Rebecca A. Clewell

A map of the PPARα transcription regulatory network for primary human hepatocytes.

Nuclear receptor activation in liver leads to coordinated alteration of the expression of multiple gene products with attendant phenotypic changes of hepatocytes. Peroxisome proliferators including endogenous fatty acids, environmental chemicals, and drugs induce a multi-enzyme metabolic response that affects lipid and fatty acid processing. We studied the signaling network for the peroxisome proliferator-associated receptor alpha (PPARα) in primary human hepatocytes using the selective PPARα ligand, GW7647. We measured gene expression over multiple concentrations and times and conducted ChIP-seq studies at 2 and 24h to assess genomic binding of PPARα. Over all treatments there were 192 genes differentially expressed. Of these only 51% showed evidence of PPARα binding-either directly at PPARα response elements or via alternative mechanisms. Almost half of regulated genes had no PPARα binding. We then developed two novel bioinformatics methods to visualize the dose-dependent activation of both the transcription factor circuitry for PPARα and the downstream metabolic network in relation to functional annotation categories. Available databases identified several key transcription factors involved with the non-genomic targets after GW7647 treatment, including SP1, STAT1, ETS1, ERα, and HNF4α. The linkage from PPARα binding through gene expression likely requires intermediate protein kinases to activate these transcription factors. We found enrichment of functional annotation categories for organic acid metabolism and cell lipid metabolism among the differentially expressed genes. Lipid transport processes showed enrichment at the highest concentration of GW7647 (10 μM). While our strategy for mapping transcriptional networks is evolving, these approaches are necessary in moving from toxicogenomic methods that derive signatures of activity to methods that establish pathway structure, showing the coordination of the activated nuclear receptor with other signaling pathways.

Perchlorate and Radioiodide Kinetics Across Life Stages in the Human: Using PBPK Models to Predict Dosimetry and Thyroid Inhibition and Sensitive Subpopulations Based on Developmental Stage

Perchlorate (ClO4 − ) is a drinking-water contaminant, known to disrupt thyroid hormone homeostasis in rats. This effect has only been seen in humans at high doses, yet the potential for long term effects from developmental endocrine disruption emphasizes the need for improved understanding of perchlorate’s effect during the perinatal period. Physiologically based pharmacokinetic/dynamic (PBPK/PD) models for ClO4 − and its effect on thyroid iodide uptake were constructed for human gestation and lactation data. Chemical specific parameters were estimated from life-stage and species-specific relationships established in previously published models for various life-stages in the rat and nonpregnant adult human. With the appropriate physiological descriptions, these kinetic models successfully simulate radioiodide data culled from the literature for gestation and lactation, as well as ClO4 − data from populations exposed to contaminated drinking water. These models provide a framework for extrapolating from chemical exposure in laboratory animals to human response, and support a more quantitative understanding of life-stage-specific susceptibility to ClO4 −. The pregnant and lactating woman, fetus, and nursing infant were predicted to have higher blood ClO4 − concentrations and greater thyroid iodide uptake inhibition at a given drinking-water concentration than either the nonpregnant adult or the older child. The fetus is predicted to receive the greatest dose (per kilogram body weight) due to several factors, including placental sodium-iodide symporter (NIS) activity and reduced maternal urinary clearance of ClO4 −. The predicted extent of iodide inhibition in the most sensitive population (fetus) is not significant (∼1%) at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reference dose (0.0007 mg/kg-d).

In vitro metabolism of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by various tissues and cytochrome P450s of human and rat

In vitro metabolism of DEHP by subcellular fractions of human brain, intestine, kidney, liver, lung, skin, testis, rat liver and recombinant CYP isoforms of human and rat was investigated using LC-MS/MS. DEHP was rapidly hydrolyzed to mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in 12 microsomal/cytosolic fractions of selected 7 human organs and rat liver but not in microsomal fractions of human brain and human female skin. MEHP was metabolized to CYP-mediated oxidative and dealkylated metabolites in human and rat liver and at a lower rate in human intestine. Measurable amounts of mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (5-OH MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (5-Oxo MEHP), mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (5-carboxy MEPP), mono(2-carboxymethyl-hexyl) phthalate (2-carboxy MMHP) and phthalic acid (PA) were formed by human liver fractions. Human CYP2C9(∗)1, CYP2C19 and rat CYP2C6 were the major CYP isoforms producing 5-OH MEHP and 5-Oxo MEHP metabolites; however, only human CYP2C9(∗)1 and 2C9(∗)2 produced 5-carboxy MEPP from MEHP. Additionally, human CYP3A4 and rat CYP3A2 were the primary enzymes for PA production via heteroatom dealkylation of MEHP. Percent total normalized rates (%TNR) by CYP2C9(∗)1 in human liver microsomes (HLM) were 94%, 98% and 100%, respectively, for 5-OH MEHP, 5-Oxo MEHP, 5-carboxy MEPP, and 76% for PA production by CYP3A4.

