Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR), a potentially carcinogenic toxin, is produced by Cyanobacteria such as Microcystis and Ananabacteria during water bloom. Increasing evidence demonstrated that MC-LR induces male reproductive toxicity, mainly by inducing germ cell apoptosis, destroying cell cytoskeleton, interfering with DNA damage repair pathway, and damaging blood-testicular barrier (BTB), which eventually lead to male sterility. Testicular Sertoli cells are the somatic cells that directly contact with spermatogenic cells in seminiferous tubules. They not only regulate immune response to maintain testicular immune homeostasis by secreting a variety of cytokines and immunosuppressive factors, but also provide the protective effects of spermatogenic cells by forming BTB. MC-LR induces inflammation and apoptosis of Sertoli cells, and destroys the integrity of the BTB, and then causes spermatogenesis dysfunction.
Male ; Humans ; Sertoli Cells ; Leucine/pharmacology* ; Arginine/pharmacology* ; Microcystins/metabolism* ; Immunity

OBJECTIVEAttempting to isolate and cultivate the microcytin-RR-producing cyanobacteria from natural blooms as well as to further investigate some characteristics of their growth and metabolite toxicity.

METHODSCapillary-pipette method was used to isolate wild Microcystis strains collected from eutrophicated lakes. The isolated strains were cultured in BG11 media at (25 ± 1) °C, under 2 000 lx illumination of fluorescent light with a light-dark rhythm of 12-12 h. The growth curve was observed by measuring optical density of culture suspension, toxin-related genes and the metabolite toxins were identified separately by PCR and HPLC, and its acute toxicity was carried out by orally administered toxins to Kunming (KM) mice.

RESULTSOne of five toxigenic strains from 198 collected samples was confirmed to be a MC-RR producing blue-green alga by existing two specific toxin-synthesized enzyme genes and showing specific chromatographic peak of the toxin compared with standard MC-RR through both PCR and HPLC methods. The toxic strain was classified as Microcystin aeruginosa by morphologic and phylogenetic tree analysis. The growth length of the strain lasted nearly 81 days with 55-60 days' exponential phase and the maximal concentration of 5.52 × 10⁷ cell/ml. The LD50 of the MC-RR to the KM mice ranged from 10.75 mg/kg to 13.45 mg/kg of body weight. As a result of the acute toxicity, the enzymatic indexes in serum such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly higher than those in the control group. The levels of ALT, AST, ALP and LDH in the treated group at 45 min were (157.08 ± 20.38), (333.00 ± 68.53), (392.70 ± 89.59) and (1 071.13 ± 160.22) U/L respectively, and at 4 h were (514.68 ± 156.87), (593.15 ± 40.41), (618.55 ± 208.76) and (2 281.72 ± 866.67) U/L respectively, and meanwhile the values of ALT, AST, ALP and LDH in the control group were (40.30 ± 4.89), (142.70 ± 26.59), (56.90 ± 11.89) and (509.50 ± 94.75) U/L separately (t values at 45 min were -11.20, -5.77, -7.38, -6.60 respectively, and at 4 h were -6.04, -20.21, -5.35, -4.07 respectively, P values were all <0.01). The liver coefficient in the treated group at 45 min and 4 h were 6.855 ± 0.225 and 8.409 ± 0.276, significantly higher than that (5.784 ± 0.286) in the control group (t values were -3.96 and -12.22, P values were both <0.01). The histopathological changes of liver were hyperemia obviously.

CONCLUSIONIsolated from the bloom waters, a strain of Microcystis aeruginosa is obtained with characteristics of longer growth duration, positive microcystin synthetase genes, and dominant production of MC-RR. The LD50 of the extracted MC-RR administered by oral route to mice is (12.10 ± 1.35) mg/kg of body weight, and liver is the target organ of MC-RR. The existence and potential risk of MC-RR in China cannot be ignored.

Animals ; China ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Cyanobacteria ; Hyperemia ; Lakes ; Liver ; Mice ; Microcystins ; Microcystis ; Phylogeny

OBJECTIVETo investigate the influence of microcystin-LR (MC-LR) on monocytes and lymphocytes in blood of mice and to find a sensitive index of toxic effects.

METHODSSpecific pathogen free Kunming male mice, aging 1 month-old,were randomly divided into 5 groups by weights, 7 mice for each group. The mice in 5 groups were exposed to MC-LR through intraperitoneal injection at 0, 3.125,6.250, 12.500 and 25.000 µg/kg respectively for 7 days. Then cytokine levels in the serum were measured by radioimmunoassay, DNA-protein crosslinks (DPC) was measured by the SDS/KCl precipitation technique, and the phagocytosis and ROS of leukocytes were detected by flow cytometry.

