Sanguinarine exposure induces immunotoxicity and abnormal locomotor behavior in zebrafish

• Published in: Fish & shellfish immunology Vol. 139; p. 108898
• Main Authors: Li, Xue, Zhang, Li, Zhong, Zilin, Sun, Sujie, Wu, Jie, Liu, Fasheng, Cao, Zigang, Lu, Huiqiang, Liao, Xinjun, Zhou, Bing, Chen, Jianjun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01-08-2023
• Subjects: Immunotoxicity; Oxidative stress; Sanguinarine; Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway; Zebrafish; Oxidative stress; Zebrafish; Sanguinarine; Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway; Immunotoxicity
• ISSN: 1050-4648; 1095-9947
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2023.108898

Sanguinarine (C20H14NO4+), a plant alkaloid and pesticide, works well a fungicidal and insecticidal applications. The prospect that sanguinarine may have potentially toxic effects on aquatic organisms has been brought to light by its use in agriculture. The first evaluation of the immunotoxic and behavioral effects of sanguinarine exposure on larval zebrafish was done in this work. Firstly, zebrafish embryos exposed to sanguinarine had shorter body length, larger yolk sacs, and slower heart rates. Secondly, the number of innate immune cells was significantly reduced. Thirdly, alterations in locomotor behavior were observed as exposure concentrations increased. Total distance travelled, travel time, and mean speed were all reduced. We also found significant changes in oxidative stress-related indicators and a significant increase in apoptosis in the embryos. Further studies revealed aberrant expression of some key genes in the TLR immune signaling pathway including CXCL-c1c, IL8, MYD88, and TLR4. At the same time, the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IFN-γ was upregulated. To sum up, our results suggest that sanguinarine exposure may cause immunotoxicity and aberrant behavior in larval zebrafish.
•Sanguinarine caused immunotoxicity in larval zebrafish.•Sanguinarine caused abnormal locomotor behavior in larval zebrafish.•Larvae showed increased oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, and down-regulated Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway.•Astaxanthin and BML-284 can partially rescue the effects of Sanguinarine on larval zebrafish.