Update on the adverse effects of microcystins on the liver

Microcystins (MCs) are the most common cyanobacteria toxins in eutrophic water, which have strong hepatotoxicity. In the past decade, epidemiological and toxicological studies on liver damage caused by MCs have proliferated, and new mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by MCs have also been discover...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inEnvironmental research Vol. 195; p. 110890
Main Authors Shi, Linjia, Du, Xingde, Liu, Haohao, Chen, Xinghai, Ma, Ya, Wang, Rui, Tian, Zhihui, Zhang, Shiyu, Guo, Hongxiang, Zhang, Huizhen
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01.04.2021
Subjects
Apoptosis
Epidemiology
Hepatotoxicity
Humans
Liver
Liver cancer
Mechanisms
Microcystins
Microcystins - toxicity
Liver cancer
Mechanisms
Epidemiology
Hepatotoxicity
Microcystins
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Summary:Microcystins (MCs) are the most common cyanobacteria toxins in eutrophic water, which have strong hepatotoxicity. In the past decade, epidemiological and toxicological studies on liver damage caused by MCs have proliferated, and new mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by MCs have also been discovered and confirmed. However, there has not been a comprehensive and systematic review of these new findings. Therefore, this paper summarizes the latest advances in studies on the hepatotoxicity of MCs to reveal the effects and mechanisms of hepatotoxicity induced by MCs. Current epidemiological studies have confirmed that symptoms or signs of liver damage appear after human exposure to MCs, and a long time of exposure can even lead to liver cancer. Toxicological studies have shown that MCs can affect the expression of oncogenes by activating cell proliferation pathways such as MAPK and Akt, thereby promoting the occurrence and development of cancer. The latest evidence shows that epigenetic modifications may play an important role in MCs-induced liver cancer. MCs can cause damage to the liver by inducing hepatocyte death, mainly manifested as apoptosis and necrosis. The imbalance of liver metabolic homeostasis may be involved in hepatotoxicity induced by MCs. In addition, the combined toxicity of MCs and other toxins are also discussed in this article. This detailed information will be a valuable reference for further exploring of MCs-induced hepatotoxicity.
ISSN:0013-9351
1096-0953
DOI:10.1016/j.envres.2021.110890