Nuclear respiratory factor 1 overexpression attenuates anti-benzopyrene­7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide-induced S-phase arrest of bronchial epithelial cells.

Nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) has important roles in the regulation of several key metabolic genes required for cellular growth and respiration. A previous study by our group indicated that NRF­1 is involved in mitochondrial dysfunction induced by the environmental pollutant benzo[a]pyrene in the 16HBE human bronchial epithelial cell line. In the present study, it was observed that its genotoxic metabolite, anti­benzopyrene­7,8­diol­9,10­epoxide (BPDE), triggered cell cycle arrest in S­phase in 16HBE cells by activating ataxia-telangiectasia (ATM)/checkpoint kinase (Chk)2 and ATM and Rad3 related (ATR)/Chk1 signaling pathways. NRF­1 expression was suppressed by BPDE after treatment for 6 h. Flow cytometric analysis revealed that NRF­1 overexpression attenuated cell cycle arrest in S­phase induced by BPDE. In line with this result, DNA­damage checkpoints were activated following NRF­1 overexpression, as demonstrated by increased phosphorylation of ATM, Chk2 and γH2AX, but not ATR and Chk1, according to western blot analysis. It was therefore indicated that NRF­1 overexpression attenuated BPDE­induced S­phase arrest via the ATM/Chk2 signaling pathway.

New insights into BaP-induced toxicity: role of major metabolites in transcriptomics and contribution to hepatocarcinogenesis.

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) is a ubiquitous carcinogen resulting from incomplete combustion of organic compounds and also present at high levels in cigarette smoke. A wide range of biological effects has been attributed to BaP and its genotoxic metabolite BPDE, but the contribution to BaP toxicity of intermediary metabolites generated along the detoxification path remains unknown. Here, we report for the first time how 3-OH-BaP, 9,10-diol and BPDE, three major BaP metabolites, temporally relate to BaP-induced transcriptomic alterations in HepG2 cells. Since BaP is also known to induce AhR activation, we additionally evaluated TCDD to source the expression of non-genotoxic AhR-mediated patterns. 9,10-Diol was shown to activate several transcription factor networks related to BaP metabolism (AhR), oxidative stress (Nrf2) and cell proliferation (HIF-1α, AP-1) in particular at early time points, while BPDE influenced expression of genes involved in cell energetics, DNA repair and apoptotic pathways. Also, in order to grasp the role of BaP and its metabolites in chemical hepatocarcinogenesis, we compared expression patterns from BaP(-metabolites) and TCDD to a signature set of approximately nine thousand gene expressions derived from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. While transcriptome modulation by TCDD appeared not significantly related to HCC, BaP and BPDE were shown to deregulate metastatic markers via non-genotoxic and genotoxic mechanisms and activate inflammatory pathways (NF-κß signaling, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction). BaP also showed strong repression of genes involved in cholesterol and fatty acid biosynthesis. Altogether, this study provides new insights into BaP-induced toxicity and sheds new light onto its mechanism of action as a hepatocarcinogen.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons stimulate human CYP3A4 promoter activity via PXR.

Metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is mediated mainly by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP) CYP1A1, 1A2 and 1B1. Several PAH are known to induce these CYP via aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling. Recently, it was shown that the PAH benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) can induce CYP3A4 as well. The induction was suggested to be mediated by the pregnane X receptor (PXR) rather than AhR. Metabolism by CYP3A4 is only known for dihydrodiol metabolites of PAH but not for their parent compounds. In the present study, a CYP3A4 reporter gene assay, requiring the overexpression of PXR, was used to investigate whether the PAH parent compounds BaP, benzo[c]phenanthrene (BcP) and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBalP) as well as their corresponding phase I metabolites, the respective dihydrodiols and diol epoxides, can induce CYP3A4 promoter activity. BaP, BcP and their dihydrodiols were found to significantly activate the CYP3A4 promoter. Moreover, activation of PXR by all four compounds was detected by using a PXR transactivation assay, supporting that PXR mediates CYP3A4 induction by PAH. Taken together, these results show that both PAH parent compounds as well as their phase I metabolites induce CYP3A4 promoter via the transcription factor PXR.

Aldo-keto reductases protect lung adenocarcinoma cells from the acute toxicity of B[a]P-7,8-trans-dihydrodiol.

Tobacco smoke exposure stimulates the expression of genes that are likely to be involved in the metabolism of its combustion products such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Four of the smoke induced genes are aldo-keto reductases (AKR), enzymes that metabolically activate PAH to PAH o-quinones. Alternatively, PAHs are metabolized to (±)-anti-diol epoxides, such as (±)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide ((±)-anti-BPDE)), by the combined action of P4501A1/1B1 and epoxide hydrolase. (±)-anti-BPDE forms DNA adducts directly, while PAH o-quinones cause DNA damage by oxidative stress through a futile redox cycle. To address the role of AKRs in PAH cytotoxicity, we compared the cytotoxicity of PAH metabolites and the effects of overexpressing AKR1A1 in lung cells. (±)-anti-BPDE and B[a]P-7,8-trans-dihydrodiol, an intermediate in (±)-anti-BPDE metabolism, are toxic to A549 cells at concentrations with an IC(50) of ∼2 µM. In contrast, the PAH o-quinone B[a]P-7,8-dione was about 10-fold less toxic to A549 cells with an IC(50) > 20 µM. Similar differences in cytoxicity were observed with two other PAH o-quinones (benz[a]anthracene-3,4-dione and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-3,4-dione) compared with their respective diol-epoxide counterparts (BA-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide and DMBA-3,4-diol-1,2-epoxide). In addition, both anti-BPDE and B[a]P-7,8-trans-dihydrodiol induced p53 expression ∼6 h post-treatment at concentrations as low as 1 µM consistent with extensive DNA damage. B[a]P-7,8-dione treatment did not induce p53 but generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in A549 cells and induced the expression of oxidative response genes in H358 cells. We also observed that overexpression of AKR1A1 in H358 cells, which otherwise have low levels of AKR expression, protected cells 2-10-fold from the toxic effects of B[a]P-7,8-trans-dihydrodiol. These data suggest that overexpression of AKRs may protect lung cancer cells from the acute toxic effects of PAH.

Differential protection by human glutathione S-transferase P1 against cytotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,l]pyrene, or their dihydrodiol metabolites, in bi-transgenic cell lines that co-express rat versus human cytochrome P4501A1.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are activated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) isozymes, and a subset of the reactive metabolites generated is detoxified via conjugation with glutathione (GSH) by specific glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). We have used V79MZ cells stably transfected with either human or rat cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1), alone or in combination with human GSTP1 (hGSTP1), to examine the dynamics of activation versus detoxification of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P), and their dihydrodiol metabolites. The cytotoxicity of B[a]P or DB[a,l]P was 9-11-fold greater in cells expressing human, as compared to rat CYP1A1, despite similar enzymatic activities. Co-expression of the hGSTP1 with the hCYP1A1 conferred 16-fold resistance to B[a]P cytotoxicity, compared to only 2.5-fold resistance when hGSTP1 was co-expressed with rat CYP1A1. The lower B[a]P cytotoxicity in the cells expressing rat CYP1A1, and weaker protection by hGSTP1 co-expression in these cells, were attributable to the much lower fraction of B[a]P metabolism via formation of the 7,8-dihydrodiol intermediate by the rat CYP1A1 compared to hCYP1A1. Resistance to the DB[a,l]P cytotoxicity conferred by hGSTP1 expression was also greater in cells co-expressing hCYP1A1 (7-fold) as compared to cells co-expressing rCYP1A1 (<2-fold). Resistance to B[a]P conferred by hGSTP1 was closely correlated with the activity level in two clonal transfectant lines with a 3-fold difference in hGSTP1-1 specific activity. Depletion of GSH to 20% of control levels via pretreatment with the de novo GSH biosynthesis inhibitor buthionine sulfoximine reduced the protection against B[a]P cytotoxicity by hGSTP1 from 16-fold to 5-fold, indicating that catalysis of conjugation with GSH, rather than binding or other effects, is responsible for the resistance. The cytotoxicity of the dihydrodiol intermediates of B[a]P or DB[a,l]P was much greater, and similar in cell lines expressing either human or rat CYP1A1. Again, however, the protection conferred by hGSTP1 co-expression was 2-5-fold greater in cells with hCYP1A1 than with rCYP1A1 expression. These results indicate that GST expression can effectively limit cytotoxicity following activation of B[a]P by human or rat CYP1A1, but is less effective as a defense against exposure of cells to the intermediate metabolite B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol.

Protective efficacy of hGSTM1-1 against B[a]P and (+)- or (-)-B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol cytotoxicity, mutagenicity, and macromolecular adducts in V79 cells coexpressing hCYP1A1.

Transgenic cell lines were constructed to study the dynamics of competition between activation versus detoxification of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) or B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol metabolites. Stably transfected V79MZ cells expressing human cytochrome P4501A1 (hCYP1A1) alone or in combination with human glutathione-S-transferase M1 (hGSTM1) were used to determine how effectively this GST isozyme protects against cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects of B[a]P or the enantiomeric dihydrodiol metabolites (+)-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol ((+)-B[a]P-7,8-diol) and (-)-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol ((-)-B[a]P-7,8-diol). Expression of hGSTM1 in the presence of hCYP1A1 conferred significant 8.5-fold protection against B[a]P-induced cytotoxicity, but protection against cytotoxicity of either B[a]P-7,8-diol enantiomer was not significant. Mutagenicity of B[a]P at the hprt locus was dose and time dependent in cells that expressed hCYP1A1. Mutagenicity of B[a]P was reduced by 21-32% and mutagenicity induced by the B[a]P-7,8-diols was reduced 20-58% in cells further modified to coexpress hGSTM1-1 compared to cells expressing hCYP1A1 alone. Expression of hGSTM1-1 reduced adducts in total cellular macromolecules by twofold, in good correlation with the reduction in B[a]P mutagenicity. These results indicate that while hGSTM1-1 effectively protects against hCYP1A1-mediated cytotoxicity of B[a]P, a significant fraction of the mutagenicity that results from activation of B[a]P and its 7,8-dihydrodiol metabolites by hCYP1A1 is derived from B[a]P metabolites that are not detoxified by hGSTM1.

Cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and (+/-)-dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-11,12-dihydrodiol in V79MZ cells co-expressing either hCYP1A1 or hCYP1B1 together with human glutathione-S-transferase A1.

We have used V79MZ hamster lung fibroblasts stably transfected with human cytochrome P450-1A1 (hCYP1A1; cell line designated V79MZh1A1) or P450-1B1 (hCYP1B1; cell line designated V79MZh1B1) alone, or in combination with human glutathione-S-transferase (GST) alpha-1 (hGSTA1), in order to examine GST protection against cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DBP) and the intermediate dihydrodiol metabolite (+/-)-DBP-11,12-dihydrodiol (DBPD). At comparable expression levels of hCYP1A1 and hCYP1B1, both DBP and DBPD were more cytotoxic in V79MZ1A1 (IC(50)=2.7 and 0.7nM, respectively) than in V79MZh1B1 (IC(50)=6.0 and 4.8nM, respectively). In contrast, both DBP and DBPD were two- to four-fold more mutagenic in V79MZh1B1 than in V79MZ1A1. Co-expression of hGSTA1 with hCYP1A1 decreased DBP cytotoxicity two-fold compared to V79MZh1A1 with hCYP1A1 alone, and provided a small, yet still statistically significant, 1.3-fold protection against DBPD. Protection against mutagenicity of these compounds was comparable to that for cytotoxicity in cells expressing hCYP1A1. In V79MZh1B1 cells, co-expression of hGSTA1 conferred up to five-fold protection against DBP cytotoxicity, and up to nine-fold protection against the (+/-)-DBP-dihydrodiol cytotoxicity relative to the cells expressing hCYP1B1 alone. Co-expression of hGSTA1 also reduced mutagenicity of DBP or its dihydrodiol to a lesser extent (1.3-1.8-fold) than the protection against cytotoxicity in cells expressing hCYP1B1. These findings demonstrate that the protective efficacy of hGSTA1 against DBP and DBPD toxicity is variable, depending on the compound or metabolite present, the specific cytochrome P450 isozyme expressed, and the specific cellular damage endpoint examined.

Suppressive effects of benzo[a]pyrene upon fish immune function: evolutionarily conserved cellular mechanisms of immunotoxicity.

Knowledge gained through the use of alternative animal models has significantly enhanced our understanding of life at all levels of biological organization. The discipline of toxicology is under considerable pressure to develop such models due to increasing public concern regarding the experimental use of mammals. Studies in this laboratory have focused on the utility of a small laboratory fish model, the Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), to investigate immunotoxicological effects of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). BaP is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and known mammalian immunotoxicant. This laboratory has demonstrated that in vivo exposure of medaka to BaP (2-200 microg/g BW) significantly depresses both innate and humoral immunity. Further studies have indicated that BaP activates its own biotransformation pathway within medaka immune cells following both in vivo and in vitro exposure. In addition, reduction of BaP metabolism with alpha-naphthoflavone results in the reversal of BaP-induced suppression of antibody production in vitro. Inhibition of CYPlA-mediated metabolism within medaka immune cells also alleviates the immunotoxicity induced by benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol, but not benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE). This suggests that BPDE may be an ultimate immunotoxicant. Results from this study in medaka are in agreement with previously conducted rodent studies that indicated a role for immunotoxic BaP metabolites in BaP-induced suppression of humoral immunity.

Inhibition of clastogenicity of benzo[a]pyrene and of its trans-7,8-dihydrodiol in mice in vivo by fruits, vegetables, and flavonoids.

In the in vivo mouse bone marrow micronucleus assay, homogenates of spinach, artichoke, peaches, and blue grapes as well as commercial concentrates of these vegetables and fruits reduced induction of micronuclei by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) by 43-50%. Concentrates of strawberries (31% reduction) and of cauliflower (20% reduction) were less potent. Inhibition of genotoxicity by spinach and peaches was not caused by any delay in maturation of micronucleated erythrocytes as shown by experiments with sampling times of 24, 48, and 72 h after dosing of BaP. Pre-treatment of the mice with spinach 48, 24, and 12h before application of BaP resulted in a 44% reduction of micronuclei while peaches generated only a marginal effect. A post-treatment procedure administering spinach or peaches 6h after dosing of BaP did not indicate any protective effects. When trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BaP-7,8-OH) was applied for induction of micronuclei spinach and peaches reduced the number of micronuclei by 55 and 48%, respectively. Pre-treatment of mice with spinach 96, 72, and 60 h before sacrifice caused a decline of hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD) and of 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD) activities by factors of 2.2 and 1.4, respectively. However, statistical significance was not reached. On the other hand, peaches had no influence on hepatic EROD or PROD activities. The flavonoids quercetin and its glucoside isoquercitrin, administered orally in doses of 0.03 mmol/kg body weight simultaneously with intraperitoneally given BaP, reduced the number of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes of the bone marrow of mice by 73 and 33%. Ten-fold higher concentrations, however, reversed the effects with a particular strong increase observed with isoquercitrin (+109%; quercetin: +16%).

Comparison of the genotoxic activities of the K-region dihydrodiol of benzo[a]pyrene with benzo[a]pyrene in mammalian cells: morphological cell transformation; DNA damage; and stable covalent DNA adducts.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the most thoroughly studied polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Many mechanisms have been suggested to explain its carcinogenic activity, yet many questions still remain. K-region dihydrodiols of PAHs are metabolic intermediates depending on the specific cytochrome P450 and had been thought to be detoxification products. However, K-region dihydrodiols of several PAHs have recently been shown to morphologically transform mouse embryo C3H10T1/2CL8 cells (C3H10T1/2 cells). Because K-region dihydrodiols are not metabolically formed from PAHs by C3H10T1/2 cells, these cells provide a useful tool to independently study the mechanisms of action of PAHs and their K-region dihydrodiols. Here, we compare the morphological cell transforming, DNA damaging, and DNA adducting activities of the K-region dihydrodiol of B[a]P, trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol with B[a]P. Both trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P morphologically transformed C3H10T1/2 cells by producing both Types II and III transformed foci. The morphological cell transforming and cytotoxicity dose response curves for trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P were indistinguishable. Since morphological cell transformation is strongly associated with mutation and/or larger scale DNA damage in C3H10T1/2 cells, the identification of DNA damage induced in these cells by trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol was sought. Both trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P exhibited significant DNA damaging activity without significant concurrent cytotoxicity using the comet assay, but with different dose responses and comet tail distributions. DNA adduct patterns from C3H10T1/2 cells were examined after trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol or B[a]P treatment using 32P-postlabeling techniques and improved TLC elution systems designed to separate polar DNA adducts. While B[a]P treatment produced one major DNA adduct identified as anti-trans-B[a]P-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide-deoxyguanosine, no stable covalent DNA adducts were detected in the DNA of trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol-treated cells. In summary, this study provides evidence for the DNA damaging and morphological cell transforming activities of the K-region dihydrodiol of B[a]P, in the absence of covalent stable DNA adducts. While trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P both induce morphological cell transformation, their activities as DNA damaging agents differ, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In concert with the morphological cell transformation activities of other K-region dihydrodiols of PAHs, these data suggest a new mechanism/pathway for the morphological cell transforming activities of B[a]P and its metabolites.

