The role of nuclear receptors in cytochrome P-450 induction by xenochemicals

This review summarizes recent findings indicating that members of the orphan nuclear receptor superfamily regulate the synthesis of their CYP genes which code CYP enzymes involved in metabolism of endogenous and exogenous compounds. The foreign compounds metabolism and the role played by individual cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the activation and detoxification of xenochemicals prevalent in the environment are important areas of molecular pharmacology and toxicology. The advances in our understanding of the mechanisms through which foreign chemicals impact on these CYP-dependent metabolic processes have been made during the past years. Role for three "orphan" nuclear receptor superfamily members, designated CAR (constitutive androstane receptor), PXR/SXR (pregnelone X receptor) and PPAR (peroxisome proliferator activated receptor), in respectively mediating the induction of hepatic CYPs belonging to families CYP2, CYP3, and CYP4 has now been established. The CYP gene products such as CYP3A, CYP2B and PPAR are essential for metabolism of endogenous steroid hormones, fatty acids and various xenobiotics including drugs. Unexpectedly, it has been shown that SXR, which regulates CYP3A, can also regulate CYP2B via recognition of the phenobarbital response element (PBRE). In a type of functionally symmetry, orphan receptor CAR was found to activate CYP3A through SXR/PXR response element. Indeed, SXR/PXR binds to inverted (IR-6) and direct (DR-4) response element localized to regulatory DNA regions of human CYP3A4 and rat CYP3A23 genes, respectively. These observations provide a rational explanation for the activation of multiple CYP gene classes by certain xenobiotics as well as the propensity for drug-drug interactions. In addition, both endogenous and exogenous ligands which act as activators of nuclear receptors can result in disruption of cellular homeostasis.     

Bisphenol A and its analogues activate human pregnane X receptor

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a base chemical used extensively in many consumer products. BPA and its analogues are present in environmental and human samples. Many endocrine-disrupting chemicals, including BPA, have been shown to activate the pregnane X receptor (PXR), a nuclear receptor that functions as a master regulator of xenobiotic metabolism. However, the detailed mechanism by which these chemicals activate PXR remains unknown.Objective: We investigated the mechanism by which BPA interacts with and activates PXR and examined selected BPA analogues to determine whether they bind to and activate PXR.Methods: Cell-based reporter assays, in silico ligand–PXR docking studies, and site-directed mutagenesis were combined to study the interaction between BPA and PXR. We also investigated the influence of BPA and its analogues on the regulation of PXR target genes in human LS180 cells.Results: We found that BPA and several of its analogues are potent agonists for human PXR (hPXR) but do not affect mouse PXR activity. We identified key residues within hPXR’s ligand-binding pocket that constitute points of interaction with BPA. We also deduced the structural requirements of BPA analogues that activate hPXR. BPA and its analogues can also induce PXR target gene expression in human LS180 cells.Conclusions: The present study advances our understanding of the mechanism by which BPA interacts with and activates human PXR. Activation of PXR by BPA may explain some of the adverse effects of BPA in humans.     

玉米赤霉烯酮调节细胞色素P450 3A4转录表达的研究

目的研究真菌性雌激素玉米赤霉烯酮(ZEA)是否能通过活化人甾体激素和外源化学物受体(SXR)诱导细胞色素P4503A4(CYP3A4)的转录表达。方法在人肝肿瘤细胞株细胞中,用瞬时共转染报告基因试验即共转染含人SXR序列质粒和含CYP3A4外源化学物反应元件的报告基因质粒来检测ZEA对SXR介导的CYP3A4的转录调节作用。结果ZEA能通过活化SXR诱导CYP3A4的转录表达,并具有剂量效应关系和时间效应关系。在剂量效应关系研究中,ZEA浓度分别为001、010、100和1000μmol/L时,其诱导倍数分别为01%二甲基亚砜处理细胞的(150±021)倍、(166±027)倍、(304±082)倍和(396±116)倍。在时间效应关系研究中,100和1000μmol/L的ZEA处理细胞48h后,诱导能力分别为01%二甲基亚砜处理细胞的(369±134)倍和(518±150)倍。在浓度为10μmol/L,处理时间为48h时诱导能力最大,为用01%二甲基亚砜处理细胞的(518±150)倍。结论ZEA能通过活化SXR诱导CYP3A4的转录表达。ZEA对CYP3A4的诱导可能影响其他CYP3A4底物,尤其是药物在体内的代谢。     

