Os azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 são amplamente utilizados para o tingimento de fibras e são mutagênicos para o ensaio de Salmonella/microssoma e para o ensaio de micronúcleos. O aumento da complexidade e dificuldades para o tratamento de efluentes têxteis tem levado à busca constante de novas metodologias para o tratamento destes rejeitos. A cloração é um método amplamente empregado para a desinfecção de águas e efluentes, mas também para remover ou reduzir a cor do efluente a fim de atender o padrão de emissão da legislação brasileira. Porém, muitos trabalhos mostram que este tratamento muitas vezes não é capaz de remover a mutagenicidade dos corantes e em alguns casos pode até aumentar a toxicidade da amostra. Já a fotoeletrocatálise, aparentemente, é eficiente tanto na degradação desses compostos em amostras aquosas como na redução da atividade mutagênica, como demonstraram alguns ensaios preliminares. Este trabalho tem como objetivo a avaliação da eficiência do tratamento por fotoeletrocatálise na remoção da mutagenicidade dos azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 presentes em amostras aquosas em comparação à cloração química convencional utilizando o teste de micronúcleos (MNs) em células HepG2. Os resultados demonstraram que a freqüência de MNs induzidos pelas diferentes concentrações testadas das soluções dos corantes estudados não foram significativamente diferentes do controle negativo. Nossos dados também revelaram que os índices de proliferação do bloqueio da citocinese (IPBC) em cultura de células HepG2 tratadas com os três corantes após a cloração e fotoeletrocatálise também não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas em relação aos seus respectivos controles negativos. A análise comparativa dos azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 clorados e fotoeletrocatalisados com os corantes originais estudados pelo nosso grupo (CHEQUER, 2008; CHEQUER et al., 2009) mostrou uma diminuição no número de MNs indicando que após os tratamentos houve a remoção da mutagenicidade a partir da concentração de 1,0 µg/mL para os três corantes estudados. Portanto, podemos concluir que a cloração química convencional e a fotoeletrocatálise, nas condições testadas, são eficientes na remoção da mutagenicidade dos azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 em relação à indução de micronúcleos. / The azo dyes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 are widely used in dyeing processes and are mutagenic for Salmonella/microsome and micronucleus assays. The increasing of the complexity and difficulties for treatments of textile effluents has led to a constant search for new methodologies for the treatment of these wastewaters. Chlorination is a method extensively used for water and wastewaters disinfection and to remove or reduce the color of effluents in order to respect the standard of discharges issued by the Brazilian legislation. However, a lot of studies have shown that this treatment is not often able to remove the mutagenicity of the dyes, and in some cases it may even increase the toxicity of the sample. On the other hand, photoelectrocatalysis is apparently efficient both in the degradation of these compounds in aqueous samples and in reduction of the mutagenic activity, as demonstrated by some preliminary assays. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the photoelectrocatalysis treatment in the removal of the mutagenicity of the azo dyes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 present in aqueous sample in comparison to conventional chemical chlorination using the micronucleus test (MNs) in HepG2 cells. The results showed that the frequency of MNs induced by different tested concentrations of the solutions of the studied dyes were not significantly different from the negative control. Our data also revealed that the cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CPBI) in cultures of HepG2 cells treated with the three dyes after chlorination and photoelectrocatalysis also showed no statistical differences related to the their respective negative controls. The comparative analysis of azo dyes chlorinated and photoelectrocatalysed Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 with the original dyes studied by our group (CHEQUER, 2008; CHEQUER et al., 2009) showed a decrease in the number of MNs indicating that after the treatments occurred the removal of the mutagenicity potencial at concentration of 1,0 µg/mL for the three dyes studied. Therefore, we conclude that conventional chemical chlorination and photoelectrocatalysis, under the conditions tested, are effective in removing of the mutagenicity of the azo dyes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 related to induction of micronucleus.

