Comutagenesis of sodium arsenite with ultraviolet radiation in Chinese hamster V79 cells

Arsenic and UVR co-exposure results in unique gene expression profile identifying key co-carcinogenic mechanisms

Changes in gene expression underlie many pathogenic endpoints including carcinogenesis. Metals, like arsenic, alter gene expression; however, the consequences of co-exposures of metals with other stressors are less understood. Although arsenic acts as a co-carcinogen by enhancing the development of UVR skin cancers, changes in gene expression in arsenic UVR co-carcinogenesis have not been investigated. We performed RNA-sequencing analysis to profile changes in gene expression distinct from arsenic or UVR exposures alone. A large number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified after arsenic exposure alone, while after UVR exposure alone fewer genes were changed. A distinct increase in the number of DEGs was identified after exposure to combined arsenic and UVR exposure that was synergistic rather than additive. In addition, a majority of these DEGs were unique from arsenic or UVR alone suggesting a distinct response to combined arsenic-UVR exposure. Globally, arsenic alone and arsenic plus UVR exposure caused a global downregulation of genes while fewer genes were upregulated. Gene Ontology analysis using the DEGs revealed cellular processes related to chromosome instability, cell cycle, cellular transformation, and signaling were targeted by combined arsenic and UVR exposure, distinct from UVR alone and arsenic alone, while others were related to epigenetic mechanisms such as the modification of histones. This result suggests the cellular functions we identified in this study may be key in understanding how arsenic enhances UVR carcinogenesis and that arsenic-enhanced gene expression changes may drive co-carcinogenesis of UVR exposure.

A case-control study on association of nucleotide excision repair polymorphisms and its interaction with environment factors with the susceptibility to non-melanoma skin cancer

Aims

To investigate the association of several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within nucleotide excision repair (NER) gene and additional gene- gene and gene- smoking interaction with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) risk in a Chinese population.

Methods

A total of 1322 participants (939 males, 383 females) were selected, including 660 NMSC patients and 662 control participants. Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was used to screen the best interaction combination among SNPs and smoking. Logistic regression was performed to investigate association between 4 SNPs within NER gene, additional gene- gene and gene- smoking interaction on NMSC risk.

Results

NMSC risk was significantly higher in carriers with G allele of rs2228527 than those with AA genotype (AG + GG versus AA), adjusted OR (95%CI) =1.76 (1.24-2.37), and higher in carriers with the G allele of rs2228529 than those with AA genotype (AG + GG versus AA), adjusted OR (95%CI) = 1.66 (1.24-2.13). However, we did not find any direct association of the rs4134822 and rs1799793 with NMSC risk after covariates adjustment. GMDR model indicated a significant interaction combination (p=0.0010), including rs2228529 and current smoking. Overall, the cross-validation consistency of this model was 9/ 10, and the testing accuracy was 60.72%. Current smokers with rs2228529- GA or GG genotype have the highest NMSC risk, compared to never- smokers with rs2228529- AA genotype, OR (95%CI) = 2.92 (1.61-4.29).

Conclusions

We found that the G allele of rs2228527 and the G allele of rs2228529 within NER gene, interaction between rs2228529 and current smoking were all associated with increased NMSC risk.

Inorganic arsenic inhibits the nucleotide excision repair pathway and reduces the expression of XPC

Chronic exposure to arsenic, most often through contaminated drinking water, has been linked to several types of cancer in humans, including skin and lung cancer. However, the mechanisms underlying its role in causing cancer are not well understood. There is evidence that exposure to arsenic can enhance the carcinogenicity of UV light in inducing skin cancers and may enhance the carcinogenicity of tobacco smoke in inducing lung cancers. The nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway removes different types of DNA damage including those produced by UV light and components of tobacco smoke. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of sodium arsenite on the NER pathway in human lung fibroblasts (IMR-90 cells) and primary mouse keratinocytes. To measure NER, we employed a slot-blot assay to quantify the introduction and removal of UV light-induced 6-4 photoproducts (6-4 PP) and cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs). We find a concentration-dependent inhibition of the removal of 6-4 PPs and CPDs in both cell types treated with arsenite. Treatment of both cell types with arsenite resulted in a significant reduction in the abundance of XPC, a protein that is critical for DNA damage recognition in NER. The abundance of RNA expressed from several key NER genes was also significantly reduced by treatment of IMR-90 cells with arsenite. Finally, treatment of IMR-90 cells with MG-132 abrogated the reduction in XPC protein, suggesting an involvement of the proteasome in the reduction of XPC protein produced by treatment of cells with arsenic. The inhibition of NER by arsenic may reflect one mechanism underlying the role of arsenic exposure in enhancing cigarette smoke-induced lung carcinogenesis and UV light-induced skin cancer, and it may provide some insights into the emergence of arsenic trioxide as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Hormesis effect of trace metals on cultured normal and immortal human mammary cells

An in vitro study was conducted to determine the effects of variable concentrations of trace metals on human cultured mammary cells. Monolayers of human mortal (MCF-12A) and immortal (MDAMB231) mammary epithelial cells were incubated in the absence or presence of increasing concentrations of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg) and copper (Cu) for 24-h, 72-h, 4-d, and 7-d. The MTT assay was used to assess viability for all time periods and cell proliferation was monitored for 4-d and 7-d studies. Monolayers were also labeled with rhodamine-110 (R-6501), Sytox green®, and Celltiter blueTM fluorescent dyes as indicators for intracellular esterase activity, nucleic acid staining, and cell reduction/viability, respectively. Total incubation time with chemical plus dyes was 24 h. For 24-h and 72-h studies, cells were seeded in 96-well plates, after which confluent monolayers were exposed to increasing concentrations of chemicals. For 4-d and 7-d studies, cells were seeded in 12-well plates at 1/3 confluent density (day 0) and exposed to increasing concentrations of metals on day 1. All cells were counted on days 4 and 7. In addition, test medium was removed from select groups of cultures on day 4, replaced with fresh medium in the absence of chemical (recovery studies), and assays were performed on day 7 as above. The data suggest that there is a consistent protective and/or stimulating effect of metals at the lowest concentrations in MCF-12A cells that is not observed in immortal MDA-MB231 cells. In fact, cell viability of MCF-12A cells is stimulated by otherwise equivalent inhibitory concentrations of As, Cu, and Hg on MDA-MB231 cells at 24-h. Whereas As and Hg suppress proliferation and viability in both cell lines after 4-d and 7-d of exposure, Cu enhances cell proliferation and viability of MCF-12A cells. MDA-MB231, however, recover better after 4-days of toxic insult. In addition, nutritional manipulation of media between the cell lines, or pretreatment with penicillamine, did not alter the hormesis effect displayed by MCF- 12A. Growth of these cells however was not maintained in the alternative medium. The study demonstrates that a hormesis effect from trace metals is detectable in cultured mammary cells; fluorescent indicators, however, are not as sensitive as cell proliferation or MTT in recognizing the subtle responses. Also, sensitivity of mammary cells to lower concentrations of Cu, a biologically important trace metal, may play an important role in controlling cellular processes and proliferation. The ability to detect this in vitro phenomenon implies that similar processes, occurring in vivo, may be responsible for the development, induction, or enhancement of human cancers.

