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Huang Y, Flentke GR, Smith SM. Alcohol induces p53-mediated apoptosis in neural crest by stimulating an AMPK-mediated suppression of TORC1, p70/S6K, and ribosomal biogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.02.601754. [PMID: 39005448 PMCID: PMC11244973 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.02.601754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure is a leading cause of permanent neurodevelopmental disability and can feature distinctive craniofacial deficits that partly originate from the apoptotic deletion of craniofacial progenitors, a stem cell lineage called the neural crest (NC). We recently demonstrated that alcohol causes nucleolar stress in NC through its suppression of ribosome biogenesis (RBG) and this suppression is causative in their p53/MDM2-mediated apoptosis. Here, we show that this nucleolar stress originates from alcohol's activation of AMPK, which suppresses TORC1 and the p70/S6K-mediated stimulation of RBG. Alcohol-exposed cells of the pluripotent, primary cranial NC line O9-1 were evaluated with respect to their p70/S6K, TORC1, and AMPK activity. The functional impact of these signals with respect to RBG, p53, and apoptosis were assessed using gain-of-function constructs and small molecule mediators. Alcohol rapidly (<2hr) increased pAMPK, pTSC2, pRaptor, p-mTOR(S2446), and reduced both total and p-p70/S6K in NC cells. These changes persisted for at least 12hr to 18hr following alcohol exposure. Attenuation of these signals via gain- or loss-of-function approaches that targeted AMPK, p70/S6K, or TORC1 prevented alcohol's suppression of rRNA synthesis and the induction of p53-stimulated apoptosis. We conclude that alcohol induces ribosome dysbiogenesis and activates their p53/MDM2-mediated apoptosis via its activation of pAMPK, which in turn activates TSC2 and Raptor to suppress the TORC1-p70/S6K-mediated promotion of ribosome biogenesis. This represents a novel mechanism underlying alcohol's neurotoxicity and is consistent with findings that TORC1-p70/S6K networks are critical for cranial NC survival.
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Flentke GR, Wilkie TE, Baulch J, Huang Y, Smith SM. Alcohol exposure suppresses ribosome biogenesis and causes nucleolar stress in cranial neural crest cells. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304557. [PMID: 38941348 PMCID: PMC11213321 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) causes cognitive impairment and a distinctive craniofacial dysmorphology, due in part to apoptotic losses of the pluripotent cranial neural crest cells (CNCs) that form facial bones and cartilage. We previously reported that PAE rapidly represses expression of >70 ribosomal proteins (padj = 10-E47). Ribosome dysbiogenesis causes nucleolar stress and activates p53-MDM2-mediated apoptosis. Using primary avian CNCs and the murine CNC line O9-1, we tested whether nucleolar stress and p53-MDM2 signaling mediates this apoptosis. We further tested whether haploinsufficiency in genes that govern ribosome biogenesis, using a blocking morpholino approach, synergizes with alcohol to worsen craniofacial outcomes in a zebrafish model. In both avian and murine CNCs, pharmacologically relevant alcohol exposure (20mM, 2hr) causes the dissolution of nucleolar structures and the loss of rRNA synthesis; this nucleolar stress persisted for 18-24hr. This was followed by reduced proliferation, stabilization of nuclear p53, and apoptosis that was prevented by overexpression of MDM2 or dominant-negative p53. In zebrafish embryos, low-dose alcohol or morpholinos directed against ribosomal proteins Rpl5a, Rpl11, and Rps3a, the Tcof homolog Nolc1, or mdm2 separately caused modest craniofacial malformations, whereas these blocking morpholinos synergized with low-dose alcohol to reduce and even eliminate facial elements. Similar results were obtained using a small molecule inhibitor of RNA Polymerase 1, CX5461, whereas p53-blocking morpholinos normalized craniofacial outcomes under high-dose alcohol. Transcriptome analysis affirmed that alcohol suppressed the expression of >150 genes essential for ribosome biogenesis. We conclude that alcohol causes the apoptosis of CNCs, at least in part, by suppressing ribosome biogenesis and invoking a nucleolar stress that initiates their p53-MDM2 mediated apoptosis. We further note that the facial deficits that typify PAE and some ribosomopathies share features including reduced philtrum, upper lip, and epicanthal distance, suggesting the facial deficits of PAE represent, in part, a ribosomopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- George R. Flentke
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Thomas E. Wilkie
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Josh Baulch
