Biomedical subjects

A A Melikian

Publications and source records attributed to A A Melikian.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

Detection of nitrated benzene metabolites in bone marrow of B6C3F1 mice treated with benzene.

Benzene, a constituent of cigarette smoke, is a human leukemogen and induces bone marrow toxicity. The mechanism of benzene-induced toxicity is not well-established. We hypothesized that relatively high levels of nitric oxide formed in bone marrow can react with oxygen and/or superoxide anion that is generated during redox cycling of ring-hydroxylated benzene metabolites to yield peroxynitrite as well as other NO-derived intermediates. Peroxynitrite can either directly damage cellular macromolecules or form nitrated toxic metabolites. Toward this end, we investigated whether nitro derivatives of benzene are formed in bone marrow of mice treated with benzene. First, we have characterized products formed during activation of benzene in Fenton's system in the absence or presence of NO-releasing compound in vitro by GC/MS. The result of above experiment prompted us to determine whether similar products can be formed in vivo. Groups of B6C3F1 male mice, eight weeks of age, were given a single intraperitoneal dose of [14C]benzene (400 mg/kg body wt, 9.7 mCi/mmol) or an equal dose of unlabeled benzene in corn oil, and the mice were killed 0.5 or 1 h posttreatment. The control group received only vehicle injections. Organic solvent extractable metabolites from bone marrow, liver, lungs, and blood of mice treated with [14C]benzene were identified by comparison of their respective retention times under two different HPLC conditions with authentic standard samples. These metabolites were further characterized by comparison of their GC/MS properties to those of reference standards. Nitro metabolites, namely, nitrobenzene, nitrobiphenyl, and nitrophenol isomers, were detected in the bone marrow of the mice 1 h after benzene treatment. Formation of nitro derivatives in other tissues was either not observed or was significantly less than that formed in bone marrow. This study clearly demonstrates that nitric oxide is a contributor to benzene metabolism and can form nitrated derivatives that may, in part, account for bone marrow toxicity.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Validation of biomarkers in humans exposed to benzene: urine metabolites.

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted among Chinese workers employed in glue- and shoe-making factories who had an average daily personal benzene exposure of 31+/-26 ppm (mean+/-SD). The metabolites monitored were S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA), hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CAT), 1,2, 4-trihydroxybenzene (benzene triol, BT), and phenol. METHODS: S-PMA, t,t-MA, HQ, CAT, and BT were quantified by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Phenol was measured by GC-MS. RESULTS: Levels of benzene metabolites (except BT) measured in urine samples collected from exposed workers at the end of workshift were significantly higher than those measured in unexposed subjects (P < 0.0001). The large increases in urinary metabolites from before to after work strongly correlated with benzene exposure. Concentrations of these metabolites in urine samples collected from exposed workers before work were also significantly higher than those from unexposed subjects. The half-lives of S-PMA, t,t-MA, HQ, CAT, and phenol were estimated from a time course study to be 12.8, 13.7, 12.7, 15.0, and 16.3 h, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: All metabolites, except BT, are good markers for benzene exposure at the observed levels; however, due to their high background, HQ, CAT, and phenol may not distinguish unexposed subjects from workers exposed to benzene at low ambient levels. S-PMA and t,t-MA are the most sensitive markers for low level benzene exposure.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1999

