Altered gene expression linked to germline dysfunction following exposure to DEET

• Published in: iScience 2024-01, Vol.27 (1), p.108699
• Main Authors: Shin, Nara, Lascarez-Lagunas, Laura I, Henderson, Ayana L, Martínez-García, Marina, Karthikraj, Rajendiran, Barrera, Victor, Sui, Shannan Ho, Kannan, Kurunthachalam, Colaiácovo, Mónica P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2589-0042
• DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108699

N,N-diethyl- -toluamide (DEET) is a commonly used synthetic insect repellent. Although the neurological effects of DEET have been widely investigated, its effects on the germline are less understood. Here, we show that exposure of the nematode , which is highly predictive of mammalian reprotoxicity, resulting in internal DEET levels within the range detected in human biological samples, causes activation of p53/CEP-1-dependent germ cell apoptosis, altered meiotic recombination, chromosome abnormalities, and missegregation. RNA-sequencing analysis links DEET-induced alterations in the expression of genes related to redox processes and chromatin structure to reduced mitochondrial function, impaired DNA double-strand break repair progression, and defects during early embryogenesis. We propose that exposure to DEET interferes with gene expression, leading to increased oxidative stress and altered chromatin structure, resulting in germline effects that pose a risk to reproductive health.