Induction of the rat hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidases by two aza-arenes. A comparison with their non-heterocyclic analogues

The ability of the aza-aromatic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 10-azobenz(a)pyrene and benz(a)acridine to induce the rat hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidases was compared to that of their non-heterocyclic analogues benz(a)pyrene and benz(a)anthracene respectively. All four hydrocarbons markedly increased the O-deethylations of ethoxyresorufin and ethoxycoumarin, the non-heterocyclic analogues being the more potent. A more modest increase was seen in the O-dealkylation of pentoxyresorufin. All four hydrocarbons induced proteins recognised by antibodies to cytochrome P-450IAI but no increase was seen when antibodies to cytochrome P-450IIB1 were employed. The metabolic activation of benz(a)pyrene and Glu-P-1 to mutagenic intermediates in the Ames test was enhanced by all pretreatments. It is concluded that the aza-aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons, like their non-heterocyclic analogues, selectively induce the cytochrome P-450I family of proteins.     

Cytochrome P-450-mediated activation of procarcinogens and promutagens to DNA-damaging products by measuring expression of umu gene in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002

A simple and sensitive procedure for the determination of cytochrome P-450 (P-450)-mediated activation of chemical procarcinogens and promutagens to DNA-damaging products has been developed using a method measuring the expression of the umu gene in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002, which is based upon the initial procedures as described by Oda et al. [Mutation Res. 147, 219 (1985)]. The chemicals examined were a variety of potent carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds including heterocyclic aromatic amines, aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aflatoxin B1. These chemicals were incubated with rat liver microsomes or a reconstituted monooxygenase system containing three forms of purified P-450 in the presence of a bacterial tester strain, and the induced-umu gene expression was determined by measuring the beta-galactosidase activity produced by fusion gene in the cells. The activity was increased linearly for at least 2 hr with an initial lag time of 30 min and was dependent on the concentrations of P-450 in the reaction mixture. Thus, the metabolic activation of these compounds by P-450 could be compared on a basis of the specific beta-galactosidase activity/min/nmol P-450. Among three forms of P-450, two isozymes induced by 3-methylcholanthrene were found to be more active in catalyzing the metabolic activation of most of the chemicals examined than a form of P-450 which is induced by phenobarbital. Data also showed that a high spin form of P-450 isolated from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats had a profound role in the activation of procarcinogens and promutagens. This conclusion was based on the results of catalytic activities by three forms of P-450 in a reconstituted monooxygenase system, and on the effects of specific antibodies against these P-450s on the reactions catalyzed by liver microsomes.     

Specific binding of polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon inducers of cytochrome P-450d to the cytochrome and inhibition of its estradiol 2-hydroxylase activity

Treatment of male Sprague-Dawley rats with 3,4,5,3',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl (HBB) at 10 mumol/kg followed by purification of hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450d revealed that HBB remained specifically bound to P-450d throughout purification. Binding was noncovalent since HBB was removed by extraction with dichloromethane. Although HBB induced both cytochrome P-450c and P-450d, specific immunoprecipitation of these isozymes from HBB-treated rats showed that HBB was associated only with cytochrome P-450d. Quantitation of HBB and cytochrome P-450d in microsomes from HBB-treated rats suggested a 0.9:1 ratio of HBB to cytochrome P-450d. Five other halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon inducers of cytochrome P-450d, bearing steric similarity to HBB (including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), were associated with cytochrome P-450d when used to induce cytochrome P-450d in rats. HBB inhibited estradiol 2-hydroxylase activity of purified cytochrome P-450d in a noncompetitive manner with an I50 of 38 nM for 50 nM P-450d whereas its noncoplanar isomer, 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl, had an I50 over 700-fold higher. Thus certain polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbons, with the capacity to induce cytochrome P-450d also bind to the cytochrome when used as inducing agents and inhibit catalytic activity of the cytochrome.     

Application of the margin-of-exposure (MoE) approach to substances in food that are genotoxic and carcinogenic e.g.: Benzo[a]pyrene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and a number of other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are mutagenic and are also carcinogenic in rodent bioassays. Oral carcinogenicity data are not available for individual PAH other than BaP, and so BaP has been used as a marker of the carcinogenicity of, and exposure to, PAHs. Carcinogenicity studies of coal tar mixtures, considered to be representative of the genotoxic and carcinogenic PAH in food, have been used for dose-response modelling. Modelling the number of tumour-bearing mice resulted in a BMDL₁₀ of 0.122 mg BaP/kg-bw/day, which was lower than that for any of the individual tumours and was considered to be most appropriate since the different PAH may have different mechanisms of carcinogenicity. An average dietary exposure estimates of 0.008 μg BaP/kg-bw/day was identified from the range of national estimates. The calculated MoE was 15,000.     