Identification of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites in cervical mucus and DNA adducts in cervical tissues in humans by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Epidemiological studies indicate that cigarette smoking increases the risk of cervical cancer. To address questions regarding possible mechanisms of tobacco-related cervical carcinogenesis, in a pilot study, using supercritical fluid extraction and a gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) technique, we detected and characterized benzo[a]pyrene and its metabolites, namely B[a]P-dihydrodiols, phenols and tetraols in cervical mucus samples from eight smokers and non-smokers. Twenty-eight epithelial and stromal cervical tissue samples from seventeen patients undergoing surgery for non-malignant disease were quantitatively analyzed for BPDE-DNA adducts by a GC-MS technique. BPDE-DNA adducts were found in 25 samples. The mean level of BPDE-DNA adducts in epithelial cervical tissues of smokers was nearly two-fold greater than that in self-reported non-smokers; P = 0.02. The mean number of BPDE-adducts (+/- SD) in epithelial cervical tissues of smokers was 3.5 +/- 1.06 adducts/10(8) nucleotides while that in non-smokers was 1.8 +/- 0.96 adducts/10(8) nucleotides. The mean number of BPDE-DNA adducts in stromal cervical tissues of the same subjects was 1.8 +/- 0.96 adducts/10(8) nucleotides in smokers and that in the stromal tissues of non-smokers was 1.4 +/- 1.1 adducts/10(8). These results suggest that polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from tobacco smoke and other environmental sources can be transported to the cervix where they are metabolized in the cervical epithelium to ultimate carcinogenic agents, although transport of ultimate carcinogenic metabolites from other organs to the cervix cannot be ruled out. Exposure of cervical epithelia to PAHs and their carcinogenic metabolites suggests a potential role of such carcinogens in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer in humans.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1999

Determination of the urinary benzene metabolites S-phenylmercapturic acid and trans,trans-muconic acid by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

To investigate how various levels of exposure affect the metabolic activation pathways of benzene in humans and to examine the relationship between urinary metabolites and other biological markers, we have developed a sensitive and specific liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric assay for simultaneous quantitation of urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA). The assay involves spiking urine samples with [13C6]S-PMA and [13C6]t,t-MA as internal standards and clean up of samples by solid-phase extraction with subsequent analysis by liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray-tandem mass spectrometry-selected reaction monitoring (LC-ES-MS/MS-SRM) in the negative ionization mode. The efficacy of this assay was evaluated in human urine specimens from smokers and non-smokers as the benzene-exposed and non-exposed groups. The coefficient of variation of runs on different days (n = 8) for S-PMA was 7% for the sample containing 9.4 microg S-PMA/l urine, that for t,t-MA was 10% for samples containing 0.07 mg t,t-MA/l urine. The mean levels of urinary S-PMA and t,t-MA in smokers were 1.9-fold (P = 0.02) and 2.1-fold (P = 0.03) higher than those in non-smokers. The mean urinary concentration (+/-SE) was 9.1 +/- 1.7 microg S-PMA/g creatinine [median 5.8 microg/g, ranging from not detectable (1 out of 28) to 33.4 microg/g] among smokers. In non-smokers' urine the mean concentration was 4.8 +/- 1.1 microg S-PMA/g creatinine (median 3.6 microg/g, ranging from 1.0 to 19.6 microg/g). For t,t-MA in smokers' urine the mean (+/-SE) was 0.15 +/- 0.03 mg/g creatinine (median 0.11 mg/ g, ranging from 0.005 to 0.34 mg/g); the corresponding mean value for t,t-MA concentration in non-smokers' urine was 0.07 +/- 0.02 mg/g creatinine [median 0.03 mg/g, ranging from undetectable (1 out of 18) to 0.48 mg/g]. There was a correlation between S-PMA and t,t-MA after logarithmic transformation (r = 0.41, P = 0.005, n = 46).

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1999

Development of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry methods for determination of urinary metabolites of benzene in humans.

To investigate the ways in which different levels of exposure affect the metabolic activation pathways of benzene in humans, and to examine the relationship between urinary metabolites and other biological markers, we have developed two sensitive and specific liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assays for quantitation of the benzene metabolites trans,transmuconic acid (t,t-MA), S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CAT), and for estimation of 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene (BT). In our first assay, urinary S-PMA and t,t-MA were measured simultaneously by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry-selected reaction monitoring (LC-ESI-MS/MS-SRM) in the negative ionization mode. In this assay, the metabolites [13C6]-S-PMA and [13C6]-t,t-MA were used as internal standards. The efficacy of this specific assay was evaluated in human urine specimens from 28 smokers and 18 nonsmokers serving as the benzene-exposed and nonexposed groups, respectively. The coefficient of variation (CV) of analyses on different days (n = 8) for S-PMA was 7% for samples containing 9.4 micrograms/L urine, and for t,t-MA was 10% for samples containing 0.07 mg/L. The mean levels of S-PMA and t,t-MA in smokers were 1.9-fold (p = 0.02) and 2.1-fold (p = 0.03) higher, respectively, than those in nonsmokers.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed1997

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric determination of benzo[a]pyrene and chrysene diol epoxide globin adducts in humans.

The efficacy of a newly developed gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization-mass spectrometry-selected ion monitoring (GC-NICI-MS-SIM) assay for measuring globin adducts of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and chrysene diol epoxides in human was evaluated. In this pilot study, smokers and nonsmokers were selected as exposed and nonexposed groups. Using [2H12]r-7,t-8,9,c-10-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyren e ([2H12]trans,anti-B[a]P-tetraol) as an internal standard, B[a]P-tetraols released from globin after hydrolysis and derivatization were quantified by GC-NICI-MS-SIM. Levels of trans-1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene (chrysene-DE)-globin adducts were estimated by assuming that the recovery and the MS response of the perdeuterated B[a]P-tetraol internal standard reflected the recovery and MS response of chrysene tetraols. The assay was found to be reproducible and sensitive enough to detect both analytes in all samples. The mean levels of B[a]P-tetraols released from the corresponding benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) globin adducts in smokers were significantly higher than those in nonsmokers, i.e., 2.6 +/- 0.6 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 1.2 to 7.8 fmol/mg globin) in smokers and 0.97 +/- 0.05 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 fmol/mg globin) in nonsmokers (P < 0.01). Interestingly, estimated levels of chrysene-DE-globin adducts in the same subjects were about two orders of magnitude higher than those of the globin adducts of BPDE. The mean of the chrysene-DE adducts in smokers was estimated to be 310 +/- 30 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 190 to 460 fmol/mg globin) and that in nonsmokers was 250 +/- 25 SE fmol/mg globin (ranging from 110 to 380 fmol/mg). Although the estimated mean of chrysene-DE adducts with globin in smokers appeared to be about 25% higher than in nonsmokers, the difference was not significant (P = 0.06). The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of the GC-NICI-MS-SIM method for measurement of BPDE globin adducts in humans.

Benzopyrenes↗

PubMed1996

Detection of DNA and globin adducts of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon diol epoxides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and -3H-CH3I postlabeling of released tetraols.

Gas chromatography-negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry--selected ion monitoring (GC-NICI-MS-SIM) was employed to detect tetramethyl ether derivatives of tetraols formed upon hydrolysis of DNA and globin adducts derived from diol epoxides of benzo[a]-pyrene (BP) and other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The tetramethyl ether derivatives could also be detected by [3H]CH3I postlabeling. The methodology involves the following steps: (1) isolation of DNA or globin; (2) mild acid hydrolysis under vacuum; (3) isolation of the resulting tetraols and derivatization to the corresponding tetramethyl ethers using methyl sulfinyl carbanion and unlabeled or 3H-labeled CH3I; (4) analysis by GC-NICI-MS-SIM or HPLC with radioflow detection. The optimum conditions for hydrolysis of adducts and derivatization of the resulting tetraols as well as the feasibility of this approach for detecting PAH adducts in mice and humans were explored. Using the set of four BP-tetraols that can be formed upon hydrolysis of adducts formed from r-7,t-8-dihydroxy-t-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (anti-BPDE) or r-7,t-8-dihydroxy-c-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (syn-BPDE) as models, the stability of the tetraols under the hydrolysis conditions was investigated. Adducts derived from anti-BPDE yield predominantly the stable r-7,t-8,9-c-10-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (trans-anti-BP-tetraol), while adducts derived from syn-BPDE released cis-syn-BP-tetraol as a major hydrolysis product. Hydrolysis under vacuum significantly increased the recovery of tetraols. Conditions for derivatization of the BP-tetraols as well as tetraols derived from several other PAH anti-diol epoxides were investigated. Tetramethyl ethers proved to be superior derivatives that were stable, easy to prepare in high yields, and detectable with high sensitivity by GC-NICI-MS-SIM (1-50 fmol per injection). Alternatively, these derivatives could be detected by HPLC with radioflow detection if [3H]CH3I were employed for derivatization. The methodology was tested by comparing levels of DNA and globin adducts in mice treated with either unlabeled or 3H-labeled BP. Good agreement was obtained among the GC-NICI-MS-SIM, [3H]CH3I postlabeling, and conventional radiometric methods. Moreover, analysis of human hemoglobin by GC-NICI-MS-SIM resulted in detection of adducts derived from anti-BPDE and r-1,t-2-dihydroxy-t-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydrochrysene. The results of this study demonstrate that GC-NICI-MS-SIM of tetramethyl ethers of tetraols formed by hydrolysis of PAH diol epoxide DNA and globin adducts is a promising approach for detection and quantitation of adducts derived from a broad range of PAH.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1991

Comparative DNA binding of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and their dihydrodiol and bay region diolepoxide metabolites in newborn mouse lung and liver.

Bay region diolepoxides of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) generally are more tumorigenic than their parent PAHs in newborn mice. This contrasts to the results obtained in mouse skin, in which the same diolepoxides are frequently less tumorigenic than their parents. In order to evaluate mechanism(s) responsible for this behavior we have investigated the binding of metabolites of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]), [3H]5- and [3H6]6-methyl-chrysene (5-MeC and 6-MeC) and their corresponding dihydrodiols and bay region diolepoxides to pulmonary and hepatic DNA in male and female newborn mice and compared the results with their tumorigenic activities. Groups of 1 day old mice were treated with 0.4 or 4 nmol of the appropriate compounds in DMSO by i.p. injection. HPLC analysis of DNA hydrolysates obtained 24 h after treatment indicated that levels of diolepoxide-DNA adducts following treatment with (+-)-[3H]7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydroB[a]P and (+-)-[3H]anti-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroB[a] P are 5- and 10-fold higher than those formed from [3H]B[a]P. The major products (70-80%) released upon enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA following treatment with [3H]B[a]P, [3H]5-MeC and [3H]6-MeC were unidentified polar compounds. Levels of these unknown products were lower and formation of diolepoxide--DNA adducts higher when test compounds were changed from parent PAHs to the corresponding dihydrodiols and diolepoxides. Comparison of these results with those of tumorigenesis studies indicates a correlation between formation of B[a]P-diolepoxide--DNA adducts and induction of tumors in newborn mouse lung, but not in liver. These observations are consistent with the high sensitivity of the newborn mouse lung towards the tumorigenic effects of bay region diolepoxides. Previous studies have demonstrated that 1R,2S-dihydroxy-3S,4R,epoxy, 1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-MeC (5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide) is a potent lung tumorigen while the corresponding diol-epoxide of 6-MeC had no effect in newborn mice. From the results of the present study, we estimate that at equimolar doses the formation of diolepoxide--DNA adducts from 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide would be at least 20-fold greater than from the corresponding diolepoxide of 6-MeC in newborn mouse lung. Thus, the higher tumorigenic activity of 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide compared to that of the corresponding diol epoxide of 6-MeC is partially due to its greater extent of DNA damage.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Studies in tobacco carcinogenesis.

The vapour phase of freshly generated cigarette mainstream smoke, of sidestream smoke and of environmental tobacco smoke was analysed for such tumorigenic agents as benzene, 1,3-butadiene and acrolein with a newly developed, highly sensitive gas chromatography-mass selective detection method. The major carcinogen in tobacco smoke, catechol, was studied in regard to its specific action on the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene in mouse lung and mouse skin. The major tobacco-specific carcinogens in tobacco and its smoke are the nicotine-derived N-nitrosamines, N'-nitrosonornicotine and 4-(nitroso-methylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. A third nitrosamine that can be formed in vitro by nitrosation of nicotine is 1-(nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)butylaldehyde. This aldehyde is not present in tobacco products, but its noncarcinogenic oxidation product, 4-(nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid, was found in tobacco and can be formed from the major nicotine metabolite, cotinine. It is also likely that this acid can be formed by endogenous reactions.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Oxidation and DNA binding of (+)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene in mouse epidermis in vivo and effects of coadministration of catechol.

Using a stereochemical probe as described by Marnett (Carcinogenesis (Lond.), 8: 1365-1373, 1987), we have investigated the mechanism of oxidation of (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene [(+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol] in mouse epidermis in vivo. Groups of mice were topically treated with (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol (60 nmol/mouse) and sacrificed at intervals from 1/2 to 8 h post treatment. (-)-Anti- and (+)-syn-7,8-[3H]dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (BPDE) were formed as metabolites in a ratio of about 4 to 1, respectively, as determined by HPLC analysis of the hydrolysis products. Pretreatment of mice with indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin H synthase, did not alter the ratio of anti- to syn-BPDE-derived hydrolysis products. Pretreatment of mice with the cytochrome P-450 inducer, beta-naphthoflavone, yielded twice the level of syn-[3H]BPDE in mouse skin at the 1/2-h survival point. However, this enhancing effect diminished over time. Coadministration of 1,2-dihydroxybenzene (catechol) with (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol decreased the formation of (-)-anti-[3H]BPDE and also decreased lipid peroxidation, as measured by the extent of formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material in mouse epidermis. Analysis of mouse epidermal DNA adducts 24 h after topical application (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol indicated that the major adduct is not formed from the major metabolite (-)-anti-BPDE. Acid hydrolysis of the major adduct resulted in the formation of a small amount of r-7,c-9,c-10,t-8-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene and two unidentified products different from 7,8,9,10-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-BaP. Coadministered catechol suppressed the formation of this adduct by 30%. The present observation suggests that a peroxyl radical-mediated epoxidation pathway is involved in the oxidation of (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol in mouse skin in vivo.

Animals↗

PubMed1989

Metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and 7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a pyrene in lung and liver of newborn mice.

Although the newborn mouse has been extensively used to test the tumorigenic activities of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and their diol epoxide metabolites, no information is available on their metabolism in the newborn mouse in vivo. Therefore, we have investigated the metabolism and distribution of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene ([3H]BaP) and (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-[3H]dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene ([3H]BPDE) in liver and lung of mice given i.p. injections of these compounds on their 1st, 8th and 15th days of life. In lung, identified metabolites of [3H]BaP included diols, quinones, and phenols. Their levels were higher on the 1st day compared to the 8th and 15th days of life. The pattern of organic extractable metabolites detected in mouse liver was different from that in lung, being dominated by unidentified polar metabolites, the levels of which increased with age. Levels of [3H]BPDE in liver and lung were measured by trapping with 2-mercaptoethanol. It was demonstrated that [3H]BPDE rapidly reaches the lung after i.p. injections. The half-lives of [3H]BPDE in lung and liver were similar to those observed in vitro. The results are discussed with respect to the known tumorigenic activities of BaP and BPDE in newborn mice and in mouse skin.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1989

Catechol-induced alterations in metabolic activation and binding of enantiomeric and racemic 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrenes to DNA in mouse skin.

Catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) is a potent co-carcinogen with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and with (+/-)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8- dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BaP-7,8-diol) in mouse skin. The effects of catechol on the metabolic activation of (+)- and (-)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diols and on epidermal DNA adduct formation of racemic and enantiomeric [3H]BaP-7,8-diols were examined by applying the tritiated diols to mouse skin. The major metabolite of the (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol was the hydrolysis product of (-)-[3H]-7 alpha, 8 beta-dihydroxy-9 beta, 10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (anti-BPDE). This suggests that a peroxyl radical-mediated pathway is predominantly responsible for the epoxidation of this diol. Formation of (-)-anti[3H]BPDE from (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol was greater than that of (+)-anti-BPDE from (-)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol. Co-application of catechol with [3H]BaP-7,8-diols inhibited epoxidation of the (+) enantiomer to a greater extent than that of the (-) enantiomer. Catechol decreased the total DNA-binding and the formation of the major adduct with (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol metabolites but catechol had no significant effect on the binding and formation of (+)-anti-[3H]BPDE-deoxyguanosine, the major DNA adduct derived from (-)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol. Co-administration of catechol with (+/-)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol increased the ratio of (-)- to (+)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol derived major DNA adducts in mouse skin suggesting that catechol selectively inhibits certain pathways of metabolic activation of (+/-)-[3H]BaP-7,8-diol. Thus, catechol modifies the tumorigenic activity of (+/-)-BaP-7,8-diol either by alteration of the relative proportion of various hydrocarbon:DNA adducts or by a totally different as yet unexplored mechanisms.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1989

Effects of catechol on the induction of tumors in mouse skin by 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrenes.

Catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) is a major phenolic compound present in the co-carcinogenic fraction of cigarette tar. It has been shown to be a potent co-carcinogen with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in mouse skin. In this study we have examined the co-carcinogenic and co-initiating activities of catechol with racemic and enantiomeric 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrenes (BaP-7,8-diols) in mouse skin. Similar to enhancement of BaP carcinogenesis, repeated concurrent applications of catechol and (+/-)-BaP-7,8-diol to mouse skin strongly enhanced (+/-)-BaP-7,8-diol tumor multiplicity and tumor incidence, and decreased latency. Co-application of catechol with the racemic or either of the enantiomers of BaP-7,8-diol in a two-stage initiation--promotion protocol increased the tumor initiating activity of racemic BaP-7,8-diol, similar to that of BaP, by approximately 50%, but had no statistically significant effect on the tumor initiating activity of the (+)- or (-)-enantiomers in mouse skin. Thus, catechol is as potent a co-carcinogen with (+/-)-BaP-7,8-diol as it is with BaP. However, as tested here catechol is a weak co-initiator when applied with (+/-)-BaP-7,8-diol or BaP.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1989

Mechanistic studies of tobacco carcinogenesis in mouse epidermis and lung tissues.

The particulate matter of tobacco smoke induces benign and malignant tumors in various animal tissues and species. The most widely used bioassay system for evaluating the carcinogenicity of tobacco tars is mouse skin. Mouse skin bioassays have led to the identification of the PAHs as the major tumor initiators, while showing that catechols are important cocarcinogens in tobacco smoke. Mechanistic studies suggest that catechol affects BaP metabolism and especially secondary oxidation reactions of this carcinogen and thus changes the proportion of BPDE-DNA adducts. Comparison of the disposition and metabolism of BaP and its ultimate carcinogenic derivative, anti-BPDE, in mouse epidermis demonstrates that the lower activity of BPDE relative to BaP in mouse skin is partially due to differences in penetration and trapping of BPDE within the epidermis, where it is protected from hydrolysis and reaction with intracellular macromolecules. Although screening for tumorigenicity on mouse skin is limited to the detection of certain classes of carcinogens and is not helpful for the evaluation of organ-specific carcinogens, mouse skin assays of cigarette smoke condensates have nevertheless served as valuable indicators of the tumorigenic potential of tobacco smoke for epithelial tissues.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Reactivity with DNA bases and mutagenicity toward Salmonella typhimurium of methylchrysene diol epoxide enantiomers.

The reactions with DNA and mutagenic activities toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 of the R,S,S,R and S,R,R,S enantiomers of anti-1,2,-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide), anti-5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide, and anti-6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide were compared because among these compounds only the R,S,S,R enantiomer of anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide is highly tumorigenic. The major products formed in the reaction of each racemic diol epoxide with DNA were two pairs of deoxyguanosine (dGuo) and deoxyadenosine (dAdo) adducts; one product in each pair was formed from the R,S,S,R enantiomer and the other from the S,R,R,S enantiomer of each racemic diol epoxide. Formation of products from R,S,S,R enantiomers exceeded formation of those from S,R,R,S enantiomers in each case. Among the R,S,S,R enantiomers, 5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide, which has a methyl group in the same bay region as the epoxide ring, was most reactive toward DNA, and in particular toward dGuo. The dGuo/dAdo adduct ratios were greater for the products formed from the R,S,S,R enantiomer compared to the S,R,R,S enantiomer of each diol epoxide. The dGuo/dAdo adduct ratios were also greater for the enantiomers of anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide than for the enantiomers of either anti-5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide or anti-6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide. In S. typhimurium TA 100, the R,S,S,R enantiomer of anti-5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide was the most mutagenic compound (6700 revertants/nmol), followed by the R,S,S,R enantiomer of anti-5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (1500 revertants/nmol). The other diol epoxide enantiomers were weakly active or inactive at the doses tested. The results of this study demonstrate that both the absolute configuration of a diol epoxide and the position of the methyl group have major effects on its reactivity with DNA. The greatest reactivity is seen in an R,S,S,R enantiomer with the methyl group and epoxide ring in the same bay region, e.g., the highly tumorigenic and mutagenic 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide. Comparison of the dGuo/dAdo adduct ratios of the various diol epoxides with their tumorigenic and mutagenic activities suggests that dGuo adducts are important in the expression of biological activity of methylchrysene diol epoxides.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed1987

Contrasting disposition and metabolism of topically applied benzo(a)pyrene, trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene, and 7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene in mouse epidermis in vivo.

Whereas extensive evidence indicates that 7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (anti-BPDE) is a major ultimate carcinogen of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) in mouse skin, tumorigenicity studies have consistently shown that anti-BPDE is less active then BaP in this model system. In order to investigate factors responsible for this apparent contradiction, we have compared the disposition, metabolism, and DNA binding of [3H]BaP, (+/-)-trans-7,8-[14C]dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo(a)pyrene [(+/-)-[14C]BaP-7,8-diol), and (+/-)-anti-[3H]BPDE in mouse epidermis in vivo. There were remarkable differences in the total radioactivity recovered in epidermis at various times after topical application of BaP, BaP-7,8-diol, and anti-BPDE. BaP and its metabolites were removed from epidermis gradually (t1/2 approximately equal to 2 h). However, 60-65% of anti-BPDE disappeared from mouse epidermis within 3 min of application, while a second slower phase of removal of radioactivity was observed between 8 min and 2 h. The kinetics of removal of BaP-7,8-diol and its metabolites were intermediate between those of BaP and anti-BPDE. The half-life of anti-BPDE in mouse epidermis was measured by trapping it with 2-mercaptoethanol. The initial half-life was about 6 min, similar to that observed in vitro. However, following the initial rapid penetration of anti-BPDE through epidermis most of the remaining material became immobilized in an epidermal binding site in which its half-life was greater than 2 h. Qualitatively, the metabolite patterns of BaP, BaP-7,8-diol, and anti-BPDE were similar to expectations based on in vitro studies. However, the kinetics of metabolite formation from BaP were different from those of BaP-7,8-diol or anti-BPDE. The extents of formation of anti-BPDE-DNA adducts 24 h after application of BaP, BaP-7,8-diol, or anti-BPDE to mouse skin were similar despite the fact that the levels of anti-BPDE present in epidermis were about 50 to 100 times greater after application of BaP-7,8-diol or anti-BPDE than after application of BaP. The results of this study demonstrate that the quantitative aspects of BaP-7,8-diol and anti-BPDE metabolism and disposition in mouse skin are different from those of BaP and indicate that the relatively low tumorigenicity of BaP-7,8-diol and anti-BPDE in mouse skin may be partially attributable to differences between the disposition of these metabolites when topically applied compared to when they are generated intracellularly from BaP.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

PubMed1987

Enhancing effect of a bay region methyl group on tumorigenicity in newborn mice and mouse skin of enantiomeric bay region diol epoxides formed stereoselectively from methylchrysenes in mouse epidermis.

