Erythrocytes identify complement activation in patients with COVID-19.

COVID-19, the disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, can progress to multisystem organ failure and viral sepsis characterized by respiratory failure, arrhythmias, thromboembolic complications, and shock with high mortality. Autopsy and preclinical evidence implicate aberrant complement activation in endothelial injury and organ failure. Erythrocytes express complement receptors and are capable of binding immune complexes; therefore, we investigated complement activation in patients with COVID-19 using erythrocytes as a tool to diagnose complement activation. We discovered enhanced C3b and C4d deposition on erythrocytes in COVID-19 sepsis patients and non-COVID sepsis patients compared with healthy controls, supporting the role of complement in sepsis-associated organ injury. Our data suggest that erythrocytes may contribute to a precision medicine approach to sepsis and have diagnostic value in monitoring complement dysregulation in COVID-19-sepsis and non-COVID sepsis and identifying patients who may benefit from complement targeted therapies.

The 17D-204 Vaccine Strain-Induced Protection against Virulent Yellow Fever Virus Is Mediated by Humoral Immunity and CD4+ but not CD8+ T Cells.

A gold standard of antiviral vaccination has been the safe and effective live-attenuated 17D-based yellow fever virus (YFV) vaccines. Among more than 500 million vaccinees, only a handful of cases have been reported in which vaccinees developed a virulent wild type YFV infection. This efficacy is presumed to be the result of both neutralizing antibodies and a robust T cell response. However, the particular immune components required for protection against YFV have never been evaluated. An understanding of the immune mechanisms that underlie 17D-based vaccine efficacy is critical to the development of next-generation vaccines against flaviviruses and other pathogens. Here we have addressed this question for the first time using a murine model of disease. Similar to humans, vaccination elicited long-term protection against challenge, characterized by high neutralizing antibody titers and a robust T cell response that formed long-lived memory. Both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were polyfunctional and cytolytic. Adoptive transfer of immune sera or CD4+ T cells provided partial protection against YFV, but complete protection was achieved by transfer of both immune sera and CD4+ T cells. Thus, robust CD4+ T cell activity may be a critical contributor to protective immunity elicited by highly effective live attenuated vaccines.

Human red blood cells express the RNA sensor TLR7.

Red blood cells (RBCs) express the nucleic acid-binding toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) and bind CpG-containing DNA. However, whether human RBCs express other nucleic acid-binding TLRs is unknown. Here we show that human RBCs express the RNA sensor TLR7. TLR7 is present on the red cell membrane and is associated with the RBC membrane protein Band 3. In patients with SARS-CoV2-associated sepsis, TLR7-Band 3 interactions in the RBC membrane are increased when compared with healthy controls. In vitro, RBCs bind synthetic ssRNA and RNA from ssRNA viruses. Thus, RBCs may serve as a previously unrecognized sink for exogenous RNA, expanding the repertoire of non-gas exchanging functions performed by RBCs.

Inflammatory and tissue injury marker dynamics in pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome.

BACKGROUNDThe molecular signature of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is poorly described, and the degree to which hyperinflammation or specific tissue injury contributes to outcomes is unknown. Therefore, we profiled inflammation and tissue injury dynamics over the first 7 days of ARDS, and associated specific biomarkers with mortality, persistent ARDS, and persistent multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS).METHODSIn a single-center prospective cohort of intubated pediatric patients with ARDS, we collected plasma on days 0, 3, and 7. Nineteen biomarkers reflecting inflammation, tissue injury, and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) were measured. We assessed the relationship between biomarkers and trajectories with mortality, persistent ARDS, or persistent MODS using multivariable mixed effect models.RESULTSIn 279 patients (64 [23%] nonsurvivors), hyperinflammatory cytokines, tissue injury markers, and DAMPs were higher in nonsurvivors. Survivors and nonsurvivors showed different biomarker trajectories. IL-1α, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1, angiopoietin 2 (ANG2), and surfactant protein D increased in nonsurvivors, while DAMPs remained persistently elevated. ANG2 and procollagen type III N-terminal peptide were associated with persistent ARDS, whereas multiple cytokines, tissue injury markers, and DAMPs were associated with persistent MODS. Corticosteroid use did not impact the association of biomarker levels or trajectory with mortality.CONCLUSIONSPediatric ARDS survivors and nonsurvivors had distinct biomarker trajectories, with cytokines, endothelial and alveolar epithelial injury, and DAMPs elevated in nonsurvivors. Mortality markers overlapped with markers associated with persistent MODS, rather than persistent ARDS.FUNDINGNIH (K23HL-136688, R01-HL148054).