Modulation of rat hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase by various flavones and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

The microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase is important in the detoxification of polycyclic hydrocarbons as well as their activation to cytotoxic or carcinogenic derivatives. We have studied compounds that can modify the activity of this enzyme system. Three types of flavones are distinguished on the basis of their effect on the constitutive and polycyclic hydrocarbon-induced rat hepatic enzyme activity: (a) the 5,6- and 7,8-benzoflavones and their more hydrophobic derivatives inhibit the induced enzyme and increase or do not affect the constitutive enzyme activity; (b) derivatives typified by the 4'-hydroxylated benzoflavones similarly decrease both induced and constitutive activities; (c) polyhydroxyflavones inhibit the constitutive enzyme more than the induced enzyme. Two polycyclic hydrocarbons, 9-chloro-7H-dibenzo(a,g)carbazole and 6-aminochrysene, both potent inhibitors of the enzyme system, affect the constitutive and induced enzyme similar to compounds in groups a and b, respectively. The various activity-modulating compounds are useful reagents for distinguishing closely related enzymes present in a variety of different tissues and species under different conditions.     

Mutagenicity in V79 cells does not correlate with carcinogenity in small rodents for 12 aromatic amines

The aim of this investigation was to study the correlation between carcinogenicity in small rodents and mutagenic potency of aromatic amines, as measured by the induction of 6-thioguanine resistance in V79 Chinese hamster cells. It has been previously shown that the carcinogenic potency of these compounds is not correlated to their ability to induce DNA breakage, SCEs, or point mutations in bacteria, but a correlation exists with autoradiographic DNA repair test (in primary hepatocyte cultures). Twelve aromatic amines were tested and the rat liver S9 fraction was routinely incorporated in the mutation assay; mouse liver and hamster liver S9 fractions were also used as metabolizing systems. The comparison of the ranks of mutagenic and oncogenic potencies by means of the Spearman test shows no correlation between carcinogenicity and V79 cell mutagenicity of the tested aromatic amines. There was a generally low mutagenicity seen for aromatic amines in V79 cells. In some cases this could be attributed to an insufficient metabolic activation by rat S9. For example, benzidine, which was inactive when assayed in the presence of rat S9, became mutagenic when in the presence of mouse S9. On the other hand, hamster S9, which has been shown to be the best activating system for 2-acetylaminofluorene in the Ames test, did not activate this compound in V79 cells. Inadequate metabolic activation of the standard system (rat S9) used in this work could explain the low mutagenicity and the lack of correlation observed between mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. A second possibility is that point mutation is not the essential end point for the initiating activity of aromatic amines during the carcinogenic process. A third possibility is that the activity of some aromatic amines is not restricted to the initiation step in carcinogenesis. Chronic treatments with the sublethal doses often result in significant promoting activities, which could mask efficiently the initiating potential of the same chemicals.     

Chemical composition and genotoxic activity of petroleum derivatives collected in two working environments

Pitch and bitumen, two complex petroleum derivative mixtures, were studied for both their chemical composition and their mutagenic/DNA damaging activity. While bitumen revealed no genotoxic effect and low polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentration, petroleum pitch showed a high concentration of mutagenic/carcinogenic PAHs, and also an elevated mutagenic activity when assayed by the Ames test, in the presence of postmitochondrial rat liver fractions. The in vitro mutagenic activity was detectable as frameshift mutation by assaying the pitch both as an in toto mixture and after HPLC fractionation, the most polar fractions being the most active. In contrast, both derivatives showed no in vivo DNA damage in rat liver, using the DNA alkaline elution technique and the fluorometric assay of DNA unwinding.     

