School of Public Health and Health Sciences, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Morrill I, N344, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA,
J Cell Commun Signal. 2011 Mar;5(1):25-38. doi: 10.1007/s12079-011-0119-1. Epub 2011 Feb 25.
Phenotypic plasticity represents an environmentally-based change in an organism's observable properties. Since biological plasticity is a fundamental adaptive feature, it has been extensively assessed with respect to its quantitative features and genetic foundations, especially within an ecological evolutionary framework. Toxicological investigations on the dose-response continuum (i.e., very broad dose range) that include documented evidence of the hormetic dose response zone (i.e., responses to doses below the toxicological threshold) can be employed to provide a quantitative estimate of phenotypic plasticity. The low dose hormetic stimulation is an adaptive response that reflects an environmentally-induced altered phenotype and provides a quantitative estimate of biological plasticity. Analysis of nearly 8,000 dose responses within the hormesis database indicates that quantitative features of phenotypic plasticity are highly generalizable, being independent of biological model, endpoint measured and chemical/physical stress inducing agent. The magnitude of phenotype changes indicative of plasticity is modest with maximum responses typically being approximately 30-60% greater than control values. The present findings provide the first quantitative estimates of biological plasticity and its capacity for generalization. Summary This article provides the first quantitative estimate of biological plasticity that may be generalized across plant, microbial, animal systems, and across all levels of biological organization. The quantitative features of plasticity are described by the hormesis dose response model. These findings have important biological, biomedical and evolutionary implications.
表型可塑性是生物体可观察特性的一种基于环境的变化。由于生物可塑性是一种基本的适应性特征，因此已经从其定量特征和遗传基础方面进行了广泛评估，特别是在生态进化框架内。关于剂量-反应连续体（即非常宽的剂量范围）的毒理学研究，包括荷尔蒙剂量反应区（即低于毒性阈值的剂量的反应）的记录证据，可以用来对表型可塑性进行定量估计。低剂量的荷尔蒙刺激是一种适应性反应，反映了环境诱导的表型改变，并提供了生物可塑性的定量估计。对荷尔蒙数据库中近 8000 个剂量反应的分析表明，表型可塑性的定量特征具有高度的通用性，独立于生物模型、测量的终点和引起化学/物理应激的试剂。表明可塑性的表型变化的幅度适中，最大反应通常比对照值高约 30-60%。目前的发现提供了对生物可塑性及其通用性的第一个定量估计。总结本文提供了对生物可塑性的第一个定量估计，该估计可能适用于植物、微生物、动物系统以及所有层次的生物组织。可塑性的定量特征由荷尔蒙剂量反应模型描述。这些发现具有重要的生物学、生物医学和进化意义。
