Mitochondrial transfer of α-synuclein mediates carbon disulfide-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and neurotoxicity.

Exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2) is a recognized risk factor in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, yet the underlying mechanisms of deleterious effects on mitochondrial integrity have remained elusive. Here, through establishing CS2 exposure models in rat and SH-SY5Y cells, we demonstrated that highly expressed α-synuclein (α-Syn) is transferred to mitochondria via membrane proteins such as Tom20 and leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and mitochondrial oxidative stress, which ultimately causes neuronal injury. We first found significant mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress in CS2-exposed rat midbrain and SH-SY5Y cells and showed that mitochondrial oxidative stress was the main factor of mitochondrial damage by Mitoquinone intervention. Further experiments revealed that CS2 exposure led to the accumulation of α-Syn in mitochondria and that α-Syn co-immunoprecipitated with mitochondrial membrane proteins. Finally, the use of an α-Syn inhibitor (ELN484228) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) effectively mitigated the accumulation of α-Syn in neurons, as well as the inhibition of mitochondrial membrane potential, caused by CS2 exposure. In conclusion, our study identifies the translocation of α-Syn to mitochondria and the impairment of mitochondrial function, which has important implications for the broader understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with environmental toxins.

TREM2 protects against inflammation by regulating the release of mito-DAMPs from hepatocytes during liver fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Liver fibrosis typically develops as a result of chronic liver injury, which involves inflammatory and regenerative processes. The triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2), predominantly expressing in hepatic non-parenchymal cells, plays a crucial role in regulating the function of macrophages. However, its mechanism in liver fibrosis remains poorly defined. METHODS: Experimental liver fibrosis models in wild type and TREM2-/- mice, and in vitro studies with AML-12 cells and Raw264.7 cells were conducted. The expression of TREM2 and related molecular mechanism were evaluated by using samples from patients with liver fibrosis. RESULTS: We demonstrated that TREM2 was upregulated in murine model with liver fibrosis. Mice lacking TREM2 exhibited reduced phagocytosis activity in macrophages following carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) intoxication. As a result, there was an increased accumulation of necrotic apoptotic hepatocytes. Additionally, TREM2 knockout aggravated the release of mitochondrial damage-associated molecular patterns (mito-DAMPs) from dead hepatocytes during CCl4 exposure, and further promoted the occurrence of macrophage-mediated M1 polarization. Then, TREM2-/- mice showed more serious fibrosis pathological changes. In vitro, the necrotic apoptosis inhibitor GSK872 effectively alleviated the release of mito-DAMPs in AML-12 cells after CCl4 intoxication, which confirmed that mito-DAMPs originated from dead liver cells. Moreover, direct stimulation of Raw264.7 cells by mito-DAMPs from liver tissue can induce intracellular inflammatory response. More importantly, TREM2 was elevated and inflammatory factors were markedly accumulated surrounding dead cells in the livers of human patients with liver fibrosis. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights that TREM2 serves as a negative regulator of liver fibrosis, suggesting its potential as a novel therapeutic target.

Elevated intracellular Ca2+ functions downstream of mitodysfunction to induce Wallerian-like degeneration and necroptosis in organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy.

Neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds can induce a type of delayed neuropathy in humans and sensitive animals, known as organophosphorus-induced delayed neuropathy (OPIDN). OPIDN is characterized by axonal degeneration akin to Wallerian-like degeneration, which is thought to be caused by increased intra-axonal Ca2+ concentrations. This study was designed to investigate that deregulated cytosolic Ca2+ may function downstream of mitodysfunction in activating Wallerian-like degeneration and necroptosis in OPIDN. Adult hens were administrated a single dosage of 750 mg/kg tri-ortho-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), and then sacrificed at 1 day, 5 day, 10 day and 21 day post-exposure, respectively. Sciatic nerves and spinal cords were examined for pathological changes and proteins expression related to Wallerian-like degeneration and necroptosis. In vitro experiments using differentiated neuro-2a (N2a) cells were conducted to investigate the relationship among mitochondrial dysfunction, Ca2+ influx, axonal degeneration, and necroptosis. The cells were co-administered with the Ca2+-chelator BAPTA-AM, the TRPA1 channel inhibitor HC030031, the RIPK1 inhibitor Necrostatin-1, and the mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant MitoQ along with TOCP. Results demonstrated an increase in cytosolic calcium concentration and key proteins associated with Wallerian degeneration and necroptosis in both in vivo and in vitro models after TOCP exposure. Moreover, co-administration with BATPA-AM or HC030031 significantly attenuated the loss of NMNAT2 and STMN2 in N2a cells, as well as the upregulation of SARM1, RIPK1 and p-MLKL. In contrast, Necrostatin-1 treatment only inhibited the TOCP-induced elevation of p-MLKL. Notably, pharmacological protection of mitochondrial function with MitoQ effectively alleviated the increase in intracellular Ca2+ following TOCP and mitigated axonal degeneration and necroptosis in N2a cells, supporting mitochondrial dysfunction as an upstream event of the intracellular Ca2+ imbalance and neuronal damage in OPIDN. These findings suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction post-TOCP intoxication leads to an elevated intracellular Ca2+ concentration, which plays a pivotal role in the initiation and development of OPIDN through inducing SARM1-mediated axonal degeneration and activating the necroptotic signaling pathway.

High-fat diet exacerbates 1-Bromopropane-induced loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of mice through mitochondrial damage associated necroptotic pathway.

In recent years, accumulating evidence supports that occupational exposure to solvents is associated with an increased incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD) among workers. The neurotoxic effects of 1-bromopropane (1-BP), a widely used new-type solvent, are well-established, yet data on its relationship with the etiology of PD remain limited. Simultaneously, high-fat consumption in modern society is recognized as a significant risk factor for PD. However, whether there is a synergistic effect between a high-fat diet and 1-BP exposure remains unclear. In this study, adult C57BL/6 mice were fed either a chow or a high-fat diet for 18 weeks prior to 12-week 1-BP treatment. Subsequent neurobehavioral and neuropathological examinations were conducted to assess the effects of 1-BP exposure on parkinsonian pathology. The results demonstrated that 1-BP exposure produced obvious neurobehavioral abnormalities and dopaminergic degeneration in the nigral region of mice. Importantly, a high-fat diet further exacerbated the impact of 1-BP on motor and cognitive abnormalities in mice. Mechanistic investigation revealed that mitochondrial damage and mtDNA release induced by 1-BP and high-fat diet activate NLRP3 and cGAS-STING pathway- mediated neuroinflammatory response, and ultimately lead to necroptosis of dopaminergic neurons. In summary, our study unveils a potential link between chronic 1-BP exposure and PD-like pathology with motor and no-motor defects in experimental animals, and long-term high-fat diet can further promote 1-BP neurotoxicity, which underscores the pivotal role of environmental factors in the etiology of PD.

The neurotoxicity of organophosphorus flame retardant tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP): Main effects and its underlying mechanisms.

As a major alternative to the brominated flame retardants, the production and use of organophosphorus flame retardants (OPFRs) are increasing. And tris (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), one of the most widely used OPFRs, is now commonly found in a variety of products, such as building materials, furniture, bedding, electronic equipment, and baby products. TDCPP does not readily degrade in the water and tends to accumulate continuously in the environment. It has been detected in indoor dust, air, water, soil, and human samples. Considered as an emerging environmental pollutant, increasing studies have demonstrated its adverse effects on environmental organisms and human beings, with the nerve system identified as a sensitive target organ. This paper systematically summarized the progress of TDCPP application and its current exposure in the environment, with a focus on its neurotoxicity. In particular, we highlighted that TDCPP can be neurotoxic (including neurodevelopmentally toxic) to humans and animals, primarily through oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial damage, and epigenetic regulation. Additionally, this paper provided an outlook for further studies on neurotoxicity of TDCPP, as well as offered scientific evidence and clues for rational application of TDCPP in daily life and the prevention and control of its environmental impact in the future.

Cyclin-dependent Kinase 5 and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of diseases characterized by the progressive loss of neurons, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These diseases have a high incidence and mortality rate globally, placing a heavy burden on patients and their families. The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is complex, and there are no effective treatments at present. Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 is a proline-directed serine/threonine protein kinase that is closely related to the development and function of the nervous system. Under physiological conditions, it is involved in regulating the process of neuronal proliferation, differentiation, migration, and synaptic plasticity. Moreover, there is increasing evidence that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 also plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we address the biological characteristics of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and its role in neurodegenerative diseases. In particular, this review highlights the underlying mechanistic linkages between cyclin-dependent kinase 5 and mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in the context of neurodegeneration. Finally, we also summarize the currently available cyclin-dependent kinase 5 inhibitors and their prospects for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Taken together, a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of cyclin-dependent kinase 5 involved in neurodegenerative diseases can lead to the development of new strategies for the prevention and treatment of these devastating diseases.

Interactive transgenerational effects of parental co-exposure to prochloraz and chlorpyrifos: Disruption in multiple biological processes and induction of genotoxicity.

The application of different types of pesticides can result in the coexistence of multiple pesticide residues in our food and the environment. This can have detrimental effects on the health of offspring across generations when parents are exposed to these pesticides. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the long-term effects that can be inherited by future generations when assessing the risks associated with pesticides. To study the genotoxic effects of commonly used pesticides, prochloraz (PRO) and chlorpyrifos (CHL), and assess whether their combined exposures have a different toxic effect, we modeled the transgenerational effects of parental (F0-generation) and/or offspring (F1-generation) exposures on zebrafish embryos in the F1-generation. Following the exposures, we proceeded to assess the impacts of these exposures on a range of biological processes in F1-generation zebrafish. Our results revealed that exposure to PRO and CHL altered multiple biological processes, such as inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and thyroid hormone synthesis, and detoxification system, providing molecular targets for subsequent studies on toxicity mechanisms. Notably, our study also found that the biological processes of F1-generation zebrafish embryos were altered even though they were not exposed to any pesticide when F0-generation zebrafish were exposed to PRO or CHL, suggesting potential genotoxicity. In conclusion, we provided in-vivo evidence that parental exposure to PRO and/or CHL can induce genotoxicity in the offspring. Moreover, we observed that the toxic effects resulting from the combined exposure were interactive, suggesting a potential synergistic impact on the offspring.

Chronic di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate exposure at environmental-relevant doses induces osteoporosis by disturbing the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plastic additive with persistent characteristics in the environment. This study was designed to investigate the detrimental effects of chronic DEHP exposure at environmental-relevant doses on bone metabolism and the underlying mechanisms. It was found that exposure to 25 µg/kg bw and 50 µg/kg bw DEHP for 29 weeks led to a reduction of whole-body bone mineral density (BMD), femur microstructure damage, decreased femur new bone formation, and increased femur bone marrow adipogenesis in C57BL/6 female mice, which was not observed in mice exposed to 5000 µg/kg bw DEHP. Further in vitro study showed that DEHP treatment robustly promoted adipogenic differentiation and suppressed osteogenic differentiation of the bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Mechanistically, DEHP exposure resulted in elevated expressions of DYRK1B, CDK5, PPARγ, and p-PPARγSer273 in both bone tissue and BMSCs. Interestingly, co-IP analysis showed potential interactions among DYRK1B, PPARγ, and CDK5. Lastly, antagonists of DYRK1B and CDK5 effectively alleviated the BMSCs differentiation disturbance induced by DEHP. These results suggest that DEHP may disturb the BMSCs differentiation by upregulating the PPARγ signaling which may be associated with the activation of DYRK1B and CDK5.

