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Oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene by the filamentous fungus Cunninghamella elegans.

Cunninghamella elegans oxidized benzo[a]pyrene to several metabolic products. Compounds that were isolated and identified were: trans-9,10-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene, trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene 1,6-quinone, benzo[a]pyrene 3,6-quinone, 9-hydroxybenz[a]pyrene, and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene. In addition, an unidentified dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene metabolite was also formed. Experiments with [14C]benzo[a]pyrene showed that over a 96-h period, 18.4% of the hydrocarbon was converted to metabolic products. Most of the metabolites were sulfate conjugates as demonstrated by the formation of benzo[a]pyrene quinones and phenols after treatment with aryl sulfatase. Glucuronide and sulfate conjugates were also detected as water-soluble metabolites. The results show that benzo[a]pyrene is metabolized by a filamentous fungus in a manner that is remarkably similar to that observed in higher organisms.

Benzopyrenes↗

Tumorigenic activity of benzo(e)pyrene derivatives on mouse skin and in newborn mice.

The tumorigenic activities of benzo(e)pyrene and several of its derivatives were determined in two mouse tumor models. Newborn Swiss-Webster mice were given i.p. injections of 0.4, 0.8, and 1.6 mumol of compound on the first, eighth, and 15th day of life, respectively. When the mice were 62 to 66 weeks old, the experiment was terminated by killing the animals. Benzo(e)pyrene, trans-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-dihydrobenzo(e)pyrene, and trans-9,10-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydrobenzo(e)pyrene had little or no tumorigenic activity in lung tissue, although trans-9,10-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydrobenzo(e) pyrene did induce a significant number of hepatic tumors. The tumor-initiating activities of benzo(e)pyrene and several of its derivatives were determined on the skin of female CD-1 mice. A single topical application of 1.0 to 6.0 mumol of the test compound was followed 7 days later by twice-weekly applications of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate for 35 weeks. Control mice and mice treated with 6.0 mumol of benzo(e)pyrene, trans-4,5-dihydroxy-4,5-dihydrobenzo(e)pyrene, trans 9,10-dihydroxy-9,10-dihydrobenzo(e)pyrene, and trans-9,10-dihydroxy-9,10,11,12-tetrahydrobenzo(e)pyrene had a tumor incidence of less than 20% and had less than or equal to 0.25 papillomas/mouse. 9,10-Dihydrobenzo(e)pyrene was the only derivative tested that had significant tumor-initiating activity on mouse skin; an initiating dose of 2.5 mumol gave a 67% tumor incidence and 1.43 papillomas/mouse.

Animals↗

Dual-label high-performance liquid chromatographic assay for femtomole levels of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites.

A dual-label HPLC assay to measure femtomole quantities of ethyl acetate-extractable [3H]benzo[a]pyrene metabolites was developed. 14C-labeled metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene formed by rat liver 9000g supernatant were used as both internal standards and chromatographic markers. The percentage deviation between assays was determined to be between 11 and 13% for 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, benzo[a]pyrene-3,6-quinone, benzo[a]pyrene-1,6-quinone, and 9-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, 22% for 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, and less than 5% for 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene. The detection limit of this assay was between 3 and 10 fmol per metabolite. The application of this technique to the metabolism of [3H]benzo[a]pyrene by microsomes of hamster and human oral cavity tissue is described.

Animals↗

Bone marrow toxicity induced by oral benzo[a]pyrene: protection resides at the level of the intestine and liver.

