title: Genetic basis for developmental toxicity due to statin intake using embryonic stem cell differentiation model.
abstract: The in utero environment is a key factor controlling the fate of the growing embryo. The deleterious effects of statins during the fetal development are still not very well understood. Data from animal studies and retrospective studies performed in pregnant women give conflicting reports. In this study, using in vitro differentiation model of embryonic stem cells, which mimic the differentiation process of the embryo, we have systematically exposed the cells to lipophilic statins, simvastatin, and atorvastatin at various doses and at critical times during differentiation. The analysis of key genes controlling the differentiation into ecto-, meso- and endodermal lineages was assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Our results show that genes of the mesodermal lineage were most sensitive to statins, leading to changes in the transcript levels of brachyury, Flk-1, Nkx2.5, and α/β-myosin heavy chain. In addition, changes to endodermal marker α-fetoprotein, along with ectodermal Nes and Neurofilament 200 kDa, imply that during early differentiation exposure to these drugs leads to altered signaling, which could translate to the congenital abnormalities seen in the heart and limbs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Solan, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jyoti
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, Solan, India simran.tandon@juit.ac.in.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tandon
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000069059:Atorvastatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects*; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D051379:Mice; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000069059:Atorvastatin; D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: ES cells; Statins; developmental toxicity; differentiation