• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.216-221
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• 2009

Bisphenol A (BPA) is commonly used in the production of pharmaceutical, industrial, and housing epoxy, as well as polycarbonate plastics. Owing to its extensive use, BPA can contaminate the environment either directly or through derivatives of these products. BPA has been classified as an endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), and the primary toxicity of these EDCs in males involves the induction of reproductive system abnormality. First, in order to evaluate the direct effects on the Y chromosome associated with reproduction, we evaluated Y chromosome abnormalities using a Y chromosome microdeletion detection kit. However, we detected no Yq abnormality as the result of BPA exposure. Secondly, we performed high-density oligonucleotide array-based comparative genome hybridization (CGH) to assess genomic alteration as a component of our toxicity assessment. The results of our data analysis revealed some changes in copy number. Seven observed features were gains or losses in chromosomal DNA (P-value<1.0e-5, average log2 ratio>0.2). Interestingly, 21 probes of chr7:7312289-10272836 (qA1-qA2 in cytoband) were a commonly observed amplification (P-value 3.69e-10). Another region, chr14:4551029-10397399, was also commonly amplified (P-value 2.93e-12, average of log2 ratios in segment>0.3786). These regions include many genes associated with pheromone response, transcription, and signal transduction using ArrayToKegg software. These results help us to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the reproductive effects induced by BPA.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.165-171
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• 2007

Mitomycin C (MMC), an antitumor antibiotic isolated from Streptomyces caespitosus, is used in chemotherapy of gastric, bladder and colorectal cancer. MMC is activated in vivo to alkylate and crosslink DNA, via G-G interstrand bonds, thereby inhibiting DNA synthesis and transcription. This study investigates gene expression changes in response to MMC treatment in order to elucidate the mechanisms of MMC-induced toxicity. MMC was admistered with single dose (0.32 and 1.6 ${\mu}M$) to TK6 cells. Applied Biosystem's DNA chips were used for identifying the gene expression profile by MMC-induced toxicity. We identified up- or down-regulated 90 genes including cyclin M2, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (p21, cip1), programmed cell death 1, tumor necrosis factor (ligand) superfamily, member 9, et al. The regulated genes by MMC associated with the biological pathways apoptosis signaling pathway. Further characterization of these candidate markers related to the toxicity will be useful to understand the detailed mechanism of action of MMC.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2010

Statins are competitive inhibitors of hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase and used most frequently to reduce plasma cholesterol levels and to decrease cardiovascular events. However, statins also have been reported to have undesirable side effects such as myotoxicity and hepatotoxicity associated with their intrinsic efficacy mechanisms. Clinical studies recurrently reported that statin therapy elevated the level of liver enzymes such as ALT and AST in patients suggesting possible liver toxicity due to statins. This observation has been drawn great attention since statins are the most prescribed drugs and statin-therapy was extended to a larger number of high-risk patients. Here we employed rat primary hepatocytes and microarray technique to understand underlying mechanism responsible for statin-induced liver toxicity on cell level. We isolated genes whose expressions were commonly modulated by statin treatments and examined their biological functions. It is of interest that those genes have function related to response to stress in particular immunity and defense in cells. Our study provided the basic information on cellular mechanism of statin-induced cytotoxicity and may serve for finding indicator genes of statin -induced toxicity in rat primary hepatocytes.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 2006

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms associated with early renal injury induced by gentamicin, the most commonly used antibiotics worldwide in the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections. We have identified genes differentially expressed at different duration of gentamicin administration. C57BL/6 female mice were treated daily with gentamicin (20 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 200mg/kg) for 7 days and then sacrificed at day 1, 3, and 7 after administration. Standard blood biochemistry and histopathological observation indicative of nephrotoxicity were made. Total RNA was extracted from the kidney for microarray analysis using Affymetrix $GeneChip^{\circledR}$. Five hundred and seventy eight genes were identified as being either up-or down-regulated over 2-fold changes during early renal injury (p<0.05) and were analyzed by hierarchical clustering. The results showed that the genes involved in early immune responses were differentially regulated during early renal injury. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed sample separation according to the degree of renal toxicity. In addition, we identified two potential biomarkers that may predict early renal toxicity. This data may contribute to elucidate of the genetic events during early renal injury and to discover the potential biomarkers for nephrotoxicity induced by gentamicin.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2000

