Prevalence of at-risk genotypes for genotoxic effects decreases with age in a randomly selected population in Flanders: a cross sectional study.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesized that in Flanders (Belgium), the prevalence of at-risk genotypes for genotoxic effects decreases with age due to morbidity and mortality resulting from chronic diseases. Rather than polymorphisms in single genes, the interaction of multiple genetic polymorphisms in low penetrance genes involved in genotoxic effects might be of relevance. METHODS: Genotyping was performed on 399 randomly selected adults (aged 50-65) and on 442 randomly selected adolescents. Based on their involvement in processes relevant to genotoxicity, 28 low penetrance polymorphisms affecting the phenotype in 19 genes were selected (xenobiotic metabolism, oxidative stress defense and DNA repair, respectively 13, 6 and 9 polymorphisms). Polymorphisms which, based on available literature, could not clearly be categorized a priori as leading to an 'increased risk' or a 'protective effect' were excluded. RESULTS: The mean number of risk alleles for all investigated polymorphisms was found to be lower in the 'elderly' (17.0 ± 2.9) than the 'adolescent' (17.6 ± 3.1) subpopulation (P = 0.002). These results were not affected by gender nor smoking. The prevalence of a high (> 17 = median) number of risk alleles was less frequent in the 'elderly' (40.6%) than the 'adolescent' (51.4%) subpopulation (P = 0.002). In particular for phase II enzymes, the mean number of risk alleles was lower in the 'elderly' (4.3 ± 1.6 ) than the 'adolescent' age group (4.8 ± 1.9) P < 0.001 and the prevalence of a high (> 4 = median) number of risk alleles was less frequent in the 'elderly' (41.3%) than the adolescent subpopulation (56.3%, P < 0.001). The prevalence of a high (> 8 = median) number of risk alleles for DNA repair enzyme-coding genes was lower in the 'elderly' (37,3%) than the 'adolescent' subpopulation (45.6%, P = 0.017). CONCLUSIONS: These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that, in Flanders, the prevalence of at-risk alleles in genes involved in genotoxic effects decreases with age, suggesting that persons carrying a higher number of at risk alleles (especially in phase II xenobiotic-metabolizing or DNA repair genes) are at a higher risk of morbidity and mortality from chronic diseases. Our findings also suggest that, regarding risk of disease associated with low penetrance polymorphisms, multiple polymorphisms should be taken into account, rather than single ones.

Transcriptional profiling of the acute pulmonary inflammatory response induced by LPS: role of neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer often develops in association with chronic pulmonary inflammatory diseases with an influx of neutrophils. More detailed information on inflammatory pathways and the role of neutrophils herein is a prerequisite for understanding the mechanism of inflammation associated cancer. METHODS: In the present study, we used microarrays in order to obtain a global view of the transcriptional responses of the lung to LPS in mice, which mimics an acute lung inflammation. To investigate the influence of neutrophils in this process, we depleted mice from circulating neutrophils by treatment with anti-PMN antibodies prior to LPS exposure. RESULTS: A total of 514 genes was greater than 1.5-fold differentially expressed in the LPS induced lung inflammation model. 394 of the 514 were up regulated genes mostly involved in cell cycle and immune/inflammation related processes, such as cytokine/chemokine activity and signalling. Down regulated genes represented nonimmune processes, such as development, metabolism and transport. Notably, the number of genes and pathways that were differentially expressed, was reduced when animals were depleted from circulating neutrophils, confirming the central role of neutrophils in the inflammatory response. Furthermore, there was a significant correlation between the differentially expressed gene list and the promutagenic DNA lesion M1dG, suggesting that it is the extent of the immune response which drives genetic instability in the inflamed lung. Several genes that were specifically regulated by the presence of activated neutrophils could be identified and these were mostly involved in interferon signalling, oxidative stress response and cell cycle progression. The latter possibly refers to a higher rate of cell turnover in the inflamed lung with neutrophils, suggesting that the neutrophil influx is associated with a higher risk for the accumulation and fixation of mutations. CONCLUSION: Gene expression profiling identified specific genes and pathways that are related to neutrophilic inflammation and could be associated to cancer development and indicate an active role of neutrophils in mediating the LPS induced inflammatory response in the mouse lung.

Lung inflammation is associated with reduced pulmonary nucleotide excision repair in vivo.

Chronic pulmonary inflammation is associated with increased lung cancer risk, but the underlying process remains unknown. Recently, we showed that activated neutrophils inhibit nucleotide excision repair (NER) in pulmonary epithelial cells in vitro via the release of myeloperoxidase (MPO). To evaluate the effect of neutrophils on NER in vivo, mice were intratracheally instilled with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (20 microg), causing acute lung inflammation and associated neutrophil influx into the airways. Three days post-exposure, phenotypical NER capacity was assessed in lung tissue homogenate. LPS exposure inhibited pulmonary NER by approximately 50%. This finding was corroborated by down-regulation of the NER-associated genes Xpa and Xpf. To further elicit the role of neutrophils and MPO in this process, we utilized MPO-deficient mice as well as mice in which circulating neutrophils were depleted by antibody treatment. LPS-induced inhibition of pulmonary NER was not affected by either Mpo(-/-) or by depletion of circulating neutrophils. This contrasts with our previous in vitro observations, suggesting that inhibition of pulmonary NER following acute dosing with LPS is not fully mediated by neutrophils and/or MPO. In conclusion, these data show that LPS-induced pulmonary inflammation is associated with a reduction of NER function in the mouse lung.

Genotoxic effects of neutrophils and hypochlorous acid.

Chronic inflammation has been recognized as a contributing factor in the pathogenesis of lung cancer. In this process, reactive oxygen species released by neutrophils may play an important role. The aim of the present study was to investigate the capacity of the major neutrophilic oxidant hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which is formed by myeloperoxidase (MPO), to induce DNA damage and mutagenicity in lung cells. HOCl was mutagenic in lung epithelial A549 cells in vitro, showing at physiological concentrations a significant induction of mutations in the HPRT gene. We studied three major types of DNA lesions that could be relevant for this HOCl-induced mutagenicity. Single strand DNA breakage and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine were not found to be increased following HOCl treatment. On the other hand, HOCl caused a significant increase in the formation of 3-(2-deoxy-beta-D-erythro-pentofuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-alpha]purin-10(3H)-one (M(1)dG), which can be formed by either malondialdehyde (MDA) or base propenals. We observed an increased MDA formation upon exposure of A549 cells to HOCl, but a role of base propenals cannot be excluded. In line with this, we observed 4-fold increased M(1)dG adduct levels in mice that were intratracheally instilled with lipopolysaccharide to induce a pulmonary inflammation with neutrophil influx. Depletion of circulating neutrophils significantly reduced pulmonary MPO activity as well as M(1)dG adducts levels, thereby providing a causal link between neutrophils/HOCl and pulmonary genotoxicity in vivo. Taken together, these data indicate that MPO catalysed formation of HOCl during lung inflammation should be considered as a significant source of neutrophil-induced genotoxicity.

NF-kappaB dependent and independent mechanisms of quartz-induced proinflammatory activation of lung epithelial cells.

In the initiation and progression of pulmonary inflammation, macrophages have classically been considered as a crucial cell type. However, evidence for the role of epithelial type II cells in pulmonary inflammation has been accumulating. In the current study, a combined in vivo and in vitro approach has been employed to investigate the mechanisms of quartz-induced proinflammatory activation of lung epithelial cells. In vivo, enhanced expression of the inflammation- and oxidative stress-related genes HO-1 and iNOS was found on the mRNA level in rat lungs after instillation with DQ12 respirable quartz. Activation of the classical NF-kappaB pathway in macrophages and type II pneumocytes was indicated by enhanced immunostaining of phospho-IkappaBalpha in these specific lung cell types. In vitro, the direct, particle-mediated effect on proinflammatory signalling in a rat lung epithelial (RLE) cell line was compared to the indirect, macrophage product-mediated effect. Treatment with quartz particles induced HO-1 and COX-2 mRNA expression in RLE cells in an NF-kappaB independent manner. Supernatant from quartz-treated macrophages rapidly activated the NF-kappaB signalling pathway in RLE cells and markedly induced iNOS mRNA expression up to 2000-fold compared to non-treated control cells. Neutralisation of TNFalpha and IL-1beta in macrophage supernatant did not reduce its ability to elicit NF-kappaB activation of RLE cells. In addition the effect was not modified by depletion or supplementation of intracellular glutathione. The results from the current work suggest that although both oxidative stress and NF-kappaB are likely involved in the inflammatory effects of toxic respirable particles, these phenomena can operate independently on the cellular level. This might have consequences for in vitro particle hazard testing, since by focusing on NF-kappaB signalling one might neglect alternative inflammatory pathways.

