Latest Publications

@article{pencikova_vitro_2018,

title = {In vitro profiling of toxic effects of prominent environmental lower-chlorinated PCB congeners linked with endocrine disruption and tumor promotion.},

author = {Kateřina Pěnčíková and Lucie Svržková and Simona Strapáčová and Jiří Neča and Iveta Bartoňková and Zdeněk Dvořák and Martina Hýžďalová and Jakub Pivnička and Lenka Pálková and Hans-Joachim Lehmler and Xueshu Li and Jan Vondráček and Miroslav Machala},

doi = {10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.067},

issn = {1873-6424 0269-7491},

year  = {2018},

date = {2018-06-01},

journal = {Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987)},

volume = {237},

pages = {473–486},

abstract = {The mechanisms contributing to toxic effects of airborne lower-chlorinated PCB congeners (LC-PCBs) remain poorly characterized. We evaluated in vitro toxicities of environmental LC-PCBs found in both indoor and outdoor air (PCB 4, 8, 11, 18, 28 and 31), and selected hydroxylated metabolites of PCB 8, 11 and 18, using reporter gene assays, as well as other functional cellular bioassays. We focused on processes linked with endocrine disruption, tumor promotion and/or regulation of transcription factors controlling metabolism of both endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. The tested LC-PCBs were found to be mostly efficient anti-androgenic (within nanomolar - micromolar range) and estrogenic (at micromolar concentrations) compounds, as well as inhibitors of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) at micromolar concentrations. PCB 8, 28 and 31 were found to partially inhibit the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated activity. The tested LC-PCBs were also partial constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and pregnane X receptor (PXR) agonists, with PCB 4, 8 and 18 being the most active compounds. They were inactive towards other nuclear receptors, such as vitamin D receptor, thyroid receptor α, glucocorticoid receptor or peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ. We found that only PCB 8 contributed to generation of oxidative stress, while all tested LC-PCBs induced arachidonic acid release (albeit without further modulations of arachidonic acid metabolism) in human lung epithelial cells. Importantly, estrogenic effects of hydroxylated (OH-PCB) metabolites of LC-PCBs (4-OH-PCB 8, 4-OH-PCB 11 and 4'-OH-PCB 18) were higher than those of the parent PCBs, while their other toxic effects were only slightly altered or suppressed. This suggested that metabolism may alter toxicity profiles of LC-PCBs in a receptor-specific manner. In summary, anti-androgenic and estrogenic activities, acute inhibition of GJIC and suppression of the AhR-mediated activity were found to be the most relevant modes of action of airborne LC-PCBs, although they partially affected also additional cellular targets.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {Air Pollutants/*toxicity, Airborne polychlorinated biphenyls, Cell Line, Constitutive Androstane Receptor, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/metabolism, Endocrine disruption, Endocrine Disruptors/metabolism/*toxicity, Epithelial Cells/drug effects, Humans, HydroxyLated PCBs, Hydroxylation, Metabolism of xenobiotics, Neoplasms/metabolism, Polychlorinated Biphenyls/metabolism/*toxicity, Pregnane X receptor, Receptors, Signal Transduction/drug effects, Steroid/metabolism, Tumor promotion},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{kummer_estrogenic_2008,

title = {Estrogenic activity of environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in uterus of immature Wistar rats.},

author = {Vladimír Kummer and Jarmila Masková and Zdenek Zralý and Jirí Neca and Pavlína Simecková and Jan Vondrácek and Miroslav Machala},

