1
|
Sahoo AK, Chivukula N, Ramesh K, Singha J, Marigoudar SR, Sharma KV, Samal A. An integrative data-centric approach to derivation and characterization of an adverse outcome pathway network for cadmium-induced toxicity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170968. [PMID: 38367714 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium is a prominent toxic heavy metal that contaminates both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Owing to its high biological half-life and low excretion rates, cadmium causes a variety of adverse biological outcomes. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) networks were envisioned to systematically capture toxicological information to enable risk assessment and chemical regulation. Here, we leveraged AOP-Wiki and integrated heterogeneous data from four other exposome-relevant resources to build the first AOP network relevant for inorganic cadmium-induced toxicity. From AOP-Wiki, we filtered 309 high confidence AOPs, identified 312 key events (KEs) associated with inorganic cadmium from five exposome-relevant databases using a data-centric approach, and thereafter, curated 30 cadmium relevant AOPs (cadmium-AOPs). By constructing the undirected AOP network, we identified a large connected component of 18 cadmium-AOPs. Further, we analyzed the directed network of 59 KEs and 82 key event relationships (KERs) in the largest component using graph-theoretic approaches. Subsequently, we mined published literature using artificial intelligence-based tools to provide auxiliary evidence of cadmium association for all KEs in the largest component. Finally, we performed case studies to verify the rationality of cadmium-induced toxicity in humans and aquatic species. Overall, cadmium-AOP network constructed in this study will aid ongoing research in systems toxicology and chemical exposome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ajaya Kumar Sahoo
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Nikhil Chivukula
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | | | - Jasmine Singha
- National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India
| | | | - Krishna Venkatarama Sharma
- National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India
| | - Areejit Samal
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kramer L, Schulze T, Klüver N, Altenburger R, Hackermüller J, Krauss M, Busch W. Curated mode-of-action data and effect concentrations for chemicals relevant for the aquatic environment. Sci Data 2024; 11:60. [PMID: 38200014 PMCID: PMC10781676 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02904-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Chemicals in the aquatic environment can be harmful to organisms and ecosystems. Knowledge on effect concentrations as well as on mechanisms and modes of interaction with biological molecules and signaling pathways is necessary to perform chemical risk assessment and identify toxic compounds. To this end, we developed criteria and a pipeline for harvesting and summarizing effect concentrations from the US ECOTOX database for the three aquatic species groups algae, crustaceans, and fish and researched the modes of action of more than 3,300 environmentally relevant chemicals in literature and databases. We provide a curated dataset ready to be used for risk assessment based on monitoring data and the first comprehensive collection and categorization of modes of action of environmental chemicals. Authorities, regulators, and scientists can use this data for the grouping of chemicals, the establishment of meaningful assessment groups, and the development of in vitro and in silico approaches for chemical testing and assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lena Kramer
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Tobias Schulze
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Nils Klüver
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rolf Altenburger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- RWTH Aachen University, Institute for Environmental Research, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jörg Hackermüller
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- University of Leipzig, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Science, Ritterstr. 26, 04109, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Martin Krauss
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Wibke Busch
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bertolatus DW, Barber LB, Martyniuk CJ, Zhen H, Collette TW, Ekman DR, Jastrow A, Rapp JL, Vajda AM. Multi-omic responses of fish exposed to complex chemical mixtures in the Shenandoah River watershed. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 902:165975. [PMID: 37536598 PMCID: PMC10592118 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
To evaluate relationships between different anthropogenic impacts, contaminant occurrence, and fish health, we conducted in situ fish exposures across the Shenandoah River watershed at five sites with different land use. Exposure water was analyzed for over 500 chemical constituents, and organismal, metabolomic, and transcriptomic endpoints were measured in fathead minnows. Adverse reproductive outcomes were observed in fish exposed in the upper watershed at both wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent- and agriculture-impacted sites, including decreased gonadosomatic index and altered secondary sex characteristics. This was accompanied with increased mortality at the site most impacted by agricultural activities. Molecular biomarkers of estrogen exposure were unchanged and consistent with low or non-detectable concentrations of common estrogens, indicating that alternative mechanisms were involved in organismal adverse outcomes. Hepatic metabolomic and transcriptomic profiles were altered in a site-specific manner, consistent with variation in land use and contaminant profiles. Integrated biomarker response data were useful for evaluating mechanistic linkages between contaminants and adverse outcomes, suggesting that reproductive endocrine disruption, altered lipid processes, and immunosuppression may have been involved in these organismal impacts. This study demonstrated linkages between human-impact, contaminant occurrence, and exposure effects in the Shenandoah River watershed and showed increased risk of adverse outcomes in fathead minnows exposed to complex mixtures at sites impacted by municipal wastewater discharges and agricultural practices.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David W Bertolatus
- Adams State University, School of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, 208 Edgemont Blvd, Alamosa, CO 81101, USA.
