Multi-scale impact of chronic exposure to environmental concentrations of chlordecone in freshwater cnidarian, Hydra circumcincta.

Chlordecone (CLD) is an organochlorine pesticide widely used in the past to control pest insects in banana plantations in the French West Indies. Due to its persistence in the environment, CLD has contaminated the soils where it has been spread, as well as the waters, and is still present in them. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant CLD concentrations in an animal model, the freshwater hydra (Hydra circumcincta). In a multi-marker approach, we have studied the expression of some target stress genes, the morphology, and the asexual reproduction rates. Our data showed that exposure to low concentrations of chlordecone leads to (i) a modulation of the expression of target genes involved in oxidative stress, detoxification, and neurobiological processes, and (ii) morphological damages and asexual reproduction impairment. We have observed non-monotonic dose-response curves, which agree with endocrine-disrupting chemical effects. Thus, "U-shaped" dose-response curves were observed for SOD, GRed, Hym355, and potentially GST gene expressions; inverted "U-shaped" curves for GPx and CYP1A gene expressions and reproductive rates; and a biphasic dose-response curve for morphological damages. Therefore, in the range of environmental concentrations tested, very low concentrations of CLD can produce equally or more important deleterious effects than higher ones. Finally, to our knowledge, this study is the first one to fill the lack of knowledge concerning the effects of CLD in Hydra circumcincta and confirms that this diploblastic organism is a pertinent freshwater model in the risk assessment.

A Low Molecular Weight Protein from the Sea Anemone Anemonia viridis with an Anti-Angiogenic Activity.

Sea anemones are a remarkable source of active principles due to a decentralized venom system. New blood vessel growth or angiogenesis is a very promising target against cancer, but the few available antiangiogenic compounds have limited efficacy. In this study, a protein fraction, purified from tentacles of Anemonia viridis, was able to limit endothelial cells proliferation and angiogenesis at low concentration (14 nM). Protein sequences were determined with Edman degradation and mass spectrometry in source decay and revealed homologies with Blood Depressing Substance (BDS) sea anemones. The presence of a two-turn alpha helix observed with circular dichroism and a trypsin activity inhibition suggested that the active principle could be a Kunitz-type inhibitor, which may interact with an integrin due to an Arginine Glycin Aspartate (RGD) motif. Molecular modeling showed that this RGD motif was well exposed to solvent. This active principle could improve antiangiogenic therapy from existing antiangiogenic compounds binding on the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF).

In Vitro Cocktail Effects of PCB-DL (PCB118) and Bulky PCB (PCB153) with BaP on Adipogenesis and on Expression of Genes Involved in the Establishment of a Pro-Inflammatory State.

(1) Objective: Highlight the in vitro effects of 3T3-L1 cell exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB118 and 153) or benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) alone or as a cocktail on adipogenesis (ADG) by focusing on changes in lipid metabolism and inflammatory-related genes expression (INFG) and ADG-related genes expression (ADGG); (2) Results: Treatment from the early stage of cell differentiation by BaP alone or in combination with PCBs decreased the expression of some of the ADGG (PPARγGlut-4, FAS, Lipin-1a, Leptin, and Adiponectin). BaP enhanced the INFG, especially MCP-1 and TNFα. Co-exposure to BaP and PCB153 showed a synergistic effect on TNFα and IL6 expression. Treatment with BaP and PCBs during only the maturation period up-regulated the INFG (IL6, TNFα, CXCL-10 & MCP-1). PCB118 alone also enhanced TNFα, CXCL-10, and PAI-1 expression. The change in MCP-1 protein expression was in agreement with that of the gene. Finally, the BaP-induced up-regulation of the xenobiotic responsive element (XRE)-controlled luciferase activity was impaired by PCB153 but not by PCB118; (3) Conclusion: BaP and PCBs down-regulate a part of ADGG and enhance INFG. The direct regulatory effect of PCBs on both ADGG and INFG is usually rather lower than that of BaP and synergistic or antagonistic cocktail effects are clearly observed.

The Transcriptional Effects of PCB118 and PCB153 on the Liver, Adipose Tissue, Muscle and Colon of Mice: Highlighting of Glut4 and Lipin1 as Main Target Genes for PCB Induced Metabolic Disorders.

Epidemiological studies have associated environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms involved in the metabolic side-effects of PCB. Our study evaluated the transcriptional effects of a subchronic exposure (gavage at Day 0 and Day 15 with 10 or 100 µmol/Kg bw) to PCB118 (dioxin-like PCB), PCB153 (non-dioxin-like PCB), or an equimolar mixture of PCB118 and PCB153 on various tissues (liver, visceral adipose tissue, muscle, and colon) in mice. Our results showed that a short-term exposure to PCB118 and/or PCB153 enhanced circulating triglyceride levels but did not affect glycemia. Among the studied tissues, we did not observe any modification of the expression of inflammation-related genes, such as cytokines or chemokines. The main transcriptional effects were observed in visceral adipose and liver tissues. We found a downregulation of lipin1 and glut4 expression in these two target organs. In adipose tissue, we also showed a downregulation of Agpat2, Slc25a1, and Fasn. All of these genes are involved in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. In muscles, we observed an induction of CnR1 and Foxo3 expression, which may be partly involved in PCB metabolic effects. In summary, our results suggest that lipin1 and glut4, notably in adipose tissue, are the main targeted genes in PCB-induced metabolic disorders, however, further studies are required to fully elucidate the mechanisms involved.

CYP1A1 induction in the colon by serum: involvement of the PPARα pathway and evidence for a new specific human PPREα site.

