Quinoids formed from estrogens and antiestrogens

Selective Human Estrogen Receptor Partial Agonists (ShERPAs) for Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer

Almost 70% of breast cancers are estrogen receptor α (ERα) positive. Tamoxifen, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM), represents the standard of care for many patients; however, 30-50% develop resistance, underlining the need for alternative therapeutics. Paradoxically, agonists at ERα such as estradiol (E2) have demonstrated clinical efficacy in patients with heavily treated breast cancer, although side effects in gynecological tissues are unacceptable. A drug that selectively mimics the actions of E2 in breast cancer therapy but minimizes estrogenic effects in other tissues is a novel, therapeutic alternative. We hypothesized that a selective human estrogen receptor partial agonist (ShERPA) at ERα would provide such an agent. Novel benzothiophene derivatives with nanomolar potency in breast cancer cell cultures were designed. Several showed partial agonist activity, with potency of 0.8-76 nM, mimicking E2 in inhibiting growth of tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cell lines. Three ShERPAs were tested and validated in xenograft models of endocrine-independent and tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer, and in contrast to E2, ShERPAs did not cause significant uterine growth.

SERMs attenuate estrogen-induced malignant transformation of human mammary epithelial cells by upregulating detoxification of oxidative metabolites

The risk of developing hormone-dependent cancers with long-term exposure to estrogens is attributed both to proliferative, hormonal actions at the estrogen receptor (ER) and to chemical carcinogenesis elicited by genotoxic, oxidative estrogen metabolites. Nontumorigenic MCF-10A human breast epithelial cells are classified as ER(-) and undergo estrogen-induced malignant transformation. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERM), in use for breast cancer chemoprevention and for postmenopausal osteoporosis, were observed to inhibit malignant transformation, as measured by anchorage-independent colony growth. This chemopreventive activity was observed to correlate with reduced levels of oxidative estrogen metabolites, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and DNA oxidation. The ability of raloxifene, desmethylarzoxifene (DMA), and bazedoxifene to inhibit this chemical carcinogenesis pathway was not shared by 4-hydroxytamoxifen. Regulation of phase II rather than phase I metabolic enzymes was implicated mechanistically: raloxifene and DMA were observed to upregulate sulfotransferase (SULT 1E1) and glucuronidase (UGT 1A1). The results support upregulation of phase II metabolism in detoxification of catechol estrogen metabolites leading to attenuated ROS formation as a mechanism for inhibition of malignant transformation by a subset of clinically important SERMs.

Quinone Methide Bioactivation Pathway: Contribution to Toxicity and/or Cytoprotection?

The formation of quinone methides (QMs) from either direct 2-electron oxidation of 2- or 4-alkylphenols, isomerization of o-quinones, or elimination of a good leaving group could explain the cytotoxic/cytoprotective effects of several drugs, natural products, as well as endogenous compounds. For example, the antiretroviral drug nevirapine and the antidiabetic agent troglitazone both induce idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity through mechanisms involving quinone methide formation. The anesthetic phencyclidine induces psychological side effects potentially through quinone methide mediated covalent modification of crucial macromolecules in the brain. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) such as tamoxifen, toremifene, and raloxifene are metabolized to quinone methides which could potentially contribute to endometrial carcinogenic properties and/or induce detoxification enzymes and enhance the chemopreventive effects of these SERMs. Endogenous estrogens and/or estrogens present in estrogen replacement formulations are also metabolized to catechols and further oxidized to o-quinones which can isomerize to quinone methides. Both estrogen quinoids could cause DNA damage which could enhance hormone dependent cancer risk. Natural products such as the food and flavor agent eugenol can be directly oxidized to a quinone methide which may explain the toxic effects of this natural compound. Oral toxicities associated with chewing areca quid could be the result of exposure to hydroxychavicol through initial oxidation to an o-quinone which isomerizes to a p-quinone methide. Similar o-quinone to p-quinone methide isomerization reactions have been reported for the ubiquitous flavonoid quercetin which needs to be taken into consideration when evaluating risk-benefit assessments of these natural products. The resulting reaction of these quinone methides with proteins, DNA, and/or resulting modulation of gene expression may explain the toxic and/or beneficial effects of the parent compounds.

Raloxifene affects fatty acid oxidation in livers from ovariectomized rats by acting as a pro-oxidant agent

Estrogen deficiency accelerates the development of several disorders including visceral obesity and hepatic steatosis. The predisposing factors can be exacerbated by drugs that affect hepatic lipid metabolism. The aim of the present work was to determine if raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) used extensively by postmenopausal women, affects hepatic fatty acid oxidation pathways. Fatty acids oxidation was measured in the livers, mitochondria and peroxisomes of ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Mitochondrial and peroxisomal β-oxidation was inhibited by raloxifene at a concentration range of 2.5-25 μM. In perfused livers, raloxifene reduced the ketogenesis from endogenous and exogenous fatty acids and increased the β-hydroxybutyrate/acetoacetate ratio. An increase in ¹⁴CO₂ production without a parallel increase in the oxygen consumption indicated that raloxifene caused a diversion of NADH from the mitochondrial respiratory chain to another oxidative reaction. It was found that raloxifene has a strong ability to react with H₂O₂ in the presence of peroxidase. It is likely that the generation of phenoxyl radical derivatives of raloxifene in intact livers led to the co-oxidation of NADH and a shift of the cellular redox state to an oxidised condition. This change can perturb other important liver metabolic processes dependent on cellular NADH/NAD⁺ ratio.

Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) lasofoxifene forms reactive quinones similar to estradiol

The bioactivation of both endogenous and equine estrogens to electrophilic quinoid metabolites has been postulated as a contributing factor in carcinogenic initiation and/or promotion in hormone sensitive tissues. Bearing structural resemblance to estrogens, extensive studies have shown that many selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are subject to similar bioactivation pathways. Lasofoxifene (LAS), a third generation SERM which has completed phase III clinical trials for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis, is currently approved in the European Union for this indication. Previously, Prakash et al. (Drug Metab. Dispos. (2008) 36, 1218-1226) reported that similar to estradiol, two catechol regioisomers of LAS are formed as primary oxidative metabolites, accounting for roughly half of the total LAS metabolism. However, the potential for further oxidation of these catechols to electrophilic o-quinones has not been reported. In the present study, LAS was synthesized and its oxidative metabolism investigated in vitro under various conditions. Incubation of LAS with tyrosinase, human liver microsomes, or rat liver microsomes in the presence of GSH as a trapping reagent resulted in the formation of two mono-GSH and two di-GSH catechol conjugates which were characterized by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Similar conjugates were also detected in incubations with P450 3A4, P450 2D6, and P450 1B1 supersomes. Interestingly, these conjugates were also detected as major metabolites when compared to competing detoxification pathways such as glucuronidation and methylation. The 7-hydroxylasofoxifene (7-OHLAS) catechol regioisomer was also synthesized and oxidized either chemically or enzymatically to an o-quinone that was shown to form depurinating adducts with DNA. Collectively, these data show that analogous to estrogens, LAS is oxidized to catechols and o-quinones which could potentially contribute to in vivo toxicity for this SERM.

Parallel synthesis of a desketoraloxifene analogue library via iodocyclization/palladium-catalyzed coupling

For a future structure-activity relationship (SAR) study, a library of desketoraloxifene analogues has been prepared by parallel synthesis using iodocyclization and subsequent palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. Points of desketoraloxifene diversification involve the two phenolic hydroxyl groups and the aliphatic amine side chain. This approach affords oxygen-bearing 3-iodobenzo[b]thiophenes 4 in excellent yields, which are easily further elaborated using a two-step approach involving Suzuki-Miyaura and Mitsunobu coupling reactions to give multimethoxy-substituted desketoraloxifene analogues 6. Various hydroxyl-substituted desketoraloxifene analogues 7 were subsequently generated by demethylation with BBr(3).

Catechol metabolites of endogenous estrogens induce redox cycling and generate reactive oxygen species in breast epithelial cells

Estrogens are major risk factors for the development of breast cancer; they can be metabolized to catechols, which are further oxidized to DNA-reactive quinones and semiquinones (SQs). These metabolites are mutagenic and may contribute to the carcinogenic activity of estrogens. Redox cycling of the SQs and subsequent generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is also an important mechanism leading to DNA damage. The SQs of exogenous estrogens have been shown to redox cycle, however, redox cycling and the generation of ROS by endogenous estrogens has never been characterized. In the present studies, we determined whether the catechol metabolites of endogenous estrogens, including 2-hydroxyestradiol, 4-hydroxyestradiol, 4-hydroxyestrone and 2-hydroxyestriol, can redox cycle in breast epithelial cells. These catechol estrogens, but not estradiol, estrone, estriol or 2-methoxyestradiol, were found to redox cycle and generate hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and hydroxyl radicals in lysates of three different breast epithelial cell lines: MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-10A. The generation of ROS required reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate as a reducing equivalent and was inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, a flavoenzyme inhibitor, indicating that redox cycling is mediated by flavin-containing oxidoreductases. Using extracellular microsensors, catechol estrogen metabolites stimulated the release of H(2)O(2) by adherent cells, indicating that redox cycling occurs in viable intact cells. Taken together, these data demonstrate that catechol metabolites of endogenous estrogens undergo redox cycling in breast epithelial cells, resulting in ROS production. Depending on the localized concentrations of catechol estrogens and enzymes that mediate redox cycling, this may be an important mechanism contributing to the development of breast cancer.

Unexpected hormonal activity of a catechol equine estrogen metabolite reveals reversible glutathione conjugation

4-Hydroxyequilenin (4-OHEN) is a major phase I metabolite of the equine estrogens present in widely prescribed hormone replacement formulations. 4-OHEN is autoxidized to an electrophilic o-quinone that has been shown to redox cycle, generating ROS, and to covalently modify proteins and DNA and thus potentially to act as a chemical carcinogen. To establish the ability of 4-OHEN to act as a hormonal carcinogen at the estrogen receptor (ER), estrogen responsive gene expression and proliferation were studied in ER(+) breast cancer cells. Recruitment by 4-OHEN of ER to estrogen responsive elements (ERE) of DNA in MCF-7 cells was also studied and observed. 4-OHEN was a potent estrogen, with additional weak activity associated with binding to the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The potency of 4-OHEN toward classical ERalpha mediated activity was unexpected given the reported rapid autoxidation and trapping of the resultant quinone by GSH. Addition of thiols to cell cultures did not attenuate the estrogenic activity of 4-OHEN, and preformed thiol conjugates added to cell incubations only marginally reduced ERE-luciferase induction. On reaction of the 4OHEN-GSH conjugate with NADPH, 4-OHEN was observed to be regenerated at a rate dependent upon NADPH concentration, indicating that intracellular nonenzymatic and enzymatic regeneration of 4-OHEN accounts for the observed estrogenic activity of 4-OHEN. 4-OHEN is therefore capable of inducing chemical and hormonal pathways that may contribute to estrogen-dependent carcinogenesis, and trapping by cellular thiols does not provide a mechanism of termination of these pathways.

A new approach to desketoraloxifene analogs from oxygen-bearing 3-iodobenzo[b]thiophenes prepared via iodocyclization

A formal total synthesis of the benzothiophene selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) desketoraloxifene and analogs has been accomplished from alkynes bearing electron-rich aromatic rings by electrophilic cyclization using I(2). This approach affords oxygen-bearing 3-iodobenzo[b]thiophenes in excellent yields, which are easily further elaborated using a two-step approach involving Suzuki-Miyaura and Mitsunobu coupling reactions.

CYP3A4-Mediated oxygenation versus dehydrogenation of raloxifene

Raloxifene was approved in 2007 by the FDA for the chemoprevention of breast cancer in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer. Approval was based in part on the improved safety profile for raloxifene relative to the standard treatment of tamoxifen. However, recent studies have demonstrated the ability of raloxifene to form reactive intermediates and act as a mechanism-based inhibitor of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) by forming adducts with the apoprotein. However, previous studies could not differentiate between dehydrogenation to a diquinone methide and the more common oxygenation pathway to an arene oxide as the most likely intermediate to inactivate CYP3A4. In the current work, (18)O-incorporation studies were utilized to carefully elucidate CYP3A4-mediated oxygenation versus dehydrogenation of raloxifene. These studies established that 3'-hydroxyraloxifene is produced exclusively via CYP3A4-mediated oxygenation and provide convincing evidence for the mechanism of CYP3A4-mediated dehydrogenation of raloxifene to a reactive diquinone methide, while excluding the alternative arene oxide pathway. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that 7-hydroxyraloxifene, which was previously believed to be a typical O(2)-derived metabolite of CYP3A4, is in fact produced by a highly unusual hydrolysis pathway from a putative ester, formed by the conjugation of raloxifene diquinone methide with a carboxylic acid moiety of CYP3A4, or other proteins in the reconstituted system. These findings not only confirm CYP3A4-mediated dehydrogenation of raloxifene to a reactive diquinone methide but also suggest a novel route of raloxifene toxicity.

Ligninase-mediated removal of natural and synthetic estrogens from water: II. Reactions of 17beta-estradiol

We have demonstrated in our earlier work that a few natural and synthetic estrogens can be effectively transformed through reactions mediated by lignin peroxidase (LiP). The behaviors of such reactions are variously influenced by the presence of natural organic matter (NOM) and/or veratryl alcohol (VA). Certain white rot fungi, e.g. Phanerochaete chrysosporium, produce VA as a secondary metabolite along with LiP in nature where NOM is ubiquitously present. Herein, we report a study on the products resulting from LiP-mediated oxidative coupling reactions of a representative estrogen, 17beta-estradiol (E2), and how the presence of NOM and/or VA impacts the formation and distribution of the products. A total of six products were found, and the major products appeared to be oligomers resulting from E2 coupling. Our experiments revealed that these products likely formed colloidal solids in water that can be removed via ultrafiltration or settled during ultracentrifugation. Such a colloidal nature of the products could have important implications in their treatability and environmental transport. In the presence of VA, the products tended to shift toward higher-degree of oligomers. When NOM was included in the reaction system, cross-coupling between E2 and NOM appeared to occur. Data obtained from E-SCREEN test confirmed that the estrogenicity of E2 can be effectively eliminated following sequential reactions mediated by LiP.

Estrogen directly activates AID transcription and function

The immunological targets of estrogen at the molecular, humoral, and cellular level have been well documented, as has estrogen's role in establishing a gender bias in autoimmunity and cancer. During a healthy immune response, activation-induced deaminase (AID) deaminates cytosines at immunoglobulin (Ig) loci, initiating somatic hypermutation (SHM) and class switch recombination (CSR). Protein levels of nuclear AID are tightly controlled, as unregulated expression can lead to alterations in the immune response. Furthermore, hyperactivation of AID outside the immune system leads to oncogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that the estrogen-estrogen receptor complex binds to the AID promoter, enhancing AID messenger RNA expression, leading to a direct increase in AID protein production and alterations in SHM and CSR at the Ig locus. Enhanced translocations of the c-myc oncogene showed that the genotoxicity of estrogen via AID production was not limited to the Ig locus. Outside of the immune system (e.g., breast and ovaries), estrogen induced AID expression by >20-fold. The estrogen response was also partially conserved within the DNA deaminase family (APOBEC3B, -3F, and -3G), and could be inhibited by tamoxifen, an estrogen antagonist. We therefore suggest that estrogen-induced autoimmunity and oncogenesis may be derived through AID-dependent DNA instability.

Novel Pathways Associated with Quinone-Induced Stress in Breast Cancer Cells

Hormone-dependent breast cancers that overexpress the ligand-binding nuclear transcription factor, estrogen receptor (ER), represent the most common form of breast epithelial malignancy. Exposure of breast epithelial cells to a redox-cycling and arylating quinone induces mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation of the cytoskeletal filament protein, cytokeratin-8, along with thiol arylation of H3 nuclear histones. Exogenous or endogenous quinones can also induce ligand-independent nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of ER; with excess exposure, these quinones can arylate ER zinc fingers, impairing ER DNA-binding and altering ER-inducible gene expression. Immunoaffinity enrichment for low abundance proteins such as ER, coupled with modern mass spectrometry techniques, promises to improve understanding of the protein-modifications produced by endogenous and exogenous quinone exposure and their role in the development or progression of epithelial malignancies such as breast cancer.

Angelica sinensis and its alkylphthalides induce the detoxification enzyme NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1 by alkylating Keap1

The roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (Dang Gui; Apiaceae) have a long history in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for women's disorders and are often called "lady's ginseng". Currently, extracts of A. sinensis are commonly included in numerous dietary supplements used for women's health and as antiaging products. In the present study, we examined the potential chemopreventive activity of A. sinensis extracts by measuring the relative ability to induce the detoxification enzyme, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1). The lipophilic partitions showed strong NQO1 induction with concentrations to double the enzyme activity (CD) of 5.5 +/- 0.7 (petroleum ether) and 3.9 +/- 0.5 microg/mL (chloroform). Fractionation led to the isolation of phenolic esters and alkylphthalides, especially Z-ligustilide, the main lipophilic compound, which showed strong NQO1 inducing properties (CD = 6.9 +/- 1.9 microM). Transcription of many detoxifying enzymes is regulated through the antioxidant response element (ARE) and its transcription factor Nrf2, which is repressed under basal conditions by Keap1. However, exposure to electrophilic inducers that alkylate Keap1 results in higher concentrations of free Nrf2 and ARE activation. The ARE reporter activity was therefore analyzed in HepG2-ARE-C8 cells after incubation with lipophilic extracts of A. sinensis or ligustilide for 24 h. Under these conditions, both the extract and the ligustilide increased ARE-luciferase reporter activity in a dose-dependent manner. Incubation of ligustilide with GSH and subsequent LC-MS-MS analysis revealed that ligustilide as well as oxidized ligustilide species covalently modified GSH. In addition, using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and LC-MS-MS, it was demonstrated that the lipophilic extracts, ligustilide, and monooxygenated ligustilide alkylated important cysteine residues in human Keap1 protein, thus activating Nrf2 and transcription of ARE regulated genes. These observations suggest that A. sinensis dietary supplements standardized to ligustilide have potential as chemopreventive agents through induction of detoxification enzymes.

Problematic detoxification of estrogen quinones by NAD(P)H-dependent quinone oxidoreductase and glutathione-S-transferase

Estrogen exposure through early menarche, late menopause, and hormone replacement therapy increases the risk factor for hormone-dependent cancers. Although the molecular mechanisms are not completely established, DNA damage by quinone electrophilic reactive intermediates, derived from estrogen oxidative metabolism, is strongly implicated. A current hypothesis has 4-hydroxyestrone-o-quinone (4-OQE) acting as the proximal estrogen carcinogen, forming depurinating DNA adducts via Michael addition. One aspect of this hypothesis posits a key role for NAD(P)H-dependent quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) in the reduction of 4-OQE and protection against estrogen carcinogenesis, despite two reports that 4-OQE is not a substrate for NQO1. 4-OQE is rapidly and efficiently trapped by GSH, allowing measurement of NADPH-dependent reduction of 4-OQE in the presence and absence of NQO1. 4-OQE was observed to be a substrate for NQO1, but the acceleration of NADPH-dependent reduction by NQO1 over the nonenzymic reaction is less than 10-fold and at more relevant nanomolar concentrations of substrate is less than 2-fold. An alternative detoxifying enzyme, glutathione-S-transferase, was observed to be a target for 4-OQE, rapidly undergoing covalent modification. These results indicate that a key role for NQO1 and GST in direct detoxification of 4-hydroxy-estrogen quinones is problematic.

Potential mechanisms of estrogen quinone carcinogenesis

There is a clear association between the excessive exposure to estrogens and the development of cancer in hormone-sensitive tissues (breast, endometrium). It has become clear that there are likely multiple overlapping mechanisms of estrogen carcinogenesis. One major pathway is the extensively studied hormonal pathway, by which estrogen stimulates cell proliferation through nuclear estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated signaling, thus resulting in an increased risk of genomic mutations during DNA replication. A similar "nongenomic pathway", potentially involving newly discovered membrane-associated ERs, also appears to regulate extranuclear estrogen signaling pathways. This perspective is focused on a third pathway involving the metabolism of estrogens to catechols mediated by cytochrome P450 and further oxidation of these catechols to estrogen o-quinones. Oxidative enzymes, metal ions, and in some cases molecular oxygen can catalyze o-quinone formation, so that these electrophilic/redox-active quinones can cause damage within cells by alkylation and/or oxidation of cellular proteins and DNA in many tissues. It appears that the endogenous estrogen quinones primarily form unstable N3-adenine or N7-guanine DNA adducts, ultimately resulting in mutagenic apurinic sites. In contrast, equine estrogen quinones, formed from estrogens present in popular hormone replacement therapy prescriptions, generate a variety of DNA lesions, including bulky stable adducts, apurinic sites, DNA strand cleavage, and oxidation of DNA bases. DNA damage induced by these equine quinones is significantly increased in cells containing ERs, leading us to hypothesize a mechanism involving ER binding/alkylation by the catchol/quinone, resulting in a "Trojan horse". The "Trojan horse" carries the highly redox-active catechol to estrogen -sensitive genes, where high amounts of reactive oxygen species are generated, causing selective DNA damage. Our data further suggest that other key protein targets for estrogen o-quinones could be redox-sensitive enzymes (i.e, GST P1-1, QR). These proteins are involved in stress response cascades that are known to contribute to the regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Finally, it has been shown that catechol estrogens can transform breast epithelial cells into a tumorigenic phenotype and that these transformed cells had differential gene expression of several genes involved in oxidative stress. Given the direct link between excessive exposure to estrogens, metabolism of estrogens, and increased risk of breast cancer, it is crucial that factors that affect the formation, reactivity, and cellular targets of estrogen quinoids be thoroughly explored.

Roles of hormone replacement therapy and iron in proliferation of breast epithelial cells with different estrogen and progesterone receptor status

Estrogen and iron play critical roles in a female body development and were investigated in the present study in relation to in vitro cell proliferation. Prempro, a hormone replacement therapy drug, and 17beta-estradiol (E2) were shown to increase cell proliferations in estrogen receptor positive (ER+) cells independent of progesterone receptor (PR) status. For example, increased cell proliferation was observed in ER+/PR+ human breast cancer MCF-7, its matching non-cancerous human breast epithelial MCF-12A, and ER+/PR+ murine mammary cancer MXT+ cells, but not in ER-/PR- MDA-MB-231, its matching non-cancerous MCF-10A, and MXT- (ER-/PR+) cells. By mimicking post-menopausal conditions of high estrogen in local breast tissue and increased iron levels due to cessation of menstrual periods, E2 and iron were shown to exert synergistic effects on proliferation of MCF-7 cells and significantly increased Ki67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen. Western blotting of E2-treated ER+ but not ER- cells showed that E2 also increased transferrin receptor (TfR). Further studies are needed to assess the mitogenic effects of iron and estrogen in normal post-menopausal breast.

Analysis of protein covalent modification by xenobiotics using a covert oxidatively activated tag: raloxifene proof-of-principle study

Numerous xenobiotics, including therapeutics agents, are substrates for bioactivation to electrophilic reactive intermediates that may covalently modify biomolecules. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are in clinical use for long-term therapy of postmenopausal syndromes and chemoprevention and provide a potential alternative for hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Raloxifene, in common with many SERMs and other xenobiotics, is a polyaromatic phenol that has been shown to be metabolically bioactivated to electrophilic and redox active quinoids. Nucleic acid and glutathione adduct formation have been reported, but little is known about protein covalent modification. A novel COATag (covert oxidatively activated tag) was synthesized in which raloxifene was linked to biotin. The COATag was reactive toward a model protein, human glutathione-S-transferase P1-1, in the presence but not the absence of monooxygenase. The covalent modification of proteins in rat liver microsomal incubations was NADPH-dependent implicating cytochrome P450 oxidase. The COATag facilitated isolation and identification of covalently modified microsomal proteins: cytosolic glucose regulated protein (GRP78/BiP), three protein disulfide isomerases, and microsomal glutathione S-transferase 1. Oxidative metabolism of raloxifene produces reactive intermediates of sufficient lifetimes to covalently modify proteins in tissue microsomes, behavior anticipated for other polyaromatic phenol xenobiotics that can be tested by the COATag methodology. The combined use of a COATag with a simple biotin-linked electrophile (such as an iodoacetamide tag) is a new technique that allows quantification of protein covalent modification via alkylation vs oxidation in response to xenobiotic reactive intermediates. The identification of modified proteins is important for defining pathways that might lead alternatively to either cytotoxicity or cytoprotection.

Xanthohumol isolated from Humulus lupulus Inhibits menadione-induced DNA damage through induction of quinone reductase

The female parts of hops (Humulus lupulus L.) show estrogenic effects as well as cancer chemopreventive potential. We analyzed the chemopreventive mechanism of hops by studying its antioxidative activities and its effect on the detoxification of a potentially toxic quinone (menadione). The detoxification enzyme quinone reductase [(NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase, QR] protects against quinone-induced toxicity and has been used as a marker in cancer chemoprevention studies. Although the hop extract was only a weak quencher of free radicals formed from 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, it demonstrated strong QR induction in Hepa 1c1c7 cells. In addition, compounds isolated from hops including xanthohumol (XH) and 8-prenylnaringenin were tested for QR induction. Among these, XH was the most effective at inducing QR with a concentration required to double the specific activity of QR (CD value) of 1.7 +/- 0.7 microM. In addition, pretreatment of Hepa1c1c7 cells with XH significantly inhibited menadione-induced DNA single-strand breaks. The QR inhibitor dicumarol reversed the protective effect of XH against menadione-induced DNA damage. Because the expression of QR and other detoxifying enzymes is known to be upregulated by binding of the transcription factor Nrf2 to the antioxidant response element (ARE), the reporter activity mediated by ARE in HepG2-ARE-C8 cells was investigated after incubation with XH for 24 h. Under these conditions, XH increased ARE reporter activity in a dose-dependent manner. One mechanism by which XH might induce QR could be through interaction with Keap1, which sequesters Nrf2 in the cytoplasm, so that it cannot activate the ARE. Using LC-MS-MS, we demonstrated that XH alkylates human Keap1 protein, most likely on a subset of the 27 cysteines of Keap1. This suggests that XH induces QR by covalently modifying the Keap1 protein. Therefore, XH and hops dietary supplements might function as chemopreventive agents, through induction of detoxification enzymes such as QR.