Gene expression profiling of rat livers reveals indicators of potential adverse effects.
This study tested the hypothesis that gene expression profiling can reveal indicators of subtle injury to the liver induced by a low dose of a substance that does not cause overt toxicity as defined by conventional criteria of toxicology (e.g., abnormal clinical chemistry and histopathology). For the purpose of this study we defined this low dose as subtoxic, i.e., a dose that elicits effects which are below the detection of conventional toxicological parameters. Acetaminophen (APAP) was selected as a model hepatotoxicant because (1) considerable information exists concerning the mechanism of APAP hepatotoxicity that can occur following high doses, (2) intoxication with APAP is the leading cause of emergency room visits involving acute liver failure within the United States, and (3) conventional clinical markers have poor predictive value. Rats treated with a single dose of 0, 50, 150, or 1500 mg/kg APAP were examined at 6, 24, or 48 h after exposure for conventional toxicological parameters and for gene expression alterations. Patterns of gene expression were found which indicated cellular energy loss as a consequence of APAP toxicity. Elements of these patterns were apparent even after exposure to subtoxic doses. With increasing dose, the magnitude of changes increased and additional members of the same biological pathways were differentially expressed. The energy loss suggested by gene expression changes was confirmed at the 1500 mg/kg dose exposure by measuring ATP levels. Only by ultrastructural examination could any indication of toxicity be identified after exposure to a subtoxic dose of APAP and that was occasional mitochondrial damage. In conclusion, this study provides evidence that supports the hypothesis that gene expression profiling may be a sensitive means of identifying indicators of potential adverse effects in the absence of the occurrence of overt toxicity.
Heinloth
Alexandra N
AN
National Center for Toxicogenomics, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA.
Irwin
Richard D
RD
Boorman
Gary A
GA
Nettesheim
Paul
P
Fannin
Rickie D
RD
Sieber
Stella O
SO
Snell
Michael L
ML
Tucker
Charles J
CJ
Li
Leping
L
Travlos
Gregory S
GS
Vansant
Gordon
G
Blackshear
Pamela E
PE
Tennant
Raymond W
RW
Cunningham
Michael L
ML
Paules
Richard S
RS
D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000284:Administration, Oral; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D008930:Mitochondria, Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000082:Acetaminophen; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate