Metabolic and oxidative stress response of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus exposed to acute high concentration of bisphenol AF

Bisphenols are known as endocrine disruptor that affect the development, and growth of marine creatures, including human. There were plenty of manuscripts evaluated the toxicology of bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol AF (BPAF), and bisphenol S (BPS), but limits of them studied the effects of bisphenol analogues on echinoderms. In this study, we used metabolomics to investigate the metabolic response of sea cucumber (Apostichopus japonicus) exposed to BPAF, and the activities of glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined. The results demonstrated alterations in lipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and biosynthesis of amino acids following BPAF treatment. Sea cucumbers upregulated the glycerophospholipid metabolism to repair the destruction of intestine cellular homeostasis. Six metabolites were selected as the potential biomarkers for the exposure of BPAF. This study revealed the metabolic response and oxidative response of sea cucumber arising from BPAF exposure, and provided theoretical support for the risk assessment of bisphenol analogues on economically important echinoderms, such as A. japonicus.

Automated summary

In this study, metabolomics was used to investigate the metabolic response of sea cucumber exposed to BPAF, a type of bisphenol analogue. The results showed changes in lipid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and amino acid synthesis following BPAF treatment. Sea cucumbers upregulated glycerophospholipid metabolism to repair intestinal cellular homeostasis destruction. Six metabolites were identified as potential biomarkers for BPAF exposure. This study provides theoretical support for assessing the risk of bisphenol analogues on economically important echinoderms such as A. japonicus.