Genetic toxicology of metal compounds: An examination of appropriate cellular models †

Bacterial systems have not had success predicting metal carcinogenicity. Hypotheses explaining this failure are examined. Using a broad genetic endpoint, λ prophage induction, under sub‐toxic growing conditions, genotoxicity is seen for compounds of chromium, manganese, lead, molybdenum and tungsten. Copper, manganese, arsenic and molybdenum compounds enhanced UV mutagenesis in E. coli WP2.

The toxicity of metal compounds to cultured mammalian cells correlates well with rat oral LD₅₀ values. Whereas insolubility can present problems in bacterial studies, concentrations of metal compounds toxic to mammalian cells can be determined even in the presence of precipitate, and sometimes [Pb(NO₃)₂, BaCl₂ and BeCl₂] occurs only in its presence. PbS and MnS, which are insoluble, are much more toxic than the more soluble compounds Pb(NO₃)₂ and MnCl₂. These results demonstrate the importance of cellular phagocytosis of insoluble metal compounds as a factor in studying the toxicity and genotoxicity of metal compounds.     

Model reactions of chromium compounds with mammalian and bacterial cells†

Chromate uptake, reduction, cytotoxicity and mutagenicity were studied with human red blood cells, Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and/or Salmonella typhimurium mutant cells. All cell types rapidly took up chromates whereas chromium(III) salts were excluded under the experimental conditions. Red blood cells reduced and accumulated chromium from chromate. At concentrations above 0.1 mM, chromate inactivated the red cell chromate carrier. Chromate above 0.01 mM inhibited CHO cell proliferation irrespective of the cations present. Chromate and two chromium(III) complexes were mutagenic with Salmonella mutants in the Ames’ assay. A model for chromate metabolism and genotoxicity is proposed.     

The cytotoxicity of nici2 for mammalian cells in culture†

The effects of NiCl₂ were studied in two human cell lines, HeLa and diploid embryonic fibroblasts as well as in V79 Chinese hamster cells and in L‐A mouse fibroblasts. NiCl₂ produces a dose‐dependent depression of proliferation, mitotic rate, and viability, accompanied by an increasing release of lactic dehydrogenase and stimulation of lactic acid production. The plating efficiency is reduced, as are DNA and protein synthesis and, to a lesser degree, RNA synthesis.

The cytotoxicity of NiCl₂ is comparable in degree to those of PbCl₂ and MnCl₂, but is weaker than those of HgCl₂ and CdCl₂. However, the different sensitivities of different cell lines must also be considered.

NiCl₂ effects are more severe in serum‐free medium than in medium containing serum or serum albumin indicating that serum constituents, notably albumin, bind the metal effectively and inhibit cellular uptake; this confirms earlier reports on the serum binding and slow uptake of NiCl₂.

Synchronized cells are most sensitive in the Gl and early S phases of the cell cycle. In the Painter test the depression of DNA synthesis persists following cessation of exposure to NiCI₂. These findings contribute an explanation for the known genotoxic effects of nickel.     

Biochemical properties of beryllium potentially relevant to its carcinogenicity†

The carcinogenicity of beryllium to several animal species is well established and evidence exists which strongly suggests that this is the case in human exposure. In this review several biochemical properties of the metallocarcinogen are considered including, the causation of cell transformation, and infidelity of DNA synthesis, inhibition of cell division and enzyme induction, and interference with regulatory mechanisms controlling gene expression. These effects are discussed in relation to beryllium chemistry, cellular accumulation mechanisms and distribution to subcellular organdies and molecular targets. It is suggested that the ultimate location and interactions of the metal ion in cell nuclei and its selective inhibition of certain protein phosphorylation reactions in particular are the biochemical effects potentially most relevant to induction of beryllium carcinogenesis.     

Uptake and genotoxicity of micromolar concentrations of cobalt chloride in mammalian cells

Literature data concerning the genotoxicity of cobalt salts have been conflicting. To establish appropriate incubation conditions, we conducted a series of uptake studies, before genotoxicity was determined by DNA strand break induction in HeLa cells and mutagenicity in V79 Chinese hamster cells. Co(II) is taken up by HeLa cells in a concentration‐dependent manner and is accumulated inside the cell. The uptake is preceded by a fast association step to the outer membrane, with no saturation up to 24 h. DNA strand breaks as determined by nucleoid sedimentation are induced at concentrations as low as 50μMCoCl₂. The induction is time‐dependent, showing the highest number of breaks after 4h incubation with no further increase up to 24h. CoCl₂ is mutagenic at the HPRT‐locus, enhancing the spontaneous mutation frequency 4.2‐fold at 100μ?. Besides direct interactions with DNA, the mutagenicity of CoCl₂ could also be due to a decrease in the Fidelity of DNA polymerisation.     

Determination of F2-isoprostanes in cultured human lung epithelial cells after exposure to metal oxide and silica nanoparticles by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The environmental impact of nanotechnology has caused a great concern. Many in vitro studies showed that many types of nanoparticles were cytotoxic. However, whether these nanoparticles caused cell membrane damage was not well studied. F₂-isoprostanes are specific products of arachidonic acid peroxidation by nonenzymatic reactive oxygen species and are considered as reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. In this article, we investigated the cytotoxicity of different nanoparticles and the degree of cellular membrane damage by using F₂-isoprostanes as biomarkers after exposure to nanoparticles. The human lung epithelial cell line A549 was exposed to four silica and metal oxide nanoparticles: SiO₂ (15 nm), CeO₂ (20 nm), Fe₂O₃ (30 nm), and ZnO (70 nm). The levels of F₂-isoprostanes were determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The F₂-isoprostanes’ peak was identified by retention time and molecular ion m/z at 353. Oasis HLB cartridge was used to extract F₂-isoprostanes from cell medium. The results showed that SiO₂, CeO₂, and ZnO nanoparticles increased F₂-isoprostanes levels significantly in A549 cells. Fe₂O₃ nanoparticle also increased F₂-isoprostanes level, but was not significant. This implied that SiO₂, CeO₂, ZnO, and Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles can cause cell membrane damage due to the lipid peroxidation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the investigation of effects of cellular exposure to metal oxide and silica nanoparticles on the cellular F₂-isoprostanes levels.     

喹啉为MFC阳极燃料的微生物群落结构演化分析

通过构建填料型微生物燃料电池(MFC),首次对以喹啉为燃料时的MFC阳极表面的微生物群落进行了分析.PCR-DGGE的试验结果表明,随着燃料的改变,微生物群落也发生改变.当以喹啉和葡萄糖的混合溶液稳定地作为燃料时,由于受到喹啉毒性的抑制,微生物多样性降低,优势菌也发生明显的改变.与葡萄糖共基质相比,以单一喹啉为燃料时的阳极微生物优势菌落发生明显改变.新增加一类菌,这类菌与Pseudomonas sp. DIC5RS 的同源性为100%,推测该菌在单一喹啉为MFC燃料时喹啉的降解过程中起到关键作用.     

铅暴露U251细胞差异表达基因及相关通路(The Interrelated Pathways in Brain Human U251 Glioma Cells by Lead Exposure)

为探讨铅对体外培养的人神经胶质瘤U251细胞(human U251glioma cells,U251)暴露后基因表达的变化以及相关基因通路,选用乙酸铅暴露U251细胞.细胞在乙酸铅中暴露8h和24h后提取RNA,使用cDNA芯片分析基因表达情况,芯片扫描结果经归一化处理,设定Ratio值<0.5或≥2.0为表达有差异基因.结果表明,铅暴露U251细胞导致2840条基因差异表达,使用KEGG和BioCarta数据库分析代表性基因网络.结果发现,铅暴露U251细胞导致大量基因差异表达,涉及多个代谢及信号通路,与神经组织相关的主要信号通路有Ca2+信号通路、Jak-STAT信号通路、MAPK信号通路、Wnt信号通路等,还涉及配体-受体、细胞因子相互作用等.这些通路相互联结,构成复杂的网络系统,调控细胞的生物学功能.     

北京市大气细颗粒物的遗传和非遗传毒性研究

用胞质阻断微核试验与单细胞凝胶电泳法检测北京市大气PM_2.5无机提取物与有机提取物对Balb/c 3T3细胞微核形成与DNA链断裂的影响;通过划痕染料示踪技术(SL/DT)观察PM_2.5无机提取物与有机提取物对Balb/c3T3细胞间通讯的影响.发现PM_2.5有机提取物可引起双核微核细胞率显著增加(P<0.01)及导致慧星细胞率和DNA迁移长度显著增加(P<0.01);PM_2.5有机提取物引起细胞间通讯的抑制; PM_2.5无机提取物未见明显毒作用.结果表明,PM_2.5可引起染色体损伤和原发性DNA损伤,抑制细胞间通讯,其毒作用主要由其有机成分引起.     

DNA-Protein Crosslinks Induced by Microcystin-LR in Hepatic Cells of Mice

为探讨微囊藻毒素-LR致小鼠肝细胞的DNA-蛋白质交联作用,将20只昆明雄性小鼠随机分为4组：1个对照组和3个染毒组,采用腹腔注射进行染毒7d,染毒剂量分别为3.0、6.0和12.0μg·kg-1,检测小鼠肝细胞DNA-蛋白质交联程度. 结果显示,3.0、6.0和12.0μg·kg-1微囊藻毒素-LR均可导致小鼠肝细胞显著的DNA-蛋白质交联作用（与对照组相比,p<0.01,p<0.01,p<0.05）,当微囊藻毒素为6.0μg·kg-1时,这种作用最明显.