Epigenetic Markers Are Associated With Differences in Isocyanate Biomarker Levels in Exposed Spray-Painters.

Isocyanates are respiratory and skin sensitizers that are one of the main causes of occupational asthma globally. Genetic and epigenetic markers are associated with isocyanate-induced asthma and, before asthma develops, we have shown that genetic polymorphisms are associated with variation in plasma and urine biomarker levels in exposed workers. Inter-individual epigenetic variance may also have a significant role in the observed biomarker variability following isocyanate exposure. Therefore, we determined the percent methylation for CpG islands from DNA extracted from mononuclear blood cells of 24 male spray-painters exposed to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) monomer and HDI isocyanurate. Spray-painters' personal inhalation and skin exposure to these compounds and the respective biomarker levels of 1,6-diaminohexane (HDA) and trisaminohexyl isocyanurate (TAHI) in their plasma and urine were measured during three repeated industrial hygiene monitoring visits. We controlled for inhalation exposure, skin exposure, age, smoking status, and ethnicity as covariates and performed an epigenome-wide association study (EWAS) using likelihood-ratio statistical modeling. We identified 38 CpG markers associated with differences in isocyanate biomarker levels (Bonferroni < 0.05). Annotations for these markers included 18 genes: ALG1, ANKRD11, C16orf89, CHD7, COL27A, FUZ, FZD9, HMGN1, KRT6A, LEPR, MAPK10, MED25, NOSIP, PKD1, SNX19, UNC13A, UROS, and ZFHX3. We explored the functions of the genes that have been published in the literature and used GeneMANIA to investigate gene ontologies and predicted protein-interaction networks. The protein functions of the predicted networks include keratinocyte migration, cell-cell adhesions, calcium transport, neurotransmitter release, nitric oxide production, and apoptosis regulation. Many of the protein pathway functions overlap with previous findings on genetic markers associated with variability both in isocyanate biomarker levels and asthma susceptibility, which suggests there are overlapping protein pathways that contribute to both isocyanate toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics. These predicted protein networks can inform future research on the mechanism of allergic airway sensitization by isocyanates and aid in the development of mitigation strategies to better protect worker health.

Influence of Genetic Variance on Biomarker Levels After Occupational Exposure to 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate Monomer and 1,6-Hexamethylene Diisocyanate Isocyanurate.

We evaluated the impact of genetic variance on biomarker levels in a population of workers in the automotive repair and refinishing industry who were exposed to respiratory sensitizers 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) monomer and one of its trimers, HDI isocyanurate. The exposures and respective urine and plasma biomarkers 1,6-diaminohexane (HDA) and trisaminohexyl isocyanurate (TAHI) were measured in 33 workers; and genome-wide microarrays (Affymetrix 6.0) were used to genotype the workers' single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Linear mixed model analyses have indicated that interindividual variations in both inhalation and skin exposures influenced these biomarker levels. Using exposure values as covariates and a false discovery rate < 0.10 to assess statistical significance, we observed that seven SNPs were associated with HDA in plasma, five were associated with HDA in urine, none reached significance for TAHI in plasma, and eight were associated with TAHI levels in urine. The different genotypes for the 20 significant SNPs accounted for 4- to 16-fold changes observed in biomarker levels. Associated gene functions include transcription regulation, calcium ion transport, vascular morphogenesis, and transforming growth factor beta signaling pathway, which may impact toxicokinetics indirectly by altering inflammation levels. Additionally, in an expanded analysis using a minor allele cutoff of 0.05 instead of 0.10, there were biomarker-associated SNPs within three genes that have been associated with isocyanate-induced asthma: ALK, DOCK2, and LHPP. We demonstrate that genetic variance impacts the biomarker levels in workers exposed to HDI monomer and HDI isocyanurate and that genetics can be used to refine exposure predictions in small cohorts when quantitative personal exposure and biomarker measurements are included in the models.

Erratum: "Diversity Outbred Mice Identify Population-Based Exposure Thresholds and Genetic Factors that Influence Benzene-Induced Genotoxicity".

[This corrects the article DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1408202.].

QTL Mapping and Identification of Candidate Genes in DO Mice: A Use Case Model Derived from a Benzene Toxicity Experiment.

