Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Inhibition of Proliferation and Differentiation by Florfenicol in P19 Stem Cells: Transcriptome Analysis

Abstract

Florfenicol (FLO), which is widely used in veterinary clinics and aquaculture, can disrupt the protein synthesis of bacteria and mitochondria and, thus, lead to antibacterial and toxic effects in plants, insects, and mammals. FLO was found to repress chicken embryonic development and induce early embryonic death previously, but the underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Clarifying the mechanism of FLO-induced embryonic toxicity is important to the research and development of new drugs and the rational use of FLO to ensure human and animal health and ecological safety. In this study, the effects of FLO on pluripotency, proliferation, and differentiation were investigated in P19 stem cells (P19SCs). We also identified differentially expressed genes and performed bioinformatics analysis to obtain hub genes and conducted some functional analysis. FLO inhibited the proliferation and pluripotency of P19SCs and repressed the formation of embryoid bodies derived from P19SCs. A total of 2,396 DEGs were identified using RNA-Seq in FLO-treated P19SCs, and these genes were significantly enriched in biological processes, such as angiogenesis, embryonic organ development, and morphogenesis of organs. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genome-based pathway analysis also showed that five relevant pathways, especially the canonical Wnt pathway, were engaged in FLO-induced toxicity of pluripotent stem cells. We further analyzed modules and hub genes and found the involvement of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, DNA replication, and cell cycle machinery in regulating the pluripotency and proliferation of FLO-treated P19SCs. In summary, our data suggest that FLO disrupts the signaling transduction of pathways, especially the canonical Wnt pathway, and further inhibits the expression of target genes involved in regulating DNA replication, cell cycle, and pluripotency. This phenomenon leads to the inhibition of proliferation and differentiation in FLO-treated P19SCs. However, further experiments are required to validate our findings and elucidate the potential mechanisms underlying FLO-induced embryonic toxicity.

Proteomic Analysis of the Mitochondrial Responses in P19 Embryonic Stem Cells Exposed to Florfenicol

“…These results suggest that FLO inhibits P19SC proliferation by interfering with G1/S phase transition. Our previous research has reported that FLO affects the proliferation and pluripotency of P19SCs [ 29 ]. The current study further reinforces the role of the cell cycle transition in cell proliferation.…”

“…Cells were subjected to different treatments to reach a specific confluence threshold. The FLO concentrations employed in this study (ranging from 1.56 to 25 μg/mL) mirror those encountered in developing embryos or cells [ 29 ].…”

“…To evaluate changes in cell cycle-related genes and BP in P19SCs following FLO treatment, RNA sequencing data were retrieved from the China National Center for Bioinformation, accessible under accession number CRA005030 (https://ngdc.cncb.ac.cn/gsa, accessed on 10 April 2023). The RNA-sequencing dataset was analyzed using the methodologies described in our previously published study [29].…”