Prenatal and Postnatal Exposure to DDT by Breast Milk Analysis in Canary Islands

Introduction

The use of p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) has been banned since the late 1970s due to its toxicity. However, its long half-life makes it persistent in the environment and, consequently, almost everyone has DDT residues in the body. Human milk constitutes an ideal non-conventional matrix to investigate environmental chronic exposure to organochlorine compounds (OCs) residues. The study aimed to identify potential population risk factors of exposure to DDT due to the proximity to countries where it is still used.

Methods

Seventy-two consecutive lactating women were prospectively included in Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain). A validated questionnaire was used to obtain socioeconomic, demographics data, and daily habits during pregnancy. DDT levels in breast milk were measured by gas chromatography with-electron capture detector (GC-ECD). Anthropometrics measurements in newborns were obtained.

Results

Thirty-four out of 72 (47.2%) of the analysed milk samples presented detectable levels of DDT (mean: 0.92 ng/g), ranging between 0.08 to 16.96 ng/g. The socio-demographic variables did not significantly differ between detectable DDT and non-detectable DDT groups. We found positive association between DDT levels and vegetables (OR (95%CI): 1.23 (1.01–1.50)) and poultry meat (OR (95%CI): 2.05 (1.16–3.60)) consumption, and also between the presence of DDT in breast milk and gestational age (OR (95%CI): 0.59 (0.40–0.90)).

Conclusions

DDT is present in breast milk of women at the time of delivery. Residual levels and the spread from countries still using DDT explain DDT detection from vegetables and from animal origin food. The presence of this compound in breast milk represents a pre- and postnatal exposure hazard for foetuses and infants due to chronic bioaccumulation and poor elimination, with possible deleterious effects on health. This data should be used to raise awareness of the risks of OCs exposure and to help establish health policies in order to avoid its use worldwide and thus, to prevent its propagation.     

Fabrication of Hydrogels with Steep Stiffness Gradients for Studying Cell Mechanical Response

Many fundamental cell processes, such as angiogenesis, neurogenesis and cancer metastasis, are thought to be modulated by extracellular matrix stiffness. Thus, the availability of matrix substrates having well-defined stiffness profiles can be of great importance in biophysical studies of cell-substrate interaction. Here, we present a method to fabricate biocompatible hydrogels with a well defined and linear stiffness gradient. This method, involving the photopolymerization of films by progressively uncovering an acrylamide/bis-acrylamide solution initially covered with an opaque mask, can be easily implemented with common lab equipment. It produces linear stiffness gradients of at least 115 kPa/mm, extending from ∼1 kPa to 240 kPa (in units of Young''s modulus). Hydrogels with less steep gradients and narrower stiffness ranges can easily be produced. The hydrogels can be covalently functionalized with uniform coatings of proteins that promote cell adhesion. Cell spreading on these hydrogels linearly correlates with hydrogel stiffness, indicating that this technique effectively modifies the mechanical environment of living cells. This technique provides a simple approach that produces steeper gradients, wider rigidity ranges, and more accurate profiles than current methods.     

The presence of at least two different H-blood-group-related beta-D-gal alpha-2-L-fucosyltransferases in human serum and the genetics of blood group H substances.

Sera from H normal, secretors and nonsecretors (H/-, Se/- and H/-, se/se), as well as from H-deficient secretors (h/h, Se/- or Bombay secretors) contain enzyme(s) for the transfer of L-fucose in the alpha-configuration to the 2-position of suitable beta-D-galactopyranosyl units. Sera from H-deficient nonsecretors (h/h, se/se; i.e., Bombay nonsecretors) are devoid of such beta-D-Gal alpha-2-L-fucosyltransferase(s). In order to study these enzymes, a comparison was made of the kinetic properties of the enzymes present in the sera of H-normal nonsecretors (H/-, se/se) with those of H-deficient secretors (h/h, Se/se) with those of H-deficient secretors (h/h, Se/-). These studies revealed a clear difference between the two sources of enzyme: (1) the apparent Km for GDP-fucose was four times lower with the H-normal nonsecretor serum (0.008 mM) than with the H-deficient secretor serum (0.028 mM); (2) acceptors with a type 1 or type 3 chain proved to be better than acceptors with a type 2 chain or than phenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside for the enzyme present in the serum of H-deficient secretor individuals. Indeed, the synthetic type 2 compound, betaDGal (1-->4)-3-deoxy-beta-DGlcNAc-1-OCH3, which cannot act as an acceptor of beta DGlcNAc alpha-3/4-L-fucosyltransferases, remained unchanged in the serum of an H-deficient secretor but was a good acceptor in the serum of an H-normal nonsecretor, and (3) the alpha-2-L fucosyltransferease activity of the H-deficient secretor serum was more sensitive to heat inactivation than that of the H-normal nonsecretor serum (t1/2 at 46 degrees C were 10 min and 75 min, respectively). These results show that at least two distinct alpha-2-L-fucosyltransferases are present in human serum. It is concluded that the enzymatic activity found in the H-deficient secretor serum (h/h, Se/-) could be the product of the Se gene and the enzymatic activity found in the H-normal nonsecretor serum (H/-, se/se) could be the product of the H gene. This conclusion correlates well with the finding that H and Se genes are closely linked and might have derived by gene duplication in the course of evolution.     

