Stimulative effect of low-dose neonicotinoid pesticide, clothianidin on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells by disrupting intracellular signaling

Neonicotinoids are one of most widely used pesticides targeting nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) of insects and suspected to have adverse effects on mammals by laboratory testing on rodents. Recent epidemiological evidence revealed the increasing amounts of neonicotinoids detected from human samples, rising a critical question whether neonicotinoids affect to human health. We investigated potential effects of a neonicotinoid pesticide, clothianidin (CTD) on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells as a model of nervous systems of human. Transcriptional analyses using GeneChip system were also performed to understand the effects of CTD on global gene expression. Total RNA was extracted from SH-SY5Y cells exposed to 1uM of CTD or vehicle (0.1%DMSO) for 24 hours. Quality of the RNA was analyzed using a Bioanalyzer 2100. Gene expression was analyzed by an Affymetrix GeneChip® system with a Human Clariom S array. Sample preparation for array hybridization was carried out as described in the manufacturer’s instructions.