Anchoring novel molecular biomarker responses to traditional responses in fish exposed to environmental contamination.
The responses of Dicentrarchus labrax and Liza aurata to aquatic pollution were assessed in a contaminated coastal lagoon, using both traditional and novel biomarkers combined. DNA damage, assessed by comet assay, was higher in both fish species from the contaminated sites, whereas levels of cytochrome P450 1A1 gene expression were not significantly altered. The liver histopathological analysis also revealed significant lesions in fish from contaminated sites. Alterations in ras and xpf genes were analysed and additional pollutant-responsive genes were identified. While no alterations were found in ras gene, a downregulation of xpf gene was observed in D. labrax from a contaminated site. Suppression subtractive hybridization applied to D. labrax collected at a contaminated site, revealed altered expression in genes involved in energy metabolism, immune system activity and antioxidant response. The approach and results reported herein demonstrate the utility of anchoring traditional biomarker responses alongside novel biomarker responses.
Nogueira
Patrícia
P
CESAM & Departamento de Biologia, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Pacheco
Mário
M
Lourdes Pereira
M
M
Mendo
Sónia
S
Rotchell
Jeanette M
JM
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D029941:Fish Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005399:Fishes / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000494:pharmacology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D029941:Fish Proteins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D019363:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1