Pesticides and Their Impairing Effects on Epithelial Barrier Integrity, Dysbiosis, Disruption of the AhR Signaling Pathway and Development of Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases

Author(s)

Lima, Carla ; Pimentel Falcao, Maria Alice ; Santos Rosa, Joao Gabriel ; Disner, Geonildo Rodrigo ; Lopes-Ferreira, Monica

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES; v. 23, n. 20, p. 19-pg., 2022-10-01.

Abstract

The environmental and occupational risk we confront from agricultural chemicals increases as their presence in natural habitats rises to hazardous levels, building a major part of the exposome. This is of particular concern in low- and middle-income countries, such as Brazil, known as a leading producer of agricultural commodities and consumer of pesticides. As long as public policies continue to encourage the indiscriminate use of pesticides and governments continue to support this strategy instead of endorsing sustainable agricultural alternatives, the environmental burden that damages epithelial barriers will continue to grow. Chronic exposure to environmental contaminants in early life can affect crucial barrier tissue, such as skin epithelium, airways, and intestine, causing increased permeability, leaking, dysbiosis, and inflammation, with serious implications for metabolism and homeostasis. This vicious cycle of exposure to environmental factors and the consequent damage to the epithelial barrier has been associated with an increase in immune-mediated chronic inflammatory diseases. Understanding how the harmful effects of pesticides on the epithelial barrier impact cellular interactions mediated by endogenous sensors that coordinate a successful immune system represents a crucial challenge. In line with the epithelial barrier hypothesis, this narrative review reports the available evidence on the effects of pesticides on epithelial barrier integrity, dysbiosis, AhR signaling, and the consequent development of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 21/06084-8 - Evaluation of the functional importance of Natterin family proteins in the activation of the inflammasome in zebrafish
• Grantee: Carla Lima da Silva
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 19/27677-7 - Study of the induction of regulatory microRNAs by TNP dependent on Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) activation
• Grantee: Geonildo Rodrigo Disner
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 21/08891-8 - Assessment of the pharmacological mechanisms of the peptide TnP isolated from Thalassophryne nattereri venom in the therapy of Hypoxic Retinopathy in Zebrafish
• Grantee: João Gabriel dos Santos da Rosa
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/07467-1 - CeTICS - Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling
• Grantee: Hugo Aguirre Armelin
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC