Lack of evidence for tamoxifen- and toremifene-DNA adducts in lymphocytes of treated patients

Tamoxifen (TAM) is used for the adjuvant treatment of women with breast cancer and has also been recommended as a chemopreventive agent. Among unwanted side effects, TAM was shown to increase endometrial cancer in treated women by mechanisms that are not yet clearly understood. We studied DNA adducts in lymphocytes of female breast cancer patients treated with TAM or toremifene (TOR), a TAM analogue and compared them with adducts formed by TAM in rat liver, where the drug induces tumours. DNA adducts were measured by TLC-(32)P-post-labelling assays. After TLC, all DNA samples including DNA from untreated healthy women showed a faint radioactive zone, where the positive control DNA adducts isolated from the liver of rats treated with TAM migrated. The relative adduct levels were calculated from the radioactivity present in this zone. Means +/- SD of adduct levels per 10(8) nucleotides (associated with this area) were for untreated volunteers (control) 1.83 +/- 1.41 (n = 13), for TAM treatment 2.17 +/- 3.04 (n = 25) and for TOR treatment 1.18 +/- 1.05 (n = 8). Most of the human samples were further analysed by HPLC after labelling with (32)P in order to compare adducts in human DNA with those in liver DNA isolated from TAM-treated rats. None of the human samples showed any peaks at retention times where putative TAM-DNA adducts were eluted. In conclusion, lymphocyte DNA from female patients treated at therapeutic levels did not show evidence of the formation of TAM- or TOR-DNA adducts.     

Microsomal and peroxidase activation of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen to form DNA adducts: comparison with DNA adducts formed in Sprague-Dawley rats treated with tamoxifen

Using rat liver microsomal preparations and peroxidase enzymes,we have investigated the formation of DNA adducts by the antiestrogencompound tamoxifen (TAM) and its metabolite 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen(4-OH-TAM). When reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH) was used as a cofactor in microsomal activation of either4-OH-TAM or TAM, one DNA adduct and relative DNA adduct levelsof 4.6 and 3.1x10^–8, respectively were detected by 32P-postlabeling.The DNA adduct produced by microsomal activation of 4-OH-TAMand TAM was the same. With cumene hydroperoxide (CuOOH) as thecofactor for the microsomal activation of either 4-OH-TAM orTAM, three to six DNA adducts were produced; the relative adductlevels were 8.0 and 20.6x10^–8, respectively. Comparisonof the DNA adduct patterns produced by 4-OH-TAM and TAM showedthat they were distinct However one of the DNA adducts (a) producedby microsomal activation of 4-OH-TAM using CuOOH was the sameas adduct a produced by microsomal activation of 4-OH-TAM withNADPH. Activation of 4-OH-TAM with horseradish peroxidase resultedin the formation of a single DNA adduct and a relative adductlevel of 20.7x10^–8. Rechromatography analysis of thisDNA adduct showed that it was identical to that produced bymicrosomal activation of 4-OH-TAM with NADPH and one of theadducts produced using CuOOH as the cofactor. Ten DNA adductsand a relative adduct level of 15.3x10^–8 were detectedin the liver of female Sprague-Dawley rats treated daily with20 mg/kg of TAM for 7 days. The DNA adduct pattern in the liverof the treated animals was similar to that produced by microsomalactivation of TAM using CuOOH as the co-factor. The principalDNA adduct (no. 6) formed in the livers of rats treated withTAM was the same as the principal DNA adduct formed followingmicrosomal activation of TAM using CuOOH as a cofactor. TheDNA adduct formed following microsomal activation of eitherTAM or 4-OH-TAM using NADPH was also present as one of the adducts(1^*) formed in vivo following TAM treatment These studies demonstratethat 4-OH-TAM can be activated to form DNA adducts and thatit contributes to the formation of DNA adducts in the liverof rats treated with TAM.     

The gene expression of hepatic proteins responsible for DNA repair and cell proliferation in tamoxifen-induced hepatocarcinogenesis

Altered gene expression of the DNA repair- and cell proliferation-associated proteins/enzymes was examined during the process of tamoxifen-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats. When rats were treated by gavage with a single dose of tamoxifen (20 mg/kg body weight) or with the same dose given at 24-h intervals for 2, 12 or 52 weeks, no histopathological change was observed in the liver after 2 weeks. Pathologically altered cell foci and placental form of glutathione-S-transferase (GST-P)-positive foci were observed in the liver after 12 weeks of treatment. Treatment for 52 weeks resulted in the formation of liver hyperplastic nodules that strongly expressed GST-P. During the process of carcinogenesis, changes in hepatic gene expression of DNA repair proteins/enzymes (XPA and XPC, xeroderma pigmentosum complementation groups A and C, respectively; APE, apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease) and of cell proliferation-associated proteins (c-myc; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen; cyclin D1, cyclin B, and p34cdc2) were examined by RT-PCR. The gene expression of XPA and APE was increased by the tamoxifen treatment for 2 or 12 weeks, but no increase was observed after the 52-week treatment. In addition, no significant change in XPC gene expression occurred at any period examined. The gene expression of c-myc, PCNA, and cyclin D1 was increased in a time-dependent fashion up to 12 weeks of treatment, and this increase was maintained up to 52 weeks of treatment. The gene expression of cyclin B and p34cdc2 was increased after the 1-day treatment, reverted to the control level at 2 and 12 weeks of treatment, and was remarkably increased after the 52-week treatment. In the present study, we demonstrate the altered gene expression of various proteins/enzymes involved in DNA repair, cell growth and the cell cycle during the process of tamoxifen-induced hepatocarcinogenesis. We discuss the relationship between the altered gene expression and hepatocarcinogenesis.     

32P-postlabeling analysis of DNA adducts in rats during estrogen-induced hepatocarcinogenesis and effect of tamoxifen on DNA adduct level.

DNA adduct formation in the liver, pancreas, kidneys and uterus in ethynylestradiol (EE)-induced carcinogenesis and the effect of tamoxifen (TAM) on DNA adduct formation were evaluated in female Wistar JCL rats using the 32P-postlabeling method. Hyperplastic nodules were noted in the liver of all rats 4 months after the first oral administration of 0.075 mg of EE, and hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in 8.1% of rats treated with EE for 12 months. DNA adducts increased in the liver for 4 months, reaching a level of 7.3 adducts/10(7) nucleotides and decreasing thereafter. Formation of DNA adducts was also noted in the pancreas and kidney, but the adduct levels were lower than those in the liver. TAM inhibited estrogen receptors (ER) in liver tissues and completely suppressed the development of hyperplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinoma but did not affect DNA adduct formation in the liver. In this model, therefore, EE is considered to cause mutations of hepatocytes due to DNA adduct formation without mediation by ER and to induce initiated cells to develop into hepatocellular carcinoma in the presence of ER-mediated hormonal activities.     

32P-postlabeling analysis of DNA adducts in rat livers after treatment with genotoxic and non-genotoxic 4-aminoazobenzene derivatives

Formation of hepatic DNA adducts was studied in rats following intraperitoneal administration of a hepatocarcinogen, 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene (3-MeO-AAB) and a non-hepatocarcinogen, 2-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene (2-MeO-AAB). The 32P-post-labeling assay revealed 3-MeO-AAB to give more than 20-fold higher amounts of DNA adducts than did 2-MeO-AAB. Furthermore, five adducts, one of which accounted for over 70% of the total modified bases, were found in DNA from 3-MeO-AAB-treated rats, whereas only one adduct was apparent in 2-MeO-AAB-treated DNA. Our data thus suggested that the difference in hepatocarcinogenic activity between 3-MeO-AAB and 2-MeO-AAB might be, at least in part, dependent on quantitative and qualitative differences in their azo dye-DNA adduct formation in the rat liver.     

32P-Postlabeling Analysis of DNA Adducts in Rats during Estrogen-induced Hepatocarcinogenesis and Effect of Tamoxifen on DNA Adduct Level

DNA adduct formation in the liver, pancreas, kidneys and uterus in ethynylestradiol (EE)-induced carcinogenesis and the effect of tamoxifen (TAM) on DNA adduct formation were evaluated in female Wistar JCL rats using the ³²P-postlabeling method. Hyperplastic nodules were noted in the liver of all rats 4 months after the first oral administration of 0.075 mg of EE, and hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in 8.1% of rats treated with EE for 12 months. DNA adducts increased in the liver for 4 months, reaching a level of 7.3 adducts/10⁷ nucleotides and decreasing thereafter. Formation of DNA adducts was also noted in the pancreas and kidney, but the adduct levels were lower than those in the liver. TAM inhibited estrogen receptors (ER) in liver tissues and completely suppressed the development of hyperplastic nodules or hepatocellular carcinoma but did not affect DNA adduct formation in the liver. In this model, therefore, EE is considered to cause mutations of hepatocytes due to DNA adduct formation without mediation by ER and to induce initiated cells to develop into hepatocellular carcinoma in the presence of ER-mediated hormonal activities.     

Mechanism of lower genotoxicity of toremifene compared with tamoxifen

An increased incidence of endometrial cancer has been reported in breast cancer patients taking tamoxifen (TAM) and in healthy women participating in the TAM chemoprevention trials. Because TAM-DNA adducts are mutagenic and detected in the endometrium of women treated with TAM, TAM adducts are suspected to initiate the development of endometrial cancer. Treatment with TAM has been known to promote hepatocarcinoma in rats, but toremifene (TOR), a chlorinated TAM analogue, did not. TAM adducts are primarily formed via sulfonation of the alpha-hydroxylated TAM metabolites. To explore the mechanism of the lower genotoxicity of TOR, the formation of DNA adducts induced by TOR metabolites was measured using (32)P-postlabeling/ high-performance liquid chromatography analysis and compared with that of TAM metabolites. When alpha-hydroxytoremifene was incubated with DNA, 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate, and either rat or human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, the formation of DNA adducts was two orders of magnitude lower than that of alpha-hydroxytamoxifen. alpha-hydroxytoremifene was a poor substrate for rat and human hydroxysteroid sulfotransferases. In addition, the reactivity of alpha-acetoxytoremifene, a model activated form of TOR, with DNA was much lower than that of alpha-acetoxytamoxifen. Thus, TOR is likely to have lower genotoxicity than TAM. TOR may be a safer alternative by avoiding the development of endometrial cancer.     

Tamoxifen: evidence by 32P-postlabeling and use of metabolic inhibitors for two distinct pathways leading to mouse hepatic DNA adduct formation and identification of 4-hydroxytamoxifen as a proximate metabolite

Exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP) strongly intensifies theformation of mouse hepatic DNA adducts elicited by oral administrationof tamoxifen (TAM), as previously shown by ³²P-postlabeling.To explain this effect, PCP was proposed to interfere with thedetoxication by sulfate conjugation of an as yet unidentifiedhydroxylated proximate TAM metabolite. A comparison of the presentand earlier results shows that the hepatic TAM adduct patternin female ICR mice depended on the route of administration ofTAM (120 µmol/kg), with oral administration primarilyeliciting formation of more polar adducts (termed group I adducts),while after i.p. administration less polar adducts (group II)predominated over group I adducts by a factor of 17.5. All theseadducts were also formed in female Sprague–Dawley ratsafter i.p. dosing with TAM, but total adduct levels were 3.5-to 5-fold higher than in mice. After four daily i.p. treatments,TAM adducts accumulated in mouse liver DNA in a non-linear fashion.Adduct levels were 30–50 times lower in mouse kidney andlung than in liver. The phenolic metabolite 4-hydroxy TAM (120µimol/kg) exclusively led to formation of polar (groupI) hepatic adducts, and this process was stimulated 8-fold bycoadministration of PCP (75 µimol/kg). Co-administrationof PCP with the parent compound led to an 11-fold enhancementof group I adduct formation; simultaneously, levels of groupII adducts were suppressed 6-fold. Another inhibitor of sulfateconjugation, 2,6-dichloro-4-nitrophenol, unlike PCP, had noeffect on group I adducts, but it reduced group II adduct formation2.2-fold. The PCP metabolite 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorohydroquinone(75 µimol/kg) did not significantly affect any major TAMadduct, suggesting that PCP itself was the active compound.Similar to group II TAM adducts, the formation of hepatic safrole–DNAadducts was inhibited in female ICR mice by both sulfotransferaseinhibitors, consistent with the proposal that metabolic     

