Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Pyrenes”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 217 records · Page 12Linked to original sources

Morphological transformation of C3H10T1/2CL8 cells by cyclopenta-fused derivatives of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[e]pyrene.

Cyclopenta-fused homologs of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have proven to be more genotoxic and tumorigenic than their parent PAHs. In an effort to uncover their mechanisms of metabolic activation, the morphological transforming activities of dibenzo[k,mno]acephenanthrylene (CP(3,4)B[a]P), dibenzo[j,mno]acephenanthrylene (CP(1,12)B[a]P) and naphtho[1,2,3,4-mno]acephenanthrylene (CPB[e]P) were studied in C3H10T1/2CL8 mouse embryo fibroblasts. CP(3,4)B[a]P, a PAH with a blocked K region and unblocked bay region, was highly active inducing an average of 1.1 Type II and III foci/dish at 5 micrograms/ml with an average of 67% of the dishes containing foci. This activity was similar to that of benzo[a]pyrene. CP(1,12)B[a]P and CPB[e]P were inactive. The relative positions of the cyclopenta-ring and bay region may play an essential role in the metabolic activation of these PAHs and their biological activities.

Air Pollutants↗

Lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes, and benzo[a]pyrene-quinones in the blood of rats treated with benzo[a]pyrene.

The lipid peroxidation (as malondialdehyde, MDA), activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) metabolites were investigated in sera and erythrocytes of male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with BaP (20 mg per rat). MDA levels were significantly increased in sera (16.98+/-3.29 nmol/ml serum, P<0.05) 12 h after BaP treatment and persisted up to 96 h (13.80+/-1. 65 nmol/ml serum, P<0.05), but no significant change in NIDA levels was observed in erythrocytes. SOD and CAT activities were significantly increased in erythrocytes shortly after BaP exposure, and they were slightly decreased in sera, indicating an inverse correlation between lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzyme activity. BaP and BaP-quinones (BaP-1,6-quinone and BaP-3,6-quinone) were measured in sera during the study period. A rapid increase of unmetabolized BaP was observed in sera (41.27+/-4.14 pmol/ml serum) 3 h after BaP treatment, reaching a peak at 6 h (48.56+/-4.62 pmol/ml serum) followed by a sharp decrease. Formation of the BaP-1, 6-quinone and BaP-3,6-quinone started in sera 3 h after BaP treatment, reached a peak at 24 h (7.23+/-1.02 pmol/ml serum) and 12 h (9.20+/-0.98 pmol/ml serum), respectively, and then decreased gradually. The time-dependent pattern of serum lipid peroxidation and the level of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes were shown to be related to the concentrations of the BaP-quinone metabolites. These results suggest that BaP treatment, probably via the formation of BaP-quinones, oxidatively altered lipids and antioxidant enzymes in the blood, and might be associated with BaP-related vascular toxicity including carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

Investigation of absorption, metabolism kinetics and DNA-binding of intratracheally administered benzo[a]pyrene in the isolated, perfused rat lung: a comparative study between microcrystalline and particulate adsorbed benzo[a]pyrene.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) adsorbed onto urban air particles (UAP) or in microcrystalline form (MCr) was administered intratracheally to the isolated perfused lung in doses of 100 and 1.5 micrograms. The appearance rate constant calculated for B[a]P release to the perfusate buffer was significantly lower for B[a]P administered adsorbed onto UAP (0.007 +/- 0.002 min-1) compared to the microcrystalline preparation (0.051 +/- 0.030 min-1). A classical two-compartmental model fitted well to the elimination of B[a]P from the perfusate buffer, after administration in solution to the buffer reservoir; C = 24 e-0.05t + 14 e-0.01t (pmol/ml). The concentration of polar metabolites in the perfusion buffer, at the end of experiments was approx. 9-fold higher for lungs administered the microcrystalline preparation compared to UAP at 1.5 microgram doses. At the 100 microgram dose level, the difference between preparations was only 2-fold, the data indicating that enzyme saturation might be important at the high dose level. With regard to the metabolite pattern, adsorption of B[a]P onto urban air particles caused a relative increase in the formation of B[a]P-9,10-dihydrodiol, whereas the relative formation rate for phenols was decreased. The absolute levels of B[a]P metabolites covalently bound to DNA was significantly higher in lungs given the MCr preparation compared to the UAP. When calculated as the amount metabolites bound, in relation to the total amount polar metabolites at the end of perfusion, however, the UAP preparation was significantly more efficient to enhance the production of DNA binding metabolites; 2.62 +/- 0.59 X 10(-5) vs. 1.33 +/- 0.21 X 10(-5) (pmol covalently DNA-bound metabolites/mg DNA/pmol metabolites formed). The results indicate that urban air particles may exert a cocarcinogenic effect with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons by increasing the pulmonary residence time for the carcinogenic hydrocarbon and/or alter the metabolite pattern in a way that enhances the covalent binding of metabolites to DNA.

