Identification of lipidomic markers of chronic 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126) exposure in the male rat liver

Serum metabolism distribution in individuals exposed to dioxins: A case study of residents near the municipal solid waste incinerators in China

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) have attracted considerable attention owing to their environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and high toxicity. This study aimed to investigate changes in serum metabolites following exposure to PCDD/Fs and to reveal a novel pathogenesis of PCDD/Fs. Serum samples were collected from 75 residents living near a municipal solid waste incinerator in China to analyse the relationship between PCDD/Fs and serum metabolic components. The serum level in the low-exposure group [19.07 (13.44-23.89) pg-TEQ/L] was significantly lower than that in the high-exposure group [115.60 (52.28-592.65) pg-TEQ/L]. Non-targeted metabolomic studies based on liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry have been applied to the metabolomic analysis of serum. Thirty-seven metabolites with significant differences among the different groups were identified as biomarkers. Pathway analysis revealed that high dioxin exposure perturbed various biological processes, including glycerol phospholipid metabolism and the interconversion of pentose and glucuronate. The results of a population health survey showed that the serum dioxin concentration in patients with diabetes was significantly higher than that in the control population. These findings suggest that dioxin exposure is associated with several potential adverse health risks, including inflammation, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, through metabolic changes.

Germ-free status but not subacute polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) exposure altered hepatic phosphatidylcholine and ether-phosphatidylcholine levels in mice

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are persistent organic pollutants that pose a current ecosystem and human health concern. PCB exposure impacts the gut microbiome in animal models, suggesting a mechanistic link between PCB exposure and adverse health outcomes. The presence and absence of the microbiome and exposure to PCBs independently affect the lipid composition in the liver, which in turn affects the PCB disposition in target tissues, such as the liver. Here, we investigated microbiome × subacute PCB effects on the hepatic lipid composition of conventional and germ-free female mice exposed to 0, 6, or 30 mg/kg body weight of an environmental PCB mixture in sterile corn oil once daily for 3 consecutive days. Hepatic triacylglyceride and polar lipid levels were quantified using mass spectrometric methods following the subacute PCB exposure. The lipidomic analysis revealed no PCB effect on the hepatic levels. No microbiome effect was observed on levels of triacylglyceride and most polar lipid classes. The total hepatic levels of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and ether-phosphatidylcholine (ePC) lipids were lower in germ-free mice than the conventional mice from the same exposure group. Moreover, levels of several unsaturated PCs, such as PC(36:5) and PC(42:10), and ePCs, such as ePC(36:2) and ePC(4:2), were lower in germ-free than conventional female mice. Based on a KEGG pathway meta-analysis of RNA sequencing data, the ether lipid metabolism pathway is altered in the germ-free mouse liver. In contrast to the liver, extractable lipid levels, determined gravimetrically, differed in several tissues from naïve conventional vs. germ-free mice. Overall, microbiome × subacute PCB exposure effects on hepatic lipid composition are unlikely to affect PCB distribution into the mouse liver. Further studies are needed to assess how the different extractable lipid levels in other tissues alter PCB distribution in conventional vs. germ-free mice.

Structure-Activity Relationship of Lower Chlorinated Biphenyls and Their Human-Relevant Metabolites for Astrocyte Toxicity

Exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is associated with developmental neurotoxicity and neurodegenerative disorders; however, the underlying mechanisms of pathogenesis are unknown. Existing literature has focused mainly on using neurons as a model system to study mechanisms of PCB-mediated neurotoxicity, overlooking the role of glial cells, such as astrocytes. As normal brain function is largely astrocyte-dependent, we hypothesize that astrocytes play an important role in PCB-mediated injury to neurons. We assessed the toxicity of two commercial PCB mixtures, Aroclor 1016 and Aroclor 1254, and a non-Aroclor PCB mixture found in residential air called the Cabinet mixture, all of which contain lower chlorinated PCBs (LC-PCBs) found in indoor and outdoor air. We further assessed the toxicity of five abundant airborne LC-PCBs and their corresponding human-relevant metabolites in vitro models of astrocytes, namely, the C6 cell line and primary astrocytes isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and C57BL/6 mice. PCB52 and its human-relevant hydroxylated and sulfated metabolites were found to be the most toxic compounds. No significant sex-dependent cell viability differences were observed in rat primary astrocytes. Based on the equilibrium partitioning model, it was predicted that the partitioning of LC-PCBs and their corresponding metabolites in biotic and abiotic compartments of the cell culture system is structure-dependent and that the observed toxicity is consistent with this prediction. This study, for the first time, shows that astrocytes are sensitive targets of LC-PCBs and their human-relevant metabolites and that further research to identify mechanistic targets of PCB exposure in glial cells is necessary.

Inhibition of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR) Expression Disrupts Cell Proliferation and Alters Energy Metabolism and Fatty Acid Synthesis in Colon Cancer Cells

Simple Summary

Cancer cells undergo metabolic modifications in order to meet their high energetic demand. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcriptional factor primarily known as a xenobiotic sensor. However, this receptor seems to have a wide range of physiological roles in many processes including cell proliferation, migration or control of immune responses. AhR is often overexpressed in tumor cells of various tissue origin, and several studies have indicated that AhR may also contribute to regulation of cellular metabolism, including synthesis of fatty acids (FA), one of the major steps in metabolic transition. Potential links between the AhR and the control of tumor cell proliferation and metabolism thus deserve more attention.

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) plays a wide range of physiological roles in cellular processes such as proliferation, migration or control of immune responses. Several studies have also indicated that AhR might contribute to the regulation of energy balance or cellular metabolism. We observed that the AhR is upregulated in tumor epithelial cells derived from colon cancer patients. Using wild-type and the corresponding AhR knockout (AhR KO) variants of human colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT-29, we analyzed possible role(s) of the AhR in cell proliferation and metabolism, with a focus on regulation of the synthesis of fatty acids (FAs). We observed a decreased proliferation rate in the AhR KO cells, which was accompanied with altered cell cycle progression, as well as a decreased ATP production. We also found reduced mRNA levels of key enzymes of the FA biosynthetic pathway in AhR KO colon cancer cells, in particular of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1). The loss of AhR was also associated with reduced expression and/or activity of components of the PI3K/Akt pathway, which controls lipid metabolism, and other lipogenic transcriptional regulators, such as sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBP1). Together, our data indicate that disruption of AhR activity in colon tumor cells may, likely in a cell-specific manner, limit their proliferation, which could be linked with a suppressive effect on their endogenous FA metabolism. More attention should be paid to potential mechanistic links between overexpressed AhR and colon tumor cell metabolism.

Metabolomics and lipidomics to identify biomarkers of effect related to exposure to non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in pigs

Recent epidemiological studies show that current levels of exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) remain of great concern, as there is still a link between such exposures and the development of chronic environmental diseases. In this sense, most studies have focused on the health effects caused by exposure to dioxin-like PCBs (DL-PCBs), although chemical exposure to non-dioxin-like PCB (NDL-PCB) congeners is more significant. In addition, adverse effects of PCBs have been documented in humans after accidental and massive exposure, but little is known about the effect of chronic exposure to low-dose PCB mixtures. In this work, exposure to Aroclor 1260 (i.e. a commercially available mixture of PCBs consisting primarily of NDL-PCB congeners) in pigs is investigated as new evidence in the risk assessment of NDL-PCBs. This animal model has been selected due to the similarities with human metabolism and to support previous toxicological studies carried out with more frequently used animal models. Dietary exposure doses in the order of few ng/kg body weight (b.w.) per day were applied. As expected, exposure to Aroclor 1260 led to the bioaccumulation of NDL-PCBs in perirenal fat of pigs. Metabolomics and lipidomics have been applied to reveal biomarkers of effect related to Aroclor 1260 exposure, and by extension to NDL-PCB exposure, for 21 days. In the metabolomics analysis, 33 metabolites have been identified (level 1 and 2) as significantly altered by the Aroclor 1260 administration, while in the lipidomics analysis, 39 metabolites were putatively annotated (level 3) and associated with NDL-PCB exposure. These biomarkers are mainly related to the alteration of fatty acid metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and tryptophan-kynurenine pathway.

The disposition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) differs between germ-free and conventional mice

The disposition of toxicants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in germ-free (GF) vs. conventional (CV) mice has received little attention to date. Here, we investigate PCB levels in three-month-old female CV and GF mice exposed orally daily for 3 days to 0, 6, or 30 mg/kg body weight of the Fox River Mixture (FRM), an environmental PCB mixture. We euthanized animals 24 h after the final dose. PCB profiles in tissues differed from the FRM profile but were similar in tissues across all 4 PCB exposure groups. PCB levels in CV but not GF mice followed the difference in PCB dose. Importantly, PCB levels were higher in CV than GF mice exposed to the same dose. Hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme or lipid levels did not explain these trends in PCB tissue levels. Thus, toxicity studies with CV and GF animals need to assess the toxicokinetics of the toxicant investigated. CAPSULE: PCB levels are typically higher in conventional than germ-free mice exposed to the same dose of PCBs.

