| 1. |
- Bengtsson, Johanna, 1985-
(author)
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The impact of cytochrome P4501-inhibitors on aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling
- 2016
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) best known as a ligand-activated transcription factor that mediates toxic responses to xenobiotics such as dioxins, is also activated by certain endogenous compounds. Activation of the AHR up-regulates transcription of a large number of genes, including those encoding members of the cytochrome P450 1 family of enzymes (CYP1s). Although the AHR has been shown to be involved in several normal processes, its physiological role remains elusive. The endogenous ligand 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), formed from tryptophan, is present in cell culture media and biological specimens. FICZ is an excellent substrate for CYP1 enzymes and together FICZ/AHR/CYP1A1 interactions constitute an auto regulatory feedback loop that controls AHR signaling. A vast number of compounds that inhibit CYP1 enzymes have been reported to be AHR activators, even though they have little or no affinity for the receptor. We hypothesized, that their agonistic effects are dependent on the presence of background levels of FICZ. To test this, AHR signaling in different cell systems exposed to FICZ and/or inhibitors was assessed by measuring EROD activity and CYP1A1 transcription. In addition to a commercial culture medium, a medium free of background levels of FICZ was used. Activation of AHR by of a diverse set of CYP1A1 inhibitors did require FICZ in the culture medium. Furthermore, the compounds tested both prolonged and potentiated FICZ-induced receptor signaling. On the basis of these observations we propose that a compound may activate AHR signaling indirectly by inhibiting CYP1A1 and thereby attenuating the metabolism of FICZ. This mechanism was confirmed for certain polyphenols and pharmaceuticals. Surprisingly, the activating capacity and potentiating effect of two pharmaceuticals on AHR signaling could not be explained by the mechanism proposed, and we speculated that in these cases the agonistic effect might involve interactions of the cellular antioxidant response with the basic transcription machinery. Together, our observations provide a mechanistic explanation as to how compounds that inhibit CYP1A1 can activate AHR signaling. They also indicate that the general perception of the binding pocket of AHR as promiscuous, is probably wrong. The fact that indirect activation of AHR may cause sustained signaling requires further studies in vivo not least, in order to prevent toxicity.
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| 2. |
- Lindstrand, Anna, et al.
(author)
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From cytogenetics to cytogenomics : whole-genome sequencing as a first-line test comprehensively captures the diverse spectrum of disease-causing genetic variation underlying intellectual disability
- 2019
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In: Genome Medicine. - : BMC. - 1756-994X. ; 11:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundSince different types of genetic variants, from single nucleotide variants (SNVs) to large chromosomal rearrangements, underlie intellectual disability, we evaluated the use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) rather than chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) as a first-line genetic diagnostic test.MethodsWe analyzed three cohorts with short-read WGS: (i) a retrospective cohort with validated copy number variants (CNVs) (cohort 1, n=68), (ii) individuals referred for monogenic multi-gene panels (cohort 2, n=156), and (iii) 100 prospective, consecutive cases referred to our center for CMA (cohort 3). Bioinformatic tools developed include FindSV, SVDB, Rhocall, Rhoviz, and vcf2cytosure.ResultsFirst, we validated our structural variant (SV)-calling pipeline on cohort 1, consisting of three trisomies and 79 deletions and duplications with a median size of 850kb (min 500bp, max 155Mb). All variants were detected. Second, we utilized the same pipeline in cohort 2 and analyzed with monogenic WGS panels, increasing the diagnostic yield to 8%. Next, cohort 3 was analyzed by both CMA and WGS. The WGS data was processed for large (>10kb) SVs genome-wide and for exonic SVs and SNVs in a panel of 887 genes linked to intellectual disability as well as genes matched to patient-specific Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) phenotypes. This yielded a total of 25 pathogenic variants (SNVs or SVs), of which 12 were detected by CMA as well. We also applied short tandem repeat (STR) expansion detection and discovered one pathologic expansion in ATXN7. Finally, a case of Prader-Willi syndrome with uniparental disomy (UPD) was validated in the WGS data.Important positional information was obtained in all cohorts. Remarkably, 7% of the analyzed cases harbored complex structural variants, as exemplified by a ring chromosome and two duplications found to be an insertional translocation and part of a cryptic unbalanced translocation, respectively.ConclusionThe overall diagnostic rate of 27% was more than doubled compared to clinical microarray (12%). Using WGS, we detected a wide range of SVs with high accuracy. Since the WGS data also allowed for analysis of SNVs, UPD, and STRs, it represents a powerful comprehensive genetic test in a clinical diagnostic laboratory setting.
