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Lisa M Kamendulis

Publications and source records attributed to Lisa M Kamendulis.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of the Kupffer cell in mediating hepatic toxicity and carcinogenesis.

Kupffer cells are resident macrophages of the liver and play an important role in its normal physiology and homeostasis as well as participating in the acute and chronic responses of the liver to toxic compounds. Activation of Kupffer cells directly or indirectly by toxic agents results in the release of an array of inflammatory mediators, growth factors, and reactive oxygen species. This activation appears to modulate acute hepatocyte injury as well as chronic liver responses including hepatic cancer. Understanding the role Kupffer cells play in these diverse responses is key to understanding mechanisms of liver injury. Idiosyncratic drug-induced liver disease results in morbidity and mortality, impacting severely on the development of new pharmacological agents. Modulation of the response of Kupffer cells by drugs has been suggested as a cause for the idiosyncratic response. Similarly, liver damage seen in chronic ethanol consumption appears to be modulated by Kupffer cell activation. More recent evidence has noted a contributory role of Kupffer cell activation in the process of hepatic carcinogenesis. Several nongenotoxic carcinogens, for example, activate Kupffer cells resulting in the release of cytokines and/or reactive oxygen species that induce hepatocyte cell proliferation and may enhance clonal expansion of preneoplastic cells leading to neoplasia. Kupffer cells therefore appear to play a central role in the hepatic response to toxic and carcinogenic agents. Taken together, the data presented in this symposium illustrate to the toxicologist the central role played by Kupffer cells in mediating hepatotoxicity.

Acute Disease↗

Mechanisms of 2-butoxyethanol-induced hemangiosarcomas.

Chronic exposure to 2-butoxyethanol increased liver hemangiosarcomas in male mice. The mechanism for the selective induction of hemangiosarcomas by 2-butoxyethanol is unknown but has been suggested to occur through non-DNA-reactive mechanisms. The occurrence of liver hemangiosarcomas in male mice has been linked to oxidative damage subsequent to RBC hemolysis and iron deposition and activation of macrophages (Kupffer cells) in the liver, events that exhibit a threshold in both animals and humans. 2-Butoxyethanol is metabolized to 2-butoxyacetaldehyde and 2-butoxyacetic acid, and although the aldehyde metabolite is short lived, the potential exists for this metabolite to cause DNA damage. The present study examined whether 2-butoxyethanol and its metabolites, 2-butoxyacetaldehyde and 2-butoxyacetic acid, damaged mouse endothelial cell DNA using the comet assay. No increase in DNA damage was observed following 2-butoxyethanol (1-10mM), 2-butoxyacetaldehyde (0.1-1.0mM), or 2-butoxyacetic acid (1-10mM) in endothelial cells after 2, 4, or 24 h of exposure. Additional studies examined the involvement of hemolysis and macrophage activation in 2-butoxyethanol carcinogenesis. DNA damage was produced by hemolyzed RBCs (10 x 10(6), 4 h), ferrous sulfate (0.1-1.0 microM; 2-24 h), and hydrogen peroxide (50-100 microM; 1-4 h) in endothelial cells. Hemolyzed RBCs also activated macrophages, as evidenced by increased tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha, while neither 2-butoxyethanol nor butoxyacetic acid increased TNF-alpha from macrophages. The effect of activated macrophages on endothelial cell DNA damage and DNA synthesis was also studied. Coculture of endothelial cells with activated macrophages increased endothelial cell DNA damage after 4 or 24 h and increased endothelial cell DNA synthesis after 24 h. These data demonstrate that 2-butoxyethanol and related metabolites do not directly cause DNA damage. Supportive evidence also demonstrated that damaged RBCs, iron, and/or products from macrophage activation (possibly reactive oxygen species) produce DNA damage in endothelial cells and that activated macrophages stimulate endothelial cell proliferation. These events coupled together provide the events necessary for the induction of hemangiosarcomas by 2-butoxyethanol.

