Endocrine-disrupting organotin compounds are potent inducers of adipogenesis in vertebrates

The OBELIX project: early life exposure to endocrine disruptors and obesity

The hypothesis of whether early life exposure (both pre- and early postnatal) to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be a risk factor for obesity and related metabolic diseases later in life will be tested in the European research project OBELIX (OBesogenic Endocrine disrupting chemicals: LInking prenatal eXposure to the development of obesity later in life). OBELIX is a 4-y project that started in May 2009 and which has the following 5 main objectives: 1) to assess early life exposure in humans to major classes of EDCs identified as potential inducers of obesity (ie, dioxin-like compounds, non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides, brominated flame retardants, phthalates, and perfluorinated compounds) by using mother-child cohorts from 4 European regions with different food-contaminant exposure patterns; 2) to relate early life exposure to EDCs with clinical markers, novel biomarkers, and health-effect data related to obesity; 3) to perform hazard characterization of early life exposure to EDCs for the development of obesity later in life by using a mouse model; 4) to determine mechanisms of action of obesogenic EDCs on developmental programming with in vivo and in vitro genomics and epigenetic analyses; and 5) to perform risk assessments of prenatal exposure to obesogenic EDCs in food by integrating maternal exposure through food-contaminant exposure and health-effect data in children and hazard data in animal studies.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and disease susceptibility

Environmental chemicals have significant impacts on biological systems. Chemical exposures during early stages of development can disrupt normal patterns of development and thus dramatically alter disease susceptibility later in life. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with the body's endocrine system and produce adverse developmental, reproductive, neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic and immune effects in humans. A wide range of substances, both natural and man-made, are thought to cause endocrine disruption, including pharmaceuticals, dioxin and dioxin-like compounds, polychlorinated biphenyls, DDT and other pesticides, and components of plastics such as bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates. EDCs are found in many everyday products--including plastic bottles, metal food cans, detergents, flame retardants, food additives, toys, cosmetics, and pesticides. EDCs interfere with the synthesis, secretion, transport, activity, or elimination of natural hormones. This interference can block or mimic hormone action, causing a wide range of effects. This review focuses on the mechanisms and modes of action by which EDCs alter hormone signaling. It also includes brief overviews of select disease endpoints associated with endocrine disruption.

The retinoid X receptors and their ligands

This chapter presents an overview of the current status of studies on the structural and molecular biology of the retinoid X receptor subtypes α, β, and γ (RXRs, NR2B1-3), their nuclear and cytoplasmic functions, post-transcriptional processing, and recently reported ligands. Points of interest are the different changes in the ligand-binding pocket induced by variously shaped agonists, the communication of the ligand-bound pocket with the coactivator binding surface and the heterodimerization interface, and recently identified ligands that are natural products, those that function as environmental toxins or drugs that had been originally designed to interact with other targets, as well as those that were deliberately designed as RXR-selective transcriptional agonists, synergists, or antagonists. Of these synthetic ligands, the general trend in design appears to be away from fully aromatic rigid structures to those containing partial elements of the flexible tetraene side chain of 9-cis-retinoic acid. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in High Density Lipoprotein Formation and Metabolism: A Tribute to John F. Oram (1945-2010).

Minireview: PPARγ as the target of obesogens

The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a key regulator of adipogenesis and is medically important for its connections to obesity and the treatment of type II diabetes. Activation of this receptor by certain natural or xenobiotic compounds has been shown to stimulate adipogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Obesogens are chemicals that ultimately increase obesity through a variety of potential mechanisms, including activation of PPARγ. The first obesogen for which a definitive mechanism of action has been elucidated is the PPARγ and RXR activator tributyltin; however, not all chemicals that activate PPARγ are adipogenic or correlated with obesity in humans. There are multiple mechanisms through which obesogens can target PPARγ that may not involve direct activation of the receptor. Ligand-independent mechanisms could act through obesogen-mediated post-translational modification of PPARγ which cause receptor de-repression or activation. PPARγ is active in multipotent stem cells committing to the adipocyte fate during fat cell development. By modifying chromatin structure early in development, obesogens have the opportunity to influence the promoter activity of PPARγ, or the ability of PPARγ to bind to its target genes, ultimately biasing the progenitor pool towards the fat lineage. Obesogens that act by directly or indirectly activating PPARγ, by increasing the levels of PPARγ protein, or enhancing its recruitment to promoters of key genes in the adipogenic pathway may ultimately play an important role in adipogenesis and obesity.

Stage-specific malformations and phenotypic changes induced in embryos of amphibian (Xenopus tropicalis) by triphenyltin

Tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) can induce unique malformations in embryos of amphibian (Xenopus tropicalis). We further exposed X. tropicalis embryos to TPT during different stages. Severe malformations were observed in the embryos after exposure to 5-10 μg Sn/L TPT during S32-40 and S40-46. Comparatively, the embryos showed slight or moderate malformations after exposure during S10-25, S25-32 or S46-47. The most characteristic malformations were narrow or no fins, followed by enlarged proctodaeums and skin hypopigmentation. The developed fins were still affected after TPT exposure, but the inhibited fins could not recover even after the removal of TPT exposure. In TPT treatment groups, the proctodaeums of embryos externally expanded, and the pigment cells of embryos were poor, small and dot like. Our results suggested that TPT-induced teratogenicity was highly stage-specific. The sensitive window of fin defects indicated that TPT affected the formation rather than induction or expansion of fins.

The environmental obesogen tributyltin chloride acts via peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma to induce adipogenesis in murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Obesogens are chemicals that predispose exposed individuals to weight gain and obesity by increasing the number of fat cells, storage of fats into existing cells, altering metabolic rates, or disturbing the regulation of appetite and satiety. Tributyltin exposure causes differentiation of multipotent stromal stem cells (MSCs) into adipocytes; prenatal TBT exposure leads to epigenetic changes in the stem cell compartment that favor the production of adipocytes at the expense of bone, in vivo. While it is known that TBT acts through peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma to induce adipogenesis in MSCs, the data in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes are controversial. Here we show that TBT can activate the RXR-PPARγ heterodimer even in the presence of the PPARγ antagonist GW9662. We found that GW9662 has a 10-fold shorter half-life in cell culture than do PPARγ activators such as rosiglitazone (ROSI), accounting for previous observations that GW9662 did not inhibit TBT-mediated adipogenesis. When the culture conditions are adjusted to compensate for the short half-life of GW9662, we found that TBT induces adipogenesis, triglyceride storage and the expression of adipogenic marker genes in 3T3-L1 cells in a PPARγ-dependent manner. Our results are broadly applicable to the study of obesogen action and indicate that ligand stability is an important consideration in the design and interpretation of adipogenesis assays.

