Metal-specific effects on metallothionein gene induction and riboflavin content in coelomocytes of Allolobophora chlorotica.
Metal pollution affects earthworm coelomocytes, including their differential counts, riboflavin content and metallothioneins (MT) involved in metal homoeostasis and detoxification. The present work shows effects of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb at the same molarity (1mM) on coelomocytes of Allolobophora chlorotica after 2-day worm dermal exposure to metal chlorides. Numbers of coelomocytes/eleocytes extruded by electric shock and amounts of riboflavin in coelomocyte lysates were significantly decreased in Cu-exposed worms, less diminished in response to Ni, Zn, Cd, and unaffected by Pb. In sharp contrast, real-time PCR revealed a very strong (272 fold) MT-mRNA induction in response to Cd only. The induction was very low in response to Zn, Cu, Pb, and Ni ions (2.6, 2.1, 1.4, and 1.3-fold, respectively). In conclusion, decreased cell counts and riboflavin content are molecular biomarkers of Cu exposure while induction of MT-mRNA is a molecular biomarker of worm Cd exposure.
Homa
Joanna
J
Department of Evolutionary Immunobiology, Institute of Zoology, Jagiellonian University, R. Ingardena 6, 30-060 Krakow, Poland.
Klimek
Malgorzata
M
Kruk
Jerzy
J
Cocquerelle
Claude
C
Vandenbulcke
Franck
F
Plytycz
Barbara
B
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000187:drug effects; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008668:Metallothionein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012256:Riboflavin / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D013997:Time Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D008670:Metals; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D008668:Metallothionein; D012256:Riboflavin