Dysregulation of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) is recognized as one of the key hallmarks for identifying non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGTxC). Currently, there is a demand for in vitro assays addressing the gap junction hallmark, which would have the potential to eventually become an integral part of an integrated approach to the testing and assessment (IATA) of NGTxC. The scrape loading-dye transfer (SL-DT) technique is a simple assay for the functional evaluation of GJIC in various in vitro cultured mammalian cells and represents an interesting candidate assay. Out of the various techniques for evaluating GJIC, the SL-DT assay has been used frequently to assess the effects of various chemicals on GJIC in toxicological and tumor promotion research. In this review, we systematically searched the existing literature to gather papers assessing GJIC using the SL-DT assay in a rat liver epithelial cell line, WB-F344, after treating with chemicals, especially environmental and food toxicants, drugs, reproductive-, cardio- and neuro-toxicants and chemical tumor promoters. We discuss findings derived from the SL-DT assay with the known knowledge about the tumor-promoting activity and carcinogenicity of the assessed chemicals to evaluate the predictive capacity of the SL-DT assay in terms of its sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for identifying carcinogens. These data represent important information with respect to the applicability of the SL-DT assay for the testing of NGTxC within the IATA framework.

• Klíčová slova
• carcinogenesis, carcinogens, gap junction intercellular communication, scrape loading-dye transfer,
• MeSH
• barvicí látky metabolismus   MeSH
• biotest metody   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• fluorescenční mikroskopie metody   MeSH
• játra patologie   MeSH
• karcinogeny MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• mezerový spoj metabolismus   MeSH
• mezibuněčná komunikace účinky léků   fyziologie   MeSH
• testy karcinogenity metody   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• barvicí látky MeSH
• karcinogeny MeSH

The mechanisms contributing to toxic effects of airborne lower-chlorinated PCB congeners (LC-PCBs) remain poorly characterized. We evaluated in vitro toxicities of environmental LC-PCBs found in both indoor and outdoor air (PCB 4, 8, 11, 18, 28 and 31), and selected hydroxylated metabolites of PCB 8, 11 and 18, using reporter gene assays, as well as other functional cellular bioassays. We focused on processes linked with endocrine disruption, tumor promotion and/or regulation of transcription factors controlling metabolism of both endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. The tested LC-PCBs were found to be mostly efficient anti-androgenic (within nanomolar - micromolar range) and estrogenic (at micromolar concentrations) compounds, as well as inhibitors of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) at micromolar concentrations. PCB 8, 28 and 31 were found to partially inhibit the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated activity. The tested LC-PCBs were also partial constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) agonists, with PCB 4, 8 and 18 being the most active compounds. They were inactive towards other nuclear receptors, such as vitamin D receptor, thyroid receptor α, glucocorticoid receptor or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. We found that only PCB 8 contributed to generation of oxidative stress, while all tested LC-PCBs induced arachidonic acid release (albeit without further modulations of arachidonic acid metabolism) in human lung epithelial cells. Importantly, estrogenic effects of hydroxylated (OH-PCB) metabolites of LC-PCBs (4-OH-PCB 8, 4-OH-PCB 11 and 4'-OH-PCB 18) were higher than those of the parent PCBs, while their other toxic effects were only slightly altered or suppressed. This suggested that metabolism may alter toxicity profiles of LC-PCBs in a receptor-specific manner. In summary, anti-androgenic and estrogenic activities, acute inhibition of GJIC and suppression of the AhR-mediated activity were found to be the most relevant modes of action of airborne LC-PCBs, although they partially affected also additional cellular targets.

