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Hepatic cyp24a1 serves as a biomarker for diagnosing polystyrene microplastic exposure in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
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Researchers exposed Nile tilapia to 100 nm polystyrene microplastics and performed comprehensive transcriptomic profiling of cytochrome P450 genes in liver tissue, identifying hepatic cyp24a1 as a sensitive and specific biomarker for diagnosing polystyrene microplastic exposure in fish.
Microplastics (MPs), particularly polystyrene (PS), pose a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems globally. Sensitive biomarkers for diagnosing PS exposure are critical for environmental monitoring, yet evolutionarily conserved diagnostic markers in fish remain poorly characterized. This study identified cytochrome P450 (CYP) superfamily members as potential biomarkers for PS exposure in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a globally farmed species and established toxicological model. We comprehensively characterized 88 CYP genes using whole-genome and multi-tissue transcriptomic analyses. Hepatic transcriptional responses to 100 nm PS exposure (100 μg/L) were profiled via RNA sequencing across acute (7 days), adaptive (14 days), and sub-chronic (21 days) exposure phases. Candidate biomarkers were validated by qPCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence, with cross-species conservation assessed across fourteen teleosts. Histology revealed PS-induced hepatocyte nuclear pyknosis. Transcriptomic analysis identified dysregulation of CYP genes, and KEGG enrichment highlighted significant alteration in the cytochrome P450 pathway. Genomic analysis clustered the 88 CYP genes into 17 subfamilies, all harboring conserved P450 domains. Multi-tissue expression profiling (liver, testis, ovary, brain, heart, head kidney, kidney, skeletal muscle) indicated predominant hepatic expression for most CYP genes, aligning with the liver's metabolic role. Notably, Cyp24a1 exhibited sustained upregulation across all exposure phases, validated at the protein level. Immunofluorescence localized Cyp24a1 expression specifically to hepatic adipocytes. Phylogenetic analysis confirmed cyp24a1 conservation within teleosts. We propose hepatic cyp24a1 as a potential biomarker for diagnosing PS exposure in fish, with its early and persistent induction suggesting its potential utility for environmental monitoring.
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Researchers exposed larval tilapia to polystyrene nanoplastics and then analyzed changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles after a recovery period. They found that nanoplastic exposure disrupted immune-related pathways, energy metabolism, and lipid processing in the fish, with some effects persisting even after exposure ended. The study suggests that nanoplastics can cause lasting metabolic and immune disruptions in freshwater fish.
Effects of Polystyrene Microplastic Exposure on Liver Cell Damage, Oxidative Stress, and Gene Expression in Juvenile Crucian Carp (Carassius auratus)
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Researchers exposed young crucian carp to polystyrene microplastics at different concentrations and found dose-dependent liver damage, with higher concentrations causing more severe tissue injury and weaker antioxidant defenses. The microplastics disrupted genes involved in detoxification and stress response in liver cells. Since crucian carp is a commonly consumed freshwater fish, these findings raise questions about whether microplastic-contaminated fish could affect the health of people who eat them.
Integrated transcriptomics and proteomics analyses reveal the ameliorative effect of hepatic damage in tilapia caused by polystyrene microplastics with chlorella addition
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Tilapia fish were exposed to polystyrene microplastics of different sizes, and researchers found that the particles caused liver damage including fat metabolism disruption, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Interestingly, adding the green algae Chlorella to the exposure partially helped reduce the harmful effects, suggesting that natural microorganisms may offer some protective benefit against microplastic toxicity in fish.
Integrated Biomarker, Histopathological and Genotoxicity‐Based Toxicological Evaluation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Microplastics in Oreochromis mossambicus
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Researchers exposed Mozambique tilapia to polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics and found dose-dependent accumulation in gill, gut, and liver tissues. Polyethylene proved significantly more toxic, causing greater oxidative stress, metabolic disruption, and chromosomal damage as measured by micronucleus assays. The study provides evidence that different polymer types can have markedly different toxicological impacts on freshwater fish.
Molecular characterisation of cytochrome P450 enzymes in waterflea (Daphnia pulex) and their expression regulation by polystyrene nanoplastics
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Researchers cloned and characterized two cytochrome P450 enzyme genes in the water flea Daphnia pulex and found that polystyrene nanoplastic exposure at 0.5 mg/L upregulated three of five CYP genes, with expression returning toward baseline at higher doses — suggesting these detoxification enzymes respond to nanoplastic stress and may serve as molecular biomarkers of nanoplastic exposure in aquatic invertebrates.
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