Effluent impact assessment using microarray-based analysis in common carp: a systems toxicology approach

Effluents are a main source of direct and continuous input of pollutants to the aquatic environment, and can cause ecotoxicological effects at different levels of biological organization. Since gene expression responses represent the primary interaction site between environmental contaminants and biota, they provide essential clues to understand how chemical exposure can affect organismal health. The aim of the present study was to investigate the applicability of a microarray approach for unraveling modes of action of whole effluent toxicity and impact assessment. A chronic toxicity test with common carp (Cyprinus carpio) was conducted where fish were exposed to a control and 100% effluent for 21 days under flow-through conditions. Microarray analysis revealed that effluent treatment mainly affected molecular pathways associated with the energy balance of the fish, including changes in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, as well as digestive enzyme activity. These gene expression responses were in clear agreement with, and provided additional mechanistic information on various cellular and higher level effects observed for the same effluent. Our results demonstrate the benefit of toxicogenomic tools in a "systems toxicology" approach, involving the integration of adverse effects of chemicals and stressors across multiple levels of biological complexity.