First-trimester increase in oxidative stress and risk of small-for-gestational-age fetus.

OBJECTIVE: Investigation of increased oxidative stress in early pregnancy and association with an increased risk of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) fetus. DESIGN: Longitudinal case-control study. SETTING: University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester, UK. POPULATION: Low-risk pregnant women with no current or pre-existing medical illness were recruited at a large teaching hospital from 2004 to 2006. METHODS: Recruitment performed at the time of the dating ultrasound scan (12+/-2 weeks of gestation). Spot urine samples collected at 12+/-2 and 28+/-2 weeks of gestation were analysed for 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry). SGA was defined as birthweight <10th centile based on customised centile calculator (www.gestation.net). This identified the cases (n=55), whereas controls (n=55) were mothers whose babies were appropriate for gestational age (AGA, birthweight 10th-90th centile). Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad Prism v.5. The relationship between maternal urinary 8-oxodG at different gestations and customised SGA was investigated by nonparametric tests. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Customised SGA and AGA pregnancies. RESULTS: Urinary 8-oxodG concentrations were significantly increased in pregnancies with subsequent SGA compared with concentrations in normal pregnancies; 12 weeks: 2.8 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.96-3.67) versus 2.2 (IQR 1.26-3.28) pmol 8-oxodG/micromol creatinine (P=0.0007); 28 weeks: 2.21 (IQR 1.67-3.14) versus 1.68 (IQR 1.16-2.82) pmol 8-oxodG/micromol creatinine (P<0.0002). Concentrations decreased significantly between week 12 and 28 (P=0.04 and P=0.02 for controls and cases). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, urinary 8-oxodG at 12 and 28 weeks were elevated in SGA compared with AGA pregnancies. This may reflect early placental changes predating clinical features of SGA.

Preclinical toxicokinetic evaluation of phortress [2-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole lysylamide dihydrochloride] in two rodent species.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The 2-(4-amino-3-methylphenyl)-5-fluorobenzothiazole prodrug Phortress exerts potent and selective antitumour activity in vitro and in vivo. Preclinical toxicokinetic studies in 2 rodent species were undertaken to determine Phortress' maximum tolerated dose and advise a safe starting dose for clinical evaluation. METHODS: Plasma pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection following Phortress administration to mice (10 mg/kg, intravenously on days 1 and 8). Phortress (20 mg/kg, on days 1 and 8) was administered to CYP1A1/betaGAL reporter mice; tissues were examined macro- and microscopically. Toxicological and pharmacodynamic endpoints were examined in organs of rodents receiving Phortress (10 mg/kg or 20 mg/kg, on days 1 and 8). CYP1A1 expression and Phortress-derived DNA adducts were determined in lungs and livers (on days 11 and 36). RESULTS: No accumulation of Phortress was detected in murine plasma. beta-Galactosidase activity inferred Phortress-derived induction of cyp1a1 transcription in the livers of transgenic mice; no total body weight loss was encountered in these animals. However, a fall in lung:body weight and kidney:body weight ratios, raised serum alkaline phosphatase levels and hepatic histopathological disturbances in animals receiving 20 mg/kg Phortress indicate organ sites of potential toxicity. CYP1A1 protein was induced transiently in the lungs of both species and in the livers of rats. Elimination of hepatic DNA adducts and rat pulmonary adducts was evident; however, murine pulmonary adducts persisted. CONCLUSION: Rodent preclinical toxicology established that mice represent the more sensitive rodent species, resolving a maximum tolerated dose of 10 mg/kg Phortress.

Styrene-oxide N-terminal valine haemoglobin adducts as biomarkers of occupational exposure to styrene.

Styrene is widely used in the production of various plastics, synthetic rubber and resins. Occupational exposure occurs mainly via inhalation and relatively high exposure occurs due to its use in manual application techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate if SO-Hb adducts are a suitable biomarker for assessing occupational exposure to styrene. Seventy-five reinforced plastic workers and 77 control subjects were studied. In the selected population the main urinary styrene metabolites and the styrene oxide N-terminal valine (SO-Hb) adducts in human globin were quantified. The levels of SO-Hb adducts were significantly higher (p<0.01) in the exposed subjects (5.98pmol/g globin) when compared with controls (2.59pmol/g globin) and a significant difference was found in levels of SO-Hb adducts between non-smokers and smokers among the control group. From our data we conclude that SO-Hb adduct measurement is a sensitive and specific means of assessing exposure to styrene at the occupational and environmental level.

