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T R Sutter

Publications and source records attributed to T R Sutter.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Differential expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in human breast epithelial cells and breast tumor cells.

Human cytochromes P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) catalyze the metabolic activation of a number of procarcinogens and the hydroxylation of 17beta-estradiol (E2) at the C-2 and C-4 positions, respectively. The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has a marked effect on estrogen metabolism in MCF-7 breast-tumor cells by induction of these two enzymes. To investigate whether induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 by AhR agonists and the associated increase in E2 metabolism are common to all breast epithelial cells and breast-tumor cells, we determined the effects of TCDD on E2 metabolism, and CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA levels in a series of non-tumor-derived breast epithelial (184A1 and MCF-10A) and breast-tumor (MCF-7, T-47D, ZR-75-1, BT-20, MDA-MB-157, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436) cell lines. In 184A1 cells, which did not express detectable estrogen receptor (ER) alpha mRNA, CYP1A1 mRNA and activity were induced by TCDD, and enhanced E2 metabolism in TCDD-treated cells was predominantly E2 2-hydroxylation. In MCF-10A, MCF-7, T-47D, ZR-75-1 and BT-20 cells, which expressed varying levels of ER alpha mRNA, both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA levels and rates of both E2 2- and 4-hydroxylation were highly elevated following exposure to TCDD. In MDA-MB-157, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cells, which did not express detectable ER alpha mRNA and generally displayed fibroblastic or mesenchymal rather than epithelial morphology, CYP1B1 induction was favored, and the rate of E2 4-hydroxylation exceeded that of 2-hydroxylation in TCDD-treated cells. These results show that breast epithelial cells and tumor cells vary widely with regard to AhR-mediated CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 induction, suggesting that factors in addition to the AhR regulate CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 gene expression. In these cell lines, significant CYP1A1 inducibility was restricted to cultures displaying epithelial morphology, whereas CYP1B1 inducibility was observed in cells of both epithelial and mesenchymal morphology.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

Induction and localization of cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) protein in the livers of TCDD-treated rats: detection using polyclonal antibodies raised to histidine-tagged fusion proteins produced and purified from bacteria.

Knowledge of the response of cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) to exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in both humans and rodents is limited. To improve the analysis of CYP1 proteins, specific CYP1B1 and CYP1A1 polypeptides were expressed as hexahistidine-tagged fusion proteins in Escherichia coli, purified to homogeneity and used to produce polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. Immunoblot analyses showed that these antibodies were specific and sensitive, detecting both the human and rat forms of the respective isozymes and exhibiting negligible cross-reactivity between the two known CYP1 subfamilies. We show that CYP1B1, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 protein levels were induced in the livers of female Sprague-Dawley rats following either acute (single dose of 25 microg TCDD/kg) or chronic (125 ng TCDD/kg/day for 30 weeks) exposure to TCDD. CYP1B1 protein exhibited a dose-response to TCDD that was different from those of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. CYP1B1 induction appeared to be less sensitive to TCDD exposure, with induction occurring at higher doses of TCDD than that required for induction of CYP1A1 or CYP1A2. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that in animals chronically exposed to TCDD (35 ng/kg/day for 30 weeks), CYP1B1 was induced only in centrilobular hepatocytes, a pattern of expression similar to that of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. These observations of cellular co-localization of the CYP1 cytochromes in livers of TCDD-treated rats and apparent differences in both protein amounts and dose-response are indicative of both common and unique regulation of CYP1 induction.

Animals↗

Identification of dithiolethione-inducible gene-1 as a leukotriene B4 12-hydroxydehydrogenase: implications for chemoprevention.

Cancer chemoprevention is inhibition of neoplastic disease by naturally occurring or synthetic chemical agents. Dithiolethiones inhibit production of experimentally produced tumors by elevating the expression of several genes that encode for known cytoprotective enzymes. In an effort to discover additional molecular mechanisms mediating chemoprevention, cDNA clones representing a gene that is transcriptionally activated by dithiolethiones, hence named dithiolethione-inducible gene-1 (DIG-1), were isolated from rat liver via differential hybridization screening. The deduced amino acid sequence of DIG-1 was found to have 80% identity with the human liver enzyme leukotriene B4 (LTB4) 12-hydroxydehydrogenase. DIG-1, purified >400-fold from the liver of rats dosed with 1,2-dithiole-3-dithiolethione, possessed an NADP+-dependent activity to convert LTB4 to 12-oxo-LTB4. Kinetic analysis of DIG-1 revealed apparent Km and Vmax values of 28 mM and 8.1 nmol 12-oxo-LTB4 formed/min/mg purified protein respectively. Since LTB4 is a potent chemotactic factor and stimulator of production of reactive oxygen species from neutrophils, the effects of DIG-1 on these LTB4-mediated processes were examined. Pre-incubation of LTB4 with purified rat hepatic DIG-1 greatly diminished LTB4-stimulated migration of neutrophils. In addition, pre-incubation of LTB4 with purified rat hepatic DIG-1 reduced LTB4-stimulated production of superoxide anions in neutrophils, as evidenced by decreased lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence. These results suggest that DIG-1-catalyzed dehydrogenation of LTB4 to 12-oxo-LTB4 inhibits the pro-inflammatory actions of LTB4. Consequently, elevation of LTB4 catabolism via enhanced DIG-1 activity may suppress inflammatory processes implicated in tumorigenesis.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Inhibition of human cytochrome P450-catalyzed oxidations of xenobiotics and procarcinogens by synthetic organoselenium compounds.

The effects of synthetic chemopreventive organoselenium compounds 1,2-, 1,3-, and 1,4-phenylenebis(methylene)selenocyanate (o-, m-, and p-XSC, respectively), benzyl selenocyanate (BSC), and dibenzyl diselenide (DDS) and inorganic sodium selenite on the oxidation of xenobiotics and procarcinogens by human cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) enzymes were determined in vitro. Spectral studies showed that BSC and three XSC compounds (but not sodium selenite or DDS) induced type II difference spectrum when added to the suspension of liver microsomes isolated from beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats, with m-XSC being the most potent in inducing spectral interactions with P450 enzymes; m-XSC also produced a type II spectral change with human liver microsomes. o-, m-, and p-XSC inhibited 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation catalyzed by human liver microsomes when added at concentrations below 1 microM levels, but BSC and DDS were less effective. All of these compounds inhibited the oxidation of model substrates for human P450s to varying extents. We studied the effects of these compounds on the activation of procarcinogens by recombinant human CYP1A1, 1A2, and 1B1 enzymes using Salmonella typhimurium NM2009 tester strain for the detection of DNA damage. The three XSCs were found to be very potent inhibitors of metabolic activation of 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole, 2-amino-3,5-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, and 2-aminoanthracene, catalyzed by CYP1A1, 1A2, and 1B1, respectively. The potency of inhibition of m-XSC on CYP1B1-dependent activation of 2-aminoanthracene was compatible to those of alpha-naphthoflavone. These inhibitory actions may, in part, account for the mechanisms responsible for cancer prevention by organoselenium compounds in laboratory animals.

Animals↗

Redox regulation of genes that protect against carcinogens.

Most carcinogens require activation to electrophilic metabolites or species that generate reactive oxygen in order to initiate the tumorigenic process. These reactive intermediates can, in turn, be detoxified by endogenous enzyme systems that and in the protection of cells from either toxic or mutagenic product formation. The levels of many of these enzymes are elevated by numerous compounds found in the diet, or by antioxidants. Recent evidence describes the mechanism for this induction of carcinogen detoxication enzymes to be regulated at the transcriptional level. Nuclear transcription factors bound to sites common among these carcinogen detoxication genes are activated by as yet unknown signal transduction pathways. The activity of these nuclear transcription factors are modulated by pro- and antioxidant reagents, suggesting that a redox-sensitive component governs the induction of enzymes involved in carcinogen metabolism. In this review, evidence for the redox regulation of the genes encoding carcinogen detoxication enzymes is presented. Evidence is also presented suggesting the participation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase, and basic leucine zipper (bZIP) proteins and their activation pathways in this induction.

Animals↗

Induction of cytochrome P450 1B1 and catechol estrogen metabolism in ACHN human renal adenocarcinoma cells.

