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F Feo

Publications and source records attributed to F Feo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Inhibition by dehydroepiandrosterone of growth and progression of persistent liver nodules in experimental rat liver carcinogenesis.

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) inhibits the development of early pre-neoplastic lesions and prevents tumor development in various tissues when given to animals during the initiation/promotion stages of carcinogenesis. Our purpose was to evaluate whether DHEA can also arrest the growth and progression of late lesions, such as persistent nodules (PNs) of rat liver. Male F344 rats were subjected to initiation by diethylnitrosamine followed by selection according to the "resistant hepatocyte" (RH) protocol. Fifteen weeks after initiation, when PNs were present in the liver, the rats were fed a diet with/without 0.6% DHEA for a maximum of 15 weeks. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was 17- to 20-fold higher in PNs than in normal liver 15-30 weeks after initiation. It significantly decreased, in both liver and PNs, 16 hr after starting DHEA feeding. Further DHEA feeding for 3-15 weeks decreased G6PD activity by 55-58% in both tissues. Eight weeks after starting DHEA, a fall in the proportion of labeled cells, after continuous contact with 3H thymidine for 7 days, was found in nodules. Treatment for 15 weeks with DHEA caused a marked decrease in the number of nodules per liver, as well as in the incidence of PNs with diameters of 3-6 and > 6 mm, respectively, while it did not affect PNs with diameters < 3 mm. Nodules showing patterns of malignant transformation were present in 40% of rats not treated with DHEA, but not in DHEA-treated rats. All of 8 surviving rats not treated with DHEA had carcinomas at the 56th week, while only 1 out of 4 surviving rats treated with DHEA had carcinoma. These data indicate that DHEA inhibits G6PD activity in rat liver and in PNs in vivo. This is associated with growth restraint of PNs and results in inhibition of their progression to malignancy.

Animals

Chemoprevention by S-adenosyl-L-methionine of rat liver carcinogenesis initiated by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine and promoted by orotic acid.

Chemoprevention of liver carcinogenesis by S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) was studied in F344 male rats. The rats were given 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (1,2-DMH) 2 HCl (100 mg/kg, i.p.) 18 h after two-thirds hepatectomy. One week later they were fed a semisynthetic basal diet containing 1% orotic acid (OA) for 29 weeks. At this time the rats were transferred to the basal semisynthetic diet and were killed 3 weeks later. SAM treatment (384 mumol/kg/day, i.m.), was started 1 week after 1,2-DMH and was continued up to the end of the experiment. Controls received solvent alone. SAM exerted an inhibitory effect on the induction of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions. For example, nodules with diameters of 1-2 and 2-6 mm exhibited a decrease in both incidence and number per liver, while no such inhibitory effect was seen in the category of larger nodules. Furthermore, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) also exhibited a decrease in the SAM-treated group. The number/liver and incidence were 0.04 and 4.8% respectively in the SAM-treated group, compared to 0.38 and 37.8% in the control group. Microscopic examination showed the presence of well-differentiated carcinomas and atypical nodules in control rats, while only one small, well-differentiated tumor and one nodule with patterns of initial transformation were seen in SAM-treated rats. No patchy staining of glutathione-S-transferase, indicative of remodeling, was observed in nodules of both SAM-treated and control rats. Nodules and HCCs developing in SAM-treated rats exhibited a relatively high number of apoptotic bodies. Apoptotic bodies count showed 2.8- and 1.8-fold increases in nodules and HCCs of SAM-treated rats with respect to controls. These results indicate that SAM exerts a chemopreventive effect on hepatocarcinogenesis induced by the OA model. SAM seems to be more effective in inhibiting nodule to HCC progression than on the growth of nodule per se. The inhibitory effect is associated with an increase in cell loss by apoptosis in nodules and HCC.

1,2-Dimethylhydrazine

Inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase activity and gene expression by dehydroepiandrosterone in preneoplastic liver nodules.

Previous work has demonstrated that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) strongly inhibits growth and de novo cholesterol (CH) biosynthesis in preneoplastic rat liver. Administration of a mixture of 4 ribo- or deoxyribonucleosides of adenine, guanine, cytosine and uracil/thymine, prevents growth inhibition but not inhibition of CH synthesis. The purpose of this paper was to identify the site of inhibition of CH synthesis by DHEA. Persistent nodules (PNs) were induced, in diethylnitrosamine-initiated male F344 rats, by 'resistant hepatocyte' protocol. Fifteen weeks after initiation, nodule bearing rats and normal controls received a diet containing 0.6% DHEA for 3 weeks. They were then killed. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) activity and mRNA levels were 18- and 14-fold higher, respectively in nodules than in normal liver. DHEA strongly inhibited HMGR activity in both tissues in vivo, but had a slight effect on HMGR activity, when added in vitro to the reaction mixture for determination of this activity. In vivo DHEA treatment caused a 65% decrease in the level of HMGR mRNA in PNs, which, however, does not seem to completely account for the decrease in HMGR activity (83%). Low density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) mRNA level underwent a slight decrease in PNs, with respect to control liver, which did not lead to a significant decrease in 125I-LDL binding to LDL-R. DHEA treatment caused 30% and 24% increases in LDL-R expression and 125I-LDL binding, respectively, in nodules. These observations indicate that in addition to HMGR gene expression, increased influx of LDL into preneoplastic cells may contribute to the deregulation of mevalonate synthesis by DHEA. The observation that HMGR activity and gene expression were still 3- to 5-fold higher in PNs of DHEA-treated rats than in control liver, and previous findings of preneoplastic liver cell growth in the presence of relatively low CH synthesis, suggest that even relatively low levels of mevalonate are sufficient for the growth of preneoplastic liver cells.

17-Ketosteroids

Correlation between S-adenosyl-L-methionine content and production of c-myc, c-Ha-ras, and c-Ki-ras mRNA transcripts in the early stages of rat liver carcinogenesis.

gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)-positive and glutathione S-transferase (placental-GST-P) positive foci were induced in male Wistar rats by initiation with diethylnitrosamine (DENA), followed by selection and phenobarbital (PB). GGT- and GST-P-positive foci occupied 20-46% and 27-68% of liver parenchyma, respectively, 5-9 weeks after initiation. A high DNA synthesis was found in GGT-positive foci. Decrease in S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) level and SAM/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH) ratio, and overall DNA hypomethylation occurred in the liver during the development of enzyme altered foci (EAF). These parameters underwent very small and transient changes in the liver of uninitiated rats at the 5th week, when EAF occupied 0.7-1.4% of the liver. At the 9th week, high RNA transcripts of c-myc, c-Ha-ras, and c-Ki-ras were found in the liver of initiated rats, but not in that of uninitiated rats. Immunohistochemical evaluation of c-myc gene product showed overexpression in GST-P-positive cells. SAM treatment of initiated rats caused inhibition of EAF growth, recovery of SAM/SAH ratio and DNA methylation, and decrease in protooncogene expression proportional to the dose and length of treatment. Liver SAM/SAH ratio was positively correlated with DNA methylation, and negatively correlated with transcript levels of the three protooncogenes. Thus, decrease in SAM/SAH ratio and DNA hypomethylation are early features of hepatocarcinogenesis promotion in rats fed a diet containing adequate lipotrope amounts, paralleled by overexpression of growth-related genes and rapid growth. Re-establishment of a physiologic SAM level makes it possible to inhibit protooncogene expression and EAF growth and to prevent late liver lesion development.

2-Acetylaminofluorene

Alterations of ornithine decarboxylase gene during the progression of rat liver carcinogenesis.

Liver nodules and carcinomas, developing in F344 rats initiated with diethylnitrosamine, exhibit high ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity and DNA synthesis. ODC-related RNAs of 1.8, 2.1 and 2.6 kb are produced by normal rat liver. Early preneoplastic nodules, developing 10 weeks after initiation, showed overproduction of 1.8 and 2.1 kb RNAs, while the 2.6 kb RNA was barely detectable. Rises in the 1.8, 2.1 and 2.6 kb RNAs occur in late nodules (30 weeks after initiation) and in carcinomas. The comparison of different tissues for relative increase in ODC activity, RNA levels and DNA synthesis showed that these parameters behaved in the same way: highest increases occurred in early nodules and carcinomas. These observations suggest that overexpression of ODC gene and alterations in regulatory mechanisms of ODC gene expression may be implicated in the progression of preneoplastic lesions to malignancy. Southern blot analysis of PstI DNA digests revealed the presence of ODC gene rearrangement in two carcinomas and in one late nodule. However, the role of this phenomenon in the progression of preneoplastic lesions is unclear, due to the possibility that ODC pseudogenes are involved instead of or in addition to ODC gene.

2-Acetylaminofluorene

l-5-formyltetrahydrofolate and l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate rescue in L1210 leukemia treated with high methotrexate doses.

Highly purified 5-l-methyltetrahydrofolate (m-THF) and 5-l-formyl-THF (f-THF) preparations were compared for rescuing from methotrexate (MTX) toxicity in DBA2 mice transplanted with L1210 leukemia. Mice received two doses of reduced folates (2 mg/kg, s.c.) 16 and 24 h after a single s.c. MTX dose. f-THF was 1.8 time more effective than m-THF in protecting tumor cells from MTX (800 mg/kg). This MTX dose caused a 57% fall in circulating polymorphonucleates, which was prevented by both reduced folates. Treatment with 800 mg/kg of MTX plus m-THF was 1.5 fold more effective than the same MTX dose plus f-THF in increasing survival time of tumor-bearing mice. These data suggest a higher selectivity and efficacy of l-m-THF with respect to l-f-THF in rescuing from MTX toxicity.

Animals

Chemoprevention of rat liver carcinogenesis by S-adenosyl-L-methionine: a long-term study.

Previous work has shown a consistent fall in S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) in the liver of diethylnitrosamine-initiated rats, during the development of preneoplastic lesions, in persistent nodules (PNs), and hepatocellular carcinomas. The injection of SAM into rats causes the reconstitution of the SAM pool, coupled with growth restraint, remodeling, and apoptosis of preneoplastic cells, and inhibits the development of PNs and hepatocellular carcinomas. To evaluate if SAM treatment causes a long-term prevention of preneoplastic and neoplastic liver lesions or merely causes a delay in their development, we evaluated the effect of a relatively short SAM treatment on the development of preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in a long-term study. Male Wistar rats were subjected to initiation with diethylnitrosamine, followed by selection and then by the administration of phenobarbital for 16 weeks. After selection, the rats were given i.m. injections of a purified SAM preparation (384 mumol/kg/day) for 24 weeks. In SAM-treated rats, a decrease in the incidence of PNs was found 6, 14, and 24-28 months after initiation. At the end of SAM treatment the number of PNs per rat liver, nodule diameter, and labeling and mitotic indices of nodular cells decreased considerably in control rats. Nodule diameter started to increase rapidly again only 8 months after arresting SAM treatment, when complete recovery of DNA synthesis in nodular cells occurred. The majority of nodules present in the liver 6-28 months after initiation belonged to the clear and acidophilic cell types, with lower percentages of mixed cell and basophilic cell types. A decrease in basophilic nodules occurred in SAM-treated rats. Fourteen and 24-28 months after initiation hepatocellular carcinoma incidence was 11 of 12 and 10 of 10 in control rats, respectively, and only 1 of 12 and 3 of 11 in SAM-treated rats. At the 24th-28th month all control rats had tumors identified as 2 poorly differentiated carcinomas, 6 trabecular carcinomas, or 3 adenocarcinomas, while only 2 relatively small trabecular carcinomas and 1 small glandular tumor developed in SAM-treated rats. In 3 of 11 SAM-treated rats, but in none of the control rats, leukemic infiltration of liver occurred 24-28 months after initiation. Leukemic infiltration of the spleen occurred in 5 and 3 control and SAM-treated rats, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Reversal by 5-azacytidine of the S-adenosyl-L-methionine-induced inhibition of the development of putative preneoplastic foci in rat liver carcinogenesis.

The development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)-positive foci, in Wistar rats, initiated with diethylnitrosamine and subjected to selection according to 'resistant hepatocyte' protocol, was coupled, 7 weeks after initiation, with liver DNA hypomethylation and with a fall in S-adenosylmethionine/S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAM/SAH) ratio, and in 5-methylthio-adenosine (MTA) content. A 15-day treatment with SAM, started 1 week after selection, caused a dose-dependent decrease in the development of GGT-positive foci, recovery of liver SAM/SAH ratio and MTA level, and liver DNA methylation. A 12-day treatment with 20 mumol/kg per day of 5-azacytidine (AzaC), starting 1 week after selection, enhanced growth of GGT-positive foci, caused strong DNA hypomethylation, and partially counteracted the inhibition of GGT-positive foci growth, without affecting recovery of SAM/SAH ratio and MTA level, induced by SAM. These results suggest a role of DNA methylation in the antipromoting effect of SAM.

Adenosine

Differential effects of dehydroepiandrosterone and deoxyribonucleosides on DNA synthesis and de novo cholesterogenesis in hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.

Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), an inhibitor of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), prevents the development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT)-positive foci in the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Since high rates of DNA and cholesterol (CH) synthesis are observed during promotion of carcinogenesis, and mevalonate (MVA), or some other intermediates of CH synthesis, could be mediators of DNA synthesis, we investigated the effect of DHEA on CH synthesis in rat liver during the development of GGT-positive foci. Hepatocarcinogenesis was induced by diethylnitrosamine in female Wistar rats by the Solt-Farber protocol (initiation/selection) with and without phenobarbital treatment. A 15 day treatment with DHEA (0.6% in the diet), started after selection, caused a great fall in labeling and mitotic indices of GGT-positive foci, which was prevented by the simultaneous administration of a mixture of four deoxyribonucleosides (DRNs) of adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine or four ribonucleosides (RNs) of adenine, guanine, cytosine and uridine, but not by the corresponding bases. DHEA greatly inhibited G6PD activity and the production of ribulose-5-phosphate, without affecting NADPH levels, due to the compensatory increase in malic enzyme and isocitric dehydrogenase activities. Serum lecithin/cholesterol acyltransferase activity underwent a reduction in conditions allowing a rapid growth of GGT-positive tissue (absence of DHEA or presence of DHEA plus DRNs or RNs). Liver slices isolated from DHEA-treated rats showed a rise in CH content, coupled with a 80% fall in the incorporation of labeled acetate, but not of labeled MVA, into CH. A 25 day treatment of rats subjected to initiation/selection, started after the appearance of persistent nodules, caused a 36 and 78% fall in the incorporation, in vivo, of 3H2O into nodular and surrounding liver CH respectively. DRN did not counteract DHEA-induced inhibition on CH synthesis. Thus DHEA inhibits the CH biosynthetic pathway before MVA synthesis, in conditions (presence of DHEA plus DRN/RN) allowing rapid growth of preneoplastic lesions. Therefore, the development of these lesions does not need the synthesis of large amounts of CH and CH metabolites. Thus, the antipromotion effect of DHEA may depend on a decreased availability of pentose phosphates for DNA synthesis.

Animals

Dependence of benzo(a)pyrene metabolism on NADPH pool in normal and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficient human fibroblasts.

Human skin fibroblasts (HSF), from normal donors and donors carrying the Mediterranean variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, grown in vitro in the presence of 0.25-5 microM benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), produced the following organic-soluble metabolites: 9,10-diol, 7,8-diol, quinones, 3- and 9-hydroxide and a more polar fraction, and the following water-soluble metabolites: more polar, 3- and 9-hydroxide and 9,10-diol. Single organic- and water-soluble metabolites increased with BaP concentration in both types of HSF, but the ratio normal/variant increased with BaP concentration. NADPH level and NADPH/NADP+ ratio underwent a slight decrease in normal HSF incubated with 2.5 microM BaP, while a greater fall occurred in the deficient HSF at 0.25 and 2.5 microM BaP. NADPH content seems to be rate-limiting for BaP metabolism in the deficient cells.

Adult

Inhibition of promotion and persistent nodule growth by S-adenosyl-L-methionine in rat liver carcinogenesis: role of remodeling and apoptosis.

The resistant hepatocyte model (initiation/selection) and the triphasic model (initiation/selection followed by phenobarbital, for a maximum of 16 weeks) were compared for their ability to generate enzyme-altered foci (EAF) and nodules in the liver of Wistar rats initiated by diethylnitrosamine. The effects of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) on the development of preneoplastic tissue was tested in these experimental models. In the absence of phenobarbital (PB), EAF and early nodules (EN) went through a phase of rapid growth, between 4 and 9 weeks after initiation, to a phase in which progressive decrease in number and size occurred. By the 26th week only a few remodeling EAF and nodules were found. In PB-treated rats a rapid increase in the percentage of liver occupied by EAF and EN, up to the 9th week after initiation, was followed by a period of slow growth (from the 9th to the 20th week) and then, after PB withdrawal (20th week), by a drop in the number and size of EAF and EN. However, at the 26th week actively growing nodules with a low tendency to spontaneous remodeling (persistent nodules) developed. EAF and EN showed a high DNA synthesis 5 weeks after initiation. Thereafter, progressive decline in DNA synthesis, coupled with remodeling and decrease in number of biochemical markers, was seen both in the absence and, even though to a lesser extent, in the presence of PB, indicating that preneoplastic lesions became increasingly insensitive to PB. Relatively few apoptotic bodies could be observed in EAF and EN during PB treatment. After PB withdrawal, decrease in growth potential was coupled with increase in apoptotic bodies. In contrast, in persistent nodules relatively high apoptosis occurred which partially counterbalanced high DNA synthesis. Administration of SAM for a maximum of 16 weeks, starting at the 4th week after initiation, caused a great decrease in number and size of EAF and EN, associated with inhibition of DNA synthesis, high cell death by apoptosis, high remodeling, and loss of biochemical markers, in preneoplastic lesions of both PB-treated and untreated rats. A 1-8-week SAM treatment, started after the development of persistent nodules, caused a great regression of nodular lesions, coupled with a sharp fall in DNA synthesis and increase in apoptosis. It is suggested that inhibition by SAM of the development of preneoplastic tissue is linked to a shift of the equilibrium between cell production and cell death in favor of cell death.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adenosine

Inhibition by ethanol of rat liver plasma membrane (Na+,K+)ATPase: protective effect of S-adenosyl-L-methionine, L-methionine, and N-acetylcysteine.

(Na+,K+)ATPase activity of rat liver plasma membranes was evaluated in female rats feeding an ethanol containing diet for 46 days (total ethanol ingested, 59.7 g/100 g body wt). Determinations were performed at the end of ethanol treatment or at various times after stopping treatment. (Na+,K+)ATPase and 5'-nucleotidase activities exhibited a 8- and 1.4-fold decrease, respectively, at the end of ethanol ingestion. In contrast no modifications of Mg2+-ATPase activity were observed. There also occurred, in ethanol-treated rats, release of sorbitol dehydrogenase into the blood, fat accumulation in liver cells, and decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) liver content. A decrease in (Na+,K+)ATPase activity was also found in plasma membranes isolated from hepatocyte suspensions after a 2-hr incubation with 50 mM ethanol or 1 mM acetaldehyde (ACA), in conditions that caused a great fall in hepatocyte GSH content but did not cause cell death. After the cessation of ethanol administration, there occurred a progressive recovery of (Na+,K+)ATPase activity, GSH and triacylglycerol content, and release of sorbitol dehydrogenase. These parameters reached control values 12 hr after ethanol withdrawal. S-Adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), L-methionine, and N-acetylcysteine (NAC), given to rats during ethanol treatment, prevented the decrease in (Na+,K+)ATPase activity and GSH content. They also reduced steatosis and liver necrosis. The efficiency of these compounds decreased in this order: SAM, methionine, NAC. SAM accelerated the recovery of all parameters studied after ethanol withdrawal, and also protected (Na+,K+)ATPase activity and GSH content of isolated hepatocytes from the deleterious effect of ethanol. These SAM effects were prevented by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitro-benzene, a compound which depletes cell GSH. Treatment of isolated hepatocytes with [35S]SAM led to the synthesis of labeled GSH. The total amount and specific activity of labeled GSH underwent a significant increase, in the presence of 2 mM ethanol or 0.5 mM ACA, which indicates a marked stimulation of GSH synthesis by ethanol and ACA. These data indicate that ethanol intoxication may inhibit (Na+,K+)ATPase activity; an effect that does not seem to depend on cell necrosis. SAM, methionine, and NAC exert various degrees of protection toward ethanol-induced cell injury, which are related to the efficiency of these compounds in maintaining a high GSH pool.

Acetaldehyde

Protooncogene methylation and expression in regenerating liver and preneoplastic liver nodules induced in the rat by diethylnitrosamine: effect of variations of S-adenosylmethionine:S-adenosylhomocysteine ratio.

S-adenosylmethionine:S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAM/SAH) ratio, 5-methylcytosine (5mC) DNA content, and methylation and expression of c-myc, c-Ha-ras and c-Ki-ras have been studied in liver nodules, induced by diethylnitrosamine according to the 'resistant hepatocyte' model, and in regenerating liver (RL) between 0.5 and 72 h after partial hepatectomy (PH). Nodules, 11, 13 and 21 weeks after initiation, grew actively, showed a low tendency to remodel (persistent nodules), and did not exhibit carcinomatous changes. They underwent extensive remodeling after a 1-week SAM treatment (64 mumol/kg/day), and decreased in size and number after a 3-11-week treatment. A low SAM/SAH ratio was coupled, in nodules, with a high labeling index (LI), 2-fold fall in 5mC DNA content, increase in c-myc, c-Ha-ras and c-Ki-ras expression and hypomethylation of CCGG sequences in the DNA hybridizing with the three protooncogenes. In RL a low SAM/SAH ratio, overall DNA hypomethylation and enhanced c-myc expression were first observed 0.5 h after PH, reached a peak at 5 h and progressively returned to pre-PH levels later on. Maximum expression of c-Ha-ras and c-Ki-ras occurred 24-30 h after PH, roughly coincident with the LI peak. However, no great modifications of the methylation pattern of protooncogene CCGG sequence occurred at any time after PH, indicating the presence of hypomethylated genes and/or DNA sequences different from those investigated in this paper. SAM injection to nodule-bearing rats, for 1-11 weeks before killing, and to hepatectomized rats, 2 days before PH and then up to killing, largely prevented decrease in the SAM/SAH ratio and overall DNA methylation and inhibited LI and protooncogene expression. In nodules these effects were proportional to the treatment length and coupled with methylation of CpG residues in the CCGG sequence of the three protooncogenes studied. SAM treatment left the methylation pattern of these genes unchanged in RL. Kinetics of increase in protooncogene expression suggest a role in the regulation of cell cycle in RL. However, decrease in the SAM/SAH ratio, protooncogene hypomethylation and enhanced expression are apparently stable in nodules 11-21 weeks after initiation and could be implicated in continuous nodule growth and progression. Control of DNA methylation and gene expression by exogenous SAM could be a mechanism of the SAM anti-progression effect.

Animals

Benzo(a)pyrene metabolism by lymphocytes from normal individuals and individuals carrying the Mediterranean variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

In vitro growing human lymphocytes (HL) and fibroblasts, isolated from glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD)-deficient subjects (Mediterranean variant), show a sharp decrease in this enzymatic activity and in NADPH:NADP+ ratio. These cells are less able than controls to hydroxylate benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) when tested in the absence of an exogenous NADPH-generating system. They exhibit great resistance to the toxic effect of BaP. G6PD-deficient fibroblasts are less prone than controls to in vitro transformation by BaP. To investigate whether this depends on a decreased production of active BaP metabolites and BaP:DNA adducts by G6PD-deficient cells, BaP metabolism was studied in G6PD-deficient HL cultured in vitro in the presence of mitogens and treated with BaP for 24 hr. HPLC profiles of organo- and water-soluble metabolites revealed that both types of benzo(a)anthracene (BaA)-induced HL produced: 4,5-, 7,8-, 9,10-diols, 1,3-, 3,6-quinones, 3-, 9-hydroxy and 2 peaks of more polar metabolites. There was a 25-76% decrease of organo- and water-soluble metabolites in the G6PD-deficient cells. When HL were incubated with 7,8-diol, the formation of metabolites mutagenic for Salmonella typhimurium (His-) was very low in G6PD-deficient cells. BaP:deoxyadenosine (dAde) and BaP:deoxyguanosine (dGua) adducts were identified after incubation of both types of HL with BaP. There was a 31-79% fall in adduct formation by G6PD-deficient cells. Our results indicate that G6PD-deficient human lymphocytes are less able to metabolize BaP than normal lymphocytes. We suggest that the NADPH pool is inadequate, in deficient cells, for active BaP metabolism.

Benzo(a)pyrene

Decreased stimulation by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate of superoxide radical production by polymorphonuclear leukocytes carrying the Mediterranean variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) from individuals carrying the Mediterranean variant of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) exhibit a great decrease in this enzymatic activity and in hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS). 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) greatly stimulates HMS of normal PMNs, while it does not affect that of the deficient PMNs. Similarly, the stimulation of HMS by methylene blue is largely reduced in G6PD-deficient PMNs. These changes are paralleled by a 58% decrease in TPA-stimulated superoxide radical (O2-) formation by the deficient PMNs. G6PD activity is not detectable in the deficient PMNs incubated with dehydroepiandrosterone, and these cells show a near complete inhibition of O2- production. It thus seems that the low ability of G6PD-deficient PMNs in the production of O2- depends on the low NADPH generation by HMS in these cells. The decrease in TPA-stimulated O2- production suggests a reduced response of G6PD-deficient cells to promoting agents.

Adult