Effects of estrogen on the stress response in CuSO sub(4)-exposed PLHC-1 cells

• Published in: Marine environmental research Vol. 50; no. 1-5; pp. 509 - 512
• Main Authors: Moreland, J J, Arrieta, DE, Washburn, B S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2000
• Subjects: Brackish; estrogens; Freshwater; hsp60 protein; Marine; Poeciliopsis lucida
• ISSN: 0141-1136

As part of an effort to validate the use of heat shock proteins (hsp) as a biomarker of adverse effect, we investigated the impact of estrogen (E sub(2)), the hormone responsible for vitellogenisis in fish, on the induction of hsp 60 and 70. PLHC-1 (Poeciliopsis lucida hepatoma cell line) cells were cultured under standard conditions and treated with either 16 ppm copper; a known inducer of hsp 60 and 70, 1 mu M estradiol, a combination of copper and estradiol, or media alone. Copper induced both hsp 60 and 70 two fold, while E sub(2) alone had no effect. The combination of the copper and E sub(2) inhibited the hsp 70 response, indicated by a 51% decrease in cellular hsp 70 compared to the copper treatment alone. In contrast, the expression of hsp 60 in the cells exposed to the copper-estradiol mixture was not significantly different than that in the copper-exposed cells. The results suggest that the use of hsp 70 induction in fish liver as a biomarker of effect may be limited by the gender and sexual maturity of the fish.