Identification of lysosomal Npc1‐binding proteins: Cathepsin D activity is regulated by NPC1

Niemann–Pick type C (NPC) disease is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder, characterized by severe neurodegeneration. It is mostly produced by mutations in the NPC1 gene, encoding for a protein of the late endosomes/lysosomes membrane, involved in cholesterol metabolism. However, the specific role of this protein in NPC disease still remains unknown. We aimed to identify Npc1‐binding proteins in order to define new putative NPC1 lysosomal functions. By affinity chromatography using an Npc1 peptide (amino acids 1032–1066 of loop I), as bait, we fished 31 lysosomal proteins subsequently identified by LC‐MS/MS. Most of them were involved in proteolysis and lipid catabolism and included the protease cathepsin D. Cathepsin D and NPC1 interaction was validated by immunoprecipitation and the functional relevance of this interaction was studied. We found that fibroblasts from NPC patients with low levels of NPC1 protein have high amounts of procathepsin D but reduced quantities of the mature protein, thus showing a diminished cathepsin D activity. The increase of NPC1 protein levels in NPC cells by treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, induced an elevation of cathepsin D activity. All these results suggest a new lysosomal function of NPC1 as a regulator of cathepsin D processing and activity.     

Heterogeneity of the ABH antigenic determinants expressed in human pyloric and duodenal mucosae

We defined the chemical structure and the genetic control of the various A or B determinants expressed by pyloric and duodenal epithelial cells by indirect immunofluorescent staining using monoclonal anti-A or anti-B reagents that recognize only certain variants of A or B antigenic determinants.Some mucous cells in pyloric and Brünner's glands express AY or BY antigens whereas other mucous cells in the same glands express only the Y antigen. Absorptive and goblet cells of the duodenal villi and Lieberkühn glands express mono- and difucosylated A or B structures, mainly of type 1. The pyloric surface epithelium expresses mono- and difucosylated, type 1 and type 2, A or B structures. In addition, A or B antigens, with a so far undefined structure are found in the pyloric surface mucosae of non-secretor individuals.     

A new anti-H lectin from the seeds ofGalactia tenuiflora

A new anti-blood group H lectin was isolated from the seeds ofGalactia tenuiflora. This lectin is mostly specific for the H type 2 trisaccharide but it shows some cross-reactivity with the H type 4 and H type 3 trisaccharides. Differences between this lectin and lectin 1 fromUlex europaeus are described. These differences concern the respective abilities of the lectins to recognize erythrocytes from some H deficient phenotypes, the inhibitions by salivas and the tissue distribution of the antigens recognized by the two lectins. The most important differences were noted in the surface epithelium of the stomach. This area is known to express ABH antigens under the control of theSe gene as defined by theUlex europaeus lectin 1, yet it is always strongly labelled by theGalactia tenuiflora lectin irrespective of the secretor status of the tissue donor.     

Computer simulation of histo-blood group oligosaccharides: energy maps of all constituting disaccharides and potential energy surfaces of 14 ABH and Lewis carbohydrate antigens

The three-dimensional structures of fourteen histo-blood groups carbohydrate antigens have been established through a combination of molecular mechanics and conformational searching methods. The conformational space available for each disaccharide, constituents of these determinants, has been throroughly characterized. The results have been organized in a data bank fashion. Larger relatives, i.e. 14 tri- and tetrasaccharides of histo-blood group antigens, have been modelled using a different method for exploring the complex potential energy surface. This approach is aimed at establishing all the possible families of conformations, along with the conformational pathways. Different conformational behaviours are exhibited by these oligosaccharides. Some of them, i.e. Le^X and Le^Y tri and tetrasaccharides, are very rigid; 99% of their populations belong to the same conformational family. Others, like H type 1, H type 2 or H type 6 oligosaccharides, are essentially rigid, but a secondary conformational family, corresponding to 3–4% of the total population, can arise. Finally, the H types 3 and 4 trisaccharides, and the A type 1 and A type 2 tetrasaccharides are predicted to behave rather flexibly. The information gathered in the present investigation has been used to analyse the body of experimental evidence, either physical or biological, available for this series of carbohydrate antigens. Of special interest are the several different alignments that can be proposed for these molecules. They yield a realistic definition of the three-dimensional features of the epitopes thereby providing essential information about how carbohydrate antigens are recognized by proteins.