| | - Larry B Barber
- U.S. Geological Survey, 3215 Marine Street, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
| | - Christopher J Martyniuk
- Center for Environmental and Human Toxicology, Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida Genetics Institute, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Huajun Zhen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - Timothy W Collette
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
| | - Drew R Ekman
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Environmental Measurement and Modeling, Athens, GA 30605, USA.
| | - Aaron Jastrow
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 Laboratory Services and Applied Science Division, Chicago, IL, 60605 USA.
| | - Jennifer L Rapp
- U.S. Geological Survey, Integrated Information Dissemination Division, Decision Support Branch, 1730 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228, USA.
| | - Alan M Vajda
- University of Colorado Denver, Department of Integrative Biology, CB 171, Denver, CO 80217, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Brown RJ, Panter GH, Burden N, Salinas ER, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Wolf Y, Lagadic L. Are changes in vitellogenin concentrations in fish reliable indicators of chemical-induced endocrine activity? ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 266:115563. [PMID: 37827093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker for endocrine activity, is a mechanistic component of the regulatory assessment of potential endocrine-disrupting properties of chemicals. This review of VTG data is based on changes reported for 106 substances in standard fish species. High intra-study and inter-laboratory variability in VTG concentrations was confirmed, as well as discrepancies in interpretation of results based on large differences between fish in the dilution water versus solvent control, or due to the presence of outlier measurements. VTG responses in fish were ranked against predictions for estrogen receptor agonist activity and aromatase inhibition from bioactivity model output and ToxCast in vitro assay results, respectively. These endocrine mechanisms explained most of the VTG responses in the absence of systemic toxicity, the magnitude of the VTG response being proportional to the in vitro potency. Interpretation of the VTG data was sometimes confounded by an alternative endocrine mechanism of action. There was evidence for both false positive and negative responses for VTG synthesis, but overall, it was rare for substances without endocrine activity in vitro to cause a concentration-dependent VTG response in fish in the absence of systemic toxicity. To increase confidence in the VTG results, we recommend improvements in the VTG measurement methodologies and greater transparency in reporting of VTG data (including quality control criteria for assay performance). This review supports the application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) by demonstrating that endocrine activity in vitro from mammalian cell lines is predictive for in vivo VTG response in fish, suggesting that in vitro mechanistic data could be used more broadly in decision-making to help reduce animal testing.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Brown
- wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7YR, UK.
