Comparisons of protein changes in human and rodent hepatocytes induced by the rat-specific carcinogen, methapyrilene.

There is a growing concern that the rodent bioassay may not always serve as an appropriate model to assess the carcinogenic risk for humans exposed to certain compounds. Mechanistic research that examines the effects of a compound in rodent and man could help in the interpretation of bioassay results. This paper reports a novel use of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) technology to assess similarities and differences in the response of rodents and humans to the rat-specific hepatocarcinogen, methapyrilene (MP). A sequential examination of rodent and human hepatic proteins was conducted following in vivo exposure of rats and mice and in vitro exposure of rat, mouse, and human hepatocytes to MP. Results showed that covalent modifications observed in rats and mice in vivo were duplicated both qualitatively and quantitatively in the corresponding in vitro systems and that these modifications correlated with carcinogenic susceptibility. Covalent modifications in human hepatocytes were minimal despite exposure to concentrations of MP that were 6-fold higher than those used in rodent hepatocytes. These studies suggest that in the case of MP the rat is not the most appropriate model for assessing the human situation. Furthermore, these data show that in vitro-in vivo comparisons based on 2-D PAGE may provide adjunctive information for extrapolating rodent toxicity/bioassay results to human risk assessment.

Covalent protein modifications and gene expression changes in rodent liver following administration of methapyrilene: a study using two-dimensional electrophoresis.

The effect of methapyrilene (MP), a mitochondrial proliferator and presumed nongenotoxic carcinogen, has been examined in rodent liver by means of high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoretic analysis of total proteins. Using this approach, we have discovered protein modifications in rat liver resulting from 1 week MP treatment that suggest the involvement of a reactive drug metabolite. The restriction of these molecular charge modifications to mitochondrial proteins indicates that such a reactive metabolite must be generated and confined within the mitochondrion. Quantitative changes in numerous nonmitochondrial proteins are also observed. Following a 4-week recovery period, almost all the 1-week treatment changes are reversed, reestablishing a protein pattern close to that of the controls. At the end of a 10-week exposure, the mitochondrial protein modifications are increased and are accompanied by a variety of quantitative protein changes indicative of a large shift in gene expression and/or cell type composition. When a 4-week untreated recovery period follows the 10-week treatment, small quantitative changes persist. In the mouse, where MP appears not to induce mitochondrial proliferation or tumorigenesis, 1 week treatment nevertheless produces mitochondrial protein changes in vivo consistent with attack by a reactive metabolite, but at a level substantially lower than that seen in the rat. Features of the mitochondrial protein modification indicate that it is covalent, does not involve cysteine or tryptophan, and results from binding of a negatively charged adduct. The possibility that the putative reactive metabolite could also attack mitochondrial (but not nuclear) DNA suggests that MP could be genotoxic in an unconventional way. Detection of protein modification by two-dimensional gel analysis appears to offer a general method for the detection and characterization of processes generating reactive metabolites.

Mutagenicity evaluation of HC Blue No. 1 and HC Blue No. 2, II. Effect on the in vitro induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat, mouse, rabbit, hamster, and monkey primary hepatocytes.

2 hair dyes, HC Blue No. 1 and HC Blue No. 2, were evaluated for the in vitro induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in primary hepatocytes of rat, mouse, hamster, rabbit and monkey. NC Blue No. 1, which is identified as a carcinogen by the National Toxicology Program, induced UDS in all 5 systems. HC Blue No. 2, which is identified as a non-carcinogen, induced UDS in rat, mouse, hamster and rabbit primary hepatocytes. 3-Methylcholanthrene and methyl methanesulfonate were used as positive controls to determine the sensitivity of the test system.

Quantification of unscheduled DNA synthesis by a whole cell counting method.

A procedure was developed for the quantification of the autoradiographic assay for unscheduled DNA synthesis. Relative to commonly used practices for grain counting, this procedure provides a more accurate net nuclear grain count by eliminating the subjectivity currently associated with selection of the areas to be counted for the cytoplasmic background count. Briefly, the object area and aperture area modes of an ARTEK 880 colony counter are used to collect values for the total number of silver grains over a particular cell (nuclear and cytoplasmic counts), as well as for the nuclear and cytoplasmic areas. These values are then employed in a short algorithm to determine the net nuclear grain count. This new method provides greater sensitivity for defining weak UDS responses and the data collected readily lends itself to statistical analysis.

The in vivo effect of 2,6-xylidine on induction of micronuclei in mouse bone marrow cells.

