PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Omics methods: Towards a better prediction of the effects of substances at very low doses

Joint press release by the UFZ and German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment

Omics methods: Towards a better prediction of the effects of substances at very low doses
2015-03-16
(Press-News.org) This news release is available in German.

Leipzig/Berlin. A public and scientific discussion is currently taking place focusing on the question whether substances at low concentrations may lead to health impairments in humans. For this reason, an increasing number of experimental studies to test such effects are currently conducted using different chemicals. It was possible to demonstrate, for example, that even low quantities of benzo[a]pyrene can have effects on the protein pattern and hence the metabolism and signal pathways in cells, even though the concentration is a hundred times below what is required to drive cells directly into apoptosis. This is the conclusion of studies undertaken by the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), Dresden University of Technology, and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR). These studies have now been published in the Journal of Proteome Research. The analysis of interlinked signal pathways taking advantage of different so-called "omics" technologies seems much more suitable for describing and monitoring unwanted effects than then previously used individual biomarkers.

The scientists undertook a detailed study of the effects of benzo[a]pyrene as a genotoxic model substance in cell cultures. Benzo[a]pyrene is long been known and one of the best studied carcinogenic substances. According to the current state of knowledge, there is no dose level without an effect, i.e. once reaching cells and tissues any quantity can be harmful. Ideally, consumers should never come into contact with such substances. The quantity of the substance in food must be reduced to levels as low as reasonably achievable. This approach is called the ALARA principle. Benzo[a]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon which is generated during incomplete combustion of organic materials. This means that it is very common and can be found, for example, in the smoke of cigarettes and in grilled meat.

Liver cells of mice were subjected for 24 hours to both a toxic and a benzo[a]pyrene concentration which was clearly below a threshold at which changes in the cell culture are typically observed. The changes in the levels of proteins and metabolites in the cells were then analysed. In this way, 190 proteins were identified - for a concentration that is toxic to the cell - which as a result of the treatment with benzo[a]pyrene underwent changes in their cellular quantity. At a concentration of only 50 nanomolar (nanomoles per litre) of benzo[a]pryrene, as many as 150 proteins were still found to be altered in their cellular levels. These effects of generally non-cell-toxic concentrations were clearly detectable in the case of benzo[a]pryrene and could not be predicted by effects of directly toxic concentrations.

By recording thousands of proteins and hundreds of metabolites, the chemically induced processes within cells can be described in detail. The large number of recorded molecules permits, on the basis of known functional connections, documenting the cellular reaction at the level of physiological signal pathways. Since a multitude of different proteins and metabolites are summarised for this purpose, the statement on a given signal pathway becomes clearly more robust and reliable than would be the case if a single protein was measured. The description of the effects of unwanted substances by means of this technique is also known as toxicoproteomics.

Benzo[a]pyrene is one of 105 substances which are classified as carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). According to estimates, each US citizen, for example, on average absorbs 200 nanograms of benzo[a]pyrene per day. Due to the carcinogenic effect and prevalence of this substance, there is keen interest in understanding the underlying molecular mechanisms. In general, the presence of benzo[a]pyrene in the environment, which is also formed during natural incomplete combustion of organic substances, is to be considered unavoidable. The methods used in the research project confirms that concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene should ideally be minimised to such an extent as is "reasonably achievable" to prevent harmful health effects. Toxicoproteomic methods should in future also increasingly be used for analysing the effects of selected model substances for liver, immune cells, and other tissues.

INFORMATION:

Publications: Stefan Kalkhof, Franziska Dautel, Salvatore Loguercio, Sven Baumann, Saskia Trump, Harald Jungnickel, Wolfgang Otto, Susanne Rudzok, Sarah Potratz, Andreas Luch, Irina Lehmann, Andreas Beyer, Martin von Bergen (2015): Establishing the pathway and time-resolved benzo[a]pyrene toxicity on Hepa1c1c7 cells at toxic and subtoxic exposure. J. Proteome Res. 14: 164-182. http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/pr500957t

Murugaiyan, J., Rockstroh, M., Wagner, J., Baumann, S., Schorsch, K., Trump, S., Lehmann, I., von Bergen, M., Tomm, J.M. (2013) Benzo[a]pyrene affects Jurkat T cells in the activated state via the antioxidant response element dependent Nrf2 pathway leading to decreased IL-2 secretion and redirecting glutamine metabolism. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 269: 307-316. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.taap.2013.03.032 Both studies were funded by the Helmholtz Alliance on Systems Biology and the Helmholtz Graduate School HIGRADE.

