The sulfate metabolite of 3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB-11) impairs Cyp1a activity and increases hepatic neutral lipids in zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio)

The environmental contaminant 3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB-11) is widely detected in environmental samples, and this parent compound along with its metabolites 4-OH-PCB-11 and 4-PCB-11-Sulfate are detected in human serum. Our previous research in zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos shows exposure to 20 μM PCB-11 inhibits Cyp1a enzyme activity and perturbs lipid metabolism pathways. In this study, wildtype AB embryos underwent acute exposures from 1 to 4 days post fertilization (dpf) to 0.002-20 μM 4-OH-PCB-11 or 0.2-20 μM 4-PCB-11-Sulfate, with and without co-exposures to 100 μg/L benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) or 5 nM 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-126), and were assessed for in vivo EROD activity and morphometrics. Chronic exposures from 1 to 15 dpf to assess lipid accumulation using Oil-Red-O staining were also conducted with 0.2 μM parent or metabolite compounds, alongside a co-exposure experiment of 0.002-0.2 μM 4-PCB-11-Sulfate and 10 μg/L B[a]P. For acute experiments, 2 and 20 μM 4-OH-PCB-11 was lethal but no Cyp1a or morphological effects were observed at lower concentrations; 20 μM 4-PCB-11-Sulfate significantly lowered the Cyp1a activity of B[a]P and PCB-126 but did not alter morphological development. For chronic experiments, 0.2 μM 4-PCB-11-Sulfate significantly increased lipid accumulation 30% in single exposures and 44% in co-exposures with B[a]P. Further long-term studies would better elucidate the effects of this contaminant, particularly in the context of environmentally-relevant mixtures.

The emerging contaminant 3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB-11) impedes Ahr activation and Cyp1a activity to modify embryotoxicity of Ahr ligands in the zebrafish embryo model (Danio rerio)

3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl (PCB-11) is an emerging PCB congener widely detected in environmental samples and human serum, but its toxicity potential is poorly understood. We assessed the effects of three concentrations of PCB-11 on embryotoxicity and Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) pathway interactions in zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio). Wildtype AB or transgenic Tg(gut:GFP) strain zebrafish embryos were exposed to static concentrations of PCB-11 (0, 0.2, 2, or 20 μM) from 24 to 96 h post fertilization (hpf), and gross morphology, Cytochrome P4501a (Cyp1a) activity, and liver development were assessed via microscopy. Ahr interactions were probed via co-exposures with PCB-126 or beta-naphthoflavone (BNF). Embryos exposed to 20 μM PCB-11 were also collected for PCB-11 body burden, qRT-PCR, RNAseq, and histology. Zebrafish exposed to 20 μM PCB-11 absorbed 0.18% PCB-11 per embryo at 28 hpf and 0.61% by 96 hpf, and their media retained 1.36% PCB-11 at 28 hpf and 0.84% at 96 hpf. This concentration did not affect gross morphology, but altered the transcription of xenobiotic metabolism and liver development genes, impeded liver development, and increased hepatocyte vacuole formation. In co-exposures, 20 μM PCB-11 prevented deformities caused by PCB-126 but exacerbated deformities in co-exposures with BNF. This study suggests that PCB-11 can affect liver development, act as a partial agonist/antagonist of the Ahr pathway, and act as an antagonist of Cyp1a activity to modify the toxicity of compounds that interact with the Ahr pathway.