Kathleen Wallace

The role of protein binding of trivalent arsenicals in arsenic carcinogenesis and toxicity.

Three of the most plausible biological theories of arsenic carcinogenesis are protein binding, oxidative stress and altered DNA methylation. This review presents the role of trivalent arsenicals binding to proteins in arsenic carcinogenesis. Using vacuum filtration based receptor dissociation binding techniques, the lifetimes of unidentate (<1s), bidentate (1-2min) and tridentate (1-2h) arsenite containing peptide binding complexes were estimated. According to our experimental data some of the protein targets to which arsenite may bind in vivo include tubulin, poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP-1), thioredoxin reductase, estrogen receptor-alpha, arsenic(+3)methyltransferase and Keap-1. Arsenite binding to tubulin can lead to several of the genetic effects observed after arsenic exposures (aneuploidy, polyploidy and mitotic arrests). Among many other possible arsenite binding sites are rat hemoglobin, the DNA repair enzyme xeroderma pigmentosum protein A (XPA), and other C2H2, C3H and C4 zinc finger proteins including members of the steroid receptor superfamily (e.g. glucocorticoid receptor). Macromolecules to which arsenite does not bind to include calf thymus DNA, mixed Type II-A histones and bovine H3/H4 histone. Although all six tested arsenicals released iron from ferritin, radioactive arsenite did not bind to the protein horse ferritin.

Effect of treatment media on the agglomeration of titanium dioxide nanoparticles: impact on genotoxicity, cellular interaction, and cell cycle.

The widespread use of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles in consumer products increases the probability of exposure to humans and the environment. Although TiO2 nanoparticles have been shown to induce DNA damage (comet assay) and chromosome damage (micronucleus assay, MN) in vitro, no study has systematically assessed the influence of medium composition on the physicochemical characteristics and genotoxicity of TiO2 nanoparticles. We assessed TiO2 nanoparticle agglomeration, cellular interaction, induction of genotoxicity, and influence on cell cycle in human lung epithelial cells using three different nanoparticle-treatment media: keratinocyte growth medium (KGM) plus 0.1% bovine serum albumin (KB); a synthetic broncheoalveolar lavage fluid containing PBS, 0.6% bovine serum albumin and 0.001% surfactant (DM); or KGM with 10% fetal bovine serum (KF). The comet assay showed that TiO2 nanoparticles induced similar amounts of DNA damage in all three media, independent of the amount of agglomeration, cellular interaction, or cell-cycle changes measured by flow cytometry. In contrast, TiO2 nanoparticles induced MN only in KF, which is the medium that facilitated the lowest amount of agglomeration, the greatest amount of nanoparticle cellular interaction, and the highest population of cells accumulating in S phase. These results with TiO2 nanoparticles in KF demonstrate an association between medium composition, particle uptake, and nanoparticle interaction with cells, leading to chromosomal damage as measured by the MN assay.

Proteome profiling reveals potential toxicity and detoxification pathways following exposure of BEAS-2B cells to engineered nanoparticle titanium dioxide†

Oxidative stress is known to play important roles in engineered nanomaterial‐induced cellular toxicity. However, the proteins and signaling pathways associated with the engineered nanomaterial‐mediated oxidative stress and toxicity are largely unknown. To identify these toxicity pathways and networks that are associated with exposure to engineered nanomaterials, an integrated proteomic study was conducted using human bronchial epithelial cells, BEAS‐2B and nanoscale titanium dioxide. Utilizing 2‐DE and MS, we identified 46 proteins that were altered at protein expression levels. The protein changes detected by 2‐DE/MS were verified by functional protein assays. These identified proteins include some key proteins involved in cellular stress response, metabolism, adhesion, cytoskeletal dynamics, cell growth, cell death, and cell signaling. The differentially expressed proteins were mapped using Ingenuity Pathway Analyses™ canonical pathways and Ingenuity Pathway Analyses tox lists to create protein‐interacting networks and proteomic pathways. Twenty protein canonical pathways and tox lists were generated, and these pathways were compared to signaling pathways generated from genomic analyses of BEAS‐2B cells treated with titanium dioxide. There was a significant overlap in the specific pathways and lists generated from the proteomic and the genomic data. In addition, we also analyzed the phosphorylation profiles of protein kinases in titanium dioxide‐treated BEAS‐2B cells for a better understanding of upstream signaling pathways in response to the titanium dioxide treatment and the induced oxidative stress. In summary, the present study provides the first protein‐interacting network maps and novel insights into the biological responses and potential toxicity and detoxification pathways of titanium dioxide.

Genome-wide analysis of BEAS-2B cells exposed to trivalent arsenicals and dimethylthioarsinic acid.

Lung is a major target for arsenic carcinogenesis in humans by both oral and inhalation routes. However, the carcinogenic mode of action of arsenicals is unknown. We investigated the effects of inorganic arsenic (iAsIII), monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII), dimethylarsinous acid (DMAIII) and dimethylthioarsinic acid (DMTA), a sulfur containing dimethyl arsenic metabolite, in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells. Cells were exposed to 3, 15 microM-iAsIII; 0.3, 1 microM-MMAIII; 0.2, 1 microM-DMAIII; 0.2, 0.9 microM-DMTA as non-cytotoxic and minimally cytotoxic ( approximately 20%) concentrations based on Neutral Red uptake assays after 24h of culture. Total RNA was isolated and gene expression analysis conducted using Affymetrix Human Genome 133 Plus 2.0 arrays. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were determined using a one-way ANOVA (p < or =0.05) by Rosetta Resolver, a Benjamini-Hochberg FDR (false discovery rate) multiple testing correction (< 0.05) followed by a Scheffes post hoc test. For all compounds except DMTA, > 90% of DEG altered in the low concentration were also changed at the high concentration. There was a clear dose-response seen in the number of DEGs for all four compounds. iAsIII showed the highest number of DEG at both concentrations (2708 and 123, high and low, respectively). 1749, 420 and 120 DEGs were unique to the high concentrations of iAsIII, MMAIII and DMAIII, respectively. Transferrin receptor is a common DEG in low concentration arsenical treated cells. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis revealed p53 signaling (E2F1 and 2, SERPIN), and cell cycle related genes (cyclin D1) were altered by the high concentrations of DMTA, MMAIII and iAsIII. Oxidative stress (DUSP1, GPX2, NQO1, GCLC) and NF-kappaB signaling (TLR4, NF-kappaB) pathways were changed by the high concentrations of MMAIII and iAsIII. The genes identified in this study can be a valuable tool to determine the mechanism of arsenic toxicity and cancer formation. A number of similarities were observed in the gene expression profiles of DMAIII and DMTA and also iAsIII and MMAIII. These findings reveal some biological effects of arsenicals that will aid in creating a better risk assessment model for arsenical-induced lung cancer.

Evidence against the nuclear in situ binding of arsenicals–oxidative stress theory of arsenic carcinogenesis

A large amount of evidence suggests that arsenicals act via oxidative stress in causing cancer in humans and experimental animals. It is possible that arsenicals could bind in situ close to nuclear DNA followed by Haber-Weiss type oxidative DNA damage. Therefore, we tested this hypothesis by using radioactive (73)As labeled arsenite and vacuum filtration methodology to determine the binding affinity and capacity of (73)As arsenite to calf thymus DNA and Type 2A unfractionated histones, histone H3, H4 and horse spleen ferritin. Arsenicals are known to release redox active Fe from ferritin. At concentrations up to about 1 mM, neither DNA nor any of the three proteins studied, Type II-A histones, histone H3, H4 or ferritin, bound radioactive arsenite in a specific manner. Therefore, it appears highly unlikely that initial in situ binding of trivalent arsenicals, followed by in situ oxidative DNA damage, can account for arsenics carcinogenicity. This experimental evidence (lack of arsenite binding to DNA, histone Type II-A and histone H3, H4) does not rule out other possible oxidative stress modes of action for arsenic such as (a) diffusion of longer lived oxidative stress molecules, such as H(2)O(2) into the nucleus and ensuing oxidative damage, (b) redox chemistry by unbound arsenicals in the nucleus, or (c) arsenical-induced perturbations in Fe, Cu or other metals which are already known to oxidize DNA in vitro and in vivo.

A multiplexed assay for determination of neurotoxicant effects on spontaneous network activity and viability from microelectrode arrays

Microelectrode array (MEA) recordings are increasingly being used as an in vitro method to detect and characterize the ability of drugs, chemicals and particles to cause neurotoxicity. While compound effects on spontaneous network activity are easily determined by MEA recordings, compound cytotoxicity is not routinely assessed, particularly within the same network from which recordings are collected. With the advent of higher-throughput 48 and 96 well MEA systems, rapid and simple methods to measure compound effects on cell health are required to facilitate efficient compound screening using MEAs. The present experiments sought to develop a multiplexed approach that allows measurement of network activity and cell health in the same MEA well. Primary cultures from rat cortex were exposed to six different compounds (glyphosate, β-cyfluthrin, domoic acid, tributyltin, lindane and fipronil). Effects of these compounds (0.03-100 μM) on spontaneous network activity (mean firing rate; MFR), cellular metabolic activity (Cell Titer Blue™ (CTB) assay) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release were determined in the same well following a 60-min exposure. Glyphosate elicited no effect on MFR, LDH release or CTB reduction. Tributyltin caused concomitant decreases in MFR and CTB reduction and increases LDH release, while domoic acid and β-cyfluthrin decreased MFR in a concentration-dependent manner without altering either LDH release or CTB reduction. By contrast, lindane and fipronil did not alter LDH release or CTB reduction, but caused biphasic alterations in MFR, with increases in MFR at lower concentrations followed by decreases at higher concentrations. These results demonstrate a simple and rapid method for the simultaneous determination of test compound effects on spontaneous electrical activity and cell health from the same network, and will facilitate rapid screening of compounds for potential neurotoxicity.

