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Eriksson ANM, Dubiel J, Alcaraz AJ, Doering JA, Wiseman S. Far from Their Origins: A Transcriptomic Investigation on How 2,4-Di-tert-butyl-6-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) Phenol Affects Rainbow Trout Alevins. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38923588 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Benzotriazole ultraviolet stabilizers (BUVSs) are a group of widely used chemicals added to a variety of consumer (e.g., plastics) and industrial (e.g., metal coating) goods. Although detected globally as an environmentally persistent pollutant, BUVSs have received relatively little toxicological attention and only recently have been acknowledged to affect development and the endocrine system in vivo. In our previous study, altered behavior, indicative of potential neurotoxicity, was observed among rainbow trout alevins (day 14 posthatching) that were microinjected as embryos with a single environmentally relevant dose of 2,4-di-tert-butyl-6-(5-chloro-2H-benzotriazol-2-yl) phenol (UV-327). In the present follow-up study, we performed whole-transcriptome profiling (RNA sequencing) of newly hatched alevins from the same batch. The primary aim was to identify biomarkers related to behavior and neurology. Dose-specifically, 1 to 176 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. In the group presenting altered behavior (273.4 ng g-1), 176 DEGs were identified, yet only a fraction was related to neurological functions, including water, calcium, and potassium homeostasis; acetylcholine transmission and signaling; as well insulin and energy metabolism. The second objective was to estimate the transcriptomic point of departure (tPOD) and assess if point estimate(s) are protective of altered behavior. A tPOD was established at 35 to 94 ng UV-327 g-1 egg, making this tPOD protective of behavioral alterations. Holistically, these transcriptomic alterations provide a foundation for future research on how BUVSs can influence rainbow trout alevin development, while providing support to the hypothesis that UV-327 can influence neurogenesis and subsequent behavioral endpoints. The exact structural and functional changes caused by embryonic exposure to UV-327 remain enigmatic and will require extensive investigation before being deciphered and understood toxicologically. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-12. © 2024 The Author(s). Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas N M Eriksson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Justin Dubiel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
| | - Alper James Alcaraz
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jon A Doering
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Steve Wiseman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
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Flynn K, Le M, Hazemi M, Biales A, Bencic DC, Blackwell BR, Bush K, Flick R, Hoang JX, Martinson J, Morshead M, Rodriguez KS, Stacy E, Villeneuve DL. Comparing Transcriptomic Points of Departure to Apical Effect Concentrations For Larval Fathead Minnow Exposed to Chemicals with Four Different Modes Of Action. ARCHIVES OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2024; 86:346-362. [PMID: 38743081 DOI: 10.1007/s00244-024-01064-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
It is postulated that below a transcriptomic-based point of departure, adverse effects are unlikely to occur, thereby providing a chemical concentration to use in screening level hazard assessment. The present study extends previous work describing a high-throughput fathead minnow assay that can provide full transcriptomic data after exposure to a test chemical. One-day post-hatch fathead minnows were exposed to ten concentrations of three representatives of four chemical modes of action: organophosphates, ecdysone receptor agonists, plant photosystem II inhibitors, and estrogen receptor agonists for 24 h. Concentration response modeling was performed on whole body gene expression data from each exposure, using measured chemical concentrations when available. Transcriptomic points of departure in larval fathead minnow were lower than apical effect concentrations across fish species but not always lower than toxic effect concentrations in other aquatic taxa like crustaceans and insects. The point of departure was highly dependent on measured chemical concentration which were often lower than the nominal concentration. Differentially expressed genes between chemicals within modes of action were compared and often showed statistically significant overlap. In addition, reproducibility between identical exposures using a positive control chemical (CuSO4) and variability associated with the transcriptomic point of departure using in silico sampling were considered. Results extend a transcriptomic-compatible fathead minnow high-throughput assay for possible use in ecological hazard screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Flynn
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, US EPA GLTED, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA.
| | - Michelle Le
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participant, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Monique Hazemi
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participant, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Adam Biales
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA
| | - David C Bencic
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Kendra Bush
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participant, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Robert Flick
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA
| | - John X Hoang
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participant, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - John Martinson
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, OH, 45220, USA
| | - Mackenzie Morshead
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participant, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Kelvin Santana Rodriguez
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Participant, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Emma Stacy
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, US EPA GLTED, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, US EPA GLTED, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
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Villeneuve DL, Bush K, Hazemi M, Hoang JX, Le M, Blackwell BR, Stacy E, Flynn KM. Derivation of Transcriptomics-Based Points of Departure for 20 Per- or Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Using a Larval Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) Reduced Transcriptome Assay. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2024. [PMID: 38415853 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Traditional toxicity testing has been unable to keep pace with the introduction of new chemicals into commerce. Consequently, there are limited or no toxicity data for many chemicals to which fish and wildlife may be exposed. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emblematic of this issue in that ecological hazards of most PFAS remain uncharacterized. The present study employed a high-throughput assay to identify the concentration at which 20 PFAS, with diverse properties, elicited a concerted gene expression response (termed a transcriptomics-based point of departure [tPOD]) in larval fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas; 5-6 days postfertilization) exposed for 24 h. Based on a reduced transcriptome approach that measured whole-body expression of 1832 genes, the median tPOD for the 20 PFAS tested was 10 µM. Longer-chain carboxylic acids (12-13 C-F); an eight-C-F dialcohol, N-alkyl sulfonamide; and telomer sulfonic acid were among the most potent PFAS, eliciting gene expression responses at concentrations <1 µM. With a few exceptions, larval fathead minnow tPODs were concordant with those based on whole-transcriptome response in human cell lines. However, larval fathead minnow tPODs were often greater than those for Daphnia magna exposed to the same PFAS. The tPODs overlapped concentrations at which other sublethal effects have been reported in fish (available for 10 PFAS). Nonetheless, fathead minnow tPODs were orders of magnitude higher than aqueous PFAS concentrations detected in tributaries of the North American Great Lakes, suggesting a substantial margin of safety. Overall, results broadly support the use of a fathead minnow larval transcriptomics assay to derive screening-level potency estimates for use in ecological risk-based prioritization. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-16. © 2024 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Villeneuve
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Kendra Bush
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Monique Hazemi
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - John X Hoang
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michelle Le
- Research Participant at Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Bioscience Division, Biochemistry and Biotechnology Group, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, Minnesota, USA
| | - Emma Stacy
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Kevin M Flynn
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
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Biales AD, Bencic DC, Flick RW, Toth GP. Effects of Age and Exposure Duration on the Sensitivity of Early Life Stage Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) to Waterborne Propranolol Exposure. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38146914 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Propranolol is a heavily prescribed, nonspecific beta-adrenoceptor (bAR) antagonist frequently found in wastewater effluents, prompting concern over its potential to adversely affect exposed organisms. In the present study, the transcriptional responses of 4, 5, and 6 days postfertilization (dpf) ±1 h fathead minnow, exposed for 6, 24, or 48 h to 0.66 or 3.3 mg/L (nominal) propranolol were characterized using RNA sequencing. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was used as an estimate of sensitivity. A trend toward increased sensitivity with age was observed; fish >7 dpf at the end of exposure were particularly sensitive to propranolol. The DEGs largely overlapped among treatment groups, suggesting a highly consistent response that was independent of age. Cluster analysis was performed using normalized count data for unexposed and propranolol-exposed fish. Control fish clustered tightly by age, with fish ≥7 dpf clustering away from younger fish, reflecting developmental differences. When clustering was conducted using exposed fish, in cases where propranolol induced a minimal or no transcriptional response, the results mirrored those of the control fish and did not appreciably cluster by treatment. In treatment groups that displayed a more robust transcriptional response, the effects of propranolol were evident; however, fish <7 dpf clustered away from older fish, despite having similar numbers of DEGs. Increased sensitivity at 7 dpf coincided with developmental milestones with the potential to alter propranolol pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics, such as the onset of exogenous feeding and gill functionality as well as increased systemic expression of bAR. These results may have broader implications because toxicity testing often utilizes fish <4 dpf, prior to the onset of these potentially important developmental milestones, which may result in an underestimation of risk for some chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-14. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam D Biales
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Chemistry, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - David C Bencic
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Chemistry, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Robert W Flick
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Chemistry, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Gregory P Toth
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Chemistry, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Martin R, Hazemi M, Flynn K, Villeneuve D, Wehmas L. Short-Term Transcriptomic Points of Departure Are Consistent with Chronic Points of Departure for Three Organophosphate Pesticides across Mouse and Fathead Minnow. TOXICS 2023; 11:820. [PMID: 37888672 PMCID: PMC10611195 DOI: 10.3390/toxics11100820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
New approach methods (NAMs) can reduce the need for chronic animal studies. Here, we apply benchmark dose (concentration) (BMD(C))-response modeling to transcriptomic changes in the liver of mice and in fathead minnow larvae after short-term exposures (7 days and 1 day, respectively) to several dose/concentrations of three organophosphate pesticides (OPPs): fenthion, methidathion, and parathion. The mouse liver transcriptional points of departure (TPODs) for fenthion, methidathion, and parathion were 0.009, 0.093, and 0.046 mg/Kg-bw/day, while the fathead minnow larva TPODs were 0.007, 0.115, and 0.046 mg/L, respectively. The TPODs were consistent across both species and reflected the relative potencies from traditional chronic toxicity studies with fenthion identified as the most potent. Moreover, the mouse liver TPODs were more sensitive than or within a 10-fold difference from the chronic apical points of departure (APODs) for mammals, while the fathead minnow larva TPODs were within an 18-fold difference from the chronic APODs for fish species. Short-term exposure to OPPs significantly impacted acetylcholinesterase mRNA abundance (FDR p-value <0.05, |fold change| ≥2) and canonical pathways (IPA, p-value <0.05) associated with organism death and neurological/immune dysfunctions, indicating the conservation of key events related to OPP toxicity. Together, these results build confidence in using short-term, molecular-based assays for the characterization of chemical toxicity and risk, thereby reducing reliance on chronic animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubia Martin
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC 27709, USA;
| | - Monique Hazemi
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Ecology Division, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN 55804, USA;
| | - Kevin Flynn
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN 55804, USA; (K.F.); (D.V.)
| | - Daniel Villeneuve
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN 55804, USA; (K.F.); (D.V.)
| | - Leah Wehmas
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Chemical Characterization and Exposure Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC 27709, USA
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Pruteanu LL, Bender A. Using Transcriptomics and Cell Morphology Data in Drug Discovery: The Long Road to Practice. ACS Med Chem Lett 2023; 14:386-395. [PMID: 37077392 PMCID: PMC10107910 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.3c00015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene expression and cell morphology data are high-dimensional biological readouts of much recent interest for drug discovery. They are able to describe biological systems in different states (e.g., healthy and diseased), as well as biological systems before and after compound treatment, and they are hence useful for matching both spaces (e.g., for drug repurposing) as well as for characterizing compounds with respect to efficacy and safety endpoints. This Microperspective describes recent advances in this direction with a focus on applied drug discovery and drug repurposing, as well as outlining what else is needed to advance further, with a particular focus on better understanding the applicability domain of readouts and their relevance for decision making, which is currently often still unclear.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lavinia-Lorena Pruteanu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biology, North University
Center at Baia Mare, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Victoriei 76, 430122 Baia Mare, Romania
- Research
Center for Functional Genomics, Biomedicine, and Translational Medicine, “Iuliu Haţieganu” University
of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400337 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Andreas Bender
- Centre
for Molecular Informatics, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
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