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| 3. |
- Smirnova, Anna, et al.
(author)
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Evidence for New Light-Independent Pathways for Generation of the Endogenous Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Agonist FICZ
- 2016
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In: Chemical Research in Toxicology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0893-228X .- 1520-5010. ; 29:1, s. 75-86
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a conserved transcription factor best known as a target for highly toxic halogenated substances such as dioxin, under normal xenobiotic-free conditions is of considerable scientific interest. We have demonstrated previously that a photoproduct of tryptophan, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), fulfills the criteria for an endogenous ligand for this receptor and proposed that this compound is the enigmatic mediator of the physiological functions of AhR. Here, we describe novel light-independent pathways by which FICZ can be formed. The oxidant H2O2 was shown to convert tryptophan to FICZ on its own in the absence of light. The enzymatic deamination of tryptamine yielded indole-3-acetaldehyde (I3A), which then rearranged to FICZ and its oxidation product, indolo[3,2-b]carbazole-6-carboxylic acid (CICZ). Indole-3-pyruvate (I3P) also produced I3A, FICZ, and CICZ. Malassezia yeast species, which constitute a part of the normal skin microbiota, produce a number of AhR activators from tryptophan. We identified both FICZ and CICZ among those products. Formation of FICZ from tryptophan or I3P produces a complex mixture of indole derivatives, some of which are CYP1A1 inhibitors. These can hinder the cellular clearance of FICZ and thereby increase its power as an AhR agonist. We present a general molecular mechanism involving dehydrogenations and oxidative coupling for the formation of FICZ in which I3A is the important precursor. In conclusion, our results suggest that FICZ is likely to be formed systemically.
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| 4. |
- Wincent, Emma, et al.
(author)
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Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Activation and Developmental Toxicity in Zebrafish in Response to Soil Extracts Containing Unsubstituted and Oxygenated PAHs
- 2015
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In: Environmental Science and Technology. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 0013-936X .- 1520-5851. ; 49:6, s. 3869-3877
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Many industrial sites are polluted by complex mixtures of polycydic aromatic compounds (PACs). Besides polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), these mixtures often contain significant amounts of more polar PACs including oxygenated PAHs (oxy-PAHs). The effects of oxy-PAHs are, however, poorly known. Here we used zebrafish embryos to examine toxicities and transcriptional changes induced by PAC containing soil extracts from three different industrial sites: a gasworks (GAS), a former wood preservation site (WOOD), and a coke oven (COKE), and to PAR and oxy-PAH containing fractions of these. All extracts induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr)-regulated mRNAs, malformations, and mortality. The WOOD extract was most toxic and the GAS extract least toxic. The extracts induced glutathione transferases and heat shock protein 70, suggesting that the toxicity also involved oxidative stress. With all extracts, Ahr2-knock-down reduced the toxicity, indicating a significant Ahr2-dependence on the effects. Ahr2-knock-down was most effective with the PAH fraction of the WOOD extract and with the oxy-PAH fraction of the COKE extract. Our results indicate that oxy-PAH containing mixtures can be as potent Ahr activators and developmental toxicants as PAHs. In addition to Ahr activating potency, the profile of cytochrome P4501 inhibitors may also determine the toxic potency of the extracts.
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| 5. |
- Wincent, Emma, et al.
(author)
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Biological effects of 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) in vivo are enhanced by loss of CYP1A function in an Ahr2-dependent manner
- 2016
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In: Biochemical Pharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0006-2952 .- 1356-1839 .- 1873-2968. ; 110, s. 117-129
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) is a potent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) agonist that is efficiently metabolized by AHR-regulated cytochrome P4501 enzymes. FICZ is a proposed physiological AHR ligand that induces its own degradation as part of a regulatory negative feedback loop. In vitro studies in cells show that CYP1 inhibition in the presence of FICZ results in enhanced AHR activation, suggesting that FICZ accumulates in the cell when its metabolism is blocked. We used zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos to investigate the in vivo effects of FICZ when CYP1A is knocked down or inhibited. Embryos were injected with morpholino antisense oligonucleotides targeting CYP1A (CYP1A-MO), Ahr2, or a combination of both. FICZ exposure of non-injected embryos or embryos injected with control morpholino had little effect. In CYP1A-MO-injected embryos, however, FICZ dramatically increased mortality, incidence and severity of pericardial edema and circulation failure, reduced hatching frequency, blocked swim bladder inflation, and strongly potentiated expression of Ahr2-regulated genes. These effects were substantially reduced in embryos with a combined knockdown of Ahr2 and CYP1A, indicating that the toxicity was mediated at least partly by Ahr2. Co-exposure to the CYP1 inhibitor alpha-naphthoflavone (αNF) and FICZ had similar effects as the combination of CYP1A-MO and FICZ. HPLC analysis of FICZ-exposed embryos showed increased levels of FICZ after concomitant CYP1A-MO injection or αNF co-exposure. Together, these results show that a functioning CYP1/AHR feedback loop is crucial for regulation of AHR signaling by a potential physiological ligand in vivo and further highlights the role of CYP1 enzymes in regulating biological effects of FICZ.
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| 6. |
- Wincent, Emma, et al.
(author)
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Combination effects of AHR agonists and Wnt/beta-catenin modulators in zebrafish embryos : Implications for physiological and toxicological AHR functions
- 2015
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In: Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0041-008X .- 1096-0333. ; 284:2, s. 163-179
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Wnt/beta-catenin signaling regulates essential biological functions and acts in developmental toxicity of some chemicals. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is well-known to mediate developmental toxicity of persistent dioxin-like compounds (DLCs). Recent studies indicate a crosstalk between beta-catenin and the AHR in some tissues. However the nature of this crosstalk in embryos is poorly known. We observed that zebrafish embryos exposed to the beta-catenin inhibitor XAV939 display effects phenocopying those of the dioxin-like 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126). This led us to investigate the AHR interaction with beta-catenin during development and ask whether developmental toxicity of DLCs involves antagonism of p-catenin signaling. We examined phenotypes and transcriptional responses in zebrafish embryos exposed to XAV939 or to a beta-catenin activator, 1-azakenpaullone, alone or with AHR agonists, either PCB126 or 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ). Alone 1-azakenpaullone and XAV939 both were embryo-toxic, and we found that in the presence of FICZ, the toxicity of 1-azakenpaullone decreased while the toxicity of XAV939 increased. This rescue of 1-azakenpaullone effects occurred in the time window of Ahr2-mediated toxicity and was reversed by morpholino-oligonudeotide knockdown of Ahr2. Regarding PCB126, addition of either 1-azakenpaullone or XAV939 led to lower mortality than with PCB126 alone but surviving embryos showed severe edemas. 1-Azakenpaullone induced transcription of beta-catenin-associated genes, while PCB126 and FICZ blocked this induction. The data indicate a stage-dependent antagonism of p-catenin by Ahr2 in zebrafish embryos. We propose that the AHR has a physiological role in regulating beta-catenin during development, and that this is one point of intersection linking toxicological and physiological AHR-governed processes.
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