Effect of propiconazole on neutrophil extracellular traps formation: Assessing the role of autophagy

Abstract

Propiconazole (Pcz) is a kind of triazole fungicide which has an important impact on the environment. With the extensive use of Pcz in agricultural production activities, the pesticides are left in soil, water, crops and food, and will enter the organisms in the form of residues. Neutrophils play a key role in the body's innate immunity against pathogens, and the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) is an important way for neutrophils to exert their immune function. In the present study, we focused on the effect of Pcz on the NETs of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats for the first time. Our data demonstrated that Pcz could hinder NETs formation via inhibiting the Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling. In the meanwhile, we assessed the role of autophagy played in this process and revealed that Pcz may inhibit the respiratory burst in neutrophils. This study provided new insights into the immunotoxic hazards of Pcz and additional laboratory evidence for assessing the impact of Pcz on terrestrial organisms.

Keywords: Autophagy; Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs); Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Rapidly accelerated fibrosarcoma (Raf)/ extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling; Propiconazole (Pcz); Reactive oxygen species (ROS).