Glutathione S-transferase Levels Research Articles

Genome-wide association study and Mendelian randomization analyses reveal insights into bladder cancer etiology.

The causes of bladder cancer are not completely understood. Our objective was to identify blood proteins and modifiable causal risk factors for bladder cancer by combining genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. We first performed a GWAS meta-analysis of 6984 bladder cancer cases and 708 432 controls from three European databases. Next, we conducted two-sample MR and colocalization analyses using data from the present GWAS and published GWAS meta-analyses on plasma proteins and modifiable factors. GWAS meta-analysis uncovered 17 bladder cancer susceptibility loci, of which 3 loci were novel. Genes were enriched in pathways related to the metabolic and catabolic processes of xenobiotics and cellular detoxification. Proteome-wide MR analysis based on cis-acting genetic variants revealed that higher plasma levels of glutathione S-transferases were strongly associated with a reduced risk of bladder cancer. There is strong evidence of colocalization between GSTM1 and bladder cancer. Finally, multivariable MR analyses of suspected risk factors for bladder cancer revealed independent causal associations between smoking and adiposity, particularly abdominal obesity, and risk of bladder cancer. Findings from this large-scale GWAS and multivariable MR analyses highlight the key role of detoxification processes, particularly glutathione S-transferase 1, as well as smoking and abdominal obesity in bladder cancer etiology.

Ginsenoside Rd protects against acute liver injury by regulating the autophagy NLRP3 inflammasome pathway

Ginsenoside Rd (Rd) is a bioactive compound predominantly found in Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and Panax notoginseng (Burkill) F.H. Chen ex C.H. Chow, both species belonging to genus Panax in the Araliaceae family. However, its hepatic protective effect against acute liver injury and related mechanistic action remain unexplored. To investigate the protective effect of Rd against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced acute liver injury and assess its underlying regulatory mechanisms related to autophagy and inflammation. Forty-eight 8 weeks old C57BL/6 mice were treated with saline (control or model group), Rd (12.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg or 50 mg/kg), and diammonium glycyrrhizinate (DG, 30 mg/kg) for three days. Then the mice were stimulated with TAA to establish acute liver injury model, excluding the control group. HSC-T6 cells were treated with Rd at concentrations of 2.5, 5, or 10 µM, for 12 h with or without Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation at 100 ng/mL. Immunofluorescence staining, qPCR and Western blot were employed to analyze the expressions of genes and proteins associated with inflammation and autophagy. To validate the role of Rd in regulating autophagy and inflammation, the autophagy inducers, rapamycin and GSK621, were utilised in reverse validation experiments in cells. Rd exhibited significant hepatic protective effects in mice by reducing the serum levels of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) with acute liver injury. It exhibited strong anti-inflammatory effect by reducing inflammation associated protein, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), associated speck-like protein containing a CARD (ASC), interleukin-18 (IL-18) and interleukin-1β(IL-1β) proteins and the mRNA expression levels of COX-2, Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and iNOS were decreased in liver tissue. And Rd inhibited LPS-induced inflammation by reducing the expression of COX-2 and NLRP3 in HSC-T6 cells. Moreover, not only in vivo but also in vitro, Rd downregulated the expression of LC3II, Beclin1, phosphorylation-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), phosphorylation-ULK1 (p-ULK1) and upregulated the expression of p62 and phosphorylation-mechanistic target of rapamycin (p-mTOR) to suppress autophagy via the AMPK/mTOR/ULK1 pathway. Finally, the inhibitory effects of Rd on autophagy and inflammation in HSC-T6 cells were partially blocked by rapamycin and GSK621. Rd is a promising therapeutic agent to protect liver against TAA-induced acute liver injury by regulating the autophagy-NLRP3 inflammasome pathway.