Aberrant mitochondrial aggregation of TDP-43 activated mitochondrial unfolded protein response and contributed to recovery of acetaminophen induced acute liver injury.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key pathological event in the acute liver injury following the overdose of acetaminophen (APAP). Calpain is the calcium-dependent protease, recent studies demonstrate that it is involved in the impairment of mitochondrial dynamics. The mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPRmt) is commonly activated in the context of mitochondrial damage following pathological insults and contributes to the maintenance of the mitochondrial quality control through regulating a wide range of gene expression. More importantly, it is reported that abnormal aggregation of TDP-43 in mitochondria induced the activation of UPRmt. However, whether it is involved in APAP induced-hepatotoxicity remains unclear. In the present study, C57/BL6 mice were given 300 mg/kg APAP to establish a time-course model of acute liver injury. Furthermore, Calpeptin, the specific inhibiter of calpains, was used to conduct the intervention experiment. Our results showed, APAP exposure produced severe liver injury. Moreover, TDP-43 was obviously accumulated within mitochondria whereas mitochondrial protease LonP1 was significantly decreased. However, these changes exhibited significant recovery at 48 h. By contrast, the mitochondrial protease ClpP and chaperone mtHSP70 and HSP60 were consistently increased, which supported the UPRmt was activated to promote protein homeostasis. Further investigation revealed that calpain-mediated cleavage of TDP-43 could promote the accumulation of TDP-43 in mitochondria compartment, thereby facilitating the activation of UPRmt. Additionally, Calpeptin pretreatment not only protected against APAP-induced liver injury, but also suppressed the formation of TDP-43 aggregates and the activation of UPRmt. Taken together, our findings indicated that in APAP-induced acute liver injury, calpain-mediated cleavage of TDP43 caused its aberrant aggregation on the mitochondria. As a stress-protective response, the induction of UPRmt contributed to the recovery of mitochondrial function.

Carbon disulfide induces accumulation of TDP-43 in the cytoplasm and mitochondrial dysfunction in rat spinal cords.

The relationship between environmental neurotoxicant exposure and neurodegenerative diseases is being extensively investigated. Carbon disulfide, a classic neurotoxicant and prototype of dithiocarbamates fungicides and anti-inflammatory agents, has been detected in urban adults, raising questions about whether exposure to carbon disulfide is associated with a high incidence of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, using rat models and SH-SY5Y cells, we investigated the possible mechanistic linkages between carbon disulfide neurotoxicity and the expression of TDP-43 protein, a marker of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Our results showed that rats exhibited severe dyskinesia and increased TDP-43 expression in the spinal cord following carbon disulfide exposure. Moreover, carbon disulfide exposure induced abnormal cytoplasmic localization and phosphorylation of TDP-43 in motor neurons. Importantly, carbon disulfide treatment led to the accumulation of TDP-43 in the mitochondria of motor neurons and resulted in subsequent mitochondrial damage, including mitochondrial structural disruption, mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I inhibition, and impaired VCP/p97-dependent mitophagy. In summary, our study provides support for carbon disulfide exposure-mediated TDP-43 mislocalization and mitochondrial dysfunction, contributes to understanding the pathogenesis of environmental neurotoxin-induced neurodegeneration, and provides inspiration for potential therapeutic strategies.

Deregulated mitochondrial quality control, the heel of Achilles in elucidating the role of autophagy in SARM1-mediated axon degeneration.

Autophagic dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases is being extensively studied, yet the exact mechanism of macroautophagy/autophagy in axon degeneration is still elusive. A recent study by Kim et al. links autophagic stress to the sterile α and toll/interleukin 1 receptor motif containing protein 1 (SARM1)-dependent core axonal degeneration program, providing a new insight into the role of autophagy in axon degeneration. In the classical Wallerian axon degeneration model of axotomy, disruption of axonal transport destroys the coordinated activity of pro-survival and pro-degenerative factors in the axoplasm and activates the NADase activity of SARM1, thus triggering the axonal self-destruction program. However, the mechanism for SARM1 activation in the chronic neurodegenerative disorders is more complex. Mitochondrial defects and oxidative stress contribute to the activation of SARM1, while mitophagy can inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction and promote the clearance of SARM1 on mitochondria, thus protecting against neuronal degeneration. Therefore, in-depth elucidation of the underlying mechanisms of mitophagy during axonal degeneration can help develop promising strategies for the prevention and treatment of various neurodegenerative disorders.

