Differential expression of the main polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon responsive genes in the extrahepatic tissues of mice

Abstract The hepatic toxic effects, including carcinogenicity and oxidative stress, of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been extensively studied in recent years. Previous reports have demonstrated that 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) is capable of altering the expression of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-regulated genes and antioxidant genes in liver, but little is known about the expression patterns in other tissues. To investigate whether similar effects could occur in the extrahepatic tissues, adult male ICR mice were received an intraperitoneal injection of 100 mg/kg 3MC and then analyzed after 6 and 24 h. We observed that the constitutive expression of AHR- and antioxidant-related genes was in a tissue-specific manner. Moreover, acute 3MC exposure significantly increased the mRNA levels of Cyp1a1 and Cyp1b1 in all the lung, kidney and heart. As to antioxidant genes, 3MC induced the transcription of glutathione reductase ( Gr ) in the lung and kidney at 24 h and the transcription of glutathione peroxidase 1 ( Gpx1 ) in the lung and kidney at 6 and 24 h. Glutathione-S-transferase A1 ( Gsta1 ) was significantly reduced in the kidney at 24 h, while no effect was observed in the lung and heart. The mRNA levels of NAD ( P ) H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 ( Nqo1 ) were induced by 3MC in all the lung, kidney and heart. Although the constitutive expression of catalase ( Cat ) is very low in the heart, the transcription of Cat was significantly induced both at 6 and 24 h. No significant alternation in the transcription of glutathione synthetase ( Gss ), heme oxygenase 1 ( Ho-1 ) and superoxide dismutase 1 ( Sod1 ) was observed in all tissues. Taken together, ours findings suggested that the expression of AHR- and antioxidant-related genes in a tissue-specific manner with or without treatment of a PAH.