A biological effects monitoring survey of Cardigan Bay using flatfish histopathology, cellular biomarkers and sediment bioassays: Findings of the Prince Madog Prize 2003

Lyons, Brett P.; Stentiford, Grant D.; Bignell, John P.; Goodsir, Freya; Sivyer, D. B.; Lowe, DM; Beesley, Amanda; Pascoe, Christine; Moore, Mike N.; Garnacho, Eva

doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2006.04.064

Cited by 18 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 4 publications

(8 reference statements)

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“…As such, their presence at elevated levels at particular inshore or estuarine sites has been correlated with the burden of specific xenobiotic chemicals in the sediment and in tissues of fish from those sites (Koehler 1990, Stein et al 1990, Myers et al 2008. Although intuitive that the higher prevalence of liver neoplasia in dab from certain CSEMP sites identified in the present study may be associated with elevated levels of carcinogenic contaminants in sediment and tissues at those sites, or even elevated biomarker responses, the demonstration of these relationships has proved more elusive, with less clear links between causal contaminants and disease at offshore locations (Cefas 2006, 2007, Lyons et al 2006. Work in our laboratory at present is attempting to interpret this apparent paradox by investigation of potential confounding factors that may alter the expression of biomarkers and the prevalence of disease.…”

Section: Temporal and Spatial Stability In Marine Disease Profilesmentioning

confidence: 80%

Site-specific disease profiles in fish and their use in environmental monitoring

Stentiford¹,

Bignell²,

Lyons³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Section: Temporal and Spatial Stability In Marine Disease Profilesmentioning

confidence: 80%

Site-specific disease profiles in fish and their use in environmental monitoring

Stentiford¹,

Bignell²,

Lyons³

et al. 2009

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…While the capacity to link elevated levels of carcinogenic contaminants is potentially feasible for those animals sampled from relatively constrained water bodies (e.g. estuaries, rivers, lakes) (Köhler 1990, Stein et al 1990, 1998a, it is more problematic when attempting to investigate similar relationships in the offshore environment, where contaminant burdens are invariably lower and population migrations are more pronounced (Cefas 2006, 2007, Lyons et al 2006, Vethaak et al 2009). Nevertheless, repeatable patterns of disease (including cancer) are reported from geographically distinct sites sampled over multiple years using standardised approaches for disease assessment, suggesting that a basis for this pattern exists (Stentiford et al 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of age on liver pathology and other diseases in flatfish: implications for assessment of marine ecological health status

Stentiford¹,

Bignell²,

Lyons³

et al. 2010

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Age at disease onset, a familiar concept in human medicine, has not been commonly discussed in relation to diseases of wildlife. Furthermore, while age has been anecdotally linked with disease susceptibility in aquatic animals (e.g. in aquaculture), little attention has been devoted to health of specific cohorts in wild aquatic animal populations. In an attempt to refine current approaches to marine environmental monitoring programmes that utilise fish diseases as a sentinel for ecological status, we have investigated age at onset for 10 disease variables in the flatfish Limanda limanda, a commonly utilised species in such programmes in Europe. By comparing the prevalence of these variables (including several associated with liver neoplasia) in different age classes from the same sites, we have demonstrated an increased propensity for 'harm' (a cumulative measure of multiple disease variables) with age. Furthermore, a comparison of age-matched cohorts from geographically distinct offshore marine sites revealed that this tendency for increased harm differs in magnitude between sites. In these scenarios, the age at onset for key disease variables (such as pre-neoplastic and neoplastic pathologies of the liver) also differs between sites, with some locations containing populations with apparently increased susceptibility in younger age classes. We conclude that while age is an important variable when assessing fish population health status, it does not explain all of the differences in disease prevalence observed in natural populations, and further, that age-matched cohorts from certain populations have a higher propensity for disease than fish of the same age from other sites. The basis for these differences in susceptibility is discussed in relation to the prevailing burden of anthropogenic contaminants and to other natural factors (such as population genetics and migration) inherent in sampled populations.

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“…UK sites exceeding 20%. [31][32][33][34][35] However, the causative factors of these tumors and the molecular mechanisms involved, especially the balance between epigenetic and genetic factors, is unclear. Previous studies in our laboratory indicated that mutation profiles of oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes within tumors were different between fish species and humans.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA methylation in liver tumorigenesis in fish from the environment

Mirbahai¹,

Yin²,

Bignell³

et al. 2011

Epigenetics

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The link between environment, alteration in DNA methylation and cancer has been well established in humans; yet, it is under-studied in unsequenced non-model organisms. The occurrence of liver tumors in the flatfish dab collected at certain UK sampling sites exceeds 20%, yet the causative agents and the molecular mechanisms of tumor formation are not known, especially regarding the balance between epigenetic and genetic factors. Methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) combined with de novo high-throughput DNA sequencing were used to investigate DNA methylation changes in dab hepatocellular adenoma tumors for the first time in an unsequenced species. Novel custom-made dab gene expression arrays were designed and used to determine the relationship between DNA methylation and gene expression. In addition, the confirmatory techniques of bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) and RT-PCR were applied. Genes involved in pathways related to cancer, including apoptosis, wnt/β-catenin signaling and genomic and non-genomic estrogen responses, were altered both in methylation and transcription. Global methylation was statistically significantly 1.8-fold reduced in hepatocellular adenoma and non-cancerous surrounding tissues compared with liver from non-cancer bearing dab. Based on the identified changes and chemical exposure data, our study supports the epigenetic model of cancer. We hypothesize that chronic exposure to a mixture of environmental contaminants contributes to a global hypomethylation followed by further epigenetic and genomic changes. The findings suggest a link between environment, epigenetics and cancer in fish tumors in the wild and show the utility of this methodology for studies in non-model organisms.

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A biological effects monitoring survey of Cardigan Bay using flatfish histopathology, cellular biomarkers and sediment bioassays: Findings of the Prince Madog Prize 2003

Cited by 18 publications

References 4 publications

Site-specific disease profiles in fish and their use in environmental monitoring

Site-specific disease profiles in fish and their use in environmental monitoring

Effect of age on liver pathology and other diseases in flatfish: implications for assessment of marine ecological health status

DNA methylation in liver tumorigenesis in fish from the environment

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