Enhancement of hypoxia-induced gene expression in fish liver by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)

Richard Man Kit YU, Patrick Kwok Shing NG, Tianfeng TAN, Daniel Ling Ho CHU, Shiu Sun Rudolf WU, Richard Yuen Chong KONG

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45 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Fish in polluted coastal habitats commonly suffer simultaneous exposure to both hypoxia and xenobiotics. Although the adaptive molecular responses to each stress have been described, little is known about the interaction between the signaling pathways mediating these responses. Previous studies in mammalian hepatoma cell lines have shown that hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)- and/or aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-activated gene expression is suppressed following co-exposure to hypoxia and the hallmark AhR ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). However, whether similar crosstalk exists in the non-tumor liver tissues of fish and whether other non-TCDD ligands also play the same inhibitory role in this crosstalk remain unknown. Here, the in vivo hepatic mRNA expression profiles of multiple hypoxia- and AhR-responsive genes (later gene expression = mRNA expression of the gene) were examined in the orange-spotted grouper (Epinephelus coioides) upon single and combined exposures to hypoxia and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). Combined exposure enhanced hypoxia-induced gene expression but did not significantly alter BaP-induced gene expression. Protein carbonyl content was markedly elevated in fish subjected to combined exposure, indicating accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Application of diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) to hypoxia-treated grouper liver explants similarly exaggerated hypoxia-induced gene expression as in the combined stress tissues in vivo. These observations suggest that ROS derived from the combined hypoxia and BaP stress have a role in enhancing hypoxia-induced gene expression. Copyright © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)235-242
JournalAquatic Toxicology
Volume90
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Nov 2008

Citation

Yu, R. M. K., Ng, P. K. S., Tan, T., Chu, D. L. H., Wu, R. S. S., & Kong, R. Y. C. (2008). Enhancement of hypoxia-induced gene expression in fish liver by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). Aquatic Toxicology, 90(3), 235-242. doi; 10.1016/j.aquatox.2008.09.004

Keywords

  • Hypoxia
  • Hypoxia-inducible factor
  • Aryl hydrocarbon receptor
  • Benzo[a]pyrene
  • Reactive oxygen species
  • Fish

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