doi = {10.1016/j.toxlet.2008.06.862},

issn = {0378-4274},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-08-01},

journal = {Toxicology letters},

volume = {180},

number = {3},

pages = {212–221},

abstract = {Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important group of environmental pollutants, known for their mutagenic and carcinogenic activities. Many PAHs are aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands and several recent studies have suggested that PAHs or their metabolites may activate estrogen receptors (ER). The present study investigated possible estrogenic/antiestrogenic effects of abundant environmental contaminants benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), benz[a]anthracene (BaA), fluoranthene (Fla) and benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF) in vivo, using the immature rat uterotrophic assay. The present results suggest that BaA, BaP and Fla behaved as estrogen-like compounds in immature Wistar rats, when applied for 3 consecutive days at 10mg/kg/day, as documented by a significant increase of uterine weight and hypertrophy of luminal epithelium. These effects were likely to be mediated by ERalpha, a major subtype of ER present in uterus, as they were inhibited by treatment with ER antagonist ICI 182,780. BaA, the most potent of studied PAHs, induced a significant estrogenic effect within a concentration range 0.1-50mg/kg/day; however, it did not reach the maximum level induced by reference estrogens. The proposed antiestrogenicity of the potent AhR agonist BkF was not confirmed in the present in vivo study; the exposure to BkF did not significantly affect the uterine weight, although a weak suppression of ERalpha immunostaining was observed in luminal and glandular epithelium, possibly related to its AhR-mediated activity. The PAHs under study did not induce marked genotoxic damage in uterine tissues, as documented by the lack of Ser-15-phoshorylated p53 protein staining. With the exception of Fla, all three remaining compounds increased CYP1-dependent monooxygenation activities in liver at the doses used, suggesting that the potential tissue-specific antiestrogenic effects of PAHs mediated by metabolization of 17beta-estradiol also cannot be excluded. Taken together, these environmentally relevant PAHs induced estrogenic effects in vivo, which might affect their toxic impact and carcinogenicity.},

note = {Place: Netherlands},

keywords = {Animals, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/metabolism, Endocrine Disruptors/*toxicity, Environmental Pollutants/*toxicity, Epithelium/drug effects, Estradiol/metabolism, Estrogen Receptor alpha/metabolism, Estrogens/*biosynthesis, Female, Hydroxylation, Immunohistochemistry, Liver/drug effects/metabolism, Microsomes, Organ Size/drug effects, Ovary/drug effects, Phosphorylation, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*toxicity, Rats, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism, Uterus/drug effects/*metabolism, Wistar},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{vondracek_aryl_2005,

title = {Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-activating polychlorinated biphenyls and their hydroxylated metabolites induce cell proliferation in contact-inhibited rat liver epithelial cells.},

author = {Jan Vondrácek and Miroslav Machala and Vítezslav Bryja and Katerina Chramostová and Pavel Krcmár and Cornelia Dietrich and Ales Hampl and Alois Kozubík},

doi = {10.1093/toxsci/kfi009},

issn = {1096-6080 1096-0929},

year  = {2005},

date = {2005-01-01},

journal = {Toxicological sciences : an official journal of the Society of Toxicology},

volume = {83},

number = {1},

pages = {53–63},

abstract = {Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) exhibit tumor-promoting effects in experimental animals. We investigated effects of six model PCB congeners and hydroxylated PCB metabolites on proliferation of contact-inhibited rat liver epithelial WB-F344 cells. The 'dioxin-like' PCB congeners, PCB 126, PCB 105, and 4'-OH-PCB 79, a metabolite of the planar PCB 77 congener, induced cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, the 'non-dioxin-like' compounds that are not aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists, PCB 47, PCB 153, and 4-OH-PCB 187, an abundant noncoplanar PCB metabolite, had no effect on cell proliferation at concentrations up to 10 muM. The concentrations of dioxin-like PCBs leading to cell proliferation corresponded with the levels inducing the expression of cytochrome P450 1A1 mRNA, suggesting that the release from contact inhibition was associated with AhR activation. The effects of PCB 126 and PCB 153 on expression of proteins controlling G0/G1-S-phase transition and S-phase progression were compared. Only PCB 126 was found to upregulate cyclin A and D2 protein levels, and to increase both total cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (cdk2) and cyclin A/cdk2 complex activities. Despite the observed upregulation of cyclin D2, no increase in cdk4 activity was observed. The expression of cdk inhibitor p27Kip1 was not affected by either PCB 126 or PCB 153. These results suggest that dioxin-like PCBs can induce cell proliferation of contact-inhibited rat liver epithelial cells by increasing cyclin A protein levels, a process that then leads to upregulation of cyclin A/cdk2 activity and initiation of DNA replication. This mechanism could be involved in tumor-promoting effects of dioxin-like PCBs.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {Animals, Aryl Hydrocarbon/*metabolism, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation/*drug effects, Cyclin A/biosynthesis, Cyclin D2, Cyclin-Dependent Kinases/biosynthesis, Cyclins/biosynthesis, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Epithelial Cells/*drug effects/enzymology/metabolism, Hydroxylation, Liver/*cytology, Polychlorinated Biphenyls/metabolism/*toxicity, Rats, Receptors, Stem Cells/*drug effects/enzymology/metabolism, Up-Regulation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{machala_toxicity_2004,

