title: Protective effects of levamisole, acetylsalicylic acid, and α-tocopherol against dioxin toxicity measured as the expression of AhR and COX-2 in a chicken embryo model.
abstract: Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (dioxins) are classed as persistent organic pollutants and have adverse effects on multiple functions within the body. Dioxins are known carcinogens, immunotoxins, and teratogens. Dioxins are transformed in vivo, and interactions between the products and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) lead to the formation of proinflammatory and toxic metabolites. The aim of this study was to determine whether α-tocopherol (vitamin E), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and levamisole can decrease the amount of damage caused by dioxins. Fertile Hubbard Flex commercial line chicken eggs were injected with solutions containing 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or containing TCDD and the test compounds. The chicken embryos and organs were analyzed after 7 and 13 days. The levels at which AhR and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) proteins (which are induced during inflammation) were expressed were evaluated by performing immunohistochemical analyses on embryos treated with TCDD alone or with TCDD and the test compounds. TCDD caused developmental disorders and increased AhR and COX-2 expression in the chicken embryo tissues. Vitamin E, levamisole, ASA, and ASA plus vitamin E inhibited AhR and COX-2 expression in embryos after 7 days and decreased AhR and COX-2 expression in embryos after 13 days. ASA, levamisole, and ASA plus vitamin E weakened the immune response and prevented multiple organ changes. Vitamin E was not fully protective against developmental changes in the embryos.
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland. kinga.gostomska@iitd.pan.wroc.pl.
authors.forename: Kinga
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gostomska-Pampuch
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurotoxicology and Environmental Diagnostics, Wroclaw Medical University, Bartla 5, 51-618, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Alicja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ostrowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Physiology and Biostructure, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Norwida 31, 50-375, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuropka
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry and Pedodontics, Wroclaw Medical University, Krakowska 26, 50-425, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dobrzyński
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathomorphology, Wroclaw Medical University, Marcinkowskiego 1, 50-368, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ziółkowski
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38c, 51-630, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Artur
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kowalczyk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Animal Breeding, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Chełmońskiego 38c, 51-630, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Łukaszewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114, Wrocław, Poland.|Department of Medical Biochemistry, Wroclaw Medical University, Chałubińskiego 10, 50-368, Wrocław, Poland.|Wroclaw Research Centre EIT+, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gamian
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neurotoxicology and Environmental Diagnostics, Wroclaw Medical University, Bartla 5, 51-618, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Ireneusz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Całkosiński
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001241:Aspirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004147:Dioxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007978:Levamisole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; D007978:Levamisole; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: AhR; COX-2; Chicken embryo; Histopathology; TCDD