Possible contribution of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine to gene mutations in the kidney DNA of gpt delta rats following potassium bromate treatment.

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is well known not only as an effective biomarker of oxidative stress but also as a mutagenic DNA modification. Incorporation of dAMP at the opposite site of 8-OHdG induces G>T or A>C transversions. However, in vivo analyses of gene mutations caused by potassium bromate (KBrO3), which can induce 8-OHdG at carcinogenic target sites, showed that G>T was prominent in the small intestines of mice, but not in the kidneys of rats. Because KBrO3 was a much clearer carcinogen in the kidneys of rats, detailed analyses of gene mutations in the kidney DNA of rats treated with KBrO3 could improve our understanding of oxidative stress-mediated carcinogenesis. In the current study, site-specific reporter gene mutation assays were performed in the kidneys of gpt delta rats treated with KBrO3. Groups of 5 gpt delta rats were treated with KBrO3 at concentrations of 0, 125, 250, or 500 ppm in the drinking water for 9 weeks. At necropsy, the kidneys were macroscopically divided into the cortex and medulla. 8-OHdG levels in DNA extracted from the cortex were dramatically elevated at concentrations of 250 ppm and higher compared with those from the medulla. Cortex-specific increases in mutant frequencies in gpt and red/gam genes were found at 500 ppm. Mutation spectrum and sequence analyses of their mutants demonstrated significant elevations in A>T transversions in the gpt gene and single base deletions at guanine or adenine in the gpt or red/gam genes. While A>T transversions and single base deletions of adenine may result from the oxidized modification of adenine, the contribution of 8-OHdG to gene mutations was limited despite possible participation of the 8-OHdG repair process in guanine deletion.

Toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity of 2-methylfuran in a 90-day comprehensive toxicity study in gpt delta rats.

2-Methylfuran (2-MF) exists naturally in foods and is used as a flavoring agent. Furan, the core structure of 2-MF, possesses hepatocarcinogenicity in rodents. Accumulation of toxicological information on furan derivatives is needed to elucidate their carcinogenic mode of action. In the current study, we examined the comprehensive toxicological studies of 2-MF using gpt delta rats. 2-MF was intragastrically administered to groups of 10 male and 10 female Sprague-Dawley gpt delta rats at a dose of 0, 1.2, 6, or 30 mg/kg/day for 13 weeks. Effects of 2-MF on the hepatobiliary system including an increase in serum alkaline phosphatase were observed in the 6 and 30 mg/kg groups, and cholangiofibrosis was found in the 30 mg/kg group. The no observed adverse effect level was set at 1.2 mg/kg/day for both sexes and 1.14 mg/kg/day was determined as the benchmark dose low. The acceptable daily intake was calculated to be 11.4 µg/kg/day. Increases in the number and areas of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci in the 30 mg/kg group were apparent, suggesting the hepatocarcinogenicity of 2-MF in rats. By contrast, the lack of increase in in vivo mutagenicity in the liver implied that 2-MF hepatocarcinogenesis may not involve genotoxic mechanisms.

Background data of 2-year-old male and female F344 gpt delta rats.

Although gpt delta rats, as reporter gene-transgenic rats, were originally developed for in vivo mutation assays, they have also been used to evaluate chemical carcinogenesis and comprehensive toxicity. Therefore, it is necessary to accumulate background data on carcinogenicity and general toxicity in gpt delta rats. Here, we investigated the background data of 110-week-old male and female F344 gpt delta rats and wild-type rats. There was no effect of reporter gene transfection on animal survival rates and body weights during the experiment. The relative weight of male gpt delta rat adrenals was significantly higher than that of wild-type rats, possibly due to the higher incidence of pheochromocytoma. There were no intergenotype differences in the incidence of nonneoplastic lesions in both sexes, including chronic progressive nephropathy and focus of cellular alteration in the liver, which had a higher incidence in both genotypes. Additionally, the significantly higher incidence of adrenal pheochromocytoma in male gpt delta rats than that in wild-type rats was likely incidental because of the lack of differences in the incidences of preneoplastic (male and female) and neoplastic (female) adrenal lesions in both genotypes. Other neoplastic lesions in both sexes showed no intergenotype differences in incidence rates, although large granular lymphocytic leukemia in the spleen and Leydig cell tumors in the testes of males showed higher incidence rates. Overall, there were no effects of reporter gene transfection on the spectrum of spontaneous lesions in F344 gpt delta rats, thus supporting their applicability in evaluating chemical toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Furan Induced Characteristic Glutathione S-Transferase Placental Form-Positive Foci in Terms of Cell Kinetics and Gene Expression.

Glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive (GST-P+) foci are markers of preneoplastic lesions in rat hepatocarcinogenesis. Our previous studies using reporter gene transgenic rats showed that furan, a hepatocarcinogen in rodents, rapidly induces the formation of GST-P+ foci after short exposure without reporter gene mutation. We hypothesized that GST-P+ foci induced by furan may have biological characteristics different from those induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a genotoxic hepatocarcinogen. Accordingly, we compared the cell kinetics of GST-P+ foci after cessation of DEN treatment and performed comprehensive gene expression in DEN- or furan-induced GST-P+ foci. The number and area of DEN-induced GST-P+ foci were increased after cessation of treatment, whereas furan decreased these parameters. Size distribution analysis showed that large furan-induced GST-P+ foci disappeared after cessation of treatment. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that all samples from GST-P+ foci induced by furan were separated from those induced by DEN. SOX9 expression was upregulated in furan-induced GST-P+ foci and was detected by immunohistochemistry in large furan-induced GST-P+ foci. Our results indicated that large furan-induced GST-P+ foci were quite different from DEN-induced GST-P+ foci at the molecular and cellular levels. And one of the properties of disappearing large GST-P+ foci were characterized by inclusion of hepatocytes expressing SOX9.

DNA modifications that do not cause gene mutations confer the potential for mutagenicity by combined treatment with food chemicals.

Cell proliferation plays a key role in fixing mutations induced by DNA damage. We clarified whether this phenomenon occurred after combined treatment with chemicals in food. The effects of antibiotic flumequine (FL), a residue of veterinary medicinal products in foodstuffs, on mutagenicity in the liver were examined in mice treated with estragole (ES), a natural food flavouring compound. Gpt delta mice were orally administered 10 or 100 mg/kg/day ES and simultaneously fed a diet containing 0.4% FL for 4 weeks. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive cells and cell cycle-related genes were additively increased in the livers of combined treatment groups as compared with high-dose ES or FL groups. Mutant frequencies (MFs) in gpt after cotreatment with low-dose ES and FL were significantly increased, although treatment with ES alone increased MFs only in the high-dose group. Sult1a1 mRNA levels were unchanged after FL treatment. Liquid chromatography with tandem-mass spectrometry analysis showed that FL did not affect the amount of ES-specific DNA adducts in the livers, indicating that FL treatment did not influence metabolic pathways of ES. Thus, enhancement of the mutagenic potential of a chemical by chemical-induced cell proliferation may occur as a result of the combined effects of chemicals in food.

Effects of inhibition of hepatic sulfotransferase activity on renal genotoxicity induced by lucidin-3-O-primeveroside.

Sulfotransferase 1A (SULT1A) expression is lower in the liver of humans than that of rodents. Therefore, species differences should be taken into consideration when assessing the risk of rodent hepatocarcinogens metabolically activated by SULT1A in humans. Although some renal carcinogens require SULT1A-mediated activation, it is unclear how SULT1A activity in the liver affects renal carcinogens. To explore the effects of SULT1A activity in the liver on genotoxicity induced by SULT1A-activated renal carcinogens, B6C3F1 mice or gpt delta mice of the same strain background were given lucidin-3-O-primeveroside (LuP), a hepatic and renal carcinogen of rodents, for 4 or 13 weeks, respectively, and pentachlorophenol (PCP) as a liver-specific SULT inhibitor, was given from 1 week before LuP treatment to the end of the experiment. A 4 week exposure of LuP induced lucidin-specific DNA adduct formation. The suppression of Sult1a expression was observed only in the liver but not in the kidneys of PCP-treated mice, but co-administration of PCP suppressed LuP-induced DNA adduct formation in both organs. Thirteen-week exposure of LuP increased mutation frequencies and cotreatment with PCP suppressed these increases in both organs. Given that intact levels of SULT activity in the liver were much higher than in the kidneys of rodents, SULT1A may predominantly activate LuP in the liver, consequently leading to genotoxicity not only in the liver but also in the kidney. Thus, species differences should be considered in human risk assessment of renal carcinogens activated by SULT1A as in the case of the corresponding liver carcinogens.

Molecular Pathological Differences in Global Gene Expression between Two Sustained Proliferative Lesions, Nodular Regenerative Hepatocellular Hyperplasia and Hepatocellular Adenoma, in Mice.

Long-term exposure to piperonyl butoxide (PBO) induces multiple nodular masses along with hepatocellular tumors in the liver of mice. The histopathological features of the nodules led to our diagnosis of nodular regenerative hepatocellular hyperplasia (NRH). However, because of the lack of data on the biological characteristics of NRH, whether this lesion is truly nonneoplastic remains unknown. In this study, the molecular characteristics of NRH were compared with those of hepatocellular adenoma (HCA) by global gene expression analysis. Six-week-old male ICR mice were fed a diet containing 6,000 ppm PBO for 43 weeks to induce NRH and HCA development. Complementary DNA microarray analysis was performed using messenger RNA extracted from NRH and HCA frozen sections collected by laser microdissection. Hierarchical cluster analysis showed that all NRH samples clustered together but were separate from the HCA cluster. Pathway analysis revealed activation of the cell cycle and Delta-Notch signaling in both lesions, but the latter was more upregulated in HCA. Downregulation of cytochrome p450 enzymes was observed in NRH, but not in HCA. These results imply that NRH differs from HCA in terms of not only morphological but also molecular characteristics.

Role of oxidative stress in the chemical structure-related genotoxicity of nitrofurantoin in Nrf2-deficient gpt delta mice.

Despite its antimicrobial activity, nitrofurantoin (NFT) is a renal carcinogen in rats. Oxidative stress induced by reduction of the nitro group of NFT may contribute to its genotoxicity. This is supported by our recent results indicating that the structure of the nitrofuran plays a key role in NFT-induced genotoxicity, and oxidative DNA damage is involved in renal carcinogenesis. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) regulates cellular responses to oxidative stress. To clarify the role of oxidative stress in the chemical structure-related genotoxic mechanism of NFT, we performed reporter gene mutation assays for NFT and 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde (NFA) using Nrf2-proficient and Nrf2-deficient gpt delta mice. NFT administration for 13 weeks resulted in a significant increase in 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG; a marker of oxidative stress) and gpt mutant frequency only in the kidneys of Nrf2-/- mice. The mutation spectrum, characterized by increased substitutions at guanine bases, suggested that oxidative stress is involved in NFT-induced genotoxicity. However, NFA did not increase the mutation frequency in the kidneys, despite the increased 8-OHdG in NFA-treated Nrf2-/- mice. Thus, it is unlikely that oxidative stress is involved in the genotoxic mechanism of NFA. These results imply that nitro reduction plays a key role in the genotoxicity of NFT, but the lack of a role of oxidative stress in the genotoxicity of NFA indicates a potential role of side chain interactions in oxidative stress caused by nitro reduction. These findings provide a basis for the development of safe nitrofurans.

Mechanisms of oxidative stress-induced in vivo mutagenicity by potassium bromate and nitrofurantoin.

Oxidative stress is well known as a key factor of chemical carcinogenesis. However, the actual role of oxidative stress in carcinogenesis, such as oxidative stress-related in vivo mutagenicity, remains unclear. It has been reported that 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), an oxidized DNA lesion, might contribute to chemical carcinogenesis. Potassium bromate (KBrO3) and nitrofurantoin (NFT) are known as renal carcinogens in rats. Our previous studies showed an increase in mutant frequencies accompanied by an increased level of 8-OHdG in the kidneys of rodents following KBrO3 or NFT exposure. Furthermore, KBrO3 and NFT induced different types of gene mutations. Thus, in the present study, we performed reporter gene mutation assays and 8-OHdG measurements following KBrO3 or NFT exposure using Nrf2-proficient and Nrf2-deficient mice to clarify the relationship between KBrO3- or NFT-induced oxidative stress and subsequent genotoxicity. Administration of 1,500 ppm of KBrO3 in drinking water resulted in an increase in deletion mutations accompanied by an increase in 8-OHdG level, and administration of 2,500 ppm of NFT in diet induced an increase in guanine base substitution mutations without elevation of the 8-OHdG level in Nrf2-deficient mice. These results demonstrated that the formation of 8-OHdG, which resulted from the oxidizing potential of KBrO3, was directly involved in the increase in deletion mutations, although factors related to oxidative stress other than 8-OHdG might be crucial for NFT-induced guanine base substitution mutations. The present study provides new insight into oxidative stress-related in vivo mutagenicity.

Mechanisms Underlying Exacerbation of Osmotic Nephrosis Caused by Pre-existing Kidney Injury.

Osmotic nephrosis, a disease caused by intravenous infusion of various fluids such as hypertonic sucrose and isotonic polysaccharide-based plasma volume expanders, exhibits specific histopathological features, including vacuolated and swollen proximal tubules, ie, "clear tubules". Pre-existing kidney injury exacerbates this condition, resulting in major clinical problems. However, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Animal models often yield results that are directly translatable to humans. Therefore, in this study, we performed detailed histopathological analyses of the formation of clear tubules in rats treated with gentamicin or ischemia/reperfusion (IR) operation followed by dextran administration. The results showed that clear tubules may originate from regenerative tubules. Additionally, we classified regenerative tubules into 3 categories based on their development, with a particular focus on the middle and late stages. Comprehensive microarray and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses of mRNA extracted from regenerative tubules at each stage using laser microdissection revealed that regenerative tubules in the middle stage showed an imbalance between dextran absorption and metabolism, resulting in accumulation of dextran, particularly in the cytoplasm of the tubules. Overall, our findings demonstrated that clear tubules originated from regenerated tubules and that tubules at the middle stage became clear tubules because of an imbalance during their development. This could explain why osmotic nephrosis is exacerbated in the presence of kidney lesions.

Phosphorylation of protein phosphatase 2A facilitated an early stage of chemical carcinogenesis.

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a serine-threonine phosphatase that regulates cell signaling pathways. Its inactivation is correlated with tumor malignancy, possibly due to the effects on cell differentiation and malignant cell transformation. Therefore, it has been noted that PP2A could be a promising target for cancer therapy. In our previous study of the hepatocarcinogen estragole (ES), cell proliferation may be required to convert ES-specific DNA adducts to mutations. To explore the trigger for cell proliferation, gpt delta rats were administered ES by gavage at doses of 3, 30 and 300mg/kg/day for 4weeks. ES-induced cell proliferation and gene mutations were observed at only the high dose whereas ES-specific DNA adducts were detected in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot analyses revealed activation of the Akt and ERK pathways without activation of upstream regulators, such as c-Raf, PKC and, PI3K. Phosphorylation of the PP2A C subunit at Tyr307 was found along with phosphorylation of Src. The overall data might imply that PP2A inactivation is responsible for cell cycle progression through activation of the Akt and ERK pathways at high doses of ES. Based on γ-H2AX immunohistochemistry and Western blot analysis for Rad51 protein, the resultant mutation spectra showed large deletion mutations that might result from double strand breaks of DNA. Thus, it is likely that inactivation of PP2A resulted in acceleration and exacerbation of gene mutations. We conclude that PP2A might contribute to an early stage of chemical carcinogenesis, suggesting that PP2A could be a molecular target of primary cancer prevention.

In vivo reporter gene mutation and micronucleus assays in gpt delta mice treated with a flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ether.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), a class of brominated flame retardants, have been widely used as additive flame retardants. Recently, the use of brominated flame retardants has been restricted or prohibited under various legislative acts because of the persistence, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity of these compounds. However, there are also additional concerns regarding environmental contamination and human exposure to PBDEs resulting from informal recycling technology. Decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE), one type of PBDE, has carcinogenic potential in the livers of rodents. Although one study has shown that decaBDE exerts genotoxic effects, the other in vitro and in vivo studies were negative for such effects. Thus, it remains unknown whether genotoxic mechanisms are involved in decaBDE-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rodents. In this study, to explore the genotoxicity of decaBDE in mice, particularly in the context of carcinogenesis, we performed micronucleus assays in the bone marrow and reporter gene mutation assays in the liver using gpt delta mice treated with decaBDE at carcinogenic doses for 28days. Our results demonstrated negative results in micronucleus tests and reporter gene mutation assays. Thus, decaBDE did not exert genotoxic effects at carcinogenic target sites and did not show positive results in conventional in vivo genotoxicity tests in mice for 4-week treatment. Overall, comprehensive evaluation using in vivo genotoxicity data in rats and our data indicated that nongenotoxic mechanisms may be responsible for decaBDE-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Lack of genotoxic mechanisms in early-stage furan-induced hepatocellular tumorigenesis in gpt delta rats.

Furan has been used as an intermediate in the chemical-manufacturing industry and has been shown to contaminate various foods. Although furan induces hepatocellular tumors in rodents, equivocal results from in vitro and in vivo mutagenicity tests have caused controversy regarding the involvement of genotoxic mechanisms in furan-induced carcinogenesis. In the present study, to elucidate the possible mechanisms underlying furan-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, a comprehensive medium-term analysis was conducted using gpt delta rats treated with furan at carcinogenic doses for 13 weeks. In the liver, the frequencies of gpt and Spi- mutants derived mainly from point and deletion mutations, respectively, were not changed, and there were no furan-specific gpt mutations in furan-treated rats. In contrast, the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)- positive foci were significantly increased in the high-dose group. Also, the ratio of PCNA-positive hepatocytes was significantly elevated in the same group, as supported by significant increases in cyclin d1 and cyclin e1 mRNA levels. Thus, it is highly probable that cell proliferation, but not genotoxic mechanisms, contribute to the development of GST-P foci in furan-treated rats. Based on the close relationship between GST-P and neoplastic hepatocytes, these data allowed us to hypothesize that cell proliferation following signal transduction other than the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/ERK pathway may play a crucial role in early-stage furan-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effects of Nrf2 silencing on oxidative stress-associated intestinal carcinogenesis in mice.

To assess the risk of colorectal cancer in humans with inactivation of NRF2, Nrf2-proficient (Nrf2(+/+) ) and -deficient (Nrf2(-/-) ) mice were exposed to potassium bromate (KBrO3 ) at concentrations of 750 or 1500 ppm for 52 weeks. Neoplastic proliferative lesions were observed in the small intestine and exhibited accumulations of ß-catenin and cyclin D1. The lesions had characteristics similar to those in experimental models of human hereditary colorectal cancer. An additional 13-week study was performed to examine the role of Nrf2 in the effects of oxidative stress. Significant increase in combined incidences of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in Nrf2(-/-) mice administered high-dose KBrO3 . In the short-term study, although 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in the epithelial DNA of Nrf2(-/-) mice at the high dose were significantly lower than those of the corresponding Nrf2(+/+) mice, the difference was very small. mRNA levels of Nrf2-regulated genes were increased in Nrf2(+/+) mice. Overexpression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and increased numbers of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells in the jejunal crypts were observed in Nrf2(-/-) mice administered high-dose KBrO3 . Overall, these data suggested that individuals having single-nucleotide polymorphisms in NRF2 may have a risk of colorectal cancer to some extent.

Chemical structure-related mechanisms underlying in vivo genotoxicity induced by nitrofurantoin and its constituent moieties in gpt delta rats.

Nitrofurans are antimicrobial compounds containing a nitro group at the 5-position of the furan ring and an amine or hydrazide side chain derivative. One member of the nitrofurans, nitrofurantoin (NFT), is a renal carcinogen in male rats despite its still controversial genotoxicity. We investigated chemical structure-related modes of action of NFT, and reporter gene mutation assays for NFT and its constituent moieties were performed. NFT, 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde (NFA), or 1-aminohydantoin (AHD) was administered to male F344 gpt delta rats by gavage for 4 or 13 weeks at a carcinogenic or the maximum tolerated dose. NFT caused a significant increase in gpt mutant frequency (MF) at 13 weeks with G-base substitution mutations. An increase in gpt MF was also observed in the NFA-treated group at 13 weeks, but not in the AHD-treated group. 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels in the kidney DNA of NFT-treated rats were significantly increased after 4 weeks. NFT caused accumulation of hyaline droplets indicated by positive immunostaining and western blot analysis for α2u-globulin in the proximal tubules. An additional study, in which female gpt delta rats were given NFT at the same dose used for males, was performed to mitigate the effect of α2u-globulin. NFT exerted the same effects on female rat kidneys to the same extent as males in terms of gpt MF and 8-OHdG level. Thus, it is highly probable that the structure of the nitro furan plays a key role in NFT-induced genotoxicity and genotoxic mechanisms including oxidative DNA damage are involved in NFT-induced renal carcinogenesis. α2u-globulin-mediated nephropathy may be a prerequisite for NFT-induced renal carcinogenesis in male rats, and additionally NFT could be a latent carcinogen in female rats and other animal species.

Role of p53 in the progression from ochratoxin A-induced DNA damage to gene mutations in the kidneys of mice.

Carcinogenic doses of ochratoxin A (OTA) cause increases of mutant frequencies (MFs) of the red/gam gene (Spi(-)) in the kidneys of p53-deficient gpt delta mice, but not in p53-proficient mice. Here, we investigated the role of p53 in the progression from OTA-induced DNA damage to gene mutations. To this end, p53-proficient and -deficient mice were administered 5 mg/kg OTA for 3 days or 4 weeks by gavage. After 3 days of administration, comet assays were performed and there were no differences in the degrees of OTA-induced DNA damage between p53-proficient and -deficient mice. However, the frequencies of γ-H2AX-positive tubular epithelial cells in p53-deficient mice were significantly higher than those in p53-proficient mice, implying that p53 inhibited the progression from DNA damage to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Evaluation of global gene expression and relevant mRNA/protein expression levels demonstrated that OTA increased the expression of Cdkn1a, which encodes the p21 protein, in p53-proficient mice, but not in p53-deficient mice. Moreover, in p53-deficient mice, mRNA levels of cell cycle progression and DSB repair (homologous recombination repair [HR])-related genes were significantly increased. Thus, G1/S arrest due to activation of the p53/p21 pathway may contribute to the prevention of DSBs in p53-proficient mice. In addition, single base deletions/insertions/substitutions were predominant, possibly due to HR. Overall, these results suggested that OTA induced DSBs at the carcinogenic target site in mice and that p53/p21-mediated cell cycle control prevented an increase in the formation of DSBs, leading to gene mutations.

A medium-term gpt delta rat model as an in vivo system for analysis of renal carcinogenesis and the underlying mode of action.

The kidney is a major target site of chemical carcinogenesis. However, a reliable in vivo assay for rapid identification of renal carcinogens has not been established. The purpose of this study was to develop a new medium-term gpt delta rat model (the GNP model) to facilitate identification of renal carcinogens. In this model, we carried out an in vivo mutation assay using unilaterally nephrectomized kidney tissue and a tumor-promoting assay using residual kidney tissue, with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) as the renal tumor initiator. To clarify the optimal time of DEN injection after nephrectomy, time-dependent changes in bromodeoxyuridine-labeling indices in the tubular epithelium of nephrectomized rats were examined. The optimal dose of DEN injection and sufficient duration of subsequent nitrilotriacetic acid treatment were determined for detection of renal preneoplastic lesions. The standard protocol for the GNP model was determined as follows. Six-week-old female gpt delta rats were treated with test chemicals for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week washout period, and 40 mg/kg DEN was administered intraperitoneally to initiate renal carcinogenesis. Unilateral nephrectomy was performed 48 h before DEN injection, followed by gpt assays using excised kidney tissues. One week after DEN injection, rats were further exposed to test chemicals for 12 weeks, and histopathological analysis of renal preneoplastic lesions was performed as an indicator of tumor-promoting activity in residual kidney tissue. Validation studies using aristolochic acid, potassium dibasic phosphate, phenylbutazone, and d-limonene indicated the reliability of the GNP model for predicting renal carcinogens and the underlying mode of action.

Acrylamide induces specific DNA adduct formation and gene mutations in a carcinogenic target site, the mouse lung.

Acrylamide (AA) is a contaminant in heated foods and is carcinogenic in multiple organs of rodents. There have been many reports regarding AA-induced DNA modification and genotoxicity. However, the data are insufficient to understand fully the relationship between the two events. A recent report demonstrated carcinogenicity in the mouse lung. The lung is advantageous for investigation of AA-induced genotoxicity because DNA adduct levels are relatively high in this organ. In the present study, reporter gene mutation assays and quantitative analyses of specific DNA adducts were performed in the lungs of mature gpt delta mice treated with AA at doses of 100, 200 and 400 p.p.m. in drinking water for 4 weeks. N7-GA-Gua was detected in all AA-treated mice in a dose-dependent manner. gpt mutant frequencies (MFs) were significantly increased in the middle- and high-dose groups. In the analysis of mutation spectra, significant increases in GC-TA transversions and single base deletion mutations were observed in the high-dose group. Spi(-) MFs were significantly increased in the high-dose group. Analysis of Spi(-) mutants revealed significant increases in the frequencies of single base deletion mutation in runs of G/C and A/T. Analyses of immature mice under the same experimental conditions showed that there were no differences of susceptibility to AA-induced genotoxicity in the two age classes. The overall data clearly show the causal relationship between AA-induced DNA adducts and the gene mutations at carcinogenic target sites.

No effect of high fat diet-induced obesity on spontaneous reporter gene mutations in gpt delta mice.

A large number of epidemiological studies have demonstrated that obesity is a risk factor for several human cancers. Several animal studies using rodents with diet-induced or genetic obesity have also demonstrated that obesity can promote tumor development. However, the effects of obesity on the early stages of carcinogenesis, and especially on the spontaneous occurrence of somatic gene mutations, remain unclear. To investigate the effects of obesity on the rate of spontaneous gene mutations, we performed reporter gene mutation assays in liver, kidney, and colon, organs in which obesity appears to be associated with cancer development on the basis of epidemiological or animal studies, in mice with high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity. Six-week-old male and female C57BL/6 gpt delta mice were fed HFD or standard diet (STD) for 13 or 26 weeks. At the end of the experiments, reporter gene mutation assays of liver, kidney, and colon were performed. Final body weights and serum leptin levels of male and female mice fed HFD for 13 or 26 weeks were significantly increased compared with corresponding STD-fed groups. Reporter gene mutation assays of liver, kidney, and colon revealed that there were no significant differences in gpt or Spi- mutant frequencies between STD- and HFD-fed mice in either the 13-week or 26-week groups. These results indicate that HFD treatment and consequent obesity does not appear to influence the spontaneous occurrence of somatic gene mutations.

Improvement and validation of a medium-term gpt delta rat model for predicting chemical carcinogenicity and underlying mode of action.

We have developed a new medium-term animal model, "GPG", in which an in vivo mutation assay in partially hepatectomized tissue and a tumor-promoting assay were performed. The tumor-promoting assay measures glutathione S-transferase placental form positive foci induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) in the residual tissue. Given that a limitation of the original protocol is the potential interaction between the test chemical and DEN, the present study establishes a modified protocol that includes a test chemical washout period. Using CYP2E1 inhibitor and CYP1A or CYP2B inducers, a period of 2 weeks after cessation of exposure to the chemicals was confirmed to be sufficient to return their enzymatic activities to normal levels. Additionally, to avoid the effects of DEN on the pharmacokinetics of the test chemical, re-exposure to the test chemical started 1 week after DEN injection, in which tumor-promoting activities were clearly detected. Consequently, a modified protocol has been established with 2- and 1-week washout periods before and after DEN injection, respectively. The applicability of the modified protocol was demonstrated using the genotoxic hepatocarcinogen, estragole (ES), the genotoxic renal carcinogen, aristolochic acid (AA), and the non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogens, ß-naphthoflavone and barbital. Furthermore, the increase of cell cycle-related parameters in ES-treated livers, but not in AA-treated livers, may indicate that the liver is not the carcinogenic target site of AA despite its genotoxic role. Thus, since various parameters related to carcinogenesis can be evaluated concurrently, the GPG model could be a rapid and reliable assay for the assessment of human cancer hazards.