Inhibitory effect of curcumin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid on tumor promotion in mouse skin by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate

The effects of topically applied curcumin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity, epidermal DNA synthesis, and the promotion of skin tumors were evaluated in female CD-1 mice. Topical application of 0.5, 1, 3, or 10 mumol of curcumin inhibited by 31, 46, 84, or 98%, respectively, the induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity by 5 nmol of TPA. In an additional study, the topical application of 10 mumol of curcumin, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, or ferulic acid inhibited by 91, 25, 42, or 46%, respectively, the induction of ornithine decarboxylase activity by 5 nmol of TPA. The topical application of 10 mumol of curcumin together with 2 or 5 nmol of TPA inhibited the TPA-dependent stimulation of the incorporation of [3H]-thymidine into epidermal DNA by 49 or 29%, respectively, whereas lower doses of curcumin had little or no effect. Chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and ferulic acid were less effective than curcumin as inhibitors of the TPA-dependent stimulation of DNA synthesis. Topical application of 1, 3, or 10 mumol of curcumin together with 5 nmol of TPA twice weekly for 20 weeks to mice previously initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene inhibited the number of TPA-induced tumors per mouse by 39, 77, or 98%, respectively. Similar treatment of mice with 10 mumol of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, or ferulic acid together with 5 nmol of TPA inhibited the number of TPA-induced tumors per mouse by 60, 28, or 35%, respectively, and higher doses of the phenolic acids caused a more pronounced inhibition of tumor promotion. The possibility that curcumin could inhibit the action of arachidonic acid was evaluated by studying the effect of curcumin on arachidonic acid-induced edema of mouse ears. The topical application of 3 or 10 mumol of curcumin 30 min before the application of 1 mumol of arachidonic acid inhibited arachidonic acid-induced edema by 33 or 80%, respectively.     

Inhibitory effects of topical application of low doses of curcumin on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced tumor promotion and oxidized DNA bases in mouse epidermis

The effects of topical applications of very low doses of curcumin (the major yellow pigment in turmeric and the Indian food curry) on 12-O- tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced oxidation of DNA bases in the epidermis and on tumor promotion in mouse skin were investigated. CD-1 mice were treated topically with 200 nmol of 7,12- dimethylbenz[a]anthracene followed one week later by 5 nmol of TPA alone or together with 1, 10, 100 or 3000 nmol of curcumin twice a week for 20 weeks. Curcumin-mediated effects on TPA-induced formation of the oxidized DNA base 5-hydroxymethyl-2'-deoxyuridine (HMdU) and tumor formation were determined. All dose levels of curcumin inhibited the mean values of TPA-induced HMdU formation in epidermal DNA (62-77% inhibition), but only the two highest doses of curcumin strongly inhibited TPA-induced tumor promotion (62-79% inhibition of tumors per mouse and tumor volume per mouse). In a second experiment, topical application of 20 or 100 nmol (but not 10 nmol) of curcumin together with 5 nmol TPA twice a week for 18 weeks markedly inhibited TPA- induced tumor promotion. Curcumin had a strong inhibitory effect on DNA and RNA synthesis (IC50 = 0.5-1 microM) in cultured HeLa cells, but there was little or no effect on protein synthesis.      

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced increase in ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in mouse epidermis

Application of 5 nmol 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)to the skin of female CD-1 mice led to a rapid increase in theconcentration of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNAfrom an undetectable level in control mice to a high maximumlevel at 4–5 h after TPA administration. The concentrationof epidermal ODC mRNA then decreased rapidly during the next5 h. The time course for TPA-induced increases in epidermalODC enzyme activity paralleled very closely the time coursefor TPA-induced increases in ODC mRNA. Topical administrationof 1, 3 or 10µmol curcumin together with 5 nmol TPA inhibitedby 66, 81 and 91% respectively TPA-induced increases in epidermalODC enzyme activity measured 5 h later. In a parallel study,TPA-induced increases in the concentration of epidermal ODCmRNA was inhibited by 54, 85 and 82% respectively. Intraperitonealinjection of 10 or 30 µmol curcumin 1h before topicalapplication of 5 nmol TPA inhibited TPA-induced increases inepidermal ODC enzyme activity by 75 or 89% respectively. Ina parallel study, the induction of epidermal ODC mRNA was inhibitedby 53 and 65% respectively. The results indicate that curcumininhibits TPA-induced increases in epidermal ODC enzyme activityby inhibiting the synthesis and/or enhancing the breakdown ofODC mRNA.     