Lipidomic analysis of single and combined effects of polyethylene microplastics and polychlorinated biphenyls on human hepatoma cells

Microplastics are an emerging environmental issue as a result of their ubiquity, persistence, and intrinsic toxic potential. In addition, their ability to sorb and transport a wide variety of environmental pollutants (i.e. "Trojan Horse" effect) exerts significant adverse impacts upon ecosystems. The toxicological evaluation of the single and combined effects produced by polyethylene microplastics and two polychlorinated biphenyl congeners was performed on the human hepatoma cell line HepG2 by cell viability assessment and an untargeted lipidomic study. The cell lethality evaluation evinced that MPs did not induce relevant cell lethality at any of the concentration range tested, while both PCBs presented a hormetic behavior. The lipidomic analysis suggested that both single PCB exposures induced significant lipidomic changes, especially for glycerophospholipids and glycerolipids. In contrast, for MPs single exposure, the most remarkable change was the substantial enhancement of triglyceride content. Regarding combined exposures, results showed that MPs could induce even more harmful effects than those produced intrinsically as a result of desorbing previously sorbed toxic pollutants. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study assessing the toxicity of microplastics and their possible "Trojan Horse" effect by applying an untargeted lipidomic methodology.

Lipid changes in extrapulmonary organs and serum of rats after chronic exposure to ambient fine particulate matter

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is able to pass through the respiratory barrier to enter the circulatory system and can consequently spread to the whole body to cause toxicity. Although our previous studies have revealed significantly altered levels of phosphorylcholine-containing lipids in the lungs of rats after chronic inhalation exposure to PM_2.5, the effects of PM_2.5 on phosphorylcholine-containing lipids in the extrapulmonary organs have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we examined the lipid effects of chronic PM_2.5 exposure on various organs and serum by using a rat inhalation model followed by a mass spectrometry-based lipidomic approach. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were continuously exposed at the whole body level to nonfiltered and nonconcentrated ambient air from the outside environment of Taipei city for 8 months, while the control rats inhaled filtered air simultaneously. After exposure, serum samples and various organs, including the testis, pancreas, heart, liver, kidney, spleen, and epididymis, were collected for lipid extraction and analysis to examine the changes in phosphorylcholine-containing lipids after exposure. The results from the partial least squares discriminant analysis models demonstrated that the lipid profiles in the PM_2.5 exposure group were different from those in the control group in the rat testis, pancreas, heart, liver, kidney and serum. The greatest PM_2.5-induced lipid effects were observed in the testes. Decreased lyso-phosphatidylcholines (PCs) as well as increased unsaturated diacyl-PCs and sphingomyelins in the testes may be related to maintaining the membrane integrity of spermatozoa, antioxidation, and cell signaling. Additionally, our results showed that decreased PC(16:0/18:1) was observed in both the serum and testes. In conclusion, exposure to chronic environmental concentrations of PM_2.5 caused lipid perturbation, especially in the testes of rats. This study highlighted the susceptibility of the testes and suggested possible molecular events for future study.

Thioesterase induction by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin results in a futile cycle that inhibits hepatic β-oxidation

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), a persistent environmental contaminant, induces steatosis by increasing hepatic uptake of dietary and mobilized peripheral fats, inhibiting lipoprotein export, and repressing β-oxidation. In this study, the mechanism of β-oxidation inhibition was investigated by testing the hypothesis that TCDD dose-dependently repressed straight-chain fatty acid oxidation gene expression in mice following oral gavage every 4 days for 28 days. Untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed a dose-dependent decrease in hepatic acyl-CoA levels, while octenoyl-CoA and dicarboxylic acid levels increased. TCDD also dose-dependently repressed the hepatic gene expression associated with triacylglycerol and cholesterol ester hydrolysis, fatty acid binding proteins, fatty acid activation, and 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolysis while inducing acyl-CoA hydrolysis. Moreover, octenoyl-CoA blocked the hydration of crotonyl-CoA suggesting short chain enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECHS1) activity was inhibited. Collectively, the integration of metabolomics and RNA-seq data suggested TCDD induced a futile cycle of fatty acid activation and acyl-CoA hydrolysis resulting in incomplete β-oxidation, and the accumulation octenoyl-CoA levels that inhibited the activity of short chain enoyl-CoA hydratase (ECHS1).

