Attenuation by sphingosine-1-phosphate of rat microvessel acute permeability response to bradykinin is rapidly reversible.

To evaluate the hypothesis that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and cAMP attenuate increased permeability of individually perfused mesenteric microvessels through a common Rac1-dependent pathway, we measured the attenuation of the peak hydraulic conductivity (L(p)) in response to the inflammatory agent bradykinin (BK) by either S1P or cAMP. We varied the extent of exposure to each agent (test) and measured the ratio L(p)(test)/L(p)(BK alone) for each vessel (anesthetized rats). S1P (1 µM) added at the same time as BK (concurrent, no pretreatment) was as effective to attenuate the response to BK (L(p) ratio: 0.14 ± 0.05; n = 5) as concurrent plus pretreatment with S1P for 30 min (L(p) ratio: 0.26 ± 0.06; n = 11). The same pretreatment with S1P, but with no concurrent S1P, caused no inhibition of the BK response (L(p) ratio 1.07 ± 0.11; n = 8). The rapid on and off action of S1P demonstrated by these results was in contrast to cAMP-dependent changes induced by rolipram and forskolin (RF), which developed more slowly, lasted longer, and resulted in partial inhibition when given either as pretreatment or concurrent with BK. In cultured endothelium, there was no Rac activation or peripheral cortactin localization at 1 min with RF, but cortactin localization and Rac activation were maximal at 1 min with S1P. When S1P was removed, Rac activation returned to control within 2 min. Because of such differing time courses, S1P and cAMP are unlikely to act through fully common effector mechanisms.

Epac/Rap1 pathway regulates microvascular hyperpermeability induced by PAF in rat mesentery.

Experiments in cultured endothelial cell monolayers demonstrate that increased intracellular cAMP strongly inhibits the acute permeability responses by both protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent and -independent pathways. The contribution of the PKA-independent pathways to the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of cAMP in intact mammalian microvessels has not been systematically investigated. We evaluated the role of the cAMP-dependent activation of the exchange protein activated by cAMP (Epac), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTPase Rap1, in rat venular microvessels exposed to the platelet-activating factor (PAF). The cAMP analog 8-pCPT-2'-O-methyl-cAMP (O-Me-cAMP), which stimulates the Epac/Rap1 pathway but has no effect on PKA, significantly attenuated the PAF increase in microvessel permeability as measured by hydraulic conductivity (Lp). We also demonstrated that PAF induced a rearrangement of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin seen as numerous lateral spikes and frequent short breaks in the otherwise continuous peripheral immunofluorescent label. Pretreatment with O-Me-cAMP completely prevented the PAF-induced rearrangement of VE-cadherin. We conclude that the action of the Epac/Rap1 pathway to stabilize cell-cell adhesion is a significant component of the activity of cAMP to attenuate an acute increase in vascular permeability. Our results indicate that increased permeability in intact microvessels by acute inflammatory agents such as PAF is the result of the decreased effectiveness of the Epac/Rap1 pathway modulation of cell-cell adhesion.

Regulation of actin dynamics is critical for endothelial barrier functions.

We tested the hypothesis that the equilibrium between F- and G-actin in endothelial cells modulates the integrity of the actin cytoskeleton and is important for the maintenance of endothelial barrier functions in vivo and in vitro. We used the actin-depolymerizing agent cytochalasin D and jasplakinolide, an actin filament (F-actin) stabilizing and promoting substance, to modulate the actin cytoskeleton. Low doses of jasplakinolide (0.1 microM), which we have previously shown to reduce the permeability-increasing effect of cytochalasin D, had no influence on resting permeability of single-perfused mesenteric microvessels in vivo as well as on monolayer integrity. The F-actin content of cultured endothelial cells remained unchanged. In contrast, higher doses (10 microM) of jasplakinolide increased permeability (hydraulic conductivity) to the same extent as cytochalasin D and induced formation of intercellular gaps in cultured myocardial endothelial (MyEnd) cell monolayers. This was accompanied by a 34% increase of F-actin and pronounced disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton in MyEnd cells. Furthermore, we tested whether an increase of cAMP by forskolin and rolipram would prevent the cytochalasin D-induced barrier breakdown. Conditions that increase intracellular cAMP failed to block the cytochalasin D-induced permeability increase in vivo and the reduction of vascular endothelial cadherin-mediated adhesion in vitro. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that the state of polymerization of the actin cytoskeleton is critical for maintenance of endothelial barrier functions and that both depolymerization by cytochalasin D and hyperpolymerization of actin by jasplakinolide resulted in an increase of microvessel permeability in vivo. However, cAMP, which is known to support endothelial barrier functions, seems to work by mechanisms other than stabilizing F-actin.

