Evolution of Hominin Detoxification: Neanderthal and Modern Human Ah Receptor Respond Similarly to TCDD.

In studies of hominin adaptations to fire use, the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in the evolution of detoxification has been highlighted, including statements that the modern human AHR confers a significantly better capacity to deal with toxic smoke components than the Neanderthal AHR. To evaluate this, we compared the AHR-controlled induction of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) mRNA in HeLa human cervix epithelial adenocarcinoma cells transfected with an Altai-Neanderthal or a modern human reference AHR expression construct, and exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). We compared the complete AHR mRNA sequences including the untranslated regions (UTRs), maintaining the original codon usage. We observe no significant difference in CYP1A1 induction by TCDD between Neanderthal and modern human AHR, whereas a 150-1,000 times difference was previously reported in a study of the AHR coding region optimized for mammalian codon usage and expressed in rat cells. Our study exemplifies that expression in a homologous cellular background is of major importance to determine (ancient) protein activity. The Neanderthal and modern human dose-response curves almost coincide, except for a slightly higher extrapolated maximum for the Neanderthal AHR, possibly caused by a 5'-UTR G-variant known from modern humans (rs7796976). Our results are strongly at odds with a major role of the modern human AHR in the evolution of hominin detoxification of smoke components and consistent with our previous study based on 18 relevant genes in addition to AHR, which concluded that efficient detoxification alleles are more dominant in ancient hominins, chimpanzees, and gorillas than in modern humans.

Fire Usage and Ancient Hominin Detoxification Genes: Protective Ancestral Variants Dominate While Additional Derived Risk Variants Appear in Modern Humans.

Studies of the defence capacity of ancient hominins against toxic substances may contribute importantly to the reconstruction of their niche, including their diets and use of fire. Fire usage implies frequent exposure to hazardous compounds from smoke and heated food, known to affect general health and fertility, probably resulting in genetic selection for improved detoxification. To investigate whether such genetic selection occurred, we investigated the alleles in Neanderthals, Denisovans and modern humans at gene polymorphisms well-known to be relevant from modern human epidemiological studies of habitual tobacco smoke exposure and mechanistic evidence. We compared these with the alleles in chimpanzees and gorillas. Neanderthal and Denisovan hominins predominantly possess gene variants conferring increased resistance to these toxic compounds. Surprisingly, we observed the same in chimpanzees and gorillas, implying that less efficient variants are derived and mainly evolved in modern humans. Less efficient variants are observable from the first early Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers onwards. While not clarifying the deep history of fire use, our results highlight the long-term stability of the genes under consideration despite major changes in the hominin dietary niche. Specifically for detoxification gene variants characterised as deleterious by epidemiological studies, our results confirm the predominantly recent appearance reported for deleterious human gene variants, suggesting substantial impact of recent human population history, including pre-Holocene expansions.

Simple and rapid in vitro assay for detecting human thyroid peroxidase disruption.

A simple and rapid luminometric assay for the detection of chemical inhibitors of human thyroid peroxidase (hTPO) activity was developed and validated with 10 model compounds. hTPO was derived from the human thyroid follicular cell line Nthy-ori 3-1 and its activity was quantified by measuring the oxidation of luminol in the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which results in the emission of light at 428 nm. In this assay,hTPO activity was shown to be inhibited by 5 known TPO inhibitors and not inhibited by 5 non-inhibitors. Similar results were obtained with porcine TPO (pTPO).The inhibition of hTPO by the model compounds was also tested with guaiacol and Ampliflu Red as alternative indicator substrates. While all substrates allowed the detection of pTPO activity and its inhibition, only the Ampliflu Red and luminol-based methods were sensitive enough to allow the quantification of hTPO activity from Nthy-ori 3-1 cell lysates. Moreover, luminol gave results with a narrower 95% confidence interval and therefore more reliable data.Whole extracts of fast-growing Nthy-ori 3-1 cells circumvent the need for animal-derived thyroid organs,thereby reducing costs, eliminating potential contamination and providing the possibility to study human instead of porcine TPO. Overall, the application of luminol and Nthy-ori 3-1 cell lysate for the detection of the disruption of hTPO activity was found to represent a valuable in vitro alternative and a possible candidate for inclusion within a high throughput integrated testing strategy for the detection of compounds that potentially interfere with normal thyroid function in vivo.

