222 ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS AS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, FENHEXAMID, FLUDIOXONIL, AND CYPRODINIL, INDUCED THE EXPRESSION OF CYTOCHROME P450 FAMILY AND CELL CYCLE-RELATED GENES IN ESTROGEN RECEPTOR EXPRESSING BG-1 OVARIAN CANCER CELLS

Abstract

Fenhexamid, fludioxonil, and cyprodinil are antifungal agents used in agricultural applications, which are present at measurable amounts in fruits and vegetables. The induction of CYP gene expression including CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 is mediated by the transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and modulated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). CYP1A1 is expressed in the liver, pancreas, thymus, uterus, and small intestine. CYP1B1 is abundant in the prostate, breast, and uterus. Expression levels of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 indicate PAH-induced immunotoxicity, oxidative stress, and activation of environmental carcinogens. In this study, the ability of cell viability was examined as MTT assay by pesticides; fenhexamid, fludioxonil and cyprodinil. In addition, expression levels of mRNA and protein of AhR, CYP1A1, and Cyclin D1 were analysed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis in BG-1 ovarian cancer cells with oestrogen receptors (ER). To evaluate the ability of cell viability, BG-1 cells were cultured with a negative control (0.1% DMSO), 17β-oestradiol (E2; 1 × 10^–9 M), fenhexamid, fludioxonil or cyprodinil (10^–5–10^–8 M). To evaluate the expression levels of mRNA and protein, BG-1 cells were cultured with a negative control (0.1% DMSO), 17β-oestradiol (E2; 10^–9 M) and these pesticides (10^–5 M). As results, E2 as a positive control markedly increased BG-1 cell viability ~5 times compared to a negative control (P < 0.05). In addition, treatments with these pesticides increased BG-1 cell viability at the concentrations of 10^–8 and 10^–5 M about from 1.5 to 2 times, respectively (P < 0.05). When respective treatment co-treated with ICI 182 780, an ER antagonist, BG-1 cell viability was reversed to the level of a negative control. The mRNA expression of CYP1A1 was increased by E2, fenhexamid, and cyprodinil in a time-dependent manner but not by fludioxonil, while its level was reversed in the presence of ICI 182 780. In parallel with their transcriptional levels, protein levels of CYP1A1 and cyclin D1 were induced by E2 and these pesticides, while the level of AhR was not altered by E2 and these pesticides. Taken together, these results imply that the pesticides, fenhexamid, fludioxonil, and cyprodinil, may have disruptive effects on ER expressing cells or tissues by alteration of CYP1A1 and cyclin D1 via an ER-dependent pathway.