Increased production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha by bone marrow leukocytes following benzene treatment of mice.

Hematopoiesis is regulated by cytokines released from bone marrow stromal cells and mature leukocytes. Recent studies have identified these cells as targets for benzene-induced hematotoxicity. In the present studies we analyzed the effects of benzene treatment of mice on the production of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) by bone marrow leukocytes. Bone marrow cells isolated from control or benzene-treated mice (660 mg/kg, once/day, 3 days) were purified on lymphocyte separation medium. Cells were then cultured in the presence of varying concentrations of lipopolysaccharide (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) for 0.5-48 hr. IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha activity in culture supernatants was then quantified. We found a significant (p less than or equal to 0.02) increase in TNF-alpha production by bone marrow leukocytes from benzene-treated mice when compared to cells from control animals. Furthermore, this increase was dependent on the macrophage-specific growth factor, colony stimulating factor-1. Benzene treatment was also found to induce a small but significant (p less than or equal to 0.02) increase in the production of IL-1 by bone marrow leukocytes. This increase was rapid and transient, occurring in supernatants collected 2 hr after inoculation of bone marrow cells into culture. In contrast, benzene treatment had no effect on the production of IL-6 by bone marrow leukocytes. These results demonstrate that benzene treatment of mice stimulates mature bone marrow leukocytes to produce elevated levels of growth regulatory cytokines.     

Toxic effects of benzene and benzene metabolites on granulopoietic stem cells and bone marrow cellularity in mice

Mice were injected subcutaneously with benzene or one of three of its metabolites (phenol, hydroquinone, or 1,2-dihydro-1,2-dihydroxybenzene). The adverse effects on the concentration of granulopoietic stem cells (measured as number of colony-forming units per tibia or per 10⁵ cells) and on the bone marrow cellularity in tibia were measured. Benzene had strong toxic effects. Thus, 0.7 mg benzene/kg body wt injected daily on 6 consecutive days gave detectable effects on stem cell concentration, and 3.5 mg/kg/day affected also cellularity. Six daily injections of 440 mg benzene/kg reduced cellularity and number of colony-forming units per tibia by 86–95%. None of the benzene metabolites tested could reproduce the strong effects of benzene when injected subcutaneously, although phenol slightly but significantly affected stem cell concentration. Toluene, a competitive inhibitor of benzene metabolism, significantly alleviated the effects of benzene. Regeneration of the bone marrow after benzene injections occurred rapidly during the first week, then at a slower rate for the next 4 weeks. At this time cellularity and granulopoietic stem cell concentration were restored, but the fraction of stem cells in S phase was still higher than in controls, indicating a still elevated proliferation rate.     

Detection of nitrated benzene metabolites in bone marrow of B6C3F1 mice treated with benzene

Benzene, a constituent of cigarette smoke, is a human leukemogen and induces bone marrow toxicity. The mechanism of benzene-induced toxicity is not well-established. We hypothesized that relatively high levels of nitric oxide formed in bone marrow can react with oxygen and/or superoxide anion that is generated during redox cycling of ring-hydroxylated benzene metabolites to yield peroxynitrite as well as other NO-derived intermediates. Peroxynitrite can either directly damage cellular macromolecules or form nitrated toxic metabolites. Toward this end, we investigated whether nitro derivatives of benzene are formed in bone marrow of mice treated with benzene. First, we have characterized products formed during activation of benzene in Fenton's system in the absence or presence of NO-releasing compound in vitro by GC/MS. The result of above experiment prompted us to determine whether similar products can be formed in vivo. Groups of B6C3F1 male mice, eight weeks of age, were given a single intraperitoneal dose of [14C]benzene (400 mg/kg body wt, 9.7 mCi/mmol) or an equal dose of unlabeled benzene in corn oil, and the mice were killed 0.5 or 1 h posttreatment. The control group received only vehicle injections. Organic solvent extractable metabolites from bone marrow, liver, lungs, and blood of mice treated with [14C]benzene were identified by comparison of their respective retention times under two different HPLC conditions with authentic standard samples. These metabolites were further characterized by comparison of their GC/MS properties to those of reference standards. Nitro metabolites, namely, nitrobenzene, nitrobiphenyl, and nitrophenol isomers, were detected in the bone marrow of the mice 1 h after benzene treatment. Formation of nitro derivatives in other tissues was either not observed or was significantly less than that formed in bone marrow. This study clearly demonstrates that nitric oxide is a contributor to benzene metabolism and can form nitrated derivatives that may, in part, account for bone marrow toxicity.     

