Guozhen Xing

Emodin Triggers DNA Double-Strand Breaks by Stabilizing Topoisomerase II-DNA Cleavage Complexes and by Inhibiting ATP Hydrolysis of Topoisomerase II

Emodin, an anthraquinone derived from a plant and fungi, has been reported to possess potential genotoxicity, but the mechanism is not entirely clear. Here, we report that emodin causes DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) through stabilization of topoisomerase (Topo) II-DNA cleavage complexes and inhibition of ATP hydrolysis. In our study, emodin did not induce mutagenecity in the salmonella mutation assay but caused genotoxicity in the thymidine kinase gene mutation assay and in the micronucleus test. Moreover, emodin induced DNA DSBs demonstrated by induction of comet tails, the expression of phosphorylated histone H2AX, and phosphorylation of ataxia telangiectasia mutated. Our studies also revealed that emodin exerted strong inhibitory activity against Topo II in the supercoiled pBR322 relaxation assay and in Topo II-mediated kinetoplast DNA decatenation, similar to the previous report. We also showed that the inhibitory effect of emodin on Topo II was because of its ability to stabilize Topo II-DNA complexes and to inhibit the ATP hydrolysis of Topo II. Furthermore, emodin was found to trigger DNA DSBs in a Topo II-dependent manner using the Topo II catalytic inhibitor aclarubicin and in Topo II-deficient mitoxantrone-resistant variant HL-60/MX2 cells. Together, these results suggest that in emodin-induced DNA DSBs and genotoxicity, stabilization of Topo II-DNA cleavage complexes and inhibition of ATP hydrolysis play an important role.

Inhibition of renal NQO1 activity by dicoumarol suppresses nitroreduction of aristolochic acid I and attenuates its nephrotoxicity

Aristolochic acid I (AAI) is the major toxic component of aristolochic acid that causes aristolochic acid nephropathy and Balkan endemic nephropathy. Nitroreduction is an essential metabolic process for AAI rapid clearance in different species including humans. However, which enzyme participates in AAI nitroreduction in vivo and whether this metabolic process contributes to AAI nephrotoxicity are unclear. Here, we showed that NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) was highly expressed in mouse renal tubular epithelial cells. Inhibition of NQO1 activity by dicoumarol pretreatment significantly decreased renal aristolactam I (ALI) levels, a major reductive metabolite of AAI, whereas it increased renal AAI and its major oxidative metabolite 8-hydroxy-aristolochic acid I (AAIa) levels in male C57BL/6 mice. Similar changes in renal ALI, AAI, and AAIa levels were also observed in mice pretreated with another NQO1 inhibitor, phenindione. Consistent with higher levels of renal AAI and AAIa found in dicoumarol-pretreated mice, their serum clearance was much slower compared with vehicle-pretreated mice. The survival rate of mice pretreated with dicoumarol was markedly increased when higher doses of AAI were given. Similarly, pretreatment of mice with phenindione also attenuated AAI-induced nephrotoxicity. These results indicate that NQO1 plays an important role in renal AAI nitroreduction and may thus contribute to AAI-induced nephrotoxicity.

Comparison of the mutagenicity of aristolochic acid I and aristolochic acid II in the gpt delta transgenic mouse kidney

Aristolochic acid (AA) is known to be a potent mutagen and carcinogen. Aristolochic acid I (AAI) and aristolochic acid II (AAII), the two major components of AA, differ from each other by a single methoxy group. However, their individual mutagenic characteristics in vivo are unclear. In the present study, we compared their DNA adduct formation and mutagenicities in the gpt delta transgenic mouse kidney. The dA-AAI, dG-AAI, dA-AAII and dG-AAII were identified in the kidney two days after intragastric administration of AAI or AAII at 5mg/kg. The concentration of DNA adducts formed by AAII was approximately 2.5-fold higher than that formed by AAI (p<0.05). The mutant frequency induced by AAII was nearly two-fold higher than that induced by AAI (p<0.05) following administration of 5mg/kg AAI or AAII, five times per week for six weeks. Investigation of the mutation spectra showed no statistically significant difference between AAI- and AAII-treated mice (p>0.05). A:T to T:A transversion was the predominant type of mutation in both treated groups, the GC-associated mutation rates, however, differed between the AAI and AAII treatments. The in vivo metabolic pathways of AAI and AAII are different, and this may affect their mutagenicity. In the present study, we measured the levels of AAI and AAII in the kidney and plasma of gpt delta transgenic mice at multiple time points after a single intragastric dose of 1 or 5mg/kg of either component. Our results showed that the levels of AAII in both kidney and plasma were considerably higher than those of AAI (p<0.01). The present study indicated that AAII showed more carcinogenic risk than AAI in vivo, and this may be, at least partly, the result of its increased levels in kidney and plasma.

