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Results for “Transgenerational effects”

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PubMed2026

Maternal transfer of nonylphenol drives oxidative, immune, and epigenetic dysregulation in zebrafish offspring.

Nonylphenol (NP), a widespread surfactant and endocrine-disrupting pollutant, poses significant ecological and public health risks globally; however, its transgenerational effects remain poorly understood. Using zebrafish (Danio rerio), we compared chronic maternal NP exposure (50 and 100 µg/L, 28 days) with acute embryonic exposure (0.22 µmol/L) during 0-3 days post-fertilization (dpf) to delineate mechanistic differences in toxicity. Maternal NP exposure produced severe developmental defects in offspring, including edema, axial curvature, impaired swim bladder inflation, reduced growth, cardiac dysfunction, and decreased viability. These phenotypes were accompanied by systemic molecular disruptions including oxidative stress, altered estrogen receptor (ER) expression, dysregulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, and suppressed innate immune response characterized by attenuated neutrophil/macrophage density, reduced CD68 and complement protein C3 expression, diminished nitrite load, and downregulation of pro-inflammatory mediators at both transcript and protein levels. Maternal exposure further induced apoptosis and persistent epigenetic reprogramming (alterations in DNA methylation and histone-modifying enzymes), hallmarks of transgenerational toxicity. In contrast, direct embryonic NP exposure elicited morphological abnormalities without significant lethality, accompanied by induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, and MAPK activation, reflecting an augmented inflammatory response. These mechanistic contrasts reveal that maternal NP exposure is a potent driver of systemic, heritable molecular reprogramming, whereas embryonic exposure triggers acute inflammatory pathways. Together, our findings underscore the global relevance of NP as a transgenerational toxicant, advocating for its urgent inclusion in ecotoxicological risk assessments and regulatory frameworks.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Comet assay analysis of multigenerational genomic instability (F0-F2) in Aedes aegypti exposed to gamma radiation in Sterile Insect Technique.

The use of irradiation in the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a sustainable and environmentally friendly strategy for controlling Aedes aegypti populations by the release of sterile males. However, the potential toxic effects of radiation on mosquito genetic material, as well as the heritability of such damage, remain insufficiently understood. In this study, we evaluated gamma radiation-induced DNA damage (20, 30, 40, and 50 Gy) in male pupae (F0 generation) and assessed the persistence of these effects in subsequent generations (F1 and F2) using the comet assay in hemocytes. In the parental generation, a significant dose-response relationship was observed, with increasing radiation doses associated with higher damage index and damage frequency (p < 0.05). In the F1 generation, both larvae and adults exhibited significantly greater DNA damage than the control group, particularly at doses of 30 and 40 Gy, supporting the inheritance of radiation-induced genomic instability. In the F2 generation, genotoxic effects were attenuated, although residual damage remained detectable in adults, suggesting partial recovery of genomic stability, possibly influenced by DNA repair mechanisms and/or selective pressures. No viable offspring were obtained at 50 Gy, confirming the sterilizing efficacy of higher doses. Integration of comet assay results with micronucleus data and reproductive parameters reinforces the association between DNA damage, mutagenic effects, and reduced fertility. These findings indicate that radiation-induced genotoxic effects may persist beyond the irradiated generation but tend to decline across generations. Overall, this study provides insights into the balance between achieving sterility and preserving biological quality in SIT programs, contributing to optimizing radiation doses and enhancing the safety and efficacy of vector control strategies.

Comet assay↗

PubMed2026

From molecular responses to environmental monitoring: advances and translational gaps in omics approaches in fish environmental toxicology.

Fish occupy a central position in aquatic ecosystems and serve as important bioindicators for environmental monitoring, as well as powerful translational models for understanding toxic mechanisms conserved across higher vertebrates. In recent years, omics techniques have proven to be powerful tools to address complex environmental questions that conventional toxicology methods cannot answer. Despite this potential, a critical translational gap remains between molecular findings and their use in ecological risk assessment frameworks. This review critically synthesizes advances across omics techniques including epigenomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics and proteomics and their integration. Special emphasis is placed on methodological considerations and practical aspects of these techniques in fish environmental toxicology and environmental monitoring. Evidence from single-omics studies suggests conserved biomarker signatures across species while characterizing complex phenomena like non-monotonic dose-response relationships, mixture toxicity and transgenerational and stereoselective effects with implications for population level monitoring. Multi-omics studies, especially those involving triple omics, further enhance mechanistic resolution by reconstructing adverse outcome pathways. We further evaluate using case studies when additional molecular layers provide critical insight and when they offer limited advantage, a strategic distinction with direct implications in environmental monitoring programmes. Finally, current limitations and future directions that will ultimately bridge the translational gap and hold promise for advancing mechanistic ecotoxicology and predictive environmental monitoring are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Genetic Analysis of Genomic and Methylomic Variation and Identification of Multi-Trait Mutants in Rice Carried on Chang'e-5.

