Hazard characterization of the mycotoxins enniatins and beauvericin to identify data gaps and improve risk assessment for human health.

Enniatins (ENNs) and beauvericin (BEA) are cyclic hexadepsipeptide fungal metabolites which have demonstrated antibiotic, antimycotic, and insecticidal activities. The substantial toxic potentials of these mycotoxins are associated with their ionophoric molecular properties and relatively high lipophilicities. ENNs occur extensively in grain and grain-derived products and are considered a food safety issue by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).

Incidental nanoparticle characterisation in industrial settings to support risk assessment modelling.

Research on nanoparticle (NP) release and potential exposure can be assessed through experimental field campaigns, laboratory simulations, and prediction models. However, risk assessment models are typically designed for manufactured NP (MNP) and have not been adapted for incidental NP (INP) properties. A notable research gap is identifying NP sources and their chemical, physical, and toxicological properties, especially in real-world settings.

Correction: Brandão et al. Genotoxicity and Gene Expression in the Rat Lung Tissue following Instillation and Inhalation of Different Variants of Amorphous Silica Nanomaterials (aSiO NM). 2021, , 1502.

In the original publication [...

Multiparametric genotoxicity assessment of different variants of amorphous silica nanomaterials in rat alveolar epithelial cells.

The hazard posed to human health by inhaled amorphous silica nanomaterials (aSiO NM) remains uncertain. Herein, we assessed the cyto- and genotoxicity of aSiO NM variants covering different sizes (7, 15, and 40 nm) and surface modifications (unmodified, phosphonate-, amino- and trimethylsilyl-modified) on rat alveolar epithelial (RLE-6TN) cells. Cytotoxicity was evaluated at 24 h after exposure to the aSiO NM variants by the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release and WST-1 reduction assays, while genotoxicity was assessed using different endpoints: DNA damage (single- and double-strand breaks [SSB and DSB]) by the comet assay for all aSiO NM variants; cell cycle progression and γ-H2AX levels (DSB) by flow cytometry for those variants that presented higher cytotoxic and DNA damaging potential.

Editorial of Special Issue: The Toxicity of Nanomaterials and Legacy Contaminants: Risks to the Environment and Human Health.

Nanotechnology and the incorporation of nanomaterials (NM) into everyday products help to solve problems in society and improve the quality of life, allowing for major advances in the technological, industrial, and medical fields [...

Assessing the toxicity of airborne (nano)particles to the human respiratory system: from basic to advanced models.

Several studies have been conducted to address the potential adverse health risks attributed to exposure to nanoscale materials. While studies are fundamental for identifying the relationship between dose and occurrence of adverse effects, model systems provide important information regarding the mechanism(s) of action at the molecular level. With a special focus on exposure to inhaled (nano)particulate material toxicity assessment, this review provides an overview of the available human respiratory models and exposure systems for testing, advantages, limitations, and existing investigations using models of different complexity.

Suitability of salivary leucocytes to assess DNA repair ability in human biomonitoring studies by the challenge-comet assay.

The challenge-comet assay is a simple but effective approach that provides a quantitative and functional determination of DNA repair ability, and allows to monitor the kinetics of repair process. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) are the cells most frequently employed in human biomonitoring studies using the challenge-comet assay, but having a validated alternative of non-invasive biomatrix would be highly convenient for certain population groups and circumstances. The objective of this study was to validate the use of salivary leucocytes in the challenge-comet assay.

Cell Model of Depression: Reduction of Cell Stress with Mirtazapine.

Depression is a very prevalent and complex disease. This condition is associated with a high rate of relapse, making its treatment a challenge. Thus, an intensive investigation of this disease and its treatment is necessary.

Unveiling the Toxicity of Fine and Nano-Sized Airborne Particles Generated from Industrial Thermal Spraying Processes in Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells.

High-energy industrial processes have been associated with particle release into workplace air that can adversely affect workers' health. The present study assessed the toxicity of incidental fine (PGFP) and nanoparticles (PGNP) emitted from atmospheric plasma (APS) and high-velocity oxy-fuel (HVOF) thermal spraying. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, 2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate (WST-1) metabolisation, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, cell cycle changes, histone H2AX phosphorylation (γ-H2AX) and DNA damage were evaluated in human alveolar epithelial cells at 24 h after exposure.

Toxicity of Industrially Relevant Engineered Nanoparticles in Human Alveolar Epithelial Cells: Air-Liquid Interface Submerged Cultures.

Diverse industries have already incorporated within their production processes engineered nanoparticles (ENP), increasing the potential risk of worker inhalation exposure. models have been widely used to investigate ENP toxicity. Air-liquid interface (ALI) cell cultures have been emerging as a valuable alternative to submerged cultures as they are more representative of the inhalation exposure to airborne nano-sized particles.

How can exposure to engineered nanomaterials influence our epigenetic code? A review of the mechanisms and molecular targets.

Evidence suggests that engineered nanomaterials (ENM) can induce epigenetic modifications. In this review, we provide an overview of the epigenetic modulation of gene expression induced by ENM used in a variety of applications: titanium dioxide (TiO), silver (Ag), gold (Au), silica (SiO) nanoparticles and carbon-based nanomaterials (CNM). Exposure to these ENM can trigger alterations in cell patterns of DNA methylation, post-transcriptional histone modifications and expression of non-coding RNA.

Genotoxicity and Gene Expression in the Rat Lung Tissue following Instillation and Inhalation of Different Variants of Amorphous Silica Nanomaterials (aSiO NM).