Developmental toxicity of thyroid-active compounds in a zebrafish embryotoxicity test.

Zebrafish embryos were exposed to concentration ranges of selected thyroid-active model compounds in order to assess the applicability of zebrafish-based developmental scoring systems withinan alternative testing strategy to detect the developmental toxicity ofthyroid-active compounds. Model compounds tested included triiodothyronine (T3), propylthiouracil (PTU), methimazole (MMI), sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) and amiodarone hydrochloride (AMI), selected to represent different modes of action affecting thyroid activity. Tested time windows included 48-120 hours post fertilization (hpf), 0-72 hpf and 0-120 hpf. All tested compounds resulted in developmental changes, with T3 being the most potent. The developmental parameters affected included reflective iridophores, beat and glide swimming, inflated swim bladders, as well as resorbed yolk sacs. These effects are only evident by 120 hpf and therefore an existing General Morphology Score (GMS) system was extended to create a General Developmental Score(GDS) that extends beyond the 72 hpfscoring limit of GMS and includes additional parameters that are affected by exposure to model thyroid-active compounds. Moreover, the GDS is cumulative as it includes not only the scoring of developmental morphologies but also integrates developmental dysmorphologies. Exposures from 48-120 hpf did not provide additional information to exposures from 0-120 hpf. The results indicate that the zebrafish GDS can detect the developmental toxicity of thyroid toxicants and may be of use in an integrated testing strategy to reduce, refine and in certain cases replace animal testing.

Towards an integrated in vitro strategy for estrogenicity testing.

In order to define an in vitro integrated testing strategy (ITS) for estrogenicity, a set of 23 reference compounds representing diverse chemical classes were tested in a series of in vitro assays including proliferation and reporter gene assays. Outcomes of these assays were combined with published results for estrogen receptor (ER) binding assays and the OECD validated BG1Luc ER transcriptional activation (TA) assay and compared with the outcomes of the in vivo uterotrophic assay to investigate which assays most accurately predict the in vivo uterotrophic effect and to identify discrepancies between the in vitro assays and the in vivo uterotrophic assay. All in vitro assays used revealed a reasonable to good correlation (R(2) = 0.62-0.87) with the in vivo uterotrophic assay but the combination of the yeast estrogen bioassay with the U2OS ERα-CALUX assay seems most promising for an ITS for in vitro estrogenicity testing. The main outliers identified when correlating data from the different in vitro assays and the in vivo uterotrophic assay were 4-hydroxytamoxifen, testosterone and to a lesser extent apigenin, tamoxifen and kepone. Based on the modes of action possibly underlying these discrepancies it becomes evident that to further improve the ITS and ultimately replace animal testing for (anti-)estrogenic effects, the selected bioassays have to be combined with other types of in vitro assays, including for instance in vitro models for digestion, bioavailability and metabolism of the compounds under investigation.

In vitro pituitary and thyroid cell proliferation assays and their relevance as alternatives to animal testing.

