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This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the toxicity exerted by zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on rat testis and its effects on fertility and progeny development.Different concentrations of ZnO NPs were administered by gavage to Sprague Dawley (SD) rats to examine the adverse effects resulting from pre- and post-natal exposure. Systemic distribution of ZnO NPs, developmental performance, sperm parameters, reproductive performance, histopathological examination, and sex hormone levels were determined scheduled in the experimental rats and their male offspring. The comparativeAfter oral gavage, ZnO NPs mainly accumulated in the liver and testes of rats; 350 mg/kg ZnO NPs adversely affected the epididymal weight, sperm motility, and hormone levels but did not affect the fertility of rats. In addition, 350 mg/kg ZnO NPs significantly reduced the reproductive and developmental performance of offspring male rats. Testicular histopathological and electron microscopic ultrastructure examinations showed more significant abnormal structural changes than those observed in parental rats. The results ofIt is possible that ZnO NPs act directly on TM4 cells by penetrating the BTB, causing damage to the cytoskeleton and disrupting the dynamic balance of the BTB, thereby destroying the microenvironment necessary for spermatogenesis, which may lead to poor reproduction in rats.

Accumulating evidence reveals that exposure to alternative flame retardants (AFRs) results in defective thyroid functions. AFRs are detectable in various environmental media in developed cities in China. However, few studies have reported the contamination levels of AFR in groundwater in rural areas, indicating an urgent need to investigate exposure of AFRs and perform health risk assessment for populations that use groundwater as the main source of drinking water. This study investigated the concentrations of AFRs in groundwater in rural areas of central China. Moreover, Nthy-ori-3-1 cells were used to determine the thyroid cytotoxicities and thyroid-interfering effects of a single AFR as well as the mixtures of AFRs based on the AFR contamination levels in real-world. The results revealed that all classes of AFRs were detectable in rural areas in central China. Dechlorane plus, hexabromocyclododecane, bromophenols (BPs), novel brominated flame retardants (NBFRs) and organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) exhibited spatial contamination patterns, with an average concentrations (median) of 157.89 ± 88.61 (185.47) pg/L, 0.09 ± 0.29 (not detectable) ng/L, 5.20 ± 5.92 (3.43) ng/L, 3338.11 ± 3758.78 (2836.72) pg/L, and 79.35 ± 97.19 (53.62) ng/L, respectively. The half maximal effective concentrations (EC

Background: Research indicates that exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can cause neurobehavioral impairments in neonates and adults, but the way specific PCBs’ congeners impact cognition functions at a low exposure level in a real-life co-exposure system remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association of PCBs burden with cognition function among elderly adults. Methods: Based on the Weitang Geriatric Diseases study (2014–2015), the current study measured the plasma concentrations of six indicator-PCBs by GC-MS/MS and assessed the cognitive dysfunction (CoD) via an Abbreviated Mental Test in 266 participants (ages 61–90). Sequential logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of PCBs on cognition functions. Female participants aged less than or equal to 80 years were selected, and path analysis was used to determine the direct or indirect impacts of co-exposure PCBs on CoD by structural equation modeling. Results: After sequential adjustments to potential confounding factors and correction by the Bonferroni, no statistically significant correlation between PCBs exposure and CoD was found in participants (p > 0.05). However, in the co-exposure system, after controlling for co-exposures and confounders, exposure to PCB28 had a direct effect on CoD in females aged between 61 and 80, with a factor load of 0.670. Conclusions: After adjusting for the co-exposures and confounders, exposure to PCB28 can directly increase the risk of cognitive impairment in older Chinese females.

Background Current findings support the hypothesis that the exposure of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs) has adverse cognitive effects even at levels that are generally considered to pose low or no risk. However, the effect of non-dioxin-like PCBs (ndl-PCBs) on neurobehavior of aging people is largely unknown. Therefore, this study aimed toinvestigate the association of ndl-PCBs burden with the cognition functions among elderly adults. Methods Using samples and data from Weitang Geriatric Diseases study (2014–2015), 6 indicator-PCBs were detected in plasma by GC-MS and cognitive dysfunction (CoD) were measured by the Abbreviated Mental Test in 266 participants (age: 61–90). Sequential logistic regression was used to analyze the effects of PCBs on cognition functions. Then the female aged less than and equal to 80 years was selected, and path analysis was used to determine the direct or indirect impacts of co-exposure PCBs on COD by Structural Equation Modeling. Results After sequential adjusting for potential confounder, no association of PCBs 52, 101, 138, 153, 180, LPCBs, HPCBs, and ∑PCBs with the risk of COD was observed; however, the exposure of PCB28 was significantly associated with COD ((Model 3: OR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.19–8.11, p = 0.020). The final path model also fits that only exposure to PCB28 had a direct effect on COD (β = 0.696, SE = 1.14; p = 0.036). Conclusions After controlling the co-exposures and confounders, the exposure to PCB28 can directly increase the risk of cognitive impairment in older Chinese females.

