Carcinogenicity in mice of a mutagenic compound, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, from broiled sardine, cooked beef and beef extract

A potent mutagenic compound, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-[4, 5-f]quinoline(IQ), isolated from broiled sardines, cooked beef and beef extractwas tested for carcinogenicity in CDF₁ mice of both sexes. Micewere given diet containing 0.03% IQ or control diet for up to675 days. Tumors were observed mainly in the liver, forestomachand lung. In the mice given IQ, the incidences of these tumorswere as follows: liver tumors – 41% in males and 75% infemales; tumors of the forestomach – 41% in males and31% in females; lung tumors – 69% in males and 42% infemales. In the control mice, incidences of these tumors wereas follows: liver tumors – 9% in males and 8% in females;tumors of the forestomach – 3% in males and 0% in females;lung tumors – 21% in males and 18% in females. The incidencesof tumors in the liver, forestomach and lung were significantlyhigher in mice given IQ than in control mice.     

Mutagenicity of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in human lymphoblastoid cells

2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), a heterocyclic aromatic amine that has been identified in cooked meats and cigarette condensates, is mutagenic in human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells at the thymidine kinase and hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) loci. Treatment of the cells with IQ following activation with either an exogenous metabolizing mixture (S9) or following photoactivation of the azido-derivative of IQ (N3-IQ) showed that the photolytic-derivative of N3-IQ was more active. This observation is consistent with other reports that indicate that the weak mutagenicity of IQ in mammalian cells is caused by the lack of enzymes required for the ultimate activation of the compound within the cells. Two DNA adducts were found by 32P-post-labelling in the cells treated with the photoactivated N3-IQ. The major adduct was identified as N- (deoxyguanosin-8-yl)-2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (dG-C8-IQ) and the minor adduct as 5-(deoxyguanosin-N2-yl)-2-amino-3- methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (dG-N2-IQ). The ratio of the dG-C8IQ to the dG-N2-IQ adducts was approximately 3:1 and did not significantly change in cultures treated with different concentrations of the mutagen. Approximately 50% of the adducts were removed 9 h after treatment with IQ and <10% of these adducts remained after 24 h. There was no significant preferential repair of either adduct under the experimental conditions used. The identification of 15 mutations induced at the hprt locus (of the 44 mutants analysed) showed IQ to be efficient at inducing single base deletions in a run of guanines. Six single guanine deletions were observed in the run of six guanines in exon III and one deletion of a single guanine was observed in a non- repetitive sequence in exon VI. Other mutations observed were two GC-- >TA transversions, two GC-->CG transversions, one AT-->TA transversion and one GC-->AT transition. In addition, two multiple mutations were found. The majority of the identified mutations (12/15) occurred at GC base pairs and suggests either the dG-C8-IQ or the dG-N2-IQ adduct to be the pre-mutagenic lesion.      

Detection of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in cigarette smoke condensate

2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), which is mutagenic and carcinogenic, was found to be present in cigarette smoke condensate by liquid chromatography with an electrochemical detector and a photodiode-array detector. The amount of IQ was estimated to be 0.26 ng per cigarette.     

Fluorometric detection of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline and their N-acetylated metabolites excreted by the rat

A sensitive fluorometric method has been developed for the determinationof carcinogenic amino imidazoazaarenes (AIA compounds) whichare formed during the cooking of food. They are separated byt.l.c. followed by spraying with dimethylsulfoxide and visualizationby long-wave u.v. light. Quantification is done by fluorescencescanning. This method was applied to the determination of themetabolites in urine and feces from rats given 5 mg/kg bodywt i.p. of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ). Metabolitesextractable by organic solvents were identified as the parentcompound and their N-acetylated derivatives (AcIQ, AcMeIQ).Between 0.1 and 1% of the administered dose was recovered asthese metabolites in urine during 24 h. The amounts of MeIQand AcMeIQ found in feces were 1 and 3% respectively. AcIQ wasnot detected in feces while IQ, MeIQ and their N-acetylatedderivatives were found in bile. The metabolites in urine wereidentified by m.s. and in feces by t.l.c. and their fluorescentproperties. When IQ or MeIQ were incubated with rat liver cytosolin the presence of acetyl-CoA, N-acetylated derivatives wereformed. The reverse reaction, deacetylation, also took placein the liver cytosol, with K_m values of 67 and 32 µM forAcIQ and AcMeIQ respectively.     