Animals↗

Effect of eugenol on the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene and the formation of benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts in the lambda-lacZ-transgenic mouse.

To study the possible reduction by eugenol of the mutagenicity and genotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in vivo, the lambda-lacZ-transgenic mouse strain 40.6 (Muta Mouse) was used. Male mice were fed a diet containing 0.4% (w/w) eugenol or a control diet for 58 days. On day 10, half of the mice received an i.p. dose of 100 mg/kg b.w. B[a]P. The lacZ mutants were recovered by packaging of DNA isolated from liver into lambda phage, and expressed in E. coli C lacZ-recA-galE- bacteria. In both control mice and mice fed the eugenol diet, B[a]P treatment resulted in a similar, significant increase in lacZ mutant frequency. Eugenol was not mutagenic by itself. By 32P-postlabelling analysis of the liver DNA using an analysis method with chromatographic conditions for B[a]P-DNA adducts, no effect of eugenol on the formation of B[a]P-DNA adducts in the lambda-lacZ-transgenic mouse was found. By 32P-postlabelling analysis using an alkenylbenzene solvent system the amount of B[a]P-DNA adducts was lower in mice fed the eugenol diet than in mice fed the control diet but the decrease was not statistically significant. However, one spot indicative of an eugenol-associated DNA adduct was detected. The present data provide no evidence for antimutagenic or antigenotoxic potential of eugenol in vivo. Furthermore, they suggest genotoxicity in vivo of eugenol per se.

Animals↗

Comparison of the genotoxic activities of the K-region dihydrodiol of benzo[a]pyrene with benzo[a]pyrene in mammalian cells: morphological cell transformation; DNA damage; and stable covalent DNA adducts.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is the most thoroughly studied polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH). Many mechanisms have been suggested to explain its carcinogenic activity, yet many questions still remain. K-region dihydrodiols of PAHs are metabolic intermediates depending on the specific cytochrome P450 and had been thought to be detoxification products. However, K-region dihydrodiols of several PAHs have recently been shown to morphologically transform mouse embryo C3H10T1/2CL8 cells (C3H10T1/2 cells). Because K-region dihydrodiols are not metabolically formed from PAHs by C3H10T1/2 cells, these cells provide a useful tool to independently study the mechanisms of action of PAHs and their K-region dihydrodiols. Here, we compare the morphological cell transforming, DNA damaging, and DNA adducting activities of the K-region dihydrodiol of B[a]P, trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol with B[a]P. Both trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P morphologically transformed C3H10T1/2 cells by producing both Types II and III transformed foci. The morphological cell transforming and cytotoxicity dose response curves for trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P were indistinguishable. Since morphological cell transformation is strongly associated with mutation and/or larger scale DNA damage in C3H10T1/2 cells, the identification of DNA damage induced in these cells by trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol was sought. Both trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P exhibited significant DNA damaging activity without significant concurrent cytotoxicity using the comet assay, but with different dose responses and comet tail distributions. DNA adduct patterns from C3H10T1/2 cells were examined after trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol or B[a]P treatment using 32P-postlabeling techniques and improved TLC elution systems designed to separate polar DNA adducts. While B[a]P treatment produced one major DNA adduct identified as anti-trans-B[a]P-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide-deoxyguanosine, no stable covalent DNA adducts were detected in the DNA of trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol-treated cells. In summary, this study provides evidence for the DNA damaging and morphological cell transforming activities of the K-region dihydrodiol of B[a]P, in the absence of covalent stable DNA adducts. While trans-B[a]P-4,5-diol and B[a]P both induce morphological cell transformation, their activities as DNA damaging agents differ, both qualitatively and quantitatively. In concert with the morphological cell transformation activities of other K-region dihydrodiols of PAHs, these data suggest a new mechanism/pathway for the morphological cell transforming activities of B[a]P and its metabolites.

Animals↗

Identification and quantitation of 7-(benzo[a]pyren-6-yl)guanine in the urine and feces of rats treated with benzo[a]pyrene.

The major identified benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-DNA adduct formed by cytochrome P-450 contains BP bound at the C-6 position to the N-7 position of guanine (BP-N7Gua). This adduct is rapidly depurinated from DNA. When rats were treated with [14C]BP, about 0.02% of the administered dose of BP was excreted as BP-N7Gua in feces and urine within 5 days. Chloroform extracts of the urine and feces were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The structure of the adduct was established by cochromatography with electrochemically prepared BP-N7Gua and by fluorescence line narrowing spectrometry. This study represents the first demonstration that BP-N7Gua is formed in vivo in animals treated with BP.

Animals↗

Comparative 32P-postlabeling analysis of benzo[a]pyrene--DNA adducts formed in vitro upon activation of benzo[a]pyrene by human, rabbit and rodent liver microsomes.

An interspecies comparison was made of the DNA-adducts formed in vitro upon incubation of rat liver DNA (RL-DNA) with benzo[a]pyrene (BP) in the presence of liver microsomes. Incubations were carried out with RL-DNA, BP (100 microM) and liver microsomes from hamsters, mice, rabbits, rats, 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC) pretreated rats and from humans. To analyse the adduct profiles, the 32P-postlabeling technique with the nuclease P1-enhancement procedure was used. The total amount of adduct formed varied greatly with the species; also the number of adduct spots detected was different, ranging from 1 to 5. In all incubations the BP-N2-deoxyguanosine adduct was formed. Relative to the total adduct level, the level of this adduct varied from 26% with rat, 54% with hamster, 56% with 3MC-pretreated rat, 58% with mouse and 75% with rabbit, to 100% with human liver microsomes. In human liver microsomes both the total amount of cytochrome P-450 per mg microsomal protein and the ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) activity were low compared to that in animal liver microsomes. In microsomes from 3MC-pretreated rats the EROD activity was strongly induced. There was no correlation between EROD activity in non-induced microsomes and total adduct level. To compare BP-DNA adduct formation in human white blood cells (WBC) with that in RL-DNA, WBC were incubated with BP and 3MC-pretreated rat microsomes. The adduct profile in WBC-DNA differed from that observed after incubation of RL-DNA: the BP-N2-deoxyguanosine adduct in WBC-DNA accounted for 97% of the total adduct level. It is concluded that the 32P-postlabeling method is a suitable technique to investigate both qualitative and quantitative differences in BP-DNA adduct formation between species. Furthermore, the incubation of microsomes from the liver (or other sources) with a genotoxic agent and isolated DNA or cells can be a useful approach to study the formation and stability of reactive intermediates that are able to bind to DNA, also with respect to differences between species or tissue.

Animals↗

Metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol by human cytochrome P450 1B1.

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a ubiquitous environmental, tobacco and dietary carcinogen, has been implicated in human cancer etiology. The role of human cytochrome P450 1B1 in the metabolism of B[a]P is poorly understood. Using microsomal preparations of human P450 1A1, 1A2 and 1B1 expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells, as well as human and rat P450 1B1 expressed in yeast, we have determined the metabolism of B[a]P, with and without the addition of exogenous epoxide hydrolase, and B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol (7,8-diol), each substrate at a concentration of 10 microM. HPLC analysis detected eight major metabolites of B[a]P and four metabolites of the 7,8-diol. The results of these studies indicate that cytochrome P450 1B1 carries out metabolism of B[a]P along the pathway to the postulated ultimate carcinogen, the diol epoxide 2, at rates much higher than P450 1A2 but less than P450 1A1. The rates of formation of the 7,8-diol metabolite in incubations with epoxide hydrolase are 0.17 and 0.38 nmol/min/nmol P450 for human P450 1B1 and 1A1, respectively, and undetectable for 1A2. The rates of total tetrol metabolite formation from the 7,8-diol, which are indicative of diol epoxide formation, are 0.60, 0.43 and 2.58 nmol/min/nmol P450 for 1B1, 1A2 and 1A1 respectively. In agreement with other reports of rat P450 1B1 activity, our data show this rat enzyme to be very active for B[a]P and 7,8-diol, with rates higher than human P450 1B1. In addition to the established role of P450 1A1 in B[a]P metabolism, P450 1B1 may significantly contribute to B[a]P and 7,8-diol metabolism and carcinogenesis in rodent tumor models and in humans.

Animals↗

Differential metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol by human CYP1A1 variants.

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) plays a key role in the metabolism of carcinogens, such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and metabolites to ultimate carcinogens. Three human allelic variants, namely wild-type (CYP1A1.1), CYP1A1.2 (I462V) and CYP1A1.4 (T461N), were coexpressed by coinfection of baculovirus-infected insect cells with human NADPH-P450 reductase. These recombinant enzymes (in microsomal membranes) were used to analyze whether CYP1A1 polymorphisms affect catalytic activities towards B[a]P and B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol. The complete spectrum of phase I metabolites, including the tetrahydrotetrols resulting from hydrolysis of the ultimate carcinogen, B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide, was examined by HPLC. Wild-type enzyme showed the highest total metabolism of B[a]P, CYP1A1.2 was approximately 50%, and CYP1A1.4 approximately 70%. Km values for all metabolites with CYP1A1.2 were generally significantly lower than with wild-type enzyme (e.g. B[a]P-7,8-diol formation: 13.8 microM for wild-type, 3.5 microM for CYP1A1.2 and 7.7 microM for CYP1A1.4). Addition of epoxide hydrolase markedly increases the relative diol-to-phenol activities by all three variants. However, CYP1A1.4 exhibits the greatest efficiency to produce diol species. Each variant produced the diol epoxides from B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol. CYP1A1.1 exhibited with 10.4 pmol/min/pmol CYP1A1 the greatest total rate for 7,8-diol metabolites followed by CYP1A1.2 (7.2 pmol/min/pmol CYP1A1) and CYP1A1.4 (5.5 pmol/min/pmol CYP1A1). All enzyme variants produced about three times more diol epoxide 2-derived metabolites than diol epoxide 1-derived ones, whereby both rare allelic variants exhibited statistically significantly increased formation of diol epoxide 2. This study showed that the three CYP1A1 variants had different enzyme kinetics properties to produce both the diol metabolites from B[a]P and the ultimate mutagenic species diol epoxide 2 from B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol, which must be considered in the evaluation of individual susceptibility to cancer.

Animals↗

The effects of dietary corn oil on the metabolism and activation of benzo[a]pyrene by the benzo[a]pyrene metabolizing enzymes of the mouse.

Male ICR Swiss mice, weighing 16-20 g, were fed ad libitum either a fat-free diet or a diet containing 10% corn oil. After three weeks on these diets, the rates of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) metabolite formation and metabolism to products which covalently bind with macromolecules were compared using hepatic nuclei and microsomal preparations. The maximum activity of B[a]P hydroxylase in microsomes from untreated animals was increased 50% by feeding the corn oil diet, however, B[a]P hydroxylase in microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC)-treated mice was unaffected by diet. In animals treated with phenobarbital, B[a]P metabolism and B[a]P-DNA adduct formation were greater in microsomes from corn oil fed mice compared to those fed the fat-free diet. At a B[a]P concentration of 96 microM, microsomes from corn oil fed untreated mice produced 26% more extractable metabolites and covalent binding to exogenous DNA was increased 46%. At lower substrate concentrations (0.94-15.0 microM B[a]P), B[a]P-DNA and B[a]P-protein binding were 300-400% greater when incubated with microsomes from corn oil fed mice than when incubated with microsomes from mice fed fat-free diet. The apparent Vmax's determined for the formation of each extractable metabolite were increased 1.5-3.0 times by the corn oil diet. Hepatic nuclear B[a]P hydroxylase and nuclear activation of B[a]P to products which covalently bind to DNA in both non-induced and 3-MC-pretreated animals fed the corn oil diet were greater than that observed in animals fed the fat-free diet. B[a]P hydroxylase activities in the lungs of these animals were unaltered by diet.

Animals↗

Instability of (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (syn-BaPDE)-DNA adducts formed in benzo[a]pyrene-treated Wistar rat embryo cell cultures.

One of the peaks present in HPLC profiles of [3H]benzo[a]-pyrene (BaP)-deoxyribonucleosides prepared by enzymatic degradation of [3H]BaP-DNA isolated from Wistar rat embryo cell cultures exposed to [G-3H]BaP was found to be r-7,c-9,c-10,t-8-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroBaP, a BaP-DNA adduct decomposition product (Pruess-Schwartz, D. and Baird, W.M., Cancer Res., 46, 545-552, 1986). To investigate the stability of the hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside linkages in intact BaP-modified DNA, DNA was isolated from Wistar rat embryo cells that had been exposed to [G-3H]BaP and incubated in darkness at 37 degrees C at a range of pH values from 5 to 11 for 72 h or for 1-150 h at pH 7. The rate of breakdown of [3H]BaP-DNA adducts (0.25%/h) was linear over 150 h. The amounts of the two major BaP-DNA adduct decomposition products, I and II (present in a ratio of 1:3), increased with length of time of incubation. Formation of I was not affected by pH, whereas, formation of II was highest at acidic and neutral pH. Analysis of the decomposition products by immobilized boronate chromatography and reverse-phase HPLC demonstrated that both I and II contained cis-vicinal hydroxyl groups and decomposition product II cochromatographed with r-7,c-9, c-10,t-8-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroBaP, a (+/-)-7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroBaP (syn-BaPDE)-derived tetraol. At neutral pH [3H](+/-)-syn-BaPDE-modified calf thymus DNA formed a decomposition product identical to II. Analysis of the BaP-DNA adducts that remained covalently bound to the DNA after the above incubations demonstrated that the amounts of both major syn-BaPDE-deoxyguanosine adducts decreased with length of time of incubation. Thus, syn-BaPDE-deoxyribonucleoside adducts formed in the DNA of [3H]BaP-treated Wistar rat embryo cells are unstable and breakdown spontaneously in the absence of light to yield syn-BaPDE-tetraol decomposition products.

7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide↗

Hydroxylated benzo[a]pyrene metabolites are responsible for in vitro estrogen receptor-mediated gene expression induced by benzo[a]pyrene, but do not elicit uterotrophic effects in vivo.

The estrogenic activities of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 10 metabolites (1, 3-, 7-, and 9-hydroxy-B[a]P; 4,5-, 7,8-, and 9,10-dihydrodihydroxy-B[a]P; and 1,6-, 3,6-, and 6,12-B[a]P-dione) were investigated. In vitro, B[a]P did not displace tritiated 17beta-estradiol ([3H]E2) from either a bacterially expressed fusion protein consisting of glutathione-S:-transferase linked to the D, E, and F domains of human ERalpha (GST-hERalphadef), or from full-length human ERbeta (hERbeta) at concentrations as high as 60 microM. However, 10 microM B[a]P demonstrated partial agonist activity in human Gal4-ERalphadef and mouse Gal4-ERbetadef reporter gene assays in transiently transfected MCF-7 cells, relative to 10 nM E2. 1-, 3-, 7-, and 9-hydroxy-B[a]P were found to bind to both receptor isoforms, each showing a higher affinity for the beta isoform. At 10 microM the four monohydroxylated metabolites were able to induce Gal4-hERalphadef- and Gal4-mERbetadef-mediated reporter gene expression to levels 20-100% of that caused by 10 nM E2, suggesting that these metabolites, and not the parent compound, induced reporter gene expression following B[a]P treatment of transiently transfected MCF-7 cells. In addition, the effect of B[a]P on two estrogen-inducible end points, uterine weight and lactoferrin mRNA levels, was determined in ovariectomized DBA/2 and C57BL/6 mice. Neither orally administered B[a]P at doses as high as 10 mg/kg body weight nor subcutaneously injected 3- or 9-hydroxy-B[a]P at doses as high as 20 mg/kg induced effects on uterine wet weight or uterine lactoferrin mRNA levels in either strain. These data suggest that B[a]P metabolites that are estrogenic at high concentrations in vitro do not induce estrogenic effects in the mouse uterus.

Animals↗

Contribution of human cytochrome P450 to benzo[a]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol metabolism, as predicted from heterologous expression in yeast.

The metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and its proximate mutagen B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol (7,8-diol) was investigated in the presence of human microsomal epoxide hydrolase and P450 1A1, 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C18, 2C19, 2D6 and 3A4 expressed in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. P450 1A1 had the highest turnover numbers for the formation of all B[a]P metabolites, including phenols and dihydrodiols. P450 1A2, 2C8, 2C9, 2C18, 2C19 and 3A4, which are well represented in the liver, gave rise to the formation of appreciable amounts of 3-hydroxy-B[a]P and of some dihydrodiols from B[a]P. When 7,8-diol was used as substrate, P450 1A1 also exhibited the highest turnover numbers for the formation of tetrols, the hydrolysis products of the diolepoxides, whereas P450 1A2, 2C8, 2C19 and 3A4 showed moderate activities. In order to test the validity of the yeast system, the contribution of each P450 isoform to B[a]P and 7,8-diol metabolism was evaluated as the product of the turnover numbers of recombinant P450s by specific contents of each P450 in human liver microsomes. Calculated formation rates for each B[a]P and 7,8-diol metabolite globally matched experimental values. There is evidence that P450 3A4 and 2C9 play a major role in the formation of 3-hydroxy-B[a]P from B[a]P. Accumulation of the proximate mutagen 7,8-diol was predicted to be mainly driven by P450 1A2, 2C9 and 2C19, while formation of the genotoxic diolepoxides from 7,8-diol appeared to be dependent on P450 1A2 and 3A4 in the liver.

Benzo(a)pyrene↗

A bioactive metabolite of benzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dione, selectively alters microsomal Ca2+ transport and ryanodine receptor function.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are environmental pollutants known to be carcinogenic and immunotoxic. In intact cell assays, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) disrupts Ca(2+) homeostasis in both immune and nonimmune cells, but the molecular mechanism is undefined. In this study, B[a]P and five metabolites are examined for their ability to alter Ca(2+) transport across microsomal membranes. Using a well-defined model system, junctional SR vesicles from skeletal muscle, we show that a single o-quinone metabolite of B[a]P, B[a]P-7,8-dione, can account for altered Ca(2+) transport across microsomal membranes. B[a]P-7,8-dione induces net Ca(2+) release from actively loaded vesicles in a dose-, time-, and Ca(2+)-dependent manner. In the presence of 5 microM extravesicular Ca(2+), B[a]P-7,8-dione exhibited threshold and EC(50) values of 0.4 and 2 microM, respectively, and a maximal release rate of 2 micromol of Ca(2+) min(-1) mg(-1). The mechanism by which B[a]P-7,8-dione enhanced Ca(2+) efflux was further investigated by measuring macroscopic fluxes and single RyR1 channels reconstituted in bilayer lipid membranes and direct measurements of SERCA catalytic activity. B[a]P-7,8-dione (< or = 20 microM) had no measurable effect on initial rates of Ca(2+) accumulation in the presence of ruthenium red to block ryanodine receptor (RyR1), nor did it alter Ca(2+)-dependent (thapsigargin-sensitive) ATPase activity. B[a]P-7,8-dione selectively altered the function of RyR1 in a time-dependent diphasic manner, first activating then inhibiting channel activity. Considering that RyR1 and its two alternate isoforms are broadly expressed in mammalian cells and their important role in Ca(2+)-signaling, the present results reveal a mechanism by which metabolic bioactivation of B[a]P may mediate RyR dysfunction of pathophysiological significance.

Animals↗

Urinary excretion of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites following intravenous, oral, and cutaneous benzo[a]pyrene administration.

The effect of the administration route, dose, and sampling time on the total urinary excretion of four major benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) metabolites, 3-hydroxyBaP (3-OHBaP), 9-hydroxyBaP 9-hydroxyBaP (9-OHBaP), trans-4,5-dihydrodiolBaP (4,5-diolBaP), and trans-9,10-dihydrodiolBaP (9,10-diolBaP), was studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats exposed to a single intravenous, oral, and cutaneous dose of 2, 6, 20, and 60 mumol BaP/kg. Urine samples were collected at 24-h intervals following treatment. Over the 0-72 h period and for a given dose, amounts of BaP metabolites were 3-OHBaP > 4,5-diolBaP > > 9-OHBaP following intravenous and oral dosing, and 3-OHBaP > > 9-OHBaP > or = 4,5-diolBaP after cutaneous treatment. 9,10-diolBaP was barely detected. On the other hand, amounts of 3-OHBaP and 4,5-diolBaP excreted in urine over the 0-72 h period and for a given dose appeared in the following order: intravenous approximately oral > or = cutaneous. Amounts of 9-OHBaP excreted varied as follows: oral > or = cutaneous > intravenous. For all routes of administration, excretion of 4,5-diolBaP was almost complete over the 0-24 h period in contrast with 3-OHBaP and 9-OHBaP. Peak excretion of 3-OHBaP and 9-OHBaP was reached in the 0-24 h period following intravenous and oral treatment and in the 24-48 h period following cutaneous application. Overall, for a given administration route and dose, there were variations in the time profiles between metabolites. In general, there was nonetheless a good correlation between the BaP dose and urinary excretion of 3-OHBaP, 9-OHBaP, and 4,5-diolBaP. Furthermore, total urinary excretion of a specific metabolite, its time profile, and the relative proportion of the metabolites studied depended on the administration route. Data also suggest that a measure of the concentration ratio of the different metabolites could reflect the time and main route of exposure.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

Suppression of the vitro humoral immune response of mouse splenocytes by benzo(a)pyrene metabolites and inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced immunosuppression by alpha-naphthoflavone.

Several investigators have demonstrated that the humoral immune response of mice and splenocyte cultures was suppressed with benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] exposure. The mechanism of the B(a)P immunosuppression, however, has not been established. Since reactive metabolites of B(a)P, rather than the parent compound, have been shown to mediate the carcinogenic effects of B(a)P, it was hypothesized that the immunosuppression produced by B(a)P may also be mediated by its reactive metabolites. The objective of this investigation was to examine the role of B(a)P metabolism in the B(a)P-induced suppression of the in vitro humoral immune response. This was addressed by first determining if various B(a)P metabolites are capable of inhibiting the generation of antibody-forming cells (AFC) of splenocyte cultures. Addition of B(a)P or B(a)P-7,8-diol (2 X 10(-5) M) to splenocyte cultures produced a similar dose-dependent suppression of the in vitro T-dependent AFC response to sheep red blood cells. In contrast, decreases in the AFC response and cell viability of cultures exposed to the 4,5-diol or 9,10-diol were only observed at 2 X 10(-5) M. Exposure of cultures to 3-hydroxy-B(a)P resulted in a significant decrease in the AFC response at 2 X 10(-6) and 2 X 10(-5) M. Slight decreases in the AFC response were observed with the addition of B(a)P-4,5-epoxide or B(a)P-6,12-dione at 2 X 10(-6) M, whereas a dramatic decrease in the AFC response, as well as a 45% decrease in cell viability, was obtained at 2 X 10(-5) M. The second objective was to examine the effects of the cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF), on the B(a)P- and B(a)P-7,8-diol-induced suppression of the in vitro AFC response. Exposure of splenocyte cultures to 2 X 10(-5) M ANF did not affect the AFC response. Coincubation of splenocytes with ANF was observed to attenuate the suppressive effects of B(a)P and B(a)P-7,8-diol. This concentration of ANF was observed to inhibit the metabolism of [3H]B(a)P by splenocyte cultures to water soluble metabolites. Moreover, B(a)P metabolism by splenic microsomal preparations of untreated mice was inhibited by ANF. These findings suggest that the B(a)P-induced suppression of the in vitro AFC response is mediated by B(a)P metabolites generated by cytochrome P-450 present within splenocytes.

Animals↗

Benzo(a)pyrene:DNA adduct formation in early-passage Wistar rat embryo cell cultures: evidence for multiple pathways of activation of benzo(a)pyrene.

The benzo(a)pyrene (BaP):DNA adducts formed in cells are present at very low levels and are usually identified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography of tritium labeled BaP:deoxyribonucleoside adducts with known standards. To improve the identification of the BaP:DNA adducts formed, acid hydrolysis techniques were used to convert the BaP:deoxyribonucleoside adducts formed in Wistar rat embryo cell cultures to BaP:purine adducts and BaP:tetraols. Early passage Wistar rat embryo cell cultures were exposed to [3H]BaP. The BaP:deoxyribonucleoside adducts were isolated by immobilized boronate chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Three adducts (MS1, MS2, MS3) bound to the immobilized boronate column indicating that they contained cis-vicinal hydroxyl groups, a configuration which would result from reaction of 7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha,10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroBaP (anti-BaPDE) with DNA. MS2 resulted from reaction of (+)-anti-BaPDE with deoxyguanosine (dGuo), for it cochromatographed with a [14C]-(+)-anti-BaPDE:dGuo marker at the deoxyribonucleoside level and after hydrolysis of MS2 and the marker to 7,8-dihydroxy-9,10-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroBaP (BaPDE):guanine and BaPDE:tetraol. MS1, an adduct that eluted in the same region as a (-)-anti-BaPDE:dGuo marker, was not formed by reaction of anti-BaPDE with DNA. Exposure of (-)-anti-BaPDE:dGuo to 0.1 N HCl for 24 h at 37 degrees C resulted in cleavage of the glycosidic bond to give an enantiomer that cochromatographed with the (+)-anti-BaPDE:dGuo hydrolysis product. Hydrolysis of MS1 under the same conditions yielded a product that eluted earlier than the hydrolysis product of anti-BaPDE:dGuo. Hydrolysis of MS1 at 80 degrees C under conditions which produce tetraols from BaPDE:deoxyribonucleoside adducts resulted in the formation of a product which did not elute with either 7 beta,8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta,10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydro-BaP (syn-BaPDE) or anti-BaPDE tetraols. MS1 was also not present in cells exposed to BaP-7,8-diol or 3-hydroxyBaP. These results demonstrated that MS1 is formed by a different mechanism of activation than a simple bay-region diol-epoxide. MS3 and its hydrolysis products had chromatographic properties identical to those of r-7,c-9,c-10,t-8-tetrahydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydroBaP, a tetraol formed from syn-BaPDE. MS3 appears to result from spontaneous breakdown of a syn-BaPDE:DNA adduct to give a tetraol that contains cis-vicinal hydroxyls in the 9 and 10 positions and therefore binds to an immobilized boronate column.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals↗

Potential genoprotective role for UDP-glucuronosyltransferases in chemical carcinogenesis: initiation of micronuclei by benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(e)pyrene in UDP-glucuronosyltransferase-deficient cultured rat skin fibroblasts.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are cytoprotective and may also be genoprotective. Since over 10% of the population have hereditary deficiencies in UGTs, this family of enzymes could constitute an important determinant of susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis, teratogenesis, and neurodegeneration. Fibroblasts contain Phase I and II drug-metabolizing enzymes, including UGTs, and undergo mitosis, rendering them susceptible to xenobiotic genotoxicity associated with micronucleus formation, which is thought to reflect carcinogenic initiation. Accordingly, skin fibroblasts may provide an accessible model for elucidating genoprotective mechanisms in both animals and humans and for characterizing the potential role of UGTs as determinants of individual toxicological susceptibility. To test this hypothesis, the carcinogen/teratogen benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P], or its noncarcinogenic B(e)P isomer, was incubated with cultured skin fibroblasts obtained from male RHA-J/J rats. These rats have a hereditary homozygous deficiency in bilirubin UGT and demonstrate reduced xenobiotic glucuronidation, enhanced cytochrome P-450-catalyzed bioactivation, covalent binding, and toxicity of acetaminophen and B(a)P. Control fibroblasts were cultured from UGT-normal congenic homozygous male RHA-(+/+) rats and male Wistar rats. The cells were incubated with 10 microM B(a)P or B(e)P either for assessment of micronucleus formation or for quantifying the bioactivation and covalent binding of B(a)P and the glucuronidation of its hydroxylated metabolites. Compared to control fibroblasts incubated only with buffer, micronucleus formation was not enhanced by either DMSO vehicle or B(e)P. In contrast, B(a)P significantly enhanced micronucleus formation in all cells, and UGT-deficient cells (RHA-J/J) had a > 2-fold higher B(a)P-initiated micronucleus formation compared to UGT-normal cells (RHA-(+/+)) (P < 0.05). Glucuronidation of total B(a)P metabolites was 10% lower in RHA-J/J UGT-deficient fibroblasts, and the covalent binding of B(a)P to protein, reflective of an electrophilic reactive intermediate and DNA-alkylating agent, was up to 3-fold higher in RHA-J/J UGT-deficient fibroblasts or fibroblast homogenates compared to UGT-normal controls (P < 0.05). In fibroblast homogenates, addition of the UGT cosubstrate UDP-glucuronic acid reduced B(a)P covalent binding, corroborating the cytoprotective importance of UGTs. There was a highly significant correlation between decreasing glucuronidation of B(a)P metabolites and increasing bioactivation and covalent binding of B(a)P (r = -0.889; P = 0.018) in fibroblasts from RHA-J/J and RHA-(+/+) rat strains, indicating an important genoprotective role for UGT. These results provide the first evidence that hereditary UGT deficiencies may enhance susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis and suggest that skin fibroblasts may provide a useful and highly sensitive model for human risk assessment.

Animals↗