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B B Davis

Publications and source records attributed to B B Davis.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

N'-(3'-monophospho-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N-acetylbenzidine formation by peroxidative metabolism.

N'-(3'-Monophospho-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N-acetylbenzidine (dGp-ABZ) is thought to play an important role in initiation of benzidine-induced bladder cancer in humans. This report assesses the possible formation of this adduct by peroxidatic activation of N-acetylbenzidine (ABZ). Adduct formation was measured by 32P-post-labeling. Ram seminal vesicle microsomes were used as a source of prostaglandin H synthase (PHS). The peroxidatic activity of PHS was compared with that for horseradish peroxidase. Both peroxidases converted ABZ to dGp-ABZ whether DNA or 2'-deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate (dGp) was present. Following 32P-post-labeling, the enzymatic and synthetic adduct were extracted from PEI-cellulose plates and were shown to have the same HPLC elution profiles for the bisphosphate adduct (32P-dpGp-ABZ). Treatment of the enzymatic and synthetic bisphosphate adduct with nuclease P1 yielded a product that eluted at the same time from the HPLC (32P-dpG-ABZ). Additional experiments demonstrated that the PHS-derived 5'-monophosphate (dpG-ABZ) and 3'-monophosphate (dGp-ABZ) adducts were also identical to their corresponding synthetic standard. With comparable amounts of total ABZ metabolism, PHS produced approximately 40-fold more dGp-ABZ than horseradish peroxidase (1943 +/- 339 versus 49 +/- 7.8 fmol/mg dGp). Adduct formation was dependent upon the presence of peroxidase and the specific substrate, i.e. arachidonic acid or H2O2. Adduct formation by PHS was inhibited by indomethacin (0.1 mM), ascorbic acid (1 mM) and glutathione (10 mM), but not by 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) (100 mM), a radical scavenger. Horseradish peroxidase adduct formation was also inhibited by ascorbic acid and glutathione. In addition, DMPO elicited greater than a 96% inhibition. Results demonstrate peroxidatic metabolism of ABZ to form dGp-ABZ. The mechanism of dGp-ABZ formation by PHS and horseradish peroxidase may be different.

Animals

Urinary mutagenicity as a biomarker in workers exposed to benzidine: correlation with urinary metabolites and urothelial DNA adducts.

Urinary mutagenicity has been used in occupational and epidemiological studies for over two decades as a cost-effective, general biomarker of exposure to genotoxic agents. However, few studies have compared urinary mutagenicity to additional biomarkers determined among low- and high-exposed groups. To address this issue, we evaluated the relationship between urinary mutagenicity and other types of biomarkers in a cross-sectional study involving 15 workers exposed to the urinary bladder carcinogen benzidine (BZ, high exposure), 15 workers exposed to BZ-dyes (low exposure), and 13 unexposed controls in Ahmedabad, India. Urinary organics were extracted by C18/methanol and evaluated for mutagenicity in the presence of S9 in the Salmonella strain YG1024, which is a frameshift strain that overproduces acetyltransferase. The results were compared to biomarker data reported recently from the same urine samples (Rothman et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA, 93, 5084-5089, 1996) that included a metabolite biomarker (the sum of the urinary levels of BZ + N-acetylbenzidine + N,N'-diacetylbenzidine) and a DNA adduct biomarker [a presumptive N-(3'-phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine (C8dG-ABZ) DNA adduct in exfoliated urothelial cells]. The mean +/- SE urinary mutagenicity (revertants/micromol of creatinine) of the low-exposure (BZ-dye) workers was 8.2 +/- 2.4, which was significantly different from the mean of the controls (2.8 +/- 0.7, P = 0.04) as was that of the mean of the high-exposure (BZ) workers (123.2 +/- 26.1, P < 0.0001). Urinary mutagenicity showed strong, positive correlations with urinary metabolites (r = 0.88, P < 0.0001) and the level of the presumptive C8dG-ABZ urothelial DNA adduct (r = 0.59, P = 0.0006). A strong association was found between tobacco use (bidi smoking) and urinary mutagenicity among the controls (r = 0.68, P = 0.01) but not among the exposed workers (r = 0.18, P = 0.11). This study confirms the ability of a biomarker such as urinary mutagenicity to detect low-dose exposures, identify additional genotoxic exposures among the controls, and correlate strongly with urinary metabolites and DNA adducts in the target tissue (urinary bladder epithelia) in humans.

