Jiegou Xu

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes translocate into the pleural cavity and induce visceral mesothelial proliferation in rats

Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes have a fibrous structure similar to asbestos and induce mesothelioma when injected into the peritoneal cavity. In the present study, we investigated whether carbon nanotubes administered into the lung through the trachea induce mesothelial lesions. Male F344 rats were treated with 0.5 mL of 500 μg/mL suspensions of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes or crocidolite five times over a 9‐day period by intrapulmonary spraying. Pleural cavity lavage fluid, lung and chest wall were then collected. Multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and crocidolite were found mainly in alveolar macrophages and mediastinal lymph nodes. Importantly, the fibers were also found in the cell pellets of the pleural cavity lavage, mostly in macrophages. Both multi‐walled carbon nanotube and crocidolite treatment induced hyperplastic proliferative lesions of the visceral mesothelium, with their proliferating cell nuclear antigen indices approximately 10‐fold that of the vehicle control. The hyperplastic lesions were associated with inflammatory cell infiltration and inflammation‐induced fibrotic lesions of the pleural tissues. The fibers were not found in the mesothelial proliferative lesions themselves. In the pleural cavity, abundant inflammatory cell infiltration, mainly composed of macrophages, was observed. Conditioned cell culture media of macrophages treated with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes and crocidolite and the supernatants of pleural cavity lavage fluid from the dosed rats increased mesothelial cell proliferation in vitro, suggesting that mesothelial proliferative lesions were induced by inflammatory events in the lung and pleural cavity and likely mediated by macrophages. In conclusion, intrapulmonary administration of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes, like asbestos, induced mesothelial proliferation potentially associated with mesothelioma development.

Cancer prevention by bovine lactoferrin: from animal studies to human trial.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers and, despite improved colonoscopic screening, CRC is a leading cause of death from cancer. Administration of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) suppresses carcinogenesis in the colon and other organs of test animals, and recently it was shown that ingestion of bLF inhibits the growth of adenomatous polyps in human patients. Here we review work which established bLF as an anti-carcinogenic agent in laboratory animals and the results of a clinical trial which demonstrated that bLF can reduce the risk of colon carcinogenesis in humans.

Involvement of macrophage inflammatory protein 1α (MIP1α) in promotion of rat lung and mammary carcinogenic activity of nanoscale titanium dioxide particles administered by intra-pulmonary spraying

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is evaluated by World Health Organization/International Agency for Research on Cancer as a Group 2B carcinogen. The present study was conducted to detect carcinogenic activity of nanoscale TiO(2) administered by a novel intrapulmonary spraying (IPS)-initiation-promotion protocol in the rat lung. Female human c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene transgenic rat (Hras128) transgenic rats were treated first with N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (DHPN) in the drinking water and then with TiO(2) (rutile type, mean diameter 20 nm, without coating) by IPS. TiO(2) treatment significantly increased the multiplicity of DHPN-induced alveolar cell hyperplasias and adenomas in the lung, and the multiplicity of mammary adenocarcinomas, confirming the effectiveness of the IPS-initiation-promotion protocol. TiO(2) aggregates were localized exclusively in alveolar macrophages and had a mean diameter of 107.4 nm. To investigate the underlying mechanism of its carcinogenic effects, TiO(2) was administered to wild-type rats by IPS five times over 9 days. TiO(2) treatment significantly increased 8-hydroxydeoxy guanosine level, superoxide dismutase activity and macrophage inflammatory protein 1alpha (MIP1alpha) expression in the lung. MIP1alpha, detected in the cytoplasm of TiO(2)-laden alveolar macrophages in vivo and in the media of rat primary alveolar macrophages treated with TiO(2) in vitro, enhanced proliferation of human lung cancer cells. Furthermore, MIP1alpha, also detected in the sera and mammary adenocarcinomas of TiO(2)-treated Hras128 rats, enhanced proliferation of rat mammary carcinoma cells. These data indicate that secreted MIP1alpha from TiO(2)-laden alveolar macrophages can cause cell proliferation in the alveoli and mammary gland and suggest that TiO(2) tumor promotion is mediated by MIP1alpha acting locally in the alveoli and distantly in the mammary gland after transport via the circulation.