• Klíčová slova
• Airborne polychlorinated biphenyls, Endocrine disruption, HydroxyLated PCBs, Metabolism of xenobiotics, Tumor promotion,
• MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• endokrinní disruptory metabolismus   toxicita   MeSH
• epitelové buňky účinky léků   MeSH
• hydroxylace MeSH
• konstitutivní androstanový receptor MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory metabolismus   MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly metabolismus   toxicita   MeSH
• pregnanový X receptor MeSH
• receptory cytoplazmatické a nukleární metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• steroidní receptory metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• endokrinní disruptory MeSH
• konstitutivní androstanový receptor MeSH
• látky znečišťující vzduch MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly MeSH
• pregnanový X receptor MeSH
• receptory cytoplazmatické a nukleární MeSH
• steroidní receptory MeSH

Methoxychlor (MXC) and vinclozolin (VIN) are well-recognized endocrine disrupting chemicals known to alter epigenetic regulations and transgenerational inheritance; however, non-endocrine disruption endpoints are also important. Thus, we determined the effects of MXC and VIN on the dysregulation of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. Both chemicals induced a rapid dysregulation of GJIC at non-cytotoxic doses, with 30 min EC50 values for GJIC inhibition being 10 µM for MXC and 126 µM for VIN. MXC inhibited GJIC for at least 24 h, while VIN effects were transient and GJIC recovered after 4 h. VIN induced rapid hyperphosphorylation and internalization of gap junction protein connexin43, and both chemicals also activated MAPK ERK1/2 and p38. Effects on GJIC were not prevented by MEK1/2 inhibitor, but by an inhibitor of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC), resveratrol, and in the case of VIN, also, by a p38 inhibitor. Estrogen (ER) and androgen receptor (AR) modulators (estradiol, ICI 182,780, HPTE, testosterone, flutamide, VIN M2) did not attenuate MXC or VIN effects on GJIC. Our data also indicate that the effects were elicited by the parental compounds of MXC and VIN. Our study provides new evidence that MXC and VIN dysregulate GJIC via mechanisms involving rapid activation of PC-PLC occurring independently of ER- or AR-dependent genomic signaling. Such alterations of rapid intercellular and intracellular signaling events involved in regulations of gene expression, tissue development, function and homeostasis, could also contribute to transgenerational epigenetic effects of endocrine disruptors.

• Klíčová slova
• endocrine disruptors, epigenetic toxicity, gap junctional intercellular communication, mitogen-activated protein kinases, non-genomic signaling., phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C,
• MeSH
• androgenní receptory metabolismus   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• insekticidy toxicita   MeSH
• játra cytologie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kmenové buňky účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• konexin 43 metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• MAP kinasový signální systém účinky léků   MeSH
• methoxychlor toxicita   MeSH
• mezerový spoj účinky léků   MeSH
• mezibuněčná komunikace účinky léků   MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy p38 metabolismus   MeSH
• oxazoly toxicita   MeSH
• potkani inbrední F344 MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• androgenní receptory MeSH
• insekticidy MeSH
• konexin 43 MeSH
• methoxychlor MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy p38 MeSH
• oxazoly MeSH
• receptory pro estrogeny MeSH
• vinclozolin MeSH Prohlížeč

As part of the Halifax Project, this review brings attention to the potential effects of environmental chemicals on important molecular and cellular regulators of the cancer hallmark of evading growth suppression. Specifically, we review the mechanisms by which cancer cells escape the growth-inhibitory signals of p53, retinoblastoma protein, transforming growth factor-beta, gap junctions and contact inhibition. We discuss the effects of selected environmental chemicals on these mechanisms of growth inhibition and cross-reference the effects of these chemicals in other classical cancer hallmarks.

• MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory chemicky indukované   etiologie   MeSH
• nebezpečné látky škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nebezpečné látky MeSH

UNLABELLED: Dysregulation of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) has been associated with different pathologies, including cancer; however, molecular mechanisms regulating GJIC are not fully understood. Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK)-dependent mechanisms of GJIC-dysregulation have been well-established, however recent discoveries have implicated phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) in the regulation of GJIC. What is not known is how prevalent these two signaling mechanisms are in toxicant/toxin-induced dysregulation of GJIC, and do toxicants/toxins work through either signaling mechanisms or both, or through alternative signaling mechanisms. Different chemical toxicants were used to assess whether they dysregulate GJIC via MEK or PC-PLC, or both Mek and PC-PLC, or through other signaling pathways, using a pluripotent rat liver epithelial oval-cell line, WB-F344. Epidermal growth factor, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, thrombin receptor activating peptide-6 and lindane regulated GJIC through a MEK1/2-dependent mechanism that was independent of PC-PLC; whereas PAHs, DDT, PCB 153, dicumylperoxide and perfluorodecanoic acid inhibited GJIC through PC-PLC independent of Mek. Dysregulation of GJIC by perfluorooctanoic acid and R59022 required both MEK1/2 and PC-PLC; while benzoylperoxide, arachidonic acid, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, 1-monolaurin, pentachlorophenol and alachlor required neither MEK1/2 nor PC-PLC. Resveratrol prevented dysregulation of GJIC by toxicants that acted either through MEK1/2 or PC-PLC. Except for alachlor, resveratrol did not prevent dysregulation of GJIC by toxicants that worked through PC-PLC-independent and MEK1/2-independent pathways, which indicated at least two other, yet unidentified, pathways that are involved in the regulation of GJIC. IN CONCLUSION: the dysregulation of GJIC is a contributing factor to the cancer process; however the underlying mechanisms by which gap junction channels are closed by toxicants vary. Thus, accurate assessments of risk posed by toxic agents, and the role of dietary phytochemicals play in preventing or reversing the effects of these agents must take into account the specific mechanisms involved in the cancer process.

• MeSH
• analýza hlavních komponent MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• butadieny farmakologie   MeSH
• fosfatidylcholiny metabolismus   MeSH
• fosfolipasy typu C metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mezerový spoj účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• nitrily farmakologie   MeSH
• norbornany MeSH
• potkani inbrední F344 MeSH
• přemostěné cyklické sloučeniny farmakologie   MeSH
• resveratrol MeSH
• stilbeny farmakologie   MeSH
• thiokarbamáty MeSH
• thioketony farmakologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• butadieny MeSH
• fosfatidylcholiny MeSH
• fosfolipasy typu C MeSH
• nitrily MeSH
• norbornany MeSH
• phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C MeSH Prohlížeč
• přemostěné cyklické sloučeniny MeSH
• resveratrol MeSH
• stilbeny MeSH
• thiokarbamáty MeSH
• thioketony MeSH
• tricyclodecane-9-yl-xanthogenate MeSH Prohlížeč
• U 0126 MeSH Prohlížeč

Toxicity and liver tumor promotion of cyanotoxins microcystins have been extensively studied. However, recent studies document that other metabolites present in the complex cyanobacterial water blooms may also have adverse health effects. In this study we used rat liver epithelial stem-like cells (WB-F344) to examine the effects of cyanobacterial extracts on two established markers of tumor promotion, inhibition of gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) - ERK1/2. Extracts of cyanobacteria (laboratory cultures of Microcystis aeruginosa and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and water blooms dominated by these species) inhibited GJIC and activated MAPKs in a dose-dependent manner (effective concentrations ranging 0.5-5mgd.w./mL). Effects were independent of the microcystin content and the strongest responses were elicited by the extracts of Aphanizomenon sp. Neither pure microcystin-LR nor cylindrospermopsin inhibited GJIC or activated MAPKs. Modulations of GJIC and MAPKs appeared to be specific to cyanobacterial extracts since extracts from green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, heterotrophic bacterium Klebsiella terrigena, and isolated bacterial lipopolysaccharides had no comparable effects. Our study provides the first evidence on the existence of unknown cyanobacterial toxic metabolites that affect in vitro biomarkers of tumor promotion, i.e. inhibition of GJIC and activation of MAPKs.

• MeSH
• aktivace enzymů účinky léků   MeSH
• alkaloidy MeSH
• Aphanizomenon chemie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• bakteriální toxiny MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• extracelulárním signálem regulované MAP kinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• fosforylace účinky léků   MeSH
• karcinogeny chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• komplexní směsi chemie   toxicita   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mezerový spoj účinky léků   MeSH
• mezibuněčná komunikace účinky léků   MeSH
• Microcystis chemie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• mikrocystiny analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy metabolismus   MeSH
• sinice chemie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• sladká voda mikrobiologie   MeSH
• toxiny kmene Cyanobacteria MeSH
• uracil analogy a deriváty   toxicita   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• srovnávací studie MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alkaloidy MeSH
• bakteriální toxiny MeSH
• cylindrospermopsin MeSH Prohlížeč
• extracelulárním signálem regulované MAP kinasy MeSH
• karcinogeny MeSH
• komplexní směsi MeSH
• mikrocystiny MeSH
• mitogenem aktivované proteinkinasy MeSH
• toxiny kmene Cyanobacteria MeSH
• uracil MeSH