Styrene-oxide N-terminal valine haemoglobin adducts in reinforced plastic workers: possible influence of genetic polymorphism of drug-metabolising enzymes.

Styrene is one of the most important organic chemicals used worldwide. In humans, styrene metabolism involves oxidation by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs) to styrene-7,8-oxide, an epoxide thought to be responsible for the genotoxic effects of styrene exposure, and detoxification by means of epoxide hydrolase (mEH) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). The objective of this study was to investigate if genetic polymorphisms of metabolic enzymes modulate the level of urinary styrene metabolites and styrene oxide adducts with N-terminal valine of human globin (SO-Hb) in 75 workers occupationally exposed to styrene and 77 unexposed controls. The mean air concentration of styrene in the breathing zone of workers (30.4ppm) was higher than the threshold limit value of 20ppm recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and the biological exposure index adopted by the ACGIH for exposure to styrene prior to the next shift (MA+PGA=400mg/g creatinine) was exceeded, indicating that styrene exposure for this group of workers was higher than recommended. A highly significant correlation was observed between styrene concentration in the breathing zone and the MA+PGA in urine of workers (r=0.85, P<0.001). The levels of SO-Hb adducts in exposed workers were significantly increased as compared with controls, although no difference was observed between subjects stratified as high and medium exposure categories based on MA+PGA excretion. Regarding the effect of the genetic polymorphisms we found that the level of SO-Hb adducts might be modulated by the predicted mEH enzymatic activity in the exposed workers. From our data we conclude that SO-Hb adduct measurement is a complementary method to MA+PG measurement for assessing exposure to styrene at occupational and environmental levels, which reflects a more extensive exposure period.

In vitro genotoxicity of PAH mixtures and organic extract from urban air particles part II: human cell lines.

Principal aims of this study were at first, to find a relevant human derived cell line to investigate the genotoxic potential of PAH-containing complex mixtures and second, to use this cell system for the analysis of DNA adduct forming activity of organic compounds bound onto PM10 particles. Particles were collected by high volume air samplers during summer and winter periods in three European cities (Prague, Kosice, and Sofia), representing different levels of air pollution. The genotoxic potential of extractable organic matter (EOM) was compared with the genotoxic potential of individual carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) as well as their artificial mixtures. Metabolically competent human hepatoma HepG2 cells, confluent cultures of human diploid lung fibroblasts (HEL), and the human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 were used as models. DNA adducts were analyzed by (32)P-postlabeling. The total DNA adduct levels induced in HepG2 cells after exposure to EOMs were higher than in HEL cells treated under the same conditions (15-190 versus 2-15adducts/10(8) nucleotides, in HepG2 and HEL cells, respectively). THP-1 cells exhibited the lowest DNA adduct forming activity induced by EOMs (1.5-3.7adducts/10(8) nucleotides). A direct correlation between total DNA adduct levels and c-PAH content in EOM was found for all EOMs in HepG2 cells incubated with 50microg EOM/ml (R=0.88; p=0.0192). This correlation was even slightly stronger when B[a]P content in EOMs and B[a]P-like adduct spots were analyzed (R=0.90; p=0.016). As THP-1 cells possess a limited metabolic capacity for most c-PAHs to form DNA reactive intermediates and are also more susceptible to toxic effects of PAHs and various EOM components, this cell line seemed to be an inappropriate system for genotoxicity studies of PAH-containing complex mixtures. The seasonal variability of genotoxic potential of extracts was stronger than variability among the three localities studied. In HepG2 cells, the highest DNA adduct levels were induced by EOM collected in Prague in the winter period, followed by Sofia and Kosice. However, in the summer sampling period, the order was quite opposite: Kosice>Sofia>Prague. When the EOM content per m(3) of air was taken into consideration in order to compare real exposures of humans to genotoxic compounds in all three localities, extracts from respirable dust particles collected in Sofia exhibited the highest genotoxicity regardless of the sampling period. The results indicate that most of DNA adducts detected in cells incubated with EOMs have their origin in low concentrations of c-PAHs representing 0.03-0.17% of EOM total mass. Finally, our results suggest that HepG2 cells have a metabolic capacity for PAHs similar to human hepatocytes and represent therefore the best in vitro model for investigating the genotoxic potential of complex mixtures containing PAHs among the three cell lines tested in this study.

