1
|
Kim K. The Role of Endocrine Disruption Chemical-Regulated Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activity in the Pathogenesis of Pancreatic Diseases and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3818. [PMID: 38612627 PMCID: PMC11012155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073818] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) serves as a ligand-activated transcription factor crucial for regulating fundamental cellular and molecular processes, such as xenobiotic metabolism, immune responses, and cancer development. Notably, a spectrum of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) act as agonists or antagonists of AHR, leading to the dysregulation of pivotal cellular and molecular processes and endocrine system disruption. Accumulating evidence suggests a correlation between EDC exposure and the onset of diverse pancreatic diseases, including diabetes, pancreatitis, and pancreatic cancer. Despite this association, the mechanistic role of AHR as a linchpin molecule in EDC exposure-related pathogenesis of pancreatic diseases and cancer remains unexplored. This review comprehensively examines the involvement of AHR in EDC exposure-mediated regulation of pancreatic pathogenesis, emphasizing AHR as a potential therapeutic target for the pathogenesis of pancreatic diseases and cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kyounghyun Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72225, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Hoyeck MP, Angela Ching ME, Basu L, van Allen K, Palaniyandi J, Perera I, Poleo-Giordani E, Hanson AA, Ghorbani P, Fullerton MD, Bruin JE. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor in β-cells mediates the effects of TCDD on glucose homeostasis in mice. Mol Metab 2024; 81:101893. [PMID: 38309623 PMCID: PMC10867573 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.101893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Chronic exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is associated with increased incidence of type 2 diabetes, hyperglycemia, and poor insulin secretion in humans. Dioxins and dioxin-like compounds are a broad class of POPs that exert cellular toxicity through activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). We previously showed that a single high-dose injection of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, aka dioxin; 20 μg/kg) in vivo reduced fasted and glucose-stimulated plasma insulin levels for up to 6 weeks in male and female mice. TCDD-exposed male mice were also modestly hypoglycemic and had increased insulin sensitivity, whereas TCDD-exposed females were transiently glucose intolerant. Whether these effects are driven by AhR activation in β-cells requires investigation. METHODS We exposed female and male β-cell specific Ahr knockout (βAhrKO) mice and littermate Ins1-Cre genotype controls (βAhrWT) to a single high dose of 20 μg/kg TCDD and tracked the mice for 6 weeks. RESULTS Under baseline conditions, deleting AhR from β-cells caused hypoglycemia in female mice, increased insulin secretion ex vivo in female mouse islets, and promoted modest weight gain in male mice. Importantly, high-dose TCDD exposure impaired glucose homeostasis and β-cell function in βAhrWT mice, but these phenotypes were largely abolished in TCDD-exposed βAhrKO mice. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates that AhR signaling in β-cells is important for regulating baseline β-cell function in female mice and energy homeostasis in male mice. We also show that β-cell AhR signaling largely mediates the effects of TCDD on glucose homeostasis in both sexes, suggesting that the effects of TCDD on β-cell function and health are driving metabolic phenotypes in peripheral tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myriam P Hoyeck
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ma Enrica Angela Ching
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lahari Basu
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kyle van Allen
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jana Palaniyandi
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ineli Perera
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Emilia Poleo-Giordani
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Antonio A Hanson
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Peyman Ghorbani
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Morgan D Fullerton
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Centre for Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology, Ottawa, ON, Canada; Centre for Catalysis Research and Innovation, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer E Bruin
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Gao J, Xu Y, Zhong T, Yu X, Wang L, Xiao Y, Peng Y, Sun Q. A review of food contaminant 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and its toxicity associated with metabolic disorders. Curr Res Food Sci 2023; 7:100617. [PMID: 37881334 PMCID: PMC10594546 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2023.100617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Dioxins are a group of chemicals not only regarded as highly toxic trace environmental contaminants, but also considered typical contaminants in food. Dioxins spread across the ecosystem after factory manufacture, contaminate the soil and vegetation before either directly or indirectly entering the food chain through meat products, dairy products, and aquatic products. The compound in question poses a challenge for