1,3-Butadiene: II. Genotoxicity profile

Expose to volatile organic compounds is associated with increased risk of depression: A cross-sectional study

With increasing prevalence rate of depression by years, more attention has been paid to the influence of environmental pollutants on depression, but relationship between exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and depression is rarely studied. Therefore, this cross-sectional study use the National Center for Health Statistics (NHANES) database (2013-2016 years) to explore association between exposure to multiple VOCs and depression in general population. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between urinary VOC metabolism (mVOCs) and depression. To further analyze effect of multiple mVOCs mixed exposure, Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models were performed. A total of 3240 participants and 16 mVOCs were included in the analysis. Results showed that 10 mVOCs exposure were positively correlated with depression by multiple linear and logistic regression models, especially CYMA and MHBMA3, which also showed significant positive association with depression in BKMR model. Mixed exposure of multiple mVOCs was significantly positively correlated with depression. Gender differences were existed in effects of some VOCs concentrations on depression. AAMA, CYMA and MA had significant positive correlations with depression by women, and DHBMA had significant positive correlations with depression by men. Hence, this study showed that exposing to VOCs might have negative impacts on depression, and impact of CYMA and MHBMA3 on depression may be more evident, which provide new ideas for prevention and control of depression. But further research and exploration are needed to clarify the mechanism and influence factors of this relationship, to demonstrate the reliability of these relationship.

Diepoxybutane induces the p53-dependent transactivation of the CCL4 gene that mediates apoptosis in exposed human lymphoblasts

Diepoxybutane (DEB) is the most toxic metabolite of the environmental chemical 1,3-butadiene. We previously demonstrated the occurrence of DEB-induced p53-mediated apoptosis in human lymphoblasts. The p53 protein functions as a master transcriptional regulator in orchestrating the genomic response to a variety of stress signals. Transcriptomic analysis indicated that C-C chemokine ligand 4 (CCL4) gene expression was elevated in a p53-dependent manner in DEB-exposed p53-proficient TK6 cells, but not in DEB-exposed p53-deficient NH32 cells. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether the CCL4 gene is a transcriptional target of p53 and deduce its role in DEB-induced apoptosis in human lymphoblasts. Endogenous and exogenous wild-type p53 transactivated the activity of the CCL4 promoter in DEB-exposed lymphoblasts, but mutant p53 activity on this promoter was reduced by ∼80% under the same experimental conditions. Knockdown of the upregulated CCL4 mRNA levels in p53-proficient TK6 cells inhibited DEB-induced apoptosis by ∼45%-50%. Collectively, these observations demonstrate for the first time that the CCL4 gene is upregulated by wild-type p53 at the transcriptional level, and this upregulation mediates apoptosis in DEB-exposed human lymphoblasts.

Use of Biomarker Data and Relative Potencies of Mutagenic Metabolites to Support Derivation of Cancer Unit Risk Values for 1,3-Butadiene from Rodent Tumor Data

Unit Risk (UR) values were derived for 1,3-butadiene (BD) based upon its ability to cause tumors in laboratory mice and rats. Metabolism has been established as the significant molecular initiating event of BD's carcinogenicity. The large quantitative species differences in the metabolism of BD and potency of critical BD epoxide metabolites must be accounted for when rodent toxicity responses are extrapolated to humans. Previously published methods were extended and applied to cancer risk assessments to account for species differences in metabolism, as well as differences in mutagenic potency of BD metabolites within the context of data-derived adjustment factors (DDEFs). This approach made use of biomarker data (hemoglobin adducts) to quantify species differences in the internal doses of BD metabolites experienced in mice, rats, and humans. Using these methods, the dose-response relationships in mice and rats exhibit improved concordance, and result in upper bound UR values ranging from 2.1 × 10-5 to 1.2 × 10-3 ppm-1 for BD. Confidence in these UR values was considered high based on high confidence in the key studies, medium-to-high confidence in the toxicity database, high confidence in the estimates of internal dose, and high confidence in the dose-response modeling.

Influence of the methyl group in isoprene epoxides on reactivity compared to butadiene epoxides: Biological significance

Reactions of the epoxides of 1,3-butadiene and isoprene (2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) with oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur nucleophiles have been compared to enable a better molecular understanding of the relative human toxicities of these epoxides. Hydrolysis of rac.-ethenyloxirane in (¹⁸O)water gave 77% (2-¹⁸O)but-3-ene-1,2-diol and 23% (1-¹⁸O)but-3-ene-1,2-diol. The R:S ratio for but-3-ene-1,2-diol from hydrolysis of (S)-ethenyloxirane was 75:25. Hence, hydrolysis of ethenyloxirane occurs by competing S_N2 attack at C-2 and C-3 in 3:1 ratio, with no S_N1 component. Hydrolysis of rac.-2-ethenyl-2-methyloxirane gave 2-hydroxy-2-methylbut-3-en-1-ol (73%) and 27% of a 2:1 mixture of the E- and Z-isomers of 4-hydroxy-2-methylbut-2-en-1-ol. In (¹⁸O)water (2-¹⁸O)2-hydroxy-2-methylbut-3-en-1-ol was obtained. Formation of these products occurs via S_N1 ionisation to resonance-stabilised allylic cations which are captured by water. Reaction of rac.-ethenyloxirane with l-valine methyl ester gave diastereoisomeric adducts from S_N2 attack of the valine amino at both C-2 (substituted position) and C-3 of the oxirane. The corresponding reaction of rac.-2-methyl-2-ethenyloxirane gave diastereoisomeric adducts, (R, S)- and (S, S)-N-(2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-buten-1-yl)-l-valine methyl ester, from S_N2 attack of the valine amino solely at C-3. Reactions of rac.-2-ethenyl-2-methyloxirane with cysteine derivatives occurred at C-2 in neutral polar media (S_N1 reaction) or at C-3 in basic media (S_N2), whereas for ethenyloxirane products arose from attack at both C-2 and C-3. Reaction of meso-butadiene diepoxide (meso-2,2'-bioxirane) with l-valine methyl ester gave mainly 2:1 adducts, dimethyl 2,2'-(((2R,3S)-2,3-dihydroxybutane-1,4-diyl)bis(azanediyl))-(2S,2'S)-bis(3-methyl-butanoates), whereas 2-methyl-2,2'-bioxirane gave a mixture of 1:1 [methyl 2-(3,4-dihydroxy-3-methylpyrrolidin-1-yl)-3-methylbutanoates] and 2:1 adducts. Meso-2,2'-bioxirane reacted with N-acetylcysteine methyl ester in methanol to afford meso-thiolane-3,4-diol, by elimination of N-acetyldehydroalanine methyl ester from a precursor cyclic adduct. Similarly, 2-methyl-2,2'-bioxirane gave solely 3-methylthiolane-3,4-diols. Thus, the methyl group of isoprene has a subtle effect on the reactivity of its epoxides relative to those of butadiene and therefore, in the context of their toxicology, could abrogate crosslinking of nitrogen functions in biomolecules related to mutagenicity and carcinogenicity.

