Differences in the modulation of P450IA1 and epoxide hydratase expression by benz[a]anthracene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in mouse embryo versus mouse hepatoma-derived cell lines

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-induced C3H/10-T1/2/CL8 mouse embryo fibroblasts (10T1/2) and mouse hepatoma-derived Hepa 1c1c7 cells (Hepa-1), exhibit comparable total cytochrome P450 levels and total PAH-metabolizing activities but very different distributions of PAH metabolites. Based on anti-P450IA1-IgG inhibition data, P450IA1 contributes essentially all PAH metabolism in Hepa-1 microsomes but is not involved in PAH metabolism by 10T1/2 cells. In addition, the microsomal epoxide hydratase (EHm) in Hepa-1 cells is far less effective in dihydrodiol (diol) formation compared to that in 10T1/2 microsomes [Pottenger, L.H. and Jefcoate, C.R. Carcinogenesis, 11, 321-327 (1990)]. In the present study, the levels of expression of P450IA1 and EHm proteins and the corresponding mRNAs, both prior to and following exposure to benz[a]anthracene (BA) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), have been correlated with microsomal PAH metabolism by each cell type. In 10T1/2 cells, P450IA1 protein (56 kd) and mRNA (2.6 kb) were detectable at extremely low levels in only two of five cell preparations and then only after maximum induction by TCDD and BA. Thus although 10T1/2 cells contain functional Ah receptors, their capacity to induce P450IA1 is highly suppressed, representing at most 2% of the total P450. TCDD (10 nM) was 4-fold more effective than BA (10 microM) in inducing P450IA1 mRNA, while the levels of immunodetectable protein were comparable. An even greater discrepancy between P450IA1 mRNA and protein levels was seen in BA-induced Hepa-1 cells, where a 4-fold increase in mRNA was paralleled by a 20-fold increase in protein. This difference is probably due to the greater effect of BA depletion on mRNA compared to protein levels. In 10T1/2 cells, BA and TCDD were equally effective at increasing expression of an unidentified 1.9 kb mRNA sequence that blotted very weakly with the P450IA1 cDNA probe. The expression of this mRNA was independent from that of P450IA1. A similar band was visible in Hepa-1 cells less than 1% of the P450IA1 mRNA. EHm mRNA was almost 3-fold higher in 10T1/2 compared to Hepa-1 cells and was unaffected by cell treatments. In Hepa-1 cells, BA and TCDD elevated EHm protein and hydrating activity to levels comparable to those expressed in 10T1/2 cells. It is, therefore, suggested that the relative ineffectiveness of Hepa-1, compared to 10T1/2 EHm, to hydrate low levels of PAH-epoxides is due to differences between the two proteins or their disposition in the microsomal membrane.     

Relationship of N-arylacetamide metabolism and macromolecular binding to oncogenic transformation of C3H10T1/2CL8 cells

The C3H10T1/2CL8 mouse embryo oncogenic transformation bioassay system detects a wide variety of chemical carcinogens. However, one carcinogen that does not transform C3H10T1/2CL8 cells is the liver carcinogen N-2-fluorenylacetamide (FAA). Previous reports indicate that an activated form of FAA,N-acetoxy-FAA (N-OAc-FAA), transforms these fibroblasts. In an effort to understand these results, the metabolism and binding to cellular macromolecules of FAA and N-OAc-FAA using C3H10T1/2CL8 cells was investigated. C3H10T1/2CL8 cells metabolized FAA to 7-hydroxy-FAA, 2-fluorenylamine and N-hydroxy-FAA (N-OH-FAA) at rates of 5.03, 2.22 and 3.33 pmol/h/10⁶ cells, respectively. N-OAc-FAA was bound to the DNA and RNA in C3H10T1/2CL8 cells to the extent of 10.6 and 3.6 FAA residues/10⁶ nucleotides, respectively, and to protein at 21.9 pmol FAA residues/mg protein. However, binding of FAA to DNA and RNA at similar concentrations to N-OAc-FAA was less than 0.3 and 0.6 residues/10⁶ nucleotides, respectively. These results strongly indicate that the inability of FAA to transform C3H10T1/2CL8 cells resides in the cells' inability to metabolize it sufficiently to the proximate carcinogen N-OH-FAA and not an inherent insensitivity to its activated forms.     

