Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Benzene”

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 289 records · Page 16Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparative studies of the in vitro metabolism and covalent binding of 14C-benzene by liver slices and microsomal fraction of mouse, rat, and human.

Metabolism of benzene by the liver has been suggested to play an important role in the hepatotoxicity of benzene. The role of the different benzene metabolites and the causes of species differences in benzene hepatotoxicity are, however, not known. The metabolism and covalent binding of 14C-benzene by liver microsomal fractions and liver slices from rat, mouse, and human subjects have been studied. Rat microsomal fraction formed phenol at a rate of 0.32 nmol/min/mg of protein; mouse microsomal fraction formed phenol at 0.64 nmol/min/mg and hydroquinone at 0.03 nmol/min/mg; and human microsomal fraction formed phenol at 0.46 nmol/min/mg and hydroquinone at 0.07 nmol/min/mg. Covalent binding of 14C-benzene metabolites to rat, mouse, and human liver microsomal protein was 29, 113, and 169 pmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. The rates of metabolite formation from benzene by liver slices in nmol/min/g of tissue were: rat, phenol 0.15, hydroquinone 0.26, and phenylsulfate 1.22; mouse: phenol 0.13, hydroquinone 0.29, phenylsulfate 1.37, and phenylglucuronide 1.34; and human: phenol 0.16, hydroquinone 0.27, phenylsulfate 0.83, and phenylglucuronide 0.52. trans,trans-Muconic acid formation was not detected with liver slices of any species. Covalent binding of 14C-benzene metabolites to rat, mouse, and human liver slices was 8.2, 79.7, and 27.3 pmol/min/g liver, respectively. There was no correlation between ascorbic acid levels in the human liver slices and covalent binding of 14C-benzene metabolites. The results show that phenol and hydroquinone found in extrahepatic tissues, including bone marrow, of animals exposed to benzene could originate from the liver. There was no evidence for the release of highly reactive benzene metabolites such as trans,trans-muconaldehyde or p-benzoquinone from liver cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Effects of cigarette smoking on blood and alveolar air levels of benzene].

Benzene was measured in blood and alveolar air of a group of 168 subjects, consisting of 34 chemical industry workers exposed to benzene and 134 definitely not occupationally exposed to benzene. A gas chromatographic method was used with mass spectrometry and cryogenic trap. The results of the biological measurements were compared with the environmental levels of benzene in the room where samples were taken and at the worksite during the previous day's shift. All environmental air samples showed measurable levels of benzene, which agrees with the observations of many authors, according to which benzene is a common pollutant also of the living and external environments. Benzene in blood measured on morning samples was correlated with the previous day's exposure. In the group of non-exposed, both blood and alveolar concentrations of benzene were significantly higher in the 68 smokers than in the 66 non-smokers and the biological levels of benzene were inversely correlated with the time that had elapsed since the last cigarette smoked. In the chemical workers, the high biological levels of benzene due to occupational exposure largely exceeded the variations in concentration due to cigarette smoking and cancelled out the differences between smokers and non-smokers. It can therefore be assumed that smoking was not influential and did not interfere with the interpretation of the results in the occupationally exposed workers. Lastly, cigarette smoking, as a cyclical and additional factors of exposure, seems to be responsible for the disturbance in the relationships between biological benzene levels and ubiquitous environmental pollution, a relationship that was only observable in non-smoking subjects not occupationally exposed, but not in the group of smokers.

Benzene↗
PubMed2004

Chromosomal aberrations in workers exposed to low levels of benzene: association with genetic polymorphisms.