Global food security is facing challenges from population growth to diminishing arable land. Space mutation breeding holds promise for overcoming the variation limitations in conventional breeding; however, the mutagenic effects of the deep-space environment on rice and the transgenerational inheritance patterns of induced variations remain unclear. In this study, rice seeds carried by the Chang'e-5 spacecraft were used as materials. Whole-genome sequencing and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing were performed on the first (SP1) and second generations (SP2) of space-mutagenized plants after their return to Earth. The results showed that the number of genomic variants in the SP2 generation increased significantly compared with SP1, and SNPs, homozygous sites, and variants in coding regions were more heritable. The genome-wide methylation level was elevated in the SP2 generation, and among differentially methylated cytosines, those in the CG context exhibited the highest heritability. Furthermore, large-scale screening for nitrogen efficiency, tolerance to PEG-induced stress, and germination-stage cold resistant mutants was conducted in the SP2 generation, and phenotypic validation was performed in the third generation (SP3). By integrating multi-omics analyses of representative mutants to mine candidate genes, a number of heritable elite mutants were obtained, and seven candidate genes for key traits were identified. This study systematically elucidates the transgenerational inheritance patterns of deep-space-induced variation in rice. The multi-trait mutants obtained provide valuable germplasm resources for gene cloning and breeding applications in rice.

DNA methylation↗

PubMed2025

Insights into the heterogeneity of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy.

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare, adult-onset, autosomal dominant myopathy characterized by variability in the age of onset and disease progression. However, its pathogenesis and phenotypic variability remain poorly understood. The disorder is caused by an expansion of a short polyalanine tract in the poly(A) binding protein nuclear 1 (PABPN1) gene. This study presents data from 23 patients across 19 Greek families with pathogenic PABPN1 expansions, including demographic and laboratory data, as well as molecular and electron microscopy findings. Eight distinct trinucleotide expansion genotypes were identified. Electron microscopy consistently demonstrated mitochondrial abnormalities, including swelling, disrupted cristae and atypical lipid inclusions. Clinical heterogeneity was observed at both inter- and intrafamilial levels, and milder phenotypes were generally linked to smaller alleles. Notably, maternally inherited expansions were associated with an earlier disease onset and more severe progression in affected offspring. Given the genetic variability observed in the cohort, the presence of a founder effect could not be supported. A significant degree of underdiagnosis or diagnostic delay was noted, largely attributable to the rarity and clinical heterogeneity of the disease. The observed intrafamilial heterogeneity - particularly in maternally inherited expansions - supports previous reports suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to transgenerational disease progression in the context of a dominant, causative nuclear variant.

Humans↗

PubMed2024

Environmental epigenetics: Exploring phenotypic plasticity and transgenerational adaptation in fish.

Epigenetics plays a vital role in the interaction between living organisms and their environment by regulating biological functions and phenotypic plasticity. Considering that most aquaculture activities take place in open or natural habitats that are vulnerable to environmental changes. Promising findings from recent research conducted on various aquaculture species have provided preliminary evidence suggesting a link between epigenetic mechanisms and economically valuable characteristics. Environmental stressors, including climate changes (thermal stress, hypoxia, and water salinity), anthropogenic impacts such as (pesticides, crude oil pollution, nutritional impacts, and heavy metal) and abiotic factors (infectious diseases), can directly trigger epigenetic modifications in fish. While experiments have confirmed that many epigenetic alterations caused by environmental factors have plastic responses, some can be permanently integrated into the genome through genetic integration and promoting rapid transgenerational adaptation in fish. These environmental factors might cause irregular DNA methylation patterns in genes related to many biological events leading to organs dysfunction by inducing alterations in genes related to oxidative stress or apoptosis. Moreover, these environmental issues alter DNA/histone methylation leading to decreased reproductive competence. This review emphasizes the importance of understanding the effects of environmentally relevant issues on the epigenetic regulation of phenotypic variations in fish. The goal is to expand our knowledge of how epigenetics can either facilitate or hinder species' adaptation to these adverse conditions. Furthermore, this review outlines the areas that warrant further investigation in understanding epigenetic reactions to various environmental issues.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Paternal exposure to polystyrene nanoplastics induces inter- and transgenerational bronchopulmonary dysplasia-like damage in male offspring by FtMt hypermethylation-mediated ferroptosis.

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a major cause of chronic lung disease in both preterm infants and adults, but its etiology remains incompletely understood. In this study, F0 generation mice were exposed to polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs), and F1 to F3 generations were obtained by breeding. Multi-omics sequencing including whole genome methylation sequencing, single cell transcriptome sequencing and transcriptome sequencing was performed on the lungs of offspring. The levels of Fe2+, lipid peroxidation products and key gene expression were determined. Male mice exposed to PS-NPs at environmentally relevant doses produced offspring (F1 and F2) that exhibited a typical BPD-like phenotype. Meanwhile, the F0 males showed diminished sperm motility, demonstrating that paternal PS-NPs exposure constituted an etiological factor for BPD in descendants. Mechanistic studies showed that PS-NPs exposure upregulated the expression of DNA methyltransferase Dnmt3a, leading to global hypermethylation of the sperm genome. Importantly, the hypermethylated promoter signature of the mitochondrial ferritin (FtMt) gene partially resisted epigenetic reprogramming and was transmitted to the lungs of offspring, resulting in persistently low FtMt expression in F1 and F2 lungs. This led to increased intracellular Fe2+ levels, subsequently triggered ferroptosis in alveolar epithelial cells, and ultimately impaired alveolarization. Knockdown of FtMt confirmed that FtMt deficiency was sufficient to induce ferroptosis and BPD-like lung injury both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, using in vitro fertilization of F0 sperm combined with Dnmt3a siRNA microinjection, we directly demonstrated that Dnmt3a is a key driver for FtMt to escape reprogramming and maintain its hypermethylation. In summary, this study reveals for the first time that paternal PS-NPs exposure causes BPD through a Dnmt3a-FtMt hypermethylation intergenerational and transgenerational axis, providing an epigenetic basis for understanding paternal derived chronic lung disease and potential targets for early intervention.

Animals↗