In Vitro Comparative Study of Near-Infrared Photoimmunotherapy and Photodynamic Therapy.

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a new phototherapy that utilizes a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against cancer antigens and a phthalocyanine dye, IRDye700DX (IR700) conjugate (mAb-IR700). Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a combination therapy that utilizes photoreactive agents and light irradiation as well as NIR-PIT. In the present study, we compared these therapies in vitro. The characterization of cellular binding/uptake specificity and cytotoxicity were examined using two mAb-IR700 forms and a conventional PDT agent, talaporfin sodium, in three cell lines. As designed, mAb-IR700 had high molecular selectivity and visualized target molecule-positive cells at the lowest concentration examined. NIR-PIT induced necrosis and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), a surrogate maker of immunogenic cell death. In contrast, talaporfin sodium was taken up by cells regardless of cell type, and its uptake was enhanced in a concentration-dependent manner. PDT induced cell death, with the pattern of cell death shifting from apoptosis to necrosis depending on the concentration of the photosensitizer. Induction of DAMPs was observed at the highest concentration, but their sensitivity differed among cell lines. Overall, our data suggest that molecule-specific NIR-PIT may have potential advantages compared with PDT in terms of the efficiency of tumor visualization and induction of DAMPs.

Natural antioxidant formula ameliorates lipopolysaccharide-induced impairment of hippocampal neurogenesis and contextual fear memory through suppression of neuroinflammation in rats.

This study investigated the ameliorating effects of a natural antioxidant formula (NAF) consisting of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract, docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid, ferulic acid, flaxseed oil, vitamin E, and vitamin B12 on a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cognitive dysfunction model in rats. Six-week-old rats received a diet containing 0.5% (w/w) NAF for 38 days from Day 1, and LPS (1 mg/kg body weight) was administered intraperitoneally once daily on Days 8 and 10. On Day 11, LPS alone increased interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex and the numbers of M1-type microglia/macrophages and GFAP+ reactive astrocytes in the hilus of the hippocampal dentate gyrus. NAF treatment decreased brain proinflammatory cytokine levels and increased the number of M2-type microglia/macrophages. During Days 34-38, LPS alone impaired fear memory acquisition and the extinction learning process, and NAF facilitated fear extinction learning. On Day 38, LPS alone decreased the number of type-3 neural progenitor cells in the hippocampal neurogenic niche, and NAF restored the number of type-3 neural progenitor cells and increased the numbers of both immature granule cells in the neurogenic niche and reelin+ hilar interneurons. Thus, NAF exhibited anti-inflammatory effects and ameliorated LPS-induced adverse effects on hippocampal neurogenesis and fear memory learning, possibly through amplification of reelin signaling by hilar interneurons. These results suggest that neuroinflammation is a key factor in the development of LPS-induced impairment of fear memory learning, and supplementation with NAF in the present study helped to prevent hippocampal neurogenesis and disruptive neurobehaviors caused by neuroinflammation.

Trastuzumab-based near-infrared photoimmunotherapy in xenograft mouse of breast cancer.

Near-infrared photoimmunotherapy (NIR-PIT) is a novel form of cancer treatment using conjugates of antibody against overexpressed antigens in cancers and photoabsorber IRDye700DX. HER2 is overexpressed in various cancers, for which molecular targeted therapy such as trastuzumab has been developed. The present study investigated the efficacy potential of HER2-targeted NIR-PIT using trastuzumab-IRDye700DX conjugate (Tra-IR700) in HER2-positive breast cancer. We first examined the reactivity of Tra-IR700 and the cytotoxicity of NIR-PIT in vitro. HER2-positive BT-474 and SK-BR-3 cells and HER2-negative BT-20 cells were used. Tra-IR700 fluorescence was only observed in HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines, and the fluorescence was localized to the cell surface. Furthermore, HER2-positive breast cancer cell lines treated with NIR-PIT showed swelling and blebbing shortly after irradiation, and eventually increased PI-positive dead cells. Next, tumor accumulation of Tra-IR700 and tumor damage by NIR-PIT were examined in vivo. Tra-IR700 was administered intravenously to a xenograft model in which BT-474 cells were implanted subcutaneously in BALB/c nude mice. Tra-IR700 fluorescence was the highest in tumor tissue 1 day after administration, and the fluorescence was localized to the cell membrane of tumor cells. At this time point, NIR-PIT resulted in diffuse necrosis of tumor tissues 1 day after irradiation. These results suggest that NIR-PIT with Tra-IR700 induces a highly selective therapeutic effect in a HER2-positive breast cancer model. NIR-PIT using Tra-IR700 is expected to be a novel treatment for HER2-positive cancers, including breast cancer.

