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Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a mitogenic polypeptide that induces proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and cotreatment with the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor LY294002 and the antiestrogen ICI 182780 inhibits IGF-I-induced growth. The role of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in mediating responses induced by IGF-I was investigated in cells transfected with small inhibitory RNA for ERα (iERα). The results showed that IGF-I-dependent phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinase, induction of G1–S-phase progression and enhanced expression of cyclin D1 and cyclin E were dependent on ERα. Moreover, these same IGF-I-induced responses were also inhibited by the antiestrogen ICI 182780 and this was in contrast to a previous report suggesting that ICI 182780 did not affect IGF-I-dependent activation of PI3-K or induction of cyclin D1 expression. ICI 182780 exhibits antimitogenic activity and iERα inhibits G1–S-phase progression and proliferation of MCF-7 cells treated with IGF-I, suggesting that the effects of the antiestrogen are primarily related to downregulation of ERα.

Nine catfish fillets, three catfish nuggets, two feed samples, and one pond sediment were analyzed for PCDD, PCDF, and PCB. Farm-raised catfish from Mississippi, Alabama, and Arkansas contained significant levels of 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD and PCDF. In addition, a large number of non-2,3,7,8-substituted congeners were present in all samples. The catfish fillets and catfish nuggets also contained high concentrations of dioxin-like PCB, as well as a number of non-dioxin-like PCB. The TEQ based on PCDD and PCDF ranged from 9.5 to 43.0 pg/g lipid and the TEQ based on PCB ranged from 0.45 to 4.9 pg/g lipid for all catfish samples. The dioxin-like PCB contributed 4-16% to the total TEQ (PCDD/PCDF/PCB) for the catfish samples. The major source for the PCDD, PCDF, and PCB appears to be from feed and not from pond sediment. Immunoreactive CYP1A protein was elevated 2.5 fold in the pond-raised catfish compared to the aquarium-raised one. The results of this study suggest that the PCDD/PCDF are more important than the PCB in the CYP1A induction.

Wood preserving waste (WPW) sites contain numerous toxic compounds, including phenols, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dibenzodioxins, and dibenzofurans. Previous in vitro and in vivo 32 P-postlabeling studies showed the induction of multiple carcinogen-DNA adducts by WPW extracts. We now have tested the hypothesis in a mouse skin bioassay that a WPW extract not only causes the formation of exogenous, xenobiotic-derived DNA adducts, but also alters the levels of endogenous DNA modifications. Skin DNA of female ICR mice treated topically with an organic WPW extract was found by 32 P-postlabeling to contain significantly increased levels of bulky oxidative DNA lesions (type II I-compounds), in addition to exogenous PAH-derived adducts. The mechanism of this increase is postulated to proceed through electrophilic quinoid compounds, which presumably were formed from phenols by chemical reactions of waste material or biologically by oxidative metabolism. On the other hand, the levels of another class of endogenous DNA adducts (type II-compounds) were reduced significantly in exposed skin DNA. This effect was explained by the presence of cytochrome P450 inducers in the extract. All three types of DNA alterations observed may play a significant role in carcinogenesis. Our results imply that in addition to exogenous carcinogen-DNA adducts, alterations of endogenous DNA modifications may need to be considered in evaluating carcinogenic risk from toxic chemical wastes and the effects of remediation measures.

The potential estrogenic activities of atrazine and simazine were investigated in vivo using the immature female Sprague–Dawley rat uterus and in vitro using the estrogen-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line and the estrogen-dependent recombinant yeast strain PL3. Animals that were dosed with 50, 150, or 300 mg/kg of atrazine or simazine alone for 3 consecutive days did not exhibit any significant increases in uterine wet weight while decreases in cytosolic progesterone receptor (PR) binding levels and uterine peroxidase activity were observed. 17β-estradiol (E2)-induced increases in uterine wet weight were not significantly affected by cotreatment with either chemical; however, some dose-independent decreases in E2-induced cytosolic PR binding and uterine peroxidase activity were observed. In vitro, atrazine and simazine did not affect basal or E2-induced MCF-7 cell proliferation or the formation of nuclear PR–DNA complexes as determined by gel electrophoretic mobility shift assays. In addition, these chloro- S -triazines did not display agonist activity or antagonize E2-induced luciferase activity in MCF-7 cells transiently transfected with a Gal4-human estrogen receptor chimera (Gal4-HEGO) and a Gal4-regulated luciferase reporter gene (17m5-G-Luc). Moreover, the estrogen-dependent PL3 yeast strain was not capable of growth on minimal media supplemented with atrazine or simazine in place of E2. Collectively, these results indicate that the reported estrogenic and antiestrogenic effects elicited by these chemicals are not mediated by the estrogen receptor.

Hazard and risk assessment of individual toxic chemicals utilizes data obtained from chronic toxicity and carcinogenicity studies in laboratory animals for regulating emission, cleanup or intake levels for individual chemicals. This approach can be utilized for problems associated with a single chemical emitted from a point source; however, in most situations, toxic chemicals are formed and emitted into the environment as complex mixtures of different structural classes of toxic/carcinogenic chemicals. Methodologies for risk assessment of complex mixtures have been developed for polychlorinated dibenzo‐p‐dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) which are found as industrial and combustion by‐products. This methodology is based on the common mechanism of action for these chemicals and utilizes the most toxic PCDD/PCDF congener, 2, 3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD), as a reference compound. The relative potencies or toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) are assigned to the other relevant PCDD/PCDF congen...

In order to compare a standard chemical-based risk assessment with in vitro genotoxicity assays, two complex environmental mixtures from a wood-preserving site were analyzed in the Salmonella/microsome and E. coli prophage induction assays. Using GC/MS, sample 003 was found to contain relatively low levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and elevated levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), while sample 005 had higher levels of PAHs and relatively low levels of PCDDs. The complex mixtures were sequentially extracted with methylene chloride and methanol for analysis in Salmonella, or extracted with a 1:1 hexane:acetone mixture for analysis in the E. coli prophage induction assay. At a dose of 1.0 mg/plate in Salmonella strain TA98 with metabolic activation, the methanol extract of sample 003 induced 197 net revertants, while sample 005 induced 436 net revertants. In the prophage induction assay, with activation, the hexane:acetone extract of sample 003 induced a genotoxic response that was slightly lower than that observed with sample 005. The estimated incremental carcinogenic risk for ingestion of PAHs was 1.5E – 3 for sample 003, while for sample 005 the estimated risk was 1.5E – 2. Thus, the sample which induced the maximum response in both bioassays also had the highest estimated cancer risk. However, the frequency of PAH-DNA adducts in both skin and liver tissues was appreciably higher with sample 003 than with sample 005. A combined testing protocol, using both biological and chemical analysis, therefore provides more accurate information from which to assess risk than the use of either method alone.

alpha-Naphthoflavone (alpha NF) and 6-methyl-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofuran (MCDF) inhibited 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced CYP1A1 gene expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells and also decreased the accumulation of the nuclear [3H]TCDD-aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor complex. Nuclear extracts from cells treated with 10(-6) M alpha NF and incubated with a dioxin responsive element (DRE, 26-mer) did not form a retarded band in a gel mobility shift assay. In contrast, incubation of nuclear extracts from cells treated with 10(-6) M MCDF and DRE gave a retarded band and this is consistent with the antiestrogenic and Ah receptor agonist activity of MCDF in human breast cancer cells. alpha NF was further investigated as an Ah receptor antagonist by determining the inhibition by alpha NF of TCDD-induced antiestrogenicity in MCF-7 cells. TCDD (10(-9) M) inhibited the 17 beta-estradiol-induced proliferation of MCF-7 cells and the secretion of the 52-kDa protein. In cotreatment studies, alpha NF (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) caused a concentration-dependent decrease in the antiestrogenic responses elicited by TCDD. In addition, alpha NF inhibited the TCDD-induced down-regulation of nuclear estrogen receptor levels in MCF-7 cells. alpha NF (10(-6) M) alone was inactive as an estrogen or antiestrogen and in cotreatment studies did not affect 17 beta-estradiol-induced responses in MCF-7 cells. Tamoxifen (10(-7) M), an antiestrogen which acts through the estrogen receptor, also inhibited 17 beta-estradiol-induced cell proliferation and alpha NF did not affect the tamoxifen-mediated antiproliferative response. Thus, alpha NF antagonized TCDD-induced CYP1A1 gene expression in MCF-7 cells and also acted as an anti-antiestrogen for TCDD-mediated antiestrogenicity in these cells. These results were consistent with the low levels of DRE binding observed with nuclear extracts from cells treated with 10(-9) M TCDD plus alpha NF (10(-8) to 10(-6) M) or 10(-6) M alpha NF alone. Thus, alpha NF appears to act as an Ah receptor antagonist in MCF-7 cells by decreasing the levels of transcriptionally active nuclear Ah receptor complexes.

The effects of 1 nM 17β-estradiol, 1 nM 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and their combination on the formation of intracellular cytosolic 52- and 34-kDa proteins was determined using a commercially available cathepsin D radioimmunoassay procedure (ELSA cath-D™ kit) which recognizes both the 34- and 52-kDa proteins. In control (ethanol-treated) cells, the 52-kDa protein levels were 305 ± 49 fmol/mg protein (100%) whereas in cells treated with 1 nM 17β-estradiol, 1 nM TCDD or their combination the levels were 1223 ± 142 (401%), 478 ± 54 (150%) and 227 ± 33 (74%). These results confirm that TCDD inhibits the 17β-estradiol-induced intracellular formation of the 52-/34-kDa proteins and further extends the antiestrogenic properties of this compound.

Using [3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin ([3H]TCDD) or 7-[125I]-iodo-2,3-dibromodibenzo-p-dioxin ([125I]DBDD) as high affinity photoaffinity ligands, the photoaffinity-labeled nuclear Ah receptor complexes from human cell lines have been analyzed by denaturing sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results show that the apparent molecular mass for the Ah receptor from several of these cell lines was 110-kDa and no significant variations were observed. However, there were significant differences in the apparent molecular weights of the nuclear Ah receptor complexes. For example, in the estrogen receptor (ER)-positive (MCF-7) and ER-negative (MDA-MB-231) human breast cancer cell lines, the apparent molecular weights of the nuclear receptor complexes were 171,000 and 192,000, respectively. These results indicate that there are differences in the molecular weights of the human nuclear Ah receptor complexes and the intraspecies heterogeneity may be associated with the non-ligand binding protein and not the Ah receptor.

Recent studies have reported that, like 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), interleukin-1α inhibits 17β-estradiol-induced cell proliferation and [3H]thymidine uptake and also causes a downregulation of the nuclear estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. These results suggest a possible relationship between TCDD and interleukin-1α in human breast cancer cells. After treatment of MCF-7 cells with 1 nM TCDD, the media was changed every 48 hours over a period of 7 days and used to support the growth of cells which were not treated with TCDD. The results showed that media from cells treated with TCDD did not inhibit the growth of control or 17β-estradiol-treated MCF-7 cells. These results suggested that MCF-7 cells exposed to TCDD did not secrete anti-growth factors into the media. In a separate study, the media from control cells and those treated with 1 nM 17β-estradiol, 1 nM TCDD and 17β-estradiol plus TCDD were analyzed for interleukin-1α using commercially-available antibodies. The results showed that interleukin-1α was not detectable in media from any of the treatment groups and indicate that although interleukin-1α and TCDD cause several common responses in ER-positive human breast cancer cell lines, their modes of action are independent.

Langdon and coworkers (1990) have characterized a series of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and ER-negative human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Previous studies have demonstrated that TCDD exhibits a broad spectrum of antiestrogenic activities in ER-positive human breast cancer cell lines. Studies in this laboratory have shown that after treatment with 10 nM [3H]TCDD, specifically-bound aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor complexes were identified in the cytosolic and nuclear fractions of the ER-positive PE01, PE04 and PE06 human ovarian carcinoma cell lines. Preliminary studies indicate that the molecular properties of the nuclear and cytosolic Ah receptor complexes in the ovarian carcinoma cells were similar to those reported for the Ah receptor from other human tissues and cells. The effects of TCDD on cytochrome P-4501A1 and the growth of these cell lines will be discussed.

Exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) alters testicular function; however, its effect on daily sperm production and Leydig cell volume has not been determined in adult rats. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (300–350 g) received 0, 12.5, 25.0, or 50.0 μg/kg body weight doses of TCDD by a single intraperitoneal injection. The body weight was reduced (P 0.05) to have reduced Leydig cell volume after TCDD treatment, and rats in Exp. 2 revealed a dose-dependent reduction (P

The effects of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) on hepatic I-compound DNA adducts in female Sprague-Dawley rats were determined at 2 dose levels. In the first experiments, rats (4 per group) were treated with each of 3 polychlorinated dibenzofuran (PCDF) congeners at 20 μg/kg/week or 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) at 10 μg/kg/week for 4 weeks. Effects on total I-compound levels when compared with age-matched control animals (corn oil) were as follows: control (116) > 1,2,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF) (112) > 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (93) > 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF (91) > TCDD (72) where the numbers in parentheses were the number of I-compounds in 10 9 DNA nucleotides. In the second experiment, rats (5 per group) were treated with each of the congeners at a higher dose of 100 μg/kg/week for 4 weeks. The effects were as follows: control (123) ≈ 1,2,4,7,8-PeCDF (125) > 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (98) > 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF (75) ≈ 2,3,4,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran (HCDF) (75). The active compounds (1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HCDF) were those that exhibited high cytosolic Ah receptor binding affinities (1.5 – 7.5 × 10 −8 M) and were also potent AHH inducers. The inactive compound (1,2,4,7,8-PeCDF) was less active in the receptor binding and enzyme induction assays. The results showed that there was a structure-dependent correlation between the Ah receptor agonist activity of a congener and its potency to reduce I-compounds in female Sprague-Dawley rat liver.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (TCDD) elicits a broad spectrum of antiestrogenic responses in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Treatment of the cells with insulin (0.001 – 10.0 μg/ml) caused a significant concentration-dependent increase in cell proliferation at concentrations of 0.01 – 10.0 μg/ml with a maximum response observed at 1.0 μg/ml. Treatment of the cells with TCDD (0.01 to 10 nM) caused some decrease in cell growth at the high concentrations. Cotreatment of the cells with insulin plus TCDD at several different concentrations showed that TCDD at a concentration as low as 0.1 nM inhibited insulin-induced cell proliferation. In a parallel study, insulin also caused a concentration-dependent increase in [ 3 H]thymidine uptake into cellular DNA at concentrations of 0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 μg/ml and TCDD (0.1 nM) significantly inhibited this response at all 3 concentrations of insulin. These results illustrate the interaction between TCDD and insulin in MCF-7 cells and further extend the antimitogenic activity of TCDD in human breast cancer cell lines.

Incubation of radiolabeled, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF),1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(PeCDD), 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PeCDF), 1,2,7,8-TCDF, and 2,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TrCDD) with rat hepatic cytosol for 2 h at 0 degrees C gave liganded aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor complexes which were indistinguishable as determined by velocity sedimentation analysis and DNA-Sepharose column chromatography. Incubation of the cytosol plus the different radioligands for 2 h at 20 degrees C resulted in the formation of Ah receptor complexes which exhibited increased retention times on DNA-Sepharose columns. It was apparent that the amount of specifically bound Ah receptor complex or the levels of the transformed Ah receptor complex which eluted from the column with 0.2-0.3 M salt were dependent on the structure of the radioligand. For example, after incubation for 2 h at 20 degrees C the overall yields of the specifically bound transformed Ah receptor complex were 3.4, 2.0, 1.2, 1.9, 0.3, and 0.1%, respectively, using 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, 1,2,7,8-TCDF, and 2,3,7,8-TrCDD as radioligands. A more quantitative measure of the structure-dependent transformation of the liganded cytosolic Ah receptor complex was determined using a gel retardation assay with a consensus synthetic dioxin-responsive element (DRE) (26-mer, duplex). The EC50 values obtained for the concentration-dependent formation of the retarded DRE-Ah receptor complex using 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, 2,3,7-TrCDD, and 1,2,7,8-TCDF as ligands were 0.26, 0.35, 0.78, 1.75, 27.0, and 220 nM, respectively. The structure-dependent differences in these values were similar to their different potencies as Ah receptor agonists and these data suggest that the structure-dependent transformation of the liganded cytosolic Ah receptor may significantly contribute to the structure-activity relationships observed for 2,3,7,8-TCDD and related compounds.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) exhibits a broad spectrum of antiestrogenic effects in estrogen receptor (ER) positive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. The proliferation of MCF-7 cells in minimal media can also be stimulated by other mitogens, including insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), transforming growth factor α (TGF-α) and epidermal growth factor (EGF). The interactions of TCDD and these mitogens showed that TCDD inhibited growth factor-induced cell proliferation and the [3H]-thymidine uptake in the MCF-7 cells. A more detailed analysis of the interaction of TCDD and IGF-1 showed that treatment of the cells with IGF-1 (or 17s-estradiol) caused a 100% increase in the number of membrane-bound IGF-1 receptor binding sites whereas cotreatment with TCDD completely blocked these induced effects. In contrast, the K d values for the binding of [125I]-IGF-1 with its receptor were not significantly different in cells from all the treatment groups. Parallel studies in T47-D cells showed that there was differential-responsiveness to the proliferative effects of these mitogens; however, TCDD also exhibited comparable antimitogenic activities in these cell lines.

6-Methyl-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofuran (MCDF) is a relatively nontoxic analog of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin. Treatment of aryl hydrocarbon (Ah)-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells with 100 n m MCDF resulted in the inhibition of 17β-estradiol-induced proliferation and the secretion of the 34-, 52-, and 160-kDa proteins. After treatment of the cells with 17β-[ 3 H]estradiol, 100 n m of MCDF caused a decrease in the accumulation of the radiolabeled nuclear estrogen receptor (ER) complex in these cells. In parallel experiments, the antiestrogenic effects of MCDF were also determined in Ah-responsive wild-type Hepa 1c1c7 cells and Ah-nonresponsive class 1 and class 2 mutant cells. Treatment of the wild-type cells with 17β-[ 3 H]estradiol and 100 n m MCDF caused a decrease in the accumulation of radiolabeled nuclear ER complex in these cells whereas no significant effects were observed in the mutant cells as determined by velocity sedimentation analysis. Comparable results were obtained using ER antibodies to measure the decrease in immunoreactive nuclear ER. In addition, both actinomycin D and cycloheximide inhibited the MCDF-mediated decrease of nuclear ER levels in the Hepa 1c1c7 wild-type cells. Although 100 n m MCDF did not induce cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases in the MCF-7 or Hepa 1c1c7 cell lines, incubation of nuclear extracts from the MCF-7 cells treated with 100 n m MCDF with a synthetic consensus dioxin responsive element (an oligonucleotide duplex of 26 bases) gave a retarded band in a gel-retardation assay. The data suggest that the antiestrogenic effects of MCDF does not require the induction of the CYP1A1 gene expression but may involve the induction of other genes.

Bioremediation is gaining acceptance as a viable alternative for remediating contaminated soils at Superfund sites. However, it has the potential for resulting in the production of intermediate breakdown products which may be more toxic and soluble than the parent compound. This study was designed to monitor the mutagenic activity of contaminated soils from an abandoned wood preserving facility undergoing bioremediation in an intensively managed land treatment unit (LTU). Sample collection included two waste samples, twelve soil samples from the LTU, one on- site control soil sample, and one off-site control sample. Samples were sequentially extracted with methylene chloride and methanol, and the residues from these extractions were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide for testing with the Salmonella/microsome assay (Ames test). Each extract was tested using strain TA98 with and without metabolic activation, and the results were used to measure the bacterial mutagenicity which is an indicator of the carcinogenic potential. Although chemical analysis had suggested that biodegradation had reduced the concentration of toxic organics to below method detection limits, the results of bioassay testing detected mutagenic chemicals still present in both lifts of soil in the LTU. The weighted activity (revertants per gram of soil) of the soil from the upper lift which had been in the LTU for only five weeks exceeded two times the background, whereas the weighted activities of soil samples from the lower lift which had been in the LTU for three months were within background values for this site. These data indicate that three months of remediation in an intensively managed LTU is sufficient to reduce the weighted activity of contaminated soil from this facility to near background levels.

A series of nitropolychlorodibenzo- p -dioxins (NPCDDs) was found to be stable to base in the dark with one exception, and only slowly destroyed by ultraviolet light λ > 300 nm in the absence of base. However, they photolyzed rapidly in the presence of dilute sodium hydroxide. The reactions were followed using an in vitro bioassay based on the affinity of the substrates for the murine hepatic Ah receptor; this allows the reactions to be followed in extremely dilute solution (μM or less). A possible methodology for the destruction of polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins involves nitration followed by photolysis in base.

The potential anticarcinogenic properties of several novel coumarin derivatives whose structures are based on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were examined in the multistage model of mouse skin tumorigenesis. The test compounds were evaluated for their affinity to bind competitively with rat cytosolic Ah-receptor in rat hepatic cytosol, their effects on mouse epidermal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) after topical application, and for their effects on the levels of hydrocarbon-DNA adducts formed in vivo. All compounds showed good correlations between cytosolic Ah-receptor binding and their ability to induce epidermal AHH activity. Among the derivatives evaluated the coumarin (8-methyl-9H-10-oxabenzo[a]pyren-9-one) exhibited the highest affinity for the Ah-receptor and was also the most potent inducer of epidermal AHH activity. This compound also effectively inhibited the covalent binding of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) to epidermal DNA when given either 5 min or 24 h prior to application of [3H]DMBA. This novel coumarin derivative significantly inhibited skin tumor initiation by DMBA in SENCAR mice when given at a dose of 200 nmol, 5 min (69% inhibition) or 24 h (76% inhibition) prior to initiation. The results of these studies suggest that this class of compounds shows considerable promise for future development as potential inhibitors of PAH-mediated tumor initiation on mouse skin. Potential mechanism(s) for the anti-initiating action of these compounds are discussed.

Treatment of immature female Sprague-Dawley rats with 17 beta-estradiol (5 micrograms/animal) resulted in an increase in uterine epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor binding activity. Moreover, in a separate study it was also shown that 17 beta-estradiol increased steady-state levels of rat uterine EGF receptor mRNA as determined by Northern analysis. In contrast, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) caused a dose-response decrease in constitutive rat uterine EGF receptor binding activity and this was paralleled by a decrease in steady-state levels of uterine EGF receptor mRNA. Cotreatment of the animals with both TCDD (16 nmol/kg) and 17 beta-estradiol (5 micrograms/rat) gave results which showed that TCDD significantly inhibited the estrogen-induced increases in rat uterine EGF receptor binding activity and EGF receptor mRNA levels. These results further extend the range of antiestrogenic properties of TCDD and suggest that the inhibition of growth factor expression may play a role in the growth-inhibiting properties of TCDD in estrogen-responsive tissues or cells.

The dose-response effects of several polychlorinated diphenyl ether (polyCDE) congeners on the inhibition of the splenic plaque-forming cell (PFC) response to sheep red blood cell antigen and the induction of hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities were determined in male C57BL/6 mice. The immunotoxic potencies for the polyCDE congeners (ED50 values for the suppression of PFCs/spleen and PFCs/10(6) cells) followed the order 2,3,3',4,4',5-hexaCDE (0.5 and 2.2 mumols/kg) greater than 3,3',4,4',5-pentaCDE (8.8 and 5.1 mumols/kg) greater than 2,3',4,4',5-pentaCDE (21.8 and 14.2 mumols/kg) greater than 3,3',4,4'-tetraCDE (50.6 and 28.7 mumols/kg) greater than 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexaCDE (81.2 and 56.5 mumols/kg) greater than 2,2',4,5,5'-pentaCDE (258 and 228 mumols/kg) greater than 2,2',4,4',5,6'-hexaCDE (greater than 400 mumols/kg for both responses). The potencies of the polyCDE congeners as inducers of hepatic microsomal AHH and EROD activities were similar to their immunotoxicities and only one compound, namely, 2,3',4,4',5,5'-hexaCDE, did not cause dose-response immunosuppressive effects in the mice. The structure-activity relationships for the polyCDEs exhibited both differences and similarities. For example, the coplanar 3,3',4,4'-tetraCDE and 3,3',4,4',5-pentaCDE congeners were less immunotoxic than their monoortho 2,3',4,4',5-pentaCDE and 2,3,3',4,4',5-hexaCDE analogs, respectively, and similar results were also observed for their enzyme induction potencies. For the corresponding polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) congeners the coplanar compounds were significantly more active than their monoortho analogs. In addition, two diortho-substituted compounds, namely, 2,2',4,5,5'-pentaCDE and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexaCDE, were also immunotoxic at a dose of 400 mumols/kg whereas, their PCB analogs were inactive. These studies clearly demonstrate that for the polyCDE congeners, increasing ortho-chloro substitution is less effective in reducing the activity of these congeners compared to the well-recognized ortho effects reported for the PCBs. The differences in the structure-activity relationships between polyCDEs and PCBs are related to the ether bridge in the polyCDEs in which the resultant increased bond length between the two phenyl rings thereby diminishes the effects of ortho substituents on the biochemical and toxic potencies of these compounds.

Chlorinated trans stilbenes bind with high affinity to the cytosolic Ah receptor from Wistar rat liver. The EC50 values for competition with [3H]‐2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) cover a range from 10–400 nM, but with no apparent relationship between molecular structure and binding activity. These compounds induce monooxygenase enzyme activity in rat hepatoma H‐4‐II E cells in culture only weakly, again with no apparent dependence on molecular structure, and the weakest enzyme inducers act as antagonists for the induction of these enzymes by TCDD. In vivo administration of 3,3’,4,4'‐tetrachloro‐tans‐stilbene in the rat leads to decreased Ah receptor levels.

The competitive binding affinities of thirteen 7-substituted-2,3,-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins to the human Ah placental cytosolic Ah receptor were determined versus [ 3 H ]-2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo -p- dioxin (TCDD) as the radioligand. Multiple parameter linear regression analysis of the competitive binding EC50 values for these compounds gave the following equation: pEC 50 (M) =6.246+1.632 π − 1.764σ m° + 1.282 HB were π is the substituent lipophilicity, σm° the meta-directing electronegativity and HB the hydrogen binding capacity. The equation obtained using human placental receptor was different than correlations previously derived for the binding of the same series of compounds to the rat, mouse, guinea pig or hamster cytosolic Ah receptor, providing further evidence for interspecies differences in the properties of the Ah receptor protein.

The concentration-dependent induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activities by several PCB congeners was determined in primary chick embryo hepatocytes in culture. The most active inducers were the coplanar PCBs, 3,3′,4,4′-tetra- and 3,3′,4,4′5-pentachlorobiphenyl (pentaCB) with EC 50 values of 1.2 × 10 −9 and 1.5 × 10 −9 M (AHH induction) and 2.3 × 10 −9 and 1.2 × 10 −9 M (EROD induction) respectively. The corresponding EC 50 values for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were 2.4 × 10 −11 and 7.2 × 10 −11 M for AHH and EROD induction respectively. Three monoortho coplanar PCB analogs, 2,3,3′,4,4′-pentaCB, 2,3′,4,4′,5-pentaCB and 2,3,3′,4,4′,5-hexaCB also exhibited induction activity but their corresponding EC 50 values were much higher than observed for the coplanar PCBs. Several di- and triortho-substituted PCB congeners were weakly active as inducers of AHH and EROD activity. The structure-induction relationships for the coplanar and monoortho coplanar PCBs in the chick embryo hepatocytes were comparable to those previously reported in rat hepatoma H-4-II E cells and in in vivo studies.

Vapor pressures are important parameters for the modelling of the environmental fate and incineration behavior of halogenated dibenzo-dioxins and dibenzofurans (1). Correlation methods play an important role in the determination of thermal properties of polyhalogenated dioxins and furans (2,3) as there are hundreds of homologs and isomers whose synthesis in their pure form can be very difficult. Many of the compounds are highly toxic and their impact on the environment must be considered. The hazards associated with 2,3,7,8-T4CDD are well known. The measurement of thermal properties is involved for safety reasons, and the required quantities of these substances often fall within the milligram range. Correlation methods permit the estimation of the substance properties of hundreds of compounds from a limited set of measurements on the least toxic species. The correlation method (2,3) has in the past been used a) to predict enthalpies of fusion and boiling points from a set of vapor pressure results from polychloro dibenzo-dioxins, dibenzofurans and xanthenes; b) to test the self consistency of this set of measured vapor pressures; c) to predict the vapor pressures of solid 2,3,7,8-T4CDD and d) predict vapor pressures for twenty-nine halogenated dibenzo-dioxins and for fifty-five polychloro dibenzofurans (3). The correlation method was based on experimental vapor pressure data for one to four chlorinated congeners and on the octachloro dibenzo- p-dioxins and furans. We are presently extending the data set by including pentahexa- and heptachloro dibenzo-p-dioxins (1,2,3,4,7-P5CDD, 1,2,3,4,7,8-H6CDD, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H7CDD) and dibenzofurans (1,2,3,4,8-P5CDF, 1,2,4,7,8-P5CDF, 1,2,3,4,7,8-H6CDF, 1,2,4,6,7,8-H6CDF, 1,2,4,6,8,9-H6CDF, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-H7CDF, 1,2,3,4,6,7,9-H7CDF, 1,2,3,4,6,8,9-H7CDF). The influence of exchanging chlorine against bromine has also been studied by recording vapor pressure curves on the following brominated dibenzo-p-dioxin congeners: 2,3,-D2BDD, 1,2,3,4-T4BDD and 1234678-H7BDF.

Treatment of adult female rats with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD, 1 μg and 5 μg/kg/week) over a period of 4 weeks resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in the levels of hepatic I-compounds (DNA adducts) as determined by the 32 P-postlabeling procedure. In adult male Sprague Dawley rats TCDD did not change the levels of total hepatic I-spots. The significance of these sex-specific effects and other data will be discussed.

Wild-type mouse Hepa 1c1c7 cells are responsive to the effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and related compounds. This cell line and nonresponsive mutants (TAOc1BPrc1 and BPrc1) have been used to study properties of cytosolic (unactivated and activated) and nuclear Ah receptor-[3H]TCDD complexes as a model for investigating the molecular mechanism of action of halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons. Incubation of cytosolic [3H]TCDD-aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) complexes from wild-type Hepa 1c1c7 cell for 16h at 4° C in 0.4 M KCl resulted in the formation of transformed specifically-bound receptor complexes which exhibited increased binding affinity on DNA-Sepharose columns. The elution properties of the peak with the highest DNA binding affinity were similar to the elution profiles of the nuclear receptor complex isolated from wild-type cells. Comparable in vitro transformation and DNA binding properties were also observed using hepatic cytosol from C57BL/6J mice. TAOc1BPrc1 (class I) nonresponsive mutant cells were characterized by relatively low levels of the cytosolic and nuclear Ah receptor complexes. The cytosolic TCDD-Ah receptor complex did not undergo in vitro transformation. The BPrc1 (class II) variant cell lines contained levels of cytosolic receptor which were comparable to those observed in the wild type cells, but there were significantly reduced levels of nuclear receptor complex in the class II variant cell line. Incubation of the cytosolic receptor complex from these mutant cells at 4° C for 16 h or 20° C for 2 h did not result in transformation of the cytosolic receptor complex into forms which exhibit increased retention on DNA-Sepharose columns.

Several commercial PCBs, including Aroclors 1260, 1254, 1248, 1242 and 1232, were immunotoxic in C57BL/6 mice, however the results showed that the lower chlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1232 and 1242) were less toxic than the higher chlorinated mixtures. Treatment of C57BL/6J mice with an immunotoxic dose of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (3.7 nmol/kg) and a dose (25 mg/kg) of the commercial PCBs which was not immunotoxic showed that the PCB mixtures antagonized the 2,3,7,8-TCDD-mediated decrease in the plaque-forming cell response to sheep erythrocytes. The structure-dependent effects of individual PCB congeners to act as 2,3,7,8-TCDD antagonists were also investigated and only 2 compounds, namely 2,2′,4,4′,5,5′-and 2,3,3′,4,5,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl exhibited antagonist activity comparable to that observed for Aroclor 1254 as a 2,3,7,8-TCDD antagonist. The implications of these results will be discussed.

A series of [3H]-PCDD and [3H]-PCDF congeners of high specific activity were prepared by the chlorination of 1,6-3H2]-dibenzo-p-dioxin and 1,4,6-[3H3]-dibenzofuran followed by high pressure liquid chromatographic separation of the resultant mixtures. The compounds synthesized were tritiated 2,3,7,-TrCDD; 2,3,7,8-TCDD; 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDD; 1,2,7,8-TCDF; 2,3,7,8-TCDF; and 1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF. Direct binding studies with male Wistar rat hepatic cytosol showed that the KD values for all six congeners were approximately 5–10 nM. The lack of structure-dependent binding affinities to the Ah receptor is in contrast to previous competitive receptor binding studies and the well-known structure-induction and structure-toxicity relationships for these compounds. The kinetics of binding for each of these ligands to the Ah receptor, and the rate of thermal inactivation of the unliganded receptor were determined at several temperatures. Activation parameters were obtained using both graphical and computational methods; they varied with the identity of the ligand and exhibited substantial experimental uncertainties. The activation parameters were used to computationally determine revised KD's for the congeners which were in the pM range.

The dose-response effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) and 1,2,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PeCDD) as inducers of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) were determined for 3 human breast cancer cell lines. The T47-D and MCF-7 cell lines were highly responsive to the induction effects of TCDD and TCDF. EC50 values were approximately 1 × 10−9 M for TCDD and TCDF in both cell lines and in both enzyme assays. These results, coupled with the low activity of the PeCDD congener were consistent with an Ah receptor mediated-induction process. The MDA-MB-231 cell line was not responsive to TCDD, TCDF or PeCDD. Preliminary data demonstrated that pretreatment of MCF-7 cells with TCDD resulted in a substantial decrease in the amount of nuclear estrogen receptor bound by [3H]-estradiol. Additional studies using estrogen receptor antibodies confirmed the reduction of the nuclear estrogen receptor protein in MCF-7 cells by TCDD.

1. The naturally occurring compounds curcumin (CUR), 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), isoxanthohumol (IXN), 8-prenylnaringenin (8PN), phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and sulforaphane (SFN) protect animals against chemically induced tumours. Putative chemoprotective mechanisms include modulated expression of hepatic biotransformation enzymes. However, few, if any, studies have used human primary cells as test models. 2. The present study investigated the effects of these phytochemicals on the expression of four carcinogenesis-relevant enzymes--cytochrome P450 (CYP)1A1 and 1A2, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) and glutathione S-transferase A1 (GSTA1)--in primary cultures of freshly isolated human hepatocytes. 3. Quantitative RT-PCR analyses demonstrated that CYP1A1 was up-regulated by PEITC and DIM in a dose-dependent manner. CYP1A2 transcription was significantly activated following DIM, IXN, 8PN and PEITC treatments. DIM exhibited a remarkably effective induction response of CYP1A1 (474-, 239- and 87-fold at 50, 25 and 10 microM, respectively) and CYP1A2 (113-, 70- and 31-fold at 50, 25 and 10 microM, respectively), that was semiquantitatively reflected in protein levels. NQO1 expression responded to PEITC (11 x at 25 microM), DIM (4.5 x at 50 microM) and SFN (5 x at 10 microM) treatments. No significant effects on GSTA1 transcription were seen. 4. The findings show novel and unexpected effects of these phytochemicals on the expression of human hepatic biotransformation enzymes that play key roles in chemical-induced carcinogenesis.

We have previously shown that a series of brominated and chlorinated analogs of 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM) can inhibit can induce apoptosis and necrosis in androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells and that addition of bromine to the 4 and 4’ position of the indole ring of DIM maximally increases the potency of the anticancer compound. To understand the upstream events leading to the activation of caspases in response to treatment with ring-DIMs in androgen-dependent LNCaP and androgen-independent LNCaP C4-2B cells by monitoring the onset of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the dysregulation of mitochondrial respiration. We found that 4,4'-dibromo- and 7,7'-dichloroDIM and DIM itself induced ER stress-dependent upregulation of CHOP, ATF4, and GRP78, while only 4,4'-dibromo and 7,7'-dichloroDIM induced phosphorylation of eIF2alpha and JNK. Both ER stress and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential were observed after treatment with 4,4'-dihaloDIMs and DIM, but not 7,7'-dihaloDIMs within 1 hour of exposure, before the appearance of later stage apoptotic events such as condensed chromatin. Salubrinal inhibited cell death induced by 4,4'-dihaloDIMs, but facilitated cell death induced by 7,7'-dihaloDIMs or DIM. Interestingly, salubrinal did not increase eIF2alpha phosphorylation after co-treatment with either DIM or ring-DIMs. However, it did restore mitochondrial membrane potential in cells treated with 4,4'dihaloDIMs and further decreased mitochondrial activity after co-treatment with 7,7'-dihaloDIMs or DIM. Moreover, cyclosporin A inhibited cell death induced by both 4,4’-dihalo and 7,7’-dihaloDIMs but not DIM. Taken together, these data suggest that the ring-DIMs induce cell death via mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress, and that because salubrinal either stimulates or inhibits cell death in combination with specific ring-DIMs, its effects are related to mitochondrial membrane integrity and not to phosphorylation of eIF2alpha. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):B256. Citation Format: Alexander A. Goldberg, Diana Montes-Grajales, Jesus Olivero, Adam Beach, Vladimir Titorenko, Steven Safe, Thomas Sanderson. Ring-DIMs induce mitochondrial dysfunction and ER stress in human prostate cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr B256.

A series of experiments was conducted to investigate the mutagenic potential of binary and complex mixtures in the presence and absence of inducible liver enzyme systems prepared with several different chemical inducers. Liver homogenate (S9, or 9000 x g supernatant) fractions were obtained from Sprague-Dawley rats induced with either Aroclor 1254 (AR), phenobarbital (PB), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), or corn oil (UI). the mutagenic potential of test samples was measured with Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 using each of the various S9 fractions. Test samples included benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), pentachlorophenol (PCP), a binary mixture of BaP and PCP, two five-component mixtures, a methylene chloride extract of wood preserving waste-amended soil, and a methanol extract of coal gasification waste. At a dose of 25 micrograms/plate, BaP produced 55, 83, 217, and 161 net revertants per plate with UI-, PB-, AR-, and TCDD-induced S9, respectively. The complex mixture extracted from the wood preserving waste-amended soil induced approximately equal responses with all four S9 mixes. At a dose of 250 micrograms/plate, the methanol extract of a coal gasification waste produced 56 net revertants using the uninduced S9; however, when Ar- and TCDD-induced S9 was used, 129 and 67 net revertants were observed, respectively. These data demonstrate the relative importance of the various induced cytochrome P-450 isozymes for the metabolism of mutagenic chemicals and complex mixtures.

Numerous wood preserving waste (WPW) sites in the United States pose genotoxic hazards. WPWs consist of complex mixtures containing toxic, including genotoxic, compounds which are derived from the preservatives coal tar creosote and pentachlorophenol (PCP) and other polychlorinated aromatics. The genotoxicity of WPW extracts, which has not been tested in mammals, cannot be evaluated on the basis of data for individual components because of possible compound interactions. Therefore, whole extracts need to be assayed. 32P-postlabeling represents a powerful tool to determine DNA adduct formation by complex genotoxic mixtures, such as cigarette smoke, diesel exhaust, and coke oven and foundry emissions in experimental animals and humans. In the present study, a mouse bioassay was used in combination with 32P-postlabeling to determine DNA adduct formation induced by hexane/acetone extracts of two samples from a WPW site. Female ICR mice were treated dermally with extract corresponding to 3 mg residue or vehicle control once per day for 2 days and killed 24 h later. Skin, lung, liver, kidney, and heart DNA preparations were assayed by nuclease P1-enhanced postlabeling. Adduct profiles were tissue-specific and displayed a multitude of non-polar DNA adducts with levels amounting to one adduct in 1.6 x 10(6) DNA nucleotides in skin (both extracts) and one adduct in 3.2 x 10(7) or 1.2 x 10(7) DNA nucleotides in liver (extract 1 or extract 2). Based on their chromatographic properties, these adducts appeared largely derived from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) present in the extracts. One of the major adducts was identified as the 32P-labeled derivative of the reaction product of 7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7, 8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE I) with N2 of deoxyguanosine. Total non-polar DNA adduct levels were highest in skin and lung, amounting to 17.4 and 24.0% of the skin values for extracts 1 and 2, respectively, in lung while the corresponding levels in liver were 5.0 and 12.6%. These results were in accord with the carcinogenic potencies of PAHs in these organs. Extract 2 induced higher adduct levels in internal organs, although its PAH concentrations were lower than those of extract 1, i.e. lung, liver, kidney, and heart had 1.4, 2.5, 1.9, and 1.7 times higher total adduct levels and 1.6, 3.3, 1.6, and 1.9 times higher benzo[a]pyrene adduct levels. With the exception of total adducts in lung, the differences between the two extracts were all significant, suggestive of compound interactions. The benzo[a]pyrene adduct levels in the five tissues correlated linearly with total adduct levels and thus represented a surrogate for the latter. Overall, the results suggest that DNA adducts in mouse tissues, as analyzed by 32P-postlabeling, are suitable biomarkers and dosimeters of the genotoxicity of WPW extracts.

The potential non-additive interactions of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) mixtures as inducers of Cyp1a-1 and Cyp1a-2 gene expression were investigated in B6C3F1 mice using a reconstituted PAH mixture. The chemical composition (% by weight) of the reconstituted PAH mixture was: 2-ring PAHs--indan (0.22), naphthalene (23.8), 2-methylnaphthalene (23.2) and 1-methylnaphthalene (13.3); 3-ring PAHs--acenaphthylene (7.7), acenaphthene (0.6), dibenzofuran (0.7), fluorene (4.3), phenanthrene (10.5) and anthracene (3.4); > or = 4-ring PAHs--fluoranthene (2.4), pyrene (4.3), benz[a]anthracene (1.4), chrysene (1.5), benzo[b]fluoranthene (0.8), benzo[k]fluoranthene (0.9) and benzo[a]pyrene (0.9). The composition of the 2-, 3- and > or = 4-ring PAH fractions were based on the relative concentration of individual PAHs as noted above. The > or = 4-ring PAH fractions were based on the relative concentration of individual PAHs as noted above. The > or = 4-ring PAH fraction and reconstituted mixture induced hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity and Cyp1a-1 mRNA levels, whereas the 2- and 3-ring PAHs were only weakly active. Direct comparison of the potencies of the reconstituted mixture and > or = 4-ring PAHs showed that the Cyp1a-1 induction activity of the reconstituted mixture was due to the > or = 4-ring PAHs. The reconstituted PAH mixture and > or = 4-ring PAHs also induced Cyp1a-2 hepatic mRNA levels and microsomal methoxyresorufin O-deethylase (MROD) activity; however, their dose-response curves indicated that the reconstituted PAH mixture was more potent as a Cyp1a-2 inducer than the > or = 4 ring PAHs. The differences in potency were due to 3-ring PAHs which were found to be strong inducers of hepatic Cyp1a-2 mRNA levels and microsomal MROD activity at the lowest dose administered (37 mg/kg). The 3-ring mixture caused a maximal 29-fold increase in hepatic MROD activity at a dose of 292 mg/kg, but only 28% of maximal induction of EROD activity. Northern analysis of liver mRNA from mice treated with 3-ring PAHs showed that there was minimal induction of Cyp1a-1 mRNA levels. The 3-ring PAHs did not competitively bind to the mouse hepatic cytosolic aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor suggesting that 3-ring PAHs are a new class of Cyp1a-2 inducers which do not act through the Ah receptor.

2,3,7,8- Tetr achlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds elicit diverse toxic and biochemical responses in laboratory animals and mammalian cells in culture. TCDD induces CYP1A1 gene expression and results of extensive research have delineated the molecular mechanism of this response. In target cells, TCDD initially binds to the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor which accumulates in the nucleus as an Ah-receptor:aryl hydrocarbon nuclear translocator (Arnt) protein heterodimeric complex. The nuclear Ah receptor complex acts as a ligand-induced transcription factor which binds totransacting genomic dioxin/xenobiotic responsive elements (DREs/XREs) located in the 5’-regulatory region upstream from the initiation start site and this interaction results in transactivation of gene transcription. DREs have been identified in several other genes which are induced by TCDD, including CYP1A2, aldehyde-3-dehydrogenase, NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase, and glutathione S transferase Ya and similar induction response pathways have been observed or proposed. However, TCDD and other Ah receptor agonists also inhibit expression of several genes and research in this laboratory has investigated inhibition of estrogen (E2)-induced genes including uterine epidermal growth factor, c-fos protooncogene, and the progesterone receptor, estrogen receptor (ER) and cathepsin D genes in human breast cancer cell lines. In MCF-7 human breast cancer cells, E2 induces cathepsin D gene expression and this is associated with formation of an ER/Sp 1 complex at the sequence in the promoter region (-199/-165) of this gene. Within 30 min TCDD causes a rapid inhibition of E2-induced cathepsin D gene expression in MCF-7 cells. Moreover, using a series of synthetic oligonucleotides which include the wild-type ER/Sp1 and various mutants, it was shown by gel electromobility shift and transient transfection assays that the nuclear Ah receptor complex binds to an imperfect DRE located between the ER and Spl binding sequences This interaction results in disruption of the ER/Sp1 complex and inhibition of E2-induced gene expression. These results illustrate that the nuclear Ah receptor complex also exhibits activity as a negative transcription factor via a mechanism which is similar to that reported for Ah receptor-mediated induction of gene expression.

Previous work indicated that covalent age-dependent DNA modifications of endogenous origin termed I-compounds may represent useful biomarkers for tumor promotion/carcinogenesis, as various tumor promoters/carcinogens, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and phenobarbital, reduce rat I-compound levels in liver, the target organ. The present study addressed the question as to whether polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), which are related to TCDD and its congeners with regard to their toxic and biochemical properties, would also affect hepatic I-compound patterns and levels, and whether such effects would be chemical structure-dependent. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were treated once a week with a single dose (100 micrograms/kg) of 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF), 1,2,4,7,8-PeCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, or 2,3,4,6,7,8-hexachlorodibenzofuran (2,3,4,6,7,8-HeCDF) for 4 weeks and liver DNA was analyzed at the end of the last week by 32P-postlabeling assay. No carcinogen-DNA adducts were detected; however, levels of both non-polar and polar I-compounds were reduced in a structure-dependent manner. Potencies increased in the order, control (100%, 122 modifications in 10(9) DNA nucleotides = 1,2,4,7,8-PeCDF (104%)1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF (80%)2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF (61%) and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HeCDF (61%). Structure-activity relationships for total I-compounds, therefore, paralleled those reported for Ah receptor agonist activity, i.e., compounds that exhibit high cytosolic Ah receptor binding affinities and are also potent inducers of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity (1,2,3,7,8-PeCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-PeCDF, and 2,3,4,6,7,8-HeCDF) were active, while 1,2,4,7,8-PeCDF, which is a less potent Ah receptor agonist, was inactive. Polar I-compounds responded to a greater extent than did non-polar ones and, in general, individual I-compounds were affected differentially, thus decreased formation or increased removal of I-compounds played a role in the observed effects of the toxins on DNA. It is proposed that Ah receptor-mediated enzyme induction, particularly of cytochrome P450, is involved in reduced hepatic I-compound formation and that subnormal I-compound levels may contribute to tumor promotion.

The time- and dose-dependent induction of murine hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities by five polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran congeners showed that the order of induction potency was 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) greater than 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF) greater than 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) greater than 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran (PCDF) greater than 2,3,7-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TrCDD). These structure-induction relationships were comparable to the structure-toxicity and competitive structure-receptor binding relationships previously reported for these compounds. However, using the corresponding radiolabeled congeners, the direct binding Kd values for dissociation of the cytosolic receptor-ligand complexes were 9.52, 7.96, 1.27, 3.10, and 8.31 nM for the 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 2,3,7,8-TCDF, 2,3,7-TrCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-PCDD, and 1,2,3,7,8-PCDF congeners and these data were clearly not structure dependent (i.e., similar to the structure-activity relationships). Some of the molecular properties for several radioligand-receptor complexes were similar; for example, the sedimentation coefficients for the cytosolic and nuclear receptor complexes varied from 8.8-10.4 S and 5.98-7.0 S, respectively, and the nuclear receptor complexes for all the radioligands eluted from a DNA-Sepharose column at salt concentrations of 0.27-0.29 M. Treatment of the mice with a maximum inducing dose of 2,3,7,8-[3H]TCDD resulted in a time-dependent formation of the nuclear receptor complex which was maximized between 16-24 hr and subsequently decreased up to 72 hr after initial exposure. In parallel studies, the nuclear receptor complex levels were determined 16 hr after treatment of the mice with different doses (2.25, 4.5, and 45 micrograms/kg) of all five radioligands. The results showed that at submaximal induction of the monooxygenase enzyme activities there was a linear correlation between the induced AHH or EROD activities (after 32 hr) and the corresponding nuclear receptor complex levels. It was also apparent from the data that the relative levels of nuclear receptor complex were structure dependent and this suggests that the transformation or activation of cytosolic receptor complexes may be a ligand structure-dependent process which correlates with the observed structure-activity relationships for 2,3,7,8-TCDD and related compounds.

The effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds on the specific patterns of age-dependent I-compound DNA adducts in the liver of male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were determined by the 32P-postlabeling assay. In female rats, TCDD causes a dose-dependent decrease of several individual and total hepatic I-compound levels after administration of 1 and 5 micrograms/kg per week for 4 weeks. In contrast, no such effects were observed in male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with the 5 micrograms/kg dose level of TCDD. The relative effects of TCDD, 1,2,3,7,8-pentachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and 1,2,4,7,8-PCDD on hepatic I-compound levels in the susceptible female Sprague-Dawley rats were determined using a dose of 5 micrograms/kg per week for 4 weeks. The two compounds which are substituted in all four lateral positions, namely TCDD and 1,2,3,7,8-PCDD, caused a significant decrease in hepatic I-compound levels, whereas 1,2,4,7,8-PCDD which is substituted in only three lateral positions was inactive. The structure-activity relationships observed for the effects of these compounds on hepatic I-compounds correlated with their corresponding structure-Ah receptor binding and structure-toxicity relationships. The results are therefore consistent with a role for the Ah receptor in the TCDD-mediated reduction in hepatic I-compound levels in female Sprague-Dawley rats. These results and data from previous studies demonstrate a correlation between the susceptibility of an organ/species to the carcinogenic effects of TCDD and the reduction of I-compound levels. The significance of this correlation in the development of TCDD-induced carcinogenesis has not been delineated.

The biologic activities of the polychlorinated dibenzofuran and dibenzo- p -dioxin fractions from fly ash extracts are assessed by measuring their potencies as inducers of ethoxyresorufin 0-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase in rat hepatoma H-4-II E cells and their binding affinities to the cytosolic receptor protein. The utility of these bioassays for the analysis of the toxic halogenated aryl hydrocarbons is discussed.

At doses as high as 750 to 1000 mumol/kg, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCBP) did not cause fetal cleft palate, suppress the splenic plaque-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells, or induce hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) in C57BL/6J mice. Despite the lack of activity of HCBP in eliciting any of these aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor-mediated responses, competitive binding studies indicated that HCBP competitively displaced 2,3,7,8-[3H]tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) from the murine hepatic cytosolic receptor. Cotreatment of C57BL/6J mice with TCDD (3.7 nmol/kg) and HCBP or 4,4'-diiodo-2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (I2-TCBP) (400 or 1000 mumol/kg) showed that both compounds partially antagonized TCDD-mediated cleft palate and immunotoxicity (i.e., suppression of the splenic plaque-forming cell response to sheep red blood cells), and HCBP antagonized TCDD-mediated hepatic microsomal EROD induction. Thus, HCBP and I2-TCBP, like the commercial polychlorinated biphenyl mixture Aroclor 1254, were partial antagonists of TCDD action in C57BL/6J mice; however, it was also apparent from the results that Aroclor 1254 was the more effective antagonist at lower doses. Using [3H]TCDD, it was also shown that some of the effects of HCBP on TCDD-mediated cleft palate may be due to the decreased levels of TCDD found in the fetal palates after cotreatment with TCDD and HCBP. 4,4'-[125I2]diiodo-2,2',5,5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl ([125I2]TCBP) of high specific activity (3350 Ci/mmol) was synthesized and used to investigate the direct binding of this compound to the murine hepatic Ah receptor or other cytosolic proteins. No direct specific binding was observed between 125I2-TCBP and any cytosolic proteins using a sucrose density gradient assay procedure. These results contrasted with previous studies with Aroclor 1254 that suggested that this mixture acted as a competitive Ah receptor antagonist.

Twenty one (21) of the twenty eight (28) theoretically possible pentachlorodibenzofurans (p 5 CDFs) were synthesized and purified. Their retention indices were determined and were found to correlate well to those predicted using a previously developed mathematical model. Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric (GC/MS) analysis of these compounds revealed that their electron-impact (EI) mass spectra were essentially identical with no significant variations due to positioning of the chlorines. Additional GC/MS experiments indicated that higher electron energies (70 eV as opposed to lower energies) were more suitable for analysis of these compounds due to higher molecular and fragment ion intensities.

