Evaluation of estrogenic activity of phthalate esters by gene expression profiling using a focused microarray (EstrArray).

Phthalates are used industrially as plasticizers and are known to contaminate natural environments, mostly as di-ester or mono-ester complexes. Because they are structurally similar to natural estrogens, they could act as endocrine disruptors. Here, we used a DNA microarray containing estrogen responsive genes (EstrArray) to examine gene expression profiles in MCF-7 cells treated with 10 microM butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), and diisopropyl phthalate (DIP) along with the natural estrogen 17beta-estradiol ([E(2)], 10 nM). The profiles for phthalate esters and E(2) were examined by correlation analysis using correlation coefficients (r-values) and cluster analysis. We found that BBP showed the highest correlation with E(2) (r = 0.85), and DEP and DIP showed moderate r-values (r = 0.52 and r = 0.49, respectively). Dibutyl phthalate exhibited the lowest (but still significant) correlation with E(2) (r = 0.36). Furthermore, among the pairs of chemicals, DEP-DIP and DIP-DBP showed very high correlations (r = 0.90 and r = 0.80, respectively), and the other pairs showed moderate relationships, which reflected how structurally close they are to each other. The analysis of six functional groups of genes (enzymes, signaling, proliferation, transcription, transport, and others) indicated that the genes belonging to the enzyme, transcription, and other functional groups showed common responses to phthalate esters and E(2). Although the effect of BBP was similar to that of E(2), the other phthalate esters showed different types of effects. These results indicate that the structure of estrogenic chemicals is strongly related to their estrogenic activity and can be evaluated by appropriate grouping of the responsive genes by focused microarray analysis.

Transcriptome analyses demonstrate that Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α (PPARα) activity of an ultraviolet absorber, 2-(2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-butylphenyl)benzotriazole, as possible mechanism of their toxicity and the gender differences.

2-(2'-Hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-butylphenyl)benzotriazole (HDBB), the Benzotriazole UV-stabilizer (BUVSs) known as UV-320, is widely used in plastic materials for protection against UV-irradiation. Previously, we reported that oral ingestion of HDBB induce hepatotoxicity including hepatocyte hypertrophy and necrosis in rats and, males was more susceptible compared with females in young rats while no sex-related difference was observed in preweaning rats. Phenotypes observed in our previous study imply involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α in HDBB hepatotoxicity, however, direct evidence that HDBB can activate PPARα has not been provided and the mechanism which underlying the gender difference of HDBB hepatotoxicity was not clearly elucidated. Here, we conduct transcriptome analysis using microarray expression profiles in the livers of rats administered HDBB. PPARα agonist activity of HDBB was elucidated by comparison with gene expression data of typical PPARα agonist, i.e. clofibrate, WY-14643, gemfibrozil, and fenofibrate, from TG GATEs database. Moreover, we analyzed for PPARα mRNA expression in the liver of developing male and female rats. PPARα mRNA expression level was higher in males than in females on postnatal days (PNDs) 28 and 35, whereas no sex-related difference was found on PNDs 7 and 22. These results suggest that HDBB exerts its hepatotoxicity through the PPARα signal pathway and the sex-related difference in PPARα expression may contribute to the sex-related difference in susceptibility to hepatotoxicity.

Expression profiling of the estrogen responsive genes in response to phytoestrogens using a customized DNA microarray.

Here, we examined phytoestrogens, isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, glycitein, biochanin A and ipriflavone), flavones (chrysin, luteolin and apigenin), flavonols (kaempferol and quercetin), and a coumestan, a flavanone and a chalcone (coumestrol, naringenin and phloretin, respectively) by means of a DNA microarray assay. A total of 172 estrogen responsive genes were monitored with a customized DNA microarray and their expression profiles for the above phytoestrogens were compared with that for 17beta-estradiol (E2) using correlation coefficients, or R values, after a correlation analysis by linear regression. While R values indicate the similarity of the response by the genes, we also examined the genes by cluster analysis and by their specificity to phytoestrogens (specific to genistein, daidzein or glycitein) or gene functions. Several genes were selected from p53-related genes (CDKN1A, TP53I11 and CDC14), Akt2-related genes (PRKCD, BRCA1, TRIB3 and APPL), mitogen-activated protein kinase-related genes (RSK and SH3BP5), Ras superfamily genes (RAP1GA1, RHOC and ARHGDIA) and AP-1 family and related genes (RIP140, FOS, ATF3, JUN and FRA2). We further examined the extracts from two local crops of soy beans (Kuro-daizu or Mochi-daizu) by comparing the gene expression profiles with those of E2 or phytoestrogens as a first step in utilizing the expression profiles for various applications.

Microarray analysis of 6-mercaptopurine-induced-toxicity-related genes and microRNAs in the rat placenta.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded RNAs of 19-25 nucleotides and are important in posttranscriptional regulation of genes. Recently, the role of miRNAs in toxicity incidence is reported to be a regulator of key-stopper of gene expression, however the detailed mechanism of miRNAs is not well known yet. 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP), the anti-leukemic and immunosuppressive drug, produced teratogenicity and pregnancy loss. We focused on the placenta to evaluate toxicity in embryo/fetal development produced by 6-MP treatment. MiRNA expression in the placenta was analyzed by miRNA microarray. Fifteen miRNAs were upregulated on GD13 and 5 miRNAs were downregulated on GD15 in 6-MP treatment rat placentas. Some miRNAs may have functions in apoptosis (miR-195, miR-21, miR-29c and miR-34a), inflammation (miR-146b), and ischemia (miR-144 and miR-451). In the maternal plasma, expression of miR-144 was significantly reduced by 6-MP treatment when examined by real-time RT-PCR. We determined toxicity-related gene expression in the rat placenta. Gene expression analysis was carried out by DNA oligo microarray using rat placenta total RNAs. Compared between predicted targets of miRNAs and microarray data in 6-MP-treated rat placenta, expressions of hormone receptor genes (estrogen receptor 1; Esr1, progesterone receptor; Pgr, and prolactin receptor; Prlr), xanthine oxidase (Xdh), Slc38a5 and Phlda2 genes were changed. The histopathologically found increase in trophoblastic giant cells and reduced placental growth by 6-MP treatment were well correlated to these gene expressions. These data suggest that some miRNAs may link to toxicological reactions in 6-MP-induced placental toxicity.

Expression profile of early estradiol-responsive genes in cynomolgus macaque liver: implications for drug-metabolizing enzymes.

Estrogen plays important roles in estrogen-responsive tissues, such as mammary glands, ovaries, and the uterus. In the liver, the major drug metabolizing organ, estrogen is known to regulate expression of some drug-metabolizing enzymes. Due to the lack of information on the role of estrogen in hepatic gene expression in primate species, we previously investigated the late response of hepatic gene expression to estradiol in cynomolgus macaques. To understand the early response of hepatic gene expression to estradiol, in this study, microarray analysis was conducted using cynomolgus macaque liver samples collected at 1 h and 5 h after estradiol injection. Comparison of expression profiles in estradiol and solvent (control)-treated ovariectomized cynomolgus macaques revealed 27 differentially expressed genes (>2.0-fold), including 18 at 1 h and 9 at 5 h after estradiol injection. As indicated by Gene Ontology analysis, these genes were related to oxidoreductase activity and transferase activity, partly representing important aspects of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Further analysis by quantitative polymerase chain reaction revealed that estradiol down-regulated CYP2A24, CYP2C76, and CYP2E1 (>2.0-fold) at 1 h and up-regulated GSTM5 (>2.0-fold) at 5 h after estradiol injection. These results suggest that the short-term estradiol treatment influenced expression of hepatic genes, including drug-metabolizing enzyme genes, in cynomolgus macaque liver.

6-Mercaptopurine-induced histopathological changes and xanthine oxidase expression in rat placenta.

The placenta secures the embryo and fetus to the endometrium and releases a variety of steroid and peptide hormones that convert the physiology of a female to that of a pregnant female. Chemical-induced alteration or deviation of placental function in the maternal and extraembryonic tissue can ultimately lead to pregnancy loss, congenital malformation and fetal death. The 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), an anti-leukemic drug, is known to produce undesired effects on some organs, then the placenta/embryo toxicity of 6-MP was investigated in pregnant rats given 60 mg/kg with two intraperitoneal injections on gestation days (GD) 11 and 12. The rats were sacrificed and their placentas were collected on GD13 or 15. On GD15 small and limb-defected embryos were found in the 6-MP-treated rats. Placental weights were significantly reduced on GD15, as well as a reduced number of cells was detected in the labyrinth zone with both the labyrinth and basal zones having thinned. Cleaved caspase-3-positive cells increased in number in the labyrinth zone, while in the basal zone, glycogen cells reduced with cytolysis. The number of spongiotrophoblasts and trophoblastic giant cells also increased by 6-MP treatment. The 6-MP-treatment resulted in the increased xanthine oxidase (Xdh) expression in the placenta, which gene is related to the ischemic condition of tissues. These data suggest that apoptosis of the labyrinth zone cells may lead to decreased materno-fetal exchange. Moreover, subsequent ischemia in the placental tissue may occur and induce Xdh expression.

Expression profile of hepatic genes in cynomolgus macaques bred in Cambodia, China, and Indonesia: implications for cytochrome P450 genes.

Cynomolgus macaques, frequently used in drug metabolism studies, are bred mainly in the countries of Asia; however, comparative studies of drug metabolism between cynomolgus macaques bred in these countries have not been conducted. In this study, hepatic gene expression profiles of cynomolgus macaques bred in Cambodia (mfCAM), China (mfCHN), and Indonesia (mfIDN) were analyzed. Microarray analysis revealed that expression of most hepatic genes, including drug-metabolizing enzyme genes, was not substantially different between mfCAM, mfCHN, and mfIDN; only 1.1% and 3.0% of all the gene probes detected differential expression (>2.5-fold) in mfCAM compared with mfCHN and mfIDN, respectively. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression levels of 14 cytochromes P450 (P450s) important for drug metabolism did not differ (>2.5-fold) in mfCAM, mfCHN, and mfIDN, validating the microarray data. In contrast, expression of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 differed (>2.5-fold, p < 0.05) between cynomolgus (mfCAM, mfCHN, or mfIDN) and rhesus macaques, indicating greater differences in expression of P450 genes between the two lineages. Moreover, metabolic activities measured using 14 P450 substrates did not differ substantially (<1.5-fold) between mfCAM and mfCHN. These results suggest that gene expression profiles, including drug-metabolizing enzyme genes such as P450 genes, are similar in mfCAM, mfCHN, and mfIDN.

MicroRNAs expression in the ethylene glycol monomethyl ether-induced testicular lesion.

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) induces testicular lesion in rats and human. To investigate miRNAs expression in EGME testicular lesion, miRNA array assay and real-time RT-PCR analysis were conducted by using testis in rats treated with 50 and 2,000 mg/kg EGME for 6 and 24 hr. The expression of corresponding target gene for miRNAs was also examined. At 50 mg/kg, there were no changes in the gene expression and histopathological examination. At 2,000 mg/kg, slight decrease of phacytene spermatocytes with cell shrinkage and nucleus pyknosis at 6 hr and remarkable decrease (or cell death) of phacytene spermatocytes with Sertoli cell vacuolation at 24 hr were observed. After 24 hr, miR-449a and miR-92a decreased obviously and, miR-320, miR-134 and miR-188 increased, while only miR-760-5p increased after 6 hr. Above these miRNAs are reported to have an important role for spermatogenesis. The gene expression of Bcl-2, target for miR-449a, increased and therefore it is considered anti-apoptotic reaction has started in this stage. The expression of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (target of miR-92a) which regulates histone structure, was increased. Furthermore, histone deacethylase 4, targets for miR-320, was also affected. Above prohibiting apoptosis or activating epigenetic genes might be protective reaction to spermatocytes death under the miRNAs regulation in EGME testicular lesion.

A newly developed DNA microarray is useful to assess induction of cytochromes p450 in the cynomolgus monkey.

Cytochromes P450 (P450s or CYPs) are a gene family of highly homologous genes and include the CYP1-4 family, which is relevant to drug metabolism. In the cynomolgus monkey (which is frequently used in drug metabolism studies), numerous CYPs (mfCYPs) have been identified in the CYP1-4 family. DNA microarrays are useful for high-throughput screening assays; however, there is a potential problem with cross-hybridization of highly homologous genes in the gene family. This problem might be solved with the use of low-density DNA microarrays, with which specific validation can be performed for the genes on the microarray. We have developed a DNA microarray for the 20 mfCYPs and have evaluated and validated its specificity and usefulness. First, in both DNA microarray and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analyses, hepatic expression of each mfCYP correlated well, and similar tissue expression patterns were observed for five representative mfCYPs, confirming the specificity of the DNA microarray. Second, the usefulness of this DNA microarray was validated by induction analysis of mfCYPs in primary hepatocytes, which successfully detected known responders, but also novel responders (mfCYP2C43, mfCYP2C75, and mfCYP3A5 for rifampicin), as confirmed by qPCR analysis. This DNA microarray can thus be utilized for high-throughput assays during drug development.

Expression of cytochromes p450 in fetal, infant, and juvenile liver of cynomolgus macaques.

Preclinical data of fetal, infant, and juvenile animals are important for the prediction of drug toxicity in fetuses and children. However, expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes, including cytochromes P450 (CYPs), have not been fully investigated in fetal, infant, or juvenile liver of the cynomolgus macaque, an animal species important for preclinical studies. In this study, hepatic expression of 20 cynomolgus macaque CYPs (mfCYPs) in the CYP1-4 subfamilies that are relevant to drug metabolism was measured in fetuses, infants, and juveniles using DNA microarrays. Expression of most mfCYPs, including those moderately or abundantly expressed in postnatal livers such as mfCYP2A23, mfCYP2A24, mfCYP2B6, mfCYP2C9, mfCYP2C19, mfCYP2C76, mfCYP2D17, mfCYP2E1 mfCYP3A4, and mfCYP3A5, was much less abundant in fetal livers, but increased substantially after birth. In contrast, expression of mfCYP2C8 in fetal livers was not substantially different from postnatal livers. Since human CYP3A7 is expressed more abundantly in fetal livers than in adult livers, mfCYP3A7, an ortholog of human CYP3A7, was analyzed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Expression of mfCYP3A7 in fetal livers was much lower than that in postnatal livers, and greatly increased after birth, unlike the expression of human CYP3A7. These results indicate that expression of most mfCYPs examined was low in fetal livers, but increased greatly in postnatal livers, with a few exceptions such as mfCYP2C8.

