Susceptibility to esophageal cancer and genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases T1, P1, and M1 and cytochrome P450 2E1

Genetic polymorphisms in enzymes involved in carcinogen metabolism have been shown to influence susceptibility to cancer. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is primarily responsible for the bioactivation of many low molecular weight carcinogens, including certain nitrosamines, whereas glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in detoxifying many other carcinogenic electrophiles. Esophageal cancer, which is prevalent in China, is hypothesized to be related to environmental nitrosamine exposure. Thus, we conducted a pilot case-control study to examine the association between CYP2E1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genetic polymorphisms and esophageal cancer susceptibility. DNA samples were isolated from surgically removed esophageal tissues or scraped esophageal epithelium from cases with cancer (n = 45), cases with severe epithelial hyperplasia (n = 45), and normal controls (n = 46) from a high-risk area, Linxian County, China. RFLPs in the CYP2E1 and the GSTP1 genes were determined by PCR amplification followed by digestion with RsaI or DraI and Alw26I, respectively. Deletion of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes was examined by a multiplex PCR. The CYP2E1 polymorphism detected by RsaI was significantly different between controls (56%) and cases with cancer (20%) or severe epithelial hyperplasia (17%; P < 0.001). Persons without the RsaI variant alleles had more than a 4-6-fold risk of developing severe epithelial hyperplasia (adjusted odds ratio, 6.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.3-16.0) and cancer (adjusted odds ratio, 4.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.8-12.4). Polymorphisms in the GSTs were not associated with increased esophageal cancer risk. These results indicate that CYP2E1 may be a genetic susceptibility factor involved in the early events leading to the development of esophageal cancer.     

The synthesis of symmetrical and unsymmetrical P1/P1' cyclic ureas as HIV protease inhibitors

Cyclic urea SD146, a potent HIV protease inhibitor bearing a flat resistance profile, possessed poor solubility and bioavailability, which precluded further development of the compound. In an effort to improve upon the pharmacokinetic profile of the compound, several analogs modified at the P1/P1' residues were prepared and evaluated. Several of those compounds displayed significant improvement of physical properties.     

Metabolism of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine by human cytochrome P4501A1, P4501A2 and P4501B1

While the metabolic activation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) by N-hydroxylation has been well documented, the relative roles of the human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes that catalyze this reaction have not been established. Previous studies indicated that the mutagenic activation product, 2-hydroxyamino-PhIP (N2-OH-PhIP), is produced primarily by CYP1A2, and to a lesser extent by CYP1A1. We recently reported that human CYP1B1 also produces N2-OH-PhIP (Carcinogenesis, 18, 1793-1798, 1997). In the present study, we examined PhIP metabolism by microsomes containing recombinant human CYP1A1, 1A2 or 1B1 expressed in Sf9 insect cells and compared the kinetic values for PhIP metabolite formation. PhIP metabolites were analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorescence and absorbance detection. Vmax values for N2-OH-PhIP formation were 90, 16 and 0.2 nmol/min/nmol P450, and the apparent Km values were 79, 5.1 and 4.5 microM for human CYP1A2, 1A1 and 1B1, respectively. The non-mutagenic metabolite, 4'-hydroxy-PhIP, was also formed by all three CYP enzymes with Vmax values of 1.5, 7.8 and 0.3 nmol/ min/nmol P450 and apparent Km values of 43, 8.2 and 2.2 microM for human CYP1A2, 1A1 and 1B1, respectively. Although the Vmax for N2-OH-PhIP production was highest for CYP1A2, the catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km) of CYP1A1 was greater than that of CYP1A2. These results suggest that, for humans, extrahepatic CYP1A1 may be more important than previously thought for the metabolic activation of the dietary carcinogen PhIP.     

Evidence for the presence of both P1 and P2 purinoceptors in the rat myometrium

1. Adenosine, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and some stable analogues of adenosine inhibited field stimulation-induced contractions of the uterus from rats treated with oestradiol cypionate (20 micrograms/kg, s.c.) 1 day previously. Adenosine was twice as potent as ATP; both were potentiated by dipyridamole (10 mumol/L). 2. The order of agonist potency of adenosine and its analogues was: 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) > N6-cyclohexyladenosine > or = R-phenylisopropyladenosine = S-phenylisopropyladenosine = 2-chloroadenosine > or = adenosine > or = ATP > > 2-p-(2-carboxyethyl) phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine. This order suggests the presence of P1 purinoceptors of the A2B subtype. 3. Responses to agonists were antagonized to differing extents by the P1 purinoceptor antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline (10 mumol/L). 4. In uterine preparations from rats pretreated for 2 days with oestrogen (20 micrograms/kg, s.c.) and for 1 day with progesterone (3 mg/animal, s.c.), the inhibitory potencies of adenosine and NECA were reduced, indicating hormonal regulation of uterine responsiveness to P1 purinoceptor agonists. 5. Stable analogues of ATP caused contractions of unstimulated myometrial preparations from oestrogen-treated animals, indicating activation of a P2 purinoceptor, possibly of the P2X subtype, because of the relative order of potency was alpha, beta-methylene ATP > beta, gamma-methylene ATP = ATP = 2-methylthio ATP.     

Selectivity and activity of adenine dinucleotides at recombinant P2X2 and P2Y1 purinoceptors

1. Adenine dinucleotides (Ap3A, x = 2-6) are naturally-occurring polyphosphated nucleotidic substances which are found in the CNS and are known to be released in a calcium-dependent manner from storage vesicles in brain synaptosomes. The selectivity and activity of adenine dinucleotides for neuronally-derived recombinant P2 purinoceptors were studied using P2X2 and P2Y1 subtypes expressed in Xenopus oocytes. 2. For the P2Y1 subtype derived from chick brain, Ap3A was equipotent and as active as ATP (EC50 values: 375 +/- 86 nM and 334 +/- 25 nM, respectively). Ap4A was a weak partial agonist and other dinucleotides were inactive as agonists. None of the inactive dinucleotides were antagonists nor modulated the activity of Ap3A and ATP. 3. For the P2X2 subtype derived from rat PC12 cells, Ap4A was as active as ATP but less potent (EC50 values: 15.2 +/- 1 microM and 3.7 +/- 0.7 microM, respectively). Other adenosine dinucleotides were inactive as either agonists or antagonists. 4. Ap5A (1-100 nM) potentiated ATP-responses at the P2X2 subtype, showing an EC50 of 2.95 +/- 0.7 nM for this modulatory effect. Ap5A (10 nM) shifted the concentration-response curves for ATP to the left by one-half log10 unit but did not alter the Hill co-efficient for ATP (nH = 2.1 +/- 0.1). Ap5A (10 nM) failed to potentiate Ap4A-responses but did enhance the efficacy of the P2 purinoceptor antagonist, suramin, by 12 fold at the P2X2 subtype. 5. In conclusion, the results show that ionotropic (P2X2) and metabotropic (P2Y1) ATP receptors which occur in the CNS are activated selectively by naturally-occurring adenine dinucleotides which are known to be released with nucleotides from storage vesicles. The observed potentiation of P2X2-responses by Ap5A, where co-released with ATP by brain synaptosomes, may have a functional bearing in purinergic signalling in the CNS.     

The preparation and properties of vapor-grown In1−xGax P

In_1?xGa_xP has been prepared over the entire alloy system by an epitaxial vapor-phase growth technique. The energy gap dependence on alloy composition for these layers has been determined by optical absorption, Schottky-barrier photoresponse, and electroluminescence measurements. These measurements indicate a nonlinear dependence of the (direct) conduction band minimum on In_1?xGa_xP composition, and a direct-indirect energy gap crossover at 2.20 ev and 70 pct GaP at room temperature. Zinc-diffusedp-n junctions have been formed in the In_1?xGa_xP layers, and have been found to be reasonably well-behaved in regard to their I-V and C-V characteristics, and their photoresponse. The electroluminescent emission spectra contain a narrow high-energy near-bandgap peak, but are frequently dominated by low-energy impurity peaks. For indirect-bandgap alloys, impurity peaks lie approximately 0.25 and 0.5 ev less than bandgap. A third peak is found at an energy of 1.30 to 1.35 ev independent of composition, forx > 0.4.     

Desorption of palladium and platinum from the VP-1P anionite

Complex forms of palladium and platinum forming in ammonia-nitrate solutions during the desorption of platinum group metals (PGM) from the VP-1P anionite are investigated. The possibility in principle of using VP-1P anionite for the removal of PGMs from electrolytes in the technology of silver refining is confirmed.     

17 beta-estradiol hydroxylation catalyzed by human cytochrome P450 1B1

The 4-hydroxy metabolite of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) has been implicated in the carcinogenicity of this hormone. Previous studies showed that aryl hydrocarbon-receptor agonists induced a cytochrome P450 that catalyzed the 4-hydroxylation of E2. This activity was associated with human P450 1B1. To determine the relationship of the human P450 1B1 gene product and E2 4-hydroxylation, the protein was expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Microsomes from the transformed yeast catalyzed the 4- and 2-hydroxylation of E2 with Km values of 0.71 and 0.78 microM and turnover numbers of 1.39 and 0.27 nmol product min-1.nmol P450-1, respectively. Treatment of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with the aryl hydrocarbon-receptor ligand indolo[3,2-b]carbazole resulted in a concentration-dependent increase in P450 1B1 and P450 1A1 mRNA levels, and caused increased rates of 2-, 4-, 6 alpha-, and 15 alpha-hydroxylation of E2. At an E2 concentration of 10 nM, the increased rates of 2- and 4-hydroxylation were approximately equal, emphasizing the significance of the low Km P450 1B1-component of E2 metabolism. These studies demonstrate that human P450 1B1 is a catalytically efficient E2 4-hydroxylase that is likely to participate in endocrine regulation and the toxicity of estrogens.     

Correlation between P450 CYP1A1 inducibility, MspI genotype and lung cancer incidence

The aim of this study was to verify a possible correlation between CYP1A1 induction, MspI genotype and lung cancer incidence. A case-control study was performed on 48 lung cancer patients and 81 healthy subjects to test the existence of a correlation, within a European population. The hyperinducible group exhibited a significantly higher risk of lung cancer (odds ratio = 3.41; P = 0.036), especially for adenocarcinoma (odds ratio = 5.29; P = 0.033). In contrast with the situation observed in Asian populations, the frequency of the M2 allele did not differ significantly in the total lung cancer population (7.82%) and the group of healthy subjects (10.71%). The median inducibility value was slightly higher among cancer patients with one or two M2 alleles than among patients homozygous for the wild-type allele (P = 0.09). However, the percentage of individuals possessing at least one mutated allele was not significantly higher among hyperinducible patients (37.5%) than among non-hyperinducible patients (16.0%). No significant correlation could be found between M2 allele and lung cancer or between M2 allele and CYP1A1 inducibility; the only positive correlation found was between CYP1A1 hyperinducibility and lung cancer incidence. Our observations do not support the view that the presence of the M2 allele at the MspI site of the CYP1A1 gene constitutes a significant lung cancer risk in Caucasians.