Effect of various classes of pesticides on expression of stress genes in transgenic C. elegans model of Parkinson's disease

CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2012 Dec;11(8):1001-5. doi: 10.2174/1871527311211080009.

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are known to be associated with genetic and environmental factors. The multifactorial Parkinson's disease (PD) is triggered and/or further worsened by exposure to certain pesticides. Existing literature suggests a link between pesticide exposure and increased incidence of PD. We carried out the present study to look into the stress gene expression pattern of transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model of PD after exposure to pesticides from different classes. Expression level of sod-1, sod-2, sod-3, hsp-70, hsp-60, and hsp-16.2 stress responsive genes was determined using qPCR. Our findings demonstrate that the expression of stress related genes does not follow a generalized pattern to different toxicants; rather each pesticide class has a specific expression signature.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / drug effects
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / genetics
  • Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / drug effects
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology*
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / chemically induced
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / genetics
  • Parkinson Disease, Secondary / metabolism*
  • Pesticides / classification
  • Pesticides / toxicity*

Substances

  • Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
  • Pesticides