Molecular and cellular responses to short exposure to bisphenols A, F, and S and eluates of microplastics in C. elegans.

Bisphenol F (BPF) and bisphenol S (BPS) have been developed as an alternative to bisphenol A (BPA), a well-known endocrine disruptor, leading to their detection in the aquatic environment. In this work, we used the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans to improve our understanding of their potential effects on the biota and the environment. Our findings demonstrated that, after 24 h exposure, all the bisphenols examined increased the number of apoptotic corpses and the expression of the detoxifying enzymes SOD-3 and GST-4, without affecting the ROS levels, while BPA and BPS significantly enhanced DNA fragmentation.

Plastic abundance and seasonal variation on the shorelines of three volcanic lakes in Central Italy: can amphipods help detect contamination?

Despite the exponential increase of studies on plastic debris in recent years, there are still few works focusing on the problem as it relates to inland waters: little is known about the accumulation and dispersion dynamics on lake shores, and there are no standardized sampling methods for monitoring purposes. The accumulation of plastic litter in natural habitats also threatens the resident organisms. In this paper, we investigated the abundance and accumulation of plastic particles, ranging in size from 1 to 50 mm, from the beach sediment of three volcanic lakes in Central Italy: Albano, Bracciano, and Vico.

A Lipophilic 4-Phenylbutyric Acid Derivative That Prevents Aggregation and Retention of Misfolded Proteins.

Chemical chaperones prevent protein aggregation. However, the use of chemical chaperones as drugs against diseases due to protein aggregation is limited by the very high active concentrations (mm range) required to mediate their effect. One of the most common chemical chaperones is 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA).

First evidence of microplastics ingestion in benthic amphipods from Svalbard.

The present paper provides the first record of ingestion of microplastics in natural context by Gammarus setosus from Svalbard Archipelago. The plastic particles were identified both by Nile Red staining and Micro FT-IR spectroscopy. The species studied ingests microplastic particles in natural conditions if present in its habitat, probably mistaking them as food.

In-vivo assesment of the genotoxic and oxidative stress effects of particulate matter on Echinogammarus veneris.

Seven types of atmospheric dusts (road dust, soil dust, brake dust, desert dust, pellet ash and coke and certified material NIST1648a - urban dust) have been tested for their genotoxicity on specimens of Echinogammarus veneris, a small aquatic amphipod. Experiments were carried out in vivo, by exposing the animals for 24 h to water containing 25 mg/L of dust. Each dust has been chemically analyzed for ions, elemental carbon, organic carbon and for the soluble and insoluble fractions of elements.

Evaluation of Genotoxic Potential of Waters from Two Italian Rivers in Gammarus elvirae (Amphipoda).

The aim of the present work is to evaluate the genotoxic impact of contaminants along the whole course of Ninfa-Sisto and Amaseno (Latium, Italy) rivers. The authors performed the alkaline Comet assay to assess DNA damage in the freshwater amphipod Gammarus elvirae, exposed ex situ for 24 hours and 7 days to water collected at different sites. The assay, applied on haemocytes, provides a sensitive tool to reveal effects even at low concentrations of pollutants.

An integrated study on Gammarus elvirae (Crustacea, Amphipoda): perspectives for toxicology of arsenic-contaminated freshwater.

The Italian region Latium is characterized by extensive quaternary volcanic systems that contribute greatly to arsenic (As) contamination of freshwater, including drinking water supplies. However, knowledge of the possible toxic effects in these aquatic environments is, despite being highly relevant to public health, still limited. In this paper, we approach this issue using Gammarus elvirae, an amphipod species that inhabits rivers and streams in central Italy, including Latium.

Effect of short-time exposures to nickel and lead on brain monoamine oxidase from Danio rerio and Poecilia reticulata.

The aim of this work was to verify, in two small size freshwater teleosts Danio rerio and Poecilia reticulata, the effects of short-time exposures (24 and 72 h) to a sublethal dose (500 microg/L) of nickel and lead, on brain monoamine oxidase (MAO), an important neural enzyme. The 24-h treatment using both metals caused a strong reduction of MAO activity in D. rerio brain, whereas causing a slight MAO activity stimulation in P.

N-linked glycosylation selectively regulates the generic folding of HLA-Cw1.

To resolve primary (glycosylation-assisted) from secondary (glycosylation-independent) quality control steps in the biosynthesis of HLA (human leukocyte antigen) class I glycoproteins, the unique N-linked glycosylation site of the HLA-Cw1 heavy chain was deleted by site-directed mutagenesis. The non-glycosylated Cw1S88G mutant was characterized by flow cytometry, pulse-chase, co-immunoprecipitation, and in vitro assembly assays with synthetic peptide ligands upon transfection in 721.221 and 721.

A single bottleneck in HLA-C assembly.

Poor assembly of class I major histocompatibility HLA-C heavy chains results in their intracellular accumulation in two forms: free of and associated with their light chain subunit (beta(2)-microglobulin). Both intermediates are retained in the endoplasmic reticulum by promiscuous and HLA-dedicated chaperones and are poorly associated with peptide antigens. In this study, the eight serologically defined HLA-C alleles and the interlocus recombinant HLA-B46 allele (sharing the HLA-C-specific motif KYRV at residues 66-76 of the alpha1-domain alpha-helix) were compared with a large series of HLA-B and HLA-A alleles.

Impaired assembly results in the accumulation of multiple HLA-C heavy chain folding intermediates.

Class I MHC H chains assemble with beta2-microglobulin (beta2m) and are loaded with peptide Ags through multiple folding steps. When free of beta2m, human H chains react with Abs to linear epitopes, such as L31. Immunodepletion and coimmunoprecipitation experiments, performed in this study, detected a preferential association of L31-reactive, beta2m-free H chains with calnexin in beta2m-defective cells, and with calreticulin and TAP in beta2m-expressing cells.

DNA damage and TNFalpha cytokine production in hairdressers with contact dermatitis.

The present work was undertaken to study in hairdressers exposed to several irritants and allergens (prevalently hair-dyeing) and affected by hand contact dermatitis the possible correlation between exposure and direct-oxidative DNA damage, production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and allergic inflammatory disease. We evaluated in 19 hairdressers with hand contact dermatitis, 14 allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) and 5 irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) and in a selected control group TNFalpha serum levels by ELISA and direct-oxidative DNA damage by Fpg (formamido-pyrimidine-glycosylase)-modified Comet test on blood. Hairdressers were divided on the basis of number of hair-dyeing carried out weekly into 2 groups: low-exposure (<60 hair-dyeing/week) and high-exposure hairdressers (>or=60 hair-dyeing/week) that reflect also the exposure to other allergens and irritants and 2 different tasks (hairdressers and apprentice hairdressers, respectively).

Molecular characterization of monoamine oxidase in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is responsible for the degradation of a number of neurotransmitters and other biogenic amines. In terrestrial vertebrates, two forms of the enzyme, named MAO A and B, were found in which mammals are coded by two similar but distinct genes. In teleosts, the biochemical data obtained so far indicate that enzyme activity is due to a single form, whose sequence, obtained for trout, displays 70% identity with mammal MAO A and B.

Genotoxic risk and oxidative DNA damage in workers exposed to antimony trioxide.

The growing use of antimony (Sb) compounds in industry and the consequent increase in the number of exposed workers make it important to carry out a health risk assessment. The main goal of this study was to assess the genotoxicity of Sb(2)O(3) in occupationally exposed workers. Genotoxicity was evaluated by the sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and micronucleus tests, and the enzyme (Fpg)-modified comet assay.

Evaluation of DNA damage in flight personnel by Comet assay.

There have been some suggestions that air-crew are at a higher-than-normal risk of developing cancer, since they are exposed to potential genotoxic factors. These include cosmic radiations, airborne pollutants such as the combustion products of jet propulsion, ozone, and electromagnetic fields. We used the Comet assay to investigate DNA damage in flight personnel with the aim of assessing potential health hazards in this occupational category.