Correlation of anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant enzymes with insulin resistance in diabetic nephropathy

Objective: To assess the changes in the expression of anti-oxidant and pro-oxidant enzymes in patients with type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy, and to examine their correlation with insulin resistance. Method: The case-control study was conducted from March to November 2021 at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and comprised adult patients of either gender with diabetic nephropathy in DN group, patients with type 2 diabetes but without diabetic nephropathy in T2D group, and non-diabetic individuals in the control group. Serum insulin levels were measured using a modular analyser, while nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase 3 levels were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analysed using SPSS 29.0.1. Results: Of the 74 subjects, 45(60.8%) were females and 29(39.2%) were males. The overall mean age was 53±14 years. There were 20(27%) patients in DN group with mean age 60±11 years, 29(39.2%) patients in T2D group with mean age 56±12 years, and 25(33.8%) in the control group with mean age 43±11 years. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase levels were significantly lower in T2D and DN groups than in the control group (p<0.05). Glutathione S-transferase levels were significantly lower in the DN group than in the control group (p<0.05). T2D and DN groups had significantly lower superoxide dismutase 3 levels than the control group (p<0.05). Glutathione S-transferase levels correlated positively with glycated haemoglobin levels in the DN group, and negatively with fasting blood glucose levels in the T2D group (p<0.05). Superoxide dismutase 3 levels were negatively correlated with insulin and homeostatic model assessment of insulin in T2D group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy induced changes in the levels of superoxide dismutase 3, glutathione S-transferase and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. Low levels of superoxide dismutase 3 in type 2 diabetes correlated with insulin resistance, suggesting the need for anti-oxidant replacement therapy as part of diabetes control measures to prevent diabetic nephropathy. Key Words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Diabetic nephropathy, Insulin resistance, Oxidative stress, Anti-oxidant.

Oxidative stress response to gasoline generator exhaust emission in adult male wistar rats

Petroleum-powered generators are commonly used in many developing countries as an alternative to meet utility demands. Generator exhaust emission significantly contributes to air pollution, which remains a constant threat to human health due to the presence of aromatic hydrocarbons and other harmful gases. This study assessed oxidative stress parameters in response to exhaust emission from gasoline generator engine in adult male wistar rats. Forty-eight (48) adult wistar rats weighing between 180-200g were randomly allocated to four (4) groups (A-D) of twelve (12) rats each. After the acclimatization period, the control group (A) were kept unexposed, whereas rats in groups (C-D) were exposed daily at 2, 4, and 8-hour intervals for 4, 8, and 12 weeks, respectively. Tissue samples were obtained at four weeks intervals. Fresh lung tissues weighing 1g were rinsed twice in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 8.0), homogenized and centrifuged at 3000 revolutions per minute for 20 min at 4°C. Supernatant levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), catalase (CAT), and total antioxidant status (TAS) were determined using standard protocols. The findings revealed elevated oxidant levels of MDA, NO, and H2O2, whereas SOD, GPX, GST, GSH, CAT, and TAS were significantly reduced across the exposure time points compared to the unexposed control rats (p < 0.05). The research findings revealed that exposure to emissions from gasoline generators induced oxidative stress in the exposed rats, with the extent of disruption to their oxidative balance dependent on the duration and length of exposure time.

Metabolome and transcriptome profiling reveal tRNA-derived small RNAs regulated glutathione metabolism in intrauterine growth-restricted pigs liver.

Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) has become a difficult problem in animal husbandry and is often accompanied by the occurrence of metabolic syndrome. tRNA-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) are a novel class of regulatory small noncoding RNAs. However, the involvement of tsRNA in regulating the mechanism of IUGR remains unclear. Here, we first characterized the tsRNA expression profiles in the liver of normal pigs and IUGR pigs through high-throughput sequencing. IUGR pigs exhibit significantly increased 17 tsRNA levels including tRF-Ile-GAT, tRF-Pro-TGG, tRF-Leu-CAA and tRF-Ala-TGC etc. Transcriptome sequencing further revealed 1244 upregulated and 762 downregulated differentially expressed genes in IUGR pig liver. Functional enrichment analysis found that DEGs were mainly involved in insulin resistance, metabolic pathways, etc. Metabolomics was performed to determine the metabolic changes between the normal and IUGR pigs. Then, We constructed a potential tsRNA regulatory network involved in metabolic pathways in IUGR pig liver. Moreover, combined metabolome and transcriptome analysis showed a disorder of glutathione metabolism in the IUGR pigs liver. We identified tRF-Ile-GAT as the potential target of interest. NCTC1469 liver cells were used to validate the preliminary function of tRF-Ile-GAT in vitro. Bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter assays further revealed that microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1 (MGST1) was the target gene of tRF-Ile-GAT. In addition, tRF-Ile-GAT overexpression inhibited antioxidant gene expression, glutathione and glutathione glutathione S-transferase levels in NCTC1469 cells, while an MGST1 overexpression reversed the above phenomenon. These findings provide new insights into the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of IUGR pathogenesis.

