Biometals最新文献

Iron is an essential micronutrient required for normal growth and development. However, excessive iron intake can exert toxic effects, particularly during sensitive developmental windows such as pregnancy. In this study, pregnant female mice were supplemented with varying concentrations of iron until day 21 post-delivery. On postnatal days 0 and 21, we assessed the body weight, liver index, hepatic iron content, antioxidant capacity, and expression of ferroptosis-related proteins in the offspring. Excessive maternal iron supplementation significantly decreased both body and liver weights of offspring and induced histopathological abnormalities in hepatic tissue. Liver iron levels were markedly elevated, accompanied by significant reductions in the activities of antioxidant enzymes including T-AOC, CAT, GSH-Px, and SOD, as well as decreased hepatic GSH content. Moreover, iron overload increased the protein expression levels of p-AMPKα/AMPKα, p-ULK1/ULK1, Beclin1, FTH1, and COX2, while decreasing the levels of SLC7A11, GPX4, and NCOA4. Collectively, these findings suggest that excessive iron supplementation during pregnancy leads to hepatic iron accumulation, oxidative stress, and ferroptosis in offspring mice.

Mental health disorders (MHD) are conditions marked by disturbances in thinking, mood, or behavior that can cause significant distress or impair daily functioning. Diagnosis remains challenging, particularly in precision medicine, due to the scarcity of reliable biomarkers as objective diagnostic tools and external validators. This study investigates essential trace metals, cofactors in vital enzymes, as potential biomarkers for MHD. A total of 168 patients with mood spectrum disorders (MSD), schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), and personality disorders (PD) and 61 healthy controls (HC) were evaluated for serum levels of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), as well as transferrin (TF), transferrin saturation (% TF-sat), ferritin (F), and Cu/Zn, Cu/Mg, Fe/Cu ratios. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and regression models assessed the relationship between these biological variables and MHD. Zn levels were lower in patients, particularly in the PD group. Fe, TF, and % TF-sat were also lower in patients, with the SSD group showing the greatest decrease. Mg levels were similarly lower in patients than in controls. Zn, Fe, Fe/Cu, and TF showed protective effects against MHD, with odds ratios ranging from 0.22 to 0.50. The Cu/Zn ratio was higher in all patients’ groups. The Cu component, including Cu, Cu/Zn, and Cu/Mg levels, was linked to an 84% increase in the odds of having an MHD. This study highlights the potential of trace metals as adjunctive biomarkers in psychiatry, supporting clinical diagnosis and offering new insights into psychiatric pathophysiology.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a key culinary ingredient and agricultural product that releases its pungent aroma when cut or crushed due to the presence of volatile organosulfur compounds. These compounds, specifically allicin and ajoene, rapidly modify human metallothioneins (MTs), leading to the dissociation of Zn(II) ions. This study employed a top-down protein MS analysis to identify the most reactive cysteine sites in MT2, confirming that both compounds induce S-thioallylation and alter Zn(II) binding. Spectrophotometric studies indicated that both compounds mobilized nearly six molar equivalents of Zn(II) from MT2 after one hour, with ajoene demonstrating slightly higher dissociation efficiency than allicin. Moreover, allicin mobilized Zn(II) from all human isoforms of MT (MT1-MT4), with the lowest efficiency observed for MT4. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed a diverse array of modified complexes, with ajoene resulting in more complex formations than allicin. Reduced glutathione interacts with both untreated and allicin- or ajoene-treated MTs, forming mixed and partially oxidized complexes, highlighting the relationship between these compounds depending on the cell’s redox state. The use of reducing agents demonstrated that MTs’ S-thioallylation is reversible, allowing the protein to rebind Zn(II) after reduction, thereby maintaining its role in zinc homeostasis and rendering the effects of allicin temporary. The health implications of the modifications are significant, given the established role of Zn(II) in inhibiting pro-inflammatory pathways and enhancing antioxidant responses. Zn(II) ions were shown to inhibit the activation of the NF-κB pathway, which regulates pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our findings indicate that the modification of metallothioneins (MTs) by garlic-derived organosulfur compounds may play a crucial role in zinc homeostasis, with implications for immune regulation in humans, and warrant further investigation into their potential therapeutic applications.

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Heavy metals-mediated environmental pollution and global warming are two emerging threats to plant and human health worldwide. Several anthropogenic and natural activities with a preference for industrialization and heavy transportation have accelerated heavy metals and CO₂ emissions into aerial and soil environments. For a few decades, woody trees have been considered an effective bioaccumulator or bioindicator tool for pollution assessment processes of air-born pollutants. The present study aimed to reveal the carbon sequestration and phytoremediation potential of commonly grown tree species at industrial and residential sites of Multan City, Pakistan, during the summer (2022) and winter seasons (2023). For this purpose, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, and Zn were assessed from bark and leaves samples of S.cuminii, F.religiosa, C.fistula, C. erectus, and M. azedarach for phytoremediation assessment and above- and below-ground biomass, width, height, and chlorophyll contents were used to access the carbon sequestration potential. Results showed that the phytoremediation potential of tree species based on heavy metal accumulation and translocation (BAF, CBCI, MAI) followed the overall trend S.cuminii > F.religiosa > C.fistula > C. erectus > M. azedarach, while the carbon sequestration trend based on biomass production (AGB, BGB, TB) and chlorophyll pigments (Chla, Chlb, TChl, and carotenoids) followed by the overall trend S.cuminii > F.religiosa > C.erectus > M.azedarach > C.fistua. PCA analysis, mental and Pearson correlation, and PLS-SEM analysis emphasized our conclusion where F. religiosa and S. cumini showed a significantly positive correlation with carbon sequestrant (CS) and heavy metal deposition in leaf and bark samples with preference at industrial sites and summer season. In conclusion, BCF for all tree species was more than 1, which emphasized their phytoremediation potential against heavy metals and should be preferred for biomonitoring and bioremediation, but F. religiosa and S. cumini were more viable options for carbon sequestration and phytoremediation, each with unique strengths for different contexts. Finally, tree species selection should account for factors like local climate, soil conditions, land use objectives, and desired ecosystem services.

The research of Bombyx mori mainly focuses on the overall brewing of Bombyx mori, there are few studies on Bombyx mori protein and by-products after processing. In order to improving the utilization rate of Bombyx mori, Bombyx mori polypeptide was chelated with inorganic zinc to prepare Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc in this study. Bombyx mori polypeptide was used as the raw material to prepared Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc. Characterization and analysis of Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc used UV spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. It detected the zinc ion absorption rate of polypeptide chelated zinc by constructing an in vitro Caco-2 cell absorption model. The results suggested that the transport amounts of ZnSO₄, glycine chelated zinc were lower than Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc. A total of 5 monomeric peptide chelated zinc were identified by Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc mass spectrometry analysis and named M1–M5. Based on M1–M5 and network pharmacology, verified whether Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc had anti-inflammatory effects. In order to analysed the anti-inflammatory effect of network pharmacology and molecular docking calculation results, RAW264.7 inflammation model was constructed in vitro and the effects of different concentrations of polypeptide chelated zinc on the release of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β were studied. The results demonstrated that Bombyx mori polypeptide chelated zinc had inhibitory effects to the all inflammatory factors. This work provided a data foundation for the development of a new type of zinc ion nutritional enhancer.

Copper (Cu) and vanadium (V) are beneficial to the organizations as trace elements, but excessive intakes of Cu and V could damage the individual health with multi-organ injury, such as neurotoxicity. To estimate the combined effects of Cu and V on proptosis by the TLR4/NF-κB-p65 pathway in duck brains, a total of 72 ducks were divided into four groups: control group, Cu group (400 mg Cu/kg), V group (30 mg V/kg), and Cu + V group (400 mg Cu/kg + 30 mg V/kg) groups respectively. The results indicated that Cu and/or V could disrupt the trace element balance in the duck brain and caused nerve fiber disorders, neuronal vacuolization and mitochondrial destruction. Oxidative damage was observed in the brain, characterized by increased levels of MDA, NO, and LDH, and decreased levels of CAT, T-SOD, and GSH following exposure to Cu and/or V. Additionally, Cu and/or V triggered pyroptosis by upregulating the expression levels of pyroptosis-related factors (Caspase-1, NLRP3, NEK7, ASC, IL-18, IL-1β, GSDME, GSDMA, GSDMD) and enhancing the co-location puncta of Caspase-1 with GSDMD. Besides, Cu and/or V raised the expression levels of TLR4 and NF-κB-p65. Collectively, the results revealed that excess Cu or V induced oxidative stress and pyroptosis by activating the TLR4/NF-κB-p65 pathway in the duck brains, and the combined treatment of Cu and V aggravated the brain damage.

There are almost no studies in the field of speciation of trace elements in the body of farm animals, in particular cattle. In this regard, the purpose of this study was to examine the species composition of copper in dairy cows depending on their productivity level. From the total number of Red Steppe breed cows (n = 90), 2 groups were formed: cows with low-normal milk yield values (n = 17)—group I (low-productive animals, average daily milk yield up to the 25th percentile); cows with high-normal values (n = 23)—group II (highly productive animals, average daily milk yield above the 75th percentile). Regardless of the productivity level, the content of chemical elements in the blood serum was in the range of normal physiological values. However, it was reliably established that highly productive animals had lower potassium levels and higher levels of phosphorus and copper relative to low-producing animals. The results of speciation analysis showed four copper-containing fractions in the blood serum of cows: transcuprein, ceruloplasmin, albumin and low-molecular forms of copper. Copper in the blood serum of cows of the Red Steppe breed, regardless of the level of productivity, is predominantly associated with albumin and ceruloplasmin (up to 90%). The rest of the copper was bound to transcuprein and low-molecular complexes (about 10%). When the level of total copper in the blood serum was up to 900 μg/L (0.9 μg/ml), the albumin fraction predominated over ceruloplasmin, and low-molecular-weight complexes prevailed over transcuprein. However, with an increase in the level of total copper above 900 μg/L (0.9 μg/ml), a shift occurred in the protein fractions; the ceruloplasmin fraction began to predominate over the albumin fraction, and transcuprein over low-molecular-weight complexes. In addition, a significant positive statistically significant association was identified between the total content of copper and ceruloplasmin in the blood with the average daily milk yield (r = 0.47; p < 0.05). The obtained data demonstrate the features of copper redistribution in cows of the Red Steppe breed, which can be used for an expanded assessment of the microelement status of animals, and, possibly, for predicting their productive qualities.

Metal exposure has been identified as a risk factor for lung adenocarcinoma, yet the relationship between internal metal exposure and clinical characteristics reflecting tumor development has been underexplored. In this cohort study, we enrolled 285 consecutively admitted lung carcinoma patients and 118 age and sex-matched healthy participants, and determined the metal concentrations in paired plasma and blood cells by using a well-evaluated ICP-MS method. The associations between individual or combined metal exposures and tumor size, location, stage, or lymph node metastasis were evaluated by using univariable tests, logistic regression, restricted cubic spline analysis, weighted quantile sum, and Bayesian kernel machine regression. Patients with lung carcinoma and adenocarcinoma had higher levels of most plasma metals (Mg, Ca, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Cd, Pb) and blood cell metals (Mg, Ca, Co). However, they had lower levels of Hg in plasma and blood cells, and lower Cu in blood cells. Our findings further revealed significant associations of Cu, As, Se, and Cd with tumor stage, Cu, As, and Hg with lymph node metastasis, and Ca, Ni, Zn, Se, and Cd with tumor size, respectively. No metals showed associations with tumor left or right locations. Notably, Cu, Cd, Ni, and Hg were associated with increased risk, while Ca, As, Se, and Zn exhibited negative associations, particularly in cases of advanced stage, lymph node involvement, or larger tumor sizes. Moreover, the collective metal exposure was significantly associated with tumor size, suggesting that moderate exposure, compared to low exposure, may be linked to tumor growth. These results indicate that variations in circulating metals are associated with development or progression of lung adenocarcinoma.

Excess heavy metals can be toxic to plants and microbes. The application of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in agriculture has gained global attention for promising sustainable development, including in heavy metals polluted soil. However, the metal resistance and plant growth promoting determinants of strains belonging to the genus Acinetobacter remain poorly understood. Here, we characterize strain SC22, and analyzed the complete genome of strain SC22. The influence of inoculating with this strain on soybean growth by pot experiment was also analyzed. Our results showed that strain SC22 displayed high As(III) and Cu(II) resistance and high IAA production. The presence of operons such as, merRACDT, zntA and 4 znuABC, czcABCD and arsRBCH, and trpRABCDFS encode functions enabling strain SC22 to survive under extremely highly heavy metal contaminated environments and also produce plant hormones. The inoculation of strain SC22 stimulated soybean growth. Strains belonging to the genus Acinetobacter have an open pan-genome, and ArsH encoded on the core genome displayed differences to ArsH encoded on the genome of other Acinetobacter that were isolated from different habitats. These findings suggest the potential use of strain Acinetobacter junii SC22 in bioremediation and subsequent plant growth promotion in heavy metal polluted environments.

Ferroportin, the only known cellular iron exporter, belongs to the major facilitator superfamily of transporters, which cycle between inward-open, occluded and outward-open conformations to translocate substrates across membranes. Recently reported cryoEM structures of ferroportin identified two metal-binding sites in the central cavity of the protein, with site S1 that includes residues D39 and H43, while site S2 is formed by C326 and H507. Here we have employed fluorescence spectroscopy to evaluate the binding affinity for cobalt of human ferroportin. The results suggest that S2 has a higher affinity for cobalt than S1. Results are discussed in view of available structural data on the outward-open conformation of Fpn and of a novel structural model of the inward-open conformation, obtained with a custom implementation of AlphaFold 2. We propose a mechanism by which the outward flux of iron could be driven by the different affinity of the two sites.