PT/Y Mice Are Sensitive to the Inhibitory Effect of o-Aminoazotoluene on Glucocorticoid Induction of Tyrosine Aminotransferase and Its Hepatocarcinogenic Effect.

PT/Y mice used for studies of the effects of mutagens are characterized by the absence of spontaneous tumors of the liver, but often develop these tumors in response to chronic oaminoazotoluene treatment. The level of glucocorticoid induction of adaptive hepatic enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase decreases by more than 70% 24 h after acute injection of o-aminoazotoluene to these animals. These mice can serve as a model for studies of the relationship between the effect of carcinogens on the regulation of activity of adaptive hepatic enzymes and their capacity to induce the development of liver tumors.

Suppression of sulfoconjugation reduces the protective effect of ortho-aminoazotoluene on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine in mice.

The effects of ortho-aminoazotoluene on carcinogenic activity of diethylnitrosamine were studied in CBA and ICR mice. Injection of ortho-aminoazotoluene before and after diethylnitrosamine led to a significant reduction of its anticarcinogenic effect, judging from significantly lower level of liver tumors. Pentachlorophenol, inhibitor of sulfotransferase (catalyzing the terminal stage of ortho-aminoazotoluene metabolic activity), stimulated its carcinogenic effect on mouse liver. On the other hand, pentachlorophenol reduced the protective effect of ortho-aminoazotoluene on diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Presumably, the carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic effects of ortho-aminoazotoluene were realized by its initial form or intermediate (non-sulfated) metabolites.

[Inhibitory effect of ortho-aminoazotoluene on diethylnirtosamine hepatocarcinogenesis in suckling mice. Phenomenon and possible mechanism].

The modifying effect of the one compound on carcinogenicity of the other in the combined application is attributed usually to some changes in the carcinogen metabolism, i.e. its activation or inactivation. In this paper, when used separately, diethylnitrosamine (DENA) induced 4-6 times more neoplastic lesions in the liver of suckling mice than ortho-aminoazotoluene (OAT) did. However, after combined treatment with both carcinogens the total number of hepatic lesions was significantly lower than that in mice treated with DENA only. Similar effect was observed when OAT was administered 3 days before or 3 days after DENA injection. The observed protective effect is not mediated at metabolic level, because OAT has no effect on metabolism of DENA in mouse liver. Our findings can be unequivocally explained by the competition of the carcinogens for target protein molecules, presumably transcription factors, participating in hepatocyte differentiation, which differently interact with and are diversely impaired by different compounds.

[Mutagenic activation and carcinogenicity of aminoazo dyes of ortho-aminoazotoluene and 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in experiments on suckling mice].

It is found that after administration of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB,) which was hepatocarcinogenic to rats, in suckling mice, the number of neoplastic lesions in the liver of mice was 3 times higher than after analogous administration of equimolar dose of ortho-aminoazotoluene (OAT)). However, in the Ames test (TA-98 strain of Salmonella typhimurium) with activation by hepatic enzymes (S-9 fraction) of both intact and Aroclor-1254-induced mice and rats OAT contributed by an order of magnitude to revertant colonies compared to 3'-Me-DAB. In vivo inhibition of sulfotransferase activity, the enzyme which catalyzes the final stage of the mutagenic activation of aminoazo dyes, had no effect on carcinogenicity of 3'-Me-DAB but more than 4 times elevated that of OAT. It was concluded that the mechanism of carcinogenic action of aminoazo dyes studied is not genotoxic and that the carcinogenic potential of OAT is lost in the process of mutagenic activation.

Mutagenic activation reduces carcinogenic activity of ortho-aminoazotoluene for mouse liver.

Pentachlorophenol (aromatic amine and azo stain metabolic stimulation inhibitor) reduced the hepatocarcinogenic activity of 4-aminoazobenzene and reduced that of ortho-aminoazotoluene in suckling mice. Both 4-aminoazobenzene and ortho-aminoazotoluene exhibited mutagenic activity in Ames' test in vitro on S. typhimurium TA 98 strain with activation with liver enzymes; this mutagenic activity was similarly suppressed by adding pentachlorophenol into activation medium. Induction of xenobiotic metabolism enzymes, stimulating the mutagenic activity of ortho-aminoazotoluene, suppressed its carcinogenic effect on mouse liver. Hence, ortho-aminotoluene (the initial compound), but not its mutagenic metabolites, was the direct active hepatocarcinogen for mice.

Ortho-aminoazotoluene activates mouse constitutive androstane receptor (mCAR) and increases expression of mCAR target genes.

2'-3-dimethyl-4-aminoazobenzene (ortho-aminoazotoluene, OAT) is an azo dye and a rodent carcinogen that has been evaluated by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a possible (class 2B) human carcinogen. Its mechanism of action remains unclear. We examined the role of the xenobiotic receptor Constitutive Androstane Receptor (CAR, NR1I3) as a mediator of the effects of OAT. We found that OAT increases mouse CAR (mCAR) transactivation in a dose-dependent manner. This effect is specific because another closely related azo dye, 3'-methyl-4-dimethyl-aminoazobenzene (3'MeDAB), did not activate mCAR. Real-time Q-PCR analysis in wild-type C57BL/6 mice revealed that OAT induces the hepatic mRNA expression of the following CAR target genes: Cyp2b10, Cyp2c29, Cyp3a11, Ugt1a1, Mrp4, Mrp2 and c-Myc. CAR-null (Car(-/-)) mice showed no increased expression of these genes following OAT treatment, demonstrating that CAR is required for their OAT dependent induction. The OAT-induced CAR-dependent increase of Cyp2b10 and c-Myc expression was confirmed by Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry analysis of wild-type and Car(-/-) livers showed that OAT did not acutely induce hepatocyte proliferation, but at much later time points showed an unexpected CAR-dependent proliferative response. These studies demonstrate that mCAR is an OAT xenosensor, and indicate that at least some of the biological effects of this compound are mediated by this nuclear receptor.

OAT and 3'MeDAB azo compounds similarly cause liver tumors in GR mice, but differently modify activities of FoxA transcription factors.

Transcription factors of the FoxA family (forkhead box A) regulate cell metabolism and differentiation and maintain specificity of liver cell proteome and phenotype of mature hepatocytes. The relationship between hepatocarcinogenicity of azo compounds o-aminoazotoluene (OAT) and 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminobenzene (3'MeDAB) for GR mice and one of the early events, modulation of the DNA-binding activity of FoxA transcription factor, was studied. Single injection of 3'MeDAB to 12-day-old mice caused liver tumors in 100% males and females similarly as OAT, a well-known mouse hepatocarcinogene. The DNA-binding activity of FoxA in the liver decreased 2.5-3 times by OAT, this resulting in a 40% reduction of glucocorticoid induction of tyrosine aminotransferase (liver-specific gene). In contrast to these, 3'MeDAB did not modify FoxA protein activities or the degree of glucocorticoid induction of tyrosine aminotransferase.

[Metabolism inhibition stimulates, metabolism activation inhibits cancerogenic activity of ortho-aminoazotoluene in mouse liver].

Pentachlorophenol, an inhibitor of metabolic activation of aminoazo dyes was administered to suckling mice prior to o-aminoazotoluene (OAT). It was followed by formation of numerous preneoplastic nodules and tumors in the lungs and liver. At the same time, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxine treatment decreased their number in the liver while slightly increasing them in the lung. A possible mechanism of aminoazo dye carcinogenicity is suggested.

[O-aminoazotoluene inhibits DENA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis when used together in mice].

When used separately, diethylnitrosamine (DENA) initiates 4-6 times more neoplastic lesions in the liver of suckling mice than ortho-aminoazotoluene (OAT) lower. However, after combined treatment with either carcinogen the total number of hepatic lesions was significantly than that in mice injected with DENA only. Similar inhibition of DENA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis was observed when OAT was administered 8-12 hrs after DENA. Our findings cannot be adequately explained except by competition of the carcinogens for supposedly target molecules of protein origin, presumably, transcription factors, which contribute to generation of genetic information. They have different affinities for different compounds and, therefore, suffer different damage from the latter functioning.

Effects of o-aminoazotoluene on liver regeneration and p53 activation in mice susceptible and resistant to hepatocarcinogenesis.

The susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) varies greatly within human populations in response to environmental risk agents. The mechanisms underlying differential susceptibility are still largely unknown and need to be clarified to improve HCC chemoprevention and therapeutic treatment. Inbred rodent strains with established predispositions for hepatocarcinogenesis offer the opportunity to identify intrinsic susceptibility and resistance factors. Previously, we have characterized mouse strains showing differential susceptibility to o-aminoazotoluene (OAT) and established that susceptibility does not result from OAT metabolism or genotoxicity in the livers of resistant and susceptible mice. In this study we have found that OAT differently affects hepatocyte proliferation in mice after partial hepatectomy (PH). OAT inhibited hepatocyte proliferation by 60-80% in the livers of susceptible mice, whereas resistant mice showed less than 15% inhibition. The inhibition resulted in significant delay of hepatic mass recovery in susceptible mice. OAT induced p53 stabilization and transcriptional activation in response to carcinogen treatment to the same degree in both, susceptible and resistant mice. Taken together, our data support inhibition of hepatocyte proliferation as a major cause for increased mouse susceptibility to hepatocarcinogenesis, and acceleration of functional liver recovery may offer a way to increase resistance to hepatic neoplasms. These results may have relevance to clinical observations of HCCs and implications for HCC chemoprevention and treatment.

Differential expression of alpha-fetoprotein and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase in chemical and spontaneous hepatocarcinogenesis.

The expression of two markers of fetal liver, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT), was studied in chemical and spontaneous hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. Serum AFP concentration increased within 3 weeks 3 weeks from the commencement of feeding of o-aminoazotuluene. This early elevation subsided about 3 months after the beginning of the administration of the carcinogen. A new, sustained elevation of the serum AFP level followed at 5 to 6 months accompanied by the appearance of liver tumors. In immunofluorescence, some small oval cells and scattered adult-type hepatocytes contained AFP during the early stage of chemical carcinogenesis. During the later phase, AFP was detected in a few of the nodular areas, in solitary hepatocytes, and in groups of carcinoma cells. GGT activity in the liver increased within 1 week after the carcinogen regimen was started, preceding the early increase of AFP production. At the final stage, the chemically induced hepatomas contained about 80 times more GGT than did normal liver. In histochemical staining, proliferating oval cells and small areas of hepatocytes stained for GGT during the early weeks, and later most nodules, small areas of nonnodular parenchyma, and carcinomas contained GGT. During spontaneous carcinogenesis in male C3HeB/FeJ mice, premalignant lesions, accompanied by a slight increase of serum AFP, precede the appearance of liver tumors. No cells staining for AFP were detected during this early stage. Once overt liver cancers had developed, AFP was readily detectable in the tumors and was localized to some but not all carcinoma cells. The corresponding serum AFP levels were highly elevated. In contrast to the high levels of GGT found during chemical carcinogenesis, no elevation of GGT was found in livers at various stages of spontaneous carcinogenesis, including cancers in eight individual mice. These results indicate that the production of AFP and GGT is not turned on as a single "genetic package," and that these two markers differ in their behaviour in liver carcinogenesis.

o-Aminoazotoluene does induce the enzymes of its own mutagenic activation in mouse liver.

The objective of this study was to investigate the CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 mRNAs and enzyme activities in mouse liver during induction with o-aminoazotoluene (OAT) as well as the capability of the hepatic S9-fraction from OAT-treated mice to induce its own activation to mutagens in the Ames test using S. typhymurium strain TA98. The data obtained indicate that when used at appropriate doses, OAT is a PAH-type inducer of mouse hepatic microsomal monooxygenases, which activity is not less than that of the known inducer 3,4-benzo[alpha]pyrene. In the absence of S9-fraction enzymes no OAT-mediated mutagenicity was observed in the Ames test. In the presence of the S9-fraction from OAT-pretreated mice, OAT induced as high revertant numbers, as it did in the presence of the S9 fraction from the liver of Aroclor 1254-treated mice. Thus, OAT does induce the enzymes of its own mutagenic activation in mouse liver.

Flocculation behaviour of model textile wastewater treated with a food grade polysaccharide.

In this study, the application of a food grade polysaccharide namely Plantago psyllium mucilage has been assessed for the removal of dyes from model textile wastewater containing golden yellow (C.I. Vat Yellow 4) and reactive black (C.I. Reactive Black 5). A series of contact time experiments were conducted to assess the system variables such as concentrations of mucilage and dyes and pH. This mucilage reduces the dye concentration by flocculation and settling. The optimal flocculant concentration required to affect flocculation is independent of dye concentration within the range examined. The dye removal obtained was influenced by the salts concentrations in the wastewater sample. The flocculation efficiency was sensitive to pH when pure aqueous solutions of dyes were used, but it was relatively unaffected by pH change when salts were added to the dye solutions. The experimental results show that the mucilage is more effective for removal of solubilised vat dye than for reactive black.

Transgenerational effect of orthoaminoasotoluol in mice.

Transplacental effect of orthoaminoasotoluol (OAAT) on the liver was studied in 3 generations of CBA mice. OAAT was administered to mice intragastrically at the 17, 18 and 19th day of pregnancy. A high incidence of liver tumors was observed in males (73.1% compared with 40.6% in control animals) and 34.3% in females compared to 4.6% in control animals which were the F1 descendants of treated mothers. The females of the F2 generation which were not in direct contact with OAAT developed a statistically higher, compared with the control incidence of liver tumors (24%). The liver tumor incidence in males of the F2 (20.6%) and F3 (17.8%) generations was lower than in the control group (40.5%). The liver tumor incidence in the controls was similar to that observed in F3 females (4.05%).

Mutagenicity of carcinogenic azo dyes and their derivatives.

The mutagenicity of N,N-dimethyl-4-aminoazobenzene and N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and their derivatives was shown on Salmonella typhimurium TA100 and TA98. S-9 Mix, obtained from rat liver after injection of polychlorinated biphenyl, was abligatory for their mutagenic action. N-Acetoxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and N-benzoyloxy-N-methyl-4-aminoazobenzene and their 4'-methoxycarbonyl derivatives were also mutagenic on TA100 and TA98 and did not require metabolic activation by S-9 Mix. It is suggested that the carcinogenic effects of azo dyes may involve modification of DNA.

Cytochrome P4501A1 and 1A2 gene expression in the liver of 3-methylcholanthrene- and o-aminoazotoluene-treated mice: a comparison between PAH-responsive and PAH-nonresponsive strains.

The objective of this study was to investigate cytochrome P4501A1 and 1A2 mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity in the liver of male mice differing in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) genotype during treatment with the carcinogenic compounds 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) and o-aminoazotoluene (OAT). The basal levels of the CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 enzyme activities were comparable among the mouse strains examined. Significant interstrain variations were observed after treatment by the inducers: EROD and MROD activities were considerably increased in C57BL and A/Sn mice, but not in AKR, SWR, and DBA mice. Western blot analysis did not detect CYP1A1 in the liver of untreated mice. Treatment of mice with MC or OAT caused CYP1A1 accumulation in the liver of C57BL and A/Sn mice, but not in AKR, SWR, and DBA mice. CYP1A2 was detected in all studied mouse strains in both untreated and inducer-treated livers. The results of multiplex RT-PCR showed that the CYP1A1 mRNA in the liver of untreated mice was hardly detectable while constitutive expression of the CYP1A2 gene was rather high. After treatment with MC and OAT the CYP1A1 mRNA level dramatically increased in all strains examined while the increase in the CYP1A2 mRNA level was not striking. This finding did not correlate with the data on the enzyme activity. Our results demonstrated a discrepancy between the transcription of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 genes and the inducibility of these enzymes in the liver of mice, suggesting a posttranscriptional mechanism of cytochrome P4501A regulation. This comparison between aromatic hydrocarbon-responsive and -nonresponsive strains could contribute to understanding of cytochrome P4501A gene regulation in the liver under the influence of environmental factors.

Mutation spectrum of o-aminoazotoluene in the cII gene of lambda/lacZ transgenic mice (MutaMouse).

The o-aminoazotoluene (AAT) has been evaluated as a possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In rodents, it is carcinogenic mainly in the liver, and also in lung following long term administration. We previously examined in lambda/lacZ transgenic mice for the induction of lacZ mutations in liver, lung, urinary bladder, colon, kidney, bone marrow, and testis. AAT induced gene mutations strongly in the liver and colon. In the present report, we reveal the molecular nature of mutations induced by AAT in the lambda cII gene (the cII gene, a phenotypically selectable marker in the lambda transgene, has 294bp, which makes it easier to sequence than the original target, the 3kb lacZ gene). The cII mutant frequency in liver and colon was five and nine times higher, respectively, in AAT-treated mice than in control mice. Sequence analysis revealed that AAT induced G:C to T:A transversions, whereas spontaneous mutations consisted primarily of G:C to A:T transitions at CpG sites.

Retinoids as inhibitors of ortho-aminoazotoluene-induced mutagenesis in the Salmonella/liver microsome test.

Earlier, we reported that vitamin A (retinol), in vitro, exhibits a strong inhibitory effect on the mutagenicity of aflatoxin B1 in the Ames Salmonella/microsome test. This paper reports the same inhibitory effect on the mutagenicity of an aminoazo dye, ortho-aminoazotoluene. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect was exerted by retinol esters such as retinol acetate and retinol palmitate, the latter being the physiological storage form of vitamin A. The inhibition is interpreted as an effect on the mixed-function oxidases that convert ortho-aminoazotoluene to its ultimate mutagenic form.

Genotoxicity of o-aminoazotoluene (AAT) determined by the Ames test, the in vitro chromosomal aberration test, and the transgenic mouse gene mutation assay.

o-Aminoazotoluene (AAT) has been evaluated as a possible human carcinogen (Class 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). The Ames test found it to be mutagenic in the presence of a metabolic activation system, whereas it has little clastogenicity either in vitro or in vivo in the chromosomal aberration assay. AAT is also carcinogenic in the lung or liver of mice and rats given long-term administrations. Therefore, metabolites generated in the liver etc. may have gene mutation activity, and carcinogenesis would occur. We examined the mutagenicity of AAT in a gene mutation assay, using lacZ transgenic mice (MutaMice) and a positive selection method. AAT showed positive results for organs with metabolic functions, such as liver and colon and other organs. Positive results were also seen in an Ames test in the presence of metabolic activation and negative results seen in a chromosomal aberration test. Therefore, AAT had the potential to cause gene mutation in the presence of metabolic activation systems in vitro and the same reaction was confirmed in vivo with organs with metabolic function, such as liver and colon, but little clastogenicity in vitro or in vivo. Thus, metabolites with gene mutation activity may be responsible for the carcinogenicity of AAT. The transgenic mouse mutation assay proved to be useful for concurrent assessment of in vivo mutagenicity in multiple organs and to supplement the standard in vivo genotoxicity tests, such as the micronucleus assay which is limited to bone marrow as the only target organ.

Retinol (vitamin A) inhibits the mutagenicity of o-aminoazotoluene activated by liver microsomes from several species in the Ames test.

Retinol (vitamin A) has earlier been shown to inhibit the mutagenicity of o-aminoazotoluene (OAAT) in the Salmonella/microsome assay when OAAT is activated with S9 from Sprague-Dawley rats. The results presented in this paper confirm this and also show that S9 from mice, hamsters and gerbils activates OAAT to mutagenic metabolites detected by Salmonella typhimurium TA100. However, S9 from rabbits is inactive. The S9 fraction from rabbits also shows a low aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity. The AHH activity or protein content of the microsomal fraction cannot be used to predict the activating capacity of S9 from the other species. Retinol, added in vitro, inhibits the mutagenic effect of OAAT activated by mouse, gerbil or hamster S9. The strongest inhibition is observed with hamster S9 while the inhibition of mouse and gerbil S9 is lower but still higher than in the rat.