Inhibition of human malignant neuroblastoma cell DNA synthesis by lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid

In vivo studies have shown that inhibitors of cyclooxygenase metabolism of arachidonic acid may diminish growth and metastasis of certain tumors. Because cyclooxygenase inhibition may increase the production of lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism, we have investigated the effect of two such products, 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HETE) on tumor cell proliferation in vitro. When neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-SH) in culture were treated with 12-HETE for 18 hr, incorporation of [3H]thymidine was inhibited up to 64% at concentrations from 20 to 50 microM. Under the same conditions, 15-HETE resulted in inhibition of up to 46%, while arachidonic acid had no apparent effect. When evaluated in the presence of serum, 12-HETE at a concentration of 120 microM produced a 20.6 +/- 2.8% (S.E.) inhibition of the increase in total DNA content over 48 hr, while 15-HETE at this concentration produced a 16.5 +/- 5.3% inhibition. We conclude that 12-HETE, the product of platelet lipoxygenase, and 15-HETE, a product of neutrophil and lymphocyte lipoxygenases, can inhibit human neuroblastoma cell growth in vitro and may play a role in the effect of cyclooxygenase inhibitors on tumor growth in vivo.     

Inhibition of DNA methylation by caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid, two common catechol-containing coffee polyphenols

We studied the modulating effects of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid (two common coffee polyphenols) on the in vitro methylation of synthetic DNA substrates and also on the methylation status of the promoter region of a representative gene in two human cancer cells lines. Under conditions that were suitable for the in vitro enzymatic methylation of DNA and dietary catechols, we found that the presence of caffeic acid or chlorogenic acid inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner the DNA methylation catalyzed by prokaryotic M.SssI DNA methyltransferase (DNMT) and human DNMT1. The IC50 values of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid were 3.0 and 0.75 microM, respectively, for the inhibition of M.SssI DNMT-mediated DNA methylation, and were 2.3 and 0.9 microM, respectively, for the inhibition of human DNMT1-mediated DNA methylation. The maximal in vitro inhibition of DNA methylation was approximately 80% when the highest concentration (20 microM) of caffeic acid or chlorogenic acid was tested. Kinetic analyses showed that DNA methylation catalyzed by M.SssI DNMT or human DNMT1 followed the Michaelis-Menten curve patterns. The presence of caffeic acid or chlorogenic acid inhibited DNA methylation predominantly through a non-competitive mechanism, and this inhibition was largely due to the increased formation of S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH, a potent inhibitor of DNA methylation), resulting from the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT)-mediated O-methylation of these dietary catechols. Using cultured MCF-7 and MAD-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, we also demonstrated that treatment of these cells with caffeic acid or chlorogenic acid partially inhibited the methylation of the promoter region of the RARbeta gene. The findings of our present study provide a general mechanistic basis for the notion that a variety of dietary catechols can function as inhibitors of DNA methylation through increased formation of SAH during the COMT-mediated O-methylation of these dietary chemicals.     

Modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism by curcumin and related beta-diketone derivatives: effects on cytosolic phospholipase A(2), cyclooxygenases and 5-lipoxygenase

Aberrant arachidonic acid metabolism is involved in the inflammatory and carcinogenic processes. In this study, we investigated the effects of curcumin, a naturally occurring chemopreventive agent, and related beta-diketone derivatives on the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites in the murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells and in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. We also examined their effects on the catalytic activities and protein levels of related enzymes: cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)), cyclooxygenases (COX) as well as 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX). At 10 micro M, dibenzoylmethane (DBM), trimethoxydibenzoylmethane (TDM), tetrahydrocurcumin (THC) and curcumin effectively inhibited the release of arachidonic acid and its metabolites in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW cells and A23187-stimulated HT-29 cells. Inhibition of phosphorylation of cPLA(2), the activation process of this enzyme, rather than direct inhibition of cPLA(2) activity appears to be involved in the effect of curcumin. All the curcuminoids (10 micro M) potently inhibited the formation of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) in LPS-stimulated RAW cells. Curcumin (20 micro M) significantly inhibited LPS-induced COX-2 expression; this effect, rather than the catalytic inhibition of COX, may contribute to the decreased PGE(2) formation. Without LPS-stimulation, however, curcumin increased the COX-2 level in the macrophage cells. Studies with isolated ovine COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes showed that the curcuminoids had significantly higher inhibitory effects on the peroxidase activity of COX-1 than that of COX-2. Curcumin and THC potently inhibited the activity of human recombinant 5-LOX, showing estimated IC(50) values of 0.7 and 3 micro M, respectively. The results suggest that curcumin affects arachidonic acid metabolism by blocking the phosphorylation of cPLA(2), decreasing the expression of COX-2 and inhibiting the catalytic activities of 5-LOX. These activities may contribute to the anti-inflammatory and anticarcinogenic actions of curcumin and its analogs.     

Effect of curcumin on 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate- and ultraviolet B light-induced expression of c-Jun and c-Fos in JB6 cells and in mouse epidermis

Expression of c-jun was observed in normally Proliferating JB6cells but not in confluent cells. Reduction of the serum concentrationfrom 5% to 2% in the cell culture medium caused JB6 cells toenter a quiescent non-proliferating state and down-regulatedthe expression of c-Jun. Treatment of quiescent JB6 cells with12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) (10 ng/ml) for 24h markedly stimulated the formation of c-Jun and caused morphologicalchanges. Treatment of JB6 cells with TPA for 48 h resulted intransformed foci with mixed cell populations. Although somecells in these foci expressed high levels of c-Jun, many othercells did not. The increased expression of c-Jun and morphologicalchanges observed at 24 h after treatment of JB6 cells with TPA(10 ng/ml) was inhibited by curcumin (10 nmol/ml). TreatmentofJB6 cells with 2.5, 5 or 10 nmol curcumin/ml inhibited the formationof TPA-induced anchorage-independent colonies that grow in softagar by 31%, 43% and 77%, respectively. Although inhibitionof cell proliferation was not observed with 2.5 nmol curcumin/ml,higher concentrations did inhibit cell proliferation. Topicalapplication of 5 nmol TPA to the backs of CD-I mice once a dayfor 5 days caused epidermal hyperplasia and the levels of c-Junwere increased in the suprabasal layer of the epidermis andin the muscle layer of the dermis. This treatment also increasedc-fos protein (c-Fos) expression in the muscle layer, but therewas little or no increase in the expression of c-Fos in thebasal or suprabasal layer of the epidermis. Topical applicationof 10 µmol curcumin together with 5 nmol TPA once a dayfor 5 days strongly inhibited TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasiaand c-Jun and c-Fos expression. A single application of 180mJ/cm² of ultraviolet B light (UVB) to the backs of SKH-1 micecaused epidermal hyperplasia and expression of c-Fos and c-Junin the muscle layer of the dermis and of c-Fos in the suprabasallayer of the epidermis. Maximum effects were observed at 6 daysafter UVB exposure. Application of 10 µmol curcumin tomouse skin twice a day for 5 days immediately after UVB exposurehad only a small/variable inhibitory effect on UVB-induced increasesin the expression of c-Fos and c-Jun and on epidermal hyperplasia.These data suggest that induction of hyperplasia and c-Jun andc-Fos expression in mouse skin by TPA and UVB may involve differentpathways and that inhibition of TPA-induced skin tumorigenesisby curcumin may be associated with inhibition of TPA-inducedincreases in the expression of c-Jun and c-Fos.     

Characterization of potentially chemopreventive phenols in extracts of brown rice that inhibit the growth of human breast and colon cancer cells.

Rice is a staple diet in Asia, where the incidence of breast and colon cancer is markedly below that in the Western world. We investigated potential colon and breast tumor-suppressive properties of rice, testing the hypothesis that rice contains phenols that interfere with the proliferation or colony-forming ability of breast or colon cells. Brown rice, its white milled counterpart, and bran from brown rice were boiled and extracted with ethyl acetate. The extracts were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Eight phenols, protocatechuic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, vanillic acid, methoxycinnamic acid, and tricin, were identified in the extracts of bran and intact brown rice. These extracts were separated into nine fractions by column chromatography. The effect of bran extract and its fractions at 100 microg/ml on cell viability and colony-forming ability of human-derived breast and colon cell lines was assessed. Bran extract decreased numbers of viable MDA MB 468 and HBL 100 breast cells and colon-derived SW 480 and human colonic epithelial cells as judged by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4 -sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium assay. It also reduced colony formation of SW 480 colon and MDA MB 468 breast cells. Of the eight phenols identified in the brown rice bran, when applied at 50 microM, caffeic acid decreased numbers of all cell types except HBL 100. Tricin, ferulic acid, and methoxycinnamic acid interfered with cell viability in one or more cell lines. Tricin (50 microM) and the other phenols (200 microM) inhibited colony formation of SW 480 cells. Clonogenicity of MDA MB 468 cells was inhibited by caffeic acid, ferulic acid, and tricin (50 microM). Tricin was the most potent anticlonogenic of the compounds with IC50s of 16 microM in the SW 480 colon cells and 0.6 microM in the MDA MB 468 breast cells. The results suggest that: (a) brown rice and bran contain compounds with putative cancer chemopreventive properties; (b) certain phenols contained in brown rice bran, e.g., tricin, may be associated with this activity; and (c) these phenols are present at much lower levels in white than in brown rice. Thus, the consumption of rice bran or brown rice instead of milled white rice may be advantageous with respect to cancer prevention.     

Modulation by phytochemicals of cytochrome P450-linked enzyme activity

Compounds derived from plant sources with putative anticancer properties were studied for their effects on alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity, a measure of cytochrome P450 activity. The phytochemicals investigated included benzyl isothiocyanate, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, diosmin, ferulic acid, indole-3-carbinol, phenethyl isothiocyanate and resveratrol. Each phytochemical at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.5 microM was incubated with 0.2 mg hamster liver microsomal protein and 0.5 microM concentrations of benzyloxyresorufin, ethoxyresorufin and methoxyresorufin. Three of the phytochemicals tested, namely benzyl isothiocyanate, phenethyl isothiocyanate and resveratrol, exhibited potent inhibition of alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity. Benzyl isothiocyanate inhibited benzyloxyresorufin O-dealkylase (BROD) activity, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity and methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) activity by 90% at both the 0.25 and 0.5 microM concentrations. Phenethyl isothiocyanate inhibited BROD activity by 69%, EROD activity by 90% and MROD activity by 94% at both concentrations tested. Resveratrol inhibited BROD activity by 69% at the 0.25 microM concentration and by 78% at the 0.5 microM concentration. It inhibited EROD activity by 60% at the 0.25 microM concentration and by 80% at the 0.5 microM concentration. Resveratrol exhibited the greatest inhibitory action toward MROD, i.e. 76% and 84% at the two concentrations tested. Chlorogenic acid significantly affected BROD, EROD and MROD activity only at the 0.5 microM concentration inhibiting by 51%, 47% and 54%, respectively. Caffeic acid affected BROD and MROD activity at 0.5 microM only inhibiting BROD activity by 46% and MROD activity by 40%. Diosmin inhibited EROD activity by 11% at the 0.25 microM concentration and by 61% at 0.5 microM. It inhibited MROD by 47% and 54% at the two concentrations tested but did not significantly alter BROD activity. Ferulic acid significantly inhibited EROD and MROD activity at the 0.5 microM concentration by 28% and 32%, respectively. Indole-3-carbinol significantly inhibited BROD activity by 26% at 0.25 microM and by 42% at 0.5 microM. It inhibited EROD and MROD activity by 28% and 29% at 0.5 microM, respectively. The alkoxyresorufin O-dealkylase reactions are selective for various isoforms of cytochrome P450. Our results suggest that the phytochemicals we tested have varied effects on the enzymatic activity of isoforms of cytochrome P450 that dealkylate benzyloxyresorufin, methoxyresorufin and ethoxyresorufin and therefore may have varied effects on the metabolism of substrates for these isoforms.     

The lipoxygenase metabolite 12(S)-HETE promotes alpha IIb beta 3 integrin-mediated tumor-cell spreading on fibronectin.

Tumor-cell interaction with the vessel wall during metastasis involves adhesion, induction of endothelial-cell retraction and spreading on the exposed sub-endothelial matrix. The signals for initiation of tumor-cell spreading and the receptors involved are unknown. A protocol was developed to distinguish between initial tumor-cell (B16 amelanotic melanoma; B16a) adhesion to and spreading on fibronectin. The time for maximum spreading was 50 min. Treatment with a lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid [12(S)-HETE] resulted in maximum spreading in 15 min (max. effect approx. 0.1 microM). Other lipoxygenase metabolites were ineffective. 12(S)-HETE treatment induced a rearrangement of F-actin, vinculin, vimentin intermediate filaments and integrin alpha IIb beta 3, but not integrin alpha 5 beta 1. Antibodies to alpha IIb beta 3 but not alpha 5 beta 1 blocked the 12(S)-HETE effect on B16a spreading. B16a-cell attachment to fibronectin resulted in increased metabolism of arachidonic acid to 12(S)-HETE, which was inhibited by lipoxygenase but not by cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. Accordingly, lipoxygenase inhibitors but not cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors blocked spontaneous B16a-cell spreading. The protein-kinase-C inhibitors calphostin C, H7 and staurosporine also inhibited spreading, while the protein-kinase-A inhibitor H8 was ineffective. These data suggest that B16a-cell spreading on fibronectin is initiated by a lipoxygenase metabolite [12(S)-HETE] of arachidonic acid and is mediated by protein kinase C.     

4 Beta- and 4 alpha-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate elicit arachidonate release from epidermal cells through different mechanisms

There is substantial evidence that the tumor promoter 4 beta-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) elicits enhanced arachidonic acid release and its metabolism to prostaglandins and lipoxygenase products in many cell types. The goal of this study was to determine whether 4 alpha-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (4 alpha TPA), a stereoisomer of TPA, can induce arachidonic acid release and whether it is by the same mechanism as release induced by TPA. The finding that 10 micrograms/ml 4 alpha TPA produces a response comparable with 1 microgram/ml TPA and with similar kinetics was unexpected. The mechanism mediating the TPA response appears to be the activation of protein kinase C (PKC), which subsequently results in phospholipase A2 activation. This is suggested by the observation that TPA-induced arachidonate release is inhibited 65% by 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine dihydrochloride (H-7), an inhibitor of PKC and that TPA completely down-regulates PKC. In addition, down-regulation or depletion of PKC by prior treatment with TPA results in a 75% loss of response to a second TPA treatment. In vitro activation of partially purified PKC could be demonstrated for TPA but not 4 alpha TPA. 4 alpha TPA thus appears to induce the release of arachidonate by a different but unknown mechanism. The 4 alpha TPA effect is not significantly reduced by the PKC inhibitor H-7, and no evidence of PKC activation or down-regulation was observed. Additionally, 4 alpha TPA is unable to "down-regulate" arachidonate release when the two-treatment protocol is used and the down-regulation of PKC by TPA has little effect on 4 alpha TPA-induced arachidonate release. Cycloheximide inhibited TPA-induced arachidonate release by 80% and 4 alpha TPA-induced release by 50%, indicating a partial requirement for protein synthesis for both phorbol esters. Actinomycin D, on the other hand, inhibited the TPA response by 70%, but enhanced the 4 alpha TPA response by 169%. When used at 10- or 100-micrograms doses, 4 alpha TPA was found to lack activity with respect to ornithine decarboxylase induction, oxidant production, hyperplasia, inflammation, and tumor promotion, suggesting that arachidonate release is not sufficient to induce these events. This may be related to the observation that with TPA the extent of arachidonate metabolism to prostaglandin E2 is four- to fivefold greater than occurred with 4 alpha TPA, even under conditions of equivalent arachidonate release.     

Stimulatory effect of thapsigargin, a non-TPA-type tumor promoter, on arachidonic acid metabolism in the murine keratinocyte line HEL30 and on epidermal cell proliferation in vivo as compared to the effects of phorbol ester TPA

The effect of thapsigargin (Tg), a non-12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) type skin tumor promoter, on arachidonic acid and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) formation in HEL30 keratinocytes and on epidermal DNA synthesis in vitro and in vivo (mouse skin) was investigated and compared with that of the phorbol ester TPA. On a molar basis Tg was 30-fold more potent in inducing the arachidonic acid/PGE2 release than TPA. Applied together, the two agents showed a strong synergistic action. The response critically depended on the presence of Ca2+ in the extracellular medium. While the TPA-induced release was mediated by protein kinase C (PKC) the Tg-induced release was not. In contrast to TPA (1 microM), which is a stimulator of HEL30 DNA synthesis, Tg (0.1-1 microM) inhibited DNA labeling in vitro due to a pronounced cytotoxic effect. TPA did not exhibit such an effect. In vivo both agents were practically equipotent in inducing epidermal DNA synthesis and hyperplasia with TPA having an approximately 10-fold higher irritating potential than Tg. It is concluded that the hyperplasiogenic and tumor-promoting effect of Tg in vivo is due to cytotoxicity causing cell death and regenerative hyperproliferation. Thus, Tg-induced skin tumor promotion seems to resemble tumor promotion by mechanical skin wounding, whereas TPA evokes a more specific, i.e. PKC-mediated response. Since despite these mechanistic differences both agents induce an immediate release of arachidonic acid/PGE2 in keratinocytes, this response may be considered to provide an in vitro parameter for irritancy and tumor promotion.     

Inhibitory effect of curcumin on xanthine dehydrogenase/oxidase induced by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate in NJH3T3 cells

Treatment of NIH3T3 cells with the tumor promoter phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate(PMA) results within 30 min in a 1.8-fold elevation of xanthineoxidase (XO) activity, an enzyme capable of generating reactiveoxygen species such as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Simultaneousadministration of 2 and 10 µM curcumin with 100 ng/mlPMA inhibits PMA-induced increases in XO activity measured 30min later by 22.7% and 36.5%, respectively. The PMA-inducedconversion of xanthine dehydrogenase (XD) to XO is reduced bycurcumin to the basal level noted in untreated cells. Activityof XO is remarkably inhibited by curcumin in vitro, but notby its structurally related compounds caffeic acid, chlorogenicacid and ferulic acid. Based on these findings, induction ofXO activity is deemed to be one of the major causative elementsin PMA-mediated tumor promotion, and the major inhibitory mechanismof curcumin on PMA-induced increases in XD/XO enzyme activitiesis through direct inactivation at the protein level.     

Effects of antihistamines on phorbol ester tumor promotion and vascular permeability changes

Substantial evidence suggests that inflammation is an essential component of the phorbol ester tumor promotion stage of multistage carcinogenesis in mouse skin. In order to understand better the significance of this relationship, studies were directed at identifying the principal mediators of the vascular permeability component of inflammation induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Antihistamines and inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism were compared with respect to their anti-inflammatory activity and the correlation of this parameter with their effect on tumor promotion. The H1 histamine receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine, suppressed TPA-induced vascular leakage by 25 and 50% at topical doses of 0.342 mumol (100 micrograms) and 0.856 mumol (250 micrograms) respectively. In initiated mice, these same doses inhibited papilloma development by 40 and 75%. Inhibition of tumors was also observed when diphenhydramine was given orally. The H2 antagonist, cimetidine, which could only be supplied orally, had little effect on either TPA-induced vascular permeability or promotion. The lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid also suppressed vascular permeability and has been reported to inhibit papilloma development. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, however, has no effect on TPA-induced vascular permeability. Collectively, these data suggest that the increased vascular leakage observed with TPA contributes to tumor development and that this event is mediated by both the H1 histamine receptors and one or more of the lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid.     

JB6 murine epidermal cell lines sensitive and resistant to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced transformation exhibit differential arachidonic acid metabolism in response to TPA and the calcium ionophore A23187.

In a study of arachidonic acid metabolism in murine epidermal JB6 cells, promoter-sensitive (P+) and promoter-resistant (P-) variants, labeled with [3H]arachidonic acid, were treated successively with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and the calcium ionophore A23187. Released radiolabel was separated by HPLC and identified by coelution of standards. Prostacyclin release was then quantified by radioimmunoassay for 6-keto prostaglandin (PG)F1 alpha. A23187 alone resulted in a small but significant enhanced release of radiolabel from both cell variants (0.7 +/- 0.2% for P- and 0.6 +/- 0.3% for P+ cells; mean +/- SD). Treatment with TPA and subsequent treatment with A23187 resulted in a synergistically enhanced release of radiolabel from both cell variants (4.1 +/- 0.8% for P- and 3.4 +/- 0.9% for P+ cells) relative to that with either agent alone. Although the predominant product for each treatment regimen was prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), the TPA-resistant cells (P-) released significantly more 6-keto PGF1 alpha, a stable breakdown product of PGI2, than did the TPA-sensitive (P+) cells. These results indicate differential arachidonic acid metabolism between JB6 cell variants resistant and sensitive to TPA-induced transformation.     

Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-caused tumor promotion in 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-initiated SENCAR mouse skin by a polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea.

Our laboratory has been studying cancer chemopreventive effects of polyphenolic fraction isolated from green tea (GTP). In prior studies we have shown that (a) GTP possesses antigenotoxic effects in various test systems; (b) topical application of GTP protects against UV radiation and chemical carcinogen-induced tumorigenesis in murine skin; and (c) feeding of GTP in drinking water p.o. to mice protects against carcinogen-induced forestomach and lung tumorigenesis. Recently, we showed that in a dose-dependent manner GTP inhibits tumor promoter-caused induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylase activity in SENCAR mice (R. Agarwal et al., Cancer Res., 52: 3582-3588, 1992). In the present study, we assessed the effect of GTP on TPA-induced skin tumor promotion in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-initiated SENCAR mouse. Topical application of varying doses of GTP (1-24 mg) 30 min prior to that of each TPA application resulted in highly significant protection against skin tumor promotion in a dose-dependent manner. The animals pretreated with GTP showed substantially lower tumor body burden such as decrease in total number of tumors per group, number of tumors per animal, tumor volume per mouse, and average volume per tumor, as compared to the animals that did not receive GTP. Since TPA-induced epidermal cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities and edema and hyperplasia are conventionally used markers of skin tumor promotion, we also assessed the effect of preapplication of GTP on these parameters. As quantitated by the formation of prostaglandin and hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid metabolites from, respectively, cyclooxygenase- and lipoxygenase-catalyzed metabolism of arachidonic acid, skin application of GTP to SENCAR mice resulted in significant inhibition of TPA-caused effects on these 2 enzymes. Prior application of GTP to mouse skin also resulted in 30-46% inhibition of TPA-induced epidermal edema and hyperplasia. The results of the present study suggest that GTP possesses anti-skin tumor-promoting effects, and that the mechanism of such effects may involve inhibition of tumor promoter-induced epidermal ornithine decarboxylase, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase activities, edema, and hyperplasia. Further studies are in progress to define which component present in GTP is responsible for its anti-skin tumor-promoting effects.     

Inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(a)pyrene-trans-7,8-diol metabolism and DNA binding in mouse lung explants by ellagic acid

The effect of ellagic acid, a naturally occurring plant phenol, on the binding to DNA and metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) and trans-7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene (BP 7,8-DHD) in cultured explants of strain A mouse lung was investigated. The explants were cultured in a rocking organ culture chamber for 16 h in the presence or absence of 10, 25, 50, and 100 microM ellagic acid. These concentrations of ellagic acid were nontoxic as determined by biochemical and histological methods. The ellagic acid was then removed from the cultures, and the explants were incubated with either 1 microM [3H]BP or [3H]BP 7,8-DHD for 24 h. Explant DNA was isolated using hydroxylapatite chromatography, and the BP metabolites in the medium were analyzed by high-pressure liquid chromatography. Ellagic acid (50 microM) inhibited the binding of BP and BP 7,8-DHD to lung DNA by 46 to 50% and 60 to 70%, respectively. High-pressure liquid chromatography analysis showed that ellagic acid (100 microM) inhibited the metabolism of BP by 20 to 40% and of BP 7,8-DHD by 20%, as indicated by the increased amounts of unmetabolized substrates and decreased amounts of metabolites in the medium. The major BP:DNA adduct in the explants was 7R-N2-[10 beta-[7 beta, 8 beta, 9 alpha-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene]yl: deoxyguanosine, and its formation was reduced by 60 to 65% in the presence of 100 microM ellagic acid. These data suggest that the reduction of BP and BP 7,8-DHD metabolite binding to DNA by ellagic acid may have been due to inhibition of the formation and/or removal of BP 7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide prior to its binding to DNA.     

Inhibition of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-mediated epidermal ornithine decarboxylase induction and skin tumor promotion by new lipoxygenase inhibitors lacking protein kinase C inhibitory effects

Both 2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(12-hydroxy-5, 10-dodecadiynyl)-l, 4-benzoquinone(AA861) and 3, 4, 2‘, 4’-tetrahydroxychalcone inhibited12-lipoxygenase of mouse epidermis. The IC₅₀ of AA861 and 3,4, 2‘, 4’-tetrahydroxychalcone for epidermal 12-lipoxygenasewere 1.9 and 0.2 µM, respectively. These agents showedvery weak inhibitory actions on epidermal cyclooxygenase, withthe potency of inhibition for cydooxy-genase less than 1/50of that for lipoxygenase. Induction of epidermal ornithine decarboxylaseby 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA; 10 nmol/mouse)was potently inhibited by these agents in a dose-dependent manner(1–30µmol/mouse). TPA (5 nmol/mouse)-induced skintumor formation was also strongly suppressed by these agents(15 µmol/mouse). Both AA861 and 3, 4, 2‘, 4’-tetrahydroxy-chalconefailed to inhbit partially purified epidermal protein kinaseC activity. These results support the proposed involvement oflipoxygenase product(s) of arachidonic acid in TPA-induced skintumor promotion.     

Effects of Retinoids and Inhibitors of Arachidonic Acid Metabolism on Tumor-promoter-induced Soft Agar Colony Formation of Mouse Epidermal Cells and Rat Urinary Bladder Cells

Effects of retinoids and inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on tumor-promoter-induced soft agar colony formation of mouse epidermal cells and rat bladder cells were evaluated. Topical application of retinoic acid, an anti-tumor-promoter, to female SENCAR mouse skin inhibited 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-induced soft agar colony formation of mouse epidermal cells, an event proposed to be essential for tumor promotion. Effects of dietary retinyl acetate, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and quinacrine hydrochloride on colony formation of rat bladder cells were then examined. Male Fischer 344 rats were given 0.05% N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine for 3 weeks, followed immediately by the administration for 9 weeks of 5% sodium saccharin supplemented with or without 0.05% retinyl acetate, 0.1% NDGA or 0.01% quinacrine hydrochloride. Saccharin-induced colony growth was significantly inhibited by the administration of retinyl acetate or NDGA, suggesting that these two agents have anti-tumor-promoting effects on rat bladder carcinogenesis. Thus, the colony-forming assay might be useful for early detection of anti-tumor-promoters of skin and bladder.