Trace elements in human scalp hair and soil in Irian Jaya

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are present in cigarette smoke, are common air and food genotoxic contaminants and possible human carcinogens. We measured the following PAH levels: benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, BaP, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene as well as (+/-) syn and anti BaP diol-epoxide (BPDE) DNA adducts in autopsy samples from the lungs of non-smokers, ex-smokers and smokers who had lived in Florence, Italy. PAH levels in lung tissue were similar in all groups, with the exception of dibenzo[a,h]anthracene (DBA), which was higher in lung samples from smokers (n = 10, 0.18+/-0.17 ng/g d.w, mean +/- S.D.) compared to non-smokers (n = 15, 0.046+/-0.025 ng/g d.w) (P < 0.05), whereas ex-smokers (n = 5), had intermediate levels (0.07+/-0.03 ng/g d.w). The average level of total BPDE-DNA adducts was 4.46+/-5.76 per 10(8) bases in smokers, 4.04+/-2.37 per 10(8) in ex-smokers and 1.76+/-1.69 per 10(8) in non-smokers. The levels of non-smokers were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the levels of the smokers and ex-smokers combined. Total BPDE-DNA adducts were correlated with BaP levels in the lung samples in which both determinations were obtained (r = 0.63). Our results demonstrate that the biological load of PAHs due to environmental pollution is similar in individuals who smoke and those who do not, but BPDE-DNA adducts are higher in smokers and ex-smokers compared to non-smokers. This study further confirms the usefulness of BPDE-DNA adduct levels determination in the lungs from autopsy samples for monitoring long-term human exposure to BaP, a representative PAH.     

Addiction and imaging of the living human brain

The CYP1A1, CYP2D6 and GSTM1 genes encode biotransforming enzymes involved in activation and detoxification of xenobiotics. Metabolically activated chemical compounds may interact with DNA and form adducts. In this study, the effect of the GSTM1, CYP1A1 exon 7 and CYP2D6 polymorphisms on DNA adduct levels was studied in 170 healthy volunteers. DNA adducts levels were measured by 32P-postlabelling in mononuclear white blood cells (WBC, lymphocytes and monocytes) and granulocytes collected in summer and winter. The influence of the genotype on the level of DNA adducts in both types of WBCs was observed only in summer samples. Individuals with GSTM1 deficient (null) genotype had significantly elevated level of adducts in mononuclear WBCs (p = 0.045) and granulocytes (p = 0.031) compared to GSTM1 positives. Higher adduct levels in carriers of combined GSTM1(null)/CYP1A1-Ile/Val genotype were found in both types of WBCs when compared to GSTM1(+)/CYP1A1-Ile/Ile genotype carriers (p = 0.046 in granulocytes, p = 0.092 in mononuclear WBCs). CYP2D6 wild-type homozygotes (EMs) and heterozygotes (HEMs) were shown to have significantly higher mononuclear WBC DNA adduct levels than mutant homozygotes (PMs) (p = 0.037 and p = 0.014). When confounding factors associated with PAH exposure were taken into account a statistically significant effect of CYP1A1 exon 7 polymorphism on DNA adduct levels was found (p = 0.012 in mononuclear WBCs, p = 0.043 in granulocytes). In a subgroup of current smokers (n = 95) high DNA adduct levels in granulocytes were associated with GSTM1(null) genotype, and increased adduct levels in mononuclear WBCs correlated with CYP2D6 EM and HEM genotypes. In winter samples the association between the genotype and DNA adduct levels was not observed.     

Aromatic DNA adducts in foundry workers in relation to exposure, life style and CYP1A1 and glutathione transferase M1 genotype

Levels of aromatic DNA adducts in foundry workers and controls were followed at four annual samplings. During this time exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) decreased and the level of DNA adducts decreased accordingly. In the total group exposure was related to the level of adducts. Adduct levels correlated with urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (LOGU1OH), air benzo[a]pyrene, weekly working hours and daily cigarette consumption. In a multivariate model 1-hydroxypyrene had a consistent effect. Neither glutathione transferase M1 (GSTM1) nor cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) genotypes had clear effects. Yet the individuals lacking GSTM1 had a stronger effect of LOGU1OH and some effect by other sources of PAH, such as charcoal broiled food, although all these variables were not significant in the multivariate model. The rare individuals with a CYP1A1 polymorphism MspI containing an amino acid change at isoleucine had an increased level of adducts. The results showed that the postlabelling method used was able to detect an increase in aromatic DNA adducts in leukocytes when exposure to benzo[a]pyrene in air was approximately 5 ng/m3. At such low levels smoking and charcoal broiled food may be important contributors to adducts.     

