Toxicity of 4-methylimidazole on isolated brain mitochondria: using both in vivo and in vitro methods

4-methylimidazole (4MI) is a compound widely used in various industrial and consumer applications. The most important sources of exposure include chemical caramel coloring, ammoniated molasses, dyes and pigments, rube, cleaning and agricultural chemicals. Toxicity attributed to 4MI in foods has recently become a focus of research. Recent studies showed that 4MI induced adverse changes in various target tissues. Brain is known to be a target organ for 4MI-induced toxicity but its cytotoxic mechanisms have not yet been elucidated. In this study, experiments were divided into two parts: (1) using in vivo methodology, doses of 4MI at 100, 200, or 300 mg/kg were administered orally to mice daily for 14 to obtain brain mitochondria; and (2) utilizing in vitro methodology, brain mitochondria were incubated with 4MI at 400, 800, or 1600 μM concentrations. Subsequently, the neurotoxicity of 4MI was assessed using mitochondrial dysfunction tests, including reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse, mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release. Our results from both in vivo and in vitro experiments on isolated brain mitochondria showed a significant decrease in complex II activity and also marked elevation in the ROS formation, MMP collapse, mitochondrial swelling, and enhanced release of cytochrome c. Data indicated that 4MI induced neurotoxicity through the impairment of electron transfer chain especially at complex II and elevated ROS formation leading to subsequent oxidative stress events including mitochondrial membrane depolarization, mitochondrial swelling, and release of cytochrome c, which is the starting point of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis signaling and neurodegeneration.     

Deactivation of mycotoxins. I. An in vitro study of zearalenone adsorption on new polymeric adsorbents

Abstract

This study describes the elimination of zearalenone concentrations in vitro using two new polymeric forms of cross‐linked polyvinylpyrrolidone (cryogels of cross‐linked PVP). Adsorption of zearalenone was studied under isothermal conditions and simulating pH of intestinal environment. A Freundlich isotherm was used to describe the adsorption data obtained. The results showed significant decrease of zearalenone concentrations, ranging from 33.5–66.2 % per 25 mg of polymer. Adsorption capacity (k) was estimated to be higher than that of previously tested adsorbents, including crospovidone. The data indicate the need to investigate structure peculiarities in order to improve mycotoxin deactivation procedures using PVP derivatives.     

Development of a standardized in vitro approach to evaluate microphysical, chemical, and toxicological properties of combustion-derived fine and ultrafine particles

Ultrafine particles represent a growing concern in the public health community but their precise role in many illnesses is still unknown. This lack of knowledge is related to the experimental difficulty in linking their biological effects to their multiple properties, which are important determinants of toxicity. Our aim is to propose an interdisciplinary approach to study fine(FP) and ultrafine(UFP) particles, generated in a controlled manner using a mini CAST(Combustion Aerosol Standard) soot ...     

In Vitro Biodegradation of Polyester-Based Plastic Materials by Selected Bacterial Cultures

A simple and rapid in vitro test was designed for the assessment of the biodegradation of polyester-based plastics by selected biodegrading bacterial strains. Variovorax paradoxus LMG 16137 was used for the degradation of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and Acidovorax avenae subsp. avenae LMG 17238 fo the synthetic-based polyesters poly(-caprolactone) (PCL), poly(butylene succinate-co-butylene adipate), and a starch-PCL blend. Degradation by the bacteria was studied in liquid medium with the plastics (films, granules, and injection-molded test bars) as sole sources of carbon. Degradation was followed through gravimetry, growth of the culture, and tensile testing. The effects of incubation time, inoculum density, aeration, incubation temperature, and pH of the medium on the mass loss were investigated and conditions optimized. The test allowed to obtain reproducible results on the mass loss of plastic samples in less than 3 weeks and yielded excellent partially degraded samples for further analysis.     