| | - Grace H Panter
- wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7YR, UK
| | - Natalie Burden
- NC3Rs, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Edward R Salinas
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany; Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, 4611 BB Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Wolf
- Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ankley GT, Santana-Rodriguez K, Jensen KM, Miller DH, Villeneuve DL. AOP Report: Adverse Outcome Pathways for Aromatase Inhibition or Androgen Receptor Agonism Leading to Male-Biased Sex Ratio and Population Decline in Fish. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:747-756. [PMID: 36848318 PMCID: PMC10772967 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Screening and testing of potential endocrine-disrupting chemicals for ecological effects are examples of risk assessment/regulatory activities that can employ adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) to establish linkages between readily measured alterations in endocrine function and whole organism- and population-level responses. Of particular concern are processes controlled by the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal/thyroidal (HPG/T) axes. However, the availability of AOPs suitable to meet this need is currently limited in terms of species and life-stage representation relative to the diversity of endpoints influenced by HPG/T function. In our report we describe two novel AOPs that comprise a simple AOP network focused on the effects of chemicals on sex differentiation during early development in fish. The first AOP (346) documents events starting with inhibition of cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19), resulting in decreased availability of 17β-estradiol during gonad differentiation, which increases the occurrence of testis formation, resulting in a male-biased sex ratio and consequent population-level declines. The second AOP (376) is initiated by activation of the androgen receptor (AR), also during sexual differentiation, again resulting in a male-biased sex ratio and population-level effects. Both AOPs are strongly supported by existing physiological and toxicological evidence, including numerous fish studies with model CYP19 inhibitors and AR agonists. Accordingly, AOPs 346 and 376 provide a basis for more focused screening and testing of chemicals with the potential to affect HPG function in fish during early development. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:747-756. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gerald T. Ankley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Kelvin Santana-Rodriguez
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Research Participant at U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Jensen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - David H. Miller
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel L. Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Li K, Cui K, Wang Q. Adverse outcome pathway network approach to identify endocrine disruptor-induced reproductive toxicity. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2023.100391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
|
7
|
Devoy C, Raza Y, Kleiner M, Jones PD, Doering JA, Wiseman S. The brominated flame retardant, 1,2,5,6-tetrabromocyclooctane (TBCO), causes multigenerational effects on reproductive capacity of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 313:137561. [PMID: 36565769 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 10/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Exposure of fishes to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during early development can induce multigenerational and transgenerational effects on reproduction. Both in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that the brominated flame retardant, 1,2,5,6-tetrabromocyclooctane (TBCO), is an EDC. The present study investigated whether TBCO has mutigenerational and/or transgenerational effects on the reproductive performance of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). Sexually mature fish (F0 generation) were fed either a control diet or a low (40.6 μg/g) or high (1034.4 μg/g) diet containing TBCO, and three generations of embryos were reared to determine reproductive performance using a standard 21-day reproduction assay. Concentrations of TBCO in eggs (F1 generation) from F0 fish given the low and high diets were 711.3 and 2535.5 ng/g wet weight, respectively. Cumulative fecundity of the F1 generation in the low and high treatment were reduced by 33.9% and 33.3%, respectively, compared to the control. In the F2 generation, cumulative fecundity of the low treatment returned to the level of the controls, but the high treatment was decreased by 29.8%. There was no decrease in cumulative fecundity in the F3 generation compared to the controls. Mechanistically, mRNA abundances of cholesterol side chain cleavage enzyme (cyp11a), aromatase (cyp19a), and luteinizing hormone receptor (lhr) were differentially expressed in gonads from F1 females, suggesting that TBCO might cause developmental reprogramming that disrupts steroidogenesis leading to decreased fecundity. However, concentrations of E2 in plasma and mRNA abundance of vitellogenin in liver were not significantly different compared to controls suggesting a mechanism other than disruption of steroidogenesis or vitellogenesis. Mechanistically, no effects were observed in the F2 or F3 generation. Overall, results suggest that TBCO has multigenerational effects on the reproductive performance of Japanese medaka. However, no transgenerational effects were observed as the F3 generation fully recovered. The mechanism by which multigenerational effects were induced is not known.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Devoy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Yamin Raza
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Makenna Kleiner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada
| | - Paul D Jones
- School of Environment and Sustainability, and the Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5C9, Canada
| | - Jon A Doering
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada; Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, United States
| | - Steve Wiseman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada; Water Institute for Sustainable Environments (WISE), University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, AB, T1K 3M4, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Villeneuve DL, Blackwell BR, Blanksma CA, Cavallin JE, Cheng WY, Conolly RB, Conrow K, Feifarek DJ, Heinis LJ, Jensen KM, Kahl MD, Milsk RY, Poole ST, Randolph EC, Saari TW, Watanabe KH, Ankley GT. Case Study in 21st-Century Ecotoxicology: Using In Vitro Aromatase Inhibition Data to Predict Reproductive Outcomes in Fish In Vivo. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:100-116. [PMID: 36282016 PMCID: PMC10782516 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
To reduce the use of intact animals for chemical safety testing, while ensuring protection of ecosystems and human health, there is a demand for new approach methodologies (NAMs) that provide relevant scientific information at a quality equivalent to or better than traditional approaches. The present case study examined whether bioactivity and associated potency measured in an in vitro screening assay for aromatase inhibition could be used together with an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) and mechanistically based computational models to predict previously uncharacterized in vivo effects. Model simulations were used to inform designs of 60-h and 10-21-day in vivo exposures of adult fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to three or four test concentrations of the in vitro aromatase inhibitor imazalil ranging from 0.12 to 260 µg/L water. Consistent with an AOP linking aromatase inhibition to reproductive impairment in fish, exposure to the fungicide resulted in significant reductions in ex vivo production of 17β-estradiol (E2) by ovary tissue (≥165 µg imazalil/L), plasma E2 concentrations (≥74 µg imazalil/L), vitellogenin (Vtg) messenger RNA expression (≥165 µg imazalil/L), Vtg plasma concentrations (≥74 µg imazalil/L), uptake of Vtg into oocytes (≥260 µg imazalil/L), and overall reproductive output in terms of cumulative fecundity, number of spawning events, and eggs per spawning event (≥24 µg imazalil/L). Despite many potential sources of uncertainty in potency and efficacy estimates based on model simulations, observed magnitudes of apical effects were quite consistent with model predictions, and in vivo potency was within an order of magnitude of that predicted based on in vitro relative potency. Overall, our study suggests that NAMs and AOP-based approaches can support meaningful reduction and refinement of animal testing. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:100-116. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L. Villeneuve
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Brett R. Blackwell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Jenna E. Cavallin
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Wan-Yun Cheng
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rory B. Conolly
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Kendra Conrow
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306-4908
| | - David J. Feifarek
- Student Services Contractor, US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Larry J. Heinis
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Jensen
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Michael D. Kahl
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Rebecca Y. Milsk
- ORISE Participant, US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Shane T. Poole
- Student Services Contractor, US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Eric C. Randolph
- ORISE Participant, US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Travis W. Saari
- Student Services Contractor, US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Karen H. Watanabe
- School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Arizona State University, Glendale, AZ 85306-4908
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Ramšak Ž, Modic V, Li RA, vom Berg C, Zupanic A. From Causal Networks to Adverse Outcome Pathways: A Developmental Neurotoxicity Case Study. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:815754. [PMID: 35295214 PMCID: PMC8915909 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.815754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The last decade has seen the adverse outcome pathways (AOP) framework become one of the most powerful tools in chemical risk assessment, but the development of new AOPs remains a slow and manually intensive process. Here, we present a faster approach for AOP generation, based on manually curated causal toxicological networks. As a case study, we took a recently published zebrafish developmental neurotoxicity network, which contains causally connected molecular events leading to neuropathologies, and developed two new adverse outcome pathways: Inhibition of Fyna (Src family tyrosine kinase A) leading to increased mortality via decreased eye size (AOP 399 on AOP-Wiki) and GSK3beta (Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta) inactivation leading to increased mortality via defects in developing inner ear (AOP 410). The approach consists of an automatic separation of the toxicological network into candidate AOPs, filtering the AOPs according to available evidence and length as well as manual development of new AOPs and weight-of-evidence evaluation. The semiautomatic approach described here provides a new opportunity for fast and straightforward AOP development based on large network resources.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Živa Ramšak
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vid Modic
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Roman A. Li
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag—Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Colette vom Berg
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag—Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Anze Zupanic
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Anze Zupanic,