Characterization of a novel cytochrome P450 from the transformable cell line, C3H/10T1/2

The cytochrome P450 in the transformable C3H/10T1/2 (10T1/2) cell line has been characterized and compared to the major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-inducible hepatic form, cytochrome P450IA1 (P450IA1). The mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1, was used as an in vitro model for P450IA1 expression and regulation by PAH. Microsomes from uninduced and benz[a]anthracene (BA)-induced 10T1/2 cells provided PAH mono-oxygenated product profiles that were totally different from metabolite profiles produced by microsomes from uninduced and BA-induced Hepa-1 cells even though total activities were similar. The proximate carcinogen, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-3,4-diol (DMBA-3,4-diol) was a major product for the 10T1/2 microsomes, while Hepa-1 formed less than 2% of this metabolite. Hepa-1 converted benzo[a]pyrene (BP) to BP-4,5-diol and DMBA to 7-hydroxymethyl-12-methyl-BA, while 10T1/2 did not produce either product. Polyclonal antibody to rat hepatic P450IA1 did not inhibit metabolism of either PAH substrate by 10T1/2 microsomes, but totally inhibited such metabolism by Hepa-1 microsomes. Western immunoblot analysis of BA-induced 10T1/2 microsomes showed that less than 1% of total P450 was P450IA1. The PAH-metabolizing activity of 10T1/2 microsomes was highly inducible (14-fold) by pre-treatment of non-confluent intact cells with BA, but was only half as inducible by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. In contrast, the P450IA1 activity of Hepa-1 cells was highly inducible by both compounds. The distinct metabolite profiles, antibody inhibition data and lack of immunoreactivity all indicate that PAH metabolism in 10T1/2 cells is catalyzed by a form of P450 distinct from P450IA1. The anomalous induction patterns suggest that this novel isozyme is predominantly regulated by a mechanism other than the Ah receptor.     

Co-expression of human CYP1A1 and a human analog of cytochrome P450-EF in response to 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-pdioxin in the human mammary carcinoma-derived MCF-7 cells

Cultured human mammary carcinoma (MCF-7) cells exhibited constitutivecytochrome P450-dependent metabolism of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene(DMBA) (45–75 pmol/mg microsomal protein). Exposure ofthe cells to 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), whichis known to induce CYP1A1, not only resulted in a 30-fold increasein the total microsomal metabolism of DMBA but produced substantialdifferences in the distribution of DMBA metabolites formed.This suggested that different cytochrome P450 (P450) forms predominatedin untreated and induced cells. Comparative studies with TCDD-inducedhuman hepatoblastoma (HepG2) and skin cell carcinoma (SCC-13)cells and also recombinantly expressed human CYP1A1, confirmedthat the DMBA metabolite profile in TCDD-induced MCF-7 cellswas that of human CYP1A1. This distribution, however, differedsubstantially from the regioselectivity of rat CYP1A1 and mouseCypla-1. Rabbit antibodies to rat CYP1A1 completely inhibitedthe DMBA-metabolizing activity of TCDD-induced MCF-7 cells buthad no inhibitory effect on constitutive DMBA metabolism whichwas, however, completely inhibited by chicken antibodies tothe novel P450 in mouse embryo fibroblasts (P450-EF). Anti-P450-EFinhibited only 10% of the DMBA-metabolizing activity in theTCDD-induced MCF-7 cell microsomes. Microsomes from untreatedMCF-7 cells expressed a 52 kDa protein that was immunodetectableby rabbit anti-P450-EF and failed to express immunodetectablelevels of human CYP1A1. DMBA metabolism, therefore, s from P450-EFin uninduced microsomes to CYP1A1 in TCDD-induced microsomes.The mobility of the P450-EF-like protein in MCF-7 cells washigher than that of P450-EF from C3H/10T1/2CL8 (10T1/2) cells(55 kDa). The 52 kDa protein from MCF-7 cells was induced     

Increased prostaglandin H synthase-1 expression and activity level in stably Harvey-ras transfected C3H10T1/2 cells

In these studies, prostaglandin H synthase activity was increased in stably Harvey-ras transfected C3H10T1/2 cells. The level of total prostaglandin H synthase protein was two-fold higher in stably Harvey-ras transfected C3H10T1/2 cells than in control cells with no difference in prostaglandin H synthase-2 level. Prostaglandin H synthase-1 mRNA level was two-fold higher in transfected than in control cells, while prostaglandin H synthase-2 was not significantly different. Thus, prostaglandin H synthase-1, but not prostaglandin H synthase-2, expression was increased in Harvey-ras transfected C3H10T1/2 cells.     

Identification of cocarcinogens and their potential mechanisms of action using C3H10T 1/2 CL8 mouse embryo fibroblasts

The cocarcinogenic action of five agents which increase microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity in vivo was examined in the C3H10T 1/2 CL8 transformation assay. The compounds studied were benz(a)anthracene, 5,6-benzoflavone, phenobarbital, pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, and Aroclor 1254. After a 48-hr pretreatment with the agent, the cells were then treated with benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P] and the agent for an additional 24 hr. All agents except for Aroclor 1254 increased B(a)P-mediated transformation in C3H10T 1/2 CL8 cells. Benz(a)anthracene, 5,6-benzoflavone, phenobarbital, and pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile also increased the overall metabolism of B(a)P in C3H10T 1/2 CL8 cells to 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene; 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, 9-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene, and 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene. Growth studies indicated that all four agents had no stimulatory effect which might have explained the increases in transformation frequency. This suggests that these agents exert their cocarcinogenic action via increases in the enzyme-mediated pathways of B(a)P metabolism.     

Expression of stably transfected murine glutathione S-transferase A3-3 protects against nucleic acid alkylation and cytotoxicity by aflatoxin B1 in hamster V79 cells expressing rat cytochrome P450-2B1.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is activated to AFB1-8,9-oxide (AFBO), a potent mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolite of AFB1. In the mouse, AFBO has been shown to be most efficiently detoxified by a specific isozyme of alpha-class glutathione S-transferase (GST), mGSTA3-3 (mGST-Yc). A hamster V79 cell line (V79MZr2B1, originally designated V79/SD1) previously transfected with the rat cytochrome P450-2B1 was stably transfected with an mGSTA3-3 expression vector, to study the chemopreventive role of GST in protecting against cytotoxicity or genotoxicity of AFBO. Immunoblotting demonstrated strong expression of an alpha-class GST in the mGSTA3-3 transfected cell line, whereas no detectable alpha-class GST protein was observed in the control (empty vector-transfected) cells. Previous studies with the V79MZr2B1 cell line indicated that it can activate AFB1 to a mutagenic metabolite via a transfected rat P450-2B1 stably expressed in the cells. We examined the ability of the expressed mGSTA3-3 to protect against AFB1-induced cytotoxicity or [3H]-covalent adduct formation in cellular nucleic acids. Exposure of empty vector-transfected control cells and mGSTA3-3 expressing cells to up to 600 nM [3H]-AFB1 indicated that a 70-80% reduction in DNA and RNA adducts was afforded by the expression of mGSTA3-3 in the transfected cells. Clonogenic survival assays showed that the mGSTA3-3 cell line was 4.6-fold resistant to AFB1 cytotoxicity as compared with the empty vector-transfected control SD1 cells, with IC50 values of 69 and 15 microM, respectively. The results of these studies demonstrate that mGSTA3-3 confers substantial protection against nucleic acid covalent modification and cytotoxicity by AFB1 in this transgenic cell model system.     

Development of a human cell line by selection and drug-metabolizing gene transfection with increased capacity to activate promutagens

We have isolated a human lymphoblastoid cell line with higher levels of native cytochrome P450IA1 activity and by DNA transfection introduced human cDNAs for a putative cytochrome P450IIA2 and epoxide hydrolase (E.C. 3.3.2.3). The resultant cell line, designated MCL-1, was substantially more sensitive to the mutagenicity of dimethylnitrosamine and benzo[a]pyrene than the AHH-1 cell line and was found to have increased metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene to dihydrodiols. The increase in native cytochrome P450IA1 activity was achieved by mutation and selection based on resistance to the phototoxicity of benzo[ghi]perylene. One resistant clone, designated L3, was used for subsequent studies. Two complete cDNAs, one encoding a putative cytochrome P450IIA2 and the other a microsomal epoxide hydrolase, were isolated from a human liver cDNA library. After introduction of the cDNAs into an expression vector and transfection into AHH-1 cells, gene expression was detected at the level of enzyme activity (epoxide hydrolase) or by increased sensitivity to dimethylnitrosamine cytotoxicity/mutagenicity (putative P450IIA2). A vector containing both cDNAs was then constructed and transfected into L3 cells to produce MCL-1 cells. The potential usefulness of drug-metabolizing gene transfection and of the MCL-1 cell line, in particular, for genetic toxicity testing is discussed.     