Teratogenic effects of triphenyltin on embryos of amphibian (Xenopus tropicalis): a phenotypic comparison with the retinoid X and retinoic acid receptor ligands

Triphenyltin (TPT) has high binding affinity with the retinoid X receptor (RXR) in animals. The natural ligand of RXR, 9-cis-retinoic acid (RA), is known to induce featured malformations in vertebrate embryos by disrupting RA signal. Limited information is available on the TPT effects on amphibians. We exposed embryos of amphibian (Xenopus tropicalis) to TPT, 9-cis-RA, all-trans-RA (ligand of retinoic acid receptor, RAR), and LGD1069 (a selective ligand of RXR). The 72h LC50 of TPT was 5.25 μg Sn/L, and 72h EC50 was 0.96 μg Sn/L. TPT induced multiple malformations including enlarged proctodaeum and narrow fins. TPT at 5 μg Sn/L inhibited the differentiation of skins and muscles. The reduced brain, loss of external eyes and bent axis were observed in RXR and RAR ligands treatments. TPT and tributyltin (TBT) inhibited the mRNA expression of RXRα and increased that of TRβ. The phenotypes of malformations induced by TPT were similar to those by TBT and were much different from those by the RXR and RAR ligands. These results indicated that TPT was acute toxic and had high teratogenicity to amphibian embryos, and that TPT induced phenotypes of malformations. TPT and TBT might have a similar teratogenic mechanism, which seems not to be mainly mediated through RA signal.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ is a target for halogenated analogs of bisphenol A

BACKGROUND

The occurrence of halogenated analogs of the xenoestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) has been recently demonstrated both in environmental and human samples. These analogs include brominated [e.g., tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)] and chlorinated [e.g., tetrachlorobisphenol A (TCBPA)] bisphenols, which are both flame retardants. Because of their structural homology with BPA, such chemicals are candidate endocrine disruptors. However, their possible target(s) within the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily has remained unknown.

OBJECTIVES

We investigated whether BPA and its halogenated analogs could be ligands of estrogen receptors (ERs) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals.

METHODS

We studied the activity of compounds using reporter cell lines expressing ERs and PPARs. We measured the binding affinities to PPARγ by competitive binding assays with [3H]-rosiglitazone and investigated the impact of TBBPA and TCBPA on adipocyte differentiation using NIH3T3-L1 cells. Finally, we determined the binding mode of halogenated BPAs to PPARγ by X-ray crystallography.

RESULTS

We observed that TBBPA and TCBPA are human, zebrafish, and Xenopus PPARγ ligands and determined the mechanism by which these chemicals bind to and activate PPARγ. We also found evidence that activation of ERα, ERβ, and PPARγ depends on the degree of halogenation in BPA analogs. We observed that the bulkier brominated BPA analogs, the greater their capability to activate PPARγ and the weaker their estrogenic potential.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results strongly suggest that polyhalogenated bisphenols could function as obesogens by acting as agonists to disrupt physiological functions regulated by human or animal PPARγ.

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and obesity development in humans: a review

This study reviewed the literature on the relations between exposure to chemicals with endocrine-disrupting abilities and obesity in humans. The studies generally indicated that exposure to some of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals was associated with an increase in body size in humans. The results depended on the type of chemical, exposure level, timing of exposure and gender. Nearly all the studies investigating dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) found that exposure was associated with an increase in body size, whereas the results of the studies investigating polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure were depending on dose, timing and gender. Hexachlorobenzene, polybrominated biphenyls, beta-hexachlorocyclohexane, oxychlordane and phthalates were likewise generally associated with an increase in body size. Studies investigating polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans found either associations with weight gain or an increase in waist circumference, or no association. The one study investigating relations with bisphenol A found no association. Studies investigating prenatal exposure indicated that exposure in utero may cause permanent physiological changes predisposing to later weight gain. The study findings suggest that some endocrine disruptors may play a role for the development of the obesity epidemic, in addition to the more commonly perceived putative contributors.

Endocrine disruptors: from endocrine to metabolic disruption

Synthetic chemicals currently used in a variety of industrial and agricultural applications are leading to widespread contamination of the environment. Even though the intended uses of pesticides, plasticizers, antimicrobials, and flame retardants are beneficial, effects on human health are a global concern. These so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can disrupt hormonal balance and result in developmental and reproductive abnormalities. New in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies link human EDC exposure with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and type 2 diabetes. Here we review the main chemical compounds that may contribute to metabolic disruption. We then present their demonstrated or suggested mechanisms of action with respect to nuclear receptor signaling. Finally, we discuss the difficulties of fairly assessing the risks linked to EDC exposure, including developmental exposure, problems of high- and low-dose exposure, and the complexity of current chemical environments.

The environmental chemical tributyltin chloride (TBT) shows both estrogenic and adipogenic activities in mice which might depend on the exposure dose

Exposure during early development to chemicals with hormonal action may be associated with weight gain during adulthood because of altered body homeostasis. It is known that organotins affect adipose mass when exposure occurs during fetal development, although no knowledge of effects are available for exposures after birth. Here we show that the environmental organotin tributyltin chloride (TBT) exerts adipogenic action when peripubertal and sexually mature mice are exposed to the chemical. The duration and extent of these effects depend on the sex and on the dose of the compound, and the effects are relevant at doses close to the estimated human intake (0.5μg/kg). At higher doses (50-500μg/kg), TBT also activated estrogen receptors (ERs) in adipose cells in vitro and in vivo, based on results from acute and longitudinal studies in ERE/luciferase reporter mice. In 3T3-L1 cells (which have no ERs), transiently transfected with the ERE-dependent reporter plus or minus ERα or ERβ, TBT (in a dose range of 1-100nM) directly targets each ER subtype in a receptor-specific manner through a direct mechanism mediated by ERα in undifferentiated preadipocytic cells and by ERβ in differentiating adipocytes. The ER antagonist ICI-182,780 inhibits this effect. In summary, the results of this work suggest that TBT is adipogenic at all ages and in both sexes and that it might be an ER activator in fat cells. These findings might help to resolve the apparent paradox of an adipogenic chemical being also an estrogen receptor activator by showing that the two apparently opposite actions are separated by the different doses to which the organism is exposed.

Endocrine disruptors in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus

The etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus involves the induction of insulin resistance along with the disruption of pancreatic β-cell function and the loss of β-cell mass. In addition to a genetic predisposition, lifestyle factors seem to have an important role. Epidemiological studies indicate that the increased presence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment may also play an important part in the incidence of metabolic diseases. Widespread EDCs, such as dioxins, pesticides and bisphenol A, cause insulin resistance and alter β-cell function in animal models. These EDCs are present in human blood and can accumulate in and be released from adipocytes. After binding to cellular receptors and other targets, EDCs either imitate or block hormonal responses. Many of them act as estrogens in insulin-sensitive tissues and in β cells, generating a pregnancy-like metabolic state characterized by insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. Adult exposure in mice produces insulin resistance and other metabolic alterations; in addition, during pregnancy, EDCs alter glucose metabolism in female mice, as well as glucose homeostasis and endocrine pancreatic function in offspring. Although more experimental work is necessary, evidence already exists to consider exposure to EDCs as a risk factor in the etiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus and other diseases related to insulin resistance.

