title: Effects of perfluoroalkyl compounds on mRNA expression levels of thyroid hormone-responsive genes in primary cultures of avian neuronal cells.
abstract: There is growing interest in assessing the neurotoxic and endocrine disrupting potential of perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs). Several studies have reported in vitro and in vivo effects related to neuronal development, neural cell differentiation, prenatal and postnatal development and behavior. PFC exposure altered hormone levels and the expression of hormone-responsive genes in mammalian and aquatic species. This study is the first to assess the effects of PFCs on messenger RNA (mRNA) expression in primary cultures of neuronal cells in two avian species: the domestic chicken (Gallus domesticus) and herring gull (Larus argentatus). The following thyroid hormone (TH)-responsive genes were examined using real-time reverse transcription-PCR: type II iodothyronine 5'-deiodinase (D2), D3, transthyretin (TTR), neurogranin (RC3), octamer motif-binding factor (Oct-1), and myelin basic protein. Several PFCs altered the mRNA expression levels of genes associated with the TH pathway in avian neuronal cells. Short-chained PFCs (less than eight carbons) altered the expression of TH-responsive genes (D2, D3, TTR, and RC3) in chicken embryonic neuronal cells to a greater extent than long-chained PFCs (more than or equal to eight carbons). Variable transcriptional changes were observed in herring gull embryonic neuronal cells exposed to short-chained PFCs; mRNA levels of Oct-1 and RC3 were upregulated. This is the first study to report that PFC exposure alters mRNA expression in primary cultures of avian neuronal cells and may provide insight into the possible mechanisms of action of PFCs in the avian brain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Centre for Advanced Research in Environmental Genomics, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1N 6N5.
authors.forename: Viengtha
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Vongphachan
authors.forename: Cristina G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Cassone
authors.forename: Dongmei
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: Doug
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Crump
authors.forename: Sean W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046091:Charadriiformes; D002645:Chickens; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000235:genetics; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013045:Species Specificity; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D013963:Thyroid Hormones