Slow repair of bulky DNA adducts along the nontranscribed strand of the human p53 gene may explain the strand bias of transversion mutations in cancers

Using UvrABC incision in combination with ligation-mediated PCR (LMPCR) we have previously shown that benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) adduct formation along the nontranscribed strand of the human p53 gene is highly selective; the preferential binding sites coincide with the major mutation hotspots found in human lung cancers. Both sequence-dependent adduct formation and repair may contribute to these mutation hotspots in tumor tissues. To test this possibility, we have extended our previous studies by mapping the BPDE adduct distribution in the transcribed strand of the p53 gene and quantifying the rates of repair for individual damaged bases in exons 5, 7, and 8 for both DNA strands of this gene in normal human fibroblasts. We found that: (i) on both strands, BPDE adducts preferentially form at CpG sequences, and (ii) repair of BPDE adducts in the transcribed DNA strand is consistently faster than repair of adducts in the nontranscribed strand, while repair at the major damage hotspots (guanines at codons 157, 248 and 273) in the nontranscribed strand is two to four times slower than repair at other damage sites. These results strongly suggest that both preferential adduct formation and slow repair lead to hotspots for mutations at codons 157, 248 and 273, and that the strand bias of bulky adduct repair is primarily responsible for the strand bias of G to T transversion mutations observed in the p53 gene in human cancers.     

Growth and cuticular synthesis in Ascaris suum larvae during development from third to fourth stage in vitro

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts were studied in human lung from 39 lung cancer patients by synchronous fluorescence spectrophotometric (SFS) and 32P-postlabeling assays. Regression analysis of the samples failed to detect any correlation between benzo[a]pyrene-diolepoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts detected by SFS and the BPDE co-migrating spot detected by 32P-postlabeling. We have also analyzed the relationship between adduct levels and TP53 mutations. By postlabeling diagonal radioactive zone (DRZ) adducts were detected in 37 of 39 (95%) lung tissues from lung cancer patients and the adduct level ranged from 6.81 to 108.50 adducts/10(8) nucleotide. Thirty-three of 39 (85%) had detectable levels of BPDE-DNA adducts (> 1 adduct/10(9) nucleotide). Current heavy smokers (> 20 cigarettes/day) have significantly higher DRZ adduct levels compared to individuals smoking less than 20 cigarettes/day. By SFS combined with immunoaffinity column (IAC), 11 of 39 (28%) samples had detectable adduct levels, and 6 of 11 (55%) were detectable by SFS following purification of benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-tetrols by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Six of 33 (18%) samples were positive for BPDE-DNA adducts by both postlabeling and HPLC/SFS. No correlation was observed between the SFS and 32P-postlabeling assays for the detection of BPDE-DNA adducts. However, there was a good correlation between adduct levels detected by IAC/SFS and HPLC/SFS. We found a weak association between total PAH-DNA adduct levels in lung tissue and TP53 mutations.     

Comparative assessment of DNA adduct formation, Salmonella mutagenicity, and chromosome aberration assays as short-term tests for DNA damage

DNA adduct formation assay (DAFA) was carried out to compare dose responses with the Ames test and chromosomal aberration test using aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). In the bacterial mutation test, AFB1 and BaP (0-1 microgram/plate) were all positive in TA97a and TA100 with dose-related revertants. However, the slopes of the dose-response curves were gradual (slope 0.55-3.73, r = .84-.98). In the chromosome aberration test, a significant increase in the percentage of chromosomal aberrations was obtained from male ICR mouse spleen cells treated with AFB1 and BaP, but a dose-related increase was insensitive (slope 0.09-0.23, r = .75-.78). The incidence of chromosomally aberrant spleen cells treated with BaP was significantly increased compared with AFB1. DAFA was performed in vitro with [3H]-AFB1 and [3H]BaP. These two carcinogens were able to induce genotoxicity and showed good dose-related increases in terms of DNA adduct formation (slope 0.78-1.28, r = 1.00). Coefficients of variation (CV) for the slope of each dose-response curve were much lower in DAFA in vitro (CV 15.09- 18.34%) than those in any other test (CV 19.69-99.33%, Ames test; 18.89-44.58%, chromosome aberration test). Furthermore, DAFA in vivo was performed to investigate organotropic DNA adduct formation and persistence in Sprague-Dawley rats ip or orally treated with AFB1 and BaP. DNA adducts were monitored for 48-96 h by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using corresponding monoclonal antibodies, 6A10 and 8E11. DAFA in vivo demonstrated that the liver and kidney might be the probable target organs for AFB1 with the highest formation and persistence of DNA adducts and the lung and liver for BaP regardless of the route of administration. The results suggest that DAFA in vitro could be useful for detecting genotoxic compounds, and DAFA in vivo should also be considered as a good alternative method for the screening of organ-specific chemical carcinogens.     

