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Helmbrecht N, Lackner M, Maricic T, Pääbo S. The modern human aryl hydrocarbon receptor is more active when ancestralized by genome editing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2402159121. [PMID: 38739836 PMCID: PMC11145187 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2402159121] [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: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a transcription factor that has many functions in mammals. Its best known function is that it binds aromatic hydrocarbons and induces the expression of cytochrome P450 genes, which encode enzymes that metabolize aromatic hydrocarbons and other substrates. All present-day humans carry an amino acid substitution at position 381 in the AHR that occurred after the divergence of modern humans from Neandertals and Denisovans. Previous studies that have expressed the ancestral and modern versions of AHR from expression vectors have yielded conflicting results with regard to their activities. Here, we use genome editing to modify the endogenous AHR gene so that it encodes to the ancestral, Neandertal-like AHR protein in human cells. In the absence of exogenous ligands, the expression of AHR target genes is higher in cells expressing the ancestral AHR than in cells expressing the modern AHR, and similar to the expression in chimpanzee cells. Furthermore, the modern human AHR needs higher doses of three ligands than the ancestral AHR to induce the expression of target genes. Thus, the ability of AHR to induce the expression of many of its target genes is reduced in modern humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nelly Helmbrecht
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, LeipzigD-04103, Germany
| | - Martin Lackner
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, LeipzigD-04103, Germany
| | - Tomislav Maricic
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, LeipzigD-04103, Germany
| | - Svante Pääbo
- Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, LeipzigD-04103, Germany
- Human Evolutionary Genomics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa904-0495, Japan
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Lin LW, Durbin-Johnson BP, Rocke DM, Salemi M, Phinney BS, Rice RH. Environmental pro-oxidants induce altered envelope protein profiles in human keratinocytes. Toxicol Sci 2023; 197:16-26. [PMID: 37788135 PMCID: PMC10734632 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad103] [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] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Cornified envelopes (CEs) of human epidermis ordinarily consist of transglutaminase-mediated cross-linked proteins and are essential for skin barrier function. However, in addition to enzyme-mediated isopeptide bonding, protein cross-linking could also arise from oxidative damage. Our group recently demonstrated abnormal incorporation of cellular proteins into CEs by pro-oxidants in woodsmoke. In this study, we focused on 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone (DMNQ), mesquite liquid smoke (MLS), and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), to further understand the mechanisms through which environmental pro-oxidants induce CE formation and alter the CE proteome. CEs induced by the ionophore X537A were used for comparison. Similar to X537A, DMNQ- and MLS-induced CE formation was associated with membrane permeabilization. However, since DMNQ is non-adduct forming, its CEs were similar in protein profile to those from X537A. By contrast, MLS, rich in reactive carbonyls that can form protein adducts, caused a dramatic change in the CE proteome. TCDD-CEs were found to contain many CE precursors, such as small proline-rich proteins and late cornified envelope proteins, encoded by the epidermal differentiation complex. Since expression of these proteins is mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), and its well-known downstream protein, CYP1A1, was exclusively present in the TCDD group, we suggest that TCDD alters the CE proteome through persistent AhR activation. This study demonstrates the potential of environmental pro-oxidants to alter the epidermal CE proteome and indicates that the cellular redox state has an important role in CE formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lo-Wei Lin
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Blythe P Durbin-Johnson
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - David M Rocke
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Public Health Sciences, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Michelle Salemi
- Proteomics Core Facility, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Brett S Phinney
- Proteomics Core Facility, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
| | - Robert H Rice
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA
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Luconi M, Sogorb MA, Markert UR, Benfenati E, May T, Wolbank S, Roncaglioni A, Schmidt A, Straccia M, Tait S. Human-Based New Approach Methodologies in Developmental Toxicity Testing: A Step Ahead from the State of the Art with a Feto-Placental Organ-on-Chip Platform. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15828. [PMID: 36497907 PMCID: PMC9737555 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Developmental toxicity testing urgently requires the implementation of human-relevant new approach methodologies (NAMs) that better recapitulate the peculiar nature of human physiology during pregnancy, especially the placenta and the maternal/fetal interface, which represent a key stage for human lifelong health. Fit-for-purpose NAMs for the placental-fetal interface are desirable to improve the biological knowledge of environmental exposure at the molecular level and to reduce the high cost, time and ethical impact of animal studies. This article reviews the state of the art on the available in vitro (placental, fetal and amniotic cell-based systems) and in silico NAMs of human relevance for developmental toxicity testing purposes; in addition, we considered available Adverse Outcome Pathways related to developmental toxicity. The OECD TG 414 for the identification and assessment of deleterious effects of prenatal exposure to chemicals on developing organisms will be discussed to delineate the regulatory context and to better debate what is missing and needed in the context of the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease hypothesis to significantly improve this sector. Starting from this analysis, the development of a novel human feto-placental organ-on-chip platform will be introduced as an innovative future alternative tool for developmental toxicity testing, considering possible implementation and validation strategies to overcome the limitation of the current animal studies and NAMs available in regulatory toxicology and in the biomedical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Luconi
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Viale Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy
- I.N.B.B. (Istituto Nazionale Biostrutture e Biosistemi), Viale Medaglie d’Oro 305, 00136 Rome, Italy
| | - Miguel A. Sogorb
- Instituto de Bioingeniería, Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Avenida de la Universidad s/n, 03202 Elche, Spain
| | - Udo R. Markert
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Tobias May
- InSCREENeX GmbH, Inhoffenstr. 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Susanne Wolbank
- Ludwig Boltzmann Institut for Traumatology, The Research Center in Cooperation with AUVA, Austrian Cluster for Tissue Regeneration, Donaueschingenstrasse 13, 1200 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alessandra Roncaglioni
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Astrid Schmidt
- Placenta Lab, Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany
| | - Marco Straccia
- FRESCI by Science&Strategy SL, C/Roure Monjo 33, Vacarisses, 08233 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sabrina Tait
- Centre for Gender-Specific Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Imran SJ, Vagaska B, Kriska J, Anderova M, Bortolozzi M, Gerosa G, Ferretti P, Vrzal R. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR)-Mediated Signaling in iPSC-Derived Human Motor Neurons. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:ph15070828. [PMID: 35890127 PMCID: PMC9321538 DOI: 10.3390/ph15070828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to environmental pollutants and endogenous metabolites that induce aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) expression has been suggested to affect cognitive development and, particularly in boys, also motor function. As current knowledge is based on epidemiological and animal studies, in vitro models are needed to better understand the effects of these compounds in the human nervous system at the molecular level. Here, we investigated expression of AhR pathway components and how they are regulated by AhR ligands in human motor neurons. Motor neurons generated from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) were characterized at the molecular level and by electrophysiology. mRNA levels of AhR target genes, CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 (cytochromes P450 1A1/1B1), and AhR signaling components were monitored in hiPSCs and in differentiated neurons following treatment with AhR ligands, 2,3,7,8,-tetrachlodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), L-kynurenine (L-Kyn), and kynurenic acid (KA), by RT-qPCR. Changes in AhR cellular localization and CYP1A1 activity in neurons treated with AhR ligands were also assessed. The neurons we generated express motor neuron-specific markers and are functional. Transcript levels of CYP1B1, AhR nuclear translocators (ARNT1 and ARNT2) and the AhR repressor (AhRR) change with neuronal differentiation, being significantly higher in neurons than hiPSCs. In contrast, CYP1A1 and AhR transcript levels are slightly lower in neurons than in hiPSCs. The response to TCDD treatment differs in hiPSCs and neurons, with only the latter showing significant CYP1A1 up-regulation. In contrast, TCDD slightly up-regulates CYP1B1 mRNA in hiPSCs, but downregulates it in neurons. Comparison of the effects of different AhR ligands on AhR and some of its target genes in neurons shows that L-Kyn and KA, but not TCDD, regulate AhR expression and differently affect CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression. Finally, although TCDD does not significantly affect AhR transcript levels, it induces AhR protein translocation to the nucleus and increases CYP1A1 activity. This is in contrast to L-Kyn and KA, which either do not affect or reduce, respectively, CYP1A1 activity. Expression of components of the AhR signaling pathway are regulated with neuronal differentiation and are differently affected by TCDD, suggesting that pluripotent stem cells might be less sensitive to this toxin than neurons. Crucially, AhR signaling is affected differently by TCDD and other AhR ligands in human motor neurons, suggesting that they can provide a valuable tool for assessing the impact of environmental pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saima Jalil Imran
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, 77147 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK; (B.V.); (P.F.)
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy;
- Correspondence: (S.J.I.); (R.V.); Tel.: +39-498212410 (S.J.I.); +420-58-5634904 (R.V.)
| | - Barbora Vagaska
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK; (B.V.); (P.F.)
| | - Jan Kriska
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (M.A.)
| | - Miroslava Anderova
- Department of Cellular Neurophysiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine, Czech Academy of Sciences, 14220 Prague, Czech Republic; (J.K.); (M.A.)
- Second Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, 15006 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Mario Bortolozzi
- Department of Physics and Astronomy “G. Galilei”, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy;
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine (VIMM), 35129 Padua, Italy
| | - Gino Gerosa
- Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy;
| | - Patrizia Ferretti
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK; (B.V.); (P.F.)
| | - Radim Vrzal
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, 77147 Olomouc, Czech Republic
- Correspondence: (S.J.I.); (R.V.); Tel.: +39-498212410 (S.J.I.); +420-58-5634904 (R.V.)
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Shallis RM, Gore SD. Agent Orange and dioxin-induced myeloid leukemia: a weaponized vehicle of leukemogenesis. Leuk Lymphoma 2022; 63:1534-1543. [PMID: 35105250 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2022.2034156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Agent Orange (AO) was the dominant weaponized herbicide employed by the United States (US) military during the Vietnam war. AO, however, was found to be regularly contaminated by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most toxic dioxin known; furthermore, AO was commonly diluted in the field with other aromatic hydrocarbons to assist with delivery mechanisms. Unbeknownst to the US military and the millions exposed, these events have likely contributed to the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) that has affected many veterans. Null studies regarding an association between AO exposure and AML/MDS are limited in their methodology and application. The acknowledgement that the known carcinogen TCDD was a contaminant in AO when paired with a strong biological plausibility for its leukemogenicity and an observed increased risk of AML/MDS in TCDD-exposed individuals should suffice to establish causal association and that veterans to whom this might apply should be awarded appropriate indemnity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory M Shallis
- Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Steven D Gore
- Section of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Yale Cancer Center, New Haven, CT, USA
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