BACKGROUND: We previously showed that blood serum induced cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) monooxygenase expression in vitro. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was (i) to identify the molecular mechanism involved and (ii) to characterize the inducer compound(s) in serum involved at least in part. METHODS: Serum was fractionated on hydrophobic columns. PPARα involvement was demonstrated by gene reporter assays, DNA mutagenesis and EMSA. Gene expression was evaluated by qRT-PCR. Serum samples were analyzed using HS-SPME-GC-MS. RESULTS: The inductive effect of serum did not depend on the AhR pathway and was enhanced by cotransfection of PPARα cDNA. Mutations in the PPAR response elements of the CYP1A1 gene promoter suppressed this effect. One of the PPRE sites appeared highly specific for human PPARα, an unreported PPRE property. A link was found between CYP1A1 inducibility and serum hydrophobic compounds. Characterization of sera showed that hexanal, a metabolite produced by peroxidation of linoleic acid, was involved in CYP1A1 induction by serum, possibly along with other serum entities. CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that serum induces CYP1A1 via the PPARα pathway and that hexanal is one of the serum inducers. The two PPRE sites within the CYP1A1 promoter are functional and one of them is specific for PPARα.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons potentiate high-fat diet effects on intestinal inflammation.

We demonstrate that intestinal inflammation caused by high-fat diet is increased by the environmental contaminant benzo[a]pyrene. Our in vivo results indicate that a high-fat diet (HFD) induces a pre-diabetic state in mice compared with animals fed normal chow. HFD increased IL-1betamRNA concentration in the jejunum, colon, and liver, and TNFalpha was increased in the colon and strongly increased in the liver. HFD also increased the expression of other genes related to type 2 diabetes, such as the uncoupling protein UCP2, throughout the bowel and liver, but not in the colon. The treatment of HFD with BaP enhanced the expression of IL-1beta in the liver and TNFalpha throughout the bowel and in the liver. Adding BaP to the diet also caused a significant decrease in the expression of the incretin glucagon-like peptide 1, which plays an important role in insulin secretion. Our results suggest that intestinal inflammation may be involved in the onset of type 2 diabetes and that chronic exposure to environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes by inducing pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

PPARalpha activation potentiates AhR-induced CYP1A1 expression.

CYP1A1 is an extrahepatic enzyme largely involved in the bioactivation of various procarcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and arylamines. CYP1A1 expression is mainly regulated by AhR. Our laboratory has recently shown a new CYP1A1 regulation pathway involving PPARalpha. The aim of this study was to evaluate, in a Caco-2 cell line, the effect of a coexposure to 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC, AhR ligand) and WY-14643 (WY, PPARalpha ligand) on CYP1A1 expression (enzymatic activity, mRNA level and promoter activity). An additive effect on CYP1A1 expression was shown in cells coexposed with 3MC (0.1 or 1 microM) and a low WY concentration (30 microM) whereas a potentiating effect was observed after coexposure with 3MC (0.1 or 1 microM) and a high WY concentration (200 microM). Furthermore, 200 microM WY, alone or with 3MC, was able to increase the AhR protein level (two-fold). In conclusion, coexposure with 3MC and the PPARalpha agonist WY leads to an additive or potentiating effect on CYP1A1 inducibility, depending on the WY concentration. Furthermore, at high concentration (200 microM), WY induced AhR expression, which could explain the potentiating effect on CYP1A1 inducibility observed after addition of an AhR ligand (3MC). This phenomenon should be taken into account for risk assessment involving CYP1A1 induction.

Retinoids repress Ah receptor CYP1A1 induction pathway through the SMRT corepressor.

CYP1A1 isoform is mainly regulated by the transcription factor AhR and to a lesser extent by the nuclear receptor RAR. The effect of a coexposure with 3MC, a AhR ligand, and RA, a RAR ligand, which are, respectively, strong and weak CYP1A1 inducers, is poorly known. We showed in Caco-2 cells that addition of RA significantly decreased 3MC-induced CYP1A1 expression by -55% for mRNA level and -30% for promoter and enzymatic activities. We further showed that RA decreased AhR protein level. Moreover, a physical interaction between AhR and the RAR-corepressor SMRT has been described in vitro. Using the corepressor inhibitor TSA, transfected-cells with SMRT cDNA, and coimmunoprecipitation experiments, we demonstrated that RA addition repressed AhR function through a marked AhR/SMRT physical interaction. This interaction explains the decrease of 3MC-induced CYP1A1 expression. This new mechanism involving the repression of AhR-induced CYP1A1 expression by retinoids allows better knowledge of the CYP1A1 regulation.

Serum increases CYP1A1 induction by 3-methylcholanthrene.

CYP1A1 is largely involved in carcinogenesis through the bioactivation of numerous procarcinogens. Exposure to environmental pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) leads to induction of CYP1A1 via AhR pathway. We have previously demonstrated that fetal bovine serum (FBS) induces CYP1A1 gene transcription. In this work, we show evidence that the serum does not contain an AhR ligand and we evaluated the effect of a 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and FBS cotreatment on CYP1A1 expression. CYP1A1 activity was potentiated by this treatment. This potentiation was at least in part associated with an increase of the CYP1A1 mRNA and gene transcription levels. FBS potentiation of CYP1A1 PAH-mediated induction was related to a significant increase of single strand breaks of DNA as compared to a single 3-MC treatment. Moreover, we demonstrated that human serum induces CYP1A1 with a high interindividual variability. The potentiation by serum of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon CYP1A1 induction could be involved in the etiology of some human cancers.