Arsenic-induced genotoxicity and genetic susceptibility to arsenic-related pathologies

The arsenic (As) exposure represents an important problem in many parts of the World. Indeed, it is estimated that over 100 million individuals are exposed to arsenic, mainly through a contamination of groundwaters. Chronic exposure to As is associated with adverse effects on human health such as cancers, cardiovascular diseases, neurological diseases and the rate of morbidity and mortality in populations exposed is alarming. The purpose of this review is to summarize the genotoxic effects of As in the cells as well as to discuss the importance of signaling and repair of arsenic-induced DNA damage. The current knowledge of specific polymorphisms in candidate genes that confer susceptibility to arsenic exposure is also reviewed. We also discuss the perspectives offered by the determination of biological markers of early effect on health, incorporating genetic polymorphisms, with biomarkers for exposure to better evaluate exposure-response clinical relationships as well as to develop novel preventative strategies for arsenic- health effects.

Induction of cyclin D1 by arsenite and UVB-irradiation in human keratinocytes

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant with carcinogenic properties that is found in many regions of the world but that poses a health risk primarily in economically disadvantaged areas. In these areas, arsenic ingestion affects various tissues, especially skin in which it acts as a comutagen with the ultraviolet component of solar radiation. Both epidemiological and experimental evidence indicates that arsenic and ultraviolet radiation act on signaling pathways that effect the expression of cyclin D1. We have previously employed an in vitro model system of human epidermal keratinocytes to study the effects of submicromolar concentrations of sodium arsenite on cyclin D1 expression. Here, we employed this system to demonstrate concordant cyclin D1-related induction profiles of ultraviolet B radiation and arsenite using cDNA microarray analysis. We also show that both of these agents act epigenetically to bring about demethylation of the cyclin D1 promoter.

Arsenic biotransformation as a cancer promoting factor by inducing DNA damage and disruption of repair mechanisms

Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water poses a major global health concern. Populations exposed to high concentrations of arsenic-contaminated drinking water suffer serious health consequences, including alarming cancer incidence and death rates. Arsenic is biotransformed through sequential addition of methyl groups, acquired from s-adenosylmethionine (SAM). Metabolism of arsenic generates a variety of genotoxic and cytotoxic species, damaging DNA directly and indirectly, through the generation of reactive oxidative species and induction of DNA adducts, strand breaks and cross links, and inhibition of the DNA repair process itself. Since SAM is the methyl group donor used by DNA methyltransferases to maintain normal epigenetic patterns in all human cells, arsenic is also postulated to affect maintenance of normal DNA methylation patterns, chromatin structure, and genomic stability. The biological processes underlying the cancer promoting factors of arsenic metabolism, related to DNA damage and repair, will be discussed here.

Arsenic exposure and toxicology: a historical perspective

The metalloid arsenic is a natural environmental contaminant to which humans are routinely exposed in food, water, air, and soil. Arsenic has a long history of use as a homicidal agent, but in the past 100 years arsenic, has been used as a pesticide, a chemotherapeutic agent and a constituent of consumer products. In some areas of the world, high levels of arsenic are naturally present in drinking water and are a toxicological concern. There are several structural forms and oxidation states of arsenic because it forms alloys with metals and covalent bonds with hydrogen, oxygen, carbon, and other elements. Environmentally relevant forms of arsenic are inorganic and organic existing in the trivalent or pentavalent state. Metabolism of arsenic, catalyzed by arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase, is a sequential process of reduction from pentavalency to trivalency followed by oxidative methylation back to pentavalency. Trivalent arsenic is generally more toxicologically potent than pentavalent arsenic. Acute effects of arsenic range from gastrointestinal distress to death. Depending on the dose, chronic arsenic exposure may affect several major organ systems. A major concern of ingested arsenic is cancer, primarily of skin, bladder, and lung. The mode of action of arsenic for its disease endpoints is currently under study. Two key areas are the interaction of trivalent arsenicals with sulfur in proteins and the ability of arsenic to generate oxidative stress. With advances in technology and the recent development of animal models for arsenic carcinogenicity, understanding of the toxicology of arsenic will continue to improve.

Arsenic biotransformation as a cancer promoting factor by inducing DNA damage and disruption of repair mechanisms

Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water poses a major global health concern. Populations exposed to high concentrations of arsenic-contaminated drinking water suffer serious health consequences, including alarming cancer incidence and death rates. Arsenic is biotransformed through sequential addition of methyl groups, acquired from s-adenosylmethionine (SAM). Metabolism of arsenic generates a variety of genotoxic and cytotoxic species, damaging DNA directly and indirectly, through the generation of reactive oxidative species and induction of DNA adducts, strand breaks and cross links, and inhibition of the DNA repair process itself. Since SAM is the methyl group donor used by DNA methyltransferases to maintain normal epigenetic patterns in all human cells, arsenic is also postulated to affect maintenance of normal DNA methylation patterns, chromatin structure, and genomic stability. The biological processes underlying the cancer promoting factors of arsenic metabolism, related to DNA damage and repair, will be discussed here.

Feasibility of using multiphoton excited tissue autofluorescence for in vivo human histopathology

Rapid and direct imaging of microscopic tissue morphology and pathology can be achieved by multiphoton imaging of intrinsic tissue fluorophores and second harmonic signals. Engineering parameters for developing this technology for clinical applications include excitation levels and collection efficiencies required to obtain diagnostic quality images from different tissue types and whether these levels are mutagenic. Here we provide data on typical average powers required for high signal-to-noise in vivo tissue imaging and assess the risk potential of these irradiance levels using a mammalian cell gene mutation assay. Exposure times of ~16 milliseconds per cell to 760 nm, ~200 fs raster-scanned laser irradiation delivered through a 0.75 NA objective produced negligible mutagenicity at powers up to about 50 mW.

Arsenic trioxide mutational spectrum analysis in the mouse lymphoma assay

It has been well documented that long-term exposure to inorganic arsenic induces cancers and vascular diseases in a dose-response relationship. Nevertheless, arsenic has also demonstrated to have anticancer activity; thus, arsenic trioxide (ATO, As2O3) is an inorganic trivalent arsenic form, currently used in the treatment against acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL). The open discussion about how arsenic compounds induce genotoxic damage has moved us to evaluate the mutational spectrum induced by ATO in mouse lymphoma cells. Thus, 49 Tk-/- mutant colonies obtained in the mouse lymphoma assay (MLA), after treatments lasting for 4h with 10microM ATO, and 49 spontaneous mutant colonies from independent untreated cultures, were used to analyse and to characterise the mutational spectrum induced by this arsenic compound, to understand its mechanism of action. RT-PCR analysis of Tk cDNA and PCR amplifications of eight selected microsatellite sequences, located on chromosome 11, were used to carry out this screening. Our results show that, in mouse lymphoma cells, ATO is a strong clastogenic compound inducing large deletions, at chromosomal level, covering the Tk gene, as well as other regions of chromosome 11.