This study investigates the in vitro effect of eleven thyroid-active compounds known to affect pituitary and/or thyroid weights in vivo, using the proliferation of GH3 rat pituitary cells in the so-called "T-screen," and of FRTL-5 rat thyroid cells in a newly developed test denoted "TSH-screen" to gain insight into the relative value of these in vitro proliferation tests for an integrated testing strategy (ITS) for thyroid activity. Pituitary cell proliferation in the T-screen was stimulated by three out of eleven tested compounds, namely thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Of these three compounds, only T4 causes an increase in relative pituitary weight, and thus T4 was the only compound for which the effect in the in vitro assay correlated with a reported in vivo effect. As to the newly developed TSH-screen, two compounds had an effect, namely, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) induced and T4 antagonized FRTL-5 cell proliferation. These effects correlated with in vivo changes induced by these compounds on thyroid weight. Altogether, the results indicate that most of the selected compounds affect pituitary and thyroid weights by modes of action different from a direct thyroid hormone receptor (THR) or TSH receptor (TSHR)-mediated effect, and point to the need for additional in vitro tests for an ITS. Additional analysis of the T-screen revealed a positive correlation between the THR-mediated effects of the tested compounds in vitro and their effects on relative heart weight in vivo, suggesting that the T-screen may directly predict this THR-mediated in vivo adverse effect.

A 155-plex high-throughput in vitro coregulator binding assay for (anti-)estrogenicity testing evaluated with 23 reference compounds.

To further develop an integrated in vitro testing strategy for replacement of in vivo tests for (anti-)estrogenicity testing, the ligand-modulated interaction of coregulators with estrogen receptor α was assessed using a PamChip® plate. The relative estrogenic potencies determined, based on ERα binding to coregulator peptides in the presence of ligands on the PamChip® plate, were compared to the relative estrogenic potencies as determined in the in vivo uterotrophic assay. The results show that the estrogenic potencies predicted by the 57 coactivators on the peptide microarray for 18 compounds that display a clear E2 dose-dependent response (goodness of fit of a logistic dose-response model of 0.90 or higher) correlated very well with their in vivo potencies in the uterotrophic assay, i.e., coefficient of determination values for 30 coactivators higher than or equal to 0.85. Moreover, this coregulator binding assay is able to distinguish ER agonists from ER antagonists: profiles of selective estrogen receptor modulators, such as tamoxifen, were distinct from those of pure ER agonists, such as dienestrol. Combination of this coregulator binding assay with other types of in vitro assays, e.g., reporter gene assays and the H295R steroidogenesis assay, will frame an in vitro test panel for screening and prioritization of chemicals, thereby contributing to the reduction and ultimately the replacement of animal testing for (anti-)estrogenic effects.

Robust array-based coregulator binding assay predicting ERα-agonist potency and generating binding profiles reflecting ligand structure.

Testing chemicals for their endocrine-disrupting potential, including interference with estrogen receptor (ER) signaling, is an important aspect of chemical safety testing. Because of the practical drawbacks of animal testing, the development of in vitro alternatives for the uterotrophic assay and other in vivo (anti)estrogenicity tests has high priority. It was previously demonstrated that an in vitro assay that profiles ligand-induced binding of ERα to a microarray of coregulator-derived peptides might be a valuable candidate for a panel of in vitro assays aiming at an ultimate replacement of the uterotrophic assay. In the present study, the reproducibility and robustness of this coregulator binding assay was determined by measuring the binding profiles of 14 model compounds that are recommended by the Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances for testing laboratory proficiency in estrogen receptor transactivation assays. With a median coefficient of variation of 5.0% and excellent correlation (R(2) = 0.993) between duplicate measurements, the reproducibility of the ERα-coregulator binding assay was better than the reproducibility of other commonly used in vitro ER functional assays. In addition, the coregulator binding assay is correctly predicting the estrogenicity for 13 out of 14 compounds tested. When the potency of the ER-agonists to induce ERα-coregulator binding was compared to their ER binding affinity, their ranking was similar, and the correlation between the EC50 values was excellent (R(2) = 0.96), as was the correlation with their potency in a transactivation assay (R(2) = 0.94). Moreover, when the ERα-coregulator binding profiles were hierarchically clustered using Euclidian cluster distance, the structurally related compounds were found to cluster together, whereas the steroid test compounds having an aromatic A-ring were separated from those with a cyclohexene A-ring. We concluded that this assay is capable of distinguishing ERα agonists and antagonists and that it even reflects the structural similarity of ERα agonists, indicating a potential to achieve identification and classification of ERα endocrine disruptors with high fidelity.

