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Biomedical subjects

S E Murphy

Publications and source records attributed to S E Murphy.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Evidence for metabolic activation of N'-nitrosonornicotine and N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine by a rat nasal coumarin hydroxylase.

Kinetic parameters were determined for the hydroxylation of N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine (NBzMA), coumarin, and ethoxycoumarin catalyzed by rat nasal mucosa microsomes. NNN is a tobacco-specific nitrosamine that, in rats, causes tumors in the nasal cavity and esophagus, whereas NBzMA induces tumors in rat esophagus. Both nitrosamines require alpha-hydroxylation to exert their carcinogenic effects. NNN, NBzMA, coumarin, and ethoxycoumarin were all extensively hydroxylated by rat nasal mucosa microsomes. The KM values for the hydroxylation of each substrate were low, ranging between 2 and 5 microM. 2'- and 5'-Hydroxylation of NNN were catalyzed to a similar extent. NBzMA was metabolized predominantly to benzaldehyde, the product of debenzylation, or methylene hydroxylation. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), NNN, and NBzMA were inhibitors of coumarin and ethoxycoumarin hydroxylation. NNN hydroxylation by nasal mucosa microsomes was inhibited by coumarin, ethoxycoumarin, NNK, and NBzMA but not by N-nitrosodimethylamine. 8-Methoxypsoralen, a potent inhibitor of P450 2A6- and 2a5-dependent coumarin hydroxylation in human and mouse liver microsomes, also significantly inhibited NNN activation. The results of this study suggest that the four substrates examined are hydroxylated by closely related P450 enzymes in rat nasal mucosa and that a coumarin hydroxylase metabolizes both NNN and NBzMA.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗
PubMed1997

Effects of phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene induction on the formation of three glucuronide metabolites of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, NNK.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a tobacco specific carcinogen believed to be a causative agent for human lung cancer. To exert its carcinogenic potential, NNK must be metabolically activated, by alpha-hydroxylation, at either the methyl or methylene carbons adjacent to the N-nitroso group. We recently reported the presence of a glucuronide conjugate of 4-(hydroxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (alpha-hydroxymethylNNK-Gluc) in the urine of Phenobarbital (PB) treated rats, and in the media of PB induced hepatocytes incubated with NNK. PB induces the alpha-hydroxylation of NNK, which generates the aglycon, as well as several UDP-glucuronosyl transferases. In the study presented here, we compared the metabolism of NNK to alpha-hydroxymethylNNK-Gluc by PB induced, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) induced and control rat hepatocytes. Media was analyzed for the products of alpha-hydroxylation, N-oxidation and glucuronidation by radioflow HPLC. PB induced both N-oxidation and alpha-hydroxylation of NNK. 3-MC did not induce N-oxidation but induced alpha-hydroxylation more than 10-fold. alpha-HydroxymethylNNK-Gluc was not detected (< 0.05% total metabolites) when control hepatocytes were incubated with 1 to 100 microM NNK. When 3-MC and PB induced hepatocytes were incubated with 1-100 microM NNK alpha-hydroxymethylNNK-Gluc, expressed as the average percent of metabolites, accounted for 0.725 +/- 0.27 and 1.35 +/- 0.24% (+/-S.D.) of the NNK metabolites, respectively. The percent of NNK metabolized to alpha-hydroxymethylNNK-Gluc is small. But this glucuronide is potentially important in NNK carcinogenesis, since its formation results in the direct conjugation of an active metabolite responsible for DNA adduct formation. When PB induced rats were injected with NNK the level of NNK hemoglobin adducts, which can serve as surrogates for DNA adducts, decreased 50% compared to control rats administered NNK. Hepatic microsomal metabolism increased 2-fold and urinary alpha-hydroxymethylNNK-Gluc increased more than 10-fold in PB treated rats. One explanation for the decrease in NNK hemoglobin adducts may be a PB induced increase in the glucuronidation of alpha-hydroxymethylNNK, the metabolite responsible for adduct formation.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Evidence for cytochrome P450 2A6 and 3A4 as major catalysts for N'-nitrosonornicotine alpha-hydroxylation by human liver microsomes.