Biocontrol toxicity of Trichoderma harzianum (Hypocreales: Hypocreaceae) derived chemical molecules against malarial mosquito Anopheles stephensi with molecular docking studies.

In this study, the crude chemical constituents extracted from Trichoderma harzianum and their toxicity were evaluated against the larvae, pupae, and adults of Anopheles stephensi at 24 and 48h post-treatment. Additionally, the chemical constituents of the crude extracts were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, and their ability to bind with target proteins was confirmed through molecular docking studies. The results clearly demonstrated that the chemical compounds from T. harzianum exhibited promising mortality rates in larvae (98.66%), pupae (92%), and adult mosquitoes (81.33%) of A. stephensi 48h after treatment. The study assessed the impact of crude extracts on insect enzymes 24h post treatment, revealing significant alterations: a reduction in catalase activity and an increase in glutathione S-transferase levels compared to the control group. The treatment with crude chemical extracts resulted in mortality rates of 37.33% and 52% at 24 and 48h, respectively, on Artemia salina , indicating minimal effects. After 48h, the crude extract exhibited minimal toxicity on Eudrilus eugeniae, with a recorded mortality rate of 15% after 48h. GC-MS analysis of T. harzianum-derived crude extracts identified ten major chemical constituents. Among these, chemicals, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) phenol (19.02%) was recognized as the predominant chemical component. This 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl) phenol molecule demonstrates a high binding affinity with target proteins, which is a key factor contributing to its insecticidal activity. This study concludes that the chemical constituents derived from T. harzianum are promising candidates for an eco-friendly, effective, and target-specific alternative control method for A. stephensi mosquitos.

Developmental toxicity and biochemical and biomarker in the zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryo exposed to biosynthesized cadmium oxide nanoparticles

Cadmium oxide nanoparticles (CdO-NPs) play an important role in health applications due to their antibacterial properties. However, ecotoxicological investigations of these NPs and their adverse effects on aquatic organisms are necessary to protect the environment. Zebrafish is widely used as a model organism to explore toxic effects at multiple levels of integration. Hence, the objective of this work was to pursue possible harmful impacts of CdO -NPs that have been produced through biosynthesis, utilizing extract from the lily plant Gloriosa superba leaves, on the growth and biochemical changes in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos and larvae. UV, SEM, TEM, FTIR, EDAX, DLS, and ZETA-potential techniques were employed to examine the structure and morphology of the biosynthesized CdO-NPs. The identification of bioactive chemicals from the leaf extract of G. superba was conducted using GC-MS. To study the in vivo toxicity of CdO-NPs, zebrafish embryos and larvae were treated with two different concentrations of G. superba leave extract (0.5 and 1.0mg/mL) at 96h after fertilization (hpf). Bended tail, pericardial edema, shortened yolk sac extension, scoliosis, and damaged eyes were observed in the CdO-NPs treated groups. In addition, there was a considerable decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferases (GST), and lipid peroxidation (LPO). The CdO-NPs treated groups showed significant alterations in biochemical markers, including protein levels, glucose levels, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Overall, our findings indicated that CdO-NPs induced a dose-dependent toxicity in zebrafish embryos. The investigated parameters serve as reliable biomarkers for the surveillance of CdO-NPs in aquatic ecosystems and their impact on living animals.

Changing dynamics in daily rhythms of oxidative stress indicators in SCN and extra-SCN brain regions with aging in male Wistar rats.