Induction of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)-mediated gene expression by tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) extracts.

Since beneficial effects related to tomato consumption partially overlap with those related to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) activation, our aim was to test extracts of tomato fruits and tomato components, including polyphenols and isoprenoids, for their capacity to activate PPARγ using the PPARγ2 CALUX reporter cell line. Thirty tomato compounds were tested; seven carotenoids and three polyphenols induced PPARγ2-mediated luciferase expression. Two extracts of tomato, one containing deglycosylated phenolic compounds and one containing isoprenoids, also induced PPARγ2-mediated expression at physiologically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, enzymatically hydrolyzed extracts of seven tomato varieties all induced PPARγ-mediated expression, with a 1.6-fold difference between the least potent and the most potent variety. The two most potent varieties had high flavonoid content, while the two least potent varieties had low flavonoid content. These data indicate that extracts of tomato are able to induce PPARγ-mediated gene expression in vitro and that some tomato varieties are more potent than others.

A low-density DNA microchip for the detection of (anti-)estrogenic compounds and their relative potencies.

In the current study, a set of 12 reference compounds was tested in a low-density DNA microchip that contains probes for 11 different estrogen-responsive marker genes. Our results show that the seven most informative marker genes on the chip resulted in fingerprints that correctly predicted the (anti-)estrogenic activity of the model compounds except that of the negative control testosterone. Two marker genes, myeloid leukemia factor-1 interacting protein and ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C, were even capable of correctly predicting the estrogenic potency of all five estrogen receptor (ER) agonists tested and correlated well with the potencies as determined in the MCF-7/BOS proliferation assay and the in vivo uterotrophic assay. In addition, it was demonstrated that the estrogenic responses of testosterone, both in the array tube assay and in the proliferation assay, were partially due to the conversion of testosterone into 17ß-estradiol by aromatase but also due to formation of other estrogenic metabolites, the presence and estrogenic potency of which were confirmed by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis and a yeast-based reporter gene assay, respectively. It is concluded that low-density DNA microchip-based fingerprinting in MCF-7/BOS cells for estrogenicity marker genes provides a faster in vitro alternative to the current MCF-7/BOS cell proliferation assay (E-screen).

Induction of electrophile-responsive element (EpRE)-mediated gene expression by tomato extracts in vitro.

The market for food products with additional health benefits is increasing rapidly and tools for identification of bio-functional characteristics of food items are essential. To facilitate the detection of beneficial effects of tomato on gene expression, methods to prepare tomato extracts suitable to test in the EpRE LUX assay and other cell-based reporter gene assays for health-related bioactivity mechanisms, were developed. An isoprenoid-containing chloroform extract of tomato fruit and most individual isoprenoids did not induce electrophile-responsive element (EpRE)-mediated gene expression. A semi-polar extract of tomato fruits, enzymatically hydrolysed to remove the glycosyl residues from the phenolic ingredients was able to induce EpRE-mediated luciferase expression at both mRNA and protein level, which might be partly due to the presence of quercetin, kaempferol, naringenin and naringenin chalcone. It was concluded that induction of EpRE-regulated genes, such as detoxifying phase II and antioxidant enzymes, may contribute to the beneficial health effects of tomato.

Dual effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine dependent on NQO1 activity: suppressive or promotive of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone-induced toxicity.

