Using polymerase arrest to detect DNA binding specificity of aristolochic acid in the mouse H-ras gene

The distribution of DNA adducts formed by the two main components, aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII), of the carcinogenic plant extract aristolochic acid (AA) was examined in a plasmid containing exon 2 of the mouse c-H-ras gene by a polymerase arrest assay. AAI and AAII were reacted with plasmid DNA by reductive activation and the resulting DNA adducts were identified as the previously characterized adenine adducts (dA-AAI and dA-AAII) and guanine adducts (dG-AAI and dG-AAII) by the (32)P-post-labeling method. In addition, a structurally unknown adduct was detected in AAII-modified DNA and shown to be derived from reaction with cytosine (dC-AAII). Sites at which DNA polymerase progress along the template was blocked were assumed to be at the nucleotide 3' to the adduct. Polymerase arrest spectra showed a preference for reaction with purine bases in the mouse H-ras gene for both activated compounds, consistent with previous results that purine adducts are the principal reaction products of AAI and AAII with DNA. Despite the structural similarities among AAI-DNA and AAII-DNA adducts, however, the polymerase arrest spectra produced by the AAs were different. According to the (32)P-post-labeling analyses reductively activated AAI showed a strong preference for reacting with guanine residues in plasmid DNA, however, the polymerase arrest assay revealed arrest sites preferentially at adenine residues. In contrast, activated AAII reacted preferentially with adenine rather than guanine residues and to a lesser extent with cytosine but DNA polymerase was arrested at guanine as well as adenine and cytosine residues with nearly the same average relative intensity. Thus, the polymerase arrest spectra obtained with the AA-adducted ras sequence do not reflect the DNA adduct distribution in plasmid DNA as determined by (32)P-post-labeling. Arrest sites of DNA polymerase associated with cytosine residues confirmed the presence of a cytosine adduct in DNA modified by AAII. For both compounds adduct distribution was not random; instead, regions with adduct hot spots and cold spots were observed. Results from nearest neighbor binding analysis indicated that flanking pyrimidines displayed the greatest effect on polymerase arrest and therefore on DNA binding by AA.     

32P-post-labelling analysis of DNA adducts formed by aristolochic acid in tissues from patients with Chinese herbs nephropathy

Recently, we reported that aristolochic acid (AA) a naturally occurring nephrotoxin and carcinogen is implicated in a unique type of renal fibrosis, designated Chinese herbs nephropathy (CHN). Indeed, we identified the principal aristolochic acid-DNA adduct in the kidney of five such patients. We now extend these observations and demonstrate the presence of additional AA-DNA adducts by the 32P-post-labelling method not only in the kidneys, but also in a ureter obtained after renal transplantation. Using the nuclease P1 version of the assay not only the major DNA adduct of aristolochic acid, 7-(deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)- aristolactam I (dA-AAI), but also the minor adducts, 7-(deoxyguanosin- N2-yl)-aristolactam I (dG-AAI) and 7-(deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)-aristolactam II (dA-AAII) were detected, and identified by cochromatographic analyses with TLC and HPLC. Quantitative analyses of six kidneys revealed relative adduct levels from 0.7 to 5.3/10(7) for dA-AAI, from 0.02 to 0.12/10(7) for dG-AAI and 0.06 to 0.24/ 10(7) nucleotides for dA-AAII. The detection of the dA-AAII adduct is consistent with the occurrence of aristolochic acid II (AAII) in the herb powder imported under the name of Stephania tetrandra and confirms that the patients had indeed ingested the natural mixture of AAI and AAII. 32P-post- labelling analyses of further biopsy samples of one patient showed the known adduct pattern of AA exposure not only in the kidney, but also in the ureter, whereas in skin and muscle tissue no adduct spots were detectable. In an attempt to explain the higher level of the dA-AAI adduct compared to the dG-AAI adduct level in renal tissue even 44 months after the end of regimen, the persistence of these two purine adducts was investigated in the kidney of rats given a single oral dose of pure AAI. In contrast to the dG-AAI adduct, the dA-AAI adduct exhibited a lifelong persistence in the kidney of rats. Our data demonstrate that AA forms DNA adducts in human tissue by the same activation mechanism(s) reported from animal studies. Thus, the carcinogenic/mutagenic activity of AA observed in animals could also be responsible for the urothelial cancers observed in two of the CHN patients.      

