Induction of tumors of the esophagus in rats by nitrosomethylalkylamines

Phenotypic modification of human airway epithelial cells in air-liquid interface culture induced by exposure to the tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)

The nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is a potent tobacco-specific carcinogen. We used an air-liquid interface epithelial cell culture system to model changes associated with NNK exposure relative to pathologies documented in human tobacco-related illnesses. Although in vitro systems exhibit certain limitations, they often offer accentuation of subtle pathologies. While the distribution of cell types in control cultures typically favors the ciliated cell phenotype, NNK-exposed cultures transitioned to non-ciliated cell phenotypes as well as reflecting features consistent with squamous metaplasia. We conclude that NNK impacts normal growth and differentiation of human airway epithelium in a short interval of time in vitro.

Diffusion of dialkylnitrosamines into the rat esophagus as a factor in esophageal carcinogenesis

To indicate how readily nitrosamines (NAms) diffuse into the esophagus, we measured diffusion rate (flux) through rat esophagus of dialkyl-NAms using side-by-side diffusion apparatuses. Mucosal and serosal flux at 37 degrees C of two NAms, each at 50 microM, was followed for 90 min by gas chromatography-thermal energy analysis of NAms in the receiver chamber. Mucosal flux of one or two NAms at a time gave identical results. Mucosal flux was highest for the strong esophageal carcinogens methyl-n-amyl-NAm (MNAN) and methylbenzyl-NAm. Mucosal esophageal flux of 11 NAms was 18-280 times faster and flux of two NAms through skin was 13-28 times faster than that predicted for skin from the molecular weights and octanol:water partition coefficients, which were also measured. Mucosal: serosal flux ratio was correlated (P < 0.05) with esophageal carcinogenicity and molecular weight. For seven NAms tested for carcinogenicity by Druckrey et al. [(1967) Z. Krebsforsch., 69, 103-201], mucosal flux was correlated with esophageal carcinogenicity with borderline significance (P = 0.07). The MNAN:dipropyl-NAm ratio for mucosal esophageal flux was unaffected when rats were treated with phenethylisothiocyanate and was similar to that for forestomach, indicating no involvement by cytochromes P450. Mucosal esophageal flux of MNAN and dimethyl-NAm was reduced by >90% on enzymic removal of the stratum corneum, was unaffected by 0.1 mM verapamil and was inhibited 67-94% by 1.0 mM KCN and 82-93% by 0.23% ethanol. NAm flux through rat skin and jejunum was 5-17% of that through esophagus. Flux through skin increased 5-13 times after enzymic or mechanical removal of the epidermis; the histology probably explained this difference from esophagus. Hence, NAms could be quite rapidly absorbed by human esophagus when NAm-containing foods or beverages are swallowed, the esophageal carcinogenicity of NAms may be partly determined by their esophageal flux and NAm flux probably occurs by passive diffusion.

Hydroxylation and dealkylation of methyl-n-butylnitrosamine and role of certain cytochrome P-450 isozymes in these reactions

We studied the metabolism of methyl-n-butyl-nitrosamine (MBN), a carcinogen for the rat esophagus and liver. The 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxy derivatives were identified as new metabolites of MBN. In studies on tissue slices freshly removed from MRC-Wistar rats, MBN metabolism resembled that of the previously studied methyl-amylnitrosamine in the esophagus catalyzed 2- and 3- hydroxylation; liver, omega-1 hydroxylation; and lung, omega-hydroxylation of both nitrosamines. Liver microsomes from Sprague-Dawley rats catalyzed 2-, 3- and 4-hydroxylation of MBN, as well as the previously studied activating reactions of demethylation and debutylation. Phenobarbital induced all five reactions of MBN bh rat liver microsomes, especially debutylation; 3-methylhol-anthrene induced 3-hydroxylation and debutylation and isoniazid induced demethylation and debutylation. Monoclonal antibodies that inhibit specific cytochrome P-450 isozymes were used to identify the isozymes involved in each reaction. Antibody 4-7-1 appeared more specific than the previously used antibody 2-66-3 for inhibiting P-450 2B1 and/or 2B2. For the metabolism of both MBN and methylamylnitrosamine by rat liver microsomes, the antibody results indicated that P-450 2C11 mainly catalyzed demethylation and omega-1 hydroxylation, P-450 1A1 or 1A2 catalyzed 3-hydroxylation and debutylation or depentylation, P-450 2E1 produced demethylation and P-450 2B1 or 2B2 produced omega-1 hydroxylation, demethylation and debutylation or depentylation.