The Ah locus encodes a cytosolic receptor that regulates the induction of certain drug-metabolizing enzymes by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene. Some inbred mouse strains such as C57BL/6N have the high-affinity Ah receptor (Ahb/Ahb), others such as DBA/2N, the poor-affinity receptor (Ahd/Ahd). Presence of the high-affinity receptor leads to greater cytochrome P1-450 induction by benzo[a]pyrene; in turn, enhanced benzo[a]pyrene metabolism can result in more toxic intermediates or greater detoxication, depending upon the test system studied. Benzo[a]pyrene in the growth medium, in direct contact with cultured myeloid cells, is more toxic to C57BL/6N than DBA/2N cultured cells. Oral benzo[a]pyrene induces P1-450 (measured by benzo[a]pyrene trans-7,8-dihydrodiol formation determined by high-performance liquid chromatography) in C57BL/6N but not DBA/2N intestine and liver. In the bone marrow of oral benzo[a]pyrene-treated C57BL/6N and DBA/2N mice, the magnitude of P1-450 induction is about the same. WB/ReJ (Ahd/Ahd), C57BL/6J (Ahb/Ahb), or (WB/ReJ)(C57BL/6J)F1 (Ahb/Ahd) marrow was transplanted into lethally irradiated (WB/ReJ)(C57BL/6J)F1 mice. DBA/2J (Ahd/Ahd) marrow was transplanted into lethally irradiated BALB/cByJ (Ahb/Ahb) mice and vice versa. Mice having the Ahd/Ahd intestine and liver died in less than 3 weeks of benzo[a]pyrene feeding (120 mg/kg/day), irrespective of the source of transfused marrow. All the data are consistent with pharmacokinetic differences in the tissue distribution of benzo[a]pyrene: mice having the high-affinity receptor, and therefore the P1-450 induction process in the intestine and liver, are protected from oral benzo[a]pyrene-induced myelotoxicity.

Administration, Oral↗

Influence of algal and bacterial particulate organic matter on benzo[a]pyrene bioaccumulation in Daphnia magna.

In order to better asses the influence of organic matter on the bioavailability of hydrophobic organic contaminants, the effect of algae and POM of bacterial origin on the bioaccumulation of benzo[a]pyrene in Daphnia magna was evaluated. The bioaccumulation was monitored with increasing concentrations of particulate organic matter (POM) and dissolved organic matter (DOM). In all experiments, the presence of POM greatly reduced the bioaccumulation of benzo[a]pyrene. The reduction was more pronounced in the presence of algae, for which we observed a 99%-reduction effect in the presence of 6 x10 (5) cell/mL (equivalent to 5.3 mg C/L). The bioaccumulation of benzo[a]pyrene was decreased by 49% by organic matter of bacterial origin at 4.7 mg C/L. Assuming that benzo[a]pyrene was partitioned between water, DOM and POM and supposing that D. magna accumulated free benzo[a]pyrene via respiration and POM-bond benzo[a]pyrene via ingestion, bioaccumulation data allowed to estimate the dietary uptake rate of benzo[a]pyrene as well as partitioning coefficients K(POC) and K(DOC). Despite the ingestion of contaminated particles, we could not observe any dietary uptake of benzo[a]pyrene in daphnids. We verified, as usually supposed, that the bioaccumulation of benzo[a]pyrene to D. magna occurs mainly via direct contact. Very high partitioning coefficients (log K(POC) between 5.2 and 6.2) were estimated. This study pointed out the great influence of biogenic organic matter on the fate and the bioavailability of benzo[a]pyrene in aquatic ecosystems.

