Acute Exposure to Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) Phosphate (TDCIPP) Causes Hepatic Inflammation and Leads to Hepatotoxicity in Zebrafish

Sci Rep. 2016 Jan 8:6:19045. doi: 10.1038/srep19045.

Abstract

Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) has been frequently detected in environmental media and has adverse health effect on wildlife and humans. It has been implicated to have hepatotoxicity, but its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. In the present study, adult male zebrafish were exposed to TDCIPP and global hepatic gene expression was examined by RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR in order to understand the molecular mechanisms of TDCIPP-induced hepatotoxicity. Our results indicated that TDCIPP exposure significantly up-regulated the expression of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress and Toll-like receptor (TLR) pathway, implying an inflammatory response, which was supported by up-regulation of inflammation-related biomaker genes. Hepatic inflammation was further confirmed by histological observation of increase of infiltrated neutrophils and direct observation of liver recruitment of neutrophils labeled with Ds-Red fluorescent protein of Tg(lysC:DsRed) zebrafish upon TDCIPP exposure. To further characterize the hepatotoxicity of TDCIPP, the expression of hepatotoxicity biomarker genes, liver histopathology and morphology were examined. The exposure to TDCIPP significantly up-regulated the expression of several biomarker genes for hepatotoxicity (gck, gsr and nqo1) and caused hepatic vacuolization and apoptosis as well as increase of the liver size. Collectively, our results suggest that exposure to TDCIPP induces hepatic inflammation and leads to hepatotoxicity in zebrafish.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / genetics*
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / metabolism
  • Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / pathology
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / drug effects
  • Flame Retardants / toxicity*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Germinal Center Kinases
  • Inflammation
  • Larva / drug effects
  • Larva / growth & development
  • Larva / metabolism
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / growth & development
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Luminescent Proteins / genetics
  • Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / genetics
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) / metabolism
  • Neutrophil Infiltration / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Neutrophils / pathology
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / toxicity*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / metabolism
  • Toll-Like Receptors / genetics
  • Toll-Like Receptors / metabolism
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*
  • Zebrafish
  • Zebrafish Proteins / genetics
  • Zebrafish Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Flame Retardants
  • Germinal Center Kinases
  • Luminescent Proteins
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Toll-Like Receptors
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Zebrafish Proteins
  • fluorescent protein 583
  • tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl)phosphate
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases