The potential for chemical mixtures from the environment to enable the cancer hallmark of sustained proliferative signalling.

The aim of this work is to review current knowledge relating the established cancer hallmark, sustained cell proliferation to the existence of chemicals present as low dose mixtures in the environment. Normal cell proliferation is under tight control, i.e. cells respond to a signal to proliferate, and although most cells continue to proliferate into adult life, the multiplication ceases once the stimulatory signal disappears or if the cells are exposed to growth inhibitory signals. Under such circumstances, normal cells remain quiescent until they are stimulated to resume further proliferation. In contrast, tumour cells are unable to halt proliferation, either when subjected to growth inhibitory signals or in the absence of growth stimulatory signals. Environmental chemicals with carcinogenic potential may cause sustained cell proliferation by interfering with some cell proliferation control mechanisms committing cells to an indefinite proliferative span.

Effects of Chronic Ochratoxin A Exposure on p53 Heterozygous and p53 Homozygous Mice.

Exposure to the mycotoxin ochratoxin A (OTA) causes nephropathy in domestic animals and rodents and renal tumors in rodents and poultry. Humans are exposed to OTA by consuming foods made with contaminated cereal grains and other commodities. Management of human health risks due to OTA exposure depends, in part, on establishing a mode of action (MOA) for OTA carcinogenesis. To further investigate OTA's MOA, p53 heterozygous (p53+/-) and p53 homozygous (p53+/+) mice were exposed to OTA in diet for 26 weeks. The former are susceptible to tumorigenesis upon chronic exposure to genotoxic carcinogens. OTA-induced renal damage but no tumors were observed in either strain, indicating that p53 heterozygosity conferred little additional sensitivity to OTA. Renal changes included dose-dependent increases in cellular proliferation, apoptosis, karyomegaly, and tubular degeneration in proximal tubules, which were consistent with ochratoxicosis. The lowest observed effect level for renal changes in p53+/- and p53+/+ mice was 200 µg OTA/kg bw/day. Based on the lack of tumors and the severity of renal and body weight changes at a maximum tolerated dose, the results were interpreted as suggestive of a primarily nongenotoxic (epigenetic) MOA for OTA carcinogenesis in this mouse model.

Up-regulation of nucleotide excision repair in mouse lung and liver following chronic exposure to aflatoxin B1 and its dependence on p53 genotype.

Aflatoxin B1(AFB1) is biotransformed in vivo into an epoxide metabolite that forms DNA adducts that may induce cancer if not repaired. p53 is a tumor suppressor gene implicated in the regulation of global nucleotide excision repair (NER). Male heterozygous p53 knockout (B6.129-Trp53(tm1Brd)N5, Taconic) and wild-type mice were exposed to 0, 0.2 or 1.0 ppm AFB1 for 26 weeks. NER activity was assessed with an in vitro assay, using AFB1-epoxide adducted plasmid DNA as a substrate. For wild-type mice, repair of AFB1-N7-Gua adducts was 124% and 96% greater in lung extracts from mice exposed to 0.2 ppm and 1.0 ppm AFB1respectively, and 224% greater in liver extracts from mice exposed to 0.2 ppm AFB1( p<0.05). In heterozygous p53 knockout mice, repair of AFB1-N7-Gua was only 45% greater in lung extracts from mice exposed to 0.2 ppm AFB1 (p<0.05), and no effect was observed in lung extracts from mice treated with 1.0 ppm AFB1or in liver extracts from mice treated with either AFB1concentration. p53 genotype did not affect basal levels of repair. AFB1exposure did not alter repair of AFB1-derived formamidopyrimidine adducts in lung or liver extracts of either mouse genotype nor did it affect XPA or XPB protein levels. In summary, chronic exposure to AFB1increased NER activity in wild-type mice, and this response was diminished in heterozygous p53 knockout mice, indicating that loss of one allele of p53 limits the ability of NER to be up-regulated in response to DNA damage.

