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Role of AHR, AHRR and ARNT in response to dioxin-like PCBs in Spaurus aurata

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Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) mediates a variety of biological responses to ubiquitous dioxin and PCB dioxin-like. AHR together with ARNT, AHRR, represent a novel basic helix-loop-helix/PAS family of transcriptional regulators. Their interplay may affect the xenobiotic response. The aim of this study was to investigate, by histological, immunohistochemical investigations and western-blot analysis, the expression of AHR, ARNT and AHRR in liver of seabrem (Spaurus aurata) after exposure at different time to dioxin-like PCB126 in order to deep the knowledge about their specific role. The findings showed a significant increase of AHR and ARNT expression in juvenile fishes after 12 h than control group. The induction of AHR and ARNT is also significant at 24 and 72 hours compared to the control group. Furthemore, induction of AHRR expression has proved to increase both 12 h but this induction does not seem significant to 24 and 72 hours. The most important data of this work is that the induction of AHRR, when the action of the toxic persistence substances, as dioxin and PCB-126, it is not enough to reduce AHR signaling and thus its hyperactivation leads to toxic effects in seabrem (Spaurus aurata). All this confirms the importance of AHR ligands as new class of drugs that can be directed against severe disease such as cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Italy, Polo SS Annunziata, 98168, Messina, Italy

    Margherita Calò

  2. Department of Environment, Safety, Territory, Food and Health Sciences “Carmelo Abbate”, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d’Alcontres n°31, 98166-S, Agata, Messina, Italy

    Patrizia Licata

  3. Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Alessandra Bitto & Monica Interdonato

  4. Department of Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Patrizia Lo Cascio

  5. Department of Paediatric, Gynaecological, Microbiological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Domenica Altavilla

Authors
  1. Margherita Calò
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  2. Patrizia Licata
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  3. Alessandra Bitto
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  4. Patrizia Lo Cascio
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  5. Monica Interdonato
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  6. Domenica Altavilla
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Correspondence to Patrizia Licata.

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Responsible editor: Henner Hollert

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Calò, M., Licata, P., Bitto, A. et al. Role of AHR, AHRR and ARNT in response to dioxin-like PCBs in Spaurus aurata . Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 14226–14231 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3321-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3321-x

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