体外检测氟喹诺酮类药物光毒性的可靠性

目的：比较四个氟喹诺酮类抗生素的光毒性来确定体外实验的可靠性．方法：用体内Wistar大鼠光毒性实验,Balb／c小鼠光毒性实验和体外中国仓鼠V79细胞微核实验,NIH 3T3 MTT实验在不同的UVA照射条件下测定四个氟喹诺酮类抗生素的光毒性．结果：在所有实验中,司帕沙星、洛美沙星显示出较强的光毒性,与对照组相比,均有非常显著性差异(P＜0．01);环丙沙星光毒性较温和,有显著性差异(P＜0.05);诺氟沙星在体内实验中没有显示出光毒性,但在体外实验中较高剂量(10μmol/L)能产生光毒性．结论：体内外测定药物光毒性有良好的相关性,因此体外检测氟喹诺酮类药物光毒性是可靠的．     

Phototoxicity studies of pazufloxacin mesilate,a novel parenteral quinolone antimicrobial agent--in vitro and in vivo studies

Phototoxicity of pazufloxacin mesilate (PZFX mesilate), a novel parenteral quinolone antimicrobial agent, were evaluated in vitro and in vivo studies. In vitro, phototoxicity for cultured cells of PZFX, which is active principle of PZFX mesilate, was studied, and stability for long-wavelength ultraviolet (UVA) was examined. In vivo, phototoxicity tests in guinea pigs and rats, and photoallergenicity tests in guinea pigs were conducted. In the phototoxicity test on cultured cells, CHL/IU cells were irradiated UVA of 300-3000 mJ/cm2 in the presence of PZFX, ofloxacin (OFLX), lomefloxacin (LFLX) or sparfloxacin (SPFX) at 10 micrograms/mL. Phototoxic potencies for cultured cells of the quinolones tested were SPFX > LFLX > OFLX > PZFX. In addition, changes in ultraviolet absorption spectrum and residual rate of PZFX, OFLX, LFLX and SPFX were examined after UVA irradiation of 300-3000 mJ/cm2 to each solution. PZFX was stable for UVA compared with OFLX and LFLX. In the phototoxicity test of guinea pigs, each quinolone was administered intraperitoneally daily for 7 days, and UVA of about 11 J/cm2 was irradiated at 30 minutes after the last administration. Dose levels of each quinolone were 65 and 130 mg/kg of PZFX mesilate (dose levels converted to PZFX: 50 and 100 mg/kg), 50 and 100 mg/kg of nalidixic acid (NA), 100 mg/kg of OFLX, enoxacin (ENX), ciprofloxacin (CPFX), LFLX and SPFX. Grade of skin reaction (erythema) at 24 hours after UVA irradiation decreased in the order: SPFX > CPFX > NA > ENX = OFLX > LFLX > PZFX mesilate. Thus, PZFX mesilate was found to have the weakest phototoxicity. In the maximum plasma concentration of quinolones from 0.5 to 2.5 hours after administration, corresponding to the time of UVA irradiation, the concentration of the group administered PZFX mesilate was about 4.1 times higher than that of CPFX group, and about 1.3 times higher than that of SPFX group. The area under the blood concentration-time curve (AUC0.5-2.5) of the group administered PZFX mesilate was the same as that of SPFX group, and about 3.2 times larger than that of CPFX group. These data showed that phototoxicity of PZFX mesilate was also weaker than that of CPFX or SPFX in consideration of AUC0.5-2.5. In the phototoxicity test of rats injected intravenously, no phototoxicity was observed at 130 mg/kg of PZFX mesilate. In the photoallergenicity test of guinea pigs, no photoallergenicity was observed by PZFX mesilate. As mentioned above, from in vitro studies PZFX was found to be stable for UVA irradiation compared with OFLX and LFLX, and phototoxicity for cultured cells of PZFX was weaker than that of SPFX, LFLX or OFLX. In addition, from in vivo studies phototoxicity of PZFX mesilate was found to be weaker than that of NA, OFLX, ENX, CPFX, LFLX or SPFX, and no photoallergenicity was observed. Therefore, photosensitive potency of PZFX mesilate might be less than that of other quinolones.     