In vitro genotoxicity of PAH mixtures and organic extract from urban air particles part I: acellular assay.

Acellular assay of calf thymus DNA+/-rat liver microsomal S9 fraction coupled with (32)P-postlabelling was used to study the genotoxic potential of organic compounds bound onto PM10 particles collected in three European cities-Prague (CZ), Kosice (SK) and Sofia (BG) during summer and winter periods. B[a]P alone induced DNA adduct levels ranging from 4.8 to 768 adducts/10(8) nucleotides in the concentration dependent manner. However, a mixture of 8 c-PAHs with equimolar doses of B[a]P induced 3.7-757 adducts/10(8) nucleotides, thus suggesting the inhibition of DNA adduct forming activity by interaction among various PAHs. Comparison of DNA adduct levels induced by various EOMs indicates higher variability among seasons than among localities. DNA adduct levels for Prague collection site varied from 19 to 166 adducts/10(8) nucleotides, for Kosice from 22 to 85 and for Sofia from 6 to 144 adducts/10(8) nucleotides. Bioactivation with S9 microsomal fraction caused 2- to 7-fold increase in DNA adduct levels compared to -S9 samples, suggesting a crucial role of indirectly acting genotoxic EOM components, such as PAHs. We have demonstrated for the first time a significant positive correlation between B[a]P content in EOMs and total DNA adduct levels detected in the EOM treated samples (R=0.83; p=0.04). These results suggest that B[a]P content in EOM is an important factor for the total genotoxic potential of EOM and/or B[a]P is a good indicator of the presence of other genotoxic compounds causing DNA adducts. Even stronger correlation between the content of genotoxic compounds in EOMs and total DNA adduct levels detected (R=0.94; p=0.005) was found when eight c-PAHs were taken into the consideration. Our findings support a hypothesis that a relatively limited number of EOM components is responsible for a major part of its genotoxicity detectable as DNA adducts by (32)P-postlabelling.

Cyclooxygenase-2 expression and oxidative DNA adducts in murine intestinal adenomas: modification by dietary curcumin and implications for clinical trials.

The natural polphenol, curcumin, retards the growth of intestinal adenomas in the Apc(Min+) mouse model of human familial adenomatous polyposis. In other preclinical models, curcumin downregulates the transcription of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and decreases levels of two oxidative DNA adducts, the pyrimidopurinone adduct of deoxyguanosine (M1dG) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG). We have studied COX-2 protein expression and oxidative DNA adduct levels in intestinal adenoma tissue from Apc(Min+) mice to try and differentiate between curcumin's direct pharmacodynamic effects and indirect effects via its inhibition of adenoma growth. Mice received dietary curcumin (0.2%) for 4 or 14 weeks. COX-2 protein, M1dG and 8-oxo-dG levels were measured by Western blot, immunochemical assay and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. In control Apc(Min+) mice, the levels of all three indices measured in adenoma tissue were significantly higher than levels in normal mucosa. Lifetime administration of curcumin reduced COX-2 expression by 66% (P = 0.01), 8-oxo-dG levels by 24% (P < 0.05) and M1dG levels by 39% (P < 0.005). Short-term feeding did not affect total adenoma number or COX-2 expression, but decreased M1dG levels by 43% (P < 0.01). COX-2 protein levels related to adenoma size. These results demonstrate the utility of measuring these oxidative DNA adduct levels to show direct antioxidant effects of dietary curcumin. The effects of long-term dietary curcumin on COX-2 protein levels appear to reflect retardation of adenoma development.

Evaluation of phosphodiesterase I-based protocols for the detection of multiply damaged sites in DNA: the detection of abasic, oxidative and alkylative tandem damage in DNA oligonucleotides.

