The role of cytochrome P450s in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogenesis
Abstract
Metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) to carcinogenic diol epoxides has been determined to be a critical step in tumor initiation by PAH. The key enzyme(s) involved in the metabolic activation are members of the cytochrome P450 superfamily. Two distinct isoforms of cytochrome P450 have been determined to be induced upon treatment of cells in culture with benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) by use of Immobilized Artificial Membrane Column High Performance Liquid Chromatography, Western blotting, Northern blotting, and in vitro metabolism studies. Cytochrome P4501A1 is involved in the metabolism of PAH in the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2; the human mammary carcinoma cell line, MCF-7; and the mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1; whereas, cytochrome P450EF is involved in this metabolism in both secondary hamster and mouse embryo cell cultures. Induction of cytochrome P450s by B(a)P generally leads to an increased metabolism of tritiated B(a)P, DMBA, and DB(a,1)P to water-soluble metabolites and to the formation of PAH-DNA adducts suggesting that induction by B(a)P alters the metabolism of PAH to metabolic activation. DMBA induction of cytochrome P450s leads to various changes in metabolism and PAH-DNA binding and these changes were both cell and PAH specific. These results suggest that DMBA can shift metabolism of certain PAH towards metabolic activation in some cells, while in other cells DMBA or one of its metabolites can compete with other PAH for metabolic activation. UDP-glucuronosyl-transferase and epoxide hydrase do not have significant roles in detoxifying proximate or ultimate carcinogenic PAH metabolites, however, sulfotransferase and glutathione-S-transferase do detoxify proximate and ultimate carcinogenic metabolites in the HepG2 cell line. Finally, attempts to inhibit B(a)P metabolism and DNA-binding in intact cells in culture through conjugation of inhibitory cytochrome P4501A1 antibodies to insulin or folic acid were examined. Free insulin itself was found to inhibit cytochrome P4501A1 activity and/or induction, as was, passaging of cells on folate-deficient medium.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Baird, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Pharmaceuticals
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