Perturbations in glycerophospholipid levels of PC12 cells after exposure to PCB95 based on targeted lipidomics analysis

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a group of organic chlorine chemicals that can induce various adverse health effects in animals and humans. The toxicology of PCBs is a significant public health concern because of their long-term presence in the environment. Among the 209 PCB congeners, PCB95 has been reported to be neurotoxic, however, there has been limited researches on evaluating whether and how PCB95 affects cellular lipids, the most abundant components of the brain. In this study, PCB95 was found to inhibit cell proliferation at concentrations of 0.1 μM, 2 μM and 10 μM for 120 h. Additionally, there may be a shift in apoptosis to necrosis at 2 μM PCB95 exposure for 24 h. However, lipid peroxidation was found not dominant for PCB95 exposure, especially at the concentrations of 0.1 μM and 2 μM. Because of playing vital roles in cell metabolism, 20 glycerophospholipids in PC12 cells were investigated after exposure to PCB95 for 120 h. The distinctions in the orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) models indicated that different concentrations of PCB95 leaded to aberrant glycerophospholipid metabolism. Based on the principles of t-test P-value < 0.05, variable importance at projection (VIP) value >1 and fold change >1, PC (14:0/14:0) and PC (16:0/14:0) were screened as potential biomarkers from all the target glycerophospholipids. This study is the first time that identifies the effects of PCB95 on specific glycerophospholipids in PC12 cells, and the observed changes in glycerophospholipids provides the basis for further evaluation of PCB95-induced neurotoxicity mechanisms.

Hepatotoxic effects of inhalation exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on lipid metabolism of C57BL/6 mice

Inhalation from ambient air and cigarette smoke is a common route of human exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Little information is available regarding hepatotoxicities of inhaled PAHs so for. In this study, we evaluated the toxic effects of intratracheally instilled benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) on hepatic lipid metabolism of C57BL/6 mice at relevant environmental exposure levels by using two different mass-based lipidomics approaches. The results of mass spectrometry imaging analysis showed that both the abundance and spatial distribution of several lysophosphatidylcholine (LysoPC), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM) in the liver section were different and changed after inhalation exposure to B[a]P. Liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry-based lipidomics analysis and multivariate statistical analysis found that B[a]P exposure markedly altered glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, and fatty acid metabolism in the mouse liver, with increasing of triacylglycerol (TG), phosphatidylinositol (PI) and PC, and decreasing of LysoPCs phosphatidylethanolamines (PEs), lysophosphatidylethanolamine (LysoPEs), free fatty acids (FFAs) and eicosanoids. B[a]P-induced lipid metabolic disorders showed a time-dependent effect, which generated three response trajectories with different change trends. Consequently, B[a]P exposure induced alteration of hepatic lipids by promoting the uptake from blood or the biosynthesis and transformation in the liver, might contribute to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatocyte membrane injury, inflammation, and signal system disturbance.

Gut Microbiota Modulates Interactions Between Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Bile Acid Homeostasis

The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a second genome that contributes to the health and diseases of the host. A major function of the gut microbiota is to convert primary bile acids (BAs) produced from cholesterol in the liver into secondary BAs that activate distinct host receptors to modulate xenobiotic metabolism and energy homeostasis. The goal of this study was to investigate to what extent oral exposure to an environmentally relevant polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs mixture), namely the Fox River mixture, impacts gut microbiome and BA homeostasis. Ninety-day-old adult female conventional (CV) and germ-free (GF) C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed to corn oil (vehicle), or the Fox River mixture at 6 or 30 mg/kg once daily for 3 consecutive days. The PCB low dose profoundly increased BA metabolism related bacteria Akkermansia (A.) muciniphila, Clostridium (C.) scindens, and Enterococcus in the large intestinal pellet (LIP) of CV mice (16S rRNA sequencing/qPCR). This correlated with a PCB low dose-mediated increase in multiple BAs in serum and small intestinal content (SIP) in a gut microbiota-dependent manner (UPLC-MS/MS). Conversely, at PCB high dose, BA levels remained stable in CV mice correlated with an increase in hepatic efflux transporters and ileal Fgf15. Interestingly, lack of gut microbiota potentiated the PCB-mediated increase in taurine conjugated α and β muricholic acids in liver, SIP, and LIP. Pearson's correlation identified positive correlations between 5 taxa and most secondary BAs. In conclusion, PCBs dose-dependently altered BA homeostasis through a joint effort between host gut-liver axis and intestinal bacteria.