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) in the hypothalamus regulates circadian timing system (CTS) by co-ordinating peripheral tissue clocks and extra-SCN oscillators in the brain. Aging disrupts the CTS, impairing physiological functions and reducing antioxidant defences, which contribute to neurodegeneration. The brain is vulnerable to oxidative damage due to its high metabolic activity, oxygen consumption, and levels of iron and lipids. Antioxidant enzymes, such as catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and lipid peroxidation (LPO), help against oxidative damage. In this study, we examined the temporal patterns of these antioxidant stress indicators in the SCN and extra-SCN brain regions (frontal cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus) at various time points in male Wistar rats 3, 12, and 24months. The rhythmicity of GST and LPO levels persisted across brain regions with aging, while CAT rhythmicity was lost in the SCN and hippocampus of older rats. SOD rhythmicity persisted in cortex, cerebellum, and hippocampus but was lost in the SCN. The daily rhythm parameters of CAT were affected most significantly, followed by SOD, GST, and LPO. Our findings demonstrate that aging leads to desynchronization of oxidative stress indicators potentially contributing to neurodegeneration and circadian dysfunction with varying effects across different brain tissues.

Garlic Bulb Essential Oil (GBEO) as a Potential Mitigator of Lead Nitrate-Induced Oxidative Stress in Swiss Albino Male Mice

This research examined the effectiveness of essential oil derived from garlic bulb in alleviating the toxic effects of lead nitrate in animal model Swiss albino mice. Six groups were considered for the study, Group I was untreated and Group II to Group VI animals were given lead nitrate at the dose of 50 mg/kg orally for 30 days. Group III and Group IV received low dose (50 mg/kg), high dose (80 mg/kg) of GBEO, and Group V was given standard drug (Silymarin) respectively, lastly Group VI was given olive oil to see its effect alone, from the 12th day until the experiment’s conclusion. To assess GBEO protective effects, various antioxidant parameters, including Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) activity, Lipid Peroxidation (LPO) activity, Glutathione (GSH) levels, Activity of Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Catalase (CAT) activity, and levels of Glutathione S-Transferase (GST) were evaluated in Swiss albino mice testicular homogenate. The results revealed that GBEO, particularly the high dose, significantly mitigated lead-induced oxidative stress. This was evidenced by improvements in antioxidant enzyme potencies and preserved GSH levels. These findings indicate that GBEO holds a promising prophylactic treatment for lead poisoning. However, further studies are warranted to optimize the dosing regimen for maximizing its protective efficacy against lead toxicity.

Evaluating the nutrient composition and antioxidant properties of orange (Citrus sinensis) peels through Penicillium camemberti-based solid-substrate fermentation

Citrus by-products, especially orange peels, are a significant global waste issue, driving research into management solutions. Solid-substrate fermentation is a promising method to convert this waste into valuable resources, enhancing its medicinal and nutritional potential while addressing environmental and economic concerns in food waste management. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the impact of solid-substrate fermentation (SSF) with Penicillium camemberti on the nutrient profile, antioxidative properties, and potential neuroprotective effects of orange peels in AlCl3 (Al)-induced neurotoxicity in fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster) model. Orange peels were collected, air-dried to a constant weight, and subjected to a 10-day SSF process with Penicillium camemberti. Post-fermentation, in vitro nutritional profiling, and antioxidant assays were conducted, alongside in vivo assessments of the neuroprotective effects on survival rate, memory index, monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity, and endogenous antioxidant markers on Al-induced fruit flies were determined. The results showed that fermentation with Penicillium camemberti significantly enhanced the nutritional composition of the orange peels compared to their unfermented counterparts. The antioxidant properties of fermented orange peels were significantly (p < 0.05) increased, as evidenced by increased DPPH scavenging activity (81.68 ± 0.18) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (10.77 ± 0.27). Additionally, biochemical assays in vivo revealed a significant improvement in survival rates and memory indices in Al-induced flies. Also, monoamine oxidase (MAO) levels were significantly reduced, while glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated in the induced flies fed with the fermented samples. Conclusively, this study highlights the capability of Penicillium camemberti fermentation in converting waste into valuable resources, enhancing the nutrient profile of citrus peels for applications in livestock feed and potential therapeutic interventions for degenerative disorders.