Profiling Dose-Dependent Activation of p53-Mediated Signaling Pathways by Chemicals with Distinct Mechanisms of DNA Damage

As part of a larger effort to provide proof-of-concept in vitro-only risk assessments, we have developed a suite of high-throughput assays for key readouts in the p53 DNA damage response toxicity pathway: double-strand break DNA damage (p-H2AX), permanent chromosomal damage (micronuclei), p53 activation, p53 transcriptional activity, and cell fate (cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, micronuclei). Dose-response studies were performed with these protein and cell fate assays, together with whole genome transcriptomics, for three prototype chemicals: etoposide, quercetin, and methyl methanesulfonate. Data were collected in a human cell line expressing wild-type p53 (HT1080) and results were confirmed in a second p53 competent cell line (HCT 116). At chemical concentrations causing similar increases in p53 protein expression, p53-mediated protein expression and cellular processes showed substantial chemical-specific differences. These chemical-specific differences in the p53 transcriptional response appear to be determined by augmentation of the p53 response by co-regulators. More importantly, dose-response data for each of the chemicals indicate that the p53 transcriptional response does not prevent micronuclei induction at low concentrations. In fact, the no observed effect levels and benchmark doses for micronuclei induction were less than or equal to those for p53-mediated gene transcription regardless of the test chemical, indicating that p53s post-translational responses may be more important than transcriptional activation in the response to low dose DNA damage. This effort demonstrates the process of defining key assays required for a pathway-based, in vitro-only risk assessment, using the p53-mediated DNA damage response pathway as a prototype.

Assessing dose-dependent differences in DNA-damage, p53 response and genotoxicity for quercetin and curcumin

As part of a longer-term goal to create a quantitative mechanistic model of the p53-Mdm2 DNA-damage pathway, we are studying cellular responses to compounds causing DNA-damage by various modes-of action, including two natural polyphenols: quercetin (QUE) and curcumin (CUR). QUE and CUR are weak mutagens in some in vitro assays and possess both anti- or pro-oxidant effects depending on dose. This study examines the dose-response of DNA-damage pathway to these compounds in HT1080 cells (a human cell line with wild-type p53) at doses relevant to human exposure. CUR was more potent in causing reactive oxygen species, DNA damage (measured as phospho-H2AX) and p53 induction, with lowest observed effect levels (LOELs; 3-8 μM) approximately three-fold lower than QUE (20-30 μM). CUR showed a strong G2/M arrest and apoptosis at ≈ 10 μM. QUE caused S phase arrest at low doses (8 μM) and apoptosis was only induced at much higher doses (60 μM). At concentrations with similar levels of p-H2AX and p53 biomarkers, CUR caused greater micronuclei frequency. CUR induced clear increases micronuclei at 3-6 μM, while QUE had a weaker micronuclei response even at the highest doses. Thus, even with two compounds sharing common chemistries, DNA-damage response patterns differed significantly in terms of dose and cell fate.

Suppression of NRF2–ARE activity sensitizes chemotherapeutic agent-induced cytotoxicity in human acute monocytic leukemia cells

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), a master regulator of the antioxidant response element (ARE)-dependent transcription, plays a pivotal role in chemical detoxification in normal and tumor cells. Consistent with previous findings that NRF2-ARE contributes to chemotherapeutic resistance of cancer cells, we found that stable knockdown of NRF2 by lentiviral shRNA in human acute monocytic leukemia (AML) THP-1 cells enhanced the cytotoxicity of several chemotherapeutic agents, including arsenic trioxide (As2O3), etoposide and doxorubicin. Using an ARE-luciferase reporter expressed in several human and mouse cells, we identified a set of compounds, including isonicotinic acid amides, isoniazid and ethionamide, that inhibited NRF2-ARE activity. Treatment of THP-1 cells with ethionamide, for instance, significantly reduced mRNA expression of multiple ARE-driven genes under either basal or As2O3-challenged conditions. As determined by cell viability and cell cycle, suppression of NRF2-ARE by ethionamide also significantly enhanced susceptibility of THP-1 and U937 cells to As2O3-induced cytotoxicity. In THP-1 cells, the sensitizing effect of ethionamide on As2O3-induced cytotoxicity was highly dependent on NRF2. To our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that ethionamide suppresses NRF2-ARE signaling and disrupts the transcriptional network of the antioxidant response in AML cells, leading to sensitization to chemotherapeutic agents.

