Biomedical subjects

Agneta Rannug

Publications and source records attributed to Agneta Rannug.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Identification of amino acid residues in the Ah receptor involved in ligand binding.

The Ah receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor. Five amino acids as candidate amino acids necessary for ligand binding within or near the ligand-binding domain were selected based on their evolutional conservation and their aromatic nature that could interact with xenobiotic ligands. These amino acids were changed to Ala, and the mutated AhRs were subjected to a test of their transactivation activity in HeLa cells. Mutation of Phe318 completely lost its activity whereas other mutations only weakly impaired activity. The Leu-substituted mutant, AhR(Phe318Leu), activated the luciferase activity to the level comparable to wild type in the cells treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) but not at all with beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF). Ligand-binding activity of mutants was examined with [3H]MC in vitro. AhR(Phe318Ala) could not bind to [3H]MC. [3H]MC bound by AhR(Phe318Leu) was competed with unlabeled MC but not with beta-NF. A structural model of the ligand-binding domain was constructed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2006

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and light.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that has been intensively studied with respect to the toxicity of xenobiotics. However, its function in response to light has never been summarized. Here, we provide an overview of AhR activation by light with a focus on the role of tryptophan in light-induced AhR activation. We discuss the involvement of the AhR in different biological rhythms and speculate on the possible role of the AhR in UV-induced responses in skin. Furthermore, this review points out future research needs in this field.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Metabolic gene polymorphisms and lung cancer risk in non-smokers. An update of the GSEC study.

BACKGROUND: Since genetic factors may play an important role in lung cancer development at low dose carcinogen exposure, non-smokers are a good model to study genetic susceptibility and its interaction with environmental factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated the role of the metabolic gene polymorphisms CYP1A1MspI, CYP1A1Ile462Val, GSTM1, and GSTT1 in non-smoker lung cancer patients from the International Collaborative Study on Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens (GSEC). Non-smokers (defined as subjects who never smoked on a regular basis) were selected from the GSEC database. We pooled the raw data from 21 case-control studies for a total of 2764 Caucasians (555 cases and 2209 controls) and 383 Asians (113 cases and 270 controls). Tests of heterogeneity and of inclusion bias were performed. RESULTS: A significant association between lung cancer and CYP1A1Ile462Val polymorphism was observed in Caucasians (adjusted OR=2.04, 95% CI 1.17-3.54). GSTT1 deletion seems to be a risk factor for lung cancer in Caucasian non smokers only when the analysis was restricted to studies including healthy controls (adjusted OR=1.66, 95% CI 1.12-2.46). A protective effect on lung cancer was observed with the combination of CYP1A1 wild type, GSTM1 null, and GSTT1 non-null genotypes. None of the analysed polymorphisms were associated with lung cancer in Asian non-smokers. DISCUSSION: Our analysis confirms previous findings that CYP1A1Ile462Val polymorphism may play a role in lung carcinogenesis in Caucasian non-smokers.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2005

Identification of the tryptophan photoproduct 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, in cell culture medium, as a factor that controls the background aryl hydrocarbon receptor activity.

The presence of high affinity ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in cell culture medium has generally been overlooked. Such compounds may confound mechanistic studies of the important AhR regulatory network. Numerous reports have described that light exposed cell culture medium induces AhR-dependent activity. In this study, we aimed at identifying the causative substance(s). A three-dimensional factorial design was used to study how the background activity of CYP1A1 in a rat hepatoma cell line (MH1C1) was controlled by photoproducts formed in the medium exposed to normal laboratory light. The light induced activity was found to be tryptophan dependent, but independent of riboflavin and other components in the medium. The light exposed medium showed the same transient enzyme inducing activity in vitro as the AhR ligand 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ). This substance, which we have previously identified as being formed in UV-exposed tryptophan solutions, is a substrate for CYP1A1 and it has a higher AhR binding affinity than TCDD. Several tryptophan related photoproducts were detected in the light-exposed medium. For the first time one of the formed photoproducts was identified as FICZ with bioassay driven fractionation coupled with HPLC/MS. These results clearly show that tryptophan derived AhR ligands, which have been suggested to be endogenous AhR ligands, influence the background levels of CYP1A1 activity in cells in culture.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

In vitro studies of the influence of glutathione transferases and epoxide hydrolase on the detoxification of acrylamide and glycidamide in blood.

Enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotic substances are often polymorphic in humans. Such genetic polymorphisms may result in inter-individual differences in detoxification of certain chemicals, and as a consequence, possibly affect health-risk assessments. This present work concerns studies of the influence of polymorphic enzymes in the detoxification of acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide. Enzymes that enhance conjugation with glutathione (GSH), the glutathione transferases (GSTs), may influence the detoxification of both acrylamide and glycidamide, whereas the enzyme epoxide hydrolase (EH) should only catalyse the hydrolysis of glycidamide. In this study, the doses of acrylamide or glycidamide measured as specific adducts to hemoglobin (Hb) were analysed in blood samples after in vitro incubation with these compounds. Blood samples from individuals with different genotypes for GSTT1 and GSTM1 were studied. No significant differences in adduct levels depending on genotype were noted. In a parallel experiment, incubation with ethylene oxide was used as positive control. In this experiment individuals carrying GSTT1 showed lower adduct level increments from ethylene oxide than individuals lacking GSTT1. Furthermore, addition of ethacrynic acid or laurylamine, compounds which inhibit GST and EH, respectively, did not affect the adduct levels. These results suggest that neither GSTs nor EH have any significant effect on the blood dose, measured as Hb-adducts over time, after exposure to acrylamide or glycidamide.

Acrylamide↗

PubMed2005

In vitro studies of the influence of certain enzymes on the detoxification of acrylamide and glycidamide in blood.

Several enzymes involved in the metabolism of xenobiotic substances are polymorphic in humans. Inter-individual differences in response to certain chemicals, such as acrylamide, as a result of such genetic polymorphisms might affect health-risk assessments. Detoxification by, for example, conjugation with glutathione (GSH) will decrease the concentration. The dose of the compound and enzymes that enhance the conjugation with GSH will increase the detoxification rate. The dose of acrylamide or glycidamide has been measured in blood samples from individuals with defined genotypes for the glutathione transferases GSTT1 and GSTM1 after in vitro incubation with these compounds. The results indicate that these enzymes have no significant effect on the blood dose, measured as Hb adducts over time, after exposure to acrylamide or glycidamide.

Acrylamide↗

PubMed2004

Metabolic fate of the Ah receptor ligand 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole.

The physiological role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a member of the basic helix-loop-helix PER-ARNT-SIM (PAS) transcription factor family is not known. We have suggested that the AhR is involved in light signaling through binding of photoproducts with high AhR affinity. This suggestion is based on (i) the high AhR affinity of the tryptophan photoproduct formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), (ii) the induction of rapid and transient expression of AhR-regulated genes by FICZ and by extracts of UV-irradiated tryptophan as well as (iii) the fact that light induces the AhR-regulated cytochrome P450s CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and CYP2S1. The transient mRNA expression caused by light and tryptophan photoproducts suggests that the biotransformation enzymes induced by AhR activation take part in a metabolic degradation of the natural AhR ligand. This study aimed at identifying the involvement of phase I and phase II enzymes in the metabolic degradation of FICZ. A cytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of FICZ giving rise to preferentially mono- and di-hydroxylated derivatives has earlier been reported. In the present study, rat and human hepatic S9 mixes were employed together with specific enzyme inhibitors and cofactors. Compared to the Aroclor-induced rat liver S9, the non-induced rat liver S9 and the human liver S9 caused a more complex metabolite profile of FICZ. The CYP1A1 enzyme was confirmed to be the most important enzyme for the first step in the metabolism. CYP1A2 was found to have overlapping specificity with CYP1A1 being able to form the same major metabolites although with different kinetics. CYP1B1 turned out to be preferentially involved in the further metabolism of dihydroxylated metabolites. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase, and as yet not identified forms of sulphotransferases and glucuronosyltransferases were also found to take part in the metabolic degradation of FICZ. Thus, tryptophan photoproducts fit into a model in which the ligand-activated AhR signaling is autoregulated by the induced metabolic enzymes.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides after acute TCDD treatment and distribution of Ah receptor repressor.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an environmental contaminant originating from industrial waste. At sublethal concentrations it induces anorexia and weight loss as part of the so-called wasting syndrome. To gain insight into its possible underlying mechanisms, mRNA expression of some key hypothalamic neuropeptides involved in the regulation of body weight was studied using in situ hybridization histochemistry in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats 6 days after single oral administration of TCDD (15 microg/kg) and in age-paired control rats. In TCDD-treated rats which displayed a decrease in body weight gain vs. controls, arcuate nucleus expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY), proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART) mRNA was increased. In the lateral hypothalamic area, melanin-concentrating hormone (MCH) mRNA expression was also increased, while levels of CART and orexin/hypocretin mRNA were not significantly changed. Since TCDD is known to bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), the distribution of the AhR repressor (AhRR), which is co-expressed with AhR in the same cells, was studied by immunohistochemistry in the mouse hypothalamus using mouse AhRR specific antiserum. AhRR immunoreactivity was present in the nuclei of neurons found in all main hypothalamic groups including NPY, CART, MCH and orexin/hypocretin neurons. Xenobiotic response elements were found in these neuropeptide genes with the exception of MCH. Thus changes in expression of orexigenic and anorexigenic neuropeptides after TCDD treatment may help to explain the occurrence of the TCDD-induced weight loss, which may be either directly or indirectly related to the effects of TCDD on neuropeptide expression.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2004

Association of metabolic gene polymorphisms with tobacco consumption in healthy controls.

Polymorphisms in genes that encode for metabolic enzymes have been associated with variations in enzyme activity between individuals. Such variations could be associated with differences in individual exposure to carcinogens that are metabolized by these genes. In this study, we examine the association between polymorphisms in several metabolic genes and the consumption of tobacco in a large sample of healthy individuals. The database of the International Collaborative Study on Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens was used. All the individuals who were controls from the case-control studies included in the data set with information on smoking habits and on genetic polymorphisms were selected (n = 20938). Sufficient information was available on the following genes that are involved in the metabolism of tobacco smoke constituents: CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1, NAT2 and GSTP1. None of the tested genes was clearly associated with smoking behavior. Information on smoking dose, available for a subset of subjects, showed no effect of metabolic gene polymorphisms on the amount of smoking. No association between polymorphisms in the genes studied and tobacco consumption was observed; therefore, no effect of these genes on smoking behavior should be expected.

Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase↗

PubMed2004

Influence of CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and NQO1 genotypes and cumulative smoking dose on lung cancer risk in a Swedish population.

The major identified risk factor for lung cancer is tobacco smoking. We identified previously the possible modifying influence of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms on lung cancer risk in a Swedish population. The present study, extended by several study subjects and with analyses for polymorphisms in GSTT1 and NQO1, includes 524 lung cancer cases and 530 control subjects. No evidence for an influence of genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and NQO1 on lung cancer risk overall was found. In smokers, there was, however, a suggestion that the variant CYP1A1 and NQO1 genotypes may confer an increased risk for squamous cell carcinoma. In ever smokers, the homozygously deleted GSTM1 (GSTM1*O/*O) genotype was significantly associated with increased risk of small cell carcinoma (adjusted odds ratio 2.72, 95% confidence interval 1.32-5.90). The risks noted for the variant CYP1A1 genotypes and the GSTM1*O/*O genotype seemed to be restricted to light smokers. The GSTT1*O/*O genotype also appeared to be a possible risk factor in light smokers, whereas, in heavy smokers, this genotype was associated with decreased risk for lung cancer overall (odds ratio 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.13-0.99). Due to the multiple comparisons made, we cannot exclude the possibility that some of these associations may represent chance findings.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

TCDD-induced expression of Ah receptor responsive genes in the pituitary and brain of cellular retinol-binding protein (CRBP-I) knockout mice.

The 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) is a highly toxic, widespread environmental contaminant. Most of the toxic damage caused by TCDD is considered to be secondary to the binding of TCDD to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, the AH receptor (AHR). TCDD is known to affect the vitamin A homeostasis. The effects of TCDD on body weight and on the expressions of AHR-associated genes may be modulated by the retinoid system. Therefore, we investigated the regulation pattern of expression of the AHR associated genes after TCDD exposure in wild-type 129/SV/C57BL/6 mice and in mice deficient in cellular retinol-binding protein type I (CRBP-I) of the same mixed genetic background. A single oral dose of TCDD (50 or 250 mug/kg) was administrated by gavage. Different brain areas, including cortex, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and olfactory bulb, as well as pituitary and liver, were dissected from CRBP-I knockout homozygous mice (-/-) and wild-type mice (+/+) killed at two time points (7 or 28 days after treatment). Compared with vehicle-treated controls, the relative levels of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) mRNA and protein expression in TCDD-treated animals were dramatically increased in mice of both CRBP-I genotypes (-/-, +/+). CYP1A1 mRNA levels increased up to 1400-fold in the pituitary, 110-fold in the brain, and up to 1600-fold in the liver. A general observation was that the relative induction of CYP1A1 and AHR transcription after TCDD dosing was highest in the +/+ mice. A high TCDD-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor (AHRR) mRNA expression was observed in the liver and in brain tissues. Interestingly, however, mice that lacked the CRBP-I protein (-/-) were found to have a significantly higher basal expression of AHRR gene in the pituitary compared to the wild-type (CRBP-I +/+) mice and in accordance a less pronounced induction of CYP1A1 and AHR was observed in the pituitary of the -/- mice. Immunohistochemical double staining analyses of the expression pattern of CYP1A1 and AHRR proteins in the pituitary revealed a colocalization of these two proteins. We conclude that the vitamin A homeostasis seems to have some influence to the TCDD-induced activation of AHR-regulated gene transcription in the brain and pituitary of the adult mouse.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2003

CYP1A1 T3801 C polymorphism and lung cancer: a pooled analysis of 2451 cases and 3358 controls.

CYP1A1 is involved in the metabolism of benzopyrene, a suspected lung carcinogen; it is therefore conceivable that genetically determined variations in its activity modify individual susceptibility to lung cancer. The role of the CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism in lung cancer has been widely studied but has not been fully clarified. We have included 2,451 cases and 3,358 controls in a pooled analysis of 22 case-control studies on CYP1A1 and lung cancer risk. We found a clear association between the CYP1A1 homozygous MspI restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and lung cancer risk in Caucasians (age- and gender-adjusted odds ratio = 2.36; 95% confidence interval 1.16-4.81); other associations were weaker or not statistically significant. The association with the homozygous variant was equally strong for squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas among Caucasians. We analyzed the risk by duration of smoking: for Caucasian subjects with the MspI RFLP combined variants (homozygotes plus heterozygotes), the increase in the risk of lung cancer was steeper than among the individuals with the homozygous reference allele. Our analysis suggests that Caucasians with homozygous variant CYP1A1 polymorphism have a higher risk of lung cancer. The data were more consistent among Caucasians, with a strong association between the homozygous variant in both squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas, and a stronger association in men than in women. The analyses were more inconsistent and failed to reach statistical significance in Asians. This observation might be due to design specificities or unknown effect modifiers in the Asian studies.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2003

Constitutive CYP1B1 mRNA expression in human blood mononuclear cells in relation to gender, genotype, and environmental factors.

Cytochromes P4501B1 (CYP1B1) and P4501A1 (CYP1A1) are involved in the metabolic activation of many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). To investigate the variability of these enzymes in humans a long-term study of the constitutive mRNA expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was initiated. Blood samples were collected from 16 volunteers of both sexes every second month during a 20-month period in 1999 and 2000. mRNA expression was quantified using a competitive reverse transcription-PCR method. The monocyte content in PBMC was determined using a fluorescence-activated cell sorter. To study the effect of genotype, polymorphisms in CYP1B1, CYP1A1, and glutathione transferase M1 (GSTM1) were determined by PCR-based methods. Information about environmental PAH exposure and solar radiation was obtained through questionnaires and solar radiation records. Since the levels of CYP1A1 mRNA were found to be extremely low (at or below the detection level), only CYP1B1 mRNA levels were quantified. The maximum range of CYP1B1 mRNA expression across different blood collection time points and subjects was 30-fold (1670-49,900 CYP1B1 mRNA molecules/10(6) beta-actin mRNA molecules). The individual average levels of expression ranged from 8520 to 12,700 CYP1B1 mRNA molecules/10(6) beta-actin mRNA molecules (a 2.3-fold variation), with an average level of 12,700 CYP1B1 mRNA molecules/10(6) beta-actin mRNA molecules. A pronounced variation in CYP1B1 expression between the different time points of blood collection was observed. The intraindividual variation of CYP1B1 expression during the 20-month study period was from 3- to 21-fold (average 9-fold) and the average interindividual fold variation, at one time point, was 8 (range 3-16). An association between solar radiation records and CYP1B1 mRNA expression was suggested. This correlation was significant for the year 2000 (rs=0.30, P=0.012). No or weak effects of age, gender, monocyte content in total PBMC, recent PAH exposure, or genetic polymorphisms in CYP1B1, CYP1A1, or GSTM1 were observed.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Pooled analysis of the CYP1A1 exon 7 polymorphism and lung cancer (United States).

OBJECTIVE: Cytochrome P450 1A1 plays a major role in the bioactivation of a number of tobacco procarcinogens. Much interest has focused on a polymorphism in exon 7 of the CYP1A1 gene which has been associated with a more inducible form of the enzyme. However, past results of its association with lung cancer have been inconsistent, especially in Caucasians. We carried out a pooled analysis of the data submitted to the Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens (GSEC) database to further investigate this association and, especially, to examine the modifying effects of smoking status and race. METHODS: The data set used in this analysis included 11 studies and a total of 1950 cases and 2617 controls. Both fixed- and random-effects, meta-analysis models were used to investigate heterogeneity among studies. Because no clear heterogeneity was found, a pooled analysis was conducted using unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS: The pooled odds ratio for subjects heterozygous and homozygous for the exon 7 polymorphism was 1.15 (95% confidence interval: 0.95-1.39) and 1.54 (95% CI: 0.97-1.46), respectively (p for gene-dosage effect: 0.03). This association was stronger for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) than adenocarcinoma, and appeared to be stronger in Caucasians than Asians (p for interaction: 0.03). Statistically significant interactions were also detected for smoking status and sex, with the effect of the polymorphism being stronger in never-smokers and in females. CONCLUSIONS: The present data suggest that the CYP1A1 exon 7 polymorphism may confer an increased risk of lung cancer, particularly of SCC, and especially in never-smokers and in women. These interactions need to be confirmed when additional studies are available for pooling.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

CYP1A1 and GSTM1 genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer risk in Caucasian non-smokers: a pooled analysis.

Polymorphisms for genes encoding the metabolic enzymes cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) might contribute to the variability in individual susceptibility to lung cancer. The role of CYP1A1 and GSTM1 in lung carcinogenesis might be more important at low levels of exposure to carcinogens. Non-smokers represent a population at low exposure, however, they are often overlooked because of the small number of cases. We therefore conducted a pooled analysis of 14 case-control studies on lung cancer in Caucasian non-smokers with comparable information on genetic polymorphisms included in the International Collaborative Study on Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens. We pooled the raw data from a total of 302 cases and 1631 controls with random effects models. We also evaluated the possibility of inclusion bias and conducted influence analyses. The odds ratio (OR) of lung cancer for the variant CYP1A1 Ile(462)Val polymorphism (Ile/Val, Val/Val) was 2.99 [95% confidence interval (95%CI) 1.51-5.91]; this effect was stronger on lung adenocarcinoma (OR 4.85, 95%CI 2.03-11.6). After excluding outlying or imprecise studies, we did not observe a significant effect of the CYP1A1 MspI (T(3801)C) polymorphism or GSTM1 null genotype (OR 1.20, 95%CI 0.89-1.63). Furthermore, our analyses suggested a combined effect of the CYP1A1 Ile(462)Val polymorphism and GSTM1 null genotype. The OR for the combination of the CYP1A1 Ile(462)Val variant and GSTM1 null genotype was 4.67 (95%CI 2.00-10.9) compared with the concurrent presence of the CYP1A1 wild-type and GSTM1 non-null genotype. We did not observe a modification of the effect of the GSTM1 null genotype according to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and urban/rural residence. Our study therefore suggests that the CYP1A1 Ile(462)Val variant allele might play a role in lung carcinogenesis among non-smokers, possibly in combination with the GSTM1 null genotype.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMed2003

Characterization of in vitro metabolites of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligand 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and NMR.

The tryptophan photoproduct 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) exhibits the highest aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) binding affinity reported so far. In different cells, in vitro, both extracts of UV-irradiated tryptophan and the synthesized pure compound FICZ induce a rapid and transient expression of AhR-regulated genes. The transient induction suggests that the biotransformation gene battery induced by AhR activation takes part in a metabolic degradation of the ligand, whereby a low steady-state level is regained. The down-regulation of AhR-regulated gene expression was previously shown to be dependent on cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1). Metabolism of FICZ generates five major metabolites, which appeared as three peaks (M1-M3) in the high performance liquid chromatography. The aim of the present study was to use rat liver S9 from Aroclor-pretreated rats to produce large enough quantities of FICZ metabolites for structure characterization and to determine their product precursor relationship. NMR analysis of large combined fractions of the metabolites indicated that M3 and M2 contained 2 isomers, respectively. By means of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (negative ion electrospray mode) and NMR spectroscopy (by (1)H-NMR, correlation spectroscopy, and nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy techniques) five metabolites of FICZ were identified, and their structures were elucidated. The molecular weights of the two M3 isomers were 300 and both M2 and M1 compounds demonstrated molecular weights of 316, corresponding to addition of one (M3) and of two oxygen (M2 and M1), respectively. The structures were assigned as 2- and 8-hydroxy (M3), 2,10- and 4,8-dihydroxy (M2) and 2,8-dihydroxy derivatives of indolo[3,2-b]carbazole-6-carboxaldehyde (6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole).

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Susceptibility factors and DNA adducts in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of aluminium smelter workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Formation of DNA adducts as a result of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was studied in 98 potroom workers from an aluminium smelting plant and in 55 blue-collar workers without occupational PAH exposure. DNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was used for quantitation of individual PAH-DNA adducts by 32P-postlabelling/high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis. Four individual DNA adducts (denoted A, B, C and D) were quantified in 141 of a total of 153 subjects. Genetic polymorphisms for cytochrome P-4501A1 ( CYP1A1), microsomal epoxide hydrolase, N-acetyltransferase 2, glutathione transferases M1, P1 and T1 ( GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1, respectively) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) were analysed. For 52 subjects, analysis of mRNA inducibility of CYP1A1 was performed. No statistically significant differences in the levels of total or individual DNA adducts A, C and D were found between potroom workers and control subjects. All potroom workers and the subgroup of potroom workers who reported to never/sometimes use personal respiratory protection ( n=72) were found to have a significantly higher likelihood of having high levels of adduct B than control subjects [odds ratio (OR) =3.4 with 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.3-9.2, and OR=4.2 with 95% CI 1.6-11.5, respectively]. In the subgroup, levels of adducts A and B were found to be significantly higher among workers with employment time of less than 6 months ( n=5). Also, the levels of the individual DNA adducts were to some extent modified by genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTP1 and NQO1 and by CYP1A1 inducibility. In conclusion, levels of adduct B, identified by 32P-postlabelling/HPLC methodology as an indicator of PAH exposure in aluminium production, were modified by the use of respiratory protection, length of employment and genetic polymorphisms.

Aluminum↗

PubMed2002

Meta- and pooled analyses of the effects of glutathione S-transferase M1 polymorphisms and smoking on lung cancer risk.

Susceptibility to lung cancer may in part be attributable to inter-individual variability in metabolic activation or detoxification of tobacco carcinogens. The glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) genetic polymorphism has been extensively studied in this context; two recent meta-analyses of case-control studies suggested an association between GSTM1 deletion and lung cancer. At least 15 studies have been published after these overviews. We undertook a new meta-analysis to summarize the results of 43 published case-control studies including >18 000 individuals. A slight excess of risk of lung cancer for individuals with the GSTM1 null genotype was found (odds ratio (OR) = 1.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.27). No evidence of publication bias was found (P = 0.4), however, it is not easy to estimate the extent of such bias and we cannot rule out some degree of publication bias in our results. A pooled analysis of the original data of about 9500 subjects involved in 21 case-control studies from the International Collaborative Study on Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogens (GSEC) data set was performed to assess the role of GSTM1 genotype as a modifier of the effect of smoking on lung cancer risk with adequate power. Analyses revealed no evidence of increased risk of lung cancer among carriers of the GSTM1 null genotype (age-, gender- and center-adjusted OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.98-1.18) and no evidence of interaction between GSTM1 genotype and either smoking status or cumulative tobacco consumption.

Case-Control Studies↗