Research

Publications
Title: Cytotoxicity profiling of decabromodiphenyl ethane to earthworm (Eisenia fetida): Abnormity-recovery-dysregulation physiological pattern reflects the coping mechanism
First author: Fu, Mengru; Liu, Fang; Abbas, Ghulam; Zhou, Shanqi; Ling, Siyuan; Zhang, Wei; Peng, Cheng; Yang, Jie; Zhou, Bingsheng
Journal: SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
Years: 2022
Volume / issue: /
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152607
Abstract: Response of terrestrial invertebrates to decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) is an emerging field of research nowadays, while cytotoxicity of DBDPE and self-defense strategies of invertebrates are poorly understood. In this study, earthworms (Menlo fetida) were incubated in the DBDPE-spiked soil system (10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 mg kg(-1) dw) for 28-d uptake. The bioaccumulation and distribution of DBDPE, a series of biomarkers associated with lysosomes/mitochondria, and the apoptosis rate of coelomocytes have been evaluated on the 7th, 14th, 21th, and 28th day. At experimental endpoint, the autophagy/apoptosis phenomena have been observed under transmission electron microscopy and the expression levels of six target genes have been explored. Findings in this paper revealed that: bioaccumulation factors decreased with the incremental DBDPE concentrations in the soil. Intestinal ingestion, but not epidermal contact predominated the absorption of DBDPE. The fluctuations of biomarkers and the apoptosis rate were described as the abnormity-recovery-dysregulation pattern. Intense oxidative stress, energy demands, membrane-system damage, pathological organelles, and apoptosis were observed in the treated groups. Conclusively, the cytotoxicity of DBDPE initiated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway which affected the physiological status of lysosomes, autophagy, and the expression of genes. The coping mechanisms of Risenia fetida to DBDPE included activating mitochondrial electron transport processes, reorganizing actin cytoskeleton, and initiating autophagy. Earthworms resisted the cytotoxicity of DBDPF. to a certain extent, while long-term exposure still resulted in apoptosis of coelomocytcs. This study works as a laboratory simulation for the environmental safety evaluation of DBDPF. and the detoxification mechanisms for earthworm.