Apoptotic photoreceptor cell death induced by quinolone phototoxicity in mice

We examined retinal degeneration induced by phototoxicity of quinolone antibacterial agents. Albino Balb/c and pigmented DBA/2 mice fasted overnight were given a single oral administration of ciprofloxacin (CPFX), levofloxacin (LVFX), enoxacin (ENX), lomefloxacin (LFLX) or sparfloxacin (SPFX), followed by ultraviolet-A (UVA) irradiation at 1.5 mW/cm2 for 4 h (21.6 J/cm2). At 24 h after quinolone administration, the mice were sacrificed, and the eyes were then histologically examined. ENX or LFLX at 200 or 400 mg/kg or SPFX at 50 or 100 mg/kg plus UVA induced retinal degeneration in Balb/c mice, whereas no histological change was observed in the eyes of DBA/2 mice. CPFX and LVFX at 800 mg/kg plus UVA had no effect on the eyes in either Balb/c or DBA/2 mice. Agarose gel electrophoresis showed that chromosomal DNA extracted from the eyes of Balb/c mice was fragmented in the SPFX 100 mg/kg group, but not in the LVFX 800 mg/kg group. In the electron microscopic examination, swelling of mitochondria and disruption of the cytoplasm were observed in the photoreceptor inner segment (PIS) at 2 h, and disarrangement of lamellar disks in the outer segment (POS) and condensed chromatin in photoreceptor cell nuclei in the outer nuclear layer (ONL) were observed at 4 h after 100 mg/kg SPFX administration to Balb/c mice. These results suggest that quinolone plus UVA irradiation induces retinal degeneration in albino Balb/c mice, but not in DBA/2 mice, and this degeneration is associated with apoptotic photoreceptor cell death.     

Drug interactions between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and pazufloxacin mesilate,a new quinolone antibacterial agent for intravenous use: convulsions in mice after intravenous or intracerebroventricular administration

Convulsant activity of pazufloxacin mesilate (PZFX mesilate), a new quinolone antibacterial agent for intravenous use, in combination with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was investigated in mice after intravenous or intracerebroventricular administration. Following results were obtained. 1. In combination with 4-biphenylacetic acid (BPAA) at an oral dose of 100 mg/kg, PZFX mesilate did not induce any convulsions at intravenous doses up to 200 mg/kg. Reference quinolones induced convulsions at the following intravenous doses: Enoxacin (ENX), 3.13 mg/kg or more; norfloxacin (NFLX) and lomefloxacin (LFLX), 6.25 mg/kg or more; ciprofloxacin (CPFX), 50 mg/kg or more; sparfloxacin (SPFX) and temafloxacin (TMFX), 100 mg/kg or more; fleroxacin (FLRX), 200 mg/kg. 2. PZFX mesilate at an intravenous dose of 50 mg/kg did not induce convulsions in mice after oral administration of any of 14 kinds of NSAIDs. It induced convulsions at 200 mg/kg in combination with aspirin at an oral dose of 600 mg/kg, while it did not with the other 13 kinds of NSAIDs. 3. Convulsion-inducing dose of PZFX mesilate after intracerebroventricular administration was 100 mg/body, which was higher than those of reference quinolones (NFLX, CPFX, ENX, LFLX, TMFX, levofloxacin, ofloxacin, FLRX and SPFX) and beta-lactam antibiotics (penicillin G, cefazoline, imipenem/cilastatin and panipenem/betamipron). In addition, concurrent dosing of BPAA (1 microgram/body) did not reduce the convulsion-inducing dose of PZFX mesilate. These results suggest that PZFX mesilate has remarkably weak convulsant activity.     

