Role of fumonisin B1 on DNA methylation changes in rat kidney and liver cells

Abstract

Context: Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium verticillioides (Sacc.) Nirenberg (Nectriaceae) mold that contaminates maize and other agricultural products. Although the effects of FB1 on sphingolipid metabolism are clear, little is known about early molecular changes associated with FB1 carcinogenicity.

Objective: Alteration on DNA methylation, as an early event in non-genotoxic carcinogenesis, may play an important role in the mechanism of FB1 toxiciy.

Materials and methods: Dose-related effects of FB1 (1–50?µM for 24?h) on global DNA methylation by using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV-diode array detection (HPLC-UV/DAD) and CpG promoter methylation by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) were performed in rat liver (Clone 9) and rat kidney (NRK-52E) epithelial cells.

Results: Cell viability reduction is 39% and 34% by the XTT test and LDH release in the growth medium is 32% and 26% at 200?µM of FB1 treatment in Clone 9 and NRK-52E cells, respectively. No significant dose-related effects of FB1 on global DNA methylation which ranged from 4 to 5% were observed in both cells compared with controls. Promoter regions of c-myc gene were methylated (>33%) at 10 and 50?µM of FB1 treatment in Clone 9 cells while it was unmethylated in NRK-52E cells. Promoter regions of p15 gene were unmethylated while VHL gene were found to be methylated (>33%) at 10, 25, and 50?µM and 10 and 50?µM of FB1 treatment in Clone 9 and NRK-52E cells, respectively.

Discussion and conclusion: Alteration in DNA methylation might play an important role in the toxicity of FB1 in risk assessment process.     

Role of Nrf2 in preventing ethanol-induced oxidative stress and lipid accumulation

Oxidative stress and lipid accumulation play important roles in alcohol-induced liver injury. Previous reports showed that, in livers of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-activated mice, genes involved in antioxidant defense are induced, whereas genes involved in lipid biosynthesis are suppressed. To investigate the role of Nrf2 in ethanol-induced hepatic alterations, Nrf2-null mice, wild-type mice, kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1-knockdown (Keap1-KD) mice with enhanced Nrf2, and Keap1-hepatocyte knockout (Keap1-HKO) mice with maximum Nrf2 activation, were treated with ethanol (5 g/kg, po). Blood and liver samples were collected 6 h thereafter. Ethanol increased alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances in serum of Nrf2-null and wild-type mice, but not in Nrf2-enhanced mice. After ethanol administration, mitochondrial glutathione concentrations decreased markedly in Nrf2-null mice but not in Nrf2-enhanced mice. H₂DCFDA staining of primary hepatocytes isolated from the four genotypes of mice indicates that oxidative stress was higher in Nrf2-null cells, and lower in Nrf2-enhanced cells than in wild-type cells. Ethanol increased serum triglycerides and hepatic free fatty acids in Nrf2-null mice, and these increases were blunted in Nrf2-enhanced mice. In addition, the basal mRNA and nuclear protein levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1(Srebp-1) were decreased with graded Nrf2 activation. Ethanol further induced Srebp-1 mRNA in Nrf2-null mice but not in Nrf2-enhanced mice. In conclusion, Nrf2 activation prevented alcohol-induced oxidative stress and accumulation of free fatty acids in liver by increasing genes involved in antioxidant defense and decreasing genes involved in lipogenesis.     

转录因子Nrf2的神经保护作用及其机制

NF-E2相关因子2(Nrf2),感受体内反应活性氧(Reactive oxygen species,ROS)变化后,与体内的锚定蛋白Keap1解聚,发生核转位并调控下游多种抗氧化应激蛋白,解毒酶及转运体基因的表达,参与抗氧化应激生理及病理过程.目前,许多研究发现,Nrf2转录调控的下游靶基因可以对抗由脑中风氧化应激引起的神经系统病变,阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease),帕金森病(Parkinson's disease),侧索硬化(Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis,ALS).本文对近年来Nrf2在神经保护方面的作用及其机制,以及Nrf2作为药物治疗靶点治疗神经退行性病变的最新研究成果进行总结.     

Nitroxide delivery system for Nrf2 activation and skin protection

Cyclic nitroxides are a large group of compounds composed of diverse stable radicals also known as synthetic antioxidants. Although nitroxides are valuable for use in several skin conditions, in in vivo conditions they have several drawbacks, such as nonspecific dispersion in normal tissue, preferential renal clearance and rapid reduction of the nitroxide to the corresponding hydroxylamine. However, these drawbacks can be easily addressed by encapsulating the nitroxides within microemulsions. This approach would allow nitroxide activity and therefore their valuable effects (e.g. activation of the Keap1-Nrf2-EpRE pathway) to continue. In this work, nitroxides were encapsulated in a microemulsion composed of biocompatible ingredients. The nanometric size and shape of the vehicle microemulsion and nitroxide microemulsion displayed high similarity, indicating that the stability of the microemulsions was preserved. Our studies demonstrated that nitroxide microemulsions were more potent inducers of the Keap1-Nrf2-EpRE pathway than the free nitroxides, causing the activation of phase II enzymes. Moreover, microemulsions containing nitroxides significantly reduced UVB-induced cytotoxicity in the skin. Understanding the mechanism of this improved activity may expand the usage of many other Nrf2 modulating molecules in encapsulated form, as a skin protection strategy against oxidative stress-related conditions.     

Nrf2激活剂及其抗紫外线所致皮肤急性光损伤和慢性光老化的研究进展

紫外线（ultraviolet,UV）照射产生活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）及自由基,与皮肤急性光损伤和慢性光老化发生密切相关。核因子E2相关因子2（nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2,Nrf2）是调节抗氧化应激反应的重要转录因子,N...     

DNA methylation analysis in rat kidney epithelial cells exposed to 3-MCPD and glycidol

3-Monochloropropane-1,2-diol (3-MCPD) is a well-known food processing contaminant that has been regarded as a rat carcinogen, which is known to induce Leydig-cell and mammary gland tumors in males, as well as kidney tumors in both genders. 3-MCPD is highly suspected to be a non-genotoxic carcinogen. 2,3-Epoxy-1-propanol (glycidol) can be formed via dehalogenation from 3-MCPD. We aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of 3-MCPD and glycidol, then to demonstrate the possible epigenetic mechanisms with global and gene-specific DNA methylation in rat kidney epithelial cells (NRK-52E). IC₅₀ value of 3-MCPD was determined as 48?mM and 41.39?mM, whereas IC₅₀ value of glycidol was 1.67?mM and 1.13?mM by MTT and NRU test, respectively. Decreased global DNA methylation at the concentrations of 100?μM and 1000?μM for 3-MCPD and 100?μM and 500?μM for glycidol were observed after 48?h exposure by using 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) ELISA kit. Methylation changes were detected in promoter regions of c-myc and Rassf1a in 3-MCPD and glycidol treated NRK-52E cells by using methylation-specific PCR (MSP), whereas changes on gene expression of c-myc and Rassf1a were observed by using real-time PCR. However, e-cadherin, p16, VHL and p15 genes were unmethylated in their CpG promoter regions in response to treatment with 3-MCPD and glycidol. Alterations in DNA methylation might be key events in the toxicity of 3-MCPD and glycidol.     

Licorice root extract and magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate protect against triptolide-induced hepatotoxicity via up-regulation of the Nrf2 pathway

Triptolide, the predominant biologically active component of the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook f., possesses numerous pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-fertility, anti-neoplastic, and immunosuppressive effects. However, toxicity and severe adverse effects, particularly hepatotoxicity, limit the clinical application of triptolide. Licorice root extract contains various bioactive compounds and is potent hepatoprotective. Magnesium isoglycyrrhizinate, a magnesium salt of the 18α-glycyrrhizic acid stereoisomer of glycyrrhizic acid, is used clinically in China to treat chronic viral hepatitis and acute drug-induced liver injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway in the protective effects of LE and MIG against triptolide-induced hepatotoxicity. Hepatotoxicity models were established in L-02 cells and rats using triptolide, and the protective effects of LE and MIG were investigated in vitro and in vivo, respectively. LE and MIG significantly protected against triptolide-induced cytotoxicity. Additionally, triptolide decreased the mRNA and protein levels of Nrf2 and down-regulated Nrf2 target genes, including UGT1A, BSEP, and MRP2, while pretreatment with LE and MIG reversed these effects. Finally, Nrf2-involved antioxidant responses were activated in the presence of LE and MIG.     

Nrf2信号通路在防治肝、肾损伤中的研究进展

核因子E2相关因子2(nuclear factor E2 related factor 2, Nrf2)是诸多细胞信号通路中最重要的一种,是一种基础转录调节因子,主要编码表达多种重要的细胞保护因子,包括解毒酶、抗氧化蛋白、外排型转运体、抗凋亡蛋白、抗炎因子以及其他的应激反应因子。在肝脏或肾脏因外界条件造成损伤时,Nrf2通过调节细胞对毒物的代谢排泄、细胞凋亡以及在应激状态下细胞的抗炎抗氧化进程而发挥作用。对Nrf2在肝脏、肾脏损伤中的保护作用及其分子机制做一综述,以期为新药研发提供理论依据。     

Nrf2 mediates the protective effect of edaravone after chlorpyrifos‐induced nervous system toxicity

We aim to confirm the impairment of chlorpyrifos (CPF) in PC12 cells, evaluate the protective effect of edaravone on CPF‐induced injury, and try to unravel its underlying mechanism perspective from Nrf2 signaling pathway. Viability of PC12 cells treated with CPF and edaravone (Ed) were evaluated by MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by the Hoechst 33342 stain. The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected to evaluate the oxidative stress injury. The expression of Nrf2 was detected by Western blot; profoundly, RNA interference was conducted to construct Nrf2 gene knockdown PC12 cells and to uncover its underlying mechanism. MTT results showed CPF injured PC12 cells in a concentration‐dependent manner. Increased ROS and MDA content, decreased total SOD activity, or even apoptosis were occurred in PC12 cells when treated with CPF. Interestingly, CPF‐induced cell injury was conspicuously reversed after Ed administration. Nrf2 signaling pathway was activated after Ed treatment and the neuroprotective effect of Ed was not significant in cells after Nrf2 gene knockdown. In conclusion, Ed exerts neuroprotective effect on CPF‐induced oxidative stress injury and its mechanism was correlated with the Nrf2 signaling pathway.