The common indoor air pollutant α-pinene is metabolized to a genotoxic metabolite α-pinene oxide

1. α-Pinene caused a concentration-responsive increase in bladder hyperplasia and decrease in sperm counts in rodents following inhalation exposure. Additionally, it formed a prospective reactive metabolite, α-pinene oxide.2. To provide human relevant context for data generated in animal models and explore potential mechanism, we undertook studies to investigate the metabolism of α-pinene to α-pinene oxide and mutagenicity of α-pinene and α-pinene oxide.3. α-Pinene oxide was formed in rat and human microsomes and hepatocytes with some species differences. Based on area under the concentration versus time curves, the formation of α-pinene oxide was up to 4-fold higher in rats than in humans.4. While rat microsomes cleared α-pinene oxide faster than human microsomes, the clearance of α-pinene oxide in hepatocytes was similar between species.5. α-Pinene was not mutagenic with or without induced rat liver S9 in Salmonella typhimurium or Escherichia coli when tested up to 10,000 μg/plate while α-pinene oxide was mutagenic at ≥25 μg/plate.6. α-Pinene was metabolized to α-pinene oxide under the conditions of the bacterial mutation assay although the concentration was approximately 3-fold lower than the lowest α-pinene oxide concentration that was positive in the assay, potentially explaining the lack of mutagenicity observed with α-pinene.

1,3-Butadiene: a ubiquitous environmental mutagen and its associations with diseases

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a petrochemical manufactured in high volumes. It is a human carcinogen and can induce lymphohematopoietic cancers, particularly leukemia, in occupationally-exposed workers. BD is an air pollutant with the major environmental sources being automobile exhaust and tobacco smoke. It is one of the major constituents and is considered the most carcinogenic compound in cigarette smoke. The BD concentrations in urban areas usually vary between 0.01 and 3.3 μg/m³ but can be significantly higher in some microenvironments. For BD exposure of the general population, microenvironments, particularly indoor microenvironments, are the primary determinant and environmental tobacco smoke is the main contributor. BD has high cancer risk and has been ranked the second or the third in the environmental pollutants monitored in most urban areas, with the cancer risks exceeding 10^-5. Mutagenicity/carcinogenicity of BD is mediated by its genotoxic metabolites but the specific metabolite(s) responsible for the effects in humans have not been determined. BD can be bioactivated to yield three mutagenic epoxide metabolites by cytochrome P450 enzymes, or potentially be biotransformed into a mutagenic chlorohydrin by myeloperoxidase, a peroxidase almost specifically present in neutrophils and monocytes. Several urinary BD biomarkers have been developed, among which N-acetyl-S-(4-hydroxy-2-buten-1-yl)-L-cysteine is the most sensitive and is suitable for biomonitoring BD exposure in the general population. Exposure to BD has been associated with leukemia, cardiovascular disease, and possibly reproductive effects, and may be associated with several cancers, autism, and asthma in children. Collectively, BD is a ubiquitous pollutant that has been associated with a range of adverse health effects and diseases with children being a subpopulation with potentially greater susceptibility. Its adverse effects on human health may have been underestimated and more studies are needed.

A reproductive and developmental toxicity screening study of 1,3-butadiene in Sprague-Dawley rats

1,3 Butadiene (BD) is an industrial intermediate used primarily in product manufacturing with the greatest exposure potential via inhalation. BD was evaluated for reproductive and developmental effects in a Good Laboratory Practice (GLP)-compliant, extended OECD 421 guideline study (completed 2003). Twelve-week old rats (12/sex/dose) were exposed via whole-body inhalation to BD vapor (0, 300, 1500, 6000 ppm) for 6 h/day, 7 days/week, starting 14 days prior to mating through the day prior to euthanasia (total exposures: 83-84 days for F0 males 60-70 days for F0 females). Select F1 offspring (1/sex/litter) were dosed 7 days (postnatal days 21-27 or 28-34), then necropsied. At 1500 and 6000 ppm, treatment-related facial soiling was seen in F0 males and females with decreased body weights/gains in F0 males. F1 males and females exhibited similar effects at 1500 and 6000 ppm. Importantly, the F0 generation had no evidence of altered sperm production, testicular effects, or ovarian atrophy, which were sensitive responses in mice. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) is 300 ppm due to decreased body weight/gain and facial soiling at 1500 ppm, whereas 6000 ppm serves as a NOAEL for reproductive and developmental endpoints. This study contributes to the weight-of-evidence of differential BD reproductive toxicity in rats and mice.

Folate metabolism modifies chromosomal damage induced by 1,3-butadiene: results from a match-up study in China and in vitro experiments

OBJECTIVES

To explore the role of folate metabolism in 1,3-Butadiene (BD)'s genotoxicity, we conducted a match-up study in BD-exposed workers in China to analyze the associations between the polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and the chromosomal damage induced by BD exposure, and culture-based experiments in TK-6 cells to examine the global DNA methylation levels and chromosomal damage when exposed both to BD's genotoxic metabolite, 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB), and MTHFR's direct catalytic product, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF).

METHODS

Cytokinesis block micronucleus assay (CBMN) was used to examine the chromosomal damage induced by BD or DEB. Poisson regression models were produced to quantify the relationship of chromosomal damage and genetic polymorphisms in the BD-exposed workers. Global DNA methylation levels in TK6 cells were examined using DNA Methylation Quantification Kit.