Several reports on amorphous silica nanomaterial (aSiO NM) toxicity have been questioning their safety. Herein, we investigated the in vivo pulmonary toxicity of four variants of aSiO NM: SiO_15_Unmod, SiO_15_Amino, SiO_7 and SiO_40. We focused on alterations in lung DNA and protein integrity, and gene expression following single intratracheal instillation in rats.

The role of salt-inducible kinases on the modulation of renal and intestinal Na,K-ATPase activity during short- and long-term high-salt intake.

Type 1 salt-inducible kinases (SIK1) has been shown to act as a mediator during the cellular adaptation to variations in intracellular sodium in a variety of cell types. Type 2 SIK (SIK2) modulates various biological functions and acts as a signal transmitter in various pathways. To evaluate the role of both SIK isoforms in renal and intestinal Na,K-ATPase (NKA) activity, we made use of constitutive sik1 (SIK1-KO), sik2 (SIK2-KO), double sik1sik2 (double SIK1*2-KO) knockout and wild-type (WT) mice challenged to a standard (0.

Toxicity assessment of industrial engineered and airborne process-generated nanoparticles in a 3D human airway epithelial model.

The advanced ceramic technology has been pointed out as a potentially relevant case of occupational exposure to nanoparticles (NP). Not only when nanoscale powders are being used for production, but also in the high-temperature processing of ceramic materials there is also a high potential for NP release into the workplace environment. toxicity of engineered NP (ENP) [antimony tin oxide (SbO•SnO; ATO); zirconium oxide (ZrO)], as well as process-generated NP (PGNP), and fine particles (PGFP), was assessed in MucilAir™ cultures at air-liquid interface (ALI).

Nanoparticle exposure and hazard in the ceramic industry: an overview of potential sources, toxicity and health effects.

The ceramic industry is an industrial sector of great impact in the global economy that has been benefiting from advances in materials and processing technologies. Ceramic manufacturing has a strong potential for airborne particle formation and emission, namely of ultrafine particles (UFP) and nanoparticles (NP), meaning that workers of those industries are at risk of potential exposure to these particles. At present, little is known on the impact of engineered nanoparticles (ENP) on the environment and human health and no established Occupational Exposure Limits (OEL) or specific regulations to airborne nanoparticles (ANP) exposure exist raising concerns about the possible consequences of such exposure.

Genotoxicity of TiO Nanoparticles in Four Different Human Cell Lines (A549, HEPG2, A172 and SH-SY5Y).

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) have a wide variety of applications in many consumer products, including as food additives, increasing the concern about the possible hazards that TiO NPs may pose to human health. Although most previous studies have focused on the respiratory system, ingestion must also be considered as an important exposure route. Furthermore, after inhalation or ingestion, TiO NPs can reach several organs, such as the liver, brain or lungs.

Toxicological impact of acute exposure to E171 food additive and TiO nanoparticles on a co-culture of Caco-2 and HT29-MTX intestinal cells.

TiO particles are widely used in products for everyday consumption, such as cosmetics and food; their possible adverse effects on human health must therefore be investigated. The aim of this study was to document in vitro impact of the food additive E171, i.e.

Optimization of the harvesting and freezing conditions of human cell lines for DNA damage analysis by the alkaline comet assay.

The comet assay is a commonly used method for in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity assessment. This versatile assay can be performed in a wide range of tissues and cell types. Although most of the studies use samples immediately processed after collection, frozen biological samples can also be used.

In vivo systemic toxicity assessment of an oxidized dextrin-based hydrogel and its effectiveness as a carrier and stabilizer of granular synthetic bone substitutes.

The worldwide incidence of bone disorders is raising, mainly due to aging population. The lack of effective treatments is pushing the development of synthetic bone substitutes (SBSs). Most ceramic-based SBSs commercially available display limited handling properties.

In vitro genotoxicity assessment of an oxidized dextrin-based hydrogel for biomedical applications.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional, crosslinked networks of hydrophilic polymers swollen with a large amount of water or biological fluids, without dissolving. Dextrin, a low-molecular-weight carbohydrate composed by glucose residues, has been used to develop an injectable hydrogel for biomedical applications. Dextrin was first oxidized to introduce aldehyde groups, which then reticulate with adipic acid dihydrazide, forming the dextrin-based hydrogel (HG).

l-proline supplementation improves nitric oxide bioavailability and counteracts the blood pressure rise induced by angiotensin II in rats.

We evaluated whether l-proline (Pro) supplementation improves redox status and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and prevents or delays angiotensin II (AngII)-induced hypertension. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed to four experimental groups: Pro + AngII (Pro-Ang), Pro + Saline (Pro-Sal), Vehicle + AngII (Veh-Ang) and Veh + Saline (Veh-Sal). Pro solution (2 g.

Gold nanorods induce early embryonic developmental delay and lethality in zebrafish (Danio rerio).

Due to their unique electronic and optical features, gold nanoparticles (AuNP) have received a great deal of attention for application in different fields such as catalysis, electronics, and biomedicine. The large-volume manufacturing predicted for future decades and the inevitable release of these substances into the environment necessitated an assessment of potential adverse human and ecological risks due to exposure to AuNP. Accordingly, this study aimed to examine the acute and developmental toxicity attributed to a commercial suspension of Au nanorods stabilized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB-AuNR) using early embryonic stages of zebrafish (Danio rerio), a well-established model in ecotoxicology.

Assessment of DNA damage in a group of professional dancers during a 10-month dancing season.

Despite the numerous health benefits of physical activity, some studies reported that increased intensity and duration may induce oxidative stress in several cellular components including DNA. The aim of this study was to assess the level of basal DNA damage as well as oxidative DNA damage in a group of professional dancers before and after a 10-month dancing season. A group of individuals from general population was also assessed as a control.