Sea urchin embryo as an experimental model for predictive studies of Vanadium-induced toxic effects under climate change conditions.

The study of ecotoxicity induced by vanadium (V) represents an area of increasing interest due to the growing use of V in both the industrial and pharmaceutical areas. This leads to its introduction into water environments, marking a developing problem, especial- ly since rising global temperatures appear to intensify its toxic properties. Cytotoxicological approaches carried out on whole marine embryos represent a valid research tool since they grow directly in contact with the pollutants and are equipped with highly responsive cells to stressors. Here, we discuss the detrimental impact on Paracentrotus lividus sea urchin embryos resulting from the combination of V and higher temperatures, reflecting the effects of climate variation. The results demonstrate the remodel- ing of embryonic architecture at the morphometric level, revealing developmental delays and anomalies. These malformations involve variations in the total skeletal mass due to the almost total absence of the skeleton, with the exception of small calcareous aggregates. Furthermore, both a modulation in total tissue remod- eling enzymatic activities and a variation in the amount of three MMP-like gelatinases (MMP-2, -9, and -14) were observed. This research demonstrates that climate change significantly increases the harmful effects of V, emphasizing the necessity for comprehen- sive toxicity assessments in environmental evaluations.