Effects of in vivo benzo(a)pyrene treatment on liver microsomal mixed-function oxidase activities of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata)

Monitoring of pollution in the western Black Sea coast of Turkey by striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus)

The striped red mullet (Mullus surmuletus) is an economically important demersal fish species. In this study, our aim was to monitor the pollution in the western Black Sea coast of Turkey using striped red mullet as a bioindicator species. Fish samples were caught from four different locations in the western Black Sea coast of Turkey in 2006, 2009-2011, and 2016. Highly elevated cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A)-related 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities were measured in striped red mullet caught from Zonguldak Harbor in all of the sampling years. The lowest EROD activities were measured in fish samples caught from Kefken. In addition to the EROD activity measurements, glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase, and catalase activities were also measured in the striped red mullet samples. Higher GST and catalase activities were measured in the striped red mullet samples caught from Zonguldak Harbor than from Kefken in 2016. These results indicate that the striped red mullet is responsive to CYP1A inducer pollutants. This study covers intermittent measurements of the biomonitoring data from the striped red mullet caught around the western Black Sea coast of Turkey, over a 10-year period.

Combined use of PAH levels and EROD activities in the determination of PAH pollution in flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) caught from the West Black Sea coast of Turkey

The aim of this study was to determine the extent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollution by measuring PAH levels and 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities in flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus) samples caught from the West Black Sea coast of Turkey. The fish samples were caught in August 2008-2011. The levels of 13 PAHs were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the liver of fish. Most of the measured PAHs had three rings (low molecular weight). The frequencies of detection of PAHs were higher in fish samples caught from Zonguldak Harbour and Gülüç Stream Mouth than those from Sakarya River Mouth, Amasra and Kefken. EROD activities and cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) protein level were also measured in the fish liver microsomes. Highly elevated EROD activities and CYP1A levels were measured in the mullet samples caught from Zonguldak Harbour and Gülüç Stream than those from Amasra and Kefken. The detection of PAHs in the liver of fish samples shows recent exposure to PAHs. The chemical analyses of PAHs and EROD activity results together reflected the extent of PAH pollution in the livers of fish caught from the West Black Sea coast of Turkey. The results indicate that Zonguldak Harbour is the most polluted site in the West Black Sea coast of Turkey.

Inhibitory Effects of Spirulina platensis on Carcinogen-Activating Cytochrome P450 Isozymes and Potential for Drug Interactions

Spirulina platensis (SP) has been considered as potential food source of 21st century due to its remarkable nutrient profile and therapeutic benefits. However, the cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated drug/chemical interaction potential of SP has not yet been pursued. We investigated the effects of SP on the expressions and enzymatic activities of main CYP isozymes. After the rats were orally administered with SP daily for 5 consecutive weeks, there were significant downregulations in hepatic expression levels and inhibition in enzymatic activities of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 compared to controls. In addition, a significant decrease was observed in CYP2C6-associated enzyme activity with no remarkable changes in messenger RNA (mRNA)/protein levels. The SP application resulted in significant increases in mRNA/protein levels of both CYP2B1 and CYP3A1 without a significant change in enzyme activities. These findings partly explain the chemopreventive properties of SP toward various organ toxicities, mutagenesis, and carcinogenesis; however, its coadministration with some CYP substrates may lead to undesirable drug interactions.

Epilobium hirsutum alters xenobiotic metabolizing CYP1A1, CYP2E1, NQO1 and GPx activities, mRNA and protein levels in rats

CONTEXT

Natural products have attracted increasing interests due to their use in flavoring, nutrition, cosmetics, pharmacy and medicine. Epilobium hirsutum L. (Onagraceae) is known for its analgesic, antimicrobial, and antiproliferative activity. CYP1A1 and CYP2E1, xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, serve as a metabolic activation route yielding reactive metabolites that are eliminated by the action of NQO1 and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) enzymes.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated in vivo effects of Epilobium hirsutum (EH) on CYP2E1, CYP1A1, NQO1 and GPx activities, protein and mRNA expressions in liver.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Wistar Albino rats were injected with EH at a dose of 37.5 mg/kg i.p. daily for 9 d. CYP2E1, CYP1A1, NQO1 and GPx activities, protein and mRNA levels were determined by enzyme assays, Western blotting and qPCR, respectively.

RESULTS

CYP1A1 associated ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity of control and EH-treated animals were found as 6.54 ± 1.21 and 4.48 ± 1.67 nmol/min/mg, respectively. CYP2E1 associated aniline 4-hydroxylase of control and EH group were 0.537 ± 0.011 and 0.109 ± 0.01 nmol/min/mg, respectively. However, EH treatment increased the GPx and NQO1 activities from 0.069 ± 0.015 to 0.107 ± 0.026 nmol/min/mg and from 163.34 ± 92 to 588.3 ± 14 nmol/min/mg, respectively. Furthermore, protein and mRNA expression analysis revealed that CYP1A1 and CYP2E1 levels were decreased while those of NQO1 and GPx increased after EH treatment.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Our current data suggest that the metabolism of xenobiotics, including drugs, may be altered due to changes in the expression and activity of these proteins by EH.

Mixture toxicity assessment of nickel and chlorpyrifos in the sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax

The present research work was designed to study Dicentrarchus labrax biotransformation and detoxification responses to acute exposure to nickel (Ni) and chlorpyrifos (CHP). Sexually immature sea bass were treated by intraperitoneal injection of nickel chloride (500 μg kg⁻¹), chlorpyrifos (10 mg kg⁻¹), and their binary mixture for 1, 3, and 7 days. Ni and CHP accumulation was quantified in liver after the exposure periods. The following biological responses were measured: (1) NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (NCR) activity, as phase I biotransformation parameter; (2) gluthathione S-transferase (GST) activity as a phase II conjugation enzyme, acetylcholinesterase activity, and metallothionein (MT) content. Ni bioaccumulation in the liver resulted in an increasing uptake up to 15.48 μg g⁻¹ wet weight (Ni-treated animals) and 16.73 μg g⁻¹ wet weight (mixture-treated animals) after 7 days of exposure. CHP accumulation showed a distinct pattern in animals exposed to the mixture of chemicals in comparison with CHP-treated animals. NCR activity exhibited a marked activation in CHP and mixture-treated animals. GST activity was significantly increased starting from 1 day exposure in CHP-treated animals and after 3 days in Ni-treated animals. MT accumulation increased in all conditions, with a marked synergetic effect after 7 days of exposure. These data should be carefully considered in view of the biological effects of mixture pollutants, particularly in fish farming conditions.