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N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine Ameliorates BPAF-Induced Porcine Sertoli Cell Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest via Inhibiting the
Yue Feng1, Junjing Wu1, Runyu Lei1,2
1Hubei Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo and Molecular Breeding, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China.
Toxics
|November 24, 2023
Summary
Bisphenol AF (BPAF) impairs male reproductive cells by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in Sertoli cells. This toxicity is mediated by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Reproductive Biology
- Cellular Toxicology
Background:
- Bisphenol AF (BPAF) is an emerging environmental contaminant linked to male reproductive system dysfunction.
- Limited research exists on the specific mechanisms of BPAF toxicity in testicular Sertoli cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the toxic mechanism of BPAF in porcine Sertoli (ST) cells.
- To investigate BPAF's impact on ST cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle, and oxidative stress pathways.
Main Methods:
- Cell viability and cytotoxicity assessed using the Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.
- Apoptosis and cell cycle distribution analyzed via flow cytometry.
- Expression of apoptosis-related proteins (BAD, BAX, BCL-2) and cell proliferation markers (PCNA, CDK2, CDK4) quantified.
- Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and antioxidant enzyme activities (GSH, CAT, SOD) measured.
- Effect of ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) evaluated.
Main Results:
- High BPAF concentrations (>50 μM) significantly reduced ST cell viability and increased cytotoxicity.
- BPAF exposure induced apoptosis and G2/M phase cell cycle arrest.
- Upregulation of pro-apoptotic (BAD, BAX) and downregulation of anti-apoptotic/proliferative (BCL-2, PCNA, CDK2, CDK4) markers observed.
- Elevated intracellular ROS and MDA levels, with decreased GSH, CAT, and SOD activities, indicating oxidative stress.
- NAC treatment mitigated BPAF-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.
Conclusions:
- BPAF induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in ST cells primarily through ROS-mediated pathways.
- Oxidative stress plays a critical role in BPAF's toxic effects on Sertoli cells.
- Findings contribute to understanding BPAF's male reproductive toxicity and inform future risk assessments.