Resveratrol Downregulates Cyp2e1 and Attenuates Chemically Induced Hepatocarcinogenesis in SD Rats

Cyp2e1 plays an important role in chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Resveratrol (REV) is known to prevent diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis, but its effects on this process induced by DEN and 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) and the role of Cyp2e1 remain unclear. In this study, glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci were used as a marker of hepatocarcinogenesis. REV or diallyl disulfide (DADS, an inhibitor of Cyp2e1) significantly reduced both the area and number of GST-P-positive foci induced by DEN and 2-AAF. Treatment with REV or DADS also markedly decreased the expression of Cyp2e1 in the rat liver. By immunohistochemical staining of serial liver sections, we found that the expression of Cyp2e1 in GST-P-positive foci showed three distinct patterns: decreased in GST-P foci, increased in GST-P foci when compared with surrounding liver tissue and mixed type. The number of GST-P foci with increased Cyp2e1 expression was greater than the number of GST-P foci with decreased Cyp2e1. Protein levels of GST-P and Cyp2e1 were also higher in foci compared with surrounding liver tissue. REV or DADS significantly reduced the expression of GST-P and Cyp2e1 in both foci and surrounding liver tissue. Taken together, these results suggested that REV has a significant inhibitory effect on chemically induced hepatocarcinogenesis, which may be attributed to downregulation of Cyp2e1.

Identification of BC005512 as a DNA Damage Responsive Murine Endogenous Retrovirus of GLN Family Involved in Cell Growth Regulation

Genotoxicity assessment is of great significance in drug safety evaluation, and microarray is a useful tool widely used to identify genotoxic stress responsive genes. In the present work, by using oligonucleotide microarray in an in vivo model, we identified an unknown gene BC005512 (abbreviated as BC, official full name: cDNA sequence BC005512), whose expression in mouse liver was specifically induced by seven well-known genotoxins (GTXs), but not by non-genotoxins (NGTXs). Bioinformatics revealed that BC was a member of the GLN family of murine endogenous retrovirus (ERV). However, the relationship to genotoxicity and the cellular function of GLN are largely unknown. Using NIH/3T3 cells as an in vitro model system and quantitative real-time PCR, BC expression was specifically induced by another seven GTXs, covering diverse genotoxicity mechanisms. Additionally, dose-response and linear regression analysis showed that expression level of BC in NIH/3T3 cells strongly correlated with DNA damage, measured using the alkaline comet assay,. While in p53 deficient L5178Y cells, GTXs could not induce BC expression. Further functional studies using RNA interference revealed that down-regulation of BC expression induced G1/S phase arrest, inhibited cell proliferation and thus suppressed cell growth in NIH/3T3 cells. Together, our results provide the first evidence that BC005512, a member from GLN family of murine ERV, was responsive to DNA damage and involved in cell growth regulation. These findings could be of great value in genotoxicity predictions and contribute to a deeper understanding of GLN biological functions.

Effects of group housing on ECG assessment in conscious cynomolgus monkeys

INTRODUCTION Assessing the cardiovascular safety of new chemical or biological entities is important during pre-clinical development. Electrocardiogram (ECG) assessments in non-human primate (NHP) toxicology studies are often made using non-invasive telemetry systems. We investigated whether ECG recording was feasible during group housing of NHPs, rather than the usual single housed arrangement, and whether it would impact the data collected or affect the ability to detect drug-induced changes in QTc interval. METHODS Following a period of acclimatisation to jackets, cynomolgus monkeys (3 males and 3 females) were housed in same sex groups of 3. Female monkeys were administered 4 doses of vehicle while male monkeys were administered vehicle, 15, 45, and 135mg/kg moxifloxacin. Each dose was administered on a separate dosing day. The same dosing protocol was repeated with the animals singly housed and the results from the two phases were compared including assessment of statistical power. RESULTS Heart rate (HR) was significantly lower, and PR and QT intervals were significantly higher, at multiple time points when the animals were group housed compared with the singly housed phase. QRS duration and QTc interval were less affected. Moxifloxacin increased QT and QTc intervals but had no consistent effect on HR, QRS duration or PR interval under group housed or singly housed conditions. Power analysis suggested that group housing did not adversely affect the magnitude of detectable changes of ECG parameters. In general, detection of slightly smaller changes was achieved under conditions of group housing. DISCUSSION The current study shows group housing to be technically possible during non-invasive ECG recording, resulting in lower resting heart rates and small improvements in sensitivity of detection of drug-induced effects. Given the psychological benefits of group housing for NHPs, it is a refinement that should be considered when conducting ECG assessments in NHP toxicology studies.

The application of hepatic P450 reductase null gpt delta mice in studying the role of hepatic P450 in genotoxic carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced mutagenesis

The cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) is involved in both detoxification and metabolic activation of many carcinogens. In order to identify the role of hepatic P450 in the mutagenesis of genotoxic carcinogens, we generated a novel hepatic P450 reductase null (HRN) gpt delta mouse model, which lacks functional hepatic P450 on a gpt delta mouse background. In this study, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) was used to treat HRN gpt delta mice and control littermates. Gene mutations in the liver and lungs were detected, and mutation spectra were analyzed. Pharmacokinetic analyses were performed, and tissue levels of NNK and metabolite were determined. NNK-induced mutant frequencies (MFs) were equivalent to spontaneous MFs in the liver, but increased more than 3 times in the lungs of HRN gpt delta mice compared to control mice. NNK-induced mutation spectra showed no difference between HRN gpt delta mice and control littermates. Toxicokinetic studies revealed reduced clearance of NNK with elevated tissue concentrations in HRN gpt delta mice. To our knowledge, these are the first data demonstrating that NNK cannot induce mutagenesis in the liver without P450 metabolic activation, but can induce mutagenesis in lungs by a hepatic P450-independent mechanism. Moreover, our data show that hepatic P450 plays a major role in the systemic clearance of NNK, thereby protecting the lungs against NNK-induced mutagenesis. Our model will be useful in establishing the role of hepatic versus extrahepatic P450-mediated mutagenesis, and the relative contributions of P450 compared to other biotransformation enzymes in the genotoxic carcinogens’ activation.