Organotins are potent activators of PPARγ and adipocyte differentiation in bone marrow multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells

Adipocyte differentiation in bone marrow is potentially deleterious to both bone integrity and lymphopoiesis. Here, we examine the hypothesis that organotins, common environmental contaminants that are dual ligands for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ and its heterodimerization partner retinoid X receptor (RXR), are potent activators of bone marrow adipogenesis. A C57Bl/6-derived bone marrow multipotent mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) line, BMS2, was treated with rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, bexarotene, an RXR agonist, or a series of organotins. Rosiglitazone and bexarotene potently activated adipocyte differentiation; however, bexarotene had a maximal efficacy of only 20% of that induced by rosiglitazone. Organotins (tributyltin [TBT], triphenyltin, and dibutyltin) also stimulated adipocyte differentiation (EC₅₀ of 10-20 nM) but with submaximal, structure-dependent efficacy. In coexposures, both bexarotene and TBT enhanced rosiglitazone-induced adipogenesis. To investigate the contribution of PPARγ to TBT-induced adipogenesis, we examined expression of PPARγ2, as well as its transcriptional target FABP4. TBT-induced PPARγ2 and FABP4 protein expression with an efficacy intermediate between rosiglitazone and bexarotene, similar to lipid accumulation. A PPARγ antagonist and PPARγ-specific small hairpin RNA suppressed TBT-induced differentiation, although to a lesser extent than rosiglitazone-induced differentiation, suggesting that TBT may engage alternate pathways. TBT and bexarotene, but not rosiglitazone, also induced the expression of TGM2 (an RXR target) and ABCA1 (a liver X receptor target). The results show that an environmental contaminant, acting with the same potency as a therapeutic drug, induces PPARγ-dependent adipocyte differentiation in bone marrow MSCs. Activation of multiple nuclear receptor pathways by organotins may have significant implications for bone physiology.

Natural mixtures of POPs affected body weight gain and induced transcription of genes involved in weight regulation and insulin signaling

Obesity is reaching epidemic proportions worldwide, and is associated with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and dyslipidemias (metabolic syndrome). Commonly held causes of obesity are overeating coupled with a sedentary lifestyle. However, it has also been postulated that exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) may be related to the significant increase in the prevalence of obesity and associated diseases. In the present study, developmental and reproductive effects of lifelong exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of two natural mixtures of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were investigated using classical and molecular methods in a controlled zebrafish model. The mixtures used were extracted from burbot (Lota lota) liver originating from freshwater systems in Norway (Lake Mjøsa and Lake Losna). The concentration of POPs in the zebrafish ranged from levels detected in wild fish (Lake Mjøsa and Lake Losna), to concentrations reported in human and wildlife populations. Phenotypic effects observed in both exposure groups included (1) earlier onset of puberty, (2) elevated male/female sex ratio, and (3) increased body weight at 5 months of age. Interestingly, genome-wide transcription profiling identified functional networks of genes, in which key regulators of weight homeostasis (PPARs, glucocoricoids, CEBPs, estradiol), steroid hormone functions (glucocoricoids, estradiol, NCOA3) and insulin signaling (HNF4A, CEBPs, PPARG) occupied central positions. The increased weight and the regulation of genes associated with weight homeostasis and insulin signaling observed in the present study suggest that environmental pollution may affect the endocrine regulation of the metabolism, possibly leading to increased weight gain and obesity.

Endocrine disrupting chemicals and the developmental programming of adipogenesis and obesity

Obesity and related disorders are a burgeoning public health epidemic, particularly in the U.S. Currently 34% of the U.S. population is clinically obese (BMI > 30) and 68% are overweight (BMI > 25), more than double the worldwide average and 10-fold higher than Japan and South Korea. Obesity occurs when energy intake exceeds energy expenditure; however, individuals vary widely in their propensity to gain weight and accrue fat mass, even at identical levels of excess caloric input. Clinical, epidemiological, and biological studies show that obesity is largely programmed during early life, including the intrauterine period. The environmental obesogen hypothesis holds that prenatal or early life exposure to certain endocrine disrupting chemicals can predispose exposed individuals to increased fat mass and obesity. Obesogen exposure can alter the epigenome of multipotent stromal stem cells, biasing them toward the adipocyte lineage at the expense of bone. Hence, humans exposed to obesogens during early life might have an altered stem cell compartment, which is preprogrammed toward an adipogenic fate. This results in a higher steady state number of adipocytes and potentially a lifelong struggle to maintain a healthy weight, which can be exacerbated by societal influences that promote poor diet and inadequate exercise. This review focuses on the developmental origins of the adipocyte, the relationship between adipocyte number and obesity, and how obesogenic chemicals may interfere with the highly efficient homeostatic mechanisms regulating adipocyte number and energy balance.

Tributyltin causes obesity and hepatic steatosis in male mice

Organotin compounds such as tributyltin (TBT) have been used worldwide in agriculture and industry as biocides, heat stabilizers, and chemical catalysts. However, few studies addressing the effects of TBT on growth and metabolism have been reported. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of TBT at low doses (0.5, 5, and 50 μg/kg) on body weight gain in male mice exposed as from puberty and to determine the alterations in related hormones. The results showed that exposure to TBT for 45 days resulted in an increase in body weight gain and hepatic steatosis accompanied with hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia. Reduction of hepatic adiponectin levels in a dose-dependent manner was related to the lipid increase in the liver. These results suggest that chronic and repeat exposure to low doses of TBT can result in obesity and hepatic steatosis and induce the occurrence of insulin and leptin resistance.

Prenatal organochlorine compound exposure, rapid weight gain, and overweight in infancy

BACKGROUND

Although it has been hypothesized that fetal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals may increase obesity risk, empirical data are limited, and it is uncertain how early in life any effects may begin.

OBJECTIVES

We explored whether prenatal exposure to several organochlorine compounds (OCs) is associated with rapid growth in the first 6 months of life and body mass index (BMI) later in infancy.

METHODS

Data come from the INMA (Infancia y Medio-Ambiente) Child and Environment birth cohort in Spain, which recruited 657 women in early pregnancy. Rapid growth during the first 6 months was defined as a change in weight-for-age z-scores > 0.67, and elevated BMI at 14 months, as a z-score ≥ the 85th percentile. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the risk of rapid growth or elevated BMI associated with 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE), hexachlorobenzene, β-hexachlorohexane, and polychlorinated biphenyls in first-trimester maternal serum.

RESULTS

After multivariable adjustment including other OCs, DDE exposure above the first quartile was associated with doubling of the risk of rapid growth among children of normal-weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2), but not overweight, mothers. DDE was also associated with elevated BMI at 14 months (relative risk per unit increase in log DDE = 1.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-2.03). Other OCs were not associated with rapid growth or elevated BMI after adjustment.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study we found prenatal DDE exposure to be associated with rapid weight gain in the first 6 months and elevated BMI later in infancy, among infants of normal-weight mothers. More research exploring the potential role of chemical exposures in early-onset obesity is needed.

