Detecting p53 family proteins in haemocytic leukemia cells of Mytilus edulis from Pictou Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada

• Published in: Canadian journal of fisheries and aquatic sciences Vol. 62; no. 9; pp. 2055 - 2066
• Main Authors: St-Jean, S D, Stephens, R E, Courtenay, S C, Reinisch, C L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ottawa, Canada NRC Research Press 01.09.2005; National Research Council of Canada; Canadian Science Publishing NRC Research Press
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Cells; Contaminants; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial pollution; Leukemia; Marine; Marine and brackish environment; Microscopy; Mollusks; Municipal wastewater; Mytilus edulis; Proteins; Canada; Nova Scotia; North America; America; Nova Scotia Canada; Canada, Nova Scotia; Canada, Nova Scotia, Pictou; ANW, Canada, Nova Scotia, Pictou; Canada, Nova Scotia, Pictou Harbor; ANW, Canada, Nova Scotia, Pictou Harbour; Disease; Mytilus edulis; Leukemia; p53 Protein; Environmental factor; Harbor zone; Aquatic environment; Pollution; Bivalvia; Industrial waste water; Urban waste water; Water pollution; Biological effect; Invertebrata; Mollusca; Waste water discharge; Chemical contamination
• ISSN: 0706-652X; 1205-7533
• DOI: 10.1139/f05-119

Evaluating patterns of expression of p53-related proteins in cells is a novel approach in defining environmentally linked diseases. We have examined the induction of haemocytic leukemia in Mytilus edulis by municipal and industrial contaminants in Pictou Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada. We used a murine monoclonal antibody, 1E10, as a diagnostic reagent to detect leukemic cells. We first characterized the reactivity of 1E10 with both normal and leukemic Mytilus haemocytes by confocal microscopy. We then compared p53 gene family expression (p53, p63–p73, and p97) in normal versus leukemic haemocytes using a panel of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to p53 family proteins. The immunochemical data demonstrate that haemocytic leukemia cells of M. edulis differentially express p63–p73 and p97–p120 proteins. We subsequently used 1E10 to diagnose haemocytic leukemia in 500 M. edulis previously deployed 6 months earlier in Pictou Harbour. In the field, Mytilus caged near untreated municipal wastewater and bleached kraft pulpmill effluents have a significantly greater chance of developing haemocytic leukemia than do mussels exposed to reference sites.