Modulation by glutathione of DNA strand breaks induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and its aldehyde metabolites in rat hepatocytes.

Activation of the tobacco carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) produced methylating species and two aldehydes: formaldehyde and 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)-butanal (OPB). We investigated the modulation by glutathione of single-strand breaks (SSB) generated by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and the two aldehydes. Hepatocytes were simultaneously exposed to 0.2 mM MNU and to 0-2.00 mM formaldehyde or OPB for 4 h. Both aldehydes induced SSB in a dose-dependent manner. Formaldehyde and OPB exerted a synergistic effect on the formation of DNA SSB by MNU. It is postulated that both aldehydes interfere with DNA repair processes and thus increase the genotoxic effect of DNA methylating species. We investigated whether glutathione (GSH) could protect DNA from NNK-derived intermediates. Formaldehyde (2 mM) and OPB (2 mM) decreased intracellular GSH contents to 60 and 86% of control respectively. DL-Buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO) treatment reduced the GSH contents of hepatocytes to 19% of control but did not reduce the content of cytochrome P450 nor the metabolism of NNK. The frequency of DNA SSB induced by NNK, formaldehyde or OPB was significantly higher in GSH-depleted hepatocytes. GSH repletion with GSH monoethyl ester returned NNK-induced SSB to its initial frequency. OPB but not NNK nor formaldehyde induced double-strand breaks. We conclude that OPB and formaldehyde inhibit the repair of DNA damage induced by methylating species and that GSH reduces the level of DNA damage induced by NNK-derived reactive metabolites.

Comparison of DNA alkali-labile sites induced by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and 4-oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butanal in rat hepatocytes.

4-Oxo-4-(3-pyridyl)butanal (OPB) is an aldehyde formed during the activation of the tobacco-specific N-nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). Using the DNA alkaline elution technique, the properties of DNA alkali-labile sites induced in the isolated rat hepatocytes by NNK and OPB were compared. The DNA single-strand break (SSB) frequencies in vitro, as measured by the elution rate (ER), ranged from 0.015 to 0.479 and were proportional (r2 = 0.991) to the dose (0-2 mM) of OPB. These concentrations, however, were slightly cytotoxic. For example, the LC50 after 4 h of exposure was 2.8 mM. This suggests that OPB-induced DNA SSB result from additive effects of OPB-DNA interaction and the indirect DNA damage associated with OPB cytotoxicity. NNK induced a significant and dose-dependent increase of DNA fragmentation at concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.0 mM with ER values ranging from 0.012 to 0.274 (r2 = 0.951). Genotoxicity as measured by the DNA-damaging potency coefficient (DDP) was 810, 345, 131 and 75 for N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU), N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), OPB and NNK respectively. Both MNU- and NNK-induced DNA lesions showed increased lability with increased pH (from 12.1 to 12.5) of the eluting buffer (r2 = 0.979 and 0.967 respectively). In contrast, the number of OPB-induced labile sites were not affected by increases in the pH. These results indicate that OPB is not the metabolite contributing the majority of alkali-labile sites generated by NNK. The filter elution procedure was used to study the in vitro rejoining of SSB in DNA induced by NNK. The extent of DNA SSB rejoining after 18 h of culture of hepatocytes in NNK-free medium were dependent on the concentration of NNK (0.5, 2.0 and 5.0 mM) and ranged from 50 to 90%. Rats were injected s.c. with NNK (0.39 mmol/kg). SSB frequency in liver DNA increased rapidly and reached a maximum 12 h after injection. DNA SSB frequency declined during the next 2 weeks with biphasic kinetics. The fast phase (75% rejoining of DNA SSB between 12 h and 2 days) was followed by a slow one (25% of DNA SSB maintained during the next 5 days but not present after 2 weeks). The results of this study better define the role of OPB-induced DNA damage. The persistence of DNA SSB in the liver of NNK-treated rats reflects the inability of this tissue to repair all DNA lesions.

Genotoxicity assessment of low-molecular weight interferon inducers by the SOS Chromotest.

Tilorone and its aza-analogs, as well as CMA and its butyric analog (CNPA) were investigated as potential genotoxic agents by the SOS Chromotest. The SOS-inducing potency values (SOSIP) were 0.0033 and 0.0009 for SAF and vivakorfen, respectively, after activation with S9 fraction of mouse liver only. In contrast, an SOSIP value for tilorone of 0.0011 was observed in a non-activated assay. The SOSIPs of investigated compounds were low and comparable to the lowest values determined for other genotoxins. CMA and CNPA were not SOS inducers in any test system.

Modifications of microsomal and nuclear fractions by butylated hydroxyanisole and its effect on benzo(a)pyrene metabolites binding to macromolecules.

The effect of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) administration on the hepatic components of the monooxygenase system and lipid peroxidation in microsomal and nuclear fractions was investigated in male Swiss mice. Addition of BHA to the diet for 8 days increased significantly the content of cytochrome P-450 (by 50%) and two times the specific activities of NADH- and NADPH-cytochrome c reductases in liver microsomes and lowered the concentration of cytochrome P-450 in liver nuclei. Lipid peroxidation of liver microsomes obtained from BHA fed mice was higher (by 70%) as compared with the control. The inhibition of peroxidation was shown when BHA was added to the incubation mixture containing control microsomal fraction or liver homogenate. When benzo(a)pyrene (BP) was incubated with liver microsomes from BHA fed mice the binding of BP metabolites to microsomal macromolecules increased 5.5-fold compared with control. However, there was no such effect in case of liver nuclei. In view of these results it has been postulated that BHA can play not only preventive role in chemical carcinogenesis.

Effect of dietary butylated hydroxyanisole on the mouse hepatic monooxygenase system of nuclear and microsomal fractions.

The effect of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) administration on the hepatic monooxygenase system of nuclear and microsomal fraction was investigated in male mice. Addition of BHA to the diet significantly lowered the content of cytochrome P-450 in liver nuclei and increased the specific activity of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase and the content of cytochrome b5 in liver microsomes. Incubation of benzo[a]pyrene (BP) with liver nuclei from BHA-fed mice resulted in inhibition of binding of BP metabolites to nuclear macromolecules by 50% compared with control. However, there was no effect of BHA on the binding of BP metabolites to macromolecules when BP was incubated with added DNA and liver microsomes from BHA-fed mice. It has been postulated that modification of nuclear monooxygenases by BHA may play a role in the inhibitory effect of BHA on BP carcinogenesis.