Cited by 66Microplastics and Plastic PollutionEnvironmental Toxicology and EcotoxicologyToxic Organic Pollutants Impact

Metabolomic Disorders Unveil Hepatotoxicity of Environmental Microplastics in Wild Fish Serranus scriba (Linnaeus 1758)

Zitouni, Nesrine, Cappello, Tiziana, Missawi, Omayma, Boughattas, Iteb, De Marco, Giuseppe, Belbekhouche, Sabrina, Mokni, Moncef, Alphonse, Vanessa +3 more·2022·Science of The Total Environment

Abstract

Coastal areas are worldwide subject to large inputs of anthropogenic wastes that are discharged directly into inshore waters, where they will be weathered into small microplastics (MPs) of up to a size <20 μm. This study provides information about the presence of small environmental MPs (≤3 μm) in the liver of adult benthopelagic fish Serranus scriba (Linnaeus 1758), caught from three coastal regions in Tunisia distinguished by different patterns of human activity. Polymer composition in fish liver was identified using Raman microspectroscopy. Results revealed differences in the abundance, size distribution and presence of plastic additives over the investigated sites. Polyethylene-vinyl acetate (PEVA: 34% particles/g of tissue), high density polyethylene (HDPE: 24.4%) and the two smaller size classes, i.e. 3-1.2 μm and 1.2-0.45 μm, were the most abundant MPs types and size distribution found, respectively, in Bizerte channel (BC) site (Bizerte city, Tunisia). Moreover, at hepatic level data showed a significant site-dependent cytotoxicity expressed by changes in malondialdehyde (MDA) content, presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) expressed by altered level of catalase (CAT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and in the content of metallothioneins (MTs), as well as genotoxicity by changes in the amount of micronucleus (MN), and neurotoxicity by altered activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE). A innovative metabolomics analysis was also performed to further investigate the distinct patterns of key metabolite changes in the liver of Serranus scriba. A total of 36 metabolites were significantly affected, mainly involved in energy, amino acid and osmolyte metabolism. These findings emphasised for the first time a close relationship between the source, abundance and size ranges of environmental MPs ≤ 3 μm and their hepatotoxicity in wild organisms.

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Crossref · 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.155872

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  • Zitouni et al. pointed out significant site-dependent cytotoxicity in relation to MPs ingestion in Serranus scriba liver.

    “Significant site-dependent cytotoxicity in relation to MPs’ ingestion was pointed out [43].”

    From Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics? (2022) · cites this paper as [43]

  • Neurotoxicity by altered activity of acetylcholinesterase was reported in Serranus scriba.

    “Neurotoxicity by altered activity of acetylcholinesterase was also reported in Serranus scriba [43].”

    From Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics? (2022) · cites this paper as [43]

  • Zitouni et al. reported significant site-dependent genotoxicity by changes in the amount of micronucleus in the liver of Serranus scriba.

    “Authors reported significant site-dependent genotoxicity by changes in the amount of micronucleus (see Table 1).”

    From Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics? (2022) · cites this paper as [43]

  • Zitouni et al. found that 36 metabolites in Serranus scriba liver, mainly involved in energy, amino acid, and osmolyte metabolism, were significantly affected by the presence of MPs.

    “Zitouni et al. [43] performed an innovative metabolomic analysis on 36 metabolites in Serranus scriba liver. The metabolites investigated, mainly involved in energy, amino acid, and osmolyte metabolism, were significantly affected by the presence of MPs.”

    From Is Wild Marine Biota Affected by Microplastics? (2022) · cites this paper as [43]

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Authors
Zitouni, N., Cappello, T., Missawi, O., Boughattas, I., De Marco, G., Belbekhouche, S., Mokni, M., Alphonse, V., Guerbej, H., Bousserrhine, N., & Banni, M.
Affiliations
  • University of Monastir (TN)
  • University of Messina (IT)
  • University of Sousse (TN)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
  • Hôpital Farhat Hached (TN)
  • Université Paris-Est Créteil (FR)
Corresponding author
Cappello, Tiziana
Venue
Science of The Total Environment
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-09
Volume
838
Issue
Pt 1
Pages
155872
ISSN
0048-9697 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4280496553
Cited by
66
References
91
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 9
FWCI
3.56
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Science of The Total Environment (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (LR21AGR02)
  • Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Toxic Organic Pollutants Impact
Keywords
microplastics, hepatotoxicity, Serranus scriba, fish liver, metabolomics, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, high-density polyethylene, polymer additives, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity, metallothionein, coastal pollution
MeSH terms
Microplastics, Acetylcholinesterase, Animals, Bass, Environmental Monitoring, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Polyethylene, Metabolomics, Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury

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