司帕沙星和妥舒沙星的体内外抗菌作用研究

目的观察国产司帕沙星、妥舒沙星及其它四种氟喹诺酮类抗菌药对成都地区780株临床分离菌的体外抗菌活性，并比较司帕沙星、妥舒沙星和环丙沙星对金葡球菌、大肠埃希菌和铜绿假单胞菌感染小鼠的体内抗菌活性。方法用琼脂稀释法测定国产司帕沙星和妥舒沙星的MIC50和MIC90，并与其它四种氟喹诺酮类抗菌药进行了比较。本文还测定了抗菌药对金葡球菌、大肠埃希菌和铜绿假单胞菌感染小鼠治疗的ED50结果体外试验表明司帕沙星和妥舒沙星能有效抑制或杀灭革兰阳性、革兰阴性菌及厌氧菌，显示了广谱抗菌活性。司帕沙星和妥舒沙星对革兰阳性菌的抗菌活性是环丙沙星的2～8倍，氧氟沙星和氟罗沙星的4～16倍，是诺氟沙星的16～32倍。司帕沙星对MRSA的抗菌活性与妥舒沙星相似，但优于环丙沙星、氧氟沙星、氟罗沙星和诺氟沙星。司帕沙星对大多数革兰阴性菌的抗菌活性与环丙沙星和妥舒沙星相似，是氧氟沙星、氟罗沙星和诺氟沙星的2～8倍。两药对厌氧菌的抗菌活性也较环丙沙星强。口服或皮下注射司帕沙星对金葡球菌和大肠埃希菌所致小鼠全身性感染的保护作用优于环丙沙星和妥舒沙星。同一给药途径下司帕沙星对铜绿假单胞菌所致小鼠全身性感染的保护作用与妥舒沙星和环丙沙星相似。三种受试药对金葡球菌和大肠埃希菌所致小鼠全身性感染的保护作用优于铜绿假单胞菌所致感染。结论司帕沙星和妥舒沙星对革兰阳性菌和厌氧菌的体外抗菌活性优于环丙沙星和其它药物，对大多数革兰阴性菌的抗菌活性与环丙沙星相似，但优于其它受试药。司帕沙星对金葡球菌和大肠埃希菌所致小鼠全身性感染的体内保护作用优于环丙沙星和妥舒沙星。同一给药途径下司帕沙星对铜绿假单胞菌所致小鼠全身性感染的保护作用与妥舒沙星和环丙沙星相似。     

A comparative study of using comet assay and gammaH2AX foci formation in the detection of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine-induced DNA damage.

Comet assay is a useful technique in the detection of DNA damages, particularly DNA strand breaks; and it has been utilized to show that a potent carcinogen N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), can induce such damages. Recently, gammaH2AX foci formation has been suggested as another sensitive way to detect DNA double strand breaks (DSBs). However, there is no systematic comparison being conducted to evaluate the consistency of these two methods. Using MNNG as a model chemical, the sensitivity of neutral comet assay and gammaH2AX foci formation in detecting MNNG-induced damage was studied. It was found that at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 microg/ml, both methods can detect MNNG-induced damage in human amnion FL cells. However, at 0.1 microg/ml, comet assay revealed more percentage of cells with DNA damage than gammaH2AX fluorescence revealed. On the other hand, while gammaH2AX foci were readily formed at very early times by 10 microg/ml MNNG treatment, neutral comet assay did not detect any significant DNA damage at the same time points. In addition, 10 microg/ml MNNG induced a distinct whole nuclei staining pattern of gammaH2AX, a type of DNA damage which was not detected by neutral comet assay but could be detected by alkaline comet assay. Therefore, gammaH2AX may be used as a sensitive indicator for DNA damage.     

Comparative study on salivary distribution of fluoroquinolones in rats

As a basic approach to identifying the distribution mechanism of quinolone antibiotics into saliva, salivary excretion of five fluoroquinolones, ciprofloxacin (CPFX), norfloxacin (NFLX), lomefloxacin (LFLX), ofloxacin (OFLX) and sparfloxacin (SPFX), was compared in rats. Blood, parotid and mandibular saliva were periodically collected from the anesthetized rats after bolus i.v. administration (10 mg/kg) of the quinolones. Quantification of the fluoroquinolones was performed by HPLC methods. The saliva-to-plasma unbound concentration (S/Pu) ratios of the fluoroquinolones in parotid saliva were larger than those of mandibular saliva. These five quinolones had considerably different S/Pu ratios from 0.014 to 1.497, while the S/Pu ratios theoretically calculated by the pH-partition theory were around 1.0 to 1.3, which showed no relationship to the corresponding measured ratios. Satisfactory linear correlations were observed in the plots of measured S/Pu ratios against 1-octanol-water partition coefficients of the fluoroquinolones in both types of saliva. These results indicate that fluoroquinolones possess different diffusibility in salivary distribution among the drugs and between parotid and mandibular glands. It was also clarified that the lipophilicity of the fluoroquinolones primarily determines the extent of salivary excretion.     

Detection of DNA damage in mouse peripheral blood leukocytes by the comet assay after oral administration of monocrotophos

The objective of this study was to determine if single/double strand DNA breaks could be induced by monocrotophos (organophosphorus pesticide) in mice in vivo using the comet assay. Mice were dosed orally with 0.046, 0.093, 0.186, 0.373 and 0.746 mg/kg body weight of monocrotophos, and the assay was performed on whole blood after 24, 48 and 72 h. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed at 24 and 48 h post-treatment with monocrotophos when compared to controls. A decrease in the mean tail length was observed at 72 h post-treatment indicating repair of the damaged DNA. The mean tail length showed a dose-related increase and time dependent decrease. The study reveals that comet assay is a sensitive and rapid method to detect genotoxicity of monocrotophos.     

In vivo genotoxic effect of nickel chloride in mice leukocytes using comet assay.

DNA damage induced by nickel chloride (NiCl2) in leucocytes of Swiss albino mice has been studied in vivo. The comet assay or the alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay was used to measure the DNA damage. The mice were administered orally with acute doses of 3.4, 6.8, 13.6, 27.2, 54.4 and 108.8 mg/kg body weight (b.wt.) NiCl2. Samples of whole blood were collected at 24, 48 and 72 h, first week and second week post-treatment for alkaline SCGE assay to study single/double strand breaks in DNA. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed with NiCl2 at 24, 48 and 72 h post-treatment (P<0.05). A gradual decrease in the mean tail length was observed at 72 h post-treatment indicating repair of the damaged DNA. The mean tail length showed a dose-related increase and time dependent decrease after treatment with NiCl2 when compared to controls. The study also confirms that the comet assay is a sensitive and rapid method to detect DNA damage caused by heavy metals like nickel (Ni).     

DETECTION OF DNA DAMAGE IN MOUSE PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES BY THE COMET ASSAY AFTER ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF MONOCROTOPHOS

The objective of this study was to determine if single/double strand DNA breaks could be induced by monocrotophos (organophosphorus pesticide) in mice in vivo using the comet assay. Mice were dosed orally with 0.046, 0.093, 0.186, 0.373 and 0.746 mg/kg¹ body weight of monocrotophos, and the assay was performed on whole blood after 24, 48 and 72 h. A significant increase in mean comet tail length indicating DNA damage was observed at 24 and 48 h post-treatment with monocrotophos when compared to controls. A decrease in the mean tail length was observed at 72 h post-treatment indicating repair of the damaged DNA. The mean tail length showed a dose-related increase and time dependent decrease. The study reveals that comet assay is a sensitive and rapid method to detect genotoxicity of monocrotophos.     

姜黄素对长波紫外线所致DNA损伤的拮抗作用

目的　观察长波紫外线引起人表皮样癌细胞 DNA链断裂损伤的情况 ,以及姜黄素对这种损伤的拮抗作用。方法　用长波紫外线照射细胞 ,用单细胞凝胶电泳法检测 DNA损伤。结果　长波紫外线剂量依赖性地诱发表皮细胞的 DNA链断裂损伤 ,损伤的高峰出现在照射后 1h。而姜黄素可以拮抗长波紫外线引起的DNA链断裂 ,表现为彗星细胞百分比的降低和彗星尾巴长度的缩短 ,并有量效关系。结论　姜黄素可以预防长波紫外线照射引起的皮肤细胞 DNA链断裂损伤。     

In vivo genotoxic effect of zinc sulfate in mouse peripheral blood leukocytes using Comet assay

Single stranded DNA breaks induced by Zinc sulfate in mice has been studied in vivo using Alkaline Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet assay). Mice were administered orally with doses of 5.70, 8.55, 11.40, 14.25, 17.10 and 19.95 mg/kg body weight of zinc sulfate respectively. The samples of whole blood were collected at 24, 48, 72, 96 hr and first week post-treatment and the assay was carried out to determine single strand DNA breaks as represented by comet tail-lengths. Results indicated a significant DNA damage at all the doses after treatment with zinc sulfate when compared to controls showing a clear dose-dependent response (p < 0.05). A gradual decrease in the tail-lengths from 48 hr post-treatment onwards was observed indicating a time dependent decrease in the DNA damage. The study confirms that zinc sulfate causes significant DNA damage at the doses used as revealed by comet assay.     

IN VIVO GENOTOXIC EFFECT OF ZINC SULFATE IN MOUSE PERIPHERAL BLOOD LEUKOCYTES USING COMET ASSAY

Single stranded DNA breaks induced by Zinc sulfate in mice has been studied in vivo using Alkaline Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (Comet assay). Mice were administered orally with doses of 5.70, 8.55, 11.40, 14.25, 17.10 and 19.95 mg/kg body weight of zinc sulfate respectively. The samples of whole blood were collected at 24, 48, 72, 96 hr and first week post-treatment and the assay was carried out to determine single strand DNA breaks as represented by comet tail-lengths. Results indicated a significant DNA damage at all the doses after treatment with zinc sulfate when compared to controls showing a clear dose-dependent response (p < 0.05). A gradual decrease in the tail-lengths from 48 hr post-treatment onwards was observed indicating a time dependent decrease in the DNA damage. The study confirms that zinc sulfate causes significant DNA damage at the doses used as revealed by comet assay.     

In vivo genotoxic effect of arsenic trioxide in mice using comet assay

Although arsenic has been the subject of toxicological research, acute in vivo genotoxic studies using relevant animal models and uniform methodology are lacking. Hence, the present study aims to study DNA damage caused by arsenic trioxide in mice in in vivo using alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. Mice were administered orally 0,0.13,0.27,0.54,1.08,2.15,4.3 and 6.45 mg/kg body weight of arsenic trioxide dissolved in distilled water. The samples of whole blood were collected at 24,48,72 h, first and second week post-treatment and the assay was carried out to determine DNA damage as represented by comet tail-length. All the doses induced significant increase in comet tail-length at 24 h post-treatment (P<0.05) showing a clear dose dependent increase from 0.13 to 2.15 mg/kg b.wt. and a dose dependent decrease in higher doses (4.3-6.45 mg/kg b.wt). At 48 h post-treatment all the doses showed a significant increase (P<0.05) in comet tail-length when compared to 24 h post-treatment. A gradual decrease in the comet tail-length was observed for all the doses from 72 h post-treatment onwards indicating a gradual repair in DNA damage. This indicates a non-linear dose and time response between DNA damage and different doses of arsenic trioxide at different time-intervals. A significant increase in comet tail-length at all the doses clearly gives evidence that arsenic trioxide cause DNA damage effectively. The study indicates that the alkaline comet assay is a reliable and effective method to detect DNA damage caused by metals.     

Black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as a protective agent against DNA damage in mice.

This study was designed to evaluate the toxicogenetic or protective effect of cooked and dehydrated black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of exposed mice. The frequency of micronuclei detected using the bone marrow erythrocyte micronucleus test and level of DNA lesions detected by the comet assay were chosen as end-points reflecting mutagenic and genotoxic damage, respectively. Initially, Swiss male mice were fed with a 20% black bean diet in order to detect mutagenic and genotoxic activity. However, no increase in the frequency of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN PCEs) or DNA lesion in leukocytes was observed. In contrast, received diets containing 1, 10 or 20% of black beans, a clear, but not dose-dependent reduction in the frequency of MN PCEs were observed in animals simultaneously treated with cyclophosphamide, an indirect acting mutagen. Similar results were observed in leukocytes by the comet assay. Commercial anthocyanin was also tested in an attempt to identify the bean components responsible for this protective effect. However, instead of being protective, the flavonoid, at the highest dose administered (50 mg/kg bw), induced primary DNA lesion, as detected by the comet assay. These data indicate the importance of food components in preventing genetic damage induced by chemical mutagens, and also reinforce the role of toxicogenetic techniques in protecting human health.     

Black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) as a protective agent against DNA damage in mice

This study was designed to evaluate the toxicogenetic or protective effect of cooked and dehydrated black beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in bone marrow and peripheral blood cells of exposed mice. The frequency of micronuclei detected using the bone marrow erythrocyte micronucleus test and level of DNA lesions detected by the comet assay were chosen as end-points reflecting mutagenic and genotoxic damage, respectively. Initially, Swiss male mice were fed with a 20% black bean diet in order to detect mutagenic and genotoxic activity. However, no increase in the frequency of bone marrow micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MN PCEs) or DNA lesion in leukocytes was observed. In contrast, received diets containing 1, 10 or 20% of black beans, a clear, but not dose-dependent reduction in the frequency of MN PCEs were observed in animals simultaneously treated with cyclophosphamide, an indirect acting mutagen. Similar results were observed in leukocytes by the comet assay. Commercial anthocyanin was also tested in an attempt to identify the bean components responsible for this protective effect. However, instead of being protective, the flavonoid, at the highest dose administered (50 mg/kg bw), induced primary DNA lesion, as detected by the comet assay. These data indicate the importance of food components in preventing genetic damage induced by chemical mutagens, and also reinforce the role of toxicogenetic techniques in protecting human health.     

海南哥纳香醇甲GHM-10对L1210细胞DNA分子结构及拓扑异构酶II活性的影响

目的： 研究海南哥纳香醇甲（GHM-10）抑癌细胞DNA合成的作用机制。 方法： 用单细胞凝胶电泳法检测GHM-10对L1210细胞DNA分子的损伤,碱洗脱法测定GHM-10对L1210细胞DNA单链长度的影响,用GHM-10对超螺旋pUC18 DNA的解旋能力测定它对DNA拓扑异构酶II活性的影响。 结果： L1210细胞用GHM-10 (4～10) μg.ml^-1处理4.5 h后,DNA分子受损,表现为电泳后在荧光显微镜下可见彗星状拖尾。GHM-10 (4～25) μg.ml^-1处理L1210细胞5 h, 可引起DNA单链断裂。 L1210细胞或从L1210细胞分离的蛋白质在用GHM-10处理后,DNA拓扑异构酶II的活性均被抑制。结论： GHM-10可引起L1210细胞DNA分子损伤; 无论在细胞内还是细胞外,GHM-10可抑制拓扑异构酶II的活性。     

Effects of UVA and visible light on the photogenotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene and pyrene