Comparison of initiation potential of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline in an in vivo carcinogen bioassay system

A new approach to low-dose assessment of carcinogenic potential was applied to food contaminant pyrolysis products. Single intragastric doses of the carcinogenic pyrolysates, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) or 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline MeIQx), were given 12 h after two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) to F344 male rats. Two weeks thereafter the animals were placed on a basal diet containing 0.05% phenobarbital (PB) for 6 weeks combined with an i.p. administration of D-galactosamine (300 mg/kg) to facilitate growth of initiated cells. Both IQ and MeIQx clearly caused initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis as revealed by induction of preneoplastic placental-form glutathione-S-transferase-positive (GST-P+) hepatocyte foci composed of more than three cells (approximately 30 microns in diameter). A similar protocol without performance of PH before pyrolysate administration gave a positive result only for the IQ-treated group indicating that cell proliferation is essential during the low-dose, one-shot initiation step. IQ was found to be two to three times more potent in inducing GST-P+ foci using both protocols. The current approach could find application in practical carcinogenicity screening of chemicals, for which only small amounts are available.     

Multipotential carcinogenicity of the fried food mutagen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in rats

The carcinogenicity of the mutagenic compound 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ), identified in fried and broiled foods, was investigated in female Sprague-Dawley rats. Administration by gavage of IQ (0.4 mmol/kg body weight) on a weekly regimen for 31 weeks starting with 6-week-old animals induced a high yield of multiple mammary gland carcinomas in a limited bioassay lasting a total of 52 weeks. In a positive control group receiving 4-aminobiphenyl (4-AB), the expected carcinomas in the mammary gland developed. IQ, but not 4-AB, also yielded neoplasms in the ear duct and to a lesser degree, in the liver, pancreas, and urinary bladder. In addition, with IQ, a high incidence of preneoplastic lesions in the pancreas was observed. Vehicle and untreated controls did not have any lesions. These findings demonstrate that IQ is a powerful multipotent carcinogen in the rat.     

Quantitation of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline DNA adducts in specific sequences using alkali or uvrABC excinuclease

2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MelQx) are carcinogens found in cooked meats that form DNA adducts upon metabolic activation. Purified DNA from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells was reacted in vitro with the active metabolites N-acetoxy-lQ or N-acetoxy-MelQx, and the adduct levels in the 5′ dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene and downstream region were quantitated by Southern hybridization. Adducted and restricted DNA was treated with Escherichia coli uvrABC excinuclease or alkali (0.1 N NaOH, 37°C, 60 min) to incise DNA at IQ and MeIQx adduct sites. The DNA was then denatured with formamide, electrophoresed on a neutral agarose gel, transferred to a support membrane, and hybridized with sequence-specific DNA probes. Both uvrABC and alkali reduced the intensity of Southern hybridization in proportion to the number of IQ or MeIQx adducts in DNA, indicating that these adducts are substrates for uvrABC and that they form alkali-labile lesions in DNA. IQ and MeIQx adduct levels were the same in the 5′ DHFR gene and in the downstream region. Southern hybridization analysis of pBR322 containing known levels of IQ or MeIQx adducts showed that the efficiency of cutting IQ or MeIQx adducts by uvrABC excinuclease and alkali was approximately 30% and 15%, respectively. ³²P-postlabeling studies examining adduct level in bulk DNA further showed that the adduct profiles were identical in pBR322, CHO DNA, and cultured CHO cells exposed to the reactive metabolites of IQ or MeIQx. The results indicate that IQ and MeIOx adducts can be quantitated in specific genomic sequences and that this method should be directly applicable to studies of gene-specific repair of these adducts in cultured cells.     

Activated oncogenes in a rat hepatocellular carcinoma induced by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline

The presence of activated oncogenes in several rat hepatocellular carcinomas induced by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ) was examined by NIH 3T3 cell transfection assay and Southern blot analysis. In one tumor, IQ4, rat H-ras-1 and another oncogene that did not belong to the ras family were found to be activated.     

