PM2.5 induces developmental neurotoxicity in cortical organoids.

There is mounting evidence implicating the potential neurotoxic effects of PM2.5 during brain development, as it has been observed to traverse both the placental barrier and the fetal blood-brain barrier. However, the current utilization of 2D cell culture and animal models falls short in providing an accurate representation of human brain development. Consequently, the precise mechanisms underlying PM2.5-induced developmental neurotoxicity in humans remain obscure. To address this research gap, we constructed three-dimensional (3D) cortical organoids that faithfully recapitulate the initial stages of human cerebral cortex development. Our goal is to investigate the mechanisms of PM2.5-induced neurotoxicity using 3D brain organoids that express cortical layer proteins. Our findings demonstrate that exposure to PM2.5 concentrations of 5 µg/mL and 50 µg/mL induces neuronal apoptosis and disrupts normal neural differentiation, thereby suggesting a detrimental impact on neurodevelopment. Furthermore, transcriptomic analysis revealed PM2.5 exposure induced aberrations in mitochondrial complex I functionality, which is reminiscent of Parkinson's syndrome, potentially mediated by misguided axon guidance and compromised synaptic maintenance. This study is a pioneering assessment of the neurotoxicity of PM2.5 pollution on human brain tissues based on 3D cortical organoids, and the results are of great significance in guiding the formulation of the next air pollution prevention and control policies in China to achieve the sustainable improvement of air quality and to formulate pollution abatement strategies that can maximize the benefits to public health.

The effects and underlying mechanism of excessive iodide on excessive fluoride-induced thyroid cytotoxicity.

In many regions, excessive fluoride and excessive iodide coexist in groundwater, which may lead to biphasic hazards to human thyroid. To explore fluoride-induced thyroid cytotoxicity and the mechanism underlying the effects of excessive iodide on fluoride-induced cytotoxicity, a thyroid cell line (Nthy-ori 3-1) was exposed to excessive fluoride and/or excessive iodide. Cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, apoptosis, and the expression levels of inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) pathway-related molecules were detected. Fluoride and/or iodide decreased cell viability and increased LDH leakage and apoptosis. ROS, the expression levels of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), IRE1, C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), and spliced X-box-binding protein-1 (sXBP-1) were enhanced by fluoride or the combination of the two elements. Collectively, excessive fluoride and excessive iodide have detrimental influences on human thyroid cells. Furthermore, an antagonistic interaction between fluoride and excessive iodide exists, and cytotoxicity may be related to IRE1 pathway-induced apoptosis.

Protocatechuic acid inhibits apoptosis by mitochondrial dysfunction in rotenone-induced PC12 cells.

Protocatechuic acid (PCA), a phenolic compound isolated from the kernels of Alpinia (A.) oxyphylla, showed the significant neuroprotective effects on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or MPP+-induced apoptosis in cultured PC12 cells. However, the mechanism how PCA suppresses rotenone-induced neurotoxicity in cultured PC12 cells remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of PCA in PC12 cells exposed to rotenone as an in vitro model of mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic cell death. The apoptosis in rotenone-induced PC12 cells was accompanied by the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the total glutathione depletion, activation of caspase-3 and down-regulation of Bcl-2. In contrast, PCA markedly attenuated the above-mentioned mitochondrial dysfunction in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that treatment of PC12 cells with PCA can block rotenone-induced apoptosis via ameliorating the mitochondrial dysfunction.