Bastões plásticos quimioluminescentes, chamados light sticks, são usados por companhias pesqueiras e descartados nas praias. Moradores locais utilizam seus conteúdos como repelentes, óleo bronzeador e medicamento para dores nas articulações. Nós investigamos a reatividade das soluções de bastões de light sticks coletados em praias brasileiras e a toxicidade celular de seus conteúdos e também de soluções de light stick de bastões novos. Produtos da reação dos conteúdos de light stick descartado com 2\'-desoxiguanosina (dGuo) foram analisados por HPLC/UV/ESI-MS/MS. Um aduto foi purificado e caracterizado em espectrômetro de massas por Dissociação Induzida por Colisão (CID) e através de experimentos de 1H RMN. A estrutura do aduto revelou que o produto de degradação de bis(triclorofenil)oxalato é reativo para nucleófilos in vitro. O mesmo aduto foi detectado em DNA de timo de bezerro incubado in vitro com a solução do light stick descartado pelo uso HPLC/ESI-MS/MS. Além do DNA, albumina também foi modificada pelos conteúdos de light stick descartado. Células HepG2 foram incubadas por 16 h com 0.0125% - 0.12% (v/v) das soluções de light sticks: (i) coletadas na praia, (ii) obtidas imediatamente após a reação quimioluminescente no laboratório, e (iii) previamente a reação, contendo ou n-butil-ftalato, difenilantraceno, e bis(triclorofenil)oxalato (solução 1), ou dimetil-ftalato, H2O2, e salicilato de sódio (solução 2). A sobrevivência celular foi avaliada pelo teste do XTT, corante cristal violeta e lactato desidrogenase realizados em placas de 96 poços. Com as concentrações testadas foram obtidas significativamente a morte celular. O dano oxidativo ao DNA celular foi avaliado pela análise da 8-oxo-2\'-desoxiguanosina através do equipamento HPLC/ESI-MS/MS, que revelou aumento de alterações nas células tratadas com 0.006% das soluções de light stick de bastões descartados e novos. Nossos dados apontam genotoxicidade e citotoxicidade das soluções de light sticks e podem contribuir como alerta a autoridades públicas para proibição do uso incontrolado. / Chemiluminescent plastic rods, called light sticks, are used by fishery companies and littered on the shores. Local inhabitants use their contents as repellents, tanning oil, and medicine for joint pain. We have investigated the reactivity of spent light stick solutions collected on brazilian beaches and the cellular toxicity of their contents as well as that of brand-new light stick solutions. Products of the reaction of the spent light stick contents with 2\'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) were analyzed by HPLC/UV/ESI-MS/MS. A dGuo adduct was purified and characterized in a Collision Induced Dissociation (CID) mass spectrometer and through 1H NMR experiments. The adduct structure revealed that a degradation product of bis(trichlorophenyl)oxalate is reactive towards nucleophiles in vitro. The same adduct was detected in calf thymus DNA incubated in vitro with spent light stick solution, by using HPLC/ESI-MS/MS. Besides DNA, albumin was also modified by spent light stick contents. HepG2 cells were incubated for 16 h with 0.0125% 0.12% (v/v) of light stick solutions: (i) collected on the beaches, (ii) obtained immediately after the chemiluminescent reaction in the laboratory, and (iii) previously the reaction, containing either n-butyl-phthalate, diphenylanthracene, and bis(trichlorophenyl)oxalate (solution 1), or dimethyl-phthalate, H2O2, and sodium salicylate (solution 2). Cell survival was evaluated by the XTT, crystal violet dye, and lactate dehydrogenase assays performed in 96 well plates. The concentrations tested were found to significantly kill cells. Oxidative damage to cellular DNA was assessed by 8-oxo-2\'-deoxyguanosine analysis via an HPLC/ESI-MS/MS equipment, which revealed increased changes in cells treated with 0.006% of spent and brand-new light stick solutions. Our data point to important genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of the light stick solutions and may contribute to alert public policies to ban their uncontrolled use.

