The genotoxicity of particulate and soluble chromate in sperm whale (physeter macrocephalus) skin fibroblasts

Abstract

Hexavalent chromium is a marine pollutant of concern, both for the health of ocean ecosystems and for public health. Hexavalent chromium is known to induce genotoxicity in human and other terrestrial mammals. It is also known to be present in both water and air in the marine environment. However, currently there are limited data concerning both chromium levels and its toxicological effects in marine mammals. This study investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of soluble and particulate hexavalent chromium in sperm whale skin fibroblasts. Both forms of hexavalent chromium induced concentration-dependent increases in cytotoxicity and genotoxicity indicating that these compounds can be a health risk if the whales are exposed to them. These data support a hypothesis that chromium is a concern in the marine environment in general and for the health of sperm whales in particular.

Transcriptomic analysis of cultured whale skin cells exposed to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]

“…This may suggest activation of DNA repair pathways after cellular stress. Such an outcome is consistent with sperm whale cell culture data showing two times more chromosomal damage at 1.0 μg/cm 2 as compared to the damage at 0.5 μg/cm 2 (Wise et al, 2011). For the 1.0 μg/cm 2 exposure we noticed a stronger down-regulation of metabolic gene (KHK), perhaps as an effort to conserve energy for other cellular activities in response to ROS stress or DNA damage.…”

“…Sperm whale skin fibroblasts were maintained as adherent subconfluent monolayers, fed at least twice a week, and subcultured at least once a week as described previously (Wise et al, 2011). All experiments were conducted on logarithmically growing cells cultured in DMEM/F-12 supplemented with 15% Cosmic calf serum, 2 mM L-glutamine, 100 U/mL penicillin, 100 μg/mL streptomycin, and 0.1 mM sodium pyruvate.…”

Comparative cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of particulate and soluble hexavalent chromium in human and sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) skin cells

“…We used primary sperm whale skin cells isolated from a free-ranging female sperm whale off the coast of North Carolina previously described in Wise Sr. et al (2011), and primary human skin cells (BJ cells) previously described in Vaziri and Benchimol (1998). All cells were cultured as adherent monolayers of cells and were subcultured at least once a week.…”

“…In marine mammals, the health impacts are uncertain and little studied. We recently demonstrated that both particulate and soluble Cr(VI) are cytotoxic and genotoxic to whale and sea lion cells (Wise Sr. et al, 2008; Li Chen et al, 2009a; Wise et al, 2009; Wise Sr. et al, 2010; Wise Sr. et al, 2011). Considered in conjunction with Cr levels in the animals, the data suggest that the whales may be exposed to potentially genotoxic levels of Cr (Wise Sr. et al, 2008; Wise Sr. et al, 2009; Li Chen et al, 2009a; Wise Sr. et al, 2011).…”

Metal Levels in Southern Right Whales (Eubalaena australis) from Península Valdés, Argentina

“…Specifically, in cetaceans, metal exposure has been correlated with infectious disease mortality, parasitic infections and pneumonias and histopathological changes in lung and kidney tissues [7][8][9]. Cetacean cell culture studies showed that metals can induce cytotoxic, immunotoxic and genotoxic effects [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]. Thus, animal and tissue culture studies suggest that metals could be a health concern to cetaceans.…”