Neuropeptides and enzymes are targets for the action of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the vertebrate brain

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) are molecules that interfere with endocrine signaling pathways and produce adverse consequences on animal and human physiology, such as infertility or behavioral alterations. Some EDC act through binding to androgen or/and estrogen receptors primarily operating through a genomic mechanism regulating gene expression. This mechanism of action may induce profound developmental adverse effects, and the major targets of the EDC action are the gene products, i.e., mRNAs inducing the synthesis of various peptidic molecules, which include neuropeptides and enzymes related to neurotransmitters syntheses. Available immunohistochemical data on some of the systems that are affected by EDC in lower and higher vertebrates are detailed in this review.

Tributyltin is a potent inhibitor of piscine peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α and β

Increasing evidence suggests that common environmental contaminants can act as endocrine disrupters in fish. However, current data are biased towards environmental estrogens, highlighting the need to elucidate potential pollutant impact on other endocrine axes. Here, we report a high-throughput assay to identify chemicals interacting with piscine peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs). Our transactivation assay employs a fish cell line and uses recombinant proteins combining the yeast Gal4 DNA-binding domain with the ligand-binding domain of PPARs from plaice (Pleuronectes platessa). Compared to assays with full-length PPARs, this approach circumvents interaction of chemicals binding to retinoid X receptors, which form heterodimers with PPAR and many other nuclear receptors. Plaice PPARα and PPARβ are activated by fibrate drugs and by phthalate mono-esters at concentrations similar to those activating the homologous mammalian receptors. In line with their assumed role as central transcriptional regulators of energy homeostasis, a number of fatty acids activate plaice PPARα and PPARβ. In contrast, tributyl tin oxide (TBTO) is a potent antagonist of PPARα and PPARβ, showing activity at environmentally relevant concentrations of TBTO (1-50 nM). Given the ubiquitous and persistent nature of TBTO, the possibility that chronic environmental effects are occurring via disruption of PPAR signalling in fish should be further investigated.

Childhood obesity and environmental chemicals

Childhood and adolescent rates of obesity and overweight are continuing to increase in much of the world. Risk factors such as diet composition, excess caloric intake, decreased exercise, genetics, and the built environment are active areas of etiologic research. The obesogen hypothesis, which postulates that prenatal and perinatal chemical exposure can contribute to risk of childhood and adolescent obesity, remains relatively underexamined. This review surveys numerous classes of chemicals for which this hypothesis has been explored. We focus on human data where they exist and also discuss the findings of rodent and cell culture studies. Organochlorine chemicals as well as several classes of chemicals that are peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor agonists are identified as possible risk factors for obesity. Recommendations for future epidemiologic and experimental research on the chemical origins of obesity are also given.

Tributyltin and the obesogen metabolic syndrome in a salmonid

We conducted a dietary feeding study with juvenile chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) to assess the potential for tributyltin (TBT) to elicit the obesogen response that has been described for mammals. The results show increases in whole-body lipid content, which is consistent with the obesogen response; however, we also observed associated parameters that were dissimilar. We found increases in body mass and alterations to several physiological parameters at doses between 0.4 and 3.5 ng/g fish/day (1.4-12 pmol/g fish/day) and reduced body mass at the highest dose after 55 days of exposure. Lipid related plasma parameters (plasma triacylglycerols, cholesterol, and lipase) exhibited monotonic increases over all doses while other values (glucose and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)) exhibited increases only for the low-dose treatments. The increases noted for several parameters in fish were opposite to those reported for the obesogen metabolic syndrome, which is characterized by a reduction in serum glucose, free fatty acids, and triglycerides. This is the first report of growth stimulation resulting from low-dose exposure to this pesticide, which is an unusual response for any animal exposed to an organic or organometallic xenobiotic. Because a number of environmental contaminants act as metabolic disruptors at very low doses, these results are noteworthy for a variety of species. Intuitively, enhanced growth and lipid storage may appear beneficial; however, for salmonids there are numerous potentially negative consequences for populations.

Tributyltin chloride results in dorsal curvature in embryo development of Sebastiscus marmoratus via apoptosis pathway

Tributyltin (TBT) is a ubiquitous marine environmental contaminant characterized primarily by its reproductive toxicity. However, the embryotoxicity of TBT has not been extensively described, especially in fishes. The aim of this study was to investigate the developmental toxicity of waterborne TBT at environmental levels (0, 0.1, 1, and 10 ng L(-1) as Sn) on Sebastiscus marmoratus embryos. Our study showed that TBT reduced the hatchability and caused apparent morphological abnormalities including dorsal curvature, severely twisted tails and pericardial edema. In addition, localized apoptosis was found in the tail regions of embryos after TBT exposure. The study provided a possible mechanistic link between apoptosis and TBT-induced twisted tails abnormality. TBT exposure induced retinoid X receptor α expression in S. marmoratus embryos at the 0.1 and 1 ng L(-1) group, which would be responsible for the increasing apoptotic cells induced by TBT. The results of the present study have widespread implications for environmental ecological assessment, management and the etiology of developmental defects.

The obesogen hypothesis: a shift of focus from the periphery to the hypothalamus

The obesogen concept proposes that environmental contaminants may be contributing to the epidemic of obesity and its related pathology, metabolic disorder. The first references to such a notion appeared at the beginning of the current decade, with the hypothesis that the correlation between increasing incidence of obesity and enhanced industrial chemical production was not simply coincidental, but potentially causally related. The next event was the introduction of the term "obesogen" as representing an environmental pollutant that adversely affects various aspects of adipose tissue functions. More recently, the concept was extended to include substances that may modify metabolic balance at the central, hypothalamic level. The actions of two prime candidate obesogens, tributyltin (TBT) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), acting at the central level are the main focus of this review. Having discussed the evidence for contaminant accumulation in the environment and in human tissues and the potential mechanisms of action, data are provided showing that these two widespread pollutants modify hypothalamic gene regulations. Our studies are based on maternal exposure and measurement of effects in the progeny, mainly based on in vivo gene reporter assays. Such models are obviously pertinent to testing current hypotheses that propose that early exposure might exert effects on later development and physiological functions. The potential molecular mechanisms involved are discussed, as are the broader physiological consequences of these hypothalamic dysregulations.

Acute exposure to tributyltin induces c-fos activation in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of adult male mice

Tributyltin (TBT) is a largely diffused environmental pollutant, banned from paints in the European Union from 2003. However, the level of TBT (and other organotins) in food, particularly fish and shellfish, remains still high. Several studies demonstrated that TBT is involved in the development of obesity, via peripheral action, but currently, there are only a few data illustrating effects of TBT on the nervous system. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that acute exposure to TBT may directly activate brain cells in particular, in those hypothalamic nuclei regulating the food intake. To this purpose, TBT was orally administered at a single dose (10 mg/kg/body weight) to two groups of adult male mice: regularly fed or fasted for 24 h. Mice were sacrificed 90 min after the TBT administration and perfused by 4% paraformaldehyde. Brains were quickly dissected, frozen and sectioned for immunocytochemical detection of c-fos, a common marker of cell activation. In both, fed or fasted mice, exposure to TBT induced a significant increase of c-fos expression in the arcuate nucleus in comparison to control mice. The other nuclei involved in the control of feeding behavior did not show any significant increase. These data are the first in vivo demonstration that TBT has not only peripheral effects, but also may activate elements in the brain, in particular in a crucial region for the regulation of food intake like the arcuate nucleus.