Benzene and its metabolites damage human lymphocytes, resulting in chromosomal aberrations and aneuploidy. Polymorphisms in the genes for benzene-metabolizing enzymes have been implicated in benzene-associated haematotoxicity. In this study, we examined the specificity of benzene-induced aneuploidy and the influence of genetic polymorphisms (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, NAT2, NQO1 and CYP2E1) on chromosomal aberrations. In total, 82 benzene-exposed workers from a coke oven plant and 76 matched controls were examined. The benzene concentration in the work-place air ranged from 0.014-0.743 p.p.m. (geometric mean 0.557 p.p.m.). Benzene exposure was associated with significant increases in both monosomy and trisomy of chromosomes 8 and 21. Translocations between chromosomes 8 and 21 [t(8:21)] were eight-fold more frequent in the high-level exposure group compared to the control group. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the frequencies of chromosome aberrations were significantly associated with benzene exposure and polymorphisms in the metabolic enzyme genes. A particular subset of genotypes, which included the GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null genotypes, the slow acetylator type of NAT2, a variant of the NQO1 genotype and the CYP2E1 DraI and RsaI genotypes, were either separately, or in combination, associated with increased frequencies of aneuploidy among the benzene-exposed individuals after adjustments for age, alcohol consumption and smoking. These results suggest that polymorphisms in the genes for benzene-metabolizing enzymes influence the susceptibility of individuals to chromosomal aberrations in relation to benzene exposure.

Aneuploidy↗
PubMed2004

Benzene metabolism in human lung cell lines BEAS-2B and A549 and cells overexpressing CYP2F1.

Benzene is an occupational and environmental toxicant. The main human health concern associated with benzene exposure is leukemia. The toxic effects of benzene are dependent on its metabolism by the cytochrome p450 enzyme system. The cytochrome p450 enzymes CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 are the major contributors to the bioactivation of benzene in rats and mice. Although benzene metabolism has been shown to occur with mouse and human lung microsomal preparations, little is known about the ability of human CYP2F to metabolize benzene or the lung cell types that might activate this toxicant. Our studies compared bronchiolar derived (BEAS-2B) and alveolar derived (A549) human cell lines for benzene metabolizing ability by evaluating the roles of CYP2E1 and CYP2F1. BEAS-2B cells that overexpressed CYP2F1 and recombinant CYP2F1 were also evaluated. BEAS-2B cells overexpressing the enzyme CYP2F1 produced 47.4 +/- 14.7 pmols hydroxylated metabolite/10(6) cells/45 min. The use of the CYP2E1-selective inhibitor diethyldithiocarbamate and the CYP2F2-selective inhibitor 5-phenyl-1-pentyne demonstrated that both CYP2E1 and CYP2F1 are important in benzene metabolism in the BEAS-2B and A549 human lung cell lines. The recombinant expressed human CYP2F1 enzyme had a K(m) value of 3.83 microM and a V(max) value of 0.01 pmol/pmol p450 enzyme/min demonstrating a reasonably efficient catalysis of benzene metabolism (V(max)/K(m) = 2.6). Thus, these studies have demonstrated in human lung cell lines that benzene is bioactivated by two lung-expressed p450 enzymes.

Alkynes↗
PubMed1999

Trans,trans-muconic acid, a biological indicator to low levels of environmental benzene: some aspects of its specificity.

BACKGROUND: The specificity of trans,trans-muconic acid (MA) as a biomarker of exposure to low benzene levels and the role of sorbic acid (SA) as a confounding factor were evaluated. MA, a urinary ring-opened metabolite of benzene, has been recently proposed for the biological monitoring of populations exposed to low levels of this chemical. The usual presence of MA in urine of non-occupationally exposed people is generally attributed to benzene world-wide contamination (mainly by smoking habits, urban pollution, and maybe by food contamination). However, the scientific literature reveals that the common food preservative and fungistatic agent SA is converted into MA though in trace amounts. METHODS: Urinary benzene and MA before and after administration of SA were measured in smokers and non-smokers. Benzene dissolved in urine was analyzed injecting a headspace sample in a gas-chromatografic system. Urinary MA was measured by means of a HPLC apparatus. RESULTS: The mean background values of MA were about 60 mg/L (or 50 mg/g creat.); after experimental administration of SA (447 mg), the mean urinary MA concentration became more than 20 times higher. The biotransformation rates of SA into MA after ingestion of 447 mg of SA ranged from 0.05 to 0.51%. The ratio between unmetabolized benzene in the two groups of smokers and non-smokers was significantly different from the ratio between MA in the same two groups. DISCUSSION: Other sources of MA excretion, different from benzene, influence the urinary concentration of the metabolite: only 25% of MA background values can be attributed to benzene. The urinary MA induced by 100 mg of ingested MA is 77% of that expected after an 8-hour benzene exposure to 0.5 ppm (current threshold limit value according to ACGIH). In conclusion, MA is not a sufficiently specific biomarker of low benzene exposure; a significant effect of SA ingestion is predictable.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Benzene increases the ratio of arachidonic acids to docosahexaenoic acids and inhibits the de novo synthesis of ceramide in the rat liver.

The present study investigated the effects of inhalation exposure of benzene at 0, 10, 200 and 600 ppm for 1, 2 and 4 weeks on n-6 and n-3 fatty acids and ceramide levels in the rat liver. No significant difference in the ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid was found on increasing benzene exposure levels, but the ratio of saturated fatty acid to unsaturated fatty acid decreased with increasing benzene exposure times, with the exception of the phospholipids of rats exposed to 200 and 600 ppm of benzene. A significant increase in the ratio of arachidonic acid to docosahexaenoic acid was found in the phospholipids of rats exposed to 200 and 600 ppm of benzene for 4 weeks. In our study, no change in the relative amounts of sphingomyelin in phospholipids, due to benzene exposure at 600 ppm for 4 weeks resulted in the lack of sphingomyelin turnover. However, ceramide levels in the livers of rats exposed to 600 ppm of benzene for 4 weeks were significantly reduced upon increasing the benzene concentration. This result shows that the de novo synthesis of ceramide was significantly inhibited at higher levels of benzene and that the ratio of arachidonic acid to docosahexaenoic acid in phospholipids is dose-dependently related to benzene exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Monitoring protein expression by proteomics: human plasma exposed to benzene.

Low levels and long term exposure to benzene is associated with hematotoxicity including aplastic anemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, and lymphoma. Current biomonitoring methods such as urinary phenol, S-phenylmercapturic acid, and trans-trans muconic acid were found to be unreliable as analytical methods to detect benzene exposure. Therefore, to search for a specific protein for biomonitoring benzene exposure, we investigated plasma proteins from workers (n = 50) at a printing company who were exposed to benzene, by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The protein profiles are significantly different (p < 0.05) between benzene exposed and unexposed groups, as identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time of flight mass spectrometry and confirmed by Western blot analyses. T cell receptor beta chain (TCR beta), FK506-binding protein, and matrix metalloproteinase-13 were expressed only in benzene exposed workers. In addition, interleukin-4 receptor alpha chain and T cell surface glycoprotein CD1b precursor were found to be up-regulated in the plasma of benzene exposed workers. When we treated Jurkat cells with benzene (10 microM-10 mM), TCR beta expression was increased in the membrane more than 6-9-fold compared to untreated cells. In addition, the amount of TCR beta released into the culture media, at benzene concentrations greater than 50 microM, increased up to 10 mM. Therefore, TCR beta levels in plasma could be used as a biomarker and a possible therapeutic target for benzene exposure.

Benzene↗
PubMed1993

Carcinogenicity of inhaled benzene in CBA mice.

This study investigated benzene-induced neoplasia in CBA/Ca mice, with special emphasis on hematopoietic tissues. Ten-week-old male CBA/Ca mice were exposed to 300 ppm benzene via inhalation for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 16 weeks and held 18 months after the last exposure. There were 125 benzene-exposed and 125 sham-exposed mice. Malignant lymphoma was a statistically significant cause of early mortality in the benzene-exposed mice. Fourteen benzene-exposed mice developed lymphoma (lymphoblastic, lymphocytic, or mixed) as compared to only 2 sham-exposed mice. Benzene-exposed mice also developed preputial gland squamous cell carcinomas (60% in benzene-exposed vs 0% in sham-exposed) and had an increased incidence of lung adenomas (36% vs 14%). Moderate to marked granulocytic hyperplasia was present in benzene-exposed animals, with a 36% incidence in the bone marrow and 6% in the spleen, as compared to the sham-exposed with 8 and 0%, respectively. Interpretation of the granulocytic response as a direct effect of benzene was complicated by the presence of inflammation in the mice. Although inhaled benzene was clearly carcinogenic in CBA mice, it did not induce granulocytic leukemia.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1990

Short term benzene exposure provides a growth advantage for granulopoietic progenitor cells over erythroid progenitor cells.

Because chronic benzene exposure is associated with acute myeloblastic leukemia and other myeloproliferative disorders, we sought to determine whether short-term benzene exposure provides a growth advantage for granulopoietic elements over erythropoietic elements. Groups of male DBA/2J mice were exposed to 0, 10, 30, or 100 ppm benzene (6 h/day for 5 days). One day and 5 days after the benzene exposures, the numbers of the two most primitive erythroid progenitor cells (BFU-E and CFU-E) and the numbers of the most primitive granulocytic progenitor cells (GM-CFU-C) were assessed. Additional groups of mice were given hemolytic doses of phenylhydrazine (PHZ) during the 5 days of benzene exposure, while other groups of mice were given PHZ during the 5 days of recovery from benzene exposure. These experiments were designed to determine the effects of benzene exposure on progenitor cell numbers during periods of markedly heightened erythropoiesis. The results demonstrate that short-term benzene exposure does induce a growth advantage for granulocytic cells in both the bone marrow and spleen of exposed mice. Moreover, a benzene-induced shift toward granulopoiesis is observed even in those mice treated with a powerful erythropoietic stimulus. These effects disappear 5 days after cessation of benzene exposure in the bone marrow but persist in the spleen of mice treated with phenylhydrazine.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Influences of gender, development, pregnancy and ethanol consumption on the hematotoxicity of inhaled 10 ppm benzene.

The hematotoxic effects of benzene in both humans and animals are well documented. Current estimates concerning the risks associated with benzene exposure are usually based on adult, male cohort studies; however, there are indications that females may respond differently than males to benzene and that fetuses may respond differently than adults. Another factor to be considered in risk estimates is the impact of personal habits. In experimental animals, ethanol consumption is known to increase the hematotoxicity of benzene; therefore, alcohol consumption may also alter the potential risk of individuals exposed to benzene. To address some of the factors that may confound risk estimates for benzene exposure, a series of experiments were performed. Age-matched male as well as pregnant and virgin female Swiss Webster mice were exposed to 10 ppm benzene for 6 h a day over 10 consecutive days (days 6 through 15 of gestation for the pregnant females). Half of the animals also received 5% ethanol in the drinking water during this period. On day 11, bone marrow cells from the adults and liver cells from the fetuses were assayed for the numbers of erythroid colony-forming units (CFU-e). CFU-e assays were also performed on bone marrow cells isolated from 6-week postpartum dams exposed during gestation and from in utero-exposed 6-week old males and females. Gender differences were clearly observed in the responses to the various exposure protocols. Depressions in CFU-e numbers were only seen in male mice while elevations in CFU-e numbers were only seen in female mice. Male mice exposed as adults for 10 days to benzene (B), ethanol (E) or benzene+ethanol (B+E) exhibited depressed CFU-e levels as did male fetal mice exposed to B in utero. In addition, adult male mice which had been exposed in utero to either B or to E individually displayed depressed CFU-e levels. In contrast, none of the groups of female mice exhibited any depressions in CFU-e numbers after any of the exposures. Elevations in CFU-e numbers were observed among pregnant females exposed to E and among adult females exposed to B+E in utero. In summary, a majority (6/9) of the exposure protocols produced depressions in the CFU-e numbers of male mice, whereas a majority (7/9) of the exposure protocols produced no changes in the CFU-e numbers of female mice. Those changes that were observed in females consisted of elevations of CFU-e numbers. These results suggest that the male erythron is more susceptible than the female erythron to the hematotoxicants benzene and ethanol, regardless of whether exposures occur in utero or during adulthood.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1998

Interleukin 1 alpha hematological examination in mechanics exposed to low benzene concentrations.

OBJECT: To examine the hypothesis of Renz and Kalf relative to the involvement of interleukin 1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) in the development of anemia in benzene-exposed workers. According to this hypothesis, benzene inhibits the cleavage of the IL-1 alpha precursor (proIL-1 alpha) to mature IL-1 alpha and the lack of this cytokine is responsible for benzene-induced bone marrow suppression. This inhibition of the processing of proIL-1 alpha is attributed to an inhibition of calpain. METHOD: Selection of a population of mechanics exposed to low levels of benzene from fuels, assessment of usual exposure and lifetime exposure duration, and measurements of concentrations of workplace-air benzene and urinary benzene metabolites. Determination of IL-1 alpha concentrations was done by a whole-blood assay after lipopolysaccharide stimulation and a hematological examination was carried out. Statistical analysis considered several possible confounding factors, particularly smoking and drinking habits. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. RESULTS: The level of exposure of the mechanics to benzene from fuels was mostly well below 1 ppm. IL-1 alpha production was not decreased in mechanics exposed to benzene from fuels, and no correlation between IL-1 alpha concentrations and red blood cell counts appeared. With the exception of a slight decrease in red blood cell counts in mechanics, no hint of a toxic effect of exposure on hematological parameters was found. CONCLUSIONS: The hypothesis of Renz and Kalf could not be confirmed. Although the low level exposure of the study population and methodological factors are possible explanations, it cannot be excluded that the hypothesis of Renz and Kalf is not generalizable to benzene-exposed humans. Presently, one cannot advise the measurement of IL-1 alpha production for biological effect monitoring of workers exposed to low concentrations of benzene.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Pyridine prevents the clastogenicity of benzene but not of benzo[a]pyrene or cyclophosphamide.

Pyridine has been shown to be a much more potent inhibitor than other solvents of the metabolism and therefore the clastogenicity of benzene. In this report, pyridine prevented benzene-derived micronucleus formation in the bone marrow of ICR Swiss mice at much lower levels than xylene did. Time-course experiments did not indicate any delay in the peak micronucleus response to benzene caused by either pyridine or xylene. Similar experiments using pyridine with benzo[a]pyrene and pyridine with cyclophosphamide indicated that the effect of pyridine was specific for benzene. Benzo[a]pyrene (150 mg/kg) was inhibited by pyridine only at levels of 100 mg/kg or more, compared to inhibition of benzene (440 or 880 mg/kg) by pyridine at levels of 5 mg/kg. Cyclophosphamide was not inhibited at any level, and micronucleus formation was increased at lower ratios of pyridine to cyclophosphamide. These results provide indirect conformation of the work by others indicating that benzene is activated in part by a cytochrome P450 isozyme different from those activating benzo[a] pyrene or cyclophosphamide. Since DBA/2 mice (AHH-non-inducible) are more sensitive to benzene than C57Bl/6 mice (AHH-inducible), single and multiple treatments with benzene were compared by micronucleus response in these two strains. DBA mice were more responsive in all cases. Pretreatment with methylcholanthrene caused a greater response to benzene in DBA/2 mice, suggesting that the cytochrome P450 isozyme involved is one of the forms induced by methylcholanthrene independent of the high-affinity Ah receptor. It is hypothesized that more efficient activation of benzene by the unique cytochrome P450 isozyme, perhaps combined with relatively less conjugation, may result in a greater sensitivity of the bone marrow versus the liver, and of DBA/2 versus C57Bl/6 mice.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A comparative study of the effects of benzene, toluene, and xylenes on their in vitro metabolism and drug-metabolizing enzymes in rat liver.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected ip with benzene, toluene, or a mixture of xylene isomers at 20 mmol hydrocarbon/kg daily for 3 days. The effects of administration of these hydrocarbons upon their own in vitro metabolism, as well as upon cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome c reductase, aminopyrine N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase, glutathione, glutathione S-transferase, and UDPglucuronyltransferase in liver were studied. Each hydrocarbon studied increased its own in vitro metabolism. Benzene had no effect on the metabolism of toluene or xylenes. Toluene and xylenes increased the metabolism of benzene, toluene, and xylenes. Cytochrome P-450 was elevated by toluene and xylenes, but was not affected by benzene. NADPH-cytochrome c reductase was induced by all three hydrocarbons. Aminopyrine N-demethylase and aniline hydroxylase were induced by toluene and xylenes and were not affected by benzene. Glutathione was elevated by benzene, decreased by xylenes, and not affected by toluene. Glutathione S-transferase was induced differentially by these hydrocarbons toward various substrates: toward 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene by benzene and toluene, toward 1,2-dichloro-4-nitrobenzene by benzene and xylenes, and no effect toward 1,2-epoxy-3-(p-nitrophenoxy)propane by any hydrocarbons. UDPglucuronyltransferase was induced by benzene and toluene when o-aminophenol and phenol were used as the substrate. Xylenes had no effect. Benzene was more effective at inducing conjugation enzymes. Xylenes were more effective at inducing cytochrome P-450 dependent enzymes. Toluene was equipotent at inducing both types of enzymes. The results indicate that the addition of methyl groups to the aromatic ring affects the inductive pattern of these monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

The prevention of benzene-induced genotoxicity in mice by indomethacin.

