Search

Acrylamide, a food contaminant, is carcinogenic in experimental animals, with both genotoxic and nongenotoxic pathways being proposed. To obtain information regarding mechanisms of acrylamide tumorigenesis, we compared the extent of DNA adduct formation and induction of micronuclei and mutations in mice treated neonatally with acrylamide and its electrophilic metabolite glycidamide. Male and female B6C3F1/Tk mice were treated intraperitoneally on postnatal days (PNDs) 1, 8 and 15 or PNDs 1-8 with 0.14 or 0.70 mmol acrylamide or glycidamide per kg body weight per day. One day after the final dose, B6C3F1/Tk(+/+) mice were killed to measure DNA adduct levels and peripheral blood micronuclei. Three weeks after the last treatment, B6C3F1/Tk(+/-) mice were killed to assess the Hprt and Tk mutant frequencies in spleen lymphocytes. The levels of N7-(2-carbamoyl-2-hydroxyethyl)guanine, the major glycidamide-DNA adduct, decreased in the order 0.70 mmol glycidamide > 0.70 mmol acrylamide > 0.14 mmol glycidamide approximately 0.14 mmol acrylamide. Only glycidamide increased the frequency of micronucleated reticulocytes and normochromatic erythrocytes. In mice treated on PNDs 1, 8 and 15, the Hprt mutant frequency was increased by 0.70 mmol glycidamide. In mice dosed on PNDs 1-8, 0.70 mmol glycidamide caused extensive mortality; each of the other treatments increased the Tk mutant frequency, whereas acrylamide increased the Hprt mutant frequency. These data suggest that the mutagenic response in neonatal mice treated on PNDs 1, 8 and 15 is due to glycidamide, whereas mutations resulting from dosing on PNDs 1-8 are due to another mechanism., ((c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

In previous studies, we have shown that zidovudine (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine; AZT), but not lamivudine [(-)2',3'-dideoxy-3'-thiacytidine; 3TC], is genotoxic when administered to neonatal mice, and that 3TC when coadministered with AZT does not alter the responses observed with AZT alone (Von Tungeln et al. [2002] Carcinogenesis 23:1427-1432). We now have investigated the transplacental transfer of these drugs and the induction of mutants and micronuclei in the neonatal offspring. From gestational day 12 until parturition, female C57BL/6N and C57BL/6N/Tk(+/-) mice, which had been mated to male C3H/HeNMTV mice, were treated daily by gavage with AZT, 3TC, or a combination of AZT and 3TC. In both dams and fetuses, AZT was found at much higher levels than its metabolites, AZT 5'-glucuronide and 3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine. In the neonates, AZT and the mixture of AZT and 3TC caused a decrease in the percentage of reticulocytes (RETs) and an increase in the percentage of micronucleated RETs and micronucleated normochromatic erythrocytes. When assessed 3 weeks after birth, AZT and the combination of AZT and 3TC increased the thymidine kinase (Tk) mutant frequency in male mice; at 5 weeks, 3TC increased the Tk mutant frequency in female mice. The increase in Tk mutants in mice treated with AZT and the mixture of AZT and 3TC was associated with loss of the wild-type (Tk(+)) allele (loss of heterozygosity; LOH) and a pattern of discontinuous LOH. These data indicate that AZT, 3TC, and the combination of AZT and 3TC are transplacental mutagens and that the increase in mutants resulting from AZT is due mainly to large-scale genetic alterations., ((c) 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Identifying genes that are differentially expressed in response to DNA damage may help elucidate markers for genetic damage and provide insight into the cellular responses to specific genotoxic agents. We utilized cDNA microarrays to develop gene expression profiles for ionizing radiation-exposed human lymphoblastoid TK6 cells. In order to relate changes in the expression profiles to biological responses, the effects of ionizing radiation on cell viability, cloning efficiency, and micronucleus formation were measured. TK6 cells were exposed to 0.5, 1, 5, 10, and 20 Gy ionizing radiation and cultured for 4 or 24 hr. A significant (P < 0.0001) decrease in cloning efficiency was observed at all doses at 4 and 24 hr after exposure. Flow cytometry revealed significant decreases in cell viability at 24 hr in cells exposed to 5 (P < 0.001), 10 (P < 0.0001), and 20 Gy (P < 0.0001). An increase in micronucleus frequency occurred at both 4 and 24 hr at 0.5 and 1 Gy; however, insufficient binucleated cells were present for analysis at the higher doses. Gene expression profiles were developed from mRNA isolated from cells exposed to 5, 10, and 20 Gy using a 350 gene human cDNA array platform. Overall, more genes were differentially expressed at 24-hr than at the 4-hr time point. The genes upregulated (> 1.5-fold) or downregulated (< 0.67-fold) at 4 hr were those primarily involved in the cessation of the cell cycle, cellular detoxification pathways, DNA repair, and apoptosis. At 24 hr, glutathione-associated genes were induced in addition to genes involved in apoptosis. Genes involved in cell cycle progression and mitosis were downregulated at 24 hr. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to confirm the microarray results and to evaluate expression levels of selected genes at the low doses (0.5 and 1.0 Gy). The expression profiles reflect the cellular and molecular responses to ionizing radiation related to the recognition of DNA damage, a halt in progression through the cell cycle, activation of DNA-repair pathways, and the promotion of apoptosis.

