319Cell-based assay detects residual β-blocker substances in effluent of municipal wastewater treatment plants

K. Bernhard, C. Stahl, R. Martens, M. Frey, SIZ Zellkulturtechnik, c/o Hochschule Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany, 03/2018

  • In vitro cAMP-dependent assay measures β-blockers by mode-of-action
  • Detection of residual pharmaceuticals in wastewater treatment plant effluents
  • CLARIOstar® microplate reader enables kinetic well scan of FRET-based cAMP sensor

Introduction

Residues of human pharmaceuticals, such as β-blockers and their metabolites, are increasingly found in effluent wastewater of treatment plants (WWTP) all over Europe. β-blockers antagonize β-adrenergic receptors and thereby control hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias. The amino acid sequence of the target, the β1-adrenergic receptor, is evolutionarily highly conserved among vertebrates. Thus, it appears likely that organisms expressing a protein similar in function to the human β1-adrenergic receptor, also physiologically respond to β-blockers upon exposure. For risk assessment, one has to know the extent to which aquatic organisms are exposed to β-blockers as well as metabolites with the same mode of action (MOA). Therefore, we developed and validated a cell-based MOA assay, by which the total β-blocker activity in a waste-water sample enriched by solid-phase extraction (SPE) can be assessed. With our assay we are able to measure the total β-blocker activity in wastewater effluents as equivalents of the lead substance metoprolol (MetEQ).

Assay Principle

 

Fig. 1: β-blocker biosensor cell line: Upon activation by its natural agonist epinephrine the β1-adrenergic receptor activates membrane-bound adenylate cyclase via G-protein coupling causing the intracellular cAMP level to increase.

Materials & Methods

  • CHO cells (DSMZ-No. ACC-110)
  • Microplate (96-well, black bottom, NUNC)
  • Metoprolol (Sigma)
  • Isoproterenol (Sigma)
  • Plasmids (SIZ Zellkulturtechnik Mannheim)
  • CLARIOstar® microplate reader (BMG LABTECH)

Experimental Procedure
CHO cells were transfected with the genetically encoded fluorescent CEPAC (cAMP detecting FRET biosensor mCerulean - Epac (exchange protein directly activated by cAMP) - mCitrine) cAMP FRET sensor using FUGENE-HD (Promega). 24h after transfection, cells were selected and expanded under G418. The resulting CEPAC mixed cell clone was supertransfected with the human β1-adrenergic receptor gene. 24h after transfection, cells were selected and expanded under G418 and hygromycin. Upon induction of transgene expression via doxycycline withdrawal from the culture medium, subclones were screened for β1-adrenergic receptor activity using the agonist isoproterenol: Upon receptor activation the intracellular cAMP level increases (Fig. 1) and consequently the emission fluorescence ratio 470nm/535nm increases when excited at 420nm (Fig. 2).

Fig. 2: The FRET-based cAMP sensor CEPAC: The cAMP sensor CEPAC displays FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) from the blue (mCerulean) to the yellow (mCitrine) fluorophore. Upon cAMP binding FRET is measurably diminished.

In the presence of β-blockers, less cAMP is produced leading to a concentration-dependent reduction of the 470/535 ratio. The CEPAC-β1-adrenergic receptor sensor cell line was used to assay for β-blocker activities in wastewater samples. Measurements were done with the CLARIOstar microplate reader (BMG Labtech). Activities were measured in metoprolol equivalents (MetEQ).

Instrument settings

 

Optic settings






Fluorescence intensity, well scan

topic

No. of multichromatic

2

Monochromator Settings

Cerulean

Excitation: 420-15

Dichroic: 443.8

Emission: 470-20

Gain: 2100

Citrine

Excitation: 420-15

Dichroic: 476.2

Emission: 535-20

Gain: 2200

Focal height

4.9 mm

 Well scan

Matrix scan

Dimension: 4x4 mm
Diameter: 2 mm

Kinetic setting (script Wizard)

No. of flashes per point

 8

No. of cycles

17

Cycle time

195 s

Injection

Injection time

4th cycle

Injected volume

25 µL

Pump speed

430 µl/s

 

Results & Discussion

Using CHO cells expressing both, the β1-adrenergic receptor and CEPAC, β-blocker activity was measured in complex mixtures such as WWTP effluents in SPE-enriched samples (Fig. 3).Fig. 3: β-blocker assay in SPE-enriched wastewater sample:   Response curves of lead substance metoprolol (A) and SPE-enriched wastewater sample (B), each at different concentrations, are shown. Wastewater samples were measured with (green) and without (blue) addition of metoprolol standard. Agonist isoproterenol was added after the third measurement.

Fig. 4: β-blocker activity in SPE-enriched wastewater sample:   Concentration-response curve was generated from lead substance metoprolol standard at different concentrations (black dots). From this grading curve β-blocker activity in SPE-enriched wastewater sample was determined at different concentrations (coloured dots) and calculated as µg metoprolol equivalent (MetEQ) per l for the original wastewater sample (prior to SPE).The assay was validated with the lead substance metoprolol. The β-blocker concentration of the assayed wastewater sample was found to be 4.2µg/l MetEQ (Fig. 4). Corresponding metoprolol concentration determined by chemical analysis (LC-MS/MS) was 1.2µg/l. The higher metoprolol activity measured by the in vitro assay compared to the metoprolol concentration determined by chemical analysis is explained by the presence of further β-blockers. A chemical analysis of selected pharmaceutical compounds determined additional β-blockers like bisoprolol, propranolol and atenolol in the wastewater sample (TZW Karlsruhe, data not shown)

Conclusion

The MOA-based β-blocker assay in living cells measures total β-blocker activities in complex mixtures such as WWTP effluents as equivalents of the lead substance metoprolol (MetEQ). The assay is suitable for use as a standard method and routine employment in large-scale monitoring of WWTP effluents and the aquatic environment they are discharged into. The CLARIOstar microplate reader supports this since it provides highly stable and reliable results as well as the required robustness for continuous use.

 

References

  1. Bernhard et al. (2017) Two novel real time cell-based assays quantify beta-blocker and NSAID specific effects in effluents of municipal wastewater treatment plants, Water Research Vol. 115, pp. 74-83, May 15, 2017.
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