Forchlorfenuron (CPPU) causes disorganization of the cytoskeleton and dysfunction of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and abnormal vascular development in zebrafish embryos

Forchlorfenuron (CPPU) has been used worldwide, to boost size and improve quality of various agricultural products. CPPU its metabolites are persistent have detected frequently in fruits, water, sediments, organisms aquatic systems. Although the public became aware through exploding watermelon scandal 2011 Zhenjiang, China, little was known potential effects on environment wildlife. In this study, adverse developmental angiogenesis vasculature, which is vulnerable insults toxicants, were studied vivo zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio). Exposure 10 mg CPPU/L impaired survival hatching, while development hindered by exposure 2.5 CPPU/L. Developing vascular structure, including common cardinal veins (CCVs), intersegmental vessels (ISVs) sub-intestinal (SIVs), significantly restrained CPPU, a dose-dependent manner. Also, caused disorganization cytoskeleton. human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), inhibited proliferation, migration formation tubular-like structures vitro. Results Western blot analyses revealed that increased phosphorylation FLT-1, but FAK downstream MAPK pathway HUVECs. summary, elicited toxicity developing system This do, at least part due inhibition FAK/MAPK signaling rather than direct interaction with VEGF receptor (VEGFR).