Fumiyo Saito

Discrimination of Carcinogens by Hepatic Transcript Profiling in Rats Following 28-day Administration

This study aimed at discriminating carcinogens on the basis of hepatic transcript profiling in the rats administrated with a variety of carcinogens and non-carcinogens. We conducted 28-day toxicity tests in male F344 rats with 47 carcinogens and 26 non-carcinogens, and then investigated periodically the hepatic gene expression profiles using custom microarrays. By hierarchical cluster analysis based on significantly altered genes, carcinogens were clustered into three major groups (Group 1 to 3). The formation of these groups was not affected by the gene sets used as well as the administration period, indicating that the grouping of carcinogens was universal independent of the conditions of both statistical analysis and toxicity testing. Seventeen carcinogens belonging to Group 1 were composed of mainly rat hepatocarcinogens, most of them being mutagenic ones. Group 2 was formed by three subgroups, which were composed of 23 carcinogens exhibiting distinct properties in terms of genotoxicity and target tissues, namely nonmutagenic hepatocarcinogens, and mutagenic and nonmutagenic carcinogens both of which are targeted to other tissues. Group 3 contained 6 carcinogens including 4 estrogenic substances, implying the group of estrogenic carcinogens. Gene network analyses revealed that the significantly altered genes in Group 1 included Bax, Tnfrsf6, Btg2, Mgmt and Abcb1b, suggesting that p53-mediated signaling pathway involved in early pathologic alterations associated with preceding mutagenic carcinogenesis. Thus, the common transcriptional signatures for each group might reflect the early molecular events of carcinogenesis and hence would enable us to identify the biomarker genes, and then to develop a new assay for carcinogenesis prediction.

Novel method for evaluation of chemicals based on ligand-dependent recruitment of GFP labeled coactivator to estrogen receptor displayed on bacterial magnetic particles

We established a novel method to evaluate endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) by assembling the estrogen receptor-ligand binding domain (ERLBD) and GFP labeled coactivator on magnetic nanoparticles. EDC can promote or inhibit coactivator recruitment to the ligand-ERLBD complex. ERLBD was displayed on the surface of nano-sized bacterial magnetic particles (BacMPs) produced by the magnetic bacterium, Magnetospirillum magneticum AMB-1. Our method resulted in 38 molecules of ERLBD molecules on a BacMPs with diameter of 75nm. Furthermore, ligand-dependent recruitment assays of GFP labeled coactivator to ERLBD-BacMPs was performed by measuring the fluorescence intensity. 17Beta-estradiol (E2), estriol, diethylstilbestrol, zeralenone (full agonist), octylphenol (partial agonist) and ICI 182,780 (antagonist) were evaluated by this method. Full agonists tested showed increased fluorescence with increasing agonist concentration. Octylphenol had lower fluorescence intensity than E2. ICI 182,780 did not produce any fluorescence. The method developed in this study can evaluate the estrogenic potential of chemicals by discriminating whether they are an ER full agonist, partial agonist, or antagonist. Finally, this method is amenable adaptation into a high throughput format by using automated magnetic separation.

Expression alterations of genes on both neuronal and glial development in rats after developmental exposure to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil

The present study was performed to determine target gene profiles associated with pathological mechanisms of developmental neurotoxicity. For this purpose, we selected a rat developmental hypothyroidism model because thyroid hormones play an essential role in both neuronal and glial development. Region-specific global gene expression analysis was performed at postnatal day (PND) 21 on four brain regions representing different structures and functions, i.e., the cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, dentate gyrus and cerebellar vermis of rats exposed to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil in the drinking water at 3 and 10ppm from gestational day 6 to PND 21. Expression changes of gene clusters of neuron differentiation and development, cell migration, synaptic function, and axonogenesis were detected in all four regions. Characteristically, gene expression profiles suggestive of affection of ephrin signaling and glutamate transmission were obtained in multiple brain regions. Gene clusters suggestive of suppression of myelination and glial development were specifically detected in the corpus callosum and cerebral cortex. Immunohistochemically, immature astrocytes immunoreactive for vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic protein were increased, and oligodendrocytes immunoreactive for oligodendrocyte lineage transcription factor 2 were decreased in the corpus callosum. Immunoreactive intensity of myelin basic protein was also decreased in the corpus callosum and cerebral cortex. The hippocampal dentate gyrus showed downregulation of Ptgs2, which is related to synaptic activity and neurogenesis, as well as a decrease of cyclooxygenase-2-immunoreactive granule cells, suggesting an impaired synaptic function related to neurogenesis. These results suggest that multifocal brain region-specific microarray analysis can determine the affection of neuronal or glial development.

High mobility group box associated with cell proliferation appears to play an important role in hepatocellular carcinogenesis in rats and humans

To identify genes important in hepatocellular carcinogenesis, especially processes involved in malignant transformation, we focused on differences in gene expression between adenomas and carcinomas by DNA microarray. Eighty-one genes for which expression was specific in carcinomas were analyzed using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis software and Gene Ontology, and found to be associated with TP53 and regulators of cell proliferation. In the genes associated with TP53, we selected high mobility group box (HMGB) for detailed analysis. Immunohistochemistry revealed expression of HMGBs in carcinomas to be significantly higher than in other lesions among both human and rat liver, and a positive correlation between HMGBs and TP53 was detected in rat carcinomas. Knock-down of HMGB 2 expression in a rat hepatocellular carcinoma cell line by RNAi resulted in inhibition of cell growth, although no effects on invasion were evident in vitro. These results suggest that acquisition of malignant potential in the liver requires specific signaling pathways related to high cell proliferation associated with TP53. In particular, HMGBs appear to have an important role for progression and cell proliferation associated with loss of TP53 function in rat and in human hepatocarcinogenesis.

Downregulation of immediate-early genes linking to suppression of neuronal plasticity in rats after 28-day exposure to glycidol.

We previously found that the 28-day oral toxicity study of glycidol at 200mg/kg/day in rats resulted in axonopathy in both the central and peripheral nervous systems and aberrations in the late-stage of hippocampal neurogenesis targeting the process of neurite extension. To capture the neuronal parameters in response to glycidol toxicity, these animals were subjected to region-specific global gene expression profiling in four regions of cerebral and cerebellar architectures, followed by immunohistochemical analysis of selected gene products. Expression changes of genes related to axonogenesis and synaptic transmission were observed in the hippocampal dentate gyrus, cingulate cortex and cerebellar vermis at 200mg/kg showing downregulation in most genes. In the corpus callosum, genes related to growth, survival and functions of glial cells fluctuated their expression. Immunohistochemically, neurons expressing gene products of immediate-early genes, i.e., Arc, Fos and Jun, decreased in their number in the dentate granule cell layer, cingulate cortex and cerebellar vermis. We also applied immunohistochemical analysis in rat offspring after developmental exposure to glycidol through maternal drinking water. The results revealed increases of Arc(+) neurons at 1000ppm and Fos(+) neurons at ≥300ppm in the dentate granule cell layer of offspring only at the adult stage. These results suggest that glycidol suppressed neuronal plasticity in the brain after 28-day exposure to young adult animals, in contrast to the operation of restoration mechanism to increase neuronal plasticity at the adult stage in response to aberrations in neurogenesis after developmental exposure.

Gene expression profiling of the hippocampal dentate gyrus in an adult toxicity study captures a variety of neurodevelopmental dysfunctions in rat models of hypothyroidism.

We previously found that developmental hypothyroidism changed the expression of genes in the rat hippocampal dentate gyrus, a brain region where adult neurogenesis is known to occur. In the present study, we performed brain region‐specific global gene expression profiling in an adult rat hypothyroidism model to see if it reflected the developmental neurotoxicity we saw in the developmental hypothyroidism model. Starting when male rats were 5 weeks old, we administered 6‐propyl‐2‐thiouracil at a doses of 0, 0.1 and 10 mg kg−1 body weight by gavage for 28 days. We selected four brain regions to represent both cerebral and cerebellar tissues: hippocampal dentate gyrus, cerebral cortex, corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis. We observed significant alterations in the expression of genes related to neural development (Eph family genes and Robo3) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampal dentate gyrus and in the expression of genes related to myelination (Plp1 and Mbp) in the hippocampal dentate gyrus. We observed only minor changes in the expression of these genes in the corpus callosum and cerebellar vermis. We used real‐time reverse‐transcription polymerase chain reaction to confirm Chrdl1, Hes5, Mbp, Plp1, Slit1, Robo3 and the Eph family transcript expression changes. The most significant changes in gene expression were found in the dentate gyrus. Considering that the gene expression profile of the adult dentate gyrus closely related to neurogenesis, 28‐day toxicity studies looking at gene expression changes in adult hippocampal dentate gyrus may also detect possible developmental neurotoxic effects. Copyright

Development and application of a stable HeLa cell line capable of site-specific transgenesis using the Cre-lox system : Establishment and application of a stable TNFRI knockdown cell line to cytotoxicity assay

