Structure-activity relationships of arylalkyl isothiocyanates for the inhibition of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone metabolism and the modulation of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in rats and mice

Many arylalkyl isothiocyanates are potent inhibitors of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone(NNK)-induced lung tumorigenesis in rats and mice. In the mouse,4-phenylbutyl isothiocyanate (PBITC) and 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate(PHTTC) exhibited greater inhibition than benzyl isothiocyanate(BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). The present studywas conducted to investigate the structure-activity relationshipsof these four arylalkyl isothiocyanates for their inhibitionof NNK oxidation and effects on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymesin rats and mice. A single dose (0.25 or 1.00 mmol/kg) of eachisothiocyanate was given to F344 rats 6 or 24 h before death.The rates of NNK oxidation were decreased in microsomes fromthe liver, lung and nasal mucosa of rats. Generally, PEITC wasmore potent than BITC but less potent than PBITC and PHlTC.The rates in rat liver microsomes were decreased at 6 h butrecovered or increased at 24 h; and the rates in rat lung microsomeswere markedly decreased at both 6 and 24 h; and the rates inrat nasal mucosa microsomes were also significantly decreased.The same treatment decreased the rat liver N-nitrosodimethyl-aminedemethylase activity dramatically and ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylaseand erythromycin N-demethylase activities moderately. However,the rat liver microsomal pentoxy-resorufin O-dealkylase activitywas decreased at 6 h but increased at 24 h, with PEITC showingthe most marked induction. The rat liver NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductaseactivity was increased 1.4- to 3.3-fold, with PEITC being mosteffective; and the glutathione S-transferase activity was increasedslightly. Similarly, at a single dose of 0.25 mmol/kg (5 µmol/mouse)24 h before death, PEITC, PBITC, PHlTC but not BITC, decreasedNNK oxidation in mouse lung microsomes by 40–85%, withPBITC and PHlTC showing greater inhibition. Furthermore, allfour isothiocyanates extensively inhibited NNK oxidation inrat lung and nasal mucosa microsomes as well as mouse lung microsomesin vitro, with PEITC (IC₅₀ of 120–300 nM) being more potentthan BITC (IC₅₀ of 500–1400 nM) but less potent than PBITCand PHITC (IC50 of 15–180 nM). PHITC was a very potentcompetitive inhibitor of NNK oxidation in mouse lung microsomeswith apparent K₁ values of 11–16 nM. These results indicatethat PBITC and PHITC are more potent inhibitors of NNK bioactivationin rats and mice than PEITC. In addition, these arylalkyl isothiocyanatescould be effective in protecting against the actions of a broadspectrum of carcinogenic or toxic compounds.     

Structure-activity relationships for inhibition of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone lung tumorigenesis by arylalkyl isothiocyanates in A/J mice

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), 3-phenylpropyl isothiocyanate (PPITC), 4-phenylbutyl isothiocyanate (PBITC), and the newly synthesized 5-phenylpentyl isothiocyanate (PPeITC), 6-phenylhexyl isothiocyanate (PHITC), and 4-(3-pyridyl)butyl isothiocyanate (PyBITC) were tested for their abilities to inhibit tumorigenicity and DNA methylation induced by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in the lungs of A/J mice. Mice were administered isothiocyanates by gavage for 4 consecutive days at doses of 5, 1, or 0.2 mumol/day prior to administration of 10 mumol of NNK by i.p. injection. Mice were sacrificed 16 weeks after NNK administration and pulmonary adenomas were quantitated, PEITC effectively inhibited NNK-induced lung tumors at a dose of 5 mumol/day but was not inhibitory at doses of 1 or 0.2 mumol/day. PPITC, PBITC, PPeITC, and PHITC were all considerably more potent inhibitors of NNK lung tumorigenesis than PEITC. While virtually no differences in inhibitory activity could be ascertained for PPITC, PBITC, and PPeITC, PHITC appeared to be the most potent tumor inhibitor of all of the compounds. At a dose of 0.2 mumol/day, PHITC pretreatment reduced tumor multiplicity by 85%. PyBITC, an analogue of both NNK and PBITC, was ineffective as an inhibitor. Using the same protocol, the compounds were found to have qualitatively similar inhibitory effects on NNK-induced DNA methylation when administered at 1 mumol/day. These results extend our previous findings that increased alkyl chain length enhances the inhibitory activity of an arylalkyl isothiocyanate toward NNK lung tumorigenesis and demonstrate the exceptional chemopreventive potentials of two new isothiocyanates, PPeITC and PHITC.     

Metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in mouse lung microsomes and its inhibition by isothiocyanates

The tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) induces lung tumors in rats, mice, and hamsters, and metabolic activation is required for the carcinogenicity. 2-Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), whose precursor gluconasturtiin (a glucosinolate) occurs in cruciferous vegetables, has been found to inhibit carcinogenesis by NNK. The purpose of the study was to investigate the enzymes involved in the metabolism of NNK in lung microsomes and to elucidate the mechanisms of inhibition of NNK metabolism by isothiocyanates. NNK metabolism in lung microsomes (isolated from female A/J mice) resulted in the formation of formaldehyde, 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (keto alcohol), 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butyric acid (keto acid), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-1-butanone, and 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol, displaying apparent Km values of 5.6, 5.6, 9.2, 4.7, and 2540 microM, respectively. Higher Km values in the formation of formaldehyde and keto alcohol were also observed. When cytochrome P-450 inhibitors [2-(diethylamino)ethyl 2,2-diphenylpentenoate] hydrochloride (100 microM), carbon monoxide (90%), and 9-hydroxyellipticine (10 microM) were used, NNK metabolism was inhibited by each 70, 100, and 30%, respectively. Methimazole (1 mM), an inhibitor of the flavin-dependent monooxygenase, inhibited the formation of 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-1-butanone and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol by 20%, but had no effect on the formation of keto alcohol. Inhibitory antibodies against cytochromes P-450IIB1 and -2, P-450IA1, and P-450IA2 inhibited the formation of keto alcohol by 25, 15, and 0%, respectively. Administration of PEITC at doses of 5 and 25 mumol/mouse 2 h before sacrifice produced a 40 and 70% decrease in microsomal NNK metabolism, respectively. PEITC and 3-phenylpropyl isothiocyanate exhibited a mixed type of inhibition, and the competitive component of inhibition had apparent Ki values of 90 and 30 nM, respectively. Preincubation of PEITC in the presence of a NADPH-generating system did not result in a further decrease in the formation of NNK metabolites, indicating that the metabolism of PEITC was not required for the inhibition. When a series of isothiocyanates with varying alkyl chain length (phenyl isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate, PEITC, 3-phenylpropyl isothiocyanate, and 4-phenylbutyl isothiocyanate) were used, the potency of the inhibition increased with the increase in chain length.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Inhibition of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced DNA adduct formation and tumorigenicity in the lung of F344 rats by dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate

F344 rats fed diets containing phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC, 3 mumol/g diet), a cruciferous vegetable component, before and during treatment with the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), developed about 50% fewer lung tumors than NNK-treated rats fed control diets. NNK-induced liver and nasal cavity tumors in rats were, however, not affected by this dietary treatment. The effects of PEITC diets on the formation of DNA adducts by NNK were also investigated in these target tissues. DNA methylation and pyridyloxobutylation by NNK were both decreased by 50% in lung of rats fed PEITC diets compared to that of rats fed control diets, but the levels of DNA methylation were not affected in liver and nasal mucosa. These results correlated with those from the carcinogenicity bioassay, suggesting that DNA alkylations could be used as indicators for screening inhibitors of NNK tumorigenesis. A slight increase in the number of tumors of the exocrine pancreas was observed in PEITC-fed rats with or without NNK treatments. However, these incidences were not statistically significant when compared to the control groups. The potential toxicity of PEITC at concentrations ranging from 0.75 mumol to 6 mumol/g diet was evaluated in a 13-week study. The only toxicity caused by this treatment was minimal fatty metamorphosis in the liver. Considering the widespread human exposure to NNK through tobacco use, it is of practical importance to demonstrate inhibition of lung tumors induced by this carcinogen. These results provide a basis for studies designed to discover agents of better efficacy for the prevention of NNK-induced tumorigenesis.     

Inhibition of tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) tumorigenesis with aromatic isothiocyanates

4-(N-Nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent tobacco-specific carcinogenic nitrosamine. At low doses, it induces primarily lung tumours in mice, hamsters and rats, regardless of the route of administration. Its unique organ specificity and potency suggest its possible role in the high incidence of lung cancer in smokers. The goal of this study was to find agents that would potentially prevent NNK tumorigenesis. Previous results led us to test phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on NNK tumorigenesis in a two-year bioassay in Fischer 344 rats. The NNK-treated group developed 80% lung tumour incidence, whereas NNK-treated rats fed PEITC diets had only 40% lung tumour incidence. Incidences in other organs were not affected by this treatment. We also tested PEITC in a 16-week, short-term bioassay against NNK-induced lung adenomas in A/J mice. Pretreatment of mice with PEITC by gavage at four daily doses of 5 mumol or 25 mumol reduced the formation of NNK-induced lung adenomas by 70% or 100%, respectively. Interestingly, benzyl isothiocyanate and phenyl isothiocyanate, the lower homologues of PEITC, were inactive in this bioassay. Using a protocol similar to that used in the bioassays, PEITC was shown to decrease DNA methylation by NNK in the lungs of rats and mice and suppress the metabolism of NNK by mouse lung microsomes. These results are consistent with the previous data, suggesting that the inhibition of NNK-induced lung tumour formation by PEITC is a consequence of reduced DNA methylation caused by inhibition of NNK metabolism.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Kinetics and enzyme involvement in the metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in microsomes of rat lung and nasal mucosa.