Association the Level of Glutathione S-Transferases with GST Genotyping in Automotive Maintenance Workers

The present study aims to investigate the GST level with GST null genotyping in automotive maintenance workers; null genotyping's PCR and PCR-SSCP were used in the present study, including GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1) with detection of GST level in the serum. The present study found sig changes in the mean of age between groups (p 0.000), nonsig changes in BMI, and non-sig changes in elevation in GSH between groups; the work duration was (7.68±4.88) years. The results of the present study show that (37.5%) of cases have deletion mutation in GSTT1 in significant association (p 0.0495). In contrast, the deletion mutation in GSTM1 was not observed in study groups. The haplotypes of GSTP1 found single and double haplotypes, both haplotypes observed in cases and control group in non-sig differences (p 0.8548); the correlation between GST level with age, BMI and duration showed weak inverse correlation (r -0.141, p 0.434) with age. a Weak positive correlation with duration (r 0.099, p 0.589) and a weak inverse correlation with BMI (r -0.046, p 0.798) in the case group. In the control group, a weak inverse relation with age (r -0.280, p 0.157) and a weak inverse relation with BMI (r -0.131, p 0.514). According to GST gene genotyping, the GST levels were shown to slightly elevate the GST level in the group with GSTT1 deletion in case of non-sig differences (p 0.475). The slight changes between case and control in non-significantly (p 0.247), no significant changes between the groups have normal GSTM1 (p 0.093), the output referred to elevation GST level in the case with single haplotype in non-sig differences (p 0.094), others showed slight changes in non-significant differences also, conclusion: we can conclude that the GSTT1 was a strong association with an automotive technician but GSTM1 and GSTP1 have no affected in this employee, on the other hand, the GST level don't changes by this employee, also didn't affect by GST genotypes.

Toxicological effects and defense mechanisms induced by beta-cypermethrin in Drosophila melanogaster

Widespread use of the pyrethroid insecticide beta-cypermethrin (beta-CYP) has led to adverse effects on nontarget populations within agroecosystems. Despite the efficacy of beta-CYP in pest control, its toxicological and defense mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In the present study, we explored the toxicological effects, antioxidant mechanisms and immune response against beta-CYP using Drosophila melanogaster, a well-established model organism for the study of insect biology, to represent the broader class of nontarget organisms. We exposed Drosophila larvae to 0.667 μg/mL beta-CYP and revealed that delayed development and caused intestinal epithelial damage in larvae. To gain insights into the molecular underpinnings of these effects, RNA sequencing analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction validation were performed. These analyses revealed that the messenger RNA levels of glutathione S-transferase were increased, third instar larvae exhibited an increase in reactive oxygen species content and a corresponding increase in antioxidant enzyme activity in response to beta-CYP exposure, indicating an upregulated response to oxidative stress. Beta-CYP also activated Hippo pathway to resist apoptosis and promote cell proliferation. Moreover, beta-CYP induced melanization and Toll immune pathways involved in immune response in Drosophila larvae, specifically the Toll pathway gene Drs. This activation suggests that Drosophila increases antioxidant defenses and promotes mitosis in damaged tissues as compensatory mechanisms to mitigate the cytotoxic effects of beta-CYP. These findings provide new insight into the mechanisms of beta-CYP–induced toxicity and the defense mechanisms in insects; they may also inform strategies for the sustainable use of insecticides and the development of mitigation measures to protect nontarget species in agroecosystems.

Occurrence of a population of the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, with low sensitivity to two major nematicides, fosthiazate and fluopyram, in Japan.