It has been proposed that DNA multiply damaged sites (MDS), where more than one moiety in a local region ( approximately 1 helical turn, 10 bp) of the DNA is damaged, are lesions of enhanced biological significance. However, other than indirect measures, there are few analytical techniques that allow direct detection of MDS in DNA. In the present study we demonstrate the potential of protocols incorporating an exonucleolytic snake venom phosphodiesterase (SVPD) digestion stage to permit the direct detection of certain tandem damage, in which two lesions are immediately adjacent to each other on the same DNA strand. A series of prepared oligonucleotides containing either single or pairs of tetrahydrofuran moieties (F), thymine glycol lesions (T(g)) or methylphosphotriester adducts (Me-PTE) were digested with SVPD and the digests examined by either (32)P-end-labelling or electrospray mass spectrometry. The unambiguous observation of SVPD-resistant 'trimer' species in the digests of oligonucleotides containing adjacent F, T(g) and Me-PTE demonstrates that the SVPD digestion strategy is capable of allowing direct detection of certain tandem damage. Furthermore, in studies to determine the specificity of SVPD in dealing with pairs of lesions on the same strand, it was found mandatory to have the two lesions immediately adjacent to each other in order to generate the trimer species; pairs of lesions separated by as few as one or two normal nucleotides behave principally as single lesions towards SVPD.

Detection of DNA alkylphosphotriesters by 32P postlabeling: evidence for the nonrandom manifestation of phosphotriester lesions in vivo.

Many genotoxic carcinogens react with the sugar-phosphate backbone in DNA to form phosphotriester (PTE) adducts. These lesions are relatively abundant and persistent for some alkylating carcinogens and may therefore serve as useful biomarkers with which to assess genotoxic exposure and potential mutagenic risk. In the present study, we have developed a 32p postlabeling method that permits analysis of total methyl and/or ethyl PTE in DNA at the femtomole level. The technique is based on the inability of all known nucleolytic enzymes to cleave the internucleotide PTE bond. Consequently, complete digestion of alkylated DNA with these nucleases in the presence of an alkaline phosphatase yields PTE-dinucleoside phosphates. These species are then converted to the corresponding dinucleoside phosphates (dNpdNs) by treatment with alkali to permit subsequent 32p labeling. The resulting labeled dinucleotides (32pd-NpdN) are then analyzed by PAGE. Validation of this method has been carried out using a polydeoxythymidylic acid oligonucleotide containing a site-specific methyl PTE. The method has been applied to the in vitro analysis of calf thymus (CT) DNA treated with dimethylsulfate (DMS) or diethylsulfate (DES) and to the analysis of liver DNA from mice treated in vivo with nitrosodiethylamine. In each case, autoradiograms of the polyacrylamide gels showed the anticipated five bands representing the sixteen labeled dinucleotides, with proportional increases observed as the concentrations of DMS or DES used in the in vitro treatment of CT DNA were increased. The identity and frequency of the nucleosides located 5' to the PTE lesions were obtained by nuclease P1 digestion of the gel-isolated 32pdNpdN species and by analysis of the released labeled mononucleotides, 32pdN, by high-performance liquid chromatography with radioactivity detection. Results obtained from CT DNA treated with DMS or DES showed that the frequency of the four detected nucleotides reflected the normal nucleoside content of CT DNA, indicating the random formation of methyl and ethyl PTE adducts in the in vitro modified DNA. However, studies using liver DNA from three strains of mice treated in vivo with nitrosodiethylamine indicated that the frequency of the thymidine and the 2'-deoxyguanosine 5' to the ethyl PTE was significantly different from the corresponding normal nucleoside content. These results are indicative of (a) the nonrandom formation of ethyl PTE in vivo and/or (b) base sequence-specific ethyl PTE repair.

Methylation of cysteine in hemoglobin following exposure to methylating agents.

