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Essig YJ, Leszczyszyn OI, Almutairi N, Harrison-Smith A, Blease A, Zeitoun-Ghandour S, Webb SM, Blindauer CA, Stürzenbaum SR. Juggling cadmium detoxification and zinc homeostasis: A division of labour between the two C. elegans metallothioneins. Chemosphere 2024; 350:141021. [PMID: 38151062 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.141021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
The chemical properties of toxic cadmium and essential zinc are very similar, and organisms require intricate mechanisms that drive selective handling of metals. Previously regarded as unspecific "metal sponges", metallothioneins (MTLs) are emerging as metal selectivity filters. By utilizing C. elegans mtl-1 and mtl-2 knockout strains, metal accumulation in single worms, single copy fluorescent-tagged transgenes, isoform specific qPCR and lifespan studies it was possible to demonstrate that the handling of cadmium and zinc by the two C. elegans metallothioneins differs fundamentally: the MTL-2 protein can handle both zinc and cadmium, but when it becomes unavailable, either via a knockout or by elevated cadmium exposure, MTL-1 takes over zinc handling, leaving MTL-2 to sequester cadmium. This division of labour is reflected in the folding behaviour of the proteins: MTL-1 folded well in presence of zinc but not cadmium, the reverse was the case for MTL-2. These differences are in part mediated by a zinc-specific mononuclear His3Cys site in the C-terminal insertion of MTL-1; its removal affected the entire C-terminal domain and may shift its metal selectivity towards zinc. Overall, we uncover how metallothionein isoform-specific responses and protein properties allow C. elegans to differentiate between toxic cadmium and essential zinc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yona J Essig
- Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Oksana I Leszczyszyn
- Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Norah Almutairi
- Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Alix Blease
- Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Sam M Webb
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA
| | | | - Stephen R Stürzenbaum
- Analytical, Environmental and Forensic Sciences Department, King's College London, London, UK.
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Rothmann MH, Møller P, Essig YJ, Gren L, Malmborg VB, Tunér M, Pagels J, Krais AM, Roursgaard M. Genotoxicity by rapeseed methyl ester and hydrogenated vegetable oil combustion exhaust products in lung epithelial (A549) cells. Mutagenesis 2023; 38:238-249. [PMID: 37232551 DOI: 10.1093/mutage/gead016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Biofuel is an attractive substitute for petrodiesel because of its lower environmental footprint. For instance, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) emission per fuel energy content is lower for rapeseed methyl ester (RME) than for petrodiesel. This study assesses genotoxicity by extractable organic matter (EOM) of exhaust particles from the combustion of petrodiesel, RME, and hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) in lung epithelial (A549) cells. Genotoxicity was assessed as DNA strand breaks by the alkaline comet assay. EOM from the combustion of petrodiesel and RME generated the same level of DNA strand breaks based on the equal concentration of total PAH (i.e. net increases of 0.13 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.002, 0.25, and 0.12 [95% CI: 0.01, 0.24] lesions per million base pairs, respectively). In comparison, the positive control (etoposide) generated a much higher level of DNA strand breaks (i.e. 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72, 0.97) lesions per million base pairs. Relatively low concentrations of EOM from RME and HVO combustion particles (<116 ng/ml total PAH) did not cause DNA strand breaks in A549 cells, whereas benzo[a]pyrene and PAH-rich EOM from petrodiesel combusted using low oxygen inlet concentration were genotoxic. The genotoxicity was attributed to high molecular weight PAH isomers with 5-6 rings. In summary, the results show that EOM from the combustion of petrodiesel and RME generate the same level of DNA strand breaks on an equal total PAH basis. However, the genotoxic hazard of engine exhaust from on-road vehicles is lower for RME than petrodiesel because of lower PAH emission per fuel energy content.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Hezareh Rothmann
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, DK-1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Peter Møller
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, DK-1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Yona J Essig
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-22363 Lund, Sweden
| | - Louise Gren
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
- NanoLund, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Vilhelm B Malmborg
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
- NanoLund, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Tunér
- Division of Combustion Engines, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
| | - Joakim Pagels
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
- NanoLund, Lund University, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Annette M Krais
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-22363 Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Roursgaard
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Øster Farimagsgade 5A, DK-1014 Copenhagen K, Denmark
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Scholten RH, Essig YJ, Roursgaard M, Jensen A, Krais AM, Gren L, Dierschke K, Gudmundsson A, Wierzbicka A, Møller P. Inhalation of hydrogenated vegetable oil combustion exhaust and genotoxicity responses in humans. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:3407-3416. [PMID: 34468814 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-03143-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Biofuels from vegetable oils or animal fats are considered to be more sustainable than petroleum-derived diesel fuel. In this study, we have assessed the effect of hydrogenated vegetable oil (HVO) exhaust on levels of DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) as primary outcome, and oxidative stress and inflammation as mediators of genotoxicity. In a randomized cross-over study, healthy humans were exposed to filtered air, inorganic salt particles, exhausts from combustion of HVO in engines with aftertreatment [i.e. emission with nitrogen oxides and low amounts of particulate matter less than 2.5 µm (approximately 1 µg/m3)], or without aftertreatment (i.e. emission with nitrogen oxides and 93 ± 13 µg/m3 of PM2.5). The subjects were exposed for 3 h and blood samples were collected before, within 1 h after the exposure and 24 h after. None of the exposures caused generation of DNA strand breaks and oxidatively damaged DNA, or affected gene expression of factors related to DNA repair (Ogg1), antioxidant defense (Hmox1) or pro-inflammatory cytokines (Ccl2, Il8 and Tnfa) in PBMCs. The results from this study indicate that short-term HVO exhaust exposure is not associated with genotoxic hazard in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Harnung Scholten
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Yona J Essig
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Martin Roursgaard
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Annie Jensen
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark
| | - Annette M Krais
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Louise Gren
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Katrin Dierschke
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Gudmundsson
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Aneta Wierzbicka
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, Box 118, 22100, Lund, Sweden
| | - Peter Møller
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen K, Denmark.
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Alhamdow A, Zettergren A, Kull I, Hallberg J, Andersson N, Ekström S, Berglund M, Wheelock CE, Essig YJ, Krais AM, Georgelis A, Lindh CH, Melén E, Bergström A. Low-level exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is associated with reduced lung function among Swedish young adults. Environ Res 2021; 197:111169. [PMID: 33857464 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been linked to adverse pulmonary effects. However, the impact of low-level environmental PAH exposure on lung function in early adulthood remains uncertain. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the associations between urinary PAH metabolites and lung function parameters in young adults. METHODS Urinary metabolites of pyrene, phenanthrene, and fluorene were analysed in 1000 young adults from Sweden (age 22-25 years) using LC-MS/MS. Lung function and eosinophilic airway inflammation were measured by spirometry and exhaled nitric oxide fraction (FeNO), respectively. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate associations between PAH metabolites and the outcomes. RESULTS Median urinary concentrations of 1-OH-pyrene, ∑OH-phenanthrene, and ∑OH-fluorene were 0.066, 0.36, 0.22 μg/L, respectively. We found inverse associations of ∑OH-phenanthrene and ∑OH-fluorene with FEV1 and FVC, as well as between 1-OH-pyrene and FEV1/FVC ratio (adjusted P < 0.05; all participants). An increase of 1% in ∑OH-fluorene was associated with a decrease of 73 mL in FEV1 and 59 mL in FVC. In addition, ∑OH-phenanthrene concentrations were, in a dose-response manner, inversely associated with FEV1 (B from -109 to -48 compared with the lowest quartile of ∑OH-phenanthrene; p trend 0.004) and FVC (B from -159 to -102 compared with lowest quartile; p-trend <0.001). Similar dose-response associations were also observed between ∑OH-fluorene and FEV1 and FVC, as well as between 1-OH-pyrene and FEV1/FVC (p-trend <0.05). There was no association between PAH exposure and FeNO, nor was there an interaction with smoking, sex, or asthma. CONCLUSION Low-level PAH exposure was, in a dose-response manner, associated with reduced lung function in young adults. Our findings have public health implications due to i) the widespread occurrence of PAHs in the environment and ii) the clinical relevance of lung function in predicting all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Alhamdow
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Zettergren
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inger Kull
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children's and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jenny Hallberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children's and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Niklas Andersson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sandra Ekström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, SE, 11365, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marika Berglund
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Craig E Wheelock
- Division of Physiological Chemistry 2, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, SE-171 77, Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Karolinska University Hospital, SE, 17165, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yona J Essig
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE, 22363, Lund, Sweden
| | - Annette M Krais
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE, 22363, Lund, Sweden
| | - Antonios Georgelis
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, SE, 11365, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, SE, 22363, Lund, Sweden
| | - Erik Melén
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Sachs' Children's and Youth Hospital, Södersjukhuset, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Clinical Science and Education, Södersjukhuset, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 11883, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Anna Bergström
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, SE, 17177, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, SE, 11365, Stockholm, Sweden.
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Alhamdow A, Essig YJ, Krais AM, Gustavsson P, Tinnerberg H, Lindh CH, Hagberg J, Graff P, Albin M, Broberg K. Fluorene exposure among PAH-exposed workers is associated with epigenetic markers related to lung cancer. Occup Environ Med 2020; 77:488-495. [PMID: 32385190 PMCID: PMC7306866 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Objectives Exposure to high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) may cause cancer in chimney sweeps and creosote-exposed workers, however, knowledge about exposure to low-molecular-weight PAHs in relation to cancer risk is limited. In this study, we aimed to investigate occupational exposure to the low-molecular-weight PAHs phenanthrene and fluorene in relation to different cancer biomarkers. Methods We recruited 151 chimney sweeps, 19 creosote-exposed workers and 152 unexposed workers (controls), all men. We measured monohydroxylated metabolites of phenanthrene and fluorene in urine using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We measured, in peripheral blood, the cancer biomarkers telomere length and mitochondrial DNA copy number using quantitative PCR; and DNA methylation of F2RL3 and AHRR using pyrosequencing. Results Median PAH metabolite concentrations were higher among chimney sweeps (up to 3 times) and creosote-exposed workers (up to 353 times), compared with controls (p<0.001; adjusted for age and smoking). ∑OH-fluorene (sum of 2-hydroxyfluorene and 3-hydroxyfluorene) showed inverse associations with percentage DNA methylation of F2RL3 and AHRR in chimney sweeps (B (95% CI)=–2.7 (–3.9 to –1.5) for F2RL3_cg03636183, and –7.1 (–9.6 to –4.7) for AHRR_cg05575921: adjusted for age and smoking), but not in creosote-exposed workers. In addition, ∑OH-fluorene showed a 42% mediation effect on the inverse association between being a chimney sweep and DNA methylation of AHRR CpG2. Conclusions Chimney sweeps and creosote-exposed workers were occupationally exposed to low-molecular-weight PAHs. Increasing fluorene exposure, among chimney sweeps, was associated with lower DNA methylation of F2RL3 and AHRR, markers for increased lung cancer risk. These findings warrant further investigation of fluorene exposure and toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayman Alhamdow
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Yona J Essig
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Annette M Krais
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Per Gustavsson
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Region Stockholm, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Håkan Tinnerberg
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, Section of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg Sahlgrenska Academy, Göteborg, Sweden
| | - Christian H Lindh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jessika Hagberg
- MTM Research Centre, Örebro universitet Akademin för Naturvetenskap och Teknik, Orebro, Sweden.,Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
| | - Pål Graff
- Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, STAMI, Oslo, Norway
| | - Maria Albin
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.,Region Stockholm, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden .,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Essig YJ, Webb SM, Stürzenbaum SR. Deletion of Phytochelatin Synthase Modulates the Metal Accumulation Pattern of Cadmium Exposed C. elegans. Int J Mol Sci 2016; 17:257. [PMID: 26907254 PMCID: PMC4783986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms17020257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental metal pollution is a growing health risk to flora and fauna. It is therefore important to fully elucidate metal detoxification pathways. Phytochelatin synthase (PCS), an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of phytochelatins (PCs), plays an important role in cadmium detoxification. The PCS and PCs are however not restricted to plants, but are also present in some lower metazoans. The model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, for example, contains a fully functional phytochelatin synthase and phytochelatin pathway. By means of a transgenic nematode strain expressing a pcs-1 promoter-tagged GFP (pcs-1::GFP) and a pcs-1 specific qPCR assay, further evidence is presented that the expression of the C. elegans phytochelatin synthase gene (pcs-1) is transcriptionally non-responsive to a chronic (48 h) insult of high levels of zinc (500 μM) or acute (3 h) exposures to high levels of cadmium (300 μM). However, the accumulation of cadmium, but not zinc, is dependent on the pcs-1 status of the nematode. Synchrotron based X-ray fluorescence imaging uncovered that the cadmium body burden increased significantly in the pcs-1(tm1748) knockout allele. Taken together, this suggests that whilst the transcription of pcs-1 may not be mediated by an exposure zinc or cadmium, it is nevertheless an integral part of the cadmium detoxification pathway in C. elegans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yona J Essig
- Analytical and Environmental Sciences Division, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, UK.
- Medical Research Council-Public Health England (MRC-PHE) Centre for Environment & Health, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, UK.
| | - Samuel M Webb
- Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
| | - Stephen R Stürzenbaum
- Analytical and Environmental Sciences Division, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, UK.
- Medical Research Council-Public Health England (MRC-PHE) Centre for Environment & Health, King's College London, London SE1 9NH, UK.
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