cAMP protects endothelial barrier functions by preventing Rac-1 inhibition.

cAMP enhances endothelial barrier properties and is protective against various inflammatory mediators both in vivo and in vitro. However, the mechanisms whereby cAMP stabilizes the endothelial barrier are largely unknown. Recently we demonstrated that the Rho family GTPase Rac-1 is required for maintenance of endothelial barrier functions in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, in the present study we investigated the effect of forskolin (5 microM)- and rolipram (10 microM)-induced cAMP increase on reduction of barrier functions in response to Rac-1 inhibition by Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin (LT). Forskolin and rolipram treatment blocked LT (200 ng/ml)-induced hydraulic conductivity (Lp) increase in mesenteric microvessels in vivo. Likewise, LT-induced intercellular gap formation in monolayers of cultured microvascular myocardial endothelial (MyEnd) cells and LT-induced loss of adhesion of vascular endothelial cadherin-coated microbeads were abolished. Inhibition of PKA by myristoylated inhibitor peptide (14-22) of PKA (100 microM) reduced the protective effect of cAMP on LT-induced Lp increase in vivo and gap formation in vitro, indicating that the effect of cAMP on Rac-1 inhibition was PKA dependent. Glucosylation assays demonstrated that cAMP prevents inhibitory Rac-1 glucosylation by LT, indicating that one way that cAMP enhances endothelial barrier functions may be by regulating Rac-1 signaling. Our study suggests that cAMP may provide its well-established protective effects at least in part by regulation of Rho proteins.

Role of adhesion and contraction in Rac 1-regulated endothelial barrier function in vivo and in vitro.

We demonstrated previously that inhibition of the small GTPase Rac-1 by Clostridium sordellii lethal toxin (LT) increased the hydraulic conductivity (L(p)) of rat venular microvessels and induced gap formation in cultured myocardial endothelial cells (MyEnd). In MyEnd cells, we also demonstrated that both LT and cytochalasin D reduced cellular adhesion of vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin-coated beads. Here we further evaluate the contribution of actin depolymerization, myosin-based contraction, and VE-cadherin linkage to the actin cytoskeleton to LT-induced permeability. The actin-depolymerizing agent cytochalasin D increased L(p) in single rat mesenteric microvessels to the same extent as LT over 80 min. However, whereas the actin-stabilizing agent jasplakinolide blunted the L(p) increase due to cytochalasin D by 78%, it had no effect on the LT response. This conforms to the hypothesis that the predominant mechanism whereby Rac-1 stabilizes the endothelial barrier in intact microvessels is separate from actin polymerization and likely at the level of the VE-cadherin linkage to the actin cytoskeleton. In intact vessels, neither inhibition of contraction (butanedione monoxime, an inhibitor of myosin ATPase) nor inhibition of Rho kinase (Y-27632) modified the response to LT, even though both inhibitors lowered resting L(p). In contrast butanedione monoxime and inhibition of myosin light chain kinase completely inhibited LT-induced intercellular gap formation and largely reduced the LT-induced permeability increase in MyEnd monolayers. These results support the hypothesis that the contractile mechanisms that contribute to the formation of large gaps between cultured endothelial cells exposed to inflammatory conditions do not significantly contribute to increased permeability in intact microvessels.

PAF- and bradykinin-induced hyperpermeability of rat venules is independent of actin-myosin contraction.

