Zearalenone, a mycotoxin produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium, widely exists in animal feed and human food. The structure of zearalenone is similar to estrogen, so it mainly has estrogenic effects on various organisms. Products contaminated with zearalenone can pose risks to animals and humans. Therefore, it is imperative to carry out toxicological research on zearalenone and evaluate its risk to human health. This paper briefly introduces the production, physical, and chemical properties of zearalenone and the research progress of its toxicity kinetics, focusing on its genetic toxicity, reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, carcinogenicity, endocrine interference, and its impact on intestinal health. Finally, the progress of the risk assessment of human exposure is summarized to provide a reference for the follow-up study of zearalenone.

Ocean acidification (OA) has posed formidable threats to marine calcifiers. In response to elevated CO2 levels, marine calcifiers have developed multiple strategies to survive, such as taking advantage of apoptosis, but its regulation mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we used the Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas as model to understand the apoptotic responses and regulation mechanism at short- (7 d) to long-term (56 d) CO2 exposure (pH = 7.50). The apoptosis of hemocytes was significantly induced after short-term treatment (7-21 d) but was suppressed under long-term CO2 exposure (42-56 d). Similarly, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were also increased post short-term exposure and fell back to normal levels after long-term exposure. These data together indicated diverse regulation mechanisms of apoptosis through different exposure periods. Through analysis of the B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family mitochondrial apoptosis regulators, we showed that only CgBcl-XL's expression kept at high levels after 42- and 56-day CO2 exposure. CgBcl-XL shared sequence, and structural similarity with its mammalian counterpart, and knockdown of CgBcl-XL in hemocytes via RNA interference promoted apoptosis. The protein level of CgBcl-XL was significantly increased after long-term CO2 exposure (28-56 d), and its distribution in hemocytes became more concentrated and dense. Therefore, CgBcl-XL serves as an essential anti-apoptotic protein for tipping the balance of cell apoptosis, which may play a key role in survival under long-term CO2 exposure. These results reveal a potential adaptation strategy of oysters towards OA and the variable environment changes through the modulation of apoptosis.

Background/Objectives: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASLD) represents a prevalent liver disease worldwide. It is crucial to maintain the stability of the gut–liver axis in order to inhibit the advancement of MASLD. Broccoli-derived exosome-like nanoparticles (BDENs) can alleviate constipation and improve colitis. This study investigated whether BDENs possess therapeutic potential for improving induced MASLD by the gut–liver axis. Methods: BDENs were fractionated from fresh broccoli using differential centrifugation, and the microRNAs were identified and analyzed. 24 male C57BL/6J mice (6 weeks old) were randomized into the control group, HFD group, and BDENs group, with 8 mice per group. After 8 weeks of high-fat diet modeling, the BDENs group accepted BDENs daily oral gavage of 100 mg/kg (B.W.), while the control and HFD groups accepted 1 × PBS. Four weeks after BDENs intervention, analysis was conducted on liver injury markers, liver tissue pathology, intestinal barrier, cecal content metabolomics and fecal 16S rRNA, serum inflammatory factors, and hepatic inflammation. Results: BDENs identified 1659 miRNAs associated with physiological processes such as immunity, antioxidant defense, and fatty acid biosynthesis. BDENs significantly reduced weight and ALT/AST ratio (p < 0.05). Furthermore, BDENs attenuated hepatic histopathological damage and lipid accumulation. For the gut–liver axis, BDENs maintained intestinal barrier, regulated intestinal bile acid metabolism and restored the gut microbiota. Additionally, BDENs reduced serum LPS level (p < 0.01) and suppressed hepatic inflammation, including F4/80 and IL-6, IL-1β (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Oral BDENs therapy demonstrates potential for ameliorating MASLD.