Pathologic changes induced in respiratory tract mucosa by polycyclic hydrocarbons of differing carcinogenic activity. (1/915)

Seven aromatic polycyclic hydrocarbons (PCHs) were investigated for their toxic effects on respiratory mucosa: benzo(e)pyrene (BeP), pyrene, anthracene, benz(a)anthracene(BaA), dibenz(a,c)anthracene(DBacA), benzo (a)pyrene (BaP), and dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA). The compounds were chosen because they comprise a spectrum of PCHs ranging from noncarcinogens, to initiators, to weak and strong carcinogens. All of them except DMBA are environmentally relevant chemicals. The chemicals were tested over an 8-week period. Heterotopic tracheal transplants were continously exposed and the histopathologic effects induced by the various PCHs were periodically assessed semiquantitatively. All PCHs exhibited varying degrees of toxicity for respiratory epithelium and submucosa. BeP clearly showed the least toxicity followed by pyrene and anthracene. BaA and DBacA caused marked epithelial and submucosal changes. In addition to epithelial hyperplasia, undifferentiated epithelium and squamous metaplasia developed. Marked mononuclear infiltration occurred in the subepithelial connective tissue. With BaP the epithelial and submucosal changes were similar but were much stronger. DMBA was the most toxic substance, causing epithelial necrosis followed by generalized keratinizing squamous metaplasia; the subepithelial changes consisted of an early acellular exudate and, later (at 8 weeks), marked condensation and hyalinization of the lamina propria. The toxic response pattern of the tracheal mucosa to carcinogenic agents was characterized by the chronicity of epithelial and connective tissue damage, as opposed to the short-lived hyperplastic and inflammatory response elicited by the noncarcinogens and weak initiators.  (+info)

Formation of bound residues during microbial degradation of [14C]anthracene in soil. (2/915)

Carbon partitioning and residue formation during microbial degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in soil and soil-compost mixtures were examined by using [14C]anthracenes labeled at different positions. In native soil 43.8% of [9-14C]anthracene was mineralized by the autochthonous microflora and 45.4% was transformed into bound residues within 176 days. Addition of compost increased the metabolism (67.2% of the anthracene was mineralized) and decreased the residue formation (20. 7% of the anthracene was transformed). Thus, the higher organic carbon content after compost was added did not increase the level of residue formation. [14C]anthracene labeled at position 1,2,3,4,4a,5a was metabolized more rapidly and resulted in formation of higher levels of residues (28.5%) by the soil-compost mixture than [14C]anthracene radiolabeled at position C-9 (20.7%). Two phases of residue formation were observed in the experiments. In the first phase the original compound was sequestered in the soil, as indicated by its limited extractability. In the second phase metabolites were incorporated into humic substances after microbial degradation of the PAH (biogenic residue formation). PAH metabolites undergo oxidative coupling to phenolic compounds to form nonhydrolyzable humic substance-like macromolecules. We found indications that monomeric educts are coupled by C-C- or either bonds. Hydrolyzable ester bonds or sorption of the parent compounds plays a minor role in residue formation. Moreover, experiments performed with 14CO2 revealed that residues may arise from CO2 in the soil in amounts typical for anthracene biodegradation. The extent of residue formation depends on the metabolic capacity of the soil microflora and the characteristics of the soil. The position of the 14C label is another important factor which controls mineralization and residue formation from metabolized compounds.  (+info)

Diverse oxygenations catalyzed by carbazole 1,9a-dioxygenase from Pseudomonas sp. Strain CA10. (3/915)

Carbazole 1,9a-dioxygenase (CARDO) from Pseudomonas sp. strain CA10 is a multicomponent enzyme that catalyzes the angular dioxygenation of carbazole, dibenzofuran, and dibenzo-p-dioxin. It was revealed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance analyses that xanthene and phenoxathiin were converted to 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenylmethane and 2,2',3-trihydroxydiphenyl sulfide, respectively. Thus, for xanthene and phenoxathiin, angular dioxygenation by CARDO occurred at the angular position adjacent to the oxygen atom to yield hetero ring-cleaved compounds. In addition to the angular dioxygenation, CARDO catalyzed the cis dihydroxylation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and biphenyl. Naphthalene and biphenyl were converted by CARDO to cis-1, 2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydronaphthalene and cis-2,3-dihydroxy-2, 3-dihydrobiphenyl, respectively. On the other hand, CARDO also catalyzed the monooxygenation of sulfur heteroatoms in dibenzothiophene and of the benzylic methylenic group in fluorene to yield dibenzothiophene-5-oxide and 9-hydroxyfluorene, respectively. These results indicate that CARDO has a broad substrate range and can catalyze diverse oxygenation: angular dioxygenation, cis dihydroxylation, and monooxygenation. The diverse oxygenation catalyzed by CARDO for several aromatic compounds might reflect the differences in the binding of the substrates to the reaction center of CARDO.  (+info)

Comparative tumorigenicity of the cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons aceanthrylene, dihydroaceanthrylene and acephenanthrylene in preweanling CD-1 and BLU:Ha mouse bioassays. (4/915)

Cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are ubiquitous environmental pollutants and potential human health biohazards. In this study, the tumorigenicity of three single cyclopenta-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, aceanthrylene, dihydroaceanthrylene and acephenanthrylene, was examined in preweanling CD-1 and BLU:Ha mouse bioassays at total doses of 175, 437.5 and 875 micrograms/mouse. No death or significant toxicity was observed with the treatment protocol in the tested animals. In CD-1 mice, a significant increase in lung tumor incidence (18-26%, P < 0. 025-0.01) for these three compounds was recorded in animals treated with 875 micrograms as compared with the control animals (3%). Significant numbers of liver tumors (25-41%, P < 0.01-0.001) were induced in all aceanthrylene treatment groups and in animals treated with 875 micrograms acephenanthrylene (35%) at the termination at 9 months. Most liver tumors were induced in male animals. The ED50 values were estimated as 8.5, 10.6 and 12.8 micromol and the TM1.0 were 15.1, 20.4 and 23.1 micromol for aceanthrylene, acephenanthrylene and dihydroaceanthrylene, respectively. In BLU:Ha mice, there was a significant dose-dependent increase in lung tumor incidence, from 4% for the control group to 33% (P < 0.001) for the animals treated with 875 micrograms aceanthrylene and to 24% (P < 0.02) for the animals treated with 437.5 micrograms acephenanthrylene. The ED50 values were 6.0 and 4.4 micromol and the TM1.0 were 9.8 and 6.8 micromol for aceanthrylene and acephenanthrylene, respectively. No significant difference in lung tumor incidence between male and female mice was found. Based on these data and comparisons of tumorigenic potency with other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons previously tested in these newborn mouse bioassays, aceanthrylene and acephenanthrylene were classified as weak tumorigens.  (+info)

Myeloma cells selected for resistance to CD95-mediated apoptosis are not cross-resistant to cytotoxic drugs: evidence for independent mechanisms of caspase activation. (5/915)

We have previously shown that selection for resistance to the anthracenes, doxorubicin or mitoxantrone, results in coselection for resistance to CD95-mediated apoptosis (Landowski et al: Blood 89:1854, 1997). In the present study, we were interested in determining if the converse is also true; that is, does selection for CD95 resistance coselect for resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. To address this question, we used two isogenic models of CD95-resistant versus CD95-sensitive cell lines: 8226/S myeloma cells selected for resistance to CD95-mediated apoptosis; and K562 cells expressing ectopic CD95. Repeated exposure of the CD95-sensitive human myeloma cell line, 8226/S, to agonistic anti-CD95 antibody resulted in a cell line devoid of CD95 receptor surface expression and completely resistant to CD95-mediated apoptosis. Multiple clonal populations derived from the CD95-resistant cell line showed no difference in sensitivity to doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, Ara-C, or etoposide, demonstrating that cross-resistance between Fas-mediated apoptosis and drug-induced apoptosis occurs only when cytotoxic drugs are used as the selecting agent. Using the inverse approach, we transfected the CD95-negative cell line, K562, with a CD95 expression vector. Clones expressing variable levels of cell-surface CD95 were isolated by limiting dilution, and analyzed for sensitivity to CD95-mediated apoptosis and response to chemotherapeutic drugs. We show that CD95 surface expression confers sensitivity to CD95-mediated apoptosis; however, it does not alter response to chemotherapeutic drugs. Similarly, doxorubicin-induced activation of caspases 3 and 8 was identical in the CD95-sensitive and CD95-resistant cell lines in both isogenic cell systems. In addition, prior treatment with the CD95 receptor-blocking antibody, ZB4, inhibited CD95-activated apoptosis in 8226/S cells, but had no effect on doxorubicin cytotoxicity. These results show that CD95 and chemotherapeutic drugs use common apoptotic effectors, but the point of convergence in these two pathways is downstream of CD95 receptor/ligand interaction.  (+info)

Development of a new bioluminescent mutagenicity assay based on the Ames test. (6/915)

A newly developed rapid mutagenicity assay based on the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-bioluminescence technique and the Ames test is described. Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 were exposed in an appropriate liquid medium to the direct mutagens 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide and methyl methanesulphonate, respectively, and to the indirect mutagen 2-aminoanthracene. Both auxotrophic and prototrophic growth were monitored throughout the incubation period as variations in the intracellular ATP levels by means of the luciferin-luciferase assay. After 9-12 h of incubation a dose-response increase in the levels of ATP was readily detected. In order to demonstrate that this increase was due to the growth of revertant bacteria, aliquots from each culture were plated on minimal agar plates. A very good correlation between the changes in ATP levels and the appearance of revertant colonies on the plates was found. Given the rapidity of this method as compared with conventional mutagenicity assays, it has potential for industrial and environmental applications. Other potential applications are also discussed.  (+info)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism by white rot fungi and oxidation by Coriolopsis gallica UAMH 8260 laccase. (7/915)

We studied the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by using white rot fungi previously identified as organisms that metabolize polychlorinated biphenyls. Bran flakes medium, which has been shown to support production of high levels of laccase and manganese peroxidase, was used as the growth medium. Ten fungi grown for 5 days in this medium in the presence of anthracene, pyrene, or phenanthrene, each at a concentration of 5 microg/ml could metabolize these PAHs. We studied the oxidation of 10 PAHs by using laccase purified from Coriolopsis gallica. The reaction mixtures contained 20 microM PAH, 15% acetonitrile in 60 mM phosphate buffer (pH 6), 1 mM 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS), and 5 U of laccase. Laccase exhibited 91% of its maximum activity in the absence of acetonitrile. The following seven PAHs were oxidized by laccase: benzo[a]pyrene, 9-methylanthracene, 2-methylanthracene, anthracene, biphenylene, acenaphthene, and phenanthrene. There was no clear relationship between the ionization potential of the substrate and the first-order rate constant (k) for substrate loss in vitro in the presence of ABTS. The effects of mediating substrates were examined further by using anthracene as the substrate. Hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) (1 mM) supported approximately one-half the anthracene oxidation rate (k = 2.4 h(-1)) that ABTS (1 mM) supported (k = 5.2 h(-1)), but 1 mM HBT plus 1 mM ABTS increased the oxidation rate ninefold compared with the oxidation rate in the presence of ABTS, to 45 h(-1). Laccase purified from Pleurotus ostreatus had an activity similar to that of C. gallica laccase with HBT alone, with ABTS alone, and with 1 mM HBT plus 1 mM ABTS. Mass spectra of products obtained from oxidation of anthracene and acenaphthene revealed that the dione derivatives of these compounds were present.  (+info)

Nepalolide A inhibits the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase by modulating the degradation of IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta in C6 glioma cells and rat primary astrocytes. (8/915)

1 The effects of nepalolide A on the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) caused by incubation with lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN-gamma) or tumour necrosis factor-alpha/interleukin-1beta/IFN-gamma (TNF-alpha/IL-1beta/IFN-gamma, mixed cytokines) in C6 glioma cells and primary astrocytes of rat were investigated. The mechanisms by which nepalolide A confers its effect on iNOS expression were also elucidated. 2 Treatment with LPS/IFN-gamma and mixed cytokines for 24 h elicited the induction of iNOS activity as determined by nitrite accumulation in the culture medium and assay of enzyme activity. Nepalolide A at 10 microM abrogated the LPS/IFN-gamma- and mixed cytokines-mediated induction of iNOS by more than 90% in C6 glioma cells, and by 80% for mixed cytokines-induced induction of iNOS in primary astrocytes. The effect of nepalolide A (2-10 microM) was concentration-dependent. 3 The inhibition of iNOS induction by nepalolide A was attributed to decreases in the content of iNOS protein and the level of iNOS mRNA, as measured by immunoblotting and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. 4 Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was used to evaluate the effect of nepalolide A on the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Results showed that nepalolide A diminished the LPS/IFN-gamma-mediated association of NF-kappaB with consensus oligonucleotide in a concentration-dependent manner. The activation of NF-kappaB by mixed cytokines was modulated both in the extent of activation and in its time-course by nepalolide A. 5 The ability of nepalolide A to inhibit NF-kappaB activation was further confirmed by studies on the degradation of the inhibitor of NF-kappaB, IkappaB, as measured by immunoblotting. 6 The present study demonstrates that the attenuation of NF-kappaB activation by nepalolide A was mediated by blockade of the degradation of IkappaB, leading to suppression of the expression of iNOS.  (+info)

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