Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii

ABSTRACT Among neonicotinoid insecticides, thiacloprid (THI) is extensively utilized in agricultural practices, which poses a potential toxicity risk to aquatic fauna. Turtles, integral to aquatic ecosystems, have not yet been comprehensively assessed for their vulnerability to THI exposure. In this...

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Main Authors: Shuqin Lin, Yunjuan Xiao, Siyu Li, Liyan Tang, Haitao Shi, Meiling Hong, Li Ding
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70936
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author Shuqin Lin
Yunjuan Xiao
Siyu Li
Liyan Tang
Haitao Shi
Meiling Hong
Li Ding
author_facet Shuqin Lin
Yunjuan Xiao
Siyu Li
Liyan Tang
Haitao Shi
Meiling Hong
Li Ding
author_sort Shuqin Lin
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Among neonicotinoid insecticides, thiacloprid (THI) is extensively utilized in agricultural practices, which poses a potential toxicity risk to aquatic fauna. Turtles, integral to aquatic ecosystems, have not yet been comprehensively assessed for their vulnerability to THI exposure. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of THI on oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and apoptosis in aquatic turtles. We categorized Mauremys reevesii into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups exposed to environmentally relevant (4.5 μg/mL) and high (15 mg/mL) concentrations of THI, respectively. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes significantly associated with the elimination of superoxide radicals, organelle inner membrane functions, peroxiredoxin activity, and apoptotic pathways were abundantly expressed in the high‐concentration THI group. Notably, exposure to high concentrations of THI led to a marked increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, whereas catalase (CAT) activity declined and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels rose, indicating the presence of oxidative stress. Moreover, THI upregulated the expression of the ER stress marker GRP78. Simultaneously, the mRNA levels of pivotal unfolded protein response genes, including AFT6, AFT4, IRE1α, CHOP, XBP1, and eIF2α, were significantly elevated in response to THI exposure. Furthermore, high concentrations of THI significantly activated the activities of caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9 enzymes in the liver tissue. The expression of anti‐apoptotic gene Bcl‐2 was downregulated, whereas the pro‐apoptotic genes Bax and caspase‐3 were upregulated, leading to an increase in hepatic apoptotic cells following THI exposure. Collectively, our study indicates that THI can induce hepatic damage in turtles through the promotion of oxidative stress, ERS, and apoptosis. These findings gain a deeper understanding of the toxic effects of THI on keystone species in aquatic ecosystems, thereby improving our overall understanding of their environmental impacts.
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spelling doaj-art-5b8a688d58984aa6a490ca220da3c4b42025-08-20T03:13:50ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-02-01152n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70936Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesiiShuqin Lin0Yunjuan Xiao1Siyu Li2Liyan Tang3Haitao Shi4Meiling Hong5Li Ding6Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University Haikou ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University Haikou ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University Haikou ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University Haikou ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University Haikou ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University Haikou ChinaMinistry of Education Key Laboratory for Ecology of Tropical Islands, Key Laboratory of Tropical Animal and Plant Ecology of Hainan Province College of Life Sciences, Hainan Normal University Haikou ChinaABSTRACT Among neonicotinoid insecticides, thiacloprid (THI) is extensively utilized in agricultural practices, which poses a potential toxicity risk to aquatic fauna. Turtles, integral to aquatic ecosystems, have not yet been comprehensively assessed for their vulnerability to THI exposure. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effects of THI on oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), and apoptosis in aquatic turtles. We categorized Mauremys reevesii into three groups: a control group and two experimental groups exposed to environmentally relevant (4.5 μg/mL) and high (15 mg/mL) concentrations of THI, respectively. Transcriptome analysis revealed that genes significantly associated with the elimination of superoxide radicals, organelle inner membrane functions, peroxiredoxin activity, and apoptotic pathways were abundantly expressed in the high‐concentration THI group. Notably, exposure to high concentrations of THI led to a marked increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, whereas catalase (CAT) activity declined and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels rose, indicating the presence of oxidative stress. Moreover, THI upregulated the expression of the ER stress marker GRP78. Simultaneously, the mRNA levels of pivotal unfolded protein response genes, including AFT6, AFT4, IRE1α, CHOP, XBP1, and eIF2α, were significantly elevated in response to THI exposure. Furthermore, high concentrations of THI significantly activated the activities of caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9 enzymes in the liver tissue. The expression of anti‐apoptotic gene Bcl‐2 was downregulated, whereas the pro‐apoptotic genes Bax and caspase‐3 were upregulated, leading to an increase in hepatic apoptotic cells following THI exposure. Collectively, our study indicates that THI can induce hepatic damage in turtles through the promotion of oxidative stress, ERS, and apoptosis. These findings gain a deeper understanding of the toxic effects of THI on keystone species in aquatic ecosystems, thereby improving our overall understanding of their environmental impacts.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70936aquatic turtleshepatic toxicityneonicotinoid insecticidespesticide exposure
spellingShingle Shuqin Lin
Yunjuan Xiao
Siyu Li
Liyan Tang
Haitao Shi
Meiling Hong
Li Ding
Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii
Ecology and Evolution
aquatic turtles
hepatic toxicity
neonicotinoid insecticides
pesticide exposure
title Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii
title_full Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii
title_fullStr Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii
title_full_unstemmed Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii
title_short Thiacloprid Exposure Induces Oxidative Stress, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, and Apoptosis in the Liver of Mauremys reevesii
title_sort thiacloprid exposure induces oxidative stress endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis in the liver of mauremys reevesii
topic aquatic turtles
hepatic toxicity
neonicotinoid insecticides
pesticide exposure
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70936
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