Frontiers in toxicology最新文献

{"title":"Editorial: \"Unravelling micro-/nano-plastics toxicity profiling: can we link associated effects to intrinsic characteristics?\"","authors":"Sebastian Beggel, Valentina Helen Pauna, Vanessa Modesto, Marisa Sárria Pereira de Passos","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1605402","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2025.1605402","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1605402"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12034682/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144060478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Lupin poisoning: a review.","authors":"Meye Bloothooft, Pien Cremers, Sükriye Güven, Stijn J Stoutjesdijk, Mara Jiron, Mark Wessel, Marcel A G Van Der Heyden","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1547535","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2025.1547535","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Lupin beans are the seeds of plants from the Fabaceae family. These beans are rich in protein and used for human consumption for several millennia. Their popularity is still increasing. Some species produce beans with high alkaloid contents, specifically of spartaine and lupanine. Without proper processing, consuming these beans can result in lupin poisoning that causes anticholinergic syndrome. We systematically analyzed all case reports describing lupin poisoning in humans in order to define most observed clinical findings, treatment options and outcome.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We screened Pubmed and Google scholar for human case reports on lupin poisoning. Obtained full-text papers in any language were screened for eligibility. Demographics, time-to-symptoms, treatment and outcome were analyzed. Symptoms were categorized using the ICD11 classification.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Twenty-seven case reports describing 33 patients were obtained. Poisoning occurred in all age groups and sexes equally. Most frequent symptoms were bilateral mydriasis (n = 25), xerostomia (n = 25), blurred vision (n = 17), lightheadedness (n = 14), weakness (n = 11). Onset of symptoms was typically within 60 min. In most cases no treatment was required, and symptoms resolved within 24 h after which patients were discharged. Two of four children in the cohort required ICU admission and one died.</p><p><strong>Discussion: </strong>Lupin poisoning is rare and requires most often a conservative clinical approach. However, in children the effects are more severe than in adults. Frequency of lupin poisoning may rise due to increased popularity of the beans as an alternative protein source.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1547535"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12014556/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144013634","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Promising protective potential of MiR-103a-3p against polystyrene microplastic neurotoxicity in rats.","authors":"Leila Mohammadi, Tourandokht Baluchnejadmojarad, Mina Goudarzi, Vahid Khodashenas, Roya Khoshravesh, Mehrdad Roghani","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1560980","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2025.1560980","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b>Introduction:</b> Microplastics are ubiquitous environmental pollutants with potential neurotoxic effects that can impair learning and memory. MicroRNAs are essential regulators of a number of physiological and pathological processes, but detailed information on the impact of miRNAs on the neurotoxic effects of microplastics is lacking. <b>Methods:</b> In the present study, polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs) were administered orally and miR-103a-3p was injected intracerebroventricularly as a treatment for PS-MPs-induced neurotoxicity. <b>Results and Discussion:</b> Performance in the novel object discrimination Y-maze and Barnes maze tests indicated that miR-103a-3p mitigates the deleterious effects of PS-MPs on learning and memory. Oxidative stress, pyroptosis, apoptosis and inflammation induced by PS-MPs were modulated after miR- 103a-3p injection by reducing malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, nitrite, caspase 3, caspase 1, TNFα, and NLRP3 levels in hippocampal tissue. Our results also showed that miR-103a-3p can reverse the impact of PS-MPs on astrocytic reaction and SIRT1 and BDNF levels. MiR-103a-3p alleviated PS-MPs-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through reducing the levels of PERK, CHOP and GRP78. These findings imply that miR-103a-3p exerts a neuroprotective influence against cognitive deficits induced by exposure to PS-MPs. This is achieved by reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1560980"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11996803/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144022536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Advancing humanized 3D tumor modeling using an open access xeno-free medium.","authors":"Atena Malakpour-Permlid, Manuel Marcos Rodriguez, Kinga Zór, Anja Boisen, Stina Oredsson","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1529360","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2025.1529360","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Despite limitations like poor mimicry of the human cell microenvironment, contamination risks, and batch-to-batch variation, cell culture media with animal-derived components such as fetal bovine serum (FBS) have been used <i>in vitro</i> for decades. Moreover, a few reports have used animal-product-free media in advanced high throughput three-dimensional (3D) models that closely mimic <i>in vivo</i> conditions. To address these challenges, we combined a high throughput 3D model with an open access, FBS-free chemically-defined medium, Oredsson Universal Replacement (OUR) medium, to create a more realistic 3D <i>in vitro</i> drug screening system. To reach this goal, we report the gradual adaptation procedure of three cell lines: human HeLa cervical cancer cells, human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) from FBS-supplemented medium to OUR medium, while closely monitoring cell attachment, proliferation, and morphology. Our data based on cell morphology studies with phase contrast and real-time live imaging demonstrates a successful adaptation of cells to proliferate in OUR medium showing sustained growth kinetics and maintaining population doubling time. The morphological analysis demonstrates that HeLa and MCF-7 cells displayed altered cell morphology, with a more spread-out cytoplasm and significantly lower circularity index, while CAFs remained unaffected when grown in OUR medium. 3D fiber scaffolds facilitated efficient cell distribution and ingrowth when grown in OUR medium, where cells expand and infiltrate into the depths of 3D scaffolds. Drug toxicity evaluation of the widely used anti-cancer drug paclitaxel (PTX) revealed that cells grown in 3D cultures with OUR medium showed significantly lower sensitivity to PTX, which was consistent with the FBS-supplemented medium. We believe this study opens the way and encourages the scientific community to use animal product-free cell culture medium formulations for research and toxicity testing.