metabolic processes within the human body, due to its intricate mechanism for inducing diseases. Therefore, it presents a significant risk and is largely undisclosed. Dioxins are mainly exposed to humans by water, food, and air, as well as inducing organ failure and metabolic disorders through but not limited to the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AhR). As a notorious compound in the family of dioxins, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exhibits long-term toxic effects on diverse organs, which induces continuous metabolic disorders. This review discussed the mechanisms of TCDD-associated metabolic syndrome. The expression of the cytochrome P450 subfamily transfers TCDD into liver, promotes its accumulation in fat tissue, and affects cholesterol metabolism. This process also alters the glucose tolerance of the human organism, disrupting glucose metabolism. It can also elicit cardiovascular pathogenesis, exacerbate liver fibrosis and neuronal death. The long-term metabolic impact of this effect is found to be sex-related. This review summarized the toxicity of TCDD on the human metabolism system and discussed the plausible correlation between TCDD and five metabolic disorders, which helped offer novel insights for future research and therapeutic interventions for these ailments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiuhe Gao
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Yuqing Xu
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Tian Zhong
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Xi Yu
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Ying Xiao
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Ye Peng
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao SAR, 999078, China
| | - Quancai Sun
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, College of Health and Human Sciences, Florida State University, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hammoudeh N, Soukkarieh C, Murphy DJ, Hanano A. Female-to-male differential transcription patterns of miRNA-mRNA networks in the livers of dioxin-exposed mice. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:2310-2331. [PMID: 37318321 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Non-coding microRNAs (miRNAs) have important roles in regulating the expression of liver mRNAs in response to xenobiotic-exposure, but their roles concerning dioxins such as TCDD (2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin) are less clear. This report concerns the potential implication of liver (class I) and circulating (class II) miRNAs in hepatotoxicity of female and male mice after acute exposure to TCDD. The data show that, of a total of 38 types of miRNAs, the expression of eight miRNAs were upregulated in both female and male mice exposed to TCDD. Inversely, the expression of nine miRNAs were significantly downregulated in both animal genders. Moreover, certain miRNAs were preferentially induced in either females or males. The potential downstream regulatory effects of miRNAs on their target genes was evaluated by determining the expression of three group of genes that are potentially involved in cancer biogenesis, other diseases and in hepatotoxicity. It was found that certain cancer-related genes were more highly expressed females rather than males after exposure to TCDD. Furthermore, a paradoxical female-to-male transcriptional pattern was found for several disease-related and hepatotoxicity-related genes. These results suggest the possibility of developing of new miRNA-specific interfering molecules to address their dysfunctions as caused by TCDD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nour Hammoudeh
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria
| | - Chadi Soukkarieh
- Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Damascus, Damascus, Syria
| | - Denis J Murphy
- School of Applied Sciences, University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK
| | - Abdulsamie Hanano
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Atomic Energy Commission of Syria (AECS), Damascus, Syria
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Critical Overview on Endocrine Disruptors in Diabetes Mellitus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054537. [PMID: 36901966 PMCID: PMC10003192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem in all countries due to its high human and economic burden. Major metabolic alterations are associated with the chronic hyperglycemia that characterizes diabetes and causes devastating complications, including retinopathy, kidney failure, coronary disease and increased cardiovascular mortality. The most common form is type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounting for 90 to 95% of the cases. These chronic metabolic disorders are heterogeneous to which genetic factors contribute, but so do prenatal and postnatal life environmental factors including a sedentary lifestyle, overweight, and obesity. However, these classical risk factors alone cannot explain the rapid evolution of the prevalence of T2D and the high prevalence of type 1 diabetes in particular areas. Among environmental factors, we are in fact exposed to a growing amount of chemical molecules produced by our industries or by our way of life. In this narrative review, we aim to give a critical overview of the role of these pollutants that can interfere with our endocrine system, the so-called endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), in the pathophysiology of diabetes and metabolic disorders.
Collapse
|
6
|
Lee S, Lim Y, Kang Y, Jung K, Jee S. The Association between Blood Concentrations of PCDD/DFs, DL-PCBs and the Risk of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Thyroid Cancer in South Korea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19148745. [PMID: 35886598 PMCID: PMC9320419 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19148745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Epidemiological studies have inconsistently shown an association between dioxin and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cancer. This study aims to examine the effects of blood concentration of dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/DFs) on T2DM and thyroid cancer. Methods: We conducted a nested case–control study within the Korean cancer prevention study-II (KCPS-II) consisting of 15 thyroid cancer cases, 30 T2DM cases, and 55 controls. A total of 500 samples were used in 100 pooling samples. An average value of a pooled sample was calculated weighted by the blood volume of each sample. Results: The study population included 100 participants from the KCPS-II (median (IQR) baseline age, 54.06 [21.04] years; 48 women). The toxic equivalents of PCDD/DFs showed a significant positive association with T2DM and thyroid cancer, after adjustments for potential confounders (T2DM ORs = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.05–1.43; thyroid cancer ORs = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.12–1.61). Conclusion: In this study, both T2DM and thyroid cancer were associated with the blood concentrations of PCDD/DFs. The association between PCDD/DFs and T2D was found among women but not among men. Our findings suggest that further biochemical in vivo research and epidemiologic studies are needed to clarify the association between dioxins concentrations and diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- SuHyun Lee
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Institute for Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (S.L.); (S.J.)
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - YoungWook Lim
- Institute for Environmental Research, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea;
| | - YounSeok Kang
- Environment Testing Division, Eurofins Korea Ltd., Gunpo 15849, Korea;
| | - KeumJi Jung
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Institute for Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (S.L.); (S.J.)
- Correspondence:
| | - SunHa Jee
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Promotion, Institute for Health Promotion, Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea; (S.L.); (S.J.)
- Department of Public Health, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hoyeck MP, Matteo G, MacFarlane EM, Perera I, Bruin JE. Persistent organic pollutants and β-cell toxicity: a comprehensive review. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 2022; 322:E383-E413. [PMID: 35156417 PMCID: PMC9394781 DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00358.2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a diverse family of contaminants that show widespread global dispersion and bioaccumulation. Humans are continuously exposed to POPs through diet, air particles, and household and commercial products; POPs are consistently detected in human tissues, including the pancreas. Epidemiological studies show a modest but consistent correlation between exposure to POPs and increased diabetes risk. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of epidemiological evidence and an in-depth evaluation of the in vivo and in vitro evidence that POPs cause β-cell toxicity. We review evidence for six classes of POPs: dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), organophosphate pesticides (OPPs), flame retardants, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The available data provide convincing evidence implicating POPs as a contributing factor driving impaired glucose homeostasis, β-cell dysfunction, and altered metabolic and oxidative stress pathways in islets. These findings support epidemiological data showing that POPs increase diabetes risk and emphasize the need to consider the endocrine pancreas in toxicity assessments. Our review also highlights significant gaps in the literature assessing islet-specific endpoints after both in vivo and in vitro POP exposure. In addition, most rodent studies do not consider the impact of biological sex or secondary metabolic stressors in mediating the effects of POPs on glucose homeostasis and β-cell function. We discuss key gaps and limitations that should be assessed in future studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Myriam P Hoyeck
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Geronimo Matteo
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Erin M MacFarlane
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ineli Perera
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jennifer E Bruin
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) Is Critical for Dioxin-Induced Reorganization of the Gut Microbiome and Host Insulin Sensitivity. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12040364. [PMID: 35448550 PMCID: PMC9029240 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12040364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to some environmental pollutants can have potent endocrine-disrupting effects, thereby promoting hormone imbalance and cardiometabolic diseases such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), diabetes, and cardiorenal diseases. Recent evidence also suggests that many environmental pollutants can reorganize the gut microbiome to potentially impact these diverse human diseases. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is among the most potent endocrine-disrupting dioxin pollutants, yet our understanding of how TCDD impacts the gut microbiome and systemic metabolism is incompletely understood. Here, we show that TCDD exposure in mice profoundly stimulates the hepatic expression of flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (Fmo3), which is a hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme that is also responsible for the production of the gut microbiome-associated metabolite trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). Interestingly, an enzymatic product of FMO3 (TMAO) has been associated with the same cardiometabolic diseases that these environmental pollutants promote. Therefore, here, we examined TCDD-induced alterations in the gut microbiome, host liver transcriptome, and glucose tolerance in Fmo3+/+ and Fmo3-/- mice. Our results show that Fmo3 is a critical component of the transcriptional response to TCDD, impacting the gut microbiome, host liver transcriptome, and systemic glucose tolerance. Collectively, this work uncovers a previously underappreciated role for Fmo3 in integrating diet-pollutant-microbe-host interactions.