In addition to reacting with biologically important nucleophilic sites in DNA, alkylating agents also interact with amino acids in proteins. Measurements of the extent of formation of these alkyl amino acids may be used as a means of determining exposure to these compounds. The degree of S-methylation of cysteine in hemoglobin was studied following in vivo exposure of rats to methyl methanesulfonate, dimethylnitrosamine, and 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)imidazole-4-carboxamide. A linear dose-response curve was observed for methyl methanesulfonate over a 100-fold dose range. For dimethylnitrosamine, there was a threshold of doses where no methylation could be detected, and a curved dose-response curve was obtained. At high doses, the degree of methylation of hemoglobin cysteine was 7-fold lower than that with methyl methanesulfonate. In vivo, no alkylation could be observed with 5-(3,3-dimethyl-1-triazeno)imidazole-4-carboxamide; however, the existence of naturally occurring S-methylcysteine in the rat hemoglobin may have overshadowed small increases in alkylation arising from exposure to this compound. The natural occurrence of S-methylcysteine was studied in 13 species, and amounts ranging from 5.6 nmol/g globin (hamster) to 481 nmol/g globin (partridge) were observed. The reason for its occurrence is unknown but is under investigation.

DNA adducts: mass spectrometry methods and future prospects.

Detection of DNA adducts is widely used for the monitoring of exposure to genotoxic carcinogens. Knowledge of the nature and amounts of DNA adducts formed in vivo also gives valuable information regarding the mutational effects that may result from particular exposures. The power of mass spectrometry (MS) to achieve qualitative and quantitative analyses of human DNA adducts has increased greatly in recent years with the development of improved chromatographic interfaces and ionisation sources. Adducts have been detected on nucleic acid bases, 2'-deoxynucleosides or 2'-deoxynucleotides, with LC-MS/MS being the favoured technique for many of these analyses. Our current applications of this technique include the determination of N7-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)-guanine, which was postulated to be found as a DNA repair product in urine following exposure to acrylamide, and of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyadenosine, as markers of oxidative damage in human lymphocyte DNA. Higher sensitivity (with a detection limit of 1-10 adducts/10(12) nucleotides) may be achieved by the use of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), although this requires the presence of certain isotopes, such as [(14)C], in the material being analysed. In order to make this technique more amenable for studies of human exposure to environmental carcinogens, new postlabelling techniques, incorporating [(14)C] into specific DNA adducts after formation, are being developed. It is expected that combining the use of advanced MS techniques with existing (32)P-postlabelling and immunochemical methodologies will contribute greatly to the understanding of the burden of human exposure to environmental carcinogens.

Genotoxic damage in mine workers exposed to diesel exhaust, and the effects of glutathione transferase genotypes.

This study was performed in an Estonian shale-oil mine with the purpose to develop and apply a number of biomarkers for occupational diesel-exhaust exposure monitoring. Increased breathing-zone exposures to exhaust from operators of diesel-powered trucks in the mine was confirmed in the environmental monitoring part of the study, showing a 7.5-fold higher exposure to particle-associated 1-nitropyrene (1-NP) in 50 underground workers compared with 42 surface workers [P.T.J. Scheepers, D. Coggon, L.E. Knudsen, R. Anzion, H. Autrup, S. Bogovski, R.P. Bos, D. Dahmann, P. Farmer, E.A. Martin, V. Micka, V. Muzyka, H.-G. Neumann, J. Poole, A. Schmidt-Ott, F. Seiler, J. Volf, I. Zwirner-Baier, Biomarkers for occupational diesel exhaust exposure monitoring (BIOMODEM)-a study in underground mining, Toxicol. Lett. 134 (2002) 305-317; P.T.J. Scheepers, V. Micka, V. Muzyka, R. Anzion, D. Dahmann, J. Poole, R.P. Bos, Exposure to dust and particle-associated 1-nitropyrene of drivers of diesel-powered equipment in underground mining, Ann. Occp. Hyg. 47 (2003) 379-388]. Analysis of DNA damage by the Comet assay on frozen blood samples was performed on the total study group and showed significantly higher levels (p=0.003) in underground workers (smokers) driving diesel-powered excavation machines (median 155 on a scale from 0 to 400, among 47 persons), compared with surface workers who smoked (median of 90, among 46 persons). The level of DNA damage in underground smokers was significantly higher (p=0.04) than in non-smokers. Samples from 2 of the 3 sampling weeks had significantly lower DNA damage compared with the third week, probably due to timely processing and freezing. These samples also showed significant differences (p<0.001) between underground workers (median 145, among 41 persons) and surface workers (median 60, among 30 persons). An HPLC method was developed for the analysis of (32)P-postlabelled 1-NP-DNA-adducts, and was applied to a sub-sample of 20 workers. No significant differences between surface and underground workers were found in this sub-sample with respect to the minor, unidentified adducts that had similar chromatographic properties to 1-NP adducts, and smoking did not have any effect on adduct levels. No significant effects of the genotypes of GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1 on DNA-adducts and on DNA damage as measured by the Comet assay were found in the total study group. The study confirms an increased level of DNA damage in workers exposed to exhaust from truck-driving in the mine. However, the results of the environmental and biological monitoring of 1-NP did not correlate, suggesting that inhalation exposure to diesel exhaust is not reflected by an increase in 1-NP-DNA-adduct levels and/or that factors other than occupational exposure to diesel exhaust are primary determinants of these DNA-adduct levels.