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Yanping Huang
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
| | - Susan M. Smith
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC, United States of America
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Huang Y, Flentke GR, Rivera OC, Saini N, Mooney SM, Smith SM. Alcohol Exposure Induces Nucleolar Stress and Apoptosis in Mouse Neural Stem Cells and Late-Term Fetal Brain. Cells 2024; 13:440. [PMID: 38474404 PMCID: PMC10931382 DOI: 10.3390/cells13050440] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disability through its induction of neuronal growth dysfunction through incompletely understood mechanisms. Ribosome biogenesis regulates cell cycle progression through p53 and the nucleolar cell stress response. Whether those processes are targeted by alcohol is unknown. Pregnant C57BL/6J mice received 3 g alcohol/kg daily at E8.5-E17.5. Transcriptome sequencing was performed on the E17.5 fetal cortex. Additionally, primary neural stem cells (NSCs) were isolated from the E14.5 cerebral cortex and exposed to alcohol to evaluate nucleolar stress and p53/MDM2 signaling. Alcohol suppressed KEGG pathways involving ribosome biogenesis (rRNA synthesis/processing and ribosomal proteins) and genes that are mechanistic in ribosomopathies (Polr1d, Rpl11; Rpl35; Nhp2); this was accompanied by nucleolar dissolution and p53 stabilization. In primary NSCs, alcohol reduced rRNA synthesis, caused nucleolar loss, suppressed proliferation, stabilized nuclear p53, and caused apoptosis that was prevented by dominant-negative p53 and MDM2 overexpression. Alcohol's actions were dose-dependent and rapid, and rRNA synthesis was suppressed between 30 and 60 min following alcohol exposure. The alcohol-mediated deficits in ribosomal protein expression were correlated with fetal brain weight reductions. This is the first report describing that pharmacologically relevant alcohol levels suppress ribosome biogenesis, induce nucleolar stress in neuronal populations, and involve the ribosomal/MDM2/p53 pathway to cause growth arrest and apoptosis. This represents a novel mechanism of alcohol-mediated neuronal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Huang
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA (N.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - George R. Flentke
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA (N.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Olivia C. Rivera
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA (N.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Nipun Saini
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA (N.S.); (S.M.M.)
| | - Sandra M. Mooney
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA (N.S.); (S.M.M.)
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
| | - Susan M. Smith
- UNC Nutrition Research Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA (N.S.); (S.M.M.)
- Department of Nutrition, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA
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Kovács MV, Charchat-Fichman H, Landeira-Fernandez J, Medina AE, Krahe TE. Combined exposure to alcohol and cannabis during development: Mechanisms and outcomes. Alcohol 2023; 110:1-13. [PMID: 36740025 PMCID: PMC10372841 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to substances of abuse during pregnancy can have long-lasting effects on offspring. Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances of abuse that leads to the most severe consequences. Recent studies in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom showed that between 1% and 7% of all children exhibit signs and symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). Despite preventive campaigns, the rate of children with FASD has not decreased during recent decades. Alcohol consumption often accompanies exposure to such drugs as tobacco, cocaine, opioids, and cannabis. These interactions can be synergistic and exacerbate the deleterious consequences of developmental alcohol exposure. The present review focuses on interactions between alcohol and cannabis exposure and the potential consequences of these interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina V Kovács
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - Helenice Charchat-Fichman
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - J Landeira-Fernandez
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil
| | - Alexandre E Medina
- Department of Pediatrics - School of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, United States.
| | - Thomas E Krahe
- Departamento de Psicologia, Laboratório de Neurociência do Comportamento, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro, Rua Marquês de São Vicente, 225, Gávea - Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 22451-900, Brazil.