Inhibition of morphological transformation of C3H10T1/2CL8 mouse embryo cells by multiple carcinogen treatments

C3H10T1/2CL8 cells treated on the first day after seeding with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and then treated again with B[a]P displayed an inhibited response of morphological transformation if the second treatment was administered from 14 days to 33 days after seeding. Under these conditions the cells exhibited up to 100% inhibition of morphological transformation, the extent of inhibition being related to the concentration of B[a]P administered in the second treatment. 3-Methylcholanthrene (3MC) and N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) also inhibited B[a]P-induced morphological transformation as a function of concentration when administered to cells 21 days after the initial B[a]P treatment. Delayed recovery of transformed foci was examined in cells treated with B[a]P on days 1 and 22 and scored 6-9 weeks after the first B[a]P treatment. No recovery of cell transformants was observed. Reconstruction experiments with normal and transformed C3H10T1/2CL8 cells suggested that selective cytotoxicity to incipient transformed cells could account for the inhibition by MNNG, but could not account for up to 50% of the inhibition induced by the second treatment of B[a]P or 3MC.     

Induction of neoplastic transformation and DNA single-strand breaks in C3H/10T1/2 clone 8 cells by polycyclic hydrocarbons and alkylating agents

The standard C3H/10T1/2 clone 8 (C3H/10T1/2 CL8) cell transformation assay was tested for its ability to identify a variety of polycyclic hydrocarbons and alkylating agents. Dose-dependent morphologic transformation occurred with benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA), 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, BaP-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrodiol (BaP-7,8-diol), as well as with the relatively weak in vivo carcinogen benzo[e]pyrene. Dibenz[a,h]anthracene yielded a relatively weak response, whereas anthracene and phenanthrene were negative. In contrast, treatment of C3H/10T1/2 CL8 cells with two directly acting alkylating agents, N-nitroso-N-methylnitroguanidine (MNNG) and styrene oxide, gave no transformation, whereas a third alkylating agent, ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS), gave a weak response. Treatment with MCA (2.5 micrograms/ml) yielded a reproducible positive response and, therefore, served as a positive control for routine use of the C3H/10T1/2 CL8 assay. When cells treated with the hydrocarbons BaP, BaP-7,8-diol, or MCA were analyzed for nonspecific DNA damage (single-strand breaks or alkaline-labile sites) by alkaline elution techniques, little if any DNA damage was observed. In contrast, the alkylating agents MNNG, styrene oxide, and EMS yielded substantial numbers of single-strand breaks.     

The effect of modifiers of microsomal enzymes on chemical oncogenesis in cultures of C3H mouse cell lines.

Two cell lines, both derived from the C3H mouse and each having different responses (oncogenic and cytotoxic) to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon oncogens, were studied with respect to their drug-metabolizing enzymes. The 10T1/2CL8 cells (a C3H mouse embryo fibroblastic cell line) were much more effective in converting 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) to 3-MC water-soluble metabolites, 3-MC phenols, and 3-MC-bound cellular macromolecules than were CVP3SC6 cells (a new line of C3H mouse adult ventral prostate fibroblasts). Basal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was higher in 10T1/2CL8 cells than in CVP3SC6 cells, while the reverse was found for epoxide hydrase activity (using 3-methylcholanthrene-11, 12-oxide as substrate. 3-MC or benz(a)anthracene induced epoxide hydrase activity in both cell lines to about the same extent. 3-MC did not induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in CVP3SC6 cells. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was markedly induced in both cell lines by benz(a)anthracene and was slightly induced in 10T1/2CL8 cells by 3-MC. In a chemical oncogenesis cell culture system, transformation of 10T1/2CL8 cells mediated by 3-MC could be increased two- to threefold by treating the cell cultures with: either benz(a)anthracene, styrene oxide, cyclohexene oxide, or 1,2,3,4-tetrahydrona=phthalene-1,2-oxide; or with cyclohexene or 1,2-dihydrona-phthalene, alkene precursors of cyclohexene oxide and 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-1,2-oxide, respectively. When 10T1/2CL8 cells were treated with a combination of benz(a)anthracene and cyclohexene, 3-MC-mediated transformation was increased 7.8-fold. CVP3SC6 cells that were not transformed by 3-MC or other hydrocarbon oncogens were transformed by a combined treatment with benz(a)anthracene, 1,2-dihydronaphthalene, and 3-MC.     

