Differential signatures of protein expression in marmoset liver and thymus induced by single-dose TCDD treatment

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an ubiquitously distributed environmental pollutant. Health effects have been studied intensively, but low-dose effects are quite complex and not yet fully understood. In many studies, the immune system was identified as the most sensitive target. Here, we demonstrate changes of protein expression in liver and thymus of male marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) which were subjected to a single dose of a subcutaneous injection of 100 ng/kg body weight TCDD. Histopathological examination revealed myocardial fibrosis, but there were no significant findings in pathology and histopathology of liver and thymus. In order to detect more subtle treatment-related changes, we performed a comparative proteomic investigation of liver and thymus using a 2-D gel electrophoresis based proteomics approach. Fluorescence labeling and automated image analysis was used to enhance sensitivity and reproducibility. In both organs, distinct changes of protein expression were detected which were more pronounced in thymus, where the pattern of deregulated proteins could be clearly related to immune responses. In the thymus of treated animals, several toxicologically relevant factors were increased, including chaperones, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and adseverin. Among others, vimentin, Ca-dependent protease and protein disulfide isomerase were downregulated. In the liver, transferrins, lamin A and HSP70 were upregulated, whereas thymidine phosphorylase (synonyms: endothelial cell growth factor, PD-ECGF, gliostatin) was significantly reduced. Comparative analysis of deregulated proteins in both organs revealed a pattern of related functions, which fits well into the existing knowledge of the toxic processes and mechanisms underlying TCDD-mediated toxicity.