Therapeutic potential of AGE inhibitors and breakers of AGE protein cross-links.

Glucose and other reducing sugars react non-enzymatically with proteins leading to the formation of advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) and AGE-derived protein cross-linking. Formation of AGEs is a normal physiological process, which is accelerated under the hyperglycaemic condition in diabetes. Under normal conditions, AGEs build up slowly and accumulate as one ages. Numerous studies have indicated that AGEs contribute to the pathological events leading to diabetic complications, such as age-related diseases, including nephropathy, retinopathy, vasculopathy and neuropathy. Potential therapeutic approaches to prevent these complications include pharmacological inhibition of AGE formation and disruption of pre-formed AGE-protein cross-links. Studies using animal models and preliminary clinical trials have shown the ability of the AGE-inhibitor, pimagedine and the cross-link breaker, ALT-711, to reduce the severity of pathologies of advanced glycosylation. These agents offer potential treatments for glucose-derived complications of diabetes and ageing.

Evidence for an important role of DNA pyridyloxobutylation in rat lung carcinogenesis by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone: effects of dose and phenethyl isothiocyanate.

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), selectively induces lung tumors in F344 rats. NNK is metabolically activated to intermediates that methylate and pyridyloxobutylate DNA. To explore the importance of pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in NNK-induced rat lung tumorigenesis, the first study in this report examined levels of these adducts in whole lung and pulmonary cells of F344 rats treated with different doses of NNK (0.3, 1.0, 10.0, and 50 mg/kg; 3 x weekly for 2 weeks). Pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts were highest in Clara cells compared to alveolar Type II cells, alveolar macrophages, and small cells, suggesting that enzymes involved in the formation of the pyridyloxobutylating species are concentrated in Clara cells. When we compared lung tumor incidence at the different doses of NNK (S. A. Belinsky et al., Cancer Res., 50: 3772-3780, 1990) versus pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in Type II cells, we observed a significant correlation. Because NNK-induced lung tumors arise from the Type II cells, this suggests an important role for pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts. In the second study presented in this report, we examined the effect of dietary phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), an inhibitor of lung tumor induction in F344 rats by NNK, on O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6-mG) and pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in whole lung and lung cells of F344 rats treated with NNK. F344 rats were fed control or PEITC-containing diets (3 micromol/g diet) before and throughout NNK treatment (1.76 mg/kg, three times weekly for 4, 8, 12, 16, or 20 weeks). PEITC inhibited formation of pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in whole lung and all lung cells except macrophages. There was also inhibition of O6-mG, but it varied with cell type and length of NNK treatment. Overall, PEITC treatment decreased pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts by 57% in Clara cells, 51% in Type II cells, 40% in small cells, and 44% in whole lung. PEITC treatment decreased O6-mG levels by 52% in Clara cells, 19% in Type II cells and small cells, and 36% in whole lung. These results support the hypothesis that PEITC inhibition of NNK-induced lung tumors is a result of decreased metabolic activation and DNA binding of NNK. The 50% reduction of pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in Type II cells agreed well with the 50% reduction of NNK-induced lung tumors by PEITC. Because NNK-induced tumors arise from Type II cells, these results suggest an important role for pyridyloxobutyl DNA adducts in NNK-induced rat lung tumorigenesis.

The relationship between N-nitrosodimethylamine metabolism and DNA methylation in isolated rat hepatocytes.

The metabolism of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) and its methylation of DNA were simultaneously determined in hepatocytes isolated from untreated and saline- and pyrazole-treated male Sprague-Dawley rats. Metabolism of NDMA was directly measured by monitoring its disappearance via gas chromatography coupled with a sensitive and specific detector for N-nitrosamines. DNA methylation was determined in the same cells employed in the metabolism studies using a monoclonal antibody-based competitive ELISA procedure specific for O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (6-Me-dG). The apparent Km and Vmax for NDMA metabolism are 61 microM and 56 pmol/min/10(6) cells respectively for hepatocytes isolated from untreated rats. It was found that the addition of pyrazole to the in vitro hepatocyte incubations caused a dose-dependent inhibition of both metabolism and DNA methylation. However, when DNA methylation is expressed as a function of NDMA metabolized, there is no significant difference between hepatocyte incubations without or with pyrazole, with an average value of 79 nmol 6-Me-dG/mol dG/nmol NDMA metabolized. Based on the pyrazole inhibition studies, cytochrome P450IIE1 is responsible for at least 60% of the DNA methylation in rat hepatocytes. In pyrazole-pretreated rats there was an inconsistent increase in NDMA metabolism, but when metabolism was elevated so was DNA methylation. In contrast, microsomes isolated from pyrazole-pretreated rats consistently showed elevated metabolism of NDMA. Based on the simultaneous determination of adduct levels and metabolism, there is approximately 1 6-Me-dG adduct formed/133 000 NDMA molecules metabolized in the uninduced hepatocytes.

The in vitro methylation of DNA by a minor groove binding methyl sulfonate ester.

The preparation of sequence and groove specific DNA methylating agents based on N-methylpyrrolecarboxamide subunits appended with an O-methyl sulfonate ester functionality (MeOSO2(CH2)2-Lex) has previously been described [Zhang, Y., Chen, F.-X., Mehta, P., and Gold, B. (1993) Biochemistry 32,7954-7965]. In contrast to simple methyl sulfonate esters, e.g., methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), which predominantly methylate at 7-guanine, MeOSO2-(CH2)2-Lex affords N3-methyladenine (3-MeAde) as its major adduct. Using competitive ELISA determinations, the methylation at major and minor groove sites in calf thymus DNA by MeOSO2(CH2)2-Lex has been precisely quantitated. The yields of N7-methylguanine (7-MeGua), 3-MeAde, and O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (6-Me-dGuo) are 0.424, 3.195, and 0.0027 mmol of adduct/mol of DNA, respectively, using 10 microM MeOSO2(CH2)2-Lex and 100 microM DNA. This compares to 0.773, 0.072, and 0.0033 mmol of adduct/mol of DNA for 7-MeGua, 3-MeAde, and 6-Me-dGuo, respectively, using MMS. The increase in the yield of 3-MeAde due to the minor groove equilibrium binding properties of MeOSO2(CH2)2-Lex is approximately 40-fold relative to MMS.

Biomarkers for human uptake and metabolic activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines.

Tobacco-specific nitrosamines are a group of carcinogens formed from nicotine and related tobacco alkaloids. Two of these compounds, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine, are believed to be involved as causative agents for cancers of the lung, oral cavity, esophagus, and pancreas associated with the use of tobacco products. The goal of the studies described here is to develop biomarkers which will allow us to understand the uptake, metabolic activation, and detoxification of these carcinogens in humans. Two metabolites of NNK, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and its glucuronide, have been identified and quantified in human urine. These metabolites allow assessment of NNK uptake in smokers, tobacco chewers, and people exposed to environmental tobacco smoke. NNK and N'-nitrosonornicotine form hemoglobin and DNA adducts upon metabolic activation by alpha-hydroxylation. These adducts release 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) upon hydrolysis. The released 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone can be quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A subset of smokers and most tobacco chewers have hemoglobin adduct levels which are higher than detected in nonsmokers. 4-Hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-releasing DNA adducts are higher in lung tissue from smokers than from nonsmokers. These data indicate that some smokers and tobacco chewers are capable of metabolically activating NNK or N'-nitrosonornicotine to intermediates which bind to cellular macromolecules and are, therefore, at potentially higher risk for cancer development. The application of these biomarkers to studies on cancer induction by tobacco products is discussed.

Tobacco-specific nitrosamine adducts: studies in laboratory animals and humans.

This paper describes quantitation of human hemoglobin and DNA adducts of the carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN). NNK and NNN are believed to be involved in cancers of the lung, esophagus, oral cavity, and pancreas in people who use tobacco products. The adduct dosimetry method employs GC-MS for quantitation of 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB) released by mild base hydrolysis of hemoglobin or acid hydrolysis of DNA as a biochemical marker of the pyridyloxobutylation metabolic activation pathway. Approximately 22% of smokers (n = 101) had elevated levels of HPB released from hemoglobin (range, 200-1600 fmole/g Hb). Adduct levels in snuff dippers ranged from 200-1800 fmole/g Hb. HPB levels in nonsmokers were generally below the detection limit. Acid hydrolysis of lung and tracheal DNA obtained at autopsy and analysis for released HPB revealed levels ranging up to 50 fmole/mg DNA in smokers; the adduct was not detected in nonsmokers. These findings are consistent with data generated in studies of adduct formation by NNK in rats. The biological significance of the HPB-releasing DNA pyridyloxobutylation pathway was compared to that of the DNA methylation pathway in the A/J mouse. These studies demonstrated that the persistence of O6-methylguanine in lung DNA is critical for tumorigenesis by NNK and that pyridyloxobutylation enhances both persistence of O6-methylguanine and tumorigenesis by acetoxymethylmethylnitrosamine. In the rat, the relative roles of methylation and pyridyloxobutylation in lung tumorigenesis by NNK are not as clearly defined.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Carcinogen biomarkers related to smoking and upper aerodigestive tract cancer.

Smoking is the major cause of upper aerodigestive tract cancers. Among the many constituents of tobacco smoke, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and tobacco-specific nitrosamines are strongly implicated as causative factors for these cancers. The probability that these compounds will induce cancer in a given individual will depend on that person's ability to metabolically activate or detoxify them. Chronic production of DNA damage by these metabolically activated carcinogens is consistent with current concepts of carcinogenesis in which multiple genetic changes, such as activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes, appear to be critical. Chemopreventive agents which decrease the level of DNA damage should therefore decrease the risk for cancer. Biomarkers such as carcinogen-DNA adducts, carcinogen-hemoglobin adducts, and urinary metabolites of carcinogens will indicate the amount of metabolically activated carcinogen which may damage DNA in an individual and can therefore be used as an index of risk. Selected biomarkers are discussed in this paper. These biomarkers of internal dose have great potential for application in chemoprevention trials.

Expression pattern of proteins that bind to the ultraviolet-responsive element (TGACAACA) in human keratinocytes.

We previously identified an ultraviolet (UV)-responsive element (URE; TGACAACA) that plays a role in both transcription and replication of polyoma sequences. Mouse polyclonal antibodies were raised against affinity-purified URE-bound proteins to characterize their expression patterns. These antibodies specifically recognized two of four URE-bound proteins, of 40 and 68 kDa. The 68-kDa protein was constitutively expressed in human keratinocytes, while the expression of the 40-kDa protein was induced by UV irradiation. Of the two, the 68-kDa protein bound to the URE with greater affinity than the 40-kDa protein, as determined by southwestern analysis. The expression of the 40-kDa protein increased as early as 1 h after UV irradiation of both rat fibroblasts and human keratinocytes and correlated with increased binding to the URE in an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Other types of damage, as well as heat shock and serum stimulation, also induced the expression of this protein, suggesting that it may play a role in cellular response to stress or damage. The 40-kDa protein was expressed at the highest levels in the S phase of the cell cycle and was induced by aphidicolin, suggesting that it has a role in DNA replication. All together, these results suggest that exposure of human keratinocytes to damage- and stress-inducing agents modulates the expression of proteins that may play a role in regulating cellular response to DNA damage.

Development of monoclonal antibodies specific for 1,N2-ethenodeoxyguanosine and N2,3-ethenodeoxyguanosine and their use for quantitation of adducts in G12 cells exposed to chloroacetaldehyde.

Monoclonal antibodies specific for N2,3-ethenodeoxyguanosine (N2,3-epsilon dGuo) and 1,N2-ethenodeoxyguanosine (1,N2-epsilon dGuo) were developed. In a competitive ELISA, 50% inhibition of binding of the N2,3-epsilon dGuo specific antibody (ETH1) was achieved with 18 fmol of N2,3-epsilon dGuo. Fifty per cent inhibition of the 1,N2-epsilon dGuo-specific antibody (ETH2) required 11 pmol 1,N2-epsilon dGuo. Immunoassays for N2,3-epsilon dGuo and 1,N2-epsilon dGuo in single-stranded DNA were developed using these antibodies. The immunoassays could detect as little as 48 fmol of N2,3-epsilon dGuo or 340 fmol 1,N2-epsilon dGUO in 25 micrograms of single stranded DNA. These assays and previously developed immunoassays for 1,N6-ethenodeoxy-adenosine (1,N6-epsilon dAdo) and 3,N4-ethenodeoxycytidine (3,N4-epsilon dCyd) were used to measure etheno adduct levels in DNA of cells exposed to chloroacetaldehyde. The cells used were V79 cells with an inactivated hprt gene and a single copy of the bacterial gpt gene (G12 cells). The most abundant etheno adduct was 1,N6-epsilon dAdo, followed by 3,N4-epsilon dCyd and N2,3-epsilon dGuo. 1,N2-epsilon dGuo was not detected in chloro-acetaldehyde-treated G12 cells. Chloroacetaldehyde was also shown to be mutagenic in these same cells.

DNA and hemoglobin adducts as markers of metabolic activation of tobacco-specific carcinogens.

Lung cancer is now the leading cause of excess mortality among smokers in the United States. The ability to identify smokers with the greatest risk of developing lung cancer would be an important step in reducing lung cancer mortality. Tobacco-specific nitrosamines such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosonornicotine are important carcinogens in tobacco smoke. These carcinogens require metabolic activation to exert their carcinogenic effects. Methods are described for the measurement of DNA and hemoglobin adducts formed by the metabolites of these nitrosamines. Preliminary evidence is presented that shows that a subpopulation of smokers have elevated levels of DNA and hemoglobin adducts of tobacco-specific nitrosamines. Further work is in progress to test the hypothesis that smokers with elevated levels of tobacco-specific nitrosamine adducts are at increased risk of developing lung cancer.

Analysis of mutagenic activity and ability to induce replication of polyoma DNA sequences by different model metabolites of the carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone.

The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) requires metabolic activation to express its carcinogenic activity. This activation leads to the formation of methylating and pyridyloxobutylating agents. To determine the possible biological effects mediated by each of these metabolic pathways we have studied the activities of model compounds that are metabolized to either a methylating or pyridyloxobutylating species. Each model compound was evaluated for its mutagenic activity in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell systems. The model compounds were also tested for their ability to induce asynchronous replication of viral DNA sequences. We demonstrate here that both the methylating model compound acetoxymethylmethylnitrosamine (AMMN) and the pyridyloxobutylating model compound 4-(acetoxymethyl)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNKOAc) were mutagenic in strains TA98, TA100, and TA1535 but not TA102. While NNKOAc appeared to be 10 times more potent than AMMN in Salmonella, AMMN was found to be a more potent mutagen in mammalian G12 cells. Both chemicals could induce asynchronous replication of polyoma DNA sequences in rat fibroblast cells carrying an integrated copy of the polyoma virus with AMMN appearing to be more active. Measurement of DNA adduct levels suggest that the damage produced by NNKOAc was at least as active as that produced by AMMN when viewed on a per adduct basis. The possible implications of the biological activities exhibited by methylating and pyridyloxobutylating model compounds to NNK induced carcinogenesis are discussed.

Detection of acrolein and crotonaldehyde DNA adducts in cultured human cells and canine peripheral blood lymphocytes by 32P-postlabeling and nucleotide chromatography.

People are constantly being exposed to toxic and carcinogenic aldehydes. However, little is actually known about the mechanisms underlying the toxic and carcinogenic effects of these aldehydes on human cells. The DNA alkylating activities of two of the more toxic and environmentally prominent alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehydes, acrolein and crotonaldehyde, have been studied utilizing 32P-postlabeling and nucleotide chromatographic techniques. Several putative adducts were observed in DNAs isolated from acrolein- and crotonaldehyde-treated human fibroblasts. One of these acrolein-DNA adducts was tentatively identified as the cyclic 1,N2-hydroxypropanodeoxyguanosine product, 3-(2'-deoxyribosyl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-hydroxypyrimido[1,2- a]purine-10-one, by co-chromatography with a chemical standard. The 1,N2-hydroxypropanodeoxyguanosine along with other possible adducts, was also found in DNA isolated from peripheral blood lymphocytes obtained from a dog 1 h after receiving a therapeutic dose of 6.6 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide. These results not only demonstrate the presence of acrolein and crotonaldehyde DNA adducts in treated human cells, but also suggest that these sensitive techniques may be useful to the study of the importance of acrolein to both the carcinogenic and antineoplastic activities of cyclophosphamide and other oxazaphosphorine mustards.

Mass spectrometric analysis of tobacco-specific nitrosamine-DNA adducts in smokers and nonsmokers.

A gas chromatography, negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry (GC-NICI-MS) based assay for tobacco-specific nitrosamine adducts of DNA is described. The assay is based on the observation that acid hydrolysis of DNA from animals treated with tobacco-specific nitrosamines releases 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB). HPB and the internal standard [4,4-D2]HPB are derivatized with pentafluorobenzoyl chloride and the resulting HPB-pentafluorobenzoate is purified by high-performance liquid chromatography prior to GC-NICI-MS analysis. DNA from human peripheral lung and tracheobronchial tissue, collected at autopsy, was analyzed for acid-released HPB. The mean HPB level (fmol/mg of DNA) for peripheral lung DNA was 11 +/- 16 (SD, n = 9) for smokers and 0.9 +/- 2.3 (n = 8) for nonsmokers. Mean adduct levels in tracheobronchus were 16 +/- 18 (n = 4) for smokers and 0.9 +/- 1.7 (n = 4) for nonsmokers. These are the first measurements of tobacco-specific nitrosamine-DNA adducts in humans. Further studies comparing the levels of DNA and globin adducts will provide a better understanding of the metabolic activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in humans and may provide a more accurate indication of an individual's risk of developing tobacco-related cancer.

Formation of cyclic deoxyguanosine adducts in Chinese hamster ovary cells by acrolein and crotonaldehyde.

Acrolein and crotonaldehyde are alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds that form 1,N2-propanodeoxyguanosine adducts when reacted with DNA in vitro. These compounds are mutagenic in Salmonella, and crotonaldehyde is tumorigenic in rats. This study used immunoassay and 32P-postlabeling methods to determine if acrolein and crotonaldehyde form these adducts in cultured mammalian cells. Adduct levels were highest in Chinese hamster ovary cells exposed to acrolein (1 mM) with 162 mumol adduct/mol deoxyguanosine. Crotonaldehyde (10 mM) formed adduct at a level of 75 mumol/mol deoxyguanosine. 32P-Postlabeling analysis confirmed the presence of adducts in crotonaldehyde-treated cells. Persistence studies showed that adduct levels were unchanged if the cells were cultured for 6 h before DNA isolation. Mutagenicity studies were performed to determine the biological consequences of these adducts. Mutations were not observed due to the toxicity of the compounds.

Mass spectrometric analysis of tobacco-specific nitrosamine hemoglobin adducts in snuff dippers, smokers, and nonsmokers.

Hemoglobin adducts of the carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosonornicotine were quantified in blood samples collected from snuff dippers, smokers, and nonsmokers. Mild base treatment of hemoglobin adducted by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone or N'-nitrosonornicotine releases 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB). HPB was enriched by solvent partitioning and derivatized to its pentafluorobenzoate. After purification by high performance liquid chromatography, HPB-pentafluorobenzoate was analyzed by capillary column gas chromatography with detection by negative ion chemical ionization mass spectrometry and selected ion monitoring. [4,4-D2]HPB was used as internal standard. The detection limit for HPB-pentafluorobenzoate was approximately 100 amol/injection or 5 fmol/g hemoglobin. Mean adduct levels (fmol HPB/g hemoglobin) were 517 +/- 538 (SD) in snuff dippers, 79.6 +/- 189 in smokers, and 29.3 +/- 25.9 in nonsmokers. Adduct levels in snuff dippers and in a subgroup of smokers were higher than would have been predicted solely based on estimates of exposure to tobacco-specific nitrosamines. The results of this study provide the first measurements of tobacco-specific nitrosamine hemoglobin adducts in humans and suggest new approaches to understanding the metabolic activation of 4-(methyl-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosonornicotine in humans.

Inhibition of repair of O6-methyldeoxyguanosine and enhanced mutagenesis in rat-liver epithelial cells.

The pro-mutagenicity of chemically-induced methylation of DNA at the O6 position of deoxyguanosine was studied in cultured adult rat liver epithelial cells. To modify the level of O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6-medGuo) resulting from exposure to an alkylating agent, partial depletion of the O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) repair system was produced by pretreatment of ARL 18 cells with a non-toxic dose of exogenous O6-methylguanine (O6-meG). Exposure of cells to 0.6 mM O6-meG for 4 h depleted AGT activity by about 40%. Intact and pretreated cells were exposed to a range of doses of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), and mutagenesis at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HGPRT) locus was quantified by measurement of 6-thioguanine-resistant mutants. The mutagenicity of MNNG was dose dependent and was greater in O6-meG pretreated cultures than in intact cultures. Immunoslot blot measurement of O6-medGuo employing a mouse monoclonal antibody demonstrated that MNNG produced O6-medGuo and that the intact liver cells were efficient in eliminating this lesion from their DNA. Since depletion of AGT would be expected to affect the rate of elimination of only O6-medGuo, it is concluded that this lesion is highly pro-mutagenic.

Evaluation of 32P-postlabeling analysis of DNA from exfoliated oral mucosa cells as a means of monitoring exposure of the oral cavity to genotoxic agents.

Development of oral cavity cancer in man has been linked to alcohol consumption and use of tobacco products. In order to understand the underlying carcinogenic mechanisms in the oral cavity a method is needed to monitor exposure of this site to various environmental insults. In this pilot study we evaluate the use of the 32P-postlabeling assay to detect adducts in DNA from exfoliated oral mucosa cells. Exfoliated cells were collected from the cheek and tongue of 27 men aged 35-69 years. DNA was extracted from the cells and analyzed by the enhanced 32P-postlabeling technique using butanol extraction. A variety of adduct spots were detected but none was consistently associated with exposure to alcohol or tobacco products. Some of the adducts detected had migration patterns in TLC very similar to the major deoxyguanosine adducts formed by the diol epoxides of benzo[a]pyrene and 5-methylchrysene, suggesting that they may have been formed from polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons. Adduct spots with migration patterns similar to polynuclear hydrocarbon adducts accounted for only about one third of the total adduct spots observed. Relative adduct labeling (RAL) values were determined for samples from 12 of the 27 individuals. RAL values ranged from 1.6 X 10(-6) to 7.7 X 10(-11) adducts per nucleotide. The RAL values for adducts from the cheek or tongue were not significantly different. Adduct levels in smokers (median RAL of 4.8 X 10(-8) were significantly higher (P less than 0.001) than adduct levels in non-smokers (median RAL of 2.9 X 10(-9). Adduct levels in drinkers (median RAL of 9.1 X 10(-10) were significantly lower (P less than 0.001) than adduct levels in non-drinkers (median RAL of 3.7 X 10(-8). Four of the subjects in this study have subsequently developed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity. 32P-Postlabeling analysis of DNA from the oral cavity of these subjects did not demonstrate unique patterns or RAL values. Lack of information on the structure of the majority of adducts observed in this study was a serious limitation. Further improvements in adduct identification will be needed before 32P-postlabeling can be a useful tool for monitoring exposure of the oral cavity to carcinogens.

Application of an immunoassay for cyclic acrolein deoxyguanosine adducts to assess their formation in DNA of Salmonella typhimurium under conditions of mutation induction by acrolein.

Acrolein has been shown to form cyclic deoxyguanosine adducts when it reacts with DNA in vitro. In this study, we have used a recently developed immunoassay for these adducts to study their formation in DNA from Salmonella typhimurium exposed to acrolein. Acrolein--deoxyguanosine adducts were formed in a dose-dependent fashion in Salmonella tester strains TA100 and TA104, reaching levels as high as 5 mumol adduct per mol deoxyguanosine. Using the liquid pre-incubation assay, acrolein-induced mutations were also found in strains TA100 and TA104. The correlation between acrolein--deoxyguanosine adduct concentration and acrolein-induced mutations in TA100, which contains GC base pairs at the site of reversion, suggests that the acrolein--deoxyguanosine adduct is a promutagenic lesion. That mutations are also seen in TA104 which contains AT base pairs at the site of reversion suggest that adducts of bases other than deoxyguanosine may also be important in the mutagenic activity of acrolein.

Detection of O6-methyldeoxyguanosine in human placental DNA.

A monoclonal antibody specific for O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6-MedGuo) was developed. When used in a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, 50% inhibition of binding was achieved with 0.51 pmol O6-MedGuo. When the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography, 2 mg of DNA could be analyzed giving a lower limit of detection of 0.5 mumol O6-MedGuo/mol deoxyguanosine. This assay was used to test for O6-MedGuo in DNA from placentas of smoking and nonsmoking women. Two of 10 DNA samples from smoking women and three of 10 from nonsmoking women had detectable concentrations of O6-MedGuo. Concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 1.6 mumol O6-MedGuo/mol deoxyguanosine. Activity of O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase was also measured. There was no apparent relationship between O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase activity and O6-MedGuo concentrations in the 20 subjects, nor did mean O6-alkylguanine DNA alkyltransferase activity differ between the two groups. Although no apparent relationship between smoking history and O6-MedGuo concentration was found in this preliminary study, this is the first report of a structurally identified DNA adduct in human placenta.

Approaches to the development of assays for interaction of tobacco-specific nitrosamines with haemoglobin and DNA.

The tobacco-specific, nicotine-derived nitrosamines 4-(N-nitrosomethylamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) are among the most important carcinogens in tobacco and tobacco smoke. Treatment of Fischer 344 rats with these carcinogens resulted in alkylation of haemoglobin and DNA by the 4-(3-pyridyl)-4-oxobutyl group formed during their metabolism. This alkyl group can be detached from globin or DNA under mild hydrolytic conditions as 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, which appears to be a potentially useful dosimeter for human exposure to, and activation of, tobacco-specific nitrosamines.