This study investigated the role of UVA/visible light (U, 320–800 nm) and visible light (V, 400–800 nm) in the phototoxicity and photogenotoxicity of two ubiquitous polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH): benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and Pyrene (Pyr). These mechanisms were evaluated by the WST‐1 test and the comet assay on normal human keratinocytes (NHK) and by the micronucleus test on CHO cells. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was assessed through the induction of 8‐oxodeoxyguanine (8‐oxodG) lesions by immunofluorescence staining in NHK. Results of the WST‐1 test revealed the phototoxic properties of BaP and Pyr after irradiation with U and V lights. BaP presented the highest phototoxic properties. Results of the comet assay showed that U‐ and V‐irradiated BaP and Pyr induced increasing rates of DNA single‐strand breaks in NHK, in a dose dependent manner. The tested PAH could also induce increased levels of micronuclei in CHO cells after U and V irradiations. Increasing 8‐oxodG levels were detected after U and V irradiations in BaP‐ and Pyr‐treated keratinocytes and confirmed the involvement of ROS in the photogenotoxicity of PAH. Overall, this study highlighted the existence of an alternative pathway of PAH genotoxicity that is induced by UVA and/or visible light. Visible light is suggested to photoactivate PAH by a mechanism which is mainly based on oxidative reactions. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2009.     

Ochratoxin A: induction of (oxidative) DNA damage, cytotoxicity and apoptosis in mammalian cell lines and primary cells

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a nephrotoxic/-carcinogenic mycotoxin, produced by several Aspergillus- and Penicillium-strains. Humans are exposed to OTA via food contamination, a causal relationship of OTA to human endemic Balkan nephropathy is still under debate. Since DNA-adducts of OTA or its metabolites could not be identified unambiguously, its carcinogenic effectiveness might be related to secondary effects, such as oxidative cell damage or cell proliferation. In this study, OTA mediated induction of (oxidative) DNA damage, cytotoxicity (necrosis, growth inhibition, apoptosis) and modulation of glutathione were investigated in cell lines (V79, CV-1) and primary rat kidney cells. After 24 h incubation, viability of V79 cells was strongly decreased by OTA concentrations >2.5 micromol/L, whereas CV-1 cells were clearly less sensitive. Strong growth inhibition occurred in both cell lines (IC(50) approximately 2 micromol/L). Apoptosis, detected with an immunochemical test and with flow cytometry, was induced by >1 micromol/L OTA. Oxidative DNA damage, detected by comet assay after additional treatment with repair enzymes, was induced in all cell systems already at five-fold lower concentrations. Glutathione in CV-1 cells was depleted after 1 h incubation (>100 micromol/L). In contrast, an increase was measured after 24 h incubation (>0.5 micromol/L). In conclusion, OTA induces oxidative DNA damage at low, not yet cytotoxic concentrations. Oxidative DNA damage might initiate cell transformation eventually in connection with proliferative response following cytotoxic cell death. Both events might represent pivotal factors in the chain of cellular events leading into nephro-carcinogenicity of OTA.     

2-乙酰氨基芴诱导γH2AX焦点的形成

目的探讨DNA损伤剂2-乙酰氨基芴(2-AAF)是否可诱导γH2AX焦点的形成及γH2AX作为检测DNA损伤的一个新的特异指标的可能性。方法用2-AAF处理中国仓鼠CHL细胞,应用免疫荧光方法检测γH2AX焦点的形成,并通过中性彗星实验验证DNA损伤的程度。结果0.1,1,5和20mg·L-1的2-AAF都可使细胞核内γH2AX焦点数量及有γH2AX焦点生成的细胞数量增加,但只有20mg·L-12-AAF处理的细胞才出现明显的彗尾增长及有彗尾的细胞数量增加。另外,磷脂酰肌醇3-激酶(PI3K)家族抑制物渥曼青霉素可抑制2-AAF诱导的γH2AX焦点形成。结论2-AAF可通过激活PI3K家族成员使H2AX磷酸化,进而诱导γH2AX焦点的形成。γH2AX检测DNA损伤的敏感性优于彗星实验,因此,γH2AX有可能成为衡量DNA损伤程度的良好指标。