The mechanisms of benzene toxicity is not fully elucidated, although the metabolism of benzene is very well understood. In order to study the mechanism of benzene toxicity, we investigated DNA damage induced by benzene metabolite, 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT) in HL-60 cells by alkaline comet assay. To investigate the mechanism of cellular DNA damage induced by BT, the cells were treated with antioxidant such as vitamin C, SOD, catalase, and chelating agent such as deferoxamine (DFO), bathocuproinedisulfonic acid (BCDS). BT induced DNA damage in dose-dependent manner at concentration between 10$\mu\textrm{m}$ and 100$\mu\textrm{m}$. The antioxidant vitamin C itself induced DNA damage at higher concentration. The DNA damage induced by BT in HL-60 cells was protected at low concentraiton of vitamin C whereas no protective effect was found at high concentration. In hibitory effect of SOD on DNA damage by BT was observed and this suggested that BT produce superoxide anion (O2-) causing DNA damage. Catalase protected BT-induced DNA damage suggesting that BT produce H2O2 during autooxidation of BT. Both Fe(II)-specific cheiating agent, deferoxamine (DFO) and Cu(I)-specific chelating agent, bathocuproinedisulfonic acid (BCDS) inhibited BT0induced DNA damage. This suggested that DNA damage was caused by active species which was produced DAN damage. This suggested that DNA damage was caused by active species which was produced by the autooxidation of BT in the presence of Cu(II) and Fe(III). These findings suggest that reactive oxygen species play an important role in the mechanism of toxicity induced by benzene metabolites.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2006

Gadolinium chloride ($GdCl_{3}$) was known to block Kupffer cells and generally its toxicity study based on blocking these cells. Therefore, $GdCl_{3}$ frequently used to study toxic mechanisms of hepatotoxicants inducing injury through Kupffer cells. We also tried to investigate the effect of $GdCl_{3}\;on\;CCl_{4}$ toxicity, typical hepatotoxicants. Administration of $GdCl_{3}$ to mice significantly suppressed AST (asparatate amino transferase), ALT (alanine amino transferase) levels which were increased by $CCl_{4}$ treatment. However, $GdCl_{3}$ didn't inhibit the phagocytotic activity of Kupffer cells. Malondialdehyde (MDA) is a good indicator of the degree of lipid peroxidation. In this study, MDA increased by $GdCl_{3}$ administration not by $CCl_{4}$. To understand the toxicity of $GdCl_{3}$, we analyzed global gene expression profile of mice liver after acute $GdCl_{3}$ injection. Four hundred fifty two genes were differentially expressed with more than 2-fold in at least one time point among 3 hr, 6 hr, and 24 hr. Several genes involved in fibrogenesis regulation. Several types of pro-collagens (Col1a2, Col5a2, Col6a3, and Col13a1) and tissue inhibitor of metal-loproteinase1 (TIMP1) were up regulated during all the time points. Genes related to growth factors, chemokines, and oxidative stress, which were known to control fibrogenesis, were significantly changed. In addition, $GdCl_{3}$ induced abnormal regulation between lipid synthesis and degradation related genes. These data will provide the information about influence of $GdCl_{3}$ to hepatotoxicity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1052-1060
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• 2018

Triclosan (TCS) is a phenolic antimicrobial chemical used in consumer products and medical devices. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo animal studies has linked TCS to numerous health problems, including allergic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative disease. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system, we here show that short-term TCS treatment ($LC_{50}$: ~0.2 mM) significantly induced mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, TCS-induced mortality was dramatically suppressed by co-treatment with non-ionic surfactants (NISs: e.g., Tween 20, Tween 80, NP-40, and Triton X-100), but not with anionic surfactants (e.g., sodium dodecyl sulfate). To identify the range of compounds susceptible to NIS inhibition, other structurally related chemical compounds were also examined. Of the compounds tested, only the toxicity of phenolic compounds (bisphenol A and benzyl 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) was significantly abrogated by NISs. Mechanistic analyses using TCS revealed that NISs appear to interfere with TCS-mediated mortality by micellar solubilization. Once internalized, the TCS-micelle complex is inefficiently exported in worms lacking PMP-3 (encoding an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter) transmembrane protein, resulting in overt toxicity. Since many EDCs and surfactants are extensively used in commercial products, findings from this study provide valuable insights to devise safer pharmaceutical and nutritional preparations.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.271-277
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• 2020