Attenuation of DNA damage-induced p53 expression by arsenic: a possible mechanism for arsenic co-carcinogenesis

Inhibition of DNA repair processes has been suggested as one predominant mechanism in arsenic co-genotoxicity. However, the underlying mode of action responsible for DNA repair inhibition by arsenic remains elusive. To further elucidate the mechanism of repair inhibition by arsenic, we examined the effect of trivalent inorganic and methylated arsenic metabolites on the repair of benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts in normal human primary fibroblasts and their effect on repair-related protein expression. We observed that monomethylarsonous acid (MMA(III)) was the most potent inhibitor of the DNA repair. MMA(III) did not change the expression levels of some key repair proteins involved upstream of the dual incision in the global nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway, including p48, XPC, xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group A (XPA), and p62-TFIIH. However, it led to a marked impairment of p53 induction in response to BPDE treatment. The abrogated p53 expression translated into reduced p53 DNA-binding activity, suggesting a possibility of downregulating downstream repair genes by p53. A p53-null cell line failed to exhibit the inhibitory effect of MMA(III) on NER, implicating a role for p53 in the NER inhibition by MMA(III). Further investigation revealed that MMA(III) dramatically inhibited p53 phosphorylation at serine 15, implying that MMA(III) destabilized p53 by inhibiting its phosphorylation. Because p53 is required for proficient global NER, our data suggest that arsenic inhibits NER through suppressing p53 induction in response to DNA damage in cells with normal p53 gene expression.

Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms in metal carcinogenesis and cocarcinogenesis: nickel, arsenic, and chromium

Chronic exposure to nickel(II), chromium(VI), or inorganic arsenic (iAs) has long been known to increase cancer incidence among affected individuals. Recent epidemiological studies have found that carcinogenic risks associated with chromate and iAs exposures were substantially higher than previously thought, which led to major revisions of the federal standards regulating ambient and drinking water levels. Genotoxic effects of Cr(VI) and iAs are strongly influenced by their intracellular metabolism, which creates several reactive intermediates and byproducts. Toxic metals are capable of potent and surprisingly selective activation of stress-signaling pathways, which are known to contribute to the development of human cancers. Depending on the metal, ascorbate (vitamin C) has been found to act either as a strong enhancer or suppressor of toxic responses in human cells. In addition to genetic damage via both oxidative and nonoxidative (DNA adducts) mechanisms, metals can also cause significant changes in DNA methylation and histone modifications, leading to epigenetic silencing or reactivation of gene expression. In vitro genotoxicity experiments and recent animal carcinogenicity studies provided strong support for the idea that metals can act as cocarcinogens in combination with nonmetal carcinogens. Cocarcinogenic and comutagenic effects of metals are likely to stem from their ability to interfere with DNA repair processes. Overall, metal carcinogenesis appears to require the formation of specific metal complexes, chromosomal damage, and activation of signal transduction pathways promoting survival and expansion of genetically/epigenetically altered cells.

ATF4-dependent oxidative induction of the DNA repair enzyme Ape1 counteracts arsenite cytotoxicity and suppresses arsenite-mediated mutagenesis

Arsenite is a human carcinogen causing skin, bladder, and lung tumors, but the cellular mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. We investigated expression of the essential base excision DNA repair enzyme apurinic endonuclease 1 (Ape1) in response to sodium arsenite. In mouse 10T(1/2) fibroblasts, Ape1 induction in response to arsenite occurred about equally at the mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity levels. Analysis of the APE1 promoter region revealed an AP-1/CREB binding site essential for arsenite-induced transcriptional activation in both mouse and human cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that an ATF4/c-Jun heterodimer was the responsible transcription factor. RNA interference targeting c-Jun or ATF4 eliminated arsenite-induced APE1 transcription. Suppression of Ape1 or ATF4 sensitized both mouse fibroblasts (10T(1/2)) and human lymphoblastoid cells (TK6) to arsenite cytotoxicity. Expression of Ape1 from a transgene did not efficiently restore arsenite resistance in ATF4-depleted cells but did offset initial accumulation of abasic DNA damage following arsenite treatment. Mutagenesis by arsenite (at the TK and HPRT loci in TK6 cells) was observed only for ATF4-depleted cells, which was strongly offset by Ape1 expression from a transgene. Therefore, the ATF4-mediated up-regulation of Ape1 and other genes plays a key role against arsenite-mediated toxicity and mutagenesis.

Polymorphisms in nucleotide excision repair genes, arsenic exposure, and non-melanoma skin cancer in New Hampshire

BACKGROUND

Arsenic exposure may alter the efficiency of DNA repair. UV damage is specifically repaired by nucleotide excision repair (NER), and common genetic variants in NER may increase risk for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC).

OBJECTIVE

We tested whether polymorphisms in the NER genes XPA (A23G) and XPD (Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln) modify the association between arsenic and NMSC.

METHODS

Incident cases of basal and squamous cell carcinoma (BCC and SCC, respectively) were identified through a network of dermatologists and pathology laboratories across New Hampshire. Population-based controls were frequency matched to cases on age and sex. Arsenic exposure was assessed in toenail clippings. The analysis included 880 cases of BCC, 666 cases of SCC, and 780 controls.

RESULTS

There was an increased BCC risk associated with high arsenic exposure among those homozygous variant for XPA [odds ratio (OR) = 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.9-3.7]. For XPD, having variation at both loci (312Asn and 751Gln) occurred less frequently among BCC and SCC cases compared with controls (OR = 0.8; 95% CI, 0.6-1.0) for both case groups. In the stratum of subjects who have variant for both XPD polymorphisms, there was a 2-fold increased risk of SCC associated with elevated arsenic (OR = 2.2; 95% CI, 1.0-5.0). The test for interaction between XPD and arsenic in SCC was of borderline significance (p < 0.07, 3 degrees of freedom).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate a reduced NMSC risk in relation to XPD Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln variants. Further, these data support the hypothesis that NER polymorphisms may modify the association between NMSC and arsenic.

Further evidence against a direct genotoxic mode of action for arsenic-induced cancer

Arsenic in drinking water, a mixture of arsenite and arsenate, is associated with increased skin and other cancers in Asia and Latin America, but not the United States. Arsenite alone in drinking water does not cause skin cancers in experimental animals; therefore, it is not a complete carcinogen in skin. We recently showed that low concentrations of arsenite enhanced the tumorigenicity of solar UV irradiation in hairless mice, suggesting arsenic cocarcinogenesis with sunlight in skin cancer and perhaps with different carcinogenic partners for lung and bladder tumors. Cocarcinogenic mechanisms could include blocking DNA repair, stimulating angiogenesis, altering DNA methylation patterns, dysregulating cell cycle control, induction of aneuploidy and blocking apoptosis. Arsenicals are documented clastogens but not strong mutagens, with weak mutagenic activity reported at highly toxic concentrations of inorganic arsenic. Previously, we showed that arsenite, but not monomethylarsonous acid (MMA[III]), induced delayed mutagenesis in HOS cells. Here, we report new data on the mutagenicity of the trivalent methylated arsenic metabolites MMA(III) and dimethylarsinous acid [DMA(III)] at the gpt locus in Chinese hamster G12 cells. Both methylated arsenicals seemed mutagenic with apparent sublinear dose responses. However, significant mutagenesis occurred only at highly toxic concentrations of MMA(III). Most mutants induced by MMA(III) and DMA(III) exhibited transgene deletions. Some non-deletion mutants exhibited altered DNA methylation. A critical discussion of cell survival leads us to conclude that clastogenesis occurs primarily at highly cytotoxic arsenic concentrations, casting further doubt as to whether a genotoxic mode of action (MOA) for arsenicals is supportable.