The catechol estrogen metabolites of 17beta-estradiol (E2), 2-hydroxyestradiol (OHE2) and 4-OHE2, differ in hormonal properties and carcinogenic potential. In Syrian hamster kidney, 4-OHE2 induces clear-cell carcinoma whereas 2-OHE2 does not, and an E2 4-hydroxylase appears to be involved in E2-induced carcinogenesis in these animals. Specific E2 4-hydroxylase activity has been observed in extrahepatic tissues from several species. In humans, cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) appears to be an extrahepatic E2 4-hydroxylase under the regulatory control of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). As an initial approach to investigating CYP1B1 expression and E2 4-hydroxylase activity in human kidney, we used the ACHN cell line, derived from a human renal adenocarcinoma. In untreated ACHN cells, a very low level of CYP1B1 mRNA expression was observed and CYP1B1 protein could not be detected; however, in ACHN cells exposed to the high-affinity AhR ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), CYP1B1 mRNA levels were elevated 28-fold, and the CYP1B1 protein was detected by immunoblot analysis. Exposure of ACHN cells to TCDD resulted in minimal induction of the CYP1A1 mRNA, and the CYP1A1 protein was not detectable prior to or after exposure to TCDD. E2 hydroxylase activity could not be detected with microsomes from untreated ACHN cells, although activities at C-4 and, to a lesser extent, at C-2 of E2 were observed with microsomes from TCDD-treated ACHN cells. In experiments with intact ACHN cells, elevated rates of formation of 4-methoxyestradiol (MeOE2) and 2-MeOE2 were observed in response to treatment with TCDD. The EC50 for induction of the CYP1B1 mRNA was 1.5 nM TCDD; EC50s for the stimulation of 2- and 4-MeOE2 formation were 0.68 and 1.1 nM TCDD. These results indicate that the ACHN cell line may be a useful in vitro model system to study the regulation of CYP1B1 expression and the cytotoxic effects associated with E2 4-hydroxylation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Metabolism of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) by human cytochrome P4501B1.

Cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1) is the most recently identified member of the dioxin-inducible CYP1 family. CYP1B1 is constitutively expressed in most human tissues, including colon and breast, and can activate numerous chemically diverse carcinogens. We evaluated the metabolism of the dietary heterocyclic amine carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) by microsomes from yeast expressing the human CYP1B1 protein. PhIP metabolites were analysed by HPLC with fluorescence and absorbance detection. We found that human CYP1B1 metabolizes PhIP to three products: N2-OH-PhIP, a mutagenic activation product; 4'-OH-PhIP, a detoxification product; and 2-OH-PhIP, the mutagenic potential of which is unknown. Metabolite identity was confirmed by co-elution with authentic standards and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. The identity of the 2-OH-PhIP standard was additionally confirmed by mass spectrometry. Kinetic studies of the formation of N2-OH-PhIP, 4'-OH-PhIP and 2-OH-PhIP by CYP1B1 indicated apparent Km values of 5.7 +/- 1.3, 2.2 +/- 0.5 and 1.3 +/- 0.2 microM, respectively. Apparent turnover rates were 0.40 +/- 0.03, 0.93 +/- 0.02 and 0.04 +/- 0.00 nmol product/min nmol P450, respectively. At saturating levels of substrate, CYP1B1-mediated formation of the non-mutagenic metabolite 4'-OH-PhIP was favored two-fold over that of the mutagenic metabolite, N2-OH-PhIP and >10-fold over that of 2-OH-PhIP. The formation of N2-OH-PhIP, a potent mutagen implicated in the etiology of human colon and breast cancer, indicates that CYP1B1 may play an important role in PhIP-mediated carcinogenesis.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

Development of a human lymphoblastoid cell line constitutively expressing human CYP1B1 cDNA: substrate specificity with model substrates and promutagens.

An AHH-1 TK+/- cell derivative was developed that stably expresses human cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1) cDNA in an extrachromosomal vector which confers resistance to 1-histidinol and co-expresses NADPH cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (OR). The CYP1B1-expressing cell line was designated h1B1/OR. Microsomes prepared from CYP1B1 cDNA expressing cells exhibit elevated levels of 7-ethoxy-resorufin deethylase (EROD), 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethyl-coumarin deethylase (EFCD), benzo(alpha)pyrene hydroxylase (BPH), bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase, testosterone hydroxylase activities and spectrally quantifiable cytochrome P450. CYP1B1-containing microsomes did not contain detectable coumarin 7-hydroxylase, p-nitrophenol hydroxylase, lauric acid hydroxylase, (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase or diclofenac 4'-hydroxylase activities. Kinetic parameters for selected substrates were compared among CYP1B1 and the two additional members of the CYP1 family, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. For BPH and EFCD, the rank order of rates of substrate metabolism were CYP1A1 > CYP1B1 > CYP1A2. For EROD, the rank order of substrate metabolism was CYP1A1 > CYP1A2 > CYP1B1. For both EROD and EFCD the apparent K(m) values for CYP1B1 were more similar to CYP1A1 than to CYP1A2. In order to begin to characterize the promutagen activating ability of CYP1B1, the mutagenicity of selected chemicals was examined in h1B1/OR cells; there was increased sensitivity (CYP1B1-expressing relative to control cells) to the mutagenicity of benzo(a)pyrene, cyclopenta(c,d)pyrene, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and aflatoxin B1 (AFB). CYP1B1, expressed in this system, appears to be particularly efficient at activating AFB.