Anti-cancer activity of amorphous curcumin preparation in patient-derived colorectal cancer organoids.

Despite its adverse effects, chemotherapy is generally used for the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Development of supplement preparations targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) that cause distant metastasis and drug resistance is required. Although curcumin is known to have anti-tumor, hepatoprotective, and hypoglycemic-like actions, its low water solubility, oral absorption, and bioavailability impede its therapeutic uses. Patient-derived organoid cultures can recapitulate heterogeneity, epithelial structures, and molecular imprints of their parental tissues. In the present study, anti-carcinogenic properties of amorphous curcumin (AC), a compound with improved solubility and bioavailability, were evaluated against human CRC organoids. Treatment with AC inhibited the cell viability of CRC organoids in a concentration-dependent manner. AC arrested the cell cycle of CRC organoids and induced apoptosis. AC inhibited phosphorylation of ERK. Expression of downstream signals of ERK, namely c-MYC and cyclin-D1, were inhibited. Expressions of CSC markers, CD44, LGR5, and CD133, were declined in the AC-treated CRC organoids. The combinational treatment of CRC organoids with AC and anti-cancer drugs, oxaliplatin, 5-FU, or irinotecan showed a synergistic activity. In vivo, AC decreased the tumor growth of CRC organoids in mice with the induction of necrotic lesions. In conclusion, AC diminished the cell viability of CRC organoids through the inhibition of proliferation-related signals and CSC marker expression in addition to arresting the cell cycle. Collectively, these data suggest the value of AC as a promising supplement that could be used in combination with anti-cancer drugs to prevent the recurrence and metastasis of CRC.

Fluorescence contrast-enhanced proliferative lesion imaging by enema administration of indocyanine green in a rat model of colon carcinogenesis.

The fluorescent contrast agent indocyanine green (ICG) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration for clinical applications. We previously reported that cultured human colon tumor cells preferentially take up ICG by endocytic activity in association with disruption of their tight junctions. The present study explored ICG availability in fluorescence imaging of the colon to identify proliferative lesions during colonoscopy. The cellular uptake of ICG in cultured rat colon tumor cells was examined using live-cell imaging. Colon lesions in rats administered an ICG-containing enema were further assessed in rats with azoxymethane-induced colon carcinogenesis, using in vivo endoscopy, ex vivo microscopy, and immunofluorescence microscopy. The uptake of ICG by the cultured cells was temperature-dependent. The intracellular retention of the dye in the membrane trafficking system suggested endocytosis as the uptake mechanism. ICG administered via enema accumulated in colon proliferative lesions ranging from tiny aberrant crypt foci to adenomas and localized in proliferating cells. Fluorescence endoscopy detected these ICG-positive colonic proliferative lesions in vivo. The immunoreactivity of the tight-junction molecule occludin was altered in the proliferative lesions, suggesting the disruption of the integrity of tight junctions. These results suggest that fluorescence contrast-enhanced imaging following the administration of an ICG-containing enema can enhance the detection of mucosal proliferative lesions of the colon during colonoscopy. The tissue preference of ICG in the rat model evaluated in this study can be attributed to the disruption of tight junctions, which in turn promotes endocytosis by proliferative cells and the cellular uptake of ICG.

Maternal exposure to hexachlorophene targets intermediate-stage progenitor cells in the hippocampal neurogenesis involving myelin vacuolation of cholinergic and glutamatergic inputs in mice.