Collapse
|
9
|
Effects of Arachidonic Acid and Its Metabolites on Functional Beta-Cell Mass. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12040342. [PMID: 35448529 PMCID: PMC9031745 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12040342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Arachidonic acid (AA) is a polyunsaturated 20-carbon fatty acid present in phospholipids in the plasma membrane. The three primary pathways by which AA is metabolized are mediated by cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes, lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes, and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. These three pathways produce eicosanoids, lipid signaling molecules that play roles in biological processes such as inflammation, pain, and immune function. Eicosanoids have been demonstrated to play a role in inflammatory, renal, and cardiovascular diseases as well type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Alterations in AA release or AA concentrations have been shown to affect insulin secretion from the pancreatic beta cell, leading to interest in the role of AA and its metabolites in the regulation of beta-cell function and maintenance of beta-cell mass. In this review, we discuss the metabolism of AA by COX, LOX, and CYP, the roles of these enzymes and their metabolites in beta-cell mass and function, and the possibility of targeting these pathways as novel therapies for treating diabetes.
Collapse
|
10
|
Gang N, Van Allen K, Villeneuve PJ, MacDonald H, Bruin JE. Sex-specific Associations Between Type 2 Diabetes Incidence and Exposure to Dioxin and Dioxin-like Pollutants: A Meta-analysis. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 3:685840. [PMID: 35295132 PMCID: PMC8915902 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.685840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The potential for persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including dioxins and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs), to increase the risk of incident diabetes in adults has been extensively studied. However, there is substantial variability in the reported associations both between and within studies. Emerging data from rodent studies suggest that dioxin disrupts glucose homeostasis in a sex-specific manner. Thus, we performed a review and meta-analysis of relevant epidemiological studies to investigate sex differences in associations between dioxin or DL-PCB exposure and type 2 diabetes incidence. Articles that met our selection criteria (n = 81) were organized into the following subcategories: data stratified by sex (n = 13), unstratified data (n = 45), and data from only 1 sex (n = 13 male, n = 10 female). We also considered whether exposure occurred either abruptly at high concentrations through a contamination event (“disaster exposure”) or chronically at low concentrations (“non-disaster exposure”). There were 8 studies that compared associations between dioxin/DL-PCB exposure and diabetes risk in males versus females within the same population. When all sex-stratified or single-sex studies were considered in the meta-analysis (n = 18), the summary relative risk (RR) for incident diabetes among those exposed relative to reference populations was 1.78 (95% CI = 1.37–2.31) and 1.95 (95% CI = 1.56–2.43) for female and males, respectively. However, when we restricted the meta-analysis to disaster-exposed populations, the RR was higher in females than males (2.86 versus 1.59, respectively). In contrast, in non-disaster exposed populations the RR for females was lower than males (1.40 and 2.02, respectively). Our meta-analysis suggests that there are sex differences in the associations between dioxin/DL-PCBs exposure and incident diabetes, and that the mode of exposure modifies these differences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Noa Gang
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kyle Van Allen
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Paul J. Villeneuve
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Heather MacDonald
- Health and Biosciences Librarian, MacOdrum Library, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer E. Bruin
- Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jennifer E. Bruin,
