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G W Lucier

Publications and source records attributed to G W Lucier.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

A mechanistic model of effects of dioxin on gene expression in the rat liver.

Improved methods for estimating the shape of the response curve for effects of exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are needed in order to evaluate possible adverse health effects of TCDD. A mathematical model has been constructed to describe TCDD-mediated alterations in hepatic proteins in the rat. In this model it was assumed that TCDD mediates increases in the liver concentration of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) by a mechanism which requires the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. TGF-alpha subsequently binds to the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor, a process which is known to cause internalization of this receptor in hepatocytes. This action is thought to be an early event in the generation of a mitogenic signal. Because TCDD decreases binding of EGF in the livers of intact female rats but not in ovariectomized rats, this effect was further assumed to be dependent on estrogen action. The model postulates Ah receptor-dependent effects on the concentration of cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), which is involved in the metabolism of estradiol, and on the concentration of the estrogen receptor. The model also incorporates information on induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) by TCDD. The biochemical response curves for all these proteins were hyperbolic (Hill exponents in the equations for their expression were found to be 1), indicating a proportional relationship between target tissue dose and protein concentration at low administered doses of TCDD. The model successfully reproduced the observed tissue distribution of TCDD, the concentrations of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, and the effects of TCDD on the Ah, estrogen, and EGF receptors over a wide dose range.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

CYP1A1 mRNA levels as a human exposure biomarker: use of quantitative polymerase chain reaction to measure CYP1A1 expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

Accurate human risk assessment requires sensitive methods to evaluate dose-response relationships, especially following low level exposures. We have developed a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method to quantitative cytochrome P450-1A1 (CYP1A1) mRNA levels in human blood lymphocytes. Many polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) such as benzo[a]pyrene, and chlorinated PAH such as polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls induce CYP1A1 expression through activation of an endogenous protein, the Ah receptor. Using a quantitative competitive RT-PCR method that included a synthetic internal standard we determined copy numbers of CYP1A1 mRNA in resting as well as mitogen-stimulated human blood lymphocytes. In mitogen-stimulated human blood lymphocytes assay variation was approximately 10% for measurement of this low expression gene and mRNA levels correlated well with ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity. The expression of mRNA was induced 20-fold upon culturing human lymphocytes with 10 nM TCDD. In nonstimulated, uninduced lymphocytes CYP1A1 levels are extremely low (1000 copies mRNA/10(4) cells) and cannot be measured by EROD activity. Studies of CYP1A1 mRNA expression in chemically-exposed populations are in progress.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1993

Genotype/phenotype discordance for human arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) reveals a new slow-acetylator allele common in African-Americans.

Carcinogenic arylamines are acetylated by the hepatic N-acetyltransferase. This enzyme is polymorphic in humans and in some epidemiological studies, the slow-acetylator phenotype has been associated with higher risk of bladder cancer and lower risk of colorectal cancer. The presence of two germline copies of any of several mutant alleles of the NAT2 gene produces a slow-acetylation phenotype. We used a PCR-RFLP technique to identify three known slow-acetylator alleles (M1, M2 and M3). Comparison of results from PCR-RFLP genotyping with caffeine metabolism phenotyping in 42 individuals suggested that an additional slow-acetylator allele was present in our sampled population. We sequenced the NAT2 gene for several discordant slow-acetylator individuals and found a G > A base-change in codon 64 that caused a Arg > Glu amino acid substitution. This sequence change, termed the 'M4' allele, was found in all of the discordant individuals in our population and apparently causes a slow-acetylation phenotype. In addition, we have determined that NAT2 allele frequencies in 372 Caucasian-Americans (WT = 0.25, M1 = 0.45, M2 = 0.28, M3 = 0.02, and M4 = 0.00) and in 128 African-Americans (WT = 0.36, M1 = 0.30, M2 = 0.22, M3 = 0.02 and M4 = 0.09) are significantly different (P < 0.0001). The M4 allele was not found in 372 unrelated Caucasians and appears to be of African origin.

Acetylation↗
PubMed1993

TCDD-mediated changes in hepatic epidermal growth factor receptor may be a critical event in the hepatocarcinogenic action of TCDD.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent liver tumor promoter in rats, with females being more sensitive than males. The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) pathway has been implicated in altered cell growth patterns induced by tumor promoters. We investigated hepatic EGFR levels in a two-stage initiation promotion model. The TCDD doses were chosen to encompass the dose range administered in a previous chronic bioassay currently used to determine the cancer potency commonly used for human health risk assessments. TCDD was administered biweekly by oral gavage to female Sprague-Dawley rats for 30 weeks following initiation by a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN). TCDD-mediated decreased EGF receptor levels were demonstrated in intact but not ovariectomized animals, consistent with previous tumor data. Likewise, previous studies have shown that TCDD induces cell proliferation in intact rats but not ovariectomized rats. We report a significant dose-dependent decrease in plasma membrane EGF receptor maximum binding capacity in both initiated and non-initiated intact rats at TCDD doses equivalent to 3.5, 10.7, 35.7 and 125 ng/kg/day. There was a significant correlation between EGF receptor effects and liver TCDD concentration. The decrease in plasma membrane EGFR determined by equilibrium binding was confirmed quantitatively by EGF stimulation of EGFR autophosphorylation as well as qualitatively by immunohistochemical detection in control and treated rats. These results demonstrate that the observed down modulation of the EGFR by TCDD is ovarian-dependent and is a sensitive effect induced at dose levels associated with TCDD hepatocarcinogenicity in rodent bioassays.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1992

Dose-response relationships for chronic exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in a rat tumor promotion model: quantification and immunolocalization of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in the liver.

The mechanisms responsible for the braod spectrum of effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) are not entirely clear but seem to involve an initial interaction with the Ah receptor. A major uncertainty in risk assessment for TCDD is the lack of adequate dose-response relationships following chronic exposure to TCDD. Induction of cytochrome P-450 enzymes (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2) is one of the most sensitive responses to TCDD and its structural analogues. We have used a two-stage model for hepatocarcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats to evaluate dose-response relationships for induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 in diethylnitrosamine-initiated as well as in noninitiated rats. After initiation with a single dose of diethylnitrosamine, TCDD was administered biweekly by p.o. gavage at doses equivalent to 3.5, 10.7, 35.7, and 125 ng/kg/day for 30 weeks. CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 concentrations were quantified in hepatic microsomes by radioimmunoassay and localized in hepatic tissue slices by immunohistochemical techniques. Radioimmunoassay data revealed a maximum induction of 200-fold for CYP1A1 and 10-fold for CYP1A2 and there were no statistically significant differences between initiated and noninitiated rats. Induction at the lowest dose (3.5 ng/kg/day) was 20-fold for CYP1A1 and 3-fold for CYP1A2. Mathematical analysis indicates that the best fit of the induction data are inconsistent with a threshold for this response. There was a linear relationship between administered dose and TCDD liver concentration over the entire dose range of the study. This indicates that induction of CYP1A2 does not significantly alter the distribution of TCDD in our chronic dosing regimen. Immunolocalization of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 revealed the same localization and induction pattern for both isozymes in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. However, the hepatic distribution pattern was not uniform with the most intense staining observed around central veins. These studies help to clarify dose-response relationships for dioxin-mediated effects and demonstrate different sensitivity of hepatocytes to the effects of TCDD.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Inhibition of acute TCDD toxicity by treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor antibody or dexamethasone.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) acute toxicity is characterized in part by a wasting syndrome with depletion of adipose tissue. Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces a similar response during chronic infection. The similarities of these toxic effects led to a hypothesis that TNF plays a role in TCDD acute toxicity. To test this hypothesis pharmacologic doses of an antibody specific for murine TNF and the potent anti-inflammatory agent Dexamethasone (DEX) were used to inhibit TCDD toxicity in mice. TNF antibody treatment resulted in a 54% reduction in TCDD-mediated mortality while DEX treatment, a glucocorticoid agonist that inhibits transcription of TNF, reduced mortality by 92%. Cyp 1A1 induction, the most commonly measured TCDD-mediated response, was not blocked by DEX, demonstrating separation of this biochemical effect from acute toxic responses to TCDD. These data suggest that TCDD-mediated changes in the TNF pathway may be an important mechanism for acute TCDD toxicity.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

32P-postlabeling analysis of the formation and persistence of DNA adducts in mammary glands of parous and nulliparous mice treated with benzo[a]pyrene.

The susceptibility of the rodent mammary gland to known chemical carcinogens can vary with the stage of gland development. Full-term pregnancy (parity) can confer permanent structural and functional changes in the gland that are associated with decreased breast cancer risk in humans and protection from mammary carcinogenesis in rodents. In this study, the formation and persistence of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-derived DNA adducts in vivo was determined in the abdominal mammary organs of adult nulliparous and parous BALB/c mice treated orally with the carcinogen. Mammary DNA isolated from animals in both groups revealed only one major adduct on TLC maps by P1-nuclease 32P-postlabeling analysis. The major adduct co-migrated with the (+)-enantiomer of anti-BPDE-dGp. Much lower levels of the (-)-enantiomer were detected. Most of the adduct quantitated was probably contributed by cells of the stromal compartment, since the gland-free organ (cleared fat pad) generated essentially equivalent profiles and level of adduct by 32P-postlabeling. Comparable levels of the B[a]P-derived adduct were observed in the intact mammary organ of both nulliparous and parous mice during a time course from 1 to 28 days after treatment. In both cases, adduct removal occurred exponentially with a half-life of approximately 16 days. The capacity for de novo formation of reactive metabolites by the mammary organ was demonstrated in vitro: digests of DNA from mammary mince exposed to B[a]P generated an adduct on TLC maps that also co-migrated with the (+)-anti-BPDE-dGp standard. Thus, our cumulative findings confirm the capacity of mammary cells to form potentially carcinogenic DNA adducts; however, the functional changes that occur in the mouse mammary gland as a result of parity did not influence the profile, level or persistence of adduct following exposure to a known carcinogen. Other factors, such as changes in mammary cell cycle kinetics or responsiveness to promotional stimuli may be more causally related to reduction in incidence of neoplasia observed in parous animals.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Genetic monitoring of human polymorphic cancer susceptibility genes by polymerase chain reaction: application to glutathione transferase mu.

Several genes involved in the metabolism of carcinogens have been found to be polymorphic in human populations and are associated with increased risk of cancer at some sites. This study focuses on the polymorphic enzyme glutathione transferase mu (GT mu). Smokers with low lymphocyte GT mu activity are at an approximately 2-fold higher risk for lung cancer and an approximately 3-fold higher risk for stomach and colon adenocarcinomas. Recent cloning and sequencing of the GST1 gene has allowed the development of convenient genotyping methods based on restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLP) or the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The GST1 polymorphism has been shown to be a deletion of the gene locus. To detect the presence or absence of the gene we amplified exons 4-5 and/or exons 6-7 of the GST1 gene by PCR. PCR amplification produced bands of 215-bp or 273-bp from individuals with one or two copies of the GST1 allele and no band if the individual was homozygously deleted (0/0). In the exon 6-7 PCR, we co-amplified a 268-bp portion of the beta-globin gene as an internal reference standard for quantitative analysis of product yield. This allowed homozygote individuals (+/+) to be distinguished from heterozygotes (+/0). We have compared the GST1 genotype to lymphocyte GT mu activity measured on trans-stilbene oxide (TSO) in the lymphocytes of 45 individuals. Low GT mu activity (< 67 pmole/min/10(7) cells) was strongly associated (24/24) with the GST1 0/0 genotype. With the exception of one individual, activities greater than 67 pmole/min/10(7) were associated with the presence of the GST1 allele (20/21). Individuals with the highest GT-TSO activity were found to be homozygous for GST1. (+/+), while heterozygotes (+/0) generally had lower activity, suggesting a gene dosage effect in lymphocytes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gene Deletion↗
PubMed1991

The effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on the hepatic estrogen and glucocorticoid receptors in congenic strains of Ah responsive and Ah nonresponsive C57BL/6J mice.

The present study examines the role of the Ah receptor in the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on the binding capacity of the hepatic glucocorticoid (GC) and estrogen (E) receptors in female congenic C57BL/6J mice differing only at the Ah (aromatic hydrocarbon responsiveness) locus. The Ah locus is thought to encode the Ah receptor, which regulates the effects of TCDD and related compounds on cytochrome P450IA1 and appears to mediate most of the toxic effects of TCDD. The differences between Ah responsive (Ahb/b) and nonresponsive (Ahd/d) mice appear to reflect differences in the affinity of the Ah receptor in the two strains for ligands such as TCDD. Administration of a single oral dose of TCDD (30 micrograms/kg) to Ahb/b mice produced approximately a 30% decrease in the maximum binding capacities of both the hepatic GC and E receptors, as well as 50-fold induction of a P450IA1-mediated enzymatic activity, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD). Tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) activity, which is mediated by the GC receptor, was also decreased approximately 30% by TCDD. Dose-response curves indicated that Ah responsive mice are 10-fold more sensitive to induction of EROD than Ah nonresponsive mice (ED50 1.6 vs 15 micrograms/kg), as would be expected for an effect mediated by the Ah receptor. Dose-response curves also indicated that there was a statistical difference in the responsiveness of the hepatic E receptor to TCDD in the two congenic strains of mice (p less than 0.01). Surprisingly, no significant differences in the dose-response curves for the effect of TCDD on hepatic GC receptor binding or TAT activity were observed in the two strains of mice in two separate experiments. These results indicate that the Ah receptor regulates the effects of TCDD on the binding of estrogen to the hepatic estrogen receptor, but suggest that the decrease in the binding capacity of the hepatic GC receptor does not appear to be mediated directly by the Ah locus.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Ovarian hormones enhance 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-mediated increases in cell proliferation and preneoplastic foci in a two-stage model for rat hepatocarcinogenesis.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent hepatocarcinogen in rodents. However, liver tumor incidence is increased by TCDD in female Sprague-Dawley rats but not male rats in chronic carcinogen bioassays. Our studies have investigated this finding by evaluating histological and biochemical parameters in a two-stage model for hepatocarcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats (intact and ovariectomized), using diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as the initiating agent and TCDD as the promoting agent. Increases in gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive foci were greater in intact female rats than in ovariectomized (OVX) animals. For example, in intact rats receiving both DEN and TCDD, the percentage of liver occupied by gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive foci was 0.37, compared to 0.08 in OVX rats. Values for intact or OVX rats receiving either DEN or TCDD only were 0.04 or less. Similar results were obtained when using placental glutathione S-transferase to detect hepatic preneoplastic lesions. Cell proliferation data, obtained using bromodeoxyuridine in osmotic minipumps, were consistent with preneoplastic foci data in that the hepatocyte labeling index was increased in DEN/TCDD intact rats but not in DEN/TCDD OVX rats. Analysis of data from individual animals revealed a strong correlation (P less than 0.01) between cell proliferation and placental glutathione S-transferase-positive foci/cm3 in liver. These findings did not reflect effects of ovariectomy on TCDD tissue distribution, since livers of OVX rats contained more TCDD than livers of intact rats, although both groups of rats received a dose of 1.4 micrograms TCDD/kg once every 2 weeks for 30 weeks. Hepatic cytochrome P-450d (IA2) was induced approximately 6-8-fold in all TCDD-treated groups, and the magnitude of induction was not influenced by ovariectomy. This cytochrome efficiently catalyzes metabolism of 17 beta-estradiol to catechol estrogens. Our data suggest that ovarian hormones (probably estrogen) play a significant role in the hepatocarcinogenic actions of TCDD.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Tumor necrosis factor involvement in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-mediated endotoxin hypersensitivity in C57BL/6J mice congenic at the Ah locus.

An experimental model of endotoxin-induced release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) into the serum of C57BL/6J mice congenic at the Ah locus was used to investigate the effects of 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on TNF production. TCDD exposure of Ah-responsive mice (Ahbb) resulted in a dose-dependent increase in the concentration of TNF in the serum of endotoxin-exposed mice, with a significant increase observed at a dose of 10 micrograms/kg TCDD. At a dose of 500 micrograms/kg TCDD, Ahbb mice demonstrated a 46-fold increase in serum TNF levels compared to control. In contrast, congenic Ah-receptor deficient mice (Ahdd) did not show a significant increase in serum TNF levels until exposed to 150 micrograms/kg TCDD, and the maximum response was an 8-fold increase over control. These data suggest that increased TNF production may be responsible for endotoxin hypersensitivity in TCDD-treated mice and that the Ah locus mediates this response.

Alleles↗
PubMed1991

Glutathione S-transferase mu in human lymphocyte and liver: role in modulating formation of carcinogen-derived DNA adducts.

Glutathione transferase (GT) activity towards trans-stilbene oxide (tSBO), benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-oxide (B[a]PO) and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) was measured in human liver and lymphocytes. GT-tSBO activity is catalyzed by GT mu which has polymorphic expression in human lymphocytes. Our results show that activity of GT-tSBO in lymphocytes correlates with its activity in liver (r = 0.7, P less than 0.001). GT activity towards BPO (GT-BPO) also correlated with GT-tSBO in lymphocytes and liver. However, interindividual variation of GT-BPO is less than that of GT-tSBO, suggesting that BPO may not be as specific a substrate for GT mu and therefore other GT isozymes may contribute to BPO conjugation. Conjugation of CDNB by GT was not different using cytosols from either high or low GT mu individuals. The functional significance of the GT-mu polymorphism was evaluated by measuring its effect on benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)- and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-DNA adduct formation in vitro. Human liver cytosols prepared from persons having low or high GT-tSBO activity were incubated with human liver microsomes, calf thymus DNA and B[a]P or AFB1. HPLC analysis revealed that the major B[a]P adduct was dG(N2)-7 beta, 8 alpha-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE-dG). BPDE-dG adducts were decreased equally by cytosols from either low or high conjugators. In contrast, AFB1-DNA binding was inhibited to a greater extent in high conjugators than low conjugators. HPLC analysis demonstrates that adducts formed were AFB1-FAPyr and AFB1-N7-Gua. The correlation between AFB1-DNA adduct concentrations and GT mu activity was highly significant with a correlation coefficient of r = 0.88 at P less than 0.001. These results suggest that GT mu plays an important role in detoxifying DNA reactive metabolites of AFB1 and this enzyme may be a susceptibility marker for AFB1 related liver cancer. Moreover, our data demonstrate that lymphocytes are a reliable surrogate tissue for detecting liver GT mu polymorphisms.

Adolescent↗