Lycopene ameliorates DEHP exposure-induced renal pyroptosis through the Nrf2/Keap-1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 axis.

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is commonly used as a plasticizer in plastic products, and due to its unique chemical composition, it frequently dissolves and enters the environment. Lycopene as a natural carotenoid has been shown to have powerful antioxidant capacity and strong kidney protection. This study aimed to investigate the role of the interplay between oxidative stress and the classical pyroptosis pathway in LYC alleviating DEHP-induced renal injury. ICR mice were given DEHP (500 mg/kg/d or 1000 mg/kg/d) and/or LYC (5 mg/kg/d) for 28 days to explore the underlying mechanisms of this hypothesis. Our results indicated that DEHP caused the shedding of renal tubular epithelial cells, increased the content of kidney injury molecule-1 (Kim-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in the tissue, the decrease of antioxidant activity markers and the increase of oxidative stress indexes. It is gratifying that LYC alleviates DEHP-induced renal injury. The expression of nuclear factor erythrocyte 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its downstream target genes is improved in DEHP induced renal injury through LYC mediated protection. Meanwhile, LYC supplementation can inhibit DEHP-induced Caspase-1/NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis and inflammatory responses. Taken together, DEHP administration resulted in nephrotoxicity, but these changes ameliorated by LYC may through crosstalk between the Nrf2/Keap-1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 pathway. Our study provides new evidence that LYC protects against kidney injury caused by DEHP.

Effects of alkaline mineral complex water supplementation on growth performance, inflammatory response, and intestinal barrier function in weaned piglets.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of drinking water alkaline mineral complex (AMC) supplementation on growth performance, intestinal morphology, inflammatory response, immunity, antioxidant defense system, and barrier functions in weaned piglets. In a 15-d trial, 240 weaned piglets (9.35 ± 0.86 kg) at 28 d of age (large white × landrace × Duroc) were randomly divided into two groups: the control (Con) group and the AMC group. Drinking water AMC supplementation improved (P < 0.01) final body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) in weaned piglets compared to the Con group. Importantly, AMC reduced (P < 0.01) the feed-to-gain (F:G) ratio. AMC water improved the physical health conditions of piglets under weaning stress, as reflected by the decreased (P < 0.05) hair score and conjunctival score. Moreover, there was no significant (P > 0.05) difference in relatively small intestinal length, organ (liver, spleen, and kidney) indices, or gastrointestinal pH value in weaned piglets between the two groups. Of note, AMC significantly promoted the microvilli numbers in the small intestine and effectively ameliorated the gut morphology damage induced by weaning stress, as evidenced by the increased (P < 0.05) villous height (VH) and ratio of VH to crypt depth. Additionally, AMC lessened the levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, P < 0.01) and the contents of IL1ß (P<0.05), and TNF-α (P<0.05) in the weaned piglet small intestine. Conversely, the gut immune barrier marker, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels in serum and small intestine mucosa were elevated after AMC water treatment (P < 0.01). Furthermore, AMC elevated the antioxidant mRNA levels of (P < 0.05) SOD 1-2, (P < 0.01) CAT, and (P < 0.01) GPX 1-2 in the small intestine. Likewise, the mRNA levels of the small intestine tight junction factors Occludin (P < 0.01), ZO-1 (P < 0.05), Claudin 2 (P < 0.01), and Claudin 5 (P<0.01) in the AMC treatment group were notably higher than those in the Con group. In conclusion, drinking water AMC supplementation has an accelerative effect on growth performance by elevating gut health by improving intestinal morphology, the inflammatory response, the antioxidant defense system, and barrier function in weaned piglets.

The piglet suffers vital physiological, environmental, and social challenges when it is weaned from the sow that can predispose the piglet to subsequent diseases and other production losses, and these challenges are responsible for serious economic losses to the swine industry. Weaning stress induces intestinal injury, decreased immunity, and digestive system dysfunction, which then reduces feed intake and inhibits the growth performance of piglets. It is well known that alternatives to antibiotics for preventing weaning stress in weaned farm animals are sorely needed. The biologically beneficial effects of alkaline mineral water are widely reported. Alkaline mineral complex (AMC), as an immunomodulator, is considered to have antistress effects in the swine industry. In addition, treatment through drinking water is considered to be an efficient and low-cost feasible disease control strategy. Drinking water AMC supplementation is expected to exert health benefits in pigs; however, the responses of weaned piglets to water supplemented with AMC have not been fully explored. Thus, this study explored the effects of drinking water AMC supplementation on growth performance and gut health in weaned piglets. Our results showed that AMC water supplementation conspicuously enhanced the growth performance by improving the gut health.

Lycopene alleviates di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced splenic injury by activating P62-Keap1-NRF2 signaling.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is an omnipresent environmental pollutant. It has been determined that DEHP is involved in multiple health disorders. Lycopene (Lyc) is a natural carotenoid pigment, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. However, it is not clear whether Lyc can protect the spleen from DEHP-induced oxidative damage. A total of 140 mice were randomly divided into seven groups (n = 20) and continuously gavaged with corn oil, distilled water, DEHP (500 or 1000 mg/kg BW/day) and/or Lyc (5 mg/kg BW/day) for 28 days. Histopathological and ultrastructural results showed a DEHP-induced inflammatory response and mitochondrial injuries. Moreover, DEHP exposure induced redox imbalance, which resulted in the up-regulation of ROS activity and MDA content, and the down-regulation of T-AOC, T-SOD and CAT in the DEHP groups. Simultaneously, our results also demonstrated that DEHP-induced kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) expression was downregulated, and the expression levels of P62, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (NRF2) and their downstream target genes were up-regulated. However, the supplementary Lyc reverted these changes to normal levels. Together, Lyc prevented DEHP-induced splenic injuries by regulating the P62-Keap1-NRF2 signaling pathway. Hence, the protective effects of Lyc might be a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate DEHP-induced splenic damage.

Lycopene attenuates di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced mitophagy in spleen by regulating the sirtuin3-mediated pathway.

Lycopene (Lyc) has been discussed as a potential effector in the prevention and therapy of various diseases. Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is regarded as a universal environmental pollutant. To clarify the potential protective effect of Lyc on DEHP-induced splenic injury, 140 male mice were randomized into seven groups: control (distilled water), vehicle control (corn oil per day), Lyc (5 mg per kg BW per day), DEHP (500 or 1000 mg per kg BW per day), and DEHP combined Lyc group, respectively. All experimental animals were treated by oral gavage for 28 days. The results that showed DEHP exposure significantly up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of the sirtuin family (except SIRT4-5), PGC-1α, OPA1, Drp1, MFN1/2, NRF1, TFAM, Parkin and PINK in DEHP-treated alone groups and the SOD2 and LC3-II protein expression were also in accordance with the above changes. These were accompanied with an increase of the number of inflammatory cells and rate of mitochondrial damage, and autophagosome formation in the spleen. Notably, Lyc supplementation facilitated all these changes to effectively return to the normal level, indicating that Lyc exerts protective effects against DEHP-induced splenic toxicity. Altogether, the protective effects of Lyc may be a strategy to ameliorate DEHP-induced spleen damage.

Potential Role of Lycopene in the Inhibition of Di(2-ethylhexyl) Phthalate-Induced Ferroptosis in Spleen Via Modulation of Iron Ion Homeostasis.

Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a synthetic chemical and widely used as a plasticizer. Humans can be exposed to DEHP through direct contact or environmental contamination. Lycopene (Lyc) has been discussed as a potential effector in the prevention and therapy of various diseases. 140 male mice were assigned into control, vehicle control, Lyc (5 mg/kg BW/d), DEHP (500 and 1000 mg/kg BW/d, respectively), and DEHP + Lyc groups and treated with an oral gavage that lasted 28 d. The ultrastructural results showed that DEHP induced pathological changes and mitochondrial injuries. We further revealed that DEHP exposure destroyed the Fe2+ imbalance homeostasis and, consequently, increases of lipid peroxidation and inhibition of cysteine/glutamate antiporter, all of which were involved in the process of ferroptsis. Moreover, the supplementation of Lyc significantly inhibited the ferroptsis changes mentioned above. Altogether, these results indicated that DEHP exposure triggered splenic cell death via ferroptosis; meanwhile, they also shed new evidence on a potential clue for the intervention and prevention of DEHP-related diseases.