title: Transcriptional response of stress-regulated genes to cadmium exposure in the cockle Cerastoderma glaucum from the gulf of Gabès area (Tunisia).
abstract: This study investigates cadmium effects on key messenger RNA (mRNA) expression (MT, MnSOD, CuZnSOD, CAT, ABCB1, HSP70, and CO1) by qPCR in the cockle Cerastoderma glaucum after chronic exposure to two high but environmentally relevant concentrations of CdCl2 (50 μg/L and 5 mg/L) for 12 h to 18 days. Cd accumulation measured in cockles' tissues is significantly higher in both treatment conditions compared to controls and in a dose-dependent manner. Stress on stress tests performed at different times of the experiment clearly demonstrated that exposure to both concentrations of Cd significantly affects cockle survival time in air. Important changes in gene transcription were also highlighted. In particular, MT, HSP70, CAT, and CuZnSOD seem to be relevant biomarkers of Cd exposure because (1) their mRNA levels increase upon exposure and (2) they are highly correlated to Cd accumulation in tissues. Results may be useful for control strategies and for the use of cockles as sentinel organisms.
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine - Le Mans, EA 2460 Mer Molécules Santé, Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral - FR3473 CNRS, 72085, Le Mans Cedex, France.|Laboratoire d'Ecotoxicologie Marine et Environnementale, Université de Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Sahar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karray
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine - Le Mans, EA 2460 Mer Molécules Santé, Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral - FR3473 CNRS, 72085, Le Mans Cedex, France. justine.marchand@univ-lemans.fr.
authors.forename: Justine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marchand
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine - Le Mans, EA 2460 Mer Molécules Santé, Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral - FR3473 CNRS, 72085, Le Mans Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moreau
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine - Le Mans, EA 2460 Mer Molécules Santé, Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral - FR3473 CNRS, 72085, Le Mans Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tastard
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine - Le Mans, EA 2460 Mer Molécules Santé, Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral - FR3473 CNRS, 72085, Le Mans Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Stanislas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thiriet-Rupert
authors.affiliation: EA 4689 Interactions Animal Environnement, Université de Reims-Champagne Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687, Reims Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Geffard
authors.affiliation: EA 4689 Interactions Animal Environnement, Université de Reims-Champagne Ardenne, BP 1039, 51687, Reims Cedex 2, France.
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Delahaut
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine - Le Mans, EA 2460 Mer Molécules Santé, Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral - FR3473 CNRS, 72085, Le Mans Cedex, France.|UMR 7208 CNRS-MNHN-IRD-UPMC Biologie des Organismes et des Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), Concarneau, France.
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ecotoxicologie Marine et Environnementale, Université de Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamza-Chaffai
authors.affiliation: Université du Maine - Le Mans, EA 2460 Mer Molécules Santé, Institut Universitaire Mer et Littoral - FR3473 CNRS, 72085, Le Mans Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Benoît
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chénais
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D049873:Cardiidae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects*; D014416:Tunisia; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002104:Cadmium
keywords: Cadmium; Cockle; Detoxication; Gene transcription; Oxidative stress; Stress response; qPCR