Baicalin Protects Mice from Aristolochic Acid I-Induced Kidney Injury by Induction of CYP1A through the Aromatic Hydrocarbon Receptor

Exposure to aristolochic acid I (AAI) can lead to aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN), Balkan endemic nephropathy (BEN) and urothelial cancer. The induction of hepatic CYP1A, especially CYP1A2, was considered to detoxify AAI so as to reduce its nephrotoxicity. We previously found that baicalin had the strong ability to induce CYP1A2 expression; therefore in this study, we examined the effects of baicalin on AAI toxicity, metabolism and disposition, as well as investigated the underlying mechanisms. Our toxicological studies showed that baicalin reduced the levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE) in AAI-treated mice and attenuated renal injury induced by AAI. Pharmacokinetic analysis demonstrated that baicalin markedly decreased AUC of AAI in plasma and the content of AAI in liver and kidney. CYP1A induction assays showed that baicalin exposure significantly increased the hepatic expression of CYP1A1/2, which was completely abolished by inhibitors of the Aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), 3ʹ,4ʹ-dimethoxyflavone and resveratrol, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Moreover, the luciferase assays revealed that baicalin significantly increased the luciferase activity of the reporter gene incorporated with the Xenobiotic response elements recognized by AhR. In summary, baicalin significantly reduced the disposition of AAI and ameliorated AAI-induced kidney toxicity through AhR-dependent CYP1A1/2 induction in the liver.

The role of breast cancer resistance protein (Bcrp/Abcg2) in triptolide-induced testis toxicity

Triptolide has been intensively studied in numerous preclinical and clinical assessments for immunosuppressive and anti-tumor activities. However, further clinical use is limited by the cumulative toxicity of triptolide in the testis and the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we found significant triptolide accumulation in the testis, and further investigated the role of efflux transporters in its accumulation and toxicity. Chronic administration of triptolide induced time- and dose-dependent testicular injury and resulted in the accumulation of triptolide in the liver and testis, but not in the plasma. Using transporter-expressed cells, triptolide efflux was found in BCRP-expressing cells, which could be blocked by novobiocin (an inhibitor of BCRP) in accumulation assays. Triptolide also displayed apically directed transport across BCRP-expressing cell layers in transwell assays, strongly supporting that triptolide is a substrate of BCRP. Bcrp knockout mice (Bcrp−/−) were further used to examine the effects of triptolide. Knockout of Bcrp aggravated triptolide-induced testicular injury and increased the testis content and testis to plasma ratio of triptolide in Bcrp−/− mice. Notably, triptolide decreased the transcript and protein levels of Bcrp in the testis, which may be due to the downregulation of RNA polymerase II. In conclusion, as a substrate of BCRP, triptolide decreased the expression of Bcrp and RNA polymerase II in the testis, and further increased the testis content and enhanced its testicular toxicity, which contributes to the cumulative toxicity of triptolide in the testis.

Assessment of the mutagenic potential of arecoline in gpt delta transgenic mice.

Chewing the areca nut is carcinogenic to humans. Arecoline, a major alkaloid in areca nut, is suspected to be a carcinogenic component. It has been shown to have genotoxic potential in various in vitro systems; but information on its in vivo genotoxicity is limited. To investigate the organ-specific mutagenic potential of arecoline, we employed gpt delta transgenic mice to analyze the mutagenicity of arecoline in the oral tissues and liver. Male gpt delta mice were given arecoline hydrobromide in drinking water at 300 and 700μg/mL for 6 weeks. 4-Nitroquinoline-1 (4-NQO) was used as a positive control. Two weeks after the last treatment, mutation frequencies in the oral tissues (a mixture of gingival, buccal, pharyngeal and sublingual tissue) and liver were detected and mutation spectra were analyzed. There were no statistically significant differences in the average mutation frequencies between arecoline-treated and untreated groups in both the oral tissues and liver. However, in the oral tissues, one mouse in arecoline-300μg/mL group and two mice in arecoline-700μg/mL group showed more than 2.5-fold higher mutation frequencies than the untreated group; they also exhibited unique mutation spectra compared to spontaneous mutation types. In these three mice, all mutations occurred at G:C sites, where G:C→T:A transversions were most frequent, followed by G:C→A:T transitions and G:C→C:G transversions. The main type of spontaneous mutation in both the oral tissues and liver was G:C→A:T transition. These results suggest that arecoline poses a mutagenic hazard in the oral tissues of gpt delta transgenic mice.