Reviews in Biological and Biomedical Science

Articles

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  Human exposure to micro- and nanoplastic: biological effects and health consequences

  Anamaria-Cristina Bunea, Anca Dinischiotu (Author)

  Abstract

  Microplastics and nanoplastics are significant contributors to pollution as a consequence of increased plastic manufacturing and consumption, which has resulted in a worldwide environmental crisis. These small plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics with diameters less than 5 mm respectively 100 nm) originate from a wide range of sources, including packings, synthetic textiles, personal care products, and medical and laboratory consumables. The environmental effects and potential health hazards linked with microplastics and nanoplastics exposure are addressed in this review. Research has demonstrated a link between these plastic particles and human digestive, reproductive, respiratory, endocrine and cardiovascular pathologies. Microplastics and nanoplastics have the potential to be chronically detrimental given that they accumulate in human tissues and organs and are small enough to slip through cell membranes. In hopes of fully comprehending the mechanisms of toxicity and long-term consequences of exposure to microplastics and nanoplastics on human health, further research is urgently required. Policies that reduce the production and consumption of plastics and improve waste management practices are essential to combating plastic pollution.

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  Dimitrie Voinov (1867-1951) and his achievements in biology

  Patricia Ioana Riurean, Madalina Elena Ristea, Otilia Zarnescu (Author)

  Abstract

  Dimitrie Voinov (1867-1951) was one of the most important and valuable Romanian biologists. He dedicated his life to his passion for biology and he was a great professor, biologist, zoologist, histologist and cytologist. Also, Voinov was a professor at the Faculty of Science, University of Bucharest, where he made his passion for biology into a career. He studied formation and evolution of sex cells, oogenesis, and spermatogenesis in invertebrates. These studies provide essential contributions about invertebrate chromosomes. He also did a lot of research on cytoplasmic elements, such as mitochondria and Golgi complex. Voinov was the first researcher that discovered a case of aneuploidy in the Animalia Kingdom. Some of his research articles are considered the basis of classical cytogenetics and he is known as one of the founders of the Cytogenetics School in Romania. Dimitre Voinov was a member of the Romanian Academy. This article is a tribute to his impressive career and highlights his human and professional development, as well as his scientific contributions and discoveries.

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  Fish larvae: an alternative animal model for testing the toxicity of food additives

  Madalina Elena Ristea, Otilia Zarnescu (Author)

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  Abstract

  Concerns regarding the properties and potential hazardous effects of food additives are increasing. Food additives are widely used because they improve the taste, texture, color and shelf life of food. While commonly consumed worldwide, food additives have begun to raise more concerns regarding their impact on human health and the environment. Thus, new extensive but animal-minimized testing strategies are needed to highlight the short- and long-term effects of the many food additives. Thus, it was necessary to find alternatives for toxicology studies, such as ex vivo/in vitro testing, embryos and larvae that have external fertilization and external embryonic or larval development. There are many studies that highlight the usefulness of non-mammalian models, such as fish embryos and larvae. Fish embryos and larvae are preferred for in vivo studies because they have numerous advantages, such as external and short-term development, embryos and larvae are transparent, and genes, receptors and molecular processes are highly conserved between human and fish. In this review article we aimed to highlight the studies that tested the toxic effects of food additives on fish larvae, the toxicological parameters necessary to establish toxicity and the most common anomalies in fish larvae caused by food additives.

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  NETosis in autoimmune diseases with focus on psoriasis

  Diana-Antonia Costea, Monica Neagu, Carolina Constantin, Veronica Lazăr, Elena-Georgiana Dobre (Author)

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  Abstract

  Neutrophil granulocytes are a key player in host innate immunity and they provide antimicrobial protection also by NETosis, amongst other mechanisms. NETosis involves the formation of intricate web-like structures, composed of DNA-histone complexes and proteins released by activated neutrophils, commonly referred to as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) with sticky and antimicrobial effects on extracellular pathogens. The dysregulation of neutrophils and NETosis may result in autoimmune diseases, due to the formation of autoantibodies, consequent exaggerated immune stimulation, overexpression of various molecules related to NETosis, and infiltration of cutaneous lesions with neutrophils and other immune cell populations. Furthermore, a neutrophil subpopulation was found to be strongly linked to the pathogenesis of these diseases. The interest in the implications of NETosis in autoimmunity has grown in the past years; researchers found new biomarkers and evaluated therapeutics targeted towards this cell death pathway correlated to psoriasis and autoimmunity. Thus, future studies are needed on this matter in order to increase the quality of life in autoimmune disease patients, as NETosis represents a promising therapeutic target. This review article aimed to thoroughly examine neutrophil functions and their association with NETosis in the context of autoimmune diseases, with a particular focus on psoriasis.