Omics Insights into Cylindrospermopsin's Molecular Toxicity

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a potent cyanotoxin that poses a significant risk to human and animal health. Due to its occurrence in drinking water and food, as well as its ability to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms and plants irrigated with contaminated water, the oral route is an important exposure pathway. However, data gaps in the current toxicological data for CYN jeopardize the establishment of health guidance values. In this context, mechanistic data and a deeper knowledge of CYN's mode of action and its adverse outcome pathways are priorities for risk assessment. In recent years, omics techniques have enabled important advances in the comprehensive characterization of the molecular toxicity of CYN. In vitro studies have mainly focused on liver and kidney models, while in vivo studies have mostly used aquatic organisms. These studies have shown effects at both the transcriptional and protein levels on various signaling pathways related to detoxification, DNA damage, apoptosis, cell survival, and lipid metabolism, among others. However, studies using lipidomic, metabolomic, or microbiomic techniques are limited to date. Nevertheless, a recent study suggests that CYN may also induce gut dysbiosis, which would further extend its toxicological profile. This review emphasizes the need to further expand the use of omics approaches to accurately assess the risks associated with the consumption of CYN-contaminated foods.