The toxic effects of microcystin-LR on mouse lungs and alveolar type II epithelial cells

• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.03.007
• Publication Date: 2016-03-16T18:28:56Z
• Authors: Cong Wang; Shen Gu; Xiaoqin Yin; Mingming Yuan; Zou Xiang; Zutong Li; Honghui Cao; Xiannan Meng; Kebin Hu; Xiaodong Han
• Keywords: Microcystin-LR; Viability assay; Alveolar cells

Microcystin-leucine arginine (MC-LR) is produced by cyanobacteria and can accumulate in lungs through blood circulation. However, the effect of MC-LR on lung remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the chronic, low-dose effect of MC-LR on mouse lung tissues and the influence of MC-LR on mouse alveolar type II epithelial cells (ATII cells).MC-LR was orally administered to mice at 0, 1, 10, and 40 μg/L for 6 consecutive months and mouse lungs were obtained for histopathological and immunoblot analysis. ATII cells were cultured in various concentrations of MC-LR (0, 0.5, 5, 50, 500 nmol/L) for indicated time and the cell viability and proteins change were tested.Our study revealed that the chronic, low-dose MC-LR exposure induced alveolar collapse and lung cell apoptosis as well as the breach of cell junction integrity. Furthermore, following treatment with MC-LR, ATII cells could uptake MC-LR, resulting in apoptosis and disruption of cell junction integrity.These data support the toxic potential of low-dose MC-LR in rendering chronic injury to lung tissues.