A tobacco smoke-derived nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, is activated by multiple human cytochrome P450s including the polymorphic human cytochrome P4502D6

We have developed a human B-lymphoblastoid cell line, designated 2D6/Hol, which stably expresses human cytochrome P450 CYP2D6 cDNA. This cell line exhibits bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase activity and immunologically detectable CYP2D6 protein. The specific activity of (+)-bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase in microsomes from 2D6/Hol cells was comparable to that observed in human liver microsomes. This cell line was used to examine the mutagenicity activation of three tobacco smoke-derived nitrosamines, N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 1-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridinyl)-4-butanal) (NNA) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), by CYP2D6. Exposure of 2D6/Hol cells to NNK concentrations of 30-90 micrograms/ml induced a concentration-dependent decrease in relative survival and increase in mutant fraction at the hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) locus. In contrast, NNK was non-mutagenic and non-cytotoxic to control cells at exposure concentrations up to 150 micrograms/ml. NNK mutagenicity in 2D6/Hol cells was compared to the responses observed in isogenic cell lines expressing human CYP1A2 (1A2/Hol), human CYP2A3 (2A3/Hol) and human CYP2E1 (2E1/Hol). These three additional human cytochrome P450-expressing cell lines were also found to be sensitive to NNK-induced mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. We found no evidence for CYP2D6-mediated activation of NNN or NNA. NNN was non-cytotoxic and non-mutagenic to both control and 2D6/Hol cells. NNA was equally cytotoxic and mutagenic to control cells and 2D6/Hol cells. The activation of NNA to a mutagen may have been carried out by P450 native to the AHH-1 TK +/- cell line. The 2D6/Hol cell line, in conjunction with the control cell line and other isogenic cell lines expressing other human cytochrome P450 cDNAs provides a useful system for the examination of the role of the polymorphic CYP2D6 in human procarcinogen activation and drug metabolism.     

Aflatoxin B1-induced DNA adduct formation and p53 mutations in CYP450- expressing human liver cell lines

Epidemiological evidence has been supporting a relationship between dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure, development of human primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. However, the correlation between the observed p53 mutations, the AFB1 DNA adducts and their activation pathways has not been elucidated. Development of relevant cellular in vitro models, taking into account species and tissue specificity, could significantly contribute to the knowledge of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity mechanisms of chemical procarcinogens, such as AFB1, in humans. For this purpose a non-tumorigenic SV40-immortalized human liver epithelial cell line (THLE cells) which retained most of the phase II enzymes, but had markedly reduced phase I activities was used for stable expression of the human CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 cDNA. The four genetically engineered cell lines (T5-1A2, T5-2A6, T5-2B6 and T5-3A4) produced high levels of the specific CYP450 proteins and showed comparable or higher catalytic activities related to the CYP450 expression when compared to human hepatocytes. The T5-1A2, T5-2A6, T5-2B6 and T5-3A4 cell lines exhibited a very high sensitivity to the cytotoxic effects of AFB1 and were approximately 125-, 2-, 2- and 15-fold, respectively, more sensitive than the control T5-neo cells, transfected with an expressing vector which does not contain CYP450 cDNA. In the CYP450-expressing cells, nanomolar doses of AFB1-induced DNA adduct formation including AFB1-N7-guanine, -pyrimidyl and -diol adducts. In addition, the T5-1A2 cells showed AFM1-DNA adducts. At similar levels of total DNA adducts, both the T5-1A2 and T5-3A4 cells showed, at codon 249 of the p53 gene, AGG to AGT transversions at a relative frequency of 15x10(-6). In contrast, only the T5-3A4 cells showed CCC to ACC transversion at codon 250 at a high frequency, whereas the second most frequent mutations found in the T5-1A2 cells were C to T transitions at the first and second position of the codon 250. No significant AFB1-induced p53 mutations could be detected in the T5-2A6 cells. Therefore, the differential expression of specific CYP450 genes in human hepatocytes can modulate the cytotoxicity, DNA adduct levels and frequency of p53 mutations produced by AFB1.      

Stable expression of human cytochrome P450IA2 cDNA in a human lymphoblastoid cell line: role of the enzyme in the metabolic activation of aflatoxin B1

A human lymphoblastoid cell line stably expressing a human cytochrome P450IA2 cDNA was developed. This recombinant cell line displayed P450IA2 protein and estradiol 2-hydroxylase activity, neither of which was detected in the parental cell line. The recombinant cell line was also approximately 1000-fold more sensitive to the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 than was the parent cell line. The increase in mutagenicity was supported by a corresponding increase in the level of aflatoxin B1 binding to DNA in cells expressing P450IA2 relative to control cells.     

Development of a human lymphoblastoid cell line constitutively expressing human CYP1A1 cDNA: substrate specificity with model substrates and promutagens

AHH-1 TK+/–cell derivatives were developed that stablyexpress human CYP1A1 cDNA, and an AHH-1 TK+/–derivativeexpressing higher levels of CYP1A2 cDNA in extrachromosomalvectors which confer resistance to I-histidinol. The CYP1A1-expressingcell lines, designated h1A1 and h1A1v2, differ by containingone and two CYP1A1 cDNA expression units per vector. The CYP1A2-expressingcell line, designated h1A2v2, also has two CYP1A2 cDNA expressionunits per vector. Microsomes prepared from CYP1A1 cDNA expressingcells exhibit high, constitutive levels of 7-ethoxyresorufindeethylase (EROD), 7-ethoxycoumarin deethylase (ECD), 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarindeethylase (EFCD), benzo[a]-pyrene hydroxylase (BPH) activitiesand spectrally quantifiable cytochrome P450. Kinetic comparisonsbetween cDNA-expressed CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 indicate that CYP1A1is more active than CYP1A2 for EROD, ECD, EFCD and BPH. CYP1A2was more active than CYP1A1 for acetanilide hydroxylation andactivation of aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁). The mutagenicity of selectedpromutagens were examined in h1A1 cells and control cells. Relativeto control cells, the h1A1 cell line exhibits increased sensitivityto the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene, cyclopenta[c,d]pyrene,4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and AFB₁.     

Efficient activation of aflatoxin B1 by cytochrome P450 2A13, an enzyme predominantly expressed in human respiratory tract

The worldwide human exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), particularly in developing countries, remains to be a serious public health concern. Although AFB1 is best known as a hepatocarcinogen, epidemiological studies have shown a positive association between human lung cancer occurrence and inhalation exposure to AFB1. Cytochrome P450 (CYP)-catalyzed metabolic activation is required for AFB1 to exert its carcinogenicity. Previous studies have identified CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 as the major enzymes for AFB1 activation in human liver. However, the key CYP enzymes in human lung that can efficiently activate AFB1 in situ are unknown. In the present study, we demonstrate that CYP2A13, an enzyme predominantly expressed in human respiratory tract, has a significant activity in metabolizing AFB1 to its carcinogenic/toxic AFB1-8,9-epoxide and AFM1-8,9-epoxide at both low (15 microM) and high (150 microM) substrate concentrations. Under the same conditions, there was no detectable AFB1 epoxide formation by CYP2A6, which was also reported to be involved in the metabolic activation of AFB1. Consistent with the activity data, there was an approximately 800-fold difference in LC50 values of AFB1 (48-hr treatment) between Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing CYP2A13 and CYP2A6 (50 nM versus 39 microM). We further demonstrate that amino acid residues Ala117 and His372 in CYP2A13 protein are important for AFB1 epoxidation and its related cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that CYP2A13-catalyzed metabolic activation in situ may play a critical role in human lung carcinogenesis related to inhalation exposure to AFB1.     

Expression of stably transfected murine glutathione S-transferase A3-3 protects against nucleic acid alkylation and cytotoxicity by aflatoxin B1 in hamster V79 cells expressing rat cytochrome P450-2B1.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is activated to AFB1-8,9-oxide (AFBO), a potent mutagenic and carcinogenic metabolite of AFB1. In the mouse, AFBO has been shown to be most efficiently detoxified by a specific isozyme of alpha-class glutathione S-transferase (GST), mGSTA3-3 (mGST-Yc). A hamster V79 cell line (V79MZr2B1, originally designated V79/SD1) previously transfected with the rat cytochrome P450-2B1 was stably transfected with an mGSTA3-3 expression vector, to study the chemopreventive role of GST in protecting against cytotoxicity or genotoxicity of AFBO. Immunoblotting demonstrated strong expression of an alpha-class GST in the mGSTA3-3 transfected cell line, whereas no detectable alpha-class GST protein was observed in the control (empty vector-transfected) cells. Previous studies with the V79MZr2B1 cell line indicated that it can activate AFB1 to a mutagenic metabolite via a transfected rat P450-2B1 stably expressed in the cells. We examined the ability of the expressed mGSTA3-3 to protect against AFB1-induced cytotoxicity or [3H]-covalent adduct formation in cellular nucleic acids. Exposure of empty vector-transfected control cells and mGSTA3-3 expressing cells to up to 600 nM [3H]-AFB1 indicated that a 70-80% reduction in DNA and RNA adducts was afforded by the expression of mGSTA3-3 in the transfected cells. Clonogenic survival assays showed that the mGSTA3-3 cell line was 4.6-fold resistant to AFB1 cytotoxicity as compared with the empty vector-transfected control SD1 cells, with IC50 values of 69 and 15 microM, respectively. The results of these studies demonstrate that mGSTA3-3 confers substantial protection against nucleic acid covalent modification and cytotoxicity by AFB1 in this transgenic cell model system.     

Mechanisms of protection against aflatoxin B(1) genotoxicity in rats treated by organosulfur compounds from garlic

Diallyl sulfide (DAS) and diallyl disulfide (DADS), two garlic constituents, were found previously to inhibit aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-initiated carcinogenesis in rat liver, DADS being the most effective. In order to study the mechanisms involved in this protection, we have examined the ability of liver microsomes and cytosols from DAS- and DADS-treated rats to modulate the mutagenicity and the metabolism of AFB(1). We also examined the effects of these compounds on the expression of cytochromes P450 (CYP) and phase II enzymes known to be involved in AFB(1) metabolism. Administration of DAS (1 mmol/kg for 4 days) to rats resulted in significant inhibition of microsome-mediated mutagenicity of AFB(1), whereas DADS treatment did not alter AFB(1) mutagenicity. DAS treatment increased the metabolism of AFB(1) mainly towards the formation of AFQ(1) and AFM(1), which might account for the reduction of AFB(1) microsomal-mediated mutagenicity. DADS treatment slightly affected the oxidative metabolism of AFB(1). DAS and DADS induced CYP3A2, CYP2B1 and CYP2B2, DAS being more potent. Cytosols from DAS- and DADS-treated rats produced a significant inhibition of AFB(1)-8,9-epoxide (AFBO)-induced mutagenicity and significantly increased the cytosolic formation of AFB(1)-glutathione conjugates, DADS treatment being more effective. Western blot analysis showed that DADS is a potent inducer of glutathione S-transferase A5 (rGSTA5) and AFB(1) aldehyde reductase 1 (rAFAR1), while DAS is a weak inducer of these enzymes. Finally, we demonstrated that antibodies raised against rGSTA5 strongly reduced the antimutagenic activity of cytosols from DAS- and DADS-treated rats against AFBO. All together, these results demonstrate that DAS prevents AFB(1) mutagenicity through a dual mechanism, i.e. by modulating both the phase I and II metabolism of AFB(1), whereas DADS acts mainly by increasing the phase II metabolism of AFB(1). The induction of rGSTA5 and rAFAR1 is probably the main mechanism by which allyl sulfides give protection against AFB(1)-induced carcinogenesis.     

黄曲霉毒素B_1诱发大鼠肝癌过程中对CYP3A4活性的影响

目的探讨黄曲霉毒素B1（AFB1）诱发肝癌过程中对CYP3A4活性的影响。方法采用大鼠肝微粒体混合酶体外代谢体系,利用荧光定量法动态检测AFB1诱发肝癌过程中不同时期CYP3A4酶活性。结果 AFB1组CYP3A4含量从实验开始逐渐升高,至23周达顶峰,然后逐渐降低,到43周又升高,出现双波峰变化,阶段性比较差异有统计学意义（P=0.000）;对照组CYP3A4含量在整个实验过程中,除33周和63周出现明显降低外,其他各阶段变化不大;组间比较显示AFB1组在诱癌过程中有抑制CYP3A4的趋势,于63周抑制最明显,但尚未达统计学意义（P=0.638）;结论AFB1在诱癌过程中有抑制CYP3A4的趋势,可能是与早期癌变的细胞减少对特定基因毒性物质的活化有关。     

利用CRISPR/Cas9技术构建CYP2E1基因敲除的HEK293FT细胞系

目的：利用CRISPR/Cas9系统在HEK293FT细胞系中敲除CYP2E1基因并探讨其在检测化学物毒性中的应用。方法：设计3对分别靶向CYP2E1基因第2、第3和第7外显子的sgRNA序列并构建PX461表达载体;将携带靶向CYP2E1的sgRNA表达载体转染至HEK293FT细胞中,通过SURVEYOR检测分析sgRNA的切割效率;利用有限稀释法获得CYP2E1敲除细胞株,通过实时荧光定量PCR和蛋白印迹检测细胞株中CYP2E1的敲除效果;并检测其对N-（4-羟基苯基）乙酰胺和1,2-二氯乙烷的细胞毒性效应的影响。结果：SURVEYOR检测分析靶向CYP2E1基因第3外显子的sgRNA的切割效率为23%;成功构建了2株CYP2E1基因敲除的细胞株,实时荧光定量PCR结果显示CYP2E1 mRNA表达下降,蛋白印迹结果显示CYP2E1蛋白无表达;CYP2E1基因敲除会显著降低N-（4-羟基苯基）乙酰胺和1,2-二氯乙烷的细胞毒性。结论：通过CRISPR/Cas9构建出CYP2E1稳定敲除的肾细胞系,为研究CYP2E1的功能和作用机制提供了有效的工具。     

CYP3A4在黄曲霉毒素B1诱发大鼠肝癌过程中的表达及意义

探讨CYP3A4在黄曲霉毒素B1（AFB1）实验诱发大鼠肝癌过程中的活性变化及其在肝癌发生过程中的意义。方法:雄性、4周龄、Wistar大鼠随机分为AFB1组和对照组;AFB1组腹腔注射AFB1,对照组则给与溶媒二甲基亚砜。在诱发肝癌过程中,分别于第13、23、33、43、53、63周对大鼠进行肝活检;实验至第73周处死全部动物取肝组织;利用大鼠肝组织微粒体混合酶体外代谢体系,采用荧光分光光度定量法动态检测肝标本中CYP3A4酶活性。结果:AFB1组肝细胞癌发生率为58.8%（10/17）;对照组肝细胞癌发生率为0（0/16）,两组间肝癌发生率比较,AFB1组显著高于对照组（P=0.001）。两组大鼠肝组织代谢酶CYP3A4活性都有不同程度的变化。肝组织CYP3A4活性从13 w开始逐渐升高,至23 w达顶峰,然后逐渐降低,到43 w又升高,出现双波峰变化;从13 w至53 w不同时段AFB1组肝组织CYP3A4活性显著低于对照组（P<0.01）。但是至63 w时AFB1组肝组织CYP3A4活性基本接近对照组（P=0.5086）。结论:CYP3A4活性在AFB1诱癌过程中受到抑制,可能是由于癌变早期的细胞减少对致癌物质的活化有关;CYP3A4活性在AFB1诱癌过程中的表达起伏变化,是由于基因多态性较大程度上影响蛋白表达水平的结果。      

Potent protective effect of isoimperatorin against aflatoxin B1-inducible cytotoxicity in H4IIE cells: bifunctional effects on glutathione S-transferase and CYP1A

Typically chemopreventive agents either induce phase II detoxifying enzymes or inhibit the cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) that are required for the metabolism of carcinogens. In this study, we isolated a coumarin compound, isoimperatorin from Poncirus trifoliata Raf., and studied its protective effects against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced cytotoxicity in H4IIE cells. Isoimperatorin (>0.3 microM) significantly inhibited the cytotoxic effect of AFB1. CDNB [1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene; glutathine S-transferase (GST) subtype-non-specific] and NBD (7-chloro-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole; GSTalpha type-specific) assays revealed that isoimperatorin (0.3-3 microM) increased GST activity in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blot analyses using subtype-specific antibodies confirmed that GSTalpha protein, but not GSTmu or GSTpi, was induced in cells treated with isoimperatorin. Reporter gene analysis using an antioxidant response element (ARE) containing construct and subcellular fractionation assays revealed that GSTalpha induction by isoimperatorin is associated with Nrf2/ARE activation. Moreover, ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase assays showed that isoimperatorin (2 microM) completely inhibited 3-methylchoranthrene-inducible CYP1A activity. These results indicate that isoimperatorin from Poncirus trifoliata Raf. possesses a potent hepatoprotective effect against AFB1, presumably through the induction of GSTalpha and the direct inhibition of CYP1A, and suggest that isoimperatorin should be considered a potential chemopreventive.     

Effects of administration of the chemoprotective agent oltipraz on CYP1A and CYP2B in rat liver and rat hepatocytes in culture

The success of oltipraz (OPZ) [5-(2-pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiole-3- thione] as a chemoprotective agent against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in the rat is thought to depend principally on its ability to enhance detoxication by inducing phase II enzymes, especially glutathione transferases. However, in primary cultures of human hepatocytes, we recently demonstrated that OPZ also has an important inhibitory effect on the major cytochromes P450 (CYPs) of human hepatic AFB1 metabolism. This has prompted a detailed study of the effect of OPZ on some CYPs involved in metabolism of AFB1 in the rat. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes behaved similarly to human hepatocytes and responded to OPZ by inhibition of ethoxyresorufin-O- deethylase (EROD) and pentoxyresorufin-O-depentylase (PROD) activities mainly associated, respectively, with CYP1A and CYP2B. A time-course shows that this inhibition is largely reversible, with EROD and PROD activities reaching a minimum at 12 h and tending towards control values within 24 h. As is to be expected, the incubation of isolated microsomes with OPZ also inhibits CYP1A and 2B. The effect of OPZ on CYP1A is not a phenomenon limited to cells in culture, but also occurs in vivo. Using the whole animal, we were able to demonstrate that OPZ also transiently inhibited CYP1A activity in a rat given caffeine, by measuring the amounts of methylxanthines found in the serum. However, microsomes isolated from rats, that had been treated with OPZ in vivo, show no such inhibition, presumably because, since OPZ is a reversible inhibitor, it dissociates and is lost during the course of conventional procedures of microsomal preparation. This explains some earlier failures in studies of isolated microsomes to observe the inhibition of CYPs by OPZ. In addition to inhibiting their enzymatic activity, OPZ is also an inducer of CYP1A and 2B as shown by the increased levels of their mRNAs and of caffeine metabolism in vivo after 24 h or more. It is concluded that the mechanism of chemoprotection by OPZ, of toxic chemical metabolism in the rat, is complex and involves competitive inhibition of activation succeeded by induction of the enzymes of both activation and detoxication.      

Development of a human cell line by selection and drug-metabolizing gene transfection with increased capacity to activate promutagens

We have isolated a human lymphoblastoid cell line with higher levels of native cytochrome P450IA1 activity and by DNA transfection introduced human cDNAs for a putative cytochrome P450IIA2 and epoxide hydrolase (E.C. 3.3.2.3). The resultant cell line, designated MCL-1, was substantially more sensitive to the mutagenicity of dimethylnitrosamine and benzo[a]pyrene than the AHH-1 cell line and was found to have increased metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene to dihydrodiols. The increase in native cytochrome P450IA1 activity was achieved by mutation and selection based on resistance to the phototoxicity of benzo[ghi]perylene. One resistant clone, designated L3, was used for subsequent studies. Two complete cDNAs, one encoding a putative cytochrome P450IIA2 and the other a microsomal epoxide hydrolase, were isolated from a human liver cDNA library. After introduction of the cDNAs into an expression vector and transfection into AHH-1 cells, gene expression was detected at the level of enzyme activity (epoxide hydrolase) or by increased sensitivity to dimethylnitrosamine cytotoxicity/mutagenicity (putative P450IIA2). A vector containing both cDNAs was then constructed and transfected into L3 cells to produce MCL-1 cells. The potential usefulness of drug-metabolizing gene transfection and of the MCL-1 cell line, in particular, for genetic toxicity testing is discussed.     

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of ({+/-})-benzo[a]pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol in CYP1A1-expressing human fibroblasts quantitatively correlate with CYP1A1 expression level

Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) activity is associated with increasedsusceptibility to lung cancer induced by polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene (BP). In non-hepatic humantissues, CYP1A1 is the principal enzyme responsible for themetabolic activation of the proximate BP mutagenic metabolite,(–)-benzo[a]pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol, to (+)-anti-benzo[a]pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide,the ultimate BP mutagen. We have genetically engineered bothDNA repair-deficient (xeroderma pigmentosum group A) and DNArepair-proficient human skin fibroblasts to express human CYP1A1under control of the inducible mouse metallothionein-I promoter.CYP1A1 activity was induced by CdSO₄ and monitored by followingthe O-deethylation of ethoxy fluorescein ethyl ester or of 7-ethoxyresorufin.Induced CYP1A1 activities were similar in both cell lines andwere dependent on CdSO₄ concentration and induction time. MaximalCYP1A1 activities were obtained in 4–6 h with 5–7µM CdSO₄. BPD-induced cytotoxicity and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase mutagenicity were both quantitatively correlatedwith the level of CYP1A1 activity and were greater in DNA repair-deficientcells than in DNA repair-proficient cells. The results suggestthat modestly induced CYP1A1 activity is a risk factor in polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbon-induced carcinogenesis.     

Contribution of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 to the activation of heterocyclic amines in monkeys and human

The activation of heterocyclic amines to mutagenic productsby hepatic microsomal fractions from cynomolgus monkey, marmosetmonkey and man was compared with the respective levels of cytochromeP450 enzymes CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. The rate of activation of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylidazo[4,5-fquinoxaline (MeIQx), 2-amino-3-methylidazo[4,5-fquino-line (IQ)and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) tomutagens by hepatic microsomal fraction from cynomolgus monkeywas very low. This was associated with a lack of constitutiveexpression of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. In contrast, human hepaticmicrosomal fraction readily activates these heterocyclic aminesand this is associated with constitutive expression of CYP1A2.Treatment of cynomolgus monkey with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) causes a very modest induction of CYP1A2, and a smallincrease in the activation of MeIQx and IQ. However, there wasmarked induction of CYP1A1 which was accompanied by > 10-foldincreases in PhIP activation and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase(EROD), 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethyiase (MROD) and aryl hydrocarbonhydroxylase activities. Following treatment of cynomolgus monkeywith 3-methylcholanthrene, induction of CYP1A1, but not CYP1A2,was evident. In untreated marmoset monkey the activations ofMeIQx and PhIP, as well as pbenacetin O-deethylase, EROD, MRODand aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities, are similar tothose in man, although the activations of IQ and coumarin 7-hydroxylaseactivity are lower than in man. The presence of constitutiveCYP1A2, and the absence of CYP1A1, in the liver of this speciescorrespond to the situation in man. Treatment of marmoset monkeywith TCDD results in increased CYP1A2 levels (4-fold), accompaniedby proportional increases in the activation of MeIQx and IQand phenacetui O-deethylase, EROD and MROD activities. The activationof PhIP is increased disproportionately, by 8-fold, most likelydue to the activity of CYP1A1 which is also induced by TCDDin this species. Overall, the hepatic metabolism of heterocyclicamines by CYP1A enzymes in the untreated marmoset monkey resemblesthat in human more closely than that in the cynomolgus monkey.Therefore, marmoset monkey may be a more suitable model thanthe cynomolgus monkey for carcinogenicity studies involvingMeIQx and PhIP, but not IQ     

Expression of CYP2A6 in Tumor Cells Augments Cellular Sensitivity to Tegafur

To examine the role of cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) in the cellular sensitivity to an anti-tumor prodrug, tegafur (FT), a CYP2A6 cDNA construct was transfected into cells of a colon cancer cell line, DLD-1. CYP2A6-expressing cells (DLD-1/CYP2A6 cells) more efficiently catalyzed the conversion of FT to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (2.6-fold) and the 7-hydroxylation of coumarin (7.9-fold) than cells transfected with a null construct (DLD-1/null cells). These results indicated that the expressed CYP2A6 was functionally active. The extent of growth inhibition of the DLD-1/CYP2A6 cells by FT was greater than that of DLD-1/null cells; the difference between the DLD-1/CYP2A6 and DLD-1/null cells was statistically significant at the concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 μ M. 5-FU, an active metabolite of FT, inhibited the growth of both types of cells to the same extent. Thus, intracellular expression of CYP2A6 can sensitize cells to FT.