The vector effects of microplastics (MPs) in natural marine environments and their contribution to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bioaccumulation in fish are still unknown. This study, therefore, aimed to evaluate the effects of MPs on carrying PAHs under conditions close to the actual marine environments. The PAH content sorbed onto MPs from seawater positively correlated with the octanol/water partition coefficient (log K) in both polyethylene and polystyrene MPs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGrowing concerns have emerged over the combined effects of multiple stressors on ecosystems. Empirical evidence shows that the sensitivity of aquatic invertebrates to insecticides varies under thermally fluctuating conditions. Additionally, field surveys in estuarine areas of western Japan confirmed the presence of juvenile kuruma prawns (Penaeus japonicus) carrying the white spot syndrome virus (WSSV).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe stereoselective 5--trig oxygenative cyclization of α,β-unsaturated oximes was achieved using molecular oxygen (O) and a manganese catalyst. Several 4-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles were obtained in high yields by directly incorporating O from the atmosphere (eliminating the necessity for a pure oxygen environment) and using an unprecedentedly low loading of Mn(acac) (as little as 0.020 mol %) without additional additives.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Evidence suggest that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is activated in people with asthma, although its pathophysiological role is unclear. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is the major enzyme that converts angiotensin II to angiotensin 1-7 (Ang-1-7), and is also known as a receptor of SARS-CoV-2. The current study was conducted to identify the change in RAS-related gene expression in airways of a murine asthma model.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFβ-site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is considered a therapeutic target to combat Alzheimer's disease by reducing β-amyloid in the brain. To date, all clinical trials involving the inhibition of BACE1 have been discontinued due to a lack of efficacy or undesirable side effects such as cognitive worsening. The latter could have been the result of the inhibition of BACE at the synapse where it is expressed in high amounts.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol
June 2023
The estuarine resident crustacean sand shrimp, Crangon uritai, has a higher tolerance to neonicotinoid insecticides than that of the kuruma prawns, Penaeus japonicus. However, the reason for the differential sensitivities between the two marine crustaceans remains to be understood. This study explored the mechanism underlying differential sensitivities based on insecticide body residues after exposing both said crustaceans to two insecticides (acetamiprid and clothianidin) with or without oxygenase inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO) for 96 h.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAquaculture in coastal environments has an increasingly important role in the world's food supply; however, the accumulation of organic compounds on seafloors due to overfeeding adversely affects benthic ecosystems. To assess the ecological resilience of aquafarms to nutrient influx, we investigated the redox homeostasis of benthic ecosystems using a marine oligochaete as a model benthic organism in aquaculture fields. Real-time monitoring of the redox potential of a model benthic ecosystem constructed in an electrochemical reactor allowed evaluation of the homeostatic response of the system to nutrient addition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, we elucidated the desorption potency of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) sorbed on microplastics (MP; polyethylene) in the digestive tract of two fish species: gastric red seabream and agastric mummichog. In our in vitro assay system using the real gut sample of unexposed fish, the digestive tract was firstly removed from the fish and divided into three parts. Then, MP that had previously been sorbed with 16 PAHs were incubated with extracts of the gut contents or tissue with buffer or only a buffer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn aquatic arthropods, molting is a pivotal physiological process for normal development, but it may also expose them to higher risks from xenobiotics, because the organism may take up additional water during that time. This study aimed to assess the effects of molting on bioconcentration and survival after 96-h exposure to insecticide fipronil with or without oxygenase (CYP450s) inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO) of two estuarine resident marine crustacean species: the sand shrimp Crangon uritai and the kuruma prawn Penaeus japonicus, with 96-h LC value of fipronil = 2.0 µg/L and 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn some coastal areas, sediments are contaminated with various chemical compounds, causing significant threats to marine organisms. Therefore, the development of remediation techniques is important. Here, we focused on bioremediation using marine benthic animals such as aquatic oligochaetes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo explore the impact of microplastic (MP) pollution on planktivorous fish, we examined the uptake and retention of MPs by Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonicus) under laboratory conditions. MP uptake was size selective in adult anchovy-0.3-mm MPs were taken up in significantly larger amounts than 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids
February 2022
The long-chain acyl-CoA synthase1 (Acsl1) is a major enzyme that converts long-chain fatty acids to acyl-CoAs. The role of Acsl1 in energy metabolism has been elucidated in the adipose tissue, heart, and skeletal muscle. Here, we demonstrate that systemic deficiency of Acsl1 caused severe skin barrier defects, leading to embryonic lethality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFβ-Site amyloid precursor protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is considered to be a promising target for treating Alzheimer's disease. However, all clinical BACE1 inhibitors have failed due to lack of efficacy, and some have even led to cognitive worsening. Recent evidence points to the importance of avoiding BACE2 inhibition along with careful dose titration.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPsoriasis is a chronic skin disease associated with T helper (Th)17-mediated inflammation. Because CCR4 is a major chemokine receptor expressed on Th17 cells, we investigated the role of CCR4 in a modified imiquimod-induced psoriasis model that showed enhanced skin infiltration of Th17 cells. CCR4-deficient mice had less severe skin disease than wild-type mice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFShrimp inhabiting coasts that are frequented by humans are exposed to various pollutants. Additionally, viral infections that cause serious damage to shrimp populations have been observed in these environments. The present study sought to evaluate the immunotoxic effects of phenanthrene (Phe), a pollutant detected in coastal environments, on kuruma shrimp (Penaeus japonicus).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLong-chain acyl-CoA synthetase-1 (ACSL1), an enzyme that catalyzes the synthesis of long-chain acyl-CoA from the corresponding fatty acids, is believed to play essential roles in lipid metabolism. Structure activity relationship studies based on HTS hit compound 1 delivered the benzimidazole series as the first selective and highly potent ACSL1 inhibitors. Representative compound 13 exhibited not only remarkable inhibitory activity against ACSL1 (IC = 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe investigated the impact of microplastics (MPs) on marine fish by estimating the uptake and retention by mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) and red seabreams (Pagrus major) of MPs similar in size (≥0.25 mm) and composition (polyethylene) to MPs detected in fish intestines. Results revealed a correlation between MP concentrations in aquarium water and the content of MPs in the gastrointestinal tracts of exposed fish.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe present study aimed to assess the impact of phenanthrene (Phe) on fish health by addressing the alteration of fecal characteristics, in lieu of collecting biomarkers that often involves injurious or even fatal sampling of organisms. The marine fish red sea bream, Pagrus major, was exposed to Phe at a concentration of 18 μg/L for 16 days followed by depuration for 13 days. We collected feces from Phe-exposed or control (Phe-free) fish and then analyzed the fecal metabolite profile (metabolome), carbon utilization of microbiota (phenome), and bacterial 16s rRNA gene sequence (microbiome).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, we derived the predicted no-effect concentrations (PNEC) for triphenyl (octadecylamine) boron (TPB-18) and investigated the occurrence of triphenylboranes (TPBs), including TPB-18, for ecological risk assessment in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. We tested algal growth inhibition, crustacean immobilization, and reproductive toxicity and performed toxicity tests in fish to assess acute and chronic toxicity and generate the PNEC for TPB-18. The minimum toxicity value was 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The upregulation of the cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid is thought to be involved in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. Recently, the presence of specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators in synovial tissues from patients with osteoarthritis has been reported.
Objective: To clarify the quantitative and qualitative changes in lipid mediators in the synovium of severe rheumatoid arthritis patients, we compared the profiles of lipid mediators in synovial fluid obtained from patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis and from those with severe osteoarthritis.
Background: About one-half of all patients with chronic spontaneous urticaria have low or less reactivity of the basophils to FcεRI stimulation. However, the differences in the clinical characteristics between patients who show normal and attenuated basophil reactivities to FcεRI stimulation are still unclear. Furthermore, it also remains unknown as to what factors induce the poor reactivity of basophils to FcεRI stimulation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study aimed to evaluate and qualify field-based potential risks of seven neonicotinoid and phenylpyrazole (fipronil) insecticides on aquatic invertebrates, including estuary-resident marine crustaceans. One hundred and ninety-three estuarine water samples, with salinity ranging from 0.5 to 32.
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