RESULTSThe levels of interleukin 6 in the 6.250, 12.500 and 25.000 µg·kg(-1)·d(-1) dose groups were (346.837 ± 25.536), (360.847 ± 37.886) and (434.245 ± 35.858)pg/ml respectively, which were significantly higher than those in the control group which the value was (232.775 ± 32.816) pg/ml (t values were -7.258, -6.760 and -10.966 respectively, P values were all < 0.05).While the level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha was(10.782 ± 0.966) fmol/ml in 25 µg·kg(-1)·d(-1) dose group was statistically lower than it in the control group which the value was (16.878 ± 3.378) fmol/ml (t value was 4.591, P < 0.05). The DPC levels of lymphocytes in 6.250, 12.500 µg·kg(-1)·d(-1) dose group were (242.576 ± 7.545),(241.472 ± 2.793) ng/ml,higher than it in the control group while the value was (228.657 ± 4.130) ng/ml (t value was -4.282, -6.801, P values were all <0.05). The fluorescence intensity of DCF in lymphocytes in the 4 treated groups were separately 3299.37 ± 120.54, 3281.38 ± 58.34, 3308.06 ± 136.12 and 3346.92 ± 108.69, all significantly lower than 3770.81 ± 131.39 in the control group (t values were 6.995, 9.007, 6.472 and 6.577 respectively, and P values were all <0.05). The fluorescence intensity of DCF in monocytes in the 4 treated groups (3271.51 ± 140.79, 3270.05 ± 117.92, 3326.90 ± 114.39 and 3292.49 ± 145.97 respectively) were also significantly lower than the value in the control group was 3841.72 ± 130.92 (t values were 7.847, 8.584, 7.835 and 7.411 respectively, P values were all <0.05). There was no significant difference in other index among the four experiment groups and the control group.

CONCLUSIONThe MC-LR administered via intraperitoneal injection to mice induced the alterations of some cytokines of monocytes and lymphocytes in blood. By comparison, the ROS of leukocyte was the most sensitive index.

Animals ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Lymphocytes ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Microcystins ; pharmacology ; Monocytes ; drug effects ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; metabolism

Microcystin is one of the monocyclic heptapeptides produced primarily by microcystis aeruginosa. Recent studies suggest that microcystin can induce cell apoptosis, as well as oxidative stress and mitochondrial alteration. Studies also indicate that Bcl-2 family and p53 may play an important role in the apoptosis induced by microcystin.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; physiology ; Humans ; Microcystins ; toxicity ; Microcystis ; metabolism ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; metabolism ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of microcystin-LR (MCLR) on the expression of base excision repair genes and genes related to apoptosis.

METHODSThe BRL-3A cells were exposed to different concentrations of MCLR for various periods of time and the cell viability was measured by MTT. The mRNA expression was determined with the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR).

RESULTSThe viability of BRL-3A cells significantly reduced in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In 30 µg/ml group, the mRNA expression level (1.327 ± 0.028) of p53 increased significantly at 24 h after exposure, as compared with the other groups (1.005 ± 0.117, 0.862 ± 0.154, 1.028 ± 0.056 and 1.015 ± 0.091) (P < 0.05). The mRNA expression levels (5.080 ± 0.729, 5.820 ± 0.373, 6.018 ± 0.359 and 6.183 ± 0.515) of Bax in all exposure groups were significantly higher than that (1.024 ± 0.277) in control group at 24 h after exposure. However, the Bax mRNA expression level (0.604 ± 0.146) in the 30 µg/ml group at 72 h after exposure was significantly lower than those (1.004 ± 0.107, 0.811 ± 0.142, 0.855 ± 0.101 and 0.814 ± 0.056) in other groups (P < 0.05). When compared with control group (1.006 ± 0.132) and 1 µg/ml group (1.034 ± 0.241), the mRNA expression level (0.488 ± 0.147) of PARP1 in 30 µg/ml group at 48 h after exposure decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels (0.594 ± 0.180, 0.491 ± 0.015 and 0.305 ± 0.091) of JWA, XRCC1 and PARP1 in 30 µg/ml group at 72 h after exposure decreased significantly, as compared with the other groups (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe induction of gene expression is a transient phenomenon that occurred at different times of exposure for different genes. Inhibition of MCLR on the base excision repair gene expression may play important role in the course of MCLR promoting liver tumor.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cell Line ; DNA Repair ; Gene Expression ; Microcystins ; toxicity ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Rats

OBJECTIVEIn vitro selection of specific RNA aptamers against microcystin-LR from a random RNA pool.

METHODSA RNA library with 40 randomized nucleotide positions was applied to select for specific aptamers to microcystin-LR covalently linked to Sepharose by using a standard in vitro selection protocol.

