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[Malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by benzo(a)pyrene metabolite dihydroxyepoxy benzo pyrene].

The malignant transformation of human bronchial epithelial cell 16HBE induced by benzo (a) pyrene metabolite--dihydroxyepoxy benzo pyrene (BPDE) was studied. 16HBE cells were treated several times with BPDE at different concentrations in vitro. The identification on the malignancy of transformed 16HBE cells was investigated. The transformed cells in foci were proliferated rapidly, exhibited in extensive random orientation and crossed over. The transformed cells could grow on soft agar. The colony forming frequency of each BPDE group on soft agar was significantly higher than that of control group and showed dose-reaction relations with the concentrations of BPDE. The transformed cells could grow into tumors in nude mice. The tumor was squamose carcinoma confirmed by histopathological examination. The culture system in this study provided a potential tool for studying the molecular mechanism of carcinogenesis of human bronchial epithelial cells induced by BPDE.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Differences in the DNA adducts formed in cultured rabbit and rat dermal fibroblasts by benzo(a)pyrene and (-)benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-diol.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is highly carcinogenic in rats but is without effect in rabbits when administered s.c. The possibility that BaP-DNA adducts could be responsible for this species difference was investigated by comparing BaP-deoxyribonucleoside adducts formed in dermal fibroblast cultures from Wistar rats and New Zealand rabbits. Treatment with [G-3H]BaP (1.2 microM) for 6, 24, and 48 h produced an essentially qualitative species-specific difference. Over 95% of the DNA adducts in the rabbit dermal cell cultures were derived from anti-BaPDE; the major BaP adduct formed (90%) was (+)-anti-BaPDE-deoxyguanosine. This adduct was formed at very low levels in the rat dermal fibroblasts (7%). These cells contained a large proportion of (+/-)-r-7,t-8-dihydroxy-c-9,10-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene (syn-BaPDE)-DNA adducts (45%) and over 48% of other, unidentified, BaP-DNA adducts. Cells treated with (-)-BaP-7,8-diol (1.2 microM) produced almost exclusively (greater than 99%) (+)-anti-BaPDE-deoxyguanosine in rabbit cells, while the rat cells did not form this product. These results suggest that adducts other than anti-BaPDE-deoxyguanosine may be involved in rat s.c. BaP carcinogenesis; the preferential formation of (+)-anti-BaPDE-deoxyguanosine by rabbit dermal fibroblasts does not directly correlate with the resistance of rabbit dermis to tumor formation.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Synchronous fluorescence spectrophotometry of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-DNA adducts: a tool for detection of in-vitro and in-vivo DNA damage by exposure to benzo[a]pyrene.

We have applied synchronous fluorescence spectrophotometry (SFS) to study benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts in biological samples. Adducts are measured as benzo[a]pyrene (BP) tetrols after acid hydrolysis, and give a peak at 374 nm of emission with a 34-nm wavelength difference. In vitro and in animal studies, there is a positive correlation between the amount of adducts and the BP dose. In cell culture studies, the amount of adducts is increased by increasing both the dose of BP and the time of culture with BP. In preliminary human studies, BPDE-DNA has been found by SFS in placental DNA from some but not all smoking mothers and in blood cell DNA from some individuals in occupationally exposed groups.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Synergistic, additive, and antagonistic mutagenic responses to binary mixtures of benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(e)pyrene as detected by strains TA98 and TA100 in the Salmonella/microsome assay.

Binary mixtures of benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and benzo(e)pyrene (B(e)P) produce synergistic mutagenic (comutagenic) responses in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 (a frameshift detector). The optimum enhancement (25 X) was found at B(a)P concentration of 0.3 microgram/plate and B(e)P concentration of 1.5 microgram/plate. The response of strain TA100 (mostly a base-substitution detector) is opposite that of TA98, showing antagonism and additivity in similar concentration ranges.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗

The role of 12 cDNA-expressed human, rodent, and rabbit cytochromes P450 in the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene trans-7,8-dihydrodiol.

