2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters hepatic polyunsaturated fatty acid metabolism and eicosanoid biosynthesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist that elicits a broad spectrum of dose-dependent hepatic effects including lipid accumulation, inflammation, and fibrosis. To determine the role of inflammatory lipid mediators in TCDD-mediated hepatotoxicity, eicosanoid metabolism was investigated. Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were orally gavaged with sesame oil vehicle or 0.01-10 µg/kg TCDD every 4 days for 28 days. Hepatic RNA-Seq data was integrated with untargeted metabolomics of liver, serum, and urine, revealing dose-dependent changes in linoleic acid (LA) and arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. TCDD also elicited dose-dependent differential gene expression associated with the cyclooxygenase, lipoxygenase, and cytochrome P450 epoxidation/hydroxylation pathways with corresponding changes in ω-6 (e.g. AA and LA) and ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as well as associated eicosanoid metabolites. Overall, TCDD increased the ratio of ω-6 to ω-3 PUFAs. Phospholipase A2 (Pla2g12a) was induced consistent with increased AA metabolism, while AA utilization by induced lipoxygenases Alox5 and Alox15 increased leukotrienes (LTs). More specifically, TCDD increased pro-inflammatory eicosanoids including leukotriene LTB4, and LTB3, known to recruit neutrophils to damaged tissue. Dose-response modeling suggests the cytochrome P450 hydroxylase/epoxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways are more sensitive to TCDD than the cyclooxygenase pathway. Hepatic AhR ChIP-Seq analysis found little enrichment within the regulatory regions of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) involved in eicosanoid biosynthesis, suggesting TCDD-elicited dysregulation of eicosanoid metabolism is a downstream effect of AhR activation. Overall, these results suggest alterations in eicosanoid metabolism may play a key role in TCDD-elicited hepatotoxicity associated with the progression of steatosis to steatohepatitis.

Dose-Dependent Metabolic Reprogramming and Differential Gene Expression in TCDD-Elicited Hepatic Fibrosis.

We have previously shown that in response to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-elicited NAFLD progression, central carbon, glutaminolysis, and serine/folate metabolism are reprogrammed to support NADPH production and ROS defenses. To further investigate underlying dose-dependent responses associated with TCDD-induced fibrosis, female C57BL/6 mice were gavaged with TCDD every 4 days (d) for 28 d or 92 d. RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq (2 h), and 28 d metabolomic (urine, serum, and hepatic extract) analyses were conducted with complementary serum marker assessments at 92 d. Additional vehicle and 30 µg/kg treatment groups were allowed to recover for 36 d following the 92-d treatment regimen to examine recovery from TCDD-elicited fibrosis. Histopathology revealed dose-dependent increases in hepatic fat accumulation, inflammation, and periportal collagen deposition at 92 days, with increased fibrotic severity in the recovery group. Serum proinflammatory and profibrotic interleukins-1ß, -2, -4, -6, and -10, as well as TNF-α and IFN-γ, exhibited dose-dependent induction. An increase in glucose tolerance was observed with a concomitant 3.0-fold decrease in hepatic glycogen linked to increased ascorbic acid biosynthesis and proline metabolism, consistent with increased fibrosis. RNA-Seq identified differential expression of numerous matrisome genes including an 8.8-fold increase in Tgfb2 indicating myofibroblast activation. Further analysis suggests reprogramming of glycogen, ascorbic acid, and amino acid metabolism in support of collagen deposition and the use of proline as a substrate for ATP production via the proline cycle. In summary, we demonstrate that glycogen, ascorbic acid, and amino acid metabolism are also reorganized to support remodeling of the extracellular matrix, progressing to hepatic fibrosis in response to chronic injury from TCDD.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-Dioxin Alters Lipid Metabolism and Depletes Immune Cell Populations in the Jejunum of C57BL/6 Mice.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist that elicits dose-dependent hepatic fat accumulation and inflammation that can progress to steatohepatitis. To investigate intestine-liver interactions that contribute to TCDD-elicited steatohepatitis, we examined the dose-dependent effects of TCDD (0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, or 30 µg/kg) on jejunal epithelial gene expression in C57BL/6 mice orally gavaged every 4 days for 28 days. Agilent 4x44K whole-genome microarray analysis of the jejunal epithelium identified 439 differentially expressed genes (|fold change| ≥ 1.5, P1(t) ≥ 0.999) across 1 or more doses, many related to lipid metabolism and immune system processes. TCDD-elicited differentially expressed genes were associated with lipolysis, fatty acid/cholesterol absorption and transport, the Kennedy pathway, and retinol metabolism, consistent with increased hepatic fat accumulation. Moreover, several major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II genes (H2-Aa, H2-Ab1, H2-DMb1, Cd74) were repressed, coincident with decreased macrophage and dendritic cell levels in the lamina propria, suggesting migration of antigen-presenting cells out of the intestine. In contrast, hepatic RNA-Seq analysis identified increased expression of MHC class II genes, as well as chemokines and chemokine receptors involved in macrophage recruitment (Ccr1, Ccr5, Ccl5, Cx3cr1), consistent with hepatic F4/80 labeling and macrophage infiltration into the liver. Collectively, these results suggest TCDD elicits changes that support hepatic lipid accumulation, macrophage migration, and the progression of hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis.