Toxicologic and immunologic effects of perinatal exposure to the brominated diphenyl ether (BDE) mixture DE-71 in the Sprague-Dawley rat.

Brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs) are persistent environmental contaminants found in human blood, tissues, and milk. To assess the impact of the commercial BDE mixture DE-71 on the developing immune system in relation to hepatic and thyroid changes, adult (F0) rats were exposed to DE-71 by gavage at doses of 0, 0.5, 5, or 25 mg/kg body weight (bw)/d for 21 weeks. F0 rats were bred and exposure continued through gestation, lactation and postweaning. F1 pups were weaned and exposed to DE-71 by gavage from postnatal day (PND) 22 to 42. On PND 42, half of the F1 rats were assessed for toxicologic changes. The remaining F1 rats were challenged with the T-dependent antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) and immune function was assessed on PND 56. Dose-dependent increases in total BDE concentrations were detected in the liver and adipose of all F0 and F1 rats. In F0 rats, increased liver weight, hepatocellular hypertrophy, and decreased serum thyroxine (T4) were characteristic of DE-71 exposure. In F1 rats perinatal DE-71 exposure caused a nondose-dependent increase in body weight and dose-dependent increases in liver weight and hepatocellular hypertrophy. Serum T3 and T4 levels were decreased. In spleen from DE-71 exposed rats the area occupied by B cells declined while the area occupied by T cells increased; however, cellular and humoral immune responses to KLH challenge were not altered. Thus hepatic and thyroid changes in rats exposed perinatally to DE-71 were associated with altered splenic lymphocyte populations, an effect which has been linked to hypothyroidism.

Estrogen receptor-ß mediates the inhibition of DLD-1 human colon adenocarcinoma cells by soy isoflavones.

To understand the relationship between the role of soy isoflavones and estrogen receptor (ER)-ß in colon tumorigenesis, we investigated the cellular effects of soy isoflavones (composed of genistein, daidzein, and glycitein) in DLD-1 human colon adenocarcinoma cells with or without ER-ß gene silencing by RNA interference (RNAi). Soy isoflavones decreased the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-1/2, AKT, and nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Soy isoflavones dose-dependently caused G2/M cell cycle arrest and downregulated the expression of cyclin A. This was associated with inhibition of cyclin dependent kinase (CDK)-4 and up-regulation of its inhibitor p21(cip1) expressions. ER-ß gene silencing lowered soy isoflavone-mediated suppression of cell viability and proliferation. ERK-1/2 and AKT expressions were unaltered and NF-κB was modestly upregulated by soy isoflavones after transient knockdown of ER-ß expression. Soy isoflavone-mediated arrest of cells at G2/M phase and upregulation of p21(cip1) expression were not observed when ER-ß gene was silenced. These findings suggest that maintaining the expression of ER-ß is crucial in mediating the growth-suppressive effects of soy isoflavones against colon tumors. Thus upregulation of ER-ß status by specific food-borne ER-ligands such as soy isoflavones could potentially be a dietary prevention or therapeutic strategy for colon cancer.

Soy isoflavones modulate azoxymethane-induced rat colon carcinogenesis exposed pre- and postnatally and inhibit growth of DLD-1 human colon adenocarcinoma cells by increasing the expression of estrogen receptor-beta.

We studied the effects of lifetime exposure to dietary soy isoflavones in an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced rat colon cancer model. Male pups born to Sprague-Dawley rats exposed (including during pregnancy and lactation) to soy isoflavones at either no (0 mg = control), low (40 mg), or high (1000 mg) doses/kg diet were weaned and continued receiving their respective parental diets until the end of the study. Weaned rats received 2 subcutaneous injections (15 mg/kg body weight) of AOM 1 wk apart. After 26 wk, rats were killed and the coordinates of colon aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and tumors were determined. Expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-beta was assessed in rat colon tumors and in DLD-1 human colon adenocarcinoma cells exposed to soy isoflavones. Compared with the control, soy isoflavones did not affect incidences or multiplicities of colon ACF or tumors. Low-dose soy isoflavones decreased tumor burden and size compared with the control (P < 0.05). Expression of ERbeta increased in colon tumors of soy isoflavone-treated groups compared with the control. Soy isoflavones dose-dependently arrested the growth of DLD-1 cells and at subcytotoxic levels increased the expression of ERbeta. Our results suggest that pre- and postnatal exposure to dietary soy isoflavones suppresses the growth of colon tumors in male rats. The overexpression of ERbeta in both rat colon tumors and DLD-1 cells caused by soy isoflavones suggests that ERbeta is a critical mediator in mitigating its cancer-preventive effects.