The tobacco specific carcinogen N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), is believed to be a causative agent for esophageal cancer in smokers. NNN requires metabolic activation to exert its carcinogenic potential. Metabolism occurs through cytochrome P450 (P450) catalyzed 2'- and 5'-hydroxylation, which generates unstable metabolites that decompose to 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone ('keto alcohol') and 4-hydroxy-4-(3-pyridyl)butanal, respectively. The latter cyclyzes to 5-(3-pyridyl)-2-hydroxytetrahydrofuran ('lactol'). 2'-Hydroxylation of NNN is believed to be the pathway critical for esophogeal NNN carcinogenesis in the rat. The ability of human liver microsomes and expressed human P450s to metabolize [5-(3)H]NNN to keto alcohol and lactol was determined by reverse phase HPLC with radioflow detection. At low NNN concentrations, 11 human liver microsomes metabolized NNN primarily by 5'-hydroxylation to lactol. This reaction was strongly correlated (r = 0.92) with coumarin 7-hydroxylation, suggesting that NNN 5'-hydroxylation is catalyzed mainly by P450 2A6. 2'-Hydroxylation of NNN by human liver microsomes correlated with 6beta-hydroxylation of testosterone, a P450 3A4-specific activity (r = 0.94). The relative rates of 2'- and 5'-hydroxylation by human P450s 2A6, 2E1, 2D6 and 3A4 expressed in Sf9 cells by the baculovirus-insect cell expression system, and human P450 3A4 produced by stable expression in Chinese hamster ovary cells, were determined. Human P450 2A6 metabolized 1 microM NNN exclusively by 5'-hydroxylation. The rate of lactol formation was 317 pmol/min per nmol P450. Human P450s 2E1 and 2D6 also metabolized NNN only to lactol, but at much lower rates, 0.4 and 0.8 pmol/min per nmol of P450 respectively. In contrast, the metabolism of NNN by expressed human P450 3A4 was specific for keto alcohol formation. The Km for 5'-hydroxylation by baculovirus-expressed P450 2A6 was 2.1 microM, and k(cat) was 953 pmol/min per nmol of P450. The Km for lactol formation by human liver microsomes containing high levels of P450 2A6, was 5 microM . Human liver microsomes exhibited a Km of 312 microM for keto alcohol formation. Coumarin, 8-methoxypsoralen (P450 2A6 inhibitors), and anti-2A6 monoclonal antibody were strong inhibitors of NNN-derived lactol formation in human liver microsomes. Troleandomycin, an inhibitor of P450 3A4, effectively inhibited the metabolism of NNN to keto alcohol by human liver microsomes. These results are consistent with P450 2A6 mediated 5'-hydroxylation and P450 3A4 mediated 2'-hydroxylation of NNN in human liver microsomes.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Comparative metabolism of the tobacco-related carcinogens benzo[a]pyrene, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol, and N'- nitrosonornicotine in human hepatic microsomes.

We compared the metabolism in human hepatic microsomes of three tobacco smoke carcinogens believed to be involved in the induction of cancer in humans: benzo[a]pyrene (BaP),4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), and N'-nitrosonomicotine (NNN). The metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), a major metabolite of NNK, was also investigated. Although the metabolism of some of these compounds by human enzymes or tissue preparations has been previously examined in some studies, they have never been compared in the same human hepatic samples. Moreover, there have been no previous reports of NNAL metabolism by human tissues or enzymes. The tritium-labeled carcinogens (3 microM) were incubated with 10 different human hepatic microsomal preparations and cofactors for 10-20 min, and the products were analyzed by radioflow HPLC. NNN was the best substrate for oxidative metabolism, with the 5'-hydroxylation pathway being the predominant one observed (mean +/- SD = 31 +/- 17 pmol/min/mg protein). alpha-Hydroxylation of NNK by the methylene and methyl hydroxylation metabolic activation pathways was the next fastest reaction, with rates of 3.1 +/- 1.9 and 3.3 +/- 1.1 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. Metabolism of BaP resulted in the formation of dihydrodiols and phenols; trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-BaP, its major proximate carcinogen, was formed at a rate of 1.1 +/- 0.61 pmol/min/mg protein. alpha-Hydroxylation of NNAL proceeded at a rate of 0.53 +/- 0.26 pmol/min/mg protein. The results of this study demonstrate that human hepatic microsomes metabolize all of these tobacco carcinogens resulting in a substantial stream of electrophilic intermediates capable of binding to DNA. The relative rates of oxidative metabolism to electrophiles or their precursors were NNN > NNK > BaP > NNAL. Correlation studies indicated involvement of cytochrome P4502A6 in the 5'-hydroxylation of NNN and cytochrome P4503A4 in the alpha-methylene hydroxylation and pyridine-N-oxidation of NNK and NNAL. The results of this study provide the first data on the comparative metabolism of these important carcinogens in human hepatic microsomes.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗
PubMed1996

Kinetic analysis of the activation of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone by heterologously expressed human P450 enzymes and the effect of P450-specific chemical inhibitors on this activation in human liver microsomes.

