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PubMed1996

The plasma membrane Ca2+ pump mutant lysine591 --> arginine retains some activity, but is still inactivated by fluorescein isothiocyanate.

Inactivation of the wild-type human plasma membrane Ca2+ pump (isoform 4b) by fluorescein isothiocyanate is accompanied by covalent modification of Lys591. The mutation of Lys591 to arginine reduced the Ca2+ transport activity to 35% of the wild-type, and diminished the amount of acylphosphate formed from ATP by a corresponding amount. When this mutant was treated with fluorescein isothiocyanate; the enzyme was still irreversibly inactivated, even though no reactive residue was available at position 591. The results show that, although Ca2+ pump function is sensitive to the residue at position 591, Lys591 is not essential for enzyme activity. They also demonstrate that irreversible inhibition of the plasma membrane Ca2+ pump by fluorescein isothiocyanate does not require the covalent modification of Lys591. This indicates that fluorescein isothiocyanate reacts with lysine residues at other positions in addition to Lys591.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1995

Enhancement of esophageal carcinogenesis in male F344 rats by dietary phenylhexyl isothiocyanate.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential effects of dietary 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHITC) on N-nitrosomethylbenzylamine (NMBA)-induced esophageal carcinogenesis in rats. Groups of 15 male F344 rats received weekly s.c. injections of NMBA in 20% dimethylsulfoxide or the vehicle alone for 15 consecutive weeks. Two weeks prior to initiation of carcinogen or vehicle injections rats were provided with modified AIN-76A diet or modified AIN-76A diet containing PHITC at levels of 0.4, 1.0 or 2.5 mumol/g diet. Experimental controls consisted of groups that received only the vehicle (vehicle controls), NMBA (carcinogen controls) or PHITC at the high dose level of 2.5 mumol/g diet. No esophageal tumors or preneoplastic lesions were detected in rats that received the vehicle or PHITC alone. In contrast, all rats treated with NMBA alone or PHITC + NMBA exhibited esophageal tumors and preneoplastic esophageal lesions. In groups that received PHITC + NMBA tumor multiplicity was increased by 21-69% when compared with rats treated with NMBA alone, indicating that PHITC enhanced esophageal tumorigenesis in this model system. These results, in conjunction with our previous work, demonstrate that arylalkyl isothiocyanates may inhibit or enhance esophageal tumorigenesis in the NMBA-treated rat. The ability of isothiocyanates to inhibit or enhance experimental tumorigenesis may depend on alkyl chain length of the isothiocyanate, the animal species examined and the specific carcinogen employed.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Molecular cloning of AbGst1 encoding a glutathione transferase differentially expressed during exposure of Alternaria brassicicola to isothiocyanates.

The AbGst1 gene encoding a glutathione transferase from the necrotrophic pathogen Alternaria brassicicola was cloned from a benzyl isothiocyanate-treated conidial culture using differential display reverse transcription. The deduced amino-acid sequence of AbGst1p showed a significant degree of similarity to glutathione transferase-I from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and glutathione transferase-III from Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The transcription of AbGst1 was significantly enhanced by isothiocyanates, heavy metals and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. However, no significant transcript response was obtained with superoxide-generating menadione and paraquat. Recombinant AbGst1p expressed in Escherichia coli exhibited high transferase activity with allyl and benzyl isothiocyanates as substrate compared with 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, but no peroxidase activity was detected. AbGst1 was upregulated in planta during the first day postinfection, suggesting the potential involvement of this enzyme in isothiocyanate detoxification mechanisms during host plant infection.

Alternaria↗

PubMed2004

Dietary organic isothiocyanates are cytotoxic in human breast cancer MCF-7 and mammary epithelial MCF-12A cell lines.

Organic isothiocyanates (ITCs) are dietary components present in cruciferous vegetables. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the cytotoxicity of 1-naphthyl isothiocyanate (NITC), benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), beta-phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), and sulforaphane in human breast cancer MCF-7 and human mammary epithelium MCF-12A cell lines, as well as in a second human epithelial cell line, human kidney HK-2 cells. The cytotoxicity of NITC, BITC, PEITC, and sulforaphane, as well as the cytotoxicity of the chemotherapeutic agents daunomycin (DNM) and vinblastine (VBL), were examined in MCF-7/sensitive (wt), MCF-7/Adr (which overexpresses P-glycoprotein), MCF-12A, and HK-2 cells. Cell growth was determined by a sulforhodamine B assay. The IC50 values for DNM and VBL in MCF-7/Adr cells were 7.12 +/- 0.42 microM and 0.106 +/- 0.004 microM (mean +/- SE) following a 48-hr exposure; IC50 values for BITC, PEITC, NITC, and sulforaphane were 5.95 +/- 0.10, 7.32 +/- 0.25, 77.9 +/- 8.03, and 13.7 +/- 0.82 microM, respectively, with similar values obtained in MCF-7/wt cells. Corresponding values for BITC, PEITC, NITC, and sulforaphane in MCF-12A cells were 8.07 +/- 0.29, 7.71 +/- 0.07, 33.6 +/- 1.69, and 40.5 +/- 1.25 microM, respectively. BITC and PEITC can inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells as well as human mammary epithelium cells at concentrations similar to those of the chemotherapeutic drug DNM. Sulforaphane and NITC exhibited higher IC50 values. The effect of these ITCs on cell growth may contribute to the cancer chemopreventive properties of ITCs by suppressing the growth of preclinical tumors, and may indicate a potential use of these compounds as chemotherapeutic agents in cancer treatment.

Breast↗

PubMed2003

Quantitative evaluation of isothiocyanates as substrates and inhibitors of P-glycoprotein.

The ATP-binding cassette transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) exerts a critical role in the systemic disposition of, and exposure to, lipophilic and amphipathic drugs, carcinogens, toxins and other xenobiotics. The ability of P-gp to transfer a wide variety of structurally unrelated compounds from the cell interior across the membrane bilayer remains intriguing. Since dietary chemicals in cruciferous and several other foods appear to exert anticarcinogenic effects by inducing phase II enzymes and inhibiting some phase I enzymes, the isothiocyanate constituents are frequently studied for interactions with various biomacromolecules as well as cytotoxins or isolated cells. Several prominent dietary isothiocyanates were characterized for their interaction with P-gp and their specific effects on the P-gp export activity of several marker substrates. Some of these compounds inhibit the active P-gp-mediated efflux of the fluorescent markers LDS-751 and daunorubicin with low potency, with the most potent among them, phenethyl isothiocyanate, inhibiting transport of the LDS-751 substrate with an IC(50) of approximately 240 microM. Overall, these isothiocyanates are unlikely to impede the xenobiotic defence function of P-gp even in the intestine where the concentrations are potentially high.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed2001

Mechanisms of carcinogenesis inhibition by isothiocyanates.

Epidemiological studies have suggested that frequent consumption of cruciferous vegetables is associated with a decreased risk in various types of cancer. Cruciferous vegetables are commonly consumed foods that contain organosulfur compounds known as isothiocyanates. These compounds are potent inhibitors of chemically induced carcinogenesis in animals. Extensive work has been conducted to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the inhibition of carcinogenesis by isothiocyanates. These mechanisms include blocking the metabolic activation of the carcinogens by way of altering the enzymes involved in the process, induction of detoxification enzymes and induction of apoptosis. Since their mode of action is selective, the enzyme composition of the tissue and the inhibition or induction of the enzymes by the isothiocyanates will influence their chemopreventive activities. Isothiocyanates may potentially be beneficial in protecting against human carcinogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Augmented gene expression of quinone reductase by 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate through avoiding its cytotoxicity.

We examined both the induction of quinone reductase (QR) by 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate and its cytotoxicity in Hepa1c1c7 cells, and compared the sensitivity of these two responses to NAC. QR activity was increased by 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate in a dose-dependent manner. At 80 microM, the compound was significantly toxic to cells, but the resulting QR inhibition was dose-dependently overcome by NAC. Augmentation of QR activity by 6-(methylsulfinyl)hexyl isothiocyanate seemed to be due to augmented expression of QR mRNA, which was significantly increased by the compound. Inhibition of QR gene expression was seen at 80 microM and could be overcome by NAC. Optimal induction of QR gene expression by the compound (at 40 microM) was slightly but significantly inhibited by 10 mM NAC but not by 1 mM. The present study suggests that induction of Phase 2 detoxification enzymes by isothiocyanate compounds may be further enhanced by suppression of their inherent cytotoxic activity.

