1
|
Ramhøj L, Svingen T, Evrard B, Chalmel F, Axelstad M. Two thyroperoxidase-inhibiting chemicals induce shared transcriptional changes in hippocampus of developing rats. Toxicology 2024; 505:153822. [PMID: 38685447 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone (TH) system disrupting compounds can impair brain development by perturbing TH action during critical life stages. Human exposure to TH system disrupting chemicals is therefore of great concern. To better protect humans against such chemicals, sensitive test methods that can detect effects on the developing brain are critical. Worryingly, however, current test methods are not sensitive and specific towards TH-mediated effects. To address this shortcoming, we performed RNA-sequencing of rat brains developmentally exposed to two different thyroperoxidase (TPO) inhibiting compounds, the medical drug methimazole (MMI) or the pesticide amitrole. Pregnant and lactating rats were exposed to 8 and 16 mg/kg/day(d) MMI or 25 and 50 mg/kg/d amitrole from gestational day 7 until postnatal day 16. Bulk-RNA-seq was performed on hippocampus from the 16-day old male pups. MMI and amitrole caused pronounced changes to the transcriptomes; 816 genes were differentially expressed, and 425 gene transcripts were similarly affected by both chemicals. Functional terms indicate effects from key cellular functions to changes in cell development, migration and differentiation of several cell populations. Of the total number of DEGs, 106 appeared to form a consistent transcriptional fingerprint of developmental hypothyroidism as they were similarly and dose-dependently expressed across all treatment groups. Using a filtering system, we identified 20 genes that appeared to represent the most sensitive, robust and dose-dependent markers of altered TH-mediated brain development. These markers provide inputs to the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework where they, in the context of linking TPO inhibiting compounds to adverse cognitive function, can be used to assess altered gene expression in the hippocampus in rat toxicity studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louise Ramhøj
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark.
| | - Terje Svingen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, F-35000, France
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, Rennes, F-35000, France
| | - Marta Axelstad
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
St Mary L, Truong L, Bieberich AA, Fatig RO, Rajwa B, Tanguay RL. Comparative analysis between zebrafish and an automated live-cell assay to classify developmental neurotoxicant chemicals. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 476:116659. [PMID: 37604412 PMCID: PMC10529185 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Modern toxicology's throughput has dramatically increased due to alternative models, laboratory automation, and machine learning. This has enabled comparative studies across species and assays to prioritize chemical hazard potential and to understand how different model systems might complement one another. However, such comparative studies of high-throughput data are still in their infancy, with more groundwork needed to firmly establish the approach. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the bioactivity of the NIEHS Division of Translational Toxicology's (DTT) 87-compound developmental neurotoxicant (DNT) library in zebrafish and an in vitro high-throughput cell culture system. The early life-stage zebrafish provided a whole animal approach to developmental toxicity assessment. Chemical hits for abnormalities in embryonic zebrafish morphology, mortality, and behavior (ZBEscreen™) were compared with chemicals classified as high-risk by the Cell Health Index (CHI™), which is an outcome class probability from a machine learning classifier using 12 parameters from the SYSTEMETRIC® Cell Health Screen (CHS). The CHS was developed to assess human toxicity risk using supervised machine learning to classify acute cell stress phenotypes in a human leukemia cell line (HL60 cells) following a 4-h exposure to a chemical of interest. Due to the design of the screen, the zebrafish assays were more exhaustive, yielding 86 total bioactive hits, whereas the SYSTEMETRIC® CHS focusing on acute toxicity identified 20 chemicals as potentially toxic. The zebrafish embryonic and larval photomotor response assays (EPR and LPR, respectively) detected 40 of the 47 chemicals not found by the zebrafish morphological screen and CHS. Collectively, these results illustrate the advantages of using two alternative models in tandem for rapid hazard assessment and chemical prioritization and the effectiveness of CHI™ in identifying toxicity within a single multiparametric assay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey St Mary
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | - Lisa Truong
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA
| | | | | | - Bartek Rajwa
- AsedaSciences Inc., West Lafayette, IN, USA; Bindley Bioscience Center, 1203 Mitch Daniels Boulevard, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Robyn L Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97333, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lesné L, Desdoits-Lethimonier C, Hug E, Costet N, Raffenne L, Toupin M, Evrard B, Kugathas I, Lavoué V, Chalmel F, Jégou B, Mazaud-Guittot S. Antiepileptic drugs are endocrine disruptors for the human fetal testis ex vivo. Toxicol Sci 2023; 195:169-183. [PMID: 37505509 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad076] [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] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Valproic acid (VPA) has long been the most widely used antiepileptic drug (AED) for the treatment of epilepsy, bipolar psychiatric disorders, and migraine. However, long-term VPA treatment has several adverse effects on the male reproductive system notably on endocrine functions and/or spermatic parameters. In utero exposure of the fetus to VPA is well known to be associated with a higher risk of several congenital malformations including those of male reproductive organs. Subsequent generations of AEDs, such as carbamazepine (CARB) and lamotrigine (LAM), are considered safer and are currently recommended for women of child-bearing age with epilepsy. Because anomalies of the male genital tract mostly result from endocrine imbalance during fetal life, we hypothesized that AEDs could directly impair testis differentiation. We thus aimed at identifying and characterizing the effects of VPA, CARB, and LAM on the differentiation and function of the different testicular cell types, and at understanding the mechanisms underlying these effects. By using ex vivo culture of first-trimester human fetal testes, we show that VPA induces multiple endocrine disruptive effects, compared with the milder ones caused by CARB and LAM. AED also subtly altered the germ cell lineage in distinct manners. Transcriptomic analysis of VPA-induced alterations highlighted a very broad range of effects on the fetal testis. Overall, our results show that AEDs can behave as endocrine disruptors for the human fetal testis ex vivo. This is consistent with, and likely underlies, the VPA-induced male genital tract masculinization abnormalities observed in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laurianne Lesné
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Christèle Desdoits-Lethimonier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Elisa Hug
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Nathalie Costet
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Léo Raffenne
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Maryne Toupin
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Indusha Kugathas
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Vincent Lavoué
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Bernard Jégou
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
- EHESP-School of Public Health, 35043 Rennes, France
| | - Séverine Mazaud-Guittot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)-UMR_S 1085, 35000 Rennes, France
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Dochez-Arnault J, Desdoits-Lethimonier C, Matias I, Evrard B, Lagarrigue M, Toupin M, Lardenois A, Chalmel F, Mazaud-Guittot S, Dejucq-Rainsford N, Gely-Pernot A. Expression of the endocannabinoid system and response to cannabinoid components by the human fetal testis. BMC Med 2023; 21:219. [PMID: 37430350 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-02916-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cannabis consumption by pregnant women continues to increase worldwide, raising concerns about adverse effects on fetal growth and deleterious impacts on the newborn, in connection with evidence of placental transfer of cannabis compound. Cannabis action is mediated by the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which expression is well established in the brain but unknown in the developing testis. The fetal testis, whose endocrine function orchestrates the masculinization of many distant organs, is particularly sensitive to disruption by xenobiotics. In this context, we aimed to determine whether cannabis exposure has the potential to directly impact the human fetal testis. METHODS We determined the expression of components of the ECS in the human fetal testis from 6 to 17 developmental weeks and assessed the direct effects of phytocannabinoids Δ9-trans-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on the testis morphology and cell functions ex vivo. RESULTS We demonstrate the presence in the human fetal testis of two key endocannabinoids, 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG) and to a lower level anandamide (AEA), as well as a range of enzymes and receptors for the ECS. Ex vivo exposure of first trimester testes to CBD, THC, or CBD/THC [ratio 1:1] at 10-7 to 10-5 M altered testosterone secretion by Leydig cells, AMH secretion by Sertoli cells, and impacted testicular cell proliferation and viability as early as 72 h post-exposure. Transcriptomic analysis on 72 h-exposed fetal testis explants revealed 187 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including genes involved in steroid synthesis and toxic substance response. Depending on the molecules and testis age, highly deleterious effects of phytocannabinoid exposure were observed on testis tissue after 14 days, including Sertoli and germ cell death. CONCLUSIONS Our study is the first to evidence the presence of the ECS in the human fetal testis and to highlight the potential adverse effect of cannabis consumption by pregnant women onto the development of the male gonad.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J Dochez-Arnault
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | - C Desdoits-Lethimonier
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | - I Matias
- Neurocentre Magendie - Inserm, U1215, Bordeaux, France
| | - B Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | - M Lagarrigue
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | | | - A Lardenois
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | - F Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | - S Mazaud-Guittot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | - N Dejucq-Rainsford
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France
| | - A Gely-Pernot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm (Institut National de La Santé Et de La Recherche Médicale), EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement Et Travail) - UMR_S 1085 (Institut de Recherche en Santé, environnement et travail), 9 Avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, CEDEX, France.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kugathas I, Johansson HKL, Chan Sock Peng E, Toupin M, Evrard B, Darde TA, Boberg J, Draskau MK, Rolland AD, Mazaud-Guittot S, Chalmel F, Svingen T. Transcriptional profiling of the developing rat ovary following intrauterine exposure to the endocrine disruptors diethylstilbestrol and ketoconazole. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:849-863. [PMID: 36653537 PMCID: PMC9968686 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03442-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during development may cause reproductive disorders in women. Although female reproductive endpoints are assessed in rodent toxicity studies, a concern is that typical endpoints are not sensitive enough to detect chemicals of concern to human health. If so, measured endpoints must be improved or new biomarkers of effects included. Herein, we have characterized the dynamic transcriptional landscape of developing rat ovaries exposed to two well-known EDCs, diethylstilbestrol (DES) and ketoconazole (KTZ), by 3' RNA sequencing. Rats were orally exposed from day 7 of gestation until birth, and from postnatal day 1 until days 6, 14 or 22. Three exposure doses for each chemical were used: 3, 6 and 12 µg/kg bw/day of DES; 3, 6, 12 mg/kg bw/day of KTZ. The transcriptome changed dynamically during perinatal development in control ovaries, with 1137 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) partitioned into 3 broad expression patterns. A cross-species deconvolution strategy based on a mouse ovary developmental cell atlas was used to map any changes to ovarian cellularity across the perinatal period to allow for characterization of actual changes to gene transcript levels. A total of 184 DEGs were observed across dose groups and developmental stages in DES-exposed ovaries, and 111 DEGs in KTZ-exposed ovaries across dose groups and developmental stages. Based on our analyses, we have identified new candidate biomarkers for female reproductive toxicity induced by EDC, including Kcne2, Calb2 and Insl3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Indusha Kugathas
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, 9 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Hanna K. L. Johansson
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 202, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Edith Chan Sock Peng
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, 9 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Maryne Toupin
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, 9 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, 9 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France
| | | | - Julie Boberg
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 202, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Monica K. Draskau
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 202, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Antoine D. Rolland
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, 9 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Séverine Mazaud-Guittot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, 9 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, 9 avenue du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000, Rennes, France.
| | - Terje Svingen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Building 202, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Draskau MK, Schwartz CL, Evrard B, Lardenois A, Pask A, Chalmel F, Svingen T. The anti-androgenic fungicide triticonazole induces region-specific transcriptional changes in the developing rat perineum and phallus. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 308:136346. [PMID: 36084822 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Intrauterine exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals can interfere with male reproductive development. This can lead to male reproductive disorders such as hypospadias, cryptorchidism and reduced fertility, as well as shorter anogenital distance (AGD) - a biomarker for incomplete androgen-dependent fetal masculinization. However, it remains challenging to predict adverse in vivo outcomes based on in vitro effect patterns for many chemicals. This is a challenge for modern toxicology, which aims to reduce animal testing for chemical safety assessments. To enable the transition towards higher reliance on alternative test methods, we need to better map underlying mechanisms leading to adverse effects. Herein, we have analyzed the transcriptome of the perineum and phallus of male fetal rats and defined the impacts of exposure to an anti-androgenic fungicide, triticonazole. Previously we have shown that developmental exposure to triticonazole can induce short male AGD, but without a marked effect on the transcriptome of the fetal testes. In contrast, we report here significant changes to the transcriptional landscape of the perineum and phallus, including regional differences between these adjacent tissues. This highlights the importance of analyzing the correct tissue when characterizing mechanisms of complex in vivo effect outcomes. Our results provide a rich resource for the spatiotemporal gene networks that are involved in the development of male external genitalia, and that can be disrupted upon exposure to chemicals that prevent normal masculinization of the perineum and phallus. Such data will be critical in the development of novel alternative test methods to determine the endocrine disrupting potential of existing and emerging chemicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Kam Draskau
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, Kongens Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Camilla Lindgren Schwartz
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, Kongens Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Aurélie Lardenois
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Andrew Pask
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, 3010, Australia
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Terje Svingen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, Kongens Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Davidsen N, Ramhøj L, Kugathas I, Evrard B, Darde TA, Chalmel F, Svingen T, Rosenmai AK. PFOS disrupts key developmental pathways during hiPSC-derived cardiomyocyte differentiation in vitro. Toxicol In Vitro 2022; 85:105475. [PMID: 36116746 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2022.105475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) has been associated with congenital heart disease (CHD) and decreased birth weight. PFOS exposure can disrupt signaling pathways relevant for cardiac development in stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte assays, such as the PluriBeat assay, where spheroids of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) differentiate into contracting cardiomyocytes. Notably, cell line origin can also affect how the assay responds to chemical exposure. Herein, we examined the effect of PFOS on cardiomyocyte differentiation by transcriptomics profiling of two different hiPSC lines to see if they exhibit a common pattern of disruption. Two stages of differentiation were investigated: the cardiac progenitor stage and the cardiomyocyte stage. Many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were observed between cell lines independent of exposure. However, 135 DEGs were identified as common between the two cell lines. Of these, 10 DEGs were associated with GO-terms related to the heart. PFOS exposure disrupted multiple signaling pathways relevant to cardiac development, including WNT, TGF, HH, and EGF. Of these pathways, genes related to the non-canonical WNTCa2+ signaling was particularly affected. PFOS thus has the capacity to disrupt pathways important for cardiac development and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nichlas Davidsen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark.
| | - Louise Ramhøj
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Indusha Kugathas
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | | | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Terje Svingen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby DK-2800, Denmark
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Davidsen N, Ramhøj L, Lykkebo CA, Kugathas I, Poulsen R, Rosenmai AK, Evrard B, Darde TA, Axelstad M, Bahl MI, Hansen M, Chalmel F, Licht TR, Svingen T. PFOS-induced thyroid hormone system disrupted rats display organ-specific changes in their transcriptomes. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 305:119340. [PMID: 35460815 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is a persistent anthropogenic chemical that can affect the thyroid hormone system in humans and animals. In adults, thyroid hormones (THs) are regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis, but also by organs such as the liver and potentially the gut microbiota. PFOS and other xenobiotics can therefore disrupt the TH system at various locations and through different mechanisms. To start addressing this, we exposed adult male rats to 3 mg PFOS/kg/day for 7 days and analysed effects on multiple organs and pathways simultaneously by transcriptomics. This included four primary organs involved in TH regulation, namely hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, and liver. To investigate a potential role of the gut microbiota in thyroid hormone regulation, two additional groups of animals were dosed with the antibiotic vancomycin (8 mg/kg/day), either with or without PFOS. PFOS exposure decreased thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3) without affecting thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), resembling a state of hypothyroxinemia. PFOS exposure resulted in 50 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the hypothalamus, 68 DEGs in the pituitary, 71 DEGs in the thyroid, and 181 DEGs in the liver. A concomitant compromised gut microbiota did not significantly change effects of PFOS exposure. Organ-specific DEGs did not align with TH regulating genes; however, genes associated with vesicle transport and neuronal signaling were affected in the hypothalamus, and phase I and phase II metabolism in the liver. This suggests that a decrease in systemic TH levels may activate the expression of factors altering trafficking, metabolism and excretion of TH. At the transcriptional level, little evidence suggests that the pituitary or thyroid gland is involved in PFOS-induced TH system disruption.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nichlas Davidsen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Louise Ramhøj
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Claus Asger Lykkebo
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Indusha Kugathas
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Rikke Poulsen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | | | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | | | - Marta Axelstad
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Martin Iain Bahl
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Martin Hansen
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Roskilde, DK-4000, Denmark
| | - Frederic Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Tine Rask Licht
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark
| | - Terje Svingen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DK-2800, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Khezri H, Rezaei P, Askarian F, Ferdousi R. HIET Web-based digital repository for health informatics evaluation tools. ELECTRONIC LIBRARY 2022. [DOI: 10.1108/el-10-2021-0195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Evaluating health information systems is an integral part of the life cycle and development of information systems as it can improve the quality of health care. The purpose of this paper is to introduce a bilingual Web-based repository of health-related software products evaluation tools.
Design/methodology/approach
The present paper is an applied-developmental study that includes the stages of analysis, design, implementation and evaluation procedures. By searching valid databases as well as holding focus group meetings with a group of experts, the necessary elements for designing a Web-based repository were identified, and also unified modelling language diagrams were designed by using a visual paradigm. The coding(programming) was conducted based on the Gantlet Web Systems Development Framework at the next stage. Finally, after implementing and testing the system, the content was added to the repository, and then the repository was evaluated in terms of usability testing.
Findings
The health informatics evaluation tools (HIET) repository provides a functional and selective environment that facilitates the sharing, online storage and retrieval of assessment tools by the scientific community. The HIET repository is easily accessible at www.hiet.ir/ The website is implemented in structured query language (MySQL), personal homepage. Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) and Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LEMP) and supports all major browsers.
Originality/value
The HIET repository, as mentioned earlier, serves as an application environment for sharing, storing and online retrieving the assessment tools of health information systems. Therefore, this tool not only facilitates the search, retrieving and study of many evaluation-related papers, which are time-consuming and stressful for researchers and students but can lead to a faster and more scientific evaluation of information systems.
Collapse
|
10
|
Abstract
Assessing the drug safety at an early stage of a drug discovery program is a critical issue. With the recent advances in molecular biology and genomic, massive amounts of generated and accumulated data by advanced experimental technologies such as RNA sequencing or proteomics start to be at the disposal of the scientific community. Innovative and adequate bioinformatic methods, tools, and protocols are required to analyze properly these diverse and extensive data sources with the aim to identify key features that are related to toxicity observations. Furthermore, the assessment of drug safety can be performed across multiple scales of complexity from molecular, cellular to phenotypic levels; therefore, the application of network science contributes to a better interpretation of the drug's exposure effect on human health. Here, we review databases containing toxicogenomics and chemical-phenotype information, as well as appropriated bioinformatics approaches that are currently used to analyze such data. Extension to others methods such as dose-responses, time-dependent processes, and text mining is also presented giving an overview of suitable tools available for a best practice of drug safety analysis.
Collapse
|
11
|
Ebner JN. Trends in the Application of "Omics" to Ecotoxicology and Stress Ecology. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:1481. [PMID: 34680873 PMCID: PMC8535992 DOI: 10.3390/genes12101481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Our ability to predict and assess how environmental changes such as pollution and climate change affect components of the Earth's biome is of paramount importance. This need positioned the fields of ecotoxicology and stress ecology at the center of environmental monitoring efforts. Advances in these interdisciplinary fields depend not only on conceptual leaps but also on technological advances and data integration. High-throughput "omics" technologies enabled the measurement of molecular changes at virtually all levels of an organism's biological organization and thus continue to influence how the impacts of stressors are understood. This bibliometric review describes literature trends (2000-2020) that indicate that more different stressors than species are studied each year but that only a few stressors have been studied in more than two phyla. At the same time, the molecular responses of a diverse set of non-model species have been investigated, but cross-species comparisons are still rare. While transcriptomics studies dominated until 2016, a shift towards proteomics and multiomics studies is apparent. There is now a wealth of data at functional omics levels from many phylogenetically diverse species. This review, therefore, addresses the question of how to integrate omics information across species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joshua Niklas Ebner
- Spring Ecology Research Group, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Draskau MK, Lardenois A, Evrard B, Boberg J, Chalmel F, Svingen T. Transcriptome analysis of fetal rat testis following intrauterine exposure to the azole fungicides triticonazole and flusilazole reveals subtle changes despite adverse endocrine effects. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 264:128468. [PMID: 33032228 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.128468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Azoles are used in agriculture and medicine to combat fungal infections. We have previously examined the endocrine disrupting properties of the agricultural azole fungicides triticonazole and flusilazole. Triticonazole displayed strong androgen receptor (AR) antagonism in vitro, whereas in utero exposure resulted in anti-androgenic effects in vivo evidenced by shorter anogenital distance (AGD) in fetal male rats. Flusilazole displayed strong AR antagonism, but less potent than triticonazole, and disrupted steroidogenesis in vitro, whereas in utero exposure disrupted fetal male plasma hormone levels. To elaborate on how these azole fungicides can disrupt male reproductive development by different mechanisms, and to investigate whether feminization effects such as short AGD in males can also be detected at the transcript level in fetal testes, we profiled fetal testis transcriptomes after in utero exposure to triticonazole and flusilazole by 3'Digital Gene Expression (3'DGE). The analysis revealed few transcriptional changes after exposure to either compound at gestation day 17 and 21. This suggests that the observed influence of flusilazole on hormone production may be by directly targeting steroidogenic enzyme activity in the testis at the protein level, whereas observations of shorter AGD by triticonazole may primarily be due to disturbed androgen signaling in androgen-sensitive tissues. Expression of Calb2 and Gsta2 was altered by flusilazole but not triticonazole and may pinpoint novel pathways of disrupted testicular steroid synthesis. Our findings have wider implication for how we integrate omics data in chemical testing frameworks, including selection of non-animal test methods and building of Adverse Outcome Pathways for regulatory purposes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Monica Kam Draskau