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Eti NA, Flor S, Iqbal K, Scott RL, Klenov VE, Gibson-Corley KN, Soares MJ, Ludewig G, Robertson LW. PCB126 induced toxic actions on liver energy metabolism is mediated by AhR in rats. Toxicology 2022; 466:153054. [PMID: 34848246 PMCID: PMC8748418 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.153054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor involved in the regulation of biological responses to more planar aromatic hydrocarbons, like TCDD. We previously described the sequence of events following exposure of male rats to a dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congener, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126), that binds avidly to the AhR and causes various types of toxicity including metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and disruption of energy homeostasis. The purpose of this study was, to investigate the role of AhR to mediate those toxic manifestations following sub-acute exposure to PCB126 and to examine possible sex differences in effects. For this goal, we created an AhR knockout (AhR-KO) model using CRISPR/Cas9. Comparison was made to the wild type (WT) male and female Holtzman Sprague Dawley rats. Rats were injected with a single IP dose of corn oil vehicle or 5 μmol/kg PCB126 in corn oil and necropsied after 28 days. PCB126 caused significant weight loss, reduced relative thymus weights, and increased relative liver weights in WT male and female rats, but not in AhR-KO rats. Similarly, significant pathologic changes were visible which included necrosis and regeneration in female rats, micro- and macro-vesicular hepatocellular vacuolation in males, and a paucity of glycogen in livers of both sexes in WT rats only. Hypoglycemia and lower IGF1, and reduced serum non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) were found in serum of both sexes of WT rats, low serum cholesterol levels only in the females, and no changes in AhR-KO rats. The expression of genes encoding enzymes related to xenobiotic metabolism (e.g. CYP1A1), gluconeogenesis, glycogenolysis, and fatty acid oxidation were unaffected in the AhR-KO rats following PCB126 exposure as opposed to WT rats where expression was significantly upregulated (PPARα, females only) or downregulated suggesting a disrupted energy homeostasis. Interestingly, Acox2, Hmgcs, G6Pase and Pc were affected in both sexes, the gluconeogenesis and glucose transporter genes Pck1, Glut2, Sds, and Crem only in male WT-PCB rats. These results show the essential role of the AhR in glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis, and fatty acid oxidation, i.e. in the regulation of energy production and homeostasis, but also demonstrate a significant difference in the effects of PCB126 in males verses females, suggesting higher vulnerability of glucose homeostasis in males and more changes in fatty acid/lipid homeostasis in females. These differences in effects, which may apply to more/all AhR agonists, should be further analyzed to identify health risks to specific groups of highly exposed human populations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nazmin Akter Eti
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Susanne Flor
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Khursheed Iqbal
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Regan L Scott
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Violet E Klenov
- Department of Ob/Gyn, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Katherine N Gibson-Corley
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Michael J Soares
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, United States
| | - Gabriele Ludewig
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States
| | - Larry W Robertson
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhang B, Sun H, Wang Q. Household kindling behaviours and potential health risks of dioxins exposure in rural Northern China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:6072-6079. [PMID: 34435285 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15982-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The study aimed to analyse the potential risk behind kindling behaviour in Chinese rural families and to provide insights for policymakers in environmental health. A cluster survey was performed on 113 participant's families who were living in the countryside in the north of China, using solid fuels for cooking and heating purpose. A questionnaire survey on their kindling behaviour and family information was administrated. Harmful kindling materials including plastic bottles, plastic planting plates, plastic film mulches, plastic bags, waste foams, and medium density fibreboard (MDF) are targeted in the survey. About one third of participant's families have ever used the listed harmful material for kindling. Based on literature review and the exposure proportion estimated from the questionnaire, we estimated the population attributable fractions (PAF) for all cancer type (10.48-19.48%) and type 2 diabetes (15.57-27.86%) attributable to dioxin exposure. The PAF estimates were greater than our expectation from the view of the global estimate PAF for cancer and T2D. Moreover, we found farming families are more likely to use their farming-related plastic byproducts as kindling material. There is a huge knowledge gap in environmental health in rural China. Although we were not able to measure the specific exposure data, our survey provided a new research aspect for environmental health research and health education. Strengthened environmental health education, better relevant laws, regulations, and supporting policies for regulating rural and farming waste disposal are highly recommended for policymakers in China.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bei Zhang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Sun
- UNICEF office for China, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lau H, Li S, Corrales N, Rodriguez S, Mohammadi M, Alexander M, de Vos P, Lakey JRT. Necrostatin-1 Supplementation to Islet Tissue Culture Enhances the In-Vitro Development and Graft Function of Young Porcine Islets. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:8367. [PMID: 34445075 PMCID: PMC8394857 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pre-weaned porcine islets (PPIs) represent an unlimited source for islet transplantation but are functionally immature. We previously showed that necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) immediately after islet isolation enhanced the in vitro development of PPIs. Here, we examined the impact of Nec-1 on the in vivo function of PPIs after transplantation in diabetic mice. PPIs were isolated from pancreata of 8-15-day-old, pre-weaned pigs and cultured in media alone, or supplemented with Nec-1 (100 µM) on day 0 or on day 3 of culture (n = 5 for each group). On day 7, islet recovery, viability, oxygen consumption rate, insulin content, cellular composition, insulin secretion capacity, and transplant outcomes were evaluated. While islet viability and oxygen consumption rate remained high throughout 7-day tissue culture, Nec-1 supplementation on day 3 significantly improved islet recovery, insulin content, endocrine composition, GLUT2 expression, differentiation potential, proliferation capacity of endocrine cells, and insulin secretion. Adding Nec-1 on day 3 of tissue culture enhanced the islet recovery, proportion of delta cells, beta-cell differentiation and proliferation, and stimulation index. In vivo, this leads to shorter times to normoglycemia, better glycemic control, and higher circulating insulin. Our findings identify the novel time-dependent effects of Nec-1 supplementation on porcine islet quantity and quality prior to transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hien Lau
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA; (H.L.); (N.C.); (S.R.); (M.A.)
| | - Shiri Li
- Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA;
| | - Nicole Corrales
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA; (H.L.); (N.C.); (S.R.); (M.A.)
| | - Samuel Rodriguez
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA; (H.L.); (N.C.); (S.R.); (M.A.)
| | - Mohammadreza Mohammadi
- Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA;
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Michael Alexander
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA; (H.L.); (N.C.); (S.R.); (M.A.)
| | - Paul de Vos
- University Medical Center Groningen, Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, 9713 GZ Groningen, The Netherlands;
| | - Jonathan RT Lakey
- Department of Surgery, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92868, USA; (H.L.); (N.C.); (S.R.); (M.A.)
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Matteo G, Hoyeck MP, Blair HL, Zebarth J, Rick KRC, Williams A, Gagné R, Buick JK, Yauk CL, Bruin JE. Prolonged Low-Dose Dioxin Exposure Impairs Metabolic Adaptability to High-Fat Diet Feeding in Female but Not Male Mice. Endocrinology 2021; 162:bqab050. [PMID: 33693622 PMCID: PMC8101695 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Human studies consistently show an association between exposure to persistent organic pollutants, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, aka "dioxin"), and increased diabetes risk. We previously showed that a single high-dose TCDD exposure (20 µg/kg) decreased plasma insulin levels in male and female mice in vivo, but effects on glucose homeostasis were sex-dependent. OBJECTIVE The current study assessed whether prolonged exposure to a physiologically relevant low-dose of TCDD impacts glucose homeostasis and/or the islet phenotype in a sex-dependent manner in chow-fed or high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. METHODS Male and female mice were exposed to 20 ng/kg/d TCDD 2×/week for 12 weeks and simultaneously fed standard chow or a 45% HFD. Glucose homeostasis was assessed by glucose and insulin tolerance tests, and glucose-induced plasma insulin levels were measured in vivo. Histological analysis was performed on pancreas from male and female mice, and islets were isolated from females for TempO-Seq transcriptomic analysis. RESULTS Low-dose TCDD exposure did not lead to adverse metabolic consequences in chow-fed male or female mice, or in HFD-fed males. However, TCDD accelerated the onset of HFD-induced hyperglycemia and impaired glucose-induced plasma insulin levels in females. TCDD caused a modest increase in islet area in males but reduced the percent beta cell area within islets in females. TempO-Seq analysis suggested abnormal changes to endocrine and metabolic pathways in female TCDDHFD islets. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that prolonged low-dose TCDD exposure has minimal effects on glucose homeostasis and islet morphology in chow-fed male and female mice but promotes maladaptive metabolic responses in HFD-fed females.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geronimo Matteo