Os azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 são amplamente utilizados para o tingimento de fibras e são mutagênicos para o ensaio de Salmonella/microssoma e para o ensaio de micronúcleos. O aumento da complexidade e dificuldades para o tratamento de efluentes têxteis tem levado à busca constante de novas metodologias para o tratamento destes rejeitos. A cloração é um método amplamente empregado para a desinfecção de águas e efluentes, mas também para remover ou reduzir a cor do efluente a fim de atender o padrão de emissão da legislação brasileira. Porém, muitos trabalhos mostram que este tratamento muitas vezes não é capaz de remover a mutagenicidade dos corantes e em alguns casos pode até aumentar a toxicidade da amostra. Já a fotoeletrocatálise, aparentemente, é eficiente tanto na degradação desses compostos em amostras aquosas como na redução da atividade mutagênica, como demonstraram alguns ensaios preliminares. Este trabalho tem como objetivo a avaliação da eficiência do tratamento por fotoeletrocatálise na remoção da mutagenicidade dos azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 presentes em amostras aquosas em comparação à cloração química convencional utilizando o teste de micronúcleos (MNs) em células HepG2. Os resultados demonstraram que a freqüência de MNs induzidos pelas diferentes concentrações testadas das soluções dos corantes estudados não foram significativamente diferentes do controle negativo. Nossos dados também revelaram que os índices de proliferação do bloqueio da citocinese (IPBC) em cultura de células HepG2 tratadas com os três corantes após a cloração e fotoeletrocatálise também não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas em relação aos seus respectivos controles negativos. A análise comparativa dos azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 clorados e fotoeletrocatalisados com os corantes originais estudados pelo nosso grupo (CHEQUER, 2008; CHEQUER et al., 2009) mostrou uma diminuição no número de MNs indicando que após os tratamentos houve a remoção da mutagenicidade a partir da concentração de 1,0 µg/mL para os três corantes estudados. Portanto, podemos concluir que a cloração química convencional e a fotoeletrocatálise, nas condições testadas, são eficientes na remoção da mutagenicidade dos azo corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e Disperse Red 13 em relação à indução de micronúcleos. / The azo dyes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 are widely used in dyeing processes and are mutagenic for Salmonella/microsome and micronucleus assays. The increasing of the complexity and difficulties for treatments of textile effluents has led to a constant search for new methodologies for the treatment of these wastewaters. Chlorination is a method extensively used for water and wastewaters disinfection and to remove or reduce the color of effluents in order to respect the standard of discharges issued by the Brazilian legislation. However, a lot of studies have shown that this treatment is not often able to remove the mutagenicity of the dyes, and in some cases it may even increase the toxicity of the sample. On the other hand, photoelectrocatalysis is apparently efficient both in the degradation of these compounds in aqueous samples and in reduction of the mutagenic activity, as demonstrated by some preliminary assays. This study aims to evaluate the efficiency of the photoelectrocatalysis treatment in the removal of the mutagenicity of the azo dyes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 present in aqueous sample in comparison to conventional chemical chlorination using the micronucleus test (MNs) in HepG2 cells. The results showed that the frequency of MNs induced by different tested concentrations of the solutions of the studied dyes were not significantly different from the negative control. Our data also revealed that the cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CPBI) in cultures of HepG2 cells treated with the three dyes after chlorination and photoelectrocatalysis also showed no statistical differences related to the their respective negative controls. The comparative analysis of azo dyes chlorinated and photoelectrocatalysed Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 with the original dyes studied by our group (CHEQUER, 2008; CHEQUER et al., 2009) showed a decrease in the number of MNs indicating that after the treatments occurred the removal of the mutagenicity potencial at concentration of 1,0 µg/mL for the three dyes studied. Therefore, we conclude that conventional chemical chlorination and photoelectrocatalysis, under the conditions tested, are effective in removing of the mutagenicity of the azo dyes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 related to induction of micronucleus.