RESULTS

We found that BD-exposed workers carrying MTHFR C677T CC (2.00 ± 2.00‰) (FR = 0.36, 95%CI: 0.20-0.67, P < 0.01) or MTHFR C677T CT (2.87 ± 1.98‰) (FR = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.32-0.77, P < 0.01) genotypes had significantly lower nuclear bud (NBUD) frequencies than those carrying genotype MTHFR 677 TT (5.33 ± 2.60‰), respectively. The results in TK6 cells showed that there was a significant increment in frequencies of micronucleus (MN), nucleoplasmic bridge (NPB) and nuclear bud (NBUD) with exposure to DEB at each 5-MTHF dose (ANOVA, P < 0.01). Additionally, there was a significant decrease in frequencies of MN, NPB and NBUD in DEB-exposed cultures with increasing concentration of 5-MTHF (ANOVA, P < 0.05). The levels of global DNA methylation were significantly decreased by DEB treatment in a dose-dependent manner within each 5-MTHF concentration in TK-6 cells (ANOVA, P < 0.01), and were significantly increased by 5-MTHF supplementation within each DEB concentration (ANOVA, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

We reported that folate metabolism could modify the association between BD exposure and chromosomal damage, and such effect may be partially mediated by DNA hypomethylation, and 5-MTHF supplementation could rescue it.

Effects of GSTT1 Genotype on the Detoxification of 1,3-Butadiene Derived Diepoxide and Formation of Promutagenic DNA-DNA Cross-Links in Human Hapmap Cell Lines

Smoking is a leading cause of lung cancer, accounting for 81% of lung cancer cases. Tobacco smoke contains over 5000 compounds, of which more than 70 have been classified as human carcinogens. Of the many tobacco smoke constituents, 1,3-butadiene (BD) has a high cancer risk index due to its tumorigenic potency and its abundance in cigarette smoke. The carcinogenicity of BD has been attributed to the formation of several epoxide metabolites, of which 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) is the most toxic and mutagenic. DEB is formed by two oxidation reactions carried out by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, mainly CYP2E1. Glutathione-S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) facilitates the conjugation of DEB to glutathione as the first step of its detoxification and subsequent elimination via the mercapturic acid pathway. Human biomonitoring studies have revealed a strong association between GSTT1 copy number and urinary concentrations of BD-mercapturic acids, suggesting that it plays an important role in the metabolism of BD. To determine the extent that GSTT1 genotype affects the susceptibility of individuals to the toxic and genotoxic properties of DEB, GSTT1 negative and GSTT1 positive HapMap lymphoblastoid cell lines were treated with DEB, and the extent of apoptosis and micronuclei (MN) formation was assessed. These toxicological end points were compared to the formation of DEB-GSH conjugates and 1,4-bis-(guan-7-yl)-2,3-butanediol (bis-N7G-BD) DNA-DNA cross-links. GSTT1 negative cell lines were more sensitive to DEB-induced apoptosis as compared to GSTT1 positive cell lines. Consistent with the protective effect of GSH conjugation against DEB-derived apoptosis, GSTT1 positive cell lines formed significantly more DEB-GSH conjugate than GSTT1 negative cell lines. However, GSTT1 genotype did not affect formation of MN or bis-N7G-BD cross-links. These results indicate that GSTT1 genotype significantly influences BD metabolism and acute toxicity.

Diepoxybutane induces the expression of a novel p53-target gene XCL1 that mediates apoptosis in exposed human lymphoblasts

Diepoxybutane (DEB) is the most potent active metabolite of the environmental chemical 1,3-butadiene (BD). BD is a human carcinogen that exhibits multiorgan systems toxicity. Our previous studies demonstrated that the X-C motif chemokine ligand 1 (XCL1) gene expression was upregulated 3.3-fold in a p53-dependent manner in TK6 lymphoblasts undergoing DEB-induced apoptosis. The tumor-suppressor p53 protein is a transcription factor that regulates a wide variety of cellular processes, including apoptosis, through its various target genes. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether XCL1 is a novel direct p53 transcriptional target gene and deduce its role in DEB-induced toxicity in human lymphoblasts. We utilized the bioinformatics tool p53scan to search for known p53 consensus sequences within the XCL1 promoter region. The XCL1 gene promoter region was found to contain the p53 consensus sequences 5'-AGACATGCCTAGACATGCCT-3' at three positions relative to the transcription start site (TSS). Furthermore, the XCL1 promoter region was found, through reporter gene assays, to be transactivated at least threefold by wild-type p53 promoter in DEB-exposed human lymphoblasts. Inactivation of the XCL1 promoter p53-binding motif located at -2.579 kb relative to TSS reduced the transactivation function of p53 on this promoter in DEB-exposed cells by 97%. Finally, knockdown of XCL1 messenger RNA with specific small interfering RNA inhibited DEB-induced apoptosis in human lymphoblasts by 50%. These observations demonstrate, for the first time, that XCL1 is a novel DEB-induced direct p53 transcriptional target gene that mediates apoptosis in DEB-exposed human lymphoblasts.

1,3-Butadiene metabolite 1,2,3,4 diepoxybutane induces DNA adducts and micronuclei but not t(9;22) translocations in human cells

Epidemiological studies of 1,3-butadiene (BD) exposures have reported a possible association with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), which is defined by the presence of the t(9;22) translocation (Philadelphia chromosome) creating an oncogenic BCR-ABL fusion gene. Butadiene diepoxide (DEB), the most mutagenic of three epoxides resulting from BD, forms DNA-DNA crosslink adducts that can lead to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs). Thus, a study was designed to determine if (±)-DEB exposure of HL60 cells, a promyelocytic leukemia cell line lacking the Philadelphia chromosome, can produce t(9;22) translocations. In HL60 cells exposed for 3 h to 0-10 μM DEB, overlapping dose-response curves suggested a direct relationship between 1,4-bis-(guan-7-yl)-2,3-butanediol crosslink adduct formation (R = 0.977, P = 0.03) and cytotoxicity (R = 0.961, P = 0.002). Experiments to define the relationships between cytotoxicity and the induction of micronuclei (MN), a dosimeter of DNA DSBs, showed that 24 h exposures of HL60 cells to 0-5.0 μM DEB caused significant positive correlations between the concentration and (i) the degree of cytotoxicity (R = 0.998, p = 0.002) and (ii) the frequency of MN (R = 0.984, p = 0.016) at 48 h post exposure. To determine the relative induction of MN and t(9;22) translocations following exposures to DEB, or x-rays as a positive control for formation of t(9;22) translocations, HL60 cells were exposed for 24 h to 0, 1, 2.5, or 5 μM DEB or to 0, 2.0, 3.5, or 5.0 Gy x-rays, or treatments demonstrated to yield 0, 20%, 50%, or 80% cytotoxicity. Treatments between 0 and 3.5 Gy x-rays caused significant dose-related increases in both MN (p < 0.001) and t(9;22) translocations (p = 0.01), whereas DEB exposures causing similar cytotoxicity levels did not increase translocations over background. These data indicate that, while DEB induces DNA DSBs required for formation of MN and translocations, acute DEB exposures of HL60 cells did not produce the Philadelphia chromosome obligatory for CML.

