title: Aryl hydrocarbon receptor expression and activity in cerebellar granule neuroblasts: implications for development and dioxin neurotoxicity.
abstract: 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent teratogen that produces neurobehavioral abnormalities associated with both cognitive and locomotor systems, yet the precise regional and cellular targets of developmental neurotoxicity remain largely unknown. Most, if not all, TCDD-induced pathology is mediated via binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor that belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix/Per-Arnt-Sim (bHLH/PAS) superfamily. Upon ligand binding, AhR translocates to the nucleus, dimerizes with the AhR nuclear translocator protein (Arnt), and regulates transcription by interaction with dioxin-response elements (DREs) in target genes, most notably specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) family members. To assess whether developing cerebellar granule neuroblasts are potential direct targets for TCDD toxicity, AhR expression and transcriptional activity were examined. AhR and Arnt proteins were present in mouse cerebellum from birth throughout postnatal development. AhR protein levels peaked between postnatal day (PND) 3-10, a critical period for granule neuroblast growth and maturation. Transcriptionally active AhR was detected in immature cerebellar granule cells in a transgenic dioxin-responsive lacZ mouse model after acute TCDD exposure. AhR and Arnt were also expressed in cerebellar granule neuroblast cultures. AhR localized to the nucleus in granule cells 15 min after TCDD treatment. TCCD elicited time-dependent and concentration-dependent increases in CYP1A1 and 1B1 mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, TCDD treatment reduced both thymidine incorporation and granule neuroblast survival in a concentration-dependent manner. These data suggest that (1) granule neuroblasts are direct targets for developmental AhR-mediated TCDD neurotoxicity and (2) TCDD exposure may disrupt granule cell neurogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York 14642, USA.
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Gasiewicz
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Opanashuk
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D018257:Helix-Loop-Helix Motifs; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D051784:Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Nuclear Translocator; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1; D065633:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D013723:Teratogens; D014157:Transcription Factors; C497397:Arnt protein, mouse; C585498:Cyp1b1 protein, mouse