Tributyltin toxicity in abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta) assessed by antioxidant enzyme activity, metabolic response, and histopathology

A toxicity test was performed to investigate the possible harmful effects of tributyltin (TBT) on abalone (Haliotis diversicolor supertexta). Animals were exposed to TBT in a range of environmentally relevant concentrations (2, 10 and 50 ng/L) for 30 days under laboratory conditions. TBT-free conditions were used as control treatments. The activity of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), and malondialdehyde (MDA), along with levels of haemolymph metabolites, and hepatopancreas histopathology were analyzed. The results showed that TBT decreased SOD activity, and increased POD level and MDA production in a dose-dependent way, indicating that oxidative injury was induced by TBT. Haemolymph metabolite measurements showed that TBT increased alanine and glutamate levels, and decreased glucose content, which suggested perturbation of energy metabolism. Elevated levels of acetate and pyruvate in the haemolymph indicated partial alteration of lipid metabolism. A decrease in lactate and an increase in succinate, an intermediate of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, indicated disturbance of amino acid metabolism. Hepatopancreas tissues also exhibited inflammatory responses characterized by histopathological changes such as cell swelling, granular degeneration, and inflammation. Taken together, these results demonstrated that TBT was a potential toxin with a variety of deleterious effects on abalone.

Obesogens, stem cells and the maternal programming of obesity

Obesity and metabolic syndrome diseases have exploded into a global epidemic. Consumption of calorie-dense food and diminished physical activity are the generally accepted causes for obesity. But, could environmental factors expose preexisting genetic differences or exacerbate the root causes of diet and exercise? The environmental obesogen model proposes that chemical exposure during critical developmental stages influences subsequent adipogenesis, lipid balance and obesity. Obesogens are chemicals that stimulate adipogenesis and fat storage or alter the control of metabolism, appetite and satiety to promote weight gain. Tributyltin (TBT) is a high-affinity agonistic ligand for the retinoid X receptor (RXR) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). RXR-PPARγ signaling is a key component in adipogenesis and the function of adipocytes; activation of this heterodimer increases adipose mass in rodents and humans. Thus, inappropriate activation of RXR-PPARγ can directly alter adipose tissue homeostasis. TBT exposure promoted adipocyte differentiation, modulated adipogenic genes and increased adiposity in mice after in utero exposure. These results suggest that organotin exposure is a previously unappreciated risk factor for the development of obesity and related disorders. Based on the observed effects of TBT on adipogenesis, we hypothesized that organotin exposure during prenatal adipose tissue development would create an environment that led to more adipocytes. We observed that the multipotent stromal cell compartment was altered by prenatal TBT exposure leading to an increased number of preadipocytes. This increase in the number of preadipocytes could correspondingly increase the steady state number of adipocytes in the adult, which could favor the development of obesity over time.

Obesogens

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The environmental obesogen hypothesis postulates chemical pollutants that are able to promote obesity by altering homeostatic metabolic set-points, disrupting appetite controls, perturbing lipid homeostasis to promote adipocyte hypertrophy, or stimulating adipogenic pathways that enhance adipocyte hyperplasia during development or in adults. This review focuses on recent experimental advances for candidate obesogens that target nuclear hormone receptors when a direct link between exposure, modulation of transcriptional networks and adipogenic phenotypes can be rationalized.

RECENT FINDINGS

Various endocrine disrupting chemicals can disrupt hormonal signaling relevant to adipose tissue biology. In this review, progress on one identified obesogen, the organotin tributyltin, will be outlined to highlight principles and novel insights into its high-affinity nuclear hormone receptor-mediated mechanism, its effects on adipocyte biology, its potential to promote long-term obesogenic changes and its epidemiological relevance. When appropriate, important results for other suspected obesogenic ligands, including bisphenol A, phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and perfluoro-compounds, will highlight corroborating principles.

SUMMARY

These examples serve to provide perspective on the potential harm that man-made obesogenic pollutants pose to human health, focus attention on areas in which knowledge remains inadequate and prompt a re-evaluation of the causative risk factors driving the current changes in obesity rates.

Efficient induction of CCR9 on T cells requires coactivation of retinoic acid receptors and retinoid X receptors (RXRs): exaggerated T Cell homing to the intestine by RXR activation with organotins

The active vitamin A metabolite retinoic acid (RA) imprints gut-homing specificity on lymphocytes upon activation by inducing the expression of α4β7 integrin and CCR9. RA receptor (RAR) activation is essential for their expression, whereas retinoid X receptor (RXR) activation is not essential for α4β7 expression. However, it remains unclear whether RXR activation affects the RA-dependent CCR9 expression on T cells and their gut homing. The major physiological RA, all-trans-RA, binds to RAR but not to RXR at physiological concentrations. Cell-surface CCR9 expression was often induced on a limited population of murine naive CD4(+) T cells by all-trans-RA or the RAR agonist Am80 alone upon CD3/CD28-mediated activation in vitro, but it was markedly enhanced by adding the RXR agonist PA024 or the RXR-binding environmental chemicals tributyltin and triphenyltin. Accordingly, CD4(+) T cells treated with the combination of all-trans-RA and tributyltin migrated into the small intestine upon adoptive transfer much more efficiently than did those treated with all-trans-RA alone. Furthermore, naive TCR transgenic CD4(+) T cells transferred into wild-type recipients migrated into the small intestinal lamina propria following i.p. injection of Ag, and the migration was enhanced by i.p. injection of PA024. We also show that PA024 markedly enhanced the all-trans-RA-induced CCR9 expression on naturally occurring naive-like regulatory T cells upon activation, resulting in the expression of high levels of α4β7, CCR9, and Foxp3. These results suggest that RXR activation enhances the RAR-dependent expression of CCR9 on T cells and their homing capacity to the small intestine.

Computational analysis of the structural basis of ligand binding to the crustacean retinoid X receptor

Homodimerization of the retinoid X receptor (RXR) occurs upon binding of ligands to the receptor, but little is known about structural mechanisms involved in RXR ligand binding. In the present study, binding of known ligands (5-Hydroxytryptamine, dopamine and naloxone) to the Celuca pugilator RXR was modeled computationally using the human RXR-α as a homology template. Docking scores calculated for these ligands showed reasonably good binding interactions to C. pugilator RXR. Furthermore, RXR is the receptor that mediates the different activities of neurotransmitters and opioid against naloxone in crustaceans and possibly other species. These results indicate that 5-hydroxytryptamine and naloxone might have similar functions. These also results suggest a 3-D model of C. pugilator RXR that describes the binding of ligands at a single RXR receptor binding site and offers further insight into the binding of structurally diverse ligands to this receptor. Further, computational studies showed that crustacean RXRs might be closer to vertebrate RXR than to insect RXR. The predicted binding models for C. pugilator RXR may allow for better design of experimental studies, such as site-directed mutagenesis and affinity labeling studies that may yield valuable information concerning structure-activity relationship studies of RXR and its ligands.