Cross-linking by epichlorohydrin and diepoxybutane correlates with cytotoxicity and leads to apoptosis in human leukemia (HL-60) cells

The bifunctional alkylating agents epichlorohydrin (ECH) and diepoxybutane (DEB) have been linked to increased cancer risks in industrial workers. These compounds react with DNA and proteins, leading to genotoxic effects. We used the comet assay to monitor formation of cross-links in HL-60 cells treated with ECH, DEB, and the structurally related anti-cancer drug mechlorethamine (HN2). We report a time- and dose-dependent cytotoxicity that correlated with cross-linking activity, following the order HN2 > DEB > ECH. The rate of cross-link repair also varied with drug, with ECH-induced lesions the fastest to repair. High drug doses led to the formation of saturating amounts of HN2 cross-links that were repaired inefficiently. DEB and ECH produced fewer overall cross-links, but some were also resistant to repair. These persistent cross-links may activate cell-cycle arrest to allow repair of damage, with prolonged arrest triggering apoptosis. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction experiments revealed that treatment of HL-60 cells with DEB and ECH results in up-regulation of several genes involved in the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptosis pathway, including BAX, BAK1, CASP-9, APAF-1, and BCL-2. These findings contribute to our understanding of the principles underlying the carcinogenic potentials of these xenobiotics.

Diepoxybutane-induced apoptosis is mediated through the ERK1/2 pathway

Diepoxybutane (DEB) is the most potent active metabolite of butadiene, a regulated air pollutant. We previously reported the occurrence of DEB-induced, p53-dependent, mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human lymphoblasts. The present study investigated the role of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) pathway in DEB-induced apoptotic signaling in exposed human lymphoblasts. Activated ERK1/2 and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase/ERK1/2 kinase (MEK) levels were significantly upregulated in DEB-exposed human lymphoblasts. The MEK inhibitor PD98059 and ERK1/2 siRNA significantly inhibited apoptosis, ERK1/2 activation, as well as p53 and phospho-p53 (serine-15) levels in human lymphoblasts undergoing DEB-induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results demonstrate that DEB induces apoptotic signaling through the MEK-ERK1/2-p53 pathway in human lymphoblasts. This is the first report implicating the activation of the ERK1/2 pathway and its subsequent role in mediating DEB-induced apoptotic signaling in human lymphoblasts. These findings contribute towards the understanding of DEB toxicity, as well as the signaling pathways mediating DEB-induced apoptosis in human lymphoblasts.

1,3-Butadiene-Induced Adenine DNA Adducts Are Genotoxic but Only Weakly Mutagenic When Replicated in Escherichia coli of Various Repair and Replication Backgrounds

The adverse effects of the human carcinogen 1,3-butadiene (BD) are believed to be mediated by its DNA-reactive metabolites such as 3,4-epoxybut-1-ene (EB) and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB). The specific DNA adducts responsible for toxic and mutagenic effects of BD, however, have yet to be identified. Recent in vitro polymerase bypass studies of BD-induced adenine (BD-dA) adducts show that DEB-induced N6,N6-DHB-dA (DHB = 2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl) and 1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA (HMHP = 2-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl) adducts block replicative DNA polymerases but are bypassed by human polymerases η and κ, leading to point mutations and deletions. In contrast, EB-induced N6-HB-dA (HB = 2-hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl) does not block DNA synthesis and is nonmutagenic. In the present study, we employed a newly established in vivo lesion-induced mutagenesis/genotoxicity assay via next-generation sequencing to evaluate the in vivo biological consequences of S-N6-HB-dA, R,R-N6,N6-DHB-dA, S,S-N6,N6-DHB-dA, and R,S-1,N6-γ-HMHP-dA. In addition, the effects of AlkB-mediated direct reversal repair, MutM and MutY catalyzed base excision repair, and DinB translesion synthesis on the BD-dA adducts in bacterial cells were investigated. BD-dA adducts showed the expected inhibition of DNA replication in vivo but were not substantively mutagenic in any of the genetic environments investigated. This result is in contrast with previous in vitro observations and opens the possibility that E. coli repair and bypass systems other than the ones studied here are able to minimize the mutagenic properties of BD-dA adducts.

Characterization of the Major Purine and Pyrimidine Adducts Formed after Incubations of 1-Chloro-3-buten-2-one with Single-/Double-Stranded DNA and Human Cells

We have previously shown that 1-chloro-3-buten-2-one (CBO), a potential reactive metabolite of 1,3-butadiene (BD), exhibits potent cytotoxicity and genotoxicity that have been attributed in part to its reactivity toward DNA. In an effort to identify the DNA adducts of CBO, we characterized the CBO reactions with 2'-deoxyguanosine (dG), 2'-deoxycytidine (dC), and 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA) under in vitro physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C). In the present study, we investigated the CBO reaction with 2'-deoxythymidine (dT) and compared the rate constants of the reactions of CBO with dA, dC, dG, and dT at both individual- and mixed-nucleosides levels. We also investigated the reactions of CBO with single- and double-stranded DNA using HPLC with UV detection after adducts were released by either acid or enzymatic hydrolysis of DNA. Consistent with the results from the nucleoside reactions and the rate constant experiments, 1,N⁶-(1-hydroxy-1-chloromethylpropan-1,3-diyl)adenine (A-2D) was identified as the major DNA adduct detected after acid hydrolysis, followed by N7-(4-chloro-3-oxobutyl)guanine (CG-2H) and a small amount of 1,N⁶-(1-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)adenine (A-1D). After enzymatic hydrolysis, 1,N⁶-(1-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2'-dexoyadenosine (dA-1), 3,N⁴-(1-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2'-deoxycytidine (dC-1/2), and 1,N²-(3-hydroxy-3-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2'-dexoyguanosine (CG-1) were detected, with dA-1 being the major product, followed by dC-1/2. When a nontoxic concentration of CBO (1 μM) was incubated with HepG2 cells, no adducts could be detected by LC-MS. However, pretreatment of cells with l-buthionine sulfoximine to deplete GSH levels allowed A-2D to be consistently detected in cellular DNA. These results may contribute to a better understanding of the role of the DNA adducts in CBO genotoxicity and mutagenicity. It also suggests that A-2D could be developed as a biomarker of CBO formation after BD exposure in vivo.

