Induction of mono-oxygenase activity in prostaglandin H synthase-competent ovine seminal vesicle cell cultures by 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.

Cell cultures derived from ovine seminal vesicles (OSV cells) express high levels of prostaglandin H synthase (PHS) and have been found to be a suitablein vitro model for studies on PHS-mediated bioactivation of certain xenobiotics The extrahepatic tissue of origin apparently lacks constitutively expressed mono-oxygenase (MFO) activity such as cytochrome P-450 (CYP1A1)-dependent ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD). However, treatment of OSV cell cultures with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD; 0.001-10 nm) resulted in a dose-dependent induction of CYP1A1-associated EROD activity. Subconfluent OSV cells exposed to 100 pm TCDD for various lengths of time express the highest EROD activity after 48 hr of treatment. Benz[a]anthracene also induced EROD activity in OSV cells, but, in accordance with its low affinity for the Ah receptor at much higher concentrations (1-10 mum) than TCDD. In line with the observed functional response (EROD induction) the presence of Ah receptor was confirmed by biochemical analysis: on incubation with [(3)H]TCDD 5 fmol ligand/mg nuclear protein were specifically bound to Ah receptor after incubation (2 hr) of OSV cells with [(3)H] TCDD. TCDD was not cytotoxic for OSV cells up to 10 nm as judged by growth curves; rather, their growth was moderately stimulated by TCDD, significantly at 1 nm (a concentration which also induced EROD activity). Despite a clear dose-related response of OSV cells to known inducers of CYP1A1, the induced EROD activity levels (0.4-0.7pmol/minx 10(6)cells) are very low compared with values reported for hepatic cells in culture and lower than EROD activity induced in colon tumour cells. Thus, and since OSV cells do not constitutively express appreciable MFO activity, it is suggested that only PHS-mediated oxidation reactions contribute to the bioactivation of xenobiotics in this model. In conclusion, although OSV cells clearly respond to Ah receptor ligands by EROD induction, they are of limited value for bioassay of TCDD and related compounds in environmental samples. However, PHS-competent OSV cells are an interesting model for further studies of TCDD-related effects on PHS activity/expression, because of the functional Ah receptor.

The level of aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor and of 4S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) binding protein in diploid and polyploid hepatocytes of 2-acetylaminofluorene-treated rats.

Sequential treatment of partially hepatectomized male Wistar rats with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) induces the emergence of diploid hepatocyte populations. These carcinogen-induced hepatocytes are thought to include the precursor cells of liver carcinomas that arise later in this treatment protocol. The growth of the diploid hepatocytes is promoted by AAF and it has been suggested that the action of the arylamine may be receptor-mediated. AAF has been shown to bind specifically to the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor and the so-called 4S polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) binding protein. The present study addresses the question of whether the concentrations of the two binding proteins differ in diploid and polyploid hepatocytes from DEN/AAF-treated rats. Hepatocytes from carcinogen-treated rats were isolated and diploid, and tetraploid hepatocytes separated by means of centrifugal elutriation. Whereas Ah receptor concentrations in diploid hepatocytes were insignificantly lower (21.8 +/- 5.9 versus 29.2 +/- 6.6 fmol/mg cytosolic protein; n = 4; P = 0.1), levels of the 4S PAH binding protein in diploid hepatocytes were twice as high as in tetraploid hepatocytes (252.3 +/- 93.6 versus 124.0 +/- 18.5 fmol/mg cytosolic protein; n = 4; P = 0.04). We conclude from our results that the differences in growth control in polyploid and carcinogen-induced diploid hepatocytes are not associated with changes in the levels of the Ah receptor. The role of the 4S PAH binding protein in the process of hepatocarcinogenesis remains to be established.

Inhibition of growth by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in 5L rat hepatoma cells is associated with the presence of Ah receptor.