High-fat diet exacerbated motor dysfunction via necroptosis and neuroinflammation in acrylamide-induced neurotoxicity in mice.

Health risks associated with acrylamide (ACR) or high-fat diet (HFD) exposure alone have been widely concerned in recent years. In a realistic situation, ACR and HFD are generally co-existence, and both are risk factors for the development of neurological diseases. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the combined effects of ACR and HFD on the motor nerve function. As a result, neurobehavioral tests and Nissl staining disclosed that long-term HFD exacerbated motor dysfunction and the damage of spinal cord motor neurons in ACR-exposed mice. Co-exposure of ACR and HFD resulted in morphological changes in neuronal mitochondria of the spinal cord, a significantly reduced mitochondrial subunits NDUFS1, UQCRC2, and MTCO1, released the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) into the cytoplasm, and promoted the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Combined exposure of HFD and ACR activated the calpain/CDK5/Drp1 axis and caused the mitochondrial excessive division, ultimately increasing MLKL-mediated necroptosis in spinal cord motor neurons. Meanwhile, HFD significantly exacerbated ACR-induced activation of NFkB, NLRP3 inflammasome, and cGAS-STING pathway. Taken together, our findings demonstrated that combined exposure of ACR and HFD aggravated the damage of spinal cord motor neurons via neuroinflammation and necroptosis signaling pathway, pointing to additive effects in mice than the individual stress effects.

Chronic carbon disulfide exposure induces parkinsonian pathology via α-synuclein aggregation and necrosome complex interaction.

Exposure to carbon disulfide (CS2) has been associated with an increased incidence of parkinsonism in workers, but the mechanism underlying this association remains unclear. Using a rat model, we investigated the effects of chronic CS2 exposure on parkinsonian pathology. Our results showed that CS2 exposure leads to significant motor impairment and neuronal damage, including loss of dopaminergic neurons and degeneration of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). The immunoassays revealed that exposure to CS2 induces aggregation of α-synuclein and phosphorylated α-synuclein, as well as activation of necroptosis in the SNpc. Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that the interaction between α-synuclein and the necrosome complex (RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL) is responsible for the loss of neuronal cells after CS2 exposure. Taken together, our results demonstrate that CS2-mediated α-synuclein aggregation can induce dopaminergic neuron damage and parkinsonian behavior through interaction with the necrosome complex.

Mitochondrial oxidative stress regulates LonP1-TDP-43 pathway and rises mitochondrial damage in carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis.

Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-mediated liver damage has been well recognized, but the sources and mechanisms of mitochondrial damage during this progress still remain poorly understood. Accumulating evidence has revealed that LonP1-TDP-43 pathway affect proper mitochondrial integrity and function in neurodegenerative diseases. The current study aims to investigate whether mitochondrial oxidative stress regulate LonP1-TDP-43 pathway and the possible roles of this pathway in CCl4-driven liver fibrosis. We found that TDP-43 interacted with LonP1 in chronic CCl4 exposure-induced hepatic fibrogenesis. Moreover, CCl4 led to deficiency of LonP1 and excessive accumulation of TDP-43 on mitochondria. Particularly, the gene correlation analysis for liver fibrosis patients RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) results (GSE159676) showed an obvious negative correlation between LonP1 and TDP-43. By contrast, MitoQ enhanced the occurrence of mitochondrial unfolded protein response (mtUPR), especially the activation of LonP1 after CCl4 treatment. Importantly, mitochondrial antioxidant also promoted the degradation of TDP-43 and alleviated mitochondrial damage. In addition, our results showed that CCl4 induced the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and effectively elevated cGAS-STING-mediated immune response, which can be inhibited by MitoQ. Finally, MitoQ prevented CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Together, our study revealed that LonP1-TDP-43 pathway mediated by mitochondrial oxidative stress participated in the progress of CCl4-drived liver fibrosis. Therefore, mitigating or reversing mitochondrial damage through targeting LonP1-TDP-43 pathway may serve as a promising therapeutic strategy for CCl4 exposure-induced liver diseases.

