Comparative bioaccumulation and effects of purified and cellular extract of cylindrospermopsin to freshwater fish Hoplias malabaricus.

Many tropical freshwater ecosystems are impacted by cyanobacteria blooms increasing the risk of cyanotoxins exposure to aquatic organisms while human populations may be exposed by eating fish, drinking water, or dermal swimming. However, few toxicological data are available on the influence of cyanobacteria blooms in particular, cylindrospermopsin (CYN) on Brazilian neotropical fish. A number of studies demonstrated the ability of CYN to bioaccumulate in freshwater organisms and consequently enter the human food chain. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of CYN following single intraperitoneal injection (50 µg/kg) of purified CYN (CYNp) or aqueous extract of CYN-producing cyanobacteria extract (CYNex) after 7 or 14 days. Biomarkers such as histopathology (liver), oxidative stress (liver and brain), and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity (muscle and brain) were utilized in order to assess the influence of CYN on Hoplias malabaricus. In terms of AChE activity, administration of CYNex and CYNp both muscle and brains were used as target tissues. In brain an increase of glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels was noted suggesting an imbalance in redox cycling. The majority of biomarkers did not present significant alterations in liver, but an elevation in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activities was found. Different profiles of GST activity were observed in both studied groups (CYNex and CYNp) while LPO (CYNex and CYNp) and protein carbonylation (PCO) (CYNp) levels increased after exposure to CYN. The incidence of necrosis, melanomacrophages centers, and free melanomacrophages were detected as evidence of cell death and immune responses. Nonprotein thiols (NPT) levels were not markedly affected in both exposed groups. Data demonstrated that in vivo exposure to CYN produced biochemical and morphological disturbances in liver and brain of H. malabaricus.

Low concentrations of cylindrospermopsin induce increases of reactive oxygen species levels, metabolism and proliferation in human hepatoma cells (HepG2).

Human hepatoma cells (HepG2) were exposed to purified cylindrospermopsin (CYN), a potent toxicant for eukaryotic cells produced by several cyanobacteria. CYN was not toxic at concentrations up to 10 µgl(-1), leading to increased viability and metabolism in cells cultured with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Reduction of FBS concentration to 2% and induction of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms were performed in order to make xenobiotic-metabolizing capacity of HepG2 cells closest to that of 'normal' cells. HepG2 cells proliferated less after CYPs-induction, and this induction has lead to similar results of non-induced cells, except for few individual parameters such lipid peroxidation. Foremost, low concentrations of CYN (below or equal 10 µgl(-1)) have induced HepG2 cells proliferation and metabolism increase, which was not expected.