Comparative evaluation of the effects of short-term inhalation exposure to diesel engine exhaust on rat lung and brain.

Combustion-derived nanoparticles, such as diesel engine exhaust particles, have been implicated in the adverse health effects of particulate air pollution. Recent studies suggest that inhaled nanoparticles may also reach and/or affect the brain. The aim of our study was to comparatively evaluate the effects of short-term diesel engine exhaust (DEE) inhalation exposure on rat brain and lung. After 4 or 18 h recovery from a 2 h nose-only exposure to DEE (1.9 mg/m(3)), the mRNA expressions of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) were investigated in lung as well as in pituitary gland, hypothalamus, olfactory bulb, olfactory tubercles, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum. HO-1 protein expression in brain was investigated by immunohistochemistry and ELISA. In the lung, 4 h post-exposure, CYP1A1 and iNOS mRNA levels were increased, while 18 h post-exposure HO-1 was increased. In the pituitary at 4 h post-exposure, both CYP1A1 and HO-1 were increased; HO-1 was also elevated in the olfactory tuberculum at this time point. At 18 h post-exposure, increased expression of HO-1 and COX-2 was observed in cerebral cortex and cerebellum, respectively. Induction of HO-1 protein was not observed after DEE exposure. Bronchoalveolar lavage analysis of inflammatory cell influx, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 indicated that the mRNA expression changes occurred in the absence of lung inflammation. Our study shows that a single, short-term inhalation exposure to DEE triggers region-specific gene expression changes in rat brain to an extent comparable to those observed in the lung.

Implications of gene-drug interactions in smoking cessation for improving the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases.

Tobacco smoking continues to be the major preventable cause of premature morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Recent research strongly suggests that genetic background is associated with several aspects of smoking (e.g. initiation, maintenance, cessation, number of cigarettes smoked, indicators of nicotine dependence (ND) and nicotine withdrawal). Variations in two broad classes of genes have been shown to influence smoking: (1) genes that may influence the response to nicotine (e.g. nicotine metabolism, nicotinic receptors) and (2) genes that may predispose to addictive behaviour via their effects on key neurotransmitter pathways (e.g. dopamine, serotonin and opioid). Since these genetic variants might also influence the response to smoking cessation pharmacotherapies, smoking cessation rates might be increased by determining which treatment would be most effective based on the smoker's genetic background. This is expected to result in a more efficient use of smoking cessation therapies, increased cessation rates and ultimately, in reduced deaths from smoking. Until now, most research on the influence of genetic variation on smoking cessation pharmacotherapy has been directed to the two most widely accepted and licensed forms of smoking cessation therapy: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and the antidepressant bupropion. Overall, genotypes associated with increased dopamine availability seem to predict a better response to bupropion, while smokers with genotypes associated with reduced dopamine levels probably achieve better quit rates with NRT. A decreased metabolism for the drug used (e.g. bupropion or NRT), results in increased cessation rates as well. Furthermore, smokers with reduced dopaminergic and nicotinic receptor activity variants may experience greater benefit from nicotine spray, while smokers with increased activity variants in the opioid receptor may have greater success with transdermal patches. Thus it seems that genetic information may give directions in determining which treatment would be most effective for an individual smoker. However, several challenges will still have to be overcome before genetically tailored smoking cessation therapy can be implemented in standard clinical practice.

Formation of lysine 63-linked poly-ubiquitin chains protects human lung cells against benzo[a]pyrene-diol-epoxide-induced mutagenicity.

