Candidate biomarker discovery in plasma of juvenile cod (Gadus morhua) exposed to crude North Sea oil, alkyl phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Mar Environ Res. 2009 Dec;68(5):268-77. doi: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2009.06.016. Epub 2009 Jun 30.

Abstract

In this study we have investigated protein changes in plasma of juvenile Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) induced by crude North Sea oil and North Sea oil spiked with alkyl phenols and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, a surrogate produced water composition. Using a proteomic approach, we identified 137 differentially expressed proteins at different levels of crude oil exposure. Many of the induced protein changes occurred at low levels of exposure. The results obtained with protein expression profiles after exposure to oil and surrogate produced water indicate effects on fibrinolysis and the complement cascade, the immune system, fertility-linked proteins, bone resorption, fatty acid metabolism as well as increased oxidative stress, impaired cell mobility and increased levels of proteins associated with apoptosis. Although the number of individuals and samples in this study is limited within each treatment group, the protein changes observed in this study represent a first screening for potential biomarker candidates in cod plasma reflecting potential effects of crude oil and produced water exposure on fish.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkylation
  • Animals
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods
  • Fish Proteins / blood*
  • Gadus morhua / blood*
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Petroleum / toxicity*
  • Phenol / toxicity*
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / toxicity*
  • Proteomics
  • Seawater / chemistry*
  • Tandem Mass Spectrometry
  • Toxicity Tests
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / toxicity*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Fish Proteins
  • Petroleum
  • Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Phenol