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Myriam P Hoyeck
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Hannah L Blair
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Julia Zebarth
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Kayleigh R C Rick
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Rémi Gagné
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Julie K Buick
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Carole L Yauk
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0K9, Canada
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ontario, KIN 6N5, Canada
| | - Jennifer E Bruin
- Department of Biology & Institute of Biochemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Novelli M, Beffy P, Masini M, Vantaggiato C, Martino L, Marselli L, Marchetti P, De Tata V. Selective beta-cell toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on isolated pancreatic islets. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 265:129103. [PMID: 33288281 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Revised: 11/20/2020] [Accepted: 11/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
An association between exposure to environmental pollutants and diabetes risk has been repeatedly shown by epidemiological studies. However, the biological basis of this association still need to be clarified. In this research we explored the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure on isolated pancreatic islets. After 1, 6 and 24 h exposure of isolated islets to different concentrations (1-50 nM) of TCDD we assayed: i) cell survival; ii) ultrastructure; iii) glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS); iv) expression of selected genes. A significant, dose-related increase of both necrosis and apoptosis was observed isolated rat islets after 24 h exposure to TCDD. The electron microscopic analysis revealed, at the same time point, the presence of several ultrastructural alterations (mitochondrial swelling, increased mitophagy, dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum) that, very interestingly, were exclusively observed in beta cells and not in other endocrine cells. Similar results were obtained in isolated human islets. GSIS was rapidly (1 h) and persistently (6 and 24 h) decreased by TCDD exposure even at the smallest concentration (1 nM). TCDD exposure significantly affected gene expression in isolated islets: Glut2, Gck, Bcl-xL, MafA, Pdx1 FoxO1 and IRE1 gene expression was significantly decreased, whereas Puma, DP5, iNOS and Chop gene expression was significantly increased after 6 h exposure to TCDD. In conclusion, our results clearly indicated that pancreatic beta cells represent not only a sensitive but also a specific target of the toxic action of dioxin.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michela Novelli
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Italy
| | - Pascale Beffy
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Italy
| | - Matilde Masini
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Italy
| | - Chiara Vantaggiato
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Italy
| | - Luisa Martino
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Italy
| | | | | | - Vincenzo De Tata
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, Italy; CIME (Centro Interdipartimentale di Microscopia Elettronica), University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Female mice exposed to low doses of dioxin during pregnancy and lactation have increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and diabetes. Mol Metab 2020; 42:101104. [PMID: 33075544 PMCID: PMC7683344 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2020.101104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Exposure to persistent organic pollutants is consistently associated with increased diabetes risk in humans. We investigated the short- and long-term impact of transient low-dose dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, TCDD) exposure during pregnancy and lactation on glucose homeostasis and beta cell function in female mice, including their response to a metabolic stressor later in life. Methods Female mice were injected with either corn oil (CO; vehicle control) or 20 ng/kg/d TCDD 2x/week throughout mating, pregnancy and lactation, and then tracked for 6–10 weeks after chemical exposure stopped. A subset of CO- and TCDD-exposed dams was then transferred to a 45% high-fat diet (HFD) or remained on a standard chow diet for an additional 11 weeks to assess the long-term effects of TCDD on adaptability to a metabolic stressor. To summarize, female mice were transiently exposed to TCDD and then subsequently tracked beyond when TCDD had been excreted to identify lasting metabolic effects of TCDD exposure. Results TCDD-exposed dams were