Molecular biology of human xenobiotic-metabolizing cytochromes P450: role of vaccinia virus cDNA expression in evaluating catalytic function

Basic concepts of inflammation and its role in carcinogenesis

While the normal inflammatory cascade is self-limiting and crucial for host protection against invading pathogens and in the repair of damaged tissue, a wealth of evidence suggests that chronic inflammation is the engine driving carcinogenesis. Over a period of almost 150 years the link between inflammation and cancer development has been well established. In this chapter we discuss the fundamental concepts and mechanisms behind normal inflammation as it pertains to wound healing. We further discuss the association of inflammation and its role in carcinogenesis, highlighting the different stages of cancer development, namely tumour initiation, promotion and progression. With both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system being central to the inflammatory process, we examine the role of a number of immune effectors in contributing to the carcinogenic process. In addition, we highlight the influences of host genetics in altering cancer risk.

Oxidative stress and oxidative damage in carcinogenesis

Carcinogenesis is a multistep process involving mutation and the subsequent selective clonal expansion of the mutated cell. Chemical and physical agents including those that induce reative oxygen species can induce and/or modulate this multistep process. Several modes of action by which carcinogens induce cancer have been identified, including through production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative damage to cellular macromolecules can arise through overproduction of ROS and faulty antioxidant and/or DNA repair mechanisms. In addition, ROS can stimulate signal transduction pathways and lead to activation of key transcription factors such as Nrf2 and NF-kappaB. The resultant altered gene expression patterns evoked by ROS contribute to the carcinogenesis process. Recent evidence demonstrates an association between a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in oxidative DNA repair genes and antioxidant genes with human cancer susceptibility. These aspects of ROS biology will be discussed in the context of their relationship to carcinogenesis.

Physicochemical and Biological Data for the Development of Predictive Organophosphorus Pesticide QSARs and PBPK/PD Models for Human Risk Assessment

A search of the scientific literature was carried out for physiochemical and biological data [i.e., IC50, LD50, Kp (cm/h) for percutaneous absorption, skin/water and tissue/blood partition coefficients, inhibition ki values, and metabolic parameters such as Vmax and Km] on 31 organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) to support the development of predictive quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) models for human risk assessment. Except for work on parathion, chlorpyrifos, and isofenphos, very few modeling data were found on the 31 OPs of interest. The available percutaneous absorption, partition coefficients and metabolic parameters were insufficient in number to develop predictive QSAR models. Metabolic kinetic parameters (Vmax, Km) varied according to enzyme source and the manner in which the enzymes were characterized. The metabolic activity of microsomes should be based on the kinetic activity of purified or cDNA-expressed cytochrome P450s (CYPs) and the specific content of each active CYP in tissue microsomes. Similar requirements are needed to assess the activity of tissue A- and B-esterases metabolizing OPs. A limited amount of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and carboxylesterase (CaE) inhibition and recovery data were found in the literature on the 31 OPs. A program is needed to require the development of physicochemical and biological data to support risk assessment methodologies involving QSAR and PBPK/PD models.

P450scc mutant nanostructuring for optimal assembly

Molecular modeling and protein engineering were synergically employed to improve the fabrication of cytochrome P450scc mutant nanostructures for biodevice assembly. The optimization of protein three-dimensional structure by molecular modeling was performed using two models: in vacuum and simulating the presence of a polar solvent. Calculations were performed on a model to predict a P450scc mutant which could improve the process of molecules' immobilization onto solid supports. Engineerized cytochrome P450scc thin films were prepared and characterized by various biophysical techniques such as pi-A isotherms, surface potential measurements, Brewster angle microscopy, UV-vis spectroscopy, circular dichroism, nanogravimetry, and electrochemical analysis. This paper takes into consideration biomolecules modified by protein engineering that represent a new and powerful approach for obtaining synthetic simpler artificial structures with new or improved properties (i.e., specificity, stability, sensitivity, etc.) useful for biosensors development.

Metabolism of chemical carcinogens

The transformation of chemicals is important in carcinogenesis, both in bioactivation and detoxification. Major advances in the past 20 years include appreciation of the migration of reactive electrophiles, the ability of Phase II conjugating enzymes to activate chemicals, understanding of the human enzymes, the realization that DNA modification can result from endogenous chemicals, and the demonstration that cancers can result from the metabolism of chemicals to non-covalently bound products. Pathways of transformation in which major insight was gained during the past 20 years include nitropolycyclic hydrocarbons, polycyclic hydrocarbons and their diols, vinyl halides and dihaloalkanes. Advances in analytical methods and recombinant DNA technology contributed greatly to the study of metabolism of chemical carcinogens. Major advances have been made in the assignment of roles of individual enzymes in reactions. The knowledge developed in this field has contributed to growth in the areas of chemoprevention, molecular epidemiology and species comparisons of risk. Some of the areas in which future development relevant to carcinogen metabolism is expected involve pathways of transformation of certain chemicals, regulation of genes coding for many of the enzymes under consideration and genomics.

Aflatoxin B1 activation in human lung

Inhalation exposure to the carcinogen aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in certain occupations is considerable. Because circumstantial epidemiological evidence suggests that AFB1 inhalation may cause primary lung cancer, we investigated AFB1 activation by human lung microsomes. Microsomes were incubated with [3H]AFB1 (124 microM), and activation to the AFB1-8,9-epoxide was measured as the AFB1-glutathione (AFB1-GSH) conjugate by HPLC. The formation of AFB1-GSH was in the range of 0.05-0.073 fmol/mg protein/min. The role of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A in this activation was investigated by oxidation of nifedipine (a prototype substrate for CYP 3A), by immunoinhibition, and by immunoblot analysis. Nifedipine oxidation varied from 0.2 to 19.2 pmol/mg protein/min in microsomes from different subjects, but did not correlate with AFB1 activation. Anti-human polyclonal CYP 3A4 IgG inhibited AFB1 activation. CYP 3A isoforms were immunoestimated to be in the range of 0.01-1.90 pmol/mg protein. Neither CYP 1A2 nor associated activity was detected in the lung microsomes. These data indicate that human lung microsomes activate AFB1 to form the exo-AFB1-8,9-epoxide and that CYP(s) of the 3A subfamily may be responsible for this activity. The relatively low amount of AFB1 activation in human lung compared to that in human liver can be explained by the scarcity of CYP-containing cells in the lung. In situ AFB1 activation and resultant carcinogenic risk are distinctly possible in occupational settings where inhalation of AFB1-contaminated dusts occurs.