title: Simvastatin effects on detoxification mechanisms in Danio rerio embryos.
abstract: The transcription and protein activity of defence mechanisms such as ABC transporters, phase I and II of cellular detoxification and antioxidant enzymes can be altered in the presence of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals impacting the overall detoxification mechanism. The present work aimed to characterise the effects of simvastatin on the detoxification mechanisms of embryonic stages of Danio rerio. In a first approach, constitutive transcription of key genes involved in detoxification was determined. Embryos were collected at different developmental stages, and transcription patterns of genes coding for ABC transporters, phase I and II and oxidative stress were analysed. With exception of abcc2, all genes seem to be from maternal transfer (0-2 hpf). Embryos were then exposed to different concentrations of simvastatin (5 and 50 μg/L), verapamil and MK571 (10 μM; ABC protein inhibitors) and a combination of simvastatin and ABC inhibitors. mRNA expression levels of abcb4, abcc1, abcc2, abcg2, cyp1a, cyp3a65, gst, sod, cat was evaluated. Accumulation assays to measure ABC proteins activity and activity of EROD, GST, CAT and Cu/ZnSOD, were also undertaken. Simvastatin acted as a weak inhibitor of ABC proteins and increased EROD and GST activity, whereas Cu/ZnSOD and CAT activity were decreased. Simvastatin up-regulated abcb4 and cyp3a65 transcription (both concentrations), as well as abcc1 and abcc2 at 50 μg/L, and down-regulated gst, sod, cat at 5 μg/L. In conclusion, our data revealed the interaction of simvastatin with detoxification mechanisms highlighting the importance of monitoring the presence of this emerging contaminant in aquatic environments.
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Coastal and Marine Environmental Toxicology Lab, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal. vfpmc83@gmail.com.|ICBAS/UP-Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal. vfpmc83@gmail.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Coastal and Marine Environmental Toxicology Lab, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal.|FCUP-Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: ICBAS/UP-Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313, Porto, Portugal.|I3S-Institute for Research and Innovation in Health, University of Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135, Porto, Portugal.|IBMC, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Moradas-Ferreira
authors.affiliation: CIIMAR/CIMAR-Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, Coastal and Marine Environmental Toxicology Lab, University of Porto, Rua dos Bragas, 289, 4050-123, Porto, Portugal.|School of Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment, The University of South Pacific, Laucala Bay Road, Suva, Fiji Islands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ferreira
mesh_terms: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects*; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic / Q000187:drug effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D019821:Simvastatin / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish
chemical_list: D018528:ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters; D019821:Simvastatin
keywords: ABC transporters; Antioxidant enzymes; Biotransformation; Phase I and II; Simvastatin; Zebrafish embryos