This article establishes the feasibility of Raman (RS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging at the single-cell level to investigate the cellular response to various transition metals. These two non-destructive and perfectly complementary methods allow for in-depth monitoring of changes taking place within the cell under the influence of the agent used. HepG2 liver carcinoma cells were exposed to chromium, iron, cobalt, molybdenum, and nickel at 1 and 2 mM concentrations. Spectroscopic results were further supported by biological evaluation of selected caspases concentration. The caspase- 3, 6, 8, 9, and 12 concentrations were determined with the use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. This study shows the induction of apoptosis in the intrinsic pathway by all studied transition metals. Cellular metabolism alterations are induced by mitochondrial metabolism changes and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) metabolism variations. Moreover, nickel induces not only the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis but also the extrinsic pathway of this process.

Acetaminophen (APAP) is a common antipyretic and analgesic drug that can cause long-term liver damage after an overdose. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) increases susceptibility to APAP. In NAFLD, excessive accumulation of lipids leads to an abnormal increase in hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). Caveolin-1 (CAV1) may protect against NAFLD by inhibiting HIF-1α. This research aimed to determine whether CAV1 could attenuate APAP-exacerbated liver injury in NAFLD by inhibiting oxidative stress involving HIF-1α. In this study, 7-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for eight weeks, followed by the instillation of APAP. Levels of oxidative stress and liver lipid deposition were determined, and p-ERK1/2 and HIF-1α protein expression were measured by the Western blot (WB) method. In the APAP-treated group, the level of CAV1 was decreased, while the levels of HIF-1α and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were significantly increased. AML12 cells were treated with a mixture of palmitic acid (PA) and oleic acid (OA) (1:2 mix) for 48 h, and APAP was added for the last 24 h. Overexpression of CAV1 in AML12 cells significantly inhibited the expression of ROS and HIF-1α. And the results of immunofluorescence after treatment with CAV1-SiRNA showed that the HIF-1α levels were significantly increased in mitochondria. In conclusion, our experimental results suggest that CAV1 has a protective function in the fatty liver based on preventing oxidative stress, which involves HIF-1α. Thus, upregulation of CAV1 may attenuate APAP-exacerbated liver injury in NAFLD.

As one of the most carcinogenic persistent organic pollutants (POPs), benzo[a]pyrene (B [a]P) brings high toxicity to marine bivalves. Digestive gland is the most important metabolism-related organ of aquatic animals. This study conducted the digestive gland transcriptome of Chlamys farreri under B[a]P treatment at reproductive stages. And the reproductive-stage dependence metabolism-DNA repair-apoptosis process of scallops under 0, 0.04, 0.4 and 4 μg/L B[a]P was studied by qRT-PCR. The results demonstrated that the detoxification metabolism was disturbed after ovulation except for CYP3A4. In antioxidant system, antioxidant enzyme CAT and GPX, and GGT1 (one of the non-enzymatic antioxidants synthesis gene) continuously served the function of antioxidant defense. Three types of DNA repair were activated under B[a]P stress, however, DNA strand breaks were still serious. B[a]P exposure weakened death receptor pathway as well as enhanced mitochondrial pathway, surprisingly suppressing apoptosis in scallops. In addition, ten indicators were screened by Spearman correlation analysis. This study will provide sound theoretical basis for bivalve toxicology and contribute to the biomonitoring of marine POPs pollution.

Acetochlor (ACT) is a widely used pesticide, yet the environmental and health safety of its chiral isomers remains inadequately evaluated. In this study, we evaluated the toxicity of ACT and its chiral isomers in a zebrafish model. Our findings demonstrate that ACT and its chiral isomers disrupt early zebrafish embryo development, inducing oxidative stress, abnormal lipid metabolism, and apoptosis. Additionally, ACT and its chiral isomers lead to cardiovascular damage, including reduced heart rate, decreased red blood cell (RBC) flow rate, and vascular damage. We further observed that (+)-S-ACT has a significant impact on the transcription of genes involved in cardiac and vascular development, including tbx5, hand2, nkx2.5, gata4, vegfa, dll4, cdh5, and vegfc. Our study highlights the potential risk posed by different conformations of chiral isomeric pesticides and raises concerns regarding their impact on human health. Overall, our results suggest that the chiral isomers of ACT induce developmental defects and cardiovascular toxicity in zebrafish, with (+)-S-ACT being considerably more toxic to zebrafish than (-)-R-ACT.