Benzene is a myelotoxin which affects hemopoietic progenitor cells leading to bone-marrow depression as well as a genotoxin which causes chromosomal abnormalities including micronucleus formation. We have demonstrated previously that benzene administered to DBA/2 or C57B1/6 mice causes bone-marrow depression and increased prostaglandin E2 levels in bone marrow; both of these effects can be prevented by the coadministration of indomethacin, a selective inhibitor of prostaglandin synthase. We report, herein, that benzene (400-600 mg/kg body weight), under conditions where it depresses bone-marrow cellularity, also induces an increase in the frequency of micronucleus formation in polychromatic erythrocytes of C57B1/6 mice which is also prevented by the coadministration of indomethacin at levels that do not inhibit cytochrome P450 or myeloperoxidase. In Swiss Webster wild-type mice doses of benzene from 400 to 1000 mg/kg were without effect on marrow cellularity, but did induce the formation of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes which could be prevented by indomethacin. In contrast, DBA/2 mice, a strain highly sensitive to benzene, exhibited significant bone-marrow depression at a dose of benzene of 100 mg/kg body weight. Even at this low dose, benzene is too toxic toward developing erythrocytes to allow the evaluation of micronucleus formation. The frequency of induction of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes by benzene thus depends on the strain of mouse used. Furthermore, micronucleus formation appears to be an early and very sensitive indicator of benzene toxicity. A possible role for prostaglandin H synthase in the geno- and myelo-toxicity of benzene is discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

p53-dependent gene profiling for reactive oxygen species after benzene inhalation: special reference to genes associated with cell cycle regulation.

Benzene toxicity has long been thought to be due to its metabolites including reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the major toxicological effect of benzene in wild-type mice carrying normal alleles of the p53 gene appears to be the significant perturbation of cell cycle regulation, possibly via an indirect signaling pathway. Other prominent genotoxic cellular damage can occur in the absence of cell cycle arrest in p53 gene deficiency. The suppression of cell cycle is clearly detected using a tool for stem-cell-specific cell cycle observation by the BU-UV method. Cells (including hemopoietic progenitor cells) in S-phase are labeled in vivo with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and then exposed to near-ultraviolet (UV) light to kill cells that incorporated BrdU. The target fraction, the S-phase, is then evaluated on the basis of decreased numbers of hemopoietic colonies formed in assays such as for granulomacrophage colony-forming units (CFU-GM). Benzene toxicity was found to be more prominent in the primitive stem-cell compartment, as first suggested more than 20 years ago. Interestingly, when one examines the stem-cell-specific steady-state gene expression profiling, several key genes associated with benzene exposure are specifically identified, including CYP2E1. Benzene toxicity was found to be mediated by aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) at an expression level; thus, the effect of benzene can be detected in nature at lower levels in the stem-cell compartment than expected. Alterations in gene expression profiles compared with those in steady-state gene expression profiles in the stem-cell compartment may elucidate the mechanism underlying benzene toxicity. Functional gene expressions after benzene exposure are not always detected, because their phenotypic expressions are often masked by the balance of expression of genes participating in various pathways of homeostasis, for example, p53. Thus, the actual expressions of the above-mentioned cell cycle-related genes may not be clearly detected. However, when one examines the genes after benzene exposure without p53 gene participation (i.e., p53 was knocked out), various cell cycle-related genes expressed during and after benzene exposure are identified, such as cyclin B1, cyclin D3 and growth hormone in the bone marrow. Since age-related impairments of p53 gene function in somatic cells are known, the possible alteration of those genes would be based not only on a theoretical model, but possible risks posed on the elderly should also be taken into consideration.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Adsorption and diffusion of benzene in the nanoporous catalysts FAU, ZSM-5 and MCM-22: a molecular dynamics study.

Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of benzene in siliceous zeolites (FAU, ZSM-5, and MCM-22) were performed at loadings of 1, 2, 4, 8, and 16 molecules per supercell. The potential energy functions for these simulations were constructed in a semi-empirical way from existing potentials and experimental energetic data. The MD simulations were employed to analyze the dynamic properties of the benzene-zeolite systems. The adsorption energies of benzene/siliceous zeolite complexes increase with increasing loading number, due to the intermolecular attraction between benzene molecules. The self-diffusion coefficient of benzene in siliceous zeolites decreases with increasing loading due to the steric hindrance between the sorbates passing each other. From the zeolite-benzene radial distribution functions it was found that the benzene molecules are relatively far from each other, about 5.2A for siliceous FAU, 5.2A for siliceous ZSM-5, and 4.8A for siliceous MCM-22. In the case of FAU, the benzene molecules prefer to be adsorbed parallel to the surface of the sodalite cage above the six-membered-ring. In ZSM-5, we found a T-structure of the benzene molecules at loadings 2, 4, and 8 molecules per supercell. At loadings of 16 molecules per supercell, the molecules are lined up along the straight channel and their movement is highly correlated. For MCM-22 we found adjacent benzene molecules at a loading of 4 molecules with an orientation similar to the stacked conformation of benzene dimer in the gas phase.

Adsorption↗
PubMed2005

Toxicogenomic analysis of gene expression changes in rat liver after a 28-day oral benzene exposure.

Benzene is an industrial chemical, component of automobile exhaust and cigarette smoke. After hepatic bioactivation benzene induces bone marrow, blood and hepatic toxicity. Using a toxicogenomics approach this study analysed the effects of benzene at three dose levels on gene expression in the liver after 28 daily doses. NMR based metabolomics was used to assess benzene exposure by identification of characteristic benzene metabolite profiles in urine. The 28-day oral exposure to 200 and 800 mg/kg/day but not 10 mg/kg/day benzene-induced hematotoxicity in male Fisher rats. Additionally these upper dose levels slightly reduced body weight and increased relative liver weights. Changes in hepatic gene expression were identified with oligonucleotide microarrays at all dose levels including the 10 mg/kg/day dose level where no toxicity was detected by other methods. The benzene-induced gene expression changes were related to pathways of biotransformation, glutathione synthesis, fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism and others. Some of the effects on gene expression observed here have previously been observed after induction of acute hepatic necrosis with bromobenzene and acetaminophen. In conclusion, changes in hepatic gene expression were found after treatment with benzene both at the toxic and non-toxic doses. The results from this study show that toxicogenomics identified hepatic effects of benzene exposure possibly related to toxicity. The findings aid to interpret the relevance of hepatic gene expression changes in response to exposure to xenobiotics. In addition, the results have the potential to inform on the mechanisms of response to benzene exposure.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Benzene in blood as a biomarker of low level occupational exposure.

The occupational airborne exposure to benzene of 150 workers employed in petrol stations and a refinery plant was assessed using personal sampling pumps. All workers provided blood samples after the end of work and on the following morning before resuming work. Benzene concentrations in the blood of 243 non-occupationally-exposed subjects were also measured. The median occupational benzene exposure for all 150 workers studied was 80 micrograms/m3. Overall median blood benzene of all workers was 251 ng/l at the end of the shift, and 174 ng/l the following morning. The benzene concentrations measured in blood collected the following morning proved to be significantly lower than those measured at the end of the shift. Median blood benzene for the 243 'normal' subjects was 128 ng/l, which was significantly lower than that measured in the workers before a new work shift. The median blood benzene concentration was significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers, both in the general population (210 ng/l vs. 110 ng/l) and in the exposed workers at the end of the shift (476 ng/l vs. 132 ng/l) and the following morning (360 ng/l vs. 99 ng/l). End-of-shift blood benzene correlated significantly with environmental exposure; this correlation was better in the 83 non-smokers than in the 67 smokers. In non-smokers with the median benzene occupational exposure of 50 micrograms/m3, no difference was found in blood benzene concentration in exposed and non-exposed subjects.

Adolescent↗