Polymorphisms in XPD (Asp312Asn and Lys751Gln) genes, sunburn and arsenic-related skin lesions

BACKGROUND

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in genes related to DNA repair capacity and ultraviolet exposure have not been well investigated in relation to skin lesions associated with arsenic exposure. This population based case-control study, of 600 cases and 600 controls, frequency matched on age and gender in Pabna, Bangladesh, in 2001-2002, investigated the association and potential effect modification between polymorphisms in Xeroderma Pigmentosum complementation group D (XPD) (Lys751Gln and Asp312Asn) genes, tendency to sunburn and arsenic-related skin lesions.

METHODS

Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULT

No significant association was observed between skin lesions and the XPD 312 Asp/Asn (adjusted OR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.65-1.15) Asn/Asn (adjusted OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.50-1.15) (referent Asp/Asp); XPD 751 Lys/Gln (adjusted OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.69-1.23) Gln/Gln (adjusted OR = 0.98, 95% CI = 0.66-1.45) (referent Lys/Lys). While we did not observe any evidence of effect modification of these polymorphisms on the association between well arsenic concentration and skin lesions, we did observe effect modification between these polymorphisms and sunburn tendency and arsenic-related skin lesions. Individuals with the heterozygote or homozygote variant forms (Asp/Asn or Asn/Asn) had half the risk of skin lesions (OR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.29-0.68) compared with those with the wild-type XPDAsp312Asn genotype (Asp/Asp) and individuals with heterozygote or homozygote variant forms (Lys/Gln or Gln/Gln) had half the risk of skin lesions (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.31-0.72) compared with those with the wild-type XPDLys751Gln genotype (Lys/Lys), within the least sensitive strata of sunburn severity. We observed effect modification on the multiplicative scale for XPD 751 and XPD 312.

CONCLUSION

XPD polymorphisms modified the relationship between tendency to sunburn and skin lesions in an arsenic exposed population. Further study is necessary to explore the effect of XPD polymorphisms and sun exposure on risk of arsenic-related skin lesions.

Induction of cyclin D1 by submicromolar concentrations of arsenite in human epidermal keratinocytes

Arsenic is a prevalent environmental carcinogen but arsenic is not directly mutagenic and the mechanism by which arsenite brings about oncogenic transformation is poorly understood. To gain insight into the oncogenic properties of arsenic, we studied the expression of cyclin D1 in cultured human epidermal keratinocytes treated with submicromolar concentrations of sodium arsenite. Arsenite at concentrations between 200 and 800 nM over a 3-day period brought about an increase in cell growth rate. Uptake of the vital stain, neutral red, arsenite at 200 and 400 nM concentrations brought about a parallel increase in cell viability over the same treatment period. Analysis of cell cycle parameters by flow cytometry showed that the growth stimulation was accompanied by a concomitant shift from the G1 into the S/G2 cell cycle compartment in the arsenite-treated cells. Real-time PCR analysis of cyclin D1 transcription showed that there was an induction of more than three-fold in cells exposed to 400 nM arsenite for 3 days. Quantitation of cyclin D levels in Western blots showed that arsenite treatment caused a time-dependent induction of cyclin D proteins representing an induction of about 2.0-fold after a 7 day treatment period. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSA) showed that arsenite also stimulated binding of the transcription factors, AP1 and CREBP to their respective binding motifs within 3 days. This supports a mechanism of oncogenesis based on persistent upregulation of D type cyclins leading to a concomitant loss of G1/S checkpoint control.

Metabolism of arsenic in Drosophila melanogaster and the genotoxicity of dimethylarsinic acid in the Drosophila wing spot test

Inorganic arsenic is nongenotoxic in the Drosophila melanogaster wing somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART). Recent evidence in mammalian systems indicates that methylated metabolites of arsenic are more genotoxic than inorganic arsenic. Thus, we hypothesized that inorganic arsenic is nongenotoxic in Drosophila because they are unable to biotransform arsenic to methylated forms. In the present study, we fed trivalent and pentavalent inorganic arsenic to Drosophila larvae and adults and measured the production of methylated derivatives. No biomethylated arsenic species were found in the organisms or in the growth medium, which suggests that Drosophila are unable to biomethylate inorganic arsenic. Exposure of Drosophila to the methylated arsenic derivative dimethylarsinic acid (DMA(V)) resulted in incorporation of this organoarsenic compound without demethylation. In addition, we used the SMART wing spot assay, which measures loss of heterozygosity (LOH) resulting from gene mutation, chromosomal rearrangement, chromosome breakage, and chromosome loss, to evaluate the genotoxicity of DMA. DMA by itself induced significant increases in the frequency of total spots, small spots, and large single spots. These results are consistent with the important role of arsenic biomethylation as a determinant of the genotoxicity of arsenic compounds. The absence of biomethylation in Drosophila could explain the lack of genotoxicity for inorganic arsenic and the genotoxicity of methylated arsenic species in the SMART wing spot assay.

Arsenite-induced alterations of DNA photodamage repair and apoptosis after solar-simulation UVR in mouse keratinocytes in vitro

Our laboratory has shown that arsenite markedly increased the cancer rate caused by solar-simulation ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the hairless mouse skin model. In the present study, we investigated how arsenite affected DNA photodamage repair and apoptosis after solar-simulation UVR in the mouse keratinocyte cell line 291.03C. The keratinocytes were treated with different concentrations of sodium arsenite (0.0, 2.5, 5.0 microM) for 24 hr and then were immediately irradiated with a single dose of 0.30 kJ/m2 UVR. At 24 hr after UVR, DNA photoproducts [cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and 6-4 photoproducts (6-4PPs)] and apoptosis were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the two-color TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay, respectively. The results showed that arsenite reduced the repair rate of 6-4PPs by about a factor of 2 at 5.0 microM and had no effect at 2.5 microM. UVR-induced apoptosis at 24 hr was decreased by 22.64% at 2.5 microM arsenite and by 61.90% at 5.0 microM arsenite. Arsenite decreased the UVR-induced caspase-3/7 activity in parallel with the inhibition of apoptosis. Colony survival assays of the 291.03C cells demonstrate a median lethal concentration (LC50) of arsenite of 0.9 microM and a median lethal dose (LD50) of UVR of 0.05 kJ/m2. If the present results are applicable in vivo, inhibition of UVR-induced apoptosis may contribute to arsenite's enhancement of UVR-induced skin carcinogenesis.

Arsenite induces HIF-1alpha and VEGF through PI3K, Akt and reactive oxygen species in DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells

Arsenite is widely distributed environmental toxicant in water, food and air. It is a known human carcinogen, which is strongly associated with human cancers originated from liver, nasal cavity, lung, skin, bladder, kidney, and prostate. In this study, we investigated whether arsenite induces expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1). HIF-1 is a heterodimeric basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, composed of HIF-1alpha and HIF-1beta/ARNT subunits; and is involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Here we demonstrate that arsenite induces the expression of HIF-1alpha but not HIF-1beta subunit in DU145 human prostate carcinoma cells. Arsenite also increases the expression of VEGF through the induction of HIF-1. We also found that arsenite activates PI3K and Akt that are required for arsenite-induced expression of HIF-1alpha and VEGF. The induction of HIF-1 and VEGF by arsenite can not be inhibited by MAP kinase inhibitors. Arsenite causes production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The major species of ROS required for the induction of HIF-1 and VEGF is H2O2. These data indicate that the arsenite-induced activation of PI3K/Akt signaling and the expression of HIF-1 and VEGF through the generation of ROS could be an important mechanism in the arsenite-induced carcinogenesis.

Molecular mechanisms of arsenic carcinogenesis

Arsenic is a metalloid compound that is widely distributed in the environment. Human exposure of this compound has been associated with increased cancer incidence. Although the exact mechanisms remain to be investigated, numerous carcinogenic pathways have been proposed. Potential carcinogenic actions for arsenic include oxidative stress, genotoxic damage, DNA repair inhibition, epigenetic events, and activation of certain signal transduction pathways leading to abberrant gene expression. In this article, we summarize current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of arsenic carcinogenesis with an emphasis on ROS and signal transduction pathways.

Arsenite induces delayed mutagenesis and transformation in human osteosarcoma cells at extremely low concentrations

Arsenite is a human multisite carcinogen, but its mechanism of action is not known. We recently found that extremely low concentrations (</=0.1 microM) of arsenite transform human osteosarcoma TE85 (HOS) cells to anchorage-independence. In contrast to other carcinogens which transform these cells within days of exposure, almost 8 weeks of arsenite exposure are required for transformation. We decided to reexamine the question of arsenite mutagenicity using chronic exposure in a spontaneous mutagenesis assay we previously developed. Arsenite was able to cause a delayed increase in mutagenesis at extremely low concentrations (</=0.1 microM) in a dose-dependent manner. The increase in mutant frequency occurred after almost 20 generations of growth in arsenite. Transformation required more than 30 generations of continuous exposure. We also found that arsenite induced gene amplification of the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene in a dose-dependent manner. Since HOS cells are able to methylate arsenite at a very low rate, it was possible that active metabolites such as monomethylarsonous acid (MMA(III)) contributed to the delayed mutagenesis and transformation in these cells. However, when the assay was repeated with MMA(III), we found no significant increase in mutagenesis or transformation, suggesting that arsenite-induced delayed mutagenesis and transformation are not caused by arsenite's metabolites, but by arsenite itself. Our results suggest that long-term exposure to low concentrations of arsenite may affect signaling pathways that result in a progressive genomic instability.

Methylated trivalent arsenicals as candidate ultimate genotoxic forms of arsenic: induction of chromosomal mutations but not gene mutations

Arsenic is a prevalent human carcinogen whose mutagenicity has not been characterized fully. Exposure to either form of inorganic arsenic, As(III) or As(V), can result in the formation of at least four organic metabolites: monomethylarsonic acid, monomethylarsonous acid (MMA(III)), dimethylarsinic acid, and dimethylarsinous acid (DMA(III)). The methylated trivalent species, as well as some of the other species, have not been evaluated previously for the induction of chromosome aberrations, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), or toxicity in cultured human peripheral blood lymphocytes; for mutagenicity in L5178Y/Tk(+/-) mouse lymphoma cells or in the Salmonella reversion assay; or for prophage-induction in Escherichia coli. Here we evaluated the arsenicals in these assays and found that MMA(III) and DMA(III) were the most potent clastogens of the six arsenicals in human lymphocytes and the most potent mutagens of the six arsenicals at the Tk(+/-) locus in mouse lymphoma cells. The dimethylated arsenicals were also spindle poisons, suggesting that they may be ultimate forms of arsenic that induce aneuploidy. Although the arsenicals were potent clastogens, none were potent SCE inducers, similar to clastogens that act via reactive oxygen species. None of the six arsenicals were gene mutagens in Salmonella TA98, TA100, or TA104; and neither MMA(III) nor DMA(III) induced prophage. Our results show that both methylated As(V) compounds were less cytotoxic and genotoxic than As(V), whereas both methylated As(III) compounds were more cytotoxic and genotoxic than As(III). Our data support the view that MMA(III) and DMA(III) are candidate ultimate genotoxic forms of arsenic and that they are clastogens and not gene mutagens. We suggest that the clastogenicity of the other arsenicals is due to their metabolism by cells to MMA(III) or DMA(III).

Arsenic toxicity and potential mechanisms of action

Exposure to the metalloid arsenic is a daily occurrence because of its environmental pervasiveness. Arsenic, which is found in several different chemical forms and oxidation states, causes acute and chronic adverse health effects, including cancer. The metabolism of arsenic has an important role in its toxicity. The metabolism involves reduction to a trivalent state and oxidative methylation to a pentavalent state. The trivalent arsenicals, including those methylated, have more potent toxic properties than the pentavalent arsenicals. The exact mechanism of the action of arsenic is not known, but several hypotheses have been proposed. At a biochemical level, inorganic arsenic in the pentavalent state may replace phosphate in several reactions. In the trivalent state, inorganic and organic (methylated) arsenic may react with critical thiols in proteins and inhibit their activity. Regarding cancer, potential mechanisms include genotoxicity, altered DNA methylation, oxidative stress, altered cell proliferation, co-carcinogenesis, and tumor promotion. A better understanding of the mechanism(s) of action of arsenic will make a more confident determination of the risks associated with exposure to this chemical.

Arsenic inhibits the repair of DNA damage induced by benzo(a)pyrene

In order to study the effect of arsenic on DNA damage, Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg) with or without 800 microg of benzo(a)pyrene (BP) by intramammilary injection. The animals were sacrificed on day 1, 3, 5, 10 and 27 and the mammary gland tissues were collected for DNA adduct measurement using a (32)P post-labeling assay. Animals dosed with arsenic alone did not show any DNA adducts. DNA adduct levels in rats dosed with BP alone reached a maximum level by day 5, reducing to 13% of this level by day 27. Adduct levels in rats dosed with arsenic and BP also reached a maximum by day 5 but only 80% of the level observed in the BP group. However, 84% of this amount still remained by day 27. The First Nucleotide Change (FNC) technique was used for the screening of 115 samples of various tissues from mice that had been chronically exposed to sodium arsenate for over 2 years revealed that inorganic arsenic did not attack the two putative hotspots (codons 131 and 154) of the hOGG1 gene. These results support the hypothesis that arsenic exerts its biological activity through DNA repair inhibition.