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Scholz S, Nichols JW, Escher BI, Ankley GT, Altenburger R, Blackwell B, Brack W, Burkhard L, Collette TW, Doering JA, Ekman D, Fay K, Fischer F, Hackermüller J, Hoffman JC, Lai C, Leuthold D, Martinovic-Weigelt D, Reemtsma T, Pollesch N, Schroeder A, Schüürmann G, von Bergen M. The Eco-Exposome Concept: Supporting an Integrated Assessment of Mixtures of Environmental Chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2022; 41:30-45. [PMID: 34714945 PMCID: PMC9104394 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Organisms are exposed to ever-changing complex mixtures of chemicals over the course of their lifetime. The need to more comprehensively describe this exposure and relate it to adverse health effects has led to formulation of the exposome concept in human toxicology. Whether this concept has utility in the context of environmental hazard and risk assessment has not been discussed in detail. In this Critical Perspective, we propose-by analogy to the human exposome-to define the eco-exposome as the totality of the internal exposure (anthropogenic and natural chemicals, their biotransformation products or adducts, and endogenous signaling molecules that may be sensitive to an anthropogenic chemical exposure) over the lifetime of an ecologically relevant organism. We describe how targeted and nontargeted chemical analyses and bioassays can be employed to characterize this exposure and discuss how the adverse outcome pathway concept could be used to link this exposure to adverse effects. Available methods, their limitations, and/or requirement for improvements for practical application of the eco-exposome concept are discussed. Even though analysis of the eco-exposome can be resource-intensive and challenging, new approaches and technologies make this assessment increasingly feasible. Furthermore, an improved understanding of mechanistic relationships between external chemical exposure(s), internal chemical exposure(s), and biological effects could result in the development of proxies, that is, relatively simple chemical and biological measurements that could be used to complement internal exposure assessment or infer the internal exposure when it is difficult to measure. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:30-45. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Scholz
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Address correspondence to
| | - John W. Nichols
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Beate I. Escher
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental Toxicology, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tubingen, Tubingen, Germany
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Rolf Altenburger
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute for Environmental Research, Biologie V, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Brett Blackwell
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Werner Brack
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology and Environmental Toxicology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lawrence Burkhard
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Timothy W. Collette
- Office of Research and Development, Ecosystem Processes Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia
| | - Jon A. Doering
- National Research Council, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Drew Ekman
- Office of Research and Development, Ecosystem Processes Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Athens, Georgia
| | - Kellie Fay
- Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Risk Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| | - Fabian Fischer
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Joel C. Hoffman
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Chih Lai
- College of Arts and Sciences, University of Saint Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - David Leuthold
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | | | - Nathan Pollesch
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Ecology and Toxicology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | | | - Gerrit Schüürmann
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, Technische Universitat Bergakademie Freiberg, Freiberg, Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Blackwell BR, Ankley GT. Simultaneous determination of a suite of endogenous steroids by LC-APPI-MS: Application to the identification of endocrine disruptors in aquatic toxicology. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci 2021; 1163:122513. [PMID: 33440276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2020.122513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs) can alter steroid hormone production in vertebrates, sometimes leading to adverse reproductive or developmental effects. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry methods are the gold standard for analyte confirmation and quantification in biological matrices, but radioimmunoassays (RIAs) are most commonly used for measurement of select steroid hormones in aquatic toxicology studies. Existing methods for steroid quantification often employ derivatization, limiting the range of steroids that can be simultaneously measured in a single process. In the current study, a method for the simultaneous measurement of thirteen endogenous steroids in small sample volumes without derivatization using liquid chromatography atmospheric pressure photoionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-APPI-MS/MS) was developed. Several physiologically important steroids, including 11-deoxycortisol, 11-ketotestosterone, 17α- and 17β-estradiol, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, 17,20β-dihydroxyprogesterone, 17,20β,21-trihydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, cortisol, estriol, estrone, progesterone, and testosterone, were selected for the analysis. The method was validated for application to small volumes of fish plasma and fish holding water. Method detection limits using only 10 µL of plasma ranged from 0.05 to 1.0 ng/mL. As a potential surrogate for plasma steroid measurements, fish holding water was analyzed to measure excreted steroids. Lower limits of quantification when using 0.25 L of water ranged from 0.05 to 1.0 ng/L. The validated method was applied to two different experiments with small fish species exposed to an EDC known to affect steroid synthesis, fadrozole. Concentrations of the 13 steroids were measured in plasma or holding water from the studies. This work demonstrates the potential application of the developed method to measure endogenous steroids for identification of EDCs in aquatic toxicology studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Brett R Blackwell
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, USA.