The ability of 2,6-xylidine to produce chromosome breakage and/or spindle malformation in vivo was evaluated by an assessment of the capacity of the compound to induce micronuclei in bone marrow polychromatic erythrocytes. Male ICR mice were administered a single oral dose of 350, 175 or 87.5 mg/kg of 2,6-xylidine by oral gavage and bone marrow was extracted from the femurs 24, 48 and 72 h thereafter. The frequency of micronuclei in animals treated with 2,6-xylidine was not different from that observed for the corresponding solvent treated controls.

Influence of age, sex and strain on the in vitro induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat hepatocyte primary cultures.

The activity of chemical-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis was evaluated in hepatocyte primary cultures from Fischer 344 and Sprague-Dawley rats over a period of two years. In this two-year study hepatocytes from both sexes and strains were prepared from animals 2, 8, 14, 20 and 25 months of age and UDS was measured by autoradiography following treatment with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and 2-acetylaminofluorine. A dose-related positive response occurred for both compounds throughout the study in hepatocytes from male and female Fischer rats and male Sprague-Dawley rats. The magnitude of the response was greatest in hepatocytes from male Fischer rats and a markedly lower response in unscheduled DNA synthesis occurred in all cultures prepared from animals of both strains and sexes at 20 and 25 months of age. Hepatocytes from female Sprague-Dawley rats showed a low level of unscheduled DNA synthesis with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine throughout the study. The most striking finding was the absence of a UDS response to 2-acetylaminofluorene by hepatocytes from Sprague-Dawley females at the 8, 14, 20 or 25 month periods. The results indicate an age-related decrease in chemical-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis activity among rats.

A procedure for the CHO/HGPRT mutation assay involving treatment of cells in suspension culture and selection of mutants in soft-agar.

A procedure involving treatment of cells in suspension culture and soft-agar cloning was developed for measuring mutation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to 6-thioguanine (6TG) resistance. The use of suspension cultures precluded the need for trypsinization and also permitted a 5-fold increase in cell population for compound exposure and mutant selection as compared to former monolayer techniques. Soft-agar cloning reduced the opportunity for metabolic cooperation and permitted the use of non-dialyzed fetal calf serum which resulted in spontaneous mutant frequencies of 6.6 +/- 3.2 X 10(-6) and cloning efficiencies of 91 +/- 18%. Relative total growth values were calculated based on suspension growth and cloning efficiencies such that an assessment of toxicity could be estimated from treatment through cloning. Dose-dependent mutagenic responses were observed in CHO cells following treatment with ethyl methanesulfonate, methyl methanesulfonate, 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, methylnitrosourea and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Clones of 6TG-resistant cells harvested from soft agar maintained 6TG resistance and methotrexate sensitivity and did not incorporate [3H]hypoxanthine into DNA. These preliminary findings indicate that the use of suspension cultures and soft-agar cloning has improved the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the CHO/HGPRT mutation assay.

Thymidine kinase activity and trifluorothymidine resistance of spontaneous and mutagen-induced L5178Y cells in RPMI 1640 medium.

L5178Y/TK+/- cells were treated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) in order to obtain thymidine-kinase-deficient mutants (TK-/-) which were resistant to trifluorothymidine (TFTr). Clones of TK-/- cells were harvested from soft agar and adapted to growth in suspension culture. The phenotype of the TK-/- and TK+/- clones was confirmed by measuring thymidine kinase activity. These studies were undertaken with cells from 16 3MC-induced large colony clones (lambda TK-/-), 21 3MC-induced small colony clones (sigma TK-/-), and 51 spontaneous sigma TK-/- clones. Thymidine kinase activity was absent in all of the lambda TK-/- and sigma TK-/- 3MC-induced clones and also in 49 of 51 sigma TK-/- spontaneous clones. After at least 50 generations in suspension culture, TFTr was retained by 80% of the 3MC-induced lambda TK-/- cells, by 75% of the 3MC-induced sigma TK-/- cells, and by 89% of the spontaneous sigma TK-/- cells. The collective results showed that 86 of the 88 TFTr colonies examined lacked thymidine kinase activity and indicate that at least 98% of all TFTr colonies seen in the L5178Y assay are true TK-/- mutants.

Evaluation of ochratoxin A for mutagenicity in a battery of bacterial and mammalian cell assays.