Diversity Outbred (DO) mice are a multiparental advanced generation intercross population derived from eight inbred strains which are genetically very diverse. They are maintained as an outbred population using a randomized mating design. Thus DO mice represent an ideal population to map phenotypic traits. Here, we provide a case study in which male DO mice were exposed to benzene and phenotyped for the number of micronucleated reticulocytes. We provide step-by-step R scripts for the analysis of phenotypes, genotypes, mapping of resistance gene loci and identification of candidate genes.

Importance of investigating epigenetic alterations for industry and regulators: An appraisal of current efforts by the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute.

Recent technological advances have led to rapid progress in the characterization of epigenetic modifications that control gene expression in a generally heritable way, and are likely involved in defining cellular phenotypes, developmental stages and disease status from one generation to the next. On November 18, 2013, the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI) held a symposium entitled "Advances in Assessing Adverse Epigenetic Effects of Drugs and Chemicals" in Washington, D.C. The goal of the symposium was to identify gaps in knowledge and highlight promising areas of progress that represent opportunities to utilize epigenomic profiling for risk assessment of drugs and chemicals. Epigenomic profiling has the potential to provide mechanistic information in toxicological safety assessments; this is especially relevant for the evaluation of carcinogenic or teratogenic potential and also for drugs that directly target epigenetic modifiers, like DNA methyltransferases or histone modifying enzymes. Furthermore, it can serve as an endpoint or marker for hazard characterization in chemical safety assessment. The assessment of epigenetic effects may also be approached with new model systems that could directly assess transgenerational effects or potentially sensitive stem cell populations. These would enhance the range of safety assessment tools for evaluating xenobiotics that perturb the epigenome. Here we provide a brief synopsis of the symposium, update findings since that time and then highlight potential directions for future collaborative efforts to incorporate epigenetic profiling into risk assessment.

Diversity Outbred Mice Identify Population-Based Exposure Thresholds and Genetic Factors that Influence Benzene-Induced Genotoxicity.

BACKGROUND: Inhalation of benzene at levels below the current exposure limit values leads to hematotoxicity in occupationally exposed workers. OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate Diversity Outbred (DO) mice as a tool for exposure threshold assessment and to identify genetic factors that influence benzene-induced genotoxicity. METHODS: We exposed male DO mice to benzene (0, 1, 10, or 100 ppm; 75 mice/exposure group) via inhalation for 28 days (6 hr/day for 5 days/week). The study was repeated using two independent cohorts of 300 animals each. We measured micronuclei frequency in reticulocytes from peripheral blood and bone marrow and applied benchmark concentration modeling to estimate exposure thresholds. We genotyped the mice and performed linkage analysis. RESULTS: We observed a dose-dependent increase in benzene-induced chromosomal damage and estimated a benchmark concentration limit of 0.205 ppm benzene using DO mice. This estimate is an order of magnitude below the value estimated using B6C3F1 mice. We identified a locus on Chr 10 (31.87 Mb) that contained a pair of overexpressed sulfotransferases that were inversely correlated with genotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The genetically diverse DO mice provided a reproducible response to benzene exposure. The DO mice display interindividual variation in toxicity response and, as such, may more accurately reflect the range of response that is observed in human populations. Studies using DO mice can localize genetic associations with high precision. The identification of sulfotransferases as candidate genes suggests that DO mice may provide additional insight into benzene-induced genotoxicity.

DNA methylation modifies urine biomarker levels in 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate exposed workers: a pilot study.

DNA methylation may mediate inter-individual responses to chemical exposure and, thus, modify biomarker levels of exposure and effects. We analyzed inter-individual differences in inhalation and skin exposure to 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) and urine biomarker 1,6-hexamethylene diamine (HDA) levels in 20 automotive spray-painters. Genome-wide 5-methyl cytosine (CpG) DNA methylation was assessed in each individual's peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) DNA using the Illumina 450K CpG array. Mediation analysis using linear regression models adjusted for age, ethnicity, and smoking was conducted to identify and assess the association between HDI exposure, CpG methylation, and urine HDA biomarker levels. We did not identify any CpGs common to HDI exposure and biomarker level suggesting that CpG methylation is a mediator that only partially explains the phenotype. Functional significance of genic- and intergenic-CpG methylation status was tested using protein-protein or protein-DNA interactions and gene-ontology enrichment to infer networks. Combined, the results suggest that methylation has the potential to affect HDI mass transport, permeation, and HDI metabolism. We demonstrate the potential use of PBMC methylation along with quantitative exposure and biomarker data to guide further investigation into the mediators of occupational exposure and biomarkers and its role in risk assessment.

The use of genetically modified mice in cancer risk assessment: challenges and limitations.

The use of genetically modified (GM) mice to assess carcinogenicity is playing an increasingly important role in the safety evaluation of chemicals. While progress has been made in developing and evaluating mouse models such as the Trp53⁺/⁻, Tg.AC and the rasH2, the suitability of these models as replacements for the conventional rodent cancer bioassay and for assessing human health risks remains uncertain. The objective of this research was to evaluate the use of accelerated cancer bioassays with GM mice for assessing the potential health risks associated with exposure to carcinogenic agents. We compared the published results from the GM bioassays to those obtained in the National Toxicology Program's conventional chronic mouse bioassay for their potential use in risk assessment. Our analysis indicates that the GM models are less efficient in detecting carcinogenic agents but more consistent in identifying non-carcinogenic agents. We identified several issues of concern related to the design of the accelerated bioassays (e.g., sample size, study duration, genetic stability and reproducibility) as well as pathway-dependency of effects, and different carcinogenic mechanisms operable in GM and non-GM mice. The use of the GM models for dose-response assessment is particularly problematic as these models are, at times, much more or less sensitive than the conventional rodent cancer bioassays. Thus, the existing GM mouse models may be useful for hazard identification, but will be of limited use for dose-response assessment. Hence, caution should be exercised when using GM mouse models to assess the carcinogenic risks of chemicals.

Toxicology and carcinogenesis study of senna in C3B6.129F1-Trp53 tm1Brd N12 haploinsufficient mice.

Senna is a pod or leaf of Senna alexandrina P. Mill and is used as a stimulant laxative. In the large intestine, bacterial enzymes reduce sennosides to rhein-9-anthrone, the active form for the laxative effect. To determine the potential toxic effects of senna, a 5-week dose range finding study in the C57BL/6N mouse and a 40-week toxicology and carcinogenesis study in the C3B6.129F1-Trp53 (tm1Brd) N12 haploinsufficient (p53(+/-)) mouse were conducted. In the 5-week study, C57BL/6N mice were exposed to up to 10,000 ppm senna in feed. Increased incidences of epithelial hyperplasia of the cecum and colon were observed in males and females exposed to 5,000 or 10,000 ppm senna. These intestinal lesions were not considered to be of sufficient severity to cause mortality and, thus, in the p53(+/-) mouse 40-week study, the high dose of 10,000 ppm was selected. Significant increases in the incidences of epithelial hyperplasia of the colon and cecum were observed at 10,000 ppm in p53(+/-) males and females, and the incidence of hyperplasia of the colon was significantly increased at 3,000 ppm in females. In conclusion, the large intestine was the major target of senna-induced toxicity in both wild-type and the p53(+/-) mouse model. There was no neoplastic change when senna was administered to p53(+/-) mouse.

RAP80 is critical in maintaining genomic stability and suppressing tumor development.

The ubiquitin interaction motif-containing protein RAP80 was recently found to play a key role in DNA damage response (DDR) signaling by facilitating the translocation of several DDR mediators, including BRCA1, to ionizing irradiation (IR)-induced foci. In this study, we examine the effect of the loss of RAP80 on genomic stability and the susceptibility to cancer development in RAP80 null (RAP80(-/-)) mice. RAP80(-/-) mice are viable and did not exhibit any apparent developmental defects. Mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) derived from RAP80(-/-) mice underwent premature senescence compared with wild-type (WT) MEFs, were more sensitive to IR, and exhibited a higher level of spontaneous and IR-induced genomic instability. RAP80(-/-) thymocytes were more sensitive to IR-induced cell death than WT thymocytes. RAP80(-/-) mice were more susceptible to spontaneous lymphoma development and the development of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary gland tumors. Moreover, the loss of RAP80 accelerated tumor formation in both p53(-/-) and p53(+/-) mice. Our data indicate that RAP80-deficiency promotes genomic instability and causes an increase in cancer risk consistent with the concept that RAP80 exhibits a tumor suppressor function.

Gender differences in chemical carcinogenesis in National Toxicology Program 2-year bioassays.