甲醛致DNA-蛋白质交联作用及其修复的研究

为了探讨甲醛致生物机体DNA-蛋白质交联作用及其修复能力,以昆明纯系小鼠和人肝癌细胞系HepG2为实验材料分别进行体内和体外实验,采用KCl-SDS沉淀法来检测甲醛染毒后小鼠肝细胞和HepG2细胞中DNA-蛋白质交联的含量及其修复效果.体内实验结果表明,低浓度的气态甲醛(0.5 mg·m-3)不能引起DNA-蛋白质的交联,较高浓度的甲醛(1.0 mg·m-3,3.0 mg·m-3,p＜0.01)可以产生明显的DNA-蛋白质交联作用;由3.0 mg·m-3浓度的气态甲醛产生的DNA-蛋白质交联在12h内可以得到明显的修复,并在24 h内恢复到空白对照水平.体外实验结果表明,经低浓度液态甲醛(25 μmol·L-1和50μmol·L-1)处理后,HepG2细胞内的DPC系数虽然稍有变化,但是与空白对照组相比较无显著差异,而当甲醛浓度上升至75 μmol·L-1及以上时,细胞中的DPC系数出现了极显著上升(p＜0.01);采用75 μmol·L-1甲醛染毒HepG2细胞,在染毒18h和24 h后,细胞内的DPC水平较染毒结束时发生了极显著的下降(p＜0.01),且与空白对照组相比无显著差异.以上结果显示,低浓度的甲醛不能引起DNA-蛋白质的交联,较高浓度的甲醛可以引起明显的DNA-蛋白质的交联作用,且甲醛所致的DNA-蛋白质交联在体内修复比体外修复所需时间要短.     

MODELKEY. Models for assessing and forecasting the impact of environmental key pollutants on freshwater and marine ecosystems and biodiversity (5 pp)

BACKGROUND: Triggered by the requirement of Water Framework Directive for a good ecological status for European river systems till 2015 and by still existing lacks in tools for cause identification of insufficient ecological status MODELKEY (http:// www.modelkey.org), an Integrated Project with 26 partners from 14 European countries, was started in 2005. MODELKEY is the acronym for 'Models for assessing and forecasting the impact of environmental key pollutants on freshwater and marine ecosystems and biodiversity'. The project is funded by the European Commission within the Sixth Framework Programme. OBJECTIVES: MODELKEY comprises a multidisciplinary approach aiming at developing interlinked tools for an enhanced understanding of cause-effect-relationships between insufficient ecological status and environmental pollution as causative factor and for the assessment and forecasting of the risks of key pollutants on fresh water and marine ecosystems at a river basin and adjacent marine environment scale. New modelling tools for risk assessment including generic exposure assessment models, mechanistic models of toxic effects in simplified food chains, integrated diagnostic effect models based on community patterns, predictive component effect models applying artificial neural networks and GIS-based analysis of integrated risk indexes will be developed and linked to a user-friendly decision support system for the prioritisation of risks, contamination sources and contaminated sites. APPROACH: Modelling will be closely interlinked with extensive laboratory and field investigations. Early warning strategies on the basis of sub-lethal effects in vitro and in vivo are provided and combined with fractionation and analytical tools for effect-directed analysis of key toxicants. Integrated assessment of exposure and effects on biofilms, invertebrate and fish communities linking chemical analysis in water, sediment and biota with in vitro, in vivo and community level effect analysis is designed to provide data and conceptual understanding for risk arising from key toxicants in aquatic ecosystems and will be used for verification of various modelling approaches. CONCLUSION AND PERSPECTIVE: The developed tools will be verified in case studies representing European key areas including Mediterranean, Western and Central European river basins. An end-user-directed decision support system will be provided for cost-effective tool selection and appropriate risk and site prioritisation.     

