Antagonistic Interactions between Benzo[a]pyrene and C60 in Toxicological Response of Marine Mussels (original) (raw)

The interactions of fullerene C60 and Benzo(α)pyrene influence their bioavailability and toxicity to zebrafish embryos

Environmental Pollution, 2018

This study aimed to assess the toxicological consequences related to the interaction of fullerene nanoparticles (C60) and Benzo(α)pyrene (B(α)P) on zebrafish embryos, which were exposed to C60 and B(α)P alone and to C60 doped with B(α)P. The uptake of pollutants into their tissues and intra-cellular localization were investigated by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. A set of biomarkers of genotoxicity and oxidative stress, as well as functional proteomics analysis were applied to assess the toxic effects due to C60 interaction with B(α)P. The carrier role of C60 for B(α)P was observed, however adsorption on C60 did not affect the accumulation and localization of B(α)P in the embryos. Instead, C60 doped with B(α)P resulted more prone to sedimentation and less bioavailable for the embryos compared to C60 alone. As for toxicity, our results suggested that C60 alone elicited oxidative stress in embryos and a down-regulation of proteins involved in energetic metabolism. The C60 + B(α)P induced cellular response mechanisms similar to B(α)P alone, but generating greater cellular damages in the exposed embryos.

Tissue-Specific Expression of p53 and ras Genes in Response to the Environmental Genotoxicant Benzo(α)pyrene in Marine Mussels

Environmental Science & Technology, 2011

Marine mussels can develop hemeic and gonadal neoplasia in the natural environment. Associated with these diseases are the tumor suppressor (TS) p53 and the proto-oncogene ras coded proteins, both of which are highly conserved among molluscs and vertebrates. We report, for the first time, tissuespecific expression analysis of p53 and ras genes in Mytilus edulis by means of quantitative RT-PCR. A tissue-specific response was observed after 6 and 12 days exposure to a sublethal concentration of a model Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH), benzo(α)pyrene (B(α)P). This sublethal concentration (56 μg/L) was selected based on an integrated biomarker analysis carried out prior to gene expression analysis, which included a 'clearance rate' assay, histopathological analysis, and DNA strand break measurements. The results indicated that the selected concentration of B(α)P can lead to the induction of DNA strand breaks, tissue damage, and expression of tumor-regulating genes. Both p53 and ras are expressed in a tissue-specific manner, which collaborate with tissue-specific function in response to genotoxic stress. The integrated biological responses in Mytilus edulis strengthen the use of this organism to investigate the fundamental mechanism of development of malignancy in invertebrate which could be translated to other organisms including humans.

Screening of ecotoxicant responsive genes and expression analysis of benzo [a] pyreneexposed rockfish (Sebastesschlgeli)

marine environment and a model compound of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which has an ability to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms. This study aimed to identify molecular biomarkers suitable for assessing environmental pollution using a microarray technique. We examined the effects of benzo [a]pyrene on gene expressions in the rockfish, Sebastes schlegeli. We constructed the subtractive cDNA library with hepatic RNA from benzo[a]pyreneexposed and non-exposed control fish. From the library 10,000 candidate clones were selected randomly and cDNA microarray was constructed. We determined benzo[a]pyrene-responsive genes using a high-density microarray. Statistical analysis showed that approximately 400 genes are significantly induced or reduced by benzo[a]pyrene treatment (2 µ µM). Especially gene expression changes of 4 candidate clones among the up-or down-regulated genes were investigated in 6, 12 and 24 hr BaP-exposed fish groups. Many methods have been developed to monitor marine environmental status, which depend on quantifying the levels of the toxic components in polluted seawater or on ecological accessing, such as species diversity or richness. However, those methods could not provide information on physiological or genetic changes induced by such environmental stresses. Comparing with the conventional methods, these data will propose that benzo[a] pyrene-responsive genes can be useful for biological risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on marine organism at molecular level.