Identification of a Fused-Ring 2'-Deoxyadenosine Adduct Formed in Human Cells Incubated with 1-Chloro-3-buten-2-one, a Potential Reactive Metabolite of 1,3-Butadiene

1-Chloro-3-buten-2-one (CBO) is an in vitro metabolite of 1,3-butadiene (BD), a carcinogenic air pollutant. CBO exhibited potent cytotoxicity and genotoxicity that have been attributed in part to its reactivity toward DNA. Previously, we have characterized the CBO adducts with 2'-deoxycytidine and 2'-deoxyguanosine. In the present study, we report on the reaction of CBO with 2'-deoxyadenosine (dA) under in vitro physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C). We used the synthesized standards and their decomposition and acid-hydrolysis products to characterize the CBO-DNA adducts formed in human cells. The fused-ring dA adducts (dA-1 and dA-2) were readily synthesized and were structurally characterized as 1,N(6)-(1-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine and 1,N(6)-(1-hydroxy-1-chloromethylpropan-1,3-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine, respectively. dA-1 exhibited a half-life of 16.0 ± 0.7 h and decomposed to dA at pH 7.4 and 37 °C. At similar conditions, dA-2 decomposed to dA-1 and dA, and had a half-life of 0.9 ± 0.1 h. These results provide strong evidence for dA-1 being a degradation product of dA-2. dA-1 is formed by replacement of the chlorine atom of dA-2 by a hydroxyl group. The slow decomposition of dA-1 to dA, along with the detection of hydroxymethyl vinyl ketone (HMVK) as another degradation product, suggested equilibrium between dA-1 and a ring-opened carbonyl-containing intermediate that undergoes a retro-Michael reaction to yield dA and HMVK. Acid hydrolysis of dA-1 and dA-2 yielded the corresponding deribosylated products A-1D and A-2D, respectively. In the acid-hydrolyzed reaction mixture of CBO with calf thymus DNA, both A-1D and A-2D could be detected; however, the amount of A-2D was significantly larger than that of A-1D. Interestingly, only A-2D could be detected by LC-MS analysis of acid-hydrolyzed DNA from cells incubated with CBO, suggesting that dA-2 was stable in DNA and thus may play an important role in the genotoxicity and carcinogenicity of BD. In addition, A-2D could be developed as a biomarker of CBO formation in human cells.

Association between Genetic Polymorphisms of DNA Repair Genes and Chromosomal Damage for 1,3-Butadiene-Exposed Workers in a Matched Study in China

The aim of the study was to examine the association between polymorphisms of DNA repair genes and chromosomal damage of 1,3-butadiene- (BD-) exposed workers. The study was conducted in 45 pairs of occupationally exposed workers in a BD product workshop and matched control workers in an administrative office and a circulatory water workshop in China. Newly developed biomarkers (micronuclei, MNi; nucleoplasmic bridges, NPBs; nuclear buds, NBUDs) in the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) cytome assay were adopted to detect chromosomal damage. PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) are adopted to analyze polymorphisms of DNA repair genes, such as X-ray repair cross-complementing Group 1 (XRCC1), O₆-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerases (ADPRT), and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonucleases (APE1). The BD-exposed workers exhibited increased frequencies of MNi and NPBs when compared to subjects in the control group. The results also show that the BD-exposed workers carrying XRCC1 diplotypes TCGA-CCGG (4.25 ± 2.06‰) (FR = 2.10, 95% CI: 1.03–4.28) and TCGG-TCGA (5.80 ± 3.56‰) (FR = 2.75, 95% CI: 0.76–2.65) had statistically higher NBUD frequencies than those who carried diplotype TCGG-TCGG (1.89 ± 1.27‰). Our study suggests that polymorphisms of XRCC1 gene may influence chromosomal damage in BD-exposed workers.

Induction of DNA damage and G2 cell cycle arrest by diepoxybutane through the activation of the Chk1-dependent pathway in mouse germ cells

1,2:3,4-Diepoxybutane (DEB) is a major carcinogenic metabolite of 1,3-butadiene (BD), which has been shown to cause DNA strand breaks in cells through its potential genotoxicity. The adverse effect of DEB on male reproductive cells in response to DNA damage has not been thoroughly studied, and the related mechanism is yet to be elucidated. Using mouse spermatocyte-derived GC-2 cells, we demonstrated in the present study that DEB caused the proliferation inhibition and marked cell cycle arrest at the G2 phase but not apoptosis. DEB also induced DNA damage as evidenced by γ-H2AX expression, the comet assay, and the cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay. Meanwhile, DEB triggered the Chk1/Cdc25c/Cdc2 signal pathway, which could be abated in the presence of UCN-01 or Chk1 siRNA. GC-2 cells exposed to DEB experienced ROS generation and pretreatment of N-acetyl-l-cysteine, partly attenuated DEB-induced DNA damage, and G2 arrest. Furthermore, measurement of testicular cells showed an increased proportion of tetraploid cells in mice administrated with DEB, alongside the enhanced expression of p-Chk1. Also, the defective reproductive phenotypes, including reduced sperm motility, increased sperm malformation, and histological abnormality of testes, were observed. In conclusion, these results suggest DEB induces DNA damage and G2 cell cycle arrest by activating the Chk1-dependent pathway, while oxidative stress may be associated with eliciting toxicity in male reproductive cells.

