The induction of proliferative vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypes by benzo[a]pyrene does not involve mutational activation of ras genes

Effect of sulfur dioxide on expression of proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes from rats

Sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) is a ubiquitous air pollutant that is present in low concentrations in the urban air, and in higher concentrations in the working environment. In the present study, male Wistar rats were housed in exposure chambers and treated with 14.00 +/- 1.01, 28.00 +/- 1.77 and 56.00 +/- 3.44 mg m(-3) SO(2) for 6 h/day for 7 days, while control group was exposed to filtered air in the same condition. The mRNA and protein levels of proto-oncogenes (c-fos, c-jun, c-myc, and Ki-ras) and tumor suppressor genes (p53, Rb, and p16) were analyzed in lungs using a real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) assay and Western blot analysis. The results showed that mRNA and protein levels of c-fos, c-jun, c-myc, Ki-ras, and p53 in lungs were increased in a dose-dependent manner, while mRNA and protein levels of Rb and p16 were decreased in lungs of rats after SO(2) inhalation. These results lead to a conclusion that SO(2) exposure could activate expressions of proto-oncogenes and suppress expressions of tumor suppressor genes, which might relate to the molecular mechanism of cocarcinogenic properties and potential carcinogenic effects of SO(2). According to previous studies, the results also indicated that promoter genes of apoptosis and tumor suppressor genes could produce apoptotic signals to antagonize the growth signals that arise from oncogenes. Understanding its molecular controls will benefit development of treatments for many diseases.

Sulfur dioxide and benzo(a)pyrene modulates CYP1A and tumor-related gene expression in rat liver

Sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) are common industrial and environmental contaminants. However, few data are available on the effects of SO(2) on proto-oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, as well as the interactions between SO(2) and other xenobiotics regulating proto-oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes expression. To investigate the interactions between SO(2) and B(a)P, male Wistar rats were exposed to intratracheally instilled with B(a)P or SO(2) inhalation alone or together. We detected mRNA expression of CYP1A1 and 1A2, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), and methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) activities in livers. The mRNA and protein levels of several cancer-related genes were analyzed in livers by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot, respectively. The EROD/MROD activities and CYP1A1/2 expression were down-regulated by SO(2) but up-regulated by B(a)P alone. Exposure of SO(2) alone induced c-fos, c-jun, c-myc, H-ras, and p53 expression, and depressed p16 and Rb expression in livers. The effects of B(a)P on the above gene were similar to SO(2) except c-fos expression. Furthermore, SO(2) + B(a)P exposure increased the expression of c-fos, c-jun, c-myc, and p53, and decreased p16 and Rb expression in livers compared with exposed to SO(2) or B(a)P alone. However, no synergistic effects were observed on H-ras and CYP1A1/2 after SO(2) + B(a)P exposure. Our findings indicate that multiple cell cycle regulatory proteins play key roles in the toxicity of SO(2) and B(a)P in livers. It might involve the activation of c-fos, c-jun, c-myc, and p53. And p16-Rb pathway might also participate in the progress. Although the gene products we studied are classed as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, their functions actually relate to more general processes of control of cell proliferation, survival, and/or apoptosis.

Bioactivation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Carcinogens within the vascular Wall: Implications for Human Atherogenesis

Atherogenesis is a complex pathogenetic process involving a variety of structural and functional deficits within the arterial wall that culminate in the formation of fibrous atherosclerotic plaques. Cigarette smoking is potentially the most remediable contributor to cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Among the 4000 plus chemicals present in tobacco and tobacco smoke, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been firmly implicated in the etiology of atherosclerosis in experimental model systems. However, the molecular mechanisms responsible for PAH-induced vascular injury are not well understood. In this review, we have focused on the mechanisms of bioactivation of PAHs in the vas-culature, and the possible role(s) of cytochrome P4501A and 1B enzymes in the formation of PAH-DNA adducts within the vessel wall, a phenomenon that may contribute to the development of atherosclerotic plaques in humans.

Genetic and molecular mechanisms of chemical atherogenesis

Injury to the cellular components of the vascular wall and blood by endogenous and exogenous chemicals has been associated with atherosclerosis in humans and experimental systems. The genetic and molecular mechanisms responsible for initiation and promotion of atherosclerotic changes include modulation of extracellular matrix-integrin axis, genes involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation and possibly, genomic stability. This review summarizes seminal studies over the past 20 years that shed light on critical gene-gene and gene-environment interactions mediating the atherogenic response to chemical injury.

CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 in blood-brain interfaces: CYP1A1-dependent bioactivation of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in endothelial cells

Immunohistochemistry and autoradiography were used to identify sites of the cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450) 1A1 and 1B1 expression and activation of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA), in the brain of rodents pretreated with the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl or vehicle. Immunohistochemistry revealed that CYP1A1 was preferentially induced in endothelial cells (EC) in the choroid plexus, in veins in the leptomeninges, and in cerebral veins of AhR agonist-pretreated mice. No induction occurred in cerebral capillary EC. In vehicle-treated mice no localization of CYP1A1 in EC was observed. CYP1B1 was expressed in smooth muscle cells of arteries in the leptomeninges, in cerebral arteries/arterioles and to a low extent in ependymal cells of AhR agonist- and vehicle-treated mice. No CYP1B1 was detected in capillary loops of the choroid plexus or in cerebral capillaries. Following administration of [(3)H]DMBA to BNF-pretreated mice, a marked irreversible binding in EC of the choroid plexus and of veins in the leptomeninges was observed but not in cerebral capillaries. In vehicle-treated mice, there was no [(3)H]DMBA-binding at these sites. Furthermore, a high level of irreversibly bound [(3)H]DMBA occurred in EC at these sites in precision-cut mouse/rat brain slices and in excised blood-brain interfaces incubated with [(3)H]DMBA. Since [(3)H]DMBA binding sites corresponded with the sites of CYP1A1 induction, we conclude that rodents express a constitutively low but highly inducible and functional CYP1A1 in EC of some of the blood-brain interfaces. The role of CYP1A1/1B1 and environmental pollutants in the etiology of cerebrovascular disease needs further consideration.

Impact of cellular metabolism on the biological effects of benzo[a]pyrene and related hydrocarbons

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a prototypical member of this class of chemicals, has been extensively studied for its toxic effects in laboratory animals and human populations. BaP toxicity is often mediated by oxidative metabolism to reactive intermediates that interact with macromolecules leading to alterations in target cell structure and function. More recent evidence suggests that disruption of cellular signaling pathways involved in the regulation of growth and differentiation contribute significantly to the toxicity of BaP and its metabolites. This review summarizes recent advances in our understanding of biological mechanisms of BaP toxicity at the molecular level, and the role of metabolic intermediates in carcinogenesis, atherogenesis, and teratogenesis.

Glutathione S-transferase genotype as a susceptibility factor in smoking-related coronary heart disease

Cancer studies suggest that the null polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase M1 or T1 (GSTM1/GSTT1) may affect the ability to detoxify or activate chemicals in cigarette smoke. The potential modification of the association between smoking and coronary heart disease (CHD) by GSTM1 and GSTT1 has not been studied in humans. A case-cohort study was conducted to test the hypotheses that specific genotypes of GSTM1 or GSTT1 affect susceptibility to smoking-related CHD. CHD cases (n=400) accrued during 1987-1993 and a cohort-representative sample (n=924) were selected from a biracial cohort of 15792 middle-aged men and women in four US communities. A significantly higher frequency of GSTM1-0 and a lower frequency of GSTT1-0 were found in whites (GSTM1-0=47.1%, GSTT1-0=16.4%) than in African-Americans (AAs) (GSTM1-0=17.5%, GSTT1-0=25.9%). A smoking-GSTM1-0 interaction for the risk of CHD was statistically significant on an additive scale, with ever-smokers with GSTM1-0 at a approximately 1.5-fold higher risk relative to ever-smokers with GSTM1-1 and a approximately 2-fold higher risk relative to never-smokers with GSTM1-0, after adjustment for other CHD risk factors. The interaction between having smoked >/=20 pack-years and GSTT1-1 was statistically significant on both multiplicative and additive scales. The risk of CHD given both GSTT1-1 and >/=20 pack-years of smoking was approximately three times greater than the risk given exposure to >/=20 pack-years of smoking alone, and approximately four times greater than the risk given exposure to GSTT1-1 alone. The modification of the smoking-CHD association by GSTM1 or GSTT1 suggests that chemicals in cigarette smoke that are substrates for glutathione S-transferases may be involved in the etiology of CHD.

Redox regulation of c-Ha-ras and osteopontin signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells: implications in chemical atherogenesis

Reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions play a central role in the regulation of vascular cell functions. Recent studies in this laboratory have identified c-Ha-ras and osteopontin genes as critical molecular targets during oxidant-induced atherogenesis. This review focuses on the deregulation of gene transcription by redox-activated trans-acting factors after benzo(a)pyrene challenge and the modulation of extracellular matrix signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells by allylamine-induced oxidative injury. The induction of atherogenic vascular smooth muscle cell phenotypes by chemical injury exhibits remarkable parallels with those seen in other forms of atherogenesis.

Identification of genes differentially expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells following benzo[a]pyrene challenge: implications for chemical atherogenesis

We have previously shown that serial passage of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) treated with a single low dose of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) induces acquisition of highly proliferative (i.e. atherogenic) phenotypes. To define the molecular basis of this response, differential display polymerase chain reaction was used to identify early target genes in murine vSMCs challenged with 3 microM BaP for 8 hr. Of 170 differentially expressed cDNAs, 111 were re-amplified, and 64 examined for homology to known genes. Aac11 apoptosis inhibitor, aldose reductase, GalNAc transferase, TCP-1 chaperonin gene, and mouse mitochondrial gene, were downregulated in vSMCs treated with BaP. In contrast, enhanced expression of unique retrotransposon cDNAs were found in BaP-treated cells. This is the first report showing that BaP modulates the expression of these genes in mammalian cells. Of particular interest is the modulation of retrotransposon mRNAs which coupled to other genetic events, may play a significant role in the atherogenic response to this carcinogen.