Aluminum toxicity related to SOD and expression of presenilin and CREB in Bombyx mori

Abstract

Aluminum (Al) is an important environmental metal factor that can be potentially associated with pathological changes leading to neurotoxicity. The silkworm, Bombyx mori, is an important economic insect and has also been used as a model organism in various research areas. However, the toxicity of Al on silkworm physiology has not been reported. Here, we comprehensively investigate the toxic effects of Al on the silkworm, focusing on its effects on viability and development, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and the expression of presenilin and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in BmE cells and silkworm larvae. BmE cell viability decreased after treatment with aluminum chloride (AlCl ) in both dose- and time-dependent manners. When AlCl solution was injected into newly hatched fifth instar larvae, both larval weight gain and survival rate were significantly decreased in a manner correlating with AlCl dose and developmental stage. Furthermore, when BmE cells and silkworm larvae were exposed to AlCl , SOD activity decreased significantly relative to the control group, whereas presenilin expression increased more than twofold. Additionally, CREB and phosphorylated CREB (p-CREB) expression in the heads of fifth instar larvae decreased by 28.0% and 50.0%, respectively. These results indicate that Al inhibits the growth and development of silkworms in vitro and in vivo, altering SOD activity and the expressions of presenilin, CREB, and p-CREB. Our data suggest that B. mori can serve as a model animal for studying Al-induced neurotoxicity or neurodegeneration.

Environmental and Household-Based Spatial Risks for Tungiasis in an Endemic Area of Coastal Kenya

“…As for aluminum, it is generally toxic to living things. Exposure to aluminum in food or medium leads to behavior abnormality, decreased fertility, growth inhibition, and a shortened lifespan in insects [55][56][57][58][59]. Considering that sand fleas' off-host stage development occurs in soil and that larvae feed on organic matter in the environment [3,18,60], it is not impossible that a higher soil aluminum content negatively affects sand fleas' propagation.…”

Solanum vegetable‐based diets improve impairments in memory, redox imbalance, and altered critical enzyme activities in Drosophila melanogaster model of neurodegeneration

“…The pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases have been identified to be both genetic and sporadic; considering the latter, environmental risk factors are very prominent. One of the most ubiquitous element in the environment is aluminum (Al), valuable for producing various domestic and industrial products for human uses (Bayliak et al, 2019; Liu et al, 2018). Physiologically, Al is a nonessential metal and excessive exposure to it has been associated with several human neurological impairments including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Bayliak et al, 2019; Wu et al, 2012).…”

Cytotoxicity and changes in gene expression under aluminium potassium sulfate on Spodoptera frugiperda 9 cells

“…Increasing aluminium concentrations and exposure time have been found to shorten the lifespan of Drosophila and affect motor ability (Kijak et al 2014). Aluminium also inhibits the growth of Bombyx mori and changes the expression of cAMP response element-binding protein and presenilin (Liu et al 2018). For the aquatic insect Corixa punctata (Illig.…”