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Two cases of ras mutation associated with liver hyperplasia in dragonets ( Callionymus lyra ) exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Author(s) -
Vincent Françoise,
de Boer Jacob,
PfohlLeszkowicz Annie,
Cherrel Yan,
Galgani François
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
molecular carcinogenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.254
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1098-2744
pISSN - 0899-1987
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2744(199802)21:2<121::aid-mc6>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - biology , carcinogen , gene , polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon , polychlorinated biphenyl , exon , microbiology and biotechnology , dna , homology (biology) , genetics , ecology , astrobiology
ras gene activation in a naturally exposed feral fish population may prove to be a particularly sensitive genetic marker of malignancy. The aim of this study was to relate our current knowledge of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) bioactivation and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)–induced DNA damage to ras gene activation in liver tumors from dragonets exposed to these environmental carcinogens. We identified a member of the ras gene family in the marine fish dragonet ( Callionymus lyra ). The first two exons of this new sequence showed a very high degree of homology with the human ras genes (81–86%) at the nucleic acid level and perfect homology at the amino‐acid level. In a pilot study, we collected dragonets from the Seine estuary, an area highly contaminated with PAHs and PCBs. An increase in DNA adducts and an accumulation of ortho‐ and non‐ortho–substituted chlorobiphenyls (CB‐77, CB‐126, and CB‐169) were observed in the livers, a finding that correlates well with the levels of PAHs and PCBs in the sediment. Although liver neoplasia was uncommon, a codon 11 mutation was found in two fish with liver cell hyperplasia, suggesting a possible correlation between hepatic precancerous lesions and ras gene activation in dragonets. Mol. Carcinog. 21:121–127, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.