Effects of Dicyclohexyl Phthalate Exposure on PXR Activation and Lipid Homeostasis in Mice

Background: Exposure to plastic-associated endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) has been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in humans. However, the underlying mechanisms for this association are unclear. Many EDCs have been shown to function as ligands of the nuclear receptor pregnane X receptor (PXR), which functions as xenobiotic sensor but also has pro-atherogenic effects in vivo.Objective: We sought to investigate the contribution of PXR to the adverse effects dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), a widely used phthalate plasticizer, on lipid homeostasis and CVD risk factors.Methods: Cell-based assays, primary organoid cultures, and PXR conditional knockout and PXR-humanized mouse models were used to investigate the impact of DCHP exposure on PXR activation and lipid homeostasis in vitro and in vivo. Targeted lipidomics were performed to measure circulating ceramides, novel predictors for CVD.Results: DCHP was identified as a potent PXR-selective agonist that led to higher plasma cholesterol levels in wild-type mice. DCHP was then demonstrated to activate intestinal PXR to elicit hyperlipidemia by using tissue-specific PXR-deficient mice. Interestingly, DCHP exposure also led to higher circulating ceramides in a PXR-dependent manner. DCHP-mediated PXR activation stimulated the expression of intestinal genes mediating lipogenesis and ceramide synthesis. Given that PXR exhibits considerable species-specific differences in receptor pharmacology, PXR-humanized mice were also used to replicate these findings.Discussion: Although the adverse health effects of several well-known phthalates have attracted considerable attention, little is known about the potential impact of DCHP on human health. Our studies demonstrate that DCHP activated PXR to induce hypercholesterolemia and ceramide production in mice. These results indicate a potentially important role of PXR in contributing to the deleterious effects of plastic-associated EDCs on cardiovascular health in humans. Testing PXR activation should be considered for risk assessment of phthalates and other EDCs. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP9262     

Inhalation exposure of rats to asphalt fumes generated at paving temperatures alters pulmonary xenobiotic metabolism pathways without lung injury

Asphalt fumes are complex mixtures of various organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). PAHs require bioactivation by the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system to exert toxic/carcinogenic effects. The present study was carried out to characterize the acute pulmonary inflammatory responses and the alterations of pulmonary xenobiotic pathways in rats exposed to asphalt fumes by inhalation. Rats were exposed at various doses and time periods to air or to asphalt fumes generated at paving temperatures. To assess the acute damage and inflammatory responses, differential cell counts, acellular lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and protein content of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were determined. Alveolar macrophage (AM) function was assessed by monitoring generation of chemiluminescence and production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1. Alteration of pulmonary xenobiotic pathways was determined by monitoring the protein levels and activities of P-450 isozymes (CYP1A1 and CYP2B1), glutathioneS-transferase (GST), and NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase (QR). The results show that acute asphalt fume exposure did not cause neutrophil infiltration, alter LDH activity or protein content, or affect AM function, suggesting that short-term asphalt fume exposure did not induce acute lung damage or inflammation. However, acute asphalt fume exposure significantly increased the activity and protein level of CYP1A1 whereas it markedly reduced the activity and protein level of CYP2B1 in the lung. The induction of CYP1A1 was localized in nonciliated bronchiolar epithelial (Clara) cells, alveolar septa, and endothelial cells by immunofluorescence microscopy. Cytosolic QR activity was significantly elevated after asphalt fume exposure, whereas GST activity was not affected by the exposure. This induction of CYP1A1 and QR with the concomitant down-regulation of CYP2B1 after asphalt fume exposure could alter PAH metabolism and may lead to potential toxic effects in the lung.     

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exert thyroid hormone-like effects in the fetal rat brain but do not bind to thyroid hormone receptors

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants routinely found in human and animal tissues. Developmental exposure to PCBs is associated with neuropsychologic deficits, which may be related to effects on thyroid hormone (TH) signaling in the developing brain. However, PCBs may interfere with TH signaling solely by reducing circulating levels of TH, or they may exert direct effects on TH receptors (TRs). Therefore, we tested whether maternal exposure to a commercial PCB mixture, Aroclor 1254 (A1254), exerts effects in the fetal brain by one or both of these mechanisms. Dams were dosed daily with 0, 1, or 4 mg/kg A1254 from gestational day 6 (GD6) until they were sacrificed on GD16. A1254 significantly reduced circulating levels of triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) in pregnant rats but increased the expression of several TH-responsive genes in the fetal cortex, including neuroendocrine-specific protein A (NSP-A), RC3/neurogranin, and Oct-1. These findings are consistent with a direct action of PCBs on TRs. However, we did not identify parent PCB congeners or metabolites that bound to rat TRs isolated from hepatic nuclei. These findings indicate that PCBs can interfere with TH signaling in the fetal brain by direct actions on the fetus rather than by producing maternal hypothyroidism.     