Acetylcysteine↗

PubMed2006

Phenylhexyl isothiocyanate inhibits histone deacetylases and remodels chromatins to induce growth arrest in human leukemia cells.

Natural isothiocyanates, present in cruciferous vegetables and synthetic phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHI) are chemopreventive agents which act by blocking the initiation of carcinogen-induced tumors in rodents. We have demonstrated that isothiocyanates are also growth regulators, inhibiting cell cycle cdk activity and up-regulating inhibitor p21WAF1 (p21) in cancer cells. The up-stream mechanism to modulate cell cycle progression remained to be elucidated. Here, we have demonstrated that exposure of HL-60 leukemia cells to PHI induced G1 arrest and apoptosis. The hypothesis that PHI inhibits cell growth via chromatin remodeling was investigated. PHI mediates the complex cross talk between chromatin and DNA, and it was demonstrated for the first time as an inhibitor of histone deacetylases (HDAC). Thus, the HDAC activity in PHI-exposed HL-60 cells was reduced. Additionally, PHI reduced the expression of HDAC and increased the level of acetyl transferase p300, in favor of accumulation of acetylated histones. Within hours, global acetylation of histones was enhanced. PHI further mediated selective alterations of histone methylation, with a pattern consistent to the marks of transcription competent chromatins. The relationship between acetylated histones and p21 was examined by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Chromatins from cells exposed to PHI contained more p21 DNA in the precipitates of hyperacetylated histones, indicating more accessibility of transcription machinery to the p21 promoter after chromatin unfolding. The cell cycle inhibitors were activated as a result. In contrast to the PHI-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells, which was mediated by caspase-9 up-regulation and bcl-2 reduction, PHI did not induce significant apoptosis in the mononuclear cells from normal peripheral blood and bone marrow. The results revealed a potential selective effect of isothiocyanates to inhibit the growth of malignant cells.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed1989

Effects of aromatic isothiocyanates on tumorigenicity, O6-methylguanine formation, and metabolism of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in A/J mouse lung.

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), and phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) were tested for their abilities to inhibit lung tumorigenesis and O6-methylguanine formation in lung DNA induced by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mice. Pretreatment with PEITC for 4 consecutive days at daily doses of 5 or 25 mumol inhibited tumor multiplicity induced by a single 10-mumol dose of NNK by approximately 70% or 97%, respectively. The 25-mumol daily dose of PEITC also reduced the percentage of animals that developed tumors by 70%. In contrast, both BITC and PITC failed to significantly reduce tumor multiplicity or the percentages of mice that developed tumors. Using an identical dosing regimen, parallel results were observed in the effects of these isothiocyanates on O6-methylguanine formation in the lung, in which PEITC at either dose resulted in considerable inhibition at 2 or 6 h after NNK administration, while BITC or PITC had little effect. PEITC was further tested for its ability to inhibit lung microsomal metabolism of NNK. A single administration of PEITC (5 or 25 mumol) resulted in 90% inhibition of NNK metabolism. These results in conjunction with recent results obtained using F344 rats firmly establish PEITC as an effective inhibitor of NNK lung tumorigenesis and suggest that the basis of this inhibition is the reduction of DNA adduct formation caused by the inhibition of enzymes responsible for NNK activation.

Adenoma↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Reaction of fluorescein isothiocyanate with thiol and amino groups of sarcoplasmic ATPase.

Several model compounds containing thiol and/or amino groups (mercaptoethanol, glutathione, cysteine, ethanolamine, glycine) were studied with respect to their reactivity towards fluorescein isothiocyanate (followed spectrophotometrically at 504 and 412 nm), stability of product and long-wave absorption maximum of the fluorescein residue attached. Thiol groups reacted by far more readily than amino groups. A specific effect was observed with cysteine, indicating an intramolecular transfer of the fluorescein residue from SH to NH2. With sarcoplasmic vesicles both types of reactions were observed. The ratio of products, which can be distinguished by their different stabilities and absorption spectra, depended on the absence or presence of detergents. While with native vesicles the NH2 reaction predominated, with vesicles solubilized with sodium dodecylsulfate, octaethyleneglycol mono-n-dodecyl ether or 1-0-tetradecyl-propanediol-(1,3)-3-phosphorylcholine the SH reaction became prevailing. Already 0.35 mg sodium dodecylsulfate per mg protein were sufficient to give rise to dithiourethane formation exclusively. Excess fluorescein isothiocyanate reacted with several thiol groups of dodecylsulfate-solubilized vesicles. In the presence of ATP binding of fluorescein isothiocyanate to native vesicles was significantly reduced. Total blockage of the vesicular SH groups with N-ethyl-maleimide led to preparations that reacted with fluorescein isothiocyanate much more slowly, compared to native vesicles. Octaethyleneglycol mono-n-dodecyl ether or 1-0-tetradecyl-propanediol-(1,3)-3-phosphorylcholine in the assay accelerated the thioureide formation from N-ethylmaleimide modified vesicles, whereas sodium dodecylsulfate prevented it almost completely. Our results support the suggestion that one or several thiol groups in vicinity of the highly reactive lysyl residue might play a role in the fast specific reaction, which is only observed with intact native vesicles.

Adenosine Triphosphatases↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effects of isothiocyanates on the metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and benzo[a]pyrene by hamster and rat liver microsomes.

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) strongly inhibited the N-pyridine oxidation and alpha-carbon hydroxylation pathways of the in vitro metabolism of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) by Syrian golden hamster liver microsomes from saline-injected (noninduced) animals. PEITC was more potent than BITC. NNK-reduction was enhanced by both isothiocyanates. Both N-oxidation and alpha-hydroxylation activities were several-fold greater in hamster liver microsomes compared with F344 rat liver microsomes. Consequently, the inhibitory effect of BITC and PEITC on rat liver microsomes (noninduced) was not as pronounced. NNK-reduction in rat liver microsomes was not significantly different from hamster and was not enhanced by BITC and PEITC. Neither BITC nor PEITC had a strong inhibitory effect on the in vitro metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) by either hamster or F344 rat liver microsomes from beta-naphthoflavone treated animals. The extent of BaP metabolism was similar for the two microsome groups. Since the metabolism of NNK and BaP depends upon cytochrome P450-mediated reactions that may utilize different isozymes of cytochrome P450, our data suggest that BITC and PEITC may inhibit the activity of some isozymes and not others. Our results also indicate that the inhibition of the metabolism of NNK by isothiocyanates as previously described for the mouse and rat can now be extended to include the hamster as well.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Phenylalkyl isothiocyanate-cysteine conjugates as glutathione S-transferase stimulating agents.

To develop analogues of phenylalkyl isothiocyanate with less toxicity and better biological activity, two water-soluble phenylalkyl isothiocyanate-cysteine conjugates, S-[N-benzyl(thiocarbamoyl)]-L-cysteine (1) and S-[N-(3-phenylpropyl)(thiocarbamoyl)]-L-cysteine (2), were synthesized. The induction of increased activity of the detoxifying enzyme glutathione S-transferase by the conjugates and their parent compounds was determined and compared in several tissues of A/J mice. The biological evaluation revealed that the conjugates as GST enzyme inducers appeared to be less toxic and even more potent than the parent compounds in the mouse bladder. Compounds 1 was much more active than 2 in all the tissues examined, while their parent compounds showed an inverse order of activity. Thus, an increase in the alkyl chain length of the parent isothiocyanates or a decrease in the alkyl length of the conjugates could result in higher enzyme-inducing activity in the same compound series. Since a number of nitrosamines have been identified as prime bladder carcinogens and phenylalkyl isothiocyanates have been reported to inhibit a wide range of carcinogenic nitrosamines, the corresponding conjugates may serve as prodrugs to protect against nitrosamine-induced urinary bladder carcinogenesis once they are delivered to the target organ.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Probes for narcotic receptor mediated phenomena. 17. Synthesis and evaluation of a series of trans-3,4-dichloro-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneacet amide (U50,488) related isothiocyanate derivatives as opioid receptor affinity ligands.