A typical antioxidant, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) generally protects cells from oxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). 9,10-Phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ), a major quinone in diesel exhaust particles, produces ROS in redox cycling following two-electron reduction by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), which has been considered as a cause of its cyto- and genotoxicity. In this study, we show that NAC unexpectedly augments the toxicity of 9,10-PQ in cells with low NQO1 activity. In four human skin cell lines, the expression and the activity of NQO1 were lower than in human adenocarcinoma cell lines, A549 and MCF7. In the skin cells, the cytotoxicity of 9,10-PQ was significantly enhanced by addition of NAC. The formation of DNA double strand breaks accompanying phosphorylation of histone H2AX, was also remarkably augmented. On the other hand, the cyto- and genotoxicity were suppressed by addition of NAC in the adenocarcinoma cells. Two contrasting experiments: overexpression of NQO1 in CHO-K1 cells which originally expressed low NQO1 levels, and knock-down of NQO1 in the adenocarcinoma cell line A549 by transfection of RNAi, also showed that NAC suppressed 9,10-PQ-induced toxicity in cell lines expressing high NQO1 activity and enhanced it in cell lines with low NQO1 activity. The results suggested that dual effects of NAC on the cyto- and genotoxicity of 9,10-PQ were dependent on tissue-specific NQO1 activity.

Proliferation assays for estrogenicity testing with high predictive value for the in vivo uterotrophic effect.

Proliferation assays based on human cell lines are the most used in vitro tests to determine estrogenic properties of compounds. Our objective was to characterise to what extent these in vitro tests provide alternatives for the in vivo Allen and Doisy test, a uterotrophic assay in immature or ovariectomised rodents with uterus weight as a crucial read-out parameter. In the present study four different human cell lines derived from three different female estrogen-sensitive tissues, i.e. breast (MCF-7/BOS and T47D), endometrial (ECC-1) and ovarian (BG-1) cells, were characterised by investigating their relative ERα and ERß amounts, as the ERα/ERß ratio is a dominant factor determining their estrogen-dependent proliferative responses. All four cell lines clearly expressed the ERα type and a very low but detectable amount of ERß on both the mRNA and protein level, with the T47D cell line expressing the highest level of the ERß type. Subsequently, a set of reference compounds representing different modes of estrogen action and estrogenic potency were used to investigate the proliferative response in the four cell lines, to determine which cell line most accurately predicts the effect observed in vivo. All four cell lines revealed a reasonable to good correlation with the in vivo uterotrophic effect, with the correlation being highest for the MCF-7/BOS cell line (R²=0.85). The main differences between the in vivo uterotrophic assay and the in vitro proliferation assays were observed for tamoxifen and testosterone. The proliferative response of the MCF-7/BOS cells to testosterone was partially caused by its conversion to estradiol by aromatase or via androstenedione to estrone. It is concluded that of the four cell lines tested, the best assay to include in an integrated testing strategy for replacement of the in vivo uterotrophic assay is the human MCF-7/BOS breast cancer cell line.

Stable reporter cell lines for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ)-mediated modulation of gene expression.

Activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) by ligands is associated with beneficial health effects, including anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing effects. The aim of the current study was to develop luciferase reporter gene assays to enable fast and low-cost measurement of PPARγ agonist and antagonist activity. Two reporter gene assays, PPARγ1 CALUX and PPARγ2 CALUX, were developed by stable transfection of U2OS cells with an expression vector for PPARγ1 or PPARγ2 and a pGL3-3xPPRE-tata-luc or pGL4-3xPPRE-tata-luc reporter construct, respectively. PPARγ1 CALUX and PPARγ2 CALUX cells showed similar concentration-dependent luciferase induction upon exposure to the PPARγ agonists rosiglitazone, troglitazone, pioglitazone, ciglitazone, netoglitazone, and 15-deoxy-Δ(12,14)-prostaglandin J(2). The potency to induce luciferase decreased in the following order: rosiglitazone>troglitazone=pioglitazone>netoglitazone>ciglitazone. A concentration-dependent decrease in the response to 50nM rosiglitazone was observed on the addition of PPARγ antagonist GW9662 or T0070907 in both PPARγ1 CALUX and PPARγ2 CALUX cells. The PPARα agonists WY14643 and fenofibrate failed to induce luciferase activity, confirming the specificity of these cell lines for PPARγ agonists. In conclusion, PPARγ1 CALUX and PPARγ2 CALUX cells provide a reliable and useful tool to screen (bio)chemicals for PPARγ agonist or antagonist activity.

