Evidence for the induction of fatty acid desaturation in proliferating hepatic endoplasmic reticulum in response to treatment with polychlorinated biphenyls. Are fatty acid desaturases cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases?

Fatty Acid Profiles Linked to Organohalogen Exposure in Cetaceans from the Northern South China Sea

Increasing evidence suggests that organohalogen contaminants (OHCs) could disrupt lipid metabolism in organisms, prompting consideration of fatty acids (FAs) as biological tools for assessing chemical stress in biological systems. This study examined 87 OHCs and 32 FAs in two sentinel cetacean species─Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (n = 128) and Indo-Pacific finless porpoises (n = 26)─from the northern South China Sea (NSCS), a global hotspot for OHCs. Our results revealed higher OHC levels in these cetaceans than global averages. We identified 347 significant correlations between 79 OHCs and 32 FAs, including 32 associations with long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are critical for cetacean health. Furthermore, 45 significant correlations were found between OHC levels and desaturated enzyme activities/lipogenic indexes, suggesting that OHCs may disrupt lipid metabolism in these cetaceans. Polybrominated diphenyl ethers as legacy flame retardants were major contributors to the OHC-FA relationships. Moreover, alternative halogenated flame retardants, as PBDE substitutes, may similarly impact FA metabolism, raising concerns regarding their safety. Our findings support the potential use of FAs as bioindicators for evaluating OHC exposure risks in cetaceans. Future research is needed to elucidate the mechanisms and consequences of these OHC exposure-associated lipid-disrupting effects occurring in the NSCS cetaceans.

Alteration of hepato-lipidomic homeostasis in A/J mice fed an environmentally relevant PFAS mixture

In the present study, we have investigated liver lipid homeostasis and corresponding changes in transcript and functional product levels in A/J mice exposed to environmental relevant concentration of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) mixture. Mice were fed environmentally relevant concentrations of a PFAS mixture during a period of 10 weeks. The concentrations of the 8 individual PFAS in the mixture were chosen based on measured concentrations in earthworms at a Norwegian skiing area. Our data show high liver accumulation of ∑PFAS in exposed mice, which paralleled significant elevation in body weight and hepatosomatic index (HSI) of male mice. UPC2 -MS/MS analysis in both positive and negative mode, respectively, indicated significant differences between control and exposure groups in the liver of exposed mice. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the features revealed separation of control and exposure groups in both sexes. From the significantly differential 207 lipids, only 72 were identified and shown to belong to eight different lipid classes. PCA of fatty acids (FAs) profile showed a clear separation between control and PFAS exposure groups in both female and male mice, with differential abundant levels of 5 and 4 hydrolyzed FAs, respectively. Transcript and protein analysis of genes associated with lipid homeostasis (ppar-α and β, lxr-α and β, rxr, fasn and srebp) showed that PFAS exposure produced sex- and individual response related alterations. Glutathione reductase (Gr) activity showed exposure-related changes in both female and male mice, compared with controls. Overall, the present study has demonstrated changes in lipid metabolism after PFAS exposure, showing that PFAS accumulation in the liver resulted to hepatotoxic effects, potential interference with membrane lipid profile and homeostasis, and oxidative stress. Given the structural similarity with FAs, interaction between PFAS and nuclear receptors such as PPARs may have severe consequences for general health and physiology in exposed animals and humans.

Cytotoxicity of 2,2',3,5',6-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB95) and its metabolites in the chicken embryo liver cells of laying hens