Strain differences in susceptibility to 2-acetylaminofluorene and phenobarbital promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis: immunohistochemical analysis of cytochrome P-450 isozyme induction by 2-acetylaminofluorene and phenobarbital

Strain differences in the expression of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes (P-450s) during enhancement of hepatocarcinogenesis by 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and phenobarbital (PB) were investigated immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies against phenobarbital (PB) (APF3) or 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) (APH8) inducible P-450s. LEW, SD, WBN, F344, SHR, NAR, Wistar and ODS rats were studied, the first five strains proving to be less susceptible to 2-AAF induction of APH8 while responding strongly to the promoting influence of this chemical, as reported previously. The other three strains, NAR, Wistar and ODS, demonstrated greater inducibility, this correlating with an observed resistance to promotion by 2-AAF. PB administration was not associated with any strain difference in APF3 cytochrome P-450 inducibility except in the ODS rat, in which its effects were minimal. The results provide direct evidence that differential expression of cytochrome P-450 species plays a major role in determining responsiveness to hepatocarcinogenesis-promoting agents such as 2-AAF.     

Restoration of growth control in malignantly transformed mouse fibroblasts grown in a chemically defined medium

The expression of growth control and morphological transformation was studied in methylcholanthrene-transformed C3H/10T 1/2 CL8 cells serially propagated in CDM by first exposing cells to albumin (0.1%) before dispersing them with trypsin (50 microgram/ml). In serum-supplemented media, methylcholanthrene-transformed C3H/10T 1/2 CL8 cells exhibit various aspects of the transformed phenotype such as irregular morphology, extensive cell overlap, lack of density-dependent inhibition of division, a saturation density of 1.1 X 10(5) cells/sq cm and tumorigenicity in vivo. Cell phenotype in CDM was dramatically altered. Methylcholanthrene-transformed C3H/10T 1/2 1/2 CL8 cells adapted to CDM exhibited a regular epithelioid morphology with no cell overlap and formed confluent monolayers of nonproliferating cells at a saturation density of 5 X 10(4) cells/sq cm. The mean generation time of logarithmic-phase cells was 25 to 27 hr. Reversion to the transformed phenotype followed addition of albumin (0.1%) or serum (2%) to logarithmic-phase cultures or exposure (30 to 60 sec) to trypsin (10 microgram/ml). Cultures in CDM reexposed to serum remained highly tumorigenic in vivo. The data suggest that absorbed proteins may block transformation-sensitive cell surface sites responsible for growth control and that these sites are inactivated by trypsin.     

Strain Differences in Susceptibility to 2-Acetylaminofluorene and Phenobarbital Promotion of Hepatocarcinogenesis: Immunohistocliemical Analysis of Cytochrome P-450 Isozyme Induction by 2-Acetylaminofluorene and Phenobarbital

Strain differences in the expression of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes (P-450s) during enhancement of hepatocarcinogenesis by 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and phenobarbital (PB) were investigated immunohistochemically using monoclonal antibodies against phenobarbital (PB) (APF3) or 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) (APH8) inducible P-450s. LEW, SD, WBN, F344, SHR, NAR, Wistar and ODS rats were studied, the first five strains proving to be less susceptible to 2-AAF induction of APH8 while responding strongly to the promoting influence of this chemical, as reported previously. The other three strains, NAR, Wistar and ODS, demonstrated greater inducibility, this correlating with an observed resistance to promotion by 2-AAF. PB administration was not associated with any strain difference in APF3 cytochrome P-4SO inducibility except in the ODS rat, in which its effects were minimal. The results provide direct evidence that differential expression of cytochrome P-450 species plays a major role in determining responsiveness to hepatocarcinogenesis-promoting agents such as 2-AAF.     

