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Feyrer LJ, Stanistreet JE, Moors-Murphy HB. Navigating the unknown: assessing anthropogenic threats to beaked whales, family Ziphiidae. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2024; 11:240058. [PMID: 38633351 PMCID: PMC11021932 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.240058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
This review comprehensively evaluates the impacts of anthropogenic threats on beaked whales (Ziphiidae)-a taxonomic group characterized by cryptic biology, deep dives and remote offshore habitat, which have challenged direct scientific observation. By synthesizing information published in peer-reviewed studies and grey literature, we identified available evidence of impacts across 14 threats for each Ziphiidae species. Threats were assessed based on their pathways of effects on individuals, revealing many gaps in scientific understanding of the risks faced by beaked whales. By applying a comprehensive taxon-level analysis, we found evidence that all beaked whale species are affected by multiple stressors, with climate change, entanglement and plastic pollution being the most common threats documented across beaked whale species. Threats assessed as having a serious impact on individuals included whaling, military sonar, entanglement, depredation, vessel strikes, plastics and oil spills. This review emphasizes the urgent need for targeted research to address a range of uncertainties, including cumulative and population-level impacts. Understanding the evidence and pathways of the effects of stressors on individuals can support future assessments, guide practical mitigation strategies and advance current understanding of anthropogenic impacts on rare and elusive marine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura J. Feyrer
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaB2Y 4A2, Canada
- Department of Biology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova ScotiaB3H 4R2, Canada
| | - Joy E. Stanistreet
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaB2Y 4A2, Canada
| | - Hilary B. Moors-Murphy
- Bedford Institute of Oceanography, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Dartmouth, Nova ScotiaB2Y 4A2, Canada
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2
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Noren DP, Johnson S, Boyd D, Ylitalo GM, Lundin J, McCormley M, Jensen ED. The dynamics of persistent organic pollutant (POP) transfer from female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) to their calves during lactation. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 907:167888. [PMID: 37863220 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167888] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are lipophilic compounds that can accumulate in high concentrations in the blubber of marine mammals, which are long-lived, top-level predators in their ecosystems. These compounds, which include DDTs, PCBs, PBDEs, HCHs, and CHLDs, impact mammalian health, including neurological effects, reduced immune system efficiency, and reproductive failure. POPs are transferred from females to their offspring during gestation and lactation, which have implications for the health of newborn marine mammals, particularly first-born offspring who receive higher concentrations. The dynamics of POP transfer during lactation have been studied in a few pinniped species, but there are no comparable studies on living cetaceans. Because life history strategies and behavior of lactating phocids differ from dolphins, a study on delphinid maternal transfer is warranted. To accomplish this, placenta and longitudinally collected blood and milk samples were taken concurrently from trained bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus, mother/calf pairs to assess the dynamics of maternal contaminant transfer. Initial POP levels in placenta, blood serum, and milk varied by individual and were related to the age and reproductive history of the females. Regardless of initial POP levels, maternal serum and milk concentrations decreased while calf serum POP levels increased over time. Pollutant transfer varied by POP class and by congener. Contaminant transfer efficiency to calves was most apparent for 4- to 6‑chlorine PCBs, DDT isomers p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, o,p'-DDD, and o,p'-DDE, trans-nonachlor, cis-nonachlor, heptachlor epoxide, nonachlor III, and oxychlordane. By the end of the lactation period, calf serum POP levels were considerably greater than those of their mothers, particularly for compounds with fewer chlorines. POP levels were most biomagnified in the calf born to the primiparous female. These results provide critical information on one component of contaminant transfer in the marine ecosystem and for understanding potential risks of POP exposure to developing odontocete calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn P Noren
- Conservation Biology Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA.
| | - Shawn Johnson
- U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Daryle Boyd
- Environmental Fisheries and Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gina M Ylitalo
- Environmental Fisheries and Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Lundin
- National Research Council, Under Contract to Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Molly McCormley
- Lynker, Under Contract to Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Eric D Jensen
- U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, Naval Information Warfare Center Pacific, San Diego, CA, USA
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3
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Williams RS, Brownlow A, Baillie A, Barber JL, Barnett J, Davison NJ, Deaville R, ten Doeschate M, Murphy S, Penrose R, Perkins M, Spiro S, Williams R, Jepson PD, Curnick DJ, Jobling S. Spatiotemporal Trends Spanning Three Decades Show Toxic Levels of Chemical Contaminants in Marine Mammals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:20736-20749. [PMID: 38011905 PMCID: PMC10720377 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c01881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Despite their ban and restriction under the 2001 Stockholm Convention, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are still widespread and pervasive in the environment. Releases of these toxic and bioaccumulative chemicals are ongoing, and their contribution to population declines of marine mammals is of global concern. To safeguard their survival, it is of paramount importance to understand the effectiveness of mitigation measures. Using one of the world's largest marine mammals strandings data sets, we combine published and unpublished data to examine pollutant concentrations in 11 species that stranded along the coast of Great Britain to quantify spatiotemporal trends over three decades and identify species and regions where pollutants pose the greatest threat. We find that although levels of pollutants have decreased overall, there is significant spatial and taxonomic heterogeneity such that pollutants remain a threat to biodiversity in several species and regions. Of individuals sampled within the most recent five years (2014-2018), 48% of individuals exhibited a concentration known to exceed toxic thresholds. Notably, pollutant concentrations are highest in long-lived, apex odontocetes (e.g., killer whales (Orcinus orca), bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), and white-beaked dolphins (Lagenorhynchus albirostris)) and were significantly higher in animals that stranded on more industrialized coastlines. At the present concentrations, POPs are likely to be significantly impacting marine mammal health. We conclude that more effective international elimination and mitigation strategies are urgently needed to address this critical issue for the global ocean health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie S. Williams
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
- Department
of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, Darwin Building, 99-105 Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United
Kingdom
| | - Andrew Brownlow
- School
of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical,
Veterinary & Life Sciences, University
of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United
Kingdom
| | - Andrew Baillie
- The
Natural
History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan L. Barber
- Centre
for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Science (Cefas), Pakefield Road, Lowestoft NR33 0HT, United Kingdom
| | - James Barnett
- Environment
and Sustainability Institute, University
of Exeter, Penryn Campus, Falmouth, Cornwall TR10 9FE, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas J. Davison
- School
of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical,
Veterinary & Life Sciences, University
of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United
Kingdom
| | - Robert Deaville
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Mariel ten Doeschate
- School
of Biodiversity One Health and Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical,
Veterinary & Life Sciences, University
of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United
Kingdom
| | - Sinéad Murphy
- Marine
and Freshwater Research Centre, Department of Natural Science, School
of Science and Computing, Galway-Mayo Institute
of Technology, Galway H91 T8NW, Ireland
| | - Rod Penrose
- Marine
Environmental Monitoring, Penwalk, Llechryd, Cardigan, Ceredigion SA43 2PS, United
Kingdom
| | - Matthew Perkins
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Spiro
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Williams
- Cornwall
Wildlife Trust, Truro, Cornwall TR4 9DJ, United Kingdom
| | - Paul D. Jepson
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - David J. Curnick
- Institute
of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent’s Park, London NW1 4RY, United Kingdom
| | - Susan Jobling
- Department
of Life Sciences, Institute of Health, Medicine and Environments, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, United Kingdom
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4
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Reiter EB, Escher BI, Rojo-Nieto E, Nolte H, Siebert U, Jahnke A. Characterizing the marine mammal exposome by iceberg modeling, linking chemical analysis and in vitro bioassays. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2023; 25:1802-1816. [PMID: 37132588 PMCID: PMC10647987 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00033h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The present study complements work on mixture effects measured with in vitro bioassays of passive equilibrium sampling extracts using the silicone polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) in organs from marine mammals with chemical profiling. Blubber, liver, kidney and brain tissues of harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena), harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), ringed seal (Phoca hispida) and orca (Orcinus orca) from the North and Baltic Seas were investigated. We analyzed 117 chemicals including legacy and emerging contaminants using gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry and quantified 70 of those chemicals in at least one sample. No systematic differences between the organs were found. Only for single compounds a clear distribution pattern was observed. For example, 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, enzacamene and etofenprox were mainly detected in blubber, whereas tonalide and the hexachlorocyclohexanes were more often found in liver. Furthermore, we compared the chemical profiling with the bioanalytical results using an iceberg mixture model, evaluating how much of the biological effect could be explained by the analyzed chemicals. The mixture effect predicted from the quantified chemical concentrations explained 0.014-83% of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor activating effect (AhR-CALUX), but less than 0.13% for the activation of the oxidative stress response (AREc32) and peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPARγ). The quantified chemicals also explained between 0.044-45% of the cytotoxic effect measured with the AhR-CALUX. The largest fraction of the observed effect was explained for the orca, which was the individuum with the highest chemical burden. This study underlines that chemical analysis and bioassays are complementary to comprehensively characterize the mixture exposome of marine mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva B Reiter
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Elisa Rojo-Nieto
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Hannah Nolte
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, 25761, Büsum, Germany
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department of Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318, Leipzig, Germany.
- Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, 52074, Germany
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5
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Berger ML, Shaw SD, Rolsky CB, Chen D, Sun J, Rosing-Asvid A, Granquist SM, Simon M, Bäcklin BM, Roos AM. Alternative and legacy flame retardants in marine mammals from three northern ocean regions. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122255. [PMID: 37517638 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Flame retardants are globally distributed contaminants that have been linked to negative health effects in humans and wildlife. As top predators, marine mammals bioaccumulate flame retardants and other contaminants in their tissues which is one of many human-imposed factors threatening population health. While some flame retardants, such as the polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), have been banned because of known toxicity and environmental persistence, limited data exist on the presence and distribution of current-use alternative flame retardants in marine mammals from many industrialized and remote regions of the world. Therefore, this study measured 44 legacy and alternative flame retardants in nine marine mammal species from three ocean regions: the Northwest Atlantic, the Arctic, and the Baltic allowing for regional, species, age, body condition, temporal, and tissue comparisons to help understand global patterns. PBDE concentrations were 100-1000 times higher than the alternative brominated flame retardants (altBFRs) and Dechloranes. 2,2',4,5,5'-pentabromobiphenyl (BB-101) and hexabromobenzene (HBBZ) were the predominant altBFRs, while Dechlorane-602 was the predominant Dechlorane. This manuscript also reports only the second detection of hexachlorocyclopentadienyl-dibromocyclooctane (HCDBCO) in marine mammals. The NW Atlantic had the highest PBDE concentrations followed by the Baltic and Arctic which reflects greater historical use of PBDEs in North America compared to Europe and greater industrialization of North America and Baltic countries compared to the Arctic. Regional patterns for other compounds were more complicated, and there were significant interactions among species, regions, body condition and age class. Lipid-normalized PBDE concentrations in harbor seal liver and blubber were similar, but HBBZ and many Dechloranes had higher concentrations in liver, indicating factors other than lipid dynamics affect the distribution of these compounds. The health implications of contamination by this mixture of compounds are of concern and require further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Berger
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA.
| | - Susan D Shaw
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA
| | - Charles B Rolsky
- Shaw Institute, PO Box 1652, 55 Main Street, Blue Hill, ME, 04614, USA
| | - Da Chen
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China; Cooperative Wildlife Research Laboratory and Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Jiachen Sun
- School of Environment and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510632, China; College of Marine Life Science, Ocean University of China, CN-266003, Qingdao, China
| | - Aqqalu Rosing-Asvid
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Sandra Magdalena Granquist
- Seal Research Department, The Icelandic Seal Center, Höfðabraut 6, 530 Hvammstangi, Iceland; Marine and Freshwater Research Institute, Fornubúðir 5, 220 Hafnarfjörður, Iceland
| | - Malene Simon
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Britt-Marie Bäcklin
- Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Maria Roos
- Greenland Climate Research Centre, Greenland Institute of Natural Resources, Kivioq 2, PO Box 570, 3900, Nuuk, Greenland; Department of Environmental Research and Monitoring, Swedish Museum of Natural History, PO Box 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
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6
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Screening for Influenza and Morbillivirus in Seals and Porpoises in the Baltic and North Sea. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12030357. [PMID: 36986279 PMCID: PMC10054458 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12030357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Historically, the seals and harbour porpoises of the Baltic Sea and North Sea have been subjected to hunting, chemical pollutants and repeated mass mortalities, leading to significant population fluctuations. Despite the conservation implications and the zoonotic potential associated with viral disease outbreaks in wildlife, limited information is available on the circulation of viral pathogens in Baltic Sea seals and harbour porpoises. Here, we investigated the presence of the influenza A virus (IAV), the phocine distemper virus (PDV) and the cetacean morbillivirus (CeMV) in tracheal swabs and lung tissue samples from 99 harbour seals, 126 grey seals, 73 ringed seals and 78 harbour porpoises collected in the Baltic Sea and North Sea between 2002–2019. Despite screening 376 marine mammals collected over nearly two decades, we only detected one case of PDV and two cases of IAV linked to the documented viral outbreaks in seals in 2002 and 2014, respectively. Although we find no evidence of PDV and IAV during intermediate years, reports of isolated cases of PDV in North Sea harbour seals and IAV (H5N8) in Baltic and North Sea grey seals suggest introductions of those pathogens within the sampling period. Thus, to aid future monitoring efforts we highlight the need for a standardized and continuous sample collection of swabs, tissue and blood samples across Baltic Sea countries.
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Wang X, Li N, Ma M, Han Y, Rao K. Immunotoxicity In Vitro Assays for Environmental Pollutants under Paradigm Shift in Toxicity Tests. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:273. [PMID: 36612599 PMCID: PMC9819277 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
With the outbreak of COVID-19, increasingly more attention has been paid to the effects of environmental factors on the immune system of organisms, because environmental pollutants may act in synergy with viruses by affecting the immunity of organisms. The immune system is a developing defense system formed by all metazoans in the course of struggling with various internal and external factors, whose damage may lead to increased susceptibility to pathogens and diseases. Due to a greater vulnerability of the immune system, immunotoxicity has the potential to be the early event of other toxic effects, and should be incorporated into environmental risk assessment. However, compared with other toxicity endpoints, e.g., genotoxicity, endocrine toxicity, or developmental toxicity, there are many challenges for the immunotoxicity test of environmental pollutants; this is due to the lack of detailed mechanisms of action and reliable assay methods. In addition, with the strong appeal for animal-free experiments, there has been a significant shift in the toxicity test paradigm, from traditional animal experiments to high-throughput in vitro assays that rely on cell lines. Therefore, there is an urgent need to build high-though put immunotoxicity test methods to screen massive environmental pollutants. This paper reviews the common methods of immunotoxicity assays, including assays for direct immunotoxicity and skin sensitization. Direct immunotoxicity mainly refers to immunosuppression, for which the assays mostly use mixed immune cells or isolated single cells from animals with obvious problems, such as high cost, complex experimental operation, strong variability and so on. Meanwhile, there have been no stable and standard cell lines targeting immune functions developed for high-throughput tests. Compared with direct immunotoxicity, skin sensitizer screening has developed relatively mature in vitro assay methods based on an adverse outcome pathway (AOP), which points out the way forward for the paradigm shift in toxicity tests. According to the experience of skin sensitizer screening, this paper proposes that we also should seek appropriate nodes and establish more complete AOPs for immunosuppression and other immune-mediated diseases. Then, effective in vitro immunotoxicity assay methods can be developed targeting key events, simultaneously coordinating the studies of the chemical immunotoxicity mechanism, and further promoting the paradigm shift in the immunotoxicity test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinge Wang
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Mei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Beijing 100085, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yingnan Han
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Kaifeng Rao
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Beijing 100085, China
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8
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Lynch AE, Noble LR, Jones CS, Routledge EJ. Common aquatic pollutants modify hemocyte immune responses in Biomphalaria glabrata. Front Immunol 2022; 13:839746. [PMID: 36159819 PMCID: PMC9493456 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.839746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruptions to reproductive health in wildlife species inhabiting polluted environments is often found to occur alongside compromised immunity. However, research on impacts of aquatic pollution on freshwater mollusc immune responses is limited despite their importance as vectors of disease (Schistosomiasis) in humans, cattle and wild mammals. We developed an in vitro 'tool-kit' of well-characterized quantitative immune tests using Biomphalaria glabrata hemocytes. We exposed hemocytes to environmentally-relevant concentrations of common aquatic pollutants (17β-estradiol, Bisphenol-A and p,p'-DDE) and measured key innate immune responses including motility, phagocytosis and encapsulation. Additionally, we tested an extract of a typical domestic tertiary treated effluent as representative of a 'real-world' mixture of chemicals. Encapsulation responses were stimulated by p,p'-DDE at low doses but were suppressed at higher doses. Concentrations of BPA (above 200 ng/L) and p,p'-DDE (above 500 ng/L) significantly inhibited phagocytosis compared to controls, whilst hemocyte motility was reduced by all test chemicals and the effluent extract in a dose-dependent manner. All responses occurred at chemical concentrations considered to be below the cytotoxic thresholds of hemocytes. This is the first time a suite of in vitro tests has been developed specifically in B. glabrata with the purpose of investigating the impacts of chemical pollutants and an effluent extract on immunity. Our findings indicate that common aquatic pollutants alter innate immune responses in B. glabrata, suggesting that pollutants may be a critical, yet overlooked, factor impacting disease by modulating the dynamics of parasite transmission between molluscs and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam E. Lynch
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
| | - Leslie R. Noble
- Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, Bodø, Norway
- School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine S. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Edwin J. Routledge
- College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, United Kingdom
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9
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Reiter EB, Escher BI, Siebert U, Jahnke A. Activation of the xenobiotic metabolism and oxidative stress response by mixtures of organic pollutants extracted with in-tissue passive sampling from liver, kidney, brain and blubber of marine mammals. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107337. [PMID: 35696845 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We used in-tissue passive equilibrium sampling using the silicone polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to transfer chemical mixtures present in organs from marine mammals with lipid contents between 2.3 and 99%into in vitro bioassays. Tissues from five harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena), one harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) and one orca (Orcinus orca) from the North and Baltic Seas were sampled until thermodynamic equilibrium was reached. Mixture effects were quantified with cellular reporter gene bioassays targeting the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR-CALUX), the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ-bla) and the oxidative stress response (AREc32), with parallel cytotoxicity measurements in all assays. After removing co-extracted lipids and other matrix residues with a non-destructive cleanup method (freeze-out of acetonitrile extract followed by a primary secondary amine sorbent extraction), the activation of the PPARγ and AREc32 were reduced by factors of on average 4.3 ± 0.15 (n = 22) and 2.5 ± 0.23 (n = 18), respectively, whereas the activation of the AhR remained largely unaltered: 1.1 ± 0.075 (n = 6). The liver extracts showed the highest activation, followed by the corresponding kidney and brain extracts, and the blubber extracts of the animals were the least active ones. The activation of the PPARγ by the liver extracts was reduced after cleanup by a factor of 11 ± 0.26 (n = 7) and the AREc32 activity by a factor of 1.9 ± 0.32 (n = 4). The blubber extracts did not activate the AhR up to concentrations where cytotoxicity occurred or up to an acceptable lipid volume fraction of 0.27% as derived from earlier work, whereas all liver extracts that had undergone cleanup activated the AhR. The developed in-tissue passive sampling approach allows a direct comparison of the bioassay responses between different tissues without further normalization and serves as a quantitative method suitable for biomonitoring of environmental biota samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva B Reiter
- Department Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Center for Applied Geoscience, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Schnarrenbergstr. 94-96, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstr. 6, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - Annika Jahnke
- Department Ecological Chemistry, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany; Institute for Environmental Research, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
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10
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Li G, Suzuki H, Takei J, Saito M, Goto N, Uchida K, Nakagawa T, Harada H, Tanaka T, Asano T, Kaneko MK, Kato Y. Immunohistochemical Analysis Using Monoclonal Antibody PMab-269 Against Steller Sea Lion Podoplanin. Monoclon Antib Immunodiagn Immunother 2022; 41:39-44. [PMID: 35225666 DOI: 10.1089/mab.2021.0055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that specifically target podoplanin (PDPN), a marker for type I alveolar cells, are required for immunohistochemical analyses. Anti-PDPN mAbs are available for many species, including human, mouse, rat, rabbit, dog, cat, bovine, pig, Tasmanian devil, alpaca, tiger, whale, goat, horse, bear, sheep, and California sea lion PDPNs. However, no anti-Steller sea lion PDPN (stePDPN) antibody has been developed. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that an anti-California sea lion PDPN mAb (PMab-269) reacted with type I alveolar cells from the Steller sea lion lung, renal glomeruli and Bowman's capsules from kidney, and lymphatic endothelial cells from the colon, indicating that PMab-269 is useful for detecting stePDPN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanjie Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Suzuki
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Junko Takei
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Masaki Saito
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Nohara Goto
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Experimental Pathology, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Uchida
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Takayuki Nakagawa
- Laboratory of Veterinary Surgery, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Harada
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Tanaka
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Teizo Asano
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mika K Kaneko
- Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yukinari Kato
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.,Department of Antibody Drug Development, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
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11
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Organic UV Filters Induce Toll-like-Receptors and Related Signaling Pathways in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Juvenile Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta caretta). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12050594. [PMID: 35268162 PMCID: PMC8909695 DOI: 10.3390/ani12050594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Emerging environmental contaminants, such as sunscreen agents, have been broadly identified in marine ecosystems. Thus, the present work aims to investigate whether organic UV filters cause immunotoxic effects in juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). We found that loggerhead sea turtles showing high circulating levels of organic UV filters manifested increased expression of genes involved in inflammatory responses, probably due to contaminant-induced oxidative damage. Abstract Recent evidence suggests that exposure to organic ultraviolet filters (UV filters) is associated with dysregulated neuroendocrine-immune homeostasis. Marine species are likely to be among the most vulnerable to UV filters due to widespread diffusion of these chemicals in the aquatic environment. In the present study, the effects of UV filter bioaccumulation on toll-like-receptors (TLRs) and related signaling pathways were investigated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of juvenile loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). We found that the expression of both TLR1 and TLR2 was significantly increased in UV-filter exposed turtles compared to control animals. Similarly, the signaling pathway downstream of activated TLRs (i.e., Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (RAC1), Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT3), and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)) was significantly up-regulated, leading to an enhanced transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines. In addition, we demonstrated that high levels of plasma UV filters increased lipid peroxidation in sea turtles’ PBMCs. Our results indicated that UV filters affected the inflammatory responses of PBMCs via modulation of the TLR/NF-κB signaling pathway and provided a new insight into the link between exposure to sunscreen agents and sea turtle health.
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12
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Li X, Li N, Han Y, Rao K, Ji X, Ma M. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced suppression of immunity in THP-1-derived macrophages and the possible mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 287:117302. [PMID: 34020259 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a well-known immunotoxic environmental pollutant. However, most immunotoxicology studies of TCDD were based on the animal models and the inner mechanisms have just focused on a few genes/proteins. In this study, the immune functions of THP-1-derived macrophages was measured with in-vitro bioassays after 24-h exposure of TCDD including environmentally relevant concentrations. RNA-seq and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis were used to characterize the immunotoxicity molecular mechanisms. Our study is the first report on the TCDD-induced effects of cell adhesion, morphology, and multiple cytokines/chemokines production on THP-1 macrophages. After TCDD treatment, we observed an inhibited cell adherence, probably attributed to the suppressed mRNA levels of adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and CD11b, and a decrease in cell pseudopodia and expression of F-actin. The inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-10 and other 8 cytokines/chemokines regulating granulocytes/T cells and angiogenesis were disrupted by TCDD. Alternative splicing event was found to be a sensitive target for TCDD. Using WGCNA, we identified 10 hub genes (TNF, SRC, FGF2, PTGS2, CDH2, GNG11, BDNF, WNT5A, CXCR5 and RUNX2) highly relevant to these observed phenotypes, suggesting AhR less important in the effects TCDD have on THP-1 macrophages than in other cells. Our findings broaden the understanding of TCDD immunotoxicity on macrophages and provide new potential targets for clarifying the molecular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyan Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Na Li
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yingnan Han
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Kaifeng Rao
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Xiaoya Ji
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Mei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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13
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Bethune E, Schulz-Kornas E, Lehnert K, Siebert U, Kaiser TM. Tooth Microwear Texture in the Eastern Atlantic Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina) of the German Wadden Sea and Its Implications for Long Term Dietary and Ecosystem Changes. Front Ecol Evol 2021. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2021.644019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine mammals are increasingly threatened in their habitat by various anthropogenic impacts. This is particularly evident in prey abundance. Understanding the dietary strategies of marine mammal populations can help predict implications for their future health status and is essential for their conservation. In this study we provide a striking example of a new dietary proxy in pinnipeds to document marine mammal diets using a dental record. In this novel approach, we used a combination of 49 parameters to establish a dental microwear texture (DMTA) as a dietary proxy of feeding behaviour in harbour seals. This method is an established approach to assess diets in terrestrial mammals, but has not yet been applied to pinnipeds. Our aim was to establish a protocol, opening DMTA to pinnipeds by investigating inter- and intra-individual variations. We analysed the 244 upper teeth of 78 Atlantic harbour seals (Phoca vitulina vitulina). The specimens were collected in 1988 along the North Sea coast (Wadden Sea, Germany) and are curated by the Zoological Institute of Kiel University, Germany. An increasing surface texture roughness from frontal to distal teeth was found and related to different prey processing biomechanics. Ten and five year old individuals were similar in their texture roughness, whereas males and females were similar to each other with the exception of their frontal dentition. Fall and summer specimens also featured no difference in texture roughness. We established the second to fourth postcanine teeth as reference tooth positions, as those were unaffected by age, sex, season, or intra-individual variation. In summary, applying indirect dietary proxies, such as DMTA, will allow reconstructing dietary traits of pinnipeds using existing skeletal collection material. Combining DMTA with time series analyses is a very promising approach to track health status in pinniped populations over the last decades. This approach opens new research avenues and could help detect dietary shifts in marine environments in the past and the future.
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14
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Silva WTAF, Bottagisio E, Härkönen T, Galatius A, Olsen MT, Harding KC. Risk for overexploiting a seemingly stable seal population: influence of multiple stressors and hunting. Ecosphere 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Willian T. A. F. Silva
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Elio Bottagisio
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
| | | | - Anders Galatius
- Section for Marine Mammal Research Department of Bioscience Aarhus University Frederiksborgvej 399 Roskilde4000Denmark
| | - Morten Tange Olsen
- Section for Evolutionary Genomics Globe Institute University of Copenhagen Copenhagen Denmark
| | - Karin C. Harding
- Department of Biology and Environmental Sciences University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
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15
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Levin M, Jasperse L, Desforges JP, O'Hara T, Rea L, Castellini JM, Maniscalco JM, Fadely B, Keogh M. Methyl mercury (MeHg) in vitro exposure alters mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine expression in Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 725:138308. [PMID: 32302832 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus, SSLs) are managed as two distinct population segments within U.S. waters: the endangered western distinct population segment and the recently delisted eastern distinct population segment. Recent studies reported concentrations of mercury in several tissues collected from young SSLs in the Aleutian Islands that were at or above concentrations found to negatively impact health in other fish-eating mammals. However, there are limited studies which have investigated the range of mercury concentrations that may negatively influence the SSL immune system. This study assessed relationships between methyl mercury (MeHg+) concentrations and two immune functions, lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine expression. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and cryopreserved from pups on three rookeries within the western distinct population segment: Chiswell Island, Ulak, and Agattu Islands. Lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine expression were assessed in vitro using thawed PBMCs with exposure to MeHg+ (unexposed control, 0.001, 0.01, and 0.1 μg/ml). Lymphocyte proliferation was measured without and with stimulation with a T cell mitogen (ConA) and B cell mitogen (LPS) and the concentration of cytokines was measured in the cell culture supernatant (with and without ConA or LPS). Spontaneous lymphocyte proliferation was significantly increased at 0.01 and 0.1 μg/ml. T lymphocyte proliferation was significantly increased at 0.001 μg/ml and 0.1 μg/ml, while B lymphocyte proliferation was decreased at 0.1 μg/ml. Cytokine concentrations for INFγ, IL-10, IL-6, and TNFα were reduced at 0.1 μg/ml upon either T or B cell mitogen stimulation, with the exception for IL-10, where 0.1 μg/ml reduced IL-10 concentration compared to unstimulated cells. These data suggest immune functions were affected by MeHg+ exposure requiring in vivo follow up investigations. The observed modulation of immune functions is of concern as any toxicant-induced modulation may adversely affect the health of individuals, particularly younger animals undergoing periods of critical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milton Levin
- University of Connecticut, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, 61 N. Eagleville Road U-3089, Storrs, CT 06269, United States of America.
| | - Lindsay Jasperse
- University of Connecticut, Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, 61 N. Eagleville Road U-3089, Storrs, CT 06269, United States of America
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Todd O'Hara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, United States of America; Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, 4458 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Lorrie Rea
- Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, United States of America
| | - J Margaret Castellini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775-5910, United States of America
| | - John M Maniscalco
- Alaska SeaLife Center, P.O. Box 1329, Seward, AK 99664, United States of America
| | - Brian Fadely
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, United States of America
| | - Mandy Keogh
- Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Marine Mammal Program. 1300 College Rd., Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States of America
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16
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Lawson TM, Ylitalo GM, O'Neill SM, Dahlheim ME, Wade PR, Matkin CO, Burkanov V, Boyd DT. Concentrations and profiles of organochlorine contaminants in North Pacific resident and transient killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 722:137776. [PMID: 32199362 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Organochlorine (OC) profiles have been used as chemical "fingerprints" to infer an animal's foraging area. North Pacific killer whale (Orcinus orca) populations are exposed to different levels and patterns of OCs based on their prey, distribution, and amount of time spent in a particular area. To characterize concentrations and profiles of OCs found in various populations of North Pacific killer whales, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), including dioxin-like congeners, DDTs, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), were measured in biopsy blubber samples of photo-identified resident (fish-eating) and transient (mammal-eating) killer whales collected from 1994 through 2002 from Russian Far East waters to the waters of the west coast of the United States, representing 10 populations. We compared blubber OC concentrations based on ecotype (resident vs. transient), sex and reproductive maturity, and geographic area. We also examined OC mixtures to determine if we could detect segregated geographical areas (foraging areas) among the six populations with sufficient sample sizes. Transients had significantly higher OC concentrations than residents and adult male whales had consistently higher OC levels compared to adult females, regardless of ecotype. Our OC profile findings indicate segregated foraging areas for the North Pacific killer whales, consistent with observations of their geographic distributions. Several potential health risks have also been associated with exposure to high levels of contaminants in top-level predators including reproductive impairment, immune suppression, skeletal deformities, and carcinoma. The results of this baseline study provide information on the geographic distribution of OCs found in North Pacific killer whales, results which are crucial for assessing the potential health risks associated with OC exposure in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa M Lawson
- West Coast Region, National Marine Fisheries Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, United States of America.
| | - Gina M Ylitalo
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
| | - Sandra M O'Neill
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, P.O. Box 43200, Olympia, WA 98504-3200, United States of America
| | - Marilyn E Dahlheim
- Retired employee of the Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, United States of America
| | - Paul R Wade
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
| | - Craig O Matkin
- North Gulf Oceanic Society, P.O. Box 15244, Homer, AK 99603, United States of America
| | - Vladimir Burkanov
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
| | - Daryle T Boyd
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Services, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
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17
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Keogh MJ, Taras B, Beckmen KB, Burek-Huntington KA, Ylitalo GM, Fadely BS, Rea LD, Pitcher KW. Organochlorine contaminant concentrations in blubber of young Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) are influenced by region, age, sex, and lipid stores. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 698:134183. [PMID: 31494417 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134183] [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: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Contaminant exposure is particularly important for species and populations of conservation concern, such as the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus). We used blubber samples (n = 120) to determine organochlorine concentrations, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane (DDTs), and blood samples (n = 107) to estimate total body lipids based on the hydrogen isotope dilution method. We assessed the influence of age, sex, condition, and geographic area on contaminant concentrations in blubber and contaminant body load. The concentration of ΣPCBs was highest in pups (<6 months) from the Aleutian Islands, and the concentrations in males were higher than females in all regions. The ΣPCBs and ΣDDTs concentrations and loads decreased with increasing mass in pups, however, there were no regional or sex differences in contaminant load. Within each of the five age classes, the concentrations of ΣPCBs and ΣDDTs decreased with increasing mass, but overall these OCs increased with age. Further, accounting for the lipid content, a potential proxy for energy balance, in the animal load reduced or removed the regional and sex effects present in age models for contaminants. We propose, that adjusting OCs concentration by the lipid content of the blubber sample alone may not fully account for the variability in OC concentrations associated with differences in condition or energy states between young Steller sea lions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandy J Keogh
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, P.O. Box 110024, Douglas, AK 99811-0024, United States of America.
| | - Brian Taras
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States of America
| | - Kimberlee B Beckmen
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States of America
| | - Kathleen A Burek-Huntington
- Alaska Veterinary Pathology Services, 23834 The Clearing Drive, Eagle River, AK 99577, United States of America
| | - Gina M Ylitalo
- Environmental and Fisheries Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Blvd. East, Seattle, WA 98112, United States of America
| | - Brian S Fadely
- Marine Mammal Laboratory, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 7600 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, United States of America
| | - Lorrie D Rea
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States of America; Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 1764 Tanana Loop, ELIF Suite 240, Fairbanks, AK 99775, United States of America
| | - Kenneth W Pitcher
- Division of Wildlife Conservation, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, 1300 College Road, Fairbanks, AK 99701, United States of America
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18
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Trego ML, Whitehead A, Kellar NM, Lauf M, Lewison RL. Tracking transcriptomic responses to endogenous and exogenous variation in cetaceans in the Southern California Bight. CONSERVATION PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 7:coz018. [PMID: 31110768 PMCID: PMC6518923 DOI: 10.1093/conphys/coz018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Marine wildlife populations are adapted to survive in highly dynamic environments. However, identifying the effects of endogenous versus exogenous variables on marine mammal physiology remains a substantial challenge in part because of the logistical constraints that limit the collection of physiological data in free-ranging animals. Measuring genome-wide gene expression is one minimally invasive method that can be used to elucidate how free-ranging cetaceans' physiological responses shift with changing environmental conditions or demographic states, i.e. reproductive status and maturity. We identified transcriptomic differences among bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the Southern California Bight using RNAseq data from the skin of 75 individuals to examine gene expression associated with sex, pregnancy status, sea surface temperature, geographic location and ecotype. We identified transcriptomic variation between two genetically distinct ecotypes as well as variation related to environmental conditions among groups that exhibit little evidence of genetic divergence. Specifically, we found differential expression of genes associated with structural development, cellular starvation and immune response. Sex and pregnancy status explained a small proportion of the observed variation, in contrast to sea surface temperature, which explained a substantial amount of transcriptomic variation. However, these measured variables did not account for all of the differential expression observed between ecotypes and among geographically distinct groups. Additional research is needed to identify other endogenous or exogenous factors that may be contributing to observed transcriptomic differences among ecotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa L Trego
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Andrew Whitehead
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas M Kellar
- Ocean Associates, Inc., under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Morgane Lauf
- Ocean Associates, Inc., under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Arlington, VA, USA
| | - Rebecca L Lewison
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
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19
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Trego ML, Hoh E, Whitehead A, Kellar NM, Lauf M, Datuin DO, Lewison RL. Contaminant Exposure Linked to Cellular and Endocrine Biomarkers in Southern California Bottlenose Dolphins. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:3811-3822. [PMID: 30852886 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Cetaceans in the Southern California Bight (SCB) are exposed to high levels of halogenated organic contaminants (HOCs), which have previously been linked to impaired reproductive health and immune responses. We used a combination of molecular tools to examine the potential physiological impacts of HOC exposure in two bottlenose dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus) ecotypes in the SCB. We quantified 25 HOCs in the blubber of 22 biopsies collected from males between 2012 and 2016. We then analyzed genome-wide gene expression in skin using RNA-sequencing and measured blubber testosterone to compare HOC exposure with cellular and endocrine biomarkers. We found high levels of HOCs in both ecotypes with significantly higher total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), tris(4-chlorophenyl)methanol (TCPMOH), and chlordane-related compounds in the coastal ecotype versus the offshore ecotype. We found evidence of PBDE bioaccumulation in both ecotypes, however, the pattern of bioaccumulation or endocrine disruption for other HOCs was different between the ecotypes, suggesting potential endocrine disruption in the coastal ecotype. We also observed correlations between HOCs and gene coexpression networks enriched for xenobiotic metabolism, hormone metabolism, and immune response that could indicate cellular effects from HOC exposure. By integrating measurements of HOC load with both transcriptome profiling and endocrine biomarkers, our approach provides insight into HOC exposure and potential impacts on wild cetacean health in southern California.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa L Trego
- Department of Biology , San Diego State University , 5500 Campanile Drive , San Diego , California 92182 , United States
- Department of Environmental Toxicology , University of California-Davis , 1 Shields Avenue , Davis , California 95616 , United States
| | - Eunha Hoh
- School of Public Health , San Diego State University , 5500 Campanile Drive , San Diego , California 92182 , United States
| | - Andrew Whitehead
- Department of Environmental Toxicology , University of California-Davis , 1 Shields Avenue , Davis , California 95616 , United States
| | - Nicholas M Kellar
- Ocean Associates, Incorporated, under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , Arlington , Virginia 22207 , United States
| | - Morgane Lauf
- Ocean Associates, Incorporated, under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service , National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration , Arlington , Virginia 22207 , United States
| | - Dana O Datuin
- School of Public Health , San Diego State University , 5500 Campanile Drive , San Diego , California 92182 , United States
| | - Rebecca L Lewison
- Department of Biology , San Diego State University , 5500 Campanile Drive , San Diego , California 92182 , United States
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Bartalini A, Muñoz-Arnanz J, Marsili L, Mazzariol S, Fossi MC, Jiménez B. Evaluation of PCDD/Fs, dioxin-like PCBs and PBDEs in sperm whales from the Mediterranean Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 653:1417-1425. [PMID: 30759580 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies to date have reported concentrations of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) in different marine mammal species worldwide. Yet data on sperm whales are scarce from rich and unique biodiverse areas such as the Mediterranean Sea. This work aimed to assess levels of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl-PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) in blubber of sperm whales stranded along the Italian coast between 2008 and 2016. POP mean concentrations (dl-PCBs: 6410 ng/g l.w.; PBDEs: 612 ng/g l.w.; PCDD/Fs: 57.8 pg/g l.w.) were mostly in line with what has been previously reported on the same species in the Mediterranean environment and tended to be higher than those reported from other geographical regions. The relative abundance followed the order dl-PCBs > PBDEs ≫ PCDD/Fs. Interestingly, the non-ortho dl-PCB pattern (126 > 169 > 77) was similar to that described in other studies worldwide and different from what is described in its main prey. This could be linked to particular metabolic activities in sperm whales against these highly toxic contaminants. Total TEQs ranged from 275 to 987 pg/g l.w. and showed the pattern Σnon-ortho-dl-PCBs > Σortho-dl-PCBs > PCDDs > PCDFs, with PCBs' contribution about 96%. These findings highlight the high abundance of PCBs still found in the Mediterranean environment despite having been banned for decades. All sperm whales analyzed in this study surpassed the threshold of 210 pg WHO-TEQ/g l.w. proposed as starting point of immunosuppression in harbour seals; a level of contamination that may have contributed to an impairment of their immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bartalini
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - J Muñoz-Arnanz
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, CSIC. Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
| | - L Marsili
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - S Mazzariol
- Department of Public Health, Comparative Pathology and Veterinary Hygiene, University of Padova, Viale dell'Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy
| | - M C Fossi
- Department of Environmental, Earth and Physical Sciences, University of Siena, Via Mattioli 4, Siena, Italy
| | - B Jiménez
- Department of Instrumental Analysis and Environmental Chemistry, Institute of Organic Chemistry, CSIC. Juan de la Cierva, 3, 28006 Madrid, Spain
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21
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Peñín I, Levin M, Acevedo-Whitehouse K, Jasperse L, Gebhard E, Gulland FMD, De Guise S. Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) on California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) lymphocyte functions upon in vitro exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 167:708-717. [PMID: 30236520 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.08.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Polychorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners are a cause for concern due to their persistence in the environment, their lipophilic properties that cause them to bio-accumulate in top predators, and their adverse effects on mammalian health. For example, the common urogenital carcinoma reported in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus) (CSL) is associated with high tissue levels of PCBs, but the mechanisms responsible for this association are unknown. This study investigated the effect of exposure to six PCB congeners and a congener mix at low and environmentally relevant concentrations on NK cell-like and T cell activity using in vitro assays on cryopreserved lymph node mononuclear cells isolated from dead CSL. Non dioxin-like congeners 153 and 180 increased lymphocyte proliferation at 5 and 10 ppm, while congener 138 decreased proliferation by up to 43% at 15 ppm. Dioxin-like PCBs 118 and 169 did not affect lymphocyte proliferation, while the effects of congener 105 depended on the mitogen concentration; these did not correlate with their predicted toxic equivalent factors. NK cell-like activity was affected only by the highest concentration of PCBs tested; it was increased by non-dioxin-like congeners 138 and 153, and decreased by dioxin-like congener 169. The PCB congener mix suggested that the effects of PCB congeners were not simply additive. Our results concur with effects of PCBs reported for other pinniped's lymphocytes and add further experimental support to the observation that dioxin-like PCBs are not the most toxic congeners for marine mammals, contrary to effects in other species. This is the first evidence of in vitro suppression of NK cell-like cytotoxicity by a dioxin-like congener in a pinniped. More importantly, the observed results suggest that PCBs can modulate the CSL immune system, increasing exposed individuals' susceptibility to viral and oncogenic challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- I Peñín
- Laboratory of Immune Plasticity and Molecular Ecoepidemiology, Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, Autonomous University of Queretaro, 76230, Mexico
| | - M Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - K Acevedo-Whitehouse
- Laboratory of Immune Plasticity and Molecular Ecoepidemiology, Unit for Basic and Applied Microbiology, Autonomous University of Queretaro, 76230, Mexico; The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA
| | - L Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - E Gebhard
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - F M D Gulland
- The Marine Mammal Center, 2000 Bunker Road, Sausalito, CA 94965, USA
| | - S De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269, USA.
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22
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Trego ML, Hoh E, Kellar NM, Meszaros S, Robbins MN, Dodder NG, Whitehead A, Lewison RL. Comprehensive Screening Links Halogenated Organic Compounds with Testosterone Levels in Male Delphinus delphis from the Southern California Bight. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:3101-3109. [PMID: 29397698 PMCID: PMC6301072 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b04652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
While environmental pollutants have been associated with changes in endocrine health in cetaceans, efforts to link contaminant exposure with hormones have largely been limited to a list of known, targeted contaminants, overlooking minimally characterized or unknown compounds of emerging concern. To address this gap, we analyzed a suite of potential endocrine disrupting halogenated organic compounds (HOCs) in blubber from 16 male short-beaked common dolphins ( Delphinus delphis) with known maturity status collected from fishery bycatch in the Southern California Bight. We employed a suspect screening mass spectrometry-based method to investigate a wide range of HOCs that were previously observed in cetaceans from the same region. Potential endocrine effects were assessed through the measurement of blubber testosterone. We detected 167 HOCs, including 81 with known anthropogenic sources, 49 of unknown origin, and 37 with known natural sources. The sum of 11 anthropogenic and 4 unknown HOC classes were negatively correlated with blubber testosterone. Evidence suggests that elevated anthropogenic HOC load contributes to impaired testosterone production in mature male D. delphis. The application of this integrative analytical approach to cetacean contaminant analysis allows for inference of the biological consequences of accumulation of HOCs and prioritization of compounds for future environmental toxicology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa L. Trego
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
- Corresponding Author, Phone: (858) 546-7066
| | - Eunha Hoh
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Nicholas M. Kellar
- Southwest Fisheries Science Center, MMTD, NMFS, NOAA, 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Sara Meszaros
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Michelle N. Robbins
- Ocean Associates, Inc., under contract to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - USA
| | - Nathan G. Dodder
- Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
| | - Andrew Whitehead
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California Davis, 1 Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Rebecca L. Lewison
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr., San Diego, CA, 92182, USA
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23
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Hall AJ, McConnell BJ, Schwacke LH, Ylitalo GM, Williams R, Rowles TK. Predicting the effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on cetacean populations through impacts on immunity and calf survival. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 233:407-418. [PMID: 29096314 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.10.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/18/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
The potential impact of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on the health and survival of cetaceans continues to be an issue for conservation and management, yet few quantitative approaches for estimating population level effects have been developed. An individual based model (IBM) for assessing effects on both calf survival and immunity was developed and tested. Three case study species (bottlenose dolphin, humpback whale and killer whale) in four populations were taken as examples and the impact of varying levels of PCB uptake on achievable population growth was assessed. The unique aspect of the model is its ability to evaluate likely effects of immunosuppression in addition to calf survival, enabling consequences of PCB exposure on immune function on all age-classes to be explored. By incorporating quantitative tissue concentration-response functions from laboratory animal model species into an IBM framework, population trajectories were generated. Model outputs included estimated concentrations of PCBs in the blubber of females by age, which were then compared to published empirical data. Achievable population growth rates were more affected by the inclusion of effects of PCBs on immunity than on calf survival, but the magnitude depended on the virulence of any subsequent encounter with a pathogen and the proportion of the population exposed. Since the starting population parameters were from historic studies, which may already be impacted by PCBs, the results should be interpreted on a relative rather than an absolute basis. The framework will assist in providing quantitative risk assessments for populations of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailsa J Hall
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK.
| | - Bernie J McConnell
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC, 29412, USA
| | - Gina M Ylitalo
- Environmental Fisheries and Sciences Division, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA, 98112, USA
| | - Rob Williams
- Sea Mammal Research Unit, Scottish Oceans Institute, University of St Andrews, St Andrews, KY16 8LB, UK
| | - Teri K Rowles
- Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1315 East-West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
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24
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Kleinert C, Lacaze E, Fortier M, Hammill M, De Guise S, Fournier M. T lymphocyte-proliferative responses of harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) exposed to pharmaceuticals in vitro. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 127:225-234. [PMID: 29475659 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 10/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/01/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The ubiquity of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment and the accumulation in organisms of lower trophic levels have been documented. The immunotoxicity of these xenobiotics has however been little investigated. This study assessed the effects of pharmaceuticals on the immune responses of harbor seal lymphocytes. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from harbor seal pups were exposed to varying concentrations of 17α-ethinyl estradiol (250-50,000μg/L), naproxen (500-100,000μg/L), carbamazepine (500-100,000μg/L), erythromycin (750-150,000μg/L) and binary mixtures thereof in vitro. All individual compounds and mixtures inhibited lymphocyte proliferation. Mixture effects were non-additive and predictive values overestimated the inhibition of proliferation. Male pups were more sensitive to erythromycin exposure. Comparison with the sensitivity of the 11B7501 cell line showed a higher sensitivity of pups to individual compounds and the inverse trend for mixtures. Based on our results, we hypothesize that pharmaceuticals may have the potential to interrupt immune functions in harbor seals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Kleinert
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 Blvd. des Prairies, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada.
| | - Emilie Lacaze
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 Blvd. des Prairies, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Marlène Fortier
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 Blvd. des Prairies, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Mike Hammill
- Institut Maurice-Lamontagne, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, 850, route de la Mer, C. P. 1000, Mont-Joli, QC G5H 3Z4, Canada
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, U-3089, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Michel Fournier
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 Blvd. des Prairies, Laval, QC H7V 1B7, Canada
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25
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Desforges JP, Levin M, Jasperse L, De Guise S, Eulaers I, Letcher RJ, Acquarone M, Nordøy E, Folkow LP, Hammer Jensen T, Grøndahl C, Bertelsen MF, St Leger J, Almunia J, Sonne C, Dietz R. Effects of Polar Bear and Killer Whale Derived Contaminant Cocktails on Marine Mammal Immunity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2017; 51:11431-11439. [PMID: 28876915 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b03532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Most controlled toxicity studies use single chemical exposures that do not represent the real world situation of complex mixtures of known and unknown natural and anthropogenic substances. In the present study, complex contaminant cocktails derived from the blubber of polar bears (PB; Ursus maritimus) and killer whales (KW; Orcinus orca) were used for in vitro concentration-response experiments with PB, cetacean and seal spp. immune cells to evaluate the effect of realistic contaminant mixtures on various immune functions. Cytotoxic effects of the PB cocktail occurred at lower concentrations than the KW cocktail (1 vs 16 μg/mL), likely due to differences in contaminant profiles in the mixtures derived from the adipose of each species. Similarly, significant reduction of lymphocyte proliferation occurred at much lower exposures in the PB cocktail (EC50: 0.94 vs 6.06 μg/mL; P < 0.01), whereas the KW cocktail caused a much faster decline in proliferation (slope: 2.9 vs 1.7; P = 0.04). Only the KW cocktail modulated natural killer (NK) cell activity and neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis in a concentration- and species-dependent manner. No clear sensitivity differences emerged when comparing cetaceans, seals and PB. Our results showing lower effect levels for complex mixtures relative to single compounds suggest that previous risk assessments underestimate the effects of real world contaminant exposure on immunity. Our results using blubber-derived contaminant cocktails add realism to in vitro exposure experiments and confirm the immunotoxic risk marine mammals face from exposure to complex mixtures of environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University , Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut , 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3089, United States of America
| | - Lindsay Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut , 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3089, United States of America
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut , 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269-3089, United States of America
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University , Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University , Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1A 0H3
| | - Mario Acquarone
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø - the Arctic University of Norway , Breivika, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Erling Nordøy
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø - the Arctic University of Norway , Breivika, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Lars P Folkow
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø - the Arctic University of Norway , Breivika, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
| | | | - Carsten Grøndahl
- Copenhagen ZOO, Roskildevej 38, PO Box 7, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Mads F Bertelsen
- Copenhagen ZOO, Roskildevej 38, PO Box 7, DK-2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Judy St Leger
- SeaWorld Parks and Entertainment, 500 SeaWorld Drive, San Diego, California 92109, United States of America
| | - Javier Almunia
- Loro Parque Fundación, Avda. Loro Parque, s/n 38400 Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife Spain
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University , Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University , Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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26
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Desforges JP, Eulaers I, Periard L, Sonne C, Dietz R, Letcher RJ. A rapid analytical method to quantify complex organohalogen contaminant mixtures in large samples of high lipid mammalian tissues. CHEMOSPHERE 2017; 176:243-248. [PMID: 28273531 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2016] [Revised: 02/12/2017] [Accepted: 02/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In vitro investigations of the health impact of individual chemical compounds have traditionally been used in risk assessments. However, humans and wildlife are exposed to a plethora of potentially harmful chemicals, including organohalogen contaminants (OHCs). An alternative exposure approach to individual or simple mixtures of synthetic OHCs is to isolate the complex mixture present in free-ranging wildlife, often non-destructively sampled from lipid rich adipose. High concentration stock volumes required for in vitro investigations do, however, pose a great analytical challenge to extract sufficient amounts of complex OHC cocktails. Here we describe a novel method to easily, rapidly and efficiently extract an environmentally accumulated and therefore relevant contaminant cocktail from large (10-50 g) marine mammal blubber samples. We demonstrate that lipid freeze-filtration with acetonitrile removes up to 97% of blubber lipids, with minimal effect on the efficiency of OHC recovery. Sample extracts after freeze-filtration were further processed to remove residual trace lipids via high-pressure gel permeation chromatography and solid phase extraction. Average recoveries of OHCs from triplicate analysis of killer whale (Orcinus orca), polar bear (Ursus maritimus) and pilot whale (Globicephala spp.) blubber standard reference material (NIST SRM-1945) ranged from 68 to 80%, 54-92% and 58-145%, respectively, for 13C-enriched internal standards of six polychlorinated biphenyl congeners, 16 organochlorine pesticides and four brominated flame retardants. This approach to rapidly generate OHC mixtures shows great potential for experimental exposures using complex contaminant mixtures, research or monitoring driven contaminant quantification in biological samples, as well as the untargeted identification of emerging contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Luke Periard
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Robert J Letcher
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Wildlife Research Centre, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0H3, Canada.
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27
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Kleinert C, Lacaze E, Mounier M, De Guise S, Fournier M. Immunotoxic effects of single and combined pharmaceuticals exposure on a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) B lymphoma cell line. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2017; 118:237-247. [PMID: 28262249 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.02.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The potential risk of pharmaceuticals in the environment to top-predators is still largely unknown. In this study, we assessed the immunotoxic effects of ten pharmaceuticals individually and as mixtures on a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina) B lymphoma cell line. A significant reduction in lymphocyte transformation was observed following an exposure to 12,500μg/L 17α-ethinyl estradiol and 25,000μg/L naproxen. Exposure to 12,500μg/L 17α-ethinyl estradiol decreased the percentage of cell in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle while increasing the percentage of cells in the S phase. Carbamazepine exposure increased the amount of cells in the G2/M phase. Binary mixtures showed synergistic effects in lymphocyte transformation, cell cycle and apoptosis assays. Concentrations inducing toxic effects in the cell line were similar to those affecting fish in previous studies. A reduction of functional activities of the immune system may lead to altered host resistance to pathogens in free-ranging pinnipeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Kleinert
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 blvd. des Prairies, Laval (QC) H7V 1B7, Canada.
| | - Emilie Lacaze
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 blvd. des Prairies, Laval (QC) H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Méryl Mounier
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 blvd. des Prairies, Laval (QC) H7V 1B7, Canada
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, U-3089, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Michel Fournier
- INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Edifice 18, 531 blvd. des Prairies, Laval (QC) H7V 1B7, Canada.
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28
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Norman SA, Winfield ZC, Rickman BH, Usenko S, Klope M, Berta S, Dubpernell S, Garrett H, Adams MJ, Lambourn D, Huggins JL, Lysiak N, Clark AE, Sanders R, Trumble SJ. Persistent Organic Pollutant and Hormone Levels in Harbor Porpoise with B Cell Lymphoma. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2017; 72:596-605. [PMID: 28447121 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-017-0404-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma, a common morphologic variant of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has been associated with persistent pollutants in humans, but this association is not well-characterized in top-level predators sharing marine resources with humans. We characterized and compared blubber contaminants and hormones of a pregnant harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) with B-cell lymphoma, with those in two presumed healthy fishery by-caught porpoises with no lymphoma: a pregnant adult and female juvenile. Common historic use compounds, including polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, and pesticides, were evaluated in blubber samples from three porpoises. In addition, blubber cortisol and progesterone levels (ng/g) were determined in all three animals. Total pollutant concentrations were highest in the juvenile porpoise, followed by the lymphoma porpoise and the nonlymphoma adult. Blubber cortisol concentrations were 191% greater in the pregnant with lymphoma porpoise compared with the pregnant no lymphoma porpoise, and 89% greater in the juvenile female compared with the pregnant no lymphoma porpoise. Although both adults were pregnant, progesterone levels were substantially greater (90%) in the healthy compared with the lymphoma adult. Health monitoring of top-level marine predators, such as porpoise, provides a sentinel measure of contaminants that serve as indicators of potential environmental exposure to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Norman
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor Sciences Building, Baylor University, 101 Bagby Avenue, B407, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
- Department of Biology, One Bear Place, #97388, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA.
- Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, c/o Orca Network, 485 Labella Way, Freeland, WA, 98249, USA.
- Marine-Med: Marine Research, Epidemiology, and Veterinary Medicine, 24225 15th Place SE, Bothell, WA, 98021, USA.
| | - Zach C Winfield
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, One Bear Place, #97348, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Barry H Rickman
- Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, c/o Orca Network, 485 Labella Way, Freeland, WA, 98249, USA
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Private Mail Bag 3, 425 Werombi Road, Camden, NSW, 2570, Australia
| | - Sascha Usenko
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor Sciences Building, Baylor University, 101 Bagby Avenue, B407, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Matthew Klope
- Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, c/o Orca Network, 485 Labella Way, Freeland, WA, 98249, USA
| | - Susan Berta
- Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, c/o Orca Network, 485 Labella Way, Freeland, WA, 98249, USA
| | - Sandra Dubpernell
- Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, c/o Orca Network, 485 Labella Way, Freeland, WA, 98249, USA
| | - Howard Garrett
- Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, c/o Orca Network, 485 Labella Way, Freeland, WA, 98249, USA
| | - Mary Jo Adams
- Central Puget Sound Marine Mammal Stranding Network, c/o Orca Network, 485 Labella Way, Freeland, WA, 98249, USA
| | - Dyanna Lambourn
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Mammal Investigations, 7801 Phillips Rd. S.W., Lakewood, WA, 98498, USA
| | - Jessica L Huggins
- Cascadia Research Collective, 218 1/2 4th Ave W, Olympia, WA, 98501, USA
| | - Nadine Lysiak
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor Sciences Building, Baylor University, 101 Bagby Avenue, B407, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
- Department of Biology, One Bear Place, #97388, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
- Biology Department, University of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Blvd., Boston, MA, 02125, USA
| | - Adelaide E Clark
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, One Bear Place, #97348, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Rebel Sanders
- Department of Biology, One Bear Place, #97388, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
| | - Stephen J Trumble
- Department of Biology, One Bear Place, #97388, Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
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Kleinert C, Blanchet M, Gagné F, Fournier M. Dose-response relationships in gene expression profiles in a harbor seal B lymphoma cell line exposed to 17 -ethinyl estradiol. J Xenobiot 2017; 7:6702. [PMID: 30701058 PMCID: PMC6324477 DOI: 10.4081/xeno.2017.6702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2017] [Revised: 04/19/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - François Gagné
- Saint-Laurent Centre, Environment Canada, Montreal (QC), Canada
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BACTERIAL MICROBIOTA IN HARBOR SEALS (PHOCA VITULINA) FROM THE NORTH SEA OF SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN, GERMANY, AROUND THE TIME OF MORBILLIVIRUS AND INFLUENZA EPIDEMICS. J Wildl Dis 2017; 53:201-214. [DOI: 10.7589/2015-11-320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Levin M, Gebhard E, Jasperse L, Desforges JP, Dietz R, Sonne C, Eulaers I, Covaci A, Bossi R, De Guise S. Immunomodulatory effects of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls and perfluoroalkyl acids in East Greenland ringed seals (Pusa hispida). ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 151:244-250. [PMID: 27504872 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2016.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Revised: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
To better elucidate the potential immune-related health effects of exposure to environmentally persistent organic pollutants (POP), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), in ringed seals (Pusa hispida), a sentinel Arctic species, we assessed 1) associations between mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation and in vivo tissue contaminant burdens, and 2) the concentration-response effects of in vitro exposure to PFASs and PCB congeners on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. Upon in vitro contaminant exposure, the non-coplanar PCB congeners CB 138, 153, and 180, but not the coplanar CB 169, significantly reduced lymphocyte proliferation between 10 and 20µgg-1 ww. The respective in vitro EC50 values for these congeners were 13.3, 20.7, 20.8, and 54.6µgg-1 ww. No modulation of lymphocyte proliferation was observed upon in vitro exposure to two individual PFASs, perfluorooctane sulphonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), at concentrations up to 1000ngg-1. In addition, no significant correlations were found between lymphocyte proliferation and any blood or blubber contaminant measured. Taken together, these data suggest this population of ringed seals is not currently at high risk of altered lymphocyte proliferation from exposure to the POPs or PFASs in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, United States.
