The impact of endocrine-disrupting chemicals on oxidative stress and innate immune response in zebrafish embryos

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 32; no. 8; pp. 1793 - 1799
• Main Authors: Xu, Hai, Yang, Ming, Qiu, Wenhui, Pan, Chenyuan, Wu, Minghong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Pensacola, FL Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.08.2013; SETAC
• Subjects: Agnatha. Pisces; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Benzhydryl Compounds - toxicity; Biological and medical sciences; Bisphenol A; Danio rerio; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on vertebrates; Embryo, Nonmammalian - drug effects; Embryo, Nonmammalian - immunology; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Embryos; Endocrine Disruptors - toxicity; Environmental estrogen; Exposure; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene expression; Gene Expression - drug effects; Genes; Immune system; Immune systems; Immunity, Innate - drug effects; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nonylphenol; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Phenols - pharmacology; Phenols - toxicity; Proteins; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Teratology. Teratogens; Zebrafish; Zebrafish - embryology; Zebrafish - immunology; Oxidative stress; Embryo; Toxicity; Chemical compound; Estrogen; Surfactant polymer; Natural immunity; Organism defense; Environmental estrogen; Toxic association; Pisces; Teratogen; Immune system; Mimetic hormone; Poison interaction; Immune response; Non ionic surfactant; Endocrine disruptor; Bisphenol A; Pollutant; Vertebrata; Brachydanio rerio; Phenols; Cyprinidae; Nonylphenol; Degradation product
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.2245

Bisphenol A (BPA) and nonylphenol (NP) are well known endocrine‐disrupting chemicals (EDCs) ubiquitous in the aquatic environment and are an ecotoxicological risk for the health of aquatic organisms. Limited attention has been given to the immunotoxicity of these chemicals. The present study revealed a concentration‐dependent increase of reactive oxygen species content and an induced expression of redox‐sensitive transcription factors in zebrafish embryos after exposure to various concentrations of BPA, NP, and BPA/NP mixture for 4 h to 168 h postfertilization. Transcription of genes related to the immune response, including IFNγ, IL1β, IL10, Mx, TNFα, CC‐chemokine, and CXCL‐clc, were significantly up‐regulated on exposure to EDCs. A significant induction of concentrations of proinflammatory mediator, nitric oxide, accompanied by an increase in the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and an upregulation of inducible NOS gene expression, was detected in zebrafish embryos on exposures to EDCs. To elucidate the potential mechanisms by which BPA and NP activate the innate immune response, expression profiles of genes related to the Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) signaling pathway were examined. Expressions of TLR3, TRIF, MyD88, SARM, IRAK4, and TRAF6 were altered on exposure to EDCs. The authors' results demonstrate that exposure to BPA and NP significantly affects the expression of genes related to immune response in zebrafish embryos following oxidative stress. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1793–1799. © 2013 SETAC