To breastfeed or not to breastfeed: a review of the impact of lactational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on infants

Researchers have long debated the adverse effects of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on children versus the benefits of breastfeeding. In this article, the authors provide an overview of the known health effects of PCBs in children and examine the level of evidence regarding the risk of postnatal exposure via breastfeeding. The major source of PCBs is environmental, with over 90% of human exposure through the food chain. PCB exposure in infants is predominantly via breast milk, but limited evidence exists of significant toxicity associated with this mode of transmission. Breastfeeding should, therefore, continue to be encouraged on the basis of evidence of the benefits derived from human milk coupled with inconclusive proof that lactational PCB exposure has major detrimental effects on the overall health and development of infants.     

Contrasting effects of acute and chronic dietary exposure to 2-amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) on xenobiotic metabolising enzymes in the male Fischer 344 Rat: implications for chemoprevention studies

Background 2-Amino-3-methyl-imidazo[4,5-f]quinoine (IQ) is a mutagen produced in cooked food. It is commonly present in the human diet and often used as a (pro)carcinogen for chemoprevention studies. Many foodstuffs act as chemopreventers by altering xenobiotic metabolising enzyme expression in favour of detoxication over bioactivation pathways. However, IQ itself can also affect enzyme expression, which may be a confounding factor in chemoprevention studies. Aim of the study Chronic low dose IQ exposure is intuitively closest to the human dietary situation. The aim was to investigate the effects of chronic dietary exposure to IQ on the expression of enzymes involved in the bioactivation and detoxification of xenobiotics and to compare this with acute exposure, often used in chemoprevention studies. Methods Male Fischer rats received IQ (300 ppm) in the diet (AIN-76) for 52 weeks or were given IQ (20 mg · kg⁻¹) orally for 3 days. Animals were killed, livers removed and subcellular fractions prepared. A range of enzymes was selected to allow investigation of several cellular mechanisms. Enzyme expression and activity were determined by Western blotting and the use of selective probe substrates as appropriate. Results Chronic exposure to IQ led to an increase in phase II detoxifying enzymes. Both the activity and expression of glutathione S-transferase (GST-A1/2) were increased, as were NADPH: Quinone oxidoreductase (NQO), UPD-glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) and β-glucuronidase activities. There were no statistically significant changes in the potential for bioactivation by three cytochrome P450s. In contrast, acute IQ exposure significantly increased the expression and activity of some cytochrome P450 (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2), UGT and β-glucuronidase, but significantly decreased glutathione S-transferase expression and activity. There was a non-significant decrease in NQO but no change in CYP3A2 and CYP2E1 activities. Conclusions The changes after acute exposure suggest an interaction through the Ah receptor and xenobiotic response element, modified by the glucocorticoid response element. In contrast, the pattern of effects activation of the antioxidant response element (ARE). Although the acute model is more practically convenient for short-term chemoprevention screening, the data suggest that an entirely new mechanism is being invoked that completely masks effects of the ARE that occur during chronic exposure. There is a danger that chemopreventive strategies developed using acute models may be misleading, since the mechanism is unlikely to occur during human dietary exposures. Received: 20 September 2000, Accepted: 17 January 2001     

Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on the nervous system.

