| 1. |
- Attoff, Kristina, 1985-, et al.
(author)
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Acrylamide alters CREB and retinoic acid signaling pathways during differentiation of the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Acrylamide is a known neurotoxic compound that we get exposed to through food and through the environment. It can cross the placental barrier as well as the blood-brain barrier resulting in exposure of the fetus and the infant child. We used the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y to study the effects of non-cytotoxic acrylamide exposure during 9 days of differentiation on two differentially important signaling pathways, i.e. the retinoic acid receptor (RAR) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signaling in neurons. Our results showed that exposure of non-cytotoxic concentrations of acrylamide during 9 days of differentiation induced altered expression of multiple genes that are part of the CREB and RAR activation pathways, e.g. cellular retinoic acid binding protein 1, retinol binding protein 7, CREB5 and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2. Other well-established neuronal markers such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, syntaxin binding protein 2, transforming growth factor beta 1, the dopaminergic markers monoamine oxidase A and dopamine receptor D2 as wells as the cholinergic marker choline O-acetyltransferase were also significantly altered by acrylamide. Our results reveal that acrylamide interferes with crucial pathways involved in neuronal differentiation in vitro and raise concerns over the potential toxic outcomes in humans.
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| 2. |
- Attoff, Kristina, et al.
(author)
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Acrylamide alters CREB and retinoic acid signalling pathways during differentiation of the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line
- 2020
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2045-2322. ; 10:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Acrylamide (ACR) is a known neurotoxicant which crosses the blood-brain barrier, passes the placenta and has been detected in breast milk. Hence, early-life exposure to ACR could lead to developmental neurotoxicity. The aim of this study was to elucidate if non-cytotoxic concentrations of ACR alter neuronal differentiation by studying gene expression of markers significant for neurodevelopment in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell model. Firstly, by using RNASeq we identified two relevant pathways that are activated during 9 days of retinoic acid (RA) induced differentiation i.e. RA receptor (RAR) activation and the cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) signalling pathways. Next, by qPCR we showed that 1 and 70 mu M ACR after 9 days exposure alter the expression of 13 out of 36 genes in the RAR activation pathway and 18 out of 47 in the CREB signalling pathway. Furthermore, the expression of established neuronal markers i.e. BDNF, STXBP2, STX3, TGFB1 and CHAT were down-regulated. Decreased protein expression of BDNF and altered ratio of phosphorylated CREB to total CREB were confirmed by western blot. Our results reveal that micromolar concentrations of ACR sustain proliferation, decrease neurite outgrowth and interfere with signalling pathways involved in neuronal differentiation in the SH-SY5Y cell model.
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| 3. |
- Cediel Ulloa, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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Epigenetics of methylmercury
- 2023
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In: Neurotoxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0161-813X .- 1872-9711. ; 97, s. 34-46
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Purpose of review: Methylmercury (MeHg) is neurotoxic at high levels and particularly affects the developing brain. One proposed mechanism of MeHg neurotoxicity is alteration of the epigenetic programming. In this review, we summarise the experimental and epidemiological literature on MeHg-associated epigenetic changes.Recent findings: Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified changes in DNA methylation following in utero exposure to MeHg, and some of the changes appear to be persistent. A few studies have evaluated associations between MeHg-related changes in DNA methylation and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Experimental studies reveal changes in histone modifications after MeHg exposure, but we lack epidemiological studies supporting such changes in humans. Experimental and epidemiological studies have identified microRNA-related changes associated with MeHg; however, more research is needed to conclude if these changes lead to persistent and toxic effects.Summary: MeHg appears to interfere with epigenetic processes, potentially leading to persistent changes. However, observed associations of mercury with epigenetic changes are as of yet of unknown relevance to neurodevelopmental outcomes.
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| 4. |
- Cediel Ulloa, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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Impact of endocrine disrupting chemicals on neurodevelopment : the need for better testing strategies for endocrine disruption-induced developmental neurotoxicity
- 2022
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In: Expert Review of Endocrinology & Metabolism. - : Taylor & Francis. - 1744-6651 .- 1744-8417. ; 17:2, s. 131-141
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: Brain development is highly dependent on hormonal regulation. Exposure to chemicals disrupting endocrine signaling has been associated with neurodevelopmental impairment. This raises concern about exposure to the suspected thousands of endocrine disruptors, and has resulted in efforts to improve regulation of these chemicals. Yet, the causal links between endocrine disruption and developmental neurotoxicity, which would be required for regulatory action, are still largely missing. Areas covered: In this review, we illustrate the importance of two endocrine systems, thyroid hormone and retinoic acid pathways, for neurodevelopment. We place special emphasis on TH and RA synthesis, metabolism, and how endocrine disrupting chemicals known or suspected to affect these systems are associated with developmental neurotoxicity. Expert opinion: While it is clear that neurodevelopment is dependent on proper hormonal functioning, and evidence is increasing for developmental neurotoxicity induced by endocrine disrupting chemicals, this is not grasped by current chemical testing. Thus, there is an urgent need to develop test methods detecting endocrine disruption in the context of neurodevelopment. Key to this development is further mechanistic insights on the involvement of endocrine signaling in neurodevelopment as well as increased support to develop and validate new test methods for the regulatory context.
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| 5. |
- Cediel Ulloa, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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Methylmercury-induced DNA methylation—From epidemiological observations to experimental evidence
- 2022
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In: Frontiers in Genetics. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1664-8021. ; 13
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Methylmercury (MeHg) is a developmental neurotoxicant, and one potential mechanism of MeHg toxicity is epigenetic dysregulation. In a recent meta-analysis of epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS), associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and DNA methylation at several genomic sites were identified in blood from newborns and children. While EWASs reveal human-relevant associations, experimental studies are required to validate the relationship between exposure and DNA methylation changes, and to assess if such changes have implications for gene expression. Herein, we studied DNA methylation and gene expression of five of the top genes identified in the EWAS meta-analysis, MED31, MRPL19, GGH, GRK1, and LYSMD3, upon MeHg exposure in human SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 8 or 40 nM of MeHg during differentiation, using bisulfite-pyrosequencing and qPCR, respectively. The concentrations were selected to cover the range of MeHg concentrations in cord blood (2–8.5 μg/L) observed in the cohorts included in the EWAS. Exposure to MeHg increased DNA methylation at MED31, a transcriptional regulator essential for fetal development. The results were in concordance with the epidemiological findings where more MED31 methylation was associated with higher concentrations of MeHg. Additionally, we found a non-significant decrease in DNA methylation at GGH, which corresponds to the direction of change observed in the EWAS, and a significant correlation of GGH methylation with its expression. In conclusion, this study corroborates some of the EWAS findings and puts forward candidate genes involved in MeHg’s effects on the developing brain, thus highlighting the value of experimental validation of epidemiological association studies.
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| 6. |
- Cediel-Ulloa, Andrea, 1989-
(author)
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Novel Endpoints To Unravel Developmental Neurotoxicity : From DNA methylation responses to methylmercury to the in vitro identification of endocrine disruptors
- 2024
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The developing brain is especially sensitive to environmental stressors due to its dependence on the precise spatiotemporal regulation of multiple signals, and the long time period required for its formation. Some chemicals can interfere with molecular and cellular processes driving brain development, including epigenetic processes such as DNA methylation. Hence, identification of DNA methylation changes induced by chemical exposure may serve as early molecular markers for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Chemicals known as endocrine disruptors (EDCs) can produce adverse effects due to their capability to alter the endocrine system. Since brain development is highly dependent on endocrine signals, the potential adverse effects of EDCs on brain development needs to be addressed. Detection of DNT in the regulatory context has been based on in vivo testing, however, the financial costs and time intensive characteristics of these methods have resulted in a limited assessment of the DNT hazard of chemicals. In addition, in order to regulate EDCs, it is paramount to demonstrate that their adverse effects are a product of disruption of endocrine signals. Yet, at the moment, there are no approved methods which address both an endocrine mode of action and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. This doctoral thesis had two main aims: Firstly, to identify epigenetic changes, at the level of DNA methylation, underlying DNT induced by exposure to methylmercury (MeHg); and secondly, to develop new approach methods (NAMs) for the detection of DNT induced by endocrine disruption. Epigenetic effects were studied both in epidemiological data and experimentally in vitro. Associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and DNA methylation of GRIN2B and NR3C1 were found in children. In vitro validation of DNA methylation changes found in epigenome-wide association studies of populations exposed to MeHg, uncovered the potential involvement of the Mediator Complex Subunit 31 (MED31) in MeHg DNT. To contribute to the endocrine disruption (ED)-induced DNT field, the applicability of an in vitro model composed of murine neural progenitor cells (the C17.2 cell-line) was evaluated. We found that C17.2 neural differentiation and morphology were sensitive to retinoic acid (RAR), retinoic X (RXR), peroxisome proliferator-activated β/δ (PPARβ/δ), and glucocorticoid (GR) agonism. Furthermore, two out of 25 tested EDCs decreased neurite outgrowth and branching in the C17.2 system. These effects were recovered by co-exposure of the chemicals with antagonists of RAR, RXR, or PPARβ/δ, indicating that their DNT effect is mediated by hormonal disruption. Altogether, this thesis contributed to the development of new methodologies and endpoints for the assessment of DNT induced by MeHg and EDCs.
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| 7. |
- Cediel Ulloa, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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Prenatal methylmercury exposure and DNA methylation in seven-year-old children in the Seychelles Child Development Study
- 2021
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 147
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundMethylmercury (MeHg) is present in fish and is a neurotoxicant at sufficiently high levels. One potential mechanism of MeHg toxicity early in life is epigenetic dysregulation that may affect long-term neurodevelopment. Altered DNA methylation of nervous system-related genes has been associated with adult mental health outcomes.ObjectiveTo assess associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and DNA methylation (at the cytosine of CG dinucleotides, CpGs) in three nervous system-related genes, encoding brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF), glutamate receptor subunit NR2B (GRIN2B), and the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1), in children who were exposed to MeHg in utero.MethodsWe tested 406 seven-year-old Seychellois children participating in the Seychelles Child Development Study (Nutrition Cohort 2), who were prenatally exposed to MeHg from maternal fish consumption. Total mercury in maternal hair (prenatal MeHg exposure measure) collected during pregnancy was measured using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Methylation in DNA from the children’s saliva was measured by pyrosequencing. To assess associations between prenatal MeHg exposure and CpG methylation at seven years of age, we used multivariable linear regression models adjusted for covariates.ResultsWe identified associations with prenatal MeHg exposure for DNA methylation of one GRIN2B CpG and two NR3C1 CpGs out of 12 total CpG sites. Higher prenatal MeHg was associated with higher methylation for each CpG site. For example, NR3C1 CpG3 had an expected increase of 0.03-fold for each additional 1 ppm of prenatal MeHg (B = 0.030, 95% CI 0.001, 0.059; p = 0.047). Several CpG sites associated with MeHg are located in transcription factor binding sites and the observed methylation changes are predicted to lead to lower gene expression.ConclusionsIn a population of people who consume large amounts of fish, we showed that higher prenatal MeHg exposure was associated with differential DNA methylation at seven years of age at specific CpG sites that may influence neurodevelopment and mental health.