Human exposure and internal dose assessments of acrylamide in food.

This review provides a framework contributing to the risk assessment of acrylamide in food. It is based on the outcome of the ILSI Europe FOSIE process, a risk assessment framework for chemicals in foods and adds to the overall framework by focusing especially on exposure assessment and internal dose assessment of acrylamide in food. Since the finding that acrylamide is formed in food during heat processing and preparation of food, much effort has been (and still is being) put into understanding its mechanism of formation, on developing analytical methods and determination of levels in food, and on evaluation of its toxicity and potential toxicity and potential human health consequences. Although several exposure estimations have been proposed, a systematic review of key information relevant to exposure assessment is currently lacking. The European and North American branches of the International Life Sciences Institute, ILSI, discussed critical aspects of exposure assessment, parameters influencing the outcome of exposure assessment and summarised data relevant to the acrylamide exposure assessment to aid the risk characterisation process. This paper reviews the data on acrylamide levels in food including its formation and analytical methods, the determination of human consumption patterns, dietary intake of the general population, estimation of maximum intake levels and identification of groups of potentially high intakes. Possible options and consequences of mitigation efforts to reduce exposure are discussed. Furthermore the association of intake levels with biomarkers of exposure and internal dose, considering aspects of bioavailability, is reviewed, and a physiologically-based toxicokinetic (PBTK) model is described that provides a good description of the kinetics of acrylamide in the rat. Each of the sections concludes with a summary of remaining gaps and uncertainties.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of 6-trifluoromethylcyclophosphamide and related compounds.

In an attempt to increase the combined toxicity of the metabolic end-products [acrolein (4) and phosphoramide mustard (3)] from cyclophosphamide (1), the analog 2-[bis(2-chloroethyl)amino]tetrahydro-6-trifluoromethyl-2H-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorine 2-oxide (2, 6-trifluoromethylcyclophosphamide) was synthesized and its metabolism and antitumor activity studied. Following metabolism of 2 by rat liver microsomes the predicted formation of 4,4,4-trifluorocrotonaldehyde (5) was confirmed by isolation and identification, by mass spectrometry, of its dinitrophenylhydrazone. The therapeutic indices (LD50-/ID90) for 2 against the ADJ/PC6 mouse tumor and the Walker 256 tumor in the rat were 28.6 and 7.7, respectively, and were lower than the corresponding values for 1 (91.8 and 33.2, respectively) although the toxicities toward Walker cells in a bioassay system of 1 and 2 following microsomal metabolism were similar. In order to study the toxicities of 4 and 5 released under drug metabolizing conditions independently of the production of a toxic mustard the analogs 18 [2-(diethylamino)tetrahydro-2H-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorine 2-oxide] and 6 [2-(diethylamino)tetrahydro-6-trifluoromethyl-2H-1,3,2-oxazaphosphorine 2-oxide] were also synthesized. The release of 5 from 6 following metabolism was confirmed and shown by use of the bioassay system to be an event of similar toxicity to release of 4 from 18; in vivo, however, 6 (LD50 330 mg/kg) was more toxic to mice than 18 (LD50 greater than 500 mg/kg).

Metabolic activation of olefins. Conversion of 1-octene to a putative reactive intermediate 1-octen-3-one: an alternative pathway to epoxidation.