The neurological effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been extensively investigated in humans and in animals. The main focus in human studies has been on the effects in neonates and young children, although studies of adults have also been conducted. A great deal of concern exists that even low levels of PCBs transferred to the fetus across the placenta may induce long-lasting neurological damage. Because PCBs are lipophilic substances, there is also concem that significant amounts might be transferred to nursing infants via breast milk. Studies in humans who consumed large amounts of Great Lakes fish contaminated with environmentally persistent chemicals, including PCBs. have provided evidence that PCBs are important contributors to subtle neurobehavioral alterations observed in newborn children and that some of these alterations persist during childhood. Some consistent observations at birth have been motor immaturity and hyporeflexia and lower psychomotor scores between 6 months and 2 years old. There is preliminary evidence that highly chlorinated PCB congeners, which accumulate in certain fish, are associated with neurobehavioral alterations seen in some newbom children. Subtle neurobehavioral alterations have also been observed in children bom to mothers in the general population with the highest PCB body burdens. Because of the limitations of epidemiological studies, these effects cannot be attributed entirely to PCB exposure. In one general population study, there was strong evidence that dioxins, as well as PCBs, were contributors to the neurobehavioral effects seen in exposed children. Children born to women who accidentally consumed rice oil contaminated with relatively high amounts of PCBs and chlorinated dibenzofurans (CDFs) during pregnancy also had neurodevelopmental changes. Studies in animals support the human data. Neurobehavioral alterations have been also observed in rats and monkeys following prenatal and/or postnatal exposure to commercial Aroclor mixtures, defined experimental congener mixtures, single PCB congeners, and Great Lakes contaminated fish. In addition, monkeys exposed postnatally to PCB mixtures of congeneric composition and concentration similar to that found in human breast milk showed learning deficits long after exposure had ceased. A few other generalizations can be made from the data in animals. It appears that ortho-substituted PCB congeners are more active than coplanar PCBs in modifying cognitive processes. In addition, one effect observed in both rats and monkeys--deficits on delayed spatial alternation--has been known to be induced by exposure to ortho-substituted PCBs, defined experimental mixtures, and commercial Aroclors. Both dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like PCB congeners have been shown to induce neurobehavioral alterations in animals. Changes in levels of neurotransmitters in various brain areas have also been observed in monkeys, rats, and mice. Of all the observed changes, the most consistent has been a decrease in dopamine content in basal ganglia and prefrontal cortex, but further research is needed before specific neurobehavioral deficits can be correlated with PCB-induced changes in specific neurotransmitters in specific brain areas.     

Carotenoids and their metabolites are naturally occurring activators of gene expression via the pregnane X receptor

Carotenoids are important micronutrients in the human diet and are present in human serum at micromolar concentrations. In addition to their antioxidant potential, carotenoids obtain physiologically relevant properties such as influencing cellular signal pathways, gene expression or induction of detoxifying enzymes. In this study, we determined the transactivation of PXR by cotransfection with the full-length receptor and a PXR-responsive reporter gene. Carotenoids and retinol revealed a 5-6 fold reporter gene activity in HepG2 cells in comparison to a 7-fold induction by the well-known PXR agonist rifampicin, whereas apo-carotenals and lycopene exerted less or no activation potential. The inductive efficacy was hereby concentration-dependent. In addition, carotenoid- or retinol-mediated gene expression of PXR-responsive genes like CYP3A4/CYP3A7, CYP3A5, MDR-1 and MRP-2 has been determined in HepG2 cells by RT-PCR with up-regulative properties of beta-carotene or retinol being comparable to or even higher than that of rifampicin. In conclusion, PXR-mediated up-regulation of CYP3A4/CYP3A7 and CYP3A5 as well as MDR1 and MRP2 by carotenoids points to a potential interference on the metabolism of xenobiotic and endogenous relevant compounds.     

Interindividual differences in efficacy and toxicity induced by therapeutic drugs and xenobiotics in relation to genetic polymorphisms in xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes

Humans incessantly ingest wide-variety of chemicals through the administration of therapeutic drugs, diets and beverages. Humans are also exposed to environmental mutagens and carcinogens and substances causing endocrine disruption. Metabolism and disposition have been regarded as one of the most important determinants of efficacy and toxicity induced by ingested chemicals, since remarkable individual difference was observed in the plasma concentration and/or urinary excretion after the administration of wide variety of therapeutic drugs such as isoniazid, sulfamethazine, debrisoquin, sparteine, mephenytoin and so on. This variability is resulted from pharmacogenetically regulated difference in the activities of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (so called genetic polymorphisms). Polymorphic appearance of xenobiotic metabolism has also been observed with various toxic substances such as ethanol, acetaldehyde, benzene, organic phosphates and environmental mutagens and carcinogens. Enzymes which show genetic polymorphisms include cytochrome P450s (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1) and phase II drug metabolizing enzymes (arylamine N-acetyltransferases, glutathione S-transferases and UDP-glucuronosyl transferases). A number of mutations on the genes encoding polymorphic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes have been associated with the remarkable individual difference in the metabolism and disposition in vivo. Individuals with distinct alleles of genes which encode defective enzymes have been shown to be at higher risk to toxic side effects by therapeutic drugs and more susceptible to certain malignant diseases. Research has to be conducted for each human race concerning risk assessment of chemicals, since ethnic differences in frequency of distinct alleles of genes encoding xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are reported. In case of type 1 Crigler-Najjar syndrome causing unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, complete loss of bilirubin-detoxifing UDP-glucuronosyl transferase has been attributed to nonsense, missense, and/or frameshift mutations that occurred at various sites on UGT1 gene. Thus, genetic polymorphisms of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are one of the most important factors influencing efficacy of therapeutic drugs and toxicity by wide-variety of chemicals.     

Effects of occupational exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls on urinary metabolites of neurotransmitters: A cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective

BackgroundPolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are chemicals which were used for industrial purposes and are known to induce various adverse health effects. They are also known to be neurotoxic and numerous targets within the central nervous system have been identified in previous studies. Specifically, the neurotransmitters dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) are influenced by PCBs as indicated in studies involving animals. However, limited evidence has been published documenting PCB induced changes in the neurotransmitter system in humans.ObjectiveIn the present study, we examined the association between a higher PCB body burden following occupational exposure and possible changes in human neurotransmitter metabolites.MethodsWithin a medical surveillance programme called HELPcB (Health Effects in High-Level Exposure to PCB) that monitors adverse health effects of occupational PCB exposure, urine samples were obtained (n_T1 = 166; n_T2 = 177 and n_T3 = 141). The urinary concentrations of the metabolites homovanillic acid (HVA; for DA) and vanillylmandelic acid (VMA; for NE) were analyzed. Blood samples were obtained by vena puncture in order to determine the internal exposure to PCBs with human biomonitoring.ResultsA cross-sectional analysis indicated a significant negative effect of PCB exposure on HVA and VMA. Longitudinally, an initially higher exposure to higher chlorinated PCBs was followed by constant reduced HVA level over three consecutive years. Exploratory analyses show different long-term effects for different PCBs according to their chlorination degree. A higher exposure with lower chlorinated PCBs leads to an increase of VMA and HVA. Conversely, a higher exposure to all PCBs results in a reduction of HVA.ConclusionThis study, to our knowledge, is the first to document changes in neurotransmitter metabolites after occupational PCB exposure in humans. This finding advances evidence obtained from past research, and identifies one potential pathomechanism in the central dopaminergic system of humans.     

Hepatic activities of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and biliary levels of xenobiotics in english sole (Parophrys vetulus) exposed to environmental contaminants

English sole (Parophrys vetulus) are susceptible to the development of hepatic disease, including neoplasia, as a result of environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The metabolism of PAHs, believed to be an essential factor in the development of neoplasia, has received considerable study in English sole, except that xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) have not been wellstudied in this species. In the present work, the activities of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and epoxide hydrolase (EH) were measured in English sole exposed to several organic xenobiotics. These studies included an examination of the effects of captivity, the short-term responses of hepatic XME activities to several xenobiotic compounds, and detailed studies of the time- and dose-responses of hepatic XME activities to both a representative carcinogenic PAH (benzo[a]pyrene) and to a complex mixture of contaminants extracted from a sediment collected from a polluted area of Puget Sound, WA. Additionally, during the captivity and time- and dose-response studies, the levels of fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs) were measured in the bile of the fish, both to provide an estimation of contaminant exposure and to evaluate the time- and dose-responses of this measure. The results of the captivity studies showed that the levels of FACs in bile were most affected by captivity, primarily as a result of changes in feeding status. The results of the exposure studies showed that xenobiotic metabolism, as reflected in hepatic activities of XMEs and levels of FACs in the bile, is altered by exposure to environmental contaminants. Whereas hepatic AHH activity could be rapidly and substantially increased by such exposure, activities of GST and EH were not affected, even up to 42 days after exposure. Moreover, because fish were exposed to a wide range of doses of chemicals or mixtures of chemicals which are known to be present in contaminated estuaries, and the responses of the hepatic AHH system and the levels of FACs in bile were measured at several time periods after exposure, the results provided substantial validation for the use of these two measures as bioindicators of exposure to environmental contamination in benthic fish.Portions of this work were presented at the Fifth International Symposium on the Responses of Marine Organisms to Pollutants in Plymouth, England in April 1989, and at the OCEANS '87 conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in September 1987.     