The role of the Ah receptor in mediating the toxicity of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was investigated in 5L rat hepatoma cells containing TCDD-inducible cytochrome P450IA1 activity and in variants lacking cytochrome P450IA1 and Ah receptor. TCDD inhibited growth of the wild-type 5L cells, but not of the Ah receptor deficient variants. The two strong Ah receptor ligands 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (3,3',4,4'-TCB) and benz[a]anthracene (BA) exerted toxic effects in 5L cells that resembled those of TCDD. The poor Ah receptor ligand 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl was not toxic in 5L cells. The concentrations of TCDD, 3,3',4,4'-TCB or BA required for the toxic response were similar to those that elicited P450IA1 induction. The present results suggest strongly that interaction with the Ah receptor is a necessary link in the chain of events leading to toxic effects in 5L cells upon exposure to TCDD.

Binding of aromatic amines to the rat hepatic Ah receptor in vitro and in vivo and to the 8S and 4S estrogen receptor of rat uterus and rat liver.

Studies on structurally related aromatic amines with different carcinogenic properties have shown that 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and 2-acetylaminophenanthrene (AAP) inhibit the binding of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin to the Ah receptor in vitro. The apparent inhibitor constants (Ki) are 2.3 microM for 2-AAF and 2.7 microM for AAP. In contrast, 4-acetylaminofluorene, an isomer of 2-AAF, and trans-4-acetylaminostilbene do not bind to the rat hepatic cytosolic Ah receptor. Pretreating female Wistar rats with 2-AAF or AAP leads to the induction of the P-450 isoenzymes that are under the control of the Ah receptor. Ornithine decarboxylase activity is induced by all aromatic amines tested irrespective of their Ah receptor affinity. The aromatic amines used as model compounds do not inhibit the binding of 17-beta-estradiol to the 8S and 4S estrogen receptor of rat uterus or rat liver in a competition assay analyzed using sucrose density gradient centrifugation. On the other hand, the aromatic amines bind to varying extents to another estrogen-binding protein of rat liver whose function and identity is still unknown. Our study demonstrates that structurally related aromatic amines in their unmetabolized form interact differentially with a cellular target protein, the Ah receptor, in vitro as well as in vivo. However, a relationship between these effects and the postulated promoting properties of 2-AAF remains to be established.

Competitive binding affinity of carcinogenic aromatic amines to the rat hepatic aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor in vitro and potency to induce monooxygenase activity in vivo.

The aromatic amides 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), its isomer 4-acetylaminofluorene, 2-acetylaminophenanthrene (AAP), trans-4-acetylaminostilbene (AAS) and the corresponding amines differ in their carcinogenic effects in the rat. Only 2-AAF and 2-aminofluorene (2-AF) are tumor promoters in rat liver. We have determined the competitive binding affinities of these compounds to the rat hepatic cytosolic aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor, which has been associated with tumor promotion. Binding affinity was determined by displacement of labelled 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or 3-methylcholanthrene. The rank order of affinities and the apparent inhibitor constants measured with the sucrose density gradient centrifugation technique were: AAF (2.3 microM) greater than AAP (2.7 microM) greater than 2-AF (7.0 microM) greater than trans-4-aminostilbene (7.7 microM) greater than 2-aminophen-anthrene (10.4 microM). 4-Acetylaminofluorene, 4-aminofluorene and AAS did not displace TCDD from the receptor protein. A number of other fluorene derivatives did not bind, except 2-nitrofluorene (apparent inhibitor constant (1.4 microM). The in vivo biological potency of the aromatic amines was monitored by measuring the induction of ethoxy-resorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and aromatic hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities. In vitro binding to the Ah receptor correlates roughly with the induction of EROD activity. The effect of 2-AAF was dose dependent, supporting a receptor-mediated mechanism. The correlation between Ah receptor affinity and tumor-promoting properties of the tested aromatic amines is only limited, but the results are not at variance with the concept of a receptor-mediated process in 2-AAF tumor promotion.

Effects of various inducers on diethylstilbestrol metabolism, drug-metabolizing enzyme activities and the aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor in male Syrian golden hamster liver.

In order to elucidate the role of metabolic activation of the synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), in the mechanism of liver tumor formation in male Syrian golden hamsters observed after combined treatment with DES and 7,8-benzoflavone (7,8-BF), the metabolism of DES and the concentrations and activities of various drug-metabolizing enzymes were studied in hamster liver microsomes after various pretreatments. The levels of the hepatic aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor were also determined. Pretreatment with 7,8-BF increased both P450 and cytochrome b5 levels, whereas phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induced P450 but not cytochrome b5. 7,8-BF pretreatment increased 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) 3-fold and 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD) 2.5-fold, whereas aromatic hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) activities were only slightly induced by 7,8-BF. MC pretreatment increased EROD 8-fold and PROD activity 7-fold, whereas PB pretreatment enhanced AHH 4.5-fold and PROD activity 4-fold. In contrast to PB, pretreatment with 7,8-BF and MC reduced the oxidative metabolism of DES in hepatic microsomes, but the pattern of metabolites was identical with that in untreated controls. Treatment of hamsters with the inducers changed the hepatic Ah receptor level. PB and MC-pretreatment resulted in an increase of the receptor level 1.5-fold and 1.3-fold, respectively, whereas 7,8-BF-pretreatment leads to a 1.5-fold decrease. The dissociation constant Kd is 170 nM for the reaction of 7,8-BF with the hamster Ah receptor compared to 70 nM for 5,6-BF and 38 nM for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF). The Kd-value is 3.6 nM for TCDF with the rat receptor protein. It is concluded from these data that metabolic activation of DES is not involved in the mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis in this animal tumor model.

Dexamethasone-mediated potentiation of P450IA1 induction in H4IIEC3/T hepatoma cells is dependent on a time-consuming process and associated with induction of the Ah receptor.

The synergistic effect of dexamethasone (DEX) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on the induction of cytochrome P450IA1 (P450IA1) was examined in H4IIEC3/T Reuber hepatoma cells. P450IA1 activity was determined by the hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene (AHH) and deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin (EROD). The amount of Ah receptor, i.e. the specific cytosolic binding protein of 3-methylcholanthrene or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in H4IIEC3/T cells was characterized and quantitated by high performance gel filtration. Benz[a]anthracene and TCDD induced AHH and EROD activities, respectively, about 20-fold within 4 h. The increase was about 100-fold when cells were pretreated with DEX. The glucocorticoid alone induced P450IA1 activities 3-4 fold. DEX elicited half maximum AHH induction at a concentration of 20 nM in the presence or absence of benz[a]anthracene. Maximal potentiation of AHH induction required treatment with DEX for at least 32 h prior to the exposure to benz[a]anthracene. Treatment of H4IIEC3/T cells with DEX for 20 h caused a 2-3-fold increase in the amount of Ah receptor. The results suggest that the synergistic effect of DEX and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on P450IA1 induction involves a time-consuming process which may consist of the synthesis or modification of a factor, possibly the Ah receptor.

Binding of chlorinated benzidines to the rat hepatic aromatic hydrocarbon receptor.

The binding of benzidine, 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine (3,3'-Cl2BZ), and the asymmetrically-substituted chlorinated benzidines 3,5-dichlorobenzidine (3,5-Cl2BZ) and 3,5,3'-trichlorobenzidine (Cl3BZ) to the rat hepatic cytosolic aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor was measured, in order to assess the mechanism of P-450I induction by 3,3'-Cl2BZ. Cl3BZ is the most mutagenic benzidine derivative in the Ames assay. Binding affinity to the Ah receptor protein was determined by displacement of labelled 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) from the receptor, measured with the sucrose density gradient centrifugation technique. The rank order of affinities and the apparent inhibitor constants were: Cl3BZ (4 microM) greater than 3,5-Cl2BZ (8.4 microM) greater than 3,3'-Cl2BZ (10 microM). Benzidine did not displace TCDD from the receptor protein. 4-Aminobiphenyl a structural link between the benzidine and biphenyl series competed weakly with TCDD. The 50% inhibition concentration was about 150 microM. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the induction of P-450 enzymes by 3,3'-Cl2BZ in vivo is mediated by the Ah receptor.

Induction of P-450 isoenzyme activities in Syrian golden hamster liver compared to rat liver as probed by the rate of 7-alkoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation.

The activities of 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (PROD), 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD) and aromatic hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) were measured in hepatic microsomes from male and female Wistar rats and Syrian golden hamsters in order to probe the basal activity and the inducibility by phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) of different P-450 isoenzymes. The basal activities of EROD and ECOD, but not PROD and AHH, were higher in male hamsters than in male rats. No sex-related difference in enzyme activities was observed with hamsters, whereas male rats had a higher ECOD and AHH activity than female rats. Induction by PB led to a 450-fold and 250-fold increase in PROD activity in male and female rat liver microsomes, respectively, while MC had a more pronounced inductive effect on EROD activity in this species. In hamsters, EROD activity was induced by MC but not by PB. Unexpectedly PROD activity in male and female hamster liver microsomes was only moderately induced by PB, the extent being lower than on induction by MC. Therefore, the activity of PROD, which is useful as a specific enzymatic assay for P-450 IIB in the rat liver, cannot be used to probe PB-like inducers in the hamster liver.

Effect of 7,8-benzoflavone pretreatment on diethylstilbestrol metabolism, drug-metabolising enzymes and the aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor in male hamster liver.

Pretreatment of male Syrian golden hamsters with 7,8-benzoflavone (7,8-BF) leads to a marked increase of cytochrome P450 and cytochrome b5 levels in the liver, whereas phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) induce cytochrome P450 but not cytochrome b5 7,8-BF pretreatment has only minor effects on the activities of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase, but 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase is increased 3-fold. In contrast to PB, pretreatment with 7,8-BF or MC reduces the oxidative metabolism of diethylstilbestrol (DES) by hepatic microsomes in vitro. The cytosolic level of the aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor in hamster liver is decreased by 7,8-BF and slightly enhanced by MC pretreatment. PB increases the receptor level 1.5-fold. The affinity of 7,8-BF to the Ah receptor in vitro is of the same order of magnitude as that of the known ligands 5,6-benzoflavone and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofurane. PB and DES show no binding to the receptor protein.

Induction of the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor by trans-4-acetylaminostilbene in rat liver. Comparison with other aromatic amines.

The effect of the aromatic amines 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF), 2-acetylaminophenanthrene (AAP) and trans-4-acetylaminostilbene (AAS) on the rat hepatic aromatic hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor level was studied. 3-Methylcholanthrene (MC), as a known receptor ligand, was used as a control. The complete liver carcinogen AAF and MC did not alter significantly the hepatic receptor concentration. In contrast, the strong liver tumor initiator AAS doubled the hepatic Ah receptor level when a dose of 20 mumol/kg was administered for 5 days. AAP increased the amount of the receptor 1.5-fold.

Induction of ornithine decarboxylase by aromatic amines in rat liver.

The induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) in rat liver by the carcinogen 2-acetylaminofluorene (2AAF), the strong liver tumor initiator trans-4-acetylaminostilbene (AAS), the non-carcinogen 4-acetylaminofluorene (4AAF) and, as a control, 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) has been examined. MC and all aromatic amines increased the ODC activity of rat liver from 3.6-fold (MC) to maximal 5.7-fold (AAS). The time course of the maximal induction differs from 2.5 h (2AAF) to 10 h (MC). The cytosolic concentrations of the unchanged compounds parallel the ODC activity. These data indicate that ODC induction in rat liver shows no correlation with tumor promoting properties of the model compounds. It is concluded that the unchanged compound is responsible for the ODC induction.

Binding of paracetamol metabolites to mouse liver glutathione S-transferases.

In mouse liver homogenate with an intact microsomal metabolism covalent binding of [14C]-paracetamol amounted to 1 nmol/mg protein. 65% of the total radioactivity were bound to soluble protein and 35% to microsomes. In the soluble fraction the major radioactivity peak co-chromatographed with glutathione S-transferase activity on Sephacryl S-300. Two different minor labelled fractions with apparent molecular weights of 130 000 and 25 000 daltons were also found. In a second experiment in a reconstituted system of microsomes and supernatant, 86% of the radio-activity was bound to supernatant and 14% by of microsomes. Following ion exchange chromatography of the supernatant on DEAE-Sepharose, the two major radioactivity-containing fractions coincided with GSH-S-transferase activities, but not with selenium-dependent or non-selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase. The data show that irreversible binding of paracetamol metabolites in mouse liver occurs preferentially to GSH-S-transferases.