Differential effects of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate on cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase activities in rat hepatoma cells: induction of P-450I and suppression of P-450II

We have studied the effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase activities in several differentiated and dedifferentiated Reuber rat hepatoma cell lines using aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase (AHH), ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), and aldrin epoxidase (AE) as test systems. The following results were obtained: (1) Exposure of cultures to 400 nM TPA for 18-24 h increased AHH activities in the differentiated lines 2sFou, H41IEC3/G- and Fao as well as in the dedifferentiated line 5L, 1.5-2.5-fold. The phorbol ester did not affect AHH activity in the dedifferentiated line H5. (2) EROD, a marker for P-450I, was induced by the phorbol ester to a similar degree as AHH. (3) A monoclonal antibody directed against P-450I strongly inhibited the AHH activity induced by TPA. (4) The onset of AHH or EROD induction by TPA was much later than that elicited by benz[a]anthracene. (6) In contrast to the induction of AHH and EROD, TPA decreased AE activity, a marker for P-450II, by about 50% in all the cell lines containing this monooxygenase activity. (7) The half-maximum-effect concentration of TPA for inducing or suppressing AHH and AE, respectively, was approximately 20 nM. (8) TPA did not interfere with AHH induction by benz[a]anthracene. However, the phorbol ester moderately decreased AHH induction and markedly suppressed AE induction by dexamethasone. The results indicate that TPA simultaneously induces P-450I and suppresses P-450II forms in rat hepatoma cells. P-450I induction by TPA in these cells did not appear to depend on their status of differentiation. Furthermore, the results suggest that the mechanism of P-450I induction by TPA differs from that elicited by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or glucocorticoids.     

Drug-metabolizing enzymes: mechanisms and functions

Drug-metabolizing enzymes are called mixed-function oxidase or monooxygenase and containing many enzymes including cytochrome P450, cytochrome b5, and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and other components. The hepatic cytochrome P450s (Cyp) are a multigene family of enzymes that play a critical role in the metabolism of many drugs and xenobiotics with each cytochrome isozyme responding differently to exogenous chemicals in terms of its induction and inhibition. For example, Cyp 1A1 is particularly active towards polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), activating them into reactive intermediates those covalently bind to DNA, a key event in the initiation of carcinogenesis. Likewise, Cyp 1A2 activates a variety of bladder carcinogens, such as aromatic amines and amides. Also, some forms of cytochrome P450 isozymes such as Cyp 3A and 2E1 activate the naturally occurring carcinogens (e.g. aflatoxin B1) and N-nitrosamines respectively into highly mutagenic and carcinogenic agents. The carcinogenic potency of PAHs, and other carcinogens and the extent of binding of their ultimate metabolites to DNA and proteins are correlated with the induction of cytochrome P450 isozymes. Phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase, aryl sulfatase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase inactivate chemical carcinogens into less toxic or inactive metabolites. Many drugs change the rate of activation or detoxification of carcinogens by changing the activities of phases I and II drug-metabolizing enzymes. The balance of detoxification and activation reactions depends on the chemical structure of the agents, and is subjected to many variables that are a function of this structure, or genetic background, sex, endocrine status, age, diet, and the presence of other chemicals. It is important to realize that the enzymes involved in carcinogen metabolism are also involved in the metabolism of a variety of substrates, and thus the introduction of specific xenobiotics may change the operating level and the existence of other chemicals. The mechanisms of modification of drug-metabolizing enzyme activities and their role in the activation and detoxification of xenobiotics and carcinogens have been discussed in the text.     

THE ROLE OF CYTOCHROMES P-450 AND N-ACETYL TRANSFERASE IN THE CARCINOGENICITY OF AROMATIC AMINES AND AMIDES

1. Epidemiological studies have clearly identified the aromatic amines 2-naphthylamine, benzidine and 4-aminobiphenyl as human carcinogens. Many other compounds of this class are suspected to be human carcinogens. 2. At least 12 heterocyclic aromatic amines have been isolated from cooked food, nine of which have been shown to be carcinogenic in vivo. The significance of these compounds in the aetiology of human cancer is yet to be established. 3. Specific forms of cytochrome P-450 have been shown to be involved in the initial step in the activation (N-hydroxylation) of aromatic amines and amides. A possible polymorphism exists for the N-hydroxylation of 2-acetylaminofluorene in human liver microsomes. 4. N-Acetyltransferase is involved in the further activation of arylhydroxamic acids and N-hydroxyarylamines to reactive intermediates. Polymorphisms in the expression of this enzyme activity have been associated with certain types of human cancer. 5. Polymorphisms in both cytochrome P-450 and N-acetyltransferase expression may be critical determinants in the susceptibility of individuals to the toxicity and carcinogenicity of aromatic amines and amides.     

2-ethynylnaphthalene as a mechanism-based inactivator of the cytochrome P-450 catalyzed N-oxidation of 2-naphthylamine

Since the N-oxidation of several carcinogenic arylamines has been shown to be catalyzed preferentially by cytochrome P-450IA2 in several species, homologous ethynyl-substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, 2-ethynylnaphthalene, 1-ethynylnaphthalene, and 2-ethynylfluorene, were synthesized and examined as potential mechanism-based inactivators of this monooxygenase. By use of 2-naphthylamine, whose N-oxidation was known to be selectively catalyzed by rat cytochrome P-450ISF-G (P-450IA2), and hepatic microsomes from isosafrole-treated rats, each of these ethynyl derivatives was found to be strongly inhibitory at concentrations of 1 and 10 microM. However, only inhibition by 2-ethynylnaphthalene was significantly enhanced by prior incubation with the microsomal system. The inactivation of 2-naphthylamine N-oxidation was found to be NADPH- and time-dependent and to follow pseudo-first-order kinetics, demonstrating that 2-ethynylnaphthalene is a potent mechanism-based inactivator of the enzymatic activity. The extrapolated kinactivation and KI were 0.23 min-1 and 8 microM, respectively. By use of 2-aminofluorene, whose N-oxidation was known to be catalyzed by both cytochromes P-450ISF-G and P-450 beta NF-B (P-450IA1), and the purified enzymes in a reconstituted system, both 2-ethynylnaphthalene and 1-ethynylnaphthalene were found to be strongly inhibitory. However, 2-ethynylnaphthalene was a more potent inhibitor of the purified P-450ISF-G than of P-450 beta NF-B; and it was also found to be a more potent inhibitor of P-450ISF-G than was 1-ethynylnaphthalene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

N-benzylimidazole, a high magnitude inducer of rat hepatic cytochrome P-450 exhibiting both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon- and phenobarbital-type induction of phase I and phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes

The effects of N-benzylimidazole on hepatic microsomal and cytosolic drug-metabolizing enzymes were compared to the effects produced by phenobarbital, beta-naphthoflavone, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and Aroclor 1254, a polychlorinated biphenyl mixture. N-Benzylimidazole was a "high magnitude" inducer of male rat hepatic cytochrome P-450, inducing cytochrome P-450 over 3 times above control. N-Benzylimidazole exhibited mixed type induction of cytochrome P-450, producing both polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon- and phenobarbital-type induction. There was no evidence of imidazole (isoniazid) type induction characteristics. Microsomes from rats treated with either Aroclor 1254 or N-benzylimidazole showed a common pattern of induction of the cytochrome P-450-dependent properties and glucuronosyltransferase activities, and the electrophoretic profiles of proteins were also similar. Cytosolic glutathione transferase activity was also induced similarly after treatment with the two agents.     

Effect of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol on the induction of cytochrome P-450 by 3-methylcholanthrene in cultured chick embryo hepatocytes

This study investigated the effects of estrogens on the induction of cytochrome P-450 by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in primary cultures of chick embryo hepatocytes. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, such as 3-methylcholanthrene led to 2- to 3-fold increases of cytochrome P-450. The amount of cytochrome P-450 induced by 3-methylcholanthrene was increased 40-50% when the synthetic estrogen, 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol, was also present. The rate of decay of cytochrome P-450 in the presence of cycloheximide as measured spectrophotometrically was similar in cells previously treated with either 3-methylcholanthrene or 3-methylcholanthrene plus 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol, suggesting that 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol did not affect the stability of the 3-methylcholanthrene-induced cytochrome P-450. In contrast, 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol did not potentiate the induction of cytochrome P-450 by phenobarbital-like inducers, such as 2-propyl-2-isopropylacetamide, as indicated by a lack of increase in both the content of cytochrome P-450 and benzphetamine demethylase activity. The naturally occurring estrogens, 17 beta-estradiol and estrone, and the synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol, did not affect cytochrome P-450 induction by 3-methylcholanthrene, suggesting that the effect of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol was not mediated via the estrogen receptor. We investigated whether the amount of cytochrome P-450 increased in the presence of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol was the same or different from that induced by 3-methylcholanthrene. Treatment with 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol alone resulted in a small increase in ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity. The enzymatic activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, when expressed per cytochrome P-450 content, were identical in microsomes from cells treated with either 3-methylcholanthrene or the combination of 3-methylcholanthrene and 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol. The data suggest that the additional cytochrome P-450 induced by the combination of 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol and 3-methylcholanthrene was the same isozyme as that induced by 3-methylcholanthrene alone.     

Morphology of oocyte and follicle destruction by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in mice

The carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, benzo(a)pyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene, and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, destroy primordial oocytes in the mouse ovary. The rate of oocyte destruction was proportional to the activity of the ovarian microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase, aryl hydrocarbon (benzo(a)pyrene) hydroxylase (EC 1.14.14.2) as well as to the carcinogenicity of the polycyclic hydrocarbon. After treatment with benzo(a)pyrene or 3-methylcholanthrene only primordial oocyte destruction occurred, and no evidence of toxicity was observed in surrounding granulosa or ovarian stromal cells. 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene was much more toxic and destroyed large follicles and oocytes in addition to primordial oocytes and primary follicles. Seven weeks after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene the ovary had the bland afollicular appearance characteristic of ovarian failure. These three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are capable of producing premature ovarian failure in rodents.     

Carcinogenic oil fractionation and nuclear enlargement in mouse skin

A non-solvent-refined oil, previously shown to produce tumours in a long-term skin painting assay and a positive result in the mouse skin nuclear enlargement test, was separated using silica gel elution techniques into eight fractions. Fraction 1, which contained saturated and 1-2 ring aromatic hydrocarbons, was used to dilute the other fractions to produce solutions equivalent to and twice their original concentration in the intact oil. Fraction 1, diluted fractions 2-8, the reconstituted oil, the original oil and a negative control oil were examined for their ability to produce nuclear enlargement. The degree of nuclear enlargement observed with fraction 1 was considered to indicate marginal or no carcinogenic activity. With the fraction that contained 2-3 ring aromatic compounds, weak carcinogenic activity could not be ruled out but it is unlikely that these components played a major role in the carcinogenicity of the oil. The greatest activity was identified in the fraction containing the total 3/4-6 ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and further fractionation of this suggested that the parent 4-6 ring PAHs were responsible for more than half the activity of the intact oil, despite being present at only 0.06%. The fraction that contained polar compounds showed no activity. The reconstituted oil showed slightly less activity than the original oil. Other fractions, which contained alkylated PAHs, did not seem to have much activity. These findings, which are in close agreement with published evidence on tumour induction by fractions of oils and coal liquids, suggest that the components responsible for inducing nuclear enlargement are the same as those responsible for skin tumour induction.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

V79 Chinese hamster cells express cytochrome P-450 activity after simultaneous exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aminophylline

V79 Chinese hamster lung cells expressed low but significant aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities when treated with an inducer of cytochrome P-450I, such as benz[alpha]anthracene or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), together with aminophylline. Inducibility by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and inhibition by a specific monoclonal antibody indicated that the observed enzyme activity was mediated by cytochrome P-450I. Intact V79 cells pretreated with TCDD and aminophylline for 24 h metabolized benzo[alpha]pyrene to phenolic products which accumulated linearly in the growth medium for at least the same time period. Exposure of V79 cells to 10 microM benzo[alpha]pyrene and aminophylline for 72 h reduced subsequent cell growth by about 40%. The results demonstrate that V79 cells, under specific conditions, express PAH-inducible cytochrome P-450I and are capable of activating benzo[alpha]pyrene to cytotoxic products.     

125I]2-iodo-3,7,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-binding species in mouse liver induced by agonists for the Ah receptor: characterization and identification

The admininistration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) to C57BL/6J mice produces a dose-related increase in the hepatic uptake of [125I]2-iodo-3,7,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ([125I]Cl3DpD) in vivo and the binding of the radioligand to liver homogenate in vitro [Mol. Pharmacol. 36: 121-127 (1989)]. The TCDD-induced hepatic binding species was found to be predominantly in the microsomal fraction and was inactivated by heating at 60 degree, trypsin, and mercurials. The TCDD-induced binding species was found to have an apparent equilibrium dissociation constant, KD, ([125I]Cl3DpD) of 56 +/- 16 nM and a pool size, Bmax, of 22 +/- 5 nmol/g of liver. A number of halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins, biphenyls, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compete with [125I]Cl3DpD binding to this species; all are aromatic and planar. The distinctive profile of this binding species, a protein of large pool size induced in the microsomal fraction of liver but not other tissues and induced by agonists for the Ah receptor, suggested that this moiety might be cytochrome P3-450. The coincidence of the major microsomal species covalently labeled with the photoaffinity ligand [125I]2-iodo-3-azido-7,8-dibromodibenzo-p-dioxin and that immunochemically stained with polyclonal antiserum that binds to cytochrome P3-450 confirms this hypothesis. This is a novel role for a cytochrome P-450 isozyme, as an induced sequestration site that enhances the hepatic localization of the agonist drug.     

Changes in the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 and the activity of carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes in Schistosoma haematobium-infected human bladder tissues

The bioactivation of N-nitrosamines and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is mediated primarily by the mixed-function oxidase system, which includes dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase I, arylhydrocarbon [benzo(a)pyerne] hydroxylase, cytochrome P450, cytochrome b(5), and ethoxycoumarin deethylase. Most of carcinogens and xenobiotics are conjugated and detoxified by phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase. The present study showed the influence of Schistosoma haematobium on the activity of the above-mentioned enzymes in 13 schistosome-infected human bladder tissues compared with those of 15 schistosome-free samples. The contents of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b(5) were increased in the bladder tissues by 48 and 69%, respectively. Moreover, the activities of dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase I and arylhydrocarbon hydroxylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, ethoxyresourfin O-deethylase, and pentoxyresorufin O-pentoxyresorufin were increased by 75, 159, 49, 63 and 44%, respectively. The signal intensity for cytochrome P450 2E1 was greatly increased over the control. Also, the activity of glutathione S-transferase was increased by 89%. On the other hand, the activity of glutathione reductase and the level of reduced glutathione were decreased by 40 and 57%, respectively. Interestingly, the level of free radical, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, was increased in the schistosome-infected human bladder tissues by 125%. The present study clearly demonstrated that S. haematobium changes the activity of carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes. We conclude that S. haematobium could enhance the carcinogenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. benzo(a)pyrene) and N-nitrosamines (e.g. dimethylnitrosamine) through induction of their corresponding bioactivating enzymes in human bladder tissues.     

Correlations between cytochrome P-450 and oxidative metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene and 7-ethoxycoumarin in human liver in vitro and antipyrine elimination in vivo

Cytochrome P-450 content was correlated to aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase activities in human liver biopsy samples in vitro. Antipyrine half-life and clearance were measured in the same patients in vivo. The results were compared with data obtained in rat liver in vitro. The correlation of cytochrome P-450 content with aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in human liver biopsy samples was relatively good (r = 0.75, p < 0.001), but that with 7-ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase activity was much poorer (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). The good correlation between cytochrome P-450 content and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in biopsy samples from patients with widely varying hepatic disease processes, exposure to inducers, history of cigarette smoking, etc., is in contrast with the data obtained in the rat, where the corresponding correlation in a population treated with different inducers and inhibitors was rather poor (r = 0.37, p < 0.01). This poor correlation was caused mainly by the nonequal effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on cytochrome P-450 and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. Cigarette smoking was not found to induce human liver drug or carcinogen metabolism. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in vitro and antipyrine half-life or clearance in vivo were correlated (r = 0.36, p < 0.01 and r = 0.35, p < 0.01, respectively), indicating a weak, but statistically significant association between these parameters. This study suggests that correlations between in vitro and in vivo measurements of drug metabolism are not strong enough for the tests to be used as predictive tests in experimental or clinical research.     

Environmental nitration processes enhance the mutagenic potency of aromatic compounds

This work is an attempt to establish if aromatic nitration processes are always associated with an increase of genotoxicity. We determined the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of Benzene (B), Nitrobenzene (NB), Phenol (P), 2‐Nitrophenol (2‐NP), 2,4‐Dinitrophenol (2,4‐DNP), Pyrene (Py), 1‐Nitropyrene (1‐NPy), 1,3‐Dinitropyrene (1,3‐DNPy), 1,6‐Dinitropyrene (1,6‐DNPy), and 1,8‐Dinitropyrene (1,8‐DNPy). The mutagenic activities were evaluated with umuC test in presence and in absence of metabolic activation with S9 mix. Then, we used both cytokinesis‐blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay, in combination with fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) of human pan‐centromeric DNA probes on human lymphocytes in order to evaluate the genotoxic effects. Analysis of all results shows that nitro polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are definitely environmental genotoxic/mutagenic hazards and confirms that environmental aromatic nitration reactions lead to an increase in genotoxicity and mutagenicity properties. Particularly 1‐NPy and 1,8‐DNPy can be considered as human potential carcinogens. They seem to be significant markers of the genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and potential carcinogenicity of complex PAHs mixtures present in traffic emission and industrial environment. In prevention of environmental carcinogenic risk 1‐NPy and 1,8‐DNPy must therefore be systematically analyzed in environmental complex mixtures in association with combined umuC test, CBMN assay, and FISH on cultured human lymphocytes. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2012.