Transcriptional and post-transcriptional response of drug-metabolizing enzymes to PAHs contamination in red mullet (Mullus barbatus, Linnaeus, 1758): A field study

Abstract

Aim of this study was to evaluate the responsiveness of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) liver detoxification enzymes to PAHs at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in the field. Fish were captured in the north-eastern Adriatic Sea, close to an oil refinery. Sixteen PAHs (EPA) were determined in sediments and fish fillets; transcription levels of cyp1a, cyp3a and abcc2 genes and EROD, BROD, B(a)PMO, BFCOD, GST and UDPGT enzymatic activities were measured. Levels of PAHs in sediments reflect the oil pollution gradient of the area, with weak correspondence in fish fillets. cyp1a gene transcription and EROD, B(a)PMO and BFCOD activities were significantly induced in the oil refinery site, and a slight up-regulation of cyp3a and abcc2 was also observed. GST and UDPGT remained unchanged. The present study provides the first data on detoxification responses at transcriptional levels in the liver of red mullet and confirms phase I enzymes as suitable biomarkers of exposure to PAHs in field studies.

Transcriptional expression analysis of ABC efflux transporters and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in the Chinese rare minnow

“…Alteration of the ABC transporters in fish exposed to environmental pollutants (e.g., PAHs) has been reported (Christine Paetzold et al, 2009;Della Torre et al, 2010;Long et al, 2011;Costa et al, 2012). In this study, treatment with 100 g l −1 pyrene significantly induced the mRNA expression of the ABCC2 gene in the rare minnow liver ( Fig.…”

“…4). In line with this, combined action and regulation of the biotransformation enzymes and ABC transporters has been reported in humans (Olinga et al, 2008) and several fish species (e.g., killifish, red mullet, and Nile tilapia) (Christine Paetzold et al, 2009;Della Torre et al, 2010;Costa et al, 2012). Moreover, Vollrath et al (2006) have described Nrf2-mediated co-regulation of MRP2 (ABCC2), GST, and GCLC.…”

“…5; p < 0.05). Similarly, the mRNA expression of the ABCC2 gene was significantly increased in the killifish (Christine Paetzold et al, 2009) and Mullus barbatu (Della Torre et al, 2010) exposed to PAHs. Moreover, BaP treatment significantly induced ABCC2 transcripts in the gills of the Nile tilapia (Costa et al, 2012).…”

“…The induction of the phase I (e.g., CYP1A) and phase II (e.g., GSTs, GCLG, and UGTs) xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme genes by environmental pollutants (e.g., PAHs) has been widely studied (Van der Oost et al, 2003). Recently, the coordinated up-regulation of some ABC transporters and phase I and phase II enzyme genes in the presence of pollutants (e.g., PAHs) was investigated (Christine Paetzold et al, 2009;Della Torre et al, 2010;Costa et al, 2012).…”

Multi-biomarker responses as indication of contaminant effects in Gambusia affinis from impacted rivers by municipal effluents

“…In some previous studies, sex-related differences in P450 activity during the reproductive cycle have been reported in other fish (Andersson, 1990;Gray et al, 1991). Moreover, some previous studies showed a good correlation between EROD activity and CYP1A mRNA expression in fish (Quiró et al, 2007;Valdehita et al, 2012), but others also reported a poor correlation between EROD activity and CYP1A mRNA expression (Della Torre et al, 2010;Kammann et al, 2008;Karaca et al, 2014).…”