In utero and lactational exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces disruption of glands of the prostate and fibrosis in rhesus monkeys.

We investigated the effects that 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exposure has on the prostate in rhesus monkey offspring. Dams received 0, 30 or 300 ng/kg TCDD subcutaneously on Day 20 of gestation, and then 5% of the initial dose was injected every 30 days until Day 90 after delivery. The offspring were maintained until reaching sexual maturity, and examined histopathologically. Dose-dependent decreases in glands of the prostate and widespread fibrosis were observed in offspring. It is noteworthy that 7 years from the final lactational TCDD exposure, inflammatory cell infiltration and disruption of glands of the prostate were still observed. Differential mRNA expression associated with fibrosis, inflammatory response and disruption of cell components were demonstrated by microarray analysis, with up-regulation of TGM4, TGFB1, COL1A1 and MMP2 confirmed. In conclusion, in utero and lactational exposure to TCDD induced dose-related prostatic fibrosis, indicating prostatic dysfunction and inducible semen quality reduction in second-generation rhesus monkeys.

Fetal malformations and early embryonic gene expression response in cynomolgus monkeys maternally exposed to thalidomide.

The present study was performed to determine experimental conditions for thalidomide induction of fetal malformations and to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying thalidomide teratogenicity in cynomolgus monkeys. Cynomolgus monkeys were orally administered thalidomide at 15 or 20mg/kg-d on days 26-28 of gestation, and fetuses were examined on day 100-102 of gestation. Limb defects such as micromelia/amelia, paw/foot hyperflexion, polydactyly, syndactyly, and brachydactyly were observed in seven of eight fetuses. Cynomolgus monkeys were orally administered thalidomide at 20mg/kg on day 26 of gestation, and whole embryos were removed from the dams 6h after administration. Three embryos each were obtained from the thalidomide-treated and control groups. Total RNA was isolated from individual embryos, amplified to biotinylated cRNA and hybridized to a custom Non-Human Primate (NHP) GeneChip((R)) Array. Altered genes were clustered into genes that were up-regulated (1281 genes) and down-regulated (1081 genes) in thalidomide-exposed embryos. Functional annotation by Gene Ontology (GO) categories revealed up-regulation of actin cytoskeletal remodeling and insulin signaling, and down-regulation of pathways for vasculature development and the inflammatory response. These findings show that thalidomide exposure perturbs a general program of morphoregulatory processes in the monkey embryo. Bioinformatics analysis of the embryonic transcriptome following maternal thalidomide exposure has now identified many key pathways implicated in thalidomide embryopathy, and has also revealed some novel processes that can help unravel the mechanism of this important developmental phenotype.

Effects of metoprolol on epinephrine-induced takotsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction in non-human primates.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, alternatively known as stress cardiomyopathy, is an increasingly recognized clinical syndrome characterized by acute reversible apical ventricular dysfunction. To elucidate the mechanism, we tried to make a new model of takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy in non-human primates. Echocardiography revealed that repeated intravenous infusion of epinephrine overdose in cynomolgus monkeys induced takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy, which is characterized by progressive left ventricle and depressed systolic function with severe hypokinesis in apical regions and hyperkinesis in the basal region. Although this cardiac dysfunction almost normalized after a month even without any treatment, metoprolol, a beta-blocker, improved the decreased ejection fraction earlier than in the control. Luxol fast blue staining, which is useful for estimating myocytolysis, showed that increased myocytolysis was observed in the apical ventricle of the epinephrine-infused heart. Metoprolol diminished epinephrine-induced cardiomyocytolysis. To explain the mechanism of takotsubo myopathy and the effect of metoprolol, gene expressions in apical or basal ventricle were compared. Heart failure-related genes, such as brain natriuretic peptide, connective tissue growth factor and osteopontin; calcium signaling-related genes, such as ryanodine receptor 2, sarcoendoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase 2A2 and adenylate cyclase 7; renin-angiotensin system-related genes, such as angiotensinogen, angiotensin II receptor, type 1 and type 2; and mitochondria-related genes, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma co-activator-1alpha, cytochrome c and transcription factor A mitochondrial, were significantly changed at the apical ventricle rather than at the basal ventricle. The changes of some genes improved with metoprolol treatment. These results indicate that this model is valuable in understanding the pathogenesis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and the effectivity of beta-blockers.