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Molecular Insights into Toxicity: Identifying Biomarkers and Molecular Pathways Involved in Toxicological Responses

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Toxicology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (29 April 2026) | Viewed by 3245

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Laboratorio de Contaminación y Toxicología Ambiental, Secretaría de Investigación y Posgrado, Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit, Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
Interests: biomarkers; molecular biology; toxicology; gene expression; environmental exposure

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Recent advances in molecular biology, chemistry, and omics technologies have significantly enhanced our understanding of the mechanisms driving toxicity and disease development. Biomarkers have become essential tools for the early detection of adverse effects, monitoring of disease progression, and assessment of environmental and occupational exposures. These molecular indicators serve as crucial links between chemical exposure and health outcomes in both humans and wildlife, playing a central role in toxicology and molecular medicine. In light of increasing concerns regarding the effects of pollutants—such as pesticides, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants—on public and environmental health, there is an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers and to elucidate the molecular pathways involved in toxicological responses.

This Special Issue is supervised by Prof. Dr. Irma Martha Medina Díaz and assisted by Dr. José Francisco Herrera Moreno and Dr. Gabriela María Ávila Villareal (Universidad Autónoma de Nayarit). It aims to provide a platform for high-quality original research, reviews, short communications, perspectives, and other contributions focused on the discovery, validation, and application of biomarkers in toxicological settings. We particularly welcome interdisciplinary studies that integrate molecular biology, chemistry, toxicology, and systems biology to address health risks associated with chemical and environmental exposures. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, mechanistic toxicology, biomarker development for human and ecological health, exposure assessment, oxidative stress, inflammation, epigenetic and transcriptomic responses, as well as advances in in vitro and in vivo models. By bridging the fields of human and environmental health, this Special Issue seeks to promote scientific dialogue that supports evidence-based risk assessment and informs public health and regulatory policy.

Prof. Dr. Irma Martha Medina Díaz
Guest Editor

Dr. José Francisco Herrera Moreno
Dr. Gabriela María Ávila Villareal
Guest Editor Assistants

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Keywords

  • biomarkers
  • molecular pathways
  • chemical exposure assessment
  • environmental exposure
  • human health
  • public health toxicology

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 20262 KB  
Article
Amelioration of 5-Fluorouracil–Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity by Epigallocatechin Gallate–Functionalized Selenium Nanoparticles: A Multi-Targeted Protective Approach
by Wesam Abd El-Fattah, Ahlem Guesmi, Naoufel Ben Hamadi, Hani S. Hafez, Mohamed A. Ali, Khaled M. Alam-ElDein and Mohamed H. A. Gadelmawla
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2026, 27(9), 3887; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27093887 - 27 Apr 2026
Viewed by 277
Abstract
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a cornerstone chemotherapeutic agent that is extensively utilized in the management of malignancies; however, its clinical utility is constrained by its narrow therapeutic index and dose-limiting toxicities. The study aimed to study the hepato-nephroprotective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and [...] Read more.
5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a cornerstone chemotherapeutic agent that is extensively utilized in the management of malignancies; however, its clinical utility is constrained by its narrow therapeutic index and dose-limiting toxicities. The study aimed to study the hepato-nephroprotective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and EGCG mediated selenium nanoparticles and their effect in mitigating the toxicity induced by 5-FU. EGCG-functionalized selenium nanoparticles (EGCG-SeNPs) were produced by mixing sodium selenite, with EGCG acting as both the reducing and stabilizing agent. Nanoparticles were characterized using UV-vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, dynamic light scattering, zeta potential analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. 35 adult rats were randomly assigned to control, 5-FU, 5-FU + Na2SeO3, 5-FU + EGCG, and 5-FU + EGCG-SeNPs groups. Hepatorenal toxicity was induced by intraperitoneal 5-FU administration during the final five days of the experiment. Serum biochemical markers, tissue oxidative stress, antioxidant enzyme, inflammatory cytokine levels, and apoptosis-related gene expression were evaluated. Immunohistochemical analysis of Nrf2 and Keap1 and histopathological examination of tissues were performed. 5-FU induced severe hepatorenal toxicity, evidenced by marked elevations in liver and kidney function biomarkers, excessive oxidative stress, inflammatory cytokine overproduction, NF-κB activation, and apoptotic signaling. Treatment with EGCG-SeNPs markedly ameliorated 5-FU-induced hepatic and renal dysfunction, restoring liver enzyme and kidney biomarker levels to near-normal levels more effectively than EGCG or sodium selenite alone. EGCG-SeNPs significantly suppressed lipid peroxidation, NGAL, and inflammatory mediators while robustly enhancing antioxidant defenses and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway with concomitant Keap-1 downregulation, strongly inhibited NF-κB signaling, normalized cytokine balance, reduced poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) activation, and attenuated apoptosis. EGCG–SeNPs confer superior protection against 5-FU–induced hepatorenal toxicity compared to EGCG or inorganic selenium alone. The potent protective effects of EGCG–SeNPs are mediated through coordinated antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms, primarily via activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis and suppression of NF-κB signaling. Full article
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18 pages, 5626 KB  
Article
Calcitriol Induces Paraoxonase 1 Expression in HepG2 Cells: Possible Involvement of VDR-Dependent and Alternative Pathways
by Fidel Navarro-García, Aurora E. Rojas-García, Gabriela Ávila-Villarreal, Sergio Hidalgo-Figueroa, Briscia S. Barrón-Vivanco, Cyndia A. González-Arias, Yael Y. Bernal-Hernández, José F. Herrera-Moreno, Guillermo Elizondo, José L. Medina-Franco and Irma M. Medina-Díaz
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7948; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167948 - 18 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2267
Abstract
Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme that plays physio-pathological roles. Prior in silico analysis revealed the presence of response elements of the nuclear receptor superfamily in the PON1 promoter, comparable to glucocorticoid receptors (GR), the vitamin D receptor (VDR), and the pregnenolone [...] Read more.
Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an antioxidant enzyme that plays physio-pathological roles. Prior in silico analysis revealed the presence of response elements of the nuclear receptor superfamily in the PON1 promoter, comparable to glucocorticoid receptors (GR), the vitamin D receptor (VDR), and the pregnenolone X receptor (PXR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3, a ligand specific to VDR, on the expression and activity of PON1 in hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2 cells). PON1 activities (arylesterase/AREase and lactonase/LACase) were determined by spectrophotometry. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to evaluate the effect of VDR and PXR on the mRNA levels of PON1 and CYP3A4 genes. Molecular models and dynamics simulations were built using specialized software. Treatments with 1α,25-dyhydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), its active hormonal form, resulted in an induction of PON1 mRNA and AREase activity compared to control cultures. These results suggest that calcitriol plays a role in the regulation of PON1 transcription and provide evidence that this hormone increases PON1 levels in HepG2 cells. In addition, the molecular modeling suggests that calcitriol enhances PON1 activity and this increase could be caused by direct interaction on the PON1 protein. This study shows the effects of calcitriol on PON1 expression, proposing a new molecular mechanism for the transcriptional regulation of PON1 through a process linked to VDR activation and direct interaction of calcitriol on the PON1 protein. Full article
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