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The Trace Element Speciation in the Environmental, Food and Human Health Fields

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 May 2023) | Viewed by 17290

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Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Agostinho Almeida

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Guest Editor

LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
Interests: trace element imbalances in hemodialysis patients; elemental mapping of the human brain; food and environmental exposure to toxic trace elements; natural exposure to lithium and suicide rate in the general population
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In many circumstances, and for many trace elements, it is important to determine not only the concentration levels of trace elements in a particular system but also their distribution amongst defined chemical species (referred to as “speciation”).

The aim of this Special Issue is to review and present new data on this subject, with a focus on environmental, food and human health issues.

Works on metal–protein binding, trafficking and compartmentalization of trace elements, with their distribution at the subcellular level, are particularly welcome.

Other accepted topics include analytical methodologies and regulatory issues.

All submissions should involve research at the molecular level as well as well-founded and verified experiments.

Prof. Dr. Agostinho Almeida
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

trace elements
speciation
speciation analysis
sample pretreatment and storage in speciation analysis
quality control in speciation analysis
accuracy and traceability in speciation analysis
rapid tests in speciation analysis
speciation in clinical chemistry
speciation in human biomonitoring
speciation and human health issues
speciation in food chemistry
speciation and environmental issues
species toxicity and bioavailability

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 586 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chromium Nanoparticles Together with a Switch Away from High-Fat/Low-Fiber Dietary Habits Enhances the Pro-Healthy Regulation of Liver Lipid Metabolism and Inflammation in Obese Rats

by Bartosz Fotschki, Katarzyna Ognik, Joanna Fotschki, Dorota Napiórkowska, Ewelina Cholewińska, Magdalena Krauze and Jerzy Juśkiewicz

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2940; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032940 - 2 Feb 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2396

Abstract

The study on Wistar rats was conducted to investigate the effects of a pharmacologically relevant dose 0.3 mg/kg body weight of chromium supplementation (commonly used picolinate or novel form as nanoparticles) and switching away from obesogenic dietary habits on the parameters of lipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress in liver and plasma. Favorable effects related to dietary changes from the obesogenic diet were considerably enhanced when the diet was supplemented with chromium nanoparticles. This combination exerted the strongest fat content and cholesterol reduction in the liver. Moreover, in this group, a favorable antioxidative effect was observed through GSH/GSSG elevation in the liver as well as ALT activity reduction in the plasma and IL-6 levels in the liver. The molecular mechanisms associated with regulating lipid metabolism, oxidative stress and inflammation might be related to lower expression of HIF-1α, COX-2, and LOX-1 and upregulation of PPARα in the liver. Supplementation with chromium nanoparticles without changes in the obesogenic diet also favorably affected lipid metabolism and oxidative stress in the liver; however, the examined effects were moderate. In conclusion, the favorable effects of switching from an obesogenic to a balanced diet on hepatic lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation induced by an obesogenic diet might be enhanced by supplementation with chromium nanoparticles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Trace Element Speciation in the Environmental, Food and Human Health Fields)

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11 pages, 1513 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Iron Content, Iron Speciation and Phycocyanin in Commercial Samples of Arthrospira spp.

by Gloria Isani, Enea Ferlizza, Martina Bertocchi, Thomas Dalmonte, Simonetta Menotta, Giorgio Fedrizzi and Giulia Andreani

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 13949; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213949 - 12 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1377

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are characterized by high iron content. In this research, we collected ten commercial samples of Arthrospira spp. sold as food supplement to determine iron content and assess whether iron speciation showed variability among samples and changed respect to A. platensis grown in controlled conditions. Particular attention was also paid to phycocyanin, as an iron-binding protein. In six of the ten samples, 14 essential and non-essential trace elements were analysed using ICP-MS. Iron content measured in samples using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) varied from 353 (sample S5) to 1459 (sample S7) µg g⁻¹ dry weight and was in the range of those reported by other authors in commercial supplements. Iron speciation was studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by the analysis of the collected fraction for the determination of iron by AAS and for protein separation using SDS-PAGE. Overlapping chromatographic profiles were obtained for total proteins, phycocyanin and iron, although quantitative differences were evidenced among the samples analysed. In most samples, iron was mainly bound to ligands with high molecular mass; however, in four samples iron was also bound to ligands with low molecular mass. In fractions containing the most relevant iron burden, the principal protein was phycocyanin, confirming its role as an iron-binding protein in commercial samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Trace Element Speciation in the Environmental, Food and Human Health Fields)

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19 pages, 5196 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Sex and Strain on Hepatic and Adipose Tissue Trace Element Concentrations and Gene Expression in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J High Fat Diet Models

by Kristen A. Hagarty-Waite, Melissa S. Totten, Matthew Pierce, Seth M. Armah and Keith M. Erikson

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(22), 13778; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232213778 - 9 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1328