Animals↗

Enhanced dissipation of phenanthrene and pyrene in spiked soils by combined plants cultivation.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a class of POPs, are widely distributed in the environment. Phytoremediation has long been recognized as a cost-effective method for removal of PAHs pollutants from soil. This study was conducted to investigate the capability of three plant species separately and their combination to promote the degradation of phenanthrene and pyrene in soil. The performance of three plant species, maize, ryegrass and white clover for phenanthrene and pyrene removal was also compared. The result showed that the presence of vegetation significantly enhances the dissipation of phenanthrene and pyrene in the soil environment. This effect was especially marked with maize. At the end of 60 days treatment, phenanthrene and pyrene concentrations in treated soils declined from an initial 52.52 mg kg-1 and 58.19 mg kg-1 to 4.15 mg kg-1 and 6.77 mg kg-1, respectively, indicating that phenanthrene and pyrene was successfully removed by maize. Around 92.10% of phenanthrene and 88.36% of pyrene were removed from soils planted with maize. Within approximately two months experimental period, the dissipation extent showed that the 4-ring pyrene was more recalcitrant than 3-ring phenanthrene. Although the extents did not differ significantly among three tested species, the rates of degradation were different. The maize treatment had the highest rate of contaminant removal after two months, followed by white clover and annual ryegrass. As compare to single plant cultivation, combined plants cultivation significantly enhanced the destruction rate and extent of phenanthrene and pyrene in soils. Around 98.22% of phenanthrene and 95.81% of pyrene were removed from soils planted with maize and ryegrass. This research indicates the potential for phenanthrene and pyrene mineralization in combined plants cultivation, which may be especially useful for phytoremediation of soils contaminated with PAHs.

Animals↗

Negative effects of humic acid addition on phytoremediation of pyrene-contaminated sediments by mangrove seedlings.

Vegetated (with Kandelia candel seedlings) and non-vegetated mangrove microcosms were employed to remove pyrene from contaminated sediments, and the effects of adding 6.7% humic acid (HA) on such removal were investigated. At the end of 6-month treatment, residual pyrene concentrations in surface sediments (0-2 cm) of the contaminated microcosms reduced from an initial 5.82 to 0.63 microg g(-1) dw, and the reduction was less in HA amended microcosms with the residual pyrene concentration remained at 3.12 microg g(-1) dw. The pyrene removal percentages in microcosms with HA amendment were 29% for surface aerobic sediments and 41% for bottom (anaerobic) sediments, while the respective removal percentages in microcosms without HA amendment were 89% (surface sediments) and 53% (bottom sediments). Microcosms planted with K. candel seedlings had a significantly higher pyrene removal when compared to the non-vegetated ones, and the average removal percentages were 70.9% and 61.4%, respectively. However, when humic acid was added, no significant difference was found between vegetated and non-vegetated microcosms in pyrene removal, both had less than 40% removal, probably because plant growth in humic acid amended contaminated microcosms, in terms of total biomass, was reduced by 50%. Roots of K. candel could accumulate pyrene from contaminated microcosms, and pyrene concentrations in roots harvested from microcosms with and without humic acid addition were 6.01 and 3.46 microg g(-1) dw, respectively. These results suggest that the addition of HA to contaminated sediments decreased the mangrove microcosm's ability to remove pyrene as pyrene was more tightly bound to the organic matter and plant growth was reduced.

Avicennia↗

The toxicokinetics of pyrene and its metabolites in rats.

Five experiments were conducted in male Sprague-Dawley rats regarding the kinetic of urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) following i.v., oral and dermal exposure to 0.5-50 micromol/kg pyrene either as a single substance or as mixture of various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Frequent urine collections over 48 h after exposure and a tissue versus time distribution experiment using [14C]pyrene allowed to define the kinetic profile of both pyrene and 1-OHP. For all exposure routes, there is a linear relationship over two orders of magnitude between the dose of pyrene and the urinary excretion of 1-OHP. Differences in biliary/urinary 1-OHP excretion ratio in canulated rats (3) versus faecal/urinary 1-OHP excretion ratio in non-canulated rats (0.6) indicate major enterohepatic recirculation of the metabolite. Half-lives of both pyrene and 1-OHP in all measured tissues were all comprised between 3.1 and 5.4 h, and 5.2-6.7 h, respectively, so that no long term accumulation would be predicted from these values for any tissue. Binary and ternary mixtures involving naphthalene and benzo(a)pyrene in addition to pyrene has no influence on the urinary excretion profile of 1-OHP. All these observations led to the proposal of a dynamic compartment model of pyrene and metabolite flows indicating that following rapid initial distribution to fatty tissues, pyrene is rapidly biotransformed into various metabolites and undergoes major enterohepatic recycling. Part of the initially formed and part of the recirculated 1-OHP eventually undergoes urinary excretion such that close to 60% of pyrene is eliminated as metabolites in urine by 24 h after injection while 20% is excreted in the faeces over the same period.

