Short-term tests for mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in drug toxicology: how to test and when to test is the question

Bacterial Mutagenesis and Cell Transformation Assays of Pyrvinium Pamoate (Povan), An Antiparasitic Agent

Mutagenicity of pyrvinium pamoate formulations was determined in various Salmonella typhimurium strains in a well test and plate incorporation assays in the presence and absence of liver homogenate (S9) from Aroclor-1254-induced rats or from normal human liver. Strains TA98 and TA100 were reverted to histidine independence by bulk pyrvinium pamoate over a concentration range of 500 to 2500 μg/plate, particularly in the presence of rat S9. Purified pyrvinium pamoate was mutagenic over a concentration range of 5.0 to 25 μg/plate in the presence of both rat and human liver S9. Urine concentrates from human subjects given 10 mg/kg and mice given drug up to 100 mg/kg were not significantly mutagenic even after S9 activation and/or β-glucuronidase-sulfatase treatment. These results confirm earlier observations of mutagenic activity in Salmonella, but, unlike several antiparasitic agents, mutagenic metabolites do not appear in urine. In vitro mouse cell (C3H10T1/2) transformation assays of pyrvinium pamoate were negative. The effects of pyrvinium pamoate in Salmonella are not paralleled by effects in mammalian cell systems. In the absence of quantitative human population data for risk assessments, the evidence of carcinogenic potential of Povan is not defined.

Effect of textile wastewaters on Saccharomyces cerevisiae using DNA microarray as a tool for genome-wide transcriptomics analysis

Textile mill effluents (TMEs) discharged from the textile industry can be considered as one class of hypothetical toxicants in the environment. To investigate the potential toxicity of TMEs, we applied cDNA microarray technology to examine the genome-wide expression profiles in model eukaryote, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results revealed a rich source of genetic information for the yeast cells that were exposed to the untreated and treated TMEs. Among the 5956 valid genes, 275 genes were up-regulated and 40 genes were down-regulated for the untreated TMEs. On the other hand, only 90 genes were up-regulated, and 29 genes were down-regulated upon exposure to the treated TMEs. The changes in gene expression were also confirmed by RT-PCR. The potent up- and down-regulation of genes suggest that yeast cells undergo genome-wide changes in mRNA expression, indicative of a stress response. Additionally, a classification into specific functional gene categories indicated that untreated and even treated TMEs still had toxicity. Especially, the genes related to oxidative stress, such as AHP1, ATX1, GRX1, TRX1 and TRX2, were up-regulated in treated TMEs that can directly reach to surface and ground waters, and sediments.

Protein pyrolysate products

Diet and nutrition may be responsible for 60% of the total cancer incidence for women and greater than 40% for men. Fat, animal protein, and meat consumption are highly correlated with colon cancer incidence. The charcoal broiling of meat and fish yield mutagenic substances. Many findings support the hypothesis that the predominant mutagens are formed by the Maillard reaction. A number of mutagenic compounds have been identified both from cooked foods and from protein pyrolysates. The identified compounds are N-heterocyclic primary amine derivatives of either carbolines, imidazoquinolines, or imidazoquinoxalines. The carboline-type mutagens are structurally related to the known carcinogens 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) and 2-aminofluorene (AF), while the imidazoquinoline and imidazoquinoxaline types are believed to resemble 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl (DMAB). Studies support the theory that these compounds require metabolic activation and are carcinogenic. The major metabolites of several compounds have been identified as the N-hydroxy derivatives. DNA binding was found to be a necessary but not a sufficient condition for mutagenesis. The modified base products have been identified as C-8-guanyl derivatives, resembling adducts formed by the carcinogenic aromatic amines.

The use of sister-chromatid exchange in Chinese hamster primary lung cell cultures to measure genotoxicity

Primary cell cultures derived from Chinese hamster lung (CHL) were established, and their response for the induction of sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) by direct- and indirect-acting mutagens was characterized. An increase in SCE frequency was induced in CHL cells by 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA), benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and 2-aminoanthracene (2AA). The SCE frequency increased slightly after exposure to cyclophosphamide, but did not respond to the hepatocarcinogen dimethylnitrosamine (DMN). A slight increase in SCE frequency by DMN was observed in the CHL system with use of Aroclor-1254-induced rat liver homogenate fraction (S9). This response to DMN in CHL cells was lower than that seen when CHO cells were the target in the presence of S9. At low (1) and high (20) passages, the CHL cells responded with a similar dose-related increase in SCE frequency to direct- (ethyl methanesulfonate, EMS) and indirect-(MCA) acting mutagens. This response indicates that even after prolonged culturing in vitro, the cells retained the ability to metabolically activate xenobiotic promutagens. The induction of SCE by MCA occurred at concentrations that also induced macromolecular binding. SCE induction was also examined in primary lung cell cultures from animals exposed by nose-only inhalation to MCA aerosol. A significant increase in SCE frequency above controls was observed in cells from animals after a single exposure to MCA. No detectable increase in SCE frequency was observed after repeated inhalation exposures. Because CHL cells are of lung origin and showed metabolic activity, the CHL system appears to be appropriate for study of the genotoxic potential of inhaled compounds.

Lack of in vivo and in vitro genotoxicity with the nonsteroid, antiinflammatory agent sodium meclofenamate

Sodium meclofenamate (Meclomen), CI-583, is an anthranilic acid salt developed as a nonsteroidal, antiinflammatory agent. A multitest battery of short-term tests was employed to characterize the genotoxic and mutagenic potential of the compound by measuring point mutations in bacteria, induction of sister-chromatid exchange, chromosome aberrations, and gene mutations in mammalian cells in vitro. In vitro assays included metabolic activation. The in vivo assay was for chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells from rats. At toxicity-limited doses for each assay, no activity was detected in the bacterial or mammalian cell mutation assays, and sister-chromatid exchange frequencies were not increased over control rates. When sodium meclofenamate was evaluated in vitro, chromosome aberrations were induced under metabolic activation in CHO cells. Chromosome aberrations and clastogenic activity were not demonstrated after oral administration of Meclomen to male rats. It was concluded that sodium meclofenamate does not possess overt mutagenic potential under these conditions. The activity seen in vitro with CHO cells after metabolic activation did not correlate with the results from the other tests and was attributed to the formation of reactive metabolites not present or formed in in vivo systems.

Ranking animal carcinogens: a proposed regulatory approach

The nature and extent of positive evidence associated with animal carcinogens vary widely, yet present regulatory policy does not permit adequate discrimination among the many carcinogenic substances. Most are treated as if they pose equal potential risk to humans, and this is not consistent with the available data. Without knowledge of carcinogenic mechanisms, the evaluation of responses in intact mammalian surrogates best reflects the potential levels of human risk. An example of a scoring system is proposed by which animal carcinogens are ranked according to the most relevant toxicological evidence derived from animal and genotoxicity studies. Different classes of animal carcinogens could thus be recognized and would permit several regulatory options and provide a means to establish priorities for public and scientific concerns.

Carcinogen testing: current problems and new approaches

The classic procedures for testing potential carcinogens in animals have basically not changed in the past 50 years. Considerable knowledge of the mechanisms of carcinogenesis has accrued in the last 20 years, particularly concepts on the metabolic activation of chemicals to reactive electrophilic compounds that can interact with nucleophilic including DNA. These developments, in turn, have yielded a framework for integrating into carcinogen testing the determination of genetic effects of chemicals. A systematic decision point approach to carcinogen testing has been developed which entails a sequential decision-making process as specific tests are performed and evaluated prior to initiation of higher order, more complex tests. Compared to conventional bioassays in rodents, this approach provides knowledge based on mechanisms of carcinogenesis, yields a substantial amount of data at minimal cost, and forms a solid base for eventual heath risk assessment.