Ochratoxin A (OA), a nephrotoxic mycotoxin, was evaluated for genotoxic potential in a battery of in vitro and in vivo assays. OA was not mutagenic to Salmonella typhimurium, either with or without metabolic activation, in the plate incorporation (Ames) test at concentrations of 50-600 micrograms OA/plate or in the gradient plate assay at concentrations of 0.1-1000 micrograms OA/ml. No induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis was evident in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes exposed to concentrations of OA ranging from 0.000025 to 500 micrograms/ml. In the mouse lymphoma forward mutation assay, exposure of L5178Y TK+/- mouse lymphoma cells to OA did not increase the numbers of L5178Y TK-/- mutants. There was no significant difference between the numbers of sister-chromatid exchanges in cells from OA-treated Chinese hamsters and those in cells from the negative-control animals.

An evaluation of the L5178Y TK+/- mouse lymphoma forward mutation assay using 42 chemicals.

The L5178YTK+/- mouse lymphoma assay (MLA) has been utilized in several laboratories as a short-term test for chemical-induced forward mutation in cultured mammalian cells. In order to evaluate several technical modifications to the MLA, 42 chemicals representing 9 chemical classes were tested and the results were compared with those published elsewhere as well as with findings in a genetic toxicology test battery currently used in this laboratory. A positive response for the induction of TK-/- mutants was obtained for 26 chemicals. With the exception of p-aminophenol, all of these compounds were recognized mutagens or carcinogens and were representative of direct-acting and activation-dependent genotoxins. 16 compounds did not induce TK-/- mutants and among these were 5 compounds that were considered to be mutagens or carcinogens. A comparison of the results of this study with those published elsewhere revealed a strong agreement among findings for this test irrespective of minor technical variations. It was concluded that the MLA is a useful system for identifying chemical mutagens in mammalian cells and can serve as a valuable component in a genetic toxicology test battery.

Assessment of sister chromatid exchange in spermatogonia and intestinal epithelium in Chinese hamsters.

The induction of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) has been proposed as a predictive test for the identification of mutagens/carcinogens. The in vivo application of this test was investigated by examining the chemical induction of SCE in spermatogonia, intestinal epithelium and bone marrow cells from Chinese hamsters. Sister chromatid differentiation (SCD) was achieved in differentiating spermatogonial cells of male Chinese hamsters by the abdominal subcutaneous (sc) implantation of an agar-coated bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd) tablet. A number of genotoxins were administered intraperitoneally (ip) and the induction of SCE in spermatogonia and bone marrow was compared. A significant increase in SCE frequency in spermatogonia occurred following treatment with mitomycin C (MMC), cyclophosphamide (CP), or N,N',N"-triethylenethiophosphoramide (ThioTEPA). Treatment with busulfan, hycanthone (HC), or triethylenemelamine (TEM) failed to induce SCE in vivo in spermatogonia, but these compounds did induce SCE in bone marrow. Differences in cell cycle kinetics were considered to be the major factor involved in the differential induction of SCE in spermatogonia and bone marrow. The induction of SCE in intestinal epithelium was investigated as a system for the identification of genotoxins that may result from the metabolism of xenobiotics by the gastrointestinal flora. Nitro-aromatic compounds were administered orally to Chinese hamsters. Nitro-aromatic compounds were chosen for this study since the mutagenic activity of these compounds is thought to result from their metabolism by bacterial nitroreductase. Metronidazole (MN) and 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine (2NPPD) induced a dose-related increase in SCE formation in intestinal epithelium but not in bone marrow. Treatment with 3-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (3NOPD) or 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine (4NOPD) did not induce the formation of SCE in either intestinal epithelium or bone marrow. These findings indicate that studies in axenic animals will be required to elucidate the contribution of the enteric flora to the metabolic activation of some genotoxins.

The genetic toxicology of Kathon biocide, a mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one.

Kathon biocide, an aqueous solution containing a mixture of 5-chloro-2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one and 2-methyl-4-isothiazolin-3-one in an approximate ratio of 3:1, was tested for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium, L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells in culture and Drosophila melanogaster. Tests also were conducted for chromosome aberrations in vivo on mouse bone marrow cells, for DNA damage/repair in primary rat hepatocytes in culture, and for morphological transformation in C3H 10T1/2 cells in culture. Kathon biocide produced point mutations in the absence of a rat-liver metabolizing system in bacteria (strain TA 100) and mammalian cells in culture. In the presence of rat-liver metabolizing system a 10-fold higher concentration was required to induce point mutations in mammalian cells in culture. No mutagenic activity was observed with the metabolizing system and S. typhimurium. Negative results were obtained in the sex-linked recessive lethal assay in Drosophila, the in vivo cytogenetic assay in mice, the unscheduled DNA synthesis assay in cultured rat hepatocytes, and the in vitro cell transformation assay.