Aflatoxin B1↗

Oxidation of xenobiotics by recombinant human cytochrome P450 1B1.

Human cytochrome P450 (P450) 1B1 (CYP1B1) has recently been shown to be an important enzyme in the activation of diverse procarcinogens such as arylarenes, nitroarenes, and arylamines to reactive metabolites that cause DNA damage in the cells. However, it is not known whether this P450 enzyme also plays roles in the oxidation of certain drugs or model substrates commonly used in P450 assays. We examined the substrate oxidation activities of recombinant human CYP1B1 in yeast microsomes and compared these activities with those catalyzed by reconstituted systems containing recombinant CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 which were isolated from membranes of Escherichia coli in which respective cDNAs have been expressed. Catalytic activities towards some of the model substrates of other human P450 enzymes including CYP2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 were also determined and compared. CYP1B1 catalyzed benzo[a]pyrene 3-hydroxylation at rates lower than those of CYP1A1 but higher than those of CYP1A2. The activity towards 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation catalyzed by CYP1B1 was about one-tenth of that of CYP1A1, but the Km values were lower for CYP1B1 than those for CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. CYP1B1 was also able to catalyze the oxidation of theophylline and caffeine, two prototypic substrates for CYP1A2. CYP1B1 did not oxidize other typical P450 substrates such as coumarin, tolbutamide, S-mephenytoin, chlorzoxazone, nifedipine, and testosterone, while low rates of oxidation of bufuralol and 7-ethoxycoumarin were found for CYP1B1. These results indicate that CYP1B1 has catalytic activities overlapping CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 with respect to the oxidation of drugs and model P450 substrates, although the relative catalytic roles in these three P450 enzymes differ depending upon the substrates examined. A distinct marker activity of CYP1B1 has not been identified.

Antibodies↗

Isolation and characterization of the human cytochrome P450 CYP1B1 gene.

Previously, we identified a novel human cytochrome P450 cDNA that is inducible by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and represents the first member of a new subfamily designated cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1; Sutter, T. R., Tang, Y. M., Hayes, C. L., Wo, Y. P., Jabs, E. W., Li, X., Yin, H., Cody, C. W., and Greenlee, W. F. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 13092-13099). Here, we report on the isolation and initial characterization of the CYP1B1 gene. The CYP1B1 gene maps to human chromosome 2 at 2p21-22 and contains three exons and two introns. The putative open reading frame starts in the second exon and is 1629 base pairs in length. Southern analysis using DNA probes directed to each of the three exons confirmed that CYP1B1 is a single copy gene. Human CYP1B1 differs from its two most closely related members of the cytochrome P450 superfamily, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, in the number of exons (3 versus 7) and chromosome location (2 versus 15). A single transcription initiation site was identified by primer extension analysis and S1 nuclease mapping. Based on nucleotide sequence analysis, the CYP1B1 gene lacks a consensus TATA box in the promoter region and contains nine TCDD-responsive enhancer core binding motifs (5'-GCGTG-3') located within a 2.5-kilobase pair genomic fragment 5'-ward of the transcription initiation start site. Deletion analysis of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene constructs containing 5' CYP1B1 genomic fragments indicates that a region from -1022 to -835 containing three of the nine core binding motifs contributes to the TCDD-inducible expression of CYP1B1.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗

17 beta-estradiol hydroxylation catalyzed by human cytochrome P450 1B1.

The 4-hydroxy metabolite of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) has been implicated in the carcinogenicity of this hormone. Previous studies showed that aryl hydrocarbon-receptor agonists induced a cytochrome P450 that catalyzed the 4-hydroxylation of E2. This activity was associated with human P450 1B1. To determine the relationship of the human P450 1B1 gene product and E2 4-hydroxylation, the protein was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microsomes from the transformed yeast catalyzed the 4- and 2-hydroxylation of E2 with Km values of 0.71 and 0.78 microM and turnover numbers of 1.39 and 0.27 nmol product min-1.nmol P450-1, respectively. Treatment of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with the aryl hydrocarbon-receptor ligand indolo[3,2-b]carbazole resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in P450 1B1 and P450 1A1 mRNA levels, and caused increased rates of 2-, 4-, 6 alpha-, and 15 alpha-hydroxylation of E2. At an E2 concentration of 10 nM, the increased rates of 2- and 4-hydroxylation were approximately equal, emphasizing the significance of the low Km P450 1B1-component of E2 metabolism. These studies demonstrate that human P450 1B1 is a catalytically efficient E2 4-hydroxylase that is likely to participate in endocrine regulation and the toxicity of estrogens.

