Transcriptomics-Based Toxicological Study of Nickel on Caenorhabditis elegans 7th

Nickel (Ni), a heavy metal with extensive industrial applications, poses significant ecological impacts and health risks due to its persistence and bioaccumulation. Although toxicological data in mammals and plants are well-established, its effects on invertebrate models remain insufficiently explored. This study systematically evaluated the multi-dimensional toxicity of nickel on Caenorhabditis elegans, integrating phenotypic assays with transcriptomic profiling to assess impacts on growth, reproduction, neuromuscular function, lifespan, and aging. Chronic nickel exposure [1] induced dose-dependent developmental delays, with 80 μg/L causing a 3.8-fold increase in larval arrest (p < 0.0001). Reproductive capacity declined significantly at ≥8 μg/L, accompanied by impaired pharyngeal pumping rates, indicative of neuromuscular dysfunction. Lifespan analysis revealed non-monotonic mortality patterns, with paradoxical longevity observed at 80 μg/L, potentially linked to hormetic stress responses. Transcriptomic analysis identified 2,235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) at 8 μg/L, enriched in xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress, and dysregulated Wnt/TGF-β signaling. GO and KEGG analyses highlighted collagen metabolism defects, calcium signaling disruption, and lysosomal dysfunction, correlating with cuticle integrity loss, feeding inefficiency, and lipofuscin accumulation. This study provides critical insights into the ecological risks of nickel pollution.