Chemically-induced sister-chromatid exchange in vivo in bone marrow of Chinese hamsters. An evaluation of 24 compounds.

Chemically-induced sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) was measured in vivo in bone marrow of Chinese hamsters. Chemicals were administered either intraperitoneally or orally and increased SCE frequencies were noted with 6 of 6 direct-acting genotoxins and with 9 of 14 activation-dependent genotoxins. Metronidazole, o-toluidine, 4-nitro-o-phenylenediamine and 2-nitro-p-phenylenediamine, compounds which have shown either mutagenic or carcinogenic activity, did not induce SCE in vivo, 4 non-genotoxins and 4 different control treatments did not induce SCE. The results show that the in vivo SCE method may be useful for the identification of genotoxins and that the outcome of the test is, for certain chemicals, dependent upon the route of exposure.

The induction of bacterial mutation and hepatocyte unscheduled DNA synthesis by monosubstituted anilines.

A group of 45 monosubstituted aniline compounds was tested for the induction of point mutations in Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli as well as for unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in rat hepatocyte culture. Eleven compounds were bacterial mutagens, and five compounds induced UDS. Among these a correspondence between mutagenicity and UDS occurred for only two compounds (o-phenylenediamine and 4-aminobiphenyl), and these were also reported to be carcinogenic in rodents. Bacterial mutation was observed for one compound (p-phenylenediamine) not carcinogenic in rodents, and six suspect carcinogens were not detected in either test. In addition, eight compounds of unknown carcinogenic potential induced either bacterial mutation or UDS.

Chemically-induced unscheduled DNA synthesis in primary rat hepatocyte cultures: a comparison with bacterial mutagenicity using 218 compounds.

The autoradiographic identification of unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes (HPC) has been proposed as a predictive test for mutagens/carcinogens. To assess the predictive value of this test, results in the hepatocyte UDS assay were compared with data for bacterial mutagenicity using a modified Ames test. Over 200 compounds representing a variety of chemical classes consisting of procarcinogens, ultimate carcinogens, and noncarcinogens were tested in each system. The accurate discrimination of many carcinogens/noncarcinogens was demonstrated by both systems. The induction of UDS in hepatocytes showed an excellent correlation with bacterial mutagenesis in response to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines, biphenyls, nitrosamines, carbamates, azo-compounds, acridines, halogenated compounds, nitrosureas, quinolines, pyridines, purines, pyrimidines, esters and carbamates. Nitrocompounds, although active in bacteria, were poor inducers of UDS. The results support the complementary and confirmatory nature of these tests for genotoxic chemicals and indicate the usefulness of the hepatocyte UDS system as a component in a battery of short-term predictive tests for mutagens/carcinogens.

The mutagenicity of dialkylaminoalkyl chlorides in a battery of short-term assays.

Dialkylaminoalkyl chlorides, valuable chemical manufacturing intermediates, were evaluated for their mutagenicity in several short-term assays: The concentration gradient bacterial mutagen assay, the Ames test, the L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell assay, and the hepatocyte primary culture-DNA repair test. The dialkylaminoethyl chlorides were active in all test systems. The relative mutagenic potencies of the ethyl chlorides were similar in the bacterial tests and the genic potencies of the ethyl chlorides were similar in the bacterial tests and the L5178Y cell assay. The dialkylaminopropyl chlorides were weakly mutagenic in two Salmonella strains but were inactive in the other test systems. The purpose of the test battery used in these studies is to generate data on a test compound which could be used to make a rational prediction of the carcinogenic potential of the compound in test animals. On this basis, the results with the dialkylaminoethyl compounds suggest that if these agents which can form the aziridinium ion were evaluated in in vivo test there is a reasonable chance some would be found to be carcinogenic. Alternatively, the data on the dialkylaminopropyl chlorides indicate that they have a rather low carcinogenic potential.

The induction of unscheduled DNA synthesis by antihistamines in primary hepatocyte cultures.

The autoradiographic identification of chemically-induced, unscheduled DNA synthesis in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes is currently being validated as a predictive test for mutagens/carcinogens. Of 8 antihistaminic drugs tested, 2, pyrilamine maleate and tripelennamine HCl, were positive for unscheduled DNA synthesis. Further investigation of the mutagenic/carcinogenic potential of these compounds in alternate test systems is suggested.