Deciphering the Effects of 2D Black Phosphorus on Disrupted Hematopoiesis and Pulmonary Immune Homeostasis Using a Developed Flow Cytometry Method.

As an emerging two-dimensional nanomaterial with promising prospects, mono- or few-layer black phosphorus (BP) is potentially toxic to humans. We investigated the effects of two types of BPs on adult male mice through intratracheal instillation. Using the flow cytometry method, the generation, migration, and recruitment of immune cells in different organs have been characterized on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 post-exposure. Compared with small BP (S-BP, lateral size at ∼188 nm), large BP (L-BP, lateral size at ∼326 nm) induced a stronger stress lymphopoiesis and B cell infiltration into the alveolar sac. More importantly, L-BP dramatically increased peripheral neutrophil (NE) counts up to 1.9-fold on day 21 post-exposure. Decreased expression of the CXCR4 on NEs, an important regulator of NE retention in the bone marrow, explained the increased NE release into the circulation induced by L-BP. Therefore, BP triggers systemic inflammation via the disruption of both the generation and migration of inflammatory immune cells.

The Interaction of Isoflavone Phytoestrogens with ERα and ERß by Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: Isoflavone phytoestrogens, commonly present in natural plants, are closely related to human health. The combination of them with estrogen receptors in the body can play an important role in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and menopausal diseases. This research is conducted for the wider application of isoflavone phytoestrogens in various fields. METHODS: In this study, molecular docking studies and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore the affinities and interaction between three typical isoflavone phytoestrogens and estrogen receptors (ERα and ERß), respectively. RESULTS: Molecular docking results showed that the affinity of genistein, daidzein, and formononetin was different, and the ligand structures and hydrogen bonds force were the main factors affecting the binding abilities. CONCLUSION: The calculation of the binding free energy shows the stability of the complex and the contribution of various interactions to the binding free energy. The decomposition of binding free energy indicates that van der Waals interaction and electrostatic interaction promote the binding of the complex, which are in agreement with the docking studies.

Developmental Toxicity of Few-Layered Black Phosphorus toward Zebrafish.

Black phosphorus (BP) has extensive applications in various fields. The release of BP into aquatic ecosystems and the potential toxic effects on aquatic organisms are becoming major concerns. Here, we investigated the developmental toxicity of few-layered BP toward the zebrafish. We found that BP could adsorb on the surface of the chorion and could subsequently penetrate within the embryo. After exposure of embryos to 10 mg/L BP, developmental malformations appeared at 96 hpf, especially heart deformities such as pericardial edema and bradycardia, accompanied by severe circulatory system failure. Using transgenic zebrafish larvae, we further characterized cardiovascular defects with cardiac enlargement and impaired cardiac vessels as indicators of damage to the cardiovascular system upon BP exposure. We performed transcriptomic analysis on zebrafish embryos treated with a lower concentration of 2 mg/L. The results showed disruption in genes associated with muscle development, oxygen involved processes, focal adhesion, and VEGF and MAPK signaling pathways. These alterations also indicated that BP carries a risk of developmental perturbation at lower concentrations. This study provides new insights into the effects of BP on aquatic organisms.