Administration, Oral↗

Effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the elimination kinetics of pyrene and the urinary excretion profile of 1-hydroxypyrene in the rat.

Pyrene was chosen as a noncarcinogen model of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Groups of male Wistar rats were dosed with pyrene and with mixture of pyrene and fluoranthene, pyrene and benz[a]anthracene, or pyrene, fluoranthene, and benz[a]anthracene at 20 mg/kg by intravenous or oral routes. Blood samples were taken at 0.25, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 h after administration. The concentration of pyrene was determined by gas chromatography. The toxicokinetic parameters for pyrene were determined from the time course of blood concentration. A significant increase in the bioavailability of pyrene after treatment with other PAHs was observed. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene excretion was analyzed after pretreatment with acenaphthene, naphthalene, chrysene, phenanthrene, benz[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene. The urine from rats was collected for 3 d and the concentration of 1-hydroxypyrene was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Most compounds examined caused a decrease in the urinary excretion of the metabolite of pyrene.

Administration, Oral↗

Cellular uptake and intracellular localization of benzo(a)pyrene by digital fluorescence imaging microscopy.

Uptake of benzo(a)pyrene by living cultured cells has been visualized in real time using digital fluorescence-imaging microscopy. Benzo(a)pyrene was noncovalently associated with lipoproteins, as a physiologic mode of presentation of the carcinogen to cells. When incubated with either human fibroblasts or murine P388D1 macrophages, benzo(a)pyrene uptake occurred in the absence of endocytosis, with a halftime of approximately 2 min, irrespective of the identity of the delivery vehicles, which were high density lipoproteins, low density lipoproteins, very low density lipoproteins, and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine single-walled vesicles. Thus, cellular uptake of benzo(a)pyrene from these hydrophobic donors occurs by spontaneous transfer through the aqueous phase. Moreover, the rate constant for uptake, the extent of uptake, and the intracellular localization of benzo(a)pyrene were identical for both living and fixed cells. Similar rate constants for benzo(a)pyrene efflux from cells to extracellular lipoproteins suggests the involvement of the plasma membrane in the rate-limiting step. The intracellular location of benzo(a)pyrene at equilibrium was coincident with a fluorescent cholesterol analog, N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)-23,24-dinor-5-cholen-22-amine-3 beta-ol. Benzo(a)pyrene did not accumulate in acidic compartments, based on acridine orange fluorescence, or in mitochondria, based on rhodamine-123 fluorescence. When the intracellular lipid volume of isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages was increased by prior incubation of these cells with either acetylated low density lipoproteins or with very low density lipoproteins from a hypertriglyceridemic individual, cellular accumulation of benzo(a)pyrene increased proportionately with increased [1-14C]oleate incorporation into cellular triglycerides and cholesteryl esters. Thus, benzo(a)pyrene uptake by cells is a simple partitioning phenomenon, controlled by the relative lipid volumes of extracellular donor lipoproteins and of cells, and does not involve lipoprotein endocytosis as an obligatory step.

Animals↗

Local metabolism in lung airways increases the uncertainty of pyrene as a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure.

While inhaled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons have long been suspected to induce lung cancer in humans, their dosimetry has not been fully elucidated. A key question is whether the critical exposure occurs during absorption in the lungs, or if toxicants in the systemic circulation contribute significantly to lung cancer risk. In particular, data are needed to determine how the physical properties of inhalants affect local dosimetry in the respiratory tract. Pyrene, a tobacco smoke component, was selected for study because it has physical properties between those of highly lipophilic benzo[a]pyrene and water-soluble nitrosamines. Aliquots of 5 ng of pyrene dissolved in a phospholipid/ saline suspension were instilled as a single-spray bolus in the posterior trachea of the dog just anterior to the carina. For 3 h after instillation, blood was repeatedly sampled from the azygous vein, which drains the mucosa around the point of instillation, and from both sides of the systemic circulation. At 3 h post-instillation, tissue samples were taken. Autoradiography was used to determine the depth distribution of pyrene in the tracheal mucosa. The concentration of pyrene-equivalent radioactivity in the azygous vein peaked 9 min after the instillation. At approximately 30 min after instillation, a rapid early clearance phase shifted into a distinctly slower second clearance phase. Rates of rapid clearance were, however, sufficiently slow to indicate diffusion-limited absorption of pyrene in the trachea. This finding was corroborated by high concentrations of pyrene in the epithelium as determined by autoradiography. High epithelial concentration of pyrene combined with a slow penetration into the circulating blood allowed substantial first-pass metabolic conversion of pyrene in the tracheal mucosa. A total of 13% of the instilled pyrene was retained in the tracheal mucosa 3.2 h after instillation; of this, 29% was parent compound, 52% was organic-extractable metabolites, 14% was water-soluble metabolites and 6% (approximately 1% of the instilled amount) was covalently bound to tracheal tissues. Results support the inference that lipophilic protoxicants, because of slow, diffusion-limited absorption, are more likely than water-soluble protoxicants to be bioactivated in the lining epithelium and, in turn, induce first-pass toxicity at the site of entry. In addition, limitations were identified in the use of systemically distributed biomarkers of PAHs, such as urinary hydroxypyrene levels, as indicators of the biologically effective dose in airway target cells.

Animals↗

Rhodanobacter sp. strain BPC1 in a benzo[a]pyrene-mineralizing bacterial consortium.

A bacterial consortium which rapidly mineralizes benzo[a]pyrene when it is grown on a high-boiling-point diesel fuel distillate (HBD) was recovered from soil and maintained for approximately 3 years. Previous studies have shown that mobilization of benzo[a]pyrene into the supernatant liquid precedes mineralization of this compound (R. Kanaly, R. Bartha, K. Watanabe, and S. Harayama, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66:4205-4211, 2000). In the present study, we found that sterilized supernatant liquid filtrate (SSLF) obtained from the growing consortium stimulated mineralization of benzo[a]pyrene when it was readministered to a consortium inoculum without HBD. Following this observation, eight bacterial strains were isolated from the consortium, and SSLF of each of them was assayed for the ability to stimulate benzo[a]pyrene mineralization by the original consortium. The SSLF obtained from one strain, designated BPC1, most vigorously stimulated benzo[a]pyrene mineralization by the original consortium; its effect was more than twofold greater than the effect of the SSLF obtained from the original consortium. A 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and biochemical tests identified strain BPC1 as a member of the genus Rhodanobacter, whose type strain, Rhodanobacter lindaniclasticus RP5557, which was isolated for its ability to grow on the pesticide lindane, is not extant. Strain BPC1 could not grow on lindane, benzo[a]pyrene, simple hydrocarbons, and HBD in pure culture. In contrast, a competitive PCR assay indicated that strain BPC1 grew in the consortium fed only HBD and benzo[a]pyrene. This growth of BPC1 was concomitant with growth of the total bacterial consortium and preceded the initiation of benzo[a]pyrene mineralization. These results suggest that strain BPC1 has a specialized niche in the benzo[a]pyrene-mineralizing consortium; namely, it grows on metabolites produced by fellow members and contributes to benzo[a]pyrene mineralization by increasing the bioavailability of this compound.

