Transcriptomic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to nickel (II) acetate using microarray

Nickel can be exposed to human population from air, food, and water sources by which may produce abnormal consequences in organs including kidneys, liver, cardiovascular, immune, and reproductive systems. Recognition of nickel biomarkers for the toxicity assessment is of prime importance. Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is well known animal model for genetic studies which serves as a living biosensor in ecotoxicological researches. Our study is the first evidence demonstrating changes of genomic expression in C. elegans in response to nickel (II) acetate using nematode-specific microarray. We have found 23 genes as a nickel responsive genes that were differentially expressed (>2 fold) following 24 hours exposure to nickel acetate. The analysis of gene ontology revealed molecular components involved in detoxification, carcinogenesis, and oxidative stress defense in the C. elegans exposed to the nickel. In addition, using the comparative toxicogenomics database, we have deduced the nickel-affected molecular mechanisms including histone modification and its stability. In conclusion, our investigation would be able to present precise route for understanding important roles of several nickel responsive genes in nickel toxicity. Furthermore, our discovery also provides significant biomarkers in response to nickel acetate. This might be virtue for monitoring and evaluating hazard risk in the field of ecotoxicology.