The potent carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and its metabolite B[a]P trans-7,8-dihydrodiol (7,8-diol) require metabolic activation by the microsomal cytochrome P450s (P450s) to exert several adverse biological effects, including binding to DNA, toxicity, mutagenicity, and carcinogenicity. In the study reported here, we defined the role of each of 12 individual cDNA-expressed cytochrome P450s in the metabolism of B[a]P and 7,8-diol. Human P450s 1A1 and 1A2 were expressed in the absence or presence of epoxide hydrolase (EH) in a human lymphoblastoid cell line, and six human and five rodent and rabbit P450s were expressed from cDNA with vaccinia virus vectors in the hepatoma cell line Hep G2. B[a]P metabolism resulted in nine metabolites (three diols, three quinones, and three phenols), which were separated, identified, and quantitated by high-pressure liquid chromatography. In the human lymphoblastoid cells, human 1A1 metabolized B[a]P at a rate 4.5 times greater than that for 1A2. EH was shown to be directly involved in B[a]P activation, since increasing the amount of EH resulted in less 7-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and more 7,8-diol formation. Of the human P450s expressed with the vaccinia virus vectors in Hep G2 cells, 1A2 and 2C9 showed the highest activity and 2B6 showed moderate activity for B[a]P metabolism. Mouse 1A1 had activity 40 times higher than any human, rabbit, or rodent P450s, indicating the potential pitfalls of extrapolating P450 activity across species. Metabolism of the 7,8-diol resulted in six metabolites (four tetrols and two triols). In the lymphoblastoid cells, human 1A1 was shown to be 4.2 times more active than 1A2 for 7,8-diol metabolism. Among human P450s expressed from vaccinia virus, 1A2, 2E1, and 2C9 gave the highest activity, and 2C8 and 3A4 showed moderate activity for 7,8-diol metabolism to the diol epoxides. Again, mouse 1A1 was much more active than any other P450. These studies, in which we determined the capacity of individual P450 in the metabolism and activation of B[a]P and 7,8-diol, may thus lead to a better understanding of how P450s control the detoxification and activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Animals↗

Stereoselective metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and 7-methylbenzo[a]pyrene by liver microsomes from sprague-Dawley rats pretreated with polychlorinated biphenyls.

The dihydrodiols formed from the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and 7-methylbenzo[a]pyrene (7-MBaP) by liver microsomes from male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs, Aroclor 1254) have been examined by circular dichroism (CD) spectropolarimetry. Comparisons with optically pure enantiomers obtained via high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) resolution of diastereomeric di-(-)-menthoxyacetates indicated that the trans-4,5-, 7,8- and 9,10-dihydrodiols formed from BaP metabolism are predominantly R,R-enantiomers with optical purities greater than 98%. The major enantiomers of the metabolically formed 7-MBaP-trans-4,5- and 9,10-dihydrodiols and 7-hydroxymethyl-BaP-trans-9,10-dihydrodiol have Cotton effects very similar to those of BaP-4R,5R- and 9R,10R-dihydrodiols, respectively. These 7-MBaP-trans-4,5- and 9,10-dihydrodiol metabolites therefore contain predominantly the R,R-enantiomers. The optical purity of metabolically formed 7-MBaP-trans-4,5-dihydrodiol was determined to be 30.8% enriched in (-)-enantiomer. The optical purity of the 9,10-dihydrodiol was not determined due to the lack of synthetic standards. The major trans-7,8-dihydrodiol enantiomer formed from 7-MBaP metabolism is a (+)-enantiomer (optical purity 60.4%) which has Cotton effects opposite in sign to that of the (-)-7R,8R-dihydrodiol formed from BaP metabolism. The results indicate that a methyl substituent on a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon may alter the stereoselective properties of the microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme systems toward the substrate molecule.

Animals↗

Excretion of benzo[a]pyrene-Gua adduct in the urine of benzo[a]pyrene-treated rats.

A benzo[a]pyrene(BP)-Gua adduct was extracted in the urine of rats treated with BP. Some (0.15%) of the administered dose of BP was excreted as BP-Gua within 48 h. A double labelling experiment demonstrated that the excreted product contained both a BP and a Gua moiety. Partially hepatectomized rats treated with [14C]Gua during the regenerative phase were injected with [3H]BP and the urine collected and processed by chromatographic procedures. The adduct had similar chromatographic properties to the adduct released from human PLC/5 cells treated with 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE) and co-chromatographed with 7-BPDE-Gua released from BPDE-adducted DNA under aqueous conditions. Detection and quantitation of BP-Gua offers an alternative, non-invasive method of monitoring individuals exposed to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Animals↗

Benzo[a]pyrene-DNA-adducts and monooxygenase activities in mice treated with benzo[a]pyrene, cigarette smoke or cigarette smoke condensate.