Toxicities to many organs caused by humidifier disinfectants have been reported. Recently, humidifier disinfectants have been reported to cause cardiovascular, embryonic, and hepatic toxicities. This study was designed to investigate the toxic mechanism of humidifier disinfectants and compare toxicity in a cellular model and a zebrafish animal model. Because brain toxicity and skin toxicity have been less studied than other organs, we evaluated toxicity in a human dermal cell line and zebrafish under various concentrations of humidifier disinfectants that included polyhexamethyleneguanidine phosphate (PHMG), oligo-[2-(2-ethoxy)-ethoxyethyl-guanidinium-chloride] (PGH) and methylchloroisothiazolinone/methylisothiazolinone (CMIT/MIT). A human dermal fibroblast cell line was treated with disinfectants (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 16 mg L^-1) to compare their cytotoxicity. The fewest PHMG-treated cells survived (up to 33%), while 49% and 40% of the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells, respectively, survived. The quantification of oxidized species in the media revealed that the PHMG-treated cells had the highest MDA content of around 28 nM, while the PGH- and CMIT/MIT-treated cells had 13 and 21 nM MDA, respectively. As for brain toxicity, treatment of the zebrafish tank water with CMIT/MIT (final 40 mg L^-1) for 30 min resulted in a 17-fold higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than in the control. Treatment with PGH or PHMG (final 40 mg L^-1) resulted in 15- and 11-fold higher production, respectively. The humidifier disinfectants (PHMG, PGH, and CMIT/MIT) showed severe dermal cell toxicity and brain toxicity. These toxicities may be relevant factors in understanding why some children have language disorders, motor delays, and developmental delays from exposure to humidifier disinfectants.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.172-178
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• 2005

[ $21{\alpha}$ ]- and ${\beta}$-Methylmelianodiol were isolated as the inhibitor of IL-5 bioactivity from Poncirus tripoliata. To develope as an anti-septic drug, the genotoxicity of $21{\alpha}\;-and\;{\beta}-methylmelianodiol$ was subjected to high throughput toxicity screening (HTTS) because they revealed strong IL-5 inhibitory activity and limitation of quantity. Mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase ($tk^{+/-}$) gene assay (MOLY), single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay in mammalian cells and Ames reverse mutation assay in bacterial system were used as simplified, inexpensive, short-term in vitro screening tests in our laboratory. These compounds are not mutagenic in S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains both in the presence and absence of metabolic activation. Before performing the comet assay, $IC_{20}$ of $21{\alpha}-methylmelianodiol$ was determined the concentration of $25.51\;{\mu}g/mL\;and\;21.99\;{\mu}g/mL$ with and without S-9, respectively. Also $21{\beta}-methylmelianodiol$ was determined the concentration of $24.15\;{\mu}g/mL\;and\;\;22.46\;{\mu}g/mL$ with and without S-9, respectively. In the comet assay, DNA damage was not observed both $21{\alpha}-methylmelianodiol\;and\;21{\beta}-methylmelianodiol$ in mouse lymphoma cell line. Also, the mutant frequencies in the treated cultures were similar to the vehicle controls, and none of $21{\alpha}\;-and\;{\beta}-methylmelianodiol$ with and without S-9 doses induced a mutant frequency over. twice the background. It is suggests that $21{\alpha}\;-and\;{\beta}-methylmelianodiol$ are non-mutagenic in MOLY assay. The results of this battery of assays indicate that $21{\alpha}\;-and\;{\beta}-methylmelianodiol$ have no genotoxic potential in bacterial or mammalian cell systems. Therefore, we suggest that $21{\alpha}\;-and\;{\beta}-methylmelianodiol$, as the optimal candidates with both no genotoxic potential and IL-5 inhibitory effects must be chosen.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.855-862
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• 2012

Caenorhabditis elegans, a free-living nematode mainly found in the soil pore water, roles the critical function in trophic levels, energy flow, and decomposition in soil ecosystem. C. elegans is commonly used species to test soil toxicity. Recently, they are employed broadly as a test organism in nanotoxicology. In this study, a review of the toxicity of nanomaterials for C. elegans was presented based on SCI (E) papers. The nanotoxicity studies using C. elegans have been reported in 20 instances including the mechanism of toxicity. Most studies used K-medium, S-medium, and NGM (Nematode Growth Medium) plate as an exposure medium to test toxicity of nanoparticles. The effects observed include anti aging, phototoxicity, genotoxicity, and dermal effects on C. elegans exposed to nanoparticles. We found that the toxic mechanisms were related with various aspects such as lifespan abnormality, oxidative stress, distribution of particles on inter-organisms, and stress-related gene analysis. C. elegans has advantage to test toxicity of nanoparticles due to various cellular activities, full genome information, and easy observation of transparent body. C. elegans was considered to be a good test species to evaluate the nanotoxicity.