Oxidative stress studies of six TiO2 and two CeO2 nanomaterials: Immuno-spin trapping results with DNA

Abstract Six TiO2 and two CeO2 nanomaterials with dry sizes ranging from 6–410 nm were tested for their ability to cause DNA centered free radicals in vitro in the concentration range of 10–3,000 ug/ml. All eight of the nanomaterials significantly increased the adduction of the spin trap agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyroline N-oxide (DMPO) to DNA as measured by the experimental technique of immuno-spin trapping. The eight nanomaterials differed considerably in their potency, slope, and active concentration. The largest increase in DNA nitrone adducts was caused by a TiO2 nanomaterial (25 nm, anatase) from Alfa Aesar. Some nanomaterials that increased the amount of DNA nitrone adducts at the lowest exposure concentrations (100 ug/ml) were Degussa TiO2 (31 nm), Alfa Aesar TiO2 (25 nm, anatase) and Nanoamor CeO2 (8 nm, cerianite). At exposure concentrations of 10 or 30 ug/ml, no nanomaterials showed significant in vitro formation of DNA nitrone adducts.

Glufosinate binds N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors and increases neuronal network activity in vitro.

Glufosinate (GLF) at high levels in mammals causes convulsions and amnesia through a mechanism that is not completely understood. The structural similarity of GLF to glutamate (GLU) implicates the glutamatergic system as a target for GLF neurotoxicity. The current work examined in vitro GLF interaction with N-methyl-D-aspartate subtype GLU receptors (NMDARs) and GLT-1 transporters via [(3)H]CGP 39653 binding experiments and [(3)H]GLU uptake assays, respectively. GLF effects on neuronal network activity were assessed using microelectrode array (MEA) recordings in primary cultures of cortical neurons. GLF and its primary metabolite N-acetylglufosinate (NAcGLF) bind to the NMDAR; the IC50 value for GLF was 668 μM and for NAcGLF was about 100 μM. Concentrations of GLF greater than 1000 μM were needed to decrease GLU uptake through GLT-1. In MEA recordings from networks of rat primary cortical neurons, the concentration-responses for NMDA, GLF and NAcGLF on network mean firing rates (MFR) were biphasic, increasing at lower concentrations and decreasing below control levels at higher concentrations. Increases in MFR occurred between 3-10 μM NMDA (290% control, maximum), 100-300 μM NAcGLF (190% control, maximum) and 10-1000 μM GLF (340% control, maximum). The NMDAR antagonist MK801 attenuated both NMDA and GLF increases in MFR. The GLF concentration required to alter GLU transport through GLT-1 is not likely to be attained in vivo, and therefore not relevant to the neurotoxic mode of action. However, toxicokinetic data from reports of intentional human poisonings indicate that GLF concentrations in the CNS after acute exposure could reach levels high enough to lead to effects mediated via NMDARs. Furthermore, the newly characterized action of NAcGLF at the NMDAR suggests that both the parent compound and metabolite could contribute to neurotoxicity via this pathway.

Characterization of Early Cortical Neural Network Development in Multiwell Microelectrode Array Plates

We examined neural network ontogeny using microelectrode array (MEA) recordings made in multiwell MEA (mwMEA) plates over the first 12 days in vitro (DIV). In primary cortical cultures, action potential spiking activity developed rapidly between DIV 5 and 12. Spiking was sporadic and unorganized at early DIV, and became progressively more organized with time, with bursting parameters, synchrony, and network bursting increasing between DIV 5 and 12. We selected 12 features to describe network activity; principal components analysis using these features demonstrated segregation of data by age at both the well and plate levels. Using random forest classifiers and support vector machines, we demonstrated that four features (coefficient of variation [CV] of within-burst interspike interval, CV of interburst interval, network spike rate, and burst rate) could predict the age of each well recording with >65% accuracy. When restricting the classification to a binary decision, accuracy improved to as high as 95%. Further, we present a novel resampling approach to determine the number of wells needed for comparing different treatments. Overall, these results demonstrate that network development on mwMEA plates is similar to development in single-well MEAs. The increased throughput of mwMEAs will facilitate screening drugs, chemicals, or disease states for effects on neurodevelopment.

Transcriptional Modulation of the ERK1/2 MAPK and NF-κB Pathways in Human Urothelial Cells After Trivalent Arsenical Exposure: Implications for Urinary Bladder Cancer.

Chronic exposure to drinking water contaminated with inorganic arsenic (iAs) is associated with an increased risk of urinary bladder (UB) cancers in humans. The exact role of specific iAs metabolite(s) in As-mediated carcinogenesis remains largely unknown. Experimental evidence suggests that trivalent arsenicals, namely arsenite (iAsIII) and two of its metabolites, monomethylarsonous acid (MMAIII) and dimethylarsinous acid (DMAIII), are possible proximate UB carcinogens. Here, we used a transcriptomics approach to examine perturbed molecular pathways in a human urothelial cell line (UROtsa) after short-term exposure to iAsIII, MMAIII and DMAIII. Molecular pathways containing genes that encode proteins implicated in UB cancer development were perturbed by both MMAIII and DMAIII. These pathways included those of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK 1/2 MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB). Together, these results may inform the current understanding of effects in the UB induced by acute As exposure and the relationship of these effects with As-mediated carcinogenesis.