A series of U50,488 related isothiocyanates was synthesized from enantiomerically pure (S,S)-(+)-trans-2-pyrrolidinyl-N-methylcyclohexylamine [(+)-7] and (R,R)-(-)-trans-2-pyrrolidinyl-N-methylcyclohexylamine [(-)-7]. DCC coupling of (+)- and (-)-7 with nitrophenylacetic acids followed by catalytic hydrogenation and treatment with thiophosgene afforded a series of six isomeric aryl isothiocyanate analogues of U50,488. Similarly, DCC coupling of (+)- and (-)-7 with (+)- and (-)-N-t-Boc-protected phenylglycines afforded four isomeric alkyl isothiocyanates. Evaluation of the isothiocyanates for their capacity to produce wash-resistant inhibition of mu, delta, and kappa sites in vitro was performed using rat and guinea pig brain membranes. None of the compounds was able to irreversibly inhibit binding of [3H]bremazocine to guinea pig and rat brain membranes (depleted of functional mu and delta receptors by pretreatment with acylating agents BIT and FIT). However, (1S,2S)-trans-2-isothiocyanato-N-methyl-N-[2- (1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide [(-)-1] was able to specifically and irreversibly inhibit kappa receptors labeled by [3H]-U69,593: Incubation of rat brain membranes for 60 min at 25 degrees C with 1 microM of (-)-1 resulted in a wash-resistant reduction of the binding to 11.2 +/- 2.5% of the control. Binding analysis revealed the wash-resistant reduction in [3H]-U69,593 binding by (-)-1 to be through an increase in the Kd without effect on the Bmax. (-)-1 failed to effect mu or delta binding in rat or guinea pig brain under the same conditions. The enantiomer of (-)-1, (1R,2R)-trans-2-isothiocyanato-N-methyl-N-[2- (1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide [(+)-1], failed to affect kappa receptors labeled by [3H]-U69,593 under the same conditions as for (-)-1. (1S,2S)-trans-3-Isothiocyanato-N-methyl-N-[2- (1-pyrrolidinyl)cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide [(-)-2] inhibited to 49.6 +/- 5.1% of the control, in a wash-resistant manner, kappa receptors labeled by [3H]-U69,593. However, (-)-2 was not as selective as (-)-1 since it also reduced [3H]DADLE (delta) binding to 82.4 +/- 8.0% of the control value. (1S,2S)-trans-4-Isothiocyanato-N-methyl-N-[2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)- cyclohexyl]benzeneacetamide [(-)-3] exhibited selective wash-resistant inhibition of delta receptors labeled by [3H]DADLE resulting in a reduction in binding to 42.9 +/- 4.2% of control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

3,4-Dichloro-N-methyl-N-(2-(1-pyrrolidinyl)-cycloh↗

PubMed2000

Cascade radical reaction of 2-alkynyl-substituted aryl radicals with aryl isothiocyanates: a novel entry to benzothieno[2,3-b]quinolines through alpha-(Arylsulfanyl)imidoyl radicals.

The novel cascade radical reaction of 2-(phenylalkynyl)aryl radicals with 4-Y-phenyl isothiocyanates (Y = H, OMe, Me, Cl, CN) provides a useful one-pot protocol for the production of 8-Y-substituted (12) and/or 9-Y-substituted benzothieno[2,3-b]quinolines (11). The whole process entails primary formation of an alpha-(2-alkynylarylsulfanyl)imidoyl radical that undergoes smooth 5-exo-dig cyclization onto the alkynyl triple bond. The derived 1-phenylvinyl radical then exhibits six-membered cyclization onto the isothiocyanate ring, to give 11, and/or five-membered ipso-cyclization to an azaspiro intermediate, whose eventual rearrangement affords 12. The overall findings clearly showed that the relative proportion of the outcoming isomeric benzothienoquinolines 11 and 12 can be markedly affected by the nature of the original isothiocyanate substituent. Moreover, the findings also furnished the first chemical evidence that enhancing the electrophilic power of the employed radical can properly enhance the reactivity of aryl radicals toward isothiocyanates.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1993

Isothiocyanates inhibit cell cycle progression of HeLa cells at G2/M phase.