2-Methoxyestradiol↗

Activation of chemically diverse procarcinogens by human cytochrome P-450 1B1.

A human cytochrome P-450 (P450) 1B1 cDNA was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the microsomes containing P450 1B1 were used to examine the selectivity of this enzyme in the activation of a variety of environmental carcinogens and mutagens in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002 or NM2009 tester strains, using the SOS response as an end point of DNA damage. We also determined and compared these activities of P450 1B1 with those catalyzed by recombinant human P450s 1A1 and 1A2, which were purified from membranes of Escherichia coli. The carcinogenic chemicals tested included 27 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their dihydrodiol derivatives, 17 heterocyclic and aryl amines and aminoazo dyes, three mycotoxins, two nitroaromatic hydrocarbons, N-nitrosodimethylamine, vinyl carbamate, and acrylonitrile. Among the three P450 enzymes examined here, P450 lB1 was found to have the highest catalytic activities for the activation of 11,12-dihydroxy-11,12-dihydrodibenzo[a,l]pyrene, 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-5-methylchrysene, (+)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene, 11,12-dihydroxy-11,12-dihydrobenzo[g]chrysene, 3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[c]phenanthrene, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole, 2-aminoanthracene, 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene, and 2-nitropyrene. P450 1B1 also catalyzed the activation of 2-amino-3,5-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-aminofluorene, 6-aminochrysene and its 1,2-dihydrodiol, (-)-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene, 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydrochrysene, 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-5,6-dimethylchrysene, 2,3-dihydroxy-2,3-dihydrofluoranthene, 3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydro-7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, and 6-nitrochrysene to appreciable extents. However, P450 1B1 did not produce genotoxic products from benzo[a]pyrene, trans- 3,4-dihydroxy-3,4-dihydrobenzo[a]anthracene, trans-8,9-dihydroxy-8,9-dihydrobenzo[a]anthracene, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and its cis-5,6-dihydrodiol, 5-methylchrysene, 11,12-dihydroxy-11,12-dihydro-3-methylcholanthrene, 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydro-6-methylchrysene, benzo[c]phenanthrene, 2-amino-6-methyldipyridol[1,2-a:3',2'-d]imidazole, 2-acetylaminofluorene, benzidine, 2-naphthylamine, aflatoxin B1, aflatoxin G1, sterigmatocystin, N-nitrosodimethylamine, vinyl carbamate, or acrylonitrile in this assay system. P450 1B1 is expressed constitutively in extrahepatic organs, including fetal tissue samples, and is highly inducible in various organs by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and related compounds in experimental animal models. Thus, activation of procarcinogens by P450 lB1 may contribute to human tumors of extrahepatic origin.

Adult↗

Increased oxidative DNA damage in livers of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin treated intact but not ovariectomized rats.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a more potent hepatocarcinogen in female than in male or ovariectomized rats. A possible mechanism for this increased sensitivity is through enhanced metabolic activation of estrogens by TCDD-induced enzymes leading to oxidative damage in the cell. As a marker for oxidative DNA damage, 8-oxo-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) was quantitated in livers of intact and ovariectomized Sprague-Dawley rats chronically treated with TCDD (125 ng/kg per day) with and without diethylnitrosamine as initiator. Elevated levels of 8-oxo-dG were detected in a significantly greater number of the intact compared to ovariectomized TCDD-treated rats. Expression of CYP1B1 mRNA, a newly identified cytochrome P450 with proposed estrogen hydroxylase activity, was highly induced by TCDD. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that increased metabolism of endogenous estrogens to catechols by TCDD-induced enzymes may lead to increased oxidative DNA damage and hence contribute to TCDD-mediated hepatocarcinogenicity in female rats.

Animals↗

Induction of hepatic heme oxygenase-1 and ferritin in rats by cancer chemopreventive dithiolethiones.