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1529360"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11979229/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144013757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toxic effects of <i>Lepidium sativum</i> seed fixed oil on Wistar albino rats in acute and subacute toxicity models.","authors":"Teshome Gebremeskel Aragie, Kaleab Asres, Wondwossen Ergete, Samual Woldekidan, Sileshi Degu, Abiy Abebe, Worku Gemechu, Derso Furgasa, Girma Seyoum","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1535597","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1535597","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong><i>L. sativum</i> L. (family Brassicaceae) is a versatile herbal medicine in Ethiopia. The seed extract is widely employed in traditional medicine, whilst the seed oil is used as edible oil. However, there are no available studies conducted on the safety of the fixed oil of <i>L. sativum</i> seed in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of the oil in Wistar albino rats.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Acute and subacute toxicity studies were conducted in Wistar albino rats. A single oral dose of <i>L</i>. <i>sativum</i> seed oil was administered, and the animals were followed for 14 days. The subacute oral dose toxicity study was conducted in rats of both sexes by repeated 28-day toxicity test as per OECD guidelines. Body weight was measured weekly, and observations of the animals were made regularly throughout the study period. Organ weight, histopathology, hematology, and clinical chemistry data were collected on the 29^th day. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the means of the comparison groups and the results were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and significance was determined at the P-value of <0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In this study, the LD₅₀ of the fixed oil of <i>L. sativum</i> was found to be 2818.32 mg/kg. According to the World Health Organization, the oil is classified as slightly hazardous at a single oral dose administration. In the subacute toxicity study, rats treated with the oil showed significant changes behavioral indices such as piloerection, lethargy, and tremor. In addition, gross pathology of organs, body weight, biochemical, and hematological parameters were deranged.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of the present study demonstrated that the fixed oil of <i>L. sativum</i> has toxic effects. Therefore, it is highly essential to create awareness among the Ethiopian public who use the seeds for medicinal purposes and/or consume the oil as edible oil about the possible health hazards that they may pose.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1535597"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11969224/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143797245","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling marine microplastic emissions in Life Cycle Assessment: characterization factors for biodegradable polymers and their application in a textile case study.","authors":"Felicitas Pellengahr, Elena Corella-Puertas, Valérie Mattelin, Nadim Saadi, Francesca Bertella, Anne-Marie Boulay, Yvonne van der Meer","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1494220","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1494220","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>With the continuous increase of plastics production, it is imperative to carefully examine their environmental profile through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). However, current LCA modeling is not considering the potential impacts of plastic emissions on the biosphere. To integrate plastic emissions into LCA, characterization factors are needed that commonly consist of three elements: a fate factor, an exposure factor, and an effect factor. In this context, fate factors quantify the distribution and longevity of plastics in the environment. Research on these fate factors is still limited, especially for biodegradable polymers. Hence, the main objective of this research was to determine the fate factors of biodegradable polymers [poly (lactic acid), poly (butylene succinate), and poly (ε-caprolactam)] based on primary experimental data for the marine environment.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The validity of former research is tested by comparing the degradation evolution of i. macro- and microplastic particles, ii. two different grades of the polymer, and iii. different temperature levels. The degradation data are obtained by monitoring the oxygen consumption over a period of six months in natural seawater. The determined degradation rates are combined with sedimentation, resuspension, and deep burial rates to obtain fate factors. These fate factors are used to develop polymer-specific characterization factors. The resulting characterization factors are tested in an LCA case study of a synthetic sports shirt made from biodegradable polymer fibers. It allows to assess the relative importance of microplastic impacts compared to other life cycle impacts.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion: </strong>Comparing the resulting specific surface degradation rates indicates that microplastic degradation rates could be overestimated when using macroplastic degradation data. Pertaining to the case study, the results show that the impact on ecosystem quality by microplastic emissions could account for up to 30% of the total endpoint category. Overall, this work aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration to leverage the accuracy of LCA studies and thus provide guidance for novel material development.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1494220"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11962433/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143775217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Editorial: Global excellence in toxicology: Asia, Australia and New Zealand.","authors":"Yongning Wu","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1584009","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1584009","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1584009"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11955507/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143756266","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selection of the critical effect size alters hazard characterization - a retrospective analysis of key studies used for risk assessments of PFAS.","authors":"L Brunken, A Vieira Silva, M Öberg","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1525089","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1525089","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Regulatory values for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) vary