The root-knot nematode (RKN), Meloidogyne incognita, affects food production globally and nematicides, such as fosthiazate and fluopyram, are frequently used in Japan to control damage caused by RKN. In aboveground pests, the emergence of a population with developed resistance is frequently found after the continuous use of the same pesticides; however, there are few studies on changes in the sensitivity of plant-parasitic nematodes, including RKN, to nematicides. We compared the sensitivity of two populations of M. incognita to fosthiazate and fluopyram, one population with a history of exposure to fosthiazate and 1,3-dichloropropene (Ibaraki population) and the other without nematicide use for decades (Aichi population). A concentration of fosthiazate and fluopyram causing 50% mortality at 24 h post-treatment (LC50) was markedly higher in the Ibaraki population (5.4 and 2.3 mg L-1) than in the Aichi population (0.024 and 0.011 mg L-1 in fosthiazate and fluopyram, respectively), indicating the low sensitivity of the Ibaraki population to fosthiazate and fluopyram. Experiments using different enzyme inhibitors indicated the involvement of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is the target of fosthiazate, and glutathione S-transferase (GST), a typical enzyme related to detoxification, in the low sensitivity mechanism. The activity of AChE was 33-fold higher in the Ibaraki population than in the Aichi population and there were many differences in their nucleotide sequences. In addition, the gene expression level of GST was 239-fold higher in the Ibaraki population than in the Aichi population. These results revealed differences in the sensitivity to nematicides among RKN populations. Two factors were identified as related to the mechanism of low sensitivity in the Ibaraki population. This is the first report showing the difference in the sensitivity to fluopyram between populations of M. incognita. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Correlation of urinary glutathione S-transferase with serum creatinine in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury: A prospective and observational study.

Sepsis-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is difficult to prevent because most patients are diagnosed after they develop it. Standard serum and urine creatinine levels are insensitive and nonspecific for detecting kidney injury in its early stages. Glutathione S-transferase (GST) has received little attention as a biomarker in AKI. This study included 65 adult patients with sepsis who developed oliguria within 72 h of admission. Baseline serum creatinine values were recorded at least 1 month before or after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The clinical endpoints were defined as the occurrence of advanced AKI stages 2 or 3 according to the KDIGO classification. Serum creatinine and urinary GST levels were measured every 6 h from admission until 72 h postoliguria development. The primary objective was to assess the correlation between urinary GST and serum creatinine levels in patients with sepsis-induced AKI. Among the 65 patients, 13 (20%) progressed to AKI Grade I, while 52 (80%) progressed to AKI Grade II or III. Both groups exhibited an increasing trend in serum creatinine and urinary GST levels up to 72 h. Significant mean differences between the two AKI groups were observed at 48 and 72 h for serum creatinine (P = 0.021 and P = 0.007, respectively) and at 18 h for urinary GST levels (P = 0.044). Urinary GST levels demonstrated an earlier elevation than serum creatinine levels in critically ill sepsis patients, underscoring their utility as a valuable tool for the early diagnosis and predicting AKI following admission to the ICU.

Assessing the impact of weathered polystyrene collected from the marine environment on oxidative stress responses in Zophobas morio larvae: A preliminary study

Foamed polystyrene (PS) is a prevalent material in consumer products and thus represents one of the largest constituents of marine litter. PS may interact with and be ingested by various organisms, including insects, which are starting to be used in biodegradation of plastic wastes. This study examines the physiological performances and the potential oxidative stress related to dietary environmental PS exposure of Z. morio larvae. Experimental groups were fed different diets: bran and oatmeal (control), weathered PS collected from the marine environment, and virgin PS. Over a 30-day feeding period, larvae growth, survival, and PS consumption were measured, together with antioxidant enzymatic activities and gene expression profiles. Results showed that PS ingestion supports larval growth similarly to bran, but the two PS-fed groups consumed a different amount of plastic, suggesting that weathered PS might affect the patterns of PS consumption by larvae. We denoted that PS consumption was associated with a decline in total antioxidant capacity, which showed the highest decrease in the environmental PS group. Marked increases in oxidative stress biomarkers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity/mRNA levels and malondialdehyde content were also observed in the environmental PS-fed group, indicating an elevated oxidative stress response, probably due to pollutants adsorbed/absorbed on PS. Differently to SOD, catalase at both mRNA and enzyme activity levels was found to be significantly reduced by PS digestion, regardless of PS type. The mRNA levels of glutathione s-transferase (GST) were significantly higher in the environmental PS-fed larvae compared to the virgin PS-fed group. In addition, Principal Component Analysis clearly distinguished between larvae fed different PS types, highlighting the enhanced oxidative stress caused by the ingestion of PS collected from marine environments. These results support the potential of insects in plastic biodegradation processes but also demonstrate the health hazards of using environmental PS as principal dietary component in Z. morio larvae, thus questioning their use in downstream productions.

