Transcriptional and biochemical changes in mouse liver following exposure to a metal/drug cocktail. Attenuating effect of a selenium-enriched diet.

Real-life pollution usually involves simultaneous co-exposure to different chemicals. Metals and drugs are frequently and abundantly released into the environment, where they interact and bioaccumulate. Few studies analyze potential interactions between metals and pharmaceuticals in these mixtures, although their joint effects cannot be inferred from their individual properties.

Evaluation of Th1/Th2, regulatory cytokines and transcriptional factor FoxP3 in sheep immunized with a partially protective and non-protective vaccine and challenged with Fasciola hepatica.

Gene expression for Th1/Th2 cytokines (IL-4 and IFN-ɣ), regulatory cytokines (TGF-β and IL-10) and the transcriptional factor FoxP3 was analyzed in the liver and hepatic lymph nodes (HLN) from sheep immunized with partially protective and non-protective vaccine candidates and challenged with Fasciola hepatica. FoxP3 T cells were also evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHQ). The most remarkable difference between the partially protected vaccinated (V1) group and the non-protected vaccinated (V2) group was a more severe expansion of FoxP3 T cells recorded by IHQ in both the liver and HLN of the V2 group as compared to the V1 group, whereas no differences were found between the V2 group and the infected control (IC) group.

Bioavailability of flumequine and diclofenac in mice exposed to a metal-drug chemical cocktail. Evaluation of the protective role of selenium.

Background And Purpose: Organisms, including humans, are subjected to the simultaneous action of a wide variety of pollutants, the effects of which should not be considered in isolation, as many synergies and antagonisms have been found between many of them. Therefore, this work proposes an in vivo study to evaluate the effect of certain metal contaminants on the bioavailability and metabolism of pharmacologically active compounds. Because the most frequent entry vector is through ingestion, the influence of the gut microbiota and the possible protective effects of selenium has been additionally evaluated.

Omics insights into the responses to dietary selenium.

Selenium is a well-known health-relevant element related with cancer chemoprevention, neuroprotective roles, beneficial in diabetes, and in several infectious diseases, among others. It is naturally present in some foods, but deficiency in people led to the production of nutraceuticals, supplements, and functional food enriched in this element. There is a U-shaped link between selenium levels and health and a narrow range between toxic and essential levels, and thus, supplementation should be performed carefully.

Proteomic analysis of the hepatic response to a pollutant mixture in mice. The protective action of selenium.

Metals and pharmaceuticals contaminate water and food worldwide, forming mixtures where they can interact to enhance their individual toxicity. Here we use a shotgun proteomic approach to evaluate the toxicity of a pollutant mixture (PM) of metals (As, Cd, Hg) and pharmaceuticals (diclofenac, flumequine) on mice liver proteostasis. These pollutants are abundant in the environment, accumulate in the food chain, and are toxic to humans primarily through oxidative damage.

The role of selenium in shaping mice brain metabolome and selenoproteome through the gut-brain axis by combining metabolomics, metallomics, gene expression, and amplicon sequencing.

Selenium (Se) is a trace element crucial for human health. Recently, the impact of Se supplementation on gut microbiota has been pointed out as well as its influence on the expression of certain selenoproteins and gut metabolites. This study aims to elucidate the link between Se supplementation, brain selenoproteins and brain metabolome as well as the possible connection with the gut-brain axis.

Fasciola hepatica primoinfections and reinfections in sheep drive distinct Th1/Th2/Treg immune responses in liver and hepatic lymph node at early and late stages.

The expression of proinflammatory (IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α) and regulatory (IL-10, TGF-β, IL-4) cytokines, as well as the transcription factor FoxP3, was quantified in the liver and hepatic lymph node (HLN) of sheep primoinfected and reinfected with Fasciola hepatica at early (4, 8 and 16 days post-infection [dpi]) and late (100 dpi) stages. The liver exerted a Th2 immune response at very early stages after the primoinfection with F. hepatica that induced the downregulation of IFN-γ, followed by a Th1/Th2/Treg response although the late stages were characterised by the expression of Th1/Th2 immune mediators.

A selenium-enriched diet helps to recover liver function after antibiotic administration in mice.

Antibiotic (Abx) treatments or inadvertent exposure to Abx-contaminated food and water can adversely affect health. Many studies show strong correlations between Abx and liver damage pointing to gut dysbiosis as a contributing factor because the gut microbiota (GM) forms a complex network with liver. Selenium (Se) is a beneficial micronutrient able to shape the composition of the GM.