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, Kongens Lyngby, DK 2800, Denmark
| | - Aurélie Lardenois
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Bertrand Evrard
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Julie Boberg
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, Kongens Lyngby, DK 2800, Denmark
| | - Frédéric Chalmel
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail), UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Terje Svingen
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, Kongens Lyngby, DK 2800, Denmark.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Nair SK, Eeles C, Ho C, Beri G, Yoo E, Tkachuk D, Tang A, Nijrabi P, Smirnov P, Seo H, Jennen D, Haibe-Kains B. ToxicoDB: an integrated database to mine and visualize large-scale toxicogenomic datasets. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:W455-W462. [PMID: 32421831 PMCID: PMC7319553 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In the past few decades, major initiatives have been launched around the world to address chemical safety testing. These efforts aim to innovate and improve the efficacy of existing methods with the long-term goal of developing new risk assessment paradigms. The transcriptomic and toxicological profiling of mammalian cells has resulted in the creation of multiple toxicogenomic datasets and corresponding tools for analysis. To enable easy access and analysis of these valuable toxicogenomic data, we have developed ToxicoDB (toxicodb.ca), a free and open cloud-based platform integrating data from large in vitro toxicogenomic studies, including gene expression profiles of primary human and rat hepatocytes treated with 231 potential toxicants. To efficiently mine these complex toxicogenomic data, ToxicoDB provides users with harmonized chemical annotations, time- and dose-dependent plots of compounds across datasets, as well as the toxicity-related pathway analysis. The data in ToxicoDB have been generated using our open-source R package, ToxicoGx (github.com/bhklab/ToxicoGx). Altogether, ToxicoDB provides a streamlined process for mining highly organized, curated, and accessible toxicogenomic data that can be ultimately applied to preclinical toxicity studies and further our understanding of adverse outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sisira Kadambat Nair
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Christopher Eeles
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Chantal Ho
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Gangesh Beri
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Esther Yoo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Denis Tkachuk
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Amy Tang
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Parwaiz Nijrabi
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Petr Smirnov
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Heewon Seo
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Danyel Jennen
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School of Oncology and Development Biology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin Haibe-Kains
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada.,Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 3A1, Canada.,Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada.,Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Dougherty BV, Papin JA. Systems biology approaches help to facilitate interpretation of cross-species comparisons. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2020.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
|
15
|
van Duursen MBM, Boberg J, Christiansen S, Connolly L, Damdimopoulou P, Filis P, Fowler PA, Gadella BM, Holte J, Jääger K, Johansson HKL, Li T, Mazaud-Guittot S, Parent AS, Salumets A, Soto AM, Svingen T, Velthut-Meikas A, Bay Wedebye E, Xie Y, van den Berg M. Safeguarding Female Reproductive Health against Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals-The FREIA Project. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3215. [PMID: 32370092 PMCID: PMC7246859 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21093215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently available test methods are not well-suited for the identification of chemicals that disturb hormonal processes involved in female reproductive development and function. This renders women's reproductive health at increasing risk globally, which, coupled with increasing incidence rates of reproductive disorders, is of great concern. A woman's reproductive health is largely established during embryonic and fetal development and subsequently matures during puberty. The endocrine system influences development, maturation, and function of the female reproductive system, thereby making appropriate hormone levels imperative for correct functioning of reproductive processes. It is concerning that the effects of human-made chemicals on the endocrine system and female reproductive health are poorly addressed in regulatory chemical safety assessment, partly because adequate test methods are lacking. Our EU-funded project FREIA aims to address this need by increasing understanding of how endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can impact female reproductive health. We will use this information to provide better test methods that enable fit-for-purpose chemical regulation and then share our knowledge, promote a sustainable society, and improve the reproductive health of women globally.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Majorie B. M. van Duursen
- Department Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julie Boberg
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (J.B.); (S.C.); (H.K.L.J.); (T.S.); (E.B.W.)
| | - Sofie Christiansen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (J.B.); (S.C.); (H.K.L.J.); (T.S.); (E.B.W.)
| | - Lisa Connolly
- The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK; (L.C.); (Y.X.)
| | - Pauliina Damdimopoulou
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden; (P.D.); (T.L.)
| | - Panagiotis Filis
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB23 8ZD, UK; (P.F.); (P.A.F.)
| | - Paul A. Fowler
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB23 8ZD, UK; (P.F.); (P.A.F.)
| | - Bart M. Gadella
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands; (B.M.G.); (M.v.d.B.)
| | - Jan Holte
- Carl von Linné Clinic, Uppsala Science Park, S-751 83 Uppsala, Sweden;
| | - Kersti Jääger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu and Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Teaduspargi 13, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.J.); (A.S.)
| | - Hanna K. L. Johansson
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (J.B.); (S.C.); (H.K.L.J.); (T.S.); (E.B.W.)
| | - Tianyi Li
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-14186 Stockholm, Sweden; (P.D.); (T.L.)
| | - Séverine Mazaud-Guittot
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail)—UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France;
| | - Anne-Simone Parent
- Neuroendocrinology Unit, GIGA-Institute, University of Liège, Belgium.1, Avenue de l’hôpital, 4000 Liège, Belgium;
| | - Andres Salumets
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Tartu and Competence Centre on Health Technologies, Teaduspargi 13, 50411 Tartu, Estonia; (K.J.); (A.S.)
| | - Ana M. Soto
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 0211, USA;
| | - Terje Svingen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (J.B.); (S.C.); (H.K.L.J.); (T.S.); (E.B.W.)
| | - Agne Velthut-Meikas
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Tallinn University of Technology, 12618 Tallinn, Estonia;
| | - Eva Bay Wedebye
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark; (J.B.); (S.C.); (H.K.L.J.); (T.S.); (E.B.W.)
| | - Yuling Xie
- The Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 5DL, Northern Ireland, UK; (L.C.); (Y.X.)
| | - Martin van den Berg
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 2, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands; (B.M.G.); (M.v.d.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Schwartz CL, Vinggaard AM, Christiansen S, Darde TA, Chalmel F, Svingen T. Distinct Transcriptional Profiles of the Female, Male, and Finasteride-Induced Feminized Male Anogenital Region in Rat Fetuses. Toxicol Sci 2020; 169:303-311. [PMID: 30768126 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
A short anogenital distance (AGD) in males is a marker for incomplete masculinization and a predictor of adverse effects on male reproductive health. For this reason, AGD is used to assess the endocrine disrupting potential of chemicals for risk assessment purposes. The molecular mechanisms underpinning this chemically induced shortening of the AGD, however, remains unclear. Although it is clear that androgen receptor-mediated signaling is essential, evidence also suggest the involvement of other signaling pathways. This study presents the first global transcriptional profile of the anogenital tissue in male rat fetuses with chemically induced short AGD, also including comparison to normal male and female control animals. The antiandrogenic drug finasteride (10 mg/kg bw/day) was used to induce short AGD by exposing time-mated Sprague Dawley rats at gestation days 7-21. The AGD was 37% shorter in exposed male fetuses compared with control males at gestation day 21. Transcriptomics analysis on anogenital tissues revealed a sexually dimorphic transcriptional profile. More than 350 genes were found to be differentially expressed between the 3 groups. The expression pattern of 4 genes of particular interest (Esr1, Padi2, Wnt2, and Sfrp4) was also tested by RT-qPCR analyses, indicating that estrogen and Wnt2 signaling play a role in the sexually dimorphic development of the anogenital region. Our transcriptomics profiles provide a stepping-stone for future studies aimed at characterizing the molecular events governing development of the anogenital tissues, as well as describing the detailed Adverse Outcome Pathways for short AGD; an accepted biomarker of endocrine effects for chemical risk assessment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Camilla Lindgren Schwartz
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anne Marie Vinggaard
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sofie Christiansen
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas Alain Darde
- INSERM, Université de Rennes, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Frederic Chalmel
- INSERM, Université de Rennes, EHESP, IRSET (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S1085, Rennes, France
| | - Terje Svingen
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Aguayo-Orozco A, Taboureau O, Brunak S. The use of systems biology in chemical risk assessment. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2019.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
|
18
|