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Doering JA, Villeneuve DL, Tilton CB, Kittelson AR, Blackwell BR, Kahl MD, Jensen KM, Poole ST, Cavallin JE, Cole AR, Dean KN, LaLone CA, Ankley GT. Assessing effects of aromatase inhibition on fishes with group-synchronous oocyte development using western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as a model. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2021; 232:105741. [PMID: 33450672 PMCID: PMC8255332 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to certain anthropogenic chemicals can inhibit the activity to cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) in fishes leading to decreased plasma 17β-estradiol (E2), plasma vitellogenin (VTG), and egg production. Reproductive dysfunction resulting from exposure to aromatase inhibitors has been extensively investigated in several laboratory model species of fish. These model species have ovaries that undergo asynchronous oocyte development, but many fishes have ovaries with group-synchronous oocyte development. Fishes with group-synchronous oocyte development have dynamic reproductive cycles which typically occur annually and are often triggered by complex environmental cues. This has resulted in a lack of test data and uncertainty regarding sensitivities to and adverse effects of aromatase inhibition. The present study used the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as a laboratory model to investigate adverse effects of chemical aromatase inhibition on group-synchronous oocyte development. Adult female western mosquitofish were exposed to either 0, 2, or 30 μg/L of the model nonsteroidal aromatase inhibiting chemical, fadrozole, for a complete reproductive cycle. Fish were sampled at four time-points representing pre-vitellogenic resting, early vitellogenesis, late vitellogenesis/early ovarian recrudescence, and late ovarian recrudescence. Temporal changes in numerous reproductive parameters were measured, including gonadosomatic index (GSI), plasma sex steroids, and expression of selected genes in the brain, liver, and gonad that are important for reproduction. In contrast to fish from the control treatment, fish exposed to 2 and 30 μg/L of fadrozole had persistent elevated expression of cyp19 in the ovary, depressed expression of vtg in the liver, and a low GSI. These responses suggest that completion of a group-synchronous reproductive cycle was unsuccessful during the assay in fish from either fadrozole treatment. These adverse effects data show that exposure to aromatase inhibitors has the potential to cause reproductive dysfunction in a wide range of fishes with both asynchronous and group-synchronous reproductive strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jon A Doering
- National Research Council, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States.
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Charlene B Tilton
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Ashley R Kittelson
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Michael D Kahl
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Kathleen M Jensen
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Shane T Poole
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Jenna E Cavallin
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Alexander R Cole
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Kendra N Dean
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Schmid S, Willi RA, Fent K. Effects of environmental steroid mixtures are regulated by individual steroid receptor signaling. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2020; 226:105562. [PMID: 32668346 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Fish are exposed to steroids of different classes in contaminated waters, but their effects are not sufficiently understood. Here we employed an anti-sense technique using morpholino oligonucleotides to knockdown the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs, GRα and GRβ) and androgen receptor (AR) to investigate their role in physiological and transcriptional responses. To this end, zebrafish embryos were exposed to clobetasol propionate (CLO), androstenedione (A4) and mixtures containing different classes of steroids. CLO caused a decrease of spontaneous muscle contraction and increase of heart rate, as well as transcriptional induction of pepck1, fkbp5, sult2st3 and vitellogenin (vtg1) at 24 and/or 48 h post fertilization (hpf). Knockdown of GRs eliminated these effects, while knockdown of AR decreased the ar transcript but caused no expressional changes, except induction of sult2st3 after exposure to A4 at 24 hpf. Exposure to a mixture of 6 steroids comprising progesterone (P4) and three progestins, cyproterone acetate, dienogest, drospirenone, 17β-estradiol (E2) and CLO caused a significant induction of pepck1, sult2st3, vtg1 and per1a. Knockdown of GRs eliminated the physiological effects and the up-regulation of vtg1, sult2st3, pepck1, fkbp5 and per1a. Thus, as with CLO, responses in mixtures were regulated by GRs independently from the presence of other steroids. Exposure to a mixture comprising A4, CLO, E2 and P4 caused induction of vtg1, cyp19b, sult2st3 and fkbp5. Knockdown of AR had no effect, indicating that regulation of these genes occurred by the GRs and estrogen receptor (ER). Our findings show that in early embryos GRs cause vtg1 and sult2st3 induction in addition to known glucocorticoid target genes. Each steroid receptor regulated its own target genes in steroid mixtures independently from other steroids. However, enhanced expressional induction occurred for vtg1 and fkbp5 in steroid mixtures, indicating an interaction/cross-talk between GRs and ER. These findings have importance for the understanding of molecular effects of steroid mixtures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schmid
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Raffael Alois Willi
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Karl Fent
- University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, School of Life Sciences, Hofackerstrasse 30, CH-4132 Muttenz, Switzerland; Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zürich), Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollution Dynamics, Department of Environmental Systems Science, CH-8092 Zürich, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|