Acetaldehyde↗

Diethanolamine and phenobarbital produce an altered pattern of methylation in GC-rich regions of DNA in B6C3F1 mouse hepatocytes similar to that resulting from choline deficiency.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism regulating transcription, which when disrupted, can alter gene expression and contribute to carcinogenesis. Diethanolamine (DEA), a non-genotoxic alkanolamine, produces liver tumors in mice. Studies suggest DEA inhibits choline uptake and causes biochemical changes consistent with choline deficiency (CD). Rodents fed methyl-deficient diets exhibit altered methylation of hepatic DNA and an increase in liver tumors, e.g., CD causes liver tumors in B6C3F1 mice. We hypothesize that DEA-induced CD leads to altered methylation patterns which facilitates tumorigenesis. B6C3F1 hepatocytes in primary culture were grown in the presence of either 4.5 mM DEA, 3 mM Phenobarbital (PB), or CD media for 48 h. These concentrations induced comparable increases in DNA synthesis. PB, a nongenotoxic rodent liver carcinogen known to alter methylation in mouse liver, was included as a positive control. Global, average, DNA methylation status was not affected. The methylation status of GC-rich regions of DNA, which are often associated with promoter regions, were assessed via methylation-sensitive restriction digestion and arbitrarily primed PCR with capillary electrophoretic separation and detection of PCR products. DEA, PB, and CD treatments resulted in 54, 63, and 54 regions of altered methylation (RAMs), respectively, and the majority were hypomethylations. A high proportion of RAMs (72%) were identical when DEA was compared to CD. Similarly, 70% were identical between PB and CD. Altered patterns of methylation in GC-rich regions induced by DEA and PB resemble that of CD and indicate that altered DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism involved in the facilitation of mouse liver tumorigenesis.

Animals↗

Acrylonitrile-induced oxidative DNA damage in rat astrocytes.

Chronic administration of acrylonitrile results in a dose-related increase in astrocytomas in rat brain, but the mechanism of acrylonitrile carcinogenicity is not fully understood. The potential of acrylonitrile or its metabolites to induce direct DNA damage as a mechanism for acrylonitrile carcinogenicity has been questioned, and recent studies indicate that the mechanism involves the induction of oxidative stress in rat brain. The present study examined the ability of acrylonitrile to induce DNA damage in the DI TNC1 rat astrocyte cell line using the alkaline Comet assay. Oxidized DNA damage also was evaluated using formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase treatment in the modified Comet assay. No increase in direct DNA damage was seen in astrocytes exposed to sublethal concentrations of acrylonitrile (0-1.0 mM) for 24 hr. However, acrylonitrile treatment resulted in a concentration-related increase in oxidative DNA damage after 24 hr. Antioxidant supplementation in the culture media (alpha-tocopherol, (-)-epigallocathechin-3 gallate, or trolox) reduced acrylonitrile-induced oxidative DNA damage. Depletion of glutathione using 0.1 mM DL-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine increased acrylonitrile-induced oxidative DNA damage (22-46%), while cotreatment of acrylonitrile with 2.5 mM L-2-oxothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid, a precursor for glutathione biosynthesis, significantly reduced acrylonitrile-induced oxidative DNA damage (7-47%). Cotreatment of acrylonitrile with 0.5 mM 1-aminobenzotriazole, a suicidal inhibitor of cytochrome P450, prevented the oxidative DNA damage produced by acrylonitrile. Cyanide (0.1-0.5 mM) increased oxidative DNA damage (44-160%) in astrocytes. These studies demonstrate that while acrylonitrile does not directly damage astrocyte DNA, it does increase oxidative DNA damage. The oxidative DNA damage following acrylonitrile exposure appears to arise mainly through the P450 metabolic pathway; moreover, glutathione depletion may contribute to the induction of oxidative DNA damage by acrylonitrile.