Exposure to Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) and Male Reproduction

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of persistent organic pollutants that were widely used in the mid-20th century. Though their production and use was banned by most countries several decades ago, the general population continues to be exposed due to the persistence and bioaccumulation of PCBs. A number of human epidemiological studies have assessed the relationship between environmental PCB exposure and markers of male reproductive health, namely semen quality parameters (sperm concentration, motility, and morphology), sperm DNA integrity (DNA damage or chromatin fragmentation), and circulating reproductive hormone levels. Despite a wide range of study designs and locations, measurement methods, and PCB exposure levels, reports of inverse associations between PCBs and sperm motility have been consistent which may suggest a lack of exposure threshold for a PCB-related effect on sperm motility. Several studies have also reported inverse associations between PCBs and circulating testosterone levels in men, though the specific form of testosterone (i.e. total, bound, or free testosterone) associated with exposure has not been fully consistent between studies. In conclusion, although PCBs are no longer used and can be considered a legacy chemical, concerns regarding altered male fertility in relation to PCBs remain due to the existing human data demonstrating inverse associations with markers of male reproductive function coupled with recent evidence for continued population exposure.     

Dietary exposure to Aroclor 1254 alters gene expression in Xenopus laevis frogs

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent environmental pollutants that contribute to worldwide health problems. Despite data associating PCBs with adverse health effects, decisions to clean up contaminated sites remain controversial. Cleanup decisions are typically based on risk assessment methods that are not sensitive enough to detect subtle changes in health. We have recently shown that gene expression signatures can serve as sensitive molecular biomarkers of exposure and related health effects. Our initial studies were carried out with developing Xenopus laevis tadpoles that were exposed to the PCB mixture Aroclor 1254 (A1254) for 2 days. A1254 was dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide and added to the aquarium water for rapid loading of PCBs into the tadpole tissue. These studies showed that increases in the expression of specific genes occurred independent of adverse health effects, and decreases in specific genes correlated with the appearance of observable health effects, including decreased survival and gross morphological and behavioral abnormalities. In this report, we extend our previous work to test the use of gene expression signatures as biomarkers in frogs exposed to PCBs through the diet from early tadpole stages through metamorphosis. This work showed that chronic low-dose exposure to A1254 (24 ppm) in food produced tissue levels of 17 ppm and increased gene expression of nerve growth factor and proopiomelanocortin independent of adverse health effects. Exposure to higher doses of A1254 (200 ppm) produced tissue levels of 80 ppm and increased expression of p450 1A1, also, independent of adverse health effects. This work provides further evidence for the use of gene expression changes as biomarkers of exposure to PCBs.     

Long-term effects of bleached kraft mill effluents on carbohydrate metabolism and hepatic xenobiotic biotransformation enzymes in fish

In a laboratory investigation, fourhorn sculpin (Myoxocephalus quadricornis) were exposed for 5-9 months to waste water from pine and birch lines from a bleached kraft pulp plant. The bleached kraft mill effluents (BKME) affected both the carbohydrate metabolism and the xenobiotic metabolism. Thus, an elevated muscle glycogen content in fish exposed to effluent from the pine pulp line suggests a metabolic imbalance. A liver enlargement and a strong elevation of the hepatic cytochrome P-450-dependent ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity after exposure to the bleached pine pulp effluents indicate the presence of cytochrome P-450-inducing agents in the BKME. The results also demonstrate that many physiological test parameters may be used as good indicators of sublethal disturbances in fish to BKME exposure.     

多氯联苯的肝毒性研究进展

多氯联苯(PCBs)是一类广泛存在于环境中的持久性有机污染物。笔者综述了PCBs的特性及其对动物和人类肝毒性影响的研究进展。已有的研究结果表明,PCBs对动物肝脏有致损害及致癌作用;但对人类而言,除在重大污染事件中发现PCBs可导致人类肝疾病,直至死亡外,职业暴露和环境中长期低剂量暴露实验均未证实PCBs暴露与人类肝脏的损伤及其致癌作用有关。但某些地区人群高肝癌发病率及其环境中PCBs的检出预示着其中有一定的关系,值得深入研究。