| | - Erika Gebhard
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, United States
| | - Lindsay Jasperse
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, United States
| | - Jean-Pierre Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Igor Eulaers
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre (ARC), Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, BE-2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Rossana Bossi
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, United States
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Knudsen GA, Sanders JM, Hughes MF, Hull EP, Birnbaum LS. The biological fate of decabromodiphenyl ethane following oral, dermal or intravenous administration. Xenobiotica 2016; 47:894-902. [PMID: 27771980 DOI: 10.1080/00498254.2016.1250180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
1. It was important to investigate the disposition of decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) based on concerns over its structural similarities to decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), high potential for environmental persistence and bioaccumulation, and high production volume. 2. In the present study, female Sprague Dawley rats were administered a single dose of [14C]-DBDPE by oral, topical or IV routes. Another set of rats were administered 10 daily oral doses of [14C]-DBDPE. Male B6C3F1/Tac mice were administered a single oral dose. 3. DBDPE was poorly absorbed following oral dosing, with 95% of administered [14C]-radioactivity recovered in the feces unchanged, 1% recovered in the urine and less than 3% in the tissues at 72 h. DBDPE excretion was similar in male mice and female rats. Accumulation of [14C]-DBDPE was observed in liver and the adrenal gland after 10 daily oral doses to rats. 4. Rat and human skin were used to assess potential dermal uptake of DBDPE. The dermis was a depot for dermally applied DBDPE; conservative estimates predict ∼14 ± 8% of DBDPE may be absorbed into human skin in vivo; ∼7 ± 4% of the parent chemical is expected to reach systemic circulation following continuous exposure (24 h). 5. Following intravenous administration, ∼70% of the dose remained in tissues after 72 h, with the highest concentrations found in lung (1223 ± 723 pmol-eq/g), spleen (1096 ± 369 pmol-eq/g) and liver (366 ± 98 pmol-eq/g); 5 ± 1% of the dose was recovered in urine and 26 ± 4% in the feces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel A Knudsen
- a NCI Laboratory of Toxicology and Toxicokinetics , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA and
| | - J Michael Sanders
- a NCI Laboratory of Toxicology and Toxicokinetics , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA and
| | - Michael F Hughes
- b Integrated Systems Toxicology Division, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
| | - Ethan P Hull
- a NCI Laboratory of Toxicology and Toxicokinetics , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA and
| | - Linda S Birnbaum
- a NCI Laboratory of Toxicology and Toxicokinetics , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA and
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Davies H, Delistraty D. Evaluation of PCB sources and releases for identifying priorities to reduce PCBs in Washington State (USA). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:2033-2041. [PMID: 26071980 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4828-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are ubiquitously distributed in the environment and produce multiple adverse effects in humans and wildlife. As a result, the purpose of our study was to characterize PCB sources in anthropogenic materials and releases to the environment in Washington State (USA) in order to formulate recommendations to reduce PCB exposures. Methods included review of relevant publications (e.g., open literature, industry studies and reports, federal and state government databases), scaling of PCB sources from national or county estimates to state estimates, and communication with industry associations and private and public utilities. Recognizing high associated uncertainty due to incomplete data, we strived to provide central tendency estimates for PCB sources. In terms of mass (high to low), PCB sources include lamp ballasts, caulk, small capacitors, large capacitors, and transformers. For perspective, these sources (200,000-500,000 kg) overwhelm PCBs estimated to reside in the Puget Sound ecosystem (1500 kg). Annual releases of PCBs to the environment (high to low) are attributed to lamp ballasts (400-1500 kg), inadvertent generation by industrial processes (900 kg), caulk (160 kg), small capacitors (3-150 kg), large capacitors (10-80 kg), pigments and dyes (0.02-31 kg), and transformers (<2 kg). Recommendations to characterize the extent of PCB distribution and decrease exposures include assessment of PCBs in buildings (e.g., schools) and replacement of these materials, development of Best Management Practices (BMPs) to contain PCBs, reduction of inadvertent generation of PCBs in consumer products, expansion of environmental monitoring and public education, and research to identify specific PCB congener profiles in human tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly Davies
- Washington Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia, WA, 98504-7600, USA.
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Siroski PA, Poletta GL, Latorre MA, Merchant ME, Ortega HH, Mudry MD. Immunotoxicity of commercial-mixed glyphosate in broad snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris). Chem Biol Interact 2016; 244:64-70. [PMID: 26658029 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2015.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/26/2015] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The expansion and intensification of agriculture during the past 50 years is unprecedented, and thus environmental problems have been triggered at different scales. These transformations have caused the loss of habitat and biodiversity, and disruption of the structure and functioning of ecosystems. As a result of the expansion of the agricultural frontier in the recent past, many areas of the natural geographic distribution of the local wildlife, among them crocodilians and particularly the broad snouted caiman (Caiman latirostris), are being exposed to contaminants. The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of commercially-mixed glyphosate (RU) on some parameters of the immune system of C. latirostris. Two groups of caimans were exposed for two months to different concentrations of RU recommended for its application in the field, while one group was maintained as an unexposed control. The RU concentration was progressively decreased through the exposure period to simulate glyphosate degradation in water. After exposure, total and differential white blood cell (WBC), and complement system activity (CS) were determined. In addition, the animals were injected with a solution of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli to trigger an immune response and evaluate the parameters associated with it. The results showed that an effect of the herbicide on CS was observed, as animals exposed to RU showed a lower CS activity than animals from the negative control (NC) but not in total WBC. In the case of leukocyte population counts, differences were only found for heterophils and lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo A Siroski
- "Proyecto Yacaré"- Laboratorio de Zoología Aplicada: Anexo Vertebrados (Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral/Ministerio de Aguas, Servicios Públicos y Medio Ambiente), Santa Fe, Argentina; Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral-(UNL-CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Gisela L Poletta
- "Proyecto Yacaré"- Laboratorio de Zoología Aplicada: Anexo Vertebrados (Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral/Ministerio de Aguas, Servicios Públicos y Medio Ambiente), Santa Fe, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Cátedra de Toxicología, Farmacología y Bioquímica Legal, Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - María A Latorre
- "Proyecto Yacaré"- Laboratorio de Zoología Aplicada: Anexo Vertebrados (Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias, Universidad Nacional del Litoral/Ministerio de Aguas, Servicios Públicos y Medio Ambiente), Santa Fe, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mark E Merchant
- Department of Chemistry, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA, USA
| | - Hugo H Ortega
- Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral-(UNL-CONICET), Esperanza, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Marta D Mudry
- Grupo Investigación Biología Evolutiva (GIBE), IEGEBA-DEGE (CONICET-UBA), FCEyN, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Brinkmann M, Koglin S, Eisner B, Wiseman S, Hecker M, Eichbaum K, Thalmann B, Buchinger S, Reifferscheid G, Hollert H. Characterisation of transcriptional responses to dioxins and dioxin-like contaminants in roach (Rutilus rutilus) using whole transcriptome analysis. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 541:412-423. [PMID: 26410716 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.09.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
There is significant concern regarding the contamination of riverine sediments with dioxins and dioxin-like compounds (DLCs), including polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The majority of studies investigating the ecotoxicology of DLCs in fish have focused on a few standard model species. However, there is significant uncertainty as to whether these model species are representative of native river fish, particularly in Europe. In this study, the transcriptional responses following exposure to equipotent concentrations of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), PCB 156 or the dioxin-like PAH, benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), were investigated in juvenile roach (Rutilus rutilus), a fish species that constitutes a large proportion of the fish biomass in freshwater bodies throughout Europe. To this end, RNA sequencing analysis was used to comprehensively characterise the molecular mechanisms and pathways of toxicity of these DLCs. Whole transcriptome analyses using ClueGO software revealed that DLCs have the potential to disrupt a number of important processes, including energy metabolism, oogenesis, the immune system, apoptosis and the response to oxidative stress. However, despite using equipotent concentrations, there was very little conservation of the transcriptional responses observed in fish exposed to different DLCs. TCDD provoked significant specific changes in the levels of transcripts related to immunotoxicity and carbohydrate metabolism, while PCB 156 caused virtually no specific effects. Exposure to BkF affected the most diverse suite of molecular functions and biological processes, including blood coagulation, oxidative stress responses, unspecific responses to organic or inorganic substances/stimuli, cellular redox homeostasis and specific receptor pathways. To our knowledge, this is the first study of the transcriptome-wide effects of different classes of DLCs in fish. These findings represent an important step towards describing complete toxicity pathways of DLCs, which will be important in the context of informing risk assessments of DLC toxicity in native fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Brinkmann
- Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sven Koglin
- Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Bryanna Eisner
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Steve Wiseman
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada; School of the Environment & Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B3, Canada
| | - Kathrin Eichbaum
- Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Beat Thalmann
- Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Buchinger
- Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Department G3: Biochemistry, Ecotoxicology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Georg Reifferscheid
- Federal Institute of Hydrology (BfG), Department G3: Biochemistry, Ecotoxicology, Am Mainzer Tor 1, 56068 Koblenz, Germany
| | - Henner Hollert
- Department of Ecosystem Analysis, Institute for Environmental Research, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; College of Resources and Environmental Science, Chongqing University, 1 Tiansheng Road Beibei, Chongqing 400715, China; College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China.
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Lehnert K, Ronnenberg K, Weijs L, Covaci A, Das K, Hellwig V, Siebert U. Xenobiotic and Immune-Relevant Molecular Biomarkers in Harbor Seals as Proxies for Pollutant Burden and Effects. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2016; 70:106-120. [PMID: 26296438 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-015-0202-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 07/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Harbor seals are exposed to increasing pressure caused by anthropogenic activities in their marine environment. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and trace elements are hazardous contaminants that accumulate in tissues of harbor seals. POPs and trace elements can negatively affect the immune-system and have been reported, e.g., to increase susceptibility to viral infections in seals. Biomarkers of the xenobiotic metabolism, cytokines, and heat-shock protein as cell mediators of the immune-system were established to evaluate the impact of environmental stressors on harbor seals. Harbor seals (n = 54) were captured on sandbanks in the North Sea during 2009-2012. Health assessments, including hematology, were performed, and RNAlater blood samples were taken and analyzed using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Normalized transcript copy numbers were correlated to hematology and POP concentration in blood and trace metals in blood and fur. A significant correlation between xenobiotic markers and contaminant burden was found. Significant interrelationships between markers and POP compounds, as well as with season, weight, and hematology values, indicate that biomarkers reflect pollutant exposure and effects. A significant relationship between cortisol levels and heat-shock protein expression was observed indicating stress experienced during restraint of the seals. Interleukin-10 transcription showed significant correlations with trace elements in fur pointing toward immune regulatory effects of metal exposure. The molecular markers prove to be an important noninvasive tool that reflects contaminant exposure and the impact of anthropogenic stressors in seal species. The connection between interleukin-2, xenobiotic markers, and pollutants may indicate immune suppression in animals exposed to contaminants with subsequent susceptibility to inflammatory disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761, Büsum, Germany.
- Institute for Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany.
| | - Katrin Ronnenberg
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761, Büsum, Germany
| | - Liesbeth Weijs
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
- National Research Centre for Environmental Toxicology (ENTOX), The University of Queensland, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD, 4108, Australia
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Krishna Das
- Laboratory of Oceanology-MARE Centre, University of Liege, 4000, Liege, Belgium
| | - Veronika Hellwig
- Institute for Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, 21502, Geesthacht, Germany
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, 25761, Büsum, Germany
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Bogomolni A, Frasca S, Levin M, Matassa K, Nielsen O, Waring G, De Guise S. In Vitro Exposure of Harbor Seal Immune Cells to Aroclor 1260 Alters Phocine Distemper Virus Replication. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2016; 70:121-132. [PMID: 26142119 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-015-0178-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/06/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
In the last 30 years, several large-scale marine mammal mortality events have occurred, often in close association with highly polluted regions, leading to suspicions that contaminant-induced immunosuppression contributed to these epizootics. Some of these recent events also identified morbillivirus as a cause of or contributor to death. The role of contaminant exposures regarding morbillivirus mortality is still unclear. The results of this study aimed to address the potential for a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), specifically Aroclor 1260, to alter harbor seal T-lymphocyte proliferation and to assess if exposure resulted in increased likelihood of phocine distemper virus (PDV USA 2006) to infect susceptible seals in an in vitro system. Exposure of peripheral blood mononuclear cells to Aroclor 1260 did not significantly alter lymphocyte proliferation (1, 5, 10, and 20 ppm). However, using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), lymphocytes exposed to 20 ppm Aroclor 1260 exhibited a significant decrease in PDV replication at day 7 and a significant increase at day 11 compared with unexposed control cells. Similar and significant differences were apparent on exposure to Aroclor 1260 in monocytes and supernatant. The results here indicate that in harbor seals, Aroclor 1260 exposure results in a decrease in virus early during infection and an increase during late infection. The consequences of this contaminant-induced infection pattern in a highly susceptible host could result in a greater potential for systemic infection with greater viral load, which could explain the correlative findings seen in wild populations exposed to a range of persistent contaminants that suffer from morbillivirus epizootics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bogomolni
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT, 06268, USA.
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, 266 Woods Hole, Rd. #MS 50, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA.
| | - Salvatore Frasca
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT, 06268, USA
| | - Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT, 06268, USA
| | - Keith Matassa
- Pacific Marine Mammal Center, 20612 Laguna Canyon Rd, Laguna Beach, CA, 92651, USA
| | - Ole Nielsen
- Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Central and Arctic Region, 501 University Crescent, Winnipeg, MB, R3T 2N6, Canada
| | - Gordon Waring
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Northeast Fisheries Science Center, 166 Woods Hole Rd., Woods Hole, MA, USA
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Rd., Storrs, CT, 06268, USA
- Connecticut Sea Grant College Program, 1080 Shennecossett Road, Groton, CT, 06340, USA
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Weijs L, Zaccaroni A. Toxicology of Marine Mammals: New Developments and Opportunities. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2016; 70:1-8. [PMID: 26499130 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-015-0233-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2015] [Accepted: 09/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
It is widely recognized that marine mammals are exposed to a wide variety of pollutants, with a weight of evidence indicating impacts on their health. Since hundreds of new chemicals enter the global market every year,the methods, approaches and technologies used to characterize pollution levels or impacts are also in a constant state of flux. However, legal and ethical constraints often limit the type and extent of toxicological research being carried out in marine mammals. Nevertheless, new and emerging in vivo, in vitro as well as in silico research opportunities abound in the field of marine mammal toxicology. In the application of findings to population-, species-, or habitat-related risk assessments, the identification of causal relationships which inform source apportionment is important. This, in turn, is informed by a comprehensive understanding of contaminant classes, profiles and fate overspace and time. Such considerations figure prominently in the design and interpretation of marine mammal (eco)-toxicology research. This mini-review attempts to follow the evolution behind marine mammal toxicology until now,highlight some of the research that has been done and suggest opportunities for future research. This Special Issue will showcase new developments in marine mammal toxicology, approaches for exposure-effect research in risk assessment as well as future opportunities.
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Desforges JPW, Sonne C, Levin M, Siebert U, De Guise S, Dietz R. Immunotoxic effects of environmental pollutants in marine mammals. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2016; 86:126-139. [PMID: 26590481 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Due to their marine ecology and life-history, marine mammals accumulate some of the highest levels of environmental contaminants of all wildlife. Given the increasing prevalence and severity of diseases in marine wildlife, it is imperative to understand how pollutants affect the immune system and consequently disease susceptibility. Advancements and adaptations of analytical techniques have facilitated marine mammal immunotoxicology research. Field studies, captive-feeding experiments and in vitro laboratory studies with marine mammals have associated exposure to environmental pollutants, most notable polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals, to alterations of both the innate and adaptive arms of immune systems, which include aspects of cellular and humoral immunity. For marine mammals, reported immunotoxicology endpoints fell into several major categories: immune tissue histopathology, haematology/circulating immune cell populations, functional immune assays (lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytosis, respiratory burst, and natural killer cell activity), immunoglobulin production, and cytokine gene expression. Lymphocyte proliferation is by far the most commonly used immune assay, with studies using different organic pollutants and metals predominantly reporting immunosuppressive effects despite the many differences in study design and animal life history. Using combined field and laboratory data, we determined effect threshold levels for suppression of lymphocyte proliferation to be between b0.001-10 ppm for PCBs, 0.002-1.3 ppm for Hg, 0.009-0.06 for MeHg, and 0.1-2.4 for cadmium in polar bears and several pinniped and cetacean species. Similarly, thresholds for suppression of phagocytosis were 0.6-1.4 and 0.08-1.9 ppm for PCBs and mercury, respectively. Although data are lacking for many important immune endpoints and mechanisms of specific immune alterations are not well understood, this review revealed a systemic suppression of immune function in marine mammals exposed to environmental contaminants. Exposure to immunotoxic contaminants may have significant population level consequences as a contributing factor to increasing anthropogenic stress in wildlife and infectious disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Pierre W Desforges
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark.
| | - Christian Sonne
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Milton Levin
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, United States
| | - Ursula Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany
| | - Sylvain De Guise
- Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science, University of Connecticut, 61 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, CT 06269-3089, United States
| | - Rune Dietz
- Department of Bioscience, Arctic Research Centre, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, PO Box 358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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Peterson SH, Peterson MG, Debier C, Covaci A, Dirtu AC, Malarvannan G, Crocker DE, Schwarz LK, Costa DP. Deep-ocean foraging northern elephant seals bioaccumulate persistent organic pollutants. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 533:144-155. [PMID: 26151658 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.06.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
As top predators in the northeast Pacific Ocean, northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are vulnerable to bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Our study examined a suite of POPs in blubber (inner and outer) and blood (serum) of free-ranging northern elephant seals. For adult females (N=24), we satellite tracked and sampled the same seals before and after their approximately seven month long foraging trip. For males, we sampled different adults and sub-adults before (N=14) and after (N=15) the same foraging trip. For females, we calculated blubber burdens for all compounds. The highest POP concentrations in males and females were found for ∑DDTs and ∑PCBs. In blubber and serum, males had significantly greater concentrations than females for almost all compounds. For males and females, ∑DDT and ∑PBDEs were highly correlated in blubber and serum. While ∑PCBs were highly correlated with ∑DDTs and ∑PBDEs in blubber and serum for males, ∑PCBs showed weaker correlations with both compounds in females. As females gained mass while foraging, concentrations of nearly all POPs in inner and outer blubber significantly decreased; however, the absolute burden in blubber significantly increased, indicating ingestion of contaminants while foraging. Additionally, we identified three clusters of seal foraging behavior, based on geography, diving behavior, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, which corresponded with differences in ∑DDTs, ∑PBDEs, MeO-BDE 47, as well as the ratio of ∑DDTs to ∑PCBs, indicating the potential for behavior to heighten or mitigate contaminant exposure. The greatest concentrations of ∑DDTs and ∑PBDEs were observed in the cluster that foraged closer to the coast and had blood samples more enriched in (13)C. Bioaccumulation of POPs by elephant seals supports mesopelagic food webs as a sink for POPs and highlights elephant seals as a potential sentinel of contamination in deep ocean food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah H Peterson
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA.
| | - Michael G Peterson
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, 130 Mulford Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Cathy Debier
- Institut des Sciences de la Vie, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud 2/L7.05.08, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium
| | - Adrian Covaci
- Toxicological Center, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Alin C Dirtu
- Toxicological Center, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium; Department of Chemistry, "Al. I. Cuza" University of Iasi, 700506 Iasi, Romania
| | - Govindan Malarvannan
- Toxicological Center, Campus Drie Eiken, Universiteit Antwerpen, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Daniel E Crocker
- Department of Biology, Sonoma State University, 1801 East Cotati Ave, Rohnert Park, CA 94928, USA
| | - Lisa K Schwarz
- Institute of Marine Sciences, University of California, Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
| | - Daniel P Costa
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, 100 Shaffer Road, Santa Cruz, CA 95060, USA
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Balmer BC, Ylitalo GM, McGeorge LE, Baugh KA, Boyd D, Mullin KD, Rosel PE, Sinclair C, Wells RS, Zolman ES, Schwacke LH. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in blubber of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast, USA. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2015; 527-528:306-312. [PMID: 25965044 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 05/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
A number of studies were initiated in response to the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill to understand potential injuries to bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) that inhabit the northern Gulf of Mexico (NGoM) estuarine waters. As part of these studies, remote biopsy skin and blubber samples were collected from dolphins at six field sites that received varying degrees of oiling: Barataria Bay (BB), Chandeleur Sound West (CSW), Chandeleur Sound East (CSE), Mississippi Sound South (MSS), Mississippi Sound North (MSN), and St. Joseph Bay (SJ). Blubber samples from 108 male dolphins were analyzed for persistent organic pollutant (POP) concentrations, as high levels of POPs have been previously reported in other southeastern U.S. dolphins and the potential contribution of these compounds to adverse health effects in NGoM dolphins must be considered. Dolphin blubber levels of summed POPs (ΣPOPs) did not differ significantly across sites (F-test, P=0.9119) [μg/g lipid; geometric mean and 95% CI]; CSW [65.9 (51.4-84.6)], SJ [74.1 (53.0-104)], MSN [74.3 (58.7-93.9)], BB [75.3 (56.4-101)], CSE [80.5 (57.8-112)], and MSS [82.5 (65.9-103)]. Overall, POP concentrations were in the lower half of the range compared to previously reported concentrations from other southeastern U.S. sites. Increased dolphin mortalities have been ongoing in the NGoM and have been suggested to be linked with the DWH oil spill. In addition, lung disease, impaired adrenal function, and serum biochemical abnormalities have been reported in dolphins from BB, an area that was heavily oiled. The results of this study suggest that POPs are likely not a primary contributor to the poor health conditions and increased mortality observed in some populations of NGoM dolphins following the DWH oil spill.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Balmer
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA; Chicago Zoological Society, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA.
| | - Gina M Ylitalo
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - Lauren E McGeorge
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Keri A Baugh
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - Daryle Boyd
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Boulevard East, Seattle, WA 98112, USA
| | - Keith D Mullin
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 3209 Frederic Street, Pascagoula, MS 39567, USA
| | - Patricia E Rosel
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 646 Cajundome Boulevard, Lafayette, LA 70506, USA
| | - Carrie Sinclair
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, 3209 Frederic Street, Pascagoula, MS 39567, USA
| | - Randall S Wells
- Chicago Zoological Society, c/o Mote Marine Laboratory, 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236, USA
| | - Eric S Zolman
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
| | - Lori H Schwacke
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 331 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA
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Wang JY, Riehl KN, Klein MN, Javdan S, Hoffman JM, Dungan SZ, Dares LE, Araújo-Wang C. Biology and Conservation of the Taiwanese Humpback Dolphin, Sousa chinensis taiwanensis. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2015; 73:91-117. [PMID: 26790889 DOI: 10.1016/bs.amb.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The humpback dolphins of the eastern Taiwan Strait were first discovered scientifically in 2002 and since then have received much research attention. We reviewed all information published in peer-reviewed scientific journals on these dolphins and where appropriate and available, peer-reviewed scientific workshop reports and graduate theses were also examined. Recent evidence demonstrated that this population warranted recognition as a subspecies, Sousa chinensis taiwanensis. It is found in a highly restricted and linear strip of coastal waters along central western Taiwan. Numbering fewer than 80 individuals and declining, five main threats (fisheries interactions, habitat loss and degradation, loss of freshwater to estuaries within their habitat, air and water pollution, and noise) threaten the future existence of this subspecies. These dolphins have cultural and religious importance and boast the highest level of legal protection for wildlife in Taiwan. However, despite enormous efforts by local and international non-governmental groups urging immediate conservation actions, there have been no real government efforts to mitigate any existing threats; instead, some of these threats have worsened. Based on recent studies, we suggest the IUCN Red List status be revised to Critically Endangered CR 2a(ii); D for the subspecies.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Y Wang
- CetAsia Research Group, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada; National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, Checheng, Pingtung County, Taiwan.
| | | | - Michelle N Klein
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shiva Javdan
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jordan M Hoffman
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sarah Z Dungan
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lauren E Dares
- Department of Environmental and Life Sciences, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada
| | - Claryana Araújo-Wang
- CetAsia Research Group, Thornhill, Ontario, Canada; Botos do Cerrado-Pesquisas Ambientais, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
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Tian J, Feng Y, Fu H, Xie HQ, Jiang JX, Zhao B. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor: A Key Bridging Molecule of External and Internal Chemical Signals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:9518-31. [PMID: 26079192 PMCID: PMC4696777 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a highly evolutionary conserved, ligand-activated transcription factor that is best known to mediate the toxicities of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. Phenotype of AhR-null mice, together with the recent discovery of a variety of endogenous and plant-derived ligands, point to the integral roles of AhR in normal cell physiology, in addition to its roles in sensing the environmental chemicals. Here, we summarize the current knowledge about AhR signaling pathways, its ligands and AhR-mediated effects on cell specialization, host defense and detoxification. AhR-mediated health effects particularly in liver, immune, and nervous systems, as well as in tumorgenesis are discussed. Dioxin-initiated embryotoxicity and immunosuppressive effects in fish and birds are reviewed. Recent data demonstrate that AhR is a convergence point of multiple signaling pathways that inform the cell of its external and internal environments. As such, AhR pathway is a promising potential target for therapeutics targeting nervous, liver, and autoimmune diseases through AhR ligand-mediated interventions and other perturbations of AhR signaling. Additionally, using available laboratory data obtained on animal models, AhR-centered adverse outcome pathway analysis is useful in reexamining known and potential adverse outcomes of specific or mixed compounds on wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jijing Tian
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, United States
| | - Yu Feng
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Hualing Fu
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Heidi Qunhui Xie
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Joy Xiaosong Jiang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California 95817, United States
- Corresponding Authors: (J.X.J) Phone: 1-916-7340329; fax: 1-916-7347908; . (B.Z.) Phone: 86-010-62842867; fax: 86-010-62842867;
| | - Bin Zhao
- Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
- Corresponding Authors: (J.X.J) Phone: 1-916-7340329; fax: 1-916-7347908; . (B.Z.) Phone: 86-010-62842867; fax: 86-010-62842867;
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Lehnert K, Müller S, Weirup L, Ronnenberg K, Pawliczka I, Rosenberger T, Siebert U. Molecular biomarkers in grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) to evaluate pollutant exposure, health and immune status. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 88:311-318. [PMID: 25220314 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2014] [Revised: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Grey seals as top-predators bioaccumulate contaminants and can be considered as sentinels of eco-system health. Pups are weaned after a short nursing period, characterised by an enormous lipid transfer and exposure to contaminants. This study established molecular biomarkers of the xenobiotic metabolism and immune system to help assess health and immune status. mRNA transcription of AHR, ARNT, PPARα and cytokine IL-2 and heat-shock-protein HSP70 was measured in blood of grey seal pups and adults in rehabilitation and permanent care using RT-qPCR and compared to rehabilitating harbour seal pups and haematology values. In pups highest levels at admission in xenobiotic biomarker, HSP70 and cytokine transcription may show contaminant exposure via lactation, stress during abandonment and dehydration. The significant decrease may be linked to diet, health improvement and adaptation. Adults showed higher levels and more variation in biomarker transcription and clear species-specific differences between harbour and grey seal pups were found.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Lehnert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 25761 Büsum, Germany; Institute for Coastal Research, Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Centre for Materials and Coastal Research, 21502 Geesthacht, Germany.
| | - S Müller
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - L Weirup
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - K Ronnenberg
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 25761 Büsum, Germany
| | - I Pawliczka
- Hel Marine Station, University of Gdansk, Morska 2, 84-150 Hel, Poland
| | - T Rosenberger
- Seal Centre Friedrichskoog, An der Seeschleuse 4, 25718 Friedrichskoog, Germany
| | - U Siebert
- Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, 25761 Büsum, Germany
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Neuman-Lee LA, Gaines KF, Baumgartner KA, Voorhees JR, Novak JM, Mullin SJ. Assessing multiple endpoints of atrazine ingestion on gravid Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) and their offspring. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2014; 29:1072-1082. [PMID: 23436772 DOI: 10.1002/tox.21837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2012] [Accepted: 12/07/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Ecotoxicological studies that focus on a single endpoint might not accurately and completely represent the true ecological effects of a contaminant. Exposure to atrazine, a widely used herbicide, disrupts endocrine function and sexual development in amphibians, but studies involving live-bearing reptiles are lacking. This study tracks several effects of atrazine ingestion from female Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon) to their offspring exposed in utero. Twenty-five gravid N. sipedon were fed fish dosed with one of the four levels of atrazine (0, 2, 20, or 200 ppb) twice weekly for the entirety of their gestation period. Endpoints for the mothers included blood estradiol levels measured weekly and survival more than 3 months. Endpoints for the offspring included morphometrics, clutch sex ratio, stillbirth, and asymmetry of dorsal scales and jaw length. Through these multiple endpoints, we show that atrazine ingestion can disrupt estradiol production in mothers, increase the likelihood of mortality from infection, alter clutch sex ratio, cause a higher proportion of stillborn offspring, and affect scale symmetry. We emphasize the need for additional research involving other reptile species using multiple endpoints to determine the full range of impacts of contaminant exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorin A Neuman-Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, Illinois 61920, USA
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Handoh IC, Kawai T. Modelling exposure of oceanic higher trophic-level consumers to polychlorinated biphenyls: pollution 'hotspots' in relation to mass mortality events of marine mammals. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 85:824-830. [PMID: 25016416 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.031] [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: 08/14/2013] [Revised: 06/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/18/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Marine mammals in the past mass mortality events may have been susceptible to infection because their immune systems were suppressed through the bioaccumulation of environmental pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). We compiled mortality event data sets of 33 marine mammal species, and employed a Finely-Advanced Transboundary Environmental model (FATE) to model the exposure of the global fish community to PCB congeners, in order to define critical exposure levels (CELs) of PCBs above which mass mortality events are likely to occur. Our modelling approach enabled us to describe the mass mortality events in the context of exposure of higher-trophic consumers to PCBs and to identify marine pollution 'hotspots' such as the Mediterranean Sea and north-western European coasts. We demonstrated that the CELs can be applied to quantify a chemical pollution Planetary Boundary, under which a safe operating space for marine mammals and humanity can exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itsuki C Handoh
- Center for Research Development, Research Institute for Humanity and Nature, 457-4 Motoyama, Kamigamo, Kita-ku, Kyoto 603-8047, Japan.
| | - Toru Kawai
- Center for Environmental Risk Research, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
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47
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Keller JM, Balazs GH, Nilsen F, Rice M, Work TM, Jensen BA. Investigating the potential role of persistent organic pollutants in Hawaiian green sea turtle fibropapillomatosis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:7807-16. [PMID: 24963745 DOI: 10.1021/es5014054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
It has been hypothesized for decades that environmental pollutants may contribute to green sea turtle fibropapillomatosis (FP), possibly through immunosuppression leading to greater susceptibility to the herpesvirus, the putative causative agent of this tumor-forming disease. To address this question, we measured concentrations of 164 persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and halogenated phenols in 53 Hawaiian green turtle (Chelonia mydas) plasma samples archived by the Biological and Environmental Monitoring and Archival of Sea Turtle Tissues (BEMAST) project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology Marine Environmental Specimen Bank. Four groups of turtles were examined: free-ranging turtles from Kiholo Bay (0% FP, Hawaii), Kailua Bay (low FP, 8%, Oahu), and Kapoho Bay (moderate FP, 38%, Hawaii) and severely tumored stranded turtles that required euthanasia (high FP, 100%, Main Hawaiian Islands). Four classes of POPs and seven halogenated phenols were detected in at least one of the turtles, and concentrations were low (often <200 pg/g wet mass). The presence of halogenated phenols in sea turtles is a novel discovery; their concentrations were higher than most man-made POPs, suggesting that the source of most of these compounds was likely natural (produced by the algal turtle diet) rather than metabolites of man-made POPs. None of the compounds measured increased in concentration with increasing prevalence of FP across the four groups of turtles, suggesting that these 164 compounds are not likely primary triggers for the onset of FP. However, the stranded, severely tumored, emaciated turtle group (n=14) had the highest concentrations of POPs, which might suggest that mobilization of contaminants with lipids into the blood during late-stage weight loss could contribute to the progression of the disease. Taken together, these data suggest that POPs are not a major cofactor in causing the onset of FP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Keller
- Chemical Sciences Division, Hollings Marine Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology , Charleston, South Carolina 29412, United States
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48
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McHuron EA, Harvey JT, Castellini JM, Stricker CA, O'Hara TM. Selenium and mercury concentrations in harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from central California: health implications in an urbanized estuary. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2014; 83:48-57. [PMID: 24823685 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 04/12/2014] [Accepted: 04/16/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
We measured total selenium and total mercury concentrations ([TSe] and [THg]) in hair (n=138) and blood (n=73) of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) from California to assess variation by geography and sex, and inferred feeding relationships based on carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur stable isotopes. Harbor seals from Hg-contaminated sites had significantly greater [THg], and lesser [TSe] and TSe:THg molar ratios than seals from a relatively uncontaminated site. Males had significantly greater [THg] than females at all locations. Sulfur stable isotope values explained approximately 25% of the variability in [THg], indicating increased Hg exposure for seals with a greater use of estuarine prey species. Decreased [TSe] in harbor seals from Hg-contaminated regions may indicate a relative Se deficiency to mitigate the toxic effects of Hg. Further investigation into the Se status and the potential negative impact of Hg on harbor seals from Hg-contaminated sites is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A McHuron
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA.
| | - James T Harvey
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, 8272 Moss Landing Road, Moss Landing, CA 95039, USA
| | - J Margaret Castellini
- Institute of Marine Science, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 757220, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7220, USA
| | - Craig A Stricker
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Denver Federal Center, Building 21, MS963, Denver, CO 80225, USA
| | - Todd M O'Hara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Alaska Fairbanks, P.O. Box 755940, Fairbanks, AK 99775-7000, USA
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49
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Spector JT, De Roos AJ, Ulrich CM, Sheppard L, Sjödin A, Wener MH, Wood B, McTiernan A. Plasma polychlorinated biphenyl concentrations and immune function in postmenopausal women. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2014; 131:174-180. [PMID: 24721136 PMCID: PMC4019676 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 03/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure has been associated with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in several studies, and the immune system is a potential mediator. OBJECTIVES We analyzed associations of plasma PCBs with immune function measures. We hypothesized that higher plasma PCB concentrations are associated with lower immune function cross-sectionally, and that increases in PCB concentrations over a one year period are associated with decreases in immune function. METHODS Plasma PCB concentrations and immune function [natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity and PHA-induced T-lymphocyte proliferation (PHA-TLP)] were measured at baseline and one year in 109 postmenopausal overweight women participating in an exercise intervention study in the Seattle, Washington (USA) area. Mixed models, with adjustment for body mass index and other potential confounders, were used to estimate associations of PCBs with immune function cross-sectionally and longitudinally. RESULTS Associations of PCBs with immune function measures differed across groups of PCBs (e.g., medium- and high-chlorinated and dioxin-like [mono-ortho-substituted]) and by the time frame for the comparison (cross-sectional vs. longitudinal). Higher concentrations of medium- and high-chlorinated PCBs were associated with higher PHA-TLP cross-sectionally but not longitudinally. The mean decrease in 0.5 µg/mL PHA-TLP/50.0 pmol/g-lipid increase in dioxin-like PCBs over one year was 51.6 (95% confidence interval 2.7, 100.5; P=0.039). There was no association between plasma PCBs and NK cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS These results do not provide strong evidence of impaired cellular immunity from PCB exposure. Larger longitudinal studies with greater variability in PCB exposures are needed to further examine temporal associations of PCBs with immune function.
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Affiliation(s)
- June T Spector
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Anneclaire J De Roos
- Epidemiology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Cornelia M Ulrich
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Cancer Prevention Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Lianne Sheppard
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Washington, 4225 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- National Center for Environmental Health, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA.
| | - Mark H Wener
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Brent Wood
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Anne McTiernan
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Epidemiology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Avenue N, P.O. Box 19024, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Effects of age, adipose percent, and reproduction on PCB concentrations and profiles in an extreme fasting North Pacific marine mammal. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96191. [PMID: 24755635 PMCID: PMC3995994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants, including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), are widely distributed and detectable far from anthropogenic sources. Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) biannually travel thousands of kilometers to forage in coastal and open-ocean regions of the northeast Pacific Ocean and then return to land where they fast while breeding and molting. Our study examined potential effects of age, adipose percent, and the difference between the breeding and molting fasts on PCB concentrations and congener profiles in blubber and serum of northern elephant seal females. Between 2005 and 2007, we sampled blubber and blood from 58 seals before and after a foraging trip, which were then analyzed for PCBs. Age did not significantly affect total PCB concentrations; however, the proportion of PCB congeners with different numbers of chlorine atoms was significantly affected by age, especially in the outer blubber. Younger adult females had a significantly greater proportion of low-chlorinated PCBs (tri-, tetra-, and penta-CBs) than older females, with the opposite trend observed for hepta-CBs, indicating that an age-associated process such as parity (birth) may significantly affect congener profiles. The percent of adipose tissue had a significant relationship with inner blubber PCB concentrations, with the highest mean concentrations observed at the end of the molting fast. These results highlight the importance of sampling across the entire blubber layer when assessing contaminant levels in phocid seals and taking into account the adipose stores and reproductive status of an animal when conducting contaminant research.
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