Carcinogen substrate specificity of human COX-1 and COX-2.

The activation of carcinogenic aromatic and heterocyclic amines and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol to intracellular electrophiles by prostaglandin H synthase (COX) is well documented for ovine sources of this enzyme. Here, the arachidonic acid-dependent activation of substrates by human (h)COX-1 and-2 is examined, utilizing recombinant enzymes. The COX-dependent activation of benzidine (BZ), 4-aminobiphenyl, (+)benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol, (+)benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b] pyridine (PhIP), and 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA) is assessed by means of COX-catalyzed, covalent DNA binding. The hCOX isozymes activated all substrates tested, activation varied from barely detectable for IQ (0.76 and 1.52 pmol bound/mg DNA for COX-1 and -2, respectively) to a high of 65 and 117 pmol bound/mg DNA for COX-1 and -2, respectively, for the activation of MOCA. BZ, which is an excellent peroxidase substrate, did not exhibit high DNA binding levels in hCOX assays and this phenomenon was found to be due to high levels of binding to protein, which effectively competed with the DNA for binding in the assay. The demonstrated ability of the COX enzymes to activate a variety of environmental and dietary carcinogens indicates a potential role for COX in the activation pathway of aromatic and heterocyclic amines and polycyclic hydrocarbons at extra-hepatic sites during early or late stages of carcinogenesis.

Biotransformation of trans-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene to benzo[a]pyrene bis-diols and DNA adducts by induced rat liver microsomes.

The biotransformation of (+/-)-trans-4,5-dihydroxy-4, 5-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol), the K-region dihydrodiol of B[a]P, by beta-naphthoflavone (BNF)-induced rat liver microsomes was studied. trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol was metabolized to six major products as characterized by NMR, MS, and UV spectroscopy, and all were identified as bis-diols: two diastereomers of trans,trans-4, 5:7,8-tetrahydroxy-4,5:7,8-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (trans, trans-B[a]P-4,5:7,8-bis-diol), two diastereomers of trans,trans-4, 5:9,10-tetrahydroxy-4,5:9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (trans, trans-B[a]P-4,5:9,10-bis-diol), and two diastereomers of the somewhat unusual trans,trans-1,2:4,5-tetrahydroxy-1,2:4, 5-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (trans,trans-B[a]P-1,2:4,5-bis-diol). BNF-induced rat liver microsomes also metabolized B[a]P to the same trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol-derived bis-diols. The ability of trans-B[a]P-4, 5-diol to form DNA adducts was investigated using (32)P-postlabeling techniques specifically designed to detect stable polar DNA adducts. Four DNA adducts were detected after microsomal activation of trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol with calf thymus DNA. Further analyses indicated that each of these stable polar DNA adducts was derived from the further metabolic activation of the trans,trans-B[a]P-4,5:7, 8-bis-diols. We conclude that trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol can be metabolized to a series of B[a]P-bis-diols, and can also be metabolically activated to form stable polar DNA adducts. The trans, trans-B[a]P-4,5:7,8-bis-diols were shown to be metabolic intermediates in the formation of these DNA adducts.

Metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by duck liver microsomes.

The metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene [BP], a model carcinogenic PAH, by hepatic microsomes of two duck species, mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and common merganser (Mergus merganser americanus) collected from chemically-contaminated and relatively non-contaminated areas was investigated. The rate of metabolism of BP by liver microsomes of common merganser and mallard collected from polluted areas (2,650 +/- 310 and 2,200 +/- 310 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein, respectively) was significantly higher than that obtained with liver microsomes of the two species collected from non-polluted areas (334 +/- 33 and 231 +/- 30 pmol/min per mg microsomal protein, respectively). The level of cytochrome P-450 1A1 was significantly higher in the liver microsomes of both duck species from the polluted areas as compared to the ducks from the non-polluted areas. The major BP metabolites, including BP-9, 10-diol, BP-4, 5-diol, BP-7, 8-diol, BP-1, 6-dione, BP-3, 6-dione, BP-6, 12-dione, 9-hydroxy-BP and 3-hydroxy-BP, formed by liver microsomes of both duck species from polluted and non-polluted areas, were qualitatively similar. However, the patterns of these metabolites were considerably different from each other. Liver microsomes of ducks from the polluted areas produced a higher proportion of benzo-ring dihydrodiols than the liver microsomes of ducks from the non-polluted areas, which converted a greater proportion of BP to BP-phenols. The predominant enantiomer of BP-7,8-diol formed by hepatic microsomes of the two duck species had an (-)R,R absolute stereochemistry. The data suggest that duck and rat liver microsomal enzymes have different regioselectivity but similar stereoselectivity in the metabolism of BP.

Tumorigenicity and liver tumor ras-protooncogene mutations in CD-1 mice treated neonatally with 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene and their trans-7,8-dihydrodiol and aminobenzo[a]pyrene metabolites.

The environmental pollutants 1- and 3-nitrobenzo[a]pyrene (1- and 3-NBaP) are metabolized by mammalian microsomes through ring oxidation to 1-NBaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol and 3-NBaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol, and by nitroreduction to 1- and 3-aminobenzo[a]pyrene. To determine if these compounds are tumorigenic, 1- and 3-NBaP, along with several of their metabolites and the parent benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and its trans-7,8-dihydrodiol metabolite, were tested in the neonatal CD-1 mouse bioassay. Male mice were administered i.p. injections at a total dose of 100 or 400 nmol per mouse on 1, 8 and 15 days after birth. While the liver tumor incidences for BaP, BaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol, and the positive control 6-nitrochrysene (6-NC) were significantly higher than in the solvent control animals, all the other tested compounds exhibited no tumorigenicity. The frequency of Ha- and Ki-ras mutations in liver tumors of mice treated with BaP, BaP trans-7,8-dihydrodiol, and 6-NC were higher than in the few liver tumors isolated from control mice or mice treated with the NBaPs or their metabolites. Since 1- and 3-NBaP and their metabolites are potent mutagens in the Salmonella assay and moderate mutagens in the Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) mammalian mutagenicity assay, our results indicate that the in vitro mutagenicity of these compounds does not correlate with their tumorigenicity.

Apoptosis in Daudi human B cells in response to benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol.

Numerous studies have demonstrated an association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and lymphocyte toxicity. The present study shows that, consistent with its effects on Ca2+ homeostasis, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) induces apoptosis in Daudi cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidal transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) analysis at 18 h revealed a significant increase in the number of cells undergoing apoptosis in response to BaP (75%), BaP-7, 8-dihydrodiol (110%), and BaP-7,8-9,10-diol epoxide (BPDE) (215%) over DMSO vehicle control cultures. By 36 h, the trend toward increasing numbers of apoptotic cells continued with the parent compound producing a 125% increase over control values and the 7, 8-dihydrodiol and BPDE metabolites producing 195% and 370% increases over controls, respectively. DNA fragmentation assays demonstrated the presence of internucleosomal cleavage products consistent with the increasing numbers of TUNEL-positive cells responding to PAHs at 18 and 36 h. Analysis of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein in BaP- and BaP-7,8-dihydrodiol-treated cells strongly suggested the involvement of cysteine proteases by the appearance of an 85-kD fragment derived from hydrolytic cleavage of PARP, a phenomenon that has been associated with apoptosis in many systems. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that both BaP and its 7,8-dihydrodiol metabolite affected a pathway involving Bcl-2 and Bax cytosolic proteins. Daudi cells undergoing apoptosis at 36 h in response to 10 microM BaP, the parent compound, expressed moderately reduced amounts of Bcl-2 (78% of vehicle controls). At the same time point, the 7,8-dihydrodiol and BDPE metabolites at 3 microM resulted in Bcl-2 protein expression that was 52% of that seen in vehicle controls. Parallel samples analyzed for expression of Bax protein displayed a 130% increase over vehicle control in Bax expression in response to the parent compound, while the 7,8-dihydrodiol metabolite produced a 257% increase in Bax. Furthermore, the effects on increased Bax expression were observed as early as 3 h after PAH exposure. The apoptotic response to PAHs in Daudi cells was sensitive to 4-h pretreatment with 0.3 microM alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF), a known inhibitor of cytochrome P450. In TUNEL assays of cells exposed to PAHs following pretreatment with ANF, at 18 h there was a significant reduction in the number of cells undergoing apoptosis in response to ANF compared to cells that were not pretreated with the compound. The effect of the parent compound at 18 h was completely blocked with ANF pretreatment, while ANF exerted a relatively weaker, but significant, effect on BaP-7, 8-dihydrodiol-induced apoptosis. With regard to modulation of expression of apoptosis-related proteins, Bax expression was restored to that observed in vehicle-control cultures at all time points tested (3, 18, and 36 h). Bcl-2 expression was most responsive to ANF at later time points following PAH exposure (18 and 36 h); however, Bcl-2 appeared to be more sensitive to the effects of ANF alone. Taken together, these data suggest that modulation of Bcl-2 family proteins, perhaps secondary to altered Ca2+ homeostasis, plays an important role in human B cell apoptosis induced by BaP.

Alterations in human B cell calcium homeostasis by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: possible associations with cytochrome P450 metabolism and increased protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

Previous studies performed in this laboratory have shown that certain benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) metabolites, such as benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol (BaP-7,8-diol) and benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE), were more effective in elevating intracellular Ca2+ in normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (HPBMC) T and B cells than was BaP. Additionally, it has been shown that the suppression of human T cell mitogenesis produced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and certain BaP metabolites is reversed by treatment with alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF), a cytochrome P450 1A and 1B inhibitor. ANF also diminishes the elevation in intracellular calcium (Ca2+) produced by BaP in HPBMC. In the present studies, we further defined the relationships between intracellular Ca2+ elevation produced by BaP and two immunotoxic P450-derived metabolites, BaP-7,8-diol and BPDE in the Daudi human B cell line. At 1, 4, and 18 h, both BaP-7,8-diol and BPDE produced a significant rise in intracellular Ca2+. This effect, however, was not observed with BaP or benzo(e)pyrene (BeP), a nonimmunotoxic PAH. To evaluate the potential role of cytochrome P450 metabolism in PAH-induced Ca2+ elevation, Daudi cells were pretreated with ANF for 4 h, followed by treatment with BaP metabolites for 18 h. ANF completely reversed the rise in Ca2+ produced by BaP-7,8-diol, but had no effect on the Ca2+ elevation produced by BPDE. These results suggest that BPDE may be the ultimate P450 metabolite responsible for Ca2+ elevation in human B cells. BaP-7,8-diol and BPDE were found to increase tyrosine phosphorylation in Daudi whole cell lysates and to increase tyrosine phosphorylation of two important Src-related protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs), Lyn and Syk. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation by herbimycin A was found to largely prevent the increase in intracellular Ca2+ produced by BaP-7,8-diol and BPDE, suggesting that Ca2+ elevation is coupled to increased tyrosine phosphorylation in Daudi. BPDE was found to produce a statistically significant increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of Lyn and Syk within 10 min of exposure. Collectively, these data demonstrate that certain P450-derived metabolites of BaP may be responsible for PTK activation and an increase intracellular Ca2+, which may alter antigen receptor signaling in human B cells.

Peroxisome proliferators increase the formation of BPDE-DNA adducts in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Peroxisome proliferators are known to modulate the activity of xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes, including glutathione S-transferase (GST) and cytochrome P-450 (CYP). In this study the effect of peroxisome proliferators silvex and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) on the formation of (+)-anti-benzo(a)pyrene -7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts from a proximate mutagen and carcinogen (-)-transbenzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol (BPDD) has been investigated. Rat CYP1A1 metabolises BPDD to mutagenic BPDE, which may form DNA adducts or, alternatively, be detoxified by hydrolysis or glutathione conjugation. In this experiment the formation of BPDE-DNA adducts was significantly increased in hepatocytes isolated from all silvex treated rats and two out of four DEHP treated rats (14 day treatment). The activity of CYP1A1 was increased whereas GST was reduced by the peroxisome proliferator silvex. These changes were more significant than those induced by DEHP. We have hypothesised that the formation of BPDE-DNA adducts was primarily due to the increased BPDD activation to BPDE versus reduced detoxication of BPDE. Other hepatic changes induced by the peroxisome proliferators, e.g. peroxisome proliferation per se and increased mitotic activity of the liver could have an effect on the outcome of BPDD exposure.

Inflammatory response of mouse skin exposed to the very potent carcinogen dibenzo[a,l]pyrene: a model for tumor promotion.

The potent carcinogenicity of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene in mouse skin is associated with an inflammation unique among polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and expressed as erythema. The time course of erythema and the associated histological events in the skin of female SENCAR mice were determined after a single application of 6.25-200 nmol dibenzo[a,l]pyrene or selected metabolites. Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-11,12-dihydrodiol, precursor to the bay-region diol epoxide, induced an erythema first present 5-6 days after treatment. Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-8,9-dihydrodiol and other dibenzo[a, l]pyrene metabolites, however, did not induce erythema. These findings suggest a central role for the bay-region diol epoxide in the induction of the observed inflammation. The intensity and duration of erythema were dose-dependent, whereas the delayed appearance of erythema was constant and dose-independent. These results suggest induction of an immune hypersensitivity by dibenzo[a, l]pyrene and its 11,12-dihydrodiol. Histological changes in the skin were consistent with a contact hypersensitivity reaction and included, in association with erythema, epidermal hyperplasia and the presence of mononuclear leukocytes in the dermis. Animals were tested for dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-induced contact hypersensitivity. Female SENCAR mice were treated with a single dermal application of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene or 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Five days later, the animals were challenged with a single application of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene or 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene to the ear pinna. Ear swelling exhibited features of a contact hypersensitivity reaction, including (1) delayed appearance after challenge, (2) noninducibility in animals not previously exposed to chemical sensitizer, and (3) chemical specificity. The results suggest that dibenzo[a,l]pyrene induces, via its bay-region diol epoxide, a contact hypersensitivity reaction that may promote tumor development and thereby enhance carcinogenic potency.

Metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene in two fetal mouse hepatocyte lines: induction of DNA adducts and micronuclei.

We have studied the metabolic competence of two non-transformed epithelial-like cell lines derived from fetal mouse liver, C 6 and C 2.8, to activate the promutagen benzo[a]pyrene by measuring both the induction of DNA adducts through the nuclease P1-enhanced 32P-postlabeling assay and the formation of micronuclei. The pattern and level of DNA adducts detected in C 6 and C 2.8 cells treated with benzo[a]pyrene were compared with those obtained in human peripheral blood lymphocytes treated with the same compound and with [3H]anti-benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide. In both the cell lines and in human lymphocytes we observed a consistent induction of distinct DNA adducts. In C 6 and C 2.8 cells, the most evident adduct showed a position similar to that of the main adduct induced by [3H]-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide in human lymphocytes. In addition, benzo[a]pyrene caused a significant increase of micronucleated C 6 and C 2.8 cells, whereas the frequency of micronuclei did not increase in CHO cells treated, for comparison, in the same way.

Metabolism of (+)-trans-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol by 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rat liver homogenates.

Using a new sensitive reverse-phase HPLC assay with on-line radioactivity detector, metabolism of (+)-trans-benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol (B[a]P diol) to the ultimate carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (B[a]PDE) was studied using 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rat liver homogenates. The results demonstrate that the stereoselectivity of B[a]PDE formation is a function of the concentration of the cellular constituents in the incubation media. At more dilute concentrations of the homogenate, the ratio of anti- to syn-B[a]PDE was the highest and decreased as the homogenate protein was increased in the incubation medium. However, there was a marked and parallel decrease of free B[a]PDE and DNA-bound radioactivity with increasing concentrations of cellular constituents in the incubation medium. The decreased DNA-bound radioactivity appears to be due to the preferential binding of B[a]PDE to glutathione and to proteins as the homogenate concentration was increased in the incubation media. These results indicate that liver homogenates, while apparently preserving the function of microsomes, present additional opportunities to study the interrelationship among cytochrome P450 monooxygenase activity, water-soluble conjugates, and binding of B[a]P diol metabolites to macromolecules in the study of benzo[a]pyrene-induced carcinogenesis.