DNA adducts, protein adducts, and sister chromatid exchange in cigarette smokers and nonsmokers.

In order to validate markers of internal dose and biologically effective dose of carcinogens, a battery of measurements was made on blood samples from 22 smokers and 24 nonsmokers. The markers included immunoreactivity in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) quantified in white blood cells with the use of a polyclonal anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-I-DNA antibody, 4-aminobiphenyl hemoglobin (4-ABP-Hb) adducts measured by negative chemical ionization mass spectrometry, sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in cultured lymphocytes, and cotinine in plasma measured by radioimmunoassay. Several blood samples were drawn from each subject. In blood samples 1 and 3 having detectable levels of DNA adducts, mean femtomole-per-microgram levels were consistently higher among smokers compared to nonsmokers. The borderline significance of this difference may be attributable to the small numbers of subjects. Consistently higher adduct levels were seen in females compared to males. In sample 3, adduct levels were significantly correlated with measurements of active smoking in smokers and with passive smoking in nonsmokers. By contrast to the ELISA data, which may reflect cumulative exposure from multiple background sources, the 4-ABP-Hb assay was able to distinguish clearly between smokers and nonsmokers. SCEs were significantly elevated in the smokers compared to nonsmokers. Also observed were significant correlations between 4-ABP-Hb and both cotinine and SCEs, as well as a positive correlation between the 4-ABP-Hb and DNA adduct levels (sample 3) that was highly significant. The correlation between DNA and 4-ABP-Hb adducts was significant in smokers but not nonsmokers (sample 3). These results support the need for batteries of markers to detect and to quantify the carcinogenic dose to humans resulting from both specific and "background" environmental exposures.

Potential exposure levels and health effects of neighborhood exposure to a municipal incinerator bottom ash landfill.

An investigation was conducted to assess the potential exposure levels and pursuant public health implications of neighborhood exposure to a municipal incinerator bottom ash landfill. This site received ash from a single incinerator without pollution control devices from 1954-1973. Soil was sampled for 10 heavy metals, polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, polychlorinated dibenzofurans, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodioxin and furan congeners, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Soil concentrations for these substances were converted to estimates of exposure, health effects, and/or cancer risk by the application of a general exposure model and exposure/effect and exposure/risk models for specific substances. The results of soil analysis and modeling indicate that the level of lead detected on the site was considerably above the recommended levels of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and may lead to an elevated blood lead level in exposed children above that currently defining a case of lead poisoning. The potential for health effects resulting from exposure to other substances measured in the soil on this site is considered to be small, and no significant increased cancer risk is expected. Comparison of levels of various substances obtained at this site with levels obtained in fresh bottom ash in other studies suggests that these results may be applicable to exposures from other municipal incinerator bottom ash landfills.

CRM1 inhibition induces tumor cell cytotoxicity and impairs osteoclastogenesis in multiple myeloma: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications.

The key nuclear export protein CRM1/XPO1 may represent a promising novel therapeutic target in human multiple myeloma (MM). Here we showed that chromosome region maintenance 1 (CRM1) is highly expressed in patients with MM, plasma cell leukemia cells and increased in patient cells resistant to bortezomib treatment. CRM1 expression also correlates with increased lytic bone and shorter survival. Importantly, CRM1 knockdown inhibits MM cell viability. Novel, oral, irreversible selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINEs) targeting CRM1 (KPT-185, KPT-330) induce cytotoxicity against MM cells (ED50<200 nM), alone and cocultured with bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) or osteoclasts (OC). SINEs trigger nuclear accumulation of multiple CRM1 cargo tumor suppressor proteins followed by growth arrest and apoptosis in MM cells. They further block c-myc, Mcl-1, and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activity. SINEs induce proteasome-dependent CRM1 protein degradation; concurrently, they upregulate CRM1, p53-targeted, apoptosis-related, anti-inflammatory and stress-related gene transcripts in MM cells. In SCID mice with diffuse human MM bone lesions, SINEs show strong anti-MM activity, inhibit MM-induced bone lysis and prolong survival. Moreover, SINEs directly impair osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption via blockade of RANKL-induced NF-κB and NFATc1, with minimal impact on osteoblasts and BMSCs. These results support clinical development of SINE CRM1 antagonists to improve patient outcome in MM.

Lead poisoning due to hai ge fen. The porphyrin content of individual erythrocytes.

A 45-year-old Korean man developed abdominal colic, muscle pain, and fatigue. Following a 3-week hospitalization, acute intermittent porphyria was diagnosed based on the symptoms and a high level of urinary delta-aminolevulinic acid (378 mumol/L [4.95 mg/dL]). However, discovery of an elevated blood lead level (3.7 mumol/L [76 micrograms/dL]) subsequently led to the correct diagnosis. No occupational source of lead exposure was identified. The patient reported ingesting a Chinese herbal preparation for 4 weeks prior to becoming ill. A public health investigation revealed that the source of lead exposure was hai ge fen (clamshell powder), one of the 36 ingredients of the Chinese herbal medicine. We used fluorescence image-based cytometry to determine the frequency distribution of the zinc protoporphyrin content in circulating red blood cells and found that 70% of the patient's cells contained elevated levels of zinc protoporphyrin, consistent with the duration of lead exposure and effect of lead on heme synthesis. Analysis of zinc protoporphyrin content in circulating red blood cell distributions may be useful in the diagnosis, therapy, and kinetic modeling of lead poisoning. Environmental lead poisoning is best addressed through the close collaboration of clinicians, public health specialists, and laboratory scientists.