Non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (NDL-PCBs) have been shown to act as tumor promoters in liver; however, the exact mechanisms of their action are still only partially understood. One of the interesting effects of NDL-PCBs is the acute inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC), an effect, which has been often found to be associated with tumor promotion. As previous studies have suggested that NDL-PCB-induced disruption of lipid signalling pathways might correspond with GJIC inhibition, we investigated effects of PCBs on the release of arachidonic acid (AA) in the rat liver epithelial WB-F344 cell line, a well-established model of liver progenitor cells. We found that both 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 47) and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153), but not the dioxin-like, non-ortho-substituted, 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126), induce a massive release of AA. The AA release, induced by PCB 153, was partially inhibited by extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) signalling inhibitor, U0126, and by cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)) inhibitor, AACOCF(3). Although PCB 153 induced both ERK1/2 and p38 activation, the specific p38 kinase inhibitor, SB203580, had no effect on AA release. Inhibitors of other phospholipases, including phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C or phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C, were also without effect. Taken together, our findings suggest that the AA release, induced by non-dioxin-like PCBs in liver progenitor cell line, is partially mediated by cytosolic PLA(2) and regulated by ERK1/2 kinases. Our results suggest that more attention should be paid to cell signalling pathways regulated by AA or eicosanoids after PCB exposure, which might be involved in their toxic effects.

• MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• cytosolické fosfolipasy A2 účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• epitelové buňky účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• játra cytologie   účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• kmenové buňky účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kyselina arachidonová metabolismus   MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí toxicita   MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 1 účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 3 účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly farmakologie   toxicita   MeSH
• potkani inbrední F344 MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2,4,2',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl MeSH Prohlížeč
• 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl MeSH Prohlížeč
• 3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl MeSH Prohlížeč
• cytosolické fosfolipasy A2 MeSH
• kyselina arachidonová MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 1 MeSH
• mitogenem aktivovaná proteinkinasa 3 MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly MeSH

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are thought to cause numerous adverse health effects, but their impact on estrogen signaling is still not fully understood. In the present study, we used the ER-CALUX bioassay to determine estrogenic/antiestrogenic activities of the prevalent PCB congeners and PCB mixtures isolated from human male serum. The samples were collected from residents of an area with an extensive environmental contamination from a former PCB production site as well as from a neighboring background region in eastern Slovakia. We found that the lower-chlorinated PCBs were estrogenic, whereas the prevalent higher-chlorinated PCB congeners 138, 153, 170, 180, 187, 194, 199, and 203, as well as major PCB metabolites, behaved as antiestrogens. Coplanar PCBs had no direct effect on estrogen receptor (ER) activation in this in vitro model. In human male serum samples, high levels of PCBs were associated with a decreased ER-mediated activity and an increased dioxin-like activity, as determined by the DR-CALUX assay. 17beta-Estradiol (E2) was responsible for a major part of estrogenic activity identified in total serum extracts. Significant negative correlations were found between dioxin-like activity, as well as mRNA levels of cytochromes P450 1A1 and 1B1 in lymphocytes, and total estrogenic activity. For sample fractions containing only persistent organic pollutants (POPs), the increased frequency of antiestrogenic samples was associated with a higher sum of PCBs. This suggests that the prevalent non-dioxin-like PCBs were responsible for the weak antiestrogenic activity of some POPs fractions. Our data also suggest that it might be important to pay attention to direct effects of PCBs on steroid hormone levels in heavily exposed subjects.

• MeSH
• estradiol krev   MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• plynová chromatografie s hmotnostně spektrometrickou detekcí MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly analýza   toxicita   MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků agonisté   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Slovenská republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• estradiol MeSH
• látky znečišťující životní prostředí MeSH
• polychlorované bifenyly MeSH
• receptory aromatických uhlovodíků MeSH