Aromatic amines (AAs) are polar organic chemicals with a wide environmental distribution originating from various sources, such as tobacco smoke, diesel exhaust, and dermal absorption from textile products with azo dyes. The toxicity profile of AAs is directly related to the amino group's metabolic activation and the generation of the reactive intermediate, forming DNA adducts and potential carcinogenicity. Urinary levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG) are an important biomarker of DNA damage. Since AAs have been shown to cross the placental barrier, being a risk factor for adverse birth outcomes, prenatal exposure is a great public health concern. The present study aimed to measure the urinary levels of 58 AAs in Brazilian pregnant women (n = 300) and investigated the impact of this exposure on DNA damage by quantifying 8OHdG levels. The influence of tobacco smoke exposure and dermal absorption of AAs by clothes on urinary levels was also assessed. The results showed a 100% detection rate for eight AAs, two of them regulated by the European Union (2,6-dimethylaniline and 2,4-diaminotolune). Hundreds of AAs may be derived from aniline, which here showed a median of 1.38 ng/mL. Aniline also correlated positively with 2,6-dimethylaniline, p-aminophenol, and other AAs, suggesting exposure to multiple sources. The present findings suggest that both tobacco smoke and dermal contact with clothes containing azo dyes are potential sources that might strongly influence urinary levels of AAs in Brazilian pregnant women. A multiple regression linear model (R2 = 0.772) suggested that some regulated AAs (i.e., 2-naphthylamine and 4-aminobiphenyl), nicotine, smoke habit, age, and Brazilian region could induce DNA damage occurrence, increasing the levels of 8OHdG. Given the limited available data on human exposure to carcinogenic AAs, as well as the lack of toxicological information on those non-regulated, further studies focused on measuring their levels in human fluids and the potential exposure sources are clearly essential.

Glyphosate was classified as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) partially due to strong mechanistic evidence in 2015. Since then, numerous studies of glyphosate and its formulations (GBF) have emerged. These studies can be evaluated for cancer hazard identification with the newly described ten key characteristics (KC) of carcinogens approach. Our objective was to assess all in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro mechanistic studies of human and experimental animals (mammals) that compared exposure to glyphosate/GBF with low/no exposure counterparts for evidence of the ten KCs. A protocol with our methods adhering to PRISMA guidelines was registered a priori (INPLASY202180045). Two blinded reviewers screened all in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro studies of glyphosate/GBF exposure in humans/mammals reporting any KC-related outcome available in PubMed before August 2021. Studies that met inclusion criteria underwent data extraction conducted in duplicate for each KC outcome reported along with key aspects of internal/external validity, results, and reference information. These data were used to construct a matrix that was subsequently analyzed in the program R to conduct strength of evidence and quality assessments. Of the 2537 articles screened, 175 articles met inclusion criteria, from which we extracted >50,000 data points related to KC outcomes. Data analysis revealed strong evidence for KC2, KC4, KC5, KC6, KC8, limited evidence for KC1 and KC3, and inadequate evidence for KC7, KC9, and KC10. Notably, our in-depth quality analyses of genotoxicity (KC2) and endocrine disruption (KC8) revealed strong and consistent positive findings. For KC2, we found: 1) studies conducted in humans and human cells provided stronger positive evidence than counterpart animal models; 2) GBF elicited a stronger effect in both human and animal systems when compared to glyphosate alone; and 3) the highest quality studies in humans and human cells consistently revealed strong evidence of genotoxicity. Our analysis of KC8 indicated that glyphosate's ability to modulate hormone levels and estrogen receptor activity is sensitive to both exposure concentration and formulation. The modulations observed provide clear evidence that glyphosate interacts with receptors, alters receptor activation, and modulates the levels and effects of endogenous ligands (including hormones). Our findings strengthen the mechanistic evidence that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen and provide biological plausibility for previously reported cancer associations in humans, such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We identified potential molecular interactions and subsequent key events that were used to generate a probable pathway to lymphomagenesis.

Despite enormous progress in modern medicine, prostate cancer (PCa) remains a major public health problem due to its high incidence and mortality. Although studies have shown in vitro antitumor effects of cucurbitacins from Cucumis sativus, the in vivo anticancer effect of the seed oil as a whole, has yet to be demonstrated. The present study evaluated the in vitro anticancer mechanisms of C. sativus (CS) seed oil and its possible chemopreventive potential on benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-induced PCa in Wistar rat. In vitro cell growth, clone formation, cell death mechanism, cell adhesion and migration as well as expression of integrins β-1 and β-4 were assessed. In vivo PCa was induced in 56 male rats versus 8 normal control rats, randomized in normal (NOR) and negative (BaP) control groups which, received distilled water; the positive control group (Caso) was treated with casodex (13.5 mg/kg BW). One group received the total seed extract at the dose of 500 mg/kg BW; while the remaining three groups were treated with CS seed oil at 42.5, 85, and 170 mg/kg BW. The endpoints were: morphologically (prostate tumor weight and volume), biochemically (total protein, prostate specific antigen (PSA), oxidative stress markers such as MDA, GSH, catalase, and SOD) and histologically. As results, CS seed oil significantly and concentration-dependently reduced the DU145 prostate cancer cell growth and clone formation (optimum = 100 μg/mL). It slightly increased the number of apoptotic cells and inhibited the migration and invasion of DU145 cells, while it decreased their adhesion to immobilized collagen and fibrinogen. The expression of integrin β-1 and β-4 was increased in presence of 100 μg/mL CS oil. In vivo, the BaP significantly elevated the incidence of PC tumors (75%), the total protein and PSA levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, and IL-6) and MDA levels compared to NOR. CS seeds oil significantly counteracted the effect of BaP by decreasing significantly the PC incidence (12.5%), and increasing the level of antioxidant (SOD, GSH, and catalase) and anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in serum. While in BaP group PCa adenocarninoma was the most representative neoplasm, rats treated with 85 and 170 mg/kg prevented it in the light of the casodex. It is conclude that CS may provide tumor suppressive effects in vitro and in vivo which makes it an interesting candidate to support the current treatment protocol.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is an enzyme, primarily involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and procarcinogens. The present study was designed to investigate the potential role of CYP2E1 triggered endoplasmic reticulum stress in the progression of HCC through inhibition of apoptosis. In vitro CYP2E1 promotes HepG2 cell migration, reduced chromatin condensation, enhanced intracellular ROS accumulation and induce cell cycle progression. Conversely this effect was averted by CYP2E1 siRNA, selective inhibitor Diallyl sulphide (DAS) and antioxidants (vitamin C and E). In vivo Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced HCC rats showed decreased body weight and increased relative liver weight. Moreover, macro trabecular-massive HCC (MTM-HCC) histological subtyping showed pathological features like well-differentiated tumors, micro-trabecular and pseudo glandular patterns, megakaryocytes and cholestasis. Masson's trichrome staining revealed an intensive accumulation of collagen fibers in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Increased CYP2E1, VEGF and PCNA enhance the carcinogenicity as revealed in immunohistochemistry results. Immunoblot analysis showed reduced expression of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (CuZnSOD) and manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in cytosolic as well as mitochondrial fraction of rat liver tissue respectively. Also, increased level of CYP2E1 stimulated the upregulation of unfolded proteins response (UPR) and ER stress-related proteins such as Glucose regulatory protein 78 (GRP78), activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6) and CCAAT enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP). Meanwhile, CYP2E1 stimulated ER-stress reduces BCL2 and downregulates the cleaved caspase 3 thus suppresses apoptosis. in. Furthermore, immunofluorescence revealed increased expression level of α-SMA in the HCC rat liver tissue. The level of CYP2E1 mRNA was significantly increased. Altogether, these findings indicate that CYP2E1 has a dynamic role in the pathogenesis of HCC and might be a budding agent in liver carcinogenesis therapy.