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of sex and strain on the dysregulation of trace element concentration and associative gene expression due to diet induced obesity in adipose tissue and the liver. Male and female C57BL/6J (B6J) and DBA/2J (D2J) were randomly assigned to a normal-fat diet (NFD) containing 10% kcal fat/g or a mineral-matched high-fat diet (HFD) containing 60% kcal fat/g for 16 weeks. Liver and adipose tissue were assessed for copper, iron, manganese, and zinc concentrations and related changes in gene expression. Notable findings include three-way interactions of diet, sex, and strain amongst adipose tissue iron concentrations (p = 0.005), adipose hepcidin expression (p = 0.007), and hepatic iron regulatory protein (IRP) expression (p = 0.012). Cd11c to Cd163 ratio was increased in adipose tissue due to HFD amongst all biological groups except B6J females, for which tissue iron concentrations were reduced due to HFD (p = 0.002). Liver divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT-1) expression was increased due to HFD amongst B6J males (p < 0.005) and females (p < 0.004), which coincides with the reduction in hepatic iron concentrations found in these biological groups (p < 0.001). Sex, strain, and diet affected trace element concentration, the expression of genes that regulate trace element homeostasis, and the expression of macrophages that contribute to tissue iron-handling in adipose tissue. These findings suggest that sex and strain may be key factors that influence the adaptive capacity of iron mismanagement in adipose tissue and its subsequent consequences, such as insulin resistance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Trace Element Speciation in the Environmental, Food and Human Health Fields)

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14 pages, 1969 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Iron Speciation and Iron Binding Proteins in Arthrospira platensis Grown in Media Containing Different Iron Concentrations

by Gloria Isani, Alberto Niccolai, Giulia Andreani, Thomas Dalmonte, Elisa Bellei, Martina Bertocchi, Mario R. Tredici and Liliana Rodolfi

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(11), 6283; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23116283 - 3 Jun 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1905

Abstract

Cyanobacteria are characterized by high iron content. This study investigated the effects of varying iron concentrations (1, 5, and 10 mg L⁻¹) in the culture media on the biochemical composition and the iron bioaccumulation and speciation in Arthrospira platensis F&M-C256. Iron content measured in biomasses varied from 0.35 to 2.34 mg g⁻¹ dry weight depending on the iron concentration in the culture media. These biomasses can be considered of interest for the production of spirulina-based supplements with low and high iron content. Iron speciation was studied using size exclusion chromatography followed by atomic absorption spectrometry and proteomic analysis. The role of C-phycocyanin as an iron binding protein was also investigated. Overall, the present results provide a better understanding of iron metabolism in cyanobacteria and a foundation for further studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Trace Element Speciation in the Environmental, Food and Human Health Fields)

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Review

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18 pages, 910 KiB

Open AccessReview

The Role of Selected Trace Elements in Oxidoreductive Homeostasis in Patients with Thyroid Diseases

by Marcin Wróblewski, Joanna Wróblewska, Jarosław Nuszkiewicz, Marta Pawłowska, Roland Wesołowski and Alina Woźniak

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4840; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054840 - 2 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2861

Abstract

Impaired levels of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn) and iodine (I) in the organism may adversely affect the thyroid endocrine system. These trace elements play a role in the fight against oxidative stress as components of enzymes. Oxidative–antioxidant imbalance is considered a possible factor in many pathological conditions, including various thyroid diseases. In the available literature, there are few scientific studies showing a direct correlation of the effect of supplementation of trace elements on slowing down or preventing the occurrence of thyroid diseases in combination with the improvement of the antioxidant profile, or through the action of these elements as antioxidants. Among the available studies, it has been shown that an increase in lipid peroxidation levels and a decrease in the overall antioxidant defense status occur during such thyroid diseases as thyroid cancer, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and dysthyroidism. In studies in which trace elements were supplemented, the following were observed: a decrease in the level of malondialdehyde after supplementation with Zn during hypothyroidism and reduction in the malondialdehyde level after Se supplementation with a simultaneous increase in the total activity status and activity of antioxidant defense enzymes in the course of autoimmune thyroiditis. This systematic review aimed to present the current state of knowledge about the relationship between trace elements and thyroid diseases in terms of oxidoreductive homeostasis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Trace Element Speciation in the Environmental, Food and Human Health Fields)

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Graphical abstract

54 pages, 2061 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nanoparticles for Topical Application in the Treatment of Skin Dysfunctions—An Overview of Dermo-Cosmetic and Dermatological Products

by Magdalena Raszewska-Famielec and Jolanta Flieger

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(24), 15980; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415980 - 15 Dec 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 6484

Abstract

Nanomaterials (NM) arouse interest in various fields of science and industry due to their composition-tunable properties and the ease of modification. They appear currently as components of many consumer products such as sunscreen, dressings, sports clothes, surface-cleaning agents, computer devices, paints, as well as pharmaceutical and cosmetics formulations. The use of NPs in products for topical applications improves the permeation/penetration of the bioactive compounds into deeper layers of the skin, providing a depot effect with sustained drug release and specific cellular and subcellular targeting. Nanocarriers provide advances in dermatology and systemic treatments. Examples are a non-invasive method of vaccination, advanced diagnostic techniques, and transdermal drug delivery. The mechanism of action of NPs, efficiency of skin penetration, and potential threat to human health are still open and not fully explained. This review gives a brief outline of the latest nanotechnology achievements in products used in topical applications to prevent and treat skin diseases. We highlighted aspects such as the penetration of NPs through the skin (influence of physical–chemical properties of NPs, the experimental models for skin penetration, methods applied to improve the penetration of NPs through the skin, and methods applied to investigate the skin penetration by NPs). The review summarizes various therapies using NPs to diagnose and treat skin diseases (melanoma, acne, alopecia, vitiligo, psoriasis) and anti-aging and UV-protectant nano-cosmetics. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Trace Element Speciation in the Environmental, Food and Human Health Fields)

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