Synchronous fluorescence spectrophotometry (SFS), developed to study benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide(BPDE)-DNA, was used to measure the in vivo formation of DNA-adducts in genetically responsive C57BL/6 (B6) and non-responsive DBA/2 (D2) mice. Treatment with cigarette smoke by inhalation for 3-16 days, or i.p. injection of cigarette smoke condensate or neutral fraction did not lead to detectable levels of BPDE-DNA-adducts in either lungs or liver, although aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity, an indicator of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) metabolism, was clearly induced in lungs of B6 mouse. A dose-dependent amount of BPDE-DNA-adducts in lung and somewhat less in liver was found after i.p. injection with BP (20-80 mg/kg). Mice treated with vehicle or 4 mg/kg of BP were negative for adducts by SFS. In B6 mice AHH was induced both in lungs and livers while there was no AHH induction in D2 mice although the levels of BPDE-DNA-adducts were somewhat higher than in B6 mice. Thus, no clear correlation seems to exist between AHH activity and the formation of BPDE-DNA-adducts. Also, according to our results SFS can be used to quantitate adduct-formation in in vivo animal studies.

7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase↗

Metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and (-)-trans-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol by freshly isolated hepatocytes of brown bullheads.

The metabolism of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and (-)-trans-[14C]7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BP-7,8-diol) was studied in freshly isolated hepatocytes of the wild benthic fish, brown bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus). Bullhead hepatocytes incubated with 40 microM [3H]BP for 1 h metabolized BP to water soluble metabolites which were separated on silica gel t.l.c. plates to reveal conjugates with glucuronic acid, glutathione, and sulfate (51%, 14% and 4% of total metabolites, respectively). Additional metabolites that were extractable with ethyl acetate were separated by reversed phase HPLC to reveal only two major metabolites: BP-9,10-dihydrodiol and BP-7,8-diol (13% and 2.6% of total metabolites, respectively). Hepatocytes isolated from individual fish displayed an 11-fold variability in the rates at which they metabolized BP (756 +/- 167 pmol x mg dry wt-1 x h-1), which correlated negatively (r = -0.7, P less than 0.01) with an 18-fold variability in the glycogen content of the cells. Hepatocytes isolated from the same fish, in parallel incubations under the same optimum conditions, metabolized BP-7,8-diol 4.5-fold faster than they metabolized BP. The variability in the rate of BP-7,8-diol metabolism was about 7-fold. Major metabolites included glutathione conjugates, glucuronides and sulfates (35%, 25% and 30% of total metabolites, respectively). These conjugates, like those formed from BP, were degradable with gamma-glutamyltransferase, beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase, respectively. Ethyl acetate extractable metabolites were predominantly isomeric benzo-ring tetrahydrotetrols (9% of total metabolites). In summary, this study indicates that during short-term incubations bull-head hepatocytes metabolize BP and BP-7,8-diol primarily to conjugated derivatives. The usefulness of thin-layer chromatography for the convenient determination of the rate of BP-7,8-diol metabolism is demonstrated.

Animals↗

Modulation of the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-diol by glutathione and glutathione S-transferases in mammalian cells (CHO/HGPRT assay).

Biologically reactive metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and benzo[a]-pyrene 7,8-diol (BP-diol), formed by the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) system, are substrates for conjugation and detoxication by glutathione (GSH) when catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases (GSHT). We have investigated the detoxication of BP- and BP-diol-induced cytotoxicity and mutagenicity with GSH by supplementing the S9 mix used in the Chinese hamster ovary cells/hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (CHO/HGPRT) assay with GSH (6.5 mM) or GSH plus GSHT. The addition of GSH to the S9 mix resulted in a reduction of BP- and BP-diol induced cytotoxicity. GSH plus GSHT eliminated BP-induced cytotoxicity and reduced the mutagenicity of BP. GSH inhibited the mutagenicity at low (essentially non-lethal) concentrations of BP-diol, but did not do so at toxic concentrations. GSH plus GSHT inhibited the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of BP-diol at concentrations not affected by GSH alone. These studies indicate that biochemical mechanisms of detoxication can affect the biological activity of a carcinogen, such as BP or BP-diol as profoundly as bioactivation by the MFO system.

