Work

Cd exposure‐triggered toxicity in parasitic offspring of Chouioia cunea through SLC24A3/SLC24A4 ‐apoptosis/oxidative damage signaling pathway

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Heavy metals are widespread environmental pollutants. This study investigated the growth toxicity of cadmium (Cd) stress on Chouioia cunea offspring during the parasitism period within a Cd‐contaminated food chain of artificial diets– Hyphantria cunea pupae– C. cunea . After parasitizing Cd‐accumulated H. cunea pupae, the offspring exhibited a significant reduction in both body length and the expression levels of most growth regulatory genes. Transcriptome analysis revealed that, during the early parasitism stage, genes responsive to Cd stress predominantly involved the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and calcium homeostasis. In the subsequent stages of parasitism, Cd exposure induced substantial damage to the ER and mitochondrial ultrastructure, disrupted the antioxidant defense system, activated the mitochondrial apoptotic and ER stress pathways, and decreased the expression of SLC24A3 and SLC24A4 . Overexpression of SLC24A3 and SLC24A4 in Sf 9 cells mitigated Cd toxicity by alleviating the Ca 2+ –mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP)–mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse/apoptosis and oxidative stress cascade reaction. Overall, Cd exposure impaired the growth of C. cunea parasitic offspring through the SLC24A3 / SLC24A4 ‐mediated apoptosis and oxidative damage signaling pathways.

Source: Insect Science

DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.70226

Authors: Zhe Zhang, Rui Qi, Shanchun Yan, Dun Jiang

Institutions: Northeast Forestry University, Northeast Agricultural University

Language: English

Topic: Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

Subfield: Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: Key Research and Development Program of Heilongjiang