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Burden N, Brown RJ, Holmes B, Panter GH, Salinas ER, Sewell F, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Wolf Y, Lagadic L. An international cross-laboratory survey on fish vitellogenin analysis: Methodological challenges and opportunities for best practice. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 145:105501. [PMID: 37820895 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (VTG) is a biomarker for possible endocrine activity of chemicals acting via the estrogen, androgen, or steroidogenesis pathways. VTG is assessed in standardised fish guideline studies conducted for regulatory safety assessment of chemicals. VTG data can be highly variable leading to concerns for potential equivocal, false positive and/or negative outcomes. Consequently, additional fish testing may be required to address uncertainties in the VTG response, and possibly erroneous/missed identification of endocrine activity. To better understand the technical challenges of VTG assessment and reporting for regulatory purposes, a survey was sent to 27 testing laboratories performing these analyses. The survey results from 16 respondents (6 from the UK, 3 from the USA, and 7 from the EU) were analysed and discussed in a follow-up webinar. High variability in background VTG concentrations was widely acknowledged and thought to be associated with fish batch, husbandry, laboratory practices, and several methodological aspects. These include sample collection and storage, VTG quantification, data handling, and the benchmarks used for data acceptability. Information gathered in the survey provides a basis for improving and harmonizing the measurement of VTG in fish, and an opportunity to reassess the suitability of current acceptability criteria in test guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Burden
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK.
| | - Rebecca J Brown
- wca Environment Ltd., Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7YR, UK.
| | - Breanne Holmes
- Bayer AG, R&D Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany.
| | - Grace H Panter
- wca Environment Ltd., Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7YR, UK
| | - Edward R Salinas
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117, Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | - Fiona Sewell
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117, Limburgerhof, Germany.
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, 4611 BB, Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands.
| | - Yvonne Wolf
- Bayer AG, R&D Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany.
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, R&D Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel-Str. 50, 40789, Monheim, Germany.
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He P, Matich EK, Yonkos LT, Friedman AE, Atilla-Gokcumen GE, Aga DS. Mass spectrometry based detection of common vitellogenin peptides across fish species for assessing exposure to estrogenic compounds in aquatic environments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 646:400-408. [PMID: 30055500 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The identification of myriad of chemicals in the environment that mimic hormones and affect the endocrine functions of exposed organism is a daunting analytical challenge for environmental scientists and engineers. Many of these endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present at very low concentrations in the aquatic systems, but yet affect the metabolic, developmental, and reproductive functions in exposed fish and wildlife. Vitellogenin (VTG) protein is a widely used biomarker in fish for assessing exposure to EDCs, and is commonly measured using species-specific immunochemical techniques. In this study, we developed a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method that can measure common peptides from digested VTG in multiple fish species. In the initial experiments using high resolution mass spectrometry, two peptides (ALHPELR and FIELIQLLR) were identified as common fragments in the digested VTG protein isolated from three different fish species (Pimephales promelas, Micropterus salmoides, and Fundulus heteroclitus). Then, a quantitative analysis using LC-MS/MS under selected reaction monitoring mode was developed for the detection of these two peptides in trypsin-digested plasma from female fish (positive control), estrogen-exposed male fish (test sample), and unexposed male fish (negative control) using two of the same species used for identifying the common peptides (P. promelas, and M. salmoides) and one new species (Ameiurus nebulosus) that was not included during the selection of peptides. Results from this study demonstrate the potential of LC-MS/MS as an effective cross-species method to detect VTG in fish, which can be an alternative analytical technique for assessing endocrine disruption in multiple fish species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping He
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Eryn K Matich
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Lance T Yonkos
- Department of Environmental Science and Technology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742, United States
| | - Alan E Friedman
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - G Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Diana S Aga
- Department of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States.
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Moura Costa DD, Bozza DA, Rizzo LE, Garcia J, Costa MDM, de Oliveira Ribeiro CA. Characterization, specificity and sensibility of produced anti-Rhamdia quelen vitellogenin in Brazilian fish species. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2016; 42:1721-1732. [PMID: 27319005 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-016-0252-0] [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: 12/02/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are widespread used and can interfere on hormone regulation with adverse consequences for both biota and human. Vitellogenin (vtg) is a yolk precursor protein synthesized by the liver in response to estrogen. In order to characterize the vtg of tropical fish Rhamdia quelen and establish a molecular biomarker, adult male individuals were exposed to 17-β-estradiol (E2) for vtg induction and anti-R. quelen vtg polyclonal antibodies production. Vitellogenic female fish were used as positive control group. E2-induced vtg was characterized as a glycolipophosphoprotein of high molecular mass with peptide mass fingerprint very similar in E2-exposed male and vitellogenic female fish. A polyclonal serum containing anti-R. quelen vtg antibodies was produced and showed high specificity and sensibility to detect the vtg of three fish species: R. quelen, Piaractus mesopotamicus and Prochilodus lineatus. Wildlife and laboratory studies reported that EDCs released into the environment may alter the levels of plasma vtg in male fish, making this protein a valuable biomarker of xenoestrogens exposure. Then, we propose the use of anti-R. quelen vtg as a tool for biomonitoring studies and water quality assessment in Brazil and South American countries where the three fish species occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Dietrich Moura Costa
- Laboratório de Toxicologia Celular, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua Francisco H. dos Santos, PO Box 19031, Curitiba, PR, Brazil.
| | - Dandie Antunes Bozza
- Laboratório de Toxicologia Celular, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua Francisco H. dos Santos, PO Box 19031, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Luiz Eduardo Rizzo
- Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, PO Box 19031, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Juan Garcia
- Estação de Piscicultura Panamá, Paulo Lopes, SC, Brazil
| | - Michele Dietrich Moura Costa
- Departamento de Biologia Estrutural, Molecular e Genética, Universidade Estadual de Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, PR, Brazil
| | - Ciro Alberto de Oliveira Ribeiro
- Laboratório de Toxicologia Celular, Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Rua Francisco H. dos Santos, PO Box 19031, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
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Schultz IR, Nagler JJ, Swanson P, Wunschel D, Skillman AD, Burnett V, Smith D, Barry R. Toxicokinetic, Toxicodynamic, and Toxicoproteomic Aspects of Short-term Exposure to Trenbolone in Female Fish. Toxicol Sci 2013; 136:413-29. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kft220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
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Cohen AM, Jahouh F, Sioud S, Rideout RM, Morgan MJ, Banoub JH. Quantification of Greenland halibut serum vitellogenin: a trip from the deep sea to the mass spectrometer. RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2009; 23:1049-1060. [PMID: 19263406 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.3966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This paper focuses on the sequential steps involved in developing a technique for quantifying Greenland halibut vitellogenin, a serum protein biomarker, using a comprehensive mass spectrometric approach. In the first phase of this study, in-gel trypsin digestions of serum proteins separated by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were analyzed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (MALDI-MS). A characteristic band around a molecular mass of 185 kDa, present in the mature female specimens, but absent in the male samples, was identified as vitellognin according to the peptide mass fingerprint obtained by MALDI-MS. Subsequently, MALDI and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) analyses were performed on the digest of the vitellogenin band for de novo sequencing. From these studies, a characteristic 'signature' peptide (sequence: FFGQEIAFANIDK) was selected from a list of candidate peptides as a surrogate analytical standard used for quantification purposes. Sample preparation for vitellogenin quantification consisted of a simple one-step overnight trypsin digestion. Samples were spiked with an isotopologue signature peptide standard and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled in-line to an electrospray quadrupole-hexapole-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer, operated in selective reaction monitoring mode. Transitions [(m/z 750.0 --> 1020.4 and 750.0 --> 1205.4) and (754.8 --> 1028.6 and 754.8 --> 1213.2)] were monitored for the signature peptide and the internal standard, respectively. Samples obtained from the field showed that vitellogenin levels were in accordance with fish maturity determined by macroscopic examination of the gonad, proving this technique suitable for measuring vitellogenin as a serum protein biomarker for reproductive maturity in female fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro M Cohen
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Science Branch, St John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5X1, Canada
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Jensen KM, Ankley GT. Evaluation of a commercial kit for measuring vitellogenin in the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2006; 64:101-5. [PMID: 16618508 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2006.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2006] [Revised: 02/16/2006] [Accepted: 02/21/2006] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (vtg) concentrations in oviparous animals such as fish represent an integrated indicator of the status of the reproductive endocrine system. As such, vtg is a common measurement endpoint in tests designed to detect certain classes of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). The most common approach to measuring vtg is via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). However, because labs testing EDCs in fish often use slightly different ELISAs (e.g., in terms of antibodies, binding antigens, standards), results among studies are not always comparable. One approach to obviating this would be for researchers to use standardized ELISA kits from a common source(s). The fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) is a small fish model commonly used for EDC testing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a recently developed commercial ELISA kit for measuring vtg in the fathead minnow. The commercial ELISA, based on a monoclonal antibody to fathead minnow vtg, was compared to an ELISA that utilizes a fathead minnow polyclonal antibody, which has been used extensively in our lab and others for several years. Plasma samples for this comparison came from three studies in which fathead minnows had been exposed to different model EDCs, including an androgen (17beta-trenbolone), an anti-androgen (flutamide), and two CYP19 (aromatase) inhibitors (prochloraz, fadrozole). Results obtained using the two different ELISA methods were consistently similar.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen M Jensen
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804, USA.
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Cohen AM, Mansour AAH, Banoub JH. Absolute quantification of Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout vitellogenin by the 'signature peptide' approach using electrospray ionization QqToF tandem mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2006; 41:646-58. [PMID: 16541402 DOI: 10.1002/jms.1023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we present a simple method for absolute quantification of plasma vitellogenin from both rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon. Plasma samples obtained from control and beta-estradiol induced fish were digested with trypsin. A characteristic 'signature peptide' was selected and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to an electrospray quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometer, using a deuterated homolog peptide as an internal standard. The hybrid tandem mass spectrometer was operated in a 'pseudo' selected reaction-monitoring mode in which three diagnostic product ions were monitored for identification and quantification purposes. The reproducibility (coefficient of variation approximately 5%) and sensitivity (limit of quantification (LOQ) of 0.009 mg/ml) achieved by this simple assay allow it to be considered as an alternative to immunological assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro M Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St John's, Newfoundland, A1C 5S7, Canada
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Current literature in mass spectrometry. JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2006; 41:128-39. [PMID: 16402416 DOI: 10.1002/jms.948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
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