Animals↗

Formation of hemoglobin-benzo[a]pyrene adducts in human erythrocytes incubated with benzo[a]pyrene and hamster embryo cells.

Evidence is accumulating that the levels of covalent carcinogen-macromolecule adducts, including adducts with hemoglobin, reflect biologically effective levels of carcinogen exposure. The purposes of the present study were (a) to establish a cellular system for obtaining adducts between intracellular human hemoglobin and metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and (b) to evaluate techniques for chromatographic characterization of the adducts. We showed that hemoglobin-benzo[a]pyrene adducts were formed when human erythrocytes were treated with [3H]benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in the presence of hamster embryo fibroblasts, which are known to be effective for BP metabolism. After lysis of the erythrocytes, noncovalently bound BP and its metabolites were effectively removed from hemoglobin under mild conditions by using hydrophobic interaction and size-exclusion liquid chromatography. Three to five distinct adducts were resolved by reversed-phase and ion-exchange liquid chromatography. As determined by a two-step, reversed-phase liquid chromatographic procedure, trypsin treatment of globin from the cellular system yielded at least three of the four 7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroxy BP tetrols known to arise from mammalian metabolism of BP. This observation is consistent with both (a) the recently described formation of labile carboxyl esters via reaction of BP-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE) with hemoglobin and (b) the known formation of both anti- and syn-BPDE in hamster embryo fibroblasts. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis demonstrated the presence of other products presumed to be BP-peptide adducts because of their susceptibility to thermolysin treatment.

Animals↗

Chinese medicinal herbs modulate mutagenesis, DNA binding and metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol and benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide.

Oldenlandia diffusa(OD) and Scutellaria barbata (SB) have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating liver, lung and rectal tumors. In this study, the effects of aqueous extracts of these two herbs on benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol. (BaP 7,8-DHD) and benzo[a]pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE)-induced mutagenesis using Salmonella typhimurium TA100 as the bacterial tester strain and rat liver 9000 x g supernatant (S9) as the metabolic activation system were assessed. We also determined the effects of these two herbs on BaP 7,8-DHD and BPDE binding to calf thymus DNA. Organosoluble metabolites of BaP 7,8-DHD and water-soluble conjugates of BaP 7,8-DHD and BPDE were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and alumina column liquid chromatography. Mutagenesis assays revealed that these two herbs produced a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of histidine-independent (His+) revertants induced by BaP 7,8-DHD and BPDE. OD and SB also inhibited BPDE-induced mutagenesis in a concentration-dependent manner in the absence of S9. SB had a greater inhibitory effect than OD. SB significantly inhibited BaP 7,8-DHD and BPDE binding to DNA while OD significantly enhanced DNA binding of both compounds. OD and SB inhibited the formation of organosoluble metabolites of BaP 7,8-DHD and decreased the formation of water-soluble conjugates of BaP 7,8-DHD and BPDE. However, the fraction of the total radioactivity in the water-soluble conjugates present as sulfate and glutathione was increased by OD and SB. Glucuronide fraction was decreased. The results of this study affirm our previous work suggesting that these two Chinese medicinal herbs possess antimutagenic properties and further suggest that they act as blocking agents through a scavenging mechanism.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

The co-carcinogen benzo[e]pyrene increases the binding of a low dose of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene to DNA in Sencar mouse epidermis.

