Loreal, O. | bioRxiv Science

bioRxiv2023

Low concentrations of ethylene bisdithiocarbamate pesticides maneb and mancozeb impair manganese and zinc homeostasis to induce oxidative stress and caspase-dependent apoptosis in human hepatocytes

The worldwide and intensive use of phytosanitary compounds results in environmental and food contamination by chemical residues. Human exposure to multiple pesticide residues is a major health issue. Considering that the liver is not only the main organ for metabolizing pesticides but also a major target of toxicities induced by xenobiotics, we studied the effects of a mixture of 7 pesticides (chlorpyrifos-ethyl, dimethoate, diazinon, iprodione, imazalil, maneb, mancozeb) often detected in food samples. Effects of the mixture was investigated using metabolically competent HepaRG cells and human hepatocytes in primary culture. We report the strong cytotoxicity of the pesticide mixture towards hepatocytes-like HepaRG cells and human hepatocytes upon acute and chronic exposures at low concentrations extrapolated from the Acceptable Daily Intake (ADI) of each compound. Unexpectedly, we demonstrated that the manganese (Mn)-containing dithiocarbamates (DTCs) maneb and mancozeb were solely responsible for the cytotoxicity induced by the mixture. The mechanism of cell death involved the induction of oxidative stress, which led to cell death by intrinsic apoptosis involving caspases 3 and 9. Importantly, this cytotoxic effect was found only in cells metabolizing these pesticides. Herein, we unveil a novel mechanism of toxicity of the Mn-containing DTCs maneb and mancozeb through their metabolization in hepatocytes generating the main metabolite ethylene thiourea (ETU) and the release of Mn leading to intracellular Mn overload and depletion in zinc (Zn). Alteration of the Mn and Zn homeostasis provokes the oxidative stress and the induction of apoptosis, which can be prevented by Zn supplementation. Our data demonstrate the hepatotoxicity of Mn-containing fungicides at very low doses and unveil their adverse effect in disrupting Mn and Zn homeostasis and triggering oxidative stress in human hepatocytes.

pharmacology and toxicology↗

bioRxiv2018

Skeletal muscle ceramides do not contribute to physical inactivity-induced insulin resistance

SUMMARY STATEMENTThis study supports that muscle ceramide do not play a key role in insulin resistance which developed early with physical inactivity.\n\nABSTRACTPhysical inactivity increases the risk to develop type 2 diabetes, a disease characterized by a state of insulin resistance. By promoting inflammatory state, ceramides are especially recognized to alter insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle. The present study was designed to analyze, in mice, whether muscle ceramides contribute to physical inactivity-induced insulin resistance. For this purpose, we used the wheel lock model to induce a sudden reduction of physical activity, in combination with myriocin treatment, an inhibitor of de novo ceramide synthesis. Mice were assigned to 3 experimental groups: voluntary wheel access group (Active), a wheel lock group (Inactive) and wheel lock group treated with myriocin (Inactive-Myr). We observed that 10 days of physical inactivity induces hyperinsulinemia and increase HOMA-IR. The muscle ceramide content were not modified by physical inactivity and myriocin. Thus, muscle ceramides do not play a role in physical inactivity-induced insulin resistance. In skeletal muscle, insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and inflammatory pathway were not affected by physical inactivity whereas a reduction of GLUT4 content was observed. Based on these results, physical inactivity-induced insulin resistance seems related to a reduction in GLUT4 content rather than defects in insulin signaling. We observed in inactive mice that myriocin treatment improved glucose tolerance, insulin-stimulated Akt, AMPK activation and GLUT4 content in skeletal muscle. Such effects occur regardless of changes in muscle ceramide content. These findings highlight that myriocin could be a promising drug to improve glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity.

physiology↗