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Hua W, Han X, Li F, Lu L, Sun Y, Hassanian-Moghaddam H, Tian M, Lu Y, Huang Q. Transgenerational Effects of Arsenic Exposure on Learning and Memory in Rats: Crosstalk between Arsenic Methylation, Hippocampal Metabolism, and Histone Modifications. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:6475-6486. [PMID: 38578163 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c07989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) is widely present in the natural environment, and exposure to it can lead to learning and memory impairment. However, the underlying epigenetic mechanisms are still largely unclear. This study aimed to reveal the role of histone modifications in environmental levels of arsenic (sodium arsenite) exposure-induced learning and memory dysfunction in male rats, and the inter/transgenerational effects of paternal arsenic exposure were also investigated. It was found that arsenic exposure impaired the learning and memory ability of F0 rats and down-regulated the expression of cognition-related genes Bdnf, c-Fos, mGlur1, Nmdar1, and Gria2 in the hippocampus. We also observed that inorganic arsenite was methylated to DMA and histone modification-related metabolites were altered, contributing to the dysregulation of H3K4me1/2/3, H3K9me1/2/3, and H3K4ac in rat hippocampus after exposure. Therefore, it is suggested that arsenic methylation and hippocampal metabolism changes attenuated H3K4me1/2/3 and H3K4ac while enhancing H3K9me1/2/3, which repressed the key gene expressions, leading to cognitive impairment in rats exposed to arsenic. In addition, paternal arsenic exposure induced transgenerational effects of learning and memory disorder in F2 male rats through the regulation of H3K4me2 and H3K9me1/2/3, which inhibited c-Fos, mGlur1, and Nmdar1 expression. These results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of arsenic-induced neurotoxicity and highlight the risk of neurological deficits in offspring with paternal exposure to arsenic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhen Hua
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
- Department of Health Inspection and Quarantine, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350122, China
| | - Xuejingping Han
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Fuping Li
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yiqiong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Hossein Hassanian-Moghaddam
- Department of Clinical Toxicology, Shohada-e Tajrish Hospital, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19839-63113, Iran
| | - Meiping Tian
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yanyang Lu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Qingyu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
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Colwell M, Flack N, Rezabek A, Faulk C. Intergenerational arsenic exposure on the mouse epigenome and metabolic physiology. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2023; 64:72-87. [PMID: 36593717 PMCID: PMC9974848 DOI: 10.1002/em.22526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/26/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic (iAs) is one of the largest toxic exposures to impact humanity worldwide. Exposure to iAs during pregnancy may disrupt the proper remodeling of the epigenome of F1 developing offspring and potentially their F2 grand-offspring via disruption of fetal primordial germ cells (PGCs). There is a limited understanding between the correlation of disease phenotype and methylation profile within offspring of both generations and whether it persists to adulthood. Our study aims to understand the intergenerational effects of in utero iAs exposure on the epigenetic profile and onset of disease phenotypes within F1 and F2 adult offspring, despite the lifelong absence of direct arsenic exposure within these generations. We exposed F0 female mice (C57BL6/J) to the following doses of iAs in drinking water 2 weeks before pregnancy until the birth of the F1 offspring: 1, 10, 245, and 2300 ppb. We found sex- and dose-specific changes in weight and body composition that persist from early time to adulthood within both generations. Fasting blood glucose challenge suggests iAs exposure causes dysregulation of glucose metabolism, revealing generational, exposure, and sex-specific differences. Toward understanding the mechanism, genome-wide DNA methylation data highlights exposure-specific patterns in liver, finding dysregulation within genes associated with cancer, T2D, and obesity. We also identified regions containing persistently differentially methylated CpG sites between F1 and F2 generations. Our results indicate the F1 developing embryos and their PGCs, which will result in F2 progeny, retain epigenetic damage established during the prenatal period and are associated with adult metabolic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathia Colwell
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
| | - Nicole Flack
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine
| | - Amanda Rezabek
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
| | - Christopher Faulk
- Department of Animal Science, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences
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Sakai K, Hara K, Tanemura K. Testicular histone hyperacetylation in mice by valproic acid administration affects the next generation by changes in sperm DNA methylation. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282898. [PMID: 36893188 PMCID: PMC9997898 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Various studies have described epigenetic inheritance through sperms. However, the detailed mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we focused on DNA methylation in mice treated with valproic acid (VPA), an inducer of epigenomic changes, and analyzed the treatment effects on the sperm from the next generation of mice. The administration of 200 mg/kg/day VPA to mice for 4 weeks caused transient histone hyperacetylation in the testes and DNA methylation changes in the sperm, including promoter CpGs of genes related to brain function. Oocytes fertilized with VPA-treated mouse sperm showed methylation fluctuations at the morula stage. Pups that were fathered by these mice also showed behavioral changes in the light/dark transition test after maturation. Brain RNA-seq of these mice showed that the expression of genes related to neural functions were altered. Comparison of the sperm DNA methylation status of the next generation of mice with that of the parental generation revealed the disappearance of methylation changes observed in the sperm of the parental generation. These findings suggest that VPA-induced histone hyperacetylation may have brain function-related effects on the next generation through changes in sperm DNA methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuya Sakai
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
- Department of Integrative Neuroscience, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Obu, Aichi, Japan
| | - Kenshiro Hara
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kentaro Tanemura
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Development, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
- * E-mail:
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George S, Cassidy RN, Saintilnord WN, Fondufe-Mittendorf Y. Epigenomic reprogramming in iAs-mediated carcinogenesis. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2022; 96:319-365. [PMID: 36858778 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2022.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic is a naturally occurring metal carcinogen found in the Earth's crust. Millions of people worldwide are chronically exposed to arsenic through drinking water and food. Exposure to inorganic arsenic has been implicated in many diseases ranging from acute toxicities to malignant transformations. Despite the well-known deleterious health effects of arsenic exposure, the molecular mechanisms in arsenic-mediated carcinogenesis are not fully understood. Since arsenic is non-mutagenic, the mechanism by which arsenic causes carcinogenesis is via alterations in epigenetic-regulated gene expression. There are two possible ways by which arsenic may modify the epigenome-indirectly through an arsenic-induced generation of reactive oxygen species which then impacts chromatin remodelers, or directly through interaction and modulation of chromatin remodelers. Whether directly or indirectly, arsenic modulates epigenetic gene regulation and our understanding of the direct effect of this modulation on chromatin structure is limited. In this chapter we will discuss the various ways by which inorganic arsenic affects the epigenome with consequences in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Smitha George
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Richard N Cassidy
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Wesley N Saintilnord
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, United States; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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Abu Bakar N, Wan Ibrahim WN, Che Abdullah CA, Ramlan NF, Shaari K, Shohaimi S, Mediani A, Nasruddin NS, Kim CH, Mohd Faudzi SM. Embryonic Arsenic Exposure Triggers Long-Term Behavioral Impairment with Metabolite Alterations in Zebrafish. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10090493. [PMID: 36136458 PMCID: PMC9502072 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) is a ubiquitous heavy metal in the environment. Exposure to this toxin at low concentrations is unremarkable in developing organisms. Nevertheless, understanding the underlying mechanism of its long-term adverse effects remains a challenge. In this study, embryos were initially exposed to As2O3 from gastrulation to hatching under semi-static conditions. Results showed dose-dependent increased mortality, with exposure to 30-40 µM As2O3 significantly reducing tail-coiling and heart rate at early larval stages. Surviving larvae after 30 µM As2O3 exposure showed deficits in motor behavior without impairment of anxiety-like responses at 6 dpf and a slight impairment in color preference behavior at 11 dpf, which was later evident in adulthood. As2O3 also altered locomotor function, with a loss of directional and color preference in adult zebrafish, which correlated with changes in transcriptional regulation of adsl, shank3a, and tsc1b genes. During these processes, As2O3 mainly induced metabolic changes in lipids, particularly arachidonic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, prostaglandin, and sphinganine-1-phosphate in the post-hatching period of zebrafish. Overall, this study provides new insight into the potential mechanism of arsenic toxicity leading to long-term learning impairment in zebrafish and may benefit future risk assessments of other environmental toxins of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noraini Abu Bakar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Wan Norhamidah Wan Ibrahim
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
- Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Che Azurahanim Che Abdullah
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
- The Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Nurul Farhana Ramlan
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Khozirah Shaari
- Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Shamarina Shohaimi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
| | - Ahmed Mediani
- Institute of Systems Biology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - Nurrul Shaqinah Nasruddin
- Centre for Craniofacial Diagnostics, Faculty of Dentistry, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
| | - Cheol-Hee Kim
- Department of Biology, Chungnam National University, Daejeon 34134, Korea
- Correspondence: (C.-H.K.); (S.M.M.F.)
| | - Siti Munirah Mohd Faudzi
- Natural Medicines and Products Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Malaysia
- Correspondence: (C.-H.K.); (S.M.M.F.)