Translesional synthesis on DNA templates containing site-specifically placed deoxyadenosine and deoxyguanosine adducts formed by the plant carcinogen aristolochic acid

Synthetic oligonucleotides (18-mers) containing either a singledeoxyadenosine residue or a single deoxyguanosine residue weretreated with aristolochic acid I (AAI) or aristolochic acidII (AAII), the main components of theplant carcinogen aristolochicacid (AA). These reactions resulted in the formation of site-specificallyadducted oligonucleotides containing the two known AAI—DNAadducts (dA—AAI, dG—AAI) or the two known AAII—DNAadducts (dA—AAII, dG—AAII) at position 15 from the3'end. Using HPLC chromatography, the oligonucleotides werepurified and subsequently shown to contain the adducts of interestby ³²P-postlabelling. The adducted oligonucleotides were usedas templates in primer (11-mer) extension reactions catalysedby modified bacteriophage T7 DNA polymerase (Sequenase). Regardlessof the type of DNA adduct examined, DNA synthesis was blockedpredominantly (80–90%) at the nucleotide 3' to each adduct,although primer extension to the full length of the templatewas noted with unmodified control templates. However, 15 nucleotideproducts, indicating blocking of DNA synthesis after incorporationof a nucleotide opposite the adduct and translesional synthesisproducts were formed in all cases in different amounts, dependingon the adduct structure. When a 14-mer primer together withhigh dNTP concentrations was used to examine nucleotide incorporationdirectly across from the four different purine adducts we foundthat the deoxyadenosine adducts (dA–AAI and dA–AAII)allowed incorporation of dAMP and dTMP equally well, whereasthe deoxyguanosine adducts (dG–AAI and dG–AAII)allowed preferential incorporation of dCMP. Molecular dynamicsimulations showed that the aristolactam moiety of all adductsexhibit a strong stacking, with the adenine residue at the 3'end of the 14-mer primer. These studies demonstrate that allAA purine adducts provide severe blocks to DNA replication andthat the guanine adducts may not be very efficient mutageniclesions. In contrast, the translesional bypass past adenineadducts of the aristolochic acids suggests a mutagenic potentialresulting from dAMP incorporation by polymerase. AT     

Characterization of DNA adducts formed by aristolochic acids in the target organ (forestomach) of rats by 32P-postlabelling analysis using different chromatographic procedures

We report the analysis of DNA adducts in the target organ (forestomach)of male Sprague–Dawley rats treated orally with two doses(10 mg/kg body wt) per week for 2 weeks of either aristolochicacid I (AAI), aristolochic acid II (AAII) or the plant extractaristolochic acid (AA). DNA adducts were detected and quantitatedusing the nuclease P1-enhanced version of the ³²P-postlabellingassay. For identification of adducts, reference compounds wereprepared by reaction of enzymatically activated AAI and AAIIwith 3'-purine phosphonucleosides and analysed by the ⁿ-butanolenrichment procedure. These reference compounds were assignedto the previously characterized DNA adducts of AAI [7-(deoxy-guanosin-N²-yl)-aristolactamI = dG-AAI, 7-(deoxyadenosin-N⁶-yl) I = dA-AAI] and AAII [7-(deoxyadenosin-N⁶-yl)-aristolactamII = dA-AAII]. Cross referencing of the carcinogen-modifiednucleoside bisphosphates obtained from forestomach DNA withthe synthetic standard compounds by ion-exchange chromatographyand reversed-phase HPLC demonstrated that the major DNA adductsformed by AAI and AA were identical to dG-AAI and dA-AAI. Likewise,forestomach DNA isolated from AAII-treated rats showed two purinederived adduct spots, the major one being dA-AAII, the minorone being tentatively identified as 7-(deoxyguanosin-N²-yl)-aristolactamII. A minor adduct detected in forestomach DNA of rats treatedwith AAI was found to be chromatographically indistinguishablefrom the adduct identified as dA-AAII, indicating a possibledemethoxylation reaction of AAI. Quantitation of DNA adductsrevealed that in in vitro reactions with 3'-phosphonucleosidesthe adduct levels were approximately one order higher for bothAAI and AAII-derived adducts than in forestomach DNA modifiedwith AAI or AAII in vivo. In vitro as well as in vivo adductionby AAI was more efficient than adduction by AAII. The patternof adduct spots obtained from forestomach DNA of rats treatedwith the plant extract AA reflected the composition of the extractdetermined by HPLC analysis. Irrespective of the aristolochicacid used to induce DNA adducts, deoxyadenosine is the majortarget of modification, pointing to the general importance ofdeoxyadenosine adducts for chemical carcinogenesis of thesenaturally occurring products. This study shows that the combinationof two independent chromatographic systems considerably enhancesthe fidelity of identification of DNA adducts with the ³²P-posthbellingassay.     