基于DIN测试的场地土壤PAHs生物可给性及健康风险研究

为了解决目前基于总量风险评估导致土壤PAHs修复目标过严的问题,采用德国标准研究院（Deutsches Institut für Normung）的方法（DIN 19738）研究了北京某焦化厂（BJ）、山东某钢铁厂（SD）、北京某钢铁厂（BG）和大连某农药厂（DL）4个不同地区大型典型污染场地中荧蒽（FLT）、芘（PYR）、苯并[b]荧蒽（BBF）、苯并[a]芘（BAP）和茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘（IPY）5种PAHs的生物可给性,并探究了禁食及进食（奶粉、苹果）状态下生物可给性的变化.结果表明:①5种PAHs生物可给性随模拟胃肠液添加食物及种类的不同而有所不同.添加奶粉时BJ、SD、BG和DL场地土壤中FLT、PYR、BBF、BAP、IPY 5种PAHs的生物可给性范围分别为1.2%~4.2%、5.5%~15.7%、11.2%~18.0%、15.3%~68.5%,添加苹果时依次为0.2%~1.3%、0.8%~6.1%、1.3%~11.9%、21.7%~82.8%,禁食状况下依次为0.2%~1.4%、0.6%~5.2%、0.7%~10.6%、20.8%~73.6%.②基于考虑和不考虑生物可给性计算了4个污染场地土壤中5种PAHs经口摄入途径的土壤暴露量、致癌风险、非致癌危害商及风险控制值,结果显示,在考虑生物可给性情况下,4个场地土壤中BAP、BBF、IPY 3种致癌PAHs的经口暴露量均降低1~2个数量级,风险控制值则会相应提高.其中,BJ场地土壤中5种PAHs风险控制值提高最为显著（22.9~82.5倍）;SD和BG场地土壤中BAP、BBF、IPY土壤风险控制值分别提高了13.5~17.2倍和6.3~7.9倍,而2种非致癌物质FLT和PYR的风险控制值提高程度接近,在4.6~6.3倍之间;DL场地土壤中5种PAHs风险控制值提高大多在1倍左右.研究显示,在考虑PAHs生物可给性的情况下进行健康风险评估,可以在一定程度上克服现有技术导则计算土壤PAHs修复目标过于严格的问题.      

羟基化多溴联苯醚(OH-PBDEs)在小鼠肝脏S9中的体外代谢研究

羟基化多溴联苯醚(OH-PBDEs)是一类具有内分泌干扰性质的酚类化合物,且内分泌干扰效应大于其母体多溴联苯醚(PBDEs),研究OH-PBDEs的体外代谢行为对于理解其在生物体内的富集转化具有重要意义.以小鼠肝脏S9部分作为研究对象,考察了3-OH-BDE-47、5-OHBDE-47、6-OH-BDE-47和2'-OH-BDE-68在小鼠肝脏中的体外代谢.结果表明小鼠肝脏S9中的I相酶和II相酶均能代谢4种OH-PBDEs;醚键与OH官能团及Br原子互为邻位时,I相酶对OH-PBDEs的代谢率最高,即6-OH-BDE-47表现出较高的代谢率,此外,4种OH-PBDEs经I相酶代谢后均能生成2,4-二溴苯酚,表明醚键断裂是其主要的I相酶代谢途径;OH-PBDEs的OH官能团与醚键互为间位时,II相酶对其葡萄糖醛酸结合反应最高,也就是5-OH-BDE-47表现出较高的去除率.     

沿江化工园区污水处理厂出水对体外培养的大鼠睾丸细胞生殖毒性研究

应用基于原代培养的大鼠睾丸细胞体外毒性测试方法,通过支持细胞、生精细胞及间质细胞这3种细胞的形态、活力、胞外乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）活力、细胞早期凋亡坏死率和睾酮分泌量等指标对沿江化工园区污水处理厂出水的生殖毒性进行了研究. 结果表明,新开发的沿江化工园区A和省级沿江化工园区B污水处理厂出水有机提取物浓缩后均能造成不同程度的大鼠睾丸细胞生殖毒性,园区A提取物能明显影响支持细胞（p<0.01）、生精细胞（p<0.05）和间质细胞（p<0.05）的细胞活力,影响支持细胞和生精细胞胞外LDH活力（p<0.01）,且其毒性明显高于园区B. 暴露导致支持细胞处于凋亡早期,而生精细胞比较敏感,已到了凋亡晚期甚至有小团细胞坏死,虽然间质细胞的形态没有显著变化但园区A有机提取物已明显抑制了间质细胞睾酮的分泌（p<0.01）. 研究表明,通过基于原代培养的大鼠睾丸细胞体外毒性测试方法能够对污水处理厂出水的生殖毒性做出综合评价,该方法可以作为现行国家污水综合排放化学监测的有效补充.