Atualmente, a utilização de azo corantes pelas indústrias de tingimento constitui um problema ambiental e de saúde, considerando o lançamento de quantidades elevadas para o meio ambiente e a falta de dados toxicológicos dos corantes disponíveis para as indústrias. Vários estudos têm demonstrado o potencial genotóxico de diversos corantes azóicos, porém para os corantes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 e o Disperse Red 13, não foram encontrados dados na literatura relativos à sua capacidade de dano ao material genético. Considerando que esses corantes são empregados em processos de tingimento no Brasil, esse trabalho teve como objetivo a avaliação de sua atividade mutagênica, utilizando o teste de micronúcleo (MN) em linfócitos humanos e em células HepG2. Os resultados obtidos no teste com linfócitos, demonstram que na menor concentração testada (0,2 µg/mL), o número de micronúcleos presentes foi semelhante ao controle negativo, mas esse número aumenta à medida que eleva-se a concentração. No entanto, a partir da concentração de 1,0 µg/mL, este valor começa a decair. Isso provavelmente se deve à citotoxidade dos corantes, levando à morte celular ou redução da divisão celular e, conseqüentemente, não há a formação de micronúcleo. Embora o perfil de mutagenicidade dos três corantes seja semelhante, o corante Disperse Red 13 parece ter maior potencial de dano sobre os linfócitos em relação aos demais, seguido pelo Disperse Red 1 e Disperse Orange 1, respectivamente. Os resultados obtidos para o teste de MN em células HepG2 foram semelhantes aos obtidos no teste feito em linfócitos. O aumento do número de micronúcleos em relação ao aumento da concentração dos corantes, ocorreu até o limite de 2,0 µg/mL em células HepG2, excetuando-se o corante Disperse Red 13, para o qual o limite foi de 1,0 µg/mL. E a partir desses pontos, considerados como limites, ocorreu uma redução no número de MN. Para este sistema celular, os três corantes parecem ter potencial mutagênico bastante semelhante. Portanto, a análise dos resultados mostrou que os corantes Disperse Red 13, Disperse Red 1 e Disperse Orange 1 são mutagênicos para sistemas celulares diferentes. Foi também avaliado Índice de Proliferação do Bloqueio de Citocinese (IPBC), que permite a avaliação de toxicidade celular ou atraso no ciclo celular por meio da determinação da proliferação celular nas culturas. Porém, neste estudo não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas entre o controle negativo e as concentrações testadas. Nossos resultados confirmam que os azo corantes constituem uma importante classe de contaminantes ambientais e devem ser avaliados e utilizados de forma cautelosa. / Currently, the use of azo dyes for the textile industries can causes direct and/or indirect effects on human health and on the environment, considering the discharge of industrial effluents that contain toxic dyes and the lack of reports in the literature about the toxic effects of these compounds. Several studies have been demonstrated the genotoxic effect of diverse azo dyes, however for the dyes Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13 no information about their capacity to cause DNA damage was found in the literature. Considering that these dyes are used for dying processes in Brazil, the main of this work was the evaluation of the mutagenic activity of Disperse Red 1, Disperse Orange 1 and Disperse Red 13, using the micronucleus assay (MN) in human lymphocytes and HepG2 cells. For the lymphocytes assay, we observed that the number of micronucleus induced by the lowest concentration of each dye (0,2 µg/mL) was similar to the negative control. For the other concentrations we observed a dose response micronucleus formation, until 1,0 µg/mL. Above this concentration, the number of micronucleus has decreased, probably because of the cytotoxic effects of the dyes, which leads to cellular death or reduction of cellular division and, consequently, does not have the micronucleus formation. Although the mutagenicity profile of the three dyes is similar, Disperse Red 13 seems to be the strongest for the lymphocytes, followed by Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Orange 1, respectively. For the HepG2 cells the results were similar to the lymphocytes. For the three dyes we noted a dose dependent increase in the frequency of micronuclei. However, for the HepG2 the threshold for this increase was 2,0 µg/mL, except for Disperse Red 13, which the limit was at 1 µg/ml, after this point a reduction in the MN number occurred. For this cellular system, the three dyes seem to have similar mutagenic potential. Therefore, our results suggest that the dyes Disperse Red 13, Disperse Red 1 and Disperse Orange 1 are potentially mutagenic for different cellular systems. Besides, cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) was calculated, in order to evaluate cellular toxicity or delay in the cellular cycle through of the determination of the cellular proliferation in the cultures. No statistical difference was detected between the tested concentrations and the negative control. Our results confirmed that azo dyes constitute an important class of environmental contamination and they should be evaluated and used carefully.

