Differential expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in human breast epithelial cells and breast tumor cells

Human cytochromes P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) catalyze the metabolic activation of a number of procarcinogens and the hydroxylation of 17beta-estradiol (E2) at the C-2 and C-4 positions, respectively. The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonist 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has a marked effect on estrogen metabolism in MCF-7 breast-tumor cells by induction of these two enzymes. To investigate whether induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 by AhR agonists and the associated increase in E2 metabolism are common to all breast epithelial cells and breast-tumor cells, we determined the effects of TCDD on E2 metabolism, and CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA levels in a series of non-tumor-derived breast epithelial (184A1 and MCF-10A) and breast-tumor (MCF-7, T-47D, ZR-75-1, BT-20, MDA-MB-157, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436) cell lines. In 184A1 cells, which did not express detectable estrogen receptor (ER) alpha mRNA, CYP1A1 mRNA and activity were induced by TCDD, and enhanced E2 metabolism in TCDD-treated cells was predominantly E2 2-hydroxylation. In MCF-10A, MCF-7, T-47D, ZR-75-1 and BT-20 cells, which expressed varying levels of ER alpha mRNA, both CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 mRNA levels and rates of both E2 2- and 4- hydroxylation were highly elevated following exposure to TCDD. In MDA- MB-157, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-436 cells, which did not express detectable ER alpha mRNA and generally displayed fibroblastic or mesenchymal rather than epithelial morphology, CYP1B1 induction was favored, and the rate of E2 4-hydroxylation exceeded that of 2- hydroxylation in TCDD-treated cells. These results show that breast epithelial cells and tumor cells vary widely with regard to AhR- mediated CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 induction, suggesting that factors in addition to the AhR regulate CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 gene expression. In these cell lines, significant CYP1A1 inducibility was restricted to cultures displaying epithelial morphology, whereas CYP1B1 inducibility was observed in cells of both epithelial and mesenchymal morphology.      

Differential effects of oltipraz on CYP1A and CYP2B in rat lung

Oltipraz (OPZ) is a potent chemopreventive agent against chemically-induced carcinogenesis in several animal models. It affects the expression and/or activity of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes and its effects are altered in the course of inflammation in liver. The present study was undertaken to analyse the effect of OPZ alone or in combination with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the expression and activities of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and cytochrome P450 (CYPs) in rat lung and kidney. Male Wistar rats were fed a diet containing OPZ for 1-5 days. LPS was injected 24 h before the end of OPZ treatment (from 48 to 72 h). Total GST activity, measured using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as a substrate, increased slightly in both lung and kidney during OPZ treatment. As previously demonstrated in the liver, OPZ induced rat GSTP1 in both kidney and lung and this effect was totally (kidney) or partially (lung) inhibited by co-treatment with LPS. CYP1A expression and activity were strongly increased in both tissues 24 h after starting OPZ treatment and maintained for 5 days. This increase was suppressed during the acute-phase response to endotoxin. OPZ has no effect on CYP2B1 mRNA expression in the lung, but it dramatically decreased the amount and activity of the corresponding apoprotein. The OPZ-dependent decrease in the CYP2B1 apoprotein was abolished and its corresponding activity partially reversed during LPS treatment. In reconstitution experiments using cytosol from OPZ-treated or control rat lungs and microsomal fractions, CYP2B1 apoprotein was rapidly degraded in the presence of cytosol from treated rats. This effect was partially reversed in the presence of MG132, a proteasome inhibitor. These observations support the conclusion that the decrease of CYP2B1 by OPZ involves proteasome-dependent degradation and represents a new mechanism of regulation by this compound.     

Effect of cigarette smoke on CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/2 of nasal mucosae in F344 rats

Enzymes of the nasal tissue, one of the first tissues to contact inhaled toxicants, are relatively resistant to induction by traditional inducers. Because tobacco smoke has been shown to induce cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) in rat and human lung tissue, we hypothesized that it would also alter levels of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in nasal mucosae. In the present study, the effect of mainstream cigarette smoke (MCS) on nasal CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/2 was explored. Four groups of 30 F344 rats were exposed to MCS (100 mg total particulate matter/m3) or filtered air for 2 or 8 weeks. Western analysis of microsomes from nasal tissue of MCS-exposed rats showed an induction of CYP1A1 in respiratory and olfactory mucosae, as well as liver, kidney and lung. Relative to controls, CYP1A2 levels increased slightly in the liver and olfactory mucosa. CYP2B1/2, which increased in the liver, appeared to decrease in upper and lower respiratory tissues. Little to no immunoreactivity with CYP1A1 antibody was observed in fixed nasal sections of control rats, yet intense immunoreactivity was seen in epithelia throughout the nasal cavity of MCS-exposed rats. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity (associated with CYP1A1/2) decreased approximately 2-fold in olfactory mucosa, but increased in non-nasal tissues of rats exposed to MCS. Methoxy- and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activities (associated with CYP1A2 and CYP2B1/2, respectively) decreased in olfactory and respiratory mucosae, as well as lung (CYP2B1/2), yet increased in liver. These data suggest that xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymines of the nasal mucosae may be regulated differently than other tissues.      

CYP2E1*5B,CYP2E1*6, CYP2E1*7B,CYP2E1*2, and CYP2E1*3 Allele Frequencies in Iranian Populations

Background: CYP2E1 encodes an enzyme which is mainly involved in bioactivation of potential carcinogenssuch as N-nitrosamines. Polymorphisms in the gene have been reported to be associated with cancer. The aim ofthis study was to evaluate genotype distributions and allele frequencies of five CYP2E1 polymorphisms in IranMaterials and Methods: Two hundred healthy individuals of an Iranian population from the southwest wereincluded in this study. PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and Tetra-ARMS PCR methods wereapplied for CYP2E1 genotyping. Results: The allele frequencies for *5B, *6, *7B, *2, and *3 were calculated tobe 1.5%, 16%, 28.5%, 0%, and 2.75% respectively. Results of this study showed that no significant differencesin genotype and allele frequencies of five single nucleotide polymorphisms with respect to the gender andtribes. The chi-square test showed that the genotype frequencies of CYP2E1*5B were similar to Caucasians,but the distribution of CYP2E1*6 genotypes was similar to Asians. The frequencies of CYP2E1*2 (0%) andCYP2E1*3 (2.75%) alleles were within the range for Caucasians and Orientals. In the case of CYP2E1*7B, thedata werelimited. Accordingly, the results were only compared with Europeans and the comparison showedsignificant differences. Conclusions: In conclusion, ethnic and geographic differences may explain discrepanciesin the prevalence of CYP2E1 polymorphisms.     

Differential expression of the CD44 molecule in human brain tumours.

Expression of the CD44 molecule was examined in a variety of human brain tumours, brain metastases and normal brain. Immunohistological staining with several CD44 antibodies demonstrated differential expression of the CD44 molecule among different brain tumour types. CD44 was strongly expressed in high-grade gliomas and weakly expressed in meningiomas, medulloblastomas and normal brain. Northern blot analysis revealed the presence of 3 major CD44 mRNAs of 1.6, 2.2, and 5.0 kb in glioblastomas and a mRNA of 5.6 kb in meningiomas. CD44 expression was also detected by flow cytometric analysis on cultured cells derived from a variety of human brain tumours including glioblastomas and meningiomas.     

Differential expression of translation-associated genes in benign and malignant human breast tumours.

The human gene sequences encoding the translation-associated functions of alpha-subunit of elongation factor 1 (EF-1 alpha) and the ubiquitin carboxyl extension protein (HUBCEP80) have been isolated by differential cDNA screening, and found to have significantly higher levels of expression in fibroadenomas (benign) compared with carcinomas (malignant) of the breast. These data parallel our previous findings that the acidic ribosomal phosphoprotein P2 also has higher expression levels in the benign breast tumours (Sharp et al., 1990). In situ hybridisation has shown these genes to be expressed predominantly in the epithelium of breast tumours.     

Resveratrol inhibits TCDD-induced expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 and catechol estrogen-mediated oxidative DNA damage in cultured human mammary epithelial cells

Resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene), a naturally occurring phytoalexin present in grapes and other foods, has been reported to possess chemopreventive effects as revealed by its striking inhibition of diverse cellular events associated with tumor initiation, promotion and progression. In our present study, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), when treated with the cultured human mammary epithelial (MCF-10A) cells, induced the expression of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and 1B1 (CYP1B1) that are responsible for the oxidation of 17beta-estradiol to produce catechol estrogens. Resveratrol strongly inhibited the TCDD-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) DNA binding activity, the expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 and their catalytic activities in MCF-10A cells. It also reduced the formation of 2-hydroxyestradiol and 4-hydroxyestradiol from 17beta-estradiol by recombinant human CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, respectively. Furthermore, resveratrol significantly attenuated the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and oxidative DNA damage as well as the cytotoxicity induced by the catechol estrogens. Our data suggest that CYP1A1- and CYP1B1-catalyzed catechol estrogen formation might play a key role in TCDD-induced oxidative damage, and resveratrol can act as a potential chemopreventive against dioxin-induced human mammary carcinogenesis by blocking the metabolic formation of the catechol estrogens and scavenging the ROS generated during their redox cycling.     

CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2B6 expression and ifosfamide turnover in breast cancer tissue microsomes

Ifosfamide is a prodrug that requires bioactivation by cytochrome P450 for antitumour activity. Up to now, little is known, to what extent in addition to the liver the ifosfamide metabolism may occur intratumorally. For this purpose, we investigated the expression of CYP3A4, CYP2C9 and CYP2B6 in breast cancer tissue using Western Blotting. Ifosfamide turnover was determined by detection of metabolites of the ifosfamide 4-hydroxylation and N-dechloroethylation in tumour microsomal incubations using HPLC/UV and LC/MS. The results demonstrate that all mammary tumours (n=11) reveal CYP3A4 expression; contents varied from 0.5 to 63 pmol mg(protein)(-1). CYP2C9 (n=9) was present in all tested breast tumour samples, too, while CYP2B6 (n=10) protein could not be detected. All measured breast cancer microsomes (n=4) showed an ifosfamide N-dechloroethylation capacity in the range from 0.04 to 0.21 pmol min(-1) mg(protein)(-1), while metabolites of the 4-hydroxylation could not be determined. In conclusion, the detected presence of CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 in breast tumours offers the possibility of intratumoral turnover of ifosfamide. For the first time in the literature, we could demonstrate a turnover of ifosfamide by microsomal preparations from human breast cancer tissue. A calculated modulation of intratumoral ifosfamide turnover could considerably influence its therapeutic efficiency.     

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase represents CYP1B1, and not CYP1A1, in human freshly isolated white cells: trimodal distribution of Japanese population according to induction of CYP1B1 mRNA by environmental dioxins.

The expression level of mRNAs for cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 and 1B1 in freshly prepared white cells from 72 subjects exposed to dioxins at waste incinerators was investigated. The amounts of CYP1B1 mRNA ranged from 0.16 to 671 molecules/10(7) molecules of 18S rRNA, whereas the amounts of CYP1A1 mRNA were <6 molecules/10 ng total RNA, indicating that CYP1A1 was not induced to a detectable level by environmentally exposed dioxins. The inducibility of CYP1B1 mRNA in leukocytes, defined as the ratio of CYP1B1 mRNA to the plasma concentration of dioxins, varied among the subjects. It was found that the subjects showed trimodal distribution according to inducibility: 39 (54.2%), 25 (34.7%), and 8 (11.1%) of 72 subjects were judged as poor, intermediate, and high responders to environmental dioxins, respectively. The amounts of CYP1B1 mRNA in leukocytes of the intermediate and high responders were highly correlated with the plasma concentrations of dioxins (P < 0.05 and <0.01). These results suggest that CYP1B1 with polymorphic inducibility by dioxins is involved in aromatic hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities in human lymphocytes.     

The development of a human cell line stably expressing human CYP3A4: role in the metabolic activation of aflatoxin B1 and comparison to CYP1A2 and CYP2A3

We have developed a human lymphoblastoid cell line, designated 3A4/Hol, which stably expresses human CYP3A4 cDNA. This cell line exhibited testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase activity, produced immunologically detectable CYP3A4 protein and was more sensitive to the cytotoxicity and mutagenicity of the carcinogenic mycotoxin aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) than was the parent cell line. The concentration-response for AFB1 cytotoxicity and mutagenicity in 3A4/Hol cells was compared to the responses of isogenic cell lines expressing comparable levels of human CYP1A2 (1A2/Hyg cells) and human CYP2A3 (2A3/Hyg cells). 1A2/Hyg cells were 3- to 6-fold more sensitive than 3A4/Hol cells to AFB1-induced mutation. 3A4/Hol cells were 10- to 15-fold more sensitive to AFB1-induced mutation than 2A3/Hyg cells. The differences in mutagenicity were supported by the relative binding of [3H]AFB1 to cellular DNA.     

CYP2A6/2A7 and CYP2E1 expression in human oesophageal mucosa: regional and inter-individual variation in expression and relevance to nitrosamine metabolism

Oesophageal cancer is one of the most common and lethal malignancies in the world. Despite many efforts, treatment is still ineffective for most cases; thus, the development of preventive strategies is crucial for decreasing the burden presented by this disease. Environmental factors, particularly nitrosamines, are thought to be involved in the genesis of oesophageal tumours, and knowledge about the expression of enzymes capable of activating pre-carcinogens in human oesophagus is very important for the development of preventive measures. We analysed the expression of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2A6/2A7, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 mRNA in oesophageal mucosa of 50 patients by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. In five patients, who suffered from squamous cell carcinoma, we measured Nnitrosodimethylamine and N-nitrosodiethylamine metabolism in normal and tumorous tissue. CYP2A6/2A7 mRNA was expressed in 61% and CYP2E1 mRNA in 96% of the patients, but in the latter a lower degree of inter-individual variation was observed. These enzymes were expressed either in the distal or middle portions of the oesophagus of 90% of the patients. CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 mRNA expression was not detected in any portion of the oesophagus. Oesophageal microsomes activated N-nitrosodimethylamine with a low degree of inter-individual variation and microsomes prepared from the tumour of a patient who strongly expressed CYP2A6/2A7 mRNA activated N-nitrosodiethylamine. We conclude that the human oesophagus expresses CYP2A6/2A7 and CYP2E1 and can activate nitrosamines. Notably, the expression of these enzymes is preferentially localized to the most common sites where tumours arise.     

Association of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, GSTM1 and NAT2 gene polymorphisms with colorectal cancer and smoking.

We investigated CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2C, CYP1A2*1C, CYP1A2*1F, GSTM1 and NAT2 gene polymorphisms, involving enzymes which metabolize many carcinogens, with reference to colorectal cancer risk. The distribution of these genotypes was not associated with risk overall. However, the CYP1A1*2A T/C genotype showed a significant association with colorectal cancer risk in never-smokers (odds ratio [OR], 3.06; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.11-8.40; p = 0.030). The risk of the NAT2 rapid genotype in never-smokers was also statistically significantly increased (OR, 5.38; 95%CI, 1.80-16.1; p = 0.003). Furthermore, the joint effects of NAT2 rapid plus other genotypes were associated with colorectal cancer overall (OR, 3.12; 95%CI, 1.15-8.51; p = 0.026, for NAT2 rapid plus combined CYP1A1*2C Ile/Val and Val/Val, OR, 3.25; 95%CI, 1.09-9.74; p = 0.035, for NAT2 rapid plus CYP1A2*1C G/G, and OR, 4.20; 95%CI, 1.09-16.1; p = 0.037, for NAT2 rapid plus GSTM1 null, respectively). In never-smokers, the joint effects of NAT2 rapid plus other genotypes were remarkable (OR, 15.9; 95%CI, 1.87-135.8; p = 0.011, for NAT2 rapid plus combined CYP1A1*2A T/C and C/C, OR, 5.71; 95%CI, 1.49-21.9; p = 0.011, for NAT2 rapid plus combined CYP1A1*2C Ile/Val and Val/Val, and OR, 9.14; 95%CI, 2.05-40.7; p = 0.004, for NAT2 rapid plus CYP1A2*1F A/A, respectively). The joint effect of CYP1A2*1F A/A plus CYP1A2*1C G/G genotypes was also increased in never-smokers (OR, 6.16; 95%CI, 1.26-30.1; p = 0.025). Our findings suggest that the CYP1A1*2A T/C and NAT2 rapid genotypes is associated with colorectal cancer susceptibility without smoking exposure. These results also indicate that the NAT2 in combination with CYP1A1*2C, CYP1A2*1C, or GSTM1 genotypes may strongly confer susceptibility to colorectal cancer. In particular, the combination of NAT2 plus CYP1A1*2A, CYP1A1*2C, or CYP1A2*1F genotypes, and that of CYP1A2*1F plus CYP1A2*1C genotype may define a group of persons who are genetically susceptible to colorectal cancer in never smokers.     

Dietary aflatoxin B1 intake, genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A2, CYP2E1, EPHX1, GSTM1, and GSTT1, and gastric cancer risk in Korean

Purpose

We investigated the effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) intake, genetic polymorphisms of AFB1 metabolic enzymes, and interactions between the polymorphisms and intake of AFB1 with regard to the risk of gastric cancer in Korean.

Methods

The participants in the study included 477 gastric cancer patients and 477 age- and sex-matched control subjects. Direct interviews and a structured questionnaire were used to determine the level of exposure to AFB1, and the GoldenGate assay and multiplex polymerase chain reaction were used for genotypic analyses of the cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), cytochrome P450 1E1, epoxide hydrolase 1, and glutathione S-transferase genes.

Results

The probable daily intake of AFB1 was significantly higher among gastric cancer patients than among control subjects (cases vs. controls: 1.91 ± 0.87 vs. 1.65 ± 0.72 ng/kg bw/day, p < 0.0001), and increased AFB1 intake was significantly associated with an elevated risk of gastric cancer (odds ratio 1.94; 95 % confidence interval 1.43–2.63). However, genetic polymorphisms of AFB1 metabolic enzymes were not associated with gastric cancer, with the exception of CYP1A2. Moreover, there was no interaction between AFB1 intake and the genotypes of metabolic enzymes that affect gastric cancer risk.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that dietary AFB1 exposure might be associated with a risk of gastric cancer. However, the effect of AFB1 on gastric carcinogenesis may not be modulated by genetic polymorphisms of AFB1 metabolic enzymes.     

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

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