Nano silicon dioxide (nano-SiO2) is becoming more and more widely applied in the fields of industry. The potential toxic effects of nano-SiO2 and its hazard to human health are drawing more attention. The mRNA expression of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases-1(PARP-1), a pivotal repair gene, has been decreased by nano-SiO2 exposure. However, the effect of epigenetic modification on nano-SiO2-induced low PARP-1 expression has not been reported. In this study, HaCaT cells with or without DNA methyltransferase 1(DNMT1) knock down were incubated with nano-SiO2 and then further treated with DNMT inhibitor, 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine (DAC), which is a kind of key epigenetic modification reagents. Real-time Q-PCR and western blotting were used to examine the mRNA and protein expression of PARP-1. For promoter methylation status of PARP-1, methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and Bisulfite sequencing assay were performed. Results showed a dramatic decrease of PARP-1 expression on mRNA and protein level and a simultaneously obvious increase in the level of PARP-1 methylation in nano-SiO2-treated cells compared to the control group. Further, the expression and promoter methylation of PARP-1 in HaCaT cells were restored following DNMT1 knock down, suggesting that the effects of PARP-1 promoter hypermethylation are mediated at least in part by DNMT1. Taken together, methylation of PARP-1 promoter might be involved in the regulation of nano-SiO2-induced decrease of PARP-1 expression.

To study the effect of silicon dioxide nanoparticles on the expression and promoter region CpG islands methylation of (Poly [ADP-ribose] polymerase 1, PARP-1) gene in human HaCaT Cell.HaCaT Cells were treated with nm-SiO₂at 0, 2.5, 5 and 10 µg/mL and micro-SiO₂at 10 µg/ml for 24 h and DAC treatment was given at 10 µg/ml group for 48 h. Real-time PCR and western blot assay was used to detect the expression of PARP-1 mRNA and protein. BSP (Bisulfite Pyrosequence, BSP) assay was used to detect the promoter region CpG islands methylation status of PARP-1 gene.After exposure to nano-SiO₂particles, compared to CTRL group, the mRNA and protein expression of PARP-1 in micro-SiO₂and 2.5 µg/ml group unchanged, but he mRNA and protein expression of PARP-1 in 5, 10 µg/ml as well as DAC group was down-regulated and there are statistical significance between CTRL group and 5, 10 µg/ml as well as DAC group and the PARP-1 promoter region CpG islands showed methylation.nano-SiO₂can down-regulate PARP-1 expression in HaCaT Cell and this is associated with the change in the methylation of PARP-1 gene promoter region CpG islands induced by nano-SiO₂particles.

To study the potential association of DNA oxidation and DNA methylation, in vitro cultured cells were exposed to different doses of H2O2, 8-oxo-dG formation, cell DNA 5-mC contents were analyzed to explore the time- dose-response relationship of DNA oxidation and DNA methylation.A549 cells were exposed to different doses of H2O2, 8-oxo-dG formation and cell genomic DNA 5-mC contents were analyzed by a high-performance liquid chromatography system and high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE), respectively.H2O2 induced the formation of 8-oxo-dG and 5-mC in different characteristics, it need at least 10 days for significant changes in the level of DNA methylation, whereas under the same conditions, changes in the level of DNA oxidation cast only 12 hours. H2O2 induced decreased levels of DNA methylation in A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In a certain range of time and dose, it showed a negative correlation between DNA oxidation and DNA methylation.The study suggests that oxidative DNA could lead to reduced levels of DNA methylation, DNA oxidation may affect the regulation of cellular methylation mechanisms, in the course of chemical mutagenesis, DNA oxidation may be an earlier important molecule event than DNA methylation.