The tobacco carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is enzymatically activated by the hydroxylation of the alpha-methyl and alpha-methylene groups, leading to the formation of reactive species which can pyridyloxobutylate and methylate DNA, respectively. The present study examined the kinetic parameters of NNK-derived keto alcohol (alpha-methyl hydroxylation), and keto aldehyde (alpha-methylene hydroxylation) formation catalyzed by human P450s heterologously expressed by either the baculovirus-insect cell expression system (P450s 2A6, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) or by stable expression in CHO cells (P450s 3A4 and 2D6) and human B-lymphoblastoid cells (P450 2D6). Membrane preparations of the expressed P450s catalyzed the alpha-hydroxylation of NNK, leading to the formation of keto aldehyde and keto alcohol. Human P450 2A6 showed the lowest KM (118 microM) for the formation of keto aldehyde. A similar KM was observed for keto alcohol formation by expressed P450 2A6, but the kcat was lower than the value obtained for keto aldehyde formation. The addition of exogenous b5 increased the expressed 2A6-dependent NNK hydroxylation activity 2.5-fold for both alpha-hydroxylation products. Human P450s 2E1 and 2D6 exhibited a high capacity for keto alcohol formation; however, their KM values for this reaction were in the millimolar range. Expressed human P450 3A4 oxidized NNK to keto aldehyde also with a high KM. Ten human liver microsomal samples were each shown to activate NNK to keto aldehyde and keto alcohol. A positive correlation coefficient of 0.74 was found between keto aldehyde formation and both coumarin 7-hydroxylation (P450 2A6) and 6 beta-testosterone hydroxylation (3A4) activity in characterized human liver microsomes. Keto alcohol formation showed a significant correlation with ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation (P450 1A2) in human liver microsomes. Both coumarin and troleandomycin, specific inhibitors of P450 2A6 and 3A4, respectively, inhibited the formation of keto aldehyde, but inhibited the formation of keto alcohol only slightly in human liver microsomes. Both furafylline, a P450 1A2 inhibitor, and N-nitrosodimethylamine, a P450 2E1 substrate, inhibited the formation of keto alcohol but not keto aldehyde in human liver microsomes. Quinidine, a specific inhibitor of P450 2D6, was not an effective inhibitor of NNK metabolism. These results demonstrate that P450s 2A6 and 3A4 may be important P450s for the activation of NNK to a DNA-methylating agent and keto aldehyde via the alpha-methylene hydroxylation pathway. P450s 1A2, 2E1, and 2D6 are shown to be selective for alpha-methyl hydroxylation of NNK leading to keto alcohol and a DNA-pyridyloxobutylating agent.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Pyridyloxobutylation of guanine residues by 4-[(acetoxymethyl)nitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone generates substrates of O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase.

Pyridyloxobutylation of DNA yields adducts that react with O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyl-transferase (AGT) to prevent the repair of O6-methylguanine (O6-mG). The chemical characterization of pyridyloxobutyl adducts has been confounded by their instability under DNA hydrolysis conditions. They decompose to 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) during the chemical or enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA. The goal of these studies was to determine which bases are pyridyloxobutylated to form AGT-reactive adducts. The model pyridyloxobutylating agent, 4-[(acetoxymethyl)nitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc), was reacted with either poly(dAdT) or poly(dGdC) to generate DNA substrates for reaction with AGT. Only the pyridyloxobutylated poly(dGdC) was able to prevent the ability of partially purified rat liver AGT to repair O6-mG. These results paralleled those obtained for the corresponding methylated substrates. These studies are consistent with the pyridyloxobutylation of GC base pairs and not AT base pairs in the DNA to generate a substrate for AGT. In order to distinguish between the formation of reactive adducts at C residues versus G residues, two oligomers were designed that were complementary to one another. One oligomer contained A, T, and G residues, whereas its complement contained T, A, and C residues. Only the dG-containing oligomer reacted with NNKOAc to generate an AGT-reactive adduct, again paralleling the results obtained for a methylating agent. These results demonstrate that pyridyloxobutylation of only guanine residues produces adducts that react with AGT. These AGT-reactive guanine adducts are relatively stable within DNA, with a half-life of 1-2 weeks at 37 degrees C. They represent up to 70% of the total HPB-releasing adducts in the NNKOAc-treated DNA. We postulate that a potential AGT-reactive adduct is an O6-(pyridyloxobutyl)guanine adduct.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Distribution of 7-alkyl-2'-deoxyguanosine adduct levels in human lung.

Human lung tissue is frequently studied as a target organ for DNA damage from carcinogen-DNA adducts. In order to assess the distribution of carcinogen-DNA adducts in human lung, we measured 7-methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine-3'-monophosphate (7-methyl-dGp), 7-ethyl-2'-deoxyguanosine-3'-monophosphate (7-ethyl-dGp) and 4-hydroxy-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB)-releasing DNA adducts in different lobes. The first two result from exposure to N-nitrosamines, including tobacco-specific nitrosamines, and the latter only from tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Using a chemically-specific 32P-postlabeling assay for 7-alkyl-2'-deoxyguanosines, adducts were measured in eight separate lung segments of ten autopsy donors. 7-Methyl-dGp levels were detected in all eighty samples (range from 0.3 to 11.5 adducts/10(7) dGp; mean 2.5 +/- 2.3 adducts/10(7) dGp). 7-Ethyl-dGp were detected in all but five of the samples (range from <0.1 to 7.1 adducts/10(7) dGp; mean 1.6 +/- 1.7 adducts/10(7) dGp). 7-Methyl-dGp levels were approximately 1.5-fold higher than 7-ethyl-dGp levels, and they were positively correlated with each other in most individuals. There was no consistent pattern of adduct distribution in the different lobar segments. Most individuals, especially those with the lowest levels, had similar levels among the lobes, while those with the highest levels had a widely variable pattern ranging as much as ten-fold. Moreover 7-methyl-dGp and 7-ethyl-dGp levels in all people showed a highly significant inter-individual variation (P = 0.0001). The levels of 7-alkyl-2'-deoxyguanosine among individuals could not be explained by differences in tobacco exposure (measured by serum cotinine), onset of death, gender, age, race, blood ethanol, or ventilation and perfusion variability. In an effort to corroborate 7-alkyl-2'-deoxyguanosine adducts variability among lobes or individuals, we sought to determine a correlation with HPB-releasing DNA adducts as an independent marker of tobacco exposure. However, this tobacco- specific carcinogen-DNA adduct could not be detected in four individuals tested (detection limit: 0.3 adducts per 10(7) dGp). Based upon the lack of 7-alkyl-2'-deoxyguanosine discernible adduct patterns, no conclusions could be drawn regarding a potential relationship to lobar cancer incidence. The results indicate that in studies of carcinogen-DNA adducts, such as 7-alkyl-dGp in human lungs, for most individuals a random lung sample would be representative of other parts of the lungs. Some individuals however might be misclassified due to highly variable 7-alkyl-dGp levels.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Benzene exposure, assessed by urinary trans,trans-muconic acid, in urban children with elevated blood lead levels.

A pilot study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of using trans,trans-muconic acid (MA) as a biomarker of environmental benzene exposure. A secondary aim was to provide data on the extent of exposure to selected toxicants in a unique population consisting of inner-city children who were already overexposed to one urban hazard, lead. Potential sources of benzene were assessed by a questionnaire. Exposure biomarkers included urinary MA and cotinine and blood lead. Mean MA was 176.6 +/- 341.7 ng/mg creatinine in the 79 children who participated. A wide range of values was found with as many as 10.1%, depending on the comparison study, above the highest levels reported in adults not exposed by occupation. Mean MA was increased in children evaluated in the afternoon compared to morning, those at or above the median for time spent playing near the street, and those studied in the first half of the investigation. MA levels were not associated with blood lead or, consistently, with either questionnaire environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) data or cotinine. As expected, the mean blood lead level was elevated (23.6 micrograms/dl). Mean cotinine was also increased at 79.2 ng/mg creatinine. We conclude that the use of MA as a biomarker for environmental benzene exposure is feasible since it was detectable in 72% of subjects with a wide range of values present. In future studies, correlation of MA with personal air sampling in environmental exposure will be essential to fully interpret the significance of these findings. In addition, these inner-city children comprise a high risk group for exposure to environmental toxicants including ETS, lead, and probably benzene, based on questionnaire sources and its presence in ETS.

Benzene↗
PubMed1996

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure in inner-city children.

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was assessed as part of a pilot study aimed at determining the extent of multiple toxicant exposures in children from inner-city areas of Baltimore, MD. Questionnaire data on sources of ETS and urinary cotinine were obtained in children considered at high risk for urban exposures because of previous or current overexposure to one inner-city environmental hazard, lead. Fifty-three (67.1%) of the 79 participants were exposed to ETS in the preceding 48 h as assessed by questionnaire. Cotinine was present in 77 (98.7%) of the 78 samples assayed with a mean of 79.2 ng/mg creatinine (54.7 ng/ml). Eighty % of children had cotinine values > or = 30 ng/mg creatinine, a level commonly associated with household ETS exposure. Levels in children without reported ETS exposure in their homes were also elevated (mean = 45.0 ng/mg creatinine). As expected, blood lead levels were elevated with a mean of 23.6 micrograms/dl. We conclude that these inner-city children have substantial exposures to both ETS and lead. Furthermore, the presence of elevated cotinine levels in children without known household exposure suggests that ETS should be considered an urban toxicant as well as an individual residential exposure.

Baltimore↗
PubMed1994

Biomarkers for human uptake and metabolic activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines.

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines are a group of carcinogens formed from nicotine and related tobacco alkaloids. Two of these compounds, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine, are believed to be involved as causative agents for cancers of the lung, oral cavity, esophagus, and pancreas associated with the use of tobacco products. The goal of the studies described here is to develop biomarkers which will allow us to understand the uptake, metabolic activation, and detoxification of these carcinogens in humans. Two metabolites of NNK, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and its glucuronide, have been identified and quantified in human urine. These metabolites allow assessment of NNK uptake in smokers, tobacco chewers, and people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. NNK and N'-nitrosonornicotine form hemoglobin and DNA adducts upon metabolic activation by alpha-hydroxylation. These adducts release 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) upon hydrolysis. The released 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone can be quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A subset of smokers and most tobacco chewers have hemoglobin adduct levels which are higher than detected in nonsmokers. 4-Hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-releasing DNA adducts are higher in lung tissue from smokers than from nonsmokers. These data indicate that some smokers and tobacco chewers are capable of metabolically activating NNK or N'-nitrosonornicotine to intermediates which bind to cellular macromolecules and are, therefore, at potentially higher risk for cancer development. The application of these biomarkers to studies on cancer induction by tobacco products is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Hydralazine and other hydrazine derivatives and the formation of DNA adducts.

Previous work has demonstrated that hydrazine after formylation to its corresponding hydrazone may be activated both in vivo and in vitro to a methylating intermediate resulting in the formation of O6-methyl- and N7-methylguanines in DNA. Incubation of calf thymus DNA with the hydrazine derivative, hydralazine, and formaldehyde resulted in the production of N7-methylguanine and two aberrant bases in DNA. These bases were separated by strong cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatographic fractionation of neutral thermal hydrolysates. Administration of hydralazine to rats resulted in the formation of N7-methylguanine in liver DNA, but the two unknown bases observed in the in vitro experiment could not be demonstrated in vivo. In contrast to hydrazine, administration of hydralazine resulted in the methylation of DNA only at doses approaching the LD50, suggesting that formylation does not represent a significant mechanism for hydralazine toxicity in the system described. Hydralazine in combination with formaldehyde resulted in the formation of triazolophthalazine, a metabolite which has been characterized in man. The ability of 17 other hydrazine derivatives to alkylate liver DNA was determined after single administration to young adult male Sprague-Dawley rats or C57BL6 mice. Quantifiable amounts of N7-methylguanine were measured in liver DNA from animals treated with 10 of the 17 compounds. In 3 of the 10 cases quantifiable amounts of O6-methylguanine were also measured. Methylation of liver DNA guanine was obtained with hydrazine, hydralazine, procarbazine, isoniazid, phenylhydrazine, nialamide, nitrofurazone, maleic hydrazide, sulfomethoxypyridazine, and sulfamethiazole and two hydrazine-formaldehyde polymerization products, formalazine and tetraformyltrisazine.

Alkylation↗
PubMed1994

Evidence for a high-affinity enzyme in rat esophageal microsomes which alpha-hydroxylates N'-nitrosonornicotine.

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) induces esophageal but not liver tumors in the rat. This may in part be due to tissue-specific differences in the activation of this nitrosamine. Therefore, the metabolism of NNN by microsomes from the mucosa of the rat esophagus was characterized and compared to its metabolism by liver microsomes. Esophageal microsomes metabolized NNN to both 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and 2-hydroxy-5-(3-pyridyl)tetrahydrofuran, the products of 2'- and 5'-hydroxylation of the pyrrolidine ring, respectively. This activity required an NADPH-generating system and was inhibited by carbon monoxide, suggesting that it is mediated by a cytochrome P450 enzyme. The apparent KM for total alpha-hydroxylation of NNN by esophageal microsomes was 49 +/- 6.5 microM and Vmax was 113 +/- 3.7 pmol/mg/min. The ratio of 2'-hydroxylation to 5'-hydroxylation was 3.2 +/- 0.5 when the NNN concentration was varied from 1 microM to 2 mM. 2'-Hydroxylation is believed to be the activation pathway responsible for the tumorigenicity of NNN. In contrast, the ratio of 2'- to 5'-hydroxylation of NNN by liver microsomes was between 0.71 and 0.23 depending on the concentration of NNN used. Hepatic microsomal metabolism of NNN was not saturated at 2 mM NNN, the highest concentration of NNN used. These results confirm the existence of an esophageal enzyme with high affinity for alpha-hydroxylation of NNN; it is probably a cytochrome P450. If this enzyme exists in the liver its activity is masked by high KM, high Vmax enzymes which also alpha-hydroxylate NNN. These enzymes are not present in the esophagus. The presence of a low KM esophageal enzyme that 2'-hydroxylates NNN is consistent with the hypothesis that NNN esophageal tumorigenicity is at least in part due to the efficient activation of NNN in this tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

A tobacco-specific lung carcinogen in the urine of men exposed to cigarette smoke.

BACKGROUND: Environmental tobacco smoke has been classified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a carcinogen causally associated with lung cancer in adults, but there have been no reports of lung carcinogens or their metabolites in the body fluids or tissues of nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. METHODS: Five male nonsmokers were exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke generated by machine smoking of reference cigarettes for 180 minutes on each of two days, six months apart. Sidestream smoke is the smoke that originates from the smoldering end of a cigarette between puffs. Twenty-four-hour urine samples were collected before and after exposure. The urine samples were analyzed for 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its glucuronide, which are metabolites of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a powerful lung carcinogen in rodents. NNAL is also a lung carcinogen in rodents. RESULTS: The urinary excretion of the metabolites increased after exposure to sidestream smoke in all the men. The mean (+/- SD) amount of NNAL and NNAL glucuronide was significantly higher after exposure than at base line (33.9 +/- 20.0 vs. 8.4 +/- 11.2 ng per 24 hours [127 +/- 74 vs. 31 +/- 41 pmol per day], P < 0.001) and was correlated with urinary cotinine excretion (r = 0.89, P < 0.001). The nicotine concentrations in the air to which the men were exposed were comparable to those in a heavily smoke-polluted bar. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsmokers exposed to sidestream cigarette smoke take up and metabolize a lung carcinogen, which provides experimental support for the proposal that environmental tobacco smoke can cause lung cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Two types of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone hemoglobin adducts, from metabolites which migrate into or are formed in red blood cells.

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1- butanone (NNK), is considered to play an important role in the induction of lung cancer in tobacco users. In rats treated with [5-3H]NNK, 20 to 40% of the tritium bound to hemoglobin (Hb) is released by base hydrolysis as 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB). This HPB-releasing adduct has been quantified in tobacco users and is considered a biochemical marker for uptake and activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines. In this paper we report the formation of this adduct in red blood cells (RBC) cultured for 2 h with hepatocytes and 5 microM NNK (6.35 +/- 0.21 fmol HPB/mg Hb). The HPB-releasing adduct was not formed in RBC in the absence of hepatocytes (< 0.5 fmol/mg Hb). Therefore, the HPB-releasing adduct must form from a pyridyloxobutylating metabolite of NNK which traveled out of the hepatocytes and into RBC where it reacted with Hb. Other distinct Hb adducts were formed when NNK was incubated with RBC alone. 4-Oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid was detected by radio flow high-performance liquid chromatography in the media of these incubations. The Hb isolated from RBC incubated with [C3H3]NNK contained as much as 10 times more covalently bound tritium than the Hb from [5-3H]NNK-treated cells. [C3H3]-1-Methylhistidine and [C3H3]-S- methyl-cysteine were formed when [C3H3]NNK was incubated with the 25,000 x g supernatant from RBC. This supernatant contains 50 mg Hb/ml. We propose that Hb mediates alpha hydroxylation of NNK at the methylene carbon. The alpha-hydroxynitrosamine formed decomposes to methanediazohydroxide and 4-oxo-1-(3-pyridyl)butanal. The former would methylate nucleophilic sites in Hb, i.e., cysteine and histidine. The latter would bind to Hb or be further oxidized to 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid. The ability of the RBC to activate NNK to Hb-binding species stresses the importance of understanding how a particular adduct is formed prior to its use as a biochemical marker or internal dose monitor.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Carcinogen biomarkers related to smoking and upper aerodigestive tract cancer.

Smoking is the major cause of upper aerodigestive tract cancers. Among the many constituents of tobacco smoke, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and tobacco-specific nitrosamines are strongly implicated as causative factors for these cancers. The probability that these compounds will induce cancer in a given individual will depend on that person's ability to metabolically activate or detoxify them. Chronic production of DNA damage by these metabolically activated carcinogens is consistent with current concepts of carcinogenesis in which multiple genetic changes, such as activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, appear to be critical. Chemopreventive agents which decrease the level of DNA damage should therefore decrease the risk for cancer. Biomarkers such as carcinogen-DNA adducts, carcinogen-hemoglobin adducts, and urinary metabolites of carcinogens will indicate the amount of metabolically activated carcinogen which may damage DNA in an individual and can therefore be used as an index of risk. Selected biomarkers are discussed in this paper. These biomarkers of internal dose have great potential for application in chemoprevention trials.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Tobacco-specific nitrosamine adducts: studies in laboratory animals and humans.

This paper describes quantitation of human hemoglobin and DNA adducts of the carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN). NNK and NNN are believed to be involved in cancers of the lung, esophagus, oral cavity, and pancreas in people who use tobacco products. The adduct dosimetry method employs GC-MS for quantitation of 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) released by mild base hydrolysis of hemoglobin or acid hydrolysis of DNA as a biochemical marker of the pyridyloxobutylation metabolic activation pathway. Approximately 22% of smokers (n = 101) had elevated levels of HPB released from hemoglobin (range, 200-1600 fmole/g Hb). Adduct levels in snuff dippers ranged from 200-1800 fmole/g Hb. HPB levels in nonsmokers were generally below the detection limit. Acid hydrolysis of lung and tracheal DNA obtained at autopsy and analysis for released HPB revealed levels ranging up to 50 fmole/mg DNA in smokers; the adduct was not detected in nonsmokers. These findings are consistent with data generated in studies of adduct formation by NNK in rats. The biological significance of the HPB-releasing DNA pyridyloxobutylation pathway was compared to that of the DNA methylation pathway in the A/J mouse. These studies demonstrated that the persistence of O6-methylguanine in lung DNA is critical for tumorigenesis by NNK and that pyridyloxobutylation enhances both persistence of O6-methylguanine and tumorigenesis by acetoxymethylmethylnitrosamine. In the rat, the relative roles of methylation and pyridyloxobutylation in lung tumorigenesis by NNK are not as clearly defined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1992

DNA and hemoglobin adducts as markers of metabolic activation of tobacco-specific carcinogens.

Lung cancer is now the leading cause of excess mortality among smokers in the United States. The ability to identify smokers with the greatest risk of developing lung cancer would be an important step in reducing lung cancer mortality. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosonornicotine are important carcinogens in tobacco smoke. These carcinogens require metabolic activation to exert their carcinogenic effects. Methods are described for the measurement of DNA and hemoglobin adducts formed by the metabolites of these nitrosamines. Preliminary evidence is presented that shows that a subpopulation of smokers have elevated levels of DNA and hemoglobin adducts of tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Further work is in progress to test the hypothesis that smokers with elevated levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamine adducts are at increased risk of developing lung cancer.

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