Reduction of benzoquinones to hydroquinones via spontaneous reaction with glutathione and enzymatic reaction by S-glutathionyl-hydroquinone reductases.

S-Glutathionyl-hydroquinone reductases (GS-HQRs) are a new class of glutathione transferases, widely present in bacteria, halobacteria, fungi, and plants. They catalyze glutathione (GSH)-dependent reduction of GS-trichloro-p-hydroquinone to trichloro-p-hydroquinone. Since GS-trichloro-p-hydroquinone is uncommon in nature, the extensive presence of GS-HQRs suggests they use common GS-hydroquinones. Here we demonstrate that several benzoquinones spontaneously reacted with GSH to form GS-hydroquinones via Michael addition, and four GS-HQRs from yeast and bacteria reduced the GS-hydroquinones to the corresponding hydroquinones. The spontaneous and enzymatic reactions led to the reduction of benzoquinones to hydroquinones with the concomitant oxidation of GSH to oxidized glutathione (GS-SG). The enzymes did not use GS-benzoquinones or other thiol-hydroquinones, for example, S-cysteinyl-hydroquinone, as substrates. Apparent kinetic parameters showed the enzymes preferred hydrophobic, bulky substrates, such as GS-menadiol. The broad substrate range and their wide distribution suggest two potential physiological roles: channeling GS-hydroquinones back to hydroquinones and reducing benzoquinones via spontaneous formation of GS-hydroquinones and then enzymatic reduction to hydroquinones. The functions are likely important in metabolic pathways with quinone intermediates.

Bat Red Blood Cells Express Nucleic Acid-Sensing Receptors and Bind RNA and DNA.

RBCs demonstrate immunomodulatory capabilities through the expression of nucleic acid sensors. However, little is known about bat RBCs, and no studies have examined the immune function of bat erythrocytes. In this study, we show that bat RBCs express the nucleic acid-sensing TLRs TLR7 and TLR9 and bind the nucleic acid ligands, ssRNA, and CpG DNA. Collectively, these data suggest that, like human RBCs, bat erythrocytes possess immune function and may be reservoirs for nucleic acids. These findings provide unique insight into bat immunity and may uncover potential mechanisms by which virulent pathogens of humans are concealed in bats.

Biochemical characterization of ethanol-dependent reduction of furfural by alcohol dehydrogenases.

Lignocellulosic biomass is usually converted to hydrolysates, which consist of sugars and sugar derivatives, such as furfural. Before yeast ferments sugars to ethanol, it reduces toxic furfural to non-inhibitory furfuryl alcohol in a prolonged lag phase. Bioreduction of furfural may shorten the lag phase. Cupriavidus necator JMP134 rapidly reduces furfural with a Zn-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (FurX) at the expense of ethanol (Li et al. 2011). The mechanism of the ethanol-dependent reduction of furfural by FurX and three homologous alcohol dehydrogenases was investigated. The reduction consisted of two individual reactions: ethanol-dependent reduction of NAD(+) to NADH and then NADH-dependent reduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol. The kinetic parameters of the coupled reaction and the individual reactions were determined for the four enzymes. The data indicated that limited NADH was released in the coupled reaction. The enzymes had high affinities for NADH (e.g., K ( d ) of 0.043 µM for the FurX-NADH complex) and relatively low affinities for NAD(+) (e.g., K ( d ) of 87 µM for FurX-NAD(+)). The kinetic data suggest that the four enzymes are efficient "furfural reductases" with either ethanol or NADH as the reducing power. The standard free energy change (ΔG°') for ethanol-dependent reduction of furfural was determined to be -1.1 kJ mol(-1). The physiological benefit for ethanol-dependent reduction of furfural is likely to replace toxic and recalcitrant furfural with less toxic and more biodegradable acetaldehyde.

Cupriavidus necator JMP134 rapidly reduces furfural with a Zn-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase.

Ethanol is a renewable biofuel, and it can be produced from lignocellulosic biomass. The biomass is usually converted to hydrolysates that consist of sugar and sugar derivatives, such as furfural. Yeast ferments sugar to ethanol, but furfural higher than 3 mM is inhibitory. It can take several days for yeast cells to reduce furfural to non-inhibitory furfuryl alcohol before producing ethanol. Bioreduction of furfural to furfuryl alcohol before fermentation may relieve yeast from furfural toxicity. We observed that Cupriavidus necator JMP134, a strict aerobe, rapidly reduced 17 mM furfural to less than 3 mM within 14 min with cell turbidity of 1.0 at 600 nm at 50°C. The rapid reduction consumed ethanol. The "furfural reductase" (FurX) was purified, and it oxidized ethanol to acetaldehyde and reduced furfural to furfuryl alcohol with NAD(+) as the cofactor. The protein was identified with mass spectrometry fingerprinting to be a hypothetical protein belonging to Zn-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase family. The furX-inactivation mutant of C. necator JMP134 lost the ability to rapidly reduce furfural, and Escherichia coli producing recombinant FurX gained the ability. Thus, an alcohol dehydrogenase enabled bacteria to rapidly reduce furfural with ethanol as the reducing power.

DNA binding to TLR9 expressed by red blood cells promotes innate immune activation and anemia.

Red blood cells (RBCs) are essential for aerobic respiration through delivery of oxygen to distant tissues. However, RBCs are currently considered immunologically inert, and few, if any, secondary functions of RBCs have been identified. Here, we showed that RBCs serve as critical immune sensors through surface expression of the nucleic acid­sensing Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9). Mammalian RBCs expressed TLR9 on their surface and bound CpG-containing DNA derived from bacteria, plasmodia, and mitochondria. RBC-bound mitochondrial DNA was increased during human and murine sepsis and pneumonia. In vivo, CpG-carrying RBCs drove accelerated erythrophagocytosis and innate immune activation characterized by increased interferon signaling. Erythroid-specific deletion of TLR9 abrogated erythrophagocytosis and decreased local and systemic cytokine production during CpG-induced inflammation and polymicrobial sepsis. Thus, detection and capture of nucleic acid by TLR9-expressing RBCs regulated red cell clearance and inflammatory cytokine production, demonstrating that RBCs function as immune sentinels during pathologic states. Consistent with these findings, RBC-bound mitochondrial DNA was elevated in individuals with viral pneumonia and sepsis secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and associated with anemia and severity of disease. These findings uncover a previously unappreciated role of RBCs as critical players in inflammation distinct from their function in gas transport.

Gamma-interferon exerts a critical early restriction on replication and dissemination of yellow fever virus vaccine strain 17D-204.

Live attenuated viruses are historically among the most effective viral vaccines. Development of a safe vaccine requires the virus to be less virulent, a phenotype that is historically arrived by empirical evaluation often leaving the mechanisms of attenuation unknown. The yellow fever virus 17D live attenuated vaccine strain has been developed as a delivery vector for heterologous antigens; however, the mechanisms of attenuation remain elusive. The successful and safe progress of 17D as a vaccine vector and the development of live attenuated vaccines (LAVs) to related flaviviruses requires an understanding of the molecular mechanisms leading to attenuation. Using subcutaneous infection of interferon-deficient mouse models of wild type yellow fever virus (WT YFV) pathogenesis and 17D-mediated immunity, we found that, in the absence of type I IFN (IFN-α/ß), type II interferon (IFN-γ) restricted 17D replication, but not that of WT YFV, by 1-2 days post-infection. In this context, IFN-γ responses protected 17D-infected animals from mortality, largely restricted the virus to lymphoid organs, and eliminated viscerotropic disease signs such as steatosis in the liver and inflammatory cell infiltration into the spleen. However, WT YFV caused a disseminated infection, gross liver pathology, and rapid death of the animals. In vitro, IFN-γ treatment of myeloid cells suppressed the replication of 17D significantly more than that of WT YFV, suggesting a direct differential effect on 17D virus replication. Together these data indicate that an important mechanism of 17D attenuation in vivo is increased sensitivity to IFN-γ stimulated responses elicited early after infection.

The Efficacy of the Interferon Alpha/Beta Response versus Arboviruses Is Temperature Dependent.

Interferon alpha/beta (IFN-α/ß) is a critical mediator of protection against most viruses, with host survival frequently impossible in its absence. Many studies have investigated the pathways involved in the induction of IFN-α/ß after virus infection and the resultant upregulation of antiviral IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs) through IFN-α/ß receptor complex signaling. However, other than examining the effects of genetic deletion of induction or effector pathway components, little is known regarding the functionality of these responses in intact hosts and whether host genetic or environmental factors might influence their potency. Here, we demonstrate that the IFN-α/ß response against multiple arthropod-vectored viruses, which replicate over a wide temperature range, is extremely sensitive to fluctuations in temperature, exhibiting reduced antiviral efficacy at subnormal cellular temperatures and increased efficacy at supranormal temperatures. The effect involves both IFN-α/ß and ISG upregulation pathways with a major aspect of altered potency reflecting highly temperature-dependent transcription of IFN response genes that leads to altered IFN-α/ß and ISG protein levels. Discordantly, signaling steps prior to transcription that were examined showed the opposite effect from gene transcription, with potentiation at low temperature and inhibition at high temperature. Finally, we demonstrate that by lowering the temperature of mice, chikungunya arbovirus replication and disease are exacerbated in an IFN-α/ß-dependent manner. This finding raises the potential for use of hyperthermia as a therapeutic modality for viral infections and in other contexts such as antitumor therapy. The increased IFN-α/ß efficacy at high temperatures may also reflect an innate immune-relevant aspect of the febrile response.IMPORTANCE The interferon alpha/beta (IFN-α/ß) response is a first-line innate defense against arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Arboviruses, such as chikungunya virus (CHIKV), can infect cells and replicate across a wide temperature range due to their replication in both mammalian/avian and arthropod hosts. Accordingly, these viruses can cause human disease in tissues regularly exposed to temperatures below the normal mammalian core temperature, 37°C. We questioned whether temperature variation could affect the efficacy of IFN-α/ß responses against these viruses and help to explain some aspects of human disease manifestations. We observed that IFN-α/ß efficacy was dramatically lower at subnormal temperatures and modestly enhanced at febrile temperatures, with the effects involving altered IFN-α/ß response gene transcription but not IFN-α/ß pathway signaling. These results provide insight into the functioning of the IFN-α/ß response in vivo and suggest that temperature elevation may represent an immune-enhancing therapeutic modality for a wide variety of IFN-α/ß-sensitive infections and pathologies.

Pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy using the thoracoscopic approach.

BACKGROUND: Thoracoscopic mobilization of the esophagus for pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy allows dissection under direct vision, and therefore it potentially results in fewer complications than conventional transhiatal mobilization. In this article we report our experience with this approach. It was also hypothesized that a learning curve existed and that results have improved over time. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From July 1994 until January 2004, 57 patients underwent pharyngolaryngoesophagectomy in our institution. Intraoperative events and postoperative outcome were prospectively documented, and long-term follow-up data were also studied. Results were compared between the first 30 patients and the last 27 patients. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the various clinicopathological characteristics. There was no difference in the median thoracoscopic time between the first 30 and last 27 patients at 90 and 75 min, respectively, p = 0.18. For the complete procedure there was significantly less blood loss in the later group; median (range) blood loss 700 (164-3000) ml versus 400 (100-1200) ml, p = 0.002. Overall pulmonary complications occurred in 12 patients (40%) in the first group versus 13 (48%) in the second group, p = 0.6. The incidence of atrial arrhythmia was also similar, affecting 6 (20%) patients and 3 (11%), respectively, p = 0.47. Hospital mortality rates were 13.3% and 7.4%, p = 0.67. Two-year survival rates were no different (46% versus 45% p = 0.85). CONCLUSIONS: Although, subjectively, operating skills have improved over time, better results in the second half of this series could not be demonstrated clearly, likely because the operating surgeons had prior extensive experience in esophageal and thoracoscopic procedures.