Optimization and prevalidation of the in vitro ERalpha CALUX method to test estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity of compounds.

Estrogenicity of chemicals has received significant attention and is linked to endocrine-disrupting activities. However, there is a paucity of validated methods to assess estrogenicity in vitro. We have established a robust method to test estrogenic and antiestrogenic activity of compounds in vitro, as an alternative to using animal models such as the uterotrophic assay. To this end we optimized protocols to be used in combination with CALUX reporter gene assays and carried out an in house prevalidation, followed by two rounds of tests to establish transferability. Problems in the initial test with transferability were solved by isolation of a novel cell clone of the ERalpha CALUX line with greatly improved stability and luciferase levels. This cell line proved to be a very suitable and reliable predictor of estrogenicity of chemicals and was able to readily rank a range of chemicals on the basis of their EC50 values.

The role of epoxidation and electrophile-responsive element-regulated gene transcription in the potentially beneficial and harmful effects of the coffee components cafestol and kahweol.

Cafestol and kahweol are diterpene compounds present in unfiltered coffees. Cafestol is known as the most potent cholesterol-raising agent that may be present in the human diet. Remarkably, the mechanisms behind this effect have only been partly resolved so far. Even less is known about the metabolic fate of cafestol and kahweol. From the structure of cafestol, carrying a furan moiety, we hypothesized that epoxidation may not only be an important biotransformation route but that this also plays a role in its effects found. In bile duct-cannulated mice, dosed with cafestol, we were able to demonstrate the presence of epoxy-glutathione (GSH) conjugates, GSH conjugates and glucuronide conjugates. In addition, it was shown that cafestol was able to induce an electrophile-responsive element (EpRE). Using a murine hepatoma cell line with a luciferase reporter gene under control of an EpRE from the human NQO1 regulatory region, we also found that metabolic activation by CYP450 enzymes is needed for EpRE induction. Furthermore, raising intracellular GSH resulted in a decrease in EpRE-mediated gene induction, whereas lowering intracellular GSH levels increased EpRE-mediated gene induction. In conclusion, evidence suggests that cafestol induces EpRE, apparently via a bioactivation process that possibly involves epoxidation of the furan ring. The epoxides themselves appear subject to conjugation with GSH. The effects on EpRE can also explain the induction of GSH which seems to be involved in the reported beneficial effects of cafestol, for example, when administered with aflatoxin B1 or other toxic or carcinogenic compounds.

Potency of isothiocyanates to induce luciferase reporter gene expression via the electrophile-responsive element from murine glutathione S-transferase Ya.

Isothiocyanates are electrophiles that are able to induce phase II biotransformation enzyme gene expression via an electrophile-responsive element (EpRE) in the gene regulatory region. To study the potency of different isothiocyanates to induce the expression of EpRE-regulated genes, a Hepa-1c1c7 luciferase reporter cell line was exposed to structurally different isothiocyanates. The reporter cell line, EpRE(mGST-Ya)-LUX, contains the EpRE from the regulatory region of the mouse glutathione S-transferase Ya gene. Isothiocyanates containing a methyl-sulfur side chain, e.g. sulforaphane, showed a lower EC(50) (0.8-3.2 microM) and a comparable induction factor (17-22.4) compared to the structurally different isothiocyanates containing an alkyl or aromatic side chain, e.g. allyl and phenylethyl isothiocyanate (EC(50) 3.9-6.5 microM, induction factor 17.5-23). After 24h of exposure, on average (+/-SD) 23+/-5% of the isothiocyanate was found in the cells and 77% in the cell medium. Isothiocyanates prove to be strong inducers of electrophile-responsive element-mediated gene expression at physiological concentrations. The here described luciferase reporter cell line is a suitable assay to measure the potency of compounds to induce EpRE-regulated gene expression.

A human intervention study with foods containing natural Ah-receptor agonists does not significantly show AhR-mediated effects as measured in blood cells and urine.