To analyze the inhibitory effects of isothiocyanates on the growth of human cancer cells, the effects of these compounds on the cell cycle progression of HeLa cells were studied by flow cytometry. The accumulation of cells at G2/M phase was observed at 16 h after treatment with 10 microM allyl isothiocyanate, 2.5 microM benzyl or phenethyl isothiocyanate, at which concentrations the cell growth was inhibited to 41-79% of control. These results suggest that isothiocyanates delay the cell cycle progression of HeLa cells, leading to inhibition of cell growth.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMed1974

Inhibition of ethylene evolution in papaya pulp tissue by benzyl isothiocyanate.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) pulp tissue disks in an incubation medium composed of 0.4 m sucrose evolve ethylene at an optimum pH of 5.25 at 30 C. Disks of young preclimacteric fruit evolve the gas linearly with fruit age until fruit age reaches 4 months. Disks from 5-month-old postclimacteric fruit produce approximately 5-fold more ethylene than disks from 4-month-old fruit. Ethylene evolution by unaged papaya disks is inhibited potently by benzyl isothiocyanate. The compound inhibits production of ethylene by approximately 60% at a concentration of 0.046 mm. However, in aged papaya disks benzyl isothiocyanate causes no inhibition of ethylene production indicating that the compound inhibits the induction of the ethylene-producing system rather than the evolution of the gas per se. Even at a 2-fold higher concentration benzyl isothiocyanate has no effect on respiration of unaged papaya disks. It is proposed that benzyl isothiocyanate may act as an endogenous regulator of ethylene evolution in papaya fruit.

Journal Article↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A/J mouse lung tumorigenesis by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and its inhibition by arylalkyl isothiocyanates.

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is an important carcinogen found in tobacco and tobacco smoke. It is a potent lung tumorigen in rodents and appears to be involved in human cancer induced by tobacco products. NNK induces lung tumors in A/J mice after a single dose; tumor multiplicity is higher when the mice are maintained on an AIN-76A diet than when they are maintained on NIH-07 diet. This paper reviews our recent research using this single-dose model. Bioassays of deuterium substituted analogues of NNK have demonstrated that methylation of DNA by NNK is an important step in lung tumor induction. Arylalkyl isothiocyanates inhibit the metabolic activation of NNK and consequently inhibit its DNA binding and tumorigenesis. Structure activity studies have demonstrated that increasing alkyl chain length leads to increasing efficacy in prevention of NNK tumorigenesis. Thus, 3-phenylpropyl isothiocyanate and 4-phenylbutyl isothiocyanate blocked NNK induced lung tumor formation in A/J mice. Lower doses of longer chain arylalkyl isothiocyanates were even more effective as chemopreventive agents.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Effects of benzyl-, phenethyl-, and alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanates on P-glycoprotein- and MRP1-mediated transport.

The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of two dietary isothiocyanates (ITCs), benzyl- (BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), and one synthetic ITC, alpha-naphthyl isothiocyanate (1-NITC), on the P-glycoprotein (P-gp)- and multidrug-resistance protein 1 (MRP1)-mediated efflux of daunomycin (DNM), determine whether PEITC is a substrate of P-gp and/or MRP1, and elucidate the mechanism(s) involved in the inhibition of transport. BITC, PEITC, and 1-NITC significantly increased the 2-h accumulation of DNM in MCF-7/ADR (P-gp overexpression), PANC-1 (MRP1 overexpression), and human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells (except for 1-NITC). The accumulation of (14)C-PEITC was not changed in Caco-2, human breast cancer MDA435/LCC6 and MDA435/LCC6MDR1 (P-gp overexpression) cells in the absence and presence of the P-gp inhibitor verapamil, but significantly increased with the MRP inhibitor MK571 in PANC-1 cells. The isocyanate and amine metabolites had no effect on DNM accumulation in any cell line. After 2- and 24-h ITC treatments, cellular concentrations of glutathione (GSH) in PANC-1 and Caco-2 cells were depleted by BITC and PEITC, but not by 1-NITC; glutathione-S-transferase activity exhibited small changes. Our results suggest that (1) BITC, PEITC, and 1-NITC inhibit the P-gp- and MRP1-mediated efflux of DNM; (2) PEITC and/or its conjugates do not represent P-gp substrates; (3) BITC and PEITC, but not 1-NITC, inhibit MRP1 through the depletion of intracellular GSH, which acts as a cosubstrate for DNM efflux via MRP1; and (4) PEITC and/or its conjugates are MRP1 substrates so binding interactions with DNM represent a second potential mechanism involved in MRP1 inhibition.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