Aflatoxin B1-Induced Apoptosis in Donkey Kidney via EndoG-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress
by
, ,
Yanfei Ji
, 
Yu Zhang
,
Wenxuan Si
,
Jing Guo
,
Guiqin Liu
,
Changfa Wang
,
Muhammad Zahoor Khan
,
Xia Zhao
* and
Wenqiang Liu
* College of Agriculture and Biology, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vet. Sci. 2025, 12(2), 130; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci12020130
Submission received: 5 December 2024
/
Revised: 16 January 2025
/
Accepted: 21 January 2025
/
Published: 5 February 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Progress of Equine Medical Research in China and Beyond)
Simple Summary
This study investigates the effects of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) on kidney damage in donkeys, aiming to uncover the molecular mechanisms and pathways responsible for nephrotoxicity. Aflatoxin B1 is a common environmental contaminant known to pose significant health risks to both humans and livestock, with nephrotoxicity being one of its most prominent toxicological effects. In this study, a donkey model was exposed to AFB1, resulting in observable kidney damage, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. The findings highlight the upregulation of Endonuclease G (EndoG), which plays a crucial role in triggering endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and activating mitochondrial apoptosis. These results provide valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying AFB1-induced nephrotoxicity in donkeys.
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a prevalent environmental and forage contaminant that poses significant health risks to both humans and livestock due to its toxic effects on various organs and systems. Among its toxicological effects, nephrotoxicity is a hallmark of AFB1 exposure. However, the precise mechanisms underlying AFB1-induced kidney damage in donkeys remain poorly understood. To investigate this, we established a donkey model exposed to AFB1 by administering a diet supplemented with 1 mg AFB1/kg for 30 days. Kidney apoptosis was assessed using TUNEL staining, while gene expression and protein levels of Endonuclease G (EndoG), as well as genes related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and apoptosis, were quantified by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Our findings indicate that AFB1 exposure resulted in significant kidney injury, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. Notably, AFB1 exposure upregulated the expression of EndoG and promoted its translocation to the ER, which subsequently induced ER stress and activated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. These results suggest that AFB1-induced kidney damage in donkeys is mediated through the oxidative stress and mitochondrial apoptosis pathways, primarily involving the EndoG-IRE1/ATF6-CHOP signaling axis.
Keywords:
AFB1; donkey; kidney; nephrotoxicity; EndoG; endoplasmic reticulum stress; apoptosis
