Induction of apoptosis and cytokine markers in colon cancer cells by magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles

Magnesium oxide nanoparticles (MgONP) are predominantly utilized in industrial products. This study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanisms underlying toxic effect of MgONP in human colon cancer (HT 29) cells over 48 hr period. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by using MTT and neutral red uptake assays. Data demonstrated that MgONP reduced cell viability in concentration- and time-dependent manner. MgONP induced oxidative stress by decreasing glutathione (GSH) concentrations and elevation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation levels. Increased caspase-3 enzyme activity and greater condensed, damaged chromosome was observed following MgONP exposure in HT 29 cells. The level of interleukin-4 (IL-4), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and DNA fragmentation were significantly higher in MgONP incubated cells. The results showed that MgONP-induced toxicity in HT 29 cells may be mediated through oxidative stress.     

慧星试验对水体安全性分析研究

利用彗星试验检测苏南某湖泊湖心区、长江某取水口及其给水处理厂出水水样的遗传毒性,并对结果进行分析研究.结果表明,各水样均能引起DNA损伤,在丰水期致DNA损伤作用的大小顺序为给水厂出水水样＞湖泊水样＞长江取水口水样;在枯水期致DNA损伤作用的大小顺序为湖泊水样＞长江取水口水样＞给水厂出水水样.随着染毒剂量的加大,细胞损伤率增加,细胞受损的程度也在加重,并向3、4级损伤集中,呈明显的剂量-效应关系.     

失去记忆性贝毒ASP酶联免疫检测方法的研究

建立了赤潮毒素失去记忆性贝毒中主要成分软骨藻酸(domoic acid,DA)的竞争酶联免疫检测方法.通过将DA偶联到蛋白载体上,免疫BALB/c小鼠,免疫数次后,得到抗DA的多克隆抗血清,以DA-OVA为包被抗原,利用抗原抗体反应,建立间接竞争酶联免疫吸附技术(Enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay,ELISA)分析检测海水样品和海洋贝类中的赤潮毒素失去记忆性贝毒DA的方法.结果表明,该方法最低检出限10μg/L,海水样品平均回收率102.%,批内变异系数12.%;贝类样品平均回收率为111.%,批内变异系数4.8%.     

间接免疫荧光抗体技术检测凡纳滨对虾红体病病原——副溶血弧菌

建立了凡纳滨对虾红体病病原--副溶血弧菌的间接免疫荧光抗体检测方法.确定免疫血清和荧光抗体的最适工作浓度分别为1∶ 1000和1∶ 200;交叉反应和阻断试验表明该方法具有较高的特异性.用该方法检测了10份人工感染后发病的凡纳滨对虾和10份感染后外观健康的凡纳滨对虾,阳性检出率分别为100%和60%,表明该技术不仅能够检测已发病的凡纳滨对虾,而且能够检测带菌的凡纳滨对虾,这对于水产养殖业中疾病的早期诊断有着重要意义,而且该方法具有快速、特异、简单的优点,适合于现场应用推广.     

二苯甲酮类紫外防晒剂发光菌急性毒性及QSAR研究

二苯甲酮类化合物广泛用于防晒剂、塑料添加剂、香味剂等。随着紫外防晒产品的大量使用,其环境及健康风险越来越受到人们的关注。为揭示二苯甲酮类污染物的毒性特征,选择了14种二苯甲酮类化合物作为目标化合物,测试了它们对发光细菌的急性毒性效应。分别运用二维、三维定量构效相关技术和分子对接技术探讨了目标化合物的分子结构特征对毒性效应的影响。结果表明14种二苯甲酮类化合物对发光菌急性毒性的EC50值在17.67到243.82 mg·L-1范围内,其中2-羟基-4-甲氧基-5-磺酸基二苯甲酮的急性毒性最低,2,2',4,4'-四羟基二苯甲酮的毒性最高。羟基取代的二苯甲酮化合物的急性毒性随着分子中羟基数量的增加而升高;具有相同羟基数量的二苯甲酮类化合物,羟基位于苯环4-位时毒性最高,3-位时次之,2-位时毒性最低。QSAR结果表明,运用静电场、氢键受体场和氢键供体场能很好解释这类化合物的毒性特征,若在苯环4-位引入带正电荷的官能团、在苯环2-,4-位引入氢键受体,都将导致毒性升高。上述研究结果将为科学评价该类化合物的潜在生态风险提供基础数据。     

镉、汞、锌3种重金属的雌激素样作用（Estrogenic Activity of Cadmium, Mercury, and Zinc）

为探讨镉、汞、锌3种重金属的雌激素样作用,采用双杂交酵母法测定了醋酸镉、氯化汞、醋酸锌单独作用时对重组基因酵母β-半乳糖苷酶诱导活性的EC50值.实验结果表明,醋酸镉浓度为1.0×10-5mol·L-(1实验浓度范围10-7~10-2mol·L-1),氯化汞浓度为5.0×10-7mol·L-(1实验浓度范围10-9~10-5mol·L-1),醋酸锌浓度为1.0×10-4mol·L-(1实验浓度范围10-9~10-2mol·L-1)时对酵母β-半乳糖苷酶诱导活性最大,分别达到1.3、0.95和1.1U.不能求出镉、汞、锌单独作用时对β-半乳糖苷酶诱导活性的EC50值.一味计算EC50值不仅难以评价重金属的雌激素活性,而且限制重组受体基因酵母法的普遍运用.一些重金属通过MCF-7细胞法(E-screen)呈阳性,通过重组hERα酵母法YES检测呈阴性,有可能是重金属通过与ERβ作用而产生效应.若构建出含ERβ基因的双杂交酵母菌株,与现有的方法互补将能完善环境雌激素的体外测评系统.     

