DNA modification by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine in rats

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is the most abundant mutagenic heterocyclic amine by weight in cooked foods. This mutagen was found to produce DNA adducts in all ten tested organs of rats using the 32P-postlabeling method. The level of DNA adducts in the pancreas, kidney and liver increased dose-dependently and feeding time-dependently up to four weeks. When diet containing 0.05% PhIP was given to rats for four weeks, levels of PhIP-DNA adducts were relatively high in the lung, pancreas and heart, being around 20 per 10(7) nucleotides, and lowest in the liver, being 2.20 per 10(7) nucleotides. Thus, PhIP showed a unique feature in the formation of DNA adducts compared to other mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amines, which produce the highest level of DNA adducts in the liver.     

Formation of DNA adducts of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in male Fischer-344 rats.

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]-pyridine (PhIP) is known to induce colon tumors in male Fischer-344 rats. Using 32P-postlabeling assays, we have examined PhIP-DNA adduct formation in various organs and white blood cells (WBCs) of the male Fischer-344 rat 24 h after a single oral dose of 0, 0.5, 5 or 50 mg PhIP/kg. Three PhIP-DNA adducts were detected in WBCs and in all organs, except in the liver and stomach which had only two adducts. The extent of adduct formation was dose-related, but at 0.5 mg/kg no adducts could be detected in any of the organs. At 50 mg/kg, adduct levels, expressed as relative adduct labeling values (RAL x 10(7), or adducts per 10(7) nucleotides assuming complete labeling) were highest in the large intestine (5.66), followed by WBCs (5.04), stomach (1.44), small intestine (1.32), kidney (1.16), liver (0.67) and lungs (0.52). It is concluded that orally administered PhIP forms high levels of specific DNA adducts in the large intestine, the target organ in PhIP carcinogenesis in the male Fischer-344 rat, and that the high level of adducts in WBCs indicates that significant amounts of the ultimate carcinogenic form of PhIP are present in the circulation.     

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine induces a higher number of aberrant crypt foci in Fischer 344 (rapid) than in Wistar Kyoto (slow) acetylator inbred rats.

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is the most abundant heterocyclic amine carcinogen in the human diet and is a colon carcinogen in the rat. N-Acetyltransferase-2 (NAT2) catalyzes the conversion of PhIP and other heterocyclic amines to a DNA-reactive form. NAT2 has a polymorphic distribution in humans and other mammals, including rats. The rapid NAT2 genotype has been shown to be associated with increased colorectal cancer risk in some, but not all, human epidemiological studies. This investigation was designed to study the role of acetylator genotype in PhIP-induced colon carcinogenesis using aberrant crypt foci (ACF) as an intermediate biomarker. Five-week-old male, rapid-acetylator Fischer 344 (F344) rats and slow-acetylator Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were fed the semipurified AIN76A diet with 0.01% PhIP, 0.04% PhIP, or no PhIP (control) for 8 weeks. PhIP induced ACF in both rapid- and slow-acetylator rats; 0.04% PhIP induced more ACF than 0.01% PhIP. There was no difference in the number of ACF between rapid- and slow-acetylator rats that were fed 0.01% PhIP. However, 0.04% PhIP induced 2-fold higher ACF and a greater dose-dependent increase in PhIP-induced ACF in the rapid-acetylator F344 rats compared with the slow-acetylator WKY rats. The results support human epidemiological studies showing higher risk for colorectal cancer in rapid acetylators who frequently consume meat that is very well done.     

Fate and distribution of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in rats

Fischer 344 rats were given a single dose of 0.60 mg/animal of [2-14C]2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) by gavage; and radioactivity contained in feces, urine, blood, serum proteins, hemoglobin, and tissues was determined at 12, 24, 48 and 96 h after dosing. One major and four minor radioactivity-containing fractions were found in the urine and one major and two minor radioactivity-containing fractions were found in the feces. The feces was the major route of excretion, representing 78% of dose during the first 24 h, and unchanged PhIP in the feces accounted for 51% of the dose. Unmetabolized PhIP was also shown to be the major radioactive fraction in bile and feces from animals given a single dose by i.p. injection. Blood contained a small fraction of the dose and the major, persistently-bound form of PhIP in the blood was to hemoglobin. At 12 h after administration of the dose the colon and cecum contained the highest concentration of radioactivity, while at later times the kidney and liver showed the highest concentration. Of the tissue-contained radioactivity 80-90% was ethanol insoluble at time points later than 24 h, suggesting that it was covalently bound to macromolecules.     

Removal of DNA adducts of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in the male Fischer-344 rat

The food mutagen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyrldine(PhIP) is carcinogenic in the male Fischer-344 rat, affectingprincipally the colon. PhIP-DNA adducts may play a role in theinitiation of the carcinogenic process. We have evaluated theformation and persistence of PhIP-DNA adducts in the colon,circulating white blood cells (WBC) and several other non-targetorgans of the male Flscher-344 rat. Young adult male animalswere given a single dose of PhIP (50 mg/kg) by gavage. Animalswere killed 1, 2, 6, 12, 16 or 20 days after dosing (4 anlmals/timepoint) and their liver, lungs, stomach, small intestine, cecum,colon, kidneys, WBC, heart and spleen were removed for isolationof DNA and assay of PhIP-DNA adducts by ³²P-postlabeling. Forinterorgan comparisons of cell turnover, rats were given a singlei.p. dose of [methyl-³H], after which DNA was isolated at thesame time intervals as for adduct analysis and its sp. act.(d.p.m. ³ H/100µg) was determined. In all organs up tothree adducts could be isolated and the adduct pattern was thesame in each case. On day 1, total adduct levels were highestin the colon (the target organ), followed by the spleen, cecum,small intestine, stomach, liver, kidneys, lungs, WBC and heart.Rates of adduct removal were similar in the colon, spleen, cecum,liver, lungs, stomach and small intestine, with day 16 and day20 levels falling to <16% of those on day 1; rates of removalwere slower in the heart and kidneys (52.0 and 30.3% of day1 values remaining on day 16 respectively). Adducts in WBC increasedat first (day 2) and decreased thereafter to virtually non-detectablelevels on days 16 and 20. Heart adducts on days 2–12 increasedslightly or remained as high as those on day 1, then decreasedto lower levels on days 16 and 20(53.0 and 28.7% of day 1 levelsrespectively). There was no preferential removal or persistenceof any individual adduct in WBC or in any of the organs. Ondays 1 and 2, the sp. act. of intestinal DNA (small intestine,cecum and colon) was >30-fold higher than that in severalother organs, including the liver. These sp. act. decreasedto the low sp. act. of the liver on day 20. It is concludedthat the rates of adduct removal from the intestines are morelikely to be related to cell turnover of epithelial cells thanto enzymatic repair. Factors other than rate of adduct repairmay contribute to the striking single organ target of PhIP inthe male Flscher-344 rat.     

Activation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) to mutagenic metabolites

Metabolism of heterocyclic amines to N-hydroxy intermediates appears critical in the mutagenic and carcinogenic actions of these compounds. We have studied the murine hepatic microsomal and cytosolic activation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a heterocyclic amine mutagen formed in cooked meats. PhIP (25 microM) was almost completely converted to N-hydroxy-PhIP and 4'-hydroxy-PhIP in 30 min by reaction with 3-methylcholanthrene-induced microsomal preparations. Microsomal formation of the active N-hydroxy-PhIP metabolite was slightly favored over the 4'-hydroxy-PhIP detoxification product at all concentrations studied (25-200 microM). Metabolism of PhIP in microsomal preparations derived from control mice was approximately of the induced preparations. Metabolically activated PhIP and synthetic N-hydroxy-PhIP produced concentration-dependent increases in mutagenic activity in both Salmonella strains TA98 and TA98/1,8-DNP6, indicating that acetylated intermediates were not important in the mutagenicity of N-hydroxy-PhIP in these bacteria. Significant stabilization of the N-hydroxy-PhIP intermediate by both microsomal protein and BSA was observed. Addition of cytosol to microsomal incubations with PhIP (25 microM) resulted in an increase in mutagenic activity which could be attributable to stabilization by glutathione. An additional increase in mutagenicity resulted from addition of 3'-phosphoadenosine 5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS), but not acetyl coenzyme A to microsomal preparations containing the cytosolic fraction. Furthermore, addition of PAPS to cytosolic preparations containing synthetic N-hydroxy-PhIP produced a 17% decrease in levels of the arylhydroxylamine relative to controls over 30 min, suggesting that secondary metabolism of N-hydroxy-PhIP to a sulfate conjugate may be relevant to the mutagenic and carcinogenic actions of PhIP.     

Metabolism of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in mice.

The metabolism of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]-pyridine (PhIP), a heterocyclic amine carcinogen detected in cooked meats, was investigated in mice. In 3-methylcholanthrene-induced mice administered 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg/kg [14C]PhIP (i.p.), urinary and fecal excretion over 24 h accounted for 16% and 42-56% of the dose respectively. Urinary excretion of unchanged parent compound accounted for only 0.5-0.8% of the administered dose. At all doses, the major urinary metabolite was identified as 4'-(2-amino-1-methylimidazo[4,5-b]pyrid-6-yl)phenyl sulfate and this metabolite comprised approximately 5% of the dose. Uninduced mice excreted greater than 13% of a 10 mg/kg dose as the sulfate conjugate. Urinary excretion of both 2-amino-1-methyl-6-(4'-hydroxy)-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (4'-hydroxy-PhIP) and a glucuronide conjugate of 2-hydroxyamino-1-methyl-6-phenyl-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (N-hydroxy-PhIP) was also higher (4-fold) in uninduced versus induced mice. The decreased urinary excretion of P450-derived metabolites via induction contrasted with increased metabolite formation by hepatic microsomal preparations. 4'-Hydroxy-PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP were produced in amounts nearly 7- and 3-fold higher respectively by induced versus uninduced microsomal incubations at 50 microM [3H]PhIP. At concentrations less than 10 microM, PhIP was almost exclusively converted by the induced preparations to an unidentified metabolite that was not retained by the C18 column. This metabolite, which also was formed in incubations with either 4'-hydroxy-PhIP or N-hydroxy-PhIP, was produced by microsomes from uninduced animals at a much slower rate. Covalent binding to microsomal protein in incubations with [3H]PhIP was concentration-dependent and 2- to 4-fold higher in induced than uninduced preparations. Covalent binding in liver and kidney of induced mice administered [14C]PhIP was dose dependent. At 10 mg/kg PhIP, adducts were produced at 1.7-fold higher levels in livers of induced versus uninduced mice, but renal binding was higher in uninduced animals. These studies indicate the importance of cytochrome P450 and other xenobiotic enzymes in the metabolism, disposition and activation of PhIP.     

A new colon and mammary carcinogen in cooked food, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), which is produced during cooking and is mutagenic to bacteria and cultured mammalian cells, was found to induce high incidences of colon and mammary carcinomas in F344 rats when administered at a concentration of 400 p.p.m. in the diet for 52 weeks. Since PhIP is the most abundant of the mutagenic heterocyclic amines in cooked meat and fish, the compound might be related to malignancies of the colon and breast in humans.     

DNA-binding and disposition of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in the rat

Untreated and Aroclor 1254-pretreated male Wistar rats weregiven a single dose of 1.0 mg/kg body weight of randomly tritium-labelled2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (³H-PhIP) byoral intubation. Urine and faeces were collected at 24, 48 and72 hours after dosing, and total radioactivity determined. At2, 4, 6, 16, 26, 48 and 72 h, animals were killed and severalorgans, including liver, bladder, lungs, kidneys, stomach, largeand small intestines, heart, thigh muscle, spleen and bloodwere collected for DNA extraction and for determination of totalradioactivity. Highest total radioactivity at 2 h was not unexpectedlyobserved in the stomach, small intestines and bladder, whereasradiolabels corresponding to     

N-acetyltransferase-dependent activation of 2-hydroxyamino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine: formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-(5-hydroxy)phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine, a possible biomarker for the reactive dose of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine

2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is a mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amine formed during ordinary cooking. PhIP is metabolically activated to the ultimate mutagenic metabolite by CYP P450-mediated N-hydroxylation followed by phase II esterification. Incubation of N-hydroxy-PhIP (N-OH-PhIP) with cytosol, acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) and 2'-deoxyguanosine for 24 h resulted in the formation of three different adducts:N(2)-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-PhIP, N(2)-(guanosin-8-yl)-PhIP and PhIP-xanthine. One additional product, 5-hydroxy-PhIP (5-OH-PhIP), was also identified in the incubation mixtures. 5-hydroxy-PhIP is formed as a degradation product of conjugates formed from N-acetoxy-PhIP and protein, glutathione or buffer constituents. A similar spectrum of products was obtained using 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate (PAPS) instead of acetyl CoA. Addition of glutathione (3 mM) to the incubation mixture resulted in a 50% reduction in both adducts and 5-hydroxy-PhIP formation in liver cytosol. The main product detected was PhIP, suggesting glutathione-dependent reduction of the N-acetoxy-PhIP. Addition of glutathione to incubation mixtures from the other cytosolic preparations had less dramatic effects. In addition, increasing the amount of N-OH-PhIP in the incubation mixture resulted in proportional increased amounts of total adducts and 5-OH-PhIP. Incubation of rat and human S9 with PhIP resulted in the formation of only traces of 5-OH-PhIP. Fortification with AcCoA clearly increased the formation of 5-OH-PhIP. Addition of the CYP 450 1A2 inhibitor, furafylline, completely inhibited the formation of 5-OH-PhIP in incubations with human S9. These results indicate that both PhIP adducts and 5-OH-PhIP are formed by similar routes of activation of N-OH-PhIP. 5-OH-PhIP may therefore serve as a biomarker for the formation of the ultimate mutagenic metabolite of PhIP. A rat dosed orally with PhIP excreted 1% of the dose as 5-OH-PhIP in the urine at 24 h and 0.05 and 0.01% at 48 and 72 h, respectively. This shows that 5-OH-PhIP is also formed in vivo and indicates the possible use of 5-OH-PhIP as a urinary biomarker.     

Genetic analysis of the susceptibility in rats to aberrant crypt foci formation by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo [4,5-b]pyridine, PhIP.

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), the most abundant heterocyclic amine produced while cooking fish and meat, induces aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and colon cancers in rats. We previously reported that F344 rats were sensitive and ACI rats resistant to ACF formation by PhIP, and that the genetic susceptibility in F344 rats to ACF formation by PhIP was autosomally dominant over ACI rats. To identify candidate susceptibility genes in F344 rats, a preliminary genome-wide linkage analysis was employed using a subset of 170 progeny of (F344 x ACI)F1 x ACI backcross rats with either high or low sensitivity to ACF formation by PhIP. Three chromosomes, 1, 6 and 16, demonstrated the presence of loci with a logarithm of the odds (lod) scores of more than 1.0, and a susceptible gene for ACF formation by PhIP was suggested to reside on chromosomes 16.     

Protection against 2-hydroxyamino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine cytotoxicity and DNA adduct formation in human prostate by glutathione S-transferase P1

The prostate has been identified as a target for 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP)-induced carcinogenesis. Humans are exposed to PhIP through ingestion of well-done cooked meats, and there is evidence from epidemiological studies that implicates red meat consumption in prostate carcinogenesis. The alpha and pi class isoforms of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) have been shown to inhibit adduction of activated PhIP metabolites to DNA in cell-free systems. In humans, silencing of GST pi(GSTP1) through CpG island hypermethylation is found in nearly all prostate carcinomas and is believed to be an early event in prostate carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that suppressed GSTP1 expression in prostate cells would increase their vulnerability to cytotoxicity and DNA adduct formation mediated by activated PhIP metabolites. To test this hypothesis, the human prostate adenocarcinoma cell line, LNCaP, which contains a silenced GSTP1 gene, was genetically modified to constitutively express high levels of GSTP1. Both LNCaP and LNCaP-GSTP1 cells exposed to N-OH-PhIP, but not parent PhIP, for 24 h showed a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. GSTP1-overexpressing cells had LC50s 30-40% higher than cells transfected with the vector alone. PhIP-DNA adducts isolated from LNCaP-derived cells and primary human prostate tissue cultures exposed to N-OH-PhIP were analyzed by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Primary cultures of human prostate tissue and LNCaP-GSTP1 cells had approximately 50% lower adduct levels than parental LNCaP and vector control cells. Bioactivation assays using LNCaP cytosols showed that enzymatic activation of N-OH-PhIP to a DNA binding species was dependent on ATP and could be inhibited by recombinant human GSTP1 in the presence of glutathione. This evidence confirms that N-OH-PhIP can be bioactivated to a DNA binding species in human prostate and human prostate-derived cells. These observations provide the basis for using LNCaP and LNCaP-GSTP1 cells as a model system for studying the role of this enzyme in protection against N-OH-PhIP induced DNA damage in prostate carcinogenesis. Loss of GSTP1 expression in human prostate may, therefore, enhance its susceptibility to carcinogenic insult by compounds such as N-OH-PhIP. Conversely, induction of GSTs in early-stage prostate carcinogenesis may be a useful protective strategy.     

In vivo human metabolism of [2-14C]2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP).

To better understand the interactions of the pathways of activation and detoxification on the metabolism of the putative carcinogen, PhIP, we administered a dose of 70-84 microg [2-14C] PhIP (17.5 [microCi 14C) 48-72 h before scheduled colon surgery. Blood and urine collected for the next 48-72 h was evaluated by linear accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS) and scintillation counting LC-MS to identify specific PhIP metabolites. The thermostable phenol sulfotransferase (SULT1A1) phenotype was correlated with the 4'-PhIP-SO4 levels in the urine at 0-4 h (R = 0.86, P = 0.059). The CYP1A2 activity had a negative correlation with PhIP serum levels at 1 h (R = 0.94, P = 0.06) and a positive correlation with urine N-OH-PhIP levels at 0-4 h (R = 0.85, P = 0.15). This low level radioisotope method of determining the influence of phenotype on metabolism will significantly improve our understanding of the interrelationships of these pathways and provide a critical foundation for the development of individual risk assessment.     

DNA and protein adduct formation in the colon and blood of humans after exposure to a dietary-relevant dose of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine.

Epidemiology studies have indicated that certain dietary components, including well-cooked meat, are risk determinants for colon cancer. Cooked meat can contain significant quantities of heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs), which have been established as carcinogens in laboratory animals. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) is usually the most mass-abundant HCA, with concentrations up to 480 ppb. We used accelerator mass spectrometry to establish whether DNA and protein adducts can be detected in humans exposed to a quantity of PhIP comparable with levels of exposure that occur in the diet. Five human volunteers were administered a dietary-relevant dose of [14C]PhIP (70-84 microg) 48-72 h before surgery for removal of colon tumors. Blood samples were collected at various time points, and albumin, hemoglobin, and WBC DNA were extracted for analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry. Tissue samples were collected during surgery and used to assess either tissue available doses of [14C]PhIP or adduct levels. The results of this study show: (a) PhIP is activated to a form that will bind to albumin, hemoglobin, and WBC DNA in peripheral blood. WBC DNA adducts were unstable and declined substantially over 24 h; (b) PhIP is bioavailable to the colon, with levels in normal tissue in the range 42-122 pg PhIP/g tissue; and (c) PhIP binds to both protein and DNA in the colon. DNA adduct levels in the normal tissue were 35-135 adducts/10(12) nucleotides, which was significantly lower than tumor tissue. The results of this study demonstrate that PhIP is bioavailable to the human colon following defined dietary-relevant doses and forms DNA and protein adducts.     

Preferential mammary carcinogenic effects of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in human c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene transgenic rats

In order to clarify the susceptibility of the Hras128 rat harboring copies of the human c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene to 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), Hras128 rats were intragastically treated with 100 mg/kg PhIP 8 times (females) or 80 mg/kg PhIP 10 times (males) over a 9-week period, then sacrificed at weeks 12 and 30. Multiple mammary tumors of adenocarcinoma type were induced in all females, while 83% of treated males developed adenocarcinomas, sarcomas and transitional carcinosarcomas, as evidenced by casein and vimentin immunoreactivity. All tumors examined had mutations in the c-Ha-ras transgene, while the endogenous rat c-Ha-ras gene was intact. Our results indicate that 1) Hras128 rats of both sexes are preferentially susceptible to mammary carcinogenesis with PhIP; 2) activation of the transgene, but not the endogenous c-Ha-ras gene, may be important in this regard; 3) the variety of tumor types evident in male rats indicates that immature mammary gland cells of the terminal end buds may be a target of PhIP; 4) although the transgene is expressed in all organs, susceptibility to PhIP is limited to mammary glands.     

N-glucuronidation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) and N_hydroxy-PhIP by specific human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases.

Glucuronidation is a major metabolic pathway in the biotransformation of many xenobiotics. Recent studies have shown that in humans, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)-mediated glucuronidation plays a critical role in the detoxification of food-borne carcinogenic heterocyclic amines. 2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), the most abundant carcinogenic heterocyclic amine found in well-cooked meats, has been shown to be extensively glucuronidated in humans. To determine which UGT isozymes are involved in the biotransformation of PhIP and the cytochrome P4501A2-mediated reactive intermediate N-hydroxy-PhIP, microsomes expressing human UGT1A1, -1A4, -1A6 or -1A9 were incubated with PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP and the reaction products analyzed by HPLC and ESI-MS. Incubations containing N-hydroxy-PhIP and UGT1A1 expressing microsomes, with an apparent Km of 4.58 microM and a Vmax of 4.18 pmol/min/mg protein, had the highest capacity to convert N-hydroxy-PhIP to N-hydroxy-PhIP-N2-glucuronide. Microsomes expressing UGT1A9 produced N-hydroxy-PhIP-N3-glucuronide at the highest rate with an apparent Km and Vmax of 3.73 microM and 4.07 pmol/min/mg, respectively. A third previously undefined glucuronide accounted for 31% of the total glucuronides formed from the UGT1A4 expressing microsomes. No glucuronide conjugates were detected from microsomes expressing UGT1A6. Incubations containing PhIP as substrate formed direct PhIP-glucuronides in microsomes expressing UGT1A1, UGT1A4 and UGT1A9 but at levels averaging 53-fold lower than when N-hydroxy-PhIP was used as the substrate. Knowing the glucuronidation capacity of the specific UGT isozymes involved in PhIP and N-hydroxy-PhIP glucuronidation should help in determining the individual susceptibility to the potential cancer risk from exposure to PhIP.     

Detection of a carcinogen, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), in cigarette smoke condensate

A carcinogenic heterocyclic amine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), was measured in condensate of cigarette mainstream smoke by HPLC. PhIP was detected in all brands of filter-tipped cigarettes analyzed. The mean level of PhIP in the cigarette mainstream smoke was 16.4 ng/cig.     

Metabolism of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) by human cytochrome P4501B1

Cytochrome P4501B1 (CYP1B1) is the most recently identified member of the dioxin-inducible CYP1 family. CYP1B1 is constitutively expressed in most human tissues, including colon and breast, and can activate numerous chemically diverse carcinogens. We evaluated the metabolism of the dietary heterocyclic amine carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6- phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) by microsomes from yeast expressing the human CYP1B1 protein. PhIP metabolites were analysed by HPLC with fluorescence and absorbance detection. We found that human CYP1B1 metabolizes PhIP to three products: N2-OH-PhIP, a mutagenic activation product; 4'-OH-PhIP, a detoxification product; and 2-OH-PhIP, the mutagenic potential of which is unknown. Metabolite identity was confirmed by co-elution with authentic standards and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy. The identity of the 2-OH-PhIP standard was additionally confirmed by mass spectrometry. Kinetic studies of the formation of N2-OH-PhIP, 4'-OH-PhIP and 2-OH-PhIP by CYP1B1 indicated apparent Km values of 5.7 +/- 1.3, 2.2 +/- 0.5 and 1.3 +/- 0.2 microM, respectively. Apparent turnover rates were 0.40 +/- 0.03, 0.93 +/- 0.02 and 0.04 +/- 0.00 nmol product/min nmol P450, respectively. At saturating levels of substrate, CYP1B1-mediated formation of the non- mutagenic metabolite 4'-OH-PhIP was favored two-fold over that of the mutagenic metabolite, N2-OH-PhIP and >10-fold over that of 2-OH-PhIP. The formation of N2-OH-PhIP, a potent mutagen implicated in the etiology of human colon and breast cancer, indicates that CYP1B1 may play an important role in PhIP-mediated carcinogenesis.      

Analysis of mutations induced by 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in human lymphoblastoid cells

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP), a heterocyclicaromatic amine that is formed in abundance in cooked meats,has been found to be mutagenic in human lymphoblastoid TK6 cellsat the thymidine kinase and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (hgprt) loci. The mutations induced at the hgprtlocus have been analysed. Of the mutations that have been identified,60% were found in the coding sequence of the gene. Forty percentwere in the introns which resulted in aberrant splicing andconsequently, leading to exon losses in the mature hprt mRNA.Mutations resulting in a loss of exonIII appeared most frequentlyfollowed by losses of exonVI, exonVIII and partial loss of exonIX.All identified mutations occurred at GC base pairs, consistentwith the adducts of PhIP that have been found previously andsuggesting that the N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-amino-l-methyl-6-phenyl-imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine,(dG-C8-PhIP) adduct may be the premutagenic lesion. Most ofthe mutations are GC