Toxicogenomic evaluation of long-term hepatic effects of TCDD in immature, ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice.

Acute exposure to hepatotoxic doses of 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro- dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in mice is characterized by differential gene expression that can be phenotypically anchored to elevated levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, increased relative liver weights, hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and hepatocellular necrosis. Unlike most studies that focus on acute exposure effects, this study evaluated the long-term effects of a single oral gavage of 30 µg/kg TCDD at 1, 4, 12, 24, 36, and 72 weeks postdose in ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice. Hepatic TCDD levels were almost completely eliminated by 24 weeks with a calculated half-life of 12 days. Hepatic gene expression analysis identified 395 unique differentially expressed genes between 1 and 12 weeks that decreased to ≤ 8 by 72 weeks, consistent with the minimal hepatic TCDD levels. Hepatic vacuolization, characteristic of short-term exposure, subsided by 4 weeks. Similarly, TCDD-elicited hepatic necrosis and inflammation dissipated by 1 week. Collectively, these results suggest that TCDD-elicited histologic and gene expression responses can be correlated to elevated hepatic TCDD levels, which, once eliminated, elicit minimal hepatic gene expression and histologic alterations.

Non-additive hepatic gene expression elicited by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153) co-treatment in C57BL/6 mice.

Interactions between environmental contaminants can lead to non-additive effects that may affect the toxicity and risk assessment of a mixture. Comprehensive time course and dose-response studies with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), non-dioxin-like 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153) and their mixture were performed in immature, ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice. Mice were gavaged once with 30 µg/kg TCDD, 300 mg/kg PCB153, a mixture of 30 µg/kg TCDD with 300 mg/kg PCB153 (MIX) or sesame oil vehicle for 4,12, 24,72 or 168 h. In the 24h dose-response study, animals were gavaged with TCDD (0.3,1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 30, 45 µg/kg), PCB153 (3,10, 30, 60, 100, 150, 300, 450 mg/kg), MIX (0.3+3, 1+10, 3+30, 6+60, 10+100, 15+150, 30+300, 45 µg/kg TCDD+450 mg/kg PCB153, respectively) or vehicle. All three treatments significantly increased relative liver weights (RLW), with MIX eliciting significantly greater increases compared to TCDD and PCB153 alone. Histologically, MIX induced hepatocellular hypertrophy, vacuolization, inflammation, hyperplasia and necrosis, a combination of TCDD and PCB153 responses. Complementary lipid analyses identified significant increases in hepatic triglycerides in MIX and TCDD samples, while PCB153 had no effect on lipids. Hepatic PCB153 levels were also significantly increased with TCDD co-treatment. Microarray analysis identified 167 TCDD, 185 PCB153 and 388 MIX unique differentially expressed genes. Statistical modeling of quantitative real-time PCR analysis of Pla2g12a, Serpinb6a, Nqo1, Srxn1, and Dysf verified non-additive expression following MIX treatment compared to TCDD and PCB153 alone. In summary, TCDD and PCB153 co-treatment elicited specific non-additive gene expression effects that are consistent with RLW increases, histopathology, and hepatic lipid accumulation.

Automated dose-response analysis and comparative toxicogenomic evaluation of the hepatic effects elicited by TCDD, TCDF, and PCB126 in C57BL/6 mice.