The mechanism of the co-carcinogenic activity of benzo[e]pyrene (BeP) was investigated by determining the effects of BeP on the binding of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) to DNA in Sencar mouse epidermis. The dose of BaP used was 20 nmol/mouse, a dose which is not carcinogenic in a single application but is carcinogenic after multiple treatments such as those in the BaP-BeP co-carcinogenesis experiments described by Van Duuren and Goldschmidt (J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 56, 1237, 1976). After 3 h of exposure to [3H]BaP and BeP at BaP:BeP dose ratios of 1:3 and 1:10, [3H]BaP-DNA adducts in both BeP-treated groups were lower than in an acetone-BaP control group. After 12 and 24 h of exposure, the BaP-BeP (1:10) group contained 19% and 33% higher [3H]BaP-DNA adduct levels than the control. In the BaP-BeP (1:3) group, the amount of [3H]BaP-DNA adduct levels was higher than the control after 12 h. BeP co-treatment with either [3H]BaP-7,8-dihydrodiol or anti-[3H]BaPDE had no effect on the amount of BaPDE-DNA adducts present. These results demonstrate that the co-carcinogen BeP increases the amount of a low dose of BaP that binds to mouse epidermal DNA and indicate that the increase in BaP-DNA adducts results from increased metabolism of BaP to the proximate carcinogen BaP-7,8-dihydrodiol.

Animals↗

Exceptional tumor-initiating activity of 4-fluorobenzo[j]-fluoranthene on mouse skin: comparison with benzo[j]-fluoranthene, 10-fluoro-benzo[j]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

Exceptional tumorigenic potency was observed with 4-fluorobenzo[j]fuoranthene (4-fluoroB[j]F) relative to benzo[j]fluoranthene (B[j]F) and 10-fluorobenzo[j]fluoranthene (10-fluoroB[j]F) in a mouse skin initiation promotion bioassay. Comparison of the tumorigenic response obtained at total initiating doses of 50, 100, and 1000 nmol firmly established the greater tumorigenic potency of 4-fluoroB[j]F. B[j]F produced a significant tumorigenic response only at total initiating doses of 100 and 1000 nmol per mouse. 10-FluoroB[j]F produced a significant tumorigenic response only at the highest initiating dose, 1000 nmol per mouse. In contrast, 4-fluoroB[j]F produced a significant tumorigenic response at all three doses. At a total initiating dose of 50 nmol, a 90% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with an average of 3.05 tumors per mouse was observed with 4-fluoroB[j]F. A second initiation promotion bioassay was performed to establish the tumorigenic potency of 4-fluoroB[j]F relative to benzo[a]-pyrene (B[a]P), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P). 4-FluoroB[j]F did exhibit significant tumor-initiating activity at doses of 10 and 25 nmol per mouse, inducing a 45 and 60% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with an average of 0.75 and 1.65 tumors per mouse, respectively. While B[a]P was not tumorigenic at these doses, DMBA and DB[a,l]P exhibited significant tumorigenic activity at doses of 1, 4, 10, and 25 nmol per mouse. DB[a,l]P induced a 95% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with an average of 5.0 tumors per mouse at a total initiator dose of 1 nmol. DMBA at this dose produced an 85% incidence of tumor-bearing mice with an average of 1.30 tumors per mouse. The results of these initiation promotion bioassays clearly demonstrate that 4-fluoroB[j]F is significantly more active than B[j]F, 10-fluoroB[j]F and B[a]P and less active than either DMBA or DB[a,l]P as a tumor initiator on mouse skin.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-quinone-3'-mononucleotide adduct standards for 32P postlabeling analyses: detection of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-quinone-calf thymus DNA adducts.

Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-quinone (BPQ) is one of the reactive metabolites of the widely distributed archetypal polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The formation of BPQ from B[a]P through trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydroB[a]P by the mediation of aldo-keto reductases and its role in the genotoxicity and carcinogenesis of B[a]P currently are under extensive investigation. Toxicity pathways related to BPQ are believed to include both stable and unstable (depurinating) DNA adduct formation as well as reactive oxygen species. We previously reported the complete characterization of four novel stable BPQ-deoxyguanosine (dG) and two BPQ-deoxyadenosine (dA) adducts (Balu et al., Chem. Res. Toxicol. 17 (2004) 827-838). However, the identification of BPQ-DNA adducts by 32P postlabeling methods from in vitro and in vivo exposures required 3'-monophosphate derivatives of BPQ-dG, BPQ-dA, and BPQ-deoxycytidine (dC) as standards. Therefore, in the current study, BPQ adducts of dGMP(3'), dAMP(3'), and dCMP(3') were prepared. The syntheses of the BPQ-3'-mononucleotide standards were carried out in a manner similar to that reported previously for the nucleoside analogs. Reaction products were characterized by UV, LC/MS analyses, and one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques. The spectral studies indicated that all adducts existed as diastereomeric mixtures. Furthermore, the structural identities of the novel BPQ-dGMP, BPQ-dAMP, and BPQ-dCMP adducts were confirmed by acid phosphatase dephosphorylation of the BPQ-nucleotide adducts to the corresponding known BPQ-nucleoside adduct standards. The BPQ-dGMP, BPQ-dAMP, and BPQ-dCMP adduct standards were used in 32P postlabeling studies to identify BPQ adducts formed in vitro with calf thymus DNA and DNA homopolymers. 32P postlabeling analysis revealed the formation of 8 major and at least 10 minor calf thymus DNA adducts. Of these BPQ-DNA adducts, the following were identified: 1 BPQ-dGMP adduct, 2 BPQ-dAMP adducts, and 3 BPQ-dCMP adducts. This study represents the first reported example of the characterization of stable BPQ-DNA adducts in isolated mammalian DNA and is expected to contribute significantly to the future BPQ-DNA adduct studies in vivo and thereby to the contribution of BPQ in B[a]P carcinogenesis.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

Tissue distribution of DNA adducts in rats treated by intramammillary injection with dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene and benzo[a]pyrene.

Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP) has recently emerged as a potent environmental carcinogen having greater carcinogenicity in the rat mammary epithelial glands than 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), previously considered to be the most potent mammary carcinogen and benzo[a]pyrene (BP), a ubiquitous environmental carcinogen. Previous studies on the tumor-initiating potential of DBP, DMBA, and BP demonstrated that DBP was 2.5 times more potent in inducing the tumors in mouse skin and rat mammary glands than DMBA; BP was a weak mammary carcinogen in these animals. The present study was designed to investigate if the significantly increased mammary carcinogenicity of DBP over DMBA and BP was related to increased DNA adduction at the target site. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated by intramammillary injection with an equimolar dose of 0.25 micromol/gland of DBP, DMBA, and BP at the 3rd, 4th and 5th mammary glands on both sides. 32P-Postlabeling analysis of mammary epithelial DNA of rats treated with DBP produced two major (nos. 3 and 6) and at least 5 minor adducts. DMBA treatment resulted in one major and 4 minor DNA adducts while BP produced one major and two minor adducts. Quantitation of the adduct radioactivity revealed that DNA adduction was 6- and 9-fold greater in DBP-treated animals than in BP- and DMBA-treated animals, respectively. The adduct levels per 10(9) nucleotides in mammary epithelial cells for DBP, BP and DMBA were in the following descending order: 1828 +/- 378, 300 +/- 45 and 207 +/- 72, respectively. Tissue distribution of DNA adducts in non-target organs following DBP treatment showed similar adduct pattern as found in the mammary epithelial cells except the liver, which resulted in 4 additional adduct spots; vehicle-treated tissue DNA processed in parallel did not show any detectable adducts. DMBA- and BP-DNA adduct patterns in various tissues were similar to that found in mammary epithelial cells, however, significant quantitative differences were found; BP-DNA adducts were undetectable in the pancreas and bladder. Quantitation of adduct radioactivity showed a 15- to 60-fold lower DBP-DNA adduction in these tissues than the levels found in the mammary tissue; similarly 5-20 and 30-100 times lower DNA adduction was found following treatment with DMBA and BP, respectively. The significantly increased binding of DBP to the mammary epithelial DNA over BP and DMBA is in concordance with its known higher mutagenicity and tumorigenicity.

9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene↗

Comparative tumorigenicity of 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrenes, and 3,6- and 1,6-dinitrobenzo[a]pyrenes in F344/DuCrj rats.