Ribbon scanning confocal for high-speed high-resolution volume imaging of brain.

Whole-brain imaging is becoming a fundamental means of experimental insight; however, achieving subcellular resolution imagery in a reasonable time window has not been possible. We describe the first application of multicolor ribbon scanning confocal methods to collect high-resolution volume images of chemically cleared brains. We demonstrate that ribbon scanning collects images over ten times faster than conventional high speed confocal systems but with equivalent spectral and spatial resolution. Further, using this technology, we reconstruct large volumes of mouse brain infected with encephalitic alphaviruses and demonstrate that regions of the brain with abundant viral replication were inaccessible to vascular perfusion. This reveals that the destruction or collapse of large regions of brain micro vasculature may contribute to the severe disease caused by Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus. Visualization of this fundamental impact of infection would not be possible without sampling at subcellular resolution within large brain volumes.

Effects of butylated hydroxyanisole on the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene by mouse liver microsomes.

The metabolites of tritium-labeled benzo[a[pyrene (BP) extracted from liver microsomes prepared by butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)-fed and control female A/HeJ mice were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. There was an overall decrease in diol formation as well as an increase in the phenol formation in microsomal incubations from the BHA-fed mice compared to the controls. The dione region, when analyzed together with the BP-4,5-oxide peak, showed an overall decrease with BHA feeding. The BP-4,5-oxide was isolated and identified. It was present in both the BHA-fed and control microsomal incubations but was substantially reduced in the former. BP-9,10-oxide and BP-7,8-oxide were not directly demonstrated. Data based on summation of diols and phenols resulting from the breakdown of these oxides indicated that they were present in reduced amounts in the microsomal incubation from BHA-fed mice. The 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-HOBP) was the major metabolite in both microsomal incubations and was present in a significantly higher percentage in the incubations from the BHA-fed mice when compared to control mice. Thus BHA resulted in two metabolic alterations which could result in its exerting an inhibitory effect on BP-induced carcinogenesis. The first was an increase in 3-HOBP, a metabolite of detoxification, and the second was a decrease in epoxidation, which is an activation process.

Effects of administration to mice of butylated hydroxyanisole by oral intubation on benzo[a]pyrene-induced pulmonary adenoma formation and metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene.

Administration of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) by oral intubation 4 hours before challenge with benzo[a]pyrene (BP) inhibited the formation of pulmonary adenomas in A/HeJ mice. Incubation of BP with liver microsomes from mice that received BHA 2,4, or 8 hours before being killed resulted in less binding of BP metabolites to added DNA than occurred with control microsomes. High-pressure liquid chromatography studies of the BP metabolite pattern produced by the incubation of BP with liver microsomes from mice given BHA by oral intubation showed a decrease in formation of BP-4,5-oxide and 9-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene. In contrast, the formation of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]-pyrene was increased. The was increased. The short interval between the administration of BHA by oral intubation and the observed biochemical changes indicated that BHA could exert a direct effect on the microsomal metabolism of BP. These changes in metabolism of BP occurred under conditions of BHA administration that produced a decreased neoplastic response to this carcinogen.

Neoplastic effects of oral administration of (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene and their inhibition by butylated hydroxyanisole.

The neoplastic effects of administration of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) and (+/-)-trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BP 7,8-dihydrodiol) by oral intubation to noninbred female Ha:ICR mice have been determined. Under the experimental conditions, BP induced papillomas of the forestomach. BP 7,8-dihydrodiol also induced papillomas of the forestomach and was more potent than BP. In addition, administration of BP 7,8-dihydrodiol caused a large number of pulmonary adenomas and lymphomas. Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) added to the diet at a concentration of 5 mg/g inhibited BP-induced neoplasia of the forestomach. BHA also inhibited neoplasia of the forestomach, lungs, and lymphoid tissues that was caused by administration of BP 7,8-dihydrodiol. These data suggest that the inhibitory effect of BHA on BP carcinogenesis may entail events that occur subsequent to the formation of BP 7,8-dihydrodiol.