We tested the hypothesis that acutely induced hyperpermeability is dependent on actin-myosin contractility by using individually perfused mesentery venules of pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Venule hydraulic conductivity (Lp) was measured to monitor hyperpermeability response to the platelet-activating factor (PAF) 1-O-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine or bradykinin. Perfusion with PAF (10 nM) induced a robust transient high Lp [24.3 +/- 1.7 x 10-7 cm/(s.cmH2O)] that peaked in 8.9 +/- 0.5 min and then returned toward control Lp [1.6 +/- 0.1 x 10-7 cm/(s.cmH2O)]. Reconstruction of venular segments with the use of transmission electron microscopy of serial sections confirmed that PAF induces paracellular inflammatory gaps. Specific inhibition of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) with 1-10 microM 1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1H-hexahydro-1,4-diazepine hydrochloride (ML-7) failed to block the PAF Lp response or change the time-to-peak Lp. ML-7 reduced baseline Lp 50% at 40 min of pretreatment. ML-7 also increased the rate of recovery from PAF hyperpermeability measured as the decrease of half-time of recovery from 4.8 +/- 0.7 to 3.2 +/- 0.3 min. Inhibition of myosin ATPase with 5-20 mM 2,3-butanedione 2-monoxime also failed to alter the hyperpermeability response to PAF. Similar results were found using ML-7 to modulate responses. These experiments indicate that an actin-myosin contractile mechanism modulated by MLCK does not contribute significantly to the robust initial increase in permeability of rat venular microvessels exposed to two common inflammatory mediators. The results are consistent with paracellular gap formation by local release of endothelial-endothelial cell adhesion structures in the absence of contraction by the actin-myosin network.

Lack of carcinogenicity of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) in cynomolgus monkeys.

The carcinogenic potential of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) was evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys. The animals received MeIQx, beginning at the age of one year, at doses of 10 or 20 mg/kg body weight by gavage five times a week for 84 months and were autopsied 8 months thereafter. Although sporadic development of aberrant crypt foci in the colon and glutathione S-transferase pi-positive foci in the liver as well as hyperplastic changes of the lymphatic tissue in the lung and gastro-intestinal tract were observed in several monkeys, this was not treatment-related. No neoplastic or preneoplastic lesions were found in other organs. Serum chemistry data and organ weights were also within the normal ranges. From these data, it is concluded that MeIQx is not carcinogenic in the cynomolgus monkey under the conditions examined. This lack of carcinogenicity is probably related to the poor activation of MeIQx due to the lack of constitutive expression of CYP1A2 as well as an inability of other cytochrome P450s to catalyze N-hydroxylation of MeIQx in the cynomolgus monkey.

Effects of long-term oral administration of DDT on nonhuman primates.

Because of reports on tumorigenic activity in different animal species exposed to DDT a decision was made in 1969 to evaluate the long-term effects of DDT on 24 cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys. DDT (20 mg/kg) was given in the diet for 130 months, followed by an observation period that ended in 1994. The two cases of malignant tumor detected in the DDT group included a metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma in a 233-month-old male and a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the prostate in a 212-month-old monkey. Benign tumors detected in the DDT group included three cases of leiomyoma, two of which were uterine and one, esophageal. No tumor was detected in the control group of 17 monkeys. Fatty changes in the liver were observed in 52.9% of the DDT group and 29.4% of the control group. More specific signs of hepatotoxicity were documented microscopically in seven DDT monkeys. Severe tremors and histological evidence of CNS and spinal cord abnormalities were observed in six DDT monkeys. The present findings show clear evidence of hepatic and CNS toxicity following long-term DDT administration to cynomolgus and rhesus monkeys. However, the two cases involving malignant tumors of different types are inconclusive with respect to a carcinogenic effect of DDT in nonhuman primates.

Microvascular permeability and number of tight junctions are modulated by cAMP.