Major groove orientation of the (2S)-N(6)-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-2'-deoxyadenosine DNA adduct induced by 1,2-epoxy-3-butene

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an environmental and occupational toxicant classified as a human carcinogen. It is oxidized by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases to 1,2-epoxy-3-butene (EB), which alkylates DNA. BD exposures lead to large numbers of mutations at A:T base pairs even though alkylation of guanines is more prevalent, suggesting that one or more adenine adducts of BD play a role in BD-mediated genotoxicity. However, the etiology of BD-mediated genotoxicity at adenine remains poorly understood. EB alkylates the N(6) exocyclic nitrogen of adenine to form N(6)-(hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-2'-dA ((2S)-N(6)-HB-dA) adducts ( Tretyakova , N. , Lin , Y. , Sangaiah , R. , Upton , P. B. , and Swenberg , J. A. ( 1997 ) Carcinogenesis 18 , 137 - 147 ). The structure of the (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA adduct has been determined in the 5'-d(C(1)G(2)G(3)A(4)C(5)Y(6)A(7)G(8)A(9)A(10)G(11))-3':5'-d(C(12)T(13)T(14)C(15)T(16)T(17)G(18)T(19) C(20)C(21)G(22))-3' duplex [Y = (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA] containing codon 61 (underlined) of the human N-ras protooncogene, from NMR spectroscopy. The (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA adduct was positioned in the major groove, such that the butadiene moiety was oriented in the 3' direction. At the Cα carbon, the methylene protons of the modified nucleobase Y(6) faced the 5' direction, which placed the Cβ carbon in the 3' direction. The Cβ hydroxyl group faced toward the solvent, as did carbons Cγ and Cδ. The Cβ hydroxyl group did not form hydrogen bonds with either T(16) O(4) or T(17) O(4). The (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA nucleoside maintained the anti conformation about the glycosyl bond, and the modified base retained Watson-Crick base pairing with the complementary base (T(17)). The adduct perturbed stacking interactions at base pairs C(5):G(18), Y(6):T(17), and A(7):T(16) such that the Y(6) base did not stack with its 5' neighbor C(5), but it did with its 3' neighbor A(7). The complementary thymine T(17) stacked well with both 5' and 3' neighbors T(16) and G(18). The presence of the (2S)-N(6)-HB-dA resulted in a 5 °C reduction in the Tm of the duplex, which is attributed to less favorable stacking interactions and adduct accommodation in the major groove.

Structures of exocyclic R,R- and S,S-N(6),N(6)-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine adducts induced by 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an industrial and environmental chemical present in urban air and cigarette smoke, and is classified as a human carcinogen. It is oxidized by cytochrome P450 to form 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB); DEB bis-alkylates the N(6) position of adenine in DNA. Two enantiomers of bis-N(6)-dA adducts of DEB have been identified: R,R-N(6),N(6)-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine (R,R-DHB-dA), and S,S-N(6),N(6)-(2,3-dihydroxybutan-1,4-diyl)-2'-deoxyadenosine (S,S-DHB-dA) [ Seneviratne , U. , Antsypovich , S. , Dorr , D. Q. , Dissanayake , T. , Kotapati , S. , and Tretyakova , N. ( 2010 ) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 23 , 1556 -1567 ]. Herein, the R,R-DHB-dA and S,S-DHB-dA adducts have been incorporated into the 5'-d(C(1)G(2)G(3)A(4)C(5)X(6)A(7)G(8)A(9)A(10)G(11))-3':5'-d(C(12)T(13)T(14)C(15)T(16)T(17)G(18)T(19)C(20)C(21)G(22))-3' duplex [X(6) = R,R-DHB-dA (R(6)) or S,S-DHB-dA (S(6))]. The structures of the duplexes were determined by molecular dynamics calculations, which were restrained by experimental distances obtained from NMR data. Both the R,R- and S,S-DHB-dA adducts are positioned in the major groove of DNA. In both instances, the bulky 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine rings are accommodated by an out-of-plane rotation about the C6-N(6) bond of the bis-alkylated adenine. In both instances, the directionality of the dihydroxypyrrolidine ring is evidenced by the pattern of NOEs between the 3,4-dihydroxypyrrolidine protons and DNA. Also in both instances, the anti conformation of the glycosyl bond is maintained, which combined with the out-of-plane rotation about the C6-N(6) bond, allows the complementary thymine, T(17), to remain stacked within the duplex, and form one hydrogen bond with the modified base, between the imine nitrogen of the modified base and the T(17) N3H imino proton. The loss of the second Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding interaction at the lesion sites correlates with the lower thermal stabilities of the R,R- and S,S-DHB-dA duplexes, as compared to the corresponding unmodified duplex. The reduced base stacking at the adduct sites may also contribute to the thermal instability.

Lymphohematopoietic cancers induced by chemicals and other agents and their implications for risk evaluation: An overview

Lymphohematopoietic neoplasia are one of the most common types of cancer induced by therapeutic and environmental agents. Of the more than 100 human carcinogens identified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, approximately 25% induce leukemias or lymphomas. The objective of this review is to provide an introduction into the origins and mechanisms underlying lymphohematopoietic cancers induced by xenobiotics in humans with an emphasis on acute myeloid leukemia, and discuss the implications of this information for risk assessment. Among the agents causing lymphohematopoietic cancers, a number of patterns were observed. Most physical and chemical leukemia-inducing agents such as the therapeutic alkylating agents, topoisomerase II inhibitors, and ionizing radiation induce mainly acute myeloid leukemia through DNA-damaging mechanisms that result in either gene or chromosomal mutations. In contrast, biological agents and a few immunosuppressive chemicals induce primarily lymphoid neoplasms through mechanisms that involve alterations in immune response. Among the environmental agents examined, benzene was clearly associated with acute myeloid leukemia in humans, with increasing but still limited evidence for an association with lymphoid neoplasms. Ethylene oxide and 1,3-butadiene were linked primarily to lymphoid cancers. Although the association between formaldehyde and leukemia remains controversial, several recent evaluations have indicated a potential link between formaldehyde and acute myeloid leukemia. The four environmental agents examined in detail were all genotoxic, inducing gene mutations, chromosomal alterations, and/or micronuclei in vivo. Although it is clear that rapid progress has been made in recent years in our understanding of leukemogenesis, many questions remain for future research regarding chemically induced leukemias and lymphomas, including the mechanisms by which the environmental agents reviewed here induce these diseases and the risks associated with exposures to such agents.