Sex-dependent aromatase activity in rat offspring after pre- and postnatal exposure to triphenyltin chloride

Triphenyltin (TPT) is an organotin compound (OTC) previously widely used as an antifouling agent in paints applied in the marine environment, a fungicide, and as an agricultural pesticide. In female aquatic invertebrates, certain OTCs induce the so-called imposex, an abnormal induction of male sex characteristics. OTC-induced environmental endocrine disruption also occurs in fish and mammals and a number of in vivo and in vitro studies have argued that OTCs may act through inhibition of the aromatase enzyme. In vivo studies supporting the aromatase inhibition hypothesis in mammals are lacking. Recently, the causal relationship between inhibition of aromatase and imposex was questioned, suggesting aromatase independent mechanisms of action for this phenomenon. We conducted a comprehensive investigation to identify the most sensitive window of exposure to TPTCl and to examine the effects of pre- and postnatal exposure on postnatal development in rats. The results on brain and gonadal aromatase activity obtained from offspring of dams exposed to 2 mg TPTCl/kg bw are reported here. Female and male offspring rats were exposed to 2 mg TPTCl/kg bw/d in utero from gestation day 6 through lactation until weaning on PND 21, or from gestation day 6 until termination at adulthood. Male offspring were sacrificed from PND 58 and female offspring at first estrus after PND 58. Pre- and postnatal TPT exposure clearly affected brain and gonadal aromatase activity in a sex-dependent fashion. While brain aromatase activity was significantly increased on PND 21 and at adulthood in female offspring, male offspring exhibited a significant decrease in brain aromatase activity only at adulthood. Ovarian aromatase activity was unaffected at both time points investigated. In contrast, testicular aromatase activity was significantly increased in males on PND 21 and significantly decreased at adulthood independent from the duration of treatment. The results of the present study confirm our previously reported observations regarding sex-dependent differences in sexual development after TPT exposure with the male rat being more susceptible to disturbances through this endocrine active compound than the female. We conclude that TPT administered during the particularly vulnerable period of development can affect aromatase activity in rats.

Neuroendocrine disruption of pubertal timing and interactions between homeostasis of reproduction and energy balance

The involvement of environmental factors such as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the timing of onset of puberty is suggested by recent changes in age at onset of puberty and pattern of distribution that are variable among countries, as well as new forms of sexual precocity after migration. However, the evidence of association between early or late pubertal timing and exposure to EDCs is weak in humans, possibly due to heterogeneity of effects likely involving mixtures and incapacity to assess fetal or neonatal exposure retrospectively. The neuroendocrine system which is crucial for physiological onset of puberty is targeted by EDCs. These compounds also act directly in the gonads and peripheral sex-steroid sensitive tissues. Feedbacks add to the complexity of regulation so that changes in pubertal timing caused by EDCs can involve both central and peripheral mechanisms. In experimental conditions, several neuroendocrine endpoints are affected by EDCs though only few studies including from our laboratory aimed at EDC involvement in the pathophysiology of early sexual maturation. Recent observations support the concept that EDC cause disturbed energy balance and account for the obesity epidemic. Several aspects are linking this system and the reproductive axis: coexisting neuroendocrine and peripheral effects, dependency on fetal/neonatal programming and the many factors cross-linking the two systems, for instance leptin, adiponectin, Agouti Related Peptide (AgRP). This opens perspectives for future research and, hopefully, measures preventing the disturbances of homeostasis caused by EDCs.

Early homeostatic disturbances of human growth and maturation by endocrine disrupters

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We attempt to delineate and integrate aspects of growth and development that could be affected by endocrine disrupters [endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDC)], an increasing public health concern.

RECENT FINDINGS

Epidemiological and experimental data substantiate that fetal and early postnatal life are critical periods of exposure to endocrine disrupters, with possible transgenerational effects. The EDC effects include several disorders of the reproductive system throughout life (abnormalities of sexual differentiation, infertility or subfertility and some neoplasia) and disorders of energy balance (obesity and metabolic syndrome). The mechanisms are consistent with the concept of 'developmental origin of adult disease'. They could involve cross-talk between the factors controlling reproduction and those controlling energy balance, both in the hypothalamus and peripherally.

SUMMARY

Due to ubiquity of endocrine disrupters and lifelong stakes of early exposure, individual families should be provided by pediatricians with recommendations following the precautionary principle, that is prevention or attenuation of conditions possibly detrimental to health before the evidence of such adverse effects is complete and undisputable.

A recombinant peroxisome proliferator response element-driven luciferase assay for evaluation of potential environmental obesogens

A recombinant Huh7-PPRE-Luc cell line for analyzing the peroxisome proliferator response element (PPRE)-driven luciferase activity was established. The cells exhibited a good dose-response induction in PPRE-driven luciferase activity by three subtypes of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) agonists as well as by a retinoid X receptor agonist, 9-cis-retinoic acid. Among five environmental chemicals tested, benzyl butyl phthalate and bisphenol induced PPRE-driven luciferase activation in Huh7-PPRE-Luc cells and caused adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. This recombinant Huh7-PPRE-Luc cell line would be useful for screening potential environmental obesogens with PPAR activity.

Effects of environmental pollutants on the reproduction and welfare of ruminants

Anthropogenic pollutants comprise a wide range of synthetic organic compounds and heavy metals, which are dispersed throughout the environment, usually at low concentrations. Exposure of ruminants, as for all other animals, is unavoidable and while the levels of exposure to most chemicals are usually too low to induce any physiological effects, combinations of pollutants can act additively or synergistically to perturb multiple physiological systems at all ages but particularly in the developing foetus. In sheep, organs affected by pollutant exposure include the ovary, testis, hypothalamus and pituitary gland and bone. Reported effects of exposure include changes in organ weight and gross structure, histology and gene and protein expression but these changes are not reflected in changes in reproductive performance under the conditions tested. These results illustrate the complexity of the effects of endocrine disrupting compounds on the reproductive axis, which make it difficult to extrapolate between, or even within, species. Effects of pollutant exposure on the thyroid gland, immune, cardiovascular and obesogenic systems have not been shown explicitly, in ruminants, but work on other species suggests that these systems can also be perturbed. It is concluded that exposure to a mixture of anthropogenic pollutants has significant effects on a wide variety of physiological systems, including the reproductive system. Although this physiological insult has not yet been shown to lead to a reduction in ruminant gross performance, there are already reports indicating that anthropogenic pollutant exposure can compromise several physiological systems and may pose a significant threat to both reproductive performance and welfare in the longer term. At present, many potential mechanisms of action for individual chemicals have been identified but knowledge of factors affecting the rate of tissue exposure and of the effects of combinations of chemicals on physiological systems is poor. Nevertheless, both are vital for the identification of risks to animal productivity and welfare.

