Proteomic response of Macrobrachium rosenbergii hepatopancreas exposed to chlordecone: Identification of endocrine disruption biomarkers?

The present work is the first study investigating the impacts
of chlordecone, an organochlorine insecticide, on the proteome of the
decapod crustacean Macrobrachium rosenbergii, by gel-free proteomic
analysis of the hepatopancreas protein expression variations in organisms
exposed to three environmental relevant concentrations of chlordecone
(i.e. 0.2, 2 and 20 μg/L). Results revealed that 62 proteins were
significantly up- or down-regulated in exposed prawns compared to
controls. Most of these proteins are involved in important physiological
processes such as ion transport, defense mechanisms and immune system,
cytoskeleton dynamics, or protein synthesis and degradation. Moreover, it
appears that 6% of the deregulated protein are involved in the endocrine
system and in the hormonal control of reproduction or development
processes of M. rosenbergii (e.g. vitellogenin, farnesoic acid omethyltransferase).
These results indicate that chlordecone is
potentially an endocrine disruptor compound for decapods, as already
observed in vertebrates. These protein modifications could lead to
disruptions of growth and reproduction of M. rosenbergii, and therefore
of the fitness population on the long-term. Besides, these disrupted
proteins could be suggested as biomarkers of exposure for endocrine
disruptions in invertebrates. However, further investigations are needed
to complete understanding of action mechanisms of chlordecone on proteome
and endocrine system of crustaceans.