Arsenic co-exposure potentiates benzo[a]pyrene genotoxicity

Co-exposures to complex mixtures of arsenic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) are common in the environment. These two environmental pollutants are carcinogenic, but the nature of their molecular interactions in the induction of cancer is not well understood. Additive or synergistic interactions have been proposed to explain why arsenic, which is not a potent mutagen itself, is comutagenic with a variety of DNA-damaging agents. We have examined the genotoxicity of BaP-arsenic mixtures. We find that exposure of mouse hepatoma Hepa-1 cells to low concentrations of arsenite increases BaP-DNA adduct levels by as much as 18-fold. This effect requires the activation of BaP by cytochrome p450 1A1 (CYP1A1), although arsenite does not alter BaP-inducible CYP1A1 enzymatic activity, suggesting that arsenite acts downstream of metabolic BaP activation. Glutathione homeostasis was important in modulating the potency of arsenite. In cells depleted of reduced glutathione, arsenite increased BaP-DNA adduct formation by an even greater degree than in cells co-treated with BaP and arsenite in control medium. Although arsenic comutagenicity has been attributed to inhibition of DNA repair, arsenite treatment did not alter adduct removal kinetics in BaP-treated cells, suggesting that mechanisms upstream of DNA repair are responsible for increased adduct levels. Concentrations of arsenite and BaP that had no measurable mutagenic effect alone, increased mutation frequency at the Hprt locus by eight-fold when given in combination, demonstrating a comutagenic response between BaP and arsenite. These results provide strong support for the positive interaction between arsenic and PAH-induced cancer observed in epidemiology studies, and help to identify additional mechanistic steps likely to be involved in arsenic comutagenesis.

Dietary folate deficiency enhances induction of micronuclei by arsenic in mice

Folate deficiency increases background levels of DNA damage and can enhance the genotoxicity of chemical agents. Arsenic, a known human carcinogen present in drinking water supplies around the world, induces chromosomal and DNA damage. The effect of dietary folate deficiency on arsenic genotoxicity was evaluated using a mouse peripheral blood micronucleus (MN) assay. In duplicate experiments, male C57Bl/6J mice were fed folate-deficient or folate-sufficient diets for 7 weeks. During week 7, mice on each diet were given four consecutive daily doses of sodium arsenite (0, 2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) via oral gavage. Over the course of the study the folate-deficient diet produced an approximate 60% depletion of red blood cell folate. Folate deficiency by itself was associated with small but significant increases in MN in normochromatic erythrocytes (NCEs) and polychromatic erythrocytes (PCEs). Arsenic exposure was associated with significant increases in MN-PCEs in both folate-deficient and folate-sufficient mice. MN-PCE frequencies at the 10 mg/kg dose of arsenic were increased 4.5-fold over vehicle control in folate-deficient mice and 2.1-fold over control in folate-sufficient mice. At the 5 and 10 mg/kg doses of arsenic, MN-PCE levels were significantly higher (1.3-fold and 2.4-fold, respectively) in folate-deficient mice compared to folate-sufficient mice. Very few MN from either control or treated animals in either experiment exhibited kinetochore immunostaining, suggesting that the MN were derived from chromosome breakage rather than from whole chromosome loss. These results indicate that folate deficiency enhances arsenic-induced clastogenesis at doses of 5 mg/kg and higher.

Influence of sodium arsenite on the genotoxicity of potassium dichromate and ethyl methanesulfonate: studies with the wing spot test in Drosophila

The wing spot test in Drosophila melanogaster was used to investigate the genotoxicity of arsenic and its effects on the action of two clearly genotoxic agents: potassium dichromate (PDC) and ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS). This assay is based on the principle that the loss of heterozygosity of the suitable recessive markers multiple wing hairs (mwh) and flare-3 (flr(3)) can lead to the formation of mutant clones of larval cells, which are then expressed as spots on the wings of adult flies. These spots can be attributed to different genotoxic events: either mitotic recombination or mutation (deletion, point mutation, and specific types of translocation). Pretreatments and chronic cotreatments were comparatively used for combined treatments. From the results obtained it is evident that sodium arsenite (SA) does not increase the frequency of any of the three categories of spots recorded (small, large, and twin spots) at the concentrations tested. The effects of SA in combination with PDC, in both cotreatments and pretreatments, indicate that SA almost suppressed the clones induced by PDC. Nevertheless, no effects of arsenic were observed with respect to the pre- and cotreatments with EMS. Thus, SA does not modify the frequencies of mutant clones induced by EMS.

Arsenite is a cocarcinogen with solar ultraviolet radiation for mouse skin: an animal model for arsenic carcinogenesis

Although epidemiological evidence shows an association between arsenic in drinking water and increased risk of skin, lung, and bladder cancers, arsenic compounds are not animal carcinogens. The lack of animal models has hindered mechanistic studies of arsenic carcinogenesis. Previously, this laboratory found that low concentrations of arsenite (the likely environmental carcinogen) which are not mutagenic can enhance the mutagenicity of other agents, including ultraviolet radiation (UVR). This enhancing effect appears to result from inhibition of DNA repair by arsenite. Recently we found that low concentrations of arsenite disrupted p53 function and upregulated cyclin D1. These results suggest that the failure to find an animal model for arsenic carcinogenesis is because arsenite is not a carcinogen per se, but rather acts as an enhancing agent (cocarcinogen) with a genotoxic partner. We tested this hypothesis with solar UVR as carcinogenic stimulus in hairless Skh1 mice. Mice given 10 mg/l sodium arsenite in drinking water for 26 weeks had a 2.4-fold increase in yield of tumors after 1.7 KJ/m(2) UVR three times weekly compared with mice given UVR alone. No tumors appeared in mice given arsenite alone. The tumors were mostly squamous cell carcinomas, and those occurring in mice given UVR plus arsenite appeared earlier and were much larger and more invasive than in mice given UVR alone. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that arsenic acts as a cocarcinogen with a second (genotoxic) agent by inhibiting DNA repair and/or enhancing positive growth signaling.

Effects of arsenite on p53, p21 and cyclin D expression in normal human fibroblasts -- a possible mechanism for arsenite's comutagenicity

Arsenite, the most likely environmental carcinogenic form of arsenic, is not significantly mutagenic at non-toxic concentrations, but is able to enhance the mutagenicity of other agents. Evidence suggests that this comutagenic effect of arsenite is due to inhibition of DNA repair, but no specific repair enzyme has been found to be sensitive to low (<1 microM) concentrations of arsenite. To determine whether arsenite affects signaling which might alter DNA repair, this study assesses the effect of arsenite on p53-related signal transduction pathways after ionizing radiation. Long-term (14 day) low dose (0.1 microM) arsenite caused a modest increase in p53 expression in WI38 normal human fibroblasts, while only toxic (50 microM) concentrations increased p53 levels after short-term (18 h) exposure. When cells were irradiated (6 Gy), p53 and p21 protein concentrations were increased after 4h, as expected. Both long-term, low dose and short-term, high dose exposure to arsenite greatly suppressed the radiation-induced increase in p21 abundance. In addition, long-term, low dose (but not short-term, high dose) exposure to arsenite resulted in increased expression of cyclin D1. These results show that in cells treated with arsenite, p53-dependent increase in p21 expression, normally a block to cell cycle progression after DNA damage, is deficient. At the same time, low (non-toxic) exposure to arsenite enhances positive growth signaling. We suggest that the absence of normal p53 functioning, along with increased positive growth signaling in the presence of DNA damage may result in defective DNA repair and account for the comutagenic effects of arsenite.

Genetic toxicology of a paradoxical human carcinogen, arsenic: a review

Arsenic is widely distributed in nature in air, water and soil in the form of either metalloids or chemical compounds. It is used commercially, as pesticide, wood preservative, in the manufacture of glass, paper and semiconductors. Epidemiological and clinical studies indicate that arsenic is a paradoxical human carcinogen that does not easily induce cancer in animal models. It is one of the toxic compounds known in the environment. Intermittent incidents of arsenic contamination in ground water have been reported from several parts of the world. Arsenic containing drinking water has been associated with a variety of skin and internal organ cancers. The wide human exposure to this compound through drinking water throughout the world causes great concern for human health. In the present review, we have attempted to evaluate and update the mutagenic and genotoxic effects of arsenic and its compounds based on available literature.

Are metals dietary carcinogens?

Humans have been in contact with metals almost since the beginning of our existence. In fact, one cannot even think on human evolution without considering the great role played by metals in mankind's development. Metals are common moieties of molecules involved in a wide variety of biological processes, and hence are found in virtually all living organisms. Some metals are essential for human nutrition; others are found as contaminants in foodstuffs. One feature of the normal human diet which is frequently found is the simultaneous presence of both essential and toxic metals. Other factors important in the risk-evaluation analysis of metals are their pharmacokinetics, interactions among them and with other major components of the diet, and, especially, the great differences in the dietary habits of different populations and in the regional distribution of metals. In attempting to understand the role which dietary metals could play in human carcinogenesis, we found that the many factors involved and the lack of specific information made it difficult to reach firm conclusions on the hazards of dietary metals. We hope that this paper will raise the interest of genetic toxicologists in the subject and will consequently facilitate a risk analysis of the carcinogenic potential of dietary metals.

Arsenic toxicity is enzyme specific and its affects on ligation are not caused by the direct inhibition of DNA repair enzymes

The molecular mechanism of arsenic toxicity is believed to be due to the ability of arsenite [As(III)] to bind protein thiols. Numerous studies have shown that arsenic is cytotoxic at micromolar concentrations. Micromolar As can also induce chromosomal damage and inhibit DNA repair. The mechanism of arsenic-induced genotoxicity is very important because arsenic is a human carcinogen, but not a mutagen, and there is a need to establish recommendations for safe levels of As in the environment. We have measured the dose-response for arsenic inhibition of several purified human DNA repair enzymes, including DNA polymerase beta, DNA ligase I and DNA ligase III and have found that most enzymes, even those with critical SH groups, are very insensitive to As. Many repair enzymes are activated by millimolar concentrations of As(III) and/or As(V). Only pyruvate dehydrogenase, one of eight purified enzymes examined so far, is inhibited by micromolar arsenic. In contrast to the purified enzymes, treatment of human cells in culture with micromolar arsenic produces a significant dose-dependent decrease in DNA ligase activity in nuclear extracts from the treated cells. However, the ligase activity in extracts from untreated cells is no more sensitive to arsenic than the purified enzymes. Our results show that direct enzyme inhibition is not a common toxic effect of As and that only a few sensitive enzymes are responsible for arsenic-induced cellular toxicity. Thus, arsenic-induced co-mutagenesis and inhibition of DNA repair is probably not the result of direct enzyme inhibition, but may be an indirect effect caused by As-induced changes in cellular redox levels or alterations in signal transduction pathways and consequent changes in gene expression.

Metabolic methylation is a possible genotoxicity-enhancing process of inorganic arsenics

To elucidate if the metabolic methylation participates in the induction of inorganic arsenic-responsible genetic damage, arsenite (ARS) and its methylated metabolites, methanearsonic acid (MMAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA), were comparatively assayed for the induction of DNA damage by determining DNA repair synthesis using polymerization inhibitors such as aphidicolin (aph) and hydroxyurea (HU). When human alveolar epithelial type II (L-132) cells in culture were exposed to either one of these three arsenic compounds, DNA single-strand breaks resulting from the inhibition of repair polymerization were remarkably produced by exposure to DMAA at 5 to 100 microM, while not by that to ARS and MMAA even at 100 microM. Furthermore, a bromodeoxyuridine (BrdrU)-photolysis assay indicated that the induction of DNA repair synthesis was observed only in the case of exposure to DMAA. When L-132 cells were exposed to 100 microM MMAA in the presence of 10 mM S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM), which is a well-known methyl-group donor in metabolic methylation of arsenics, DNA repair synthesis was induced along with an increase in the amount of dimethylarsenic in the cells. These results indicate that metabolic methylation of inorganic arsenics to dimethylarsenics is predominantly involved in the induction of DNA damage.

Inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase by arsenite

Inorganic arsenic is considered a human carcinogen based principally on epidemiological evidence. Unlike most initiating chemicals, arsenic is inactive or extremely weak in its ability to directly induce gene mutations. Arsenite has been shown, however, to enhance mutagenicity when present with other agents such as UV radiation. Synergistic potentiation of chromosomal damage has been shown with co-treatment with DNA-crosslinking agents. Arsenite at low concentrations is known to be highly selective in reacting with closely spaced (vicinal) dithiol groups in proteins. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) is known to contain such vicinal dithiol groups. Stimulation of PARP is an immediate response of eukaryotic cells to DNA strand breaks and has been implicated in DNA repair. The effect of treatment with sodium arsenite on PARP activity was assessed as follows: Molt-3 cells (a human T-cell lymphoma-derived cell line) in culture were treated for 24 h with concentrations of sodium arsenite ranging from 2.5 up to 25 microM. Speciation of inorganic arsenic and cell viability were determined. Cell cycle kinetics were measured by flow cytometry. Poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis was assayed using a palindromic decameric deoxynucleotide to stimulate enzyme activity. Results show that arsenite decreases PARP activity in a dose-dependent manner with an approximately 50% decrease in enzyme activity at 10 microM arsenite and 80% viability. The percent of cells in S-phase increases with increasing concentration of arsenite. These results provide further indication that arsenite may potentiate genetic damage through reaction with dithiols in DNA repair proteins such as PARP, perhaps resulting in interference with normal repair function.

Variation in arsenic-induced sister chromatid exchange in human lymphocytes and lymphoblastoid cell lines

This study was undertaken to compare the genotoxic effects of arsenite in cultured human lymphocytes and lymphoblastoid cell lines from a group of normal human volunteers. The goal was to determine whether, as found with other genotoxins, subgroups might exist which showed relative high or low sensitivity to induction of sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) by this metal. Primary lymphoblast cultures were established by treatment with phytohemagglutinin (PHA-L). Lymphoblastoid cell lines were established by transformation with Epstein-Barr virus. Cultures were exposed for 40 h to sodium arsenite (AsIII) and SCEs assayed by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation and staining by fluorescence plus Giemsa. SCEs were increased by arsenite in a dose-dependent manner over the concentration range of 10(-7)-10(-5) M. SCEs could not be scored above 10(-5) M because of cytotoxicity. Comparison of SCE frequency in primary lymphocyte cultures among individuals showed substantial variation in sensitivity to arsenite, with some showing no significant effect while others showed a 2-3-fold increase in SCE frequency. In one lymphoblastoid cell line especially sensitive to arsenite, arsenic acid (AsV) or dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) at concentrations up to 10(-5) M did not increase the SCE frequency suggesting that AsIII is the active form of arsenic. When pooled data from the primary lymphocytes was compared to that obtained with the lymphoblastoid cells, the slopes of the dose-response curves for ASIII-induced SCEs were similar. The sensitivity of the majority of the individual primary lymphocyte cultures to SCE induction by arsenite was correlated with the sensitivity of the lymphoblastoid cultures established from the same individual. However, in three individuals no correlation was found. Individual lymphoblastoid cell lines retained their As sensitivity after cryopreservation and subsequent revival. Whether the genotoxic response to As is genetically controlled or the result of phenotypic selection is being explored in these stable lymphoblastoid cell lines.

Human cells lack the inducible tolerance to arsenite seen in hamster cells

Chinese hamster V79 cells and their arsenite-resistant variants were found to have an arsenite- and antimonite-inducible tolerance mechanism which protects against the subsequent cytotoxic effects of arsenate, arsenate and antimonite. Inducible tolerance requires de novo mRNA and protein synthesis, and is independent of the heat shock response. In contrast, we report that the arsenite hypersensitive variant line As/S27D lacks the inducible tolerance response. Numerous attempts were made to detect an inducible tolerance response to arsenite in a variety of human cells. An assay based on Neutral red uptake was used in order to study inducible tolerance in cells with poor clonability. Neither normal diploid cells nor human tumor cells of different origins were found to elicit an inducible tolerance response to arsenite. This finding may help to explain why rodents do not develop tumors after exposure to arsenite, while humans do. In addition, all human cell lines tested were much more sensitive to arsenite compared to Chinese hamster cells. Human keratinocytes were especially sensitive. In general, human cells resemble arsenic hypersensitive Chinese hamster As/R27D cells, which have lost a protective mechanism found in wild-type Chinese hamster cells.

Relative genotoxic potency of arsenic and its methylated metabolites

Arsenic is one of the few identified human carcinogens that has yet to be shown to cause cancer in rodents when the standard bioassay protocols are used. The reasons for this apparent interspecies difference are unclear but may be related to differences between humans and rodents in their detoxification capabilities. Detoxification of arsenic may occur through a methylation pathway. If, in fact, methylation does detoxify arsenic, one would predict that the methylated arsenicals might be less genotoxic than the inorganic arsenicals. To evaluate the hypothesis that the inorganic arsenicals are more mutagenic than the organic arsenicals, we tested sodium arsenite, sodium arsenate, monomethylarsonic acid (MMA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) for their relative mutagenic and clastogenic potentials. We used the L5178Y/TK+/- mouse lymphoma assay which allows the detection of chemicals inducing a broad spectrum of different types of genetic damage. Sodium arsenite and sodium arsenate were active at concentrations of 1-2 micrograms/ml and 10-14 micrograms/ml, respectively. MMA was active between 2500-5000 micrograms/ml; while DMA required almost 10000 micrograms/ml to induce a genotoxic response. The organic arsenicals are thus much less potent as mutagenic agents than the inorganic arsenicals. All four of these arsenicals appear to act by mechanisms that cause chromosomal mutations.

Polymerase chain reaction-based deletion analysis of spontaneous and arsenite-enhanced gpt mutants in CHO-AS52 cells

In this study, we have examined the mutagenicity of sodium arsenite at the xanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus (ypt) in a pSV2 gpt-transformed CHO cell line, AS52. Our results provide very weak evidence for arsenite as a gene mutagen because the chemical at high doses and at high cytotoxicity enhances barely a doubling of mutant frequency (MF) and a doubling of the gpt gene deletion frequency compared to controls. We suggest that the increase in MF in arsenite-treated cells results from arsenic, as comutagen, enhancing the induction effect of any unknown endogenous or exogenous factors on the spontaneous mutagenesis of AS52 cells. Nested PCR analysis mutants has a total deletion of the gpt gene. For the spontaneous, 50 microM arsenite- and 100 microM arsenite-enhanced spontaneous mutants in AS52 cells, the percentages of total deletion of the gpt gene are 36.00%, 54.72% and 66.67%, respectively. We suggest that a high proportion of the gene deletion in arsenite-enhanced mutants may be due to the high cytotoxicity of the chemical.

Genotoxicity of two arsenic compounds in germ cells and somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster

Two arsenic compounds, sodium arsenite (NaAsO2) and sodium arsenate (Na2HAsO4), were tested for their possible genotoxicity in germinal and somatic cells of Drosophila melanogaster. For germinal cells, the sex-linked recessive lethal test (SLRLT) and the sex chromosome loss test (SCLT) were used. In both tests, a brood scheme of 2-3-3 days was employed. Two routes of administration were used for the SLRLT: adult male injection (0.38, 0.77 mM for sodium arsenite; and 0.54, 1.08 mM for sodium arsenate) and larval feeding (0.008, 0.01, 0.02 mM for sodium arsenite; and 0.01, 0.02 mM for sodium arsenate). For the SCLT the compounds were injected into males. Controls were treated with a solution of 5% sucrose which was employed as solvent. The somatic mutation and recombination test (SMART) was run in the w+/w eye assay as well as in the mwh +/+ flr3 wing test, employing the standard and insecticide-resistant strains. In both tests, third instar larvae were treated for 6 hr with sodium arsenite (0.38, 0.77, 1.15 mM), and sodium arsenate (0.54, 1.34, 2.69 mM). In the SLRLT, both compounds were positive, but they were negative in the SCLT. The genotoxicity of both compounds was localized mainly in somatic cells, in agreement with reports on the carcinogenic potential of arsenical compounds. Sodium arsenite was an order of magnitude more toxic and mutagenic than sodium arsenate. This study confirms the reliability of the Drosophila in vivo system to test the genotoxicity of environmental compounds.

Modulating influence of inorganic arsenic on the recombinogenic and mutagenic action of ionizing radiation and alkylating agents in Drosophila melanogaster

In bacterial systems and in mammalian in vitro cell cultures, inorganic arsenic has been found to potentiate the mutagenic action of UV as well as of a number of mutagenic agents, probably by interfering with the later steps of DNA-repair. The Drosophila wing spot test (SMART) was used to study the modulating action of inorganic arsenic on the recombinogenic and mutagenic effects of the alkylating agents ethylnitrosourea (ENU), methylmethane sulphonate (MMS), and ethylene oxide (EO) as well as of gamma-rays. It was found, that arsenic in this in vivo test system exerted an inhibitory effect on mitotic recombination induced by alkylating agents and gamma-irradiation. These results are in contrast to the synergistic effect of inorganic arsenic on point mutations and deletions as reported for human lymphocytes and primary fibroblasts. The reason for the discrepancy between the mammalian systems and Drosophila with respect to the modulating action of arsenic is discussed.

Metal carcinogenesis: mechanistic implications

Cancer epidemiology has identified several metal compounds as human carcinogens. Recent evidence suggests that carcinogenic metals induce genotoxicity in a multiplicity of ways, either alone or by enhancing the effects of other agents. This review summarizes current information on the genotoxicity of arsenic, chromium, nickel, beryllium and cadmium compounds and their possible roles in carcinogenesis. Each of these metals is distinct in its primary modes of action; yet there are several mechanisms induced by more than one metal, including: the induction of cellular immunity and oxidative stress, the inhibition of DNA metabolism and repair and the formation of DNA- and/or protein-crosslinks.