AHH-1 tk +/- cells were exposed to the chemotherapeutic agent, m-amsa, both in complete medium and in medium without serum, subcultured in complete medium, and the effect on the traverse of the cell cycle determined by flow cytometric analysis of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdUrd)-labeled DNA. After exposure to m-amsa (day 0), the percentage of S-phase cells increased significantly (P < 0.0017) with increasing concentration. Cells also accumulated in G2/M as evidenced by the significant (P < 0.0026), concentration-dependent increase in the percentage of cells detected within this phase. Serum deprivation during exposure resulted in significantly (P = 0.024) more cells in S-phase than in cultures exposed to m-amsa in complete medium. After three days in culture, a significant (P = 0.0001) accumulation of cells in G2/M was present; the percentage of cells in G2/M did not differ significantly (P = 0.148) in cultures exposed to m-amsa in complete medium or in serum-free medium. However, a significant (P < 0.001) loss of S-phase cells was found in cultures exposed without serum. At day 7, no significant concentration effects were detected (GO/G1, P = 0.6026; S-phase, P = 0.9773; G2/M, P = 0.8401). These results demonstrate that exposure to m-amsa perturbs the traverse of the cell cycle, initially by inhibiting the completion of S-phase and followed by an accumulation of cells in G2/M. In addition, exposure to m-amsa under conditions of serum deprivation results in an increased percentage of cells in the initial S-phase after exposure, the loss of S-phase cells from the culture after three days, and the appearance of subdiploid peak, consistent with cells undergoing apoptosis.

In order to determine the relationships among the reduction in relative cloning efficiency (RCE), sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) formation, and interference with progression through the cell-cycle, human teratocarcinoma-derived (P3) cells were exposed to either ethyl methanesulfonate or to methyl methanesulfonate. The relationship between SCE and toxicity was quantified, the progression through the cell-cycle was evaluated with flow cytometric methods, and the effects of these chemicals on cell growth and average generation time (AGT) were determined. A strong correlation existed between RCE and SCE (r = -0.978, p less than .001) which was accompanied by an inhibition of growth as evidenced by a significant (p less than .0001) negative linear effect of concentration on the relative cell count from 24 to 72 hours after exposure and by a concentration-dependent increase (p less than .0001) in the AGT. Delays in the transit through S-phase were evident 4 hours after exposure to toxic concentrations of either carcinogen and by 8 to 12 hours post-exposure at the lower concentrations. Increases in the percentage of nuclei in G2 + M, indicative of G2 arrest, occurred from 12 to 24 hours after exposure. One interpretation of these results is that those effects of EMS and MMS exposure which result in S-phase delay and G2 arrest may be those elements common to the induction of SCE and cellular toxicity.

The effect of interleukin-2 (IL-2) on cell proliferation, sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency, and the phosphorylation of nuclear stress proteins was evaluated in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated spleen lymphocytes isolated from Fischer 344 rats. In addition, the ability of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) to modulate the induction of these biological responses was characterized. Cell proliferation, as measured by the mitotic index, increased significantly (P less than .003) from a range of 3-4% in PHA-stimulated cultures to a range of 8-11% in PHA-stimulated cultures exposed to IL-2. The average generation time (AGT) did not respond to IL-2 in a concentration-dependent manner and decreased significantly (P less than .05) when 20 microM 2-ME was included with IL-2 in the culture medium. The number of SCE increased significantly (P less than .004) from control frequencies, which ranged from 13.1 to 15.6 SCE per cell, to frequencies of 18.5 to 21.5 SCE per cell as the concentration of IL-2 in the culture medium increased to 50 half-maximal units per ml. A reduction in SCE frequency was observed when cells were cultured with 20 microM 2-ME and IL-2 compared to IL-2 alone. Three nuclear proteins, with relative molecular masses of approximately 13,000-18,000, 20,000, and 80,000, were phosphorylated in IL-2-exposed G1-phase nuclei. Elicitation of these nuclear proteins in IL-2-exposed cells was not affected by exposure to 2-ME.

We have developed methods in our laboratory whereby the effects of toxicant exposure on cell proliferation can be evaluated flow cytometrically. We sought to relate the flow cytometric analyses to other biological response measurements. Thus, we exposed P3 cells to increasing concentrations of bromodeoxyuridine (BRdU) and measured sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) frequency, average generation time (AGT), and relative cloning ability. Each of these is well documented (see introduction) to respond to BRdU exposure in a concentration-dependent manner. In this study, SCE frequency remained constant between the concentrations of 2.5 and 10 microM of BRdU. However, a small, but significant, increase in SCE frequency was observed between the concentrations of 10 microM and 50 microM BRdU. A significant increase in AGT was noted in 50 microM BRdU-exposed cells. Relative cloning efficiency decreased in a concentration-dependent manner when cells were cultured for 24, 48, or 72 hours with BRdU. When cell proliferation was assessed by flow cytometric analysis in cells exposed to 0, 10, or 50 microM BRdU, a statistically significant delay in the cell-cycle was observed in BRdU-exposed cells. These results may be interpreted to mean that inhibition of cell proliferation is detected by this type of analysis at toxicant concentrations that induce other biological endpoints. The inclusion of flow cytometric analysis in a test battery to evaluate toxicant effects is warranted.