We tested the hypothesis that increased endothelial cell adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) decreases microvascular permeability in vivo. The effects of cAMP-specific phosphodiesterase type IV inhibition and adenylate cyclase activation on microvascular hydraulic conductivity (Lp) were investigated in intact individual capillaries and postcapillary venules in mesentery of pithed frogs (Rana pipiens). Treatment with rolipram (10 microM) and forskolin (5 microM) for 25 min decreased Lp to 37% of control. Rolipram alone also significantly decreased Lp. Isoproterenol (10 microM) decreased Lp to 27% of control within 20 min. A subgroup of eight vessels treated with rolipram and forskolin, in which mean Lp fell to 25% of control, was examined with transmission electron microscopy. The mean number of tight junctions in the treated vessels was 2.2 per cleft (303 clefts), significantly higher than in a matched control group (192 clefts), which was 1.7 per cleft. The results indicate that microvascular Lp can be modulated by intracellular cAMP and that one of the structural end points of stimulated cAMP levels is an increase in the mean number of tight-junction strands between endothelial cells.

Long-term feeding of sodium saccharin to nonhuman primates: implications for urinary tract cancer.

BACKGROUND: It was observed in the early 1970s that saccharin produced bladder cancer in rats. However, it has been unclear whether sodium saccharin when consumed by humans poses a substantial carcinogenic hazard. Numerous epidemiologic studies have not shown any evidence of increased urothelial proliferation associated with ingestion of sodium saccharin. PURPOSE: Our purpose was to determine the effects of long-term feeding of sodium saccharin to three species of nonhuman primates. METHODS: Twenty monkeys of three species (six African green, seven rhesus, six cynomolgus, and one hybrid [of rhesus male and cynomolgus female parentage]) were treated with sodium saccharin (25 mg in the diet/kg body weight daily for 5 days a week) beginning within 24 hours after birth and continuing for up to 24 years. Sixteen monkeys (seven rhesus and nine cynomolgus) served as controls. During their last 2 years of life, urine was collected from selected treated and control animals and evaluated for various urinary chemistries and for the presence of calculi, microcrystalluria, and precipitate. Urinary bladders were examined by light microscopy and by scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: Sodium saccharin treatment had no effect on the urine or urothelium in any of these monkeys. There was no evidence of increased urothelial cell proliferation, and there was no evidence of formation of solid material in the urine. CONCLUSION: Although the dose of sodium saccharin administered to these monkeys was only five to 10 times the allowable daily intake for humans, the results provide additional evidence that sodium saccharin is without a carcinogenic effect on the primate urinary tract.

Metabolism of food-derived heterocyclic amines in nonhuman primates.

During the cooking of meats, several highly mutagenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are produced. Three HCAs, IQ, MeIQx, and PhIP have been under study for carcinogenicity in cynomolgus monkeys, and to date, IQ has been shown to be a potent hepatocarcinogen. Concomitantly, the metabolic processing of these HCAs has been examined. Metabolism studies show that the potent hepatocarcinogenicity of IQ is associated with the in vivo metabolic activation of IQ via N-hydroxylation and the formation of DNA adducts. In monkeys undergoing carcinogen bioassay with IQ, N-hydroxylation was confirmed by the presence of the N-hydroxy-N-glucuronide conjugate of IQ in urine. The N-hydroxylation of IQ appears to be carried out largely by hepatic CYP3A4 and/or CYP2C9/10, and not by CYP1A2, an isoform not expressed in liver of this species. Notably MeIQx is poorly activated in cynomolgus monkeys and lacks the potency of IQ to induce hepatocellular carcinoma after a 5-year dosing period. The poor activation of MeIQx appears to be due to the lack of constitutive expression of CYP1A2 and an inability of other cytochromes P450, such as CYP3A4 and CYP2C9/10, to N-hydroxylate the quinoxalines. MeIQx is detoxified in monkeys largely by conjugation with glucuronide at the N-1 position. Although the carcinogenicity of PhIP is not yet known, the metabolic data suggest that PhIP will be carcinogenic in this species. PhIP is metabolically activated in vivo in monkeys by N-hydroxylation, as discerned by the presence of the N-hydroxy-N-glucuronide conjugate in urine, bile, and plasma. PhIP also produces DNA adducts that are widely distributed in tissues. The results from these studies support the importance of N-hydroxylation in the carcinogenicity of HCAs in nonhuman primates and by analogy, the importance of this metabolic activation step in the possible carcinogenicity of dietary HCAs in humans.