Benzo[a]pyrene exerts its mutagenic effects via induction of benzo[a]pyrene-diol-epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts. Such helix-distorting adducts are not always successfully repaired prior to DNA replication, which may result in a blocked replication fork. To alleviate this stall, cells utilize DNA damage tolerance systems involving either error-free damage avoidance or error-prone translesion synthesis. Studies in yeast suggest the modification of PCNA by lysine 63-linked poly-ubiquitin (K63-polyUb) chains as a key mediator of the error-free damage avoidance pathway. Recently, we extended this observation to human cells, showing the occurrence of poly-ubiquitination of PCNA in UV-irradiated human cells. In the present study, we hypothesized that disrupting the formation of K63-polyUb chains inhibits damage avoidance and favors error-prone repair involving low-fidelity polymerases (e.g. POLeta), causing increased BPDE-induced mutagenicity. To test this hypothesis, we generated A549 cells expressing either a mutant ubiquitin (K63R-Ub) which blocks further ubiquitination through K63, or the wild type ubiquitin (WT-Ub). We show that PCNA is poly-ubiquitinated in these cells upon BPDE-exposure and that disruption of K63-polyUb chain formation has no effect on BPDE-induced toxicity. In contrast, significantly higher frequencies of BPDE-induced HPRT mutations were observed in K63R-Ub expressing cells, of which the majority (74%) was G-->T transversion. BPDE treatment caused an enhanced recruitment of POLeta to the replication machinery of the K63R-Ub expressing cells, where it co-localized with PCNA. Suppression of POLeta expression by using siRNA resulted in a 50% reduction of BPDE-induced mutations in the K63R cells. In conclusion, we demonstrated that formation of K63-polyUb chains protects BPDE-exposed human cells against translesion synthesis-mediated mutagenesis. These findings indicate that K63-polyubiquitination guards against chemical carcinogenesis by preventing mutagenesis and thus contributing to genomic stability.

Activated neutrophils inhibit nucleotide excision repair in human pulmonary epithelial cells: role of myeloperoxidase.

Neutrophils are thought to affect pulmonary carcinogenesis by promoting the metabolism of inhaled chemical carcinogens, causing enhanced formation of promutagenic DNA adducts. We hypothesized that neutrophils interfere with the removal of such DNA adducts by inhibiting nucleotide excision repair (NER) in target cells. Human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) were cocultured with activated neutrophils, and we observed a significant reduction of NER in the A549 cells, which was abrogated by addition of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) inhibitor 4-aminobenzoic acid hydrazide. The inhibitory effect of neutrophils could be mimicked by the MPO product hypochlorous acid (HOCl), which caused an acute, dose-dependent inhibition of NER in A549 cells. This was independent of cytotoxicity or ATP loss and persisted up to 24 h. These data were supported by showing that HOCl caused a delayed removal of DNA adducts in benzo[a]pyrene-diolepoxide-exposed A549 cells. The acute HOCl-induced inhibition of NER can only partly be explained by oxidative modification of repair proteins. To explain the more persistent effects of HOCl, we analyzed the expression of NER genes and found that HOCl significantly reduced XPC expression. In conclusion, these data indicate that neutrophils are potent inhibitors of nucleotide excision repair. This may provide a further biological explanation for the association between inflammation and lung cancer development.

An inactivated poliovirus vaccine using Sabin strains produced on the serum-free PER.C6® cell culture platform is immunogenic and safe in a non-human primate model.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends the development of affordable next-generation inactivated poliovirus vaccines (IPV) using attenuated poliovirus Sabin strains. Previously, we introduced a novel PER.C6® cell culture platform, which allows for high yield production of an affordable trivalent Sabin IPV vaccine. METHODS: Immunogenicity and safety of this novel PER.C6®-based Sabin-IPV (sIPV) was assessed in rats and non-human primates (NHPs). NHPs received one of four different dose dilutions vaccine according to current human schedule (three prime-immunizations and one boost immunization). For comparison, NHPs received commercially available reference Salk IPV or sIPV. RESULTS: Dose-dependent immunogenicity and good tolerability was observed for the PER.C6®-based sIPV formulations in rats and NHPs. In NHPs, the lowest tested dose that induced anti-Sabin virus-neutralizing antibody titers that were non-inferior to commercial sIPV after three immunizations was 5-7.5-25 D-antigen units for type 1, 2 and 3 respectively. DISCUSSION: PER.C6®-based sIPV induced comparable immunogenicity to commercial Salk IPV and sIPV vaccines in NHPs. Together with the absence of any preclinical safety signals, these data warrant further testing in clinical trials. sIPV produced on the PER.C6® cell platform could be one solution to the need for an affordable and immunogenic IPV to achieve and maintain global polio eradication.