Bacteria↗

Long-term pyrene exposure of grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio, affects molting and reproduction of exposed males and offspring of exposed females.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of long-term pyrene exposure on molting and reproduction in the model estuarine invertebrate, the grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio). Grass shrimp were exposed to measured concentrations of 5.1, 15.0, and 63. 4 ppb (microg/L) pyrene for 6 weeks, during which time we determined molting and survivorship. At the end of the exposure, we immediately sacrificed some of the shrimp for biomarker (CYP1A and vitellin) analyses. The remaining shrimp were used to analyze fecundity and embryo survivorship during an additional 6 weeks after termination of pyrene exposure. Male shrimp at the highest pyrene dose (63 ppb) experienced a significant delay in molting and in time until reproduction, and showed elevated ethoxycoumarin o-deethylase (ECOD) activity immediately after the 6-week exposure period. In contrast, 63 ppb pyrene did not affect these parameters in female shrimp. Females produced the same number of eggs per body weight, with high egg viability (98-100%) at all exposure levels, but with decreased survival for the offspring of the 63-ppb pyrene-exposed females. In addition, vitellin levels were elevated only in females at 63 ppb pyrene after the 6-week exposure. We hypothesize that the elevated vitellin binds pyrene and keeps it biologically unavailable to adult females, resulting in maternal transfer of pyrene to the embryos. This would account for the lack of effect of pyrene exposure on ECOD activity, molting, and reproduction in the adult females, and for reduced survival of their offspring.

Animals↗

The effect of aging on pyrene transformation in sediments.

The effect of aging on pyrene transformation and pyrene association with fractions of the sedimentary organic matrix (SdOM) was evaluated using [4,9-(13)C2]pyrene. Sediments were collected from a site of previous petroleum hydrocarbon contamination (New Orleans, LA, USA). Aged sediments were autoclaved for 1 h, amended with pyrene, and then stored in the dark in a 0.05% NaN3 solution for 120 d. Both aged and nonaged sediments were incubated in aerated microcosms for 120 d. Microcosms were acidified to collect evolved carbon dioxide (CO2); sediments were fractionated and lipid extracted to quantify pyrene in SdOM fractions. Cross-polarization magic angle spinning 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (CPMAS 13C-NMR) spectra indicated that synthetic aging techniques did alter SdOM structure to some degree, but these changes did not affect SdOM affinity for pyrene. Aging delayed pyrene mineralization and increased pyrene concentrations extracted from bulk sediment and humic fractions. Aging also reduced the toxicity of sediment humin. Pyrene-4,5-dione and pyrene cis-4,5-dihydrodiol were identified in extracts of aged sediments by 13C-NMR and gas chromatography mass spectrometry, respectively.

Biotransformation↗

Effect of fatty acids on formation, distribution, storage, and release of benzo(a)pyrene phenols and glucuronides in the isolated perfused rat liver.

The hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene and conjugation, storage, and release of benzo(a)pyrene phenols and glucuronides by the perfused rat liver were studied in the presence and absence of acute addition of physiological concentrations of common dietary fatty acids. The actions of fatty acids on the oxidation and conjugation of benzo(a)pyrene in the intact liver were compared with their actions on microsomes isolated from rat liver. Rats were treated with beta-naphthoflavone to stimulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism. Long-chain fatty acyl CoA compounds (palmitoyl CoA, oleoyl CoA, linolenoyl CoA; 50 microM) inhibited hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene by isolated microsomes by about 45%; however, long-chain fatty acids did not affect overall rates of hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene by the perfused liver at concentrations ranging up to 300 microM. The medium-chain acyl CoA compound, octanoyl CoA, also did not affect benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylation in microsomes or liver. Although fatty acids did not alter rates of hydroxylation, the ratio of free benzo(a)pyrene phenols to glucuronides (F/G ratio) increased about 60% (P less than 0.05) in livers perfused with long-chain fatty acids (palmitate, oleate, linolenate). Inhibition of glucuronidation was not observed with the medium-chain fatty acid, octanoate. Benzo(a)pyrene phenols and glucuronides accumulated linearly in the liver at rates of approximately 40 nmol/g/h. A second action of both long- and medium-chain length fatty acids was to increase rates of release of benzopyrene phenols into the perfusate by 50 to 80%. Fatty acids did not effect release of benzo(a)pyrene phenols and glucuronides into bile. Taken together, these data support the hypothesis that fatty acids displace carcinogenic metabolites of benzo(a)pyrene from binding sites in the liver which enter the circulation and travel to target tissues.

Acyl Coenzyme A↗

The involvement of a diol-epoxide in the metabolic activation of benzo(a)pyrene in human bronchial mucosa and in mouse skin.

DNA has been isolated from human bronchial segments that have been treated in short-term organ culture with 3H-labelled benzo (a) pyrene. DNA has also been isolated from mouse skin treated with 3H-labelled samples of benzo (a) pyrene, with the related radioactive 4,5-, 7,8- and 9,10-dihydrodiols and with 3H-3-hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene. Sephadex LH20 column chromatography of hydrolysates of these DNA samples showed that the hydrocarbondeoxyribonucleoside products formed in benzo (a)-pyrene-treated human bronchial mucosa and mouse skin are indistinguishable from those that are formed when 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo (a) pyrene 9,10-oxide reacts with DNA in solution. These same hydrocarbon-deoxyribonucleoside products were also found in hydrolysates of DNA from mouse skin treated with 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo (a)-pyrene but products of this type were not detected in hydrolysates of DNA following treatment of mouse skin either with the 4,5- or 9,10-dihydrodiols or with 3-hydroxybenzo (a) pyrene. This results show that the metabolic activation of benzo (a) pyrene to a diolepoxide, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo (a) pyrene 9,10-oxide, which reacts with DNA, is the same in human bronchial mucosa, a tissue in which this hydrocarbon is suspected of being carcinogenic, as it is in mouse skin and in hamster embryo cells, two situations in which benzo(a)pyrene is known to induce malignancy.

Animals↗

Formation of DNA-binding products from isolated benzo[a]pyrene metabolites in rat liver nuclei.

Liver nuclei from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats in the presence of NADPH metabolized 3- and 9-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene to products that bound to DNA. Maximal binding was obtained with the dihydrodiol which was approximately 3-fold that with 9-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, and 60-fold that with 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, as substrates. Both 4,5-dihydro-4,5-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene and 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene were also extensively metabolized by the nuclear fraction but did not give rise to DNA-binding products. The available evidence suggests that the DNA binding species derived from 9-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene is 9-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-oxide and from 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene, as previously observed in different systems, 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene-9,10-oxide.

Animals↗

Transport of a carcinogen, benzo[a]pyrene, from particulates to lipid bilayers: a model for the fate of particle-adsorbed polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons which are retained in the lungs.

Fluorescence spectroscopic methods were used to investigate the effects of adsorption of benzo[a]pyrene to particulate matter on its rate of uptake into model membranes composed of dipalmitoyl L-alpha-phosphatidylcholine. From these experiments we conclude the following: 1. Adsorption of benzo[a]pyrene to four types of asbestos (anthophyllite, crocidolite, chrysotile, and amosite) and a variety of non-fibrous particles (hematite, silica, titanium dioxide, porous glass and talc) results in increased rates of membrane uptake when compared with aqueous suspensions of benzo[a]pyrene microcrystals. Benzo[a]pyrene was not released from carbon black. 2. Asbestos-adsorbed benzo[a]pyrene was transferred to the membranes most rapidly. 3. Adsorption of benzo[a]pyrene to the surface of the particles is necessary for its enhanced transport into membranes. That is, simple mixtures of benzo[a]pyrene microcrystals and particulates do not show enhanced transport. 4. Particle-enhanced transport of benzo[a]pyrene is not correlated with the effects of the particles on vesicle integrity, binding of vesicles to the particles, or the concentrations of either particles or vesicles. The rate limiting step for transport of benzo[a]pyrene into vesicles appears to be its rate of desorption from the surface of the particle. Following desorption, membrane uptake of benzo[a]pyrene is rapid.

Adsorption↗