Hemoglobin adducts of benzo[a]pyrene diolepoxide in newspaper vendors: association with traffic exhaust

Benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide adducts with hemoglobin (Hb) were measured to detect human exposure to environmental benzo[a]pyrene from traffic exhaust. Benzo[a]pyrene tetrahydrotetrols (BPTs) released from Hb after acid hydrolysis were quantitated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after immunoaffinity chromatography. Fifty three newspaper vendors were enrolled. The median adduct concentration was 0.3 fmol BPTs/mg Hb in high density traffic-exposed vendors and < or = 0.1 fmol BPTs/mg Hb in those exposed to low density traffic; the difference was not significant (P = 0.09). Among non-smokers, adducts were detectable in 60% of high exposure subjects (median 0.3 fmol BPTs/mg Hb) and in 28% of those with low exposure (median < or = 0.1 fmol/mg Hb). This difference was significant (P = 0.02). In low exposure smokers the median of adducts was 0.26 fmol BPTs/mg Hb, while in low exposure non-smokers it was < or = 0.1 fmol BPTs/mg Hb (P = 0.08, not significant). Adduct concentration was no different for low and high density traffic-exposed smokers (P = 0.82). The data indicate a significant difference in adduct concentration related to traffic exhaust exposure among non-smokers.     

Putative susceptibility markers of coronary artery disease: association between VDR genotype, smoking, and aromatic DNA adduct levels in human right atrial tissue

Cancer and cardiovascular diseases share risk factors such as smoking, and the onset of both diseases have been suggested to have a common mechanistic basis. The binding of carcinogens to DNA (carcinogen-DNA adducts), genetic polymorphisms in carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), and genetic polymorphisms in the vitamin D receptor (VDR) are among the candidates for modifiers of cancer risk. We determined whether these biomarkers could be related to individual characteristics of patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. For that purpose, DNA from the right atrial appendage of 41 patients who underwent open heart surgery was analyzed for smoking-related DNA adducts and polymorphisms in GSTM1, GSTT1, and VDR genes. Statistical analysis was used to identify any patient's characteristics associated with these molecular markers. Our results showed that heart tissue of cigarette smokers contained a variety of aromatic DNA adducts in significantly elevated levels compared to ex-smokers (P<0.01) or nonsmokers (P<0.001). A linear relationship was observed between DNA adduct levels and daily cigarette smoking (rs=0.73; P=0.0003). Since cardiac myocytes are terminally differentiated cells that have lost their ability to divide and seemingly have limited DNA repair capacities, their levels might accumulate with time and thereby affect heart cell function or viability. Substantial interindividual differences between DNA adduct levels were observed, and persons with severe coronary artery disease (CAD), as assessed by coronary angiography, had higher DNA adduct levels than persons with no or mild CAD (P=0.04). As polymorphisms in GST genes have been shown to modulate DNA adduct levels and risk for lung cancer in smokers, we explored for the first time whether the GST polymorphisms could also explain deviating heart DNA adduct levels and CAD risk. However, no relation could be found between these covariants. In contrast, a VDR genotype, which has been associated with decreased serum levels of the active hormonal form of vitamin D and increased risk for certain cancers, seemed to be related to severity of CAD (P=0.025). Our findings support the hypothesis that smoking-related DNA damage may be involved in the onset of cardiovascular diseases and suggest that VDR genotype may be a useful susceptibility marker of CAD.     

Characterization of hemoglobin adducts from a 4, 4'-methylenedianiline metabolite evidently produced by peroxidative oxidation in vivo

4,4'-Methylenedianiline (MDA) is a widely used mutagenic and carcinogenic industrial chemical. It is also a metabolite of 4, 4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), which is used in the manufacturing of polyurethane foams. Biomonitoring of MDA, like other aromatic amines, is mainly carried out by GC/MS measurement of cysteine adducts in Hb from the nitroso metabolite, released by alkaline hydrolysis. In the present study it was investigated whether the formation of Hb adducts from non-nitroso metabolites of MDA can be used for the dosimetry of MDA. The study was carried out by treatment of mice with MDA and tritiated MDA or deuterated MDA and by identification of their products of reaction with Hb, after enzymatic hydrolysis of the globin and enrichment of the adducts. The main adduct, about 50% of the total amount of MDA associated with Hb, was characterized by MS and was shown to be a reaction product of MDA and the amino group of N-terminal valine in Hb, the derived structure being 1-[(4-imino-2, 5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene)methyl]benzene-4-azo-2-isovaleric acid. It is likely that this quinonoid MDA imine adduct to valine was formed by an attack of a metabolite formed through peroxidative oxidation of MDA, in analogy with earlier observed oxidation of some other aromatic amines, e.g., benzidine. The reactive intermediate is suggested to be [(4-imino-2, 5-cyclohexadien-1-ylidene)methyl]-4-aminobenzene. The formation of the adduct was confirmed by incubating MDA with valine methyl ester in vitro in the presence of H2O2 and lactoperoxidase. Further, the same adduct was detected in MDI-exposed and control rats, the level in the exposed animals being about 60 times higher than in the controls. This study indicates that, at least in the mouse, extrahepatic peroxidative metabolism is an important pathway for the bioactivation of MDA, possibly leading to a genotoxic reactive intermediate. This study also demonstrates the usefulness of Hb adduct analysis for the identification of reactive intermediates in vivo.     