Evaluation of candidate reference genes for quantitative real-time PCR normalization in blood from red deer developing antlers.

Sexual selection favors male traits that increase their ability to monopolize the breeding access to several females. Deer antlers are cranial appendages that regenerate annually in males. Throughout life, the phenology of antler growth advances and antler mass increases until the stag reaches, between 8 and 10 years old, maximum body mass and highest reproductive success.

Selenium supplementation influences mice testicular selenoproteins driven by gut microbiota.

Selenium is a well-known essential element with important roles in human reproductive health mainly due to its antioxidant character. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of selenoproteins on gut microbiota and male reproductive health. A new assay for the absolute quantification of selenoproteins in testicular tissue based on two dimensional chromatography with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was performed for the first time.

Untargeted Gut Metabolomics to Delve the Interplay between Selenium Supplementation and Gut Microbiota.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element with important health roles due to the antioxidant properties of selenoproteins. To analyze the interplay between Se and gut microbiota, gut metabolomic profiles were determined in conventional (C) and microbiota depleted mice (Abx) after Se-supplementation (Abx-Se) by untargeted metabolomics, using an analytical multiplatform based on GC-MS and UHPLC-QTOF-MS (MassIVE ID MSV000087829). Gut microbiota profiling was performed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing.

Omic methodologies for assessing metal(-loid)s-host-microbiota interplay: A review.

Omic methodologies have become key analytical tools in a wide number of research topics such as systems biology, environmental analysis, biomedicine or food analysis. They are especially useful when they are combined providing a new perspective and a holistic view of the analytical problem. Methodologies for microbiota analysis have been mostly focused on genome sequencing.

Proteomic profile of the effects of low-dose bisphenol A on zebrafish ovaries.

Human exposure to bisphenol-A (BPA) is largely unavoidable because BPA is an environmental contaminant found in soil, water, food and indoor dust. The safety of authorized BPA amounts in consumer products is under question because new studies have reported adverse effects of BPA at doses far below that previously established by the NOAEL (50 μg/kg per day). To protect public health, the consequences of low-dose BPA exposure in different organs and organismal functions must be further studied to generate relevant data.

Impact of Antibiotic-Induced Depletion of Gut Microbiota and Selenium Supplementation on Plasma Selenoproteome and Metal Homeostasis in a Mice Model.

Selenium (Se) is a micronutrient involved in important health functions and it has been suggested to shape gut microbiota. Limited information on Se assimilation by gut microbes and the possible link with selenoproteins are available. For this purpose, conventional and gut microbiota-depleted BALB/c mice were fed a Se-supplemented diet.

Assessment of pharmaceutical mixture (ibuprofen, ciprofloxacin and flumequine) effects to the crayfish Procambarus clarkii: A multilevel analysis (biochemical, transcriptional and proteomic approaches).

The knowledge about the effects of pharmaceuticals on aquatic organisms has been increasing in the last decade. However, due to the variety of compounds presents in the aquatic medium, exposure scenarios and exposed organisms, there are still many gaps in the knowledge on how mixtures of such bioactive compounds affect exposed non target organisms. The crayfish Procambarus clarkii was used to analyze the toxicity effects of mixtures of ciprofloxacin, flumequine and ibuprofen at low and high concentrations (10 and 100 μg/L) over 21 days of exposure and to assess the recovery capacity of the organism after a depuration phase following exposure during additional 7 days in clean water.

Proteomic profile and protease activity in the skin mucus of greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) infected with the ectoparasite Neobenedenia girellae - An immunological approach.

Skin mucus is considered the first barrier against diseases in fish. The skin mucus protein profile of the greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) and its changes due to experimental infection with Neobenedenia girellae were studied by combining 2-DE-MS/MS and gel-free LC-MS/MS proteomic approaches. The 2-DE results led to the identification of 69 and 55 proteins in noninfected and infected fish, respectively, and revealed that keratins were specifically cleaved in parasitized fish.

Pedro Ximenez sun-dried grape must: a dietary supplement for a healthy longevity.

Polyphenols in red wine are bioactive compounds with positive effects on health and disease prevention. White grape musts and wines have a lower concentration of phenolic compounds compared to the red ones and are therefore considered less beneficial to health. In Andalucía, a region located in the South West of Spain, Pedro Ximenez white grapes are desiccated under the sun for a week before they are pressed and the juice (must) is obtained.

Protective effect of Pedro-Ximénez must against p,p'-DDE-induced liver damages in aged Mus spretus mice.

