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| 2. |
- Andersson, Helen, et al.
(författare)
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Effects of PCB126 and 17 beta-oestradiol on endothelium-derived vasoactive factors in human endothelial cells
- 2011
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Ingår i: Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0300-483X .- 1879-3185. ; 285:1-2, s. 46-56
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest an association between elevated serum levels of co-planar PCBs and hypertension, and one study indicate that this effect is dependent on the level of oestrogen. This study investigated the effects of 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) and 17 beta-oestradiol (E-2) on vasoactive factors in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The results reveal that PCB126 stimulated the vasoconstriction factors COX-2 and PGF(2 alpha), in HUVEC. An up-regulation of COX-2 expression was demonstrated using qRT-PCR, western blot and immunofluorescence and increased production of PGF(2 alpha), was demonstrated using LC/MS2 and enzyme immunoassay. Also. PCB126 slightly increased ROS production and decreased NO production in HUVEC. The addition of E2 enhanced PCB126-induced transcription of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and COX-2 in HUVEC whereas an increased transcription of eNOS only occurred following combined treatment with E-2 and PCB126. Immunofluorescence demonstrated that HUVEC expressed AHR and ER beta but lacked ER alpha and the involvement of AHR and ER beta on the effects of PCB126 was examined by the addition of AHR and ER antagonists. The binding of PCB126 to AHR was critical for the effects of PCB126 whereas the role of ER beta was equivocal. In conclusion, these studies suggest that PCB126 induced changes in human endothelial cells that are characteristic for endothelial dysfunction in human hypertension and that PCB126-induced transcription of genes important for vascular function in human endothelial cells can be elevated by increased oestrogen levels. These findings may help understanding the mechanism for the association between PCB126 exposure and hypertension reported in human subjects and experimental animals.
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| 4. |
- Andersson, Helén, 1982-
(författare)
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Experimental Studies of Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in Vascular Cells and Tissues
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Epidemiological evidence suggest that exposure to endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) is a risk factor for diseases that involves the cardiovascular system but we know little about the mechanisms whereby these compounds can cause injury in the vasculature. The aim of this thesis was to characterize the effects and mechanisms of some EDCs in vascular cells and highly vascularized tissues. Elevated exposure to environmental EDCs is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. In vitro studies demonstrated that the environmental EDCs, 1-nitropyrene, PCB126 and bisphenol A, caused distinct changes in primary human endothelial cells. 1‑Nitropyrene induced cell stress and DNA damage, PCB126 caused changes that indicate endothelial dysfunction and vasoconstriction, and BPA induced changes that indicate angiogenesis and vasoconstriction. Further studies demonstrated that long-term exposure of rats to BPA induced changes in rat cardiac tissues in vivo similar to those observed in human endothelial cells in vitro. The type of cellular alterations that were demonstrated is known to play to play a role in cardiovascular disease in humans. These findings suggest that environmental EDCs can cause damage to the human endothelium that may contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects of the pharmaceutical EDC tamoxifen in breast cancer treatment are compromised by an increased risk for bleedings, hyperplasia, and cancer in the endometrium. Ex vivo studies identified the glandular and surface epithelia as potential target sites for tamoxifen adduct formation and tamoxifen-induced cell stress the human endometrium. No signs of tamoxifen-induced changes were detected in the blood vessels. The results suggest that bioactivation of tamoxifen and subsequent cell injury in endometrial epithelial cells may play a role for tamoxifen’s side effects in the endometrium. Taken together, this thesis provide evidence that may help understanding how exposure to EDCs can increase the risk for diseases in that involves the cardiovascular system.
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| 5. |
- Andersson, Helén, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Low levels of the air pollutant 1-nitropyrene induce DNA damage, increased levels of reactive oxygen species and endoplasmic reticulum stress in human endothelial cells
- 2009
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Ingår i: Toxicology. - : Elsevier BV. - 0300-483X .- 1879-3185. ; 262:1, s. 57-64
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Both epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that exposure to high levels of air pollution is a risk factor associated with cardiovascular disease. Traffic emission is a major source of exposure to persistent air pollutants such as nitrated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs). 1-Nitropyrene (1-NP), one of the most abundant nitro-PAHs in diesel exhausts, was selected as a model nitro-PAH for the present study. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of 1-NP in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the metabolic pathways involved. The nitroreductase inhibitor dicoumarol and the coplanar aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand PCB 126 were used to modulate the metabolism of 1-NP. The results revealed that low levels (< or =10microM) of 1-NP induced DNA damage, increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increased protein expression of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress chaperone GRP78. A decrease in cell viability was only observed following exposure to a higher level of 1-NP (15microM). Inhibition of nitroreductive metabolism by dicoumarol attenuated the induction of DNA damage, intracellular ROS levels and GRP78 expression. This suggests that the effects of 1-NP on HUVEC were mediated by metabolites mainly formed at nitroreduction. Our findings suggest that the human blood vessel endothelium is a sensitive target tissue for the major nitro-PAH constituent in diesel exhaust.
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| 6. |
- Andersson, Helén, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Proangiogenic Effects of Environmentally Relevant Levels of Bisphenol A in Human Primary Endothelial Cells
- 2012
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Ingår i: Archives of Toxicology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0340-5761 .- 1432-0738. ; 86:3, s. 465-474
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Bisphenol A (BPA) is widely used in the manufacturing of consumer products such as plastic food containers and food cans. Experimental studies suggest a relationship between exposure to BPA and changes in metabolic processes and reproductive organs. Also, epidemiological studies report an association between elevated exposure to BPA and cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Although alterations in the vascular endothelium are implicated in pathological conditions associated with BPA, little is known about the effects of BPA in the human endothelium. This study aimed to investigate the effects of 0.1 nM-1 μM of BPA on selected biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The mRNA expression of biomarkers was assayed using qRT-PCR, and the production of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species was measured using the H(2)DCFDA and the DAF-FM assays. The effect of BPA on phosphorylated eNOS was examined using Western blot and immunofluorescence, and the endothelial tube formation assay was used to investigate in vitro angiogenesis. BPA (≤1 μM) increased the mRNA expression of the proangiogenic genes VEGFR-2, VEGF-A, eNOS, and Cx43 and increased the production of nitric oxide in HUVEC. Furthermore, BPA increased the expression of phosphorylated eNOS and endothelial tube formation in HUVEC. These studies demonstrate that environmentally relevant levels of BPA have direct proangiogenic effects on human primary endothelial cells in vitro suggesting that the human endothelium may be an important target for BPA.
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| 7. |
- Andersson, Helén, 1982-, et al.
(författare)
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Tamoxifen-Induced Adduct Formation and Cell Stress in Human Endometrial Glands
- 2010
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Ingår i: Drug Metabolism And Disposition. - : American Society for Pharmacology & Experimental Therapeutics (ASPET). - 0090-9556 .- 1521-009X. ; 38:1, s. 200-207
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The beneficial effects of tamoxifen in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer are compromised by an increased risk of endometrial polyps, hyperplasia, and cancer. Tamoxifen is metabolized to an array of metabolites with estrogenic effects but also to reactive intermediates that may form protein and DNA adducts. The aim of this study was to investigate cellular [(3)H]tamoxifen adduct formation by light microscopic autoradiography and cell stress by immunohistochemical analysis of glucose-regulating protein 78 (GRP78), nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), and caspase 3 in human endometrial explants after short-term incubation with tamoxifen. The cellular expression of tamoxifen-metabolizing enzymes in human endometrial biopsy samples was also determined by immunohistochemistry. The results showed selective [(3)H]tamoxifen adduct formation in glandular and surface epithelia after incubation with a nontoxic concentration of [(3)H]tamoxifen (6 nM). There was also a selective expression of the endoplasmic reticulum stress chaperone GRP78 and activated caspase 3 at these sites after incubation with cytotoxic concentrations of tamoxifen (10-100 microM). The cell stress was preferentially observed in samples from women in the proliferative menstrual phase. No treatment-related expression of NF-kappaB was observed. Constitutive expression of the tamoxifen-metabolizing enzymes CYP1B1, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8/9/19, CYP2D6, and SULT2A1 in glandular and surface epithelia was shown, but there was a large interindividual variation. The colocalization of [(3)H]tamoxifen adducts, expression of GRP78, caspase 3, and tamoxifen-metabolizing enzymes in human glandular and surface epithelia suggest a local bioactivation of tamoxifen at these sites and that epithelial cells are early target sites for tamoxifen-induced cell stress.
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| 9. |
- Andersson, Marie, et al.
(författare)
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Maternal Transfer of the Cyanobacterial Neurotoxin beta-N-Methylamino-L-Alanine (BMAA) via Milk to Suckling Offspring
- 2013
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 8:10, s. e78133-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The cyanobacterial neurotoxin beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) has been implicated in the etiology of neurodegenerative disease and proposed to be biomagnified in terrestrial and aquatic food chains. We have previously shown that the neonatal period in rats, which in humans corresponds to the last trimester of pregnancy and the first few years of age, is a particularly sensitive period for exposure to BMAA. The present study aimed to examine the secretion of C-14-labeled L-and D-BMAA into milk in lactating mice and the subsequent transfer of BMAA into the developing brain. The results suggest that secretion into milk is an important elimination pathway of BMAA in lactating mothers and an efficient exposure route predominantly for L-BMAA but also for D-BMAA in suckling mice. Following secretion of [C-14] L-BMAA into milk, the levels of [C-14] L-BMAA in the brains of the suckling neonatal mice significantly exceeded the levels in the maternal brains. In vitro studies using the mouse mammary epithelial HC11 cell line confirmed a more efficient influx and efflux of L-BMAA than of D-BMAA in cells, suggesting enantiomer-selective transport. Competition experiments with other amino acids and a low sodium dependency of the influx suggests that the amino acid transporters LAT1 and LAT2 are involved in the transport of L-BMAA into milk. Given the persistent neurodevelopmental toxicity following injection of L-BMAA to neonatal rodent pups, the current results highlight the need to determine whether BMAA is enriched mother's and cow's milk.
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| 10. |
- Annas, Anita, et al.
(författare)
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Basal and induced EROD activity in the chorioallantoic membrane during chicken embryo development
- 1999
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Ingår i: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology. - 1382-6689 .- 1872-7077. ; 8:1, s. 49-52
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Tidskriftsartikel (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) is a highly vascularized tissue that takes part in the respiratory exchange of gases through the eggshell. Although the CAM may be exposed to environmental contaminants, its response to pollutants has not been studied. We examined the cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A)-catalyzed deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin (EROD) in the CAM during chicken embryo development. EROD was constitutively present and was inducible by the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonist 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126). Our results suggest the CAM as a first line of defence of the avian embryo against toxic compounds, but also as a target for CYP1A-activated chemicals.
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