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Student: Eva Troppová Supervisor: PharmDr. Marie Vopršalová, CSc. Specialized supervisor: Prof. Dr. Antje Gohla Title of diploma thesis: Establishment of screening methods to find new regulators of the activity of phosphoglycolate phosphatase This work deals with the siRNA-based genomic screening for the modification of phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) activity. 235 proteins were affected by transient transfection of siRNAs in vitro. Each siRNA was used in duplicates and the control was carried out by two control siRNAs. After downregulation of protein by siRNA PGP activity was evaluated, whether any modifications of PGP activity have occurred. PGP was the main research target. The main goal of this study before the screening was to set up a method, to create a reliable protocol. The whole study was 96 plate well. It was necessary to find the right conditions to measure PGP activity in two cell types (HEK AD 293 and Hep G2). Subsequently, optimal conditions were set up to influence expression of the protein. The method was optimalized using PGP siRNAs and 2 types of transfection reagents were tested. During our study the following methods were used: PGP activity assay, Bicinchoninic acid...

As cores sempre exerceram fascínio sobre a humanidade e, por toda a história, os compostos coloridos sempre foram considerados ferramentas atrativas nas atividades comerciais. Os corantes sintéticos são amplamente utilizados na indústria têxtil, nas impressões de papel e fotografia, nas indústrias farmacêuticas, alimentícias e de cosméticos. Estes compostos são considerados importantes contaminantes ambientais, representando sérios riscos à flora, fauna e ao ser humano. Apesar da grande quantidade de corantes disponíveis, os estudos sobre a toxicidade desses compostos são escassos e pouco se sabe a respeito dos efeitos genotóxicos destas substâncias. Dentro deste contexto, o presente trabalho avaliou o potencial genotóxico dos corantes Sudan III, Vat Green 3, Reactive Orange 16 e Reactive Black 5, utilizando o Ensaio de Micronúcleos em células HepG2. Os corantes Sudan III e Reactive Orange 16 não induziram aumento, estatisticamente significativo, no número total de micronúcleos em relação aos controles, indicando assim que estes corantes não são capazes de induzir mutações cromossômicas no tipo celular e condições testadas. Entretanto, os corantes Vat Green 3 e Reactive Black 5 induziram mutagenicidade, concentrações de 10,0 e 25,0 ?g/mL, e 0,1; 0,25; 0,5 e 1,0 ?g/mL, respectivamente, demonstrada por um efeito concentraçãodependente, no qual há um aumento de MNs até a concentração de 25,0 ?g/mL para o Vat Green 3 e 0,5 ?g/mL para o Reactive Black 5 com p<0,05. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os IDNs calculados para cada tratamento e controle dos corantes testados, indicando que esses corantes não interferem na proliferação celular das HepG2. Dessa forma, conclui-se que dos quatro compostos analisados, os corantes têxteis Vat Green 3 e Reactive Black 5 são capazes de induzir mutações cromossômicas em células HepG2 e, o potencial mutagênico do Reactive Black 5 é maior que o do Vat Green 3 no sistema celular avaliado, uma vez que foi capaz de induzir mutações, em concentrações menores. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho permitem concluir que cada um desses importantes contaminantes ambientais deve ser avaliado individualmente a fim de proteger o meio ambiente, garantindo assim a proteção da saúde humana. / The colors have always caused fascination in mankind. Throughout history, colored compounds have always been considered attractive tools in industrial activities. The synthetic dyes are widely used in textile industry, paper and photography printing, in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. These compounds are considered important environmental contaminants, and they can cause serious risks to wildlife and humans. Despite the large number of dyes available, studies on the toxicity of these compounds are scarce and little is known about the genotoxic effects of these substances. This study evaluated the genotoxic potential of the dyes Sudan III, Vat Green 3, Reactive Orange 16 and Reactive Black 5 using the micronucleus assay in HepG2 cells. The dyes Sudan III and, Reactive Orange 16, do not induce an increase statistically significant, in the total number of micronuclei when compared to controls. This result shows that these dyes are not able to induce chromosomal mutations in the cell type under the conditions tested. However, the dyes Vat Green 3 and Reactive Black 5 induced mutagenicity, following a dose-response effect, in which there is an increase of micronuclei until the concentration of 25.0 ?g/mL for Vat Green 3 and 0.5 ?g/mL for Reactive Black 5, with p <0.05. There were no significant differences between the NDI calculated for each treatment and control of the dyes studied, indicating that these dyes do not interfere in HepG2 cell proliferation. Thus, the textile dyes Vat Green 3 and Reactive Black 5 are able to induce chromosomal mutations in HepG2 cells, and the dye Reactive Black 5 is more mutagenic than the dye Vat Green 3, since it induced mutations in cellular system tested at lower concentrations. The results of this study indicate that each one of these important environmental contaminants should be assessed individually in order to protect the environment, thus ensuring the protection of human health.