Aging is characterized by deterioration of biomolecules and impaired stress responses that make the elderly especially vulnerable to environmental pollutants. The pesticide p,p'-DDE is a DDT derivative that generates great concern because of its wide distribution and its harmful effects on both human health and the environment. We analyzed here the biological responses elicited by p,p'-DDE exposure in the liver of aged Mus spretus mice.

Metabolic Impairments Caused by a "Chemical Cocktail" of DDE and Selenium in Mice Using Direct Infusion Triple Quadrupole Time-of-Flight and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry.

Among organic contaminants, pesticides are one of the most important groups of chemicals due to their persistent character and toxicity. However, the biological systems are exposed to a complex environment in which the contaminants can interact in a synergistic/antagonistic fashion, and for this reason, the study of "chemical cocktails" is of great interest to fully understand the final biological effect. In this way, selenium is known for its antagonistic action against several toxicants.

Germination and Early Seedling Development in Recalcitrant and Non-dormant Seeds: Targeted Transcriptional, Hormonal, and Sugar Analysis.

Seed germination and early seedling development have been studied in the recalcitrant species using targeted transcriptional, hormonal, and sugar analysis. Embryos and seedlings were collected at eight morphologically defined developmental stages, S0-S7. A typical triphasic water uptake curve was observed throughout development, accompanied by a decrease in sucrose and an increase in glucose and fructose.

Metabolomic alterations and oxidative stress are associated with environmental pollution in Procambarus clarkii.

Soils contaminated by toxic metallic elements from agricultural activities raise grave concern about their potential risk to human health through direct intake, bioaccumulation through the food chain, and their impacts on ecological systems. We have measured here the lipid and protein oxidation status and used metabolomic methodologies to identify and characterize the changes caused by metal pollution exposure in the digestive glands and gills of Procambarus clarkii, the red swamp crayfish. Specimens captured at two sites with intensive agriculture practices using diverse types of agrochemicals, located in the borders of Doñana Natural Park, were compared to ones caught in the core of the Park, a proven non-polluted place.

Fasciola hepatica induces Foxp3 T cell, proinflammatory and regulatory cytokine overexpression in liver from infected sheep during early stages of infection.

The expression of T regulatory cells (Foxp3), regulatory (interleukin [IL]-10 and transforming growth factor beta [TGF-β]) and proinflammatory (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α] and interleukin [IL]-1β) cytokines was quantified using real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) in the liver of sheep during early stages of infection with Fasciola hepatica (1, 3, 9, and 18 days post-infection [dpi]). Portal fibrosis was also evaluated by Masson's trichrome stain as well as the number of Foxp3 cells by immunohistochemistry. Animals were divided into three groups: (a) group 1 was immunized with recombinant cathepsin L1 from F.

Alterations in oxidative responses and post-translational modification caused by p,p´-DDE in Mus spretus testes reveal Cys oxidation status in proteins related to cell-redox homeostasis and male fertility.

The major derivate of DDT, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p´-DDE), is a persistent pollutant previously associated with oxidative stress. Additionally, p,p´-DDE has been linked to several metabolic alterations related to sexual function in rodents. In this study, we analysed the effects of a non-lethal p,p´-DDE dose to Mus spretus mice in testes, focusing on oxidative damage to biomolecules, defence mechanisms against oxidative stress and post-translational protein modifications.

Transcriptome signatures of p,p´-DDE-induced liver damage in Mus spretus mice.

The use of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane) in some countries, although regulated, is contributing to an increased worldwide risk of exposure to this organochlorine pesticide or its derivative p,p'-DDE [1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethylene]. Many studies have associated p,p'-DDE exposure to type 2 diabetes, obesity and alterations of the reproductive system, but their molecular mechanisms of toxicity remain poorly understood. We have addressed this issue by using commercial microarrays based on probes for the entire Mus musculus genome to determine the hepatic transcriptional signatures of p,p'-DDE in the phylogenetically close mouse species Mus spretus.

Hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis perturbation in the basis of bisphenol A (BPA) reproductive toxicity in female zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Thousands of safety-related studies have been published on bisphenol A (BPA), an ubiquitous environmental pollutant with estrogenic activity and many other potential biological effects. In recent years, BPA exposure has been shown to cause anovulation and infertility through irreversible alteration of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in several organisms, including fish and mammals. Recently, the European Chemical Agency classified BPA as a "substance of very high concern" because of its endocrine-disrupting properties, which have serious effects on human health.