Our earlier study revealed that 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (NBP), 1,6- and 3,6-dinitrobenzo[a]pyrene (DNBP), nitrated derivatives of benzo[a]BP (BP), are present in the environment. These derivatives are potent mutagens for Salmonella tester strains and we have preliminarily reported them to be carcinogenic in F344/DuCrj rats. In this study, the tumorigenic action of 1- and 3-NBP, 1.6- and 3,6-DNBP, and BP induced by subcutaneous injection into rats was found to differ according to the NO2-substitution in the BP structure. The chemicals were suspended in equal volumes of beeswax and tricaprylin, and rats were subcutaneously injected with single doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 microg for 1- and 3-NBP, and of 8, 40, 200, and 1000 microg for 3,6- and 1,6-DNBP, and BP as a positive control. 3,6-DNBP and BP induced tumors in a dose-dependent manner at the injection site. Rats given 1000 microg of 3,6-DNBP (2924 nmol) and BP (3968 nmol) developed subcutaneous tumors at the rate of 70 and 80%, respectively, and those given a minimum dose of 23 nmol for 3.6-DNBP and 32 nmol for BP per rat developed tumors at a rate of 4.8 and 18.2%, respectively. However, rats given 500 and 1000 microg of 1- and 3-NBP did not develop any tumors while those given a high dose, 2000 microg, of each chemical developed tumors at only one of ten animals used. It was concluded, therefore, that these chemicals are weak carcinogens. Histologically, most of the tumors were malignant fibrous histiocytomas. Rats given various doses of 1,6-DNBP did not develop any tumors at the injection site. The failure of 1,6-DNBP to induce tumors may involve its metabolites because of the lower mutagenicity of its reduction products, 1-nitroso-6-NBP and 1-amino-6-NBP. It is suggested, therefore, that tumorigenicities of NBPs and DNBPs differ according to the NO2-substitution on the chemical structure, which may be due to the possible nitroreduction of the chemicals.

Animals↗

The effect of dibenzo[a,1]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene on human diploid lung fibroblasts: the induction of DNA adducts, expression of p53 and p21(WAF1) proteins and cell cycle distribution.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in ambient air are considered as potential human carcinogens, but the detailed mechanism of action is still unknown. Our aim was to study the in vitro effect of exposure to dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P), the most potent carcinogenic PAH ever tested, and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in a normal human diploid lung fibroblast cells (HEL) using multiple endpoints. DNA adduct levels were measured by 32P-postlabelling, the expression of p53 and p21(WAF1) proteins by western blotting and the cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry. For both PAHs, the DNA adduct formation was proportional to the time of exposure and dependent on the stage of cell growth in culture. DNA binding was detectable even at the lowest concentration used (24h exposure, 0.01 microM for both PAHs). The highest DNA adduct levels were observed after 24h of exposure in near-confluent cells (>90% of cells at G0/G1 phase), but DNA damage induced by DB[a,l]P was approximately 8-10 times higher at a concentration one order of magnitude lower as compared with B[a]P (for B[a]P at 1 microM and for DB[a,l]P at 0.1 microM: 237+/-107 and 2360+/-798 adducts/10(8) nucleotides, respectively). The induction of p53 and p21(WAF1) protein occurred subsequent to the induction of DNA adducts. The DNA adduct levels correlated with both p53 (R=0.832, P<0.001 and R=0.859, P<0.001, for DB[a,l]P and B[a]P, respectively) and p21(WAF1) levels (R=0.808, P<0.001 and R=0.797, P=0.001, for DB[a,l]P and B[a]P, respectively), regardless of the PAH exposure and the phase of cell growth. The results showed that a detectable increase of p53 and p21(WAF1) proteins (> or = 1.5-fold as compared with controls) requires a minimal DNA adduct level of approximately 200-250 adducts/10(8) nucleotides for both PAHs tested and suggest that the level of adducts rather than their structure triggers the p53 and p21(WAF1) responses. The cell cycle was altered after 12-16h of treatment, and after 24h of exposure to 0.1 microM DB[a,l]P in growing cells, there was approximately 24% increase in S phase cells accompanied by a decrease in G1 and G2/mitosis (G2/M) cells. Cell treatment with 1.0 microM B[a]P resulted in more subtle alterations. We conclude that DB[a,l]P, and to a lesser degree B[a]P, are able to induce DNA adducts as well as p53 and p21(WAF1) without eliciting G1 or G2/M arrests but rather an S phase delay/arrest. Whether the S phase delay observed in our study is beneficial for the survival of the cells remains to be further established.

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