1. Exploring the genotoxic potential of Bisphenol A and its emerging alternatives in an advanced in vitro 3D zebrafish hepatic cell modelAlja Štern, Katja Kološa, Špela Rozman, Bojana Žegura, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: With global restrictions on Bisphenol A (BPA), various BPA alternatives are increasingly found in ecosystems, raising concerns. This study focuses on the genotoxic potential of three emerging BPA alternatives — Bisphenol AF (BPAF), Bisphenol AP (BPAP), and Bisphenol PH (BPPH) — using an advanced in vitro 3D model system, spheroids, prepared from a Zebrafish (Danio rerio) liver cell line (ZFL). Their cytotoxicity was evaluated using the CellTiter-Glo® 2.0 assay, while their genotoxic potential was assessed using the comet assay, γH2AX assay, and toxicogenomic analysis. The BPA alternatives were more cytotoxic to ZFL spheroids than BPA. Non-cytotoxic concentrations caused transient DNA damage without a significant increase in DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). The toxicogenomic analysis confirmed these findings, indicating activation of the TP53 DNA damage response pathway, the nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER) mechanisms, likely in response to bulky DNA lesions and oxidative DNA damage. In addition, the gene expression analysis indicated the influence of the tested BPs on the endocrine system. Our results indicate that BPAF, BPAP and BPPH have considerable genotoxic potential and pose a significant ecotoxicological risk, underscoring the need for further investigation and careful consideration of these chemicals as BPA replacements.
Keywords: BPA, BPAF, BPAP, BPPH, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, ZFL spheroids
Published in DiRROS: 26.09.2025; Views: 450; Downloads: 195
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2. Plastics in cyanobacterial blooms - genotoxic effects of binary mixtures of cylindrospermopsin and bisphenols in HepG2 cellsKlara Hercog, Alja Štern, Sara Maisanaba Hernández, Metka Filipič, Bojana Žegura, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Ever-expanding environmental pollution is causing a rise in cyanobacterial blooms and the accumulation of plastics in water bodies. Consequently, exposure to mixtures of cyanotoxins and plastic-related contaminants such as bisphenols (BPs) is of increasing concern. The present study describes genotoxic effects induced by co-exposure to one of the emerging cyanotoxins—cylindrospermopsin (CYN)—(0.5 µg/mL) and BPs (bisphenol A (BPA), S (BPS), and F (BPF); (10 µg/mL)) in HepG2 cells after 24 and 72 h of exposure. The cytotoxicity was evaluated with an MTS assay and genotoxicity was assessed through the measurement of the induction of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) with the γH2AX assay. The deregulation of selected genes (xenobiotic metabolic enzyme genes, DNA damage, and oxidative response genes) was assessed using qPCR. The results showed a moderate reduction of cell viability and induction of DSBs after 72 h of exposure to the CYN/BPs mixtures and CYN alone. None of the BPs alone reduced cell viability or induced DSBs. No significant difference was observed between CYN and CYN/BPs exposed cells, except with CYN/BPA, where the antagonistic activity of BPA against CYN was indicated. The deregulation of some of the tested genes (CYP1A1, CDKN1A, GADD45A, and GCLC) was more pronounced after exposure to the CYN/BPs mixtures compared to single compounds, suggesting additive or synergistic action. The present study confirms the importance of co-exposure studies, as our results show pollutant mixtures to induce effects different from those confirmed for single compounds.
Keywords: cylindrospermopsin, CYN, bisphenols, BPA, BPS, BPF, BPAF, co-exposure, genotoxicity, cytotoxicity
Published in DiRROS: 23.07.2024; Views: 1161; Downloads: 799
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3. Adverse (geno)toxic effects of bisphenol A and its analogues in hepatic 3D cell modelMarta Sendra, Martina Štampar, Katarina Fras, Beatriz Novoa, Antonio Figueras, Bojana Žegura, 2023, original scientific article Keywords: BPA analogues, in vitro 3D cell model, genotoxic, DNA strand breaks, cell proliferation, cell death
Published in DiRROS: 12.07.2024; Views: 1410; Downloads: 558
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4. Exploring BPA alternatives : environmental levels and toxicity reviewOndrej Adamovsky, Ksenia J Groh, Anna Białk-Bielińska, Beate I. Escher, R. Beaudouin, Liadys Mora Lagares, K. E. Tollefsen, Alja Štern, Tina Eleršek, Marjan Vračko, Bojana Žegura, 2024, review article Abstract: Bisphenol A alternatives are manufactured as potentially less harmful substitutes of bisphenol A (BPA) that offer similar functionality. These alternatives are already in the market, entering the environment and thus raising ecological concerns. However, it can be expected that levels of BPA alternatives will dominate in the future, they are limited information on their environmental safety. The EU PARC project highlights BPA alternatives as priority chemicals and consolidates information on BPA alternatives, with a focus on environmental relevance and on the identification of the research gaps. The review highlighted aspects and future perspectives. In brief, an extension of environmental monitoring is crucial, extending it to cover BPA alternatives to track their levels and facilitate the timely implementation of mitigation measures. The biological activity has been studied for BPA alternatives, but in a non-systematic way and prioritized a limited number of chemicals. For several BPA alternatives, the data has already provided substantial evidence regarding their potential harm to the environment. We stress the importance of conducting more comprehensive assessments that go beyond the traditional reproductive studies and focus on overlooked relevant endpoints. Future research should also consider mixture effects, realistic environmental concentrations, and the long-term consequences on biota and ecosystems.
Keywords: BPA alternatives, biological activity, in silico, invertebrates, vertebrates, toxicity
Published in DiRROS: 03.06.2024; Views: 1434; Downloads: 1012
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