Comparison of immunoaffinity chromatography enrichment and nuclease P1 procedures for 32P-postlabelling analysis of PAH-DNA adducts

32P-postlabelling analysis for detecting DNA adducts formed by polycyclic aromatic compounds is one of the most widely used techniques for assessing genotoxicity associated with these compounds. In cases where the formation of adducts is extremely low, a crucial step in the analysis is an enrichment procedure for adducts prior to the radiolabelling step. The nuclease P1 enhancement procedure is the most established and frequently used of these methods. An immunoaffinity procedure developed for class specific recognition for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-DNA adducts has therefore been compared with the nuclease P1 method for a range of DNA adducts formed by PAHs. The evaluation was carried out with skin DNA from mice treated topically with benzo[a]pyrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, 5-methylchrysene or chrysene. The immobilised antibody had the highest affinity for adducts structurally similar to the BPDE-I-deoxyguanosine adduct ([+/-]-N2-(7r,8t,9r-trihydroxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene-1 0t-yl)-2'-deoxyguanosine) against which the antibody had been raised. Of the PAH-modified DNAs evaluated, the maximum adduct recovery was obtained for DNA containing the BPDE I-deoxyguanosine adduct. With DMBA-modified DNA, the profiles of adducts recovered from the column were similar when the column material was treated either with a digest of DMBA-modified DNA or with 32P-labelled DMBA adducts. I-compounds (endogenous adducts in tissue DNA of unexposed animals), which had similar chromatographic properties to PAH-DNA adducts, were not enriched by the immunoaffinity procedure. Compared to the simple nuclease P1 enhancement procedure, the immunoaffinity methods were lengthier and more labour intensive. Advantages of the immunoaffinity procedure include: specificity, allowing the selective detection of a certain class of adducts: efficient adduct enrichment, providing a viable alternative to other enrichment procedures; adequate sensitivity for model studies and the potential to purify adducts for further characterisation. However, as a general screen for detecting the formation of DNA adducts, the nuclease P1 procedure was viewed as the initial method of choice since it was capable of detecting a wider range of PAH-DNA adducts.     

DNA adducts of 2,3-epoxy-4-hydroxynonanal: detection of 7-(1', 2'-dihydroxyheptyl)-3H-imidazo[2,1-i]purine and 1,N6-ethenoadenine by gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization/mass spectrometry

2,3-Epoxy-4-hydroxynonanal (EH) is a bifunctional aldehyde formed by epoxidation of trans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a peroxidation product of omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. EH is mutagenic and tumorigenic and capable of modifying DNA bases forming etheno adducts in vitro. Recent studies showed that etheno adducts are present in tissue DNA of humans and untreated rodents, suggesting a potential endogenous role of EH in their formation. A sensitive assay is needed so we can determine whether EH is involved in etheno adduct formation in vivo and study the biological significance of the etheno adducts in DNA. In this study, we developed a gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization/mass spectrometry assay for the analysis of 1, N6-ethenoadenine (epsilonAde) and 7-(1', 2'-dihydroxyheptyl)-3H-imidazo[2,1-i]purine (DHH-epsilonAde) in DNA; both are products from the reaction of adenine with EH. The assay entails the following sequence of steps: (1) addition of [15N5]epsilonAde and [15N5]DHH-epsilonAde to DNA as internal standards, (2) acid hydrolysis of DNA, (3) adduct enrichment by C18 solid phase extraction (SPE), (4) derivatization by pentafluorobenzylation (PFB), (5) separation of PFB-epsilonAde and PFB-DHH-epsilonAde on a Si SPE column, (6) acetonide (ACT) formation of PFB-DHH-epsilonAde, and (7) GC/MS analysis with selective ion monitoring (SIM). The limit of detection by on-column injection for PFB-epsilonAde monitoring of the (M - PFB)- ion at m/z 158 was 30 amol and for ACT-PFB-DHH-epsilonAde monitoring of the (M - PFB)- ion at m/z 328 was 0.4 fmol; the detection limits for the entire assay were 6.3 fmol for epsilonAde and 36 fmol for DHH-epsilonAde. In calf thymus DNA modified with EH at 37 degreesC for 50 h, both epsilonAde and DHH-epsilonAde were detected at high levels by this method, 4.5 +/- 0.7 and 90.8 +/- 8.7 adducts/10(3) adenine, respectively. These levels were also verified by HPLC fluorescence analysis, indicating that EH extensively reacts with adenine in DNA, forming etheno adducts. The high sensitivity of the assay suggests that it may be used in the analysis of ethenoadenine adducts in vivo.     

Expanded analysis of benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts formed in vitro and in mouse skin: their significance in tumor initiation

This paper reports expanded analyses of benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-DNA adducts formed in vitro by activation with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) or 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rat liver microsomes and in vivo in mouse skin. The adducts formed by BP are compared to those formed by BP-7,8-dihydrodiol and anti-BP diol epoxide (BPDE). First, activation of BP by HRP produced 61% depurinating adducts: 7-(benzo[a]pyrene-6-yl)guanine (BP-6-N7Gua), BP-6-C8Gua, BP-6-N7Ade, and the newly identified BP-6-N3Ade. As a standard, the last adduct was synthesized along with BP-6-N1Ade by electrochemical oxidation of BP in the presence of adenine. Second, identification and quantitation of BP-DNA adducts formed by microsomal activation of BP showed 68% depurinating adducts: BP-6-N7Ade, BP-6-N7Gua, BP-6-C8Gua, BPDE-10-N7Ade, and the newly detected BPDE-10-N7Gua. The stable adducts were mostly BPDE-10-N2dG (26%), with 6% unidentified. BPDE-10-N7Ade and BPDE-10-N7Gua were the depurinating adducts identified after microsomal activation of BP-7, 8-dihydrodiol or direct reaction of anti-BPDE with DNA. In both cases, the predominant adduct was BPDE-10-N2dG (90% and 96%, respectively). Third, when mouse skin was treated with BP for 4 h, 71% of the total adducts were the depurinating adducts BP-6-N7Gua, BP-6-C8Gua, BP-6-N7Ade, and small amounts of BPDE-10-N7Ade and BPDE-10-N7Gua. These newly detected depurinating diol epoxide adducts were found in larger amounts when mouse skin was treated with BP-7,8-dihydrodiol or anti-BPDE. The stable adduct BPDE-10-N2dG was predominant, especially with anti-BPDE. Comparison of the profiles of DNA adducts formed by BP, BP-7,8-dihydrodiol, and anti-BPDE with their carcinogenic potency indicates that tumor initiation correlates with the levels of depurinating adducts, but not with stable adducts. Furthermore, the levels of depurinating adducts of BP correlate with mutations in the Harvey-ras oncogene in DNA isolated from mouse skin papillomas initiated by this compound [Chakravarti et al. (1995) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 92, 10422-10426]. The depurinating adducts formed by BP in mouse skin appear to be the key adducts leading to tumor initiation.     

Aromatic DNA adducts in human white blood cells and skin after dermal application of coal tar

A group of eczema patients topically treated with coal tar (CT) ointments was used as a model population to examine the applicability of DNA adducts in WBC subpopulations as a measure of dermal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Aromatic DNA adducts were examined by 32P-postlabeling in exposed skin and WBC subsets, and urinary excretion of PAH metabolites was determined to assess the whole-body burden. The median urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene and 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene was 0.39 (range, 0.12-1.57 micromol/mol creatinine) and 0.01 micromol/mol creatinine (range, <0.01-0.04 micromol/mol creatinine), respectively, before the dermal application of CT ointments. After treatment for 1 week, these levels increased to 139.7 (range, 26.0-510.5 micromol/mol creatinine) and 1.18 micromol/mol creatinine (range, <0.01-2.14 micromol/mol creatinine), respectively, indicating that considerable amounts of PAHs were absorbed. Median aromatic DNA adduct levels were significantly increased in skin from 2.9 adducts/10(8) nucleotides (nt; range, 0.7-10.0 adducts/10(8) nt) before treatment to 63.3 adducts/10(8) nt (range, 10.9-276.2 adducts/10(8) nt) after treatment with CT, in monocytes from 0.28 (range, 0.25-0.81 adducts/10(8) nt) to 0.86 adducts/10(8) nt (range, 0.56-1.90 adducts/10(8) nt), in lymphocytes from 0.33 (range, 0.25-0.89 adducts/10(8) nt) to 0.89 adducts/10(8) nt (range, 0.25-3.01 adducts/10(8) nt), and in granulocytes from 0.28 (range, 0.25-0.67 adducts/10(8) nt) to 0.54 adducts/10(8) nt (range, 0.25-1.58 adducts/10(8) nt). A week after stopping the CT treatment, the DNA adduct levels in monocytes and granulocytes were reduced to 0.38 (range, 0.25-0.71 adducts/10(8) nt) and 0.38 adducts/10(8) nt (range, 0.25-1.01 adducts/10(8) nt), respectively, whereas the adduct levels in lymphocytes remained enhanced [1.59 adducts/10(8) nt (range, 0.25-2.40 adducts/10(8) nt)]. Although the adduct profiles in skin and WBC subsets were not identical, and the adduct levels in WBCs were significantly lower as compared with those in skin, the total DNA adduct levels in skin correlated significantly with the adduct levels in monocytes and lymphocytes, but not with those in granulocytes. Excretion of urinary metabolites during the first week of treatment was correlated with the percentage of the skin surface treated with CT ointment and decreased to background levels within a week after the cessation of treatment. 3-Hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene excretion, but not that of 1-hydroxypyrene, correlated significantly with the levels of DNA adducts in skin that comigrated with benzo(a)pyrene-diol-epoxide-DNA. This study indicates that the DNA adduct levels in mononuclear WBCs can possibly be used as a surrogate for skin DNA after dermal exposure to PAHs.     

Concentration-dependent block of sodium current in guinea pig ventricular myocytes by a class III antiarrhythmic agent, MS-551

The 32P-post-labelling assay for DNA adduct quantification gives the opportunity to examine endogenous exposure to DNA reactive compounds. Most human biomonitoring studies applied white blood cells (WBC) or cells obtained by broncho-alveolar lavages (BAL) as source of DNA, but still it is not clear what cell type represents the most reliable indicator for exposure to cigarette smoke-associated genotoxins. At first, we examined DNA adduct levels by means of nuclease P1 (NP1) enriched 32P-post-labelling in separated WBC subpopulations after in vitro incubations for 18 h with 10 microM benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). DNA adduct levels were highest in monocytes (10.7 +/- 2.9 adducts/10(8) nucleotides, n = 8), followed by lymphocytes (5.9 +/- 1.7, n = 8), and granulocytes (0.5 +/- 0.2, n = 8). Secondly, aromatic-DNA adduct levels were determined in BAL cells and WBC-subsets from (non-)smoking volunteers. In smoking individuals, adduct levels were in the ranking order: BAL cells (3.7 +/- 1.0, n = 5) > monocytes (2.0 +/- 0.5, n = 8) > or = lymphocytes (1.6 +/- 0.4, n = 8) > granulocytes (0.8 +/- 0.2, n = 8) by NP1-enrichment and monocytes (9.0 +/- 3.2, n = 5) > or = lymphocytes (8.0 +/- 2.1, n = 6) > granulocytes (2.1 +/- 0.3, n = 7) by butanol-enriched 32P-post-labelling. Aromatic-DNA adduct levels were significantly higher in WBC-subsets of smokers as compared with non-smokers, except for DNA adducts in granulocytes using butanol enrichment. Thirdly, dose-response relationships were investigated in mononuclear white blood cells (MNC, i.e. monocytes plus lymphocytes) and BAL-cells of a larger group of smoking individuals (n = 78). Adduct levels in MNC were related to daily exposure to cigarette-tar (r = 0.31, P < 0.01). Adduct levels in BAL cells seemed to be correlated with pack-years, but after correction for age this relationship was lost. Butanol extraction resulted in 5-6-fold higher DNA adduct levels in MNC, whereas butanol extraction of BAL-DNA of the same individuals yielded only 2-fold higher adduct levels. The two enrichment procedures of 32P-post-labelling were correlated in BAL cells (r = 0.86, P < 0.001, n = 12). We conclude that particularly MNC are good surrogates for the detection of smoking-related DNA adducts.     

Mutagenic potential of stereoisomeric bay region (+)- and (-)-cis-anti-benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-N2-2'-deoxyguanosine adducts in Escherichia coli and simian kidney cells

We have investigated the mutagenic potential of site-specifically positioned DNA adducts with (+)- and (-)-cis-anti stereochemistry derived from the binding of r7,t8-dihydroxy-t9,10-epoxy-7,8,9, 10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE) to N2-2'-deoxyguanosine (G1 or G2) in the sequence context 5'TCCTCCTG1 G2CCTCTC. BPDE-modified oligodeoxynucleotides were ligated to a single-stranded DNA vector and replicated in Escherichia coli or simian kidney (COS7) cells. The presence of (+)- or (-)-cis adduct strongly reduced the yield of transformants in E. coli, and the yield was improved by the induction of SOS functions. Both adducts were mutagenic in E. coli and COS cells, generating primarily G --> T transversions. In E. coli, the (-)-cis adduct was more mutagenic than the (+)-cis adduct, while in COS cells, both adducts were equally mutagenic. These results were compared with those obtained with stereoisomeric (+)- and (-)-trans adducts [Moriya, M., et al. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 16646-16651). In E. coli, cis adducts, especially (-)-cis adducts, are consistently more mutagenic than the comparable trans adduct. In COS cells, trans adducts yield higher frequencies of mutations than the two cis adducts and, with the exception of the high-mutation frequency associated with the (+)-trans adduct at G2, relatively small differences in mutation frequencies are observed for the three other adducts. In E. coli, mutation frequency is a pronounced function of adduct stereochemistry and adduct position. These findings suggest that the fidelity of translesional synthesis across BPDE-dG adducts is strongly influenced by adduct stereochemistry, nucleotide sequence context, and the DNA replication complex.     

A study of multiple biomarkers in coke oven workers--a cross-sectional study in China

We conducted a cross-sectional molecular epidemiological study of coke oven workers exposed to the established carcinogen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) to evaluate the relationships between both traditional 'exposure markers' and a series of biomarkers, including urinary 1-hydroxypyrene as a marker of internal dose, leukocyte aromatic DNA adducts as markers of biologically effective dose, serum p53 protein as a response marker and genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P4501A1 and glutathione S-transferase MI as susceptibility markers. Twenty-five male subjects each were randomly selected from the top, middle and bottom work areas of the oven, and the control plant. They were matched for age and smoking status. The mean levels of PAH exposure, monitored by stationary and personal samplers, and of worker urinary 1-hydroxypyrene differed significantly between the top, middle and bottom of the oven and control work areas. The highest stationary and personal PAH concentrations and 1-hydroxypyrene levels were demonstrated at the top work area. Good correlations were found between the stationary PAH levels, personal PAH levels and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels. No positive correlations were demonstrated between aromatic DNA adduct levels and current or cumulative PAH exposure dose. In the presence of genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P4501A1, a positive correlation was demonstrated between aromatic DNA adducts and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels. There was also a significant correlation between serum p53 protein levels and the cumulated benzo[a]pyrene exposure dose. Although these biomarkers have certain limitations, they are applicable to cancer epidemiology, and may contribute to our understanding of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis.     

''I just want some Valium, Doc''

Hemoglobin (Hb) adducts of 4-hydroxy-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (HPB), a metabolite of two tobacco-specific nitrosamines [4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and N'-nitrosonornicotine], were measured as biomarkers of exposure to tobacco smoke as part of a study on genetic alterations and susceptibility to lung cancer among nonsmokers. HPB-Hb adducts were measured after collection of RBCs by Ficoll gradient in six collaborating centers, release of HPB by alkaline hydrolysis from Hb, clean-up by solid-phase extraction, and analysis of an electron-capturing derivative by gas chromatography-electron capture mass spectrometry. Prior to analysis of samples from study subjects, the reproducibility of this approach was validated in blood from donors. The coefficient of variation of reproducibility of paired aliquots from five samples ranged from 7 to 25%; the within-sample reproducibilities of four and eight aliquots were 4 and 16%, respectively. The study subjects consisted of 18 smokers and 52 never-smokers. HPB-Hb adduct levels were significantly higher (P = 0.02) in smokers (26 +/- 13 fmol HPB/g Hb) than in never-smokers (20 +/- 8 fmol HPB/g Hb). There was no difference between sexes. These results suggest that the level of HPB-Hb adducts, measured using a method modified to facilitate use in multicenter studies, can be a useful biomarker of exposure to tobacco smoke.     

Covalent binding of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline to albumin and hemoglobin at environmentally relevant doses. Comparison of human subjects and F344 rats

Covalent binding of the food-borne heterocyclic amine 2-amino-3, 8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) to albumin and hemoglobin (Hb), 3.5-6.0 hr after oral administration of a single dose of either 21.3 or 228.0 microg of [14C]MeIQx (304 and 3257 ng/kg of body weight, respectively, based on a 70-kg subject weight), was studied in human volunteers using accelerator mass spectrometry. Human protein adduct levels were compared with data obtained for male F344 rats 4.5 hr after oral administration of 0.94-11,420 ng/kg of body weight [14C]MeIQx. Dose-dependent levels of MeIQx-albumin and MeIQx-Hb adducts were detected in both humans and rats. In each case, the regression coefficient (slope) of the dose-response curve was approximately 1. The highest levels of adduct formation per unit dose of MeIQx occurred with human albumin, followed by rat albumin, human Hb, and rat Hb (in that order). Although the human subjects were elderly and underwent colon resection surgery during the study period, the results indicate that formation of albumin and Hb adducts is dose dependent and that a trend exists for higher adduct levels per unit dose in humans, compared with F344 rats. Furthermore, MeIQx-albumin adducts are likely to provide a more sensitive marker of exposure to MeIQx than are MeIQx-Hb adducts.     

Tumors of the oral cavity, oropharynx and salivary glands. Role of TC and MRI in neoplasm staging

The 32P-postlabelling assay is one of the most sensitive methods for detection of DNA adducts induced by exposure to genotoxic chemicals. Under optimal conditions, detection limits of one adduct per 10(9)-10(10) nucleotides have been reported. This sensitivity now allows monitoring of occupational and even environmental exposure of humans to certain classes of chemicals, mainly polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Despite its widespread use, 3P-postlabelling is still not a standardized method. Rigorous interlaboratory comparisons are scarce, and those that have been undertaken often show rather different results, both in relative and in absolute values, for the amounts of DNA adducts in the same samples. Furthermore, the optimization of many steps in the procedure has still not been given adequate attention. This paper deals with some technical aspects of detection of PAH-DNA adducts by 32P-postlabelling, in particular with assay calibration and adduct quantification. For this purpose, benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-modified DNA standards were prepared, the adduct contents of which were determined by use of an independent fluorometric method, viz. synchronous fluorescence spectrophotometry (SFS). These BP-DNA standards are processed along with the test samples throughout the entire 32P-postlabelling procedure, from the enzymic digestion up to and including the determination of radioactivity in adduct spots on the chromatogram. As such, these reference samples can be considered as external standards for inter-assay calibration. This method for adduct quantification was compared with the commonly used relative adduct labelling (RAL) and comparative dAMP labelling, which appeared to give rise to an underestimation of adduct levels. The method was applied in a biomonitoring study among workers in a carbon-electrode manufacturing plant, exposed to PAH. Although DNA adduct levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes of exposed workers, as determined by 32P-postlabelling, were not significantly different from those of controls, a significant difference was seen when smokers and non-smokers were compared.     

Genotoxicity of coke-oven and urban air particulate matter in in vitro acellular assays coupled with 32P-postlabeling and HPLC analysis of DNA adducts

This study is an in vitro part of the ongoing biomarker studies with population from a polluted region of Northern Bohemia and coke-oven workers from Czech and Slovak Republics. The aim of this study is to compare DNA adduct forming ability of chemical compound classes from both the urban and coke-oven extractable organic mass (EOM) of airborne particles. The crude extracts were fractionated into seven fractions by acid-base partitioning and silica gel column chromatography. In in vitro acellular assays we used calf thymus DNA (CT DNA) with oxidative (+S9) and reductive activation mediated by xanthine oxidase (+XO) under anaerobic conditions. Both the butanol and nuclease P1 versions of 32P-postlabeling for detection of bulky aromatic and/or hydrophobic adducts were used. The results showed that the spectra of major DNA adducts resulting from both the in vitro assays are within the fractions similar for both the urban and coke-oven samples. The highest DNA adduct levels with S9-activation were detected for the neutral aromatic fraction, followed by slightly polar and acidic fractions for both samples. With XO-mediated metabolism, the highest DNA adduct levels were detected for both the acidic fractions. Assuming additivity of compound activities, then the acidic fraction, which in the urban sample comprises a major portion of EOM mass (28%), may contain the greatest activity in both in vitro assays (39 and 69%, +S9 and +XO, respectively). In contrast, the aromatic fraction constituting only 8% of total urban EOM mass may account for comparable activity (34%) with organic acids. The highest DNA adduct forming activity of the coke-oven sample accounts for the aromatic fraction (82 and 63%, +S9 and +XO, respectively) that also contains the greatest portion of the total EOM (48%). To characterize some of the specific DNA adducts formed, we coupled TLC on 20x20 cm plates with HPLC analysis of 32P-postlabeled adducts. In both S9-treated samples of the aromatic fraction, we tentatively identified DNA adducts presumably diolepoxide-derived from: 9-hydroxy-benzo[a]pyrene (9-OH-B[a]P), benzo[a]pyrene-r-7,t-8-dihydrodiol-t-9,10-epoxide[+/-] (anti-BPDE), benzo[b,j,k]fluoranthenes (B[b]F, B[j]F, B[k]F), chrysene (CHRY), benz[a]-anthracene (B[a]A) and indeno[cd]pyrene (I[cd]P). These DNA adducts accounted for about 57% of total DNA adducts detected in both S9-treated samples of the aromatic fraction. DNA adducts of XO-treated samples were sensitive to nuclease P1 and HPLC profiles of the major adducts were markedly different from the major adducts of S9-treated samples. However, the combination of TLC and HPLC did not confirm the presence of DNA adducts derived from 1-nitropyrene (1 NP), 9-nitroanthracene (9 NA) and 3-nitrofluoranthene (3 NF) that were detected by GC-MS in the slightly polar fraction. We concluded that the chemical fractionation procedure facilitates the assessing of DNA adduct forming ability of different chemical compound classes. However, based on the results obtained with the whole extracts, it does not fulfil a task of the actual contribution of individual fractions within the activity of the whole extracts. Our results are the first in detecting of DNA adducts derived from urban air and coke-oven particulate matter.