Effects of cannabinoids on bone marrow activity in adult mice

Adult mice were chronically treated with cannabinoids at behavioural doses and acutely treated with a unique injection of the same cannabinoids at high dosage. In acute experiments delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ⁹-THC) depressed the number of bone marrow promyelocytes and of blood granulocytes, and enhanced the number of erythroblasts, while the action of cannabidiol (CBD) was opposite, and the one of cannabinol (CBN) was not clearly interpretable. In chronic experiments, after treatment with Δ⁹-THC a reduced proportion of erythroblasts and an increased proportion of myelopoietic cells were noted, associated with a reduction of the number of blood granulocytes and with an increased number of blood lymphocytes. CBD and CBN had initially the same depressive effect on erythropoiesis and a stimulating effect on myelopoiesis, followed by a tendency to normalization.     

Alterations in pulmonary protective enzymes following systemic bleomycin treatment in mice

Repeated bleomycin administration in animals and humans produces significant lung fibrosis. The pathogenesis of this toxicity may be multifactorial, but it appears to be initiated through the production of radical oxygen species by an activated bleomycin-iron-oxygen ternary complex. Protection of lung tissue from bleomycin-induced toxicity may occur through both specific metabolic inactivation of bleomycin by the enzyme bleomycin hydrolase, as well as by such non-specific antioxidants as catalase and the glutathione system. The effect of chronic, systemic administration of bleomycin on the activities and levels of these enzymes and proteins in pulmonary tissue is unknown. C57BL/6 mice were injected subcutaneously with saline, non-fibrogenic (2 mg/kg) and fibrogenic (10 mg/kg) doses of bleomycin twice-weekly for 6 weeks. Animals were killed at 0, 1.5, 3, and 6 weeks after initiation of bleomycin treatment. Catalase activity was increased more than 50% at 3 weeks in the low-dose animals, and was decreased over 40% at 6 weeks in the high-dose animals. Total lung glutathione levels were unaffected in both groups, although glutathione reductase activity was increased significantly (over 2-fold) at 1.5 and 3 weeks in the high-dose animals. At 6 weeks glutathione reductase was increased 7- and 12-fold in low and high-dose animals respectively. Glutathione peroxidase activity also was elevated more than 2-fold above control values at 6 weeks in both sets of animals. There was no evidence of induction of bleomycin hydrolase activity at any time point. Rather, bleomycin hydrolase activity was decreased significantly to 30 and 40% of control values at 3 and 6 weeks, respectively, in mice receiving the fibrogenic doses of bleomycin. These results demonstrate that chronic, systemic administration of non-fibrogenic and fibrogenic doses of bleomycin produces changes in activity of lung antioxidant defense mechanisms. The early loss of lung bleomycin hydrolase activity may contribute to the pathogenesis of bleomycin-induced pulmonary toxicity following repeated drug exposure.     

Characterization of the benzene monooxygenase system in rabbit bone marrow

The microsomal fraction of bone marrow contains cytochrome P-450 (39 +/- 11 pmoles/mg microsomal protein) and monooxygenase activity could be demonstrated by the O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin (114 +/- 65 pmoles/(min X mg microsomal protein] and the hydroxylation of benzene to phenol (51 +/- 8.6 pmol/45 min X mg microsomal protein). This monooxygenase system differs from that in liver in various aspects. The conversion of benzene to phenol calculated as molecular activity was about 4 times higher than in liver and no induction by phenobarbital could be observed. Aroclor 1254 induced the cytochrome P-450 content about twofold but lowered the O-dealkylation activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin in contrast to liver. Pretreatment with benzene did not change the O-dealkylation in bone marrow, but had a stimulating effect on benzene monooxygenation and covalent binding of 14C-benzene metabolites. From these results we conclude that the bone marrow monooxygenase system develops its own pattern of cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes. Especially after chronic exposure to benzene this system can convert this chemical to phenol and secondary metabolites. The similar behaviour of phenol formation and covalent binding strengthens the hypothesis of a common pathway for metabolism and toxicity but the active intermediate still remains unknown.     

Toxic effects of benzene and benzene metabolites on mononuclear phagocytes

Benzene is a potent bone marrow toxin in animals and man. Animal studies have shown that exposure to benzene can alter T lymphocyte functions and decrease the resistance of animals to Listeria monocytogenes and transplanted tumor cells. Mononuclear phagocytes participate in host resistance to Listeria and tumor cells. The purpose of the studies presented here was to determine the effects of benzene and benzene metabolites on macrophage functions and the ability of macrophages to be activated for functions which are important in host defense. Benzene had no effects on macrophage function or activation for any of the functions tested. Conversely, metabolites of benzene, catechol (CAT), hydroquinone (HQ), benzquinone (BQ), and 1,2,4-benzenetriol (BT) had potent and varied effects on macrophage function and activation. BQ inhibited the broadest range of functions including release of H2O2, Fc receptor-mediated phagocytosis, interferon gamma priming for tumor cell cytolysis, and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) triggering of cytolysis. BQ was also the most potent metabolite causing inhibition at lower concentrations than the other metabolites. HQ inhibited H2O2 release and priming for cytolysis and BT inhibited phagocytosis and priming for cytolysis. CAT only inhibited the release of H2O2. None of the compounds tested inhibited the induction of class II histocompatibility antigens on the cell surface. All of the effects measured occurred using concentrations of compounds which did not disrupt the cell integrity or inhibit general functions such as protein synthesis. Taken together these data suggest that benzene metabolites alter macrophage function through several mechanisms including inhibition of output enzymes and disruption of signal transduction systems.     

DNA-protein cross-link levels in bone marrow cells of mice treated with benzene or trans,trans-muconaldehyde

Increased levels of DNA-protein cross-links (DNAPC) have been observed in vitro and in vivo following treatment with a number of chemotherapeutic alkylating agents and topoisomerase II inhibitors, that is, agents that have also been associated with the development of bone marrow depression and acute myelogenous leukemia. The current studies were undertaken to examine the effect of benzene, a bone marrow toxin and human leukemogen, on DNAPC levels in mouse bone marrow cells. Using a K+/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) precipitation assay for DNAPC determination, the results indicate increased DNA-protein cross-link levels in mouse bone marrow cells at 2 and 4 but not 8 h after a single ip injection of 440 mg/kg benzene. Following the administration of multiple hematotoxic benzene doses (440 or 880 mg/kg, 2x/d for 2 d), increases in DNA-protein cross-link levels were either slight or not present. These results suggest that DNAPC induced by benzene are neither cumulative nor persistent lesions. The toxicity of benzene is mediated by a number of number of ring-hydroxylated and ring-opened compounds; therefore the present studies also examined DNAPC levels in mice administered trans,trans-muconaldehyde (MUC), a ring-opened hematotoxic and genotoxic metabolite of benzene. No marked increases in DNAPC levels were observed in CD- mouse bone marrow cells 1-12 h following a single ip injection of 3 mg/kg muconaldehyde. It is possible that multiple doses of MUC are required to induce elevated DNAPC levels in bone marrow cells of mice, since multiple doses are required for MUC-induced hematotoxicity. Other reactive metabolites and/or an interaction of reactive intermediates may also be involved in DNAPC induced by benzene.     

Correlation between the induction of micronuclei in bone marrow by benzene exposure and the excretion of metabolites in urine of CD-1 mice

Male and female CD-1 mice received single oral doses of benzene (220, 440, and 880 mg/kg) and were pretreated with modifiers of the mixed-function oxidase enzyme activities. Urinary metabolites (MT) (0-24 and 24-48 hr) were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. The micronucleus test was performed at 30 h. The following pretreatments were used to correlate micronucleus formation and the excreted benzene MT: 3-Methylcholanthrene and beta-naphthoflavone led to a marked increase in micronuclei (MN) and MT, whereas phenobarbital caused a slight increase, and SKF-525A had no effect. MN and MT were decreased when benzene was administered by the ip route or toluene was given simultaneously. Females had a lower number of MN and excreted more unconjugated phenol than did males. Muconic acid, hydroquinone, and phenol glucuronide and MN correlated well. They were dependent on both the dose and route of administration of benzene, being most inducible by P-448 inducers, in males more than females. The administration of hydroquinone induced MN, but phenol or catechol (200, 250, and 150 mg/kg, po, respectively) did not, and none of these compounds yielded trans, trans-muconic acid, a benzene MT in urine. This study establishes that benzene myeloclastogenicity is a function of its metabolism and that quantification of urinary metabolites could provide reliable correlates of this effect in vivo.     

Effects of nivalenol on the bone marrow in mice

In order to investigate the toxic effects of nivalenol, one of the trichothecene mycotoxins, we performed a short-term feeding trial for 24 days using feed supplemented with rice artificially molded with nivalenol producing fungus, Fusarium nivale Fn 2B, in female C57BL/6CrSlc SPF mice. A significant erythropenia and slight leukopenia were observed in the 30 ppm group, but no marked changes were observed in other hematological parameters, feed consumption, body weight gain, or weights of the liver, spleen, and thymus. Ultrastructural studies also revealed polyribosomal breakdowns of the bone marrow cells in the 30 ppm group.     

Alterations in the effects of dopamine agonists and antagonists on general activity in rats following chronic morphine treatment

Results of two experiments revealed that morphine produced both time-and dose-dependent effects on the general activity of rats following a single acute administration, depression being observed 30 min after the injection and hyperactivity at 150 min. Tolerance to the depressive effects of morphine was observed within 7 days of chronic, once daily treatments, the depression being replaced by a hyperactivity that included a high degree of self-directed oral stereotyped behaviour. Dose-response analyses of the effects of d-amphetamine, an indirectly acting dopamine agonist, and apomorphine, a directly acting dopamine agonist, revealed a shift in the dose-response curves following chronic morphine treatment, indicating that the animals were supersensitive to these agents. Conversely, the dose-response curve for pimozide, a directly acting dopamine antagonist, was shifted in a direction indicating that the animals were subsensitive to this agent. The dose-response curve for haloperidol, another dopamine antagonist, was unchanged. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that an increase in the number of dopamine receptors may develop during chronic treatment with morphine.     

Cell-specific metabolism in mouse bone marrow stroma: studies of activation and detoxification of benzene metabolites.

Two of the major cell types in bone marrow stroma, macrophages and fibroblasts, have been shown to be important regulators of both myelopoiesis and lymphopoiesis. The enzymology relating to cell-specific metabolism of phenolic metabolites of benzene in isolated mouse bone marrow stromal cells was examined. Fibroblastoid stromal cells had elevated glutathione-S-transferase (4.5-fold) and DT-diaphorase (4-fold) activity relative to macrophages, whereas macrophages demonstrated increased UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT, 7.5-fold) and peroxidase activity relative to stromal fibroblasts. UDP-GT and glutathione-S-transferase activities in macrophages and fibroblasts, respectively, were significantly greater than those in unpurified white marrow. Aryl sulfotransferase activity could not be detected in either bone marrow-derived macrophages or fibroblasts, and there were no significant differences in GSH content between the two cell types. Because UDP-GT activity is high in macrophages, these data suggest that DT-diaphorase levels would be rate limiting in the detoxification of benzene-derived quinones in bone marrow macrophages. The peroxidase responsible for bioactivation of benzene-derived phenolic metabolites in bone marrow macrophages is unknown but has been suggested to be prostaglandin H synthase (PGS). Hydrogen peroxide, but not arachidonic acid, supported metabolism of hydroquinone to reactive species in bone marrow-derived macrophage lysates. These data do not support a major role for PGS in peroxidase-mediated bioactivation of hydroquinone in bone marrow-derived macrophages, although PGS mRNA could be detected in these cells. Similarly, hydrogen peroxide, but not arachidonic acid, supported metabolism of hydroquinone in a human bone marrow homogenate. Peroxidase-mediated interactions between phenolic metabolites of benzene occurred in bone marrow-derived macrophages. Bioactivation of hydroquinone to species that would bind to acid-insoluble cellular macromolecules was increased by phenol and was markedly stimulated by catechol. Bioactivation of catechol was also stimulated by phenol but was inhibited by hydroquinone. These data define the enzymology and the cell-specific metabolism of benzene metabolites in bone marrow stroma and demonstrate that interactions between phenolic metabolites may contribute to the toxicity of benzene in this critical bone marrow compartment.     

基于小鼠模型的异基因骨髓移植中合适移植细胞量的实验研究

目的 探讨在小鼠异基因骨髓移植模型中的合适移植细胞量.方法 6～8周雌性BALB/c小鼠经7.0Gy X线全身照射后,4 h内分别输入1×106(A组)、5×106(B组)、1×107(C组)、2×107(D组)个6～8周雄性C57BL/6J小鼠的骨髓细胞,比较移植后各组小鼠存活率、外周血白细胞、T和B淋巴细胞数量及移植组的嵌合情况.结果 C组生存率明湿低于其它各组(P＜0.05);A、D组嵌合率达95%以上后出现回落;D组造血及免疫苇建较其它组提前达正常水平.结论 一定范围移植细胞量越多越有利于移植后造血及免疫重建;生存率、植入率及节约干细胞资源方面综合评估,5×106可作为移植优势剂量.     

Effects of short-term benzene administration on bone marrow cell cycle kinetics in the rat

Hematology, cell cycle phase, and [³H]thymidine ([³H]TdR) uptake and retention in bone marrow were studied in male Fischer-344 rats exposed to benzene by repeated subcutaneous injection (0.5 or 1.0 ml benzene/kg/day). Peripheral lymphocytes and differentiating bone marrow precursor cells were found to be the most sensitive cell populations following repeated benzene administration. Benzene exposure resulted in an increase in the relative number of bone marrow precursor cells in G₂ or M phase of the cell cycle as determined by laser-based flow cytofluorometry. Benzene treatment resulted in an increase in cell proliferative activity as determined by both cytofluorometry and [³H]TdR uptake. Although the uptake of [³H]TdR into DNA was initially higher in animals repeatedly exposed to benzene than in controls, paralleling the increase in cell proliferative index, the specific activity of DNA rapidly decreased, suggesting a defect in maturation among affected precusor cells. A general inhibition of DNA synthesis in bone marrow was not observed. It would appear that benzene-induced cytotoxicity in bone marrow is a function of both cell differentiation and cell cycle phase.     

Toxic effects on mouse bone marrow caused by inhalation of benzene

Male NMRI mice were exposed to benzene in air, concentrations ranging between 1–200 ppm. The following parameters in the bone marrows were examined:1. number of nucleated cells/tibia, 2. number of colony forming granulopoietic stem cells (CFU-C)/tibia, and 3. frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes.At continuous exposure as low benzene concentrations as 21 ppm during 4–10 days significantly affected the three parameters. Intermittent exposure (8 h/day, 5 days/week, 2 weeks) also resulted in measurable toxicity, particularly on number of CFU-C/tibia and frequency of micronuclei, at 21 ppm and higher doses. Short peak exposures had very limited effects but did increase the proliferation rate of the bone marrow, i.e., the number of CFU-C/10⁵ cells became elevated.     

Inhibitory effect of benzene metabolites on nuclear DNA synthesis in bone marrow cells

Effects of endogenously produced and exogenously added benzene metabolites on the nuclear DNA synthetic activity were investigated using a culture system of mouse bone marrow cells. Effects of the metabolites were evaluated by a 30-min incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA following a 30-min interaction with the cells in McCoy's 5a medium with 10% fetal calf serum. Phenol and muconic acid did not inhibit nuclear DNA synthesis. However, catechol, 1,2,4-benzenetriol, hydroquinone, and p-benzoquinone were able to inhibit 52, 64, 79, and 98% of the nuclear DNA synthetic activity, respectively, at 24 microM. In a cell-free DNA synthetic system, catechol and hydroquinone did not inhibit the incorporation of [3H]thymidine triphosphate into DNA up to 24 microM but 1,2,4-benzenetriol and p-benzoquinone did. The effect of the latter two benzene metabolites was completely blocked in the presence of 1,4-dithiothreitol (1 mM) in the cell-free assay system. Furthermore, when DNA polymerase alpha, which requires a sulfhydryl (SH) group as an active site, was replaced by DNA polymerase I, which does not require an SH group for its catalytic activity, p-benzoquinone and 1,2,4-benzenetriol were unable to inhibit DNA synthesis. Thus, the data imply that p-benzoquinone and 1,2,4-benzenetriol inhibited DNA polymerase alpha, consequently resulting in inhibition of DNA synthesis in both cellular and cell-free DNA synthetic systems. The present study identifies catechol, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, and 1,2,4-benzenetriol as toxic benzene metabolites in bone marrow cells and also suggests that their inhibitory action on DNA synthesis is mediated by mechanism(s) other than that involving DNA damage as a primary cause.     

Antigenotoxic effects of cimetidine against benzene induced micronuclei in mouse bone marrow erythrocytes

An in vivo micronucleus assay using Balb/C male mice was used to examine antigenotoxic effects of cimetidine (CM) on benzene (BZN) induced genotoxic effects. CM not only has therapeutic and immunomudolatory role, but it has also been shown to protect bone marrow stem cells from radiation induced clastogenic effects. Therefore, in the present study we attempt to investigate the protective effects and possible mechanisms involved in the effects of CM. An 8-week-old male Balb/C mice (22±4 g weight) were treated with different doses of BZN (400, 600 and 800 mg/kg body weight), i.p. and sampled at 24, 48 and 72 h after treatment by cervical dislocation. Various doses of CM (10, 15, 30 mg/kg) were used in association with BZN and 1–2 h prior to BZN treatment. Results show that BZN effectively induced micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). Application of CM led to a significant reduction of micronuclei in PCEs, i.e. 2-fold after 10 mg/kg and 3-fold after 30 mg/kg CM treatment. Results also indicate CM was more effective when used in combination with BZN. Therefore, results indicate that CM could reduce clastogenic effects of BZN. Although further investigations are needed to reveal the mechanistical background behind the effect, the most probable mechanism involved might be free radical scavenging. This mechanism might be associated with amplification of glutathione system and cytochrome P-450 inhibition.