The enzymic activation of a model olefin oct-1-ene was studied in rat liver microsomal systems in vitro. An active metabolite was trapped using N-acetylcysteine and identified by means of capillary GLC/mass spectrometry and 360 MHz 1H NMR as S-3-oxo-octyl-N-acetylcysteine. A two step pathway for the formation of this adduct was proposed involving first the production of oct-1-en-3-ol by NADPH dependent mixed function oxidases and secondly a NADP or NAD linked oxidation, independent of cytochrome P-450, to yield the putative reactive intermediate oct-1-en-3-one. Under physiological conditions, oct-1-en-3-one, prepared chemically, reacted non-enzymically with N-acetylcysteine with a t1/2 of about 6 sec. Enzymes catalysing the NADP-dependent oxidation of octen-3-ol were present in microsomal preparations from a number of organs apart from the liver, those from adrenal and intestinal epithelia showing the next highest levels of activity. Unlike the activation of octene, rates of hepatic activation of octen-3-ol were not induced by pretreatment of rats with phenobarbitone or 3-methylcholanthrene. Using 1-octene as the substrate, comparisons were made of alternative routes of hepatic metabolism activation. Relative to the rate of formation of the 3-oxo intermediate trapped with N-acetylcysteine, epoxidation of octene and subsequent hydrolysis to octane-1,2-diol was over 40 times more rapid. The rate of formation of a presumptive oxirane precursor trapped with the haem of cytochrome P-450 as N-(2-hydroxyoctyl)protoporphyrin IX was about 17-fold lower.

Mechanism of the antileukemic effects of 1-p-carboxamidophenyl-3,3-dimethyltriazene and its in vitro metabolites.

DM-CONH2, a dimethyltriazene active in prolonging the survival time of mice bearing TLX5 lymphoma, requires metabolic activation by liver homogenate supernatant and cofactors in order to exert in vitro cytotoxic effects on the same tumor cells, as determined by in vivo bioassay of their viability. From the examination of the metabolites produced during these in vitro experiments, it is found that in vitro cytotoxicity is attributable to the generation of MM-CONH2 by oxidative N-demethylation of DM-CONH2. Also the generation of DM-COO is observed, although this compound is not cytotoxic in vitro. The in vivo effects of DM-CONH2 and CM-COOK on TLX5 lymphoma are not caused exclusively by cytotoxic effects of the drugs, since they are evident also when no reduction in the number or viability of peritoneal tumor cells is evident, whereas these parameters are significantly reduced by MM-CONH2. The increase in survival time of mice bearing TLX5 lymphoma caused by the dimethyltriazenes used appears to be caused by the drugs without being subjected to metabolic activation, with a mechanism different from cytotoxicity for tumor cells.

The formation and metabolism of N-hydroxymethyl compounds--III. The metabolic conversion of N-methyl and N,N,-dimethylbenzamides to N-hydroxymethyl compounds.

The stability of metabolically-generated N-(hydroxymethyl) compounds was investigated using a series of N-methylbenzamides as model substrates. N-(Hydroxymethyl)-benzamide was characterized as a major metabolite of N-methylbenzamide in vitro, and was also identified as a urinary metabolite of N-methylbenzamide. N-(Hydroxymethyl) compounds were also found as metabolites of 4-chloro-N-methylbenzamide and 4-t-butyl-N-methylbenzamide in vitro. Thus substitution in the 4-position of the phenyl ring of derivatives of N-(hydroxymethyl)-benzamide did not affect their stability sufficiently to cause degradation to formaldehyde under the conditions used. N-(Hydroxymethyl)-N-methylbenzamide was identified as a metabolite of N,N-dimethylbenzamide in vitro. However, N-(hydroxymethyl)-N-methylbenzamide was less stable than N-(hydroxymethyl)-benzamide under alkaline conditions. Furthermore, N-(hydroxymethyl)-N-methylbenzamide, unlike N-(hydroxymethyl)-benzamide and its 4-substituted derivatives, was positive in the colorimetric assay for formaldehyde, presumably because of its degradation to produce formaldehyde. Thus substitution on the nitrogen atom which bears the methyl group in N-methylbenzamide markedly affected the stability of the N-methylol produced during oxidative metabolism. N-Formylbenzamide was identified as a metabolite of N-methylbenzamide in suspensions of mouse hepatocytes and also in vivo. The mechanism for its production probably involves the generation of N-(hydroxymethyl)-benzamide.

