title: Expression of ERK and p-ERK proteins of ERK signaling pathway in the kidneys of fluoride-exposed carp (Cyprinus carpio).
abstract: Chronic exposure to fluoride can result in a variety of adverse effects in fish. Previously we indicated that high fluoride caused damage and apoptosis in the kidneys of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio. In this study, the effects of fluoride on the expression and localization of ERK and p-ERK proteins in the ERK signaling pathway were determined using Western blotting and immunohistochemical methods in the kidneys of carp exposed to 0, 40, 80, 120mg/L fluoride, respectively. Western blotting analysis found that compared with the controls, the levels of ERK1 and ERK2 proteins were relatively unchanged in fluoride-exposed fish, while p-ERK1 and p-ERK2 protein levels decreased significantly with the increased fluoride concentrations. The immunohistochemical analysis found the proteins of ERK and p-ERK were predominantly localized in the cytoplasm of epithelial cells in the renal tubules of C. carpio. Compared with the control group, the levels of ERK protein were relatively constant, yet the levels of p-ERK protein and p-ERK/ERK ratio were reduced with fluoride exposure dose. These findings indicate that the renal damage in carp exposed to fluoride is mediated via the ERK pathway. Fluoride exposure could inactivate ERK, inhibit the expression of p-ERK protein, and induce renal damage in C. carpio.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Husbandry and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Jianjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Husbandry and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Jinling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Guangxi Academy of Fishery Sciences, Nanning 530021, Guangxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Yongju
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, Liaoning, PR China. Electronic address: xielt@iae.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Lingtian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Husbandry and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Husbandry and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenjuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Husbandry and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Ruhui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Husbandry and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030801, Shanxi, PR China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002347:Carps / Q000378:metabolism*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005459:Fluorides
keywords: Carp; ERK signaling pathway; Fluoride; Kidney