Search

Metabolism of the heterocyclic amine carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) was evaluated in mice with and without 40 mg/kg beta-naphthoflavone (BNF). Following an oral dose of 40 mg/kg (14)C-IQ, a 24-h urine sample was collected. Metabolism was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography, and metabolites were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Three new metabolites were identified as 1,2-dihydro-2-amino-5-hydroxy-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (m/z 217, [M + H](+)), 1,2-dihydro-2-amino-5-O-glucuronide-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (m/z 393, [M + H](+)), and 1,2-dihydro-2-amino-5,7-dihydroxy-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (m/z 233, [M + H](+)). These metabolites represented 21% of the total urinary radioactivity recovered. For BNF-treated mice, the abundance of metabolites observed was 5-O-glucuronide > m/z 217 > m/z 393 > 5-sulfate > m/z 233 > N-glucuronide > demethyl-IQ > sulfamate. In control mice, metabolite urinary abundance was 5-O-glucuronide > demethyl-IQ > sulfamate > N-glucuronide > m/z 217 > 5-sulfate. In liver slices from BNF-treated mice, synthesis of m/z 217 and 5-O-glucuronide was significantly reduced by ellipticine, a cytochrome P450 (P450) inhibitor, whereas sulfamate synthesis was significantly increased and demethyl-IQ was unchanged. Liver microsomes from BNF-treated mice produced m/z 217 and demethyl-IQ, with the former inhibited by ellipticine and furafylline, a selective 1A2 inhibitor, and the latter by ellipticine only. Injection (intraperitoneal) of demethyl-IQ into BNF-treated mice resulted in only a 30% conversion to three metabolites that were not observed in urine from animals receiving IQ. Results from BNF-treated mice showed significant IQ metabolism by hepatic P450s. Therefore, differences in metabolism between mice treated with and without BNF may affect IQ tumorigenicity.

2-Amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) metabolism was evaluated in mouse to better understand its tumorigenicity. Urinary metabolites from mice orally administered 40 mg/kg [(14)C]IQ were compared with those from similarly treated rats. The recovery of radioactivity was significantly greater in mouse urine. The relative proportion of metabolites was significantly different, and a new rodent metabolite was detected. For rat, the proportion of previously identified metabolites excreted was 5-O-glucuronide > sulfamate > 5-sulfate > N-glucuronide. In mouse urine, a new metabolite, demethyl-IQ, represented approximately 26% of IQ metabolism with the proportion of metabolites as follows: 5-O-glucuronide > demethyl-IQ > sulfamate > N-glucuronide > 5-sulfate. Mouse metabolites were identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Demethyl-IQ was shown to be 2-aminoimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline. N-Acetyl-2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline was not detected with mice. Mouse liver slices produced 5-O-glucuronide, demethyl-IQ, and sulfamate with the former two being significantly reduced by ellipticine. Liver microsomes only produced demethyl-IQ. Ellipticine, a cytochrome P450 1A inhibitor, but not furafylline, an 1A2 selective inhibitor, prevented microsomal N-demethylation. Inhibitors had similar effects on 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation activity. Demethyl-IQ was not further metabolized by an intact mouse or liver microsomes. Thus, mouse IQ metabolism is significantly different from that in rat, and these differences may affect IQ tumorigenicity. N-Demethylation of IQ-like heterocyclic amines occurs in mouse, monkey, and human but not in rat.

The incidence of colon cancer increases with age, and this may be related to altered metabolism and disposition of carcinogens. One such carcinogen implicated in colon cancer is the heterocyclic amine found in well done meat, 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ). The purpose of these studies was to determine whether the disposition and metabolism of IQ changes with age, comparing young (3-month) and old (22- to 24-month) male F344 rats. Animals were treated with vehicle or beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), an inducer of drug-metabolizing cytochromes P450. Disposition and metabolism of IQ were determined after i.p. injection of radiolabeled IQ. Urinary IQ metabolites were identified and quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectroscopy. In BNF-treated animals, total radiolabeled IQ excretion by old rats was less than half that of young rats. Binding of radiolabeled IQ metabolites by the old kidney was 10 times higher than that of the young. There were no age differences in intestinal and hepatic binding. There was a significant age-related increase in IQ conjugation to glucuronic acid and a decrease in conjugation to sulfate regardless of treatment. The induction of renal CYP1A1, a major P450 involved in IQ metabolism, by BNF did not change with age. Changes in IQ metabolism with age along with altered renal function may contribute to the decreased urinary excretion and increased renal binding of IQ and/or its metabolites seen in the old animals.

We are working to understand possible human health effects from exposure to heterocyclic amines that are formed in meat during cooking. Laboratory-cooked beef, pork, and chicken are capable of producing tens of nanograms of MeIQx, IFP, and PhIP per gram of meat and smaller amounts of other heteroyclic amines. Well-done restaurant-cooked beef, pork, and chicken may contain PhIP and IFP at concentrations as high as tens of nanograms per gram and MeIQx at levels up to 3 ng/g. Although well-done chicken breast prepared in the laboratory may contain large amounts of PhIP, a survey of flame-grilled meat samples cooked in private homes showed PhIP levels in beef steak and chicken breast are not significantly different (P=0.36). The extremely high PhIP levels reported in some studies of grilled chicken are not seen in home-cooked samples.Many studies suggest individuals may have varying susceptibility to carcinogens and that diet may influence metabolism, thus affecting cancer susceptibility. To understand the human metabolism of PhIP, we examined urinary metabolites of PhIP in volunteers following a single well-done meat exposure. Using solid-phase extraction and LC/MS/MS, we quantified four major PhIP metabolites in human urine. In addition to investigating individual variation, we examined the interaction of PhIP with a potentially chemopreventive food. In a preliminary study of the effect of broccoli on PhIP metabolism, we fed chicken to six volunteers before and after eating steamed broccoli daily for 3 days. Preliminary results suggest that broccoli, which contains isothiocyanates shown to induce Phases I and II metabolism in vitro, may affect both the rate of metabolite excretion and the metabolic products of a dietary carcinogen. This newly developed methodology will allow us to assess prevention strategies that reduce the possible risks associated with PhIP exposure.

The effects of green tea on the metabolism of the food carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) with emphasis on the formation of the detoxified glucuronides was studied. Two groups of 20 adult male and female Fischer 344 rats consumed 2% green tea or water for 6 weeks before being administered a single dose of 40 mg/kg body weight of [2-14C]IQ by oral gavage. Major metabolites in 24 h urine samples were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), including N-OH-IQ-N-glucuronide, 5-OH-IQ glucuronide and sulfate, IQ sulfamate and IQ itself. The structures of the main metabolites were established by mobility on the HPLC and by mass spectrometry. Sulfate esters and sulfamate were hydrolyzed by 0.1 N HCl for 15 min at 100 degrees C, yielding 5-OH-IQ and high levels of IQ. HPLC of the resulting product showed the N-OH-IQ-N-glucuronide and the 5-OH-IQ glucuronide, as well as IQ. The male and female rats drinking tea displayed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) excretion of the two major glucuronides. We conclude that intake of green tea increases the excretion of N-OH-IQ-N-glucuronide, a detoxified metabolite of the proximate carcinogen N-OH-IQ.

The effects of green tea intake on the metabolism of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) in the rat was studied. IQ belongs to a new class of mutagens and carcinogens, heterocyclic arylamines, formed during cooking through browning meats and fish, thus, in the food chain of most non-vegetarians. Ten adult male and female Fischer 344 rats were placed on a 2% solution of green tea and 10 control rats were on water for 6 weeks. Then, animals were administered a single dose of 40 mg/kg body weight of [2-14C]IQ by oral gavage. Twenty-four hour urine samples were collected and metabolites were separated by HPLC and quantitated by scintillation counting. Two minor and three major metabolites were isolated, including, small quantities of IQ itself. The rats on tea showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in the recovery of the three major metabolites, namely, IQ-sulfamate, IQ-5-O-sulfate, and IQ-5-O-glucuronide, respectively. Green tea, therefore, influences the manner in which the food carcinogen IQ is metabolized and excreted in urine. Formation of glucuronides, increased by green tea, represent a key means of detoxification of the heterocyclic amine, IQ.

We examined ways in which dietary supplements of wheat bran may protect against colon cancer. The effects of supplementing the diet of female Wistar rats with 10% wheat bran on the disposition and metabolism of the dietary carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) labelled with (14)C was determined. Our data show that the wheat bran had a major effect on both the distribution and metabolism of IQ. At a low dose of IQ (1 mg/kg), we unexpectedly found that up to 2 h after gavage there were higher concentrations of radioactivity in the plasma of rats fed wheat bran compared with the controls, but there were lower concentrations of radioactivity after 2 h. At a high dose of IQ (50 mg/kg), there were always lower concentrations of radioactivity in the plasma of rats fed wheat bran compared with the control rats. One of the most marked effects of wheat bran was apparently to significantly retard the metabolism of IQ in the plasma when this was fed at either dose. There were also differences between the rats fed wheat bran and the control in the concentrations and types of IQ metabolites in the urine.

New metabolites of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ), a potent mutagen and carcinogen formed during cooking of meat or fish, have been identified and quantitated in the urine and bile of rats. Administration was either by a pulse gavage dose of 40 mg/kg [2-14C]IQ or by dietary intake of 300 ppm IQ for 6 weeks. The metabolites were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography and quantitated by radioactivity. They were then characterized by their resistance or sensitivity to hydrolytic enzymes or acid hydrolysis, by nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, or coinjection with a synthetic sample. A minor metabolite was the IQ N-glucuronide. A major metabolite was formed by hydroxylation of IQ at the 5-position; it was present in urine and bile and was conjugated as the glucuronide or sulfate ester, which together accounted for about 40% of urinary or biliary metabolites. The unconjugated compound partially adsorbs onto the high-performance liquid chromatographic columns used. The amounts of 5-OH-IQ present as conjugates in urine or bile were similar, irrespective of mode of administration. Thus, hydroxylation of IQ on carbon 5 followed by type II conjugation reactions yields quantitatively important metabolic products.

The kinetics of distribution of radiolabelled [2-14C]IQ (2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline) and [2-14C]MeIQx (2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline) following the oral administration to BALB/c mice of single doses were studied. Both compounds were taken up into the blood-stream and other tissues rapidly after administration and approximately 20-25% of the radioactive dose of IQ or MeIQx was excreted in urine over 6 h, reflecting the rapid absorption of the mutagens. Significantly greater levels of MeIQx than IQ were isolated from the lungs and blood of treated mice. In studies of the uptake of IQ from closed sections of the gut, little IQ was absorbed from the stomach. Although there was some evidence that it could be absorbed from the large intestine, the primary site of IQ absorption was the small intestine.