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Muzaffar S, Khan J, Srivastava R, Gorbatyuk MS, Athar M. Mechanistic understanding of the toxic effects of arsenic and warfare arsenicals on human health and environment. Cell Biol Toxicol 2022; 39:85-110. [PMID: 35362847 PMCID: PMC10042769 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-022-09710-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Worldwide, more than 200 million people are estimated to be exposed to unsafe levels of arsenic. Chronic exposure to unsafe levels of groundwater arsenic is responsible for multiple human disorders, including dermal, cardiovascular, neurological, pulmonary, renal, and metabolic conditions. Consumption of rice and seafood (where high levels of arsenic are accumulated) is also responsible for human exposure to arsenic. The toxicity of arsenic compounds varies greatly and may depend on their chemical form, solubility, and concentration. Surprisingly, synthetic organoarsenicals are extremely toxic molecules which created interest in their development as chemical warfare agents (CWAs) during World War I (WWI). Among these CWAs, adamsite, Clark I, Clark II, and lewisite are of critical importance, as stockpiles of these agents still exist worldwide. In addition, unused WWII weaponized arsenicals discarded in water bodies or buried in many parts of the world continue to pose a serious threat to the environment and human health. Metabolic inhibition, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and epigenetic alterations including micro-RNA-dependent regulation are some of the underlying mechanisms of arsenic toxicity. Mechanistic understanding of the toxicity of organoarsenicals is also critical for the development of effective therapeutic interventions. This review provides comprehensive details and a critical assessment of recently published data on various chemical forms of arsenic, their exposure, and implications on human and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Muzaffar
- UAB Research Center of Excellence in Arsenicals and Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Volker Hall - Room 509 1670 University Blvd. , Birmingham, AL, 35294-0019, USA
| | - Jasim Khan
- UAB Research Center of Excellence in Arsenicals and Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Volker Hall - Room 509 1670 University Blvd. , Birmingham, AL, 35294-0019, USA
| | - Ritesh Srivastava
- UAB Research Center of Excellence in Arsenicals and Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Volker Hall - Room 509 1670 University Blvd. , Birmingham, AL, 35294-0019, USA
| | - Marina S Gorbatyuk
- Department of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Optometry, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mohammad Athar
- UAB Research Center of Excellence in Arsenicals and Department of Dermatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Volker Hall - Room 509 1670 University Blvd. , Birmingham, AL, 35294-0019, USA.
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Martinez VD, Lam WL. Health Effects Associated With Pre- and Perinatal Exposure to Arsenic. Front Genet 2021; 12:664717. [PMID: 34659330 PMCID: PMC8511415 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.664717] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Inorganic arsenic is a well-established human carcinogen, able to induce genetic and epigenetic alterations. More than 200 million people worldwide are exposed to arsenic concentrations in drinking water exceeding the recommended WHO threshold (10μg/l). Additionally, chronic exposure to levels below this threshold is known to result in long-term health effects in humans. The arsenic-related health effects in humans are associated with its biotransformation process, whereby the resulting metabolites can induce molecular damage that accumulates over time. The effects derived from these alterations include genomic instability associated with oxidative damage, alteration of gene expression (including coding and non-coding RNAs), global and localized epigenetic reprogramming, and histone posttranslational modifications. These alterations directly affect molecular pathways involved in the onset and progression of many conditions that can arise even decades after the exposure occurs. Importantly, arsenic metabolites generated during its biotransformation can also pass through the placental barrier, resulting in fetal exposure to this carcinogen at similar levels to those of the mother. As such, more immediate effects of the arsenic-induced molecular damage can be observed as detrimental effects on fetal development, pregnancy, and birth outcomes. In this review, we focus on the genetic and epigenetic damage associated with exposure to low levels of arsenic, particularly those affecting early developmental stages. We also present how these alterations occurring during early life can impact the development of certain diseases in adult life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor D. Martinez
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute, Halifax, NS, Canada
- The Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Wan L. Lam
- The Canadian Environmental Exposures in Cancer (CE2C) Network, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Integrative Oncology, BC Cancer Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Ben Maamar M, Nilsson EE, Skinner MK. Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance, gametogenesis and germline development†. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:570-592. [PMID: 33929020 PMCID: PMC8444706 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most important developing cell types in any biological system is the gamete (sperm and egg). The transmission of phenotypes and optimally adapted physiology to subsequent generations is in large part controlled by gametogenesis. In contrast to genetics, the environment actively regulates epigenetics to impact the physiology and phenotype of cellular and biological systems. The integration of epigenetics and genetics is critical for all developmental biology systems at the cellular and organism level. The current review is focused on the role of epigenetics during gametogenesis for both the spermatogenesis system in the male and oogenesis system in the female. The developmental stages from the initial primordial germ cell through gametogenesis to the mature sperm and egg are presented. How environmental factors can influence the epigenetics of gametogenesis to impact the epigenetic transgenerational inheritance of phenotypic and physiological change in subsequent generations is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Millissia Ben Maamar
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Eric E Nilsson
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
| | - Michael K Skinner
- Center for Reproductive Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA
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Xu Y, Tokar EJ, Pi J. Arsenic as an environmental toxicant and a therapeutic agent: Foe and friend. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 415:115438. [PMID: 33548274 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Xu
- Laboratory of Chronic Diseases and Environmental Genetics, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122, PR China.
| | - Erik J Tokar
- Stem Cell Toxicology Group, National Toxicology Program Laboratory, Division of the National Toxicology Program, NIEHS, 111 TW Alexander Drive, Building 101, Room E-105, RTP, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Jingbo Pi
- Program of Environmental Toxicology, School of Public Health, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122, PR China.
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