Tissue distribution of DNA adducts in CDF1 mice fed 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ)

Male and female CDF1 mice were administered a single oral dose of 3 mumol of the food mutagens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) or 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) and killed 24 h later. DNA was isolated from the livers, lungs, kidneys, colon and forestomach and analysed by 32P-postlabelling for the presence of IQ and MeIQ adducts. Several adduct-enrichment procedures were investigated, including ATP-deficient labelling conditions, butanol extraction and nuclease P1 digestion, and only the ATP-deficient procedure was found to produce the same adduct pattern on polyethyleneimine--cellulose TLC as the standard procedure. Up to nine adduct spots were detected in liver DNA from IQ-treated mice, two of which were not detected in other tissues. The levels of binding in both male and female mice were in the order liver greater than kidney greater than colon greater than forestomach greater than lung. Analysis of DNA from MeIQ-treated mice revealed the presence of up to seven adducts, one of which was detected in liver but not in other tissues. The relative order of DNA binding was kidney greater than liver greater than or equal to colon greater than forestomach greater than lung. As dietary feeding of IQ induces liver, lung and forestomach tumours, and MeIQ induces liver and forestomach tumours in this mouse strain, these binding levels do not correlate with the susceptibility of the organs to carcinogenesis induced by these compounds; the results may indicate the importance of additional factors in determining organ specificity of carcinogenicity.     

Purification of the food-borne carcinogens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]quinoline and 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline in heated meat products by immunoaffinity chromatography

A rapid and simple scheme has been developed for the isolation and purification of two of the major mutagenic heterocyclic amines formed in heated beef products by affinity chromatography using monoclonal antibodies which recognize 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ). Two cell lines producing IgG antibodies were established following fusion of Sp2 or P3x.63 myeloma cells with spleen cells of immunized BALB/cby mice. The antigen was bovine gamma globulin haptenized with 2-(3-carboxypropylthio)-3-methylimidazo-[4,5-f]quinoline. The antibodies were immobilized on CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B. IQ and MeIQx formed in heated beef products were partially purified by XAD-2 chromatography and then applied to the affinity columns. Purification by affinity chromatography was adequate for subsequent quantitative analysis by HPLC with UV detection. With this purification scheme as little as 1 g of beef extract or 15 g of fried beef could be assayed for IQ and MeIQx at the part per billion level. Both antibodies had similar affinity constants for IQ (9.3 X 10(6) and 6.7 X 10(6) M-1) and for MeIQx (7.1 X 10(5) and 2.7 X 10(5) M-1) and both were suitable for immunoaffinity purification of IQ from complex mixtures. MAb2 could be used as well to selectively remove MeIQx from meat products after partial purification by XAD-2. MAb1, despite having a 3-fold higher affinity than MAb2 for MeIQx, could not be used for affinity chromatography for this mutagen.     

Mutagenic activation of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline by complementary DNA-expressed human liver P-450

Eight forms of human liver microsomal P-450 were individually expressed in human hepatoma Hep G2 cells with a vaccinia virus cDNA expression system. Using the Ames test, each expressed P-450 was examined for its ability to activate to mutagenic products the compounds, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline, 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, and 2-amino-3,4,8-trimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline, respectively. Three forms of human P-450 significantly activated 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline when the latter was at high substrate concentrations, but only a single form, P-450IA2, showed very high activation of all promutagens at lower substrate concentrations. Human IA2 had extraordinarily high affinity towards four promutagens tested and is likely the predominant P-450 enzyme responsible for their mutagenic activation in human liver.     

Effect of enzyme inducers on the metabolism of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) in the rat

The effect of enzyme inducers 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) and Aroclor 1254 (A-1254) on the metabolic fate of the dietary mutagen and carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) in male F344 rats was studied in relation to single dose corn oil and untreated controls. The latter two groups were similar as regards metabolism of IQ. However, the ratio of total metabolites excreted in urine compared with those in feces was higher in A-1254 pretreated rats. In fact, this distinct excretory pattern stemmed from a lower level of IQ-N-sulfamate, and a considerably higher level of 5-OH-IQ sulfate ester, a major metabolite in urine of A-1254-injected rats. Interestingly, 5-OH-IQ glucuronide urinary levels were unaffected by the treatment. Thus, the direct 5-hydroxylation of IQ appears to be considerably increased by 3-MC and more so by A-1254, and under those conditions the resulting 5-OH-IQ is preferentially converted to the sulfate ester, in turn readily excreted in urine.     

Organ-dependent susceptibility of p53 knockout mice to 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ)

p53 knockout mice are now being frequently used to identify the carcinogenic potential of chemicals, thus it is important to precisely assess the susceptibility of the animals to various test chemicals. In the present study the susceptibility of p53 nullizygous((-/-)), heterozygous((+/-)), and wild-type((+/+)) mice to 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) was investigated. Mice of all three genotypes were first fed a diet containing 100 or 300 p.p.m. IQ for 15 weeks in a short-term experiment. p53((+/-)) and ((+/+)) mice were then treated with IQ for 40 weeks and maintained without further treatment for an additional 12 weeks in the long-term experiment. In the forestomach, the incidence of squamous cell hyperplasia was significantly higher in p53((-/-)) than in ((+/-)) and ((+/+)) mice at 15 weeks and higher in ((+/-)) mice than ((+/+)) mice with long-term IQ treatment, indicating an elevated susceptibility of p53 knockout mice. In contrast, in the liver, various hepatocellular lesions developed mainly in female mice with long-term IQ exposure but no significant differences were evident between p53 knockout and wild-type mice, indicating a lack of elevated susceptibility in the knockout animals. Furthermore, polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analysis revealed relatively high (13/30) and low (1/15) incidences of p53 mutations (exons 5-8) in squamous cell hyperplasia and hepatocellular tumors, respectively. These results clearly indicate that the susceptibility of p53 knockout mice is organ-dependent, coinciding to some extent with the likelihood of p53 gene alteration in the induced tumors.     

Formation and persistence of DNA adducts of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline in male Fischer-344 rats

The mutagenic heterocyclic amine 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (IQ) is carcinogenic in the Fischer-344 rat, affecting the liver and small and large intestines, as well as several other organs. In male animals the incidences of tumors in the liver, small intestine, and large intestine were reported to be 67.5, 30.0, and 62.5%, respectively. Using 32P-postlabeling assays, the formation and persistence of IQ-DNA adducts in the liver and small and large intestines were studied in male Fischer-344 rats. Young, adult animals were either given a single p.o. dose (5, 25, or 50 mg/kg) of IQ and were killed 24 h later or were given a single p.o. or i.p. dose (50 mg/kg) of IQ and were killed at different time points, from 6 h to 31 days after p.o. treatment and from 6 h to 6 days after i.p. treatment, to follow adduct persistence. Up to five specific adducts could be isolated, and adduct formation was dose related in all three organs. Adduct 1, previously shown to be N-(hydroxyguanosin-8-yl)-IQ, was the major adduct in all cases, comprising up to 78% of the total. After p.o. administration (6-24 h) adduct levels in the liver were 3- to 4-fold higher than after i.p. administration, while levels in the intestines during this time period were independent of the route of administration. At 24 h after p.o. administration total adduct levels in the liver were 13.5-41.4 and 9.2-18.4 times higher than those in the small intestine and large intestine, respectively. Maximum adduct levels were observed between 6 and 24 h after administration, and from 1 to 6 days later, rates of removal from the liver were 7-fold and 2-fold slower, respectively, than from the small and large intestine. Rates of adduct removal from the intestines after i.p. administration were similar to those after p.o. administration. Beyond day 15 adduct levels in all organs constituted less than 12% of those on day 1, and low levels of adducts persisted for up to 31 days. In all cases there was no preferential loss or persistence of any of the adducts. It is concluded that total adduct levels and persistence in target organs may, in part, be related to susceptibility to IQ-induced carcinogenesis in the Fischer-344 rat.     

Synthesis, purification and mutagenicity of 2-hydroxyamino-3-methylimidazolo[4,5-f] quinoline

Synthesis of 2-hydroxyamino-3-methylimidazolo [4,5-f]quinoline(N-hydroxy-IQ), a reactive metabolite of 2-amino-3-methylimidazolo[4,5-f]quinoline(IQ), was achieved by a modification of an earlier method. N-Hydroxy-IQwas purified by a two-step procedure involving C₁₈ Sep-Packand semi-preparative h.p.l.c. Additional h.p.l.c. methods weredeveloped to monitor the synthesis of N-hydroxy-IQ, and to measureIQ and other IQ derivatives on the same h.p.l.c. profile. Thestructure of N-hydroxy-IQ was confirmed by mass spectral analysisfollowing derivatization to azoxy-IQ, phenyl-azoxy-IQ and acetoxy-acetamido-IQ,and by chemical reactivity studies. Mutagenicity studies withthe nitroreductase-deficient strain of Salmonella TA98 showedthat N-hydroxy-IQ is directly mutagenic, having a specific activityof 2 x 10⁴ revertants/nmol. The data confirm that N-hydroxy-IQis a mutagenic metabolite of IQ and further implicate the hydroxylaminein the carcinogenkity of IQ.     

Parp-1 deficiency does not enhance liver carcinogenesis induced by 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in mice

The susceptibility of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (Parp-1) knockout mice to 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ)-induced liver carcinogenesis was analyzed. Twelve-week-old male Parp-1(+/+), Parp-1(+/-) and Parp-1(-/-) mice of the C57BL/6 congenic strain were fed a diet containing IQ at a concentration of 300 ppm or a control diet for 60 weeks. Hepatocellular carcinomas were observed only in 1/19, 2/18 and 1/17 of the Parp-1(-/-), Parp-1(+/-) and Parp-1(+/+) mice, respectively. Parp-1 deficiency did not affect the susceptibility of mice to carcinogenicity of IQ, which produces bulky DNA adducts that are repaired mainly through the nucleotide excision repair pathway. This result is in sharp contrast to the increased susceptibility of Parp-1(-/-) mice to carcinogenesis induced by alkylating agents that produce DNA damage repaired mainly through base excision repair and DNA strand break repair pathways.     

Carcinogenicity of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline in nonhuman primates: induction of tumors in three macaques.

The carcinogenic potential of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) was evaluated in cynomolgus monkeys. Monkeys received IQ, beginning at the age of one year, at doses of 10 or 20 mg/kg by gavage. Thus far, IQ has induced hepatocellular carcinoma in three monkeys with a latent period of 27 to 37 months. Metastases to the lung occurred in two of the three monkeys. Microscopically, the hepatocellular carcinoma in all three cases demonstrated a trabecular pattern. These data demonstrate that IQ is a potent carcinogen in nonhuman primates and support the idea that it is a potential carcinogen for humans.     

Metabolic activation of the food mutagens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ) to DNA binding species in human mammary epithelial cells.

When incubated in suspension with the heterocyclic aromatic amine food mutagens 2-amino-3-methylimidazo [4,5-f]-quinoline (IQ) and 2-amino-3,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (MeIQ), human mammary epithelial cell aggregates were found, by 32P-postlabelling analysis, to yield DNA that contained adducts. Analysis by HPLC of the 32P-labelled digests of mammary cell DNA indicated that in each case a major adduct peak corresponded to that produced in DNA in vitro by activated derivatives of the two compounds. The patterns of adducts obtained when DNA digests were separated by TLC on polyethyleneimine-cellulose plates were found to resemble those previously shown to be present in DNA of tissues of mice fed IQ or MeIQ. These results demonstrate the ability of human mammary epithelial cells to activate carcinogenic heterocyclic compounds known to be present in the human diet to DNA binding derivatives.     

Comparison of XAD-2 column and blue cotton batch techniques for isolation of metabolites of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline

In studies on the metabolism of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) in the rat, two methods were used to concentrate IQ and its metabolites in urine: XAD-2 columns and blue-cotton extraction. These methods were compared as to the total recovery of 14C-label and the results of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) of the main metabolites. In the HPLC analysis, three major peaks in the polar region and two adjacent peaks in the nonpolar region having radioactivity were found in the urine from rats given 14C-IQ. XAD-2 columns adsorbed approximately 65% and blue cotton 23% of the applied isotope from the urinary metabolites. Both methods efficiently adsorbed and totally released the relatively nonpolar compounds in a mixture of metabolites, including the compound administered, IQ. However, they failed to retain the more polar metabolites. Thus, both the XAD-2 column and blue cotton adsorption techniques may be useful mainly to concentrate nonpolar compounds from larger volumes of aqueous solutions.