Lymphoma induction by heterocyclic amines in E mu-pim-1 transgenic mice.

The usefulness of transgenic E mu-pim-1 mice bearing in their genome the pim-1 oncogene supplemented with an upstream immunoglobulin enhancer and a downstream murine leukaemia virus long terminal repeat, as sensitive test organisms was studied in two short-term carcinogenicity studies. The mice were fed standard diet Altromin 1314 supplemented either with 0.03% 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) for 7 months or with 0.03% 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) for 6 months. PhIP and IQ are heterocyclic amines formed during cooking of meat and fish and are mutagenic to bacteria and cultured mammalian cells. PhIP is a potent mouse lymphomagen, while IQ is a liver, lung and forestomach carcinogen in mice. We found that transgenic E mu-pim-1 mice are highly susceptible to PhIP induced lymphomagenesis but do not respond to IQ treatment. PhIP feeding of E mu-pim-1 mice not only increased the total number of T-cell lymphomas but also decreased the latency time compared to either transgenic or wild-type controls. The effect was most pronounced in the treated female E mu-pim-1 mice, which showed a higher incidence of PhIP induced T-cell lymphomas than transgenic males and a strongly reduced latency period after PhIP treatment compared to non-transgenic mice. Our results suggest that the transgenic E mu-pim-1 mouse may be a useful model for short-term carcinogenicity screening of potential genotoxic carcinogens having the lymphoid system as target tissue. Carcinogens that do not target this tissue, like IQ, however will not be recognised.

Short-term carcinogenicity testing of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) in E(mu)-pim-1 transgenic mice.

The usefulness of transgenic E(mu)-pim-1 mice over-expressing the pim-1 oncogene in lymphoid tissues, as sensitive test organisms was studied in a short-term carcinogenicity study. The mice were fed standard diet Altromin 1314 supplemented either with 0.03% 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) for 7 months or with 0.03% 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) for 6 months. PhIP and IQ are heterocyclic amines formed during cooking of meat and fish and are mutagenic to bacteria and cultured mammalian cells. PhIP is a potent mouse lymphomagen, while IQ is a liver carcinogen and also causes lung tumors and tumors of the forestomach in mice. We found that transgenic E(mu)-pim-1 mice are highly susceptible to PhIP induced lymphomagenesis but do not respond to the IQ treatment. PhIP feeding of E(mu)-pim-1 mice not only increased the total number of T-cell lymphomas but also decreased the latency time compared to either transgenic or wild-type controls. The effect was most pronounced in the treated female E(mu)-pim-1 mice, which showed a higher incidence of PhIP induced T-cell lymphomas than transgenic males and a strongly reduced latency period after PhIP treatment compared to non-transgenic mice. Our results suggest that the transgenic E(mu)-pim-1 mouse may be a useful model for short-term carcinogenicity screening of potential genotoxic carcinogens having the lymphoid system as target tissue. The carcinogen IQ which does not have the lymphoid system as a target was not recognized in this model.

Liver tumors and possible preneoplastic lesions, induced by a food-derived heterocyclic amine in cynomolgus monkeys; a study of histology and cytokeratin expression.

A food-derived mutagenic heterocyclic aromatic amine, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), is a potent hepatocarcinogen in cynomolgus monkeys. In an ongoing carcinogenesis study, 34 out of 40 monkeys dosed with IQ have developed malignant liver tumors. The histology and cytokeratin expression was examined in a total of 94 tumors and non-neoplastic lesions obtained from 34 cases. The majority of the tumors were classified as hepatocellular carcinoma. In some cases, a striking difference in the histological features between individual tumor nodules was suggestive of a multicentric origin. Intrahepatic vascular invasion was seen in 14 (41.2%) and metastases in 6 (17.6%) of the hepatocellular carcinoma cases. There was no evidence of regenerative hyperplasia or fibrosis in the parenchyma of the tumor-bearing livers. Clear-cell foci composed of glycogen-rich hepatocytes were the only macroscopic lesions detected prior to gross tumor development. Other liver lesions included dysplastic hepatocyte foci and areas of proliferating bile ductular like (oval) cells, located around the periportal areas and along the portal tracts. Expression of bile duct type cytokeratin 7 was observed in a few of the oval cells and non-malignant hepatocytes, as well as in some of the hepatocellular carcinoma nodules. This aberrant cytokeratin expression raises questions concerning the histogenesis of the IQ-induced hepatocellular carcinoma.

Dietary heterocyclic amines as potential human carcinogens: experimental data from nonhuman primates.

During the cooking of meats, several highly potent mutagenic heterocyclic amines (HCAs) are produced. To date, 10 HCAs have been shown to be carcinogenic in rodents, and one HCA, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), has been shown to be a potent hepatocarcinogen in nonhuman primates. In this report, we discuss the role of metabolic activation and DNA adduct formation in the carcinogenicity of HCAs, especially in nonhuman primates. The potent hepatocarcinogenicity of IQ in cynomolgus monkeys appears to be associated with the in vivo metabolic activation of IQ and the formation of hepatic DNA adducts. Notably, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MelQx), is poorly metabolically activated in monkeys and lacks the potency of IQ to induce hepatocellular carcinoma. Ongoing studies with 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), indicate that PhlP is metabolically activated in monkeys and is a likely carcinogen in this species. We further compared human, rat, and cynomolgus monkey hepatic microsomes for their abilities to metabolically activate various HCAs to mutagens. Our in vitro results show that humans, relative to rats or cynomolgus monkeys, have a good capacity to metabolically activate the HCAs. These findings support the concept that humans are likely to be susceptible to the carcinogenic effects of HCAs.

Extrapolation of heterocyclic amine carcinogenesis data from rodents and nonhuman primates to humans.

Twenty different heterocyclic amines have been isolated and identified from cooked foods especially beef, fish, pork and fowl. Other HCAs have also been isolated but their structure remains to be elucidated and new HCAs are likely to be identified in the future. The HCAs are highly mutagenic and all ten HCAs that have been tested for carcinogenic activity, produce tumors in mice and rats. For humans the average daily intake of HCAs is in quantities of 10-20 mg/person/day. The HCAs are procarcinogens and are activated by the cytochrome P450 system especially CYP 1A2. Rodents, monkeys and humans have the capacity to activate HCAs. Studies using hepatic microsomes demonstrated that humans have a greater capacity to activate the majority of HCAs tested than rodents or cynomolgus monkeys. Three HCAs are currently under evaluation in nonhuman primates for carcinogenic activity and one, IQ, is highly carcinogenic inducing primary hepatocellular carcinomas in the majority of cynomolgus monkeys treated. Epidemiological studies, although not definitive, are supportive of an association of HCAs intake to the etiology of human cancer. Risk assessments from animal data show a risk of HCAs to humans in the range of 10(-3) to 10(-4) which is an order of magnitude greater than compounds currently regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the Environmental Protection Agency. Taken together evidence from mutagenicity data, activation by various species including humans, carcinogenicity in animals, human consumption data, epidemiological studies and risk assessment, supports the conclusion that HCAs are probable human carcinogens.

Carcinogens in foods: heterocyclic amines and cancer and heart disease.

Carcinogens occur naturally in the foods we eat, including a number of HCAs that have been identified in foods (beef, pork, poultry and fish) as a result of cooking. These compounds are formed during the normal cooking process by the reaction of creatine with various amino acids. The HCAs have been identified as a result of their high mutagenic activity in the Ames test. The HCAs can be separated into two types, the nonimidazole and the imidazole type, the latter of which is the predominant type present in Western foods. Both types of HCAs have been found to be carcinogenic in rodent bioassays. Of the three imidazole compounds presently under evaluation in nonhuman primates, IQ has been found to be a potent carcinogen, inducing hepatocellular carcinoma in a majority of the animals in approximately one-seventh of their life span. In addition, a high proportion of the nonhuman primates also had focal IQ-induced myocardial lesions as observed by both light and electron microscopic findings. This information, along with other toxicology data on the HCAs, much of which is cited in this paper, allows the inference to be made that HCAs may be a risk factor for both cancer and cardiovascular disease in humans.

