Evaluation of the mode of action and human relevance of liver tumors in male mice treated with epyrifenacil.

Epyrifenacil (trademark name: Rapidicil®), a novel protoporphyrinogen oxidase (PPO)-inhibiting herbicide, induces hepatocellular adenomas and carcinomas in male CD-1 mice after 78 weeks treatment. The mode of action (MOA) of these mouse liver tumors and their relevance to humans was assessed based on the 2006 International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS) Human Relevance Framework. Epyrifenacil is not genotoxic and induced liver tumors via the postulated porphyria-mediated cytotoxicity MOA with the following key events: (#1) PPO inhibition; (#2) porphyrin accumulation; (#3) hepatocellular injury; with (#4) subsequent regenerative cell proliferation; and ultimately (#5) development of liver tumors. This article evaluates the weight of evidence for this MOA based on the modified Bradford Hill criteria. The MOA data were aligned with the dose and temporal concordance, biological plausibility, coherence, strength, consistency, and specificity for a porphyria-mediated cytotoxicity MOA while excluding other alternative MOAs. Although the postulated MOA could qualitatively potentially occur in humans, we demonstrate that it is unlikely to occur in humans because of quantitative toxicodynamic and toxicokinetic differences between mice and humans. Therefore, this MOA is considered not relevant to humans, utilizing the IPCS Human Relevance Framework; consequently, a nonlinear, threshold dose response would be appropriate for human risk assessment.

Metronidazole enhances steatosis-related early-stage hepatocarcinogenesis in high fat diet-fed rats through DNA double-strand breaks and modulation of autophagy.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is a hepatic disorder with deposition of fat droplets and has a high risk of progression to steatosis-related hepatitis and irreversible hepatic cancer. Metronidazole (MNZ) is an antiprotozoal and antimicrobial agent widely used to treat patients infected with anaerobic bacteria and intestinal parasites; however, MNZ has also been shown to induce liver tumors in rodents. To investigate the effects of MNZ on steatosis-related early-stage hepatocarcinogenesis, male rats treated with N-nitrosodiethylamine following 2/3 hepatectomy at week 3 were received a control basal diet, high fat diet (HFD), or HFD containing 0.5% MNZ. The HFD induced obesity and steatosis in the liver, accompanied by altered expression of Pparg and Fasn, genes related to lipid metabolism. MNZ increased nuclear translocation of lipid metabolism-related transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in hepatocytes, together with altered liver expression of lipid metabolism genes (Srebf1, Srebf2, Pnpla2). Furthermore, MNZ significantly increased the number of preneoplastic liver foci, accompanied by DNA double-strand breaks and late-stage autophagy inhibition, as reflected by increased levels of γ-H2AX, LC3, and p62. Therefore, MNZ could induce steatosis-related hepatocarcinogenesis by inducing DNA double-strand breaks and modulating autophagy in HFD-fed rats.

Chimeric Mouse With Humanized Liver Is an Appropriate Animal Model to Investigate Mode of Action for Porphyria-Mediated Hepatocytotoxicity.

Porphyrinogenic compounds are known to induce porphyria-mediated hepatocellular injury and subsequent regenerative proliferation in rodents, ultimately leading to hepatocellular tumor induction. However, an appropriate in vivo experimental model to evaluate an effect of porphyrinogenic compounds on human liver has not been fully established. Recently, the chimeric mouse with humanized liver (PXB mice) became widely used as a humanized model in which human hepatocytes are transplanted. In the present study, we examined the utility of PXB mice as an in vivo experimental model to evaluate the key events of the porphyria-mediated cytotoxicity mode of action (MOA) in humans. The treatment of PXB mice with 5-aminolevulinic acid, a representative porphyrinogenic compound, for 28 days caused protoporphyrin IX accumulation, followed by hepatocyte necrosis, increased mitosis, and an increase in replicative DNA synthesis in human hepatocytes, indicative of cellular injury and regenerative proliferation, similar to findings in patients with porphyria or experimental porphyria models and corresponding to the key events of the MOA for porphyria-mediated hepatocellular carcinogenesis. We conclude that the PXB mouse is a useful model to evaluate the key events of the porphyria-mediated cytotoxicity MOA in humans and suggest the utility of PXB mice for clarifying the human relevancy of findings in mice.

Immunohistochemical expression of autophagosome markers LC3 and p62 in preneoplastic liver foci in high fat diet-fed rats.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is characterized by excessive deposition of droplets in hepatocytes. Patients with NAFLD can be at risk for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, which can lead to hepatocellular carcinoma. Autophagy is a cellular pathway that is crucial for survival and homeostasis, and which protects against pathophysiological changes like obesity and cancer. We determined the expression of autophagy markers in preneoplastic hepatic lesions and the effects of an autophagy repressor chloroquine (CQ) or inducer amiodarone (AM) in a steatosis-related hepatocarcinogenesis model. Male F344 rats were fed a control diet or high fat diet (HFD), and subjected to initiation and promotion steps with N-nitrosodiethylamine injection at week 0 and a partial hepatectomy at week 3. Several HFD-fed rats were administered 0.1% CQ and 0.5% AM in their drinking water during week 2 and 8. CQ and AM did not improve HFD-induced obesity. AM, but not CQ, significantly decreased the number of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive preneoplastic liver foci in the liver. Autophagosome markers LC3 and the LC3-binding protein p62 were heterogeneously expressed in the preneoplastic foci. CQ might inhibit autophagy by significantly increased p62/LC3 ratio, while AM might have a potential of inducing autophagy by showing an increased gene expression of the autophagy regulator, Atg5. These results suggest that preneoplastic lesions express autophagosome markers and that AM might decrease steatosis-related early hepatocarcinogenesis by potentially inducing autophagy in HFD-fed rats, while inhibition of autophagy by CQ did not alter the hepatocarcinogenesis. However, an immunohistochemical trial revealed a technical limitation in detecting autophagosome markers because there were variations in each preneoplastic lesion.

Differential impacts of mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist potassium canrenoate on liver and renal changes in high fat diet-mediated early hepatocarcinogenesis model rats.

Mineralocorticoid receptor (MR)/NADPH oxidase (NOX) signaling is involved in the development of obesity, insulin resistance, and renal diseases; however, the role of this signaling on steatotic preneoplastic liver lesions is not fully elucidated. We determined the effects of the MR antagonist potassium canrenoate (PC) on MR/NOX signaling in hepatic steatosis and preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive liver foci. Rats were subjected to a two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis model and fed with basal diet or high fat diet (HFD) that was co-administered with PC alone or in combination with the antioxidant alpha-glycosyl isoquercitrin (AGIQ). PC reduced obesity and renal changes (basophilic tubules that expressed MR and p22phox) but did not affect blood glucose tolerance and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity score (NAS) in HFD-fed rats. However, the drug increased the area of GST-P-positive liver foci that expressed MR and p22phox as well as increased expression of NOX genes (p22phox, Poldip2, and NOX4). PC in combination with AGIQ had the potential of inhibiting the effects of PC on the area of GST-P-positive liver foci and the effects were associated with increasing expression of an anti-oxidative enzyme (Catalase). The results suggested that MR/NOX signaling might be involved in development of preneoplastic liver foci and renal basophilic changes in HFD-fed rats; however, the impacts of PC were different in each organ.

A case of rapid recurrence of apocrine ductal carcinoma originating from the oral scent gland of a Richardson's ground squirrel (Urocitellus richardsonii).

A 3-year-old female Richardson's ground squirrel developed a subcutaneous mass at the left oral angle. Seven days after removal of the mass, the mass recurred and metastasized to the cervical lymph node. Histologically, the primary mass was subdivided by fibrous trabeculae into various-sized neoplastic cell lobules showing a solid growth pattern with frequent mitoses and sometimes forming intracytoplasmic lumina. Large to medium-sized lobules formed a central cyst plugged by comedo necrosis. Neoplastic cells showed infiltrative subcutaneous growth. In the recurrent tumor, tubular structures lacking apparent apocrine secretion appeared within the solid growth portion. Neutrophil infiltration was evident within the tubules and intracytoplasmic lumina. Neoplastic cells were diffusely immunopositive for AE1/AE3 pan-cytokeratin (CK) in all lobules and focally positive for CAM5.2 CK in the lobules forming a central cyst and/or tubular structures, but they entirely lacked positivity for the periodic acid Schiff reaction. Ki-67-positive proliferating neoplastic cells were higher in numbers with the recurrent tumor than with the primary tumor. In addition, phosphorylated c-MYC immunoreactivity was observed in neoplastic cell nuclei, distinctly at the portion of invasive growth. Thus, the present case was diagnosed as apocrine ductal carcinoma originating from the oral scent gland, which typically shows highly aggressive biological behavior.

Spironolactone in Combination with α-glycosyl Isoquercitrin Prevents Steatosis-related Early Hepatocarcinogenesis in Rats through the Observed NADPH Oxidase Modulation.

Administration of the diuretic, spironolactone (SR), can inhibit chronic liver diseases. We determined the effects of SR alone or in combination with the antioxidant α-glycosyl isoquercitrin (AGIQ) on hyperlipidemia- and steatosis-related precancerous lesions in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed rats subjected to a two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis model. Rats were fed with control basal diet or HFD, which was administered with SR alone or in combination with an antioxidant AGIQ in drinking water. An HFD increased body weight, intra-abdominal fat (adipose) tissue weight, and plasma lipids, which were reduced by coadministration of SR and AGIQ. SR and AGIQ coadministration also reduced hepatic steatosis and preneoplastic glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci, in association with decrease in NADPH oxidase (NOX) subunit p22phox-positive cells and an increase in active-caspase-3-positive cells in the foci. Hepatic gene expression analysis revealed that the coadministration of SR and AGIQ altered mRNA levels of lipogenic enzymes ( Scd1 and Fasn), antioxidant-related enzymes ( Catalase), NOX component ( P67phox), and anti-inflammatory transcriptional factor ( Pparg). Our results indicated that SR in combination with AGIQ had the potential of suppressing hyperlipidemia- and steatosis-related early hepatocarcinogenesis through the reduced expression of NOX subunits.

