MAPK signaling pathway enhances tolerance of Mytilus galloprovincialis to co-exposure of sulfamethoxazole and polyethylene microplastics

Yanan Di; Liya Li; Jianzhou Xu; Ao Liu; Ruoxuan Zhao; Shuimei Li; Yichen Li; Jiawei Ding; Siyu Chen; Mengjie Qu

doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125007

MAPK signaling pathway enhances tolerance of Mytilus galloprovincialis to co-exposure of sulfamethoxazole and polyethylene microplastics

Environ Pollut. 2024 Sep 20:125007. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125007. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yanan Di¹, Liya Li¹, Jianzhou Xu¹, Ao Liu², Ruoxuan Zhao², Shuimei Li², Yichen Li², Jiawei Ding², Siyu Chen², Mengjie Qu³

Affiliations

¹ Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316100, China; Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572025, China.
² Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316100, China.
³ Ocean College, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan, 316100, China; Hainan Institute of Zhejiang University, Sanya, 572025, China. Electronic address: mengjiequ@zju.edu.cn.

PMID: 39307337
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.125007

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics often coexist in complex marine environments, yet their combined detrimental effects on marine organisms remain underexplored. This study evaluated the effects of polyethylene microplastics (PE, 200 μg/L) and sulfamethoxazole (SMX, 50 μg/L), both individually and in combination, on Mytilus galloprovincialis. The exposure lasted 6 days, followed by a 6-day recovery period. Bioaccumulation, DNA damage, pollutants transport/metabolism related responses and responding alterations of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were detected in gills and digestive glands. Bioaccumulation of SMX/PE in mussels occurred in a tissue-specific manner, co-exposure altered SMX contents in investigated tissues. Co-exposure did not induce extra DNA damage, elevated DNA damage was alleviated during the recovery period in all treated groups. The exposure of SMX/PE exerted different alterations in pollutants transport/metabolism related responses, characterized by multixenobiotic resistance and relative expression of key genes (cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, glutathione S-transferase, ATP-binding cassette transporters). Key molecules (p38 MAPK, c-jun N-terminal kinase, extracellular regulated protein kinase, nuclear factor-κB and tumor protein p53) in MAPK signaling pathway were activated at transcriptional and translational levels after SMX/PE and co-exposure. Co-regulation between MAPK members and pollutants transport/metabolism related factors was revealed, suggesting MAPK signaling pathway served as a regulating hub in exposed mussels to conquer SMX/PE stress. Overall, this study provides new insights on SMX/PE induced health risks in marine mussels and potential mechanism through MAPK cascades regulation.

Keywords: Bio-accumulation; DNA damage; Emerging pollutants; Metabolism and transport of xenobiotics; Transcriptional and translational regulation of MAPK cascades.