Benzidines

Hemodynamic effects, myocardial ischemia, and timing of tracheal extubation with propofol-based anesthesia for cardiac surgery.

Recent interest in earlier tracheal extubation after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery has focused attention on the potential benefits of a propofol-based technique. We randomized 124 patients (34 with poor ventricular function) undergoing CABG surgery to receive either a propofol-based (5 mg.kg-1.h-1 prior to sternotomy, 3 mg.kg-1. h-1 thereafter; n = 58) or enflurane-based (0.2%-1.0%, n = 66) anesthetic. Induction of anesthesia consisted of fentanyl 15 micrograms/kg and midazolam 0.05 mg/kg intravenously in both groups. The enflurane group received an additional bolus of fentanyl 5 micrograms/kg prior to sternotomy and fentanyl 10 micrograms/kg with midazolam 0.1 mg/kg at commencement of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Patients receiving propofol were extubated earlier (median 9.1 h versus 12.3 h, P = 0.006), although there was no difference in time to intensive care unit (ICU) discharge (both 22 h, P = 0.54). Both groups had similar hemodynamic changes throughout (all P > 0.10), as well as metaraminol (P = 0.49) and inotrope requirements (P > 0.10), intraoperative myocardial ischemia (P = 0.12) and perioperative myocardial infarction (P = 0.50). The results of this trial suggest that a propofol-based anesthetic, when compared to an enflurane-based anesthetic requiring additional dosing of fentanyl and midazolam for CPB, can lead to a significant reduction in time to extubation after CABG surgery, without adverse hemodynamic effects, increased risk of myocardial ischemia or infarction.

Aged

Rat liver cytochrome P450 metabolism of N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine.

To provide the information necessary for assessing risk and preventing tumorigenesis, the metabolism of N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine was assessed with rat liver microsomes from control and beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats. The oxidation of [3H]N-acetylbenzidine to [3H]N'-hydroxy-N-acetylbenzidine (N'HA), [3H]N-hydroxy-N-acetylbenzidine (NHA), and 3H-ring oxidation products was assessed. For [3H]N,N'-diacetylbenzidine, the formation of [3H]N-hydroxy-N,N'-diacetylbenzidine (NHDA) and the 3H-ring oxidation product was assessed. With beta-naphthoflavone-treated microsomes, the rate of NHA formation was 8-fold more than observed with control. Although significant formation of ring-oxidation products was demonstrated, the formation of N'HA was at the limit of detection. With control microsomes, N'HA was a major metabolite with more N'HA (49 +/- 6 pmol/mg protein/min) produced than NHA (38 +/- 5). Whereas the oxidation of N,N'-diacetylbenzidine was not observed with control microsomes, significant formation of NHDA (421 +/- 49 pmol/mg protein/min) and ring-oxidation (182 +/- 28) product was observed with beta-naphthoflavone-treated microsomes. Metabolism of [3H]N-acetylbenzidine and [3H]N,N'-diacetylbenzidine by beta-naphthoflavone-treated microsomes was completely inhibited by the specific cytochrome P4501A1/1A2 inhibitors alpha-naphthoflavone and ellipticine at 10 microM. Except for the < 30% inhibition observed with the cytochrome P4502E1 inhibitor (disulfiram), inhibitors of cytochrome P4503A1/3A2 (troleandomycin) and P4502C6 (sulfinpyrazone) were not effective at 10 microM. N'HA formation by control microsomes was not prevented by any of these inhibitors. Conditions that inhibit flavin-dependent monooxygenase metabolism, methimazole (1 mM), and heat treatment (37 degrees C for 60 min) were also ineffective in preventing N'HA formation. The nonspecific cytochrome P450 inhibitor SKF-525A (10 microM) exhibited a partial dose-response inhibition (maximum 41% of complete reaction mixture) of N'HA formation, but did not alter NHA formation. In contrast, the nonspecific cytochrome P450 inhibitor, 2,4-dichloro-6-phenylphenoxyethylamine prevented formation of both N'HA and NHA. beta-Naphthoflavone treatment increased [3H]N-acetylbenzidine binding to DNA, but not [3H]N,N'-diacetylbenzidine. Binding of both compounds to DNA was inhibited by ellipticine. N'-(3'-monophospho-deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N-acetylbenzidine was detected by 32P-postlabeling in microsomal incubations with N-acetylbenzidine, but not N,N'-diacetylbenzidine. More adduct was detected with control than beta-naphthoflavone-treated microsomes. Results are consistent with cytochrome P4501A1/1A2 playing the major role in N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine metabolism by liver microsomes from control and beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats. The formation of N'HA by control, but not by beta-naphthoflavone-treated, rats and its insensitivity to inhibition by cytochrome P4501A1/1A2 inhibitors were unexpected.

Animals

Acidic urine pH is associated with elevated levels of free urinary benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine and urothelial cell DNA adducts in exposed workers.

We evaluated the influence of urine pH on the proportion of urinary benzidine (BZ) and N-acetylbenzidine present in the free, unconjugated state and on exfoliated urothelial cell DNA adduct levels in 32 workers exposed to BZ in India. Postworkshift urine pH was inversely correlated with the proportions of BZ (r = -0.78; P < 0.0001) and N-acetylbenzidine (r = -0.67; P < 0.0001) present as free compounds. Furthermore, the average of each subject's pre- and postworkshift urine pH was negatively associated with the predominant urothelial DNA adduct (P = 0.0037, adjusted for urinary BZ and metabolites), which has been shown to cochromatograph with a N-(3'-phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine adduct standard. Controlling for internal dose, individuals with urine pH < 6 had 10-fold higher DNA adduct levels compared to subjects with urine pH > or = 7. As reported previously, polymorphisms in NAT1, NAT2, and GSTM1 had no impact on DNA adduct levels. This is the first study to demonstrate that urine pH has a strong influence on the presence of free urinary aromatic amine compounds and on urothelial cell DNA adduct levels in exposed humans. Because there is evidence that acidic urine has a similar influence on aromatic amines derived from cigarette smoke, urine pH, which is influenced by diet, may be an important susceptibility factor for bladder cancer caused by tobacco in the general population.

Analysis of Variance

Human N-acetylation of benzidine: role of NAT1 and NAT2.

These studies were designed to assess metabolism of benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine by N-acetyltransferase (NAT) NAT1 and NAT2. Metabolism was assessed using human recombinant NAT1 and NAT2 and human liver slices. For benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine, Km and Vmax values were higher for NAT1 than for NAT2. The clearance ratios (NAT1/NAT2) for benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine were 54 and 535, respectively, suggesting that N-acetylbenzidine is a preferred substrate for NAT1. The much higher NAT1 and NAT2 Km values for N-acetylbenzidine (1380 +/- 90 and 471 +/- 23 microM, respectively) compared to benzidine (254 +/- 38 and 33.3 +/- 1.5 microM, respectively) appear to favor benzidine metabolism over N-acetylbenzidine for low exposures. Determination of these kinetic parameters over a 20-fold range of acetyl-CoA concentrations demonstrated that NAT1 and NAT2 catalyzed N-acetylation of benzidine by a binary ping-pong mechanism. In vitro enzymatic data were correlated to intact liver tissue metabolism using human liver slices. Samples incubated with either [3H]benzidine or [3H]N-acetylbenzidine had a similar ratio of N-acetylated benzidines (N-acetylbenzidine + N',N'-diacetylbenzidine/ benzidine) and produced amounts of N-acetylbenzidine > benzidine > N,N'-diacetylbenzidine. With [3H]benzidine, p-aminobenzoic acid, a NAT1-specific substrate, increased the amount of benzidine and decreased the amount of N-acetylbenzidine produced, resulting in a decreased ratio of acetylated products. This is consistent with benzidine being a NAT1 substrate. N-Acetylation of benzidine or N-acetylbenzidine by human liver slices did not correlate with the NAT2 genotype. However, a higher average acetylation ratio was observed in human liver slices possessing the NAT1*10 compared to the NAT1*4 allele. Thus, a combination of human recombinant NAT and liver slice experiments has demonstrated that benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine are both preferred substrates for NAT1. These results also suggest that NAT1 may exhibit a polymorphic expression in human liver.

Acetylation

Glucuronide conjugates of 4-aminobiphenyl and its N-hydroxy metabolites. pH stability and synthesis by human and dog liver.

Glucuronide conjugates of arylamines are thought to be important in the carcinogenic process. This study investigated the pH stability and synthesis of glucuronide conjugates of 4-aminobiphenyl and its N-hydroxy metabolites by human and dog liver. Both dog and human liver slices incubated with 0.06 mM [3H]-4-aminobiphenyl produced the N-glucuronide of 4-aminobiphenyl as the major product. After 2 hr of incubation, the N-glucuronide of 4-aminobiphenyl represented 52 and 27% of the total radioactivity recovered by HPLC in dog and human, respectively. When 4-aminobiphenyl, N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl, or N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-4-aminobiphenyl was added to human microsomes containing [14C]UDP-glucuronic acid, a new product peak was detected by HPLC. At 0.5 mM, the rate of glucuronidation was N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-4-aminobiphenyl > N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl > 4-aminobiphenyl. The rate of formation of the N-glucuronide of 4-aminobiphenyl was similar to that observed with benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine. The glucuronides of 4-aminobiphenyl and N-hydroxy-4-aminobiphenyl were both acid labile with T1/2 values of 10.5 and 32 min, respectively, at pH 5.5. The glucuronide of N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-4-aminobiphenyl was not acid labile with T1/2 values at pH 5.5 and 7.4 of 55 and 68 min, respectively. The glucuronide of 4-aminobiphenyl was the most acid labile conjugate examined. Thus, the glucuronide of 4-aminobiphenyl is a major product of dog and human liver slice metabolism and likely to play an important role in the carcinogenic process.

Aminobiphenyl Compounds

The impact of interindividual variation in NAT2 activity on benzidine urinary metabolites and urothelial DNA adducts in exposed workers.

Several epidemiologic studies indicate that NAT2-related slow N-acetylation increases bladder cancer risk among workers exposed to aromatic amines, presumably because N-acetylation is important for the detoxification of these compounds. Previously, we showed that NAT2 polymorphisms did not influence bladder cancer risk among Chinese workers exposed exclusively to benzidine (BZ), suggesting that NAT2 N-acetylation is not a critical detoxifying pathway for this aromatic amine. To evaluate the biologic plausibility of this finding, we carried out a cross-sectional study of 33 workers exposed to BZ and 15 unexposed controls in Ahmedabad, India, to evaluate the presence of BZ-related DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells, the excretion pattern of BZ metabolites, and the impact of NAT2 activity on these outcomes. Four DNA adducts were significantly elevated in exposed workers compared to controls; of these, the predominant adduct cochromatographed with a synthetic N-(3'- phosphodeoxyguanosin-8-yl)-N'-acetylbenzidine standard and was the only adduct that was significantly associated with total BZ urinary metabolites (r = 0.68, P < 0.0001). To our knowledge this is the first report to show that BZ forms DNA adducts in exfoliated urothelial cells of exposed humans and that the predominant adduct formed is N-acetylated, supporting the concept that monofunctional acetylation is an activation, rather than a detoxification, step for BZ. However, because almost all BZ-related metabolites measured in the urine of exposed workers were acetylated among slow, as well as rapid, acetylators (mean +/- SD 95 +/- 1.9% vs. 97 +/- 1.6%, respectively) and NAT2 activity did not affect the levels of any DNA adduct measured, it is unlikely that interindividual variation in NAT2 function is relevant for BZ-associated bladder carcinogenesis.

Adult

Dissection of an allograft ascending aorta after aortic root replacement.

THe case of a 57-year-old man with dissection of an allograft ascending aorta 2 months after aortic root replacement is presented. Most likely traumatic in origin, this unusual complication was managed by Dacron graft replacement of the ascending aorta using hypothermia and circulatory arrest.

Aortic Dissection

NADPH-dependent oxidation of benzidine by rat liver.

This study used liver microsomes from control an naphthoflavone-treated rats to evaluate NADPH-dependent oxidation of benzidine. With microsomes from beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats, the rates of formation of aqueous soluble metabolite (HPLC analysis) and protein and DNA binding were 835 +/- 81, 14.5 +/- 1.8 and 0.71 +/- 0.14 pmol/mg/min respectively. beta-Naphthoflavone treatment elicited 12.3-, 1.8- and 14.2-fold increases in benzidine metabolism compared with controls as judged by HPLC and protein and DNA binding respectively. For microsomes from treated animals, Km and Vmax values were 47 +/- 6 micromol and 1.13 +/- 0.16 nmol/mg protein/min respectively. All of the metabolic parameters were inhibited to varying degrees by glutathione (1 or 10 mM), N-acetylmethionine (10 mM) and ascorbic acid (10 mM). Following glutathione addition, at least two new metabolite peaks were observed, representing -6% of the total radioactivity recovered by HPLC. Neither metabolite was 3-(glutathion-S-yl)benzidine. Cytochrome P450 inhibitors (10 micro) specific for different members of cytochrome gene families 1-3 indicated that benzidine was metabolized by cytochrome P450 1A1/1A2. Ellipticine and alpha-naphthoflavone, specific 1A1/1A2 inhibitors, elicited 50% inhibition at -0.2 and 0.5 micro respectively. Electron impact and negative ion chemical ionization mass spectro- metry identified the aqueous soluble metabolite as 3-hydroxybenzidine. The lability of 3-hydroxybenzidine observed at pH > 7.0 was prevented by ascorbic acid. Thus, cytochrome P450 1A1/1A2 NADPH-dependent metabolism of benzidine to 3-hydroxybenzidine was demonstrated.

Animals

The glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) null genotype and benzidine-associated bladder cancer, urine mutagenicity, and exfoliated urothelial cell DNA adducts.

Multiple studies in the general population have suggested that subjects with the glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1)-null genotype, who lack functional GSTM1, are at higher risk for bladder cancer. To evaluate the impact of the GSTM1-null genotype on bladder cancer caused by occupational exposure to benzidine and to determine its influence on benzidine metabolism, we carried out three complementary investigations: a case-control study of bladder cancer among workers previously exposed to benzidine in China, a cross-sectional study of urothelial cell DNA adducts and urinary mutagenicity in workers currently exposed to benzidine in India, and a laboratory study of the ability of human GSTM1 to conjugate benzidine and its known metabolites in vitro. There was no overall increase in bladder cancer risk for the GSTM1-null genotype among 38 bladder cancer cases and 43 controls (odds ratio, 1.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.4-2.7), although there was some indication that highly exposed workers with the GSTM1-null genotype were at greater risk of bladder cancer compared to similarly exposed workers without this allele. However, the GSTM1 genotype had no impact on urothelial cell DNA adduct and urinary mutagenicity levels in workers currently exposed to benzidine. Furthermore, human GSTM1 did not conjugate benzidine or its metabolites. These results led us to conclude that the GSTM1-null genotype does not have an impact on bladder cancer caused by benzidine, providing a contrast to its association with elevated bladder cancer risk in the general population.

Benzidines

Improved preservation of saphenous vein grafts by the use of glyceryl trinitrate-verapamil solution during harvesting.

BACKGROUND: High-pressure distension during harvesting damages the saphenous vein (SV) and may contribute to subsequent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) occlusion. Application of vasodilator agents to the SV during harvesting may reduce the need for high-pressure distension and improve graft quality. We tested the effects of a vasodilator solution containing glyceryl trinitrate and verapamil (GV) or the conventional agent papaverine (Pap) on the pressure necessary to overcome SV spasm and on the structure and biochemistry of the SV graft. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six patients undergoing CABG were randomly allocated to receive an application of either topical and intraluminal GV solution, topical Pap, or topical and intraluminal Ringer's solution (untreated) to the SV during harvesting. The peak and mean pressures required to distend the vein were recorded. Samples of SV were taken for microscopy and biochemical analysis just before we performed the anastomosis. The percentage of endothelial coverage was calculated by area measurements of stained en face preparations of the vein intima. The results for peak pressures (mmHg) were: untreated, 479.2 +/- 27.5; Pap, 384.8 +/- 29.0; and GV, 309.5 +/- 28.3 (P < .001, GV plus Pap versus untreated); and the results for mean pressures (mm Hg) were untreated, 136.2 +/- 9.6; Pap, 102.2 +/- 10.8; and GV, 98.0 +/- 8.3 (P < .01, GV plus Pap versus untreated). The results for endothelial cover (%) were: untreated, 43.7 +/- 7.0; Pap, 44.1 +/- 9.2; and GV, 68.7 +/- 7.0 (P < .05, GV versus Pap); and the results for ATP (nmol/g wet wt) were: untreated, 67.3 +/- 12.7; Pap, 112.0 +/- 19.4; and GV, 132.5 +/- 22.7 (P < .05, GV plus Pap versus untreated). CONCLUSIONS: First, pharmacological treatment of SV during harvesting, especially with GV solution, allows the use of a lower distension pressure and reduces the breakdown of high-energy phosphates in the vein wall. Second, topical and intraluminal use of GV solution during vein harvesting improves endothelial coverage compared with the topical use of Pap or no pharmacological treatment.

Aged

Glucuronidation of N-hydroxy metabolites of N-acetylbenzidine.

Glucuronidation of N-hydroxy arylamines is thought to be a necessary step in their initiation of bladder cancer. This was evaluated for the N-hydroxy metabolites of N-acetylbenzidine (ABZ). N'-Hydroxy-N-acetylbenzidine (N'-HA), N-hydroxy-N-acetylbenzidine (N-HA) and N-hydroxy- N,N'-diacetylbenzidine (N-HDA) were synthesized. Except for N'-HA, these compounds were quite stable. Ascorbic acid and/or acidic pH increased the stability of N'-HA. When each N-hydroxy compound was added to reaction mixtures containing [14C]UDP-glucuronic acid, 3 mM ascorbic acid and human liver microsomes a new product was detected by HPLC. Emulgen 911 was a better detergent than Triton X-100 for expressing microsomal activity, with maximal glucuronidation observed with 0.3% Emulgen 911. At 0.125 mM amine the rate of glucuronidation was N-HDA >> N'-HA = benzidine > ABZ > N-HA. In contrast, at 0.5 mM amine the rate of glucuronidation of N-HA was only exceeded by N-HDA. At pH 5.5 and 37 degrees C the t1/2 for the enzymatically prepared glucuronide conjugates of ABZ, N'-HA and N-HA were 7.5 min and 3.5 and 1.8 h respectively. For N-HDA > 90% of this glucuronide remained after 24 h. At pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C the t1/2 for the glucuronide conjugates of ABZ and N-HA were 2.3 and 2 h respectively, with the amounts remaining after 24 h for N'-HA and N-HDA being 75 and 90% respectively. At pH 6.5 the t1/2 for N'-HA was 14 h. Thus only glucuronides of ABZ and N'-HA exhibit pH-dependent changes in t1/2. Compared with ABZ, glucuronides the N-hydroxy metabolites are more stable at acidic pH. Acidic urine would be more likely to hydrolyze the glucuronide conjugate of ABZ than those of its N-hydroxy metabolites. Because these results are different from that hypothesized for arylmonoamines, a new model was developed to explain the role of N-oxidation, N-glucuronidation and N-acetylation in the carcinogenesis of benzidine, an aryldiamine.

Acetylation

N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine formation by rat and human liver slices exposed to benzidine.

The extent to which N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine are formed may influence benzidine-induced carcinogenesis. This study compared the formation of these metabolites by rat and human liver slices. The relationship between the NAT2 genotype and the formation of these acetylated products was also evaluated in humans. In rat liver slices incubated with 0.05 mM [3H]benzidine for 1 h (n = 3), N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine represented 8.8 +/- 3.6 and 73 +/- 2.5% respectively of the total radioactivity recovered by HPLC. No unmetabolized benzidine was observed. This suggests that an equilibrium exists between benzidine, N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine in rat liver slice incubations which favors N,N'-diacetylbenzidine formation. In the presence of 0.1 mM paraoxon, a deacetylase inhibitor, N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine increased to 13 +/- 0.6 and 79 +/- 0.3% respectively. Within 2 h after incubating human liver slices with 0.014 mM [3H]benzidine (n = 8), benzidine, N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine represented 19 +/- 5, 34 +/- 4 and 1.6 +/- 0.5%, respectively, of the total radioactivity recovered by HPLC. Thus in the human, conditions in liver slices favor N-acetylbenzidine rather than N,N'-diacetylbenzidine formation. With paraoxon, benzidine, N-acetylbenzidine and N,N'-diacetylbenzidine represented 2 +/- 0.4, 24 +/- 4 and 51 +/- 3%, respectively. This resulted in a 32-fold increase in N,N'-diacetylbenzidine formation. Individuals with rapid NAT2 genotypes formed 1.4-fold more N-acetylbenzidine than slow acetylators. However, this increase was not significant. There was no apparent correlation of N,N'-diacetylbenzidine formation with NAT2 genotype. Similar results were observed when human slices were incubated with 0.09 mM [3H]benzidine. Deacetylase, perhaps more than N-acetyltransferase, influences hepatic metabolism and subsequent carcinogenesis of benzidine in man. These results help explain the species and organ specificity of benzidine carcinogenesis.

Aged

Mechanism of 3-(glutathion-S-yl)-benzidine formation.

The formation of thioether conjugates is an important mechanism for inactivation of carcinogens. 3-(Glutathion-S-yl)-benzidine (BZ-SG) formation prevents benzidinediimine and peroxidase-mediated benzidine binding to DNA. Benzidinediimine is the two-electron oxidized product of benzidine thought to be the reactive intermediate involved in peroxidase-mediated binding of benzidine to DNA. Diimine interacts with benzidine to form a dimeric complex known as the charge-transfer complex. The latter is in equilibrium with the cation radical. This study evaluated the mechanism by which BZ-SG forms. Benzidinediimine was synthesized and used to study the formation of BZ-SG. With 0.05 mM benzidinediimine, BZ-SG formation was optimum at pH 4.5 and with glutathione at 0.05 to 0.1 mM. By monitoring specific absorption spectra, the reduction of benzidinediimine at pH 4.5 was evaluated. The t1/2 for diimine decay (425 nm) and maximum absorbance of the charge-transfer complex (600 nm) were each at approximately 5 min. Within 10 min, the maximum amount of benzidine had formed from diimine. BZ-SG formation followed the decay of diimine. The relationship between benzidinediimine and benzidine, with respect to BZ-SG formation, was assessed at a fixed concentration of glutathione (0.05 mM) and a fixed total concentration of amine and diimine (0.05 mM). In three separate experiments, each of these three components was radiolabeled independent of the other two components. Experiments with [3H]glutathione indicated that conjugate formation was dependent upon diimine, and not benzidine. With [3H]benzidinediimine or [3H]benzidine, two different calculations were necessary to assess conjugate formation. For [3H]benzidinediimine, the calculation considered that only the radiolabeled diimine formed conjugate, while with [3H]benzidine, a specific activity calculation was necessary to demonstrate that conjugate formation was dependent upon diimine. With 0.05 mM [3H]benzidine, horseradish peroxidase-catalyzed formation of BZ-SG was optimum between 0.05 and 0.0625 mM H2O2. The latter is consistent with conversion of benzidine to diimine before formation of BZ-SG. Specific inhibitors and the absence of oxygen uptake indicated the lack of involvement of cation, thiyl, and carbon-centered radicals. The results are consistent with the existence of the charge-transfer complex and with benzidinediimine reacting with glutathione to form BZ-SG.

Benzidines

A comparison of amiodarone and digoxin for treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias after cardiac surgery.

Despite the widespread use of amiodarone in non-surgical patients, its role in the management of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias after cardiac surgery is not clear. We set out to compare the relative efficacy of amiodarone and digoxin in the management of atrial fibrillation and flutter in the early postoperative period. This prospective randomised trial comprised 30 patients, previously in sinus rhythm, who developed sustained atrial fibrillation or flutter following myocardial revascularisation, valve surgery or combined procedures. Amiodarone was administered as an intravenous loading dose followed by a continuous infusion. Digoxin was given as an intravenous loading dose followed by oral maintenance therapy. Electrocardiographic and haemodynamic monitoring was continued for 24 h after the commencement of treatment. There was a marked reduction in heart rate in both groups, mainly in the first 6 h, from 146 to 89 beats per minute in the amiodarone group and from 144 to 95 in the digoxin group. At the end of the 24 h, one of the 15 patients in the amiodarone group and 3 of the 15 patients in the digoxin group remained in atrial fibrillation. No patient in either group developed adverse reactions. We conclude that intravenous amiodarone therapy is safe and at least as effective as digoxin in the initial management of arrhythmias after cardiac surgery.

Aged

Human liver glucuronidation of benzidine.

Although glucuronidation is considered an important pathway in aromatic amine-induced bladder cancer, benzidine glucuronidation has not been assessed in humans. Glucuronidation of benzidine was assessed with human liver microsomes and slices. Emulgen 911-treated microsomes exhibited a Km for benzidine of 0.8 +/- 0.06 mM and a Vmax of 4.2 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein/min. A variety of agents were tested for their ability to inhibit benzidine N-glucuronide formation. At 0.25 mM, estriol, 17-epiestriol, bilirubin, hyodeoxycholic acid and cyproheptadine were good inhibitors (< 50% of control). Dose-dependent inhibition studies with estriol, testosterone and 4-aminobiphenyl demonstrated that each agent reached a plateau as its concentration was increased. When these agents were combined at maximal inhibitory concentrations, additive inhibition was observed. These results suggest that more than one UDP-glucuronosyltransferase metabolizes benzidine. The cDNA clones pUDPGTh-1 and -2 encode transferases which metabolize hyodeoxycholic acid and estrogen derivatives, but neither transferase catalyzed benzidine glucuronidation. Slices were used to assess metabolism by intact tissue and converted [3H]benzidine (0.09 mM) to N-acetyl-benzidine. N-Glucuronides of both benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine were observed and represented 14-37% of the total recovered radioactivity. The amount of N-acetylbenzidine N'-glucuronide observed was proportional to the amount of N-acetylbenzidine produced. Thus, N-glucuronidation appears to represent a major pathway for metabolism of benzidine in humans. The extent of N-acetylation affects the proportion of benzidine and N-acetylbenzidine glucuronidated by human liver slices.

Aged