Environmental pollutants modulate transcriptional activity of nuclear receptors of whales in vitro.

This study reports the transcriptional activity of fin (Balaenoptera physalus) and blue whale (B musculus) peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG), glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and thyroid hormone receptor beta (THRB), when exposed to 14 legacy persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and a synthetic mixture of POPs, using GAL4-UAS based in vitro luciferase reporter gene assays. PCBs had both agonistic and antagonistic effects on PPARG and GR, and mainly antagonistic, except PCB153, effects on THRB. DDT and its metabolites had mainly antagonistic effects on all of the receptors, except for o,p´-DDT. Given that the ligand binding domain (LBD) of PPARG is the same in killer whales, white whales, polar bears and humans, and that GR-LBD is identical in killer whales and minke whales and the LBD of THRB is the same in killer whales, white whales and humans, it is likely that the results of this study are representative for these other species as well. It is important to note that several environmental pollutants modulated the transcriptional activity of tested nuclear receptors at environmentally relevant concentrations for whales.

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