Partial down-regulation of protein kinase C in C3H 10T 1/2 mouse fibroblasts transfected with the human Ha-ras oncogene

Biochemical and immunological comparison of mouse C3H 10T 1/2 fibroblasts and C3H 10T 1/2 fibroblasts transfected with human activated Ha-ras oncogene indicated significantly lower levels of protein kinase C (PKC) activity and protein in the ras-transfected cells. This effect was observed in three clonal cell lines transfected with an activated ras oncogene. Cytosolic extracts of the ras-transfected cells contained calcium-activated, phospholipid-dependent protein kinase (PKC) activity at 61% of the level of activity present in C3H 10T 1/2 cells. A similarly decreased level of phorbol ester-binding activity was observed in these cells. Analysis of the subcellular distribution of PKC activity in cells failed to indicate significant differences between these cell lines. Immunoblots showed a lower abundance of the Mr 80,000 PKC in ras-transfected cell homogenates and extracts compared to C3H 10T 1/2 cells. Both C3H 10T 1/2 cells and cells transfected with ras expressed only one of the PKC isozymes as resolved by hydroxylapatite chromatography demonstrating that ras transfection of cells did not induce expression of alternative PKC isozymes. These observations indicate that PKC was partially down-regulated in ras-transfected cells, perhaps resulting from constitutively elevated levels of products of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate hydrolysis. Although C3H 10T 1/2 cells were previously shown to be distinct from NIH 3T3 cells in their sensitivity to transformation by the T24-ras oncogene, ras transformation appears to partially down-regulate PKC in C3H 10T 1/2 cells in a manner identical to that for ras-transformed NIH 3T3 cells. This indicates that down-regulation of PKC directly results from the expression of an activated ras oncogene independently of cellular sensitivity to transformation by expression of ras. The common action of ras transformation and phorbol esters to down-regulate PKC provides a possible mechanism for synergism during multistage carcinogenesis.     

Improved transformation of C3H10T1/2CL8 cells by direct- and indirect-acting carcinogens

Oncogenic transformation of C3H10T1/2CL8 cells was improvedby treating the cells 5 days after seeding. Benzo[a]pyrene-inducedtransformation was increased 3.5-fold by this method, comparedwith treating the cells 1 day after seeding. N-Methyl-N' -nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine,which does not transform asynchronous cultures of C3H10T1/2CL8cells when administered 1 day after seeding, produced an averageof 1 focus/dish, with 61% of the dishes exhibiting foci, whenadministered 5 days after seeding. Propane sultone and aflatoxinB₁ also produced marked transformation responses when administered5 days after seeding. However, 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene didnot induce transformation when administered either 1 day or5 days after seeding. With all chemicals examined, clonal cytotoxicitywas reduced when they were administered 5 days after seeding.These results indicate the utility of this new procedure forthe qualitative analysis of the transforming ability of chemicals.     

Tumour perfusion and associated physiology: Characterization and significance for hyperthermia

Mouse embryo cells (C3H 10T1/2) were transfected with a plasmid (pAL8A) containing the HRas oncogene and neomycin resistance gene. Five transfected cell clones were isolated and established as cell lines, and these showed neomycin resistance. Two of these cell lines expressed a normal morphology while three showed a transformed morphology. Four of the cell lines produced tumours in nude mice. Flow cytometry measurements showed that exponentially growing cell cultures of the five transfected cell lines had the same cell cycle distribution as the normal parental cell line. The sensitivity to hyperthermia of the five transfected cell lines was the same as that of the normal cell line for temperatures ranging from 42.0 to 45.0°C. Thus in these studies we found no difference in the thermal sensitivity of normal and malignant cells transfected by the Hras oncogene.     

Normal cells and malignant cells transfected with the HRas oncogene have the same heat sensitivity in culture

Mouse embryo cells (C3H 10T1/2) were transfected with a plasmid (pAL8A) containing the HRas oncogene and neomycin resistance gene. Five transfected cell clones were isolated and established as cell lines, and these showed neomycin resistance. Two of these cell lines expressed a normal morphology while three showed a transformed morphology. Four of the cell lines produced tumours in nude mice. Flow cytometry measurements showed that exponentially growing cell cultures of the five transfected cell lines had the same cell cycle distribution as the normal parental cell line. The sensitivity to hyperthermia of the five transfected cell lines was the same as that of the normal cell line for temperatures ranging from 42.0 to 45.0 degrees C. Thus in these studies we found no difference in the thermal sensitivity of normal and malignant cells transfected by the Hras oncogene.     

