Effect of lupeol on antioxidants and xenobiotic enzymes in N-Butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine induced bladder carcinogenesis in experimental rats.

OBJECTIVE: Urothelial carcinoma of the bladder is a common malignancy ranked 9th with an estimated 356,600 new cases diagnosed annually worldwide. The study showed the protective effects of Lupeol in N-Butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine induced bladder carcinogenesis in in vivo experimental model. Forty male healthy wistar rats were selected randomly divided into four groups. Group I rats served as healthy control. Group II rats were treated with BBN (150 mg/gavage/twice a week) for 8 weeks. Group III rats were treated with BBN + Lupeol [ Lupeol (50 mg/kg bw/day) treatment was started 1 week prior to the BBN treatment, and it was orally administered for 8 weeks]. Group IV rats were treated with Lupeol alone (50 mg/kg bw/day) for 8 weeks. All the experimental rats were maintained and euthanized at 32nd week. Serum and bladder tissues were collected and examined for biochemical parameters, serum markers and histopathological evaluation. Preventive (BBN + Lupeol) group modulates the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as Superoxide dismutase, Catalase, Reduced glutathione, Glutathione Peroxidase, Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and drug metabolizing enzymes such as Cytochrome P450, Cytochrome b5, NADPH Cytochrome c reductase, NADPH- Quinone Oxidoreductase 1 and Glutathione-S-transferase when compared to BBN treated rats. Serological markers such as Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly (P<0.05) decreased in preventive lupeol treated groups. Lupeol supplementation protects BBN induced bladder carcinogenesis in experimental rats by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties.

Redox properties and prooxidant cytotoxicity of a neuroleptic agent 6,7-dinitrodihydroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX).

In order to characterize the possible mechanism(s) of cytotoxicity of a neuroleptic agent 6,7-dinitrodihydroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (DNQX) we examined the redox properties of DNQX, and its mononitro- (NQX) and denitro- (QX) derivatives. The irreversible electrochemical reduction of the nitro groups of DNQX was characterized by the reduction peak potentials (Ep,7) of -0.43 V and -0.72 V vs. Ag/AgCl at pH 7.0, whereas NQX was reduced at Ep,7 = -0.67 V. The reactivities of DNQX and NQX towards the single-electron transferring enzymes NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADPH:adrenodoxin reductase/adrenodoxin complex were similar to those of model nitrobenzenes with the single-electron reduction potential (E¹7) values of -0.29 V - -0.42 V. DNQX and NQX also acted as substrates for two-electron transferring mammalian NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (DT-diaphorase). The cytotoxicity of DNQX in bovine leukemia virus-transformed lamb kidney fibroblasts (line FLK) was prevented by antioxidants and an inhibitor of NQO1, dicoumarol, and was enhanced by the prooxidant alkylating agent 1,3-bis(2-chloromethyl)-1-nitrosourea. A comparison with model nitrobenzene compounds shows that the cytotoxicity of DNQX and NQX reasonably agrees with the ease of their electrochemical reduction, and/or their reactivities towards the used enzymatic single-electron reducing systems. Thus, our data imply that the cytotoxicity of DNQX in FLK cells is exerted mainly through oxidative stress.

Interactions between drugs and four common medicinal herbs.

Herbal remedies are popular in the UK, but there is evidence that some of the most commonly used herbs can interact with conventional drugs, sometimes with potentially serious consequences. This article looks at four common herbal remedies and examines the scientific evidence for their interactions with drugs.

Gender-related difference in the toxicity of 2-(2'-hydroxy-3',5'-di-tert-butylphenyl)benzotriazole in rats: relationship to the plasma concentration, in vitro hepatic metabolism, and effects on hepatic metabolizing enzyme activity.

Previously, we showed that the toxic susceptibility of male rats to an ultraviolet absorber, 2-(2'-hydroxy- 3',5'-di-tert-butylphenyl)benzotriazole (HDBB), was nearly 25 times higher than that of females. The present study aimed to clarify the mechanism of gender-related differences in HDBB toxicity. Male and female rats were given HDBB by gavage at 0.5, 2.5, or 12.5 mg/kg/day for 28 days, and plasma HDBB levels were measured at various time points by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. HDBB was rapidly absorbed and eliminated from the plasma in both sexes, and no sexual variations were found in the plasma levels. In the plasma, HDBB metabolites were not detected at any dose by the liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector. In an in vitro metabolic study using hepatic microsomes from male and female rats, HDBB was slightly metabolized, but no sexual differences were found in the residual HDBB ratio after a 60-minute incubation with an NADPH-generation system. Following 28-day HDBB administration, sexually different changes were found in cytochrome P450-dependent microsomal mixed-function oxidase activities in the liver. In males, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity decreased and lauric acid 12-hydroxylase activity increased at all doses. Decreases in aminopyrine N-demethylase activity and testosterone 2alpha- and 16alpha-hydroxylase activity were also found at 2.5 mg/kg and above in males. In females, the only significant change was increased lauric acid 12-hydroxylase activity at 12.5 mg/kg. These findings indicate that HDBB would have hepatic peroxisome proliferative activity, and the difference in susceptibility of male and female rats to this effect might lead to marked gender-related differences in HDBB toxicity.

Drug metabolizing enzyme expression in rat choroid plexus: effects of in vivo xenobiotics treatment.

The presence of drug metabolizing enzymes in extrahepatic tissues such as the choroid plexus (CP) suggests that the CP, like the blood-brain barrier, affords a metabolic protection to the brain against xenobiotics. The CP, which is the principal site of formation of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), controls the exchange of many endogenous compounds and exogenous molecules between brain tissue and CSF. We present the changes in mRNA expression and enzymatic activities of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, UGT1A6 isoform and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, after in vitro treatment with xenobiotic molecules known to act in the liver as inducers or inhibitors of these drug metabolizing enzymes. Five study groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated separately with 3-methylcholantrene (3-MC), phenobarbital (PB), dexamethasone (DEX), cyclosporine (CsA) or paraquat (PQ). Choroidal 1-naphthol glucuronidation activities were significantly induced by 3-MC and PQ administration (354 +/- 85 and 257 +/- 49 vs. 115 +/- 24 nmol/h per mg protein, in control group), whereas the other molecules were without effect. Accordingly, UGT1A6 mRNA expression, measured by RT-PCR, was 2.3-fold higher after 3-MC treatment and 2.1-fold higher after PQ administration. By contrast, reductase activities and mRNA expression remained unchanged in the isolated choroids plexus in these experimental conditions. We present for the first time evidences that the choroids plexus express transcripts for both UGT1A6 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, and their mRNA expression can be differently regulated by exogenous factors. These results emphasize that xenobiotics could modulate the biotransformation of exogenous and/or endogenous compounds in the choroids plexus, and underline the role of UGTs in the maintenance of brain homeostasis.

The inhibitory effect of tannic acid on cytochrome P450 enzymes and NADPH-CYP reductase in rat and human liver microsomes.

Tannic acid has been shown to decrease mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity of several amine derivatives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rodents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tannic acid on cytochrome P450 (CYP)-catalyzed oxidations using rat liver microsomes (RLM) and human liver microsomes (HLM) as the enzyme sources. In RLM, tannic acid showed a non-selective inhibitory effect on 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD), 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD), tolbutamide hydroxylation, p-nitrophenol hydroxylation and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation activities with IC(50) values ranged from 14.9 to 27.4 microM. In HLM, tannic acid inhibited EROD, MROD and phenacetin O-deethylation activities with IC(50) values ranged from 5.1 to 7.5 microM, and diclofenac 4-hydroxylation, dextromethorphan O-demethylation, chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation with IC(50) values ranged from 20 to 77 microM. In baculovirus-insect cell-expressed human CYP 1A1 and 1A2, the IC(50) values of tannic acid for CYP 1A1- and 1A2-catalyzed EROD activities were 23.1 and 2.3 microM, respectively, indicating that tannic acid preferably inhibited the activity of CYP1A2. Tannic acid inhibited human CYP1A2 non-competitively with a Ki value of 4.8 microM. Tannic acid was also found to inhibit NADPH-CYP reductase in RLM and HLM with IC(50) values of 11.8 and 17.4 microM, respectively. These results suggested that the inhibition of CYP enzyme activities by tannic acid may be partially attributed to its inhibition of NADPH-CYP reductase activity.

Immunohistochemical analysis of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase in human superficial bladder tumours: relationship between tumour enzymology and clinical outcome following intravesical mitomycin C therapy.

A central theme within the concept of enzyme-directed bioreductive drug development is the potential to predict tumour response based on the profiling of enzymes involved in the bioreductive activation process. Mitomycin C (MMC) is the prototypical bioreductive drug that is reduced to active intermediates by several reductases including NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase (P450R). The purpose of our study was to determine whether NQO1 and P450R protein expression in a panel of low-grade, human superficial bladder tumours correlates with clinical response to MMC. A retrospective clinical study was conducted in which the response to MMC of 92 bladder cancer patients was compared to the immunohistochemical expression of NQO1 and P450R protein in archived paraffin-embedded bladder tumour specimens. A broad spectrum of NQO1 protein levels exists in bladder tumours between individual patients, ranging from intense to no immunohistochemical staining. In contrast, levels of P450R were similar with most tumours having moderate to high levels. All patients were chemotherapy naïve prior to receiving MMC and clinical response was defined as the time to first recurrence. A poor correlation exists between clinical response and NQO1, P450R or the expression patterns of various combinations of the 2 proteins. The results of our study demonstrate that the clinical response of superficial bladder cancers to MMC cannot be predicted on the basis of NQO1 and/or P450R protein expression and suggest that other factors (other reductases or post DNA damage events) have a significant bearing on tumour response.

[Clinical study on the antioxidant effect of methylene blue in vivo].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship of oxygen free radical (OFR) with per-oxidative injury of erythrocyte induced by intravenous procaine in vivo and the effect of methylene blue (MB) in removal of nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)). METHODS: Forty patients undergoing elective surgery were divided randomly into intravenous procaine anesthesia (IPA) group and fentanyl group. Blood sample was taken before anesthesia (T0), 120 minutes (T1) and 180 minutes (T2) after IPA and 30 minutes after treatment with MB (1-2 mg/kg, T3) to determine the changes in the levels of NO, OFR, lipid peroxide (LPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), NADH-Cyt b5-reductase (Cyt b5-R) and methemoglobin (MHb). RESULTS: Compared with T0, the levels of NO, OFR, LPO, MHb in IPA group were significantly increased at T1,T2. At same time SOD, CAT and Cyt b5-R were significantly decreased. NO, OFR, MHb, SOD, CAT and Cyt b5-R were all reduced to the normal levels at T3. No changes in any determined parameters in fentanyl group during anesthesia. CONCLUSION: It is indicated that the metabolites of procaine consist of a large quantity of NO:ONOO(-), producing per-oxidative injury to erythrocyte. MB is effective in eliminating OFR in vivo, protecting tissue cells. It may act as an antioxidant drug in the treatment of critical illness.

Cytotoxicity of RH1 and related aziridinylbenzoquinones: involvement of activation by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and oxidative stress.

It is supposed that the main cytotoxicity mechanism of antitumour aziridinyl-substituted benzoquinones is their two-electron reduction to alkylating products by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1, DT-diaphorase, EC 1.6.99.2). However, other possible cytotoxicity mechanisms, e.g., oxidative stress, are studied insufficiently. In the single-electron reduction of quinones including a novel compound RH1 (2,5-diaziridinyl- 3-(hydroxymethyl)-6-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone), by NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4, P-450R), their reactivity increased with an increase in the redox potential of quinone/semiquinone couple (E(1)7), reaching a limiting value at E(1)7> or =-0.1V. The reactivity of quinones towards NQO1 did not depend on their E(1)7. The cytotoxicity of aziridinyl-unsubstituted quinones in bovine leukemia virus-transformed lamb kidney fibroblasts (line FLK) mimics their reactivity in P-450R-catalyzed reactions, exhibiting a parabolic dependence on their E(1)7. The toxicity of aziridinyl-benzoquinones, although being higher, also followed this trend and did not depend on their reactivity towards NQO1. The action of aziridinylbenzoquinones in FLK cells was accompanied by an increase in lipid peroxidation, their toxicity decreased by desferrioxamine and the antioxidant N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylene diamine, and potentiated by 1,3-bis-(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea. The inhibitor of NQO1, dicumarol, protected against the toxicity of aziridinyl-benzoquinones except of 2,5-bis-(2'-hydroxyethylamino)-3,6-diaziridinyl-1,4-benzoquinone (BZQ), which was almost inactive as NQO1 substrate. The same events except the absence of pronounced effect of dicumarol were characteristic in the cytotoxicity of aziridinyl-unsubstituted quinones. These findings indicate that in addition to the activation by NQO1, the oxidative stress presumably initiated by single-electron transferring enzymes may be an important factor in the cytotoxicity of aziridinylbenzoquinones. The information obtained may contribute to the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of aziridinylquinone cytotoxicity and may be useful in the design of future bioreductive drugs.

The interaction of medications used in palliative care.

Palliative care uses several classes of drugs, which are handled by the CYP P450 system. Interaction of drugs in this setting requires ongoing vigilance by the physician. Phenocopying may be more common than previously realized.

Influence of molecular weight fractions isolated from roasted malt on the enzyme activities of NADPH-cytochrome c-reductase and glutathione-S-transferase in Caco-2 cells.

In the present study, water-soluble nonenzymatic browning products (melanoidins) formed in roasted malt were separated, quantified, and investigated for their effects on detoxifying mechanisms in intestinal Caco-2 cells. The melanoidins were prepared from roasted malt by hot water extraction, and the water-soluble compounds were separated into different molecular weight (MW) fractions by gel filtration chromatography. By monitoring the effluent at 300 nm, seven molecular fractions I-VII were consecutively collected, revealing that approximately 2.3% of the water-soluble compounds had mean MWs between 10000 and 30000 Da. Thus, the bulk of water-soluble malt melanoidins consisted of MW > 30000 Da, among which approximately 58% showed mean MWs between 60000 Da and 100000 Da, whereas approximately 32% exhibited mean MWs of 200000 Da. Biotransformation enzyme activities of NADPH-cytochrome c-reductase (CCR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were analyzed in Caco-2 Cells after 48 h of exposure to the different MW fractions. The low MW fraction of 10000 Da was most effective in activating the CCR and the GST activities (+122 and +33% vs control, respectively). The majority of the mid molecular weight compounds tested showed an activating effect on CCR activity and an inhibitory effect on GST activity. These effects were most pronounced for compounds of up to 70000 Da and >200000 Da but less distinct for fractions of an average molecular weight of 100000 Da.

Modulating effect of Liv.100, an ayurvedic formulation on antituberculosis drug-induced alterations in rat liver microsomes.

The influence of Liv.100 on the hepatotoxicity of antituberculosis drugs [isoniazid (INH), rifampicin (RMP) pyrazinamide (PZA)] was studied in male albino rats. INH, RMP, and PZA were proved to be the most hepatotoxic. Rats were treated with antituberculosis drugs daily for a period of 6 weeks by intragastric administration. The combined use of antituberculosis drugs elevated the levels of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome-b5. A significant increase was observed in the levels of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and NADH-cytochrome-b5 reductases after antitubercular drug administration. During antitubercular drug treatment a significant decrease was also observed in the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase. The extent of NADPH-induced and ascorbic acid-induced lipid peroxides were marked in antitubercular drug treatment, when compared with normal control animals. Oral Liv.100 co-administration, for the same period, modulated the alterations in the xenobiotic metabolizing system and microsomal lipid peroxidation in experimental animals. The results are discussed with reference to drug metabolizing enzymes, lipid peroxidation and the hepatoprotective nature of Liv.100.

Determination of the molecular weight distribution of non-enzymatic browning products formed by roasting of glucose and glycine and studies on their effects on NADPH-cytochrome c-reductase and glutathione-S-transferase in Caco-2 cells.

After thermal treatment of a mixture of glucose and glycine for 2 h at 125 degrees C, about 60% of the starting material was converted into non-soluble, black pigments, whereas 40% of the mixture was still water-soluble. Dialysis of the latter fraction revealed 30.4% of low molecular weight compounds (LMWs; MW < 10,000 Da) and 10.0% high-molecular weight products (HMWs; MW > or = 10,000 Da). The water-soluble Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were separated by gel permeation chromatography and ultrafiltration, revealing that 60% of the water-soluble products of the total carbohydrate/amino acid mixture had MWs < 1,000 Da and consisted mainly of non-coloured reaction products. MRPs with MWs between 1,000 and 30,000 Da were found in comparatively low yields (about 1.3%). In contrast, about 31.1% of the MRPs exhibited MWs > 30,000 Da, amongst which 14.5% showed MWs > 100,000 Da, thus indicating an oligomerisation of LMWs to melanoidins under roasting conditions. To investigate the physiological effects of these MRPs, xenobiotic enzyme activities were analysed in intestinal Caco-2 cells. For Phase-I NADPH-cytochrome c-reductase, the activity in the presence of the LMW and HMW fraction was decreased by 13% and 22%, respectively. Phase-II glutathione-S-transferase activity decreased by 15% and 18%, respectively, after incubation with the LMW and the HMW fractions. Considering the different yields, 30% and 10%, respectively, of the LMW and the HMW fractions, the total amount of the LMW fraction present in the glucose-glycine mixture is more active in modulating these enzyme activities than that of the HMW fraction.

Transcriptional induction of hepatic NADPH: cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase by thyroid hormone.

Studies were carried out to elucidate the mechanism whereby thyroid hormone (T3) induces NADPH:cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (P450R) mRNA in rat liver in vivo. Northern blot analysis revealed that T3 treatment increases unspliced liver nuclear P450R RNA 4-fold within 8 h and that this induction precedes the induction of mature, cytoplasmic P450R RNA. Unspliced nuclear P450R RNA was suppressed below basal levels 24 h after T3 treatment, despite the continued presence of elevated circulating T3 levels. To determine whether the T3-stimulated increase in nuclear P450R RNA reflects an increase in P450R transcription initiation, nuclear run-on transcription assays were carried out. T3 induced a 6- to 8-fold increase in P450R transcription rate within 12 h, sufficient to account for the observed increase in nuclear P450R precursor RNA, followed by a decrease back to basal transcription levels at 24 h, consistent with the nuclear RNA profile. Similar transcriptional increases were observed in nuclear run-on transcription studies using hybridization probes corresponding to nine different fragments of the P450R gene, spanning exon 2 to exon 16. Thus, P450R transcription initiation, not transcription elongation, is the T3-regulated event. Similar results were obtained during short (5 min) compared with long (45 min) nuclear run-on transcription assays, suggesting that changes in nuclear RNA processing or regulated degradation do not contribute to the overall RNA induction. This finding was confirmed by the ability of the RNA polymerase inhibitor actinomycin D, administered in vivo, to block T3 induction of P450R transcriptional activity. We conclude that P450R transcription, rather than nuclear RNA processing or mRNA stabilization, is the primary mechanism whereby T3 induces hepatic P450R mRNA.

Protective effects of baicalein and wogonin against benzo[a]pyrene- and aflatoxin B(1)-induced genotoxicities.

To evaluate the protective effects of baicalein and wogonin against benzo[a]pyrene- and aflatoxin (AF) B(1)-induced toxicities, the effects of these flavonoids on the genotoxicities and oxidation of benzo[a]pyrene and AFB(1) were studied in C57BL/6J mice. Baicalein and wogonin reduced benzo[a]pyrene and AFB(1) genotoxicities as monitored by the umuC gene expression response in Salmonella typhimurium TA1535/pSK1002. Baicalein added in vitro decreased liver microsomal benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation (AHH) activity with an ic(50) of 33.9 +/- 1.4 microM at 100 microM benzo[a]pyrene. Baicalein also inhibited AFQ(1) and AFB(1)-epoxide formation from AFB(1) (50 microM) oxidation (AFO) with ic(50) values of 22.8 +/- 1.4 and 5.3 +/- 0.8 microM, respectively. However, the in vitro inhibitory effects of wogonin on AHH and AFO activities in liver microsomes were less than those of baicalein as inhibition by 500 microM wogonin was only about 51-65%. Treatment of mice with liquid diets containing 5 mM baicalein and wogonin resulted in 22 and 49% decreases in hepatic AHH activities, respectively. Baicalein treatment resulted in 39 and 32% decreases in AFQ(1) and AFB(1)-epoxide formation from liver microsomal AFO, respectively. Wogonin treatment resulted in 39 and 47% decreases in AFQ(1) and AFB(1)-epoxide formation, respectively. A 1-week pretreatment with wogonin significantly decreased hepatic DNA adduct formation in mice treated with 200 mg/kg of benzo[a]pyrene via gastrogavage. These in vitro and in vivo effects suggested that baicalein and wogonin might have beneficial effects against benzo[a]pyrene- and AFB(1)-induced hepatic toxicities and that wogonin had a stronger protective effect in vivo.

Predicting the mutagenicity of tobacco-related N-nitrosamines in humans using 11 strains of Salmonella typhimurium YG7108, each coexpressing a form of human cytochrome P450 along with NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase.

Tobacco, including snuff and chewing tobacco, contains N-nitrosamines such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP), N-nitrosomorpholine (NMOR), N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), N-nitrosoanabasine (NABS), and N-nitrosoanatabine (NATB). The role of human cytochrome P450 (CYP) in the metabolic activation of these tobacco-related N-nitrosamines was examined by a Salmonella mutation test using genetically engineered Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) YG7108 cells each expressing a form of human CYP (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP3A4, or CYP3A5) together with human NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase. Mutagen production from NNK was catalyzed by CYP in the following order: CYP1A2, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYP2A6, CYP2C19, CYP3A4. The metabolic activation of one of the N-alkylnitrosamines, NDEA, was mediated by CYP2A6, followed by CYP2E1. Cyclic N-nitrosamines such as NPYR, NPIP, and NMOR were also primarily activated by CYP2A6, and to a lesser extent by CYP2E1. NNN, a pyridine derivative of NPYR, was activated by CYP1A1 at an efficiency similar to that of CYP2A6. NABS, a pyridine derivative of NPIP, was mainly activated by CYP3A4, followed by CYP1A1 and CYP2A6. Thus, the addition of a pyridine ring to NPYR or NPIP altered the forms of CYP primarily responsible for mutagenic activation. NATB was metabolically activated solely by CYP2A6, whereas the genotoxicity of NATB was much lower than that of NNN or NPYR. Based on these data, we conclude that CYP2A6 was responsible for the mutagenic activation of essentially all tobacco-related N-nitrosamines tested in the present study.

Use of genetically engineered Salmonella typhimurium OY1002/1A2 strain coexpressing human cytochrome P450 1A2 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and bacterial O-acetyltransferase in SOS/umu assay.

The major pathway of bioactivation of procarcinogenic heterocyclic aromatic amines (HCAs) is cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2)-catalyzed N-hydroxylation and subsequent esterification by O-acetyltransferase (O-AT). We have previously reported that an umu tester strain, Salmonella typhimurium OY1001/1A2, endogenously coexpressing human CYP1A2 and NADPH-P450 reductase (reductase), is able to detect the genotoxicity of some aromatic amines [Aryal et al., 1999, Mutat Res 442:113-120]. To further enhance the sensitivity of the strain toward HCAs, we developed S. typhimurium OY1002/1A2 by introducing pCW"/1A2:hNPR (a bicistronic construct coexpressing human P450 1A2 and the reductase) and pOA102 (constructed by subcloning the Salmonella O-AT gene in the pOA101-expressing umuC"lacZ gene) in S. typhimurium TA1535. In addition, as an O-AT-deficient strain, we developed the OY1003/1A2 strain by introducing pCW"/1A2:hNPR and pOA101 into O-AT-deficient S. typhimurium TA1535/1,8-DNP. Strains OY1001/1A2, OY1002/1A2, and OY1003/1A2 expressed, respectively, about 150, 120, and 140 nmol CYP1A2/l culture (in whole cells), and respective cytosolic preparations acetylated 15, 125, and > or = 0 nmol isoniazid/min/mg protein as the O-AT activities of cytosolic preparations, respectively. We compared the induction of umuC gene expression as a measure of genotoxicity and observed that the OY1002/1A2 strain was more sensitive than OY1001/1A2 strain toward the genotoxicity of 2-amino-1,4-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinol ine(MeIQ), 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ),2-amino-3, 8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx),2-aminoanthracene, 2-amino-6-methyldipyrido[1,2-a::3,2'-d]i midazole,3-amino-1, 4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole, and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4, 3-a]indole. However, the genotoxicity of MeIQ, IQ, and MeIQx was not detected with the OY1003/1A2 strain. These results indicate that the newly developed strain OY1002/1A2 can be employed in detecting potential genotoxic aromatic amines requiring bioactivation by CYP1A2 and O-acetyltransferase.

Changes in rat liver monooxygenase activities after administration of atenolol, nifedipine and diltiazem alone and in combination.

The effects of the Ca2+ antagonists nifedipine (NF) and diltiazem (DL) and of the cardioselective beta 1-adrenergic blocking agent atenolol (AT) on the hexobarbital (HB) sleeping time and on the activity of some liver drug-metabolizing enzyme systems in male Wistar rats were studied. Two hours after single oral administration, atenolol (150 mg/kg) did not change hexobarbital sleeping time, while nifedipine (50 mg/kg) and diltiazem (30 mg/kg) prolonged it by 171.2 and 99.6%, respectively. Coadministration of atenolol with diltiazem or with nifedipine significantly prolonged hexobarbital sleep by 205 and 283%, respectively. Administered alone, atenolol decreased the ethylmorphine-N-demethylase (EMND) activity, but the amidopyrine-N-demethylase (APND) activity was not changed in any of the treated groups. Atenolol and nifedipine significantly increased aniline-4-hydroxylase (AH) activity and this effect was also observed with the combinations AT + NF and AT + DL. The NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity was significantly decreased by nifedipine and diltiazem. Only nifedipine increased the total content of cytochrome P-450 (by 23.8%). Atenolol and diltiazem tended to increase the content of cytochrome b5 which was increased by nifedipine by 97.6%. The same effect was observed with the combinations AT + NF and AT + DL. The results suggest that NF, AT + NF and AT + DL produced the manifested changes in hepatic oxidative metabolism. The decreased EMND activity by atenolol, however, and the prolongation of hexobarbital sleeping time by nifedipine, diltiazem and their coadministration with atenolol did not correlate with enhanced microsomal P-450 and b5 content.

Hepatic enzyme induction with phenobarbital and doxorubicin metabolism and myelotoxicity in the rabbit.

Doxorubicin (DOX) undergoes extensive liver metabolism. This study was designed to compare the pharmacokinetic and myelotoxicity profiles of DOX and metabolites with and without phenobarbital-associated hepatic enzyme induction. DOX was administered i.v. to eight rabbits with and without 7 prior days of oral phenobarbital, with venous blood samples collected between 0 and 72 hr for determination of plasma DOX and metabolite concentrations by high-performance liquid chromatography and complete blood counts obtained on days 1, 5, 7, 8, and 9. DOX AUC infinity, t1/2 beta and CLT values were significantly reduced by phenobarbital induction (PBI), while only the formation clearance of DOX metabolites was significantly changed. PBI had no effect on nadir neutrophil counts but was associated with significantly accelerated neutrophil recovery. Hepatic enzyme induction with phenobarbital significantly reduces plasma DOX exposure while increasing the rate of metabolite formation. These effects result in significant acceleration of neutrophil recovery.

Combined effect of propranolol with nifedipine or with diltiazem on rat liver monooxygenase activities.

The effects of two Ca2+ antagonists nifedipine (NF) and diltiazem (DL) and of the nonselective beta-adrenergic blocking agent propranolol (PR) on the hexobarbital (HB) sleeping time and on the activity of some liver drug-metabolizing enzyme systems in male Wistar rats were studied. Two h after single oral administration PR (50 mg/kg) did not change HB sleeping time, while NF (50 mg/kg) and DL (30 mg/kg) prolonged it by 171.2 and 99.6%, respectively. Coadmistration of PR with DL or with NF significantly prolonged HB sleep by 240.7 and 129%, respectively. Only NF increased aniline 4-hidroxylase (AH) activity (by 92%) and the total P-450 content (by 24%). PR and NF increased cytochrome b5 content and this effect was also observed with the combinations PR + NF (by 109%) and PR + DL (by 102%). The NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase activity was significantly decreased by NF and DL and after their combination with PR. The ethymorphine-N-demethylase (EMND) and amidopyrine-N-demethylase (APND) activities were not changed. The effects of PR, NF and DL administrated alone or in combination on liver oxidative metabolism are considered as possible mechanisms of drug interactions.