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Title: Knockout of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor results in distinct hepatic and renal phenotypes in rats and mice

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor which plays a role in the development of multiple tissues and is activated by a large number of ligands, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In order to examine the roles of the AHR in both normal biological development and response to environmental chemicals, an AHR knockout (AHR-KO) rat model was created and compared with an existing AHR-KO mouse. AHR-KO rats harboring either 2-bp or 29-bp deletion mutation in exon 2 of the AHR were created on the Sprague–Dawley genetic background using zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. Rats harboring either mutation type lacked expression of AHR protein in the liver. AHR-KO rats were also insensitive to thymic involution, increased hepatic weight and the induction of AHR-responsive genes (Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, Cyp1b1, Ahrr) following acute exposure to 25 μg/kg TCDD. AHR-KO rats had lower basal expression of transcripts for these genes and also accumulated ∼ 30–45-fold less TCDD in the liver at 7 days post-exposure. In untreated animals, AHR-KO mice, but not AHR-KO rats, had alterations in serum analytes indicative of compromised hepatic function, patent ductus venosus of the liver and persistent hyaloid arteries in the eye. AHR-KO rats, but not AHR-KO mice, displayed pathological alterationsmore » to the urinary tract: bilateral renal dilation (hydronephrosis), secondary medullary tubular and uroepithelial degenerative changes and bilateral ureter dilation (hydroureter). The present data indicate that the AHR may play significantly different roles in tissue development and homeostasis and toxicity across rodent species. - Highlights: • An AHR knockout rat was generated on a Sprague–Dawley outbred background. • AHR-KO rats lack expression of AHR protein. • AHR-KO rats are insensitive to TCDD-mediated effects. • Data suggests difference in the role of AHR in tissue development of rats and mice. • Abnormalities in vascular development are observed in AHR-KO mouse, but not rat. • Renal pathology is observed in AHR-KO rat, but not mouse.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ; ;  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1]; ;  [2]
  1. The Hamner Institute for Health Sciences, Institute for Chemical Safety Sciences, RTP, NC 27709 (United States)
  2. The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48640 (United States)
  3. North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC 27606 (United States)
  4. University of North Carolina, Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Chapel Hill, NC 27599 (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22285442
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 272; Journal Issue: 2; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0041-008X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; ALBUMINS; BASOPHILS; BILIRUBIN; CALCIUM; EOSINOPHILS; GLOBULINS; GLUCOSE; HEMOGLOBIN; KIDNEYS; LIVER; LYMPHOCYTES; MICE; MONOCYTES; NEUTROPHILS; RATS; RECEPTORS; URETERS; URINE

Citation Formats

Harrill, Joshua A., Hukkanen, Renee R., Lawson, Marie, Martin, Greg, Gilger, Brian, Soldatow, Valerie, LeCluyse, Edward L., Budinsky, Robert A., Rowlands, J. Craig, and Thomas, Russell S., E-mail: RThomas@thehamner.org. Knockout of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor results in distinct hepatic and renal phenotypes in rats and mice. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.06.024.
Harrill, Joshua A., Hukkanen, Renee R., Lawson, Marie, Martin, Greg, Gilger, Brian, Soldatow, Valerie, LeCluyse, Edward L., Budinsky, Robert A., Rowlands, J. Craig, & Thomas, Russell S., E-mail: RThomas@thehamner.org. Knockout of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor results in distinct hepatic and renal phenotypes in rats and mice. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.06.024
Harrill, Joshua A., Hukkanen, Renee R., Lawson, Marie, Martin, Greg, Gilger, Brian, Soldatow, Valerie, LeCluyse, Edward L., Budinsky, Robert A., Rowlands, J. Craig, and Thomas, Russell S., E-mail: RThomas@thehamner.org. 2013. "Knockout of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor results in distinct hepatic and renal phenotypes in rats and mice". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.06.024.
@article{osti_22285442,
title = {Knockout of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor results in distinct hepatic and renal phenotypes in rats and mice},
author = {Harrill, Joshua A. and Hukkanen, Renee R. and Lawson, Marie and Martin, Greg and Gilger, Brian and Soldatow, Valerie and LeCluyse, Edward L. and Budinsky, Robert A. and Rowlands, J. Craig and Thomas, Russell S., E-mail: RThomas@thehamner.org},
abstractNote = {The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor which plays a role in the development of multiple tissues and is activated by a large number of ligands, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In order to examine the roles of the AHR in both normal biological development and response to environmental chemicals, an AHR knockout (AHR-KO) rat model was created and compared with an existing AHR-KO mouse. AHR-KO rats harboring either 2-bp or 29-bp deletion mutation in exon 2 of the AHR were created on the Sprague–Dawley genetic background using zinc-finger nuclease (ZFN) technology. Rats harboring either mutation type lacked expression of AHR protein in the liver. AHR-KO rats were also insensitive to thymic involution, increased hepatic weight and the induction of AHR-responsive genes (Cyp1a1, Cyp1a2, Cyp1b1, Ahrr) following acute exposure to 25 μg/kg TCDD. AHR-KO rats had lower basal expression of transcripts for these genes and also accumulated ∼ 30–45-fold less TCDD in the liver at 7 days post-exposure. In untreated animals, AHR-KO mice, but not AHR-KO rats, had alterations in serum analytes indicative of compromised hepatic function, patent ductus venosus of the liver and persistent hyaloid arteries in the eye. AHR-KO rats, but not AHR-KO mice, displayed pathological alterations to the urinary tract: bilateral renal dilation (hydronephrosis), secondary medullary tubular and uroepithelial degenerative changes and bilateral ureter dilation (hydroureter). The present data indicate that the AHR may play significantly different roles in tissue development and homeostasis and toxicity across rodent species. - Highlights: • An AHR knockout rat was generated on a Sprague–Dawley outbred background. • AHR-KO rats lack expression of AHR protein. • AHR-KO rats are insensitive to TCDD-mediated effects. • Data suggests difference in the role of AHR in tissue development of rats and mice. • Abnormalities in vascular development are observed in AHR-KO mouse, but not rat. • Renal pathology is observed in AHR-KO rat, but not mouse.},
doi = {10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.06.024},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22285442}, journal = {Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology},
issn = {0041-008X},
number = 2,
volume = 272,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013},
month = {Tue Oct 15 00:00:00 EDT 2013}
}