There were marked effects of structure on the activities of 14 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) as competitive ligands for the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) receptor and as inducers of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) in rat hepatoma H-4-II E cells in culture. 2,3,7,8-TCDD was the most active compound in both assays and several PCDD congeners which were fully substituted in the lateral 2, 3, 7 and 8 positions but also contained additional chlorosubstituents in non-lateral 1, 4, 6 and 9 positions were less active. It was also evident that there was a decrease in in vitro binding and induction activities with decreasing lateral chlorine substitution. Although comparable structure-activity relationships (SARs) for the PCDDs were observed for the induction and receptor binding assays, there was not a linear or rank order correlation between the 2 sets of data. Several in vivo biologic and toxic activities of 2,3,7-trichloro-, 2,3,7,8- and 1,3,7,8-tetrachloro-, 1,2,4,7,8- and 1,2,3,7,8-pentachloro- and 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin were determined in a dose-response fashion in immature male Wistar rats. The ED50 values for hepatic microsomal AHH and EROD induction, body weight loss and thymic atrophy were obtained. There was an excellent linear correlation between the -log EC50 values for AHH or EROD induction in cell culture and the -log ED50 values for enzyme induction, body weight loss and thymic atrophy in the rat. The in vitro enzyme induction data could be used to quantitatively estimate the toxicity of the PCDD congeners in the rat: this latter correlation has previously been observed for a series of polychlorinated dibenzofurans.

Both ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) are inducible by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) in rodents. Moreover, in genetically inbred mice the induction of both enzymes appears to be mediated through the ligand-activated Ah receptor protein. In rats, there is a 6 hour peak of induced ODC activity which occurs after administration of high (250 ug/kg) but not low (1–100 ug/kg) doses of 2,3,7,8-TCDD; the 6 hour peak of activity is not observed at any other times points following exposure to the toxin. The induction of AHH is a time and dose-dependent process in which enzyme activity is maximized 72 hours after treatment with 2,3,7,8-TCDD and persists for several days. Coadministration of -difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) and a toxic dose of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (250 umol/kg) completely eliminated the induction of ODC but did not effect the induction of AHH or alter the toxicity (thymic atrophy) of 2,3,7,8-TCDD. These results confirm that both ODC and AHH are induced by 2,3,7,8-TCDD and that the induction of the former enzyme does not play a role in modulating AHH induction or thymic atrophy.

The influences of different polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) isomers and congeners on distinct hepatotoxic responses to the hepatocarcinogen N-2-fluorenylacetamide [(2-FAA) CAS: 53-96-3] were examined in F344 rats. Cytocidal toxicity of 2-FAA (25-400 microM), determined by lactate dehydrogenase release during 20 hours in primary monolayer cultures of isolated rat hepatocytes, was reduced by in vivo pretreatment with either phenobarbitone [(PB) CAS: 50-06-6] or 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCBP), a PB-type PCB inducer. However, cytocidal toxicity of 2-FAA was substantially potentiated by either 3-methylcholanthrene [(MCA) CAS: 56-49-5] or 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl [(TCBP) CAS: 32598-13-3], an MCA-type PCB. In the same cell culture assays, all four pretreatments similarly reduced cytocidal toxicity of N-hydroxy-N-2-fluorenylacetamide (0.32-32 microM; CAS: 53-95-2). By comparison, pretreatments with either the PB-type or MCA-type PCB's (50-200 mumol/kg) diminished mitoinhibitory toxicity of 2-FAA in vivo, as measured by hepatic regenerative growth and hepatocyte labeling indices 7 days after partial hepatectomy (PH) in rats given 3 consecutive daily doses of 2-FAA (20/mg/kg/day) before PH. This regimen of 2-FAA and PH promoted rapid selective growth of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive (gamma-GT+) nodules at 2 and 4 weeks after PH in rats previously given an initiating hepatocarcinogen, diethylnitrosamine [(DENA) CAS: 55-18-5]. However, various PCB's, including 2,2',4,4',5,5'-HCBP, 3,3',4,4'-TCBP, 2,2',4,4'-TCBP, 2,2',5,5'-TCBP, and the commercial mixture Aroclor 1254, each given as a single dose of 50 mumol/kg by gavage 10 days after DENA and 7 days before 2-FAA, all reduced the size of 2-FAA-selected gamma-GT+ nodules during the 4-week period after PH. These results indicate that, in spite of predictable inducer-specific opposite influences of different types of PCB's on cytocidal toxicity of 2-FAA, all PCB's similarly reduce nodule selection by 2-FAA in initiated livers. Reduced growth of 2-FAA-selected nodules correlated with the consistent ability of all PCB's to enhance regeneration of liver mass after 2-FAA and PH.

Polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) are highly toxic industrial and combustion by-products which have been identified in diverse environmental matrices and have been implicated as etiologic agents in Yusho poisioning. The development of new synthetic routes in our laboratory has resulted in the unambiguous synthesis of over 50 purified PCDF congeners from their corresponding hydroxylated polychlorobiphenyl precursors. The effects of structure on the activity of PCDFs as inducers of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylse (AHH) and as ligands for the Ah cytosolic receptor protein were determined. It was apparent that for both bioassays the most active compounds contained 4 lateral (2,3,7 and 8) chlorine atoms and that the degree of lateral substitution was a major structural determinant for activity. The receptor binding and AHH induction potencies (EC50) for the most active PCDF, 2,3,4,7,8-pentachlorodibenzofuran, were 1.5 × 10−8 M and 2.56 × 10−10 M respectively and these values were similar to the induction and receptor binding activities of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (1.0 × 10−8 M and 7.20 × 10−11 M). The in vitro structure-activity relationships (SARs) also indicated that substitution of C1 at the 4 and 6 positions in dibenzofuran gave PCDFs which were significantly more active than their corresponding isomers substituted at C-1 and C-9. The dose-response in vivo toxicities of several PCDFs were also determined in the rat using weight loss and thymic atrophy as toxic end-points. The in vivo quantitative structure-activity relationships for the PCDFs complemented the in vitro studies and confirmed that the more toxic PCDFs were substituted not only in the lateral positions but also at C-6 and C-4 of the dibenzofuran ring system.

The Ah or 2,3,7,8-TCDD receptor protein plays an important role in mediating the biologic, toxic and genotoxic effects of aryl and halogenated aryl hydrocarbons. An assessment of the physicochemical parameters which facilitate ligand: receptor interactions was determined by multiple parameter linear regression analysis of the relative receptor binding affinities of a series of 7-substituted-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dixoins (Eq 1), 8-substituted-2,3-di (Eq. 2) and 2,3,4-trichlorodibenzofurans (Eq 3). The results demonstrate that substituent lipophilicity (π) and molecular volumes were Eq. 1 log (I/EC 50 ) = 1.24 π + 6.10 Eq. 2 log (I/EC 50 ) = 1.10 π + 5.19 Eq. 3 log (I/EC 50 ) = 1.09 π + 5.77 the major determinant factors governing interactions between the rat hepatic cytosolic receptor protein and the diverse substituted ligands. It has been shown that there are marked differences in species sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-TCDD (i.e. guinea pig > rat ∼ maice > hamster) although hepatic receptor levels in these species are comparable. QSAR analysis of the receptor binding EC50 data for the 7-substituted-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins using rat (Eq. 1), mouse (Eq. 4), guinea pig (Eq. 5) and hamster (Eq. 6) hepatic cytosol demonstrated that there were significant differences in these equations. However it was also noted that Eq. 4 log (I/EC 50 ) = 0.95 + 0.93 E s + 5.28 Eq. 5 log (I/EC 50 ) = 0.94 + 0.579 σ p + 6.13 Eq. 6 log (I/EC 50 ) = 0.70 + 1.227 σ p + 6.38 physicochemical factors which are important for ligand-receptor interactions were identical for the most sensitive (guinea pig) and least sensitive (hamster) species. These results indicate that events which follow the initial ligand-receptor interaction must be the major factors which determine species sensitivity to 2,3,7,8-TCDD.