RESULTSThe specific enriched RNA aptamer for microcystin-LR increased step by step from initial round to 11th round after which a plateau of the aptamer quantity was observed between 11th and 13th round. The enriched RNAs from last round were reverse transcribed, PCR amplified and cloned into E. coli DH10 b competent cells. Sixty colonies were sequenced from which 38 sequences were aligned and classified into 3 families and 5 duplicates and no conserved sequences were found among them. Eight representative clones from the groups were selected for further binding experiments comparing with original pool RNA. Four clone RNAs were identified with relatively high affinity to microcystin-LR, of which MC25 clone RNA could combine with microcystin-LR as lower as 0.5 micromol/L.

CONCLUSIONSubpopulations of RNA molecules that bind specifically to microcystin-LR have been isolated from a population of random sequence RNA molecules, which might provide a new way for future application in environmental monitoring of microcystin.

Aptamers, Nucleotide ; Bacterial Toxins ; chemistry ; Base Sequence ; Cyanobacteria ; chemistry ; Microcystins ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Peptides, Cyclic ; chemistry ; RNA

Humans ; Male ; Semen ; Sperm Motility ; Mediation Analysis ; East Asian People ; Microcystins/toxicity* ; Spermatozoa ; Sperm Count ; Infertility, Male

OBJECTIVETo investigate the toxicological mechanism of microcystin-LR (MCLR) on L-02 cells.

METHODSL-02 cells was treated with MCLR at different concentrations and the subsequent changes such as cell proliferation (MTT assay), morphology, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, apoptosis rate and apoptosis-related gene expression were examined.

RESULTSMTT assay showed that MCLR mildly inhibited the cell growth within the initial 24 h of treatment but enhanced the cell viability after that till 60 h in a time- and dose-dependent manner. LDH leakage underwent no marked changes in response to 48-hour MCLR treatment but increased upon prolonged treatment for 60 h, indicating the presence of oxidative damage. After a 48-h treatment with MCLR at 50 microg/ml, obvious apoptosis of L-02 cells occurred as manifested by cell rounding, detachment from the substrate, cell shrinkage and membrane blebbing. The apoptosis rates were rather low (between 22% and 29%) after treatment with MCLR at different concentrations for 36 h, and increased to as much as 80% after a 60-h treatment with 50 microg/ml MCLR. The expressions of p53 and bcl-2 increased in the cells after treatment with high-concentration MCLR, suggesting that MCLR up-regulated the expression levels of the two proteins.

CONCLUSIONMCLR can induce apoptosis and up-regulate p53 and bcl-2 expressions in human normal liver cell line L-02.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line ; Hepatocytes ; cytology ; Humans ; Microcystins ; toxicity ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; biosynthesis ; genetics

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of antagonistic action of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on microcystin LR (MC-LR) induced oxidative damage on mice and the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) which was one of phase Iota detoxification enzymes.

METHODSA total of 24 specific pathogen free (SPF) male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into four groups, including control group, MC-LR group, low concentration EGCG group, and high concentration EGCG group. Mice were sacrificed on the 15th day, body weight, and the relative organ weight, liver antioxidant enzyme level and lipid peroxidation product, liver histopathology and CYP2E1 gene and protein expression were detected and analyzed respectively.

RESULTS(1) EGCG could antagonise the liver injury which had been damaged by MC-LR. (2) The malonaldehyde (MDA) level ((2.87 +/- 0.03) nmol/mg prot) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level ((168.18 +/- 2.86) U/mg prot) in MC-LR group were significantly different when compared with the two EGCG treatment groups (the MDA values of the low and high concentration EGCG group were (2.37 +/- 0.05) nmol/mg prot and (1.44 +/- 0.05) nmol/mg prot, F = 906.63, P < 0.01; the SOD values were (176.55 +/- 2.98) U/mg prot and (184.89 +/- 1.53) U/mg prot, F = 32.32, P < 0.01). (3) MC-LR up-regulated the mRNA and protein expression of CYP2E1 (the mRNA values of MC-LR group and control were 1.41 +/- 0.26, 0.86 +/- 0.13, t = -4.22, P = 0.003; the protein values of MC-LR group and control were 0.24 +/- 0.03, 0.12 +/- 0.02, t = -9.21, P < 0.05). EGCG down-regulated the mRNA (the values of the low and high concentration EGCG group were 1.09 +/- 0.08, 0.99 +/- 0.09, F = 9.03, P = 0.004) and protein expression (the values of the low and high concentration EGCG group were 0.21 +/- 0.03, 0.14 +/- 0.02, F = 24.76, P < 0.05) of CYP2E1 which activated by MC-LR.

CONCLUSIONThe up-regulation of CYP2E1 which induced by MC-LR was inhibited by EGCG intervention. EGCG might antagonize the oxidation damage of hepatocytes in a certain degree.

Animals ; Catechin ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 ; metabolism ; Hepatocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Microcystins ; adverse effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects

Animals ; Gene Expression ; Genes, p53 ; Liver ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Liver Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; Male ; Microcystins ; toxicity ; Mutation ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar