Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are persistent environmental pollutants, raising concerns due to their widespread presence and disruptive biological effects. These compounds are highly stable, allowing them to bioaccumulate in the environment and living organisms, potentially impacting critical physiological functions such as hormonal balance, immune response, and increasing cancer risk. Despite regulatory restrictions, their pervasive nature necessitates further research into their potential effects on cellular and neuronal function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetallothioneins are multifunctional proteins implicated in various cellular processes. They have been used as biomarkers of heavy metal exposure and contamination due to their intrinsic ability to bind heavy metals and their transcriptional response to both physiological and noxious metal ions such as cadmium (Cd) and mercury (Hg). In this study, we aimed to clarify the role of iron and reactive oxygen species (ROSs) in the induction of the metallothionein system (Mtt) in the ciliate protozoan .
View Article and Find Full Text PDF