Evaluation of the Efficacy of Ozone Therapy on Liver Tissue in the Treatment of Sepsis in Rats with Cecal Perforation.

Background and Objectives: Sepsis and its related complications are associated with high morbidity and mortality, often leading to liver damage. Ozone, a molecule with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, may offer protective effects. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic and protective impact of ozone on liver injury in a rat model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and perforation (CLP). Material and Methods: A total of 36 rats were randomly divided into five groups: control (Group C), ozone (Group O), cecal ligation and perforation (Group CLP), ozone + cecal ligation and perforation (Group O+CLP), and cecal ligation and perforation + ozone (Group CLP+O). In the ozone groups, 4 mL of ozone (20 µ/mL) was injected intraperitoneally. Biochemical and histopathological parameters were evaluated in liver tissue samples obtained at the end of 24 h. Results: Polymorphonuclear leukocyte and monocyte infiltration and the total injury score were significantly reduced in the ozone-treated groups compared to the CLP group (p < 0.001). Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin 10 levels in the rat liver tissue were significantly reduced in the O+CLP and CLP+O groups compared to the CLP group, with the O+CLP group showing a more substantial decrease than the CLP+O group (p < 0.001). Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and glutathione s-transferase levels were significantly lower in the ozone-treated groups compared to the CLP group (p < 0.001). Catalase activity was significantly elevated in the O+CLP group compared to the CLP group (p < 0.001). Serum aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and total bilirubin were significantly increased in the CLP group and decreased in the ozone-treated groups (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.01, p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusions: Administering ozone to rats one hour before the CLP significantly mitigated liver damage, showing a more pronounced effect compared to administering ozone one hour after CLP. The results indicate that ozone could serve a protective function in managing sepsis-induced liver damage.

Low acaricide resistance levels in citrus orchards field populations of the invasive spider mite Eutetranychus orientalis (Acari: Tetranychidae) collected from southern Türkiye

The citrus brown mite Eutetranychus orientalis (Klein), is known as one of the most significant pests in citrus growing areas worldwide. It has recently caused outbreaks in the Mediterranean region of Türkiye. This study aimed to determine the resistance levels of E. orientalis populations between 2020 and 2021 collected from 9 commercial citrus orchards in Adana province against 5 different acaricides, in order to determine whether the observed population outbreak was due to acaricide resistance. The resistance ratios were changed between 1.67 and 2.50, 1.00–2.53, 1.85–3.68, 1.30–2.65, and 1.93–3.13-fold for abamectin, etoxazole, fenbutatin oxide, pyridaben, and spirodiclofen, respectively. The enzyme activity levels of carboxylesterase, glutathione S-transferase, and cytochrome P450 monooxygenase ranged between 1.00 and 1.13, 1.02–1.52, and 0.94–1.72-fold, respectively. As a result of the resistance study carried out for the first time on this species in Türkiye, the resistance ratios were determined to be low for E. orientalis against acaricides. Although the current resistance rates were low, certain populations exhibited a noteworthy surge in enzyme activities when compared to the susceptible population. Based on these findings, it was concluded that by implementing an appropriate resistance management strategy using acaricides with different modes of action, it is possible to prevent potential resistance development and use these acaricides effectively on this spider mite species for many years through rotation.

Liver-on-a-Chip Integrated with Label-Free Optical Biosensors for Rapid and Continuous Monitoring of Drug-Induced Toxicity.

