Sudan III dye strongly induces CYP1A1 mRNA expression in HepG2 cells

Hues of risk: investigating genotoxicity and environmental impacts of azo textile dyes

The textile industry, with its extensive use of dyes and chemicals, stands out as a significant source of water pollution. Exposure to certain textile dyes, such as azo dyes and their breakdown products like aromatic amines, has been associated with health concerns like skin sensitization, allergic reactions, and even cancer in humans. Annually, the worldwide production of synthetic dyes approximates 7 × 107 tons, of which the textile industry accounts for over 10,000 tons. Inefficient dyeing procedures result in the discharge of 15-50% of azo dyes, which do not adequately bind to fibers, into wastewater. This review delves into the genotoxic impact of azo dyes, prevalent in the textile industry, on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Examining different families of textile dye which contain azo group in their structure such as Sudan I and Sudan III Sudan IV, Basic Red 51, Basic Violet 14, Disperse Yellow 7, Congo Red, Acid Red 26, and Acid Blue 113 reveals their carcinogenic potential, which may affect both industrial workers and aquatic life. Genotoxic and carcinogenic characteristics, chromosomal abnormalities, induced physiological and neurobehavioral changes, and disruptions to spermatogenesis are evident, underscoring the harmful effects of these dyes. The review calls for comprehensive investigations into the toxic profile of azo dyes, providing essential insights to safeguard the aquatic ecosystem and human well-being. The importance of effective effluent treatment systems is underscored to mitigate adverse impacts on agricultural lands, water resources, and the environment, particularly in regions heavily reliant on wastewater irrigation for food production.

Characterization of Quinoline Yellow Dyes As Transient Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonists

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) are two ligand activated transcription factors that are targeted by a wide range of anthropogenic compounds. Crosstalk between both receptors is well established but little understood. We previously developed a dual color luciferase assay (i.e., XEER) which allows time dissolved monitoring of the activation of both receptors in situ. The system was now used in conjunction with HPLC-qTOF to identify several quinophthalone dyes as transient receptor agonists of the AHR. Altogether the approach identified three widely used dyes, that is the plastic colorant latyl yellow 3G (LY), the structurally related textile dye disperse yellow 64 (DY), and the cosmetic dye quinoline yellow (QY). The latter was the most potent agonist followed by LY and DY as confirmed by the XEER assay and CYP1A1 gene induction in MCF7 cells. In addition QY, LY, and DY also inhibited ER signaling in an AHR-dependent manner. This establishes some evidence for quinoline yellow dyes as potential disruptors of AHR/ER signaling, raising potential toxicological concern. Although none of the dyes featured any signs of genotoxicity in vitro, our data point to the need for a systematic approach when screening for substances of potential toxicological and endocrine relevance.

Chenodeoxycholic acid increases the induction of CYP1A1 in HepG2 and H4IIE cells

Bile acids are considered to promote carcinogenesis. Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) plays a critical role in the biotransformation of drugs and procarcinogens. This study aimed to investigate the ability of bile acids to modulate CYP1A1 expression. Treatment of HepG2 cells with chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and Sudan III (S.III) upregulated CYP1A1 transcriptional activity in HepG2 cells and CYP1A1 mRNA expression in H4IIE cells. Pretreatment of the HepG2 and H4IIE cells with CDCA upregulated the S.III-induced CYP1A transcriptional activity and mRNA expression. The CDCA-induced enhancement of CYP1A1 was not abolished by the p38 inhibitor SB203580. However, exposure of the cells to the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)1/2 inhibitor PD98059 suppressed the CDCA-induced enhancement of CYP1A1. These results show the ability of CDCA to upregulate CYP1A1 transcription and expression, which may explain the hepatocarcinogenesis-inducing effect of cholestasis. The CDCA-induced upregulation of CYP1A1 most probably proceeded through MEK1/2 activation, indicating that this may be a therapeutic target to prevent the cancer-promoting effects of excessive amounts of bile acids.