Environmental endocrine disruptors promote adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cell line through glucocorticoid receptor activation

The burgeoning obesity and diabetes epidemics threaten health worldwide, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are incompletely understood. Recently, attention has focused on the potential contributions of environmental pollutants that act as endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the pathogenesis of metabolic diseases. Because glucocorticoid signaling is central to adipocyte differentiation, the ability of EDCs to stimulate the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and drive adipogenesis was assessed in the 3T3-L1 cell line. Various EDCs were screened for glucocorticoid-like activity using a luciferase reporter construct, and four (bisphenol A (BPA), dicyclohexyl phthalate (DCHP), endrin, and tolylfluanid (TF)) were shown to significantly stimulate GR without significant activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were then treated with EDCs and a weak differentiation cocktail containing dehydrocorticosterone (DHC) in place of the synthetic dexamethasone. The capacity of these compounds to promote adipogenesis was assessed by quantitative oil red O staining and immunoblotting for adipocyte-specific proteins. The four EDCs increased lipid accumulation in the differentiating adipocytes and also upregulated the expression of adipocytic proteins. Interestingly, proadipogenic effects were observed at picomolar concentrations for several of the EDCs. Because there was no detectable adipogenesis when the preadipocytes were treated with compounds alone, the EDCs are likely promoting adipocyte differentiation by synergizing with agents present in the differentiation cocktail. Thus, EDCs are able to promote adipogenesis through the activation of the GR, further implicating these compounds in the rising rates of obesity and diabetes.

A structural view of nuclear hormone receptor: endocrine disruptor interactions

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) represent a broad class of exogenous substances that cause adverse effects in the endocrine system by interfering with hormone biosynthesis, metabolism, or action. The molecular mechanisms of EDCs involve different pathways including interactions with nuclear hormone receptors (NHRs) which are primary targets of a large variety of environmental contaminants. Here, based on the crystal structures currently available in the Protein Data Bank, we review recent studies showing the many ways in which EDCs interact with NHRs and impact their signaling pathways. Like the estrogenic chemical diethylstilbestrol, some EDCs mimic the natural hormones through conserved protein-ligand contacts, while others, such as organotins, employ radically different binding mechanisms. Such structure-based knowledge, in addition to providing a better understanding of EDC activities, can be used to predict the endocrine-disrupting potential of environmental pollutants and may have applications in drug discovery.

Effects of tributyltin (TBT) on Xenopus tropicalis embryos at environmentally relevant concentrations

Tributyltin (TBT) has been widely used as a biocide in antifouling paints and is a known endocrine disrupting chemical. In this paper, we exposed embryos of Xenopus tropicalis to 50-400ngL(-1) tributyltin chloride. TBT significantly decreased the survival rate, reduced the body length and retarded the development of embryos after 24, 36 and 48h of exposure. These effects of TBT were concentration- and time-dependent. Embryos treated with TBT showed multiple malformations. The most obvious alterations were abnormal eyes, enlarged proctodaeum, narrow fins, and skin hypopigmentation. Enlarged proctodaeum and narrow fins were mainly observed after 36 and 48h of exposure. The loss of eye pigmentation or the absence of external eyes occurred after 24 and 36h of exposure, while extended lenses or edemas of eyes were more commonly observed after 48h of exposure. Additional malformations included: small anterior region of heads, pericardial edemas, enlarged trunks, and bent tails. These results suggested that TBT is very toxic to X. tropicalis embryos at environmentally relevant concentrations.

Mechanisms of obesity-induced male infertility

Male infertility, characterized by hypogonadism, decreased semen quality or ejaculatory dysfunction, accounts for approximately 20% of infertility cases. Obesity and metabolic dysfunction have been identified, among other causal factors, to contribute to male infertility. In the context of the Western world's 'obesity epidemic', this article discusses three main biological mechanisms linking obesity to impaired male reproductive function: hypogonadism, testicular heat stress/hypoxia-induced apoptosis and endocrine disruption by 'obesogens'. Among these, obesity-induced hypogonadism is undoubtedly the most clinically significant and is easily assessed. Rapidly expanding areas of research in this area include leptin modulation of kisspeptins and hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular hormone pathways, and roles of other adipocytokines in male infertility, as well as the impact of exposure to obesogens on the quality of semen.

Prenatal exposure to the environmental obesogen tributyltin predisposes multipotent stem cells to become adipocytes

The environmental obesogen hypothesis proposes that pre- and postnatal exposure to environmental chemicals contributes to adipogenesis and the development of obesity. Tributyltin (TBT) is an agonist of both retinoid X receptor (RXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Activation of these receptors can elevate adipose mass in adult mice exposed to the chemical in utero. Here we show that TBT sensitizes human and mouse multipotent stromal stem cells derived from white adipose tissue [adipose-derived stromal stem cells (ADSCs)] to undergo adipogenesis. In vitro exposure to TBT, or the PPARgamma activator rosiglitazone increases adipogenesis, cellular lipid content, and expression of adipogenic genes. The adipogenic effects of TBT and rosiglitazone were blocked by the addition of PPARgamma antagonists, suggesting that activation of PPARgamma mediates the effect of both compounds on adipogenesis. ADSCs from mice exposed to TBT in utero showed increased adipogenic capacity and reduced osteogenic capacity with enhanced lipid accumulation in response to adipogenic induction. ADSCs retrieved from animals exposed to TBT in utero showed increased expression of PPARgamma target genes such as the early adipogenic differentiation gene marker fatty acid-binding protein 4 and hypomethylation of the promoter/enhancer region of the fatty acid-binding protein 4 locus. Hence, TBT alters the stem cell compartment by sensitizing multipotent stromal stem cells to differentiate into adipocytes, an effect that could likely increase adipose mass over time.

Establishment of a polyclonal antibody against the retinoid X receptor of the rock shell Thais clavigera and its application to rock shell tissues for imposex research

In the chain of study to further elucidate the role of retinoid X receptor (RXR) in the development of imposex caused by organotin compounds in gastropod mollusks, we established a polyclonal antibody against RXR of the rock shell Thais clavigera. Immunoblotting demonstrated that this antibody could recognize T. clavigera RXR. In males and imposex-exhibiting females, immunohistochemical staining with the antibody revealed nuclear localization of RXR protein in the epithelial and smooth muscle cells of the vas deferens and in the interstitial and epidermal cells of the penis. These results suggest that the polyclonal antibody against T. clavigera RXR can specifically recognize RXR protein in tissues of T. clavigera and therefore is useful for evaluating RXR protein localization. Furthermore, RXR may be involved in the induction of male-type genitalia (penis and vas deferens) in normal male and organotin-exposed female rock shells.

The pollutant diethylhexyl phthalate regulates hepatic energy metabolism via species-specific PPARalpha-dependent mechanisms

BACKGROUND

The modulation of energetic homeostasis by pollutants has recently emerged as a potential contributor to the onset of metabolic disorders. Diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used industrial plasticizer to which humans are widely exposed. Phthalates can activate the three peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) isotypes on cellular models and induce peroxisome proliferation in rodents.