Acrylonitrile↗

Review of the carcinogenic activity of diethanolamine and evidence of choline deficiency as a plausible mode of action.

Diethanolamine (DEA) is a chemical used widely in a number of industries and is present in many consumer products. Studies by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) have indicated that lifetime dermal exposure to DEA increased the incidence and multiplicity of liver tumors in mice, but not in rats. In addition, DEA was not carcinogenic when tested in the Tg.Ac transgenic mouse model. Short-term genotoxicity tests have yielded negative results. In view of these apparent inconsistencies, we have critically evaluated the NTP studies and other data relevant to assessing the carcinogenic potential of DEA. The available data indicate that DEA induces mouse liver tumors by a non-genotoxic mode of action that involves its ability to cause choline deficiency. The following experimental evidence supports this hypothesis. DEA decreased the hepatic choline metabolites and S-adenosylmethionine levels in mice, similar to those observed in choline-deficient mice. In contrast, DEA had no effect in the rat, a species in which it was not carcinogenic at a maximum tolerated dose level. In addition, a consistent dose-effect relationship had been established between choline deficiency and carcinogenic activity since all DEA dosages that induced tumors in the NTP studies were also shown to cause choline deficiency. DEA decreased phosphatidylcholine synthesis by blocking the cellular uptake of choline in vitro, but these events did not occur in the presence of excess choline. Finally, DEA induced transformation in the Syrian hamster embryo cells, increased S-phase DNA synthesis in mouse hepatocytes, and decreased gap junctional intracellular communication in primary cultured mouse and rat hepatocytes, but all these events were prevented with choline supplementation. Since choline is an essential nutrient in mammals, this mode of action is qualitatively applicable to humans. However, there are marked species differences in susceptibility to choline deficiency, with rats and mice being far more susceptible than other mammalian species including humans. These differences are attributed to quantitative differences in the enzyme kinetics controlling choline metabolism. The fact that DEA was carcinogenic in mice but not in rats also has important implications for human risk assessment. DEA has been shown to be less readily absorbed across rat and human skin than mouse skin. Since a no observed effect level for DEA-induced choline deficiency in mice has been established to be 10 mg/kg/d, this indicates that there is a critical level of DEA that must be attained in order to affect choline homeostasis. The lack of a carcinogenic response in rats suggests that exposure to DEA did not reach this critical level. Since rodents are far more sensitive to choline deficiency than humans, it can be concluded that the hepatocarcinogenic effect of DEA in mice is not predictive of similar susceptibility in humans.

Animals↗

Species differences in the induction of hepatocellular DNA synthesis by diethanolamine.

Diethanolamine increased the incidence and multiplicity of liver tumors in the mouse following chronic exposure. Diethanolamine is known to inhibit cellular choline uptake. Since choline deficiency produces tumors in rodents, diethanolamine, through choline depletion, may result in tumor development in rodents. The potential for diethanolamine to function through this mode of action in humans is not known. The present studies examined the effect of diethanolamine (0-500 mug/ml) and choline depletion on DNA synthesis and changes in expression of genes involved in cell growth pathways in primary cultures of mouse, rat, and human hepatocytes. In mouse and rat hepatocytes DNA synthesis was increased following treatment with 10 mug/ml diethanolamine and higher (3- to 4-fold over control). In contrast, diethanolamine failed to increase DNA synthesis in human hepatocytes. Incubation of hepatocytes in medium containing reduced choline (1/10 to 1/100 of normal medium; 0.898 to 0.0898 mg/l vs. 8.98 mg/l) increased DNA synthesis (1.6- and 1.8-fold of control in mouse and rat hepatocytes, respectively); however, choline depletion did not induce DNA synthesis in human hepatocytes. Mouse and rat hepatocytes incubated in medium supplemented with 2- to 50-fold excess choline reduced diethanolamine-induced DNA synthesis to control levels or below. Gene expression analysis of mouse and rat hepatocytes following diethanolamine treatment showed increases in genes associated with cell growth and decreases in expression of genes involved in apoptotic pathways. These results support the hypothesis that choline depletion is central to the mode of action for the induction of rodent hepatic neoplasia by diethanolamine. Furthermore, since diethanolamine treatment or choline depletion failed to induce DNA synthesis in human hepatocytes, these results suggest that humans may not be at risk from the carcinogenic effects of diethanolamine.

Animals↗

Mechanisms of acrylamide induced rodent carcinogenesis.

Acrylamide is a monomer of polyacrylamide, used in biochemistry, in paper manufacture, in water treatment, and as a soil stabilizer. The monomer can cause several toxic effects and has the potential for human exposure either through the environment or from occupational exposure. Recently, additional concern for the potential toxicity of acrylamide in humans has arisen with the finding of acrylamide formation in some processed foods. It has been established that following chronic exposure, rats exhibited an increase in the incidence of adrenal pheochromocytomas, testicular mesotheliomas, thyroid adenomas and mammary neoplasms in F344 rats. This has raised increased concerns regarding the carcinogenic risk to humans from acrylamide exposure. Studies examining the DNA reactivity of acrylamide have been performed and have had differing results. The tissue and organ pattern of neoplastic development seen in the rat following acrylamide exposure is not consistent with that seen with other strictly DNA reactive carcinogens. Based on the pattern of neoplastic development, it appears that acrylamide is targeting endocrine sensitive tissues. In the current monograph, studies on the effect of acrylamide on DNA reactivity and on altered cell growth in the target tissues in the rat are reported. DNA synthesis was examined in F344 rats treated with acrylamide (0, 2, or 15 mg/kg/day) for 7, 14, or 28 days. Acrylamide increased DNA synthesis in the target tissues (thyroid, testicular mesothelium, adrenal medulla) at all doses and time points examined. In contrast, in a non-target tissue (liver), no increase in DNA synthesis was seen. Examination of DNA damage using single cell gel electrophoresis (the Comet assay) showed an increase in DNA damage in the target tissues, but not in non-target tissue (liver). In addition, a cellular transformation model, (the Syrian Hamster Embryo (SHE) cell morphological transformation model), was used to examine potential mechanisms for the observed carcinogenicity of acrylamide. SHE cell studies showed that glutathione (GSH) modulation by acrylamide was important in the cell transformation process. Treatment with a sulfhydryl donor compound (NAC) reduced acrylamide transformation while depletion of GSH (BSO) resulted in an enhancement of transformation. In summary, acrylamide caused both an increase in DNA synthesis and DNA damage in mammalian tissues and cells suggesting that DNA reactivity and cell proliferation, in concert, may contribute to the observed acrylamide-induced carcinogenicity in the rat and has implication on the possible risk for human neoplasm development.

Acrylamide↗

Subchronic acrylamide treatment induces a tissue-specific increase in DNA synthesis in the rat.

Chronic treatment with acrylamide results in increased incidence of adrenal (pheochromocytoma), testicular (mesotheliomas) and thyroid (adenoma) neoplasia in male rats. While acrylamide has been demonstrated to be DNA reactive, the tissue pattern of neoplasm induction by acrylamide suggests other mechanisms in addition to DNA reactivity may be involved in the carcinogenesis of this compound. The present studies were performed to determine whether acrylamide or an acrylamide metabolite altered cell growth in the neoplastic target tissues in the rat. DNA synthesis, mitosis and apoptosis were examined in F344 and Sprague-Dawley male rats treated with acrylamide (0, 2, or 15 mg/kg/day) for 7, 14, or 28 days. Acrylamide increased DNA synthesis in the target tissues for tumor development (thyroid, testicular mesothelium, adrenal medulla) in both rat species. In contrast, cell growth was not altered in the liver and adrenal cortex (non-target tissues for acrylamide carcinogenesis). No changes in apoptosis or mitosis were observed in any of the tissues examined. Inhibition of oxidative metabolism of acrylamide using 1-aminobenzotriazole reduced acrylamide-induced DNA synthesis only in the adrenal medulla, having no apparent effect in the testicular mesolthelium or thyroid. In summary, acrylamide produced a selective increase in DNA synthesis that correlates with the previously reported tumor target tissues.

Acrylamide↗

The effects of ecstasy (MDMA) on rat liver bioenergetics.

OBJECTIVES: Use of the drug ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine [MDMA]) can result in life-threatening hyperthermia. Agents that uncouple mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation are known to cause severe hyperthermia. In the present study, the authors tested the hypothesis that MDMA directly uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in rat liver mitochondria. METHODS: Effects on mitochondrial bioenergetics were assessed both in vitro and ex vivo. In vitro studies consisted of measuring the effects of MDMA (0.1-5.0 mmol/L) on states of respiration in isolated rat liver mitochondria and on mitochondrial membrane potential in a rat liver cell line. In ex vivo studies, mitochondrial rates of respiration were measured in the livers of rats one hour after treatment with MDMA (40 mg/kg subcutaneously). RESULTS: With the in vitro mitochondrial preparations, only concentrations of 5 mmol/L MDMA showed evidence of uncoupling with a slight increase in state 4 respiration and a corresponding decrease in the respiratory control index. MDMA (0.1-5.0 mmol/L) failed to decrease the mitochondrial membrane potential in 3,3-dihexyloxacarbocyanide iodide-stained WB-344 cells after either one or 24 hours of incubation. Ex vivo rates of respiration obtained from the livers of rats one hour after treatment with MDMA (40 mg/kg subcutaneously) showed no evidence of mitochondrial uncoupling. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that while high concentrations of MDMA have some mild uncoupling effects in isolated mitochondria, these effects do not translate to cell culture or ex vivo studies in treated animals. These data do not support the view that the hyperthermia induced by MDMA is from a direct effect on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation.

Animals↗

The role of oxidative stress in carcinogenesis.

Chemical carcinogenesis follows a multistep process involving both mutation and increased cell proliferation. Oxidative stress can occur through overproduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species through either endogenous or exogenous insults. Important to carcinogenesis, the unregulated or prolonged production of cellular oxidants has been linked to mutation (induced by oxidant-induced DNA damage), as well as modification of gene expression. In particular, signal transduction pathways, including AP-1 and NFkappaB, are known to be activated by reactive oxygen species, and they lead to the transcription of genes involved in cell growth regulatory pathways. This review examines the evidence of cellular oxidants' involvement in the carcinogenesis process, and focuses on the mechanisms for production, cellular damage produced, and the role of signaling cascades by reactive oxygen species.

Antioxidants↗

Comparative effects of phthalate monoesters on gap junctional intercellular communication and peroxisome proliferation in rodent and primate hepatocytes.

Several phthalate esters, compounds used as plasticizers in a variety of commercial products, have been shown to induce hepatic tumors in rodents. In this study, the comparative effects of phthalate monoesters on inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication and induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation were assessed in primary cultured hepatocytes from rats, mice, hamsters, cynomolgus monkeys, and humans. A human liver cell line was also utilized. Eight monoesters examined included mono-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (MEHP), mono-n-octyl phthalate (MNOP), mono-isononyl phthalate (MINP, 3 types, -1, -2, and -3), mono-isoheptyl phthalate (MIHP), mono-isodecyl phthalate (MIDP), and mono-(heptyl, nonyl, undecyl) phthalate (M711P). Gap junctional intercellular communication was measured 4 and 24 h after treatment by lucifer yellow dye coupling. Gap junctional intercellular communication was inhibited in rat and mouse hepatocytes by all eight monoesters in a concentration-dependent manner. In most cases, gap junctional intercellular communication was significantly reduced at the lowest concentrations tested (50 pM). Inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication in rodent cells was substantially reversed within 24 h of monoester removal. In contrast, cell-to-cell communication was not inhibited in hamster, cynomolgus, or human hepatocytes or in a human liver cell line at any concentration examined. In rat hepatocytes, peroxisomal beta-oxidation was elevated after treatment with MEHP, MINP, MIHP, and MIDP but not MNOP or M711P, and with all but MIHP in mouse hepatocytes. The eight phthalates produced no marked change on peroxisomal beta-oxidation in hepatocytes from other species. These data provide additional evidence that the toxicological effects of phthalate esters are species specific.

Adult↗

Effects of 2-butoxyethanol on hepatic oxidative damage.

2-Butoxyethanol has been reported to induce an increase in liver tumors in male B6C3F1 mice following chronic inhalation while rats, similarly treated, showed no increase in liver tumors. The mechanism for the selective induction of cancer in mouse liver is unknown, however, 2-butoxyethanol has been shown to induce hemolysis in mice, resulting in an accumulation of hemosiderin (iron) in the liver. Previous studies by our group and others have shown that mouse liver compared to other rodent species has a lower antioxidant capacity and appears to be more susceptible to chemically-induced oxidative damage. Since iron is known to produce hydroxyl radicals (through the Fenton reaction), we have proposed that the 2-butoxyethanol-induced iron overload (through hemolysis) may contribute to the induction of liver neoplasia in the mouse. In the present studies, 2-butoxyethanol induced oxidative stress in the liver of mice following 7-day treatment by gavage. These studies also examined whether 2-butoxyethanol, 2-butoxy acetic acid (a major metabolite of 2-butoxyethanol) or iron (FeSO(4)) produced oxidative stress in mouse and rat hepatocytes. Oxidative stress was examined by measuring oxidative DNA damage (OH8dG), lipid peroxidation (MDA formation) and cellular vitamin E concentrations. Neither 2-butoxyethanol or 2-butoxyacetic acid induced changes in the oxidative stress parameters examined in either rat or mouse hepatocytes. In contrast, FeSO(4) produced a dose-related increase in OH8dG and MDA and a decrease in vitamin E levels following 24 h treatment. Mouse hepatocytes were more sensitive than rat hepatocytes to the oxidative damage induced by the FeSO(4). FeSO(4)-induced oxidative stress was not increased by co-treatment of FeSO(4) with either 2-butoxyethanol or 2-butoxy acetic acid. These results support the proposal that the induction of hepatic oxidative stress by 2-butoxyethanol in vivo occurs secondary to induction of hemolysis and iron deposition in the liver rather than as a direct action of 2-butoxyethanol or its main metabolite, 2-butoxy acetic acid.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Acrylamide-induced cellular transformation.

Acrylamide is a monomer of polyacrylamide, whose products are used in biochemistry, the manufacture of paper, water treatment, and as a soil stabilizer. While polymeric acrylamide is nontoxic, the monomer can cause several toxic effects and has the potential for human occupational exposure. While acrylamide is not mutagenic in prokaryotic mutagenesis assays, chronic acrylamide treatment in rodents has been shown to produce tumors in both rats and mice. The mechanism for the induction of tumors by acrylamide is not known. In the present study, we examined the possibility that acrylamide might induce cellular transformation, using Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell morphological transformation as well as potential mechanisms for the cellular transformation. Results showed that treatment with 0.5 mM and higher concentrations of acrylamide continuously for 7 days induced morphological transformation. Cotreatment with acrylamide and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a sulfhydryl group donor, resulted in the reduction of acrylamide-induced morphological transformation in SHE cells. Cotreatment with 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT), a nonspecific P450 inhibitor, and acrylamide produced no change in morphological transformation when compared to acrylamide treatment only. Cotreatment with acrylamide and DL-buthionone-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO), a selective inhibitor of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, increased the percent of morphologically transformed colonies compared to acrylamide treatment alone. Acrylamide reduced GSH levels in SHE cells, and cotreatment with acrylamide and NAC prevented the acrylamide-induced reduction of GSH. BSO treatment with acrylamide enhanced the depletion of GSH. These results suggest that acrylamide itself, but not oxidative P450 metabolites of acrylamide appear to be involved in acrylamide-induced cellular transformation and that cellular thiol status (possibly GSH) is involved in acrylamide-induced morphological transformation.

Acetylcysteine↗

Mechanisms for the induction of oxidative stress in Syrian hamster embryo cells by acrylonitrile.

Chronic administration of acrylonitrile to rats resulted in an increase in the incidence of glial neoplasms of the brain. Recent studies have shown that acrylonitrile induces oxidative stress in rat brain and cultured rat glial cells. Acrylonitrile also induces morphological transformation concomitant with an increase in the formation of oxidized DNA in Syrian Hamster Embryo (SHE) cells in a dose-dependent manner. The mechanism for the induction of oxidative stress in SHE cells remains unresolved. The present study examined the effects of acrylonitrile on enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants in SHE cells. SHE cells were treated with subcytolethal doses of acrylonitrile (0, 25, 50, and 75 microg/ml) for 4, 24, and 48 h. Acrylonitrile (50 microg/ml and 75 microg/ml) increased the amount of reactive oxygen species in SHE cells at all time points. Glutathione (GSH) was depleted and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were significantly decreased in SHE cells after 4 h of treatment. The inhibition of these antioxidants was temporal, returning to control values or higher after 24 and 48 h. Xanthine oxidase activity was increased following 24 and 48 h treatment with acrylonitrile. 1-aminobenzotriazole, a suicidal P450 enzyme inhibitor, attenuated the effects of acrylonitrile on catalase and xanthine oxidase in SHE cells, suggesting that P450 metabolism is required for acrylonitrile to produce its effects on these enzymes. Additional studies showed that in the absence of metabolic sources acrylonitrile had no effect on either catalase or superoxide dismutase activity. These results suggest that the induction of oxidative stress by acrylonitrile involves a temporal decrease in antioxidants and increase in xanthine oxidase activity that is mediated by oxidative metabolism of acrylonitrile.

Acrylonitrile↗

Mechanisms of 2-butoxyethanol carcinogenicity: studies on Syrian Hamster Embryo (SHE) cell transformation.

Previous studies showed that 2-butoxyethanol increased liver tumors in B6C3F1 mice following chronic exposure. While the mechanism of 2-butoxyethanol-induced liver carcinogenicity has not been defined, 2-butoxyethanol has been shown to induce hemolysis in rodents via 2-butoxyacetic acid, the major metabolite of 2-butoxyethanol. This toxic effect, coupled with the observation that continued treatment with 2-butoxyethanol results in hemosiderin deposition in the liver, has led to our hypothesis that liver carcinogenicity by 2-butoxyethnaol is mediated via oxidative stress (iron catalyzed) and Kupffer cell activation. The present study used Syrian Hamster Embryo (SHE) cell transformation, a surrogate in vitro model for carcinogenesis in vivo, to examine whether 2-butoxyethanol, 2-butoxyacetic acid, or iron (ferrous sulfate) produced cell transformation. SHE cells were treated with either 2-butoxyethanol (0.5-20 mM), 2-butoxyacetic acid (0.5-20 mM), or ferrous sulfate (0.5-75 microg/ml) for 7 days. 2-Butoxyethanol and 2-butoxyacetic acid did not induce cellular transformation. In contrast, treatment with ferrous sulfate (2.5 and 5.0 microg/ml) increased morphological transformation. Cotreatment of ferrous sulfate with the antioxidants alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) or (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) prevented ferrous sulfate-induced transformation, suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress in SHE cell transformation. The level of oxidative DNA damage (OH8dG) increased following ferrous sulfate treatment in SHE cells; additionally, using single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay), ferrous sulfate treatment produced an increase in DNA damage. Both DNA lesions were decreased by cotreatment of ferrous sulfate with antioxidants. These data support our proposal that iron, produced indirectly through hemolysis, and not 2-butoxyethanol or its metabolite 2-butoxyacetic acid, is responsible for the observed carcinogenicity of 2-butoxyethanol.

Animals↗

Morphological transformation and oxidative stress induced by cyanide in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells.

Cyanide is a well-established poison known for its rapid lethal action and toxicity. Although long-term mammalian studies examining the carcinogenic potential of cyanide have not been previously reported, cyanide was reported to be positive in Salmonella typhimurium mutagenesis assay and induced aneuploidy in Drosophila. To further evaluate the carcinogenic potential of cyanide, the ability of cyanide to induce morphological transformation in Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells was studied. Cyanide induced a dose-dependent increase in morphological transformation in SHE cells following a 7-day continuous treatment. A significant increase in transformation was observed at potassium cyanide doses of 200 microM and greater. Transformation induced by cyanide was inhibited in a dose-related manner by vitamin E, suggesting a role of oxidative stress in the induction of morphological transformation by cyanide. Further, it was shown that 500 microM cyanide induced oxidative DNA damage in SHE cells, evidenced by the formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (50-66% increase over control). The induction of oxidative stress by cyanide involved an early and temporal inhibition of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) as well as an increased production of reactive oxygen species (1.5- to 2.0-fold over control).

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

Hepatic effects of 2-butoxyethanol in rodents.

Chronic inhalation of 2-butoxyethanol resulted in an increase in liver hemangiosarcomas and hepatic carcinomas in male mouse liver. No increase in liver neoplasia was observed in similarly exposed male and female rats or female mice. We proposed that the production of liver neoplasia in the male mouse is the result of oxidative damage secondary to the hemolytic deposition of iron in the liver. This occurs selectively in the male mouse and leads either directly or indirectly to liver neoplasia. To address this proposal, male B6C3F1 mice and male F344 rats were treated with 2-butoxyethanol (via daily gavage; five times per week) at doses of 0, 225, 450, and 900 mg/kg/day (mice) and 0, 225, and 450 mg/kg/day (rats) respectively. Following treatment for 7, 14, 28, and 90 days, DNA synthesis, oxidative damage, hematocrit, and iron deposition were measured in the livers. An increase in hemolysis (measured by a decrease in hematocrit and increase in relative spleen weight) was observed in 2-butoxyethanol-treated rats and mice in a dose-dependent manner. An increase in the percentage of iron-stained Kupffer cells was observed following treatment with 450 and 900 mg/kg of 2-butoxyethanol in mice and 225 and 450 mg/kg of 2-butoxyethanol in rats. A biphasic increase in oxidative damage (8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine and malondialdehyde) was seen in mouse liver after 7 and 90 days of treatment with 2-butoxyethanol, whereas no increases were observed in treated rat liver. Vitamin E levels were reduced by 2-butoxyethanol treatment in both mice and rat liver; however, the basal level of vitamin E was approximately 2.5-fold higher in rat than in mouse liver. A similar biphasic induction of DNA synthesis was seen following 2-butoxyethanol treatment in the mouse. In the mouse liver, increased DNA synthesis was observed in hepatocytes at 90 days and in endothelial cells at 7 and 14 days at all doses. No change in DNA synthesis was seen in 2-butoxyethanol-treated rat liver. No apparent differences in apoptosis and mitosis in the liver were observed in mouse and rat liver between 2-butoxyethanol treatment groups and untreated controls. These results suggest that DNA synthesis, possibly from oxidative stress or Kupffer cell activation, occurs selectively in the mouse liver, primarily in endothelial cells (a target of 2-butoxyethanol neoplasia), following exposure to 2-butoxyethanol.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