Multi-organ toxicity induced by fine particulate matter PM2.5 in zebrafish (Danio rerio) model.

ABSTRACT

The fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in air pollution is a major public health concern and now known to contribute to severe diseases, therefore, a comprehensive understanding of PM2.5-induced adverse effects in living organisms is needed urgently. This study was aimed to evaluate the toxicity of PM2.5 on multi-organ systems in a zebrafish (Danio rerio) model. The embryonic toxicity induced by PM2.5 was demonstrated by an increase in mortality and inhibition of hatching rate, in a dose- and time-dependent manner. PM2.5 caused the pericardial edema, as well as reducing heart rate and cardiac output. The area of sub-intestinal vessels (SIVs) was significant reduced in Tg(fli-1EGFP) transgenic zebrafish lines. Morphological defects and yolk sac retention were associated with hepatocyte injury. In addition, PM2.5 disrupted the axonal integrity, altering of axon length and pattern in Tg(NBTEGFP) transgenic lines. Genes involved in cardiac function (spaw, supt6h, cmlc1), angiogenesis (vegfr2a, vegfr2b), and neural function (gabrd, chrna3, npy8br) were markedly down-regulated; while genes linked to hepatic metabolism (cyp1a, cyp1b1, cyp1c1) were significantly up-regulated by PM2.5. In summary, our data showed that PM2.5 induced the cardiovascular toxicity, hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity in zebrafish, suggested that PM2.5 could cause multi-organ toxicity in aquatic organism.