The trichothecenes, a group of sesquiterpenoid mycotoxins commonly encountered as food contaminants worldwide, have been etiologically linked to human and animal illnesses with the immune system being a major target. In experimental animals, these mycotoxins and other natural toxins that bind with high affinity to eukaryotic ribosomes (eg. ricin, Shiga toxin, anisomycin) induce proinflammatory gene expression and apoptosis in lymphoid tissues. Because of their potential for use in chemical terrorism, trichothecenes and other ribotoxins are now included on the CDC Select Agents list. Although ribosome-directed agents are known to exert toxicity by activating mitogen-activated protein kinases, the underlying mechanisms for this """"""""ribotoxic stress response"""""""" (RSR) remain largely undefined. Thus, a critical gap exists in our knowledge of the signal transduction mechanisms by which ribotoxins modulate gene expression and apoptosis. The objective of this proposal is to test the guiding hypothesis that the ribosome plays a central role in the initiation and integration of protein kinase-mediated stress responses to trichothecenes and other ribotoxic agents. This hypothesis is based on observations in the macrophage that: 1)deoxynivalenol (DON), a common foodborne trichothecene, mediates cleavage of 18S and 28S ribosomal (r)RNA, 2) double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase (PKR), a ribosome-associated serine-threonine kinase, is essential for DON-induced protein kinase activation and 3) DON induces mobilization of several protein kinases to the ribosome whereupon they are phosphorylated. To test our hypothesis, three Specific Aims are proposed.
In Aim 1, we will characterize DON-induced rRNA cleavage relative to targets, kinetics and mechanisms in the macrophage.
In Aim 2, we will use both macrophage and cell-free models to characterize the role of PKR as an early sensor of DON-induced rRNA damage.
In Aim 3, we will track DON-induced changes in ribosome-associated proteins in the macrophage relative to composition, kinetics and kinase activites. From these studies, we expect to understand how the ribosome mediates the induction and integration of multiple intracellular signaling cascades that drive altered gene expression and apoptosis in mononuclear phagocytes in response to ribotoxic agents. Anticipated outcomes include: 1) improved understanding of the molecular basis by which trichothecenes and other ribotoxins disrupt immunity, 2) enhanced capacity to assess and manage risks associated with exposure to trichothecenes and other ribotoxins, and 3) mechanism-based strategies for preventing and/or treating persons exposed to trichothecenes and ribotoxic chemicals via natural contamination or chemical terrorism. Collectively, these outcomes will positively impact public health by providing a scientific basis for generating sound recommendations relative to this important class of toxins and appropriate remedial actions should exposure occur.

Public Health Relevance

We propose to learn how a class of potent biological toxins interferes with the function and survival of cells that are essential to the immune system. This research will enhance our capacity to assess and manage risks associated with exposure to these toxins as well as yield mechanism-based strategies for preventing and/or treating persons exposed to these agents via inadvertent food contamination or deliberate chemical terrorism. Collectively, these outcomes will positively impact public health by providing a scientific basis for generating sound recommendations relative to these important toxins and appropriate remedial actions should exposures occur.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01ES003358-24
Application #
7843583
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-DIG-C (90))
Program Officer
Humble, Michael C
Project Start
1984-03-01
Project End
2013-05-31
Budget Start
2010-06-01
Budget End
2011-05-31
Support Year
24
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$304,722
Indirect Cost
Name
Michigan State University
Department
Nutrition
Type
Schools of Earth Sciences/Natur
DUNS #
193247145
City
East Lansing
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48824
Pestka, James J; Clark, Erica S; Schwartz-Zimmermann, Heidi E et al. (2017) Sex Is a Determinant for Deoxynivalenol Metabolism and Elimination in the Mouse. Toxins (Basel) 9:
Wu, Wenda; Zhou, Hui-Ren; Bursian, Steven J et al. (2016) Emetic responses to T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin and emetine correspond to plasma elevations of peptide YY3-36 and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Arch Toxicol 90:997-1007
Wu, Wenda; Zhou, Hui-Ren; Pan, Xiao et al. (2015) Comparison of Anorectic Potencies of the Trichothecenes T-2 Toxin, HT-2 Toxin and Satratoxin G to the Ipecac Alkaloid Emetine. Toxicol Rep 2:238-251
Clark, Erica S; Flannery, Brenna M; Pestka, James J (2015) Murine Anorectic Response to Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin) Is Sex-Dependent. Toxins (Basel) 7:2845-59
Clark, Erica S; Flannery, Brenna M; Gardner, Elizabeth M et al. (2015) High Sensitivity of Aged Mice to Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin)-Induced Anorexia Corresponds to Elevated Proinflammatory Cytokine and Satiety Hormone Responses. Toxins (Basel) 7:4199-215
Zhou, Hui-Ren; Pestka, James J (2015) Deoxynivalenol (Vomitoxin)-Induced Cholecystokinin and Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Release in the STC-1 Enteroendocrine Cell Model Is Mediated by Calcium-Sensing Receptor and Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin-1 Channel. Toxicol Sci 145:407-17
Wu, Wenda; He, Kaiyu; Zhou, Hui-Ren et al. (2014) Effects of oral exposure to naturally-occurring and synthetic deoxynivalenol congeners on proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression in the mouse. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 278:107-15
Pan, Xiao; Whitten, Douglas A; Wilkerson, Curtis G et al. (2014) Dynamic changes in ribosome-associated proteome and phosphoproteome during deoxynivalenol-induced translation inhibition and ribotoxic stress. Toxicol Sci 138:217-33
Pan, Xiao; Whitten, Douglas A; Wu, Ming et al. (2013) Early phosphoproteomic changes in the mouse spleen during deoxynivalenol-induced ribotoxic stress. Toxicol Sci 135:129-43
He, Kaiyu; Pan, Xiao; Zhou, Hui-Ren et al. (2013) Modulation of inflammatory gene expression by the ribotoxin deoxynivalenol involves coordinate regulation of the transcriptome and translatome. Toxicol Sci 131:153-63

Showing the most recent 10 out of 40 publications