hypoglycemic at birth but otherwise had normal glucose homeostasis during and post-TCDD exposure. However, TCDD-exposed dams on a chow diet were modestly heavier than controls starting 5 weeks after the last TCDD injection, and their weight gain accelerated after transitioning to a HFD. TCDD-exposed dams also had an accelerated onset of hyperglycemia, impaired glucose-induced plasma insulin levels, reduced islet size, increased MAFA-ve beta cells, and increased proinsulin accumulation following HFD feeding compared to controls. Overall, our study demonstrates that low-dose TCDD exposure during pregnancy has minimal effects on metabolism during the period of active exposure, but has detrimental long-term effects on metabolic adaptability to HFD feeding. Conclusions Our study suggests that transient low-dose TCDD exposure in female mice impairs metabolic adaptability to HFD feeding, demonstrating that dioxin exposure may be a contributing factor to obesity and diabetes pathogenesis in females. Female mice exposed to TCDD during pregnancy are hypoglycemic at birth. TCDD exposure promotes weight gain long after exposure ceases. TCDD-exposed dams fed a high-fat diet have accelerated onset of glucose intolerance. TCDDHFD dams have defects in islet morphology and beta cell function.
Collapse
|
17
|
Asif S, Morrow NM, Mulvihill EE, Kim KH. Understanding Dietary Intervention-Mediated Epigenetic Modifications in Metabolic Diseases. Front Genet 2020; 11:590369. [PMID: 33193730 PMCID: PMC7593700 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.590369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The global prevalence of metabolic disorders, such as obesity, diabetes and fatty liver disease, is dramatically increasing. Both genetic and environmental factors are well-known contributors to the development of these diseases and therefore, the study of epigenetics can provide additional mechanistic insight. Dietary interventions, including caloric restriction, intermittent fasting or time-restricted feeding, have shown promising improvements in patients' overall metabolic profiles (i.e., reduced body weight, improved glucose homeostasis), and an increasing number of studies have associated these beneficial effects with epigenetic alterations. In this article, we review epigenetic changes involved in both metabolic diseases and dietary interventions in primary metabolic tissues (i.e., adipose, liver, and pancreas) in hopes of elucidating potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for disease prevention and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaza Asif
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Nadya M. Morrow
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Erin E. Mulvihill
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Kyoung-Han Kim
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
MacFarlane EM, Bruin JE. Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Unique Tool for Toxicity Testing in Pancreatic Progenitor and Endocrine Cells. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:604998. [PMID: 33542706 PMCID: PMC7851047 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.604998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetes prevalence is increasing worldwide, and epidemiological studies report an association between diabetes incidence and environmental pollutant exposure. There are >84,000 chemicals in commerce, many of which are released into the environment without a clear understanding of potential adverse health consequences. While in vivo rodent studies remain an important tool for testing chemical toxicity systemically, we urgently need high-throughput screening platforms in biologically relevant models to efficiently prioritize chemicals for in depth toxicity analysis. Given the increasing global burden of obesity and diabetes, identifying chemicals that disrupt metabolism should be a high priority. Pancreatic endocrine cells are key regulators of systemic metabolism, yet often overlooked as a target tissue in toxicology studies. Immortalized β-cell lines and primary human, porcine, and rodent islets are widely used for studying the endocrine pancreas in vitro, but each have important limitations in terms of scalability, lifespan, and/or biological relevance. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) culture is a powerful tool for in vitro toxicity testing that addresses many of the limitations with other β-cell models. Current in vitro differentiation protocols can efficiently generate glucose-responsive insulin-secreting β-like cells that are not fully mature, but still valuable for high-throughput toxicity screening in vitro. Furthermore, hPSCs can be applied as a model of developing pancreatic endocrine cells to screen for chemicals that influence endocrine cell formation during critical windows of differentiation. Given their versatility, we recommend using hPSCs to identify potential β-cell toxins, which can then be prioritized as chemicals of concern for metabolic disruption.
Collapse
|