Integrative genomic and proteomic profiling of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells reveals signatures of endosulfan exposure

• Endosulfan persistance in the environment is a matter of apprehension.
• Integrative ‘omic’ approach is applied to identify molecular signatures.
• We report gene and protein signatures in endosulfan exposed SH-SY5Y cells.
• This could be useful in development of specific biomarkers for endosulfan exposure.

Endosulfan, an organochlorine pesticide, is known to induce multiple disorders/abnormalities including neuro-degenerative disorders in many animal species. However, the molecular mechanism of endosulfan induced neuronal alterations is still not well understood. In the present study, the effect of sub-lethal concentration of endosulfan (3 μM) on human neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y) was investigated using genomic and proteomic approaches. Microarray and 2D-PAGE followed by MALDI-TOF-MS analysis revealed differential expression of 831 transcripts and 16 proteins in exposed cells. A gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes and proteins were involved in variety of cellular events such as neuronal developmental pathway, immune response, cell differentiation, apoptosis, transmission of nerve impulse, axonogenesis, etc. The present study attempted to explore the possible molecular mechanism of endosulfan induced neuronal alterations in SH-SY5Y cells using an integrated genomic and proteomic approach. Based on the gene and protein profile possible mechanisms underlying endosulfan neurotoxicity were predicted.