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Mazumdar R, Eberhart JK. Loss of Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase sensitizes embryos to ethanol-induced neural crest and neural apoptosis via generation of reactive oxygen species. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1154621. [PMID: 37360166 PMCID: PMC10289183 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1154621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a continuum of birth defects caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. FASD are the most common environmentally induced birth defect and are highly variable. The genetics of an individual influence the severity of their FASD phenotype. However, the genes that sensitize an individual to ethanol-induced birth defects are largely unknown. The ethanol-sensitive mouse substrain, C57/B6J, carries several known mutations including one in Nicotinamide nucleotide transhydrogenase (Nnt). Nnt is a mitochondrial transhydrogenase thought to have an important role in detoxifying reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ROS has been implicated in ethanol teratogenesis. To directly test the role of Nnt in ethanol teratogenesis, we generated zebrafish nnt mutants via CRISPR/Cas9. Zebrafish embryos were dosed with varying concentrations of ethanol across different timepoints and assessed for craniofacial malformations. We utilized a ROS assay to determine if this could be a contributing factor of these malformations. We found that exposed and unexposed mutants had higher levels of ROS compared to their wildtype counterparts. When treated with ethanol, nnt mutants experienced elevated apoptosis in the brain and neural crest, a defect that was rescued by administration of the antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). NAC treatment also rescued most craniofacial malformations. Altogether this research demonstrates that ethanol-induced oxidative stress leads to craniofacial and neural defects due to apoptosis in nnt mutants. This research further supports the growing body of evidence implicating oxidative stress in ethanol teratogenesis. These findings suggest that antioxidants can be used as a potential therapeutic in the treatment of FASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rayna Mazumdar
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Johann K. Eberhart
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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Everson JL, Tseng YC, Eberhart JK. High-throughput detection of craniofacial defects in fluorescent zebrafish. Birth Defects Res 2023; 115:371-389. [PMID: 36369674 PMCID: PMC9898129 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Losses and malformations of cranial neural crest cell (cNCC) derivatives are a hallmark of several common brain and face malformations. Nevertheless, the etiology of these cNCC defects remains unknown for many cases, suggesting a complex basis involving interactions between genetic and/or environmental factors. However, the sheer number of possible factors (thousands of genes and hundreds of thousands of toxicants) has hindered identification of specific interactions. Here, we develop a high-throughput analysis that will enable faster identification of multifactorial interactions in the genesis of craniofacial defects. Zebrafish embryos expressing a fluorescent marker of cNCCs (fli1:EGFP) were exposed to a pathway inhibitor standard or environmental toxicant, and resulting changes in fluorescence were measured in high-throughput using a fluorescent microplate reader to approximate cNCC losses. Embryos exposed to the environmental Hedgehog pathway inhibitor piperonyl butoxide (PBO), a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor standard, or alcohol (ethanol) exhibited reduced fli1:EGFP fluorescence at one day post fertilization, which corresponded with craniofacial defects at five days post fertilization. Combining PBO and alcohol in a co-exposure paradigm synergistically reduced fluorescence, demonstrating a multifactorial interaction. Using pathway reporter transgenics, we show that the plate reader assay is sensitive at detecting alterations in Hedgehog signaling, a critical regulator of craniofacial development. We go on to demonstrate that this technique readily detects defects in other important cell types, namely neurons. Together, these findings demonstrate this novel in vivo platform can predict developmental abnormalities and multifactorial interactions in high-throughput.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua L. Everson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA,Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Yung-Chia Tseng
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Johann K. Eberhart
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA,Waggoner Center for Alcohol and Addiction Research, School of Pharmacy, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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Boschen KE, Steensen MC, Simon JM, Parnell SE. Short-term transcriptomic changes in the mouse neural tube induced by an acute alcohol exposure. Alcohol 2023; 106:1-9. [PMID: 36202274 PMCID: PMC11096843 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2022.09.001] [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: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Alcohol exposure during the formation and closure of the neural tube, or neurulation (embryonic day [E] 8-10 in mice; ∼4th week of human pregnancy), perturbs development of midline brain structures and significantly disrupts gene expression in the rostroventral neural tube (RVNT). Previously, alcohol exposure during neurulation was found to alter gene pathways related to cell proliferation, p53 signaling, ribosome biogenesis, immune signaling, organogenesis, and cell migration 6 or 24 h after administration. Our current study expands upon this work by investigating short-term gene expression changes in the RVNT following a single binge-like alcohol exposure during neurulation. Female C57BL/6J mice were administered a single dose of 2.9 g/kg alcohol or vehicle on E9.0 to target mid-neurulation. The RVNTs of stage-matched embryos were collected 2 or 4 h after exposure and processed for RNA-seq. Functional profiling was performed with g:Profiler, as well as with the CiliaCarta and DisGeNet databases. Two hours following E9.0 alcohol exposure, 650 genes in the RVNT were differentially expressed. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that pathways related to cellular metabolism, gene expression, cell cycle, organogenesis, and Hedgehog signaling were down-regulated, and pathways related to cellular stress response, p53 signaling, and hypoxia were up-regulated by alcohol. Four hours after alcohol exposure, 225 genes were differentially expressed. Biological processes related to metabolism, RNA binding, ribosome biogenesis, and methylation were down-regulated, while protein localization and binding, autophagy, and intracellular signaling pathways were up-regulated. Two hours after alcohol exposure, the differentially expressed genes were associated with disease terms related to eye and craniofacial development and anoxia. These data provide further information regarding the biological functions targeted by alcohol exposure during neurulation in regions of the neural tube that give rise to alcohol-sensitive midline brain structures. Disruption of these gene pathways contributes to the craniofacial and brain malformations associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Melina C Steensen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Genetics, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Scott E Parnell
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States; Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States.
