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Omics Insights into Cylindrospermopsin's Molecular Toxicity
Ronald F Borja1, Cristina Plata-Calzado1, Leticia Diez-Quijada1
1Área de Toxicología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Profesor García González Nº 2, 41012 Seville, Spain.
Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 13, 2025
Summary
Cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a cyanotoxin in water and food, poses health risks. More research using omics techniques is needed to understand its toxicity and establish health guidelines for contaminated food consumption.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Toxicology
- Food Safety
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a potent cyanotoxin found in drinking water and food, posing risks to human and animal health.
- Oral exposure is significant due to CYN's bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms and plants.
- Current toxicological data gaps hinder the establishment of health guidance values for CYN.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of CYN's molecular toxicity using omics techniques.
- To identify knowledge gaps in CYN toxicology, particularly regarding lipidomic, metabolomic, and microbiomic impacts.
- To emphasize the need for expanded omics approaches in risk assessment for CYN-contaminated foods.
Main Methods:
- Review of in vitro and in vivo studies on CYN toxicity.
- Analysis of omics techniques (transcriptomics, proteomics) applied to CYN research.
- Inclusion of recent findings on CYN-induced gut dysbiosis.
Main Results:
- Omics techniques have advanced the characterization of CYN's molecular toxicity.
- Studies show CYN affects transcriptional and protein levels in pathways related to detoxification, DNA damage, apoptosis, cell survival, and lipid metabolism.
- Limited studies exist on lipidomic, metabolomic, and microbiomic effects, though CYN may induce gut dysbiosis.
Conclusions:
- Further expansion of omics approaches is crucial for accurate risk assessment of CYN exposure.
- Understanding CYN's mode of action and adverse outcome pathways is a priority.
- Addressing data gaps, especially concerning gut microbiome interactions, is essential for food safety and public health protection.
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