As cores sempre exerceram fascínio sobre a humanidade e, por toda a história, os compostos coloridos sempre foram considerados ferramentas atrativas nas atividades comerciais. Os corantes sintéticos são amplamente utilizados na indústria têxtil, nas impressões de papel e fotografia, nas indústrias farmacêuticas, alimentícias e de cosméticos. Estes compostos são considerados importantes contaminantes ambientais, representando sérios riscos à flora, fauna e ao ser humano. Apesar da grande quantidade de corantes disponíveis, os estudos sobre a toxicidade desses compostos são escassos e pouco se sabe a respeito dos efeitos genotóxicos destas substâncias. Dentro deste contexto, o presente trabalho avaliou o potencial genotóxico dos corantes Sudan III, Vat Green 3, Reactive Orange 16 e Reactive Black 5, utilizando o Ensaio de Micronúcleos em células HepG2. Os corantes Sudan III e Reactive Orange 16 não induziram aumento, estatisticamente significativo, no número total de micronúcleos em relação aos controles, indicando assim que estes corantes não são capazes de induzir mutações cromossômicas no tipo celular e condições testadas. Entretanto, os corantes Vat Green 3 e Reactive Black 5 induziram mutagenicidade, concentrações de 10,0 e 25,0 ?g/mL, e 0,1; 0,25; 0,5 e 1,0 ?g/mL, respectivamente, demonstrada por um efeito concentraçãodependente, no qual há um aumento de MNs até a concentração de 25,0 ?g/mL para o Vat Green 3 e 0,5 ?g/mL para o Reactive Black 5 com p<0,05. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre os IDNs calculados para cada tratamento e controle dos corantes testados, indicando que esses corantes não interferem na proliferação celular das HepG2. Dessa forma, conclui-se que dos quatro compostos analisados, os corantes têxteis Vat Green 3 e Reactive Black 5 são capazes de induzir mutações cromossômicas em células HepG2 e, o potencial mutagênico do Reactive Black 5 é maior que o do Vat Green 3 no sistema celular avaliado, uma vez que foi capaz de induzir mutações, em concentrações menores. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho permitem concluir que cada um desses importantes contaminantes ambientais deve ser avaliado individualmente a fim de proteger o meio ambiente, garantindo assim a proteção da saúde humana. / The colors have always caused fascination in mankind. Throughout history, colored compounds have always been considered attractive tools in industrial activities. The synthetic dyes are widely used in textile industry, paper and photography printing, in pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. These compounds are considered important environmental contaminants, and they can cause serious risks to wildlife and humans. Despite the large number of dyes available, studies on the toxicity of these compounds are scarce and little is known about the genotoxic effects of these substances. This study evaluated the genotoxic potential of the dyes Sudan III, Vat Green 3, Reactive Orange 16 and Reactive Black 5 using the micronucleus assay in HepG2 cells. The dyes Sudan III and, Reactive Orange 16, do not induce an increase statistically significant, in the total number of micronuclei when compared to controls. This result shows that these dyes are not able to induce chromosomal mutations in the cell type under the conditions tested. However, the dyes Vat Green 3 and Reactive Black 5 induced mutagenicity, following a dose-response effect, in which there is an increase of micronuclei until the concentration of 25.0 ?g/mL for Vat Green 3 and 0.5 ?g/mL for Reactive Black 5, with p <0.05. There were no significant differences between the NDI calculated for each treatment and control of the dyes studied, indicating that these dyes do not interfere in HepG2 cell proliferation. Thus, the textile dyes Vat Green 3 and Reactive Black 5 are able to induce chromosomal mutations in HepG2 cells, and the dye Reactive Black 5 is more mutagenic than the dye Vat Green 3, since it induced mutations in cellular system tested at lower concentrations. The results of this study indicate that each one of these important environmental contaminants should be assessed individually in order to protect the environment, thus ensuring the protection of human health.