Mechanisms of Environmental Contributions to Fatty Liver Disease

PURPOSE

Fatty liver disease (FLD) affects over 25% of the global population and may lead to liver-related mortality due to cirrhosis and liver cancer. FLD caused by occupational and environmental chemical exposures is termed "toxicant-associated steatohepatitis" (TASH). The current review addresses the scientific progress made in the mechanistic understanding of TASH since its initial description in 2010.

RECENT FINDINGS

Recently discovered modes of actions for volatile organic compounds and persistent organic pollutants include the following: (i) the endocrine-, metabolism-, and signaling-disrupting chemical hypotheses; (ii) chemical-nutrient interactions and the "two-hit" hypothesis. These key hypotheses were then reviewed in the context of the steatosis adverse outcome pathway (AOP) proposed by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The conceptual understanding of the contribution of environmental exposures to FLD has progressed significantly. However, because this is a new research area, more studies including mechanistic human data are required to address current knowledge gaps.

Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) have been associated with abnormal liver enzymes and suspected nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in cohort studies. NAFLD affects greater than 25% of the global population and may result in liver-related mortality. Both dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like PCBs have been associated with NAFLD, but their effects and mechanisms differ. Dioxin-like PCBs altered the gut:liver axis and microbiome and caused hepatic steatosis by disrupting hepatic lipid metabolism. In contrast, NDL PCBs reduced the liver's protective responses to promote diet-induced NAFLD. Mechanisms included the disruption of phosphoprotein signaling resulting in altered nuclear receptor function.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis correlates with a low-dose PCB126-induced dyslipidemia and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

There is growing evidence that polychlorinated biphenyl 126 (PCB126) not only has adverse effects on host health but also has the ability to shift gut microbiota, which is recently recognized as a crucial factor determining numerous physiological processes. However, the interplay between the gut microbiota and host health remains largely unknown. Herein, adult female C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed to environmentally relevant low-dose of PCB126, at 50 μg/kg body weight once per week for 6 weeks. This study aims to illuminate how PCB126 influences gut microbiota variations and host disorders and to further identify the correlation between the gut microbiota and metabolic markers of host disorders. Obtained results demonstrated that the PCB126 administration induced gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice, with changes both in the gut microbiota constitution and structure. PCB126 administration also simultaneously altered the physiological status of serum and liver, as evaluated by dyslipidemia, liver lipid accumulation and injury, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Importantly, Spearman's correlation analysis suggested that several specific bacterial taxa were positively and significantly related to metabolic markers of the mentioned disorders. Moreover, based on the co-occurrence network map, some of the bacterial taxa may synergistically regulate host physiology. This work provides new insight into the mechanism underlying the interaction between the gut microbiota and host disorders. It is expected that gut microbiota modulation should be another novel way used for the prevention and treatment of PCB126-triggered diseases.

Hepatic metabolomics reveals that liver injury increases PCB 126-induced oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction

The deleterious effects of PCB 126 are complex, and the role of the liver in modifying toxic insult is not well understood. We utilized metabolomics approaches to compare liver metabolites significantly affected by PCB 126 in control mice and a diet induced liver injury mouse model. In this 14-week study, mice were fed either an amino acid supplemented control diet (CD) or a methionine-choline deficient diet (MCD) which promoted nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and were subsequently exposed to PCB 126. The liver metabolome was profiled by a global metabolomic analysis using LC-MS. There were clear differences between PCB 126 exposed and control mice in the hepatic metabolomic profiles (216 and 266 metabolites were altered in CD-fed and MCD-fed mice respectively after PCB 126 exposure). PCB 126 modulated glycerophospholipid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, and CoA biosynthesis pathways irrespective of diet; indicating that the disturbance in lipid metabolism and thiol metabolites are general markers of PCB 126 exposure irrespective of liver health. Additionally, metabolites associated with oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction were greatly elevated in PCB 126 exposed mice with compromised livers (e.g., 4-hydroxy-nonenal glutathione, oxylipids, uric acid, and acylcarnitines). Moreover, PCB 126 exposure downregulated redox genes, and the effect was more pronounced in liver injury mice. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that PCB 126 could induce oxidative stress and metabolic dysfunction, and pre-existing liver injury can markedly modify PCB 126-induced metabolic changes. Using metabolic profiling, this study suggests mechanism of enhanced PCB 126 toxicity under liver injury settings.