Further information: Prof. Dr. Martin von Bergen
Department für Proteomics, Department für Metabolomics
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Tel.: +49-(0)341- 235-1211
http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=17634
and
Dr. Stefan Kalkhof
Department für Proteomics
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ)
Tel.: +49-(0)341- 235-1354
http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=17567
or via
UFZ press office (Tilo Arnhold, Susanne Hufe)
Phone: +49-(0)341-235-1635, -1630
http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=640
and
BfR press office
Tel.: +49-(0)30-18412-4300/-4301/-4302/-4303
http://www.bfr.bund.de/en/the_press_office___contacts-59833.html

Further Links: Effect of Volatile Organic Compounds on the protein expression of Human immune cells: http://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=15010 Helmholtz Alliance on Systems Biology: http://www.helmholtz.de/en/helmholtz_centres_networks/helmholtz_alliances/systems_biology/ http://www.helmholtz.de/pakt_fuer_forschung_und_innovation/impuls_und_vernetzungsfonds/helmholtz_allianzen/systembiologie/projekt_website_systembiologie/netzwerke_des_helmholtz_verbunds_systembiologie/from_contaminant_molecules_to_cellular_response_system_quantification_and_predictive_model_development/


[Attachments] See images for this press release:
Omics methods: Towards a better prediction of the effects of substances at very low doses

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Craft beer chemistry (video)

Craft beer chemistry (video)
2015-03-16
WASHINGTON, March 16, 2015 -- It's been around for centuries but it seems like beer has never been more popular. Microbreweries are cranking out special stouts, IPAs, lagers and pilsners. And the flavors and aromas of each of those brews all come down to chemistry. This week, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, Reactions takes on craft beer chemistry. Sip on the video here: https://youtu.be/vW99JEaDApY. INFORMATION:Subscribe to the series at http://bit.ly/ACSReactions, and follow us on Twitter @ACSreactions to be the first to see our latest videos. The American Chemical ...

MDC cancer researchers identify new function in an old acquaintance

2015-03-16
Cells have two different programs to safeguard them from getting out of control and developing cancer. One of them is senescence (biological aging). It puts cancer cells into a permanent sleep so they no longer divide and grow in an uncontrolled way. Now the research group led by Professor Walter Birchmeier (Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, MDC, Berlin-Buch) has discovered that an enzyme known to be active in breast cancer and leukemia blocks this protection program and boosts tumor growth. They succeeded in blocking this enzyme in mice with breast cancer, ...

New system for detecting adverse effects of medications using social media

New system for detecting adverse effects of medications using social media
2015-03-16
This news release is available in Spanish. The researchers explain that online health information searches are the third most popular activity in Google, with 170,000 searches performed every 5 seconds. Isabel Segura Bedmar of the UC3M Computer Science and Engineering Department points out that, "There is a lot of user-generated information these days, so social networks can be a valuable source of information on adverse effects of pharmaceutical drugs after the clinical trial stage is over and the drug is on the market." The large amount and variety of information ...

New remote control for molecular motors

2015-03-16
In the eyes of physicists, magnetic molecules can be considered as nanoscale magnets. Remotely controlling the direction in which they rotate, like spinning tops, may intuitively be difficult to achieve. However, Russian physicists have just demonstrated that it is theoretically possible to do so. They have shown that a change of direction in the circular polarisation of an external magnetic field leads to a change in the direction of the mechanical rotation of the molecule. These findings by Iosif Davidovich Tokman and Vera Il'inichna Pozdnyakova from the Institute for ...

Study of veterans finds family support during deployment reduces suicidal thoughts

2015-03-16
(Boston)--Family support during deployment is an important protective factor against post-deployment suicidal ideation according to a new study in the journal Anxiety, Stress and Coping. Suicidal ideation includes thoughts that can range from fleeting consideration of suicide to the development of a specific plan for killing oneself. Research on suicidal ideation in veterans who served in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) in Iraq has revealed a number of important predictors of suicidal ideation, including potentially ...

How Millennials get their news

2015-03-16
Millennials are anything but "newsless," passive, or uninterested in civic issues, according to a new comprehensive study of the information habits of people age 18-34. The research looks closely at how members of the Millennial generation learn about the world on different devices and platforms. The study finds that Millennials consume news and information in strikingly different ways than did previous generations. Contrary to popular perception, they keep up with news that is commonly referred to as "traditional" or "hard," as well as stories that connect them to hobbies, ...