Mammalian cell models for gene knock-out/knock-in experiments are important for functional analysis of genes and have a potential of useful tool for toxicological studies. However, uncontrolled insertion of transgenes has raised significant concerns over unwanted side effects. To address this issue, we established a stable HeLa55 cell line capable of site-specific transgenesis by means of Cre-mediated cassette exchange at a site on the long arm of human chromosome 9 containing no constitutive transcripts. We applied HeLa55 to transgenesis of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene based on recombinase-mediated cassette exchange. The transformants stably expressed GFP transgenes, even after cryopreservation, without compromising physiological properties. We produced an RNA interference (RNAi)-inducible knockdown stable cell line against human tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor I, and one cloned stable cell line (TNFRIKD cells) exhibited long-term gene silencing with significant reduction (ca. 85%) and markedly resisted cytotoxicity induced by TNFalpha. Furthermore, xenobiotics were exposed to stable TNFRIKD cells and different cytotoxicity was exhibited based on various toxicological properties. Thus, we showed the feasibility of RNAi-based stable knockdown cells for xenobiotics-induced cytotoxicity, and HeLa55 has wide application for the generation of stable knock-in and knock-down cells mediated by RNAi.

Cuprizone decreases intermediate and late-stage progenitor cells in hippocampal neurogenesis of rats in a framework of 28-day oral dose toxicity study

Developmental exposure to cuprizone (CPZ), a demyelinating agent, impairs intermediate-stage neurogenesis in the hippocampal dentate gyrus of rat offspring. To investigate the possibility of alterations in adult neurogenesis following postpubertal exposure to CPZ in a framework of general toxicity studies, CPZ was orally administered to 5-week-old male rats at 0, 120, or 600mg/kg body weight/day for 28days. In the subgranular zone (SGZ), 600mg/kg CPZ increased the number of cleaved caspase-3(+) apoptotic cells. At ≥120mg/kg, the number of SGZ cells immunoreactive for TBR2, doublecortin, or PCNA was decreased, while that for SOX2 was increased. In the granule cell layer, CPZ at ≥120mg/kg decreased the number of postmitotic granule cells immunoreactive for NEUN, CHRNA7, ARC or FOS. In the dentate hilus, CPZ at ≥120mg/kg decreased phosphorylated TRKB(+) interneurons, although the number of reelin(+) interneurons was unchanged. At 600mg/kg, mRNA levels of Bdnf and Chrna7 were decreased, while those of Casp4, Casp12 and Trib3 were increased in the dentate gyrus. These data suggest that CPZ in a scheme of 28-day toxicity study causes endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis of granule cell lineages, resulting in aberrations of intermediate neurogenesis and late-stage neurogenesis and following suppression of immediate early gene-mediated neuronal plasticity. Suppression of BDNF signals to interneurons caused by decreased cholinergic signaling may play a role in these effects of CPZ. The effects of postpubertal CPZ on neurogenesis were similar to those observed with developmental exposure, except for the lack of reelin response, which may contribute to a greater decrease in SGZ cells.

New Short Term Prediction Method for Chemical Carcinogenicity by Hepatic Transcript Profiling Following 28-Day Toxicity Tests in Rats

We have previously shown the hepatic gene expression profiles of carcinogens in 28-day toxicity tests were clustered into three major groups (Group-1 to 3). Here, we developed a new prediction method for Group-1 carcinogens which consist mainly of genotoxic rat hepatocarcinogens. The prediction formula was generated by a support vector machine using 5 selected genes as the predictive genes and predictive score was introduced to judge carcinogenicity. It correctly predicted the carcinogenicity of all 17 Group-1 chemicals and 22 of 24 non-carcinogens regardless of genotoxicity. In the dose-response study, the prediction score was altered from negative to positive as the dose increased, indicating that the characteristic gene expression profile emerged over a range of carcinogen-specific doses. We conclude that the prediction formula can quantitatively predict the carcinogenicity of Group-1 carcinogens. The same method may be applied to other groups of carcinogens to build a total system for prediction of carcinogenicity.

Applicability of a gene expression based prediction method to SD and Wistar rats : an example of CARCINOscreen

Recently, the development of several gene expression-based prediction methods has been attempted in the fields of toxicology. CARCINOscreen® is a gene expression-based screening method to predict carcinogenicity of chemicals which target the liver with high accuracy. In this study, we investigated the applicability of the gene expression-based screening method to SD and Wistar rats by using CARCINOscreen®, originally developed with F344 rats, with two carcinogens, 2,4-diaminotoluen and thioacetamide, and two non-carcinogens, 2,6-diaminotoluen and sodium benzoate. After the 28-day repeated dose test was conducted with each chemical in SD and Wistar rats, microarray analysis was performed using total RNA extracted from each liver. Obtained gene expression data were applied to CARCINOscreen®. Predictive scores obtained by the CARCINOscreen® for known carcinogens were > 2 in all strains of rats, while non-carcinogens gave prediction scores below 0.5. These results suggested that the gene expression based screening method, CARCINOscreen®, can be applied to SD and Wistar rats, widely used strains in toxicological studies, by setting of an appropriate boundary line of prediction score to classify the chemicals into carcinogens and non-carcinogens.