title: Transcriptional profiling and inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis in human T lymphocyte cells by the marine toxin azaspiracid.
abstract: Azaspiracid-1 (AZA-1) is a marine biotoxin reported to accumulate in shellfish from several countries, including eastern Canada, Morocco, and much of western Europe, and is frequently associated with severe gastrointestinal human intoxication. As the mechanism of action of AZA-1 is currently unknown, human DNA microarrays and qPCR were used to profile gene expression patterns in human T lymphocyte cells following AZA-1 exposure. Some of the early (1 h) responding genes consisted of transcription factors, membrane proteins, receptors, and inflammatory genes. Four- and 24-h responding genes were dominated by genes involved in de novo lipid biosynthesis of which 17 of 18 involved in cholesterol biosynthesis were significantly up regulated. The up regulation of synthesis genes was likely in response to the ca. 50% reduction in cellular cholesterol, which correlated with up regulated protein expression levels of the low-density lipoprotein receptor. These data collectively detail the inhibition of de novo cholesterol synthesis, which is the likely cause of cytotoxicity and potentially a target pathway of the toxin.
authors.affiliation: Marine Biotoxins Program, Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research, NOAA/National Ocean Service, 219 Fort Johnson Road, Charleston, SC 29412, USA. Mike.Twiner@noaa.gov
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Twiner
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Jeanine S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Morey
authors.forename: Kent J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Samar M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Hammad
authors.forename: Frances M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Van Dolah
authors.forename: Philipp
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Satake
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasumoto
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Doucette
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008387:Marine Toxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D005810:Multigene Family / Q000187:drug effects; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000378:metabolism; D012758:Shellfish / Q000633:toxicity; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013141:Spiro Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D000095702:Polyether Toxins
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005934:Glucagon; D007328:Insulin; D008387:Marine Toxins; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D013141:Spiro Compounds; D051153:Wnt Proteins; C406592:azaspiracid; D000095702:Polyether Toxins