Comparison of the morphological transforming activities of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene in C3H10T1/2CL8 cells and characterization of the dibenzo[a,l]pyrene-DNA adducts

C3H10T1/2CL8 (C3H10T1/2) mouse embryo fibroblasts were used to study the in vitro carcinogenic activities of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). The morphological transforming activities of these rodent carcinogens were compared using replicate concentration- response studies. In concentration ranges where both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were active, DB[a,l]P proved to be four to 12 times as potent as B[a]P based on concentration. At lower concentrations DB[a,l]P was active at 0.10 and 0.20 microM, concentrations where B[a]P was inactive. This makes DB[a,l]P the most potent non-methylated PAH evaluated to date in C3H10T1/2 cells. DNA adducts of DB[a,l]P in C3H10T1/2 cells were analyzed by both TLC and TLC/HPLC 32P-postlabeling methods using mononucleotide 3'-phosphate adduct standards derived from the reactions of anti-DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol- 13,14-epoxide (anti-DB[a,l]PDE) and syn-DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol-13,14- epoxide (syn-DB[a,l]PDE) with deoxyadenosine 3'-monophosphate and deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate. All of the DNA adducts observed in C3H10T1/2 cells treated with DB[a,l]P were identified as being derived from the metabolism of DB[a,l]P to its fjord region diol epoxides through DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol. The predominant adduct was identified as an anti-DB[a,l]PDE-deoxyadenosine adduct. Other major adducts were anti- DB[a,l]PDE-deoxyguanosine and syn-DB[a,l]PDE-deoxyadenosine adducts with minor amounts of syn-DB[a,l]PDE-deoxyguanosine adducts. These DNA adduct data are consistent with similar findings of DB[a,l]PDE- deoxyadenosine adducts in mouse skin studies and human mammary cells in culture.      

Identification of the human liver microsomal cytochrome P450s involved in the metabolism of N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine

The ability of human liver cytochrome P450s to metabolize the environmental carcinogen N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine (NDPA) was investigated. The maximum rate of NDPA depropylation in seven human liver microsomal samples was 1.15 nmol/min/mg (range 0.53-2.60). Troleandomycin, a P450 3A4/5 inhibitor, inhibited depropylation modestly (10-60%) in three of seven samples. Diethyldithiocarbamic acid, a potent 2E1 inhibitor, and a 2E1 inhibitory monoclonal antibody (mAb) inhibited the reaction in all samples (23 to almost 100%). No significant inhibition was observed with the 2C9 inhibitor sulfaphenazole or with mAbs to 3A4, 2A6 and 2D6. The 2C8/9/18/19 mAb inhibited depropylation in one sample by approximately 25% and approximately 25% of the activity in another sample could not be accounted for by the inhibitors. Denitrosation of NDPA by three of the microsomal samples exhibited low K(m) values (51-86 microM) while two of these also had high K(m) values (2.6 and 4.6 mM). Purified human P450 2B6 and 3A4 and human P450 2A6, 2C8, 2C9 and 2D6 membranes had high K(m) values relative to their maximum turnover rates and are unlikely to participate in NDPA metabolism at micromolar concentrations. Conversely, purified rabbit 2E1 exhibited K(m) and V(max) values for depropylation of 52 microM and 13.4 nmol propionaldehyde/min/nmol P450, respectively. Values for denitrosation were 66 microM and 1.44 nmol nitrite/min/nmol P450, respectively. The toxicity of NDPA in transfected human liver epithelial cells expressing 2E1 was dose dependent down to 50 microM. No toxicity was observed in control cells or those expressing 2A6. These results indicate that 2E1 is the major human liver microsomal isoform responsible for NDPA metabolism at low micromolar concentrations. We also show that purified P450s catalyze the denitrosation of NDPA at approximately 10-20% of the rate of depropylation and K(m) values for both reactions are the same for each isozyme. This is consistent with the formation of an initial intermediate common to both pathways, presumably an alpha-nitrosamino radical.