Cancer chemopreventive and therapeutic effects of diosgenin, a food saponin.

Cancer chemoprevention is a strategy taken to retard, regress, or resist the multistep process of carcinogenesis, including the blockage of its vital morphogenetic milestones viz. normal-preneoplasia-neoplasia-metastasis. For several reasons, including safety, minimal (or no) toxicity and side-effects, and better availability, alternatives such as naturally occurring phytochemicals that are found in foods are becoming increasingly popular over synthetic drugs. Food saponins have been used in complimentary and traditional medicine against a variety of diseases including several cancers. Diosgenin, a naturally occurring steroid saponin found abundantly in legumes and yams, is a well-known precursor of various synthetic steroidal drugs that are extensively used in the pharmaceutical industry. Over the past decade, a series of preclinical and mechanistic studies have been conducted to understand the role of diosgenin as a chemopreventive/therapeutic agent against several cancers. This review highlights the biological activity of diosgenin that contributes to cancer chemoprevention and control. The anticancer mode of action of diosgenin has been demonstrated via modulation of multiple cell signaling events involving critical molecular candidates associated with growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and oncogenesis. Altogether, these preclinical and mechanistic findings strongly implicate the use of diosgenin as a novel, multitarget-based chemopreventive or therapeutic agent against several cancer types. Future research in this field will help to establish not only whether diosgenin is safe and efficacious as a chemopreventive agent against several human cancers, but also to develop and evaluate standards of evidence for health claims for diosgenin-containing foods as they become increasingly popular and enter the marketplace labeled as functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Dietary fats altered nephrotoxicity profile of methylmercury in rats.

Weanling male Sprague-Dawley rats were administered semi-purified isocaloric diet containing soy oil (SO), seal oil (SE), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fish oil (FO) or lard (LA) for 28 days, and then gavaged with 0, 1 or 3 mg MeHg kg(-1) body weight per day and fed the same diet for 14 days. Serum and 24 h urine samples were collected on the day of necropsy, and analyzed for markers of kidney function and diseases. Kidney slices were analyzed for para-amino-hippurate (PAH) and tetraethylammonium (TEA) uptake, total mercury and MeHg content, and examined for pathological lesions. Total mercury and MeHg contents increased significantly and dose-dependently in all dietary groups. MeHg significantly increased relative kidney weight in all groups, serum creatinine in all except SO group, serum uric acid in the DHA and LA groups, serum Mg in all except the LA group, and urinary protein in the SO group. MeHg significantly decreased serum urea nitrogen in SE, FO and LA groups, urinary creatinine in the DHA group, PAH uptake in all except the SE group, and TEA uptake in all groups. MeHg caused nephrosis in all dietary groups. MeHg also significantly increased neutrophil counts in all except the SE group, decreased serum albumin and triglyceride in all except the DHA group, and increased serum total cholesterol in all groups, suggesting a nephrotic syndrome-like outcome. These results confirmed that kidney tubules are major targets of MeHg nephrotoxicity. Treatment with dietary fats did not prevent, but rather altered the profile of, nephrotoxicity of MeHg in rats.

Dietary acrylamide exposure in F344 rats and colon tumor-bearing nude nu/nu mice: Dataset of gene expression of cancer pathway targets and methylation status of tumor suppressor genes in colon mucosae and tumors.

