Bisphenol A Alters the Expression of Genes Involved in Lipogenesis, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Adult Zebrafish

<b>Background:</b> Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread environmental endocrine disruptor associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, its short-term effects at low, environmentally relevant concentrations are still poorly understood. <b>Methods:</b> Adult zebrafish were exposed to 5, 20, or 100 µg/L BPA for 48 h, 7, or 14 days in a pilot test. The lowest effective condition (20 µg/L for 7 days) was selected for a complete experiment. Fish were divided into two groups: control and BPA-exposed (<i>n</i> = 50/group). After exposure, livers were collected for histological (HE, Oil Red O, Nile Red) and molecular (RT-qPCR) analyses. <b>Results:</b> Exposure to 20 µg/L BPA for 7 days induced moderate to severe hepatic steatosis, characterized by vacuolization, hepatocyte ballooning, and lipid accumulation. Gene expression analysis showed upregulation of fasn (fatty acid synthase), <i>acc1</i> (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1), <i>srebp-1c</i> (sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c), <i>nfkb</i> (nuclear factor kappa B), il-6 (interleukin-6), <i>gpx1</i> (glutathione peroxidase 1), <i>sod</i> (superoxide dismutase), <i>cyp1a</i> (cytochrome P450 1A), and <i>cyp2ad2</i> (cytochrome P450 2AD2), while <i>adipor2</i> (adiponectin receptor 2) and <i>gpx4</i> (glutathione peroxidase 4) were downregulated (decreased activity). <b>Conclusions:</b> Short-term exposure to a low, environmentally relevant concentration of BPA was sufficient to trigger hepatic steatosis in zebrafish. These effects were associated with enhanced lipogenesis, inflammation, oxidative imbalance, and altered xenobiotic metabolism, suggesting that even brief, low-dose BPA exposure may contribute to early events in MASLD pathogenesis.

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Journal
Pharmaceuticals
Published
2025-11-20
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/ph18111765
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.20
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article

Bisphenol A Alters the Expression of Genes Involved in Lipogenesis, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Adult Zebrafish

Daniela C. Diglio, Marilene Porawski, Orlando V. Furtado-Filho, Giuliano Rizzotto Guimarães et al.
1 citations
Pharmaceuticals
Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
1.20
article

Bisphenol A Alters the Expression of Genes Involved in Lipogenesis, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in the Liver of Adult Zebrafish

Daniela C. Diglio, Marilene Porawski, Orlando V. Furtado-Filho, Giuliano Rizzotto Guimarães, Eronides Anathan de Heberle Salau
article en
1 citations

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread environmental endocrine disruptor associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). However, its short-term effects at low, environmentally relevant concentrations are still poorly understood. <b>Methods:</b> Adult zebrafish were exposed to 5, 20, or 100 µg/L BPA for 48 h, 7, or 14 days in a pilot test. The lowest effective condition (20 µg/L for 7 days) was selected for a complete experiment. Fish were divided into two groups: control and BPA-exposed (<i>n</i> = 50/group). After exposure, livers were collected for histological (HE, Oil Red O, Nile Red) and molecular (RT-qPCR) analyses. <b>Results:</b> Exposure to 20 µg/L BPA for 7 days induced moderate to severe hepatic steatosis, characterized by vacuolization, hepatocyte ballooning, and lipid accumulation. Gene expression analysis showed upregulation of fasn (fatty acid synthase), <i>acc1</i> (acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1), <i>srebp-1c</i> (sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c), <i>nfkb</i> (nuclear factor kappa B), il-6 (interleukin-6), <i>gpx1</i> (glutathione peroxidase 1), <i>sod</i> (superoxide dismutase), <i>cyp1a</i> (cytochrome P450 1A), and <i>cyp2ad2</i> (cytochrome P450 2AD2), while <i>adipor2</i> (adiponectin receptor 2) and <i>gpx4</i> (glutathione peroxidase 4) were downregulated (decreased activity). <b>Conclusions:</b> Short-term exposure to a low, environmentally relevant concentration of BPA was sufficient to trigger hepatic steatosis in zebrafish. These effects were associated with enhanced lipogenesis, inflammation, oxidative imbalance, and altered xenobiotic metabolism, suggesting that even brief, low-dose BPA exposure may contribute to early events in MASLD pathogenesis.

PharmaceuticalsVol. 18(11)
Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (BR)
Openalex Percentile: Top 16%
Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals
1.20
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