2,2',3,5',6-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB95) is known as a persistent pollutant that was found in eggs in China. PCB 95 can be metabolized into OH-PCB95 and MeO-PCB95 in liver microsomes. However, the toxicity and its mechanism of PCB95 or its metabolites have been little studied on laying hens. Herein, chicken embryo liver cells of laying hens were selected and treated with different levels of PCB95 and its two metabolites, and the EC₅₀ of PCB95, OH-PCB95, MeO-PCB95 was 80.85, 4.81 and 107.04 μg/mL respectively, indicating that OH-PCB95 is much more cytotoxic than PCB95 or MeO-PCB95. Targeted metabolomics was further used to study the effects of the parent compound and its metabolites on cell metabolism. The results showed that four primary types of glycerophospholipids were down-regulated after exposure to PCB95 and its metabolites, especially PE and PS (60% more than the control for PCB95, 40% for OH-PCB95, and less than 40% for MeO-PCB95). KEGG pathway analysis based on amino acid metabolism showed that PCB95 may mainly interfere with the amino acids involved in immune regulation (phenylalanine and tyrosine), and OH-PCB95 may be associated with genetic disoders (cysteine, methionine and purine metabolism). However, the metabolic pathways induced by MeO-PCB95 are quite different from those induced by PCB95 and OH-PCB95, affecting mainly D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, alanine and glutamate metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism; these pathways mainly regulate the elimination of excess purines and are involved in the synthesis of the amino acids required by cells. These results showed that OH-PCB95 has the highest toxicity on chicken embryo liver cells and MeO-PCB95 could be a detoxification product of PCB95 and OH-PCB95. This study contributes to the understanding of the different effects of PCB95 and its metabolites on cellular metabolism, and the data are helpful in evaluating the hepatotoxic effects of these compounds.

Identification of lipidomic markers of chronic 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) exposure in the male rat liver

Exposure to PCB 126, an environmentally relevant aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, is an environmental factor causing hepatic steatosis in rodent models; however, the lipidome of PCB 126-exposed rats has not been investigated in-depth. The objective of the present study was therefore to characterize dose-dependent changes in the lipid profile in the liver of male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to PCB 126. Rats were exposed for three month to intraperitoneal injections of 0.01, 0.05 and 0.2μmol/kg bw PCB 126 in corn oil. Control animals were exposed in parallel and received corn oil alone. Lipids were extracted from whole liver homogenate and levels of polar lipids and fatty acids incorporated into triglycerides (FATAGs) were determined with tandem mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization. PCB 126 exposure increased the hepatic content of polar lipids and FATAGs. Protein adjusted levels of several polar lipid classes, in particular phosphatidylserine levels, decreased, whereas FATAGs levels typically increased with increasing PCB 126 dose. Sensitive, dose-dependent endpoints of PCB 126 exposure included an increase in levels of adrenic acid incorporated into triglycerides and changes in levels of certain ether-linked phospholipid and 1-alkyl/1-alkenyldiacylglycerol species, as determined using partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and ANOVA. These changes in the composition of polar lipids and fatty acid in the liver of PCB 126 exposed rats identified several novel markers of PCB 126-mediated fatty liver disease that need to be validated in further studies.

Fatty acid alterations in liver and milk of cadmium exposed rats and in brain of their suckling offspring

Fatty acid composition was studied in milk at day 14 and in liver at day 24 after parturition of lactating rats exposed to 0 ppm, 5 ppm or 25 ppm cadmium (Cd) via drinking water for 17 days during lactation, and in the brain of their offspring at day 19 after birth. In the liver phospholipid fraction, 22:5(n-3) was significantly higher, while in the triacylglycerol fraction 22:6(n-3)/20:5(n-3) ratio was significantly lower in the 25 ppm group compared to the controls. Significantly higher proportions of 16:0 and lower proportions of medium-chain fatty acids, 8:0-14:0, were observed in milk of dams in the 25 ppm group, indicating decreased enzymatic activity of thiotransferase II in the mammary gland. Slightly increased levels of 20:3(n-6) were observed in brains of pups in the 25 ppm group compared to control. The results indicate that Cd exposure influences fatty acid metabolism in lactating rats.