Dietary acrylamide, a thermally induced food contaminant, at a level (2 mg/kg diet) typifying higher occurrence in certain food products - is neither an independent carcinogen nor a tumor promoter in the colon. This is evidenced by our previous studies using the medium-term azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon tumorigenesis assay in F344 rats and the human colon tumor xenograft model in athymic nude (nu/nu) mice (https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0073916) [1]. In addition, we found that acrylamide may act as a colon co-carcinogen in association with a known carcinogen (AOM) in F344 rats. Furthermore, exposure to acrylamide at 2 mg/kg in the diet was not associated with any toxicologically relevant changes in clinical biochemistry, hematology, and apical endpoints in healthy rats (exposed only to saline injections) (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2016.08.010) [2]. Here we report data from our previous investigation [1] on gene expression of cancer pathway targets as well as the methylation status of select tumor suppressor genes. Briefly, mRNA and DNA were extracted from (a) colon mucosae and tumors from F344 rats exposed to AOM or saline and (b) athymic nude (nu/nu) mice bearing human colon tumor xenografts, both exposed to dietary acrylamide at concentrations of 0 or 2 mg/kg diet for 20 and 4 weeks, respectively. RT2 Profiler PCR Cancer PathwayFinder Arrays (Qiagen) and EpiTect Methyl II DNA Restriction kits and PCR Assays (Qiagen) were used to detect cancer-relevant gene expression (84 genes representing 9 pathways) and the methylation status of the CpG islands associated with 22 tumor suppressor genes in colon mucosae, tumors and xenografts. Additionally, RT2 Profiler PCR Arrays (Qiagen) for cell cycle regulation, growth factors, inflammatory cytokines and receptors, and inflammatory response and autoimmunity were used to investigate the gene expression (84 genes in each array) of targets involved in these select cellular pathways in the colon mucosae from AOM-treated F344 rats.

Effects of dietary fats and proteins on rat testicular steroidogenic enzymes and serum testosterone levels.

It is known that certain dietary fats can modulate rat testosterone metabolism. In the current study we have investigated testicular steroidogenic enzyme activities and serum testosterone levels in rats fed diets containing either different protein sources (casein, fishmeal, whey) or different lipid sources (soybean oil, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), seal oil, fish oil, lard). The diets examined reflect different marine oils and proteins which are significant components of Northern Canadian diets. Male rats (42-45 days old, 6 per group), were assigned to specific diets for 42 days. On the 43rd day of the study, rats were sacrificed and blood plasma and testes frozen (-80 degrees C) until analysis. Microsomal steroidogenic enzyme activities (3beta-HSD, 17-OHase, C-17,20-lyase, 17beta-HSD) were measured radiometrically. There were no differences in enzyme activities between the three dietary protein sources. In contrast, compared with the standard casein diet, all lipid sources caused reductions in C-17,20-lyase activity (>50%); seal oil and fish oil reduced 17-OHase activity (approximately 30%) and soybean oil, DHA fish oil and lard reduced 17beta-HSD activity (approximately 30%). No effect on 3beta-HSD activity was evident. Serum testosterone levels were determined using ELISA kits and were not affected by any diet with the exception of the soybean oil diet which was significantly elevated compared with the casein protein diet. Body and testis weights were not affected by diet. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that some dietary lipid sources caused reductions in testicular 17-OHase and C-17,20-lyase activities but not to the extent that serum T levels were affected, while soybean oil caused elevated serum testosterone in the absence of elevated steroidogenic enzyme activities.

Dietary fats modulate methylmercury-mediated systemic oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage in rats.

We examined the effects of dietary fats on methylmercury (MeHg)-induced systemic oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage in liver and kidney of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rats were treated with a casein-based purified isocaloric diet containing 15% by weight soy oil, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), seal oil, fish oil, or lard for 28 days, and then gavaged with 0, 1, or 3 mg MeHg/kg BW/day for 14 days. Urine was analyzed for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and isoprostane, and serum for total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Liver and kidney were analyzed immunohistochemically for 8-OHdG. Both diet and MeHg showed significant main effects on some of these markers. As compared with the vehicle control, 3 mg MeHg/kg BW significantly increased urinary 8-OHdG in the lard group, urinary isoprostane in the DHA, seal oil, and fish oil groups, while significantly decreasing serum TAC in the lard and fish oil groups. In all dietary groups, 8-OHdG positive staining was located mainly in the nuclei of various cell types in liver and kidney. MeHg expressed a significant main increasing effect on 8-OHdG-positive cells in kidney. These results suggest that both dietary fats and MeHg are important mediators of systemic oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage.

An investigation of the effects of methylmercury in rats fed different dietary fats and proteins: testicular steroidogenic enzymes and serum testosterone levels.

Methylmercury (MeHg) is a testicular toxicant causing reduced steroidogenic enzyme activity, reduced serum testosterone (T) and abnormal spermatogenesis in mammals and fowl. It is also known that certain diets can alter androgen metabolism in rats. Previously we have shown that diets used in the current study impact circulating androgen levels and testicular steroidogenic enzyme activities in Sprague Dawley rats in the absence of MeHg. In the present study, we have investigated the impact of imposing an environmental contaminant (MeHg) commonly found in marine mammals and fish onto the rats' dietary intake of different proteins and lipids in order to determine if the different diets could modify MeHg toxicity in rats. Therefore, we examined the effects of MeHg on testicular steroidogenic enzymes and serum testosterone in rats fed diets containing either different protein sources (casein, fishmeal, whey) or different lipid sources (soybean oil, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), seal oil, fish oil, lard). Male rats 42-45 days of age (18 per group) were assigned to different experimental diets for 28 days after which 6 rats in each group were gavaged daily with 0, 1 or 3 mg/kg body weight (BW)/day MeHg chloride in 5 mM Na(2)CO(3) solution for 14 days while being maintained on their diets. On the 43rd day of dosing, rats were sacrificed and blood plasma and testes frozen (-80 degrees C) until analysis. Microsomal steroidogenic enzyme activities (3beta-HSD, 17-OHase, C-17, 20-lyase, 17beta-HSD) were measured radiometrically. Serum testosterone was determined using ELISA kits. Testis weights were not affected by MeHg. MeHg at 3 mg/kg BW/day caused a reduction (>50%) in the activity of C-17, 20-lyase in all three protein diets and similar reductions in 17-OHase activity were seen in the casein and whey protein fed rats. At 3 mg/kg BW/day, MeHg reduced 17-OHase activity in the DHA diet but had no effect on 3beta-HSD activity and no inhibitory effects on 17beta-HSD activity. MeHg (3 mg/kg BW/day) caused significant reductions in serum T in the whey, soybean oil and fish oil groups. Interestingly, fishmeal protein but not fish oil offered some protection with respect to maintaining steroidogenic enzyme activities and serum T levels in rats dosed with MeHg. In conclusion, these studies show that different lipid diets can alter the toxic effects of MeHg on male rat steroidogenesis in terms of serum testosterone and steroidogenic enzyme activities.

Immunomodulatory effects of dietary potassium perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) exposure in adult Sprague-Dawley rats.

Perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) is a stable and environmentally persistent metabolic or degradation product of perfluorooctanyl compounds that were manufactured for a variety of industrial and consumer applications. PFOS itself was sold for use as a surfactant. The structurally related contaminants perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide (N-EtPFOSA) were shown to suppress immune responses in laboratory rodents. Relatively low doses of PFOS were found to be immunosuppressive in mice. To assess effects of PFOS on the rat immune system at doses known to alter hepatic function, changes in the morphology and function of immune tissues and cells were measured in adult rats exposed to PFOS in their diet for 28 d at levels ranging from 2 to 100 mg PFOS/kg diet (corresponding to approximately 0.14 to 7.58 mg/kg body weight [bw]/d) and compared to those receiving control diet. Body weight reductions were significant in male and female rats exposed to 50 and 100 mg PFOS/kg diet. Liver/body weight was significantly increased in females exposed to 2 mg PFOS/kg diet and in males exposed to 20 mg PFOS/kg diet. Female rats exposed to 100 mg PFOS/kg diet exhibited a significant increase in spleen weight relative to body weight; these changes lacked a histologic correlate and were not observed in males. While thymus weights relative to body weights were not affected, numbers of apoptotic lymphocytes rose in thymus with increasing dietary PFOS. There was a significant dose-related increase in total peripheral blood lymphocyte numbers in female but not male rats. In both genders the percentages of cells within lymphocyte subclasses were altered. There was a significant trend toward increasing T and T-helper (Th) cells and decreasing B cells with higher PFOS dose. Serum total immunoglobulin (Ig) G1 levels were significantly reduced in males exposed to 2 and 20 mg PFOS/kg diet. The ability of male and female rats to mount delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) responses to the T-cell-dependent antigen keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) was not altered by PFOS. There was a significant trend toward elevated KLH-specific IgG in serum from male rats exposed to increasing levels of PFOS in diet. Splenic T- and B-cell proliferation in response to ex vivo mitogen exposure was unaffected by exposure to dietary PFOS. In conclusion, changes in immune parameters in rat did not manifest as functional alterations in response to immune challenge with KLH and may be secondary to hepatic-mediated effects of PFOS in this model.

Modulating effects of dietary fats on methylmercury toxicity and distribution in rats.

Fish consumption is the most important source of human exposure to methylmercury (MeHg). Since fish is also a rich source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, this study was conducted to examine the effects of dietary fats on MeHg-induced acute toxicity in rats. Weanling male Sprague Dawley rats were administered semi-purified casein-based isocaloric diet containing soy oil, seal oil, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), fish oil, or lard for 28 days. Rats were then gavaged with 0, 1, or 3 mg MeHg/kg body weight (BW) per day and fed the same diet for 14 consecutive days. On 43rd day of the experiment, rats were sacrificed and blood samples were collected and analyzed for hematology. Liver and spleen were removed, fixed, and examined for pathological changes. Blood, feces, liver, and brain were analyzed for total mercury and/or MeHg contents. Serum samples were analyzed for clinical markers of hepatic injury and immunoglobulin. Total mercury contents in all tissues measured increased with dose. Mercury excretion in feces increased with dose and duration of MeHg treatment. Both diets and MeHg showed significant effects and interacted significantly on many of the toxicological endpoints measured. Many of the effects of MeHg were diet-dependent. For example, in the rats fed the lard diet, 3mg MeHg/kg BW significantly increased relative liver and spleen weight as compared with vehicle control; whereas in rats fed the fish oil, soy oil, seal oil, or DHA, this effect of MeHg was less obvious or absent, suggesting a protective effect of these diets. MeHg at 3mg/kg BW significantly decreased serum albumin level in all except DHA dietary groups, implying a protection by the DHA diet on this parameter. Only in the lard dietary group, did 3mg MeHg/kg BW significantly increase serum bilirubin level, indicating an enhancing effect of this diet on MeHg toxicity. MeHg suppressed the adaptive immune system and stimulated the innate immune system in rats in a diet-dependent fashion. The seal oil diet provided more resistance, while the fish oil diet rendered greater sensitivity to these effects of MeHg on the immune system. These results imply significant modulating effects of dietary fats on MeHg toxicity which may translate into more severe or protective clinical outcomes. Therefore, dietary fats are important factors to be considered in the risk assessment of MeHg exposure.

Effects of ciprofibrate on testicular and adrenal steroidogenic enzymes in the rat.

Testicular and adrenal steroidogenic enzymes were measured radiometrically following oral dosing of rats with ciprofibrate (2-[4-(2,2-dichlorocyclopropyl) phenoxyl]-2-methylpropinoic acid), a peroxisome proliferator. Six-week-old male Fisher 344 rats were fed a diet containing ciprofibrate (0.025%, w/w) for 3, 7, 14, 28, 56, 84, 112 or 140 days leading to a daily ciprofibrate intake of approximately 15 mg/kg body weight/day. Ciprofibrate caused a marked inhibition of testicular 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-isomerase (3beta-HSD) activity that was significant after 3 days and subsequently decreased to 40% of control level. Ciprofibrate treatment also reduced 17beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17beta-HSD) activity to a lesser extent but had no effect on 17-hydroxylase (17-OHase) activity. Immunoblot analyses indicated that ciprofibrate treatment did not alter enzyme protein levels and semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis also revealed no significant changes in testicular 3beta-HSD mRNA levels. Furthermore, in addition to the enzyme-specific effect of ciprofibrate on 3beta-HSD in the testes, a tissue-specific effect was also evident, since no significant effects of ciprofibrate were seen on the activities of 3beta-HSD or 21-OHase in the adrenal glands from the same animals.

Mammary gland tumor promotion in F1 generation offspring from male and female rats exposed to soy isoflavones for a lifetime.

The effect of dietary isoflavones in the form of NOVASOY (NS) was investigated on methylnitrosourea-initiated mammary gland cancer in F1 generation female Sprague Dawley rats from parents who had undergone lifetime exposure to variable levels of dietary NS. In comparison to NS-free dietary groups, lifetime exposure of F1 rats to 40 and 1000 mg/kg diets of NS reduced tumor latency, but did not significantly affect tumor incidence, tumor size, or tumor multiplicity. A significantly lower tumor multiplicity was, however, observed in rats fed the soy-based, NS-free diet compared to the casein-based, NS-free diet. An evaluation of a dose-response relationship pointed towards a biphasic effect, with a trend showing lower tumor incidence, lower tumor multiplicity, and lower tumor size in rats fed 1000 mg/kg diet NS compared to 40 mg/kg diet NS; however, the data failed to achieve statistical significance. Histologically, tumor type significantly differed according to the administered basal diet variety and NS dose. Our data and that of others provide conflicting evidence for chemopreventive effects of soy isoflavones on mammary gland tumor induction. We suggest standardization of interlaboratory experimental approaches for establishing low dose-response relationships for soy and its isoflavones to aid in risk assessment.

Dietary acrylamide exposure in male F344 rats: Dataset of systemic oxidative stress and inflammation markers.

We previously reported that dietary acrylamide, at doses (10 and 50 mg/kg diet) known to cause rodent tumors, lowered serum total high density lipoprotein and total testosterone, increased serum lipase, and lowered lymphocytes levels together with other hematological parameters in male F344 rats exposed for 10 weeks (doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2014.11.009 [1]). Here we present data related to the role of food-borne acrylamide exposure (at 0, 5, 10 and 50 mg/kg diet) in the presence of low (7% wt/wt) or high (23.9% wt/wt) dietary fat on serum and urinary markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in F344 rats. Briefly, urine and serum samples were collected from the experimental animals a day prior to or at the time of necropsy, respectively and processed for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay estimations of biochemical markers. Urine samples were analyzed for 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and isoprostane, and serum samples for total antioxidant capacity, paraoxonase 1 activity, c-reactive protein, homocysteine, oxidized low-density lipoprotein, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, thromboxin 2, and Nε-(carboxymethyl)lysine.

Lack of adverse health effects following 30-weeks of dietary exposure to acrylamide at low doses in male F344 rats.