The role of glutathione in the regulation of nucleotide excision repair during oxidative stress.

Nucleotide excision repair (NER) mainly repairs bulky DNA adducts and helix distorting lesions, but is additionally considered to be a back-up system for base excision repair to remove oxidative stress induced DNA damage. Therefore, it can be speculated that NER is up-regulated or primed by oxidative stress. Exposure of human pulmonary epithelial cells (A549) to non-toxic doses of 100muM H(2)O(2) indeed showed a 2 to 4.5-fold increase in expression of XPA, XPC, ERCC4, and ERCC5, whereas the expression of ERCC1 was 5-fold decreased. Phenotypical assessment of NER capacity (i.e. recognition and incision of benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts) showed a significant decrease to less than 50% after H(2)O(2) exposure, which paralleled the effects of H(2)O(2) on ERCC1 expression. To study the possible involvement of glutathione (GSH) in the regulation of NER, cells were pre-incubated with 0.5mM BSO, resulting in total GSH depletion and increased intracellular oxidative stress. In GSH-depleted cells, the down-regulation of ERCC1 expression by H(2)O(2) was completely abolished and the up-regulation of ERCC4 expression was potentiated from 2.5-fold to >10-fold. Similarly, the H(2)O(2)-induced decrease in NER capacity was absent in GSH-depleted cells. Overall, our data suggest that NER capacity as well as the expression of NER related genes can be modulated by oxidative stress. ERCC1 expression and NER capacity correlated strongly (R(2)=0.85, P<0.01) after oxidant exposure, indicating ERCC1 as a specific target for oxidative stress induced modification of NER.

Inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory chain function abrogates quartz induced DNA damage in lung epithelial cells.

Respirable quartz dust has been classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. The aim of our study was to investigate the mechanisms of DNA damage by DQ12 quartz in RLE-6TN rat lung epithelial type II cells (RLE). Transmission electron microscopy and flow-cytometry analysis showed a rapid particle uptake (30 min to 4 h) of quartz by the RLE cells, but particles were not found within the cell nuclei. This suggests that DNA strand breakage and induction of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine - as also observed in these cells during these treatment intervals - did not result from direct physical interactions between particles and DNA, or from short-lived particle surface-derived reactive oxygen species. DNA damage by quartz was significantly reduced in the presence of the mitochondrial inhibitors rotenone and antimycin-A. In the absence of quartz, these inhibitors did not affect DNA damage, but they reduced cellular oxygen consumption. No signs of apoptosis were observed by quartz. Flow-cytometry analysis indicated that the reduced DNA damage by rotenone was not due to a possible mitochondria-mediated reduction of particle uptake by the RLE cells. Further proof of concept for the role of mitochondria was shown by the failure of quartz to elicit DNA damage in mitochondria-depleted 143B (rho-0) osteosarcoma cells, at concentrations where it elicited DNA damage in the parental 143B cell line. In conclusion, our data show that respirable quartz particles can elicit oxidative DNA damage in vitro without entering the nuclei of type II cells, which are considered to be important target cells in quartz carcinogenesis. Furthermore, our observations indicate that such indirect DNA damage involves the mitochondrial electron transport chain function, by an as-yet-to-be elucidated mechanism.

The environmental carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene induces expression of monocyte-chemoattractant protein-1 in vascular tissue: a possible role in atherogenesis.

Exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has been implicated in the aetiology of atherosclerosis. Previously we showed that chronic exposure of ApoE-/- mice to the prototype PAH benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) causes enhanced progression of atherosclerosis, which was characterised by an increased inflammatory cell content in the atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of B[a]P on vascular expression of monocyte-chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), which is a crucial molecule promoting the recruitment of monocytes into atherosclerotic lesions. We hypothesised that B[a]P-induced expression of MCP-1 is mediated through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation. Initially we performed in vivo studies showing that acute treatment with B[a]P induces MCP-1 gene expression in aortic tissue of ApoE-/- mice. These observations could be confirmed by in vitro studies with human endothelial cells (RF24 cell line and primary HUVEC), showing a dose- and time-dependent increase in MCP-1 expression upon exposure to B[a]P. This was paralleled by an induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 and 1B1, indicating Ah receptor activation. No increased gene expression (MCP-1, CYP1A1 and 1B1) was found upon incubation with the structural isomer benzo[e]pyrene, which is a weak AhR agonist. Moreover, B[a]P-induced MCP-1 gene and protein expression was inhibited by co-treatment with the AhR antagonist alpha-naphthoflavone. In addition to its effect on basal gene expression, we showed that B[a]P significantly enhanced TNFalpha-induced expression of MCP-1. We were unable to block B[a]P-induced MCP-1 expression by antioxidant treatment. In contrast, we found that addition of N-acetylcysteine or vitamin C enhanced transcription of MCP-1 by B[a]P. In conclusion, our studies revealed potent vascular pro-inflammatory effects of B[a]P, as evidenced by AhR-mediated induction of MCP-1. These observations further contribute to the concept that induction of inflammation is a crucial process in PAH-enhanced atherogenesis.

Genotoxicity of poorly soluble particles.

Poorly soluble particles such as TiO2, carbon black, and diesel exhaust particles have been evaluated for their genotoxicity using both in vitro and in vivo assays, since inhalation of these compounds by rats at high concentrations has been found to lead to tumor formation. Two principle modes of genotoxic action can be considered for particles, referred to as primary and secondary genotoxicity. Primary genotoxicity is defined as genetic damage elicited by particles in the absence of pulmonary inflammation, whereas secondary genotoxicity implies a pathway of genetic damage resulting from the oxidative DNA attack by reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS), generated during particle-elicited inflammation. Conceptually, primary genotoxicity might operate via various mechanisms, such as the actions of ROS (e.g., as generated from reactive particle surfaces), or DNA-adduct formation by reactive metabolites of particle-associated organic compounds (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons). Currently available literature data, however, merely indicate that the tumorigenesis of poorly soluble particles involves a mechanism of secondary genotoxicity. However, further research is urgently required, since (1) causality between pulmonary inflammation and genotoxicity has not yet been established, and (2) effects of inflammation on fundamental DNA damage responses that orchestrate mutagenesis and carcinogenic outcome,that is, cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, proliferation, and apoptosis, are currently poorly understood.

Interindividual variations in DNA adduct levels assessed by analysis of multiple genetic polymorphisms in smokers.

Genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in processes that affect DNA damage may explain part of the large interindividual variation in DNA adduct levels in smokers. We investigated the effect of 19 polymorphisms in 12 genes involved in carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, and oxidant metabolism on DNA adduct levels (determined by (32)P post-labeling) in lymphocytes of 63 healthy Caucasian smokers. The total number of alleles that were categorized as putatively high-risk alleles seemed associated with bulky DNA adduct levels (P = 0.001). Subsequently, to investigate which polymorphisms may have the highest contribution to DNA adduct levels in these smokers, discriminant analysis was done. In the investigated set of polymorphisms, GSTM1*0 (P < 0.001), mEH*2 (P = 0.001), and GPX1*1 (P < 0.001) in combination with the level of exposure (P < 0.001) were found to be key effectors. DNA adduct levels in subjects with a relatively high number of risk alleles of these three genes were >2-fold higher than in individuals not having these risk alleles. Noteworthy, all three genes are involved in deactivation of reactive carcinogenic metabolites. This study shows that analysis of multiple genetic polymorphisms may predict the interindividual variation in DNA adduct levels upon exposure to cigarette smoke. It is concluded that discriminant analysis presents an important statistical tool for analyzing the effect of multiple genotypes on molecular biomarkers.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons induce an inflammatory atherosclerotic plaque phenotype irrespective of their DNA binding properties.

Although it has been demonstrated that carcinogenic environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) cause progression of atherosclerosis, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to investigate whether DNA binding events are critically involved in the progression of PAH-mediated atherogenesis. Apolipoprotein E knockout mice were orally (24 wk, once/wk) exposed to 5 mg/kg benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), or its nonmutagenic, noncarcinogenic structural isoform benzo[e]pyrene (B[e]P). 32P-postlabeling of lung tissue confirmed the presence of promutagenic PAH-DNA adducts in B[a]P-exposed animals, whereas in B[e]P-exposed and vehicle control animals, these adducts were undetectable. Morphometrical analysis showed that both B[a]P and B[e]P caused an increase in plaque size, whereas location or number of plaques was unaffected. Immunohistochemistry revealed no differences in oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) or apoptosis in the plaques. Also plasma lipoprotein levels remained unchanged after PAH-exposure. However, T lymphocytes were increased > or =2-fold in the plaques of B[a]P- and B[e]P-exposed animals. Additionally, B[a]P and to a lesser extent B[e]P exposure resulted in increased TGFbeta protein levels in the plaques, that was mainly localized in the plaque macrophages. In vitro studies using the murine macrophage like RAW264.7 cells showed that inhibition of TGFbeta resulted in decreased tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha release, suggesting that enhanced TGFbeta expression in the plaque macrophages contributes to the proinflammatory effects in the vessel wall. In general, this inflammatory reaction in the plaques appeared to be a local response since peripheral blood cell composition (T cells, B cells, granulocytes, and macrophages) was not changed upon PAH exposure. In conclusion, we showed that both B[a]P and B[e]P cause progression of atherosclerosis, irrespective of their DNA binding properties. Moreover, our data revealed a possible novel mechanism of PAH-mediated atherogenesis, which likely involves a TGFbeta-mediated local inflammatory reaction in the vessel wall.

The crucial role of particle surface reactivity in respirable quartz-induced reactive oxygen/nitrogen species formation and APE/Ref-1 induction in rat lung.

Persistent inflammation and associated excessive oxidative stress have been crucially implicated in quartz-induced pulmonary diseases, including fibrosis and cancer. We have investigated the significance of the particle surface reactivity of respirable quartz dust in relation to the in vivo generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) and the associated induction of oxidative stress responses in the lung. Therefore, rats were intratracheally instilled with 2 mg quartz (DQ12) or quartz whose surface was modified by either polyvinylpyridine-N-oxide (PVNO) or aluminium lactate (AL). Seven days after instillation, the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analysed for markers of inflammation (total/differential cell counts), levels of pulmonary oxidants (H2O2, nitrite), antioxidant status (trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity), as well as for markers of lung tissue damage, e.g. total protein, lactate dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase. Lung homogenates as well as sections were investigated regarding the induction of the oxidative DNA-lesion/oxidative stress marker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) using HPLC/ECD analysis and immunohistochemistry, respectively. Homogenates and sections were also investigated for the expression of the bifunctional apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease/redox factor-1 (APE/Ref-1) by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Significantly increased levels of H2O2 and nitrite were observed in rats treated with non-coated quartz, when compared to rats that were treated with either saline or the surface-modified quartz preparations. In the BALF, there was a strong correlation between the number of macrophages and ROS, as well as total cells and RNS. Although enhanced oxidant generation in non-coated DQ12-treated rats was paralleled with an increased total antioxidant capacity in the BALF, these animals also showed significantly enhanced lung tissue damage. Remarkably however, elevated ROS levels were not associated with an increase in 8-OHdG, whereas the lung tissue expression of APE/Ref-1 protein was clearly up-regulated. The present data provide further in vivo evidence for the crucial role of particle surface properties in quartz dust-induced ROS/RNS generation by recruited inflammatory phagocytes. Our results also demonstrate that quartz dust can fail to show steady-state enhanced oxidative DNA damage in the respiratory tract, in conditions were it elicits a marked and persistent inflammation with associated generation of ROS/RNS, and indicate that this may relate to compensatory induction of APE/Ref-1 mediated base excision repair.

Oxidative stress and calcium signaling in the adverse effects of environmental particles (PM10).