Analysis of DNA adducts in rats exposed to pentachlorophenol

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a widely used biocide that has been reported to be hepatocarcinogenic in mice. Its effects in rats are equivocal, but the liver clearly is not a target organ for carcinogenesis. The carcinogenic effects of PCP in mice may relate to reactive oxygen species generated during metabolism. PCP is known to increase the hydroxyl radical-derived DNA lesion, 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (ohdG), in the liver of exposed mice. To investigate whether the generation of oxidative DNA damage and direct DNA adducts may explain the species difference in carcinogenicity, we have analyzed ohdG in hepatic DNA from PCP-exposed rats. Rats were exposed acutely to PCP for 1 or 5 days. Tissues also were obtained from a 27 week interim sacrifice of the 2 year National Toxicology Program carcinogenesis bioassay. We used HPLC with electrochemical array detection for ohdG analysis. Single or 5 day exposure to PCP (up to 120 or 60 mg/kg/day, respectively) did not increase ohdG. Dietary exposure to 1000 p.p.m. PCP (equivalent to 60 mg/kg/day) for 27 weeks induced a 2-fold increase in ohdG (1.8 versus 0.91x10(-6) in controls). In parallel, formation of direct DNA adducts was analyzed by 32P-post-labeling following nuclease P1 adduct enrichment. We detected two major DNA adducts with relative adduct labeling of 0.78x10(7) adducts per total nucleotides. One of these adducts was found to co-migrate with the adduct induced by the metabolite, tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone. We observed differences in DNA adduct formation between acute and chronic studies, with acute studies not inducing any detectable amount of DNA adducts. These results indicated that chronic, but not acute exposure to PCP increased ohdG and direct adducts in hepatic DNA. As the same exposure conditions that enhanced ohdG did not produce liver cancer in rats, the generation of reactive oxygen species, oxidative DNA damage and direct DNA adducts is not sufficient for the induction of hepatocarcinogenesis by PCP in the rat.     

K-ras mutation in the endometrium of tamoxifen-treated breast cancer patients, with a comparison of tamoxifen and toremifene

The putative presence of a mutation in codon 12 of the K-ras gene was investigated in the endometrium of tamoxifen (TAM) and toremifene (TOR)-treated breast cancer patients. DNA was extracted from fresh cytologic samples of the endometrium in 86 TAM and 21 TOR-treated breast cancer patients. Mutations were detected by enriched PCR and an enzyme-linked mini-sequence assay (ELMA). K-ras mutation was found in 35 TAM-treated endometrial samples, and in only one TOR-treated endometrium (P<0.003). In 24 premenopausal patients, K-ras mutation was found in seven (43.8%) of 16 patients with less than 47 months of TAM treatment, while none was found in eight patients with more than 48 months of TAM treatment (P<0.03). In 62 postmenopausal-amenorrheic patients, K-ras mutation was found in three (15.8%) of 19 patients with less than 23 months of TAM treatment, while it was found in 16 (61.5%) of 26 patients with 24-47 months of TAM treatment and nine (52.9%) of 17 patients with more than 48 months of TAM treatment (P=0.002). The presence of K-ras mutation is significantly influenced by the duration of TAM treatment and menstrual status of the patients. TOR may have a lower potential genotoxicity than TAM.     

Hemoglobin and DNA adducts in rats exposed to 2-nitrotoluene

2-Nitrotoluene (2NT) is an important commercial chemical intermediate. A recent National Toxicology Programme (NTP)-study demonstrated clear evidence of carcinogenic activity of 2NT in rats. In the present study male WELS-Fohm rats were dosed chronically with 2NT, 5 days a week for 12 weeks. Hemoglobin (Hb) adducts and hepatic DNA adducts were analyzed. After mild base treatment of Hb, 2-methylaniline (2MA) was released and quantified using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. 2'-Deoxyguanosine (dG) and 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA) adducts of 2MA were found in hepatic DNA using electrospray-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). The dG adduct found in vivo did not co-elute with N-(2'-deoxyguanosine-8-yl)-2-methylaniline which is the expected adduct for arylamines. The dG adduct detected in the dosed rats was not present in calf thymus-DNA (ct-DNA) modified in vitro with N-acetoxy-2MA. The dA adduct detected in rats was a very minor product in ct-DNA modified in vitro. The dG and dA adducts found in the 2NT-dosed rats increased with the dose. The same increase was seen for the Hb adduct levels measured in the same animals. The increase of DNA and Hb adduct levels were supralinear. There was a very strong linear relationship between the level of dG-2MA adducts and dA-2MA adducts in hepatic DNA from rats administered 2NT over the whole dose range studied (r(2) = 0.9). A strong linear relationship also existed between the level of dG-2MA or dA-2MA adducts, in hepatic DNA, and Hb adducts, over the whole dose range (r(2) > or = 0.9). Thus, there was strong evidence to support the notion that Hb adducts were an effective surrogate marker for the hepatic DNA damage of rats chronically administered 2NT.     

Activation of 4-hydroxytamoxifen and the tamoxifen derivative metabolite E by uterine peroxidase to form DNA adducts: Comparison with DNA adducts formed in the uterus of Sprague-Dawley rats treated with tamoxifen

Daily intraperitoneal treatment of female Sprague-Dawley ratswith either 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg tamoxifen (TAM) for 1 weeks increasedthe level of peroxidase activity in the uterus 2- to 10-foldcompared to the control level. Using uterine extracts preparedfrom control and TAM treated animals, we investigated the activationof 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-HO-TAM) and (E, Z)-1, 2-dipheny-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-but-1-ene(cis/trans-metabolite E) to form DNA adducts. Activation of4-HO-TAM by uterine extracts prepared from either control orTAM-treated rats produced one major (a) and Two minor DNA (band c) adducts. A similar activation of cis/trans-metaboliteE produced two adducts (d and e). There was good correlationbetween levels of uterine peroxidase activity and levels ofDNA adducts formed by 4-HO-TAM and cis/trans-metabolite E. Activationof 4-HO-TAM and cis/trans-metabolite E with horseradish peroxidase(HRP) produced the same adducts as observed by activation withuterine extract Treatment of Sprague-Dawley rats with 5 and10 mg/kg for 7 days produced eleven DNA adducts in the liverwith no adducts detected in the uterus. However, treatment ofrats with 20 mg/kg of TAM for 7 days produced the same adductpattern in the liver and also one major adduct (1) in the uteruswith a relative adduct level of 6.4 ±4.1x10^–9.Tamoxifen-DNA adduct 1 detected both in the liver and in theuterus of treated rats was similar to adducts produced by activationof 4-HO-TAM with either uterine extract or HRP. The resultsof these studies suggest a general model whereby the tamoxifenmetabolite 4-HO-TAM is further activated in the uterus by peroxidaseenzymes to form DNA adducts.     

DNA adduct formation and removal in hepatic chromatin fractions from rats chronically fed 2-acetylaminofluorene

Continuous dietary administration of the hepatocarcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) to rats produces a gradual increase in hepatic DNA adducts until a plateau is reached after approximately 2 weeks. The rate of DNA adduct formation remains constant through 1 month of AAF feeding, while adduct removal profiles are biphasic during both carcinogen feeding and subsequent time on control diet. In the present experiments, we tested the hypothesis that biphasic adduct removal is due to differential repair kinetics taking place in different chromatin fractions. Rats were fed 0.02% AAF for times up to 30 days and control diet for a subsequent 28 days. HPLC analysis of nuclear DNA indicated that the deacetylated adduct, N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-aminofluorene, comprised approximately 90% of the total C8-substituted deoxyguanosine adducts after 3 days of feeding and greater than 98% after 20 days. The nuclear DNA was partitioned into endogenous nuclease sensitive (approximately 2%), low salt soluble (approximately 70%), high salt soluble (approximately 20%) and nuclear matrix (approximately 8%) fractions. During 28 days of AAF feeding, each fraction showed a profile of adduct formation similar to that observed in whole nuclei; however, the adduct concentration in nuclear matrix-associated DNA was consistently less than that in the other fractions. In rats fed AAF for 28 days followed by control diet, adduct removal in each of the fractions showed biphasic kinetics that were similar to those observed in nuclear DNA. When rats were fed AAF for 7 days, however, adduct removal kinetics could be best described by a single first-order rate constant. These data indicate that biphasic adduct removal may be due to the presence of particular nucleotide sequences that are common to all fractions and are relatively resistant to adduct formation and removal. The low concentration of adducts found in the nuclear matrix may be due to a decreased rate of adduct formation in this region and/or the proximity of membrane-bound beta-polymerases that are responsible for repair.     

Formation and persistence of DNA adducts in rats following intraperitoneal administration of 1,8-dinitropyrene

DNA adduct formation was examined in rat tissues following a single i.p. injection with 1,8-dinitropyrene (1,8-DNP). A single common adduct was observed in mammary, mesentery, bladder, lung, kidney and liver tissue using the 32P-postlabelling technique. Adduct levels were highest in mammary and mesentery tissue. The mammary gland and soft tissues of the peritoneal cavity are primary tumour sites in rats injected i.p. with 1,8-DNP. Adducts were not detected in the small intestine, heart or reproductive tissue. Pretreatment of rats with Aroclor 1254, an inducer of hepatic oxidative enzymes, did not alter qualitative or quantitative aspects of adduct formation. Over a 2 week period the relative adduct labelling values declined in all tissues. The loss of DNA adducts was biphasic, with an initial rapid decrease followed by a slower rate of adduct removal.     

Enhanced repair of O6-methylguanine DNA adducts in the liver of transgenic mice expressing the ada gene

The capacity to repair O6-methylguanine-DNA adducts was measured in the liver of transgenic mice expressing a chimeric gene consisting of the inducible P-enolpyruvate carboxykinase (GTP) promoter linked to the bacterial O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (ada) gene. Under induced conditions, total hepatic alkyltransferase reached 32.8 +/- 4.2 (SE) fmol/micrograms DNA compared to 7.8 +/- 1.1 fmol/micrograms DNA in nontransgenic mice. Administration of methylnitrosourea or nitrosodimethylamine to both groups of mice produced O6-methylguanine-DNA adducts which resulted in repair-mediated depletion of total hepatic alkyltransferase in a dose-dependent fashion. In nontransgenic mice, depletion of hepatic alkyltransferase occurred at lower doses of carcinogen, and recovery of alkyltransferase activity occurred later than in ada+ transgenic mice. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of residual alkyltransferase activity after methylating agent exposure indicated that the bacterial as well as endogenous mammalian alkyltransferases were functioning as DNA repair proteins in hepatocytes in vivo. Analysis of O6-methylguanine- and N7-methylguanine-DNA adducts in the liver of transgenic and nontransgenic mice after treatment with one dose of 50 mg/kg methylnitrosourea i.p. revealed that transgenic mice repaired in situ O6-methylguanine-DNA adducts approximately 3 times faster than nontransgenic mice, commensurate with the increase in alkyltransferase activity. Thus, ada+ transgenic mice treated with methylnitrosourea have lower levels of persistent mutagenic O6-methylguanine adducts than ada- nontransgenic mice. Hepatic expression of bacterial alkyltransferase appears to protect mice from the DNA-damaging effects of N-nitroso compounds in vivo.     

Sulforaphane and quercetin modulate PhIP-DNA adduct formation in human HepG2 cells and hepatocytes

The formation of DNA adducts in human HepG2 cells and human hepatocytes exposed to 14C-labelled 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) was examined using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). PhIP generated DNA adducts in a linear dose-dependent manner between 100 pM and 20 micro M. Co-treatment with the dietary isothiocyanate, sulforaphane (SFN, 1-10 micro M), or the flavonoid, quercetin (5-20 micro M), significantly reduced the level of PhIP-DNA adducts in a dose-dependent manner. The degree of protection was dependent on PhIP concentration, i.e. after 100 pM PhIP exposure, SFN or quercetin reduced adduct levels to below the limit of detection (0.15 amol PhIP/ micro g DNA) but at higher PhIP exposure (10 nM and 1 micro M), the protection was 60 and 10%, respectively. The involvement of phase I, phase II and DNA repair enzymes in this protection against PhIP-DNA adduct formation was investigated using real-time RT-PCR and enzyme activity assays. In intact HepG2 cells, quercetin inhibited cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A2, the main phase I enzyme responsible for PhIP bioactivation. In contrast, SFN induced phase II detoxification enzymes, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 and glutathione S-transferase A1 mRNA expression. SFN and quercetin showed no effect on DNA repair, neither in terms of the level of PhIP-DNA adducts, when cells were treated with phytochemicals after the carcinogen exposure, nor the regulation of mRNA expression of two DNA repair enzymes, apurinic endonuclease and DNA polymerase beta. This study indicates that dietary isothiocyanates and flavonoids modulate phase I and phase II enzyme expression, hence increasing the rate of detoxification of the dietary carcinogen PhIP in human HepG2 cells but do not affect the rate of PhIP-DNA adduct repair. The formation of PhIP-DNA adducts in human hepatocytes was also dose-dependent with PhIP-concentration and the levels of protection by SFN or quercetin were up to 60% after 10 nM PhIP treatment, but showed large inter-individual variation with no observed protection in some individuals.     

Immunohistochemical localization and semi-quantitation of hepatic tamoxifen-DNA adducts in rats exposed orally to tamoxifen

Administration of tamoxifen (TAM) has been shown to induce hepatocellular carcinogenesis and TAM-DNA adduct formation in rat liver. Here we present TAM-DNA adduct localization and semi-quantitation in hepatic tissue of rats by immunohistochemical staining followed by image analysis. We have also used a quantitative immunoassay to provide a validation for the immunohistochemical values. Rats were fed diets containing 0, 5, 50, 150 or 500 p.p.m. TAM for 45 weeks. Serial sections of paraffin-embedded liver were stained for TAM-DNA adducts using a polyclonal TAM-DNA antiserum. Subsequently, visualization of TAM-DNA adducts was performed by peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody-mediated signal amplification using biotinyl tyramide followed by streptavidin-alkaline phosphatase and fast red. Semi-quantitation of nuclear color intensity was achieved with an Automated Cellular Imaging System (ACIS), with a detection limit of 1 TAM-DNA adduct per 10(7) nt for these experiments. In parenchymal cells of liver sections from TAM-exposed animals a dose-dependent increase in nuclear staining was observed by ACIS and the TAM-DNA adduct levels determined by ACIS were validated in liver DNA by quantitative chemiluminescence immunoassay (CIA). Comparison of semi-quantitative values determined by ACIS with quantitative values determined by CIA showed a strong correlation (r = 0.924) between the two methods. At 45 weeks of TAM exposure the liver cytoplasm contained placental glutathione S-transferase (GST-p)-positive foci, as indicated by new fuchsin staining. Staining of serial sections revealed a relative lack of TAM-DNA adducts within these enzyme-altered foci. In addition, some GST-p foci contained islands of cells that did not stain for GST-p but were positive for TAM-DNA adduct formation. This study validates the use of ACIS for TAM-DNA adduct formation and demonstrates that steady-state TAM-DNA adduct levels observed in livers of rats chronically fed TAM for several months increase in relation to dose. In addition, unlike the normal surrounding liver, preneoplastic GST-p-positive foci have virtually no TAM-DNA adducts.     

Analysis of DNA adducts in putative premalignant hepatic nodules and nontarget tissues of rats during 2-acetylaminofluorene carcinogenesis

Exposure of rats to a standard four-cycle feeding regimen of 0.06% 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) results in the formation of putatively premalignant hepatic nodules, but the types and magnitude of DNA adducts formed in these nodules has not been previously examined. By using a sensitive 32P-adduct assay (R. C. Gupta, Cancer Res., 45: 5656-5662, 1985), we analyzed the DNA adduct lesions in individual hepatic nodules at various times during and after exposure to AAF. Kidney, spleen, and testis were included as nontarget tissues. No qualitative difference was observed in the DNA adducts found in hepatic nodules and nontarget tissues; however, quantitative differences occurred. At least one unknown and two known (dG-C8-AF and dG-N2-AAF) DNA adducts were detected, with dG-C8-AF being predominantly (96-98%) formed, in all tissues examined. At the end of the first three weeks of AAF feeding, the concentration of the deacetylated adduct dG-C8-AF in liver (223 fmol/micrograms DNA) was found to be about 2, 6, and 5 times higher than in kidney, spleen, and testis, respectively. The concentration of the N2-acetylated adduct in liver (4.5 fmol/micrograms DNA) was 4-fold higher than in kidney and strikingly higher (51- and 42-fold, respectively) than in spleen and testis. At the end of the fourth feeding cycle, total DNA adducts measured in the hepatic nodules ranged from 30-100 fmol/micrograms DNA, while the "surrounding liver," kidney, spleen, and testis showed 235, 218, 62, and 28 fmol adducts/micrograms DNA, respectively. Sixty days following the cessation of AAF, the binding in both the persistent nodules and liver had decreased to 7% of their respective levels measured at the end of the fourth cycle, while adducts in kidney, spleen, and testis were 32%, 18% and 19%. After 88 days, the binding levels in the nontarget tissues declined further, but no additional adduct removal occurred in the nodules. Our data indicate that (a) although the metabolic apparatus for activation of AAF is diminished in the hepatic nodules, a significant level of adduct formation occurs in the cells of this putative, premalignant lesion, and (b) unlike in the nontarget tissues, repair processes in the premalignant nodules may not be operative several weeks after the cessation of AAF exposure.     

Ultraviolet irradiation of monkey cells enhances the repair of DNA adducts in alpha DNA

Excision repair of bulky adducts in alpha DNA of African greenmonkey cells has previously been shown to be deficient relativeto that in the overall genome. We have found that u.v. irradiationof these cells results in the enhanced removal of both aflatoxinB₁ (AFB₁) and acetylaminofluorene (AAF) adducts from the alphaDNA sequences without affecting repair in the bulk of the DNA.The degree of enhanced removal of AFB₁ is dependent upon theu.v. dose and the time interval between irradiation and AFB₁treatment. The u.v. enhancement is not inhibited by cydoheximide.Exposure of the cells to dimethylsulfate or gamma-rays doesnot affect AFB₁ adduct repair. The formation and removal ofN-acetoxy-2-acetylaminofluorene (NA-AAF) adducts from alphaand bulk DNA was studied in detail. A higher initial level ofthe acetytated C8 adduct of guanine was found in alpha DNA thanin bulk DNA. Although both the acetylated and deacetylated C8adducts were removed from the two DNA species, the level ofrepair was significantly greater in the bulk DNA. Irradiationof cells with U.V. prior to treatment with NA-AAF enhanced theremoval of both adducts from alpha DNA with little or no effecton repair in bulk DNA. We condude that the presence of u.v.photoproducts or some intermediate in their processing altersthe chromatin structure of alpha DNA thereby rendering bulkyadducts accessible to repair enzymes. In addition, the differentialformation and repair of AAF adducts in alpha DNA compared withthat in the bulk of the genome supports the hypothesis of analtered chromatin structure for alpha domains.