The mammalian circadian system is resistant to dioxin

Julie S. Pendergast, Shin Yamazaki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-dependent transcription factor that is bound and activated by many toxic ubiquitous environmental contaminants, including the halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). The AhR belongs to a family of proteins that contain basic helix-loop-helix/Per-ARNT-SIM (bHLH/PAS) domains. The circadian clock protein, BMAL1, is also a bHLH-PAS transcription factor and has been shown to interact with the AhR. AhRs are expressed in nearly every mammalian tissue, including the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), and previous studies have suggested that activation of the AhR with dioxins affects rhythmicity in circadian clocks. In this study, the authors tested the hypothesis that activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor with the potent dioxin, TCDD, alters the organization of the mammalian circadian system by measuring bioluminescence from tissues explanted from PER2::LUCIFERASE mice. They found that in vitro treatment of explanted tissues with TCDD did not alter the periods, amplitudes, or damping rates of the PER2::LUC rhythms compared with controls. Likewise, in vivo treatment with TCDD had no effect on the phase relationship between central and peripheral oscillators. Together, these data demonstrate that activation of the AhR with TCDD does not directly or systemically alter the mouse circadian system.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)156-163
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Biological Rhythms
Volume27
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2012

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by NIH P30 ES000267.

Keywords

  • 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin
  • LUCIFERASE
  • PER2
  • Per-ARNT-SIM (PAS) domain
  • TCDD
  • aryl hydrocarbon receptor
  • mice
  • suprachiasmatic nucleus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Physiology (medical)

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