Publication Details

Category Text Publication
Reference Category Journals
DOI 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110565
Licence creative commons licence
Title (Primary) A metabolomics approach to reveal the mechanism of developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos exposed to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil
Author Wilhelmi, P.; Giri, V.; Zickgraf, F.M.; Haake, V.; Henkes, S.; Driemert, P.; Michaelis, P.; Busch, W. ORCID logo ; Scholz, S. ORCID logo ; Flick, B.; Barenys, M.; Birk, B.; Kamp, H.; Landsiedel, R.; Funk-Weyer, D.
Source Titel Chemico-Biological Interactions
Year 2023
Department BIOTOX
Volume 382
Page From art. 110565
Language englisch
Topic T9 Healthy Planet
Supplements https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S0009279723002326-mmc1.docx
Keywords Developmental toxicity; Metabolomics; Zebrafish embryo; Thyroid disruption
Abstract A crucial component of substance registration and regulation is the evaluation of human prenatal developmental toxicity. Current toxicological tests are based on mammalian models, but these are costly, time consuming and may pose ethical concerns. The zebrafish embryo has evolved as a promising alternative model to study developmental toxicity. However, the implementation of the zebrafish embryotoxicity test is challenged by lacking information on the relevance of observed morphological alterations in fish for human developmental toxicity. Elucidating the mechanism of toxicity could help to overcome this limitation. Through LC-MS/MS and GC-MS metabolomics, we investigated whether changes to the endogenous metabolites can indicate pathways associated with developmental toxicity. To this aim, zebrafish embryos were exposed to different concentrations of 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU), a compound known to induce developmental toxicity. The reproducibility and the concentration-dependence of metabolome response and its association with morphological alterations were studied. Major morphological findings were reduced eye size, and other craniofacial anomalies; major metabolic changes included increased tyrosine, pipecolic acid and lysophosphatidylcholines levels, decreased methionine levels, and disturbance of the ‘Phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis’ pathway. This pathway, and the changes in tyrosine and pipecolic acid levels could be linked to the mode of action of PTU, i.e., inhibition of thyroid peroxidase (TPO). The other findings suggested neurodevelopmental impairments. This proof-of-concept study demonstrated that metabolite changes in zebrafish embryos are robust and provide mechanistic information associated with the mode of action of PTU.
Persistent UFZ Identifier https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=27097
Wilhelmi, P., Giri, V., Zickgraf, F.M., Haake, V., Henkes, S., Driemert, P., Michaelis, P., Busch, W., Scholz, S., Flick, B., Barenys, M., Birk, B., Kamp, H., Landsiedel, R., Funk-Weyer, D. (2023):
A metabolomics approach to reveal the mechanism of developmental toxicity in zebrafish embryos exposed to 6-propyl-2-thiouracil
Chem.-Biol. Interact. 382 , art. 110565 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110565