Hexachlorophene (HCP) has been shown to induce myelin vacuolation due to intramyelinic edema of the nerve fibers in animal neural tissue. We investigated the maternal exposure effect of HCP on hippocampal neurogenesis in the offspring of pregnant mice supplemented with 0 (control), 33 or 100 ppm HCP in diet from gestational day 6 to day 21 after delivery. On postnatal day (PND) 21, offspring as examined in males exhibited decreased granule cell lineage populations expressing paired box 6, sex-determining region Y-box 2 and eomesodermin in the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) accompanied by myelin vacuolation involving white matter tracts of the hippocampal fimbria at ≥ 33 ppm. However, SGZ cellular populations expressing brain lipid binding protein and doublecortin were unchanged at any dose. Transcript expression of cholinergic receptor genes, Chrna4 and Chrnb2, and glutamate receptor genes, Grm1 and Grin2d, examined at 100 ppm, decreased in the dentate gyrus. HCP exposure did not alter the number of proliferating or apoptotic cells in the SGZ, or reelin- or calcium-binding protein-expressing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons in the dentate hilus, on PND 21 and PND 77. All neurogenesis-related changes observed in HCP-exposed offspring on PND 21 disappeared on PND 77, suggesting that maternal HCP exposure at ≥ 33 ppm reversibly decreased type 2 intermediate-stage progenitor cells in the hippocampal neurogenesis. Myelin vacuolation might be responsible for changes in neurogenesis possibly by reducing nerve conduction velocity of cholinergic inputs from the septal-hippocampal pathway to granule cell lineages and/or GABAergic interneurons, and of glutamatergic inputs to granule cell lineages.

Maternal exposure to hexachlorophene targets intermediate-stage progenitor cells of the hippocampal neurogenesis in rat offspring via dysfunction of cholinergic inputs by myelin vacuolation.

Hexachlorophene (HCP) is known to induce myelin vacuolation corresponding to intramyelinic edema of nerve fibers in the central and peripheral nervous system in animals. This study investigated the effect of maternal exposure to HCP on hippocampal neurogenesis in rat offspring using pregnant rats supplemented with 0 (controls), 100, or 300 ppm HCP in the diet from gestational day 6 to day 21 after delivery. On postnatal day (PND) 21, the numbers of T box brain 2(+) progenitor cells and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling(+) apoptotic cells in the hippocampal subgranular zone (SGZ) decreased in female offspring at 300 ppm, which was accompanied by myelin vacuolation and punctate tubulin beta-3 chain staining of nerve fibers in the hippocampal fimbria. In addition, transcript levels of the cholinergic receptor, nicotinic beta 2 (Chrnb2) and B-cell CLL/lymphoma 2 (Bcl2) decreased in the dentate gyrus. HCP-exposure did not alter the numbers of SGZ proliferating cells and reelin- or calcium-binding protein-expressing γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic interneuron subpopulations in the dentate hilus on PND 21 and PND 77. Although some myelin vacuolation remained, all other changes observed in HCP-exposed offspring on PND 21 disappeared on PND 77. These results suggest that maternal HCP exposure reversibly decreases type-2b intermediate-stage progenitor cells via the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in offspring hippocampal neurogenesis at 300 ppm HCP. Neurogenesis may be affected by dysfunction of cholinergic inputs into granule cell lineages and/or GABAergic interneurons as indicated by decreased transcript levels of Chrnb2 and numbers of Chrnb2(+) interneurons caused by myelin vacuolation in the septal-hippocampal pathway.

Maternal exposure to 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile targets late-stage differentiation of hippocampal granule cell lineages to affect brain-derived neurotrophic factor signaling and interneuron subpopulations in rat offspring.

3,3'-Iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) causes neurofilament (NF)-filled swellings in the proximal segments of many large-caliber myelinated axons. This study investigated the effect of maternal exposure to IDPN on hippocampal neurogenesis in rat offspring using pregnant rats supplemented with 0 (controls), 67 or 200 ppm IDPN in drinking water from gestational day 6 to day 21 after delivery. On postnatal day (PND) 21, female offspring subjected to analysis had decreased parvalbumin(+), reelin(+) and phospho-TrkB(+) interneurons in the dentate hilus at 200 ppm and increased granule cell populations expressing immediate-early gene products, Arc or c-Fos, at ≥ 67 ppm. mRNA expression in the dentate gyrus examined at 200 ppm decreased with brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf) and very low density lipoprotein receptor. Immunoreactivity for phosphorylated NF heavy polypeptide decreased in the molecular layer of the dentate gyrus and the stratum radiatum of the cornu ammonis (CA) 3, portions showing axonal projections from mossy cells and pyramidal neurons, at 200 ppm on PND 21, whereas immunoreactivity for synaptophysin was unchanged in the dentate gyrus. Observed changes all disappeared on PND 77. There were no fluctuations in the numbers of apoptotic cells, proliferating cells and subpopulations of granule cell lineage in the subgranular zone on PND 21 and PND 77. Thus, maternal IDPN exposure may reversibly affect late-stage differentiation of granule cell lineages involving neuronal plasticity as evident by immediate-early gene responses to cause BDNF downregulation resulting in a reduction in parvalbumin(+) or reelin(+) interneurons and suppression of axonal plasticity in the mossy cells and CA3 pyramidal neurons.