Drug toxicity assays using conventional 2D static cultures and animal studies have limitations preventing the translation of potential drugs to the clinic. The recent development of organs-on-a-chip platforms provides promising alternatives for drug toxicity/screening assays. However, most studies conducted with these platforms only utilize single endpoint results, which do not provide real-time/ near real-time information. Here, a versatile technology is presented that integrates a 3Dliver-on-a-chip with a label-free photonic crystal-total internal reflection (PC-TIR) biosensor for rapid and continuous monitoring of the status of cells. This technology can detect drug-induced liver toxicity by continuously monitoring the secretion rates and levels of albumin and glutathione S-transferase α (GST-α) of a 3D liver on-a-chip model treated with Doxorubicin. The PC-TIR biosensor is based on a one-step antibody functionalization with high specificity and a detection range of 21.7ngmL-1 to 7.83 x 103ngmL-1 for albumin and 2.20ngmL-1 to 7.94 x 102ngmL-1 for GST-α. This approach provides critical advantages for the early detection of drug toxicity and improved temporal resolution to capture transient drug effects. The proposed proof-of-concept study introduces a scalable and efficient plug-in solution for organ-on-a-chip technologies, advancing drug development and in vitro testing methods by enabling timely and accurate toxicity assessments.

Effects of cadmium on the growth, muscle composition, digestion, gene expression of antioxidant and lipid metabolism in juvenile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

Cadmium could induce various degrees of harm to aquatic organisms. A 30-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of cadmium on growth, muscle composition, digestive enzyme activity, gene expression of antioxidants and lipid metabolism in juvenile genetic improvement of farmed tilapia (GIFT, Oreochromis niloticus, Initial weight: 21.36 ± 0.24 g). Four cadmium concentrations of aquaculture water were designed: 0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/L Cd2+. The main results are as follows: Compared with the control group (0 mg/L Cd2+), the weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), daily growth index (DGI), and spleen index (SI) of juvenile GIFT under cadmium stress were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The contents of crude protein and crude lipid in muscle were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05), and the ash was significantly increased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The activities of trypsin, lipase, and α-amylase in the intestinal were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The relative expression levels of carnitine palmityl transferase 1 (cpt-1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (pparα), pparγ, hormone-sensitive lipase (hsl), lipoprotein lipase (lpl), malate dehydrogenase (mdh), leptin (lep), fatty acid synthetase (fas), cholesterol response element binding protein 1 (srebp1), squalene cyclooxygenase (sqle), and stearoyl-CoA desaturase (scd) genes in liver were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). The relative expression levels of catalase (cat), superoxide dismutase (sod), glutathione S-transferase (gst), and glutathione peroxidase (gsh-px) genes in the liver were significantly decreased (p&amp;lt; 0.05). In conclusion, exposure to cadmium stress could impact growth, muscle composition, digestive enzyme activity, gene expression of antioxidant and lipid metabolism in juvenile GIFT.

Microplastics contamination suppressed immune and health status in cage cultured Barramundi: An investigation on pollution sources, ecotoxicological impacts, and transcription of genes involved in detoxification

This study aimed to study the abundance and ecotoxicological consequences of microplastics (MPs) in cage-cultured Barramundi from the Persian Gulf. The fish, water, sediment, and aquafeed samples were taken from 4 cage-culture sites and reference points in Bushehr and Hormozgan provinces. Gills showed the highest normalized, while muscles exhibited the lowest MPs concentration. Waters and sediments from cage-culture sites had significantly higher MPs than reference points. Raman spectrophotometry identified polyurethane, polyether, and polyolefin as prevalent MPs. Unexpectedly, larger fish had lesser number of MPs per unit of their weight. MPs contamination adversely affected fish health and immune. Specifically, fish with elevated MPs contamination exhibited significantly reduced levels of acetylcholinesterase and gamma-glutamyl transferase, and an increase in the activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. The level of immune parameters including lysozyme, total immunoglobulin and complements were all decreased in fish with high MPs. A clear association was determined between MPs contamination and expression levels of cytochrome P450 1A1 and glutathione S-transferase in the liver. Low MPs biomagnification and hazard risk to the final consumer, but high threat to fish own health and immune were observed.