The stereochemistry of diol epoxide formation in mouse epidermis upon topical application of [3H]-1R,2R-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-5-methylchrysene ([3H]-5-MeC-1R,2R-diol) and [3H]-6-MeC-1R,2R-diol, and the tumorigenicity in mouse skin and in newborn mice of the R,S,S,R and S,R,R,S enantiomers of 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxy-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-5-methylchrysene (5-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide), 5-MeC-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide, and 6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxide were examined. Analysis of tetraols and their derived tetraacetates present in mouse epidermis, 2 h after application of [3H]-5-MeC-1R,2R-diol or [3H]-6-MeC-1R,2R-diol, demonstrated greater than 90% stereoselectivity in formation of 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide and 6-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide. Taken together with previous data, these results demonstrate that there is a high degree of stereoselectivity for formation of R,S,S,R enantiomers of 5-MeC- and 6-MeC-1,2-diol-3,4-epoxides in mouse skin. The results of the tumorigenicity studies in mouse skin and in newborn mice clearly demonstrated that 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide was the most tumorigenic of the diol epoxide enantiomers tested; 6-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide was inactive. The results of this study show that the high tumorigenicity of 5-MeC compared to 6-MeC is due to the remarkable tumorigenic activity of 5-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide which, in contrast to 6-MeC-1R,2S-diol-3S,4R-epoxide, has a methyl group in the same bay region as the epoxide ring. We propose that such methyl bay region diol epoxides of other carcinogenic methylated polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons will also show unique tumorigenic properties.

Animals↗

PubMed1986

Effects of the co-carcinogen catechol on benzo[a]pyrene metabolism and DNA adduct formation in mouse skin.

We have studied the effects of the co-carcinogen catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) on the metabolic activation of [3H] benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in mouse skin, in vivo and on the binding of BaP metabolites to DNA and protein at intervals from 0.5-24 h. Upon topical application of 0.015 mg [3H]BaP and 0.25 or 0.5 mg catechol per mouse, catechol had little effect on the total amount of [3H]BaP metabolized in mouse skin, but it affected the relative proportions of [3H]BaP metabolites. Catechol (0.5 mg/mouse) decreased the proportion of water-soluble [3H]BaP metabolites, ethyl acetate-soluble polar metabolites and quinones, but doubled the levels of unconjugated 3-hydroxy-BaP at all measured intervals after treatment. Catechol also caused a small increase in the levels of trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydroBaP and trans-9,10-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydroBaP 0.5 h after treatment. Two hours after treatment, the levels of these metabolites subsided to those of the controls. Catechol did not affect the levels of glutathione conjugates of BaP. However, it caused a decrease in glucuronide and sulphate conjugate formation from BaP. Catechol caused an approximately 2-fold increase in the formation of anti-7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroBaP (BPDE) DNA adducts and elevated the ratio of anti-syn-BPDE-DNA adducts 1.6 to 2.9-fold. Catechol treatment increased the radioactivity associated with epidermal proteins after [3H]BaP application. Because catechol increased levels of 3-hydroxyBaP, we considered the possibility that 3-hydroxyBaP might enhance the tumor initiating activities of BaP or BPDE in mouse skin; a bioassay demonstrated that this was not the case. The results of this study indicate that one important effect of catechol related to its co-carcinogenicity is its ability to enhance formation of anti-BPDE-DNA adducts in mouse skin.

Animals↗