OBJECTIVES

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the systemic and metabolic consequences of DEHP exposure that have remained so far unexplored and to characterize the underlying molecular mechanisms of action.

METHODS

As a proof of concept and mechanism, genetically engineered mouse models of PPARs were exposed to high doses of DEHP, followed by metabolic and molecular analyses.

RESULTS

DEHP-treated mice were protected from diet-induced obesity via PPARalpha-dependent activation of hepatic fatty acid catabolism, whereas the activity of neither PPARbeta nor PPARgamma was affected. However, the lean phenotype observed in response to DEHP in wild-type mice was surprisingly abolished in PPARalpha-humanized mice. These species differences are associated with a different pattern of coregulator recruitment.

CONCLUSION

These results demonstrate that DEHP exerts species-specific metabolic actions that rely to a large extent on PPARalpha signaling and highlight the metabolic importance of the species-specific activation of PPARalpha by xenobiotic compounds.

Anthropogenic pollutants: a threat to ecosystem sustainability?

Pollutants, including synthetic organic materials and heavy metals, are known to adversely affect physiological systems in all animal species studied to date. While many individual chemicals can perturb normal functions, the combined actions of multiple pollutants are of particular concern because they can exert effects even when each individual chemical is present at concentrations too low to be individually effective. The biological effects of pollutants differ greatly between species reflecting differences in the pattern of exposure, routes of uptake, metabolism following uptake, rates of accumulation and sensitivity of the target organs. Thus, understanding of the effects of pollutants on wildlife and ecosystems will require detailed study of many different species, representing a wide range of taxa. However, such studies can be informed by knowledge obtained in more controlled conditions which may indicate likely mechanisms of action and suitable endpoint measurements. Responses may be exacerbated by interactions between the effects of pollutants and environmental stressors, such as under-nutrition or osmotic stresses and so changes in such variables associated with climatic changes may exacerbate physiological responses to pollutant burdens.

Environmental-endocrine control of reproductive maturation in gastropods: implications for the mechanism of tributyltin-induced imposex in prosobranchs

Prosobranch snails have been afflicted globally by a condition whereby females develop male sex characteristics, most notably a penis. This condition, known as imposex, has been causally associated with the ubiquitous environmental contaminant tributyltin (TBT). Deduction of the mechanism by which TBT causes imposex has been hampered by the lack of understanding of the normal endocrine regulation of reproductive tract recrudescence in these organisms. We have reviewed the relevant literature on the environmental and endocrine factors that regulate reproductive tract recrudescence, sexual differentiation, and reproduction in gastropods. We provide a cohesive model for the environmental-endocrine regulation of reproduction in these organisms, and use this information to deduce a most likely mechanism by which TBT causes imposex. Photoperiod appears to be the predominant environmental cue that regulates reproductive tract recrudescence. Secondary cues include temperature and nutrition which control the timing of breeding and egg laying. Several hormone products of the central and peripheral nervous systems have been identified that contribute to recrudescence, reproductive behaviors, oocyte maturation and egg laying. Retinoic acid signaling via the retinoid X-receptor (RXR) has shown promise to be a major regulator of reproductive tract recrudescence. Furthermore, TBT has been shown to be a high affinity ligand for the RXR and the RXR ligand 9-cis retinoic acid causes imposex. We propose that TBT causes imposex through the inappropriate activation of this signaling pathway. However, uncertainties remain in our understanding of the environmental-endocrine regulation of reproduction in gastropods. Definitive elucidation of the mechanism of action of TBT awaits resolution of these uncertainties.

Natural mixtures of persistent organic pollutants (POP) increase weight gain, advance puberty, and induce changes in gene expression associated with steroid hormones and obesity in female zebrafish

In the present study, developmental and reproductive effects of lifelong exposure to environmental relevant concentrations of two natural mixtures of persistent organic pollutants (POP) were investigated using classical and molecular methods in a controlled zebrafish model. The mixtures used were extracted from burbot (Lota lota) liver originating from freshwater systems in Norway: one mixture with high levels and one mixture with background levels of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane metabolites (DDT). The concentration of POP measured in the zebrafish ranged from levels detected in wild fish from Lake Mjøsa to concentrations reported in human and wildlife populations, indicating that the experimental fish were exposed to concentrations comparable with wild fish. Phenotypic effects observed in both exposure groups included earlier onset of puberty, increased male/female sex ratio, and differences in body weight at 5 mo of age. Interestingly, genome-wide transcription profiling showed changes in regulation of genes involved in endocrine signaling and growth. The transcriptomics changes include key regulator genes for steroid hormone functions (ncoa3), and growth (c/ebp, ncoa3). The effects observed in the experimental zebrafish model raise the question whether chemical pollution represents a risk to reproductive health of wild fish inhabitating the freshwater system.

Gene expression profiling of Bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO)-induced immunotoxicity in mice and rats

Bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) is one of the organotin compounds that have been used as biocides and occur as persistent environmental pollutants. Human exposure to these compounds occurs through consumption of meat and fish products in which they accumulate. The most sensitive endpoint of TBTO exposure is immunotoxicity. TBTO causes thymus atrophy and thereby interferes with T-lymphocyte-mediated immune responses. Tributyltin compounds have been found to adversely affect a wide range of cellular components and processes in many species, organ systems, and cell types. Both inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis have been observed in thymocytes. We conducted microarray experiments in mice and rats in order to investigate if the immunosuppressive actions of TBTO could be detected by gene expression profiling, and if so, to elucidate the mechanisms of action. Gene expression changes that were detected in mouse thymuses after exposure to a maximum tolerable dose of TBTO correlated to previously observed effects. Most notably, reduction of expression of cell surface determinants and T-cell receptor chains, suppression of cell proliferation, and a possible involvement of nuclear receptors in interference with lipid metabolism by TBTO were observed. The TBTO-induced thymus involution may therefore primarily be caused by inhibition of thymocyte proliferation. In contrast, in rats only limited effects of a lower dose of TBTO were found at the gene expression level in the thymus, even though thymus involution was observed. Here, most gene expression regulation by TBTO was detected in the liver. These preliminary results indicate that gene expression analysis is able to reveal effects of TBTO and to gain insight into its molecular mechanism of action. It may even be a suitable tool to investigate immunotoxicology in general. However, dose and inter-species differences are apparently clearly reflected in the gene expression profiles.

Regulation of estrogen receptor beta activity and implications in health and disease

Together with the estrogen receptor (ER) alpha, estrogen receptor beta (ER beta ) mediates many of the physiological effects of estrogens. As ER beta is crucially involved in a variety of important physiological processes, its activity should be tightly regulated. ER beta regulation is achieved by hormone binding as well as by posttranslational modifications of the receptor. Furthermore, ER beta expression levels are under circadian control and can be regulated by DNA methylation of the ER beta promoter region. There are also a number of factors that can interfere with ER beta activity, such as phytoestrogens, endocrine disruptive chemicals, and growth factors. In this article, we outline different mechanisms of ER beta regulation and how they are implicated in various diseases. We also discuss how these insights might help to specifically target ER beta in drug design.