The rat lung and nasal cavity are two target organs for carcinogenesis by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). In order to characterize further the enzymes involved in the bioactivation of NNK, detailed kinetic and inhibitory studies were conducted with rat lung and nasal mucosa microsomes, and the results were compared with previous studies. The enzymes in rat lung microsomes catalyzed the alpha-hydroxylation, pyridine N-oxidation and carbonyl reduction of NNK. The apparent Km for the formation of the NNK-derived keto aldehyde, NNK-N-oxide, the NNK-derived keto alcohol and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol were 28.8, 10.4, 7.0 and 178.1 microM respectively. In rat nasal microsomes, alpha-hydroxylation was the predominant pathway and the rate was approximately 200 times higher than that in lung microsomes. The apparent Kms for keto aldehyde and keto alcohol formation in rat nasal microsomes were 9.6 and 10.1 microM respectively. The cytochrome P450 inhibitors metyrapone and carbon monoxide markedly inhibited the metabolism of NNK in both rat lung and nasal microsomes. In rat lung microsomes, alpha-naphthoflavone and monospecific antibodies against P450s 1A2, 2A1 and 2B1 inhibited the formation of keto aldehyde by 39, 46, 64 and 23% respectively. In rat nasal microsomes, alpha-naphthoflavone and antibodies against P450s 1A2, 2A1 and 3A inhibited the metabolism of NNK by 80, 35, 20 and 14% respectively. The results indicate that cytochromes P450 play a major role in the metabolic activation of NNK in rat lung and nasal microsomes, and that there are tissue-related differences in NNK metabolism.     

Effects of long term dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate on the microsomal metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and 4- (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol in F344 rats

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a cruciferous vegetable component, inhibits lung tumor induction by the tobacco specific nitrosamine, 4- (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). To gain insight into the mechanism of PEITC lung tumor inhibition, we examined, in male F344 rats, the effects of dietary PEITC (3 micromol/g NIH-07 diet) in combination with NNK treatment (1.76 mg/kg, s.c., three times a week) for 4, 12 and 20 weeks on liver and lung microsomal metabolism of NNK and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), a major metabolite of NNK and also a lung carcinogen. This was compared with rats fed NIH-07 diet, without PEITC, and treated with NNK alone or saline. The protocol was identical to that employed for inhibition of lung tumorigenesis by PEITC. We observed decreased rates of alpha- hydroxylation of NNK and NNAL in lung microsomes of 4-, 12- and 20-week PEITC + NNK treated rats compared with those treated with NNK or saline. NNK treatment alone also decreased lung alpha-methylene hydroxylation of NNK. Long-term NNK + PEITC administration did not significantly affect liver oxidative metabolism of NNK or NNAL, and did not affect the rate of glucuronidation of NNAL in liver microsomes when compared with rats treated with NNK or saline. Thus, PEITC selectively inhibited lung metabolic activation of NNK and NNAL. These results support the hypothesis that PEITC inhibits NNK-induced lung tumors by inhibiting metabolic activation of NNK in the lung. This study also demonstrated that PEITC inhibits lung alpha-hydroxylation of NNAL; this may play a role in PEITC inhibition of lung tumorigenesis by NNK.      

Quantitation of microsomal alpha-hydroxylation of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is activated to DNA alkylating species via two different alpha-hydroxylation pathways. Methylene hydroxylation leads to DNA methylation, whereas methyl hydroxylation yields DNA pyridyloxobutylation. We have developed a high-pressure liquid chromatography assay utilizing radiochemical detection that permits the determination of the extent of metabolism through each pathway in microsomal preparations. Levels of 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) were used to measure the extent of methyl hydroxylation, whereas levels of the aldehyde, 4-oxo-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (OPB), were used to quantify the extent of methylene hydroxylation. Incubations of [5-3H]NNK with microsomes and cofactors were conducted in the presence of 5 mM sodium bisulfite to trap the reactive OPB. The inclusion of bisulfite did not affect the rate of NNK metabolism. Trapping the aldehyde also inhibited its further oxidation to the corresponding acid or reduction to HPB. Furthermore, the conversion of HPB to OPB made only a minor contribution to the OPB levels under our incubation conditions. Analysis of incubation mixtures containing [5-3H]NNK, cofactors, and either A/J mouse liver or lung microsomes demonstrated that OPB was a significant metabolite of NNK. The OPB:HPB ratio was greater in liver (1.5) than in lung (0.2-1) microsomal preparations. Apparent Km values for OPB and HPB formation in lung microsomes were 23.7 and 3.6 microM, respectively, whereas the corresponding values for liver microsomes were 19.1 and 73.8 microM, respectively. These data are consistent with the involvement of more than one cytochrome P-450 isozyme in the activation of NNK to DNA reactive species.     

Effects of aromatic isothiocyanates on tumorigenicity, O6-methylguanine formation, and metabolism of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in A/J mouse lung

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), and phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) were tested for their abilities to inhibit lung tumorigenesis and O6-methylguanine formation in lung DNA induced by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mice. Pretreatment with PEITC for 4 consecutive days at daily doses of 5 or 25 mumol inhibited tumor multiplicity induced by a single 10-mumol dose of NNK by approximately 70% or 97%, respectively. The 25-mumol daily dose of PEITC also reduced the percentage of animals that developed tumors by 70%. In contrast, both BITC and PITC failed to significantly reduce tumor multiplicity or the percentages of mice that developed tumors. Using an identical dosing regimen, parallel results were observed in the effects of these isothiocyanates on O6-methylguanine formation in the lung, in which PEITC at either dose resulted in considerable inhibition at 2 or 6 h after NNK administration, while BITC or PITC had little effect. PEITC was further tested for its ability to inhibit lung microsomal metabolism of NNK. A single administration of PEITC (5 or 25 mumol) resulted in 90% inhibition of NNK metabolism. These results in conjunction with recent results obtained using F344 rats firmly establish PEITC as an effective inhibitor of NNK lung tumorigenesis and suggest that the basis of this inhibition is the reduction of DNA adduct formation caused by the inhibition of enzymes responsible for NNK activation.     

Factors regulating activation and DNA alkylation by 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and nitrosodimethylamine in rat lung and isolated lung cells, and the relationship to carcinogenicity

The molecular dosimetry for O6-methylguanine (O6MG) formation in DNA from rat lung and pulmonary cells was compared following treatment for 4 days with equimolar doses of 4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a potent pulmonary carcinogen or nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), a weak carcinogen in rat lung. The dose response for O6MG formation from NNK was biphasic; the O6MG to dose ratio, an index of alkylation efficiency, increased dramatically as the dose of carcinogen was decreased. In contrast, the dose-response curve for methylation by NDMA appeared opposite of that for NNK with alkylation efficiency increasing as a function of dose. These results suggested that high and low Km pathways exist for the activation of NNK, whereas only high Km pathways may be involved in NDMA activation. Furthermore, DNA methylation by NNK was cell selective with the highest levels in the Clara cell, whereas methylation by NDMA was not. DNA methylation in the Clara cell was 50-fold greater by NNK than by NDMA at equimolar doses (0.005 mmol/kg). Thus, differences in O6MG formation, specifically the presence of a high affinity pathway in the Clara cell for activation of NNK, may explain why following low dose exposure, NNK is a potent pulmonary carcinogen while NDMA is not. Different cytochrome P-450 isozymes also appear to be involved in the activation of NNK and NDMA. Inhibition of in vitro methylation (with calf thymus DNA and lung microsomes) by antibodies to cytochrome P-450 isozymes provided evidence that a homolog of rabbit cytochrome P-450(2) (cytochrome P-450b) may be important in the activation of NNK in rat lung, whereas cytochrome P-450(5) may activate NDMA. A 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-inducible cytochrome P-450 isozyme (P-450c) may also be involved in the activation of NNK but not NDMA. Treatment with TCDD increased both NNK activation by pulmonary microsomes and the formation of O6MG in Clara cells and type II cells incubated in vitro with NNK. alpha-Naphthoflavone (alpha-NF), a specific inhibitor of cytochrome P-450c reversed the increase in methylation by TCDD-induced microsomes but did not inhibit in vitro activation of NNK using microsomes from untreated rats. However, NNK mediated O6MG formation in Clara cells, but not in type II cells incubated with alpha-NF, was decreased by 21%. These data indicate that both cytochrome P-450b and P-450c are probably involved in the activation of NNK in Clara cells from untreated rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Effect of phenethyl isothiocyanate on the metabolism of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone by cultured rat lung tissue

The effect of phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a dietary inhibitor of carcinogenesis, on the metabolism of the tobacco specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) by cultured rat peripheral lung tissues was investigated. Initially, the metabolism of NNK by the tissues was studied by incubating the lung explants in medium containing 1 and 10 microM [5-3H]NNK for 3, 6, 12, and 24 h. NNK metabolites were analyzed and quantified by HPLC and expressed as nmol/mg DNA. NNK was metabolized by three pathways; alpha-carbon hydroxylation, pyridine N-oxidation and carbonyl reduction. The principal metabolic pathway involved the conversion of NNK to the pyridine N-oxidized metabolites: 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-1-butanone (NNK-N-oxide) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-1-butanol (NNAL-N-oxide). When combined, NNK-N-oxide and NNAL-N-oxide constituted approximately 70% of the total metabolites in the medium at 24 h. To determine the effects of PEITC on the metabolism of NNK, lung explants were either treated with both 10 microM [5-3H]NNK and PEITC (10, 50, and 100 microM) for 24 h, or they were pre-treated with these same concentrations of PEITC for 16 h and then co-treated with both PEITC and 10 microM [5-3H]NNK for 24 h. In both treatment series, PEITC inhibited the alpha-carbon hydroxylation and pyridine N-oxidation of NNK and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), which is produced from NNK by carbonyl reduction. In general, the inhibition of NNK metabolism was greater when the explants were pre-treated with PEITC. These results suggest that PEITC is an effective inhibitor of the conversion of NNK to metabolites that elicit DNA damage. Our results are in agreement with previously published data in which PEITC was shown to inhibit NNK metabolism and tumorigenesis in the rat lung.     

Dose-response study of DNA and hemoglobin adduct formation by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in F344 rats

Levels of hemoglobin adducts and DNA adducts were measured in F344 rats after 4 consecutive daily i.p. injections of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The dose range was from 3 to 10,000 micrograms/kg/day. [5(-3)H]NNK and [C3H3]NNK were used to measure pyridyloxobutylation and methylation, in both globin and DNA, respectively. In globin, the level of binding increased linearly with dose. Total binding of [5(-3)H] NNK to globin was 3.2 to 8900 fmol/mg and total binding of [C3H3]NNK was 3.5 to 20,000 fmol/mg. The extents of pyridyloxobutylation of both DNA and globin were determined by measuring the amounts of 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone released from each, over the dose range 15-5000 micrograms/kg/day. The levels of 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone released were 3.2-650 fmol/mg globin, 18-3400 fmol/mg liver DNA, and 58-2180 fmol/mg lung DNA. The extents of DNA methylation in both lung and liver were greater than pyridyloxobutylation. When the dose range was 3-5000 micrograms/kg/day, the levels of 7-methylguanine were 0.22-246 pmol/mumol guanine (149-167,000 fmol/mg) in liver DNA and 0.23-78 pmol/mumol guanine (160-53,000 fmol/mg) in lung DNA. In the lung, the ratio of methylation to pyridyloxobutylation decreased as the dose decreased. In contrast to globin adduct formation, DNA adduct formation did not increase linearly with dose; adduct formation was greater at lower doses than would have been predicted by extrapolation from higher doses. Thus the results of this study demonstrate that there was not a linear relationship between globin adduct formation, neither pyridyloxobutylation nor methylation, and DNA adduct formation in the liver or the lung of rats treated with NNK.     

Enzymes involved in the bioactivation of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3- pyridyl)-1-butanone in patas monkey lung and liver microsomes

4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent tobacco-specific carcinogen in animals. Our previous studies indicated that there are differences between rodents and humans for the enzymes involved in the activation of NNK. To determine if the patas monkey is a better animal model for the activation of NNK in humans, we investigated the metabolism of NNK in patas monkey lung and liver microsomes and characterized the enzymes involved in the activation. In lung microsomes, the formation of 4-oxo-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (keto aldehyde), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl-N-oxide)-1-butanone (NNK- N-oxide), 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (keto alcohol), and 4- (methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) was observed, displaying apparent Km values of 10.3, 5.4, 4.9, and 902 microM, respectively. NNK metabolism in liver microsomes resulted in the formation of keto aldehyde, keto alcohol, and NNAL, displaying apparent Km values of 8.1, 8.2, and 474 microM, respectively. The low Km values for NNK oxidation in the patas monkey lung and liver microsomes are different from those in human lung and liver microsomes showing Km values of 400-653 microM, although loss of low Km forms from human tissue as a result of disease, surgery or anesthesia cannot be ruled out. Carbon monoxide (90%) significantly inhibited NNK metabolism in the patas monkey lung and liver microsomes by 38-66% and 82-91%, respectively. Nordihydroguaiaretic acid (a lipoxygenase inhibitor) and aspirin (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) decreased the rate of formation of keto aldehyde and keto alcohol by 10-20 % in the monkey lung microsomes. Alpha-Napthoflavone and coumarin markedly decreased the oxidation of NNK in monkey lung and liver microsomes, suggesting the involvement of P450s 1A and 2A6. An antibody against human P450 2A6 decreased the oxidation of NNK by 12-16% and 22-24% in the patas monkey lung and liver microsomes, respectively. These results are comparable to that obtained with human lung and liver microsomes. Coumarin hydroxylation was observed in the patas monkey lung and liver microsomes at a rate of 16 and 4000 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively, which was 5-fold higher than human lung and liver microsomes, respectively. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the P450 2A level in the individual patas monkey liver microsomal sample was 6-fold greater than in an individual human liver microsomal sample. Phenethyl isothiocyanate, an inhibitor of NNK activation in rodents and humans, decreased NNK oxidation in the monkey lung and liver microsomes displaying inhibitor concentration resulting in 50% inhibition of the activity (IC50) values of 0.28-0.8 microM and 4.2-6.8 microM, respectively. The results demonstrate the similarities and differences between species in the metabolic activation of NNK. The patas monkey microsomes appear to more closely resemble human microsomes than mouse or rat enzymes and may better reflect the activation of NNK in humans.      

Effects of benzyl isothiocyanate and phenethyl isothiocyanate on DNA adduct formation by a mixture of benzo[a]pyrene and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone in A/J mouse lung

Dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and a mixture of dietary PEITC and benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) inhibit lung tumorigenesis in A/J mice induced by a mixture of the tobacco smoke carcinogens benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that inhibition of tumorigenesis by these isothiocyanates was due to inhibition of DNA adduct formation. We quantified the following pulmonary DNA adducts: N2-[7,8,9-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene-10-yl]deoxyguanosine (BPDE-N2-dG) from B[a]P; and O(6)-methylguanine (O(6)-mG) and 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB)-releasing adducts from NNK. Initial experiments demonstrated that there were no effects of B[a]P on NNK-DNA adduct formation, or vice versa, and established by way of a time course study the appropriate sacrifice intervals for the main experiment. Dietary PEITC, or dietary BITC plus PEITC, inhibited the formation of HPB-releasing DNA adducts of NNK at several of the time points examined. There were no effects of dietary isothiocyanates on levels of O(6)-mG or BPDE-N2-dG. These results, which are consistent with previous studies in rats and with tumor inhibition data in mice, support a role for inhibition of HPB-releasing DNA adducts of NNK as a mechanism of inhibition of tumorigenesis by dietary PEITC and BITC plus PEITC. However, the observed inhibition was modest, suggesting that other effects of isothiocyanates are also involved in chemoprevention in this model.     

O6-methylguanine is a critical determinant of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone tumorigenesis in A/J mouse lung

The relative importance of the two alpha-hydroxylation pathways in the tumorigenicity of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), was examined in the A/J mouse lung. Methyl hydroxylation, which results in DNA pyridyloxobutylation, was investigated with 4-(acetoxymethylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc) and N'-nitrosonornicotine. Methylene hydroxylation, which leads to DNA methylation, was studied by using acetoxymethyl-methylnitrosamine (AMMN). The tumorigenic activities of these compounds were compared to that of 10 mumol NNK at doses that yielded similar or greater adduct levels 24 h after exposure. The methylating agent AMMN was more tumorigenic than the pyridyloxobutylating agents, NNKOAc and N'-nitrosonornicotine. NNKOAc enhanced the tumorigenic activity of AMMN when the two compounds were given in combination. These results suggested that DNA methylation was more important than DNA pyridyloxobutylation in A/J mouse lung tumor induction by NNK and that pyridyloxobutylation enhanced the activity of the methylation pathway. However, the tumorigenicity of 10 mumol NNK could not be reproduced by AMMN +/- NNKOAc at doses that yielded similar levels of DNA adducts 24 h after exposure. Therefore, a second study was conducted in which the persistence of O6-methylguanine in lung DNA following various doses of NNK or AMMN +/- NNKOAc was compared to the tumorigenicity of these treatments. A strong correlation was observed between lung tumor yield and levels of O6-methylguanine at 96 h for NNK and AMMN +/- NNKOAc (r = 0.98). The ability of NNKOAc to increase the tumorigenic activity of AMMN was attributed to its ability to enhance the persistence of O6-methylguanine in lung DNA. These results demonstrate that the formation and persistence of O6-methylguanine are critical events in the initiation of A/J mouse lung tumors by NNK. They also suggest that DNA pyridyloxobutylation by NNK can increase the persistence of this promutagenic base in lung DNA.     

Effects of benzyl isothiocyanate and 2-phenethyl isothiocyanate on benzo[a]pyrene and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone metabolism in F-344 rats

A mixture of dietary benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and 2-phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) inhibits lung tumorigenesis by a mixture of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mice. Previous studies indicated that inhibition of 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) releasing DNA adducts of NNK by PEITC in the lung was responsible for inhibition of tumorigenicity. We have now extended these investigations to F-344 rats treated with 2 p.p.m. B[a]P in the diet and 2 p.p.m. NNK in the drinking water. The effects of BITC (1 micromol/g diet), PEITC (3 micromol/g diet), and a mixture of BITC plus PEITC (1 and 3 micromol/g diet) on DNA and hemoglobin (Hb) adducts of B[a]P and NNK, and on two urinary metabolites of NNK, were examined. DNA adducts were quantified after 8 and 16 weeks of treatment. Hb adducts were quantified in blood samples withdrawn every 2 weeks. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its glucuronide NNAL-Gluc were measured in urine every 4 weeks. PEITC or BITC plus PEITC significantly reduced levels of HPB releasing DNA adducts of NNK in lung at 8 and 16 weeks, but there was no effect of BITC. There were no effects of any of the treatments on levels of HPB releasing DNA adducts of NNK in liver, or on DNA adducts of B[a]P in either lung or liver. PEITC or BITC plus PEITC significantly inhibited the formation of Hb adducts of NNK from 2-12 weeks of treatment while there were no effects on Hb adducts of B[a]P. There was a significant increase in levels of NNAL and NNAL-Gluc in the urine of the rats treated with PEITC or BITC plus PEITC. These results demonstrate that dietary PEITC, or a mixture of BITC plus PEITC, inhibit the formation of HPB releasing adducts of NNK in the rodent lung, leading to inhibition of tumorigenesis.     

Metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a tobacco-specific carcinogen, by rabbit nasal microsomes and cytochrome P450s NMa and NMb.

Rabbit nasal olfactory and respiratory microsomes were found to catalyze the alpha-hydroxylation of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) with specific activities of 262 and 136 pmol/min/mg protein in the formation of keto aldehyde, and of 318 and 190 pmol/min/mg protein in the formation of keto alcohol respectively. The formation of NNK-N-oxide was observed in experiments with rabbit olfactory and respiratory microsomes, but not with rat nasal microsomes. However, the rat nasal microsomes had higher activity in catalyzing the alpha-hydroxylation of NNK. In a reconstituted system, rabbit P450NMa, a major constitutive P450 isozyme in nasal microsomes, displayed high activities in the formation of the keto aldehyde and the keto alcohol with apparent Km values of 15 and 9 microM respectively. In comparison, rabbit olfactory specific P450NMb had a low activity in catalyzing the formation of keto aldehyde (Km = 186 microM) and no activity in the formation of keto alcohol. The P450NMa-catalyzed oxidation of NNK was inhibited by nicotine and diallyl sulfide. Kinetic studies indicated that nicotine is a competitive inhibitor. These results demonstrate that enzymes in rabbit nasal microsomes, especially P450NMa, efficiently catalyze the bioactivation of NNK.     

Effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate, a carcinogenesis inhibitor, on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and nitrosamine metabolism in rats.

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a constituent of cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to inhibit chemical carcinogenesis, possibly due to its ability to block the activation or to enhance the detoxification of chemical carcinogens. The present study was conducted to elucidate the biochemical mechanisms involved by characterizing the effects of PEITC on phase I and phase II xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. A single dose of PEITC to F344 rats (1 mmol/kg) decreased the liver N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase (NDMAd) activity (mainly due to P450 2E1) by 80% at 2 h and the activity of NDMAd remained decreased by 40% at 48 h after treatment. The liver pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (PROD) activity and P450 2B1 protein level were elevated 10- and 7-fold at 24 h after treatment respectively. The liver microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (EROD) (mainly due to P450 1A) and erythromycin N-demethylase (mainly due to P450 3A) activities were decreased at 2-12 h after treatment and recovered afterwards. The lung microsomal PROD and EROD activities were not significantly affected; whereas, the nasal microsomal PROD and EROD activities were decreased by 40-50%. After a treatment with PEITC, the rates of oxidative metabolism of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) were decreased in liver microsomes by 40-60% at 2 h and recovered gradually; the rates in lung microsomes were markedly decreased by 60-70% at 2 h and remained at the decreased level at 24 h; and the rates in nasal mucosa microsomes were decreased gradually with the lowest activities observed at 18 h (50%) followed by a gradual recovery. Furthermore, the treatment with PEITC resulted in a maximal 5-fold increase of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and 1.5-fold increase of glutathione S-transferase activities in the liver, but the activities of these two enzymes were not significantly affected in the lung and nasal mucosa. The sulfotransferase activity in the liver was decreased by 32-48% at 24-48 h after treatment; the nasal activity was increased by 1.8- to 2.5-fold, but the lung activity was not significantly changed. The hepatic UDP glucuronosyltransferase activity was slightly decreased at 2 h but slightly increased at 48 h after treatment, but no changes were observed for the lung and nasal activities. The study demonstrates that PEITC selectively affects xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in the liver, lung and nasal mucosa and it is especially effective in inhibiting the P450-dependent oxidation of NNK in the lung and of NDMA in the liver.     

Effect of dietary aromatic isothiocyanates fed subsequent to the administration of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone on lung tumorigenicity in mice

Naturally-occurring aromatic isothiocyanates, benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), were tested for their post-treatment effects on lung tumorigenicity by the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in A/J mice. Mice at 7 weeks of age were administered a single i.p. dose of NNK (10 mumol/mouse). One week after NNK dosing, mice were placed on AIN-76A diet containing 1 or 3 mumol/g diet of BITC or PEITC. The control group was maintained on AIN-76A diet after NNK administration. Mice were killed 16 weeks after NNK treatment and lung adenomas were counted. The results showed mice fed control diet developed 7.8 tumors/mouse. Mice fed PEITC at concentrations of 1 or 3 mumol/g diet had 8.2 or 6.1 tumors/mouse, respectively. Feeding BITC at 1 mumol/g diet resulted in a tumor yield of 8.0 tumors/mouse, whereas BITC diet at 3 mumol/g diet gave 5.2 tumors/mouse, a small but significant inhibition. However, in the high BITC dose group, a loss in weight gain due to reduced food intake was noted. The results of this study showed that post-treatment of aromatic isothiocyanates had little, if any, effect on NNK lung tumorigenicity in A/J mice. This is in contrast to our previous findings in which pretreatment with PEITC greatly inhibited lung tumor induction by NNK in A/J mice and suggests that tumor inhibition by PEITC is due to inhibition of NNK metabolic activation.     

Effects of phenethyl isothiocyanate and benzyl isothiocyanate, individually and in combination, on lung tumorigenesis induced in A/J mice by benzo[a]pyrene and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone

Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) is an effective inhibitor of lung tumorigenesis induced in rats and mice by the tobacco-specific carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) while benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) inhibits lung tumorigenesis induced in mice by another tobacco smoke carcinogen, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). However, little is known about the inhibitory effects of PEITC and BITC in combination, or about the effects of PEITC or BITC on tumorigenesis by a mixture of NNK and BaP. In this study, we carried out a series of experiments pertinent to these questions. In Experiment 1, treatment of A/J mice with PEITC (6 micromol), BITC (6 micromol), or a combination of the two (6 micromol each) by gavage, 2 h prior to each of eight weekly gavage treatments with a mixture of BaP and NNK (3 micromol of each), had no effect on lung tumor multiplicity. In Experiment 2, we evaluated the inhibitory potential of four different mixtures of PEITC and BITC, administered by gavage 2 h prior to each of eight weekly doses of BaP and NNK, as given in Experiment 1. Mixtures of PEITC and BITC (12 micromol of each, or 12 micromol PEITC and 9 micromol BITC) significantly reduced lung tumorigenesis induced by a mixture of BaP and NNK. In Experiment 3, we investigated the effects of dietary PEITC (3 micromol/g diet), BITC (1 micromol/g diet), or a mixture of PEITC (3 micromol/g diet) and BITC (1 micromol/g diet). These compounds were started 1 week before, and continued through to 1 week after the eight weekly treatments with BaP and NNK. PEITC, and PEITC plus BITC, both significantly inhibited lung tumor multiplicity; inhibition was due mainly to PEITC. In Experiment 4, we tested dietary PEITC (3, 1, or 0.3 micromol/g diet) as an inhibitor of lung tumorigenesis induced by BaP, NNK, or BaP plus NNK using a protocol identical to that in Experiment 3. PEITC was an effective inhibitor of lung tumor multiplicity induced by NNK and a mixture of BaP plus NNK, but not by BaP. Dietary PEITC, or PEITC plus BITC, was more effective in these experiments than the compounds given by gavage. The results of this study demonstrate that proper doses of dietary PEITC and dietary as well as gavaged PEITC plus BITC are effective inhibitors of lung tumorigenesis induced in A/J mice by a mixture of BaP and NNK.