Metabolic processing and disposition of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in nonhuman primates.

The metabolic processing and disposition of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), three heterocyclic amine mutagens and carcinogens derived from cooked food, was examined in cynomolgus monkeys. IQ is an established hepatocarcinogen in cynomolgus monkeys; however, the carcinogenicity of MeIQx and PhIP is not yet known. IQ was extensively metabolized with little parent compound excreted in urine. Urinary metabolites of IQ arise from a combination of cytochrome P-450 mediated N-demethylation, N-hydroxylation, or ring oxidation at the C-5 position and conjugation with sulfate or glucuronide. IQ was also conjugated at the exocyclic amino group forming IQ-sulfamate and IQ-N-glucuronide. Enteric bacteria biotransformed IQ and its N-demethylated metabolite to 7-oxo-IQ and N-demethyl-7-oxo-IQ, respectively. N-Hydroxy-IQ-N-glucuronide was found in urine of monkeys indicating that metabolic activation via cytochrome P-450-mediated N-hydroxylation occurs in vivo and supporting the theory N-hydroxy-IQ plays a role in the initiation of IQ-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. At least eight urinary metabolites of MeIQx were seen in monkeys fed MeIQx. As was found with IQ, metabolites of MeIQx arise from conjugation with sulfate and glucuronide at the exocyclic amino group, and by cytochrome P-450 mediated oxidation at the C-5 position followed by conjugation with sulfate or glucuronide In contrast to IQ, a significant amount of the dose of MeIQx was excreted unchanged in the urine of monkeys. PhIP was extensively metabolized with a predominant route of metabolism being cytochrome P-450-mediated 4'hydroxylation followed by sulfate conjugation to form PhIP-4'-sulfate. No sulfate conjugation at the exocyclic amino group of PhIP was observed. An N-hydroxy-PhIP-N-glucuronide was also found in urine and bile indicating that metabolic activation of PhIP via N-hydroxylation occurs in vivo in monkeys and suggesting that PhIP may ultimately be carcinogenic to monkeys.

Possible relationship between tissue distribution of DNA adducts and genotoxicity of food-derived heterocyclic amines.

During the past decade and a half, a number of potent mutagens belonging to the class of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCA) have been isolated and identified from cooked fish, beef, fowl and other meat, and from beef extracts. Several of these HCA mutagens have also been found to be carcinogenic in rodent bioassays, and one of these compounds, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ), has recently been found to cause hepatocellular carcinoma in cynomolgus monkeys. The potential etiological role of these mutagens and carcinogens in human cancer prompted us to evaluate the genotoxicity of these compounds in both nonhuman primates and rodents, with particular emphasis on the formation and tissue distribution of DNA adducts. We selected three compounds for this study based on several factors including chemical structure, mutagenic activity in vitro, concentration in cooked food, and carcinogenic activity in the rodent test system. These were IQ, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinoxaline (8-MeIQx), and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo-[4,5-b]-pyridine (PhIP). To maximize the sensitivity of the DNA adduct measurements, we have employed the 32P-postlabeling method to analyze levels and tissue distribution of DNA adducts derived from IQ 8-MeIQx, and PhIP. We have measured DNA adduct formation for all three compounds in various tissues and white blood cells of monkeys following both acute and chronic administration. Both IQ and PhIP form high levels of adducts in a number of organs, particularly liver, kidney, and heart. In contrast, administration of 8-MeIQx to the cynomolgus monkeys results in the formation of only low adduct levels with many tissues showing no detectable levels of adducts. Studies in rodents have also shown that IQ and PhIP from DNA adducts in a number of organs in addition to those that are targets for carcinogenic effects of these agents. Although high DNA adduct levels of HCA are generally found in target organs for HCA induced carcinogenesis the widespread distribution of the adducts in organs not associated with the carcinogenic effects suggest that HCA exposure may be a possible etiological factor in cardiovascular diseases and other degenerative ailments.