This review focuses on the potential role that oxidative stress plays in the adverse effects of PM(10). The central hypothesis is that the ability of PM(10) to cause oxidative stress underlies the association between increased exposure to PM(10) and both exacerbations of lung disease and lung cancer. Pulmonary inflammation may also underlie the cardiovascular effects seen following increased PM(10), although the mechanisms of the cardiovascular effects of PM(10) are not well understood. PM(10) is a complex mix of various particle types and several of the components of PM(10) are likely to be involved in the induction of oxidative stress. The most likely of these are transition metals, ultrafine particle surfaces, and organic compounds. In support of this hypothesis, oxidative stress arising from PM(10) has been shown to activate a number of redox-responsive signaling pathways in lung target cells. These pathways are involved in expression of genes that play a role in responses relevant to inflammation and pathological change, including MAPKs, NF-kappaB, AP-1, and histone acetylation. Oxidative stress from particles is also likely to play an important role in the carcinogenic effects associated with PM(10) and hydroxyl radicals from PM(10) cause DNA damage in vitro.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) -463G->A reduces MPO activity and DNA adduct levels in bronchoalveolar lavages of smokers.

The myeloperoxidase (MPO) -463G-->A genetic polymorphism is associated with a reduced risk for lung cancer, but the underlying mechanism is not yet elucidated. Therefore, the impact of this polymorphism on MPO activity and lipophilic DNA adducts was studied in respectively bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and cells, from 106 smoking Caucasian lung patients. MPO activity was determined spectrophotometrically, aromatic DNA adducts by (32)P-postlabeling and MPO genotypes by RFLP analysis. Frequencies of MPO -463AA (13%), MPO -463AG (36%), and MPO -463GG (51%) were in line with earlier observations. MPO activity/neutrophil was lower in MPO -463AA (median 0.04 pU/cell) than in MPO -463AG (median 0.07 pU/cell) and MPO -463GG (median 0.14 pU/cell; P = 0.059) individuals. DNA adducts in BAL cells were measured in 11 MPO -463AA subjects and equal numbers of MPO -463AG and MPO -463GG subjects matched for smoking, age, gender, and clinical diagnosis. DNA adduct levels in MPO -463AA individuals (median 0.62 adducts/10(8) nucleotides) were lower than in MPO -463AG (median 1.51 adducts/10(8) nucleotides) and MPO -463GG (median 3.26 adducts/10(8) nucleotides; P = 0.003) subjects. Overall, no significant correlation was observed between amount of inhaled tar/day and DNA adduct levels. However, correlations improved considerably on grouping according to the MPO genotype; MPO -463AA subjects were the least responsive (R(2) = 0.73, slope = 0.4, P = 0.01) followed by MPO -463AG subjects (R(2) = 0.70, slope = 1.3, P = 0.01) and MPO -463GG patients (R(2) = 0.67, slope = 2.8, P = 0.02). These data demonstrate that MPO -463AA/AG genotypes are associated with (a) reduced MPO activity in BAL fluid and (b) reduced smoking-related DNA adduct levels in BAL cells in a gene-dose manner. These data provide a plausible biological explanation for the reduced risk for lung cancer as observed in MPO -463AA/AG compared with MPO -463GG subjects.

Oxidant-induced DNA damage by quartz in alveolar epithelial cells.

Respirable quartz has recently been classified as a human carcinogen. Although, studies with quartz using naked DNA as a target suggest that formation of oxyradicals by particles may play a role in the DNA-damaging properties of quartz, it is not known whether this pathway is important for DNA damage in the target cells for quartz carcinogenesis, i.e. alveolar epithelial cells. Therefore, we determined in vitro DNA damage by DQ12 quartz particles in rat and human and alveolar epithelial cells (RLE, A549) using the single cell gel electrophoresis/comet assay. The radical generation capacity of quartz was analysed by electron spin resonance (ESR) and by immunocytochemical analysis of the hydroxyl radical-specific DNA lesion 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in the epithelial cells. Quartz particles as well as the positive control hydrogen peroxide, caused a dose-dependent increase in DNA strand breaks in both cell lines. DNA damage by quartz was significantly reduced in the presence of the hydroxyl-radical scavengers mannitol or DMSO. The involvement of hydroxyl radicals was further established by ESR measurements and was also demonstrated by the ability of the quartz to induce formation of 8-OHdG. In conclusion, our data show that quartz elicits DNA damage in rat and human alveolar epithelial cells and indicate that these effects are driven by hydroxyl radical-generating properties of the particles.