Lipid peroxidation in the adrenal glands of male rats exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)

Dioxin impacts on lipid metabolism of soil microbes: towards effective detection and bioassessment strategies

Dioxins are the most toxic known environmental pollutants and are mainly formed by human activities. Due to their structural stability, dioxins persist for extended periods and can be transported over long distances from their emission sources. Thus, dioxins can be accumulated to considerable levels in both human and animal food chains. Along with sediments, soils are considered the most important reservoirs of dioxins. Soil microorganisms are therefore highly exposed to dioxins, leading to a range of biological responses that can impact the diversity, genetics and functional of such microbial communities. Dioxins are very hydrophobic with a high affinity to lipidic macromolecules in exposed organisms, including microbes. This review summarizes the genetic, molecular and biochemical impacts of dioxins on the lipid metabolism of soil microbial communities and especially examines modifications in the composition and architecture of cell membranes. This will provide a useful scientific benchmark for future attempts at soil ecological risk assessment, as well as in identifying potential dioxin-specific-responsive lipid biomarkers. Finally, potential uses of lipid-sequestering microorganisms as a part of biotechnological approaches to the bio-management of environmental contamination with dioxins are discussed.

The cytochrome P450BM-1 of Bacillus megaterium A14K is induced by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin: Biophysical, molecular and biochemical determinants

The current study describes biological changes in Bacillus megaterium A14K cells growing in the presence of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most potent congener of dioxins. The results indicate that the metabolizing of 2,3,7,8-TCDD by BmA14K was accompanied with a novel morphological and biophysical profile typified by the growth of single cells with high levels of biosurfactant production, surface hydrophobicity and cell membrane permeability. Moreover, the TCDD-grown bacteria exhibited a specific fatty acid profile characterized by low ratios of branched/straight chain fatty acids (BCFAs/SCFAs) and saturated/unsaturated fatty acids (SFAs/USFAs) with a specific "signature" due to the presence of branched chain unsaturated fatty acids (BCUFAs). This was synchronized with a significant induction of P450_BM-1, an unsaturated fatty acid-metabolizing enzyme in B. megaterium. Subsequently, the profile of oxygenated fatty acids in the TCDD-grown bacteria was typified by the presence of 5,6-epoxy derived from unsaturated C15, C16 and C17 fatty acids, that were absent in control bacteria. A net increase was also detected in both hydroxylated and epoxidized fatty acids, especially those derived from C15:0 and C16:1, respectively, suggesting a specific TCDD-induced "signature" of oxygenated fatty acids in BmA14K. Overall, this study sheds light on the use of B. megaterium A14K as a promising bioindicator/biodegrader of dioxins.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of dietary Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide against TCDD-induced hepatic injury and RT-PCR quantification of AHR2, ARNT2, CYP1A mRNA in Jian Carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian)

To evaluate the protective effects of Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GPS) against 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced hepatotoxicity in Jian carp, the fish were fed diets containing GPS at doses of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0g/kg for 60days before an intraperitoneal injection of 0.6μg/kg TCDD at a volume of 0.05mL/10g body weight. At 72hr post-injection, blood and liver samples were taken for biochemical analysis and the fish liver samples were used for the preparation of pathological slices. The results showed that increases in alanine aminotransferase (GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (GOT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP) in serum induced by TCDD were significantly inhibited by pre-treatment with 1.0g/kg GPS. Following the 1.0g/kg GPS pre-treatment, total protein (TP), albumin (Alb), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in liver tissue increased significantly, malondialdehyde (MDA) formation (P<0.05 or P<0.01) was significantly inhibited, and the expression of cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A), aryl hydrocarbon receptor 2 (AHR2) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator 2 (ARNT2) mRNA (P<0.05) was significantly enhanced. Histological observations on fish liver were obtained by preparing paraffin tissue sections via HE staining, and the results showed that histological changes were obviously reduced by 0.5 and 1.0g/kg GPS. GPS significantly reduced liver tissue damage caused by TCDD. Overall, these results proved the hepatoprotective effect of GPS in protecting against fish liver injury induced by TCDD, and supported the use of GPS (1.0g/kg) as a hepatoprotective and antioxidant agent in fish.