Mechanistic Role of Cytochrome P450 Monooxygenases in Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein–Induced Vascular Injury

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is an important risk factor for vascular injury. Its role on coronary vasoconstriction remains speculative. Endothelial monooxygenases (cytochrome P450s [CYPs]) are regulators of vascular tonus through production of epoxy fatty acids. We investigated the effects of oxLDL on CYP monooxygenases in human arterial coronary endothelial cells and explanted healthy and atherosclerotic aortae. We found oxLDL to induce radical oxygen species production via the action of NADPH oxidase NOX4. Intracellular radical oxygen species production prompted reduced protein expression of the transcriptional regulator nuclear factor 1 (NF-1). We identified novel DNA binding sites for NF-1 in promoter regions of CYPs. DNA binding of NF-1 was confirmed by electromobility shift assays. OxLDL repressed DNA binding of NF-1 and diminished transcript level of CYP genes targeted by this factor. The production of endothelial-derived hyperpolarization factor, a key regulator of vascular tonus, was also reduced. Repression of CYP monooxygenases was reversed, and production of endothelial-derived hyperpolarization factor was normalized after treatment of endothelium with the lectin-like oxLDL receptor antagonist κ-carrageenan or blocking of LOX-1 with a specific antibody. This suggests a mechanistic role of CYP monooxygenases in oxLDL-induced vascular injury. Therapy of endothelial dysfunction through LOX-1 receptor antagonism will be an interesting avenue to explore. The full text of this article is available online at http://www.circresaha.org.

3,3',4,4',5-Pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) impacts hepatic lipid peroxidation, membrane fluidity and beta-adrenoceptor kinetics in chick embryos

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and other aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonists induce oxidative stress and alter membrane lipid peroxidation and fluidity. This study tested the hypothesis that PCB-induced changes in membrane properties impact membrane beta-adrenoceptor (beta-AR) affinity and capacity in chick embryo hepatocytes. Embryos were injected into the air cell with 1.6 microg 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126)/kg egg at day 0, and incubated to day 19 when livers were removed. This dose resulted in hepatic PCB 126 levels of 0.67 ng/g liver or 10.2 ng/g liver lipid; levels in untreated embryos were non-detectable. Hepatic microsomal EROD activity was elevated by approximately 12-fold and embryo mortality was significantly increased compared with the untreated group. Hepatic lipid peroxidation increased and membrane order (steady-state fluorescence anisotropy values) decreased with in ovo PCB 126 exposure. Consistent with changes in membrane structure, hepatic beta-AR affinity for CGP 12177 significantly decreased (Kd increased) without changes in receptor numbers. This study demonstrates that in ovo exposure to PCB 126 in chick eggs significantly impacted embryo survival, and this was correlated with altered hepatic membrane structure and ultimately membrane function.

Fatty acids, lipids, and cytochrome p-450 monooxygenase in hepatic microsomes of minks fed fish-based diets and exposed to Aroclor 1242

Minks were fed different fish-based diets and exposed to 1 mg/d of the commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture Aroclor 1242 for 4 wk (November-December 1995) or 21 wk (July-December 1998). In all the dietary groups, the PCBs increased hepatic phospholipid (PL) content. No significant increase was detected in hepatic triacylglycerols (TGs). In the minks fed the different fish diets, the PCBs caused qualitatively and quantitatively different changes in the microsomal fatty acids. In the minks that were fed a diet rich in fat and low in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), the PCBs increased the percentage of oleic acid (18:1n-9, characteristic of the storage TGs) at the expense of n-3 PUFAs. This seemed to be due to inclusions of TGs in the membrane fragments and partly due to incorporation of TG-derived fatty acids into the membrane PLs. In addition, significant decrease of PUFAs was detected also in the hepatic TGs. The concomitant decrease in the concentrations of hepatic vitamin E suggested that lipid oxidation may also contribute to the decrease of the PUFAs. In the liver of the minks fed a low-fat but PUFA- and vitamin E-rich diet, the fatty acid changes due to the PCBs (the 21-wk exposure) remained small but the cytochrome P-450 system was significantly activated. In the minks fed Baltic herring (rich in organochlorines via the foodweb), the cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity, levels of microsomal thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and hepatic PLs were significantly elevated. In conclusion, in the mink the microsomal fatty acid changes were not directly connected with the ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity or P-450 expression. Apparently, the PCBs produced definite fatty acid changes only in certain lipid matrices of tissue. In addition, a rich dietary supply of PUFAs and vitamin E may prevent these changes, even in a long-term subchronic exposure.

