Markers of Acute Toxicity in Pancreatic Beta-Cells Exposed to Lethal Doses of the Organochlorine Pollutant DDT Determined by a Proteomic Approach

ABSTRACTMany compounds have the potential to harm pancreatic beta-cells; organochlorine pollutants belong to those compounds. In this work, we aimed to find markers of acute toxicity of p,p‘-DDT among proteins expressed in human pancreatic beta-cells NES2Y and visible at 2-D electrophoresis. We exposed NES2Y cells to a lethal dose of p,p‘-DDT (150 μM) for 24 hours and 30 hours and determined changes in protein expression using 2-D electrophoresis. We also stained the cells exposed to p,p‘-DDT to visualize the altered phenotype of the exposed cells. Among proteins with changed expression, we identified proteins involved in ER stress (GRP78, and endoplasmin), mitochondrial proteins (GRP75, ECHM, IDH3A, NDUS1, and NDUS3), proteins with potential to change the cell morphology (EFHD2, TCPA, NDRG1, and ezrin), and some other proteins (HNRPF, HNRH1, K2C8, vimentin, PBDC1, EF2, PCNA, biliverdin reductase, G3BP1, FRIL, and HSP27). These proteins can be used as markers of acute DDT toxicity.

The association between prenatal exposure to organochlorine compounds and neonatal thyroid hormone levels: a systematic review

In this systematic review, the association between prenatal exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and neonatal thyroid hormone levels was studied. A systematic search of scientific literature was performed from the PubMed, SCOPUS and ISI web of science electronic bibliographic databases. The search strategy for the review was [(organochlorine OR “organochlorine pesticides” OR “organochlorine pollutants” OR “organochlorine pollutant”) AND (“thyroid hormone” OR triiodothyronine OR Thyroxine OR “fetal thyroid function” OR “thyroid function” OR “Thyroid Stimulating Hormone” AND “prenatal” AND “maternal exposure”)] in English sources. In this review, 305 papers (PubMed: 30; Scopus: 29; ISI: 246) were identified through an electronic database search. Twenty-seven articles were assessed for eligibility, from which 16 qualified articles were selected for the final evaluation. The most common OCP metabolites which were evaluated in order were hexachlorobenzene (HCB) (13 studies), pp-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (pp-DDE) (13 studies), hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) (10 studies) and dichlorodiphenyltrichlorethane (DDT) (eight studies). A review of the documents related to the association of prenatal exposure of OCPs with fetal or neonatal thyroid function tests provides us with heterogeneous data in this field. Factors such as differences in the studied populations and their area, ethnic and genetic background, time and rate of exposure, possible interaction of other thyroid-disrupting environmental factors and dietary intake of micronutrients such as iodine and/or selenium are considered the main limitations for making an accurate conclusion. For some OCPs including DDT, DDE, HCH and HCB, there are supporting evidences, and it is suggested that their exposure could potentially alter the fetal thyroid function and consequently impair the neurodevelopment process of the infants.

Transatlantic movements of juvenile Atlantic bluefin tuna inferred from analyses of organochlorine tracers

Ratios of certain organochlorine pollutants in fish tissues are significantly different between the eastern and western North Atlantic and have been used to identify recent (<1 year) transatlantic migrants of Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus). In this study we observed limited variation of organochlorine pollutant ratios across collections of young-of-the-year (YOY) bluefin tuna from the western North Atlantic (WNA) and eastern North Atlantic (ENA) in different years and highly significant differences between WNA and ENA YOY samples each year and for all years combined. A significant increase in organochlorine ratios was noted between YOY and age-1 ENA bluefin tuna, consistent with the movement of YOY out of the Mediterranean Sea and into the ENA. Using baseline organochlorine ratios from WNA YOY to identify recent eastern migrants, 29% of age-2, 33% of age-3, and 24% of age-4 juvenile bluefin tuna in the WNA were identified as recent migrants from the east during 2011 and 2012. Applying baseline ratios from age-1 ENA bluefin tuna to identify recent migrants from the WNA, 14.3% of age-2, 9.5% of age-3, and 0% of age-4 juvenile bluefin tuna caught in the Bay of Biscay fishery were identified as recent western migrants during 2010 and 2011. These data reveal substantial connectivity of juvenile bluefin tuna across the North Atlantic and demonstrate that WNA juveniles are heavily subsidized by eastern fish.