A breakfast of champions for diabetics

2015-03-16
Our modern epidemic of obesity has led to an alarming rise in the incidence of diabetes. More than 382 million people on the planet suffer from diabetes, predominantly type-2 diabetes. For these people, blood sugar surges -- glucose spikes after meals -- can be life threatening, leading to cardiovascular complications. A new Tel Aviv University study published in Diabetologia proposes a new way to suppress deadly glucose surges throughout the day -- eating a high-caloric breakfast and a more modest dinner. According to TAU's Prof. Daniela Jakubowicz and Dr. Julio Wainstein ...

Label design may affect risk of medication errors in OR, reports Journal of Patient Safety

2015-03-16
March 16, 2015- Special redesigned labels for intravenous (IV) medication bags may help to prevent serious medication errors in the operating room, reports a study in the March issue of the Journal of Patient Safety. The journal is published by Wolters Kluwer. Based on trainee behaviors during OR simulations, "The results of this study provide additional evidence to support the use of opaque, white medication labels and the use of inverted text for highlighting key medication information on the label," writes Jamie L. Estock, MA, of the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System ...

Mental health misdiagnosis twice more likely for socially disadvantaged groups

2015-03-16
March 16, 2015 - The shooting of an unarmed teenager in Ferguson, MO, has ignited a global discussion about implicit racial bias. One group of people you might think would be immune from this hidden bias is clinical therapists, people trained to understand the human mind. But a new field study finds that the social identities of patients and their therapists affect the accuracy of the diagnosis: Therapists were twice as likely to misdiagnose mental illness when their patients were members of a disadvantaged, compared to an advantaged, group. In her own practice, Ora Nakash, ...

Genetics: No evidence of role in racial mortality gap

2015-03-16
There is still no evidence of genetic difference between blacks and whites to account for the health disparities in cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to a new study by McGill University researchers. Published in the American Journal of Epidemiology, the researchers suggest that after a decade of genetic studies, factors such as lifestyle, education and socio-economics - not genetics - are more promising avenues to understanding racial health disparities. The researchers focused on cardiovascular disease, the largest contributor to the racial mortality gap, and ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Thirty-year mystery of dissonance in the “ringing” of black holes explained

Less intensive works best for agricultural soil

Arctic rivers project receives “national champion” designation from frontiers foundation

Computational biology paves the way for new ALS tests

Study offers new hope for babies born with opioid withdrawal syndrome

UT, Volkswagen Group of America celebrate research partnership

New Medicare program could dramatically improve affordability for cancer drugs – if patients enroll

Are ‘zombie’ skin cells harmful or helpful? The answer may be in their shapes

University of Cincinnati Cancer Center presents research at AACR 2025

Head and neck, breast, lung and survivorship studies headline Dana-Farber research at AACR Annual Meeting 2025

AACR: Researchers share promising results from MD Anderson clinical trials

New research explains why our waistlines expand in middle age

Advancements in muon detection: Taishan Antineutrino Observatory's innovative top veto tracker

Chips off the old block

Microvascular decompression combined with nerve combing for atypical trigeminal neuralgia

Cutting the complexity from digital carpentry

Lung immune cell type “quietly” controls inflammation in COVID-19

Fiscal impact of expanded Medicare coverage for GLP-1 receptor agonists to treat obesity

State and sociodemographic trends in US cigarette smoking with future projections

Young adults drive historic decline in smoking

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Chimpanzee stem cells offer new insights into early embryonic development

This injected protein-like polymer helps tissues heal after a heart attack

FlexTech inaugural issue launches, pioneering interdisciplinary innovation in flexible technology

In Down syndrome mice, 40Hz light and sound improve cognition, neurogenesis, connectivity

Methyl eugenol: potential to inhibit oxidative stress, address related diseases, and its toxicological effects

A vascularized multilayer chip reveals shear stress-induced angiogenesis in diverse fluid conditions

AI helps unravel a cause of Alzheimer's disease and identify a therapeutic candidate

Coalition of Autism Scientists critiques US Department of Health and Human Services Autism Research Initiative

Structure dictates effectiveness, safety in nanomedicine

[Press-News.org] Omics methods: Towards a better prediction of the effects of substances at very low doses
Joint press release by the UFZ and German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment