Cardiac chronotropic mechanisms of dimethyl sulphoxide: inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and antagonism of negative chronotropy by atropine

Phenobarbital, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT), benzpyrene, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were administered i.p. for 1 or 3 days to genetically "responsive" (C57BL/6J) and genetically "non-responsive" (DBA/2J) mice. 3-MC or benzpyrene stimulated aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity in C57BL/6J (B6) mice but not in DBA/2J (D2) mice. TCDD induced AHH activity in both B6 and D2 mice. Time-course studies showed that in the first 12 h after a single injection of 3-MC to B6 mice there was no shift in the reduced cytochrome P-450-CO complex absorption spectra from 450 to 448 nm, although AHH activity increased 4-5 times over (above) that of the control group. The relationship between induction of AHH activity by polycyclic hydrocarbons in B6 mice and the concomitant synthesis of cytochrome P-448 is discussed.     

Nitroreduction of 2,4-dinitrotoluene in vitro by cytochrome P-450 induced H4IIE cells

Conditions have been established for H4IIE rat hepatoma cell cultures in which effects of cytochrome P-450 induction on the metabolism of a munitions wastestream pollutant can be studied. Under these conditions, the polychlorinated hydrocarbon 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzfuran (PCDBF) induced cytochrome P-450 (1A1) aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity over a wide range of concentrations without significant cytotoxic effects. The munition pollutant 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) did not induce AHH activity itself, but its metabolism was considerably altered when applied to PCDBF induced cultures. Production of amino nitrotoluene isomers was greatly enhanced in induced cultures as compared to uninduced controls, as was the conversion of radiolabeled 2,4-DNT to relatively more polar metabolites. To some extent, the results with H4IIE cells parallel those reported for animals exposed to 2,4-DNT after induction of cytochrome P-450 AHH activity. The preliminary findings suggest that with further development and validation, H4IIE cultures could be of use in characterizing metabolites that result from exposure to chemical mixtures involving a P-450 (1A1) inducer.     

Inhibition of CYP1A1-dependent activity by the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) fluoranthene

Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants, and recently bioassay-based induction studies have been used to determine exposures to complex mixtures of PAHs. Induction of CYP1A1-dependent activity in H4IIE rat hepatoma cells has been used extensively as a bioassay for halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons and more recently for PAHs. Fluoranthene (FL) is a prevalent PAH contaminant in diverse environmental samples, and FL did not induce CYP1A1-dependent ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity significantly in H4IIE cells. However, in cells cotreated with 2 x 10(-5) M FL plus the potent inducers 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF) (2 x 10(-8) M), there was a significant decrease in EROD activities. Furthermore, treatment of TCDD-induced rat microsomes with FL caused an 80% decrease in EROD activity. Studies showed that FL did not affect induction of CYP1A1 protein or mRNA levels in H4IIE cells, and analysis of enzyme inhibition data using microsomal CYP1A1 indicated that FL noncompetitively inhibited CYP1A1-dependent activity. 32P-Postlabeling revealed no significant FL-DNA adduct formation in H4IIE cells treated with FL. However, in cells cotreated with FL plus BkF or benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), certain PAH-DNA adducts were induced 2-fold. This study demonstrated that FL is an inhibitor of CYP1A1-dependent enzyme activity in rat hepatoma H4IIE cells and that the genotoxic potency of some carcinogenic PAHs may be modulated by FL in mixtures containing relatively high levels of this compound.     

Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) inducing potencies of planar chlorinated aromatic hydrocarbons in primary cultures of hepatocytes from different developmental stages of the chicken

In vitro induction of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in cell cultures is an extensively validated tool for measuring overall potencies of mixtures of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons (HAHs) in samples from the abiotic or biotic environment. For risk assessment with special attention to effects in wild birds, an assay was developed that makes use of chicken embryo hepatocytes. However, it was questioned whether compound-specific responses are consistent at the various developmental stages. The results of our present study show that there are considerable differences between early and late embryonal and post-hatching stages. The induction of EROD was measured in primary chicken hepatocyte cultures. The cells were isolated at day 14 and day 19 of embryonal development and at day 1 post hatching. Hepatocytes were exposed in vitro to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 126, IUPAC nomenclature) and 2,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 118). The respective compounds were chosen as representatives for dioxins, furans, non-ortho PCBs, and mono-ortho PCBs. These groups of chemicals have been identified as environmental contaminants with major dioxin-like effects that are mediated by a common receptor, the arylhydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. At all developmental stages, TCDF was more potent than TCDD. Relative potencies (RP = EC50TCDD/EC50HAH) decreased in the order TCDF < TCDD < PCB 126 < PCB 118. Depending on the developmental stage, TCDF was 1.2 to 3.4 times more potent than TCDD. PCB 126 was equipotent or less potent by a factor of 3 than TCDD. PCB 118 was 100 to 300 times less potent than TCDD. Both the mean effective concentration (EC50) and the maximum EROD activity (Ymax) of all compounds were lower in hepatocyte cultures from 14-day-old embryos than those from 19-day-old embryos or 1-day-old hatchlings. RPs were comparable in 19-day-old embryos and in hatchlings, but significantly different in 14-day-old embryos.     

Indole-3-carbinol and diindolylmethane as aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonists and antagonists in T47D human breast cancer cells

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) is a major component of Brassica vegetables, and diindolylmethane (DIM) is the major acid-catalyzed condensation product derived from I3C. Both compounds competitively bind to the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor with relatively low affinity. In Ah-responsive T47D human breast cancer cells, I3C and DIM did not induce significantly CYP1A1-dependent ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity or CYP1A1 mRNA levels at concentrations as high as 125 or 31 microM, respectively. A 1 nM concentration of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced EROD activity in these cells, and cotreatment with TCDD plus different concentrations of I3C (1-125 microM) or DIM (1-31 microM) resulted in a > 90% decrease in the induced response at the highest concentration of I3C or DIM. I3C or DIM also partially inhibited (< 50%) induction of CYP1A1 mRNA levels by TCDD and reporter gene activity, using an Ah-responsive plasmid construct in transient transfection assays. In T47D cells cotreated with 5 nM [3H]TCDD alone or in combination with 250 microM I3C or 31 microM DIM, there was a 37 and 73% decrease, respectively, in formation of the nuclear Ah receptor. The more effective inhibition of induced EROD activity by I3C and DIM was due to in vitro inhibition of enzyme activity. Thus, both I3C and DIM are partial Ah receptor antagonists in the T47D human breast cancer cell line.     

Piperine, a major ingredient of black and long peppers, protects against AFB1-induced cytotoxicity and micronuclei formation in H4IIEC3 rat hepatoma cells

We studied the effect of piperine on the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in rat hepatoma cells H4IIEC3/G-(H4IIE) using cellular growth and formation of micronuclei as endpoints. Piperine was earlier shown to inhibit cytochrome P-450-dependent aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-methoxycoumarin demethylase activities in preparations of these cells with 1/2 maximum inhibition at 30-50 microM (Singh J. and Reen R.K., Current Science, 66, 365-369, 1994). The results of the present study showed that AFB1 inhibited the growth of H4IIE cells with an ED50 of 15 nM. Piperine markedly reduced the toxicity of the mycotoxin. Thus at 100 microM piperine largely restored the rate of growth of the cells. Likewise, piperine reduced the AFB1-induced formation of micronuclei in a concentration-dependent manner. Piperine itself was not toxic to the cells up to a concentration of almost 100 microM. The results suggest, that piperine is capable of counteracting AFB1 toxicity by suppressing cytochromes P-450 mediated bioactivation of the mycotoxin.     

Dose-response relationships for polyhalogenated dioxins and dibenzofurans following subchronic treatment in mice. I. CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 enzyme activity in liver, lung, and skin

The dose-response relationships for induction of liver, lung, and skin ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity and liver acetanilide-4-hydroxylase (ACOH) activity following subchronic exposure to either 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrabromodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (1-PeCDF), 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (4-PeCDF), or octachlorodibenzofuran (OCDF) were determined in female B6C3F1 mice in order to estimate the relative enzyme inducing potency of these chemicals in three different tissues. The relative potencies were calculated based on tissue concentrations as well as administered dose. A dose-dependent induction of EROD activity in liver, lung, and skin and of ACOH activity in liver was found for all seven chemicals. When based on administered dose, the relative potencies for specific congeners did not vary substantially among tissues. The relative potencies for TCDF and 1-PeCDF, congeners which have much shorter half-lives than TCDD, increased for all enzymes when estimated from tissue concentrations. The relative potency of OCDF, which is poorly absorbed, was greater when estimated from tissue concentrations than when estimated from administered dose. 4-PeCDF is highly sequestered in hepatic tissue and when the relative potency was estimated based on tissue concentration, its potency for skin enzyme induction increased. These data indicate that the relative potency of these chemicals is influenced not only by the relative binding affinity to the Ah receptor, but also by differences in pharmacokinetic properties of these chemicals. In addition, it may be useful to derive two sets of toxic equivalency factor values, one used for estimating intake equivalents and the other for estimating tissue equivalents.     

What stops synchronized thalamocortical oscillations?

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) suppresses B lymphocyte proliferation and immunoglobulin production. We previously reported that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) complex, composed of the AhR ligand binding subunit and the Ah receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), was constitutively present in nuclear extracts from two human B lymphocyte cell lines (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 212, 27-34, 1995). The present study compared the AhR complex in the IM-9 and PJS-91 human B lymphocyte and HepG2 human hepatoma cell lines. AhR mRNA levels in the two lymphocyte cell lines were substantially lower than those in HepG2 cells, as was immunoreactive AhR protein. In contrast, ARNT mRNA and protein were expressed at a high level in all three cell lines. TCDD induction of cytochrome P450 1A1 mRNA and protein was detected in only the PJS-91 lymphocyte cell line, and at a markedly lower level than that in HepG2 cells. In gel shift assays, the cytosolic DNA-binding AhR complex in IM-9 and PJS-91 cells was indistinguishable from that in HepG2 cells. In contrast, the nuclear DNA-binding AhR complex in IM-9 and PJS-91 cells consisted of several closely migrating species, one being recognized by an AhR antibody, while an ARNT antibody reacted with all species. Protein:DNA cross-linking analysis revealed the presence of a novel Mr 100,000 DNA-binding protein in nuclear extracts from IM-9 and PJS-91, but not HepG2, cells that was not recognized by either AhR or ARNT antibodies. These results show that IM-9 and PJS-91 human B cells constitutively express a distinct nuclear DNA-binding form of the AhR complex that may result from the presence of an additional protein or a structural variant of the AhR.     

Stereospecific, high affinity binding of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin by hepatic cytosol. Evidence that the binding species is receptor for induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

We previously hypothesized that the genetic trait of aromatic hydrocarbon nonresponsiveness (the failure in certain inbred strains of mice of polycyclic hydrocarbons to induce aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, and the diminished sensitivity to the more potent inducer 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is due to mutation which results in an induction receptor with a diminished affinity for the inducing compound. Following the intraperitoneal administration of [14C]TCDD (6 nmol/kg), hepatic accumulation of the radiolabel was greatest in C57BL/6J mice, intermediate in the hybrid B6D2F1/J mice, and least in DBA/2J mice, a pattern which mirrors the strain sensitivity to hydroxylase induction by TCDD (C57BL/6J greater than B6D2F1/J greater than DBA/2J). These data are compatible with receptor mutation theory and suggested that the hepatic uptake of TCDD is determined by the affinity of the receptor. In vitro experiments on the binding of [3H]TCDD to hepatic cytosol from C57BL/6J mice revealed a small pool of high affinity sites which stereospecifically and reversibly bind TCDD. The specific binding of [3H]TCDD to hepatic cytosol had an equilibrium dissociation constant KD of 0.27 nM and a maximum binding capacity of 84 fmol/mg of cytosol protein. Much less high affinity specific binding of [3H]TCDD was observed in hepatic cytosol from DBA/2J mice, but the KD was not estimated because of the limited aqueous solubility of the ligand. The binding affinity of 23 halogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans for this hepatic cytosol-binding species closely correlated with the potencies of these compounds as inducers of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. The polycyclic hydrocarbons that induce hepatic hydroxylase activity competed with [3H]TCDD for hepatic cytosol binding, but phenobarbital, pregnenolone-16alpha-carbonitrile, and the steroid hormones had no specific binding. The data suggest that the hepatic cytosol species which binds TCDD is the receptor for the induction of hepatic aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, and that the mutation in nonresponsive mice results in an altered receptor with a diminished affinity for inducing compounds.     

Potency of mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls as inducers of dioxin receptor-regulated CYP1A activity in rat hepatocytes and H4IIE cells

Among the polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), a family of widespread environmental pollutants, the most toxic non-ortho-substituted coplanar (non-ortho coplanar) congeners are thought to act as strong dioxin (aryl hydrocarbon) receptor agonists leading to adverse effects, such as body weight loss, immunosuppression, thymic atrophy, hepatotoxicity, tumor promotion, and disturbances of steroid hormone action. Since PCBs are present in environmental and tissue samples as complex mixtures, we investigated the possible interaction of non-ortho coplanar congeners with other major PCBs, which are less active or inactive as dioxin receptor agonists. As a parameter for dioxin receptor activation, induction of CYP1A-catalyzed 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) was determined in rat hepatocytes in primary culture and in the rat hepatoma cell line H4IIE. In rat hepatocytes, individual EC50-values and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) equivalency factors (TEFs) for the non-ortho and mono-ortho coplanar PCBs 126, 169, 105, 118 and 156, were in good agreement with published data from in vivo experiments, while in H4IIE cells coincidence was lower. However, in both cell systems TEFs for PCB 77 were significantly higher than reported from experiments in rats. In an approximately equipotent mixture the six potent PCB congeners showed perfect additive behaviour in both cell systems. In contrast, addition of a tenfold surplus of abundant mono- and di-ortho PCBs (28, 52, 101, 138, 153 and 180) led to an almost threefold higher TEF than predicted. This finding suggests a moderate synergistic enhancement of the inducing potency of potent PCBs by less potent congeners, present in abundance in environmental and tissue samples.     

Evaluation of the xenobiotic biotransformation capability of six rodent hepatoma cell lines in comparison with rat hepatocytes

Phase I and II activities were examined in six rodent hepatoma cell lines and compared with those of cultured rat hepatocytes both in basal conditions and after exposure to 5 microM methylcholanthrene, 2 mM phenobarbital, and 15 microM beta-naphtoflavone. The metabolic profile of testosterone was also studied. The highest aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activities were found in MH1C1 cells. Comparable values for 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, ranging from 21.6 to 42.9 pmol/mg x min, were observed in the hepatocytes and hepatoma cells, except the HTC cells. In contrast, only Fao cells showed 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase activity at levels similar to those of hepatocytes (6.2 +/- 1.0 and 7.4 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg x min, respectively). Rat hepatocytes actively hydroxylated p-nitrophenol, but this activity was not measurable in hepatoma cells. Glutathione transferase activity was maintained in all the hepatoma cell lines at similar levels to those found in hepatocytes (684 +/- 56 nmol/mg x min). The seven hydroxylated metabolites of testosterone produced by cultured hepatocytes were negligible in hepatoma cells. Exposure of cells to inducers revealed that aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was mainly increased after treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene and beta-naphtoflavone, and the highest values were found in rat hepatocytes followed by MH1C1 and Fao cells. 3-Methylcholanthrene and naphtoflavone treatment also resulted in a marked increase in 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in hepatocytes as well as in H4IIC3, McA-Rh7777, MH1C1, and Fao cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Cloning and sequencing of the pyrG encoding cytidine 5''-triphosphate synthetase from Mycobacterium bovis BCG

Treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-negative MDA-MB-468 human breast cancer cells with 10 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced formation of a nuclear aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor complex as determined by ligand-binding and gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays. TCDD also induced CYP1A1-dependent activity in MDA-MB-468 cells, which represents the first ER-negative Ah receptor-positive human breast cancer cell line that has been identified. Treatment of this cell line with TCDD and related compounds also caused a 50% inhibition of cell growth, which resembled the growth inhibitory effects previously reported for epidermal growth factor (EGF). However, EGF expression is minimal in this cell line and is not induced by TCDD; moreover, EGF and TCDD induced a different pattern of oncogene expression and apoptosis in MDA-MB-468 cells. In contrast, TCDD caused a rapid and sustained induction of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF alpha) gene expression and secreted protein (nearly 2-fold); moreover, the growth-inhibitory effects of TCDD could be blocked by antibodies to the EGF receptor. In a separate experiment, it was shown that TGF alpha also inhibited growth of MDA-MB-468 cells. The results of this study indicate that the mechanism of growth inhibition of MDA-MB-468 cells by TCDD is due to induction of TGF alpha, which is a potent antimitogen in this cell breast cancer line.