Differences in cancer incidences between men and women are often explained by either differences in environmental exposures or by influences of sex hormones. However, there are few studies on intrinsic gender differences in susceptibility to chemical carcinogens. We have analyzed the National Toxicology Program (NTP) database for sex differences in rat responses to chemical carcinogens. We found that the odds that male rat bioassays were assigned a higher level of evidence than female rat bioassays was 1.69 (p < .001). Of 278 carcinogenic chemicals in the database, 201 (72%) exhibited statistical gender differences (p ≤ .05) in at least one nonreproductive organ. One hundred thirty of these 201 chemicals induced gender-specific tumors in male rats and 59 in female rats. Sixty-eight chemicals induced tumors in males but no tumors in females. Less than one third (i.e., 19 chemicals) induced tumors in females but not males. Male-specific tumors included pancreatic and skin tumors, and female-specific tumors included lung tumors. For some tumor sites, these differences in gender susceptibility can be associated with literature data on sex hormone receptor expression. In conclusion, gender-specific tumors were common. The male dominance is in line with recent human data, and the male susceptibility to carcinogens should be further studied.

BCL2 interaction with actin in vitro may inhibit cell motility by enhancing actin polymerization.

In addition to its well-defined role as an antagonist in apoptosis, we propose that BCL2 may act as an intracellular suppressor of cell motility and adhesion under certain conditions. Our evidence shows that, when over-expressed in both cancer and non-cancer cells, BCL2 can form a complex with actin and gelsolin that functions to decrease gelsolin-severing activity to increase actin polymerization, and, thus, suppress cell adhesive processes. The linkage between increased BCL2 and increased actin polymerization on the one hand, and suppression of cell adhesion, spreading, and motility on the other hand, is a novel observation that may provide a plausible explanation for why BCL2 over-expression in some tumors is correlated with improved patient survival. In addition, we have identified conditions in vitro in which F-actin polymerization can be increased while cell motility is reduced. These findings underscore the possibility that BCL2 may be involved in modulating cytoskeleton reorganization, and may provide an opportunity to explore signal transduction pathways important for cell adhesion and migration and to develop small molecule therapies for suppression of cancer metastasis.

BCL2 inhibits cell adhesion, spreading, and motility by enhancing actin polymerization.

BCL2 is best known as a multifunctional anti-apoptotic protein. However, little is known about its role in cell-adhesive and motility events. Here, we show that BCL2 may play a role in the regulation of cell adhesion, spreading, and motility. When BCL2 was overexpressed in cultured murine and human cell lines, cell spreading, adhesion, and motility were impaired. Consistent with these results, the loss of Bcl2 resulted in higher motility observed in Bcl2-null mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) cells compared to wild type. The mechanism of BCL2 regulation of cell adhesion and motility may involve formation of a complex containing BCL2, actin, and gelsolin, which appears to functionally decrease the severing activity of gelsolin. We have observed that the lysate from MCF-7 and NIH3T3 cells that overexpressed BCL2 enhanced actin polymerization in cell-free in vitro assays. Confocal immunofluorescent localization of BCL2 and F-actin during spreading consistently showed that increased expression of BCL2 resulted in increased F-actin polymerization. Thus, the formation of BCL2 and gelsolin complexes (which possibly contain other proteins) appears to play a critical role in the regulation of cell adhesion and migration. Given the established correlation of cell motility with cancer metastasis, this result may explain why the expression of BCL2 in some tumor cell types reduces the potential for metastasis and is associated with improved patient prognosis.

Panel discussion: alternative mouse models for carcinogenicity assessment.

This article summarizes key points from Dr. Bernard Leblanc's presentation European Perspectives on Alternative Mouse Carcinogenicity Models and a distillation of questions and answers from a panel discussion following presentations on Alternative Mouse Models for Carcinogenicity Assessment at the Society of Toxicologic Pathology's annual symposium on June 23, 2009, in Washington, DC.

Aflatoxin B1 and/or hepatitis B virus induced tumor spectrum in a genetically engineered hepatitis B virus expression and Trp53 haploinsufficient mouse model system for hepatocarcinogenesis.

The authors investigated the spectrum of tumors and Trp53 mutations in genetically engineered models using the FVB/N mouse that expressed the hepatitis B virus genome and/or carried a Trp53 null and wildtype allele and/or were exposed to aflatoxin B1. Liver tumor incidence was increased when all three risk factors were present. Without aflatoxin B1 exposure, neither Trp53 haploinsufficiency nor HBV expression affected liver tumor development. Liver tumor prevalence increased with aflatoxin B1 exposure (p < .001), as thirteen of fourteen mice with liver tumors were initiated with aflatoxin B1. Liver tumors were more frequent in males (12/190) than females (2/170). Seventy-three mice developed sarcomas. Trp53 haploinsufficiency was associated with increased sarcoma incidence in males and females (p < .001). In Trp53 haploinsufficient mice, the HBV transgene increased the risk of sarcoma in males and females (p < .001). Lymphoma was significantly increased in Trp53 haploinsufficient FVB/N mice. There was no loss of heterozygosity at the wildtype Trp53 locus in twenty-five sarcomas or four hepatocellular tumors examined. No mutations were identified in the mRNA (exons 2-11) of Trp53 in six liver neoplasms or twenty-four sarcomas. In this model system, HBV expression affected only hepatocellular neoplasia in association with both aflatoxin B1 initiation and p53 haploinsufficiency.

Notch1 is a frequent mutational target in chemically induced lymphoma in mouse.

Activating Notch1 mutations have been reported in human T-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and lymphomas from genetically modified mice. We report that Notch1 is a prevalent and major mutational target in chemically induced mouse lymphoma. The regions of the gene that are frequently mutated are the heterodimerization domain and the N-terminal ligand-binding region, important for protein stability, and the polypeptide rich in proline, glutamate, serine and threonine (PEST) domains, which is critical for protein degradation. Another gene, CDC4, is also involved in Notch1 degradation and shows frequent mutations. Mutations in the heterodimerization and the ligand-binding regions may cause ligand-independent signaling, whereas mutations preventing protein degradation result in accumulation of intracellular Notch1. We analyzed 103 chemical-induced mouse lymphomas for mutations in the Notch1 gene using single strand conformation analysis (SSCA) and DNA sequencing. Genetic alterations resulting in premature truncation of Notch1 were identified in 28 tumors, whereas 8 revealed alterations in the heterodimerization and 16 harbored deletions in the ligand-binding region. Dideoxycytidine-induced lymphomas displayed the highest frequency of Notch1 mutations (49%), whereas in butadiene- and phenolphthalein-induced tumors showed lower frequencies (26 and 10%, respectively). In total, 26 novel and 3 previously reported mutations were detected. This report shows that Notch1 is a prevalent and major mutational target for 2',3'-dideoxycytidine and butadiene-induced lymphoma.

S-arylcysteine-keratin adducts as biomarkers of human dermal exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons.

To measure biomarkers of skin exposure to ubiquitous industrial and environmental aromatic hydrocarbons, we sought to develop an ELISA to quantitate protein adducts of metabolites of benzene and naphthalene in the skin of exposed individuals. We hypothesized that electrophilic arene oxides formed by CYP isoforms expressed in the human skin react with nucleophilic sites on keratin, the most abundant protein in the stratum corneum that is synthesized de novo during keratinocyte maturation and differentiation. The sulfhydryl groups of cysteines in the head region of the keratin proteins 1 (K1) and 10 (K10) are likely targets. The following synthetic S-arylcysteines were incorporated into 10-mer head sequences of K1 [GGGRFSS( S-aryl-C)GG] and K10 [GGGG( S-aryl-C)GGGGG] to form the predicted immunogenic epitopes for antibody production for ELISA: S-phenylcysteine-K1 (SPK1), S-phenylcysteine-K10 (SPK10), S-(1-naphthyl)cysteine-K1 (1NK1), S-(1-naphthyl)cysteine-K10 (1NK10), S-(2-naphthyl)cysteine-K1 (2NK1), and S-(2-naphthyl)cysteine-K10 (2NK10). Analysis by ELISA was chosen based on its high throughput and sensitivity, and low cost. The synthetic modified oligopeptides, available in quantity, served both as immunogens and as chemical standards for quantitative ELISA. Polyclonal rabbit antibodies produced against the naphthyl-modified keratins reacted with their respective antigens with threshold sensitivities of 15-31 ng/mL and high specificity over a linear range up to 500 ng/mL. Anti- S-phenylcysteine antibodies were not sufficiently specific or sensitive toward the target antigens for use in ELISA under our experimental conditions. In dermal tape-strip samples collected from 13 individuals exposed to naphthalene-containing jet fuel, naphthyl-conjugated peptides were detected at levels from 0.343 +/- 0.274 to 2.34 +/- 1.61 pmol adduct/microg keratin but were undetectable in unexposed volunteers. This is the first report of adducts of naphthalene (or of any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon) detected in the exposed intact human skin. Quantitation of naphthyl-keratin adducts in the skin of exposed individuals will allow us to investigate the importance of dermal penetration, metabolism, and adduction to keratin and to predict more accurately the contribution of dermal exposure to systemic dose for use in exposure and risk-assessment models.