Promoter-region hypermethylation and expression downregulation of Yy1 (Yin yang 1) in preneoplastic liver lesions in a thioacetamide rat hepatocarcinogenesis model.

Thioacetamide (TAA) has been used to develop a rodent model for hepatocarcinogenesis. To determine the genes with epigenetic modifications in early hepatocarcinogenesis, we did a genome-wide scan for hypermethylated promoter regions using CpG island microarrays in TAA-promoted rat liver tissue. Eight genes were selected based on the microarray profile; of these, Yy1 and Wdr45b were confirmed to be hypermethylated by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and pyrosequencing and downregulated by real-time reverse transcription PCR. Non-neoplastic liver cells had nuclear Yy1 immunoreactivity, while preneoplastic foci with glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) immunoreactivity had decreased Yy1 immunoreactivity. The incidence of these foci was proportional to the dose of TAA administered. Co-expression analysis of gene products downstream of Yy1 revealed increased nuclear phospho-c-Myc(+) foci as well as nuclear and cytoplasmic p21(Cip1+) foci in Yy1(-) or GST-P(+) foci in response to TAA-promotion dose. Although the absolute number of cells was low, the incidence of death receptor 5(-) foci was increased in Yy1(-) foci in proportion to the TAA dose. Yy1(-)/GST-P(+) foci revealed a higher number of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-immunoreactive cells than Yy1(+)/GST-P(+) foci, while cleaved caspase-3(+) cells were unchanged between Yy1(-)/GST-P(+) and Yy1(+)/GST-P(+) foci. In the case of Wdr45b, most GST-P(+) foci were Wdr45b(-) and were not increased by TAA promotion. These results suggest involvement of Yy1 in the epigenetic gene regulation at the early stages of TAA promoted cell proliferation and concomitant cell cycle arrest in preneoplastic lesions.

Tumor suppression effects of bilberry extracts and enzymatically modified isoquercitrin in early preneoplastic liver cell lesions induced by piperonyl butoxide promotion in a two-stage rat hepatocarcinogenesis model.

To investigate the protective effect of bilberry extracts (BBE) and enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) on the hepatocarcinogenic process involving oxidative stress responses, we used a two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis model in N-diethylnitrosamine-initiated and piperonyl butoxide (PBO)-promoted rats. We examined the modifying effect of co-administration with BBE or EMIQ on the liver tissue environment including oxidative stress responses, cell proliferation and apoptosis, and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/Akt and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß/Smad signalings on the induction mechanism of preneoplastic lesions during early stages of hepatocellular tumor promotion. PBO increased the numbers and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)(+) liver cell foci and the numbers of Ki-67(+) proliferating cells within GST-P(+) foci. Co-administration of BBE or EMIQ suppressed these effects with the reductions of GST-P(+) foci (area) to 48.9-49.4% and Ki-67(+) cells to 55.5-61.4% of the PBO-promoted cases. Neither BBE nor EMIQ decreased microsomal reactive oxygen species induced by PBO. However, only EMIQ suppressed the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances to 78.4% of the PBO-promoted cases. PBO increased the incidences of phospho-PTEN(-) foci, phospho-Akt substrate(+) foci, phospho-Smad3(-) foci and Smad4(-) foci in GST-P(+) foci. Both BBE and EMIQ decreased the incidences of phospho-PTEN(-) foci in GST-P(+) foci to 59.8-72.2% and Smad4(-) foci to 62.4-71.5% of the PBO-promoted cases, and BBE also suppressed the incidence of phospho-Akt substrate(+) foci in GST-P(+) foci to 75.2-75.7% of the PBO-promoted cases. These results suggest that PBO-induced tumor promotion involves facilitation of PTEN/Akt and disruptive TGF-ß/Smad signalings without relation to oxidative stress responses, but this promotion was suppressed by co-treatment with BBE or EMIQ through suppression of cell proliferation activity of preneoplastic liver cells.

Promoting effects of carminic acid-enriched cochineal extracts on capsular invasive thyroid carcinomas through targeting activation of angiogenesis in rats.