Concentration- and time-dependent genotoxicity profiles of isoprene monoepoxides and diepoxide, and the cross-linking potential of isoprene diepoxide in cells

Isoprene, a possible carcinogen, is a petrochemical and a natural product being primarily produced by plants. It is biotransformed to 2-ethenyl-2-methyloxirane (IP-1,2-O) and 2-(1-methylethenyl)oxirane (IP-3,4-O), both of which can be further metabolized to 2-methyl-2,2'-bioxirane (MBO). MBO is mutagenic, but IP-1,2-O and IP-3,4-O are not. While IP-1,2-O has been reported being genotoxic, the genotoxicity of IP-3,4-O and MBO, and the cross-linking potential of MBO have not been examined. In the present study, we used the comet assay to investigate the concentration- and time-dependent genotoxicity profiles of the three metabolites and the cross-linking potential of MBO in human hepatocyte L02 cells. For the incubation time of 1 h, all metabolites showed positive concentration-dependent profiles with a potency rank order of IP-3,4-O > MBO > IP-1,2-O. In human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and human leukemia (HL60) cells, IP-3,4-O was still more potent in inducing DNA breaks than MBO at high concentrations (>200 μM), although at low concentrations (≤200 μM) IP-3,4-O exhibited slightly lower or similar potency to MBO. Interestingly, their time-dependent genotoxicity profiles (0.5-4 h) in L02 cells were different from each other: IP-1,2-O and MBO (200 μM) exhibited negative and positive profiles, respectively, with IP-3,4-O lying in between, namely, IP-3,4-O-caused DNA breaks did not change over the exposure time. Further experiments demonstrated that hydrolysis of IP-1,2-O contributed to the negative profile and MBO induced cross-links at high concentrations and long incubation times. Collectively, the results suggested that IP-3,4-O might play a significant role in the toxicity of isoprene.

Formation of fused-ring 2'-deoxycytidine adducts from 1-chloro-3-buten-2-one, an in vitro 1,3-butadiene metabolite, under in vitro physiological conditions

1-Chloro-3-buten-2-one (CBO) is a potential metabolite of 1,3-butadiene (BD), a carcinogenic air pollutant. CBO is a bifunctional alkylating agent that readily reacts with glutathione (GSH) to form mono-GSH and di-GSH adducts. Recently, CBO and its precursor 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene (CHB) were found to be cytotoxic and genotoxic in human liver cells in culture with CBO being approximately 100-fold more potent than CHB. In the present study, CBO was shown to react readily with 2'-deoxycytidine (dC) under in vitro physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C) to form four dC adducts with the CBO moieties forming fused rings with the N3 and N(4) atoms of dC. The four products were structurally characterized as 2-hydroxy-2-hydroxymethyl-7-(2-deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-oxo-6H,7H-pyrimido[1,6-a]pyrimidin-5-ium (dC-1 and dC-2, a pair of diastereomers), 4-chloromethyl-4-hydroxy-7-(2-deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-oxo-6H,7H-pyrimido[1,6-a]pyrimidin-5-ium (dC-3), and 2-chloromethyl-2-hydroxy-7-(2-deoxy-β-d-erythro-pentofuranosyl)-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-6-oxo-6H,7H-pyrimido[1,6-a]pyrimidin-5-ium (dC-4). Interestingly, dC-1 and dC-2 were stable under our experimental conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C, and 6 h) and existed in equilibrium as indicated by HPLC analysis, whereas dC-3 and dC-4 were labile with the half-lives being 3.0 ± 0.36 and 1.7 ± 0.06 h, respectively. Decomposition of dC-4 produced both dC-1 and dC-2, whereas acid hydrolysis of dC-1/dC-2 and dC-4 in 1 M HCl at 100 °C for 30 min yielded the deribosylated adducts dC-1H/dC-2H and dC-4H, respectively. Because fused-ring dC adducts of other chemicals are mutagenic, the characterized CBO-dC adducts could be mutagenic and play a role in the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of CBO and its precursors, CHB and BD. The CBO-dC adducts may also be used as standards to characterize CBO-DNA adducts and to develop potential biomarkers for CBO formation in vivo.

Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity of 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene and 1-chloro-3-buten-2-one, two alternative metabolites of 1,3-butadiene

The cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity of 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene (CHB), a known in vitro metabolite of the human carcinogen 1,3-butadiene, have not previously been investigated. Because CHB can be bioactivated by alcohol dehydrogenases to yield 1-chloro-3-buten-2-one (CBO), a bifunctional alkylating agent that caused globin-chain cross-links in erythrocytes, in the present study we investigated the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of CHB and CBO in human normal hepatocyte L02 cells using the MTT assay, the relative cloning efficiency assay and the comet assay. We also investigated the mutagenic potential of these compounds with the Ames test using Salmonella strains TA1535 and TA1537. The results provide clear evidence for CHB and CBO being both cytotoxic and genotoxic with CBO being approximately 100-fold more potent than CHB. Interestingly, CHB generated both single-strand breaks and alkali-labile sites on DNA, whereas CBO produced only alkali-labile sites. CHB did not directly result in DNA breaks, whereas CBO was capable of directly generating breaks on DNA. Interestingly, both compounds did not induce DNA cross-links as examined by the comet assay. The Ames test results showed that CHB induced point mutation but not frameshift mutation, whereas the toxic effects of CBO made it difficult to reliably assess the mutagenic potential of CBO in the two strains. Collectively, the results suggest that CHB and CBO may play a role in the mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of 1,3-butadiene.

Alcohol dehydrogenase- and rat liver cytosol-dependent bioactivation of 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene to 1-chloro-3-buten-2-one, a bifunctional alkylating agent

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an air pollutant whose toxicity and carcinogenicity have been considered primarily mediated by its reactive metabolites, 3,4-epoxy-1-butene and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane, formed in liver and extrahepatic tissues by cytochromes P450s. A possible alternative metabolic pathway in bone marrow and immune cells is the conversion of BD to the chlorinated allylic alcohol 1-chloro-2-hydroxy-3-butene (CHB) by myeloperoxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide and chloride ion. In the present study, we investigated the in vitro bioactivation of CHB by alcohol dehydrogenases (ADH) under in vitro physiological conditions (pH 7.4, 37 °C). The results provide clear evidence for CHB being converted to 1-chloro-3-buten-2-one (CBO) by purified horse liver ADH and rat liver cytosol. CBO readily reacted with glutathione (GSH) under assay conditions to form three products: two CBO-mono-GSH conjugates [1-chloro-4-(S-glutathionyl)butan-2-one (3) and 1-(S-glutathionyl)-3-buten-2-one (4)] and one CBO-di-GSH conjugate [1,4-bis(S-glutathionyl)butan-2-one (5)]. CHB bioactivation and the ratios of the three GSH conjugates formed were dependent upon incubation time, GSH and CHB concentrations, and the presence of ADH or rat liver cytosol. The ADH enzymatic reaction followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a K(m) at 3.5 mM and a k(cat) at 0.033 s(-1). After CBO was incubated with freshly isolated mouse erythrocytes, globin dimers were detected using SDS-PAGE and silver staining, providing evidence that CBO can act as a protein cross-linking agent. Collectively, the results provide clear evidence for CHB bioactivation by ADH and rat liver cytosol to yield CBO. The bifunctional alkylating ability of CBO suggests that it may play a role in BD toxicity and/or carcinogenicity.