Isolation and identification of kahweol palmitate and cafestol palmitate as active constituents of green coffee beans that enhance glutathione S-transferase activity in the mouse.

Glutathione (GSH) S-transferase is a major detoxification enzyme system that catalyzes the binding of a variety of electrophiles, including reactive forms of chemical carcinogens, to GSH. Green coffee beans fed in the diet induced increased GSH S-transferase activity in the mucosa of the small intestine and in the liver of mice. A potent compound that induces increased GSH S-transferase activity was isolated from green coffee beans and identified as kahweol palmitate. The corresponding free alcohol, kahweol, and its synthetic monoacetate are also potent inducers of the activity of GSH S-transferase. A similar diterpene ester, cafestol palmitate, isolated from green coffee beans was active but less so than was kahweol palmitate. Likewise, the corresponding alcohol, cafestol, and its monoacetate showed moderate potency as inducers of increased GSH S-transferase activity. Kahweol palmitate and cafestol palmitate were extracted from green coffee beans into petroleum ether. The petroleum ether extract was fractionated by preparative normal-phase and reverse-phase liquid chromatographies successively. Final purification with silver nitrate-impregnated thin-layer chromatography yielded the pure palmitates of cafestol and kahweol. The structures were determined by examination of the spectroscopic data of the esters and their parent alcohols and by derivative comparison.

Inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds on benzo(a)pyrene-induced neoplasia.

The inhibitory effects of 18 synthetic phenolic compounds added to the diet on benzo(a)pyrene-induced neoplasia of the forestomach of female ICR/Ha mice have been determined. Seven of the compounds showed suppression of neoplasia. The most potent inhibitors were p-methoxyphenol, 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole [the minor isomer of 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole] and 3,5-di-tert-butylcatechol. A second group of compounds with a weaker inhibitory activity consisted of 3,5-di-tert-butylphenol, 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole [the major isomer of 2(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole], 2-tert-butylhydroquinone, and 2-tert-butylphenol. In additional experiments, three naturally occurring phenolic derivatives of cinnamic acid, i.e., o-hydroxycinnamic acid, 3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid (caffeic acid), and 4-hydroxy-3-methyoxycinnamic acid (ferulic acid), were investigated. All three suppressed benzo(a)pyrene-induced neoplasia of the forestomach. Humans ingest a variety of phenols. Data as to the inhibitory capacities of members of this group of compounds are of importance for evaluating the role that they play in determining the reaction to exposure to chemical carcinogens.

Effects of 2- and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole on glutathione S-transferase and epoxide hydrolase activities and sulfhydryl levels in liver and forestomach of mice.

Butylated hydroxyanisole, a food additive, has been found to inhibit the neoplastic effects of a wide variety of chemical carcinogens. The commercially available preparations of butylated hydroxyanisole contain two isomers, 2-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (2-BHA) and 3-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (3-BHA). Both isomers induce increased activities of glutathione (GSH) S-transferase and epoxide hydrolase and increase acid-soluble sulfhydryl concentration in hepatic and forestomach tissues of A/HeJ mice. The inductions were assayed after 2 weeks of feeding diets containing the two isomers. 3-BHA induced an increase in the activity of hepatic microsomal epoxide hydrolase by 1.4 times that of the control. The activity of cytosolic GSH S-transferase was enhanced by both isomers. In the liver, the 3-BHA induction was more than 3 times higher than that of 2-BHA. In the forestomach, however, the induction effect of the two isomers was reversed. The overall magnitude of the induction was much lower in the forestomach than in the liver. Synergistic effects on the induction of GSH-S-transferase activity were observed in the forestomach cytosol when mixtures of different proportions of the two isomers were added to the diet. Maximum enzyme activity was obtained at a ratio of 75% 2-BHA and 25% 3-BHA. No synergistic effect was observed with the corresponding hepatic cytosolic enzyme. The relative inductive effects of 2- and 3-BHA on the acid-soluble sulfhydryl level of liver and forestomach tissues followed closely those on GSH S-transferase activity. The results of the present study show that the two isomers of butylated hydroxyanisole differ in the magnitude of their effects on carcinogen-metabolizing systems of the liver and forestomach.