Carcinogenic aristolochic acids upon activation by DT-diaphorase form adducts found in DNA of patients with Chinese herbs nephropathy

Aristolochic acid (AA), a naturally occurring nephrotoxin and rodent carcinogen, has recently been associated with the development of urothelial cancer in humans. Understanding which enzymes are involved in AA activation and/or detoxication is important in the assessment of an individual susceptibility to this natural carcinogen. We examined the ability of enzymes of rat renal and hepatic cytosolic fractions to activate AA to metabolites forming DNA adducts by the nuclease P1-enhanced version of the (32)P-postlabeling assay. Cytosolic fractions of both these organs generated AA-DNA adduct patterns reproducing those found in renal tissues from humans exposed to AA. 7-(Deoxyadenosin-N(6)-yl)aristolactam I, 7-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)aristolactam I and 7-(deoxyadenosin-N(6)-yl)aristolactam II were identified as AA-DNA adducts formed from AAI and 7-(deoxyguanosin-N(2)-yl)aristolactam II and 7-(deoxyadenosin-N(6)-yl)aristolactam II were generated from AAII by hepatic cytosol. Qualitatively the same AA-DNA adduct patterns were observed, although at lower levels, upon incubation of AAs with renal cytosol. To define the role of cytosolic reductases in the reductive activation of AA, we investigated the modulation of AA-DNA adduct formation by cofactors, specific inducers or selective inhibitors of the cytosolic reductases, DT-diaphorase, xanthine oxidase (XO) and aldehyde oxidase. The role of the enzymes in AA activation was also investigated by correlating the DT-diaphorase- and XO-dependent catalytic activities in cytosolic sample with the levels of AA-DNA adducts formed by the same cytosolic sample. On the basis of these studies, we attribute most of the cytosolic activation of AA to DT-diaphorase, although a role of cytosolic XO cannot be ruled out. With purified DT-diaphorase, the participation of this enzyme in the formation of AA-DNA adducts was confirmed. The binding orientation of AAI in the active site of DT-diaphorase was predicted by computer modeling based on published X-ray structures. The results presented here are the first report demonstrating a reductive activation of carcinogenic AAs by DT-diaphorase.     

Sequence-specific detection of aristolochic acid-DNA adducts in the human p53 gene by terminal transferase-dependent PCR

The carcinogenic plant extract aristolochic acid (AA) is thought to be the major causative agent in the development of urothelial carcinomas found in patients with Chinese herb nephropathy (CHN). These carcinomas are associated with overexpression of p53, suggesting that the p53 gene is mutated in CHN-associated urothelial malignancy. To investigate the relation between AA-DNA adduct formation and possible p53 mutations, we mapped the distribution of DNA adducts formed by the two main components of AA, aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII) at single nucleotide resolution in exons 5-8 of the human p53 gene in genomic DNA. To this end, an adduct-specific polymerase arrest assay combined with a terminal transferase-dependent PCR (TD-PCR) was used to amplify DNA fragments. AAI and AAII were reacted with human mammary carcinoma (MCF-7) DNA in vitro and the major DNA adducts formed were identified by the (32)P-postlabeling method. These adducted DNAs were used as templates for TD-PCR. Sites at which DNA polymerase progress along the template was blocked were assumed to be at the nucleotide 3' to the adduct. Polymerase arrest spectra thus obtained showed a preference for reaction with purine bases in the human p53 gene for both activated compounds. For both AAs, adduct distribution was not random; the strongest signals were seen at codons 156, 158-159 and 166-167 for exon 5, at codons 196, 198-199, 202, 209, 214-215 and 220 for exon 6, at codons 234-235, 236-237 and 248-249 for exon 7 and at codons 283-284 and 290-291 for exon 8. Overall guanines at CpG sites in the p53 gene that correspond to mutational hotspots observed in many human cancers seem not to be preferential targets for AAI or II. We compared the AA-DNA binding spectrum in the p53 gene with the p53 mutational spectrum of urothelial carcinomas found in the human mutation database. No particular pattern of polymerase arrest was found that predicts AA-specific mutational hotspots in urothelial tumors of the current p53 database. Thus, AA is not a likely cause of non-CHN-related urothelial tumors.     

32P-Postlabelling analysis of the DNA adducts formed by aristolochic acid I and II

We report the quantitation of DNA adducts in target and non-targetorgans of male Wistar rats treated orally with five daily doses(10 mg/kg body wt) aristolochic acid I (AAI) or aristolochicacid II (AAII), the major components of the herbal drug aristolochicacid, a forestomach carcinogen In the rat. DNA adducts weredetected and analysed using the nuclease P1-enhanced variationof the Randerath 32 postlabeiling assay. The highest level ofDNA adducts formed was by AAI inthe target organ, forestomach(330 ± 30 adducts/10⁸ nucleotides), but high levels werealso observed in a non-target tissue, the glandular stomach(180 ± 15). Lower amounts of adducts were detected inliver, kidney and urinary bladder epltheliuin. With AAII thebinding Levels were generally lower than the AAII, the highestLevel of adducts being detected in kidney (80 ± 20 adducts/10⁸nucleotides) and lower levels in liver, stomach and urinarybladder epithelia. Adduct patterns similar to those in vivowere observed in two new in vitro assays. Rat faecal bacteriawere shown to be able to activate AM and AAII to reactive species,which were trapped with exogenous calf thymus DNA and analysedby postlabelling. llncuhatlon of AM and AAII in explanted ratstomach held in short-term organ culture resulted In DNA adductformation in the epithelia of both forestomach and glandularstomach. To assign the recently characterized in vitro nucleosideadducts of AII to the bisphosphate derivatives, a new ion-pairH]PLC procedure on a reversed-phase column was developed. Bymonitoring Cerenkov radiation on-line, a good separation ofAII adducts was observed, demonstrating that adducts formedin vivo were chromatographically indistinguishable with thoseformed in vitro, and previously characterized as an aristolactammoiety bound covalently to the exocydlic amino groups of deoxyadenosineand deoxyguanosine.     

Activating mutations at codon 61 of the c-Ha-ras gene in thin-tissue sections of tumors induced by aristolochic acid in rats and mice

The plant extract aristolochic acid, which consists mainly of aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII), induces tumors in rats and mice. Thin-tissue sections of rat tumors induced by AAI and of mouse tumors induced by aristolochic acid, were analyzed for c-Ha-ras mutations in codon 61. Areas of neoplastic and histologically normal tissue were manually scraped out and separated. Using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and mutation detection by selective oligonucleotide hybridization, we observed AT----TA transversion mutations in DNA of neoplastic portions, but not in DNA of adjacent normal tissue in both rat and mouse tumors.     

Bioactivation of 3-aminobenzanthrone, a human metabolite of the environmental pollutant 3-nitrobenzanthrone: evidence for DNA adduct formation mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes and peroxidases

3-Nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA) is a suspected human carcinogen found in diesel exhaust and ambient air pollution. The main metabolite of 3-NBA, 3-aminobenzanthrone (3-ABA), was detected in the urine of salt mining workers occupationally exposed to diesel emissions. We evaluated the role of hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in the activation of 3-ABA in vivo by treating hepatic cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR)-null mice and wild-type littermates intraperitoneally with 0.2 and 2mg/kg body weight of 3-ABA. Hepatic POR-null mice lack POR-mediated CYP enzyme activity in the liver. Using the (32)P-postlabelling method, multiple 3-ABA-derived DNA adducts were observed in liver DNA from wild-type mice, qualitatively similar to those formed in incubations using human hepatic microsomes. The adduct pattern was also similar to those formed by the nitroaromatic counterpart 3-NBA and which derive from reductive metabolites of 3-NBA bound to purine bases in DNA. DNA binding by 3-ABA in the livers of the null mice was undetectable at the lower dose and substantially reduced (by up to 80%), relative to wild-type mice, at the higher dose. These data indicate that POR-mediated CYP enzyme activities are important for the oxidative activation of 3-ABA in livers, confirming recent results indicating that CYP1A1 and -1A2 are mainly responsible for the metabolic activation of 3-ABA in human hepatic microsomes. No difference in DNA binding was found in kidney and bladder between null and wild-type mice, suggesting that cells in these extrahepatic organs have the metabolic capacity to oxidize 3-ABA to species forming the same 3-ABA-derived DNA adducts, independently from the CYP-mediated oxidation in the liver. We determined that different model peroxidases are able to catalyse DNA adduct formation by 3-ABA in vitro. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP), lactoperoxidase (LPO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and prostaglandin H synthase (PHS) were all effective in activating 3-ABA in vitro, forming DNA adducts qualitatively similar to those formed in vivo in mice treated with 3-ABA and to those found in DNA reacted with N-hydroxy-3-aminobenzanthrone (N-OH-ABA). Collectively, these results suggest that both CYPs and peroxidases may play an important role in metabolizing 3-ABA to reactive DNA adduct forming species.     

Detection and quantitation of dG-AAI and dA-AAI adducts by 32P-postlabeling methods in urothelium and exfoliated cells in urine of rats treated with aristolochic acid I.

Analysis of aristolochic acid I (AAI)-DNA adducts in exfoliated cells in urine, urothelium and entire urinary bladder were studied after oral administration of five daily doses (10 mg/kg body wt) AAI for 3 months to rats. The two major adducts excreted in urine are presumably identical to the two main adducts formed in vitro and in vivo in different organs in the rat, which have previously been characterized in vitro as 7(-deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-aristolactam I and 7(-deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)-aristolactam I. Urine samples were collected on dry-ice, subsequently pooled and purified according to the protocol of Kadlubar and co-workers. DNA was isolated, digested and AAI-DNA adducts of exfoliated cells in urine and urothelium of rats were detected and quantitated by enhancement methods of the 32P-postlabeling assay, namely nuclease P1 enrichment or butanol extraction. Autoradiograms indicated that adduct patterns in DNA derived from exfoliated cells in urine were very similar to those obtained from DNA isolated from tissues. Quantitative analysis of adducts revealed adduct levels declining for both adducts from DNA isolated from urothelium to DNA isolated from the entire urinary bladder to DNA isolated from exfoliated cells in urine. In general, count rates of two predominant AAI adducts were enhanced by butanol extraction approximately 3- to 8-fold when compared with the nuclease P1 digestion technique. The identity of the two major adducts was confirmed by co-chromatography with eluted spots from in vivo adducts by comparing mobilities on poly-(ethyleneimine)-cellulose plates. Microbiological investigations of the urine revealed no gross contamination with bacteria, so that the isolated DNA supposedly originated from exfoliated urothelial cells. This study indicates that 32P-postlabeling analysis can be used to monitor non-invasively the formation of carcinogen-DNA adducts in animals or humans exposed to carcinogens.     

Identification and mutagenicity of metabolites of aristolochic acid formed by rat liver

The rat liver 9000 g supernatant mediated metabolism of thecarcinogenic aristolochic acid, which consists of aristolochicacid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII), was investigated.Under anaerobic conditions the major metabolites were the correspondingaristolactams for both AAI and AAII. In contrast under aerobicconditions AAII was not detectably metabolized and the onlymetabolite found for AAI was the O-demethylated derivative aristolochicacid la (AAIa). The metabolites were identified by their u.v.,mass and n.m.r. spectra and by comparison with reference standards.The mutagenic activities of the three metabolites were determinedin Salmonella typhimurium strains TA1537 and TA 100. The aristolactamswere mutagenic in both strains when a metabolizing system waspresent. These results indicate that AAI or AAII and their aristolactamsexert their effect via a common reactive intermediate, probablythe corresponding hydroxylamine. AAIa was only very weakly mutagenicand this metabolite may therefore not be regarded as a majormutagenic metabolite of AAI. These findings suggest that theacids are preferentially metabolized by two totally differentpathways in vitro, namely an oxidative pathway for AAI and areductive pathway for AAII.     

Differences in aromatic-DNA adduct levels between alveolar macrophages and subpopulations of white blood cells from smokers

The 32P-post-labelling assay for DNA adduct quantification gives the opportunity to examine endogenous exposure to DNA reactive compounds. Most human biomonitoring studies applied white blood cells (WBC) or cells obtained by broncho-alveolar lavages (BAL) as source of DNA, but still it is not clear what cell type represents the most reliable indicator for exposure to cigarette smoke-associated genotoxins. At first, we examined DNA adduct levels by means of nuclease P1 (NP1) enriched 32P-post-labelling in separated WBC subpopulations after in vitro incubations for 18 h with 10 microM benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). DNA adduct levels were highest in monocytes (10.7 +/- 2.9 adducts/10(8) nucleotides, n = 8), followed by lymphocytes (5.9 +/- 1.7, n = 8), and granulocytes (0.5 +/- 0.2, n = 8). Secondly, aromatic-DNA adduct levels were determined in BAL cells and WBC-subsets from (non-)smoking volunteers. In smoking individuals, adduct levels were in the ranking order: BAL cells (3.7 +/- 1.0, n = 5) > monocytes (2.0 +/- 0.5, n = 8) > or = lymphocytes (1.6 +/- 0.4, n = 8) > granulocytes (0.8 +/- 0.2, n = 8) by NP1-enrichment and monocytes (9.0 +/- 3.2, n = 5) > or = lymphocytes (8.0 +/- 2.1, n = 6) > granulocytes (2.1 +/- 0.3, n = 7) by butanol-enriched 32P-post-labelling. Aromatic-DNA adduct levels were significantly higher in WBC-subsets of smokers as compared with non- smokers, except for DNA adducts in granulocytes using butanol enrichment. Thirdly, dose-response relationships were investigated in mononuclear white blood cells (MNC, i.e. monocytes plus lymphocytes) and BAL-cells of a larger group of smoking individuals (n = 78). Adduct levels in MNC were related to daily exposure to cigarette-tar (r = 0.31, P < 0.01). Adduct levels in BAL cells seemed to be correlated with pack-years, but after correction for age this relationship was lost. Butanol extraction resulted in 5-6-fold higher DNA adduct levels in MNC, whereas butanol extraction of BAL-DNA of the same individuals yielded only 2-fold higher adduct levels. The two enrichment procedures of 32P-post-labelling were correlated in BAL cells (r = 0.86, P < 0.001, n = 12). We conclude that particularly MNC are good surrogates for the detection of smoking-related DNA adducts.      

Oxidation of eugenol to form DNA adducts and 8-hydroxy-2'- deoxyguanosine: role of quinone methide derivative in DNA adduct formation

We have investigated the activation of eugenol to form DNA adducts and oxidative base damage. Treatment of myeloperoxidase containing HL-60 cells with eugenol, produced a dose-dependent formation of three DNA adducts as detected with P1-enhanced 32P-post-labeling. Incubation of HL-60 cells with the combination of 100 microM eugenol and 100 microM H2O2 potentiated the levels of DNA adduct in HL-60 cells by 14-fold, which suggests peroxidase activation in adduct formation. In vitro activation of eugenol with either horseradish peroxidase or myeloperoxidase and H2O2 produced three DNA adducts that were inhibited by the addition of either ascorbic acid or glutathione, by 66 and 90%, respectively. The DNA adducts formed in HL-60 cells treated with eugenol were the same as those formed by in vitro peroxidase activation. In addition to adduct formation, peroxidase activation of eugenol produced a 2- to 3-fold increase in the level of oxidative base damage. Eugenol quinone methide was prepared by Ag(I)oxide oxidation of eugenol. Peroxidase activation of eugenol gave a product that had the same UV spectrum as eugenol quinone methide, which suggests that it was one of the products. Reaction of eugenol quinone methide with either DNA or deoxyguanosine-3'-phosphate produced two principal adducts (2 and 4). When DNA adduct 2 formed by incubation of eugenol quinone methide with deoxyguanosine-3'-phosphate was compared with DNA 2 adduct formed in HL-60 cells treated with eugenol results demonstrated that they were the same. This suggests that eugenol quinone methide is one of the reactive intermediates leading to DNA adduct formation in cells. Activation of eugenol with 10 microM copper sulfate resulted in the production of one principal (2) and several minor adducts. DNA adduct 2 formed by activation of eugenol with copper sulfate was the same as DNA adduct 2 formed by either peroxidase activation of eugenol or by reactions with eugenol quinone methide, which indicates that the reactive intermediates generated by these activation systems were similar. Copper sulfate produced a 95-fold increase in the level of oxidative base damage, which was significantly inhibited by the addition of either bathocuproinedisulphonic acid or catalase. The formation of oxidative base damage was consistent with a Fenton reaction mechanism. Our results demonstrate that eugenol can be activated to form both DNA adducts and oxidative base damage. We propose that the formation of this DNA damage may contribute to the observed toxic properties of eugenol.      

Human cytosolic enzymes involved in the metabolic activation of carcinogenic aristolochic acid: evidence for reductive activation by human NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase

Aristolochic acid (AA), a naturally occurring nephrotoxin and carcinogen, has been associated with the development of urothelial cancer in humans. Understanding which human enzymes are involved in AA metabolism is important in the assessment of an individual's susceptibility to this carcinogen. Using the 32P-postlabeling assay we examined the ability of enzymes of cytosolic samples from 10 different human livers and from one human kidney to activate the major component of the plant extract AA, 8-methoxy- 6-nitro-phenanthro-(3,4-d)-1,3-dioxolo-5-carboxylic acid (AAI), to metabolites forming adducts in DNA. Cytosolic fractions of both organs generated AAI-DNA adduct patterns reproducing those found in renal tissues from humans exposed to AA. 7-(Deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)aristolactam I, 7-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)aristolactam I and 7-(deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)aristolactam II, indicating a possible demethoxylation reaction of AAI, were identified as AA-DNA adducts formed from AAI by all human hepatic and renal cytosols. To define the role of human cytosolic reductases in the activation of AAI, we investigated the modulation of AAI-DNA adduct formation by cofactors or selective inhibitors of the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), xanthine oxidase (XO) and aldehyde oxidase. We also determined whether the activities of NQO1 and XO in different human hepatic cytosolic samples correlated with the levels of AAI-DNA adducts formed by the same cytosolic samples. Based on these studies, we attribute most of the activation of AA in human cytosols to NQO1, although a role of cytosolic XO cannot be ruled out. With purified NQO1 from rat liver and kidney and XO from buttermilk, the major role of NQO1 in the formation of AAI-DNA adducts was confirmed. The orientation of AAI in the active site of human NQO1 was predicted from molecular modeling based on published X-ray structures. The results demonstrate for the first time the potential of human NQO1 to activate AAI by nitroreduction.     

Exceptionally long‐term persistence of DNA adducts formed by carcinogenic aristolochic acid I in renal tissue from patients with aristolochic acid nephropathy

Aristolochic acid (AA) causes aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN), first described in women in Belgium accidently prescribed Aristolochia fangchi in a slimming treatment, and also Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN), through probable dietary contamination with Aristolochia clematitis seeds. Both nephropathies have a high risk of urothelial cancer, with AA being the causative agent. In tissues of AAN and BEN patients, a distinct DNA adduct, 7‐(deoxyadenosin‐N⁶‐yl)‐aristolactam I (dA‐AAI), has been detected. DNA adducts can be removed through DNA repair, they can result in mutations through erroneous DNA replication or they can cause cell death. The dA‐AAI adduct induces AT to TA transversions in the tumor‐suppressor TP53 gene in experimental systems, matching TP53 mutations observed in urothelial tumors from AAN cancer cases. Using thin‐layer chromatography ³²P‐postlabeling and mass spectrometric analysis we report the detection of dA‐AAI in renal DNA from 11 Belgian AAN patients over 20 years after exposure to AA had ceased. Our results showed that dA‐AAI is an established biomarker of AA exposure, and that this biomarker can be demonstrated to be persistent decades after a distinct AA exposure. Further, the persistence of dA‐AAI adducts appears to be a critical determinant for the AA mutational fingerprint frequently found in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes recently identified by whole genome sequencing of AA‐associated urothelial tumors. The potential for exposure to AA worldwide is high; the unprecedented long‐term persistence of dA‐AAI provides a useful long‐term biomarker of exposure and attests to the role of AA in human urothelial malignancy.     

The binding of aristolochic acid I to the active site of human cytochromes P450 1A1 and 1A2 explains their potential to reductively activate this human carcinogen

Aristolochic acid (AA), a naturally occurring nephrotoxin and carcinogen, has been associated with the development of urothelial cancer in humans. Using the 32P-postlabeling assay we showed that AAI is activated by human recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1, CYP1A2 and NADPH:CYP reductase to species generating DNA adduct patterns reproducing those found in renal tissues from humans exposed to AA. 7-(Deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)aristolactam I, 7-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)aristolactam I and 7-(deoxyadenosin-N6-yl)aristolactam II were identified as AA-DNA adducts formed from AAI by the enzymes. The formation of these AA-derived DNA adducts indicates that all the human enzymes reduce the nitro group of AAI to the putative reactive cyclic nitrenium ion responsible for adduct formation. The concentrations of AAI required for its half-maximum DNA binding were 38, 65 and 126 microM AAI for reductive activation by human CYP1A2, CYP1A1 and NADPH:CYP reductase, respectively. CYP1A1 and 1A2 homology modeling followed by docking of AAI to the CYP1A1 and 1A2 active centers was utilized to explain the potential of these enzymes to reduce AAI. Models of human CYP1A1 and 1A2 were constructed on the basis of the crystallographic structure of truncated mammalian CYP enzymes, CYP2B4, 2C5, 2C8, 2C9 and 3A4. The in silico docking of AAI to the active sites of CYP1A1 and 1A2 indicates that AAI binds as an axial ligand of the heme iron and that the nitro group of AAI is in close vicinity to the heme iron of CYP1A2 in an orientation allowing the efficient reduction of this group observed experimentally. The orientation of AAI in the active centre of CYP1A1 however causes an interaction of the heme iron with both the nitro- and the carboxylic groups of AAI. This observation explains the lower reductive potential of CYP1A1 for AAI than CYP1A2, detected experimentally.     

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.     

DNA adduct formation by the anticancer drug ellipticine in rats determined by 32P postlabeling

Ellipticine is a potent antineoplastic agent whose mode of action is considered to be based mainly on DNA intercalation and/or inhibition of topoisomerase II. Recently, we found that ellipticine also forms covalent DNA adducts in vitro and that the formation of the major adduct is dependent on the activation of ellipticine by cytochrome P450 (CYP). Here, we investigated the capacity of ellipticine to form DNA adducts in vivo. Male Wistar rats were treated with ellipticine, and DNA from various organs was analyzed by (32)P postlabeling. Ellipticine-specific DNA adduct patterns, similar to those found in vitro, were detected in most test organs. Only DNA of testes was free of the ellipticine-DNA adducts. The highest level of DNA adducts was found in liver (19.7 adducts per 10(7) nucleotides), followed by spleen, lung, kidney, heart and brain. One major and one minor ellipticine-DNA adducts were found in DNA of all these organs of rats exposed to ellipticine. Besides these, 2 or 3 additional adducts were detected in DNA of liver, kidney, lung and heart. The predominant adduct formed in rat tissues in vivo was identical to the deoxyguanosine adduct generated in DNA by ellipticine in vitro as shown by cochromatography in 2 independent systems. Correlation studies showed that the formation of this major DNA adduct in vivo is mediated by CYP3A1- and CYP1A-dependent reactions. The results presented here are the first report showing the formation of CYP-mediated covalent DNA adducts by ellipticine in vivo and confirm the formation of covalent DNA adducts as a new mode of ellipticine action.     

Formation of unique arylamine:DNA adducts from 2-aminofluorene activated by prostaglandin H synthase

Prostaglandin H synthase in the presence of arachidonic acid catalyzes the peroxidative metabolism of 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) to an electrophile(s) which binds covalently to calf thymus DNA in vitro. Moreover, this electrophile(s) appears distinct from the classical 2-AF-derived electrophiles, N-hydroxy-2-AF and the 2-AF nitrenium ion. Both the prostaglandin H synthase:arachidonic acid and horseradish peroxidase:hydrogen peroxide systems were used to investigate the binding of [3H]-2-AF to DNA and the nature of the DNA adducts formed from peroxidative activation of 2-AF. Modification of DNA by N-hydroxy-2-AF under mildly acidic conditions was used as a reference system in these studies and yielded a single 2-AF:nucleoside adduct, identified as N-(deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-AF (C8-dGuo-AF). Enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA modified by 2-AF activated in either of the peroxidase systems liberated 2-AF:nucleoside adducts that differed considerably from C8-dGuo-AF in chromatographic and extraction properties. C8-dGuo-AF from DNA hydrolysates was easily extracted into n-butyl alcohol and adsorbed by Sephadex LH-20 columns. In contrast, the peroxidase-derived adducts were poorly extracted into n-butyl alcohol and were not retained on Sephadex LH-20 columns. Experimental evidence suggests the peroxidase-derived adducts may possess a negative charge at neutral pH. Since C8-dGuo-AF is the only 2-AF:nucleoside adduct formed when 2-AF is activated via N-hydroxylation, these new adducts represent a marker unique to peroxidative activation of 2-AF. Therefore, 2-AF:DNA adducts can be used as a differential end point with which to assess the relative roles of N-hydroxylation and peroxidation in the metabolic activation of 2-AF in cell culture and in target tissues in vivo.     

DNA adduct formation by the ubiquitous environmental contaminant 3-nitrobenzanthrone in rats determined by (32)P-postlabeling.

Diesel exhaust is known to induce tumors in animals and is suspected of being carcinogenic in humans. Of the compounds found in diesel exhaust and in airborne particulate matter, 3-nitrobenzanthrone (3-NBA), is a particularly powerful mutagen. We investigated the capacity of 3-NBA to form DNA adducts in vivo that could be used as agent-specific biomarkers of exposure. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated orally with 2 mg/kg body weight of 3-NBA, and DNA from various organs was analyzed by (32)P-postlabeling. High levels of 3-NBA-specific adducts were detectable in all organs. Both enrichment versions nuclease P1 digestion and n-butanol extraction resulted in patterns consisting of either 3 or 4 adducts remarkably similar in all tissues examined. The highest level of DNA adducts was found in the small intestine (38 adducts per 10(8) nucleotides) followed by forestomach, glandular stomach, kidney, liver, lung and bladder. To provide information on the nature of the adducts formed in vivo in rats, DNA adducts were cochromatographed in 2 independent systems with standardized deoxyguanosine adducts and deoxyadenosine adducts produced by reaction of 3-NBA in the presence of xanthine oxidase with deoxyribonucleoside 3'-monophosphates in vitro. In both systems, each of the rat adducts comigrated either with a deoxyguanosine or a deoxyadenosine-derived 3-NBA adduct. Our results demonstrate that 3-NBA binds covalently to DNA after metabolic activation, forming multiple DNA adducts in vivo, all of which are products derived from reductive metabolites bound to the purine bases (deoxyguanosine 60% and deoxyadenosine 40%).