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| 8. |
- Cediel-Ulloa, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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The C17.2 cell line as testing system for endocrine disruption-induced developmental neurotoxicity
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Hormone signaling plays an essential role during fetal life and is vital for brain development. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can interfere with the hormonal milieu in this critical time period, disrupting key neurodevelopmental processes. Hence, there is a need for the development of assays that evaluate developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) induced by an endocrine mode of action. Herein, we evaluated the applicability of the neural progenitor C17. 2 cell-line, as an in vitro test method to aid in the detection of endocrine disruption induced DNT. For this, C17.2 cells were exposed during 10 days of differentiation to (ant)agonists of the thyroid hormone (Thr), glucocorticoid (Gr), retinoic acid (Rar), retinoic x (Rxr), oxysterols (Lxr), estrogen (Er), androgen (Ar), and peroxisome proliferator activated delta (Ppard) receptors, as well as to the agonist of the vitamin D (Vdr) receptor. Upon exposure and differentiation, the cells were incubated with Hoechst (nuclear staining) and subsequently stained for βIII-tubulin (neuronal marker) by immunofluorescence. Automated imaging was carried out with a 10X objective lens using an ImageXpress micro xls system (Molecular Devices) and image analysis was performed with MetaXpress® software (Molecular Devices). The C17.2 cells were responsive to the Rar and Rxr agonists which decreased neurite outgrowth, branching and neuronal differentiation as well as to the Rar antagonist which increased neurite outgrowth and branching. With this approach, we have identified that the C17.2 cells are responsive to Gr, Rar, Rxr, and Pparβ/δ, hence contributing to the development of reliable and transferable test methods for hazard assessment of EDCs.
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| 9. |
- Cediel-Ulloa, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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The pesticides endosulfan and cypermethrin affect neuronal differentiation via retinoic and peroxisome proliferator receptor activity
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Other publication (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Brain development is highly dependent on hormonal homeostasis, hence developmental exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is of high concern. In fact, epidemiological and in vivo studies support associations between exposure to EDCs and impaired neurodevelopment. However, the existing hazard assessment of EDCs does not consider developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) prompting an urgent requirement for innovative testing and screening tools addressing endocrine disruption (ED)-induced DNT. We have previously shown the applicability of the immortalized murine neural progenitor cells, C17.2 cells, for addressing ED-DNT. We evidenced decreased neurite outgrowth and branching when the cells were exposed to the Rar, Rxr or Pparβ/δ agonists, and concluded that this is a suitable model for the evaluation of ED-induced DNT for chemicals disrupting Rar, Rxr or Pparβ/δ signalling. In this study we further validated the C17.2 method by testing the effects of 25 EDCs on the same neuronal morphology endpoints as reported in the previous paper. Out of the tested chemicals, endosulfan and cypermethrin decreased, while benzyl butyl phthalate (BBzP) increased neurite outgrowth and branching. We proceeded to evaluate whether these effects were mediated by Rar, Rxr or Ppar β/δ agonism. The neuronal morphology effects of endosulfan and cypermethrin were rescued by co-exposures Rar and Rxr antagonists, and partially rescued by the Ppar β/δ antagonist indicating a common mechanism. With this approach, we have identified that the C17.2 cells can be used as an in vitro model to address ED-induced DNT.
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| 10. |
- Cediel Ulloa, Andrea, et al.
(author)
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Toxicity of stainless and mild steel particles generated from gas-metal arc welding in primary human small airway epithelial cells
- 2021
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In: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Welding fumes induce lung toxicity and are carcinogenic to humans but the molecular mechanisms have yet to be clarified. The aim of this study was to evaluate the toxicity of stainless and mild steel particles generated via gas-metal arc welding using primary human small airway epithelial cells (hSAEC) and ToxTracker reporter murine stem cells, which track activation of six cancer-related pathways. Metal content (Fe, Mn, Ni, Cr) of the particles was relatively homogenous across particle size. The particles were not cytotoxic in reporter stem cells but stainless steel particles activated the Nrf2-dependent oxidative stress pathway. In hSAEC, both particle types induced time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity, and stainless steel particles also increased generation of reactive oxygen species. The cellular metal content was higher for hSAEC compared to the reporter stem cells exposed to the same nominal dose. This was, in part, related to differences in particle agglomeration/sedimentation in the different cell media. Overall, our study showed differences in cytotoxicity and activation of cancer-related pathways between stainless and mild steel welding particles. Moreover, our data emphasizes the need for careful assessment of the cellular dose when comparing studies using different in vitro models.
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