Physiological effects of humic substances - danger or benefit?
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2008 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | Environmental changes and biological assessment IV. Scripta Facultatis Rerum Naturalium Universitatis Ostraviensis Nr. 391 |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Water pollution and control |
| Keywords | humic substances; Ah receptor; dioxin; interaction; agonist |
| Description | Humic substances (HS) represent ubiquitous products of dead organic matter decomposition. In vivo experiments on fish have shown induction of biotransformation enzyme CYP1A, a biomarker of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation after exposure to HS. Similarly to last referenced study, we have examined interaction of HS with AhR, i.e. receptor that mediates toxic effects of such compounds like PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs (so called dioxin-like compounds) and PAHs. Using in vitro bioassay, we have found significant AhR-mediated activities of four out of twelve HS tested. Applied bioassay is based on H4IIE-luc cells (rat hepatoma) stably transfected with a luciferase reporter gene under the control of dioxin-responsive element. In recent contribution, we summarize our new findings on interaction of AhR-active HS, being partial agonists of AhR, with full agonists of AhR, e.g. 2,3,7,8-TCDD. Supposed ecological consequences of our findings, and the scheduled research in the field of HS will be discussed. |
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