Mitophagy suppresses motor neuron necroptotic mitochondrial damage and alleviates necroptosis that converges to SARM1 in acrylamide-induced dying-back neuropathy.

Acrylamide (ACR), a common industrial ingredient that is also found in many foodstuffs, induces dying-back neuropathy in humans and animals. However, the mechanisms remain poorly understood. Sterile alpha and toll/interleukin 1 receptor motif-containing protein 1 (SARM1) is the central determinant of axonal degeneration and has crosstalk with different cell death programs to determine neuronal survival. Herein, we illustrated the role of SARM1 in ACR-induced dying-back neuropathy. We further demonstrated the upstream programmed cell death mechanism of this SARM1-dependent process. Spinal cord motor neurons that were induced to overexpress SARM1 underwent necroptosis rather than apoptosis in ACR neuropathy. Mechanically, non-canonical necroptotic pathways mediated mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and mitochondrial fission. What's more, the final executioner of necroptosis, phosphorylation-activated mixed lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), aggregated in mitochondrial fractions. Rapamycin intervention removed the impaired mitochondria, inhibited necroptosis for axon maintenance and neuronal survival, and alleviated ACR neuropathy. Our work clarified the functional links among mitophagy, necroptosis, and SARM1-dependent axonal destruction during ACR intoxication, providing novel therapeutic targets for dying-back neuropathies.

Increased IP3R-3 degradation induced by acrylamide promoted Ca2+-dependent calpain activation and axon damage in rats.

Occupational and environmental exposure to acrylamide (ACR) can cause selective peripheral and central nerve fiber degeneration. IP3R-3 is an important transmembrane Ca2+ channel on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), previous studies have found that ACR could induce Ca2+-dependent calpain activation and axon injury, but the exact role of IP3R-3 in ACR neuropathy is still unclear. Here we show that ACR exposure (40 mg/kg) markedly increased the ubiquitination of IP3R-3 in rat spinal cords, and promoted the degradation of IP3R-3 through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Furthermore, the normal structure of ER, especially the mitochondrial associated membranes (MAMs) component, was significantly impaired in ACR neuropathy, and the ER stress pathway was activated, which indicated that the aberrant increase of cytoplasmic Ca2+ could be attributed the destruction of IP3R-3. Further investigation demonstrated that the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 effectively rescued the IP3R-3 loss, attenuated the intracellular Ca2+ increase, and reduced the axon loss of Neuron 2a (N2a) cells following ACR exposure. Moreover, the calpain inhibitor ALLN also reduced the loss of IP3R-3 and axon injury in N2a cells, but did not alleviate the Ca2+ increase in cytosol, supporting that the abnormal ubiquitination of IP3R-3 was the upstream of the cellular Ca2+ rise and axon damage in ACR neuropathy. Taken together, our results suggested that the aberrant IP3R-3 degradation played an important role in the disturbance of Ca2+ homeostasis and the downstream axon loss in ACR neuropathy, thus providing a potential therapeutic target for ACR neurotoxicity.

Role of macrophage AHR/TLR4/STAT3 signaling axis in the colitis induced by non-canonical AHR ligand aflatoxin B1.

