Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscus
The increasing deposition of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems is a worldwide concern. MPs can interact with other environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals, and change their toxicity. In this study, we focused on the effects of MPs and lead (Pb), as a toxic heavy metal, on marine musse...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324015690 |
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| author | Chuanyue Chen Xueer Wang Yingrong Jin Yinchang Yao Suchang Li Zhi Liao Xiaolin Zhang Xiaojun Yan |
| author_facet | Chuanyue Chen Xueer Wang Yingrong Jin Yinchang Yao Suchang Li Zhi Liao Xiaolin Zhang Xiaojun Yan |
| author_sort | Chuanyue Chen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The increasing deposition of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems is a worldwide concern. MPs can interact with other environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals, and change their toxicity. In this study, we focused on the effects of MPs and lead (Pb), as a toxic heavy metal, on marine mussel Mytilus coruscus under separate and co-exposure situations at environmentally relevant concentrations: MPs (1 mg/L) and Pb (50 μg/L). We found that MPs alone or in combination with Pb significantly decreased the respiration and filtration rates of the mussels (p < 0.05). Histological observations revealed varying extents of damage to the gill and digestive gland caused by a single exposure to MPs, which was aggravated by co-exposure to Pb. In addition, co-exposure induced a higher level of oxidative stress, which was reflected by an increase in hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content, and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity. Meanwhile, co-exposure poses a significant threat to the immune function of the mussels, as evidenced by induction of hemocytes to produce excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), significantly reducing lysosome activity (p < 0.05), inhibiting the expression of autophagy-related genes, and inducing the expression of apoptosis-related genes, resulting in hemocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, the TLR/MyD88/NFκB signaling pathway is involved in the immune response of mussels to environmental stress. This study provides novel perspectives on the toxicity of MPs combined with Pb in marine animals, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying their ecotoxicological effects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0c014264fa2743b0be164753cd70e118 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj-art-0c014264fa2743b0be164753cd70e1182025-01-23T05:25:46ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132025-01-01289117493Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscusChuanyue Chen0Xueer Wang1Yingrong Jin2Yinchang Yao3Suchang Li4Zhi Liao5Xiaolin Zhang6Xiaojun Yan7Laboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China; School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, ChinaLaboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaLaboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaLaboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaLaboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaLaboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, ChinaLaboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China; Corresponding author.Laboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China; School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315211, China; Corresponding author at: Laboratory of Marine Biology Protein Engineering, Marine Science and Technical College, Zhejiang Ocean University, Zhoushan 316022, China.The increasing deposition of microplastics (MPs) in aquatic ecosystems is a worldwide concern. MPs can interact with other environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals, and change their toxicity. In this study, we focused on the effects of MPs and lead (Pb), as a toxic heavy metal, on marine mussel Mytilus coruscus under separate and co-exposure situations at environmentally relevant concentrations: MPs (1 mg/L) and Pb (50 μg/L). We found that MPs alone or in combination with Pb significantly decreased the respiration and filtration rates of the mussels (p < 0.05). Histological observations revealed varying extents of damage to the gill and digestive gland caused by a single exposure to MPs, which was aggravated by co-exposure to Pb. In addition, co-exposure induced a higher level of oxidative stress, which was reflected by an increase in hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde content, and a decrease in antioxidant enzyme activity. Meanwhile, co-exposure poses a significant threat to the immune function of the mussels, as evidenced by induction of hemocytes to produce excess reactive oxygen species (ROS), significantly reducing lysosome activity (p < 0.05), inhibiting the expression of autophagy-related genes, and inducing the expression of apoptosis-related genes, resulting in hemocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, the TLR/MyD88/NFκB signaling pathway is involved in the immune response of mussels to environmental stress. This study provides novel perspectives on the toxicity of MPs combined with Pb in marine animals, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying their ecotoxicological effects.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324015690BivalveHeavy metalImmune responseMicroplasticsOxidative stress |
| spellingShingle | Chuanyue Chen Xueer Wang Yingrong Jin Yinchang Yao Suchang Li Zhi Liao Xiaolin Zhang Xiaojun Yan Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscus Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Bivalve Heavy metal Immune response Microplastics Oxidative stress |
| title | Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscus |
| title_full | Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscus |
| title_fullStr | Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscus |
| title_full_unstemmed | Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscus |
| title_short | Simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress, histopathological damage, and immune dysfunction in marine mussel Mytilus coruscus |
| title_sort | simultaneous exposure to microplastics and heavy metal lead induces oxidative stress histopathological damage and immune dysfunction in marine mussel mytilus coruscus |
| topic | Bivalve Heavy metal Immune response Microplastics Oxidative stress |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324015690 |
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