Cadmium (Cd) flows into the ocean with industrial and agricultural pollution and significantly affects the growth and development of economic cephalopods such as Sepia esculenta, Amphioctopus fangsiao, and Loligo japonica. As of now, the reasons why Cd affects the growth and development of S. esculenta are not yet clear.

In this study, transcriptome and four oxidation and toxicity indicators are used to analyze the toxicological mechanism of Cd-exposed S. esculenta larvae. Indicator results indicate that Cd induces oxidative stress and metal toxicity. Functional enrichment analysis results suggest that larval ion transport, cell adhesion, and some digestion and absorption processes are inhibited, and the cell function is damaged. Comprehensive analysis of protein-protein interaction network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis was used to explore S. esculenta larval toxicological mechanisms, and we find that among the 20 identified key genes, 14 genes are associated with neurotoxicity. Most of them are down-regulated and enriched to the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction signaling pathway, suggesting that larval nervous system might be destroyed, and the growth, development, and movement process are significantly affected after Cd exposure.

S. esculenta larvae suffered severe oxidative damage after Cd exposure, which may inhibit digestion and absorption functions, and disrupt the stability of the nervous system. Our results lay a function for understanding larval toxicological mechanisms exposed to heavy metals, promoting the development of invertebrate environmental toxicology, and providing theoretical support for S. esculenta artificial culture.

N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) is a type of p-phenylenediamine (PPD), which is widely used in the manufacture of rubber tires owing to its excellent antiozonant properties. In this study, the developmental cardiotoxicity of 6PPD was evaluated in zebrafish larvae, and the LC50 was approximately 737 μg/L for the larvae at 96 h post fertilization (hpf). In the 6PPD treatment of 100 μg/L, the accumulation concentrations of 6PPD were up to 2658 ng/g in zebrafish larvae, and 6PPD induced significant oxidative stress and cell apoptosis in the early developmental stages of zebrafish. Transcriptome analysis showed that 6PPD exposure could potentially cause cardiotoxicity in larval zebrafish by affecting the transcription of the genes related to the calcium signal pathway and cardiac muscle contraction. The genes related to calcium signaling pathway (slc8a2b, cacna1ab, cacna1da, and pln) were verified by qRT-PCR, which were significantly downregulated in larval zebrafish after exposing to 100 μg/L of 6PPD. Simultaneously, the mRNA levels of the genes related to cardiac functions (myl7, sox9, bmp10, and myh71) also respond accordingly. H&E staining and heart morphology investigation indicated that cardiac malformation occurred in zebrafish larvae exposed to 100 μg/L of 6PPD. Furthermore, the phenotypic observation of transgenic Tg (myl7: EGFP) zebrafish also confirmed that 100 μg/L of 6PPD exposure could change the distance of atria and ventricles of the heart and inhibit some key genes (cacnb3a, ATP2a1l, ryr1b) related to cardiac function in larval zebrafish. These results revealed the toxic effects of 6PPD on the cardiac system of zebrafish larvae.