Treatment of rats with the cancer chemopreventive agent 1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) resulted in a significant increase in hepatic heme oxygenase (HO) activity, which corresponded to increased protein levels of HO-1. Upon further analysis of proteins related to heme metabolism, the level of ferritin, the major iron storage protein in liver, was also found to be elevated. Diminished levels of intracellular free iron were monitored by EPR spectroscopy at times after administration of D3T that suggested that increased ferritin content sequesters intracellular iron. The increased levels of protein were associated with increased levels of steady-state RNA of HO-1 and the light (FL) and heavy (FH) subunits of ferritin. A direct relationship between enhanced rates of gene transcription and elevated levels of HO-1 and ferritin RNA was found. The inductions of FL and FH, but not HO-1, were sensitive to cycloheximide, suggesting that in vivo these genes are regulated by distinct D3T-responsive transcriptional mechanisms. The known protective roles for induced HO-1 and ferritin in cellular stress have been suggested to include increased levels of the antioxidant bilirubin and enhanced sequestration of intracellular iron into ferritin, which can effectively reduce iron-mediated reactive oxygen generation. Thus, protective actions of D3T against the cytotoxic and carcinogenic consequences of chemicals that exert electrophilic or oxidative stresses may be mediated, in part, by the induction of HO-1, FL and FH.

Animals↗

Isolation of cDNAs representing dithiolethione-responsive genes.

Dithiolethiones inhibit tumorigenicity elicited by many structurally diverse carcinogens in numerous target tissues. These protective actions are associated with the induction of several carcinogen detoxification enzymes, some of which have only recently been discovered. In order to identify additional novel inducible detoxification response genes, a cDNA library was prepared from liver of rats treated with 1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) and was screened by a differential hybridization method. Complementary DNA clones for several known D3T-inducible genes were isolated, such as epoxide hydrolase, aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase, quinone reductase and multiple subunits of glutathione S-transferase. Clones representing genes not previously associated with detoxification were isolated, including those for ferritin heavy and light subunits, ribosomal proteins L18a and S16 and two novel genes, termed dithiolethione-inducible genes (or DIG-1 and DIG-2). Levels of mRNA recognized by each clone were increased from 2- to 31-fold, with maximum induction between 6 and 30 h after treatment with D3T. Except for epoxide hydrolase, the kinetics of induction of each mRNA was coordinate with increased rates of gene transcription. However, based on the time of response to D3T, at least two sets of responsive genes were identified. One set of genes, including glutathione S-transferase Yp, aflatoxin B1-aldehyde reductase, quinone reductase and DIG-1, had low constitutive and highly inducible expression (approximately 20-fold) and the other, including glutathione S-transferase Ya and Yb, epoxide hydrolase, ferritin heavy and light subunits, ribosomal proteins L18a and S16 and DIG-2, had relatively high constitutive and modestly inducible expression (approximately 5-fold). The simplest explanation for this differential expression of D3T-inducible genes is that multiple regulatory mechanisms govern their response. The transcriptional activation of ferritin, ribosomal protein, DIG-1 and DIG-2 genes in conjunction with those of carcinogen detoxification enzymes suggests that they participate in the pleiotropic cellular defense response to dithiolethiones that inhibits chemically produced tumorigenesis.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Isolation and characterization of a novel gene induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in rat liver.

The differential display technique was used to identify genes whose expression was regulated by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Expression of a novel sequence was up-regulated in a dose-dependent fashion in liver of Sprague-Dawley male rats exposed to both chronic and acute treatment with TCDD, as measured by densitometry of Northern blot analyses (P < 0.01). A rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) procedure was used to isolate a 1.8 kb cDNA from a rat liver cDNA preparation. This cloned cDNA, called 25-Dx, was sequenced and found to encode a peptide of 223 amino acids. In control rats, the 25-Dx gene was expressed at high levels in lung and liver. A hydrophobic domain of 14 residues followed by a proline-rich domain, both located in the N-terminal region, showed 71% homology with the transmembrane domain of the precursor for the interleukin-6 receptor and a conserved consensus sequence found in the cytokine/growth factor/prolactin receptor superfamily respectively.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

A control system for cDNA enrichment reactions.

Most cDNA enrichment techniques involve technically complicated subtractive and hybridization reactions whose kinetics have not been characterized. We describe a control for cDNA enrichment procedures based on commercially available reagents, and we use this control to optimize a commonly used subtractive hybridization reaction. Using this control, we show that high-abundance transcripts can be efficiently removed following very short hybridization reactions. With the addition of unlabeled rat liver cDNA, we develop a system that mimics the reaction kinetics of complex cDNA pools. Because this system enables the measurement of specific vs. nonspecific hybridization and subtraction in the same tube and is an effective control for all steps in the cDNA enrichment procedure, it facilitates the development and optimization of novel cloning techniques for a desired abundance level of differentially expressed cDNAs.

Animals↗