The toxic equivalency factor (TEF) approach recommended by the World Health Organization is used to quantify dioxin-like exposure concentrations for mixtures of polychlorinated dibenzo-dioxins, -furans, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) and 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) relative to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Whole-genome microarrays were used to evaluate the hepatic gene expression potency of TCDF and PCB126 relative to TCDD with complementary histopathology, tissue level analysis, and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) assay results. Immature ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice were gavaged with 0.001, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 30, 100, and 300 µg/kg TCDD and TEF-adjusted doses (TEF for TCDF and PCB126 is 0.1) of TCDF or PCB126 (1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300, 1000, and 3000 µg/kg of TCDF or PCB126) or sesame oil vehicle and sacrificed 24 h post dose. In general, TCDD, TCDF, and PCB126 tissue levels, as well as histopathological effects, were comparable when comparing TEF-adjusted doses. Automated dose-response modeling (ToxResponse Modeler) of the microarray data identified 210 TCDF and 40 PCB126 genes that exhibited sigmoidal dose-response curves with comparable slopes when compared with TCDD. These similar responses were used to calculate a median TCDF gene expression relative potency (REP) of 0.06 and a median PCB126 gene expression REP of 0.02. REPs of 0.02 were also calculated for EROD induction for both compounds. Collectively, these data suggest that differences in the ability of the liganded aryl hydrocarbon receptor:AhR nuclear translocator complex to elicit differential hepatic gene expression, in addition to pharmacokinetic differences between ligands, influence their potency in immature ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice.

PCB153-elicited hepatic responses in the immature, ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice: comparative toxicogenomic effects of dioxin and non-dioxin-like ligands.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitous contaminants found as complex mixtures of coplanar and non-coplanar congeners. The hepatic temporal and dose-dependent effects of the most abundant non-dioxin-like congener, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB153), were examined in immature, ovariectomized C57BL/6 mice, and compared to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the prototypical aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand. Animals were gavaged once with 300 mg/kg PCB153 or sesame oil vehicle and sacrificed 4, 12, 24, 72 or 168 h post dose. In the dose-response study, mice were gavaged with 1, 3, 10, 30, 100 or 300 mg/kg PCB153 or sesame oil for 24 h. Significant increases in relative liver weights were induced with 300 mg/kg PCB153 between 24 and 168 h, accompanied by slight vacuolization and hepatocellular hypertrophy. The hepatic differential expression of 186 and 177 genes was detected using Agilent 4 x 44 K microarrays in the time course (|fold change|> or =1.5, P1(t)> or =0.999) and dose-response (|fold change|> or =1.5, P1(t)> or =0.985) studies, respectively. Comparative analysis with TCDD suggests that the differential gene expression elicited by PCB153 was not mediated by the AhR. Furthermore, constitutive androstane and pregnane X receptor (CAR/PXR) regulated genes including Cyp2b10, Cyp3a11, Ces2, Insig2 and Abcc3 were dose-dependently induced by PCB153. Collectively, these results suggest that the hepatocellular effects elicited by PCB153 are qualitatively and quantitatively different from TCDD and suggestive of CAR/PXR regulation.

Comparative toxicogenomic analysis of the hepatotoxic effects of TCDD in Sprague Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice.

In an effort to further characterize conserved and species-specific mechanisms of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-mediated toxicity, comparative temporal and dose-response microarray analyses were performed on hepatic tissue from immature, ovariectomized Sprague Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. For temporal studies, rats and mice were gavaged with 10 or 30 microg/kg of TCDD, respectively, and sacrificed after 2, 4, 8, 12, 18, 24, 72, or 168 h while dose-response studies were performed at 24 h. Hepatic gene expression profiles were monitored using custom cDNA microarrays containing 8567 (rat) or 13,361 (mouse) cDNA clones. Affymetrix data from male rats treated with 40 microg/kg TCDD were also included to expand the species comparison. In total, 3087 orthologous genes were represented in the cross-species comparison. Comparative analysis identified 33 orthologous genes that were commonly regulated by TCDD as well as 185 rat-specific and 225 mouse-specific responses. Functional annotation using Gene Ontology identified conserved gene responses associated with xenobiotic/chemical stress and amino acid and lipid metabolism. Rat-specific gene expression responses were associated with cellular growth and lipid metabolism while mouse-specific responses were associated with lipid uptake/metabolism and immune responses. The common and species-specific gene expression responses were also consistent with complementary histopathology, clinical chemistry, hepatic lipid analyses, and reports in the literature. These data expand our understanding of TCDD-mediated gene expression responses and indicate that species-specific toxicity may be mediated by differences in gene expression which may help explain the wide range of species sensitivities and will have important implications in risk assessment strategies.