Local and systemic carcinogenic effects of alkylating carcinogens in rats treated by intravesicular administration

Several nitrosamines and an azoxyalkane have been administered intravesically to groups of 12 female F344 rats, twice a week for 20 or 30 weeks. Many of the nitrosamines were as efficacious in giving rise to the same tumors of internal organs as when similar doses were administered orally, showing that absorption from the bladder was as rapid as from other sites. The tumors produced included lung and kidney tumors by nitrosodimethylamine, colon and Zymbal gland tumors by azoxymethane, liver tumors by methylnitrosoethylamine (but not by nitrosodimethylamine), liver and esophagus tumors by nitrosodiethylamine, liver and lung tumors by methylnitrosamino-3-pyridylbutanone, liver tumors by nitrosomorpholine, and tumors of the esophagus by methylnitroso-n-butylamine, 2,6-dimethyl-nitrosomorpholine and methylnitrosamino-N,N-dimethylethylamine. Bladder tumors were induced by intravesicular administration of only low doses of nitrosobis-(2-oxopropyl)amine and to a lesser extent by methylnitroso-n-hexylamine and nitroso-(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine, which all induced tumors systemically in addition. The bladder mucosa seemed to lack enzymes necessary to activate most nitrosamines to locally acting proximate carcinogens, but was quite transparent to the passage of carcinogenic nitrosamines present in the urine into the body to induce tumors in distant organs.

Induction of lung tumors and peritoneal mesotheliomas in F344 rats given intragastric N-propyl-N-nitrosourea and histochemical, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural characteristics of induced mesotheliomas

N-Propyl-N-nitrosourea is a strong leukemogen that induces myelogenic leukemia in Donryu rats and thymic lymphoma in F344 rats when administered in drinking water. In the present study, a single or multiple doses of PNU (total 500 mg/kg body weight) was given to young male and female F344 rats via a stomach tube. The results demonstrated that the percentage of tumor-bearing rats was 100% in all PNU-treated male groups, while that of the control group was 46%. Predominant tumors induced by PNU in male rats were lung adenoma/adenocarcinoma followed by peritoneal mesothelioma, and forestomach papilloma. In females, the tumor incidence of PNU-treated groups varied between 58% and 92% while that of the control group was 42%. Although pituitary tumor was the most frequent tumor in PNU-treated female rats, it was thought to be spontaneous since its incidence in each experimental group was not statistically different from that of the control group. Lung tumors and forestomach papillomas were also induced by PNU in female rats. No thymic lymphoma, however, was found in any of the PNU-treated groups of either sex. Lung tumors developed in almost all PNU-treated male rats and in about one-third of PNU-treated female rats. Mesothelioma was induced only in male rats, and its incidence depended on the treatment schedule. Induced mesotheliomas were extensively examined histologically, histochemically, immunohistochemically, and electron microscopically.

Structure-activity relations in carcinogenesis by N-nitroso compounds

For a large number of N-nitroso compounds a comparison of their carcinogenic effects in rats and Syrian golden hamsters has been made. Nitrosamines, which require metabolic activation, and nitrosoalkylamides, which do not, produce quite different tumor responses. There are also large differences in the types of tumor induced in rats and in hamsters. In all the studies doses of the various compounds, equimolar to the extent that was possible, are administered orally. Continuous doses (in drinking water or food) often produce a response different from that after administration of the same compound in pulsed doses (by gavage), even though the same total dose is delivered. Continuous doses of nitrosamines are usually more effective than pulsed doses, but with the nitrosoalkylureas, the reverse is more generally the case. Rat and hamster liver is a common target of many nitrosamines, but rarely of nitrosamides. The most common site of tumor induction in rats by N-nitroso compounds is the esophagus, but the hamster esophagus never responds. The pancreas duct of the hamster is a common target of nitrosamines containing a beta-oxygenated propyl group, but pancreas duct tumors are never seen in rats. Nitrosomethyl-n-alkylamines (with an even numbered carbon chain) induce bladder tumors in rats and hamsters. Many nitrosoalkylureas induce tumors of the nervous system in rats, as well as a great variety of other tumors. In hamsters, nitrosoalkylureas give rise only to tumors of the forestomach and spleen, but no tumors of the nervous system. The similar carcinogenic actions of certain groups of N-nitroso compounds can be related to their generation, directly or by metabolism, of similar simple moieties having certain organs as their target.

Species differences in nitrosamine carcinogenesis

The carcinogenic action of approximately 50 N-nitroso compounds, nitrosamines, and nitrosoalkylamides has been compared in rats and in Syrian golden hamsters. The compounds were administered PO, as far as possible at comparable dose rates. The relative potencies of the treatments were assessed mainly by the time to death of the animals with tumors. The esophagus and other parts of the upper gastrointestinal tract were the most common sites for tumor induction in rats, but the esophagus was hardly ever affected in hamsters, although several compounds induced tumors of the forestomach in both rats and hamsters. No conclusion could be drawn about the relative susceptibility of the rat and hamster to these N-nitroso compounds, which varied with different compounds. Few generalizations can be made about these results, although it appeared that the 2-hydroxypropyl group was usually necessary for the induction of pancreas tumors in hamsters.