widely across agencies, creating inconsistencies that challenge effective risk management and public health communication. These differences often stem from methodological choices in determining points of departure (PoDs), the selection of critical effect size (CES) and the modeling framework for benchmark dose (BMD) analysis. This study investigates the impact of CES selection on hazard characterization by analyzing how variations in CES influence resulting PoDs and health-based guidance values. A retrospective analysis of key studies from four regulatory PFAS risk assessments was conducted, covering both animal and epidemiological data (thyroid hormone, cholesterol, and vaccine response). CES options compared included 5%, 10%, one standard deviation from background, and a generalized effect size theory, using both frequentist and Bayesian statistics. The findings show that CES selection and statistical approach substantially affect BMD estimates such as the lower bound BMD (BMDL) of the respective confidence interval or credible interval; with larger CES values and Bayesian modeling yielding more biologically relevant, stable results. For instance, Bayesian methods provided narrower credible intervals, compared to frequentist methods at lower CES levels, minimizing overly conservative assessments. However, in comparison to the PoD previously derived by the European Food Safety Authority the results generally suggest lower values. In conclusion, this study supports the use of a flexible, endpoint-specific CES with Bayesian model averaging, which may enhance the accuracy and consistency of PFAS guidance values, offering a more robust foundation for regulatory risk assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1525089"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11949891/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143756268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pesticides and public health: discussing risks in Brazilian agro-industrial growth.","authors":"Juliana E Perobelli","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1442801","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1442801","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The benefits of pesticides in enhancing agricultural yields are widely accepted by the general public. However, it is essential to address the limitations of the current agricultural model to develop more sustainable practices that prioritize environmental and human health. Brazil, a major global agricultural player, ranks among the top five agro-food producers and exporters, making it one of the largest consumers of pesticides worldwide. Notably, approximately 30% of pesticides used in Brazil are banned in the European Union. Paradoxically, some of these banned agrochemicals re-enter Northern markets through imported agro-food products. Addressing the regulatory disparities between Northern and Southern countries necessitates global initiatives and research to better understand the real biological risks associated with pesticide exposure, particularly concerning reproductive health, endocrine disruption, and carcinogenesis-key targets of these chemicals. Since 2001, the Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA) has operated the \"Reports on Pesticide Residue Analysis in Food (RPRAF)\" program to evaluate pesticide residues in food samples collected across Brazil. Despite its limitations, the program has been crucial in identifying the chemical exposome related to Brazilian agro-foods, facilitating studies on relevant pesticides, their doses, routes, and exposure schedules, and enabling the development of pre-clinical studies based on real-life exposure scenarios. A thorough understanding of the main mechanism of toxicity is crucial for raising awareness about the health risks associated with pesticide exposure, fostering tailored health strategies and guiding informed regulatory policies.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1442801"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11947944/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143733455","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implications of petrochemical exposure and epigenetic alterations on human health.","authors":"Selvaraj Jayaraman, Anupriya Eswaran, Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan, Mohammed Fazal, Adham Al-Rahbi, Srinivasa Rao Sirasanagandla","doi":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1542871","DOIUrl":"10.3389/ftox.2025.1542871","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The petrochemical industry and automobiles contribute significantly to hazardous waste, which contains a broad array of organic and inorganic compounds posing serious health risks. Identifying biomarkers of exposure and creating predictive models for toxicity characterization necessitate a thorough understanding of the underlying epigenetic mechanisms. The development of disease is intricately linked to epigenetic processes, such as DNA methylation, histone modifications, and microRNA (mi-RNA) regulation, which mediate gene-environment interactions. While previous studies have investigated these alterations as markers for petrochemical-induced changes, there is still a need for deeper exploration in this area, with particular emphasis on advanced gene-editing technologies. This review highlights the specific epigenetic processes, especially gene-specific DNA methylation changes, associated with prolonged petrochemical exposure. Notably, the demethylation of long interspersed nuclear element 1 (LINE-1), Alu elements, and forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), as well as hypermethylation of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and hypomethylation of interleukin-4 (IL-4) promoter regions, are discussed. These alterations in DNA methylation patterns serve as valuable biomarkers, potentially offering insights into early detection and personalized treatment options for diseases caused by long-term exposure to petrochemicals. Furthermore, CRISPR-based gene editing techniques, while underexplored, present a promising approach for correcting petrochemical-induced mutations. In addition, AI-driven radiomics holds promise for early disease detection, though it is currently limited by its lack of integration with multi-omics data. In conclusion, it is crucial to refine disease modelling, develop comprehensive risk assessment models, and innovate targeted therapeutic strategies. Future research should focus on enhancing exposure evaluation, incorporating computational tools to analyze molecular changes, and improving our understanding of how these modifications influence disease prevention and treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":73111,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in toxicology","volume":"7 ","pages":"1542871"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-03-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11966425/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143782179","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}