3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are metabolically transformed into monohydroxylated PBBs (OH-PBBs) in the environment and living organisms. Although OH-PBBs pose a significant health threat to organisms, little is known about the immunotoxicity of OH-PBBs. Therefore, the objectives of this study wer...

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Main Authors: Yongjian Shao, Yinan Zhang, Xiaofang Zhang, Yu Han, Zhiquan Liu, Jiafeng Ding, Binhao Wang, Hangjun Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/293
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author Yongjian Shao
Yinan Zhang
Xiaofang Zhang
Yu Han
Zhiquan Liu
Jiafeng Ding
Binhao Wang
Hangjun Zhang
author_facet Yongjian Shao
Yinan Zhang
Xiaofang Zhang
Yu Han
Zhiquan Liu
Jiafeng Ding
Binhao Wang
Hangjun Zhang
author_sort Yongjian Shao
collection DOAJ
description Polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are metabolically transformed into monohydroxylated PBBs (OH-PBBs) in the environment and living organisms. Although OH-PBBs pose a significant health threat to organisms, little is known about the immunotoxicity of OH-PBBs. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to validate BB-80 and OH-BB-80 induced immunotoxicity and to explore the associated pathway mechanisms. Early development of zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) larvae was inhibited by 10 μg/L BB-80 and OH-BB-80, as indicated by negative changes in developmental indices. BB-80 and OH-BB-80 induced oxidative stress, significantly up-regulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and activated the antioxidant enzyme system at 10 μg/L. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory chemokines were up-regulated, indicative of the onset of inflammation in zebrafish after BB-80 and OH-BB-80 exposure. In addition, downregulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), MyD88, and NF-κB pathway-related genes was observed, suggesting that BB-80 and OH-BB-80 target the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway. Molecular docking data showed that BB-80 and OH-BB-80 bound stably to TLR4. Taken together, BB-80 and OH-BB-80 mediate immunotoxicity and early developmental suppression associated with the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Our results further the understanding of BB-80- and OH-BB-80-induced immunotoxicity, highlighting the need for toxicological studies to examine the toxic effects of the transformation products of PBBs.
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series Toxics
spelling doaj-art-a2cc02c1fe5f47b2a15e09a853f22a392025-08-20T03:13:45ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042025-04-0113429310.3390/toxics130402933,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling PathwayYongjian Shao0Yinan Zhang1Xiaofang Zhang2Yu Han3Zhiquan Liu4Jiafeng Ding5Binhao Wang6Hangjun Zhang7College of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaCollege of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, ChinaPolybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) are metabolically transformed into monohydroxylated PBBs (OH-PBBs) in the environment and living organisms. Although OH-PBBs pose a significant health threat to organisms, little is known about the immunotoxicity of OH-PBBs. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to validate BB-80 and OH-BB-80 induced immunotoxicity and to explore the associated pathway mechanisms. Early development of zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) larvae was inhibited by 10 μg/L BB-80 and OH-BB-80, as indicated by negative changes in developmental indices. BB-80 and OH-BB-80 induced oxidative stress, significantly up-regulated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and activated the antioxidant enzyme system at 10 μg/L. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and inflammatory chemokines were up-regulated, indicative of the onset of inflammation in zebrafish after BB-80 and OH-BB-80 exposure. In addition, downregulation of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), MyD88, and NF-κB pathway-related genes was observed, suggesting that BB-80 and OH-BB-80 target the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway. Molecular docking data showed that BB-80 and OH-BB-80 bound stably to TLR4. Taken together, BB-80 and OH-BB-80 mediate immunotoxicity and early developmental suppression associated with the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. Our results further the understanding of BB-80- and OH-BB-80-induced immunotoxicity, highlighting the need for toxicological studies to examine the toxic effects of the transformation products of PBBs.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/293immunotoxicityinflammationoxidative stressTLR4/NF-κBzebrafish
spellingShingle Yongjian Shao
Yinan Zhang
Xiaofang Zhang
Yu Han
Zhiquan Liu
Jiafeng Ding
Binhao Wang
Hangjun Zhang
3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
Toxics
immunotoxicity
inflammation
oxidative stress
TLR4/NF-κB
zebrafish
title 3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
title_full 3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
title_fullStr 3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
title_full_unstemmed 3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
title_short 3,3′,5,5′-Tetrabromobiphenyl (BB-80) and Its Hydroxylation Product (OH-BB-80) Mediate Immunotoxicity and Inhibit Embryonic Development in Zebrafish (<i>Danio rerio</i>) via the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway
title_sort 3 3 5 5 tetrabromobiphenyl bb 80 and its hydroxylation product oh bb 80 mediate immunotoxicity and inhibit embryonic development in zebrafish i danio rerio i via the tlr4 nf κb signaling pathway
topic immunotoxicity
inflammation
oxidative stress
TLR4/NF-κB
zebrafish
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/13/4/293
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