Clustering of hepatotoxins based on mechanism of toxicity using gene expression profiles

Microarray technology, which allows one to quantitate the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously, has begun to have a major impact on many different areas of drug discovery and development. The question remains of whether microarray analysis and gene expression signature profiles can be applied to the field of toxicology. To date, there are very few published studies showing the use of microarrays in toxicology and important questions remain regarding the predictability and accuracy of applying gene expression profiles to toxicology. To begin to address these questions, we have treated rats with 15 different known hepatotoxins, including allyl alcohol, amiodarone, Aroclor 1254, arsenic, carbamazepine, carbon tetrachloride, diethylnitrosamine, dimethylformamide, diquat, etoposide, indomethacin, methapyrilene, methotrexate, monocrotaline, and 3-methylcholanthrene. These agents cause a variety of hepatocellular injuries including necrosis, DNA damage, cirrhosis, hypertrophy, and hepatic carcinoma. Gene expression analysis was done on RNA from the livers of treated rats and was compared against vehicle-treated controls. The gene expression results were clustered and compared to the histopathology findings and clinical chemistry values. Our results show strong correlation between the histopathology, clinical chemistry, and gene expression profiles induced by the agents. In addition, genes were identified whose regulation correlated strongly with effects on clinical chemistry parameters. Overall, the results suggest that microarray assays may prove to be a highly sensitive technique for safety screening of drug candidates and for the classification of environmental toxins.

A highly toxic PCB produces unusual changes in the fatty acid composition of rat liver

The changes in lipid metabolism produced by a coplanar PCB were studied in rats. Male Wistar rats were given a single intraperitoneal injection of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl at a dose of 25 mg/kg. After 5 days of administration, total hepatic lipids were treated with 1 M KOH in methanol at 75 degrees C and the liberated fatty acids were analyzed by HPLC after conversion to fluorescent derivatives. In comparison with free-fed and pair-fed control groups, the proportion of arachidonic acid in the PenCB-treated rats was reduced by about 50%, while oleic and linoleic acids increased significantly. We also examined the individual glycerophospholipids, separated by TLC, to see if they were affected by alteration in the fatty acid composition of the whole liver. In all glycerophospholipids, the proportion of arachidonic acid was reduced significantly to the same degree while linoleic acid increased. Changes in the activity of desaturase isozymes have been postulated to explain this unusual lipid metabolism following administration of a toxic PCB and this may contribute to its toxicity.

Lovastatin increases arachidonic acid levels and stimulates thromboxane synthesis in human liver and monocytic cell lines

The effect of lovastatin (LOV), the inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase, on linoleic acid (LA, 18:2n-6) metabolism was examined in human monocytic Mono Mac 6 (MM6) and hepatoma Hep G2 cells. The desaturation of LA was examined after LOV (72 h, 10 microM) or dimethylsulfoxide (LOV carrier, < 0.1%) and [14C]LA (last 18 h, 0.3 microCi, 5 microM). In both cell lines, LOV reduced the percentage of 14C label associated with LA and increased the percentage of label in the 20:4n-6 and the 22:5n-6 fractions. In Hep G2 but not MM6 cells, this effect was fully reversible by means of coincubation with mevalonic acid (500 microM), but not with cholesterol or lipoproteins. In both cell lines, the LOV-mediated increase in LA desaturation resulted in dose-dependent reductions of LA and elevations of AA in cellular phospholipids. The lipids secreted by LOV-treated Hep G2 cells were also enriched in arachidonic acid (AA). In the MM6 cells, LOV increased release of thromboxane upon stimulation with the calcium ionophore A23187. In summary, our findings of higher LA desaturation and AA enrichment of lipids secreted by the Hep G2 cells suggest that LOV treatment may increase the delivery of AA from the liver to extrahepatic tissues. The changes in membrane fatty acid composition can influence a variety of cellular functions, such as eicosanoid synthesis in monocytic cells. The mechanism appears to be related to the reduced availability of intermediates of cholesterogenesis.