Adaptive Posttranslational Control in Cellular Stress Response Pathways and Its Relationship to Toxicity Testing and Safety Assessment

Although transcriptional induction of stress genes constitutes a major cellular defense program against a variety of stressors, posttranslational control directly regulating the activities of preexisting stress proteins provides a faster-acting alternative response. We propose that posttranslational control is a general adaptive mechanism operating in many stress pathways. Here with the aid of computational models, we first show that posttranslational control fulfills two roles: (1) handling small, transient stresses quickly and (2) stabilizing the negative feedback transcriptional network. We then review the posttranslational control pathways for major stress responses-oxidative stress, metal stress, hyperosmotic stress, DNA damage, heat shock, and hypoxia. Posttranslational regulation of stress protein activities occurs by reversible covalent modifications, allosteric or non-allosteric enzymatic regulations, and physically induced protein structural changes. Acting in feedback or feedforward networks, posttranslational control may establish a threshold level of cellular stress. Sub-threshold stresses are handled adequately by posttranslational control without invoking gene transcription. With supra-threshold stress levels, cellular homeostasis cannot be maintained and transcriptional induction of stress genes and other gene programs, eg, those regulating cell metabolism, proliferation, and apoptosis, takes place. The loss of homeostasis with consequent changes in cellular function may lead to adverse cellular outcomes. Overall, posttranslational and transcriptional control pathways constitute a stratified cellular defense system, handling stresses coherently across time and intensity. As cell-based assays become a focus for chemical testing anchored on toxicity pathways, examination of proteomic and metabolomic changes as a result of posttranslational control occurring in the absence of transcriptomic alterations deserves more attention.

Disposition of diiosononyl phthalate and its effects on sexual development of the male fetus following repeated dosing in pregnant rats.

Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats received 50, 250, and 500 mg/kg/day diisononyl phthalate (DiNP) from GD 12 to 19 via corn oil gavage to study the dose response for effects on fetal male rat sexual development as well as metabolite disposition in the dam and fetus. Monoisononyl phthalate (MiNP), mono(carboxy-isooctyl) phthalate (MCiOP), mono(hydroxyl-isononyl) phthalate (MHiNP), mono(oxo-isononyl) phthalate (MOiNP), and monoisononyl phthalate glucuronide (MiNP-G) were found in all measured tissues. MCiOP was the major metabolite, followed in decreasing order by MiNP, MHiNP, MOiNP, and MiNP-G. Percentage of dose absorbed decreased at 750 mg/kg/day. Testosterone concentration in the fetal testes was reduced at 250 and 750 mg/kg/day. Multinucleated germ cells were increased in the testes of rats at 250 and 750 mg/kg/day. The no observed effect level (NOEL) for this study was 50 mg/kg/day based on increased MNGs and reduced testes testosterone concentration in the fetal rat.

Contributions of DNA repair and damage response pathways to the non-linear genotoxic responses of alkylating agents.

From a risk assessment perspective, DNA-reactive agents are conventionally assumed to have genotoxic risks at all exposure levels, thus applying a linear extrapolation for low-dose responses. New approaches discussed here, including more diverse and sensitive methods for assessing DNA damage and DNA repair, strongly support the existence of measurable regions where genotoxic responses with increasing doses are insignificant relative to control. Model monofunctional alkylating agents have in vitro and in vivo datasets amenable to determination of points of departure (PoDs) for genotoxic effects. A session at the 2013 Society of Toxicology meeting provided an opportunity to survey the progress in understanding the biological basis of empirically-observed PoDs for DNA alkylating agents. Together with the literature published since, this review discusses cellular pathways activated by endogenous and exogenous alkylation DNA damage. Cells have evolved conserved processes that monitor and counteract a spontaneous steady-state level of DNA damage. The ubiquitous network of DNA repair pathways serves as the first line of defense for clearing of the DNA damage and preventing mutation. Other biological pathways discussed here that are activated by genotoxic stress include post-translational activation of cell cycle networks and transcriptional networks for apoptosis/cell death. The interactions of various DNA repair and DNA damage response pathways provide biological bases for the observed PoD behaviors seen with genotoxic compounds. Thus, after formation of DNA adducts, the activation of cellular pathways can lead to the avoidance of a mutagenic outcome. The understanding of the cellular mechanisms acting within the low-dose region will serve to better characterize risks from exposures to DNA-reactive agents at environmentally-relevant concentrations.

Use of mode of action data to inform a dose-response assessment for bladder cancer following exposure to inorganic arsenic.

In the recent National Research Council report on conducting a dose-response assessment for inorganic arsenic, the committee remarked that mode of action data should be used, to the extent possible, to extrapolate below the observed range for epidemiological studies to inform the shape of the dose-response curve. Recent in vitro mode of action studies focused on understanding the development of bladder cancer following exposure to inorganic arsenic provide data to inform the dose-response curve. These in vitro data, combined with results of bladder cancer epidemiology studies, inform the dose-response curve in the low-dose region, and include values for both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability. Integration of these data provides evidence of a range of concentrations of arsenic for which no effect on the bladder would be expected. Specifically, integration of these results suggest that arsenic exposures in the range of 7-43 ppb in drinking water are exceedingly unlikely to elicit changes leading to key events in the development of cancer or noncancer effects in bladder tissue. These findings are consistent with the lack of evidence for bladder cancer following chronic ingestion of arsenic water concentrations <100 ppb in epidemiological studies.