Benzo[a]pyrene induced p53-mediated cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptosis pathways in Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus).

The p53 pathways play an important role in carcinogenesis. In mammals, p53 and p53 target genes have been extensively studied, but little is known about their functions and regulation in fish. In this study, the cDNA fragments of p53 network genes, including p53, p21, mdm2, gadd45α, gadd45ß, igfbp-3, and bax, were cloned from Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus). These genes displayed high amino acid sequence identities with their zebrafish orthologs. The mRNA levels of p53 network genes and pathological changes in the liver were determined after adult rare minnow were exposed to 0.4, 2, and 10 µg/L of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) for 28 days. The results showed that p53, p21, mdm2, gadd45α, and bax mRNA expressions in the livers from males and females were significantly upregulated compared with those of the controls (p < 0.05), but gadd45ß and igfbp-3 expression was not significantly changed. Microphotographs revealed enlargement of the cell nuclei and cellular degeneration in males, while atrophy and vacuolization of hepatocytes were observed in females (10 µg/L). These results suggested that BaP induced liver DNA repair and apoptosis pathways and caused adverse pathological changes in rare minnow. The strongly responsive p53 network genes in the livers suggest that rare minnow is suitable as an experimental fish to screen environmental carcinogens. In addition, the p53 network genes in rare minnow could feasibly be used to identify the mechanism of environmental carcinogenesis. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 979-988, 2017.

Basal and benzo[a]pyrene-induced expression profile of phase I and II enzymes and ABC transporter mRNA in the early life stage of Chinese rare minnows (Gobiocypris rarus).

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters together with phase I and II detoxification enzymes have been considered as included in a cellular detoxification system. Previous studies have highlighted the involvement of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and Cyp1a in PAH-induced embryo toxicity. However, the response of other xenobiotic enzymes/transporters in PAH-mediated embryo toxicity is not fully characterized. In the present study, rare minnow embryos were exposed to 10 and 100µg/L BaP within 4h post-fertilization (hpf) up to 168 hpf. RNA was extracted at 24, 48, 96, and 168 hpf. The basal and BaP-induced expression of phase I enzyme genes (cyp1a, 1b1, and 1c1), phase II enzyme gene (gstm and ugt1a), and ABC transporter genes (abcb1, abcc1, abcc2, and abcg2) mRNA was determined using real-time PCR. Severe developmental defects (e.g., spinal deformities, pericardial and yolk-sac edema) were observed in the BaP treated groups. The basal expression showed that gstm was most strongly expressed, followed by abcb1, ugt1a, and abcc2, whereas cyp1a, 1b1, 1c1, and abcg2 showed weak expression. BaP significantly induced the mRNA expression of three CYP1s (cyp1a, 1b1, and 1c1) (p<0.05) and the ABC transporters (abcc1, abcc2, and abcg2) in a dose-dependent manner. However, the mRNA expression of Phase II enzymes (gstm, ugt1a) for the BaP treatments showed no significant difference with that of the controls. Furthermore, distinct induced patterns of these genes were observed during different exposure periods. Simultaneous up-regulation of the cyp and ABC transporter gene transcripts suggests that a possible involvement and cooperation in the detoxification process could provide protection against the BaP toxicity of rare minnows at the early life stage.

Transcriptional expression analysis of ABC efflux transporters and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in the Chinese rare minnow.

In the present study, the cDNA fragments of five ABC transporter genes (ABCB1, ABCB11, ABCC1, ABCC2, and ABCG2) in the rare minnow were cloned, and their tissue-specific expression patterns were evaluated across eight rare minnow tissues (liver, gill, intestine, kidney, spleen, brain, skin, and muscle). Furthermore, the transcriptional effects on these ABC transporter genes and five xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme genes (CYP1A, GSTm, GSTp1, GCLC, and UGT1a) were determined in the rare minnow liver after 12 days of pyrene exposure. Basal expression analysis showed that the tissues with high expression of the ABC transporters included the liver, kidney, and intestine. Moreover, the most highly expressed of the ABC genes were ABCB1 and ABCC2 in all eight of the tissues tested. The ABCB11 gene was almost exclusively expressed in the liver of the rare minnow, whereas ABCC1 and ABCG2 showed weak expression in all eight tissues compared to ABCB1 and ABCC2. Our results provide the first thorough examination of the expression patterns of toxicologically relevant ABC transporters in the rare minnow and serve as a necessary basis for further studies of these ABC transporters in fish. Furthermore, synergistic up-regulation of CYP1A, GSTp1, GCLC, UGT1a, and ABCC2 was observed in the rare minnow liver following pyrene exposure, while GSTm, ABCB1, ABCB11, ABCC1, and ABCG2 were not significantly affected (p < 0.05). The synergistic up-regulation of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and ABC transporters by pyrene suggests a possible involvement and cooperation of these genes in the detoxification process in rare minnows.

New cytochrome P450 1B1, 1C1, 2Aa, 2Y3, and 2K genes from Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus): Molecular characterization, basal expression and response of rare minnow CYP1s and CYP2s mRNA exposed to the AHR agonist benzo[a]pyrene.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP450) genes play an important role in catalyzing oxidative metabolism of toxicants. Recently, CYP1 subfamily were discovered and reported in fish, however, little is known regarding the CYP2 isoforms in fish. In the present study, the cDNA fragments of CYP 1B1 and 1C1 and CYP2Aa, 2Y3, and 2K of rare minnow were cloned and exhibited a high amino acid sequence identity compared with their zebrafish orthologs. Basal expression showed CYP1C1 and CYP 2Aa expression were observed in all eight tissues analyzed (liver, gill, intestine, kidney, spleen, brain, skin, and muscle). CYP 1A, and 1B1 expression was found in all tissues except for muscle and skin. However, CYP 2Y3 was expressed in liver, spleen, intestine and muscle whereas CYP 2K in liver, kidney and intestine. 4 and 100µgL(-1) Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) induced patterns showed that CYP 1A, 1B1 and 1C1 expression in liver, gill, and intestine was strongly up-regulated (p<0.05). Furthermore, CYP 2Y3 was strongly induced in liver from BaP treatments (p<0.05). The high induction on mRNA level of CYP1s and CYP 2Y3 by BaP could be associated with catalyzing detoxification and indicated that CYP2s may also be potential biomarker to screen AHR agonist. The high responsiveness of CYP1 and 2 genes suggested Chinese rare minnow is feasible to screen and assess pollution with AHR agonist.