Deciphering the Molecular Mechanisms Sustaining the Estrogenic Activity of the Two Major Dietary Compounds Zearalenone and Apigenin in ER-Positive Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11020237. [PMID: 30678243 PMCID: PMC6412274 DOI: 10.3390/nu11020237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The flavone apigenin and the mycotoxin zearalenone are two major compounds found in the human diet which bind estrogen receptors (ERs), and therefore influence ER activity. However, the underlying mechanisms are not well known. To unravel the molecular mechanisms that could explain the differential effect of zearalenone and apigenin on ER-positive breast cancer cell proliferation, gene-reporter assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) experiments, proliferation assays and transcriptomic analysis were performed. We found that zearalenone and apigenin transactivated ERs and promoted the expression of estradiol (E2)-responsive genes. However, zearalenone clearly enhanced cellular proliferation, while apigenin appeared to be antiestrogenic in the presence of E2 in both ER-positive breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and T47D. The transcriptomic analysis showed that both compounds regulate gene expression in the same way, but with differences in intensity. Two major sets of genes were identified; one set was linked to the cell cycle and the other set was linked to stress response and growth arrest. Our results show that the transcription dynamics in gene regulation induced by apigenin were somehow different with zearalenone and E2 and may explain the differential effect of these compounds on the phenotype of the breast cancer cell. Together, our results confirmed the potential health benefit effect of apigenin, while zearalenone appeared to be a true endocrine-disrupting compound.
Collapse
|
19
|
Genome-Wide Transcriptional and Functional Analysis of Human T Lymphocytes Treated with Benzo[ α]pyrene. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113626. [PMID: 30453624 PMCID: PMC6274903 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widely distributed environmental contaminants, known to affect T lymphocytes. However, the molecular targets and pathways involved in their immunotoxic effects in human T lymphocytes remain unknown. Here, we analyzed the gene expression profile of primary human T lymphocytes treated with the prototypical PAH, benzo[α]pyrene (B[α]P), using a microarray-based transcriptome analysis. After a 48 h exposure to B[α]P, we identified 158 genes differentially expressed in T lymphocytes, including not only genes well-known to be affected by PAHs such as the cytochromes P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1B1, but also others not previously shown to be targeted by B[α]P such as genes encoding the gap junction beta (GJB)-2 and 6 proteins. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these candidates were significantly associated with the aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) and interferon (IFN) signaling pathways; a marked alteration in T lymphocyte recruitment was also observed. Using functional tests in transwell migration experiments, B[α]P was then shown to significantly decrease the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12-induced chemotaxis and transendothelial migration of T lymphocytes. In total, this study opens the way to unsuspected responsive pathway of interest, i.e., T lymphocyte migration, thus providing a more thorough understanding of the molecular basis of the immunotoxicity of PAHs.
Collapse
|
20
|
Darde TA, Chalmel F, Svingen T. Exploiting advances in transcriptomics to improve on human-relevant toxicology. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
21
|
Pande P, Giambalvo M, Huang Z. Complementing preclinical safety assessments through genomic analyses. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2019.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
22
|
Piñero J, Furlong LI, Sanz F. In silico models in drug development: where we are. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2018; 42:111-121. [PMID: 30205360 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2018.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The use and utility of computational models in drug development has significantly grown in the last decades, fostered by the availability of high throughput datasets and new data analysis strategies. These in silico approaches are demonstrating their ability to generate reliable predictions as well as new knowledge on the mode of action of drugs and the mechanisms underlying their side effects, altogether helping to reduce the costs of drug development. The aim of this review is to provide a panorama of developments in the field in the last two years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janet Piñero
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Carrer Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura I Furlong
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Carrer Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ferran Sanz
- Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics (GRIB), Department of Experimental and Health Sciences (DCEXS), Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute (IMIM), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Carrer Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|