No description available.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a toxic alkaloid produced by several freshwater cyanobacterial species, the most prevalent in Australian waters being Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. The occurrence of CYN-producing cyanobacteria in drinking water sources worldwide poses a potential human health risk, with one well-documented case of human poisoning attributed to the toxin. While extensive characterisation of CYN-induced toxicity has been conducted in rodents both in vivo and in primary cell cultures, little is known about mechanisms of toxicity in human cell types. This thesis describes studies undertaken to further define the molecular mechanisms of CYN toxicity in human cells. Concentration-response relationships were determined in various cultured human cell types using standard toxicity assays. As expected, CYN caused dose-dependent decreases in the growth of three cell lines, HepG2, Caco-2 and HeLa, and one primary cell type, human dermal fibroblasts, according to tetrazolium reduction assays. CYN treatment did not disrupt cellular membranes according to the lactate dehydrogenase release assay in HepG2 or Caco-2 cells after 24, 48 or 72 h exposure, but did cause membrane disruption in fibroblasts after 72 h exposure to relatively high concentrations of the toxin. Apoptosis occurred more readily in HeLa cells than HepG2 cells or fibroblasts, with 72 h exposure to 1 &mug/mL required before statistically significant rates of apoptosis occurred in the latter cell types. CYN did not appear to directly affect the structure of actin filaments or microtubules under the conditions used in the present study. The major portion of the work presented in this thesis comprises a large-scale interrogation of changes in gene expression induced by the toxin in cultured cells. To assess the effects of CYN on global gene expression, relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in human dermal fibroblasts and HepG2 cells after 6 h and 24 h exposure to 1 &mug/mL CYN were determined using oligonucleotide microarrays representing approximately 19 000 genes. Overall, the number of transcripts significantly altered in abundance was greater in fibroblasts than in HepG2 cells. In both cell types, mRNA levels for genes related to amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein folding and transport were reduced after CYN treatment, while transcripts representing genes for apoptosis, RNA biosynthesis and RNA processing increased in abundance. More detailed data analyses revealed the modulation of a number of stress response pathways—genes regulated by NF-&kappaB were induced, DNA damage response pathways were up-regulated, and a large number of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress were strongly down-regulated. Genes for the synthesis and processing of mRNA, tRNA and rRNA were strongly up-regulated, indicating that CYN treatment may increase the turnover of all forms of cellular RNA. A small group of genes were differentially expressed in HepG2 cells and fibroblasts, revealing cell-specific responses to the toxin. Selected changes in transcript level were validated using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). The modulation of stress response pathways by CYN, indicated by microarray analysis, was further investigated using other methods. The role of tumour suppressor protein p53 in CYN-mediated gene expression was confirmed by measuring the expression of known p53-regulated genes following CYN treatment of HepG2 cells and human dermal fibroblasts using qRT-PCR. Western blotting of protein extracts from CYNtreated cells showed that p53 protein accumulation occurred in HepG2 cells, providing additional evidence of the activation of the p53 pathway by CYN in this cell line. The immediate-early genes JUN and FOS were found to be induced by CYN in a concentration-dependent manner, and MYC was induced to a lesser extent. The mitogen-activated protein kinase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, implicated in the ribotoxic stress response initiated by damage to ribosomal RNA, appeared to become phosphorylated in HeLa cells after CYN exposure, suggesting that ribotoxic stress may occur in response to CYN in at least some cell types. The expression of a reporter gene under the control of a response element specific for NF-&kappaB was induced at the mRNA level but inhibited at the protein level. This shows that while transcription factors such as p53 and NF-&kappaB are apparently activated in response to the toxin, transactivation of target genes may not necessarily manifest a corresponding increase at the protein level. The current work contributes significantly to the current understanding of cylindrospermopsin toxicity in human-derived cell types, and provides further insight into putative modes of action.

No description available.