Experimental exposure of blue mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ) to high levels of benzo[ a ]pyrene and possible implications for human health

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2018

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are lipophilic compounds able to accumulate in the food chain. Mussels showed to bioaccumulate contaminants, such as PAHs, so that recurrent consumption of such contaminated food represents a risk for human health. This study was aimed to elucidate if acute exposure of Mediterranean blue mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), a bivalve of great economic importance in several countries, to a PAH, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), at doses able to induce cytochrome P450 1 A (CYP1A) and pathological changes in mussel gills, can produce accumulation in soft tissue. We explored the cytotoxic effects (cell viability, DNA laddering, and glutathione levels) of in vitro exposure of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) to organic extracts obtained from blue mussels previously exposed for 12 and 72 h via water to B[a]P (0.5-1 mg/L). In our experimental conditions, B[a]P induced CYP1A induction and morphological changes in mussel gills and a significant B[a]P accumulation in soft tissue. Conversely, exposing PBMCs to organic extracts obtained from contaminated mussels, resulted in a significant reduction of cell viability and cell glutathione content, and in an increase in DNA laddering. This confirms that consumption of mussels from B[a]P polluted waters might affect human health. Our data lead us to suggest that CYP1A activity in mussel gills may be useful (more than the amount of detected PAHs in the mussel edible tissue) as a marker in assessment of risk for health of consumers exposed to PAHs through ingestion of shellfish.

Enzymatic biomarker measurement and study of DNA adduct formation in benzo[a]pyrene-contaminated mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis

Aquatic Toxicology, 2000

The aim of this study was to improve the knowledge on the metabolic pathways involved in benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) activation and on the relationship between adduct levels and enzymatic biomarker activities. With this purpose, a model to assess pollutant exposure via food supply has been developed for the sentinel organism, Mytilus gallopro6incialis. Mussels were fed for 4 weeks with B[a]P-contaminated feed (50 mg/kg dry weight mussel). Bioaccumulation was studied by determination of B[a]P concentration in whole mussel by GC/MS analysis. Different biomarkers of pollutant exposure were measured to assess the metabolic state of the exposed organisms. CYP1A-like immunopositive protein titration and B[a]P hydroxylase (BPH) activity were assessed as indicators of phase I biotransformation. Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was measured as an indicator of the conjugation activities. Catalase (CAT) and DT-diaphorase (DTD) activities were assessed as potential biomarkers of oxidative stress, whereas acetylthiocholine esterase (AChE) activity was measured as an indication of possible neurotoxicity of B[a]P exposure. DNA adduct levels were determined in digestive gland DNA by applying the 32 P-postlabeling technique with nuclease P1 enhancement. For the developed conditions of exposure, B[a]P concentration reached in whole mussel tissues was very high (\500 mg/kg d.w. mussel) and significant B[a]P-induced changes were recorded for each enzymatic biomarkers. BPH and CAT activities were significantly increased by B[a]P exposure, whereas GST in the gills, DTD and AChE were significantly depressed. On the other hand, no change in CYP1A-like immunopositive protein content was observed. Induction and increase with time of bulky B[a]P-related DNA adducts www.elsevier.com/locate/aquatox : S 0 1 6 6 -4 4 5 X ( 9 9 ) 0 0 0 8 2 -X F. Akcha et al. / Aquatic Toxicology 49 (2000) 269-287 270 were demonstrated in the digestive gland, although at low levels (0.269 9 0.082 adduct/10e8 dNps at maximum) by the 32 P-postlabeling assay. DNA adduct level was significantly correlated with whole mussel tissue B[a]P concentration, so were all the enzymatic biomarkers measured except to GST activity in both gill and digestive gland tissues. BPH, DTD, CAT and AChE displayed a strong correlation with adduct levels. These results demonstrate the neurotoxicity and the genotoxicity of B[a]P exposure in the mussel. The induction of bulky DNA adducts in mussels demonstrates the existence of activation pathways already identified in vertebrates. It validates also the suitability of this model for further studies on B[a]P metabolism in mussels. Our results support the proposal of BPH, AChE, DTD and CAT activities as suitable biomarkers of PAH exposure for these sentinel species.

Merging nano-genotoxicology with eco-genotoxicology: An integrated approach to determine interactive genotoxic and sub-lethal toxic effects of C(60) fullerenes and fluoranthene in marine mussels, Mytilus sp

Mutation research, 2012

Whilst there is growing concern over the potential detrimental impact of engineered nanoparticles (ENPs) on the natural environment, little is known about their interactions with other contaminants. In the present study, marine mussels (Mytilus sp.) were exposed for 3 days to C(60) fullerenes (C(60); 0.10-1mgl(-1)) and a model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), fluoranthene (32-100μgl(-1)), either alone or in combination. The first two experiments were conducted by exposing the organisms to different concentrations of C(60) and fluoranthene alone, in order to determine the effects on total glutathione levels (as a measure of generic oxidative stress), genotoxicity (DNA strand breaks using Comet assay in haemocytes), DNA adduct analyses (using (32)P-postlabelling method) in different organs, histopathological changes in different tissues (i.e. adductor muscle, digestive gland and gills) and physiological effects (feeding or clearance rate). Subsequently, in the third experiment, ...

Immediate biomarker responses to benzo[a]pyrene in polluted and unpolluted populations of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis L.) at high-latitudes

Environment International, 2008

Immediate biomarker responses of two high-latitude populations of the blue mussel Mytilus edulis to benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) were evaluated. Mussels collected from a clean and a polluted site in southwest Iceland were exposed to the nominal dose of 100 μg B[a]P L − l for 3 h, after 4 days of acclimatization in clean seawater. To test the sensitivity to the toxicant and immediate biological responses, the following biomarkers were used: DNA single strand breaks, heart rate and feeding rate. All the biomarkers revealed differences between the study sites. Irrespective of the origin of the organisms, the short time exposure to the high B[a]P concentration did not induce DNA single strand breaks or significantly affect the feeding rate. However, the heart rate results showed significantly different responses. The mussels from the polluted site (Reykjavík harbour) increased their heart rate when exposed to B[a]P, while no difference was observed between the heart rate values of the individuals from the clean site (Hvassahraun). The mussels seem to sense the pollutant they have been previously exposed to, and their acute response indicates physiological adaptation to the polluted environment. The results indicate limited sensitivity and temporal predictivity, i.e. transient measurable changes of these biomarkers, as well as showing that the background of the organisms should be considered when evaluating short-term biomarker responses to contaminants.

Assessing the impact of Benzo[a]pyrene on Marine Mussels: Application of a novel targeted low density microarray complementing classical biomarker responses

PloS one, 2017

Despite the increasing use of mussels in environmental monitoring and ecotoxicological studies, their genomes and gene functions have not been thoroughly explored. Several cDNA microarrays were recently proposed for Mytilus spp., but putatively identified partial transcripts have rendered the generation of robust transcriptional responses difficult in terms of pathway identification. We developed a new low density oligonucleotide microarray with 465 probes covering the same number of genes. Target genes were selected to cover most of the well-known biological processes in the stress response documented over the last decade in bivalve species at the cellular and tissue levels. Our new 'STressREsponse Microarray' (STREM) platform consists of eight sub-arrays with three replicates for each target in each sub-array. To assess the potential use of the new array, we tested the effect of the ubiquitous environmental pollutant benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) at 5, 50, and 100 μg/L on two tar...

Increased Temperatures Affect Oxidative Stress Markers and Detoxification Response to Benzo[a]Pyrene Exposure in Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

The present research work was designed to study mussel’s (Mytilus galloprovincialis) digestive gland biotransformation and detoxification responses to benzo[a]- pyrene (B[a]P) exposure along with heat stress. Mussels were exposed to a sublethal dose of B[a]P [75 nM (19 lg/L/ animal)] ? temperature gradient (18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 C) for 7 days. B[a]P hydroxylase (BPH) and glutathione-Stransferase (GST) activities were assessed in digestive gland tissues as phase I and phase II biotransformation parameters. Catalase (CAT) activity and malonedialdehyde (MDA) were measured as potential biomarkers of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The cholinergic system was evaluated using acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. DNA damage was assessed using micronuclei (MN) test. BPH and GST activities showed a decreasing trend in B[a]P-exposed animals at 24 and 26 C. CAT activity showed a bell-shaped response in B[a]P-exposed and in heat-stressed organisms at a maximum temperature of 22 C. AChE activity was significantly inhibited in response to B[a]P being more pronounced at a temperature of 26 C. MN in digestive gland cells suggest that B[a]P exposure induced significant DNA alteration with a maximum response in organisms coexposed to B[a]P and a temperature of 26 C. Biomarker data are further discussed in relation B[a]P accumulation in mussels digestive gland. These data should be carefully considered in view of the biological effects of organic pollutants, particularly in organisms under the challenging effects of extreme temperature fluctuations.