Nongenotoxic (NGTX) carcinogens induce cancer via other mechanisms than direct DNA damage. A recognized mode of action for NGTX carcinogens is induction of oxidative stress, a state in which the amount of oxidants in a cell exceeds its antioxidant capacity, leading to regenerative proliferation. Currently, carcinogenicity assessment of environmental chemicals primarily relies on genetic toxicity end points. Since NGTX carcinogens lack genotoxic potential, these chemicals may remain undetected in such evaluations. To enhance the predictivity of test strategies for carcinogenicity assessment, a shift toward mechanism-based approaches is required. Here, we present an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) network for chemically induced oxidative stress leading to (NGTX) carcinogenesis. To develop this AOP network, we first investigated the role of oxidative stress in the various cancer hallmarks. Next, possible mechanisms for chemical induction of oxidative stress and the biological effects of oxidative damage to macromolecules were considered. This resulted in an AOP network, of which associated uncertainties were explored. Ultimately, development of AOP networks relevant for carcinogenesis in humans will aid the transition to a mechanism-based, human relevant carcinogenicity assessment that involves a substantially lower number of laboratory animals.

Excess fluoride (F) exposure can cause oxidative stress in the kidney. As an antioxidant, selenium (Se) can potentially protect the kidney from F-induced injury in rats. Hence, the histopathological, renal biochemical, oxidative stress, and apoptotic-related indices upon exposure to 100 mg/L sodium fluoride (NaF) and various doses of sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃; 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/L) were assessed. Our results demonstrated that F-mediated renal structural damage and apoptosis elevated the content of serum creatinine (SCr), inhibited the activity of catalase (CAT) in serum, and increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in kidney and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum. Interestingly, 1 mg/L dietary supplementation of Se tangibly mitigated these injuries. Furthermore, F could also change the gene and protein expression of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1). Concomitantly, the different concentrations of Se notably alleviated their expression. Taken together, 1-2 mg/L Se ameliorated F-induced renal injury through oxidative stress and apoptosis-related routes. The recorded ameliorative effects might be related to the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathway.

The present study investigates the new approach of rosuvastatin (RUV) administration as a drug for the management of spleen injury induced by gamma irradiation.

Forty rats were used and divided equally into 4 groups: control group, irradiated group, IRR + rosuvastatin group (10 mg/Kg b. wt), and IRR + rosuvastatin group (20 mg/kg b. wt) for 7 days orally.

The possible curative effect can be illustrated via the improvement of hematopoietic cell count (Hb, RBCs, and WBCs) and oxidative stress markers (MDA and GST) in addition to biochemical parameters including [heme oxigenase-1 (HO-1), nuclear erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), NOD-, LRR- and pyrin domain- containing protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome] and immune assay of nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kB P65) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Histological pictures emphasize the biochemical findings. Rosuvastatin treatments by using two different doses improve the tested parameters. High-dose administration of RUV (20 mg/kg p.o.) recorded better results than the low dose (10 mg/kg p.o.).

Our results suggested that rosuvastatin reversed the radiation-induced spleen-damaging effects. So, RUV can be introduced to the market as a new therapy for the management of spleen damages.

Ammonia, a common toxic gas, is not only one of the main causes of haze, but also can enter respiratory tract and directly affect the health of humans and animals. Pig was used as an animal model for exploring the molecular mechanism and dose effect of ammonia toxicity to lung. In this study, the apoptosis of type II alveolar epithelial cells was observed in high ammonia exposure group using transmission electron microscopy. Gene and protein expression analysis using transcriptome sequencing and western blot showed that low ammonia exposure induced T-cell-involved proinflammatory response, but high ammonia exposure repressed the expression of DNA repair-related genes and affected ion transport. Moreover, high ammonia exposure significantly increased 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) level, meaning DNA oxidative damage occurred. In addition, both low and high ammonia exposure caused oxidative stress in pig lungs. Integrated analysis of transcriptome and metabolome revealed that the up-regulation of LDHB and ND2 took part in high ammonia exposure-affected pyruvate metabolism and oxidative phosphorylation progress, respectively. Inclusion, oxidative stress mediated ammonia-induced proinflammatory response and apoptosis of porcine lungs. These findings may provide new insights for understanding the ammonia toxicity to workers in livestock farms and chemical fertilizer plants.