title = {Toxicity of hydroxylated and quinoid PCB metabolites: inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication and activation of aryl hydrocarbon and estrogen receptors in hepatic and mammary cells.},

author = {Miroslav Machala and Ludek Bláha and Hans-Joachim Lehmler and Martina Plísková and Zuzana Májková and Petra Kapplová and Iva Sovadinová and Jan Vondrácek and Tina Malmberg and Larry W. Robertson},

doi = {10.1021/tx030034v},

issn = {0893-228X},

year  = {2004},

date = {2004-03-01},

journal = {Chemical research in toxicology},

volume = {17},

number = {3},

pages = {340–347},

abstract = {In the present study, a series of 32 hydroxy- and dihydroxy-polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs) and PCB-derived quinones were prepared and evaluated for their in vitro potencies to downregulate gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and to activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the estrogen receptor alpha (ER) in well-established liver and mammary cell models. The rat liver epithelial cell line WB-F344 was used for in vitro determination of GJIC inhibition; the AhR-inducing activity was determined in the rat hepatoma H4IIE.Luc cells stably transfected with a luciferase reporter gene; ER-mediated activity was measured in two breast carcinoma cell lines, MVLN and T47D.Luc, stably transfected with luciferase under the control of estrogen responsive element. Acute inhibition of GJIC, potentially associated with tumor promotion, was detected after treatment with all OH-PCBs under study, with the persistent OH-PCBs being the strongest ones. Several compounds were found to significantly induce the AhR-mediated activity, including 4'-OH-PCB 79, a metabolite of PCB 77, and 2-(4'-chloro)- and 2-(3',4'-dichloro)-1,4-benzoquinones and 1,4-hydroquinones. Low molecular weight OH-PCBs, such as 3'-hydroxy, 4'-, and 3',4'-dihydroxy-4-chlorobiphenyl, elicited significant estrogenic activity and potentiated effect of 17beta-estradiol. Antiestrogenic potencies, determined in the presence of 17beta-estradiol, were found for persistent 4-OH-PCB 187, 4-OH-PCB 146, and some low chlorinated PCB derivatives. However, no apparent association between induction of AhR activity and antiestrogenicity was observed. The majority of the OH-PCBs suppressed the 17beta-estradiol response only at cytotoxic concentrations. Spearman's rank correlations were calculated for these biological data and the physicochemical descriptors, hydrophobicity (log P), molar volume, pKa, log D, and dihedral angle. Significant correlations were found between potency to downregulate GJIC and log P and molar volume (R = -0.7, p < 0.0001). Antiestrogenic effects were also negatively correlated with hydrophobicity and molar volume. No significant correlations among other biological end points and the physicochemical descriptors were observed for the entire set of compounds. These results show that oxygenated PCB metabolites are capable of multiple adverse effects, including gap junction inhibition, AhR-mediated activity, and (anti)estrogenicity. The inhibition of GJIC by OH-PCBs represents a novel mode of action of both the lower chlorinated and the persisting high molecular weight OH-PCBs.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {Adenocarcinoma/metabolism/pathology, Animals, Aryl Hydrocarbon/*biosynthesis, Breast Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology, Carcinoma, Cell Line, Cell Survival/drug effects, Dose-Response Relationship, Down-Regulation, Drug, Environmental Pollutants/*toxicity, Epithelial Cells/drug effects/metabolism, Estrogen/*biosynthesis, Gap Junctions/*drug effects/metabolism, Hepatocellular/metabolism/pathology, Humans, Hydroquinones, Hydroxylation, Liver Neoplasms/metabolism/pathology, Neoplasms/*metabolism/pathology, Polychlorinated Biphenyls/*toxicity, Quinones/*toxicity, Rats, Receptors, Tumor},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}