Detection of environmental clastogens and aneugens in human fibroblasts by cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay associated with immunofluorescent staining of CENP-A in micronuclei

The cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay, in combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of human pan-centromeric DNA probes, or with CREST antibodies that specifically stain kinetochore proteins, is widely used on several cell types. It distinguishes micronuclei containing one or several whole chromosomes, which are positively labeled (centromere positive micronucleus, C+MN, due to aneugenic effect), or acentric chromosome fragments, which are unlabeled due to the absence of centromere (centromere negative micronucleus, C−MN, due to clastogenic effect). However, the very slight level of the centromeric signals obtained with the FISH technique on primary human fibroblasts, a cell type commonly used in environmental genetic toxicology, leads to great difficulties in distinguishing C+MN and C−MN. Furthermore, the CREST technique may lead to inappropriate results particularly with regards to variations in antibody composition between patient sera. Our results show that the in vitro CBMN, in combination with immunofluorescence staining of CENP-A (centromere protein A), efficiently screens genotoxicants for their ability to induce clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects. We propose the in vitro CBMN assay in combination with immunofluorescence staining of CENP-A as a suitable tool in environmental genotoxicity testing of primary human fibroblasts.     

Internal distribution of uranium and associated genotoxic damages in the chronically exposed bivalve Corbicula fluminea

Uranium (U) internal distribution and involved effects in the bivalve Corbicula fluminea have been studied after direct chronic exposure (90 d, 10 μg.L-1). U distribution was assessed at the subcellular level (Metal Rich Granules -MRG-, pellets and cytosol fractions) in two main organs of the bivalve (gills and visceral mass). Micro-localisation was investigated by TEM-EDX analysis in the gills epithelium. DNA damage in gill and hemolymph samples was measured by the Comet assay. The 90-d exposure period led to a significant increase of U concentration in gills over time (×5) and a large U quantity in subcellular granules in gills. Finally, a significant increase (×2) in DNA damage was noted in exposed gills and haemocytes. This study shows that the accumulation levels and consequently the potential toxicity cannot be successfully predicted only on the basis of concentration in water or in tissues and subcellular fractions after chronic exposure.     

Evaluation of the fish short term reproduction assay for detecting endocrine disrupters

In a fish testing strategy, positive results of the fish short term reproduction assay (FSTR), often trigger a definitive test like the fish sexual development test (FSDT) or the fish full life cycle test (FFLC), entailing ethical and economic problems. This study analysed 137 studies encompassing 35 chemicals with different modes of actions (MOAs). Variability is quantified for MOA endpoints vitellogenin (VTG) and secondary sex characteristics (SSCs) as well as for apical endpoints. Two MOA endpoints could indicate estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, androgenic, anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities. Great variability, however, has been observed for chemicals with anti-androgenic and steroidogenesis activities, suggesting that TG229/230 may not be sensitive enough to detect these types of chemicals and may produce false negatives. Changes in apical endpoints like fecundity are not limited to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). Non-EDCs could induce the similar effects on these apical endpoints. If elucidating MOA is needed, targeted in vitro MOA tests are suggested. Positive in vitro MOA results trigger a definitive test, which could be used for confirmation of the MOA in vivo and for deriving a no observed effect concentration (NOEC). Based on positive MOA results of TG229, a definitive test such as the FSDT or the FFLC is still needed, because the current TG229 has limitation on the derivation of a NOEC. An extended TG229 with more power to detect reproduction effects, as recently proposed in the OECD test guideline program, would improve the possibility to derive a NOEC and increase its usefulness in risk assessment.     

High-throughput screening of dioxins in sediment and soil using selective pressurized liquid extraction with immunochemical detection

A high-throughput screening method using selective pressurized liquid extraction (SPLE) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for monitoring dioxins in sediment and soil is described. SPLE conditions were developed by extracting sediment or soil together with alumina, 10% AgNO₃ in silica, and sulfuric acid impregnated silica (acid silica) using dichloromethane (DCM) as the solvent at 100 °C and 2000 psi. Post-extraction cleanups were not required for ELISA. Two reference sediments (National Institute of Standards and Technology SRM 1944 and Wellington Laboratories WMS01) were analyzed by the SPLE–ELISA method. The ELISA utilized a polyclonal antibody and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as the calibrant. Recoveries of ELISA-derived TCDD equivalents (EQ) relative to the expected gas chromatography/high resolution mass spectrometry (GC/HRMS) derived dioxin toxic equivalent (TEQ) values were 116 ± 11% for SRM 1944 and 102 ± 13% for WMS01. ELISA TCDD EQs were consistent with the dioxin TEQs as measured by GC/HRMS for 25 soil/sediment samples from seven different contaminated sites. The ELISA had an approximate method detection limit of 10 pg g⁻¹ with a precision of 2.6–29% based on the relative percentage difference (%RPD) for duplicate samples. Estimated sample throughput for the SPLE–ELISA was three times or more than that of the GC/HRMS method employing PLE with a multi-column cleanup.