ROS-mediated PPAR/RXR inhibition contributes to acetochlor-induced apoptosis and autophagy in Ctenopharyngodon idella hepatic cells

Acetochlor is a high-volume herbicide whose widespread use threatens ecosystems and affects aquaculture. Apoptosis and autophagy are important causes of hepatotoxicity caused by toxicants, which can be mediated by oxidative stress and the inhibition of PPAR/RXR pathway. However, the mechanism of acetochlor on fish hepatocyte damage still needs to be further investigated. Therefore, we treated the Ctenopharyngodon idella hepatic cell line (L8824 cells) with different concentrations (10, 20, and 40 μM) of acetochlor and/or ROS scavenger NAC (1 mM) for 24 h. The results showed that acetochlor decreased the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. AO/EB staining and flow cytometry verified the increased apoptotic rates. Quantitative analysis of gene expression levels or protein expression levels displayed that the expression levels of Beclin1, P62, LC3B, BAX, and cleaved Casp3 were increased, and the expression of BCL2 was reduced. Besides, we detected the increased ROS contents and decreased PPAR/RXR pathway expressions after acetochlor treatment. The clearance of ROS alleviated the inhibition of the PPAR/RXR pathway and lightened apoptosis and autophagy under acetochlor stress. Overall, these results revealed that acetochlor exposure triggered BCL2/BAX/Casp3-cascaded apoptosis and Beclin1-dependent autophagy through ROS-mediated PPAR/RXR inhibition. The results partially explain the toxicological mechanism of acetochlor and provide targets for the development of its antidote.