Acquisition of apoptotic resistance in cadmium-transformed human prostate epithelial cells: Bcl-2 overexpression blocks the activation of JNK signal transduction pathway.

BACKGROUND: We have recently shown that cadmium can induce malignant transformation of the human prostate epithelial cell line (RWPE-1) and that these cadmium-transformed prostate epithelial (CTPE) cells acquire apoptotic resistance concurrently with malignant phenotype. OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to define the mechanism of acquired apoptotic resistance in CTPE cells. METHODS: Various molecular events associated with apoptosis were assessed in control and CTPE cells that were obtained after 8 weeks of continuous cadmium exposure. RESULTS: Compared with control, CTPE cells showed a generalized resistance to apoptosis induced by cadmium, cisplatin, or etoposide. Signal-regulated mitogen-activated protein kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2, c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK1 and JNK2), and p38 were phosphorylated in a cadmium concentration-dependent fashion in CTPE and control cells. However, phosphorylated JNK1/2 levels and JNK kinase activity were much lower in CTPE cells. The pro-apoptotic gene Bax showed lower transcript and protein levels, whereas the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 showed higher levels in CTPE cells. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax, a key determinant in apoptotic commitment, increased more than 4-fold in CTPE cells. In Bcl-2-transfected PT-67 cells, phosphorylated JNK1/2 levels were much lower after apoptogenic stimulus, and apoptosis induced by cadmium or etoposide was reduced compared with control. Mutation of tyrosine to serine at the 21st amino acid of the Bcl-2 protein BH4 domain resulted in a loss both of suppression of JNK1/2 phosphorylation and its anti-apoptotic function. CONCLUSIONS: CTPE cells become resistant to apoptosis during malignant transformation, and disruption of the JNK pathway and Bcl-2 overexpression play important roles in this resistance. Bcl-2 BH4 domain is required for modulating JNK phosphorylation and anti-apoptotic function.

Tumor profile of novel p53 heterozygous Tg.AC (v-Ha-ras) bitransgenic mice treated with benzo(a)pyrene and fed dietary N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC).

We designed a novel short-term bitransgenic model to better characterize the effects of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) exposure on multi-organ carcinogenesis and to evaluate the effects of a well-recognized antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), on neoplasia. We selected the p53 heterozygous Tg.AC (v-Ha-ras) mouse model for our studies because these mice possess a carcinogen-inducible ras oncogene and one functional p53 tumor suppressor allele. Both mutations occur frequently in human cancers. In a 2 x 2 experimental design, both female and male mice were fed basal diet alone or containing 3% NAC and administered by gavage corn oil vehicle alone or containing 20 mg BP/kg body weight given twice weekly for 10 weeks. Mice (n = 15 for each grouping and sex) were subsequently observed an additional 18 weeks followed by tissue collection for evaluation of multi-organ pathology. Benzo(a)pyrene increased neoplasia in the thymus, spleen, stomach, and hematopoietic system after 28 weeks. We observed modest NAC-associated decreases in BP-induced pathology of the liver, papilloma formation and hyperplasia in the forestomach, and the occurrence of malignant lymphoma. Benzo(a)pyrene exposure reduced survival to approximately 40% in male mice, suggesting toxicity; however, survival in control groups was approximately 60%. Survival decreased to approximately 30% for females in all groups. We noted a clear, but nonsignificant, 15% decline in body weights of male, but not female, mice fed NAC, although food intake did not differ. Collectively, the data suggested carcinogen and antioxidant-associated effects on neoplasia that appeared sex-dependent. Thus, this novel short-term bitransgenic model may potentially be useful for testing dietary modulation of carcinogenesis.