Cochineal extracts (CE) is a coccid-derived natural food colorant containing carminic acid (CA) as an active ingredient that potentiates inhibition of tissue proteolysis mediated by activation of plasma hyaluronan-binding protein (PHBP). In our previous study, dietary administered CE (CA: 28.5% in CE) has shown to promote the macroscopic development of capsular invasive carcinomas (CICs) associated with up-regulation of angiogenesis-related genes in an intracapsular invasion model of experimental thyroid cancers using rats. However, the promoting effect of CE could not be confirmed histopathologically. The purpose of the present study was to confirm the promoting effect of CE through direct injections to animals on the development of CICs using this cancer invasion model. One week after initiation with N-bis(hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine, male F344/NSlc rats were administered CA-enriched CE (CA: 52.6% in CE) by intraperitoneal injections every other day (10 mg/kg body weight) during the promotion with 0.15% sulfadimethoxine in the drinking water for 8 weeks. The multiplicities of macroscopical CICs and the mean area of early capsular invasive foci estimated by Tenascin (TN)-C-immunoreactivity in the thyroid significantly increased with CE-treatment, while the number of TN-C-positive foci did not change with CE. Transcript level of Phbp and downstream genes unchanged; however, transcript level of angiogenesis-related genes, i.e, Vegfb and its transcription factor gene, Hif1a, those being downstream of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)/Akt signaling, up-regulated in the thyroid tissue with CE-administration. These results suggest that CE potentiates promotion activity by facilitating angiogenesis through activation of PTEN/Akt signaling without accompanying modification of PHBP-related proteolysis.

Antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) supplementation reduces reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated hepatocellular tumor promotion of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) in rats.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) has a liver tumor promoting activity in rats, and is also known as a cytochrome p450 1A (CYP1A) inducer. The generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting from CYP1A induction due to I3C, is probably involved in the tumor promotion. To clarify whether ROS generation contributes to I3C's induction of hepatocellular altered foci, partially hepatectomized rats were fed a diet containing 0.5% of I3C for 8 weeks with or without 0.3% N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, in their drinking water after N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiation. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that the glutathione-S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive foci promoted by I3C were suppressed by the administration of NAC. The mRNAs of members of the phase II nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2, like 2 (Nrf2) gene batteries, whose promoter region is called as antioxidant response element (ARE), were down-regulated in the DEN-I3C-NAC group compared to the DEN-I3C group, but Cyp1a1 was not suppressed in the DEN-I3C-NAC group compared to the DEN-I3C group. There was no marked difference in production of microsomal ROS and genomic 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxygunosine (8-OHdG) as an oxidative DNA marker between the DEN-I3C-NAC and DEN-I3C groups, while mapkapk3 and Myc were decreased by the NAC treatment. These results indicate that oxidative stress plays an important role for I3C's tumor promotion, and NAC suppresses induction of hepatocellular altered foci with suppressed cytoplasmic oxidative stress.

Antioxidant enzymatically modified isoquercitrin or melatonin supplementation reduces oxidative stress-mediated hepatocellular tumor promotion of oxfendazole in rats.

To clarify whether enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) or melatonin (MLT) supplementation reduces oxidative stress-mediated hepatocellular tumor-promoting effect of oxfendazole (OX), a benzimidazole anthelmintic, male rats were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and were fed a diet containing OX (500 ppm) for 10 weeks with or without EMIQ (2,000 ppm) or MLT (100 ppm) in the drinking water after DEN initiation. One week after the commencement of the administration of OX, rats were subjected to two-thirds of partial hepatectomy. The number of GST-P-positive foci promoted by OX was significantly inhibited by the combined antioxidant EMIQ or MLT administration, and the area of GST-P-positive foci was inhibited by the administration of MLT. Real-time RT-PCR analysis revealed decreases in mRNA expression levels of cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily b, polypeptide 2 (Cyp2b2) and malic enzyme 1 (Me1) in the DEN-OX-EMIQ and DEN-OX-MLT groups and decreases in mRNA expression levels of Cyp1a1 and aldo-keto reductase family 7, member A3 (Akr7a3) in the DEN-OX-MLT group compared to those in the DEN-OX group. In in vitro ROS production assay, inhibited production of NADPH-dependent ROS was observed by the treatment with EMIQ or MLT. These results suggest that coadministration of EMIQ or MLT suppresses the hepatocellular tumor-promoting activity of OX in rats through the decrease in ROS production by the activation of CYPs.

Carcinogenic potential of alizarin and rubiadin, components of madder color, in a rat medium-term multi-organ bioassay.

Madder color (MC), a food coloring extracted from roots of Rubia tinctorum L., has been proven to exert carcinogenicity in the rat kidney and liver. Furthermore, it induces DNA adducts in the kidney, liver, and colon. MC is in fact composed of anthraquinones such as lucidin-3-O-primeveroside and alizarin. To clarify which of these might be responsible for the carcinogenicity, a rat medium-term multi-organ carcinogenesis bioassay was performed focusing on the kidney, liver, and colon. Male 6-week-old F344 rats after receiving five different carcinogens were fed a diet containing either 0.008% or 0.04% of alizarin or rubiadin, a metabolite of lucidin-3-O-primeveroside, for 23 weeks. Treatment with 0.04% rubiadin significantly increased atypical renal tubules/hyperplasias and induced renal cell adenomas and carcinomas. Renal cell tumors were also increased with 0.04% alizarin, although at lower incidence than with rubiadin. In addition, glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive liver cell foci and large intestinal dysplasias were significantly increased with 0.04% rubiadin. These results indicate that both rubiadin and alizarin can increase renal preneoplastic lesions, the potential of the latter being weaker. Rubiadin may also target the liver and large intestine, suggesting a major role in madder color-induced carcinogenicity.

Modification of dietary copper levels on the early stage of tumor-promotion with propylthiouracil in a rat two-stage thyroid carcinogenesis model.

To investigate the role of copper (Cu)-related cellular responses on thyroid carcinogenesis, the expression of ceruloplasmin (Cp) and metallothionein (MT)-1/2 were examined in relation to the activities of cell proliferation/apoptosis in the thyroid of rats at an early stage of tumor promotion under different dietary Cu levels. Male F344 rats were initiated with N-bis(2-hydroxypropyl)nitrosamine by single subcutaneous injection at 2800 mg/kg body weight, and 1 week later promoted with 6-propyl-2-thiouracil at 12 ppm in the drinking water for 4 weeks. Animals were fed a diet containing Cu at 0.6, 6 or 60 ppm from the time point of initiator-treatment to create marginally deficient, normal, or non-toxic supplementary levels of Cu. At both 0.6 and 60 pm, the multiplicity of preneoplastic focal follicular cell hyperplasias (FFCHs) was decreased as compared with 6 ppm Cu, while adenomas also decreased at 0. 6 ppm Cu. Both 0.6 and 60 ppm Cu levels revealed decreased Ki-67-immunoreactive proliferating cells in both FFCHs and surrounding follicles accompanied by mRNA downregulation of Cdc2a and Ccnb1, while TUNEL-positive apoptotic cells were unaltered with change of dietary Cu. Both Cp and MT-1/2 were immunolocalized in FFCHs and adenomas, with higher distribution in the latter. At both 0.6 and 60 ppm, the immunoreactivities and/or thyroidal mRNA levels of Cp and MT-1/2 were also decreased. Transcript levels of several antioxidant enzymes were up- or downregulated in the same direction at both Cu levels. Serum levels of thyroid-related hormones were unaltered at both Cu levels, except for non-significant reduction of thyroid-stimulating hormone at 0.6 ppm. These results suggest an involvement of Cp and MT-1/2 on the thyroid tumor promotion that can be suppressed by dietary Cu level through inhibition of cell proliferation associated with altered redox balance.

Suppressive effect of Siraitia grosvenorii extract on dicyclanil-promoted hepatocellular proliferative lesions in male mice.

Dicyclanil (DC) generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to Cyp1a1 induction, and DNA damage caused by oxidative stress is probably involved in hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. To clarify the modifying effect of the Siraitia grosvenorii extract (SGE), which has antioxidative properties, we employed a 2-stage liver carcinogenesis model in partially hepatectomized male ICR mice. Mice maintained on diet containing DC at a concentration of 1,500 ppm for 9 weeks after a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at a dose of 30 mg/kg and they were given water containing 2,500 ppm of SGE for 11 weeks including 2 weeks as pre-administration on DC. SGE inhibited the induction of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive hepatocytes, lipid peroxidation, and gene expression of Cyp1a1, all of which were caused by DC. To examine whether SGE indirectly inhibits Cyp1a1 expression induced by inhibition of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr)-mediated signal transduction caused by DC, mice with high (C57BL/6J mice) and low affinities (DBA/2J mice) to Ahr were given DC-containing diet and/or SGE-containing tap water for 2 weeks. Cyp1a1 gene expression was significantly lower in C57BL/6J mice administered DC + SGE than in C57BL/6J mice administered DC alone; there was no difference in the Cyp1a1 expression between DBA/2J mice administered DC + SGE and DC alone. These results suggest that SGE suppresses the induction of Cyp1a1, leading to inhibition of ROS generation and consequently inhibited hepatocarcinogenesis, probably due to suppression of Ahr activity.

Possible contribution of rubiadin, a metabolite of madder color, to renal carcinogenesis in rats.

Madder color (MC) has been shown to exert carcinogenic potential in the rat kidney in association with degeneration, karyomegaly, increased cell proliferation of renal tubule cells and increased renal 8-OHdG levels. To clarify the causal relationship of components and metabolites of MC to renal carcinogenesis, male F344 rats were fed lucidin-3-O-primeveroside (LuP) or alizarin (Alz), and the genotoxic LuP metabolites lucidin (Luc) or rubiadin (Rub) for up to 26 weeks. After one week and four weeks, Luc did not induce any renal changes. In contrast, after one week, cortical tubule degeneration was apparent in the Alz and LuP groups, and cytoplasmic swelling with basophilic change and karyomegaly in the outer medulla was observed only in the Rub group. LuP and Rub increased the proliferative activity of tubule cells in the outer medulla, and Alz and LuP increased renal 8-OHdG levels. After 26 weeks, Rub but not Alz induced atypical tubules, a putative preneoplastic lesion, and karyomegaly in the outer medulla. These results indicate that Rub may be a potent carcinogenic metabolite of MC, targeting proximal tubule cells in the outer medulla, although oxidative stress increased by Alz or LuP might also be involved in renal carcinogenesis by MC.

Induction of kidney and liver cancers by the natural food additive madder color in a two-year rat carcinogenicity study.

Madder color (MC) extracted from the roots of Rubia tinctorum (madder root) has been used as a food coloring in Japan. Our previous studies revealed MC to have obvious subchronic and chronic toxicity and potent carcinogenicity targeting rat liver and kidney. In the present two-year carcinogenicity study, conducted to further elucidate the long-term effects of MC and its target organs, male and female F344 rats were fed diet containing 0%, 2.5%, and 5.0% MC for 104 weeks. Body weights were significantly decreased in treated groups of both sexes throughout the feeding period. However, survival rates at week 104 were higher in treated groups of both sexes than in controls. Relative weights of the kidneys and liver were significantly increased in treated groups of both sexes. Histopathologically, karyomegaly and atypical tubules/hyperplasias, as well as renal cell adenomas and carcinomas were significantly increased in treated groups of both sexes with dose-dependence. Moreover, the incidence of hepatocellular adenomas and/or carcinomas was increased significantly with a dose-relation in treated groups of both sexes. These data provide clear evidence that MC exerts unequivocal carcinogenicity against renal tubule cells and hepatocytes in rats.

One-year chronic toxicity of madder color in F344 rats--induction of preneoplastic/neoplastic lesions in the kidney and liver.

To evaluate chronic toxicity of madder color (MC), a natural food colorant extracted from the roots of Rubia tinctorum L., F344 rats were fed diet containing 0%, 0.2%, 1.0% or 5.0% MC for 53 weeks. Hematological changes including anemia and serum biochemical alterations indicating hepatotoxicity were demonstrated at 5.0% in both sexes. Relative weights of the liver were significantly increased from 1.0% in both sexes, and those of the kidney were significantly increased from 1.0% in males and from 0.2% in females. Histopathologically, atypical renal tubule hyperplasias were increased at 1.0% or higher in both sexes in association with increase of cell proliferative activity in the tubules. A renal cell adenoma was observed in a male rat receiving 5.0% MC. In addition, glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive liver cell foci were significantly increased at 5.0% in both sexes. These results indicate that MC has chronic toxicity targeting kidney, liver and blood cells. Moreover, the results strongly suggest that MC may have the carcinogenic potential in the kidney and the liver.