Understanding the health hazards following exposure to food-borne acrylamide, especially at low levels typified by human diets, is an ongoing food safety issue. We recently published results from a study that aimed to understand the effects of acrylamide short-term exposure at doses known to cause tumors in rodents, demonstrating that a number of key toxicological end points were altered by acrylamide exposure. Additionally, we reported that at much lower doses for 30 weeks of exposure, dietary acrylamide was 'not a complete carcinogen' to the colon in an organ-specific rodent carcinogenesis study but acted as a co-carcinogen along with azoxymethane (AOM, a colon-specific carcinogen). Here, we present toxicological data from a sub-set of this long-term exposure study from animals that received saline (instead of AOM). Briefly, male F344 rats were randomized to receive acrylamide at 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/kg diet (∼0.02, 0.04, and 0.09 mg/kg BW/day, respectively) or no acrylamide (control), for 30 weeks; all rats were then euthanized and their tissues harvested and processed for toxicological evaluation. We report that at the doses tested, acrylamide did not cause any changes in general well-being, body weight or food intake. Similarly, acrylamide did not cause any biologically relevant change in parameters associated with immunophenotyping, serum biochemistry or hematology. Histopathology assessment of tissues showed no changes except in the testis, where non-specific mild lesions were observed in all the groups, inclusive of the controls. No neuropathological effects of acrylamide were observed in the brain and nerve tissues. Together, these results suggest that acrylamide administered to rats through the diet at low doses for 30 weeks did not cause any toxicologically relevant changes. Given that the doses of acrylamide in the current study are low and are comparable to human dietary exposure, this null-effect study provides data that contribute to the body of scientific evidence relevant to understanding the health effects of acrylamide.

The impact of chronic Aflatoxin B1 exposure and p53 genotype on base excision repair in mouse lung and liver.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is produced by species of Aspergillus, and is a known human carcinogen. AFB1-induced oxidative DNA damage, specifically 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) lesions, has been demonstrated in both animal models and in humans, and is repaired by base excision repair (BER). The tumour suppressor gene p53 is implicated in the regulation of DNA repair, and heterozygous p53 knockouts have an attenuated nucleotide excision repair response to AFB1. Male heterozygous p53 knockout mice and their wild-type controls were exposed to 0, 0.2 or 1.0ppm AFB1 for 26 weeks in their diet. BER activity of lung and liver was assessed with an in vitro assay, using 8-OHdG-damaged plasmid DNA as a substrate. BER activity did not differ between livers or lungs from untreated wild-type versus heterozygous p53 knockout mice. In wild-type mice, repair was 65% lower in liver extracts from mice exposed to 1.0ppm AFB1 than in liver extracts from mice exposed to 0.2ppm AFB1 (p<0.05), but not significantly lower than that in liver extracts from control mice. AFB1 did not affect BER in lung extracts from wild-type mice, or in lung and liver extracts from heterozygous p53 knockout mice. In liver and lung, AFB1 exposure did not alter levels of 8-oxoguanine glycosylase protein, a key enzyme in the repair of 8-OHdG, and did not cause hepatotoxicity, as indicated by plasma alanine aminotransferase levels. In conclusion, chronic exposure to AFB1 did not affect BER in lungs or livers of heterozygous p53 knockout mice. BER activity was lower in livers from p53 wild type mice exposed to 1.0ppm AFB1 versus those exposed to 0.2ppm AFB1, an effect that was not attributable to liver cell death or altered levels of 8-oxoguanine glycosylase.

Toxicological effects of short-term dietary acrylamide exposure in male F344 rats.

We recently reported that acrylamide, a known rodent and probable human carcinogen, does not increase the risk of azoxymethane (AOM)-induced rat colon precancerous lesions when administered through the diet. Here, we present toxicological data from non-AOM-injected rats. Briefly, male F344 rats were randomized into four dietary groups and received experimental diets based on AIN-93G formulation and containing acrylamide at 0 (control), 5, 10 or 50mg/kg diet (wt/wt) ad libitum for 10 weeks, after which they were killed and their blood collected for hematological and biochemical markers. Acrylamide at the higher doses (10 and 50mg/kg diet) significantly lowered (p<0.05) serum total high density lipoprotein and total testosterone and increased serum lipase in comparison to the control. Blood hematocrit values and lymphocyte counts were significantly lower (p<0.05) in the high dose acrylamide (50mg/kg diet) group compared to control, with a concomitant decrease in hemoglobin level, mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin. These results provide additional hazard characterization data and strengthen the notion that at high doses, acrylamide may involve systemic toxicity potentiating tumorigenesis in experimental animals. Further studies are required to understand the health effects of food-borne acrylamide, especially at the lower exposures typified by human diets.