Metabolism and DNA-Binding of 3-Nitrobenzanthrone in Primary Rat Alveolar Type II Cells, in Human Fetal Bronchial, Rat Epithelial and Mesenchymal Cell Lines

3-Nitrobenzanthrone (NBA) is a suspected human carcinogen and has been identified in diesel exhaust and in airborne particulates. Human exposure to NBA is thought to occur primarily via the respiratory tract and bronchial as well as alveolar epithelial cells are believed to be primary targets for lung carcinogenesis. Nitroarenes require metabolic activation to DNA binding metabolites to become genotoxic carcinogens. In this study the metabolism of NBA as well as its metabolic intermediate 3-nitrosobenzanthrone was investigated in cultures of rat lung alveolar type II cells, in human fetal bronchial (HFBE) and rat bronchial epithelial (R3/1) as well as mesenchymal Rwd009 cells. 3-Aminobenzanthrone (ABA) was identified as the major metabolite from both substrates, but also small amounts of 3-acetyl-ABA were observed during short term incubations (6 to 24 h) with NBA. Inhibition studies with allopurinol in alveolar type II cells indicate that the cytosolic enzyme xanthine oxidase contributes substan...