The formation and metabolism of N-hydroxymethyl compounds--I. The oxidative N-demethylation of N-dimethyl derivatives of arylamines, aryltriazenes, arylformamidines and arylureas including the herbicide monuron.

The metabolism of the N-methyl moieties of aryldimethylamines and N-methyl compounds of the general formula Aryl-X-N(Me)2, where X is either -N=N-(3-aryl-1, 1-dimethyltriazenes). -NHCO- (N'-aryl-N,N-dimethylureas) or -N=CH- (N'-aryl-N,N-dimethylformamidines) was studied using mouse liver microsomes. Products of microsomal metabolism were reincubated with mouse liver homogenate devoid of microsomes and assayed colourimetrically for formaldehyde. This allows metabolically generated formaldehyde to be distinguished from formaldehyde precursors. Whereas the N-methyl moieties of the aryldimethyltriazenes, formamidines and amines were metabolised to formaldehyde, the aryldimethylureas formed stable formaldehyde precursors upon metabolism. The products of metabolism of one such aryldimethylurea, the herbicide monuron (N'-(4-chlorophenyl)-N, N-dimethylurea) were investigated using a high pressure liquid chromatographic method. Two metabolites were found on incubation of monuron with microsomes, one of which was identified as the N-desmethyl compound by mass spectrometry. The other product showed chromatographic properties similar to 4-chlorophenylurea but resembled the monomethylaryl urea on mass spectral analysis. It is concluded that this metabolite is likely to be N'-(4-chlorophenyl)-N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylurea. A urinary product of conjugative metabolism obtained after the administration of monuron to mice also gave the mass spectrum of the monomethyl compound after deconjugation which suggests that a conjugated N-hydroxymethyl compound may have been formed in vivo.

Monitoring human exposure to 2-hydroxyethylating carcinogens.

It is known that human hemoglobin contains low levels of N-terminal N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine. Possible sources of this modified amino acid are exposure to ethylene oxide or other 2-hydroxy-ethylating agents. Although such processes are likely to occur endogenously, the exogenous contribution to the adduct formation is unclear. In order to explore the latter, we have analyzed N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine in the globin of 49 pregnant women and evaluated the effect of smoking status, area of residence, and glutathione S-transferase M1 genotype on adduct levels. Transplacental transfer of hydroxyethylating agents was also studied by the analysis of umbilical cord hemoglobin. The adduct levels in smokers were significantly higher than those in nonsmokers. The adduct levels in umbilical cord blood globin were quantitatively related to those in maternal blood (maternal:fetal ratio 2.7 in smokers and 2.8 in nonsmokers). In the nonsmokers, there was no statistically significant difference in the adduct level between the urban and rural areas, but the level in suburbia tended to be lower than that in the rural area. In the combined smoker and nonsmoker groups, there was no effect of the glutathione S-transferase M1 genotype on levels of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine.

Monitoring exposure to 4,4'-methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline) through the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry measurement of adducts to hemoglobin.

4,4'-Methylene-bis(2-chloroaniline) (MOCA) is widely used as a curing agent in the plastics industry. The determination of the covalently bound reaction products to hemoglobin (Hb) has been investigated as a biomonitoring method for occupational exposure to this potential human carcinogen. Initial studies using the 14C-ring-labeled MOCA showed that 24 hr after a single IP dosage to rats (3.74 mumole/kg), 0.08% of the administered dose was adducted to the Hb, and base hydrolysis liberated 38% of the bound radioactivity. The only product released on hydrolysis was the parent diamine. A specific and sensitive assay procedure using capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry has been developed for determining the base-released MOCA adduct down to levels of 20 pmole/g Hb. This method has been used to establish a linear dose-response relationship in IP dosed rats between production of the adduct and dose of MOCA (3.74-44.94 mumole/kg). It is proposed to use analysis of the Hb adduct as a dosimeter for industrial workers exposed to MOCA.