Developmental Exposure to Aluminum Chloride Irreversibly Affects Postnatal Hippocampal Neurogenesis Involving Multiple Functions in Mice.

Aluminum (Al) is neurotoxic to adults and also to infants. In this study, we investigated the developmental exposure effect of AlCl3 on postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis. Pregnant mice were administered 0-, 900-, or 1800-ppm AlCl3 via drinking water from gestational day 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21, with their offspring examined on PND 21 and PND 77. On PND 21, GFAP-immunoreactive (+) neural stem cells (NSCs) and p21Cip1/Waf1+ cells were decreased in number in the subgranular zone at 900 and ≥900 ppm, respectively. Pcna transcript level examined at 1800 ppm was decreased in the dentate gyrus. These results suggest induction of compromised cell quiescence that caused impaired self-renewal capacity of NSCs accompanying slowing down of cell cycling, which ultimately resulted in exhaustion of the NSC pool. At 1800 ppm, Reelin+ hilar GABAergic interneurons were also decreased, suggesting a contribution to the NSC reduction. At this dose, TBR2+ or DCX+ progenitor and immature granule cells and PVALB+ interneurons were increased. Moreover, COX-2+ granule cells were increased at ≥900 ppm. These results suggest facilitation of transient progenitor cell proliferation and differentiation during exposure. Moreover, TUNEL+ or Morin-stained granule cells were increased, together with Casp12 transcript upregulation, suggesting induction of Al accumulation-related endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated granule cell apoptosis. Transcript expression changes on cholinergic and glutamatergic signals and synaptic plasticity suggested contribution to disruptive neurogenesis. The NSC-targeting effects sustained through the adult stage despite no sustained Al-accumulation. These results suggest that developmental AlCl3-exposure irreversibly affects postnatal hippocampal neurogenesis involving multiple functions in mice.

Fluorescence tumor imaging by i.v. administered indocyanine green in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer.

Fluorescence tumor imaging using exogenous fluorescent tumor-targeting agents has potential to improve early tumor detection. The fluorescent contrast agent indocyanine green (ICG) is used in medical diagnostics. The aim of the present study is to investigate the tumor imaging capability and the imaging mechanism of i.v. administered ICG in a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer. To do this, an azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colon cancer mouse model was used. Ex vivo imaging experiments were carried out 1 hour after i.v. injection of ICG. The ICG fluorescence was observed in the colon tumor tissues, with sufficient tumor to normal tissue ratio, correlating with tumor malignancy. In the tumor tissues, ICG fluorescence was localized in the vascular interstitial tissue. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that tumor cells formed tight junctions normally, suggesting an inability of tumor cellular uptake of ICG. In contrast, tumor tissues increased the CD31-immunoreactive endothelial cell area, and accumulated stromal cells immunoreactive for COX-2 and tumor cell population immunoreactive for inducible nitric oxide synthase. In vivo vascular permeability assay revealed that prostaglandin E2 promoted the endothelial cell permeability of ICG. In conclusion, our data indicated that fluorescence contrast-enhanced imaging following i.v. administered ICG can be applied to the detection of colon tumors in a mouse colitis-associated colon cancer model. The tumor tissue preference of ICG in the present model can be attributed to the enhanced vascular leakage of ICG involving inflammatory mediators, such as COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase, in conjunction with increased tumor vascularity.

Choroid plexus carcinoma with neuronal and glial differentiation in a 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rat.

We describe a case of choroid plexus carcinoma arising in the cerebrum of a 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rat. The tumor mass occupied the right lateral ventricle of the cerebrum. Histological analyses revealed that the epithelial tumor cells had proliferated in tubular, cribriform, papillary and solid growth patterns in the vicinity of the choroid plexus, with slight invasion into the cerebrum parenchyma. We divided the tumor cells into cuboidal, elongated and intermediate cells. Immunohistochemical studies showed that these tumor cells expressed relatively high levels of cytokeratin AE1/AE3, vimentin and glial fibrillary acidic proteins, and low levels of nestin, oligodendrocyte transcription factor and doublecortin proteins. The present case was diagnosed as a choroid plexus carcinoma with neuronal and glial differentiation.

Intermediate-grade mammary gland adenocarcinoma in an 18-year-old female black leopard (Panthera pardus) with acute pancreatic necrosis and chronic interstitial nephropathy.

An 18-year-old female black leopard (Panthera pardus) showed renal failure, leukocytosis and presence of subcutaneous masses in the lower abdominal region and right shoulder; she eventually died. Histopathological observations included a mammary gland carcinoma with comedo, solid and tubulopapillary patterns in subcutaneous tissue, and highly proliferated tumor cells in systemic organs. The tumor cells were positive for cytokeratin AE1/AE3. The mammary gland tumor was diagnosed as intermediate-grade adenocarcinoma, based on a previously reported histological grading system of feline mammary carcinomas. Chronic interstitial nephritis was estimated to have been ongoing for 5 years, whilst acute necrotic pancreatitis in relation to tumor metastasis could have been the cause of death.