Binding and activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is thought to be an essential step in the toxicity of the environmental pollutants dioxins and dioxin-like PCBs. However, also a number of natural compounds, referred to as NAhRAs (natural Ah-receptor agonists), which are present in, for example, fruits and vegetables, can bind and activate this receptor. To study their potential effects in humans, we first investigated the effect of the prototypical AhR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on gene expression in ex vivo exposed freshly isolated human lymphocytes, and compared the resulting gene expression profile with those caused by the well-known NAhRA indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (ICZ), originating from cruciferous vegetables, and by a hexane extract of NAhRA-containing grapefruit juice (GJE). Only ICZ induced a gene expression profile similar to TCDD in the lymphocytes, and both significantly up-regulated CYP1B1 and TIPARP (TCDD-inducible poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase) mRNA. Next, we performed a human intervention study with NAhRA-containing cruciferous vegetables and grapefruit juice. The expression of the prototypical AhR-responsive genes CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and NQO1 in whole blood cells and in freshly isolated lymphocytes was not significantly affected. Also enzyme activities of CYP1A2, CYP2A6, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) and xanthine oxidase (XO), as judged by caffeine metabolites in urine, were unaffected, except for a small down-regulation of NAT2 activity by grapefruit juice. Examination of blood plasma with DR CALUX showed a 12% increased AhR agonist activity 3 and 24 h after consumption of cruciferous vegetables, but did not show a significant effect of grapefruit juice consumption. We conclude that intake of NAhRAs from food may result in minor AhR-related effects measurable in human blood and urine.

Activation of EpRE-mediated gene transcription by quercetin glucuronides depends on their deconjugation.

Quercetin is a flavonoid reported to have health-promoting properties. Due to its extensive metabolism to glucuronides in vivo, questions were raised if studies conducted with quercetin aglycone, stating its health-promoting activity, are of actual relevance. Here we show that glucuronides of quercetin, and its methylated forms isorhamnetin and tamarixetin, can induce EpRE-mediated gene expression up to 5-fold. Furthermore, evidence is presented that EpRE-mediated gene induction by these glucuronides involves their deglucuronidation. This indicates that although quercetin-derived glucuronides are the major metabolites present in the systemic circulation, deglucuronidated derivatives are the active compounds responsible for their beneficial EpRE-mediated gene expression effects.

The influence of fruit and vegetable consumption and genetic variation on NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) phenotype in an endoscopy-based population.

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) is an inducible detoxification enzyme relevant for colorectal cancer biochemoprevention. We evaluated the influence of recent fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and polymorphisms in NQO1 and transcription factor NFE2L2 on rectal NQO1 phenotype and also whether white blood cell (WBC) NQO1 activity reflects rectal activity. Among 94 sigmoidoscopy patients, we assessed F&V consumption by dietary record and determined the NQO1 c.609C > T and g.-718A > G and NFE2L2 g.-650C > A, g.-684G > A, and g.-686A > G polymorphisms. NQO1 mRNA level was measured in rectal biopsies and NQO1 activity in rectal biopsies and WBC. Consumption of F&V did not yield higher mRNA level or activity but rather appeared to have a repressive effect. Rectal activity was higher among NQO1 609CC-genotypes as compared to 609CT-genotypes (P < 0.0001; 609TT-genotypes were absent), whereas mRNA was higher among 609CT-genotypes (P < 0.001). mRNA and activity correlated among NQO1 609CC-genotypes (r = .50, P = 0.0001) but not among 609CT-genotypes (r = .14, P = 0.45). The NFE2L2-684A-allele was associated with higher mRNA levels (P = < 0.05). The other polymorphisms did not affect phenotype significantly. WBC and rectal activity did not correlate. In conclusion, genetic variation, especially the NQO1 609C > T polymorphism, is a more important predictor of rectal NQO1 phenotype than F&V consumption. WBC NQO1 activity is not a good surrogate for rectal activity.