Assessing the carcinogenic potential of low-dose exposures to chemical mixtures in the environment: focus on the cancer hallmark of tumor angiogenesis

One of the important 'hallmarks' of cancer is angiogenesis, which is the process of formation of new blood vessels that are necessary for tumor expansion, invasion and metastasis. Under normal physiological conditions, angiogenesis is well balanced and controlled by endogenous proangiogenic factors and antiangiogenic factors. However, factors produced by cancer cells, cancer stem cells and other cell types in the tumor stroma can disrupt the balance so that the tumor microenvironment favors tumor angiogenesis. These factors include vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelial tissue factor and other membrane bound receptors that mediate multiple intracellular signaling pathways that contribute to tumor angiogenesis. Though environmental exposures to certain chemicals have been found to initiate and promote tumor development, the role of these exposures (particularly to low doses of multiple substances), is largely unknown in relation to tumor angiogenesis. This review summarizes the evidence of the role of environmental chemical bioactivity and exposure in tumor angiogenesis and carcinogenesis. We identify a number of ubiquitous (prototypical) chemicals with disruptive potential that may warrant further investigation given their selectivity for high-throughput screening assay targets associated with proangiogenic pathways. We also consider the cross-hallmark relationships of a number of important angiogenic pathway targets with other cancer hallmarks and we make recommendations for future research. Understanding of the role of low-dose exposure of chemicals with disruptive potential could help us refine our approach to cancer risk assessment, and may ultimately aid in preventing cancer by reducing or eliminating exposures to synergistic mixtures of chemicals with carcinogenic potential.

Laccaic acid A is a direct, DNA-competitive inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase 1

Methylation of cytosines in CpG dinucleotides is the predominant epigenetic mark on vertebrate DNA. DNA methylation is associated with transcriptional repression. The pattern of DNA methylation changes during development and with disease. Human DNA methyltransferase 1 (Dnmt1), a 1616-amino acid multidomain enzyme, is essential for maintenance of DNA methylation in proliferating cells and is considered an important cancer drug target. Using a fluorogenic, endonuclease-coupled DNA methylation assay with an activated form of Dnmt1 engineered to lack the replication foci targeting sequence domain, we discovered that laccaic acid A (LCA), a highly substituted anthraquinone natural product, is a direct inhibitor with a 310 nm Ki. LCA is competitive with the DNA substrate in in vitro methylation assays and alters the expression of methylated genes in MCF-7 breast cancer cells synergistically with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. LCA represents a novel class of Dnmt-targeted molecular probes, with biochemical properties that allow it to distinguish between non DNA-bound and DNA-bound Dnmt1.

Should autism be considered a canary bird telling that Homo sapiens may be on its way to extinction?

There has been a dramatic enhancement of the reported incidence of autism in different parts of the world over the last 30 years. This can apparently not be explained only as a result of improved diagnosis and reporting, but may also reflect a real change. The causes of this change are unknown, but if we shall follow T.C. Chamberlin's principle of multiple working hypotheses, we need to take into consideration the possibility that it partly may reflect an enhancement of the average frequency of responsible alleles in large populations. If this hypothesis is correct, it means that the average germline mutation rate must now be much higher in the populations concerned, compared with the natural mutation rate in hominid ancestors before the agricultural and industrial revolutions. This is compatible with the high prevalence of impaired human semen quality in several countries and also with what is known about high levels of total exposure to several different unnatural chemical mutagens, plus some natural ones at unnaturally high levels. Moreover, dietary deficiency conditions that may lead to enhancement of mutation rates are also very widespread, affecting billions of people. However, the natural mutation rate in hominids has been found to be so high that there is apparently no tolerance for further enhancement of the germline mutation rate before the Eigen error threshold will be exceeded and our species will go extinct because of mutational meltdown. This threat, if real, should be considered far more serious than any disease causing the death only of individual patients. It should therefore be considered the first and highest priority of the best biomedical scientists in the world, of research-funding agencies and of all medical doctors to try to stop the express train carrying all humankind as passengers on board before it arrives at the end station of our civilization.