To observe the effect of SiO2 nanoparticles on genome DNA methylation profile in cultured cells.HaCaT cells were treated with nm-SiO2 at 2.5, 5 and 10 microg/ml and micro-SiO2 at 10 microg/ml for 24h and DAC treatment was given at 10 microg/ml group for 48h. The mC/(mC + C) percent was quantified by high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) assay, and the expression level of mRNA and protein was detected by Real-time Q-PCR and westernblot assay. The activity of DNMTs was determined by DNA Methyltransferase Activity/Inhibition Assay Kit.HPCE assay showed that nm-SiO2-treated cells were decreased in some degree. An average proportion of methylated mC/ (mC + C) was 4.82% in control, 2.7% in 2.5 microg/ml and 2.17% in 10 microg/ml groups, while 3.1% in micro-SiO2 groups, which got the consistent downtrend of genome methylation level during increasing nm-SiO2 dose nanoparticles. The mRNA expression level for DNMT1 decreased gradually with increased dose of nm-SiO2 nanoparticles. The alterations at protein level were similar to those at the mRNA level.Genomic DNA methylation levels were decreased in HaCaT cells after short-term exposure to SiO2 nanoparticles.

Formaldehyde (FA), a volatile organic compound, is a ubiquitous air pollutant that is classified as 'Carcinogenic to humans (Group 1)' by IARC (2006). As a well-recognized human carcinogen, its carcinogenic mechanisms are still poorly understood. Previous studies have emphasized on genetic changes. However, little is known about the epigenetic mechanisms of FA exposure. In this study, We not only characterized the epigenomic response to long-term low-dose FA exposure in 16HBE cells, but also examined the expression of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and the methyl-CpG-binding protein DNA-binding domain protein 2 (MBD2). Each week the 16HBE cells were treated with 10 μM FA for 24 h (h). After 24 weeks (W) of exposure to FA, the level of genomic DNA methylation gradually decreased in a time-related manner. Moreover, our results showed that FA exposure down-regulated the expression of DNMT3a and DNMT3b at both mRNA and protein level, and up-regulated the levels of DNMT1 and MBD2 at both mRNA and protein level. Our study indicated that long-term FA exposure could disrupt genomic DNA methylation, which may be one of the possible underlying carcinogenic mechanisms of FA.

The increasing amount of nanotechnological products, found in our environment and those applicable in engineering, material sciences and medicine has stimulated a growing interest in examining their long-term impact on genetic and epigenetic processes. We examined here the epigenomic response to nm-SiO 2 particles in human HaCaT cells and methyltransferases (DNMTs) and DNA-binding domain proteins (MBDs) induced by nano-SiO 2 particles. Nm-SiO 2 treatment induced global hypoacetylation implying a global epigenomic response. The levels of DNMT1, DNMT3a and methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MBD2) were also decreased in a dose dependent manner at mRNA and protein level. Epigenetic changes may have long-term effects on gene expression programming long after the initial signal has been removed, and if these changes remain undetected, it could lead to long-term untoward effects in biological systems. These studies suggest that nanoparticles could cause more subtle epigenetic changes which merit thorough examination of environmental nanoparticles and novel candidate nanomaterials for medical applications.

Benzo[a]pyrene is a ubiquitously distributed environmental pollutant known to cause DNA damage, whereas PARP-1 is a nuclear enzyme that is activated by damaged DNA and plays an important role in base excision repair and genomic stability. Here, 16HBE and its PAPR1-deficient cells were exposed to BaP, and the DNA damage level and repair ability of both cell lines were measured by alkaline comet assay. The results showed that cell viability of both cell lines decreased in a dose-dependent manner when exposed to BaP, but there was no significant difference between two cell lines. Comet assay showed that BaP caused DNA damage in both cell lines at an obvious dose- and time-dependent manner. Compare with 16HBE, the PARP1-deficient cells were more sensitive to the damage caused by BaP. The results of DNA repair experiment showed that both cell lines can recover from the damage in a time-dependent pattern. The relative repair percentage of PARP1-deficient cells were generally lower than that of 16HBE at all exposed concentrations at the early stage of repair, but tended to be closer between two cell lines at the later period. According to results, we came to the conclusion that PARP1-deficient cells were more sensitive to BaP in contrast to normal 16HBE; DNA repair capacity in PARP1-deficient cells decreased significantly at the early stage of repair, but increased to the equivalent level of normal 16HBE in the later period. PARP-1 plays an important role in early repair of DNA damage caused by BaP in 16HBE notwithstanding the main repair work is taken by NER pathway.