Formation of 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane-specific hemoglobin adducts in 1,3-butadiene exposed workers

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an important industrial chemical that is classified as a human carcinogen. BD carcinogenicity has been attributed to its metabolism to several reactive epoxide metabolites and formation of the highly mutagenic 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) has been hypothesized to drive mutagenesis and carcinogenesis at exposures experienced in humans. We report herein the formation of DEB-specific N,N-(2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butadiyl)valine (pyr-Val) in BD-exposed workers as a biomarker of DEB formation. pyr-Val was determined in BD monomer and polymer plant workers that had been previously analyzed for several other biomarkers of exposure and effect. pyr-Val was detected in 68 of 81 (84%) samples ranging from 0.08 to 0.86 pmol/g globin. Surprisingly, pyr-Val was observed in 19 of 23 administrative control subjects not known to be exposed to BD, suggesting exposure from environmental sources of BD. The mean ± SD amounts of pyr-Val were 0.11 ± 0.07, 0.16 ± 0.12, and 0.29 ± 0.20 pmol/g globin in the controls, monomer, and polymer workers, respectively, clearly demonstrating formation of DEB in humans. The amounts of pyr-Val found in this study suggest that humans are much less efficient in the formation of DEB than mice or rats at similar exposures. Formation of pyr-Val was more than 50-fold lower than has been associated with increased mutagenesis in rodents. The results further suggest that formation of DEB relative to other epoxides is significantly different in the highest exposed polymer workers compared with controls and BD monomer workers. Whether this is due to saturation of metabolic formation or increased GST-mediated detoxification could not be determined.

Chromosomal damage and polymorphisms of metabolic genes among 1, 3-butadiene-exposed workers in a matched study in China

1, 3-Butadiene (BD) is a high-efficiency carcinogen in rodents and was classified as a human carcinogen in 2008 by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. However, its ability to induce genetic damage and the influence of metabolic polymorphisms to such damage in humans are both controversial claims. This study was conducted to investigate the relationships between exposure to BD, the polymorphisms of metabolic genes and the chromosomal damage in 45 pairs of occupationally exposed workers in a BD product workshop and matched control workers in an administrative office and circulatory water workshop in China. Exposure to BD was evaluated by personal sampling and stationary sampling. Different chromosomal damage endpoints in peripheral blood lymphocytes were determined using the cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) cytome assay; polymorphisms of metabolic genes [cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1), glutathione S-transferases (GST) and microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH)] in BD-exposed group were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The results show that the average BD measurements of the exposed group were significantly higher than those for the control group (a personal sampling and stationary sampling, respectively). The BD-exposed workers exhibited increased frequencies of micronuclei (MNi) (8.00 ± 3.78‰ versus 5.62 ± 2.41‰) and nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) (2.58 ± 2.79‰ versus 1.13 ± 1.34‰) and a decreased nuclear division index (2.20 ± 0.14 versus 2.35 ± 0.27) when compared subjects in the control group. Meanwhile, BD-exposed workers carrying CYP2E1 c1c2/c2c2 or mEH intermediate (I)/high (H) group had a significantly higher NPB frequency than those carrying CYP2E1 c1c1 [frequency ratio (FR) = 2.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.72-3.93; P < 0.0001) or the mEH low(S) group (FR = 2.06, 95% CI% 1.17-3.62; P < 0.05), respectively. Our study suggests that MNi and NPB frequency in CBMN cytome assay could be potential genotoxic biomarkers for BD exposure in humans. The polymorphism of CYP2E1 and mEH could also affect the chromosomal instability of BD workers.

Diepoxybutane induces the formation of DNA-DNA rather than DNA-protein cross-links, and single-strand breaks and alkali-labile sites in human hepatocyte L02 cells

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is an air pollutant and a known carcinogen. 1,2,3,4-Diepoxybutane (DEB), one of the major in vivo metabolites of BD, is considered the ultimate culprit of BD mutagenicity/carcinogenicity. DEB is a bifunctional alkylating agent, being capable of inducing the formation of monoalkylated DNA adducts and DNA cross-links, including DNA-DNA and DNA-protein cross-links (DPC). In the present study, we investigated DEB-caused DNA cross-links and breaks in human hepatocyte L02 cells using comet assay. With alkaline comet assay, it was observed that DNA migration increased with the increase of DEB concentration at lower concentrations (10-200μM); however, at higher concentrations (200-1000μM), DNA migration decreased with the increase of DEB concentration. This result indicated the presence of cross-links at >200μM, which was confirmed by the co-treatment experiments using the second genotoxic agents, tert-butyl hydroperoxide and methyl methanesulfonate. At 200μM, which appeared as a threshold, the DNA migration-retarding effect of cross-links was just observable by the co-treatment experiments. At <200μM, the effect of cross-links was too weak to be detected. The DEB-induced cross-links were determined to be DNA-DNA ones rather than DPC through incubating the liberated DNA with proteinase K prior to unwinding and electrophoresis. However, at the highest DEB concentration tested (1000μM), a small proportion of DPC could be formed. In addition, the experiments using neutral and weakly alkaline comet assays showed that DEB did not cause double-strand breaks, but did induce single-strand breaks (SSB) and alkali-labile sites (ALS). Since SSB and ALS are repaired more rapidly than cross-links, the results suggested that DNA-DNA cross-links, rather than DPC, were probably responsible for mutagenicity/carcinogenicity of DEB.