Here we report that macrophage AHR/TLR/STAT signaling axis is implicated in the colon colitis induced by non-canonical AHR ligand aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). In BALB/c mice gavaged with 5, 25 and 50 µg/kg body weight/day AFB1, we observed severe colitis featured by over-recruitment of myeloid lineage immune cells such as monocytes/macrophage in colon lamina propria. Stressed and damaged colon epithelial cells were observed in low-dose group, while twisted and shortened intestinal crypts being found in middle dose group. Severe tissue damage was induced in the high-dose group. Dose-dependent increases of ROS, NO, and decrease of mitochondrial ROS-suppressor STAT3 were observed in the exposure groups. Further investigation in AFB1-treated human macrophage model found: (1) functional adaptations such as elevation of TNF-alpha and IL-6 secretion, stimulation of phagocytosis, elevation of LTE4 level; (2) overall inflammatory status confirmed by RNA-sequence analysis, in line with up-regulation of immune functional proteins such as ICAM-1, IDO-1, NF-kB-p65, NLRP3, COX-2 and iNOS; (3) mRNA disruption of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation complex I units and STATs; (4) perturbation of AHR/TLR/STAT3 signaling axis, including elevated AHR, TLR2, TLR4, and decreased STAT3, p-STAT3 Ser727. Mechanism investigation revealed regulatory links of ligand-dependent AHR/TLR4/STAT3. AHR-TLR4 together regulate MyD88, and STAT3 may be directly regulated by MyD88 (TLR4 downstream molecule) upon AHR/TLR4 binding with ligands. Solely protein level changes of AHR/TLR4 cannot regulate STAT3. Our study suggests that macrophage AHR/TLR4/STAT3 is involved with the colitis induced by sub-acute exposure to AFB1. Future follow-up study will focus on the intervention of the colitis using AHR-anti-inflammatory ligands.

Long-term exposure to low-dose Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate aggravated high fat diet-induced obesity in female mice.

The potential obesogenic roles of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) have attracted great attention. The current study aimed to evaluate the combined effects of chronic low-dose DEHP (0.05 mg/kg BW) and a high-fat diet (HFD) on obesity in female mice and explore the underlying mechanisms. We found that low-dose DEHP challenge for 29 weeks increased fat accumulation both in CD- and HFD-fed mice and significantly accelerated the weight gain without affecting food intake in HFD-fed mice. DEHP exposure reduced the energy metabolism, down-regulated the uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and total oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) proteins expression in the brown adipose tissue, and up-regulated the PPARγ expression and its phosphorylation at Ser273 in white adipose tissue (WAT). Besides, the combination of DEHP and HFD drove the remodeling of gut microbiota of mice, characterized by the reduced richness and diversity and the elevated Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analysis revealed that DEHP and HFD cotreatment led to a decrease in levels of acetic acid, butyric acid, and pentanoic acid. Interestingly, sodium butyrate (NaB) significantly inhibited the adipogenesis and lipid accumulation of NIH/3T3 mouse embryonic fibroblasts (PPARγ2 overexpression) and the PPARγ phosphorylation at Ser273 induced by DEHP or MEHP. These findings demonstrate that chronic low-dose DEHP challenge could prompt fat accumulation by increasing PPARγ phosphorylation at Ser273 and decreasing thermogenesis in BAT, which might be associated with the SCFAs reduction.

Mitochondrial dysfunction promotes the necroptosis of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum of acrylamide-exposed rats.

Acrylamide (ACR) is a common neurotoxicant that can induce central-peripheral neuropathy in human beings. ACR from occupational setting and foods poses a potential threat to people's health. Purkinje cells are the only efferent source of cerebellum, and their output is responsible for coordinating motor activity. Recent studies have reported that Purkinje cell injury is one of the earliest neurotoxicity at any dose rate of ACR. However, the mechanism underlying ACR-mediated damage to Purkinje cells remains unclear. This research aimed to investigate whether necroptosis is involved in ACR-induced Purkinje cell death and its regulatory mechanism. In this study, rats were treated with ACR (40 mg/kg/every other day) for 6 weeks to establish an animal model of ACR neuropathy. Furthermore, an intervention experiment was achieved by rapamycin (RAPA), which is commonly used to activate mitophagy and maintain mitochondrial homeostasis. The results demonstrated ACR exposure caused necroptosis of Purkinje cells, mitochondrial dysfunction, and inflammatory response. By contrast, RAPA alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibited activation of necroptosis signaling pathway following ACR. In conclusion, our findings suggest that mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of necroptotic signaling are associated with the loss of Purkinje cells in ACR poisoning, which can be a potential therapeutic target for ACR neurotoxicity.