Immunofluorescent detection of 8-oxo-dG and PAH bulky adducts in fish liver and mussel digestive gland

Development of methodologies to detect DNA damage induced by pollutants is of increasing concern in marine ecotoxicology. We previously described an immunoperoxidase method for revealing 7,8-dihydro-8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) in marine organisms. In this work, the approach was extended to immunofluorescence detection and to the use of another antibody for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts. Specimens of European eel (Anguilla anguilla) and Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were exposed to benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P), as model chemical carcinogen to induce both oxidized bases and B[a]P diol-epoxide-deoxyguanosine adducts. Cryostat sections of liver and digestive gland from both species were immunostained, and DNA damage was semiquantitatively evaluated by an image analysis system. Compared to untreated organisms, B[a]P-exposed organisms exhibited increased levels of oxidative DNA damage; in eels, which rapidly metabolize PAHs, the occurrence of B[a]P-DNA adducts was also detected. The immunofluorescent assay maintained all the advantages previously reported for the immunoperoxidase protocol. Both methods were tested on the same eel specimens and the immunofluorescence method showed a greater extent of relative DNA damage and a higher sensitivity. Although field validation is being carried out, our results indicate the utility of antibodies to rapidly detect DNA alterations in aquatic organisms, and to investigate the risk associated with genotoxins in marine environment.     

Use of the land snail Helix aspersa as sentinel organism for monitoring ecotoxicologic effects of urban pollution: an integrated approach

Atmospheric pollution from vehicular traffic is a matter of growing interest, often leading to temporary restrictions in urban areas. Although guidelines indicate limits for several parameters, the real toxicologic impacts remain largely unexplored in field conditions. In this study our aim was to validate an ecotoxicologic approach to evaluate both bioaccumulation and toxicologic effects caused by airborne pollutants. Specimens of the land snail Helix aspersa were caged in five sites in the urban area of Ancona, Italy. After 4 weeks, trace metals (cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, and zinc) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured and these data integrated with the analyses of molecular and biochemical responses. Such biomarkers reflected the induction of detoxification pathways or the onset of cellular toxicity caused by pollutants. Biomarkers that correlated with contaminant accumulation included levels of metallothioneins, activity of biotransformation enzymes (ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase), and peroxisomal proliferation. More general responses were investigated as oxidative stress variations, including efficiency of antioxidant defenses (catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione S-transferases, glutathione peroxidases, and total glutathione) and total oxyradical scavenging capacity toward peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals, onset of cellular damages (i.e., lysosomal destabilization), and loss of DNA integrity. Results revealed a marked accumulation of metals and PAHs in digestive tissues of organisms maintained in more traffic-congested sites. The contemporary appearance of several alterations confirmed the cellular reactivity of these chemicals with toxicologic effects of potential concern for human health. The overall results of this exploratory study suggest the utility of H. aspersa as a sentinel organism for biomonitoring the biologic impact of atmospheric pollution in urban areas. Key words: atmospheric pollutants, bioindicators, biomarkers, DNA integrity, lysosomes, metallothioneins, oxidative stress, peroxisomes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, trace metals.     

What is the dumping syndrome?

Digestive Diseases and Sciences -     

Original reconstruction technique after duodenopancreatectomy

The authors present an original reconstruction technique after pancreaticoduodenectomy, with anastomosis between the pancreatic stump and the posterior wall of the stomach, using two Roux-en-Y loops to separate the hepaticojejunostomy from the pancreaticogastrostomy and gastrojejunostomy in order to reduce postoperative complications and mortality. Eighteen consecutive patients underwent the procedure. There was no mortality and no pancreaticogastrostomy leaks occurred. Two (11.1%) gastric bleeds occurred in the first two cases. Twelve cases (66.6%) presented alimentary emesis on postoperative day 5 or 6 after food intake. Three patients (16.6%) had postoperative diarrhea. There were no complications calling for reoperation. The mean hospital stay was 14.4 days. No significant late complications were observed. The procedure is easy and safe with no mortality and with one of the lowest complication rates in the literature.     

Application of an immunoperoxidase staining method for detection of 7,8-dihydro-8-oxodeoxyguanosine as a biomarker of chemical-induced oxidative stress in marine organisms

7,8-Dihydro-8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) is a typical modification of DNA caused by oxygen free radicals and can be an useful biomarker for pollutants inducing oxidative stress. An immunoperoxidase method using monoclonal antibody 1F7 toward 8-oxo-dG was applied to tissues and smeared cells of marine organisms for detection and quantification of oxidative DNA damage in such models. The assay, previously employed on human cells, was assessed for the first time on Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and European eels (Anguilla anguilla), exposed to model pro-oxidant chemicals, namely benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and copper. Quantification of 8-oxo-dG was microscopically carried out and expressed as relative nuclear staining intensity. Higher levels of oxidative DNA damage were detected in the digestive glands of treated mussels compared to controls, while the effect was less pronounced in haemocytes, characterized by more elevated basal levels of 8-oxo-dG. The assay was suitable for detection of 8-oxo-dG also in fish liver sections indicating consistent damage after B[a]P exposure. The main advantage of the immunohistochemical approach is the elimination of DNA extraction which considerably reduces the processing of biological samples. In addition, the assay requires small amounts of frozen tissues or fixed cells for detection of 8-oxo-dG and is potentially able to discriminate variable susceptibility to oxidative stress in different cell types. Although further investigations are required for the improvement and the validation of the assay in field conditions, laboratory exposures provided useful indications on the consistency of the approach and the efficacy of antibody 1F7 in marine organisms for a rapid assessment of pollutant-induced oxidative DNA damage.