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Fish EW, Mendoza-Romero HN, Love CA, Dragicevich CJ, Cannizzo MD, Boschen KE, Hepperla A, Simon JM, Parnell SE. The pro-apoptotic Bax gene modifies susceptibility to craniofacial dysmorphology following gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure. Birth Defects Res 2022; 114:1229-1243. [PMID: 35396933 PMCID: PMC10103739 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During early development, alcohol exposure causes apoptotic cell death in discrete regions of the embryo which are associated with distinctive patterns of later-life abnormalities. In gastrulation, which occurs during the third week of human pregnancy, alcohol targets the ectoderm, the precursor of the eyes, face, and brain. This midline tissue loss leads to the craniofacial dysmorphologies, such as microphthalmia and a smooth philtrum, which define fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). An important regulator of alcohol-induced cell death is the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. The current study determines if mice lacking the Bax gene are less susceptible to the pathogenic effects of gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure. METHODS Male and female Bax+/- mice mated to produce embryos with full (-/- ) or partial (+/- ) Bax deletions, or Bax+/+ wild-type controls. On Gestational Day 7 (GD 7), embryos received two alcohol (2.9 g/kg, 4 hr apart), or control exposures. A subset of embryos was collected 12 hr later and examined for the presence of apoptotic cell death, while others were examined on GD 17 for the presence of FAS-like facial features. RESULTS Full Bax deletion reduced embryonic apoptotic cell death and the incidence of fetal eye and face malformations, indicating that Bax normally facilitates the development of alcohol-induced defects. An RNA-seq analysis of GD 7 Bax+/+ and Bax-/- embryos revealed 63 differentially expressed genes, some of which may interact with the Bax deletion to further protect against apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Overall, these experiments identify that Bax is a primary teratogenic mechanism of gastrulation-stage alcohol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W Fish
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Haley N Mendoza-Romero
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charlotte A Love
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Constance J Dragicevich
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael D Cannizzo
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Karen E Boschen
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Austin Hepperla
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Scott E Parnell
- Bowles Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Borrego-Soto G, Eberhart JK. Embryonic Nicotine Exposure Disrupts Adult Social Behavior and Craniofacial Development in Zebrafish. TOXICS 2022; 10:612. [PMID: 36287892 PMCID: PMC9611253 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10100612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and morbidity worldwide. Smoking during pregnancy is associated with numerous adverse birth outcomes, including craniofacial and behavioral abnormalities. Although tobacco smoke contains more than 4000 toxic substances, nicotine is addictive and is likely the most teratogenic substance in cigarette smoke. However, much remains to be determined about the effects of embryonic nicotine exposure on behavior and craniofacial development. Therefore, this study evaluated adult social behavior in zebrafish, craniofacial defects, and nicotine metabolism in embryos after embryonic nicotine exposure. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to different doses of nicotine beginning at 6 h post fertilization. To evaluate craniofacial defects, the embryos were collected at 4 days post fertilization and stained with Alizarin Red and Alcian Blue. For behavioral testing, embryos were reared to adulthood. To evaluate nicotine metabolism, cotinine levels were analyzed at various time points. Our findings demonstrate that embryonic exposure to nicotine modifies social behavior in adulthood, causes craniofacial defects with reduced size of craniofacial cartilages, and that zebrafish metabolize nicotine to cotinine, as in humans. Together, our data suggest that zebrafish are useful as a model for studying nicotine-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Johann K. Eberhart
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78713, USA
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