Why are there Different Age Related Trends for Different Chemicals?

Abstract-Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as dioxins, PCBs, persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) as well as perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and triclosan are ubiquitous in the human population. In Australia, we have pooled and subsequently analysed over 10 000 human serum samples for the determination of these chemicals by age group (0-0.5; 0.6-1; 1.1-1.5; 1.6-2; 2.1-2.5; 2.6-3; 3.1-3.5; 3.6-4; 4.1-6; 6.1-9; 9.1-12; 12.1-15; 16-30; 31-45; 46-60 and >60 years) and gender. The results of this analysis were then used to assess the trends of these different chemicals as a function of age, gender and to a lesser extent region. Our data demonstrate clear chemical specific age trends. In particular we demonstrate that for the traditional POPs there is an increase in body burden with age whereas the opposite is true for chemicals such as PBDEs. For PFCs we find chemical specific age trends that vary from compound to compound. For triclosan we show that no apparent age trend is observable. The results of the study and its implications to the collection and archiving of samples for retrospective analysis are discussed

RANKL-induced DC-STAMP is essential for osteoclastogenesis

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing, multinucleated giant cells that are essential for bone remodeling and are formed through cell fusion of mononuclear precursor cells. Although receptor activator of nuclear factor– B ligand (RANKL) has been demonstrated to be an important osteoclastogenic cytokine, the cell surface molecules involved in osteoclastogenesis are mostly unknown. Here, we report that the seven-transmembrane receptor-like molecule, dendritic cell–specific transmembrane protein (DC-STAMP) is involved in osteoclastogenesis. Expression of DCSTAMP is rapidly induced in osteoclast precursor cells by RANKL and other osteoclastogenic stimulations. Targeted inhibition of DC-STAMP by small interfering RNAs and specific antibody markedly suppressed the formation of multinucleated osteoclast-like cells. Overexpression of DC-STAMP enhanced osteoclastogenesis in the presence of RANKL. Furthermore, DC-STAMP directly induced the expression of the osteoclast marker tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase. These data demonstrate for the first time that DC-STAMP has an essential role in osteoclastogenesis.Toshio Kukita, Naohisa Wada, Akiko Kukita, Takashi Kakimoto, Ferry Sandra, Kazuko Toh, Kengo Nagata, Tadahiko Iijima, Madoka Horiuchi, Hiromi Matsusaki, Kunio Hieshima, Osamu Yoshie and Hisayuki Nomiyam

Protecting the environment from psychoactive drugs: Problems for regulators illustrated by the possible effects of tramadol on fish behaviour

© 2019 The Authors. There is concern that psychoactive drugs present in the aquatic environment could affect the behaviour of fish, and other organisms, adversely. There is considerable experimental support for this concern, although the literature is not consistent. To investigate why, fish were exposed to three concentrations of the synthetic opiate tramadol for 23–24 days, and their anxiolytic behaviour in a novel tank diving test was assessed both before and after exposure. The results were difficult to interpret. The positive control drug, the anti-depressant fluoxetine, produced the expected results: exposed fish explored the novel tank more, and swam more slowly while doing so. An initial statistical analysis of the results provided relatively weak support for the conclusion that both the low and high concentrations of tramadol affected fish behaviour, but no evidence that the intermediate concentration did. To gain further insight, UK and Japanese experts in ecotoxicology were asked for their independent opinions on the data for tramadol. These were highly valuable. For example, about half the experts replied that a low concentration of a chemical can cause effects that higher concentrations do not, although a similar number did not believe this was possible. Based both on the inconclusive effects of tramadol on the behaviour of the fish and the very varied opinions of experts on the correct interpretation of those inconclusive data, it is obvious that more research on the behavioural effects of tramadol, and probably all other psychoactive drugs, on aquatic organisms is required before any meaningful risk assessments can be conducted. The relevance of these findings may apply much more widely than just the environmental risk assessment of psychoactive drugs. They suggest that much more rigorous training of research scientists and regulators is probably required if consensus decisions are to be reached that adequately protect the environment from chemicals.Ecotoxicology Research Group, Brunel University London funded the fish experiments. We would also like to thank Dr. Matt Winter, University of Exeter, for his support with the behavioural analysis. This study was also supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan (MEXT) to a project on Joint Usage/Research Centre – Leading Academia in Marine and Environment Pollution Research (LaMer), and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants-in-Aid (KAKENHI) for JSPS Fellows (JP26·2800), Scientific Research (A) (JP25257403), Scientific Research (A) (JP16H01784), and Young Scientists (JP18K18206)

CXCL8 Chemokines in Teleost Fish: Two Lineages with Distinct Expression Profiles during Early Phases of Inflammation

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