Kim Woo-Keun, Jung Jinho
System Toxicology Research Center, Korea Institute of Toxicology, Daejeon 34114, Republic of Korea.
Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 2016 Jun;128:246-51. doi: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2016.02.028. Epub 2016 Mar 8.
The integration of biomarker responses ranging from the molecular to the individual level is of great interest for measuring the toxic effects of hazardous chemicals or effluent mixtures on aquatic organisms. This study evaluated the effects of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents on the freshwater pale chub Zacco platypus by using multi-level biomarker responses at molecular [mRNA expression of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and metallothionein (MT)], biochemical (enzyme activities of CAT, SOD, GST, and concentration of MT), and physiological [condition factor (CF) and liver somatic index (LSI)] levels. The mRNA expression levels of GST and MT in Z. platypus from a site downstream of a WWTP significantly increased by 2.2- and 4.5-fold (p<0.05) when compared with those from an upstream site. However, the enzyme activities of CAT, SOD, and GST in fish from the downstream site significantly decreased by 43%, 98%, and 13%, respectively (p<0.05), except for an increase in MT concentration (41%). In addition, a significant increase in LSI (46%) was observed in Z. platypus from the downstream site (p<0.05). Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in the liver of Z. platypus were higher (530%, 353%, 800%, and 2,200%, respectively) in fish from a downstream site than in fish from an upstream location, and several multi-level biomarker responses were significantly correlated with the accumulated metals in Z. platypus (p<0.05). Integrated biomarker responses at molecular, biochemical, and physiological levels (multi-level IBR) were much higher (about 4-fold) at the downstream site than at the upstream site. This study suggests that the multi-level IBR approach is very useful for quantifying in situ adverse effects of WWTP effluents.
从分子水平到个体水平整合生物标志物反应，对于衡量有害化学物质或废水混合物对水生生物的毒性影响具有重要意义。本研究通过在分子水平[过氧化氢酶（CAT）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、谷胱甘肽S -转移酶（GST）和金属硫蛋白（MT）的mRNA表达]、生化水平（CAT、SOD、GST的酶活性以及MT的浓度）和生理水平[条件因子（CF）和肝脏体指数（LSI）]上使用多级生物标志物反应，评估了污水处理厂（WWTP）废水对淡水宽鳍鱲（Zacco platypus）的影响。与上游站点的宽鳍鱲相比，污水处理厂下游站点的宽鳍鱲中GST和MT的mRNA表达水平显著增加了2.2倍和4.5倍（p<0.05）。然而，下游站点鱼类中CAT、SOD和GST的酶活性分别显著降低了43%、98%和13%（p<0.05），不过MT浓度有所增加（41%）。此外，下游站点的宽鳍鱲中观察到LSI显著增加（46%）（p<0.05）。下游站点的宽鳍鱲肝脏中铜、锌、镉和铅的浓度分别比上游站点的鱼类高（分别为530%、353%、800%和2200%），并且几种多级生物标志物反应与宽鳍鱲体内积累的金属显著相关（p<0.05）。分子、生化和生理水平的综合生物标志物反应（多级IBR）在下游站点比上游站点高得多（约4倍）。本研究表明，多级IBR方法对于量化污水处理厂废水的原位不利影响非常有用。
