美国凯斯西储大学Paul J. Tesar课题组发现，无处不在的环境化学物质会损害少突胶质细胞的发育。2024年3月25日，《自然—神经科学》杂志在线发表了这项成果。

研究人员利用高通量培养细胞发育筛选，发现了两类通过不同机制破坏少突胶质细胞发育的环境化学物质。在消毒剂和个人护理产品中无处不在的四元化合物，对发育中的少突胶质细胞具有强效的选择性细胞毒性。而在家具和电子产品等家用物品中常见的有机磷阻燃剂，则会过早地阻止少突胶质细胞的成熟。

每一类化学物质都会损害小鼠出生后，以及产前皮层发育的人类3D类器官中少突胶质细胞发育。对流行病学数据的分析表明，不良的神经发育结果与童年时期接触研究人员筛选出的前列有机磷阻燃剂有关。这项工作确定了少突胶质细胞发育的毒理学弱点，并强调了深入研究这些化合物对人类健康影响的必要性。

研究人员表示，暴露于环境化学物质会损害神经发育，而少突胶质细胞可能特别容易受到影响，因为它们的发育从妊娠期一直延续到成年期。然而，很少有人评估过环境化学物质对少突胶质细胞的潜在风险。

附：英文原文

Title: Pervasive environmental chemicals impair oligodendrocyte development

Author: Cohn, Erin F., Clayton, Benjamin L. L., Madhavan, Mayur, Lee, Kristin A., Yacoub, Sara, Fedorov, Yuriy, Scavuzzo, Marissa A., Paul Friedman, Katie, Shafer, Timothy J., Tesar, Paul J.

Issue&Volume: 2024-03-25

Abstract: Exposure to environmental chemicals can impair neurodevelopment, and oligodendrocytes may be particularly vulnerable, as their development extends from gestation into adulthood. However, few environmental chemicals have been assessed for potential risks to oligodendrocytes. Here, using a high-throughput developmental screen in cultured cells, we identified environmental chemicals in two classes that disrupt oligodendrocyte development through distinct mechanisms. Quaternary compounds, ubiquitous in disinfecting agents and personal care products, were potently and selectively cytotoxic to developing oligodendrocytes, whereas organophosphate flame retardants, commonly found in household items such as furniture and electronics, prematurely arrested oligodendrocyte maturation. Chemicals from each class impaired oligodendrocyte development postnatally in mice and in a human 3D organoid model of prenatal cortical development. Analysis of epidemiological data showed that adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes were associated with childhood exposure to the top organophosphate flame retardant identified by our screen. This work identifies toxicological vulnerabilities for oligodendrocyte development and highlights the need for deeper scrutiny of these compounds’ impacts on human health.

DOI: 10.1038/s41593-024-01599-2

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41593-024-01599-2