Inorganic arsenic causes apoptosis cell death and immunotoxicity on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Inorganic arsenic (As) is one of the most toxic pollutants in the water. We have studied their effects on the marine teleost European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) at 2 and 10 days of 5 μMofAs2O3 (sub-lethal doses) waterborne exposure. Arsenic accumulates in liver and gill tissues. The expression profile of five genes (bax, blc2, casp3, casp8 and casp9) involved in apoptosis cell death confirmed apoptotic effects in liver, slight changes in gill and no effects in skin according with the histopathology findings. Total IgM level and peroxidase activities were increased at 2 and 10 days, respectively. The bactericidal activity was decreased at 2 days after As exposure. A general decrease of cellular immune activities with significant differences in the case of respiratory burst activity was observed after 2 and 10 days of exposure. This work describes for the first time the effects of As exposure on European sea bass.Versión del editor2,35

Removal efficiency for emerging contaminants in a WWTP from Madrid (Spain) after secondary and tertiary treatment and environmental impact on the Manzanares River

The effluents from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can be an important contamination source for receiving waters. In this work, a comprehensive study on the impact of a WWTP from Madrid on the aquatic environment has been performed, including a wide number of pharmaceuticals and pesticides, among them those included in the European Watch List. 24-h composite samples of influent (IWW) and effluent wastewater after secondary (EWW2) and after secondary + tertiary treatment (EWW3) were monitored along two campaigns. Average weekly concentrations in IWW and EWW2 and EWW3 allowed estimating the removal efficiency of the WWTP for pharmaceutical active substances (PhACs). In addition, the impact of EWW3 on the water quality of the Manzanares River was assessed, in terms of PhAC and pesticide concentrations, through analysis of the river water collected upstream and downstream of the discharge point. After a preliminary risk assessment, a detailed evaluation of the impact on the aquatic environment, including a toxicological study and screening of pharmaceutical metabolites, was made for the seven most relevant PhACs: sulfamethoxazole, azithromycin and clarithromycin (antibiotics), metoprolol (antihypertensive), diclofenac (anti-inflammatory/analgesic), irbesartan (antihypertensive), and the antidepressant venlafaxine. Among selected PhACs, irbesartan, clarithromycin and venlafaxine presented moderate or high risk in the river water downstream of the discharge. Albeit no acute toxicity was detected, more detailed studies should be carried out for these substances, including additional toxicological studies, to set up potential sublethal and chronic effects on aquatic organisms.This work was developed under the financial support of DRACE INFRAESTRUCTURAS S.A. as a part of the project Estudio de contaminantes emergentes en aguas residuales y superficiales de Madrid. The authors acknowledge the support of Jose Ramon Rodriguez from DRACE INFRAESTRUCTURAS S.A., for collection of wastewater and surface water samples, as well as the discussion and useful suggestions from Jesus Angel López, Pedro Miguel Catalinas and Maria Elvira Benito, from Sub-Direccion General de Aguas, Ayuntamiento de Madrid. The University Jaume I of Castellón, Spain (project UJI-B2018-55), the Ministry of Science, Innovation and University, Spain (Ref RTI2018-097417-B-I00) and Generalitat Valenciana, Spain (research group of excellence PROMETEO 2019/040) are also acknowledged. The authors are very grateful to the Serveis Centrals d'Instrumentació Científica (SCIC) of University Jaume I for the use of LC-MS/MS instrumentation

Bioaccumulation of CuO nanomaterials in rainbow trout: influence of exposure route and particle shape

The bioaccumulation potential of spherical and rod-shaped CuO nanomaterials (NMs) was assessed in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) exposed via water and diet following the OECD Test Guideline No. 305. Fish were exposed via diet to both NMs at concentrations of 70 and 500 mg Cu/kg for 15 days, followed by 44 days of depuration. For water-borne exposure, only the rod-shaped CuO NMs were tested at 0.08 and 0.8 mg Cu/L for 28 days, followed by 14 days of depuration. The concentration of Cu was determined in fish whole body to derive biomagnification and bioconcentration factors (BMF and BCF). Different tissues were sampled to investigate the total Cu biodistribution and target organs as well as the particle number-based bioaccumulation of CuO NMs. Estimated BMF and BCF values were below the thresholds of concern. However, shape and route influenced depuration. Following dietary exposure, there was a higher depuration of Cu from fish exposed to the rod-shaped compared to the spherical CuO NMs. A higher depuration was also observed for rod-shaped CuO NMs following the dietary exposure compared the aqueous one. Despite the much higher dietary exposure concentrations of rod-shape CuO NMs, similar Cu body burdens were reached via water. Cu was found in particulate form in different tissues.Although these NMs had a low bioaccumulation potential, differences in distribution and elimination patterns of Cu were observed depending on the exposure route and particle shape. Careful consideration of the most relevant exposure route is needed when designing a bioaccumulation experiment for testing NMs.Environmental Biolog

Dietary regulation of VEGFb gene expression is related to its promoter DNA methylation levels

Motivación: Recientemente se ha descrito la implicación del factor de crecimiento del endotelio vascular B (VEGFb) en la absorción de los ácidos grasos (AGs) en los tejidos y su relación con el desarrollo de diferentes enfermedades metabólicas tal como la obesidad y la diabetes tipo 2. El objetivo de este estudio es investigar el efecto de la composición de los AGs de la dieta en la regulación de la expresión génica del VEGFb en los tejidos adiposos de rata, y si este efecto está relacionado mediante modificación por metilación del DNA en el promotor del VEGFb. De esta forma la modificación de la dieta puede ser una nueva estrategia para modular la acumulación patológica de los lípidos en la obesidad o en la diabetes. Métodos: A cada grupo de ratas fue asignado una de tres diferentes dietas isoenergéticas, cada una con una concentración diferente de AGs saturados, mono y poliinsaturados (dieta de aceite de coco, aceite de oliva y de girasol). Los animales fueron alimentados durante un mes. Las muestras de tejido adiposo visceral (VAT) y subcutáneo (SAT) se tomaron inmediatamente para estudios de metilación y  expresión génica. También de estos tejidos se tomaron mediciones de la composición de los AGs de los triglicéridos y la acumulación total de los tejidos adiposos. Resultados: Ni los pesos de los animales ni de los depósitos adiposos ni la acumulación lípidica del tejido cambiaban con las dietas. La composición en AGs de ambos tejidos fue significativamente diferente en función de la dieta consumida(p <0,0001 para todos los AGs estudiados). El nivel de expresión del gen VEGFb se correlaciona directamente con la acumulación de lípidos de cada tejido y con la composición de AGs del tejido. En ambos tejidos, los niveles de expresión génica del VEGFb y de metilación del promotor fueron diferentes con respecto a la dieta consumida, estando la expresión génica y los niveles de metilación del promotor del VEGFb inversamente correlacionados. Los valores más altos de expresión génica, y los más bajos de metilación del promotor, se encontraron en las ratas alimentadas con la dieta rica en aceite de coco. Conclusiones: La expresión del gen Vegfb en el tejido adiposo se asocia con el aumento en la acumulación de grasa. El estudio presentado muestra que la expresión génica del Vegfb está regulada por los AGs de la dieta, y esta regulación está relacionada con el nivel de metilación de la región promotora del Vegfb

Common Variants of the Liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein Gene Influence the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin Resistance in Spanish Population

SummaryThe main objective was to evaluate the association between SNPs and haplotypes of the FABP1-4 genes and type 2 diabetes, as well as its interaction with fat intake, in one general Spanish population. The association was replicated in a second population in which HOMA index was also evaluated.Methods1217 unrelated individuals were selected from a population-based study [Hortega study: 605 women; mean age 54 y; 7.8% with type 2 diabetes]. The replication population included 805 subjects from Segovia, a neighboring region of Spain (446 females; mean age 52 y; 10.3% with type 2 diabetes). DM2 mellitus was defined in a similar way in both studies. Fifteen SNPs previously associated with metabolic traits or with potential influence in the gene expression within the FABP1-4 genes were genotyped with SNPlex and tested. Age, sex and BMI were used as covariates in the logistic regression model.ResultsOne polymorphism (rs2197076) and two haplotypes of the FABP-1 showed a strong association with the risk of DM2 in the original population. This association was further confirmed in the second population as well as in the pooled sample. None of the other analyzed variants in FABP2, FABP3 and FABP4 genes were associated. There was not a formal interaction between rs2197076 and fat intake. A significant association between the rs2197076 and the haplotypes of the FABP1 and HOMA-IR was also present in the replication population.ConclusionsThe study supports the role of common variants of the FABP-1 gene in the development of type 2 diabetes in Caucasians

ELOVL6 Genetic Variation Is Related to Insulin Sensitivity: A New Candidate Gene in Energy Metabolism

BACKGROUND: The elongase of long chain fatty acids family 6 (ELOVL6) is an enzyme that specifically catalyzes the elongation of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with 12, 14 and 16 carbons. ELOVL6 is expressed in lipogenic tissues and it is regulated by sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP-1). OBJECTIVE: We investigated whether ELOVL6 genetic variation is associated with insulin sensitivity in a population from southern Spain. DESIGN: We undertook a prospective, population-based study collecting phenotypic, metabolic, nutritional and genetic information. Measurements were made of weight and height and the body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Insulin resistance was measured by homeostasis model assessment. The type of dietary fat was assessed from samples of cooking oil taken from the participants' kitchens and analyzed by gas chromatography. Five SNPs of the ELOVL6 gene were analyzed by SNPlex. RESULTS: Carriers of the minor alleles of the SNPs rs9997926 and rs6824447 had a lower risk of having high HOMA_IR, whereas carriers of the minor allele rs17041272 had a higher risk of being insulin resistant. An interaction was detected between the rs6824447 polymorphism and the intake of oil in relation with insulin resistance, such that carriers of this minor allele who consumed sunflower oil had lower HOMA_IR than those who did not have this allele (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic variations in the ELOVL6 gene were associated with insulin sensitivity in this population-based study

Monitorización del consumo de sustancias de abuso legales e ilegales en España a través de las aguas residuales en el marco de la red ESAR-Net

Trabajo presentado en el 4th Congreso Internacional y XLIX Jornadas Nacionales de Socidrogalcohol - VIII Congreso Nacional Patología Bio-Psicosocial, celebrado en Tenerife del 06 al 08 de octubre de 2022

Código de conduta. Zoológicos, aquários e espécies exóticas invasoras na Península Ibérica

Código de conduta - Zoológicos, aquários e espécies exóticas invasoras na Península Ibéric

Código de conducta. Zoológicos, acuarios y especies exóticas invasoras en la Península Ibérica

Código de conducta. Zoológicos, acuarios y especies exóticas invasoras en la Península Ibéric