Savania Nagiah

Savania Nagiah


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

9Years (2018-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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8 November 2018 in Mycotoxin Research
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Journal Article
Closed access
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TAThilona Arumugam
Thilona Arumugam
YPYashodani Pillay
Yashodani Pillay
TGTerisha Ghazi
Terisha Ghazi
SNSavania Nagiah
Savania Nagiah
NANaeem Sheik Abdul
Naeem Sheik Abdul
ACAnil Chuturgoon
Anil Chuturgoon

25 February 2022 in Toxins
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
Jivanka MohanJivanka Mohan
Jivanka Mohan
NANaeem Sheik Abdul
Naeem Sheik Abdul
SNSavania Nagiah
Savania Nagiah
TGTerisha Ghazi
Terisha Ghazi
ACAnil Chuturgoon
Anil Chuturgoon
Ubiquitous soil fungi parasitise agricultural commodities and produce mycotoxins. Fumonisin B2 (FB2), the structural analogue of the commonly studied Fumonisin B1 (FB1), is a neglected mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species. Mycotoxins are known for inducing toxicity via mitochondrial stress alluding to mitochondrial degradation (mitophagy). These processes involve inter-related pathways that are regulated by proteins related to SIRT3 and Nrf2. This study aimed to investigate mitochondrial stress responses in human kidney (Hek293) cells exposed to FB2 for 24 h. Cell viability was assessed via the methylthiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay, and the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 = 317.4 µmol/L) was estimated using statistical software. Reactive oxygen species (ROS; H2DCFDA), mitochondrial membrane depolarisation (JC1-mitoscreen) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP; luminometry) levels were evaluated to assess mitochondrial integrity. The relative expression of mitochondrial stress response proteins (SIRT3, pNrf2, LONP1, PINK1, p62 and HSP60) was determined by Western blot. Transcript levels of SIRT3, PINK1 and miR-27b were assessed using quantitative PCR (qPCR). FB2 reduced ATP production (p = 0.0040), increased mitochondrial stress marker HSP60 (p = 0.0140) and suppressed upregulation of mitochondrial stress response proteins SIRT3 (p = 0.0026) and LONP1 (p = 0.5934). FB2 promoted mitophagy via upregulation of pNrf2 (p = 0.0008), PINK1 (p = 0.0014) and p62 (p < 0.0001) protein expression. FB2 also suppressed miR-27b expression (p < 0.0001), further promoting the occurrence of mitophagy. Overall, the findings suggest that FB2 increases mitochondrial stress and promotes mitophagy in Hek293 cells.