Anticarcinogenesis pathways activated by bovine lactoferrin in the murine small intestine

Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin (bLF) inhibits carcinogenesis in the colon and other organs in rats, and lung metastasis in mice. A likely mechanism by which bLF mediates its anticarcinogenesis effects is by enhanced expression of cytokines and subsequent activation of immune cells. Oral administration of bLF enhances expression of interleukin-18 (IL-18) mRNA in the mucosa of the small intestine of mice. Importantly, the pepsin hydrolysate of bLF (bLFH) also induced expression of IL-18 mRNA in the mouse small intestine and a peptide produced by pepsin digestion of bLF, bovine lactoferricin (bLFcin), induced expression of mature IL-18 in organ culture. In addition to IL-18, bLF and bLFcin both induced significant increases in caspase-1 activity in peritoneal macrophages and in organ cultures. The increase of mature IL-18 by macrophages was inhibited by caspase-1 inhibitor: caspase-1 is known to cleave the proform of IL-18 to produce active mature IL-18. Finally, bLF also induced expression of IFNgamma by peritoneal macrophages. Importantly, in IFNgamma knockout (GKO) mice, bLF administration resulted in increased expression of caspase-1 protein, but induction of IL-18 mRNA, caspase-1 activity, and mature IL-18 was not observed. These results indicate that orally administered bLF can induce expression of IFNgamma and caspase-1 in the small intestine. IFNgamma in turn increases expression of target genes, including IL-18. Active caspase-1 then cleaves pro-IL-18 to generate mature IL-18. Thus, bLF activates an effector pathway mediated by IFNgamma, caspase-1, and IL-18. We also show that ingested bLF is able to activate more than a single effector pathway. For example, in GKO mice while bLF administration could not activate the IFNgamma/caspase-1/IL-18 effector pathway, it was able to inhibit tumor growth and metastasis by activation of an IFNalpha/IL-7 effector pathway.

Size- and shape-dependent pleural translocation, deposition, fibrogenesis, and mesothelial proliferation by multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) have a fibrous structure similar to asbestos, raising concern that MWCNT exposure may lead to asbestos‐like diseases. Previously we showed that MWCNT translocated from the lung alveoli into the pleural cavity and caused mesothelial proliferation and fibrosis in the visceral pleura. Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were not found in the parietal pleura, the initial site of development of asbestos‐caused pleural diseases in humans, probably due to the short exposure period of the study. In the present study, we extended the exposure period to 24 weeks to determine whether the size and shape of MWCNT impact on deposition and lesion development in the pleura and lung. Two different MWCNTs were chosen for this study: a larger sized needle‐like MWCNT (MWCNT‐L; l = 8 μm, d = 150 nm), and a smaller sized MWCNT (MWCNT‐S; l = 3 μm, d = 15 nm), which forms cotton candy‐like aggregates. Both MWCNT‐L and MWCNT‐S suspensions were administered to the rat lung once every 2 weeks for 24 weeks by transtracheal intrapulmonary spraying. It was found that MWCNT‐L, but not MWCNT‐S, translocated into the pleural cavity, deposited in the parietal pleura, and induced fibrosis and patchy parietal mesothelial proliferation lesions. In addition, MWCNT‐L induced stronger inflammatory reactions including increased inflammatory cell number and cytokine/chemokine levels in the pleural cavity lavage than MWCNT‐S. In contrast, MWCNT‐S induced stronger inflammation and higher 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine level in the lung tissue than MWCNT‐L. These results suggest that MWCNT‐L has higher risk of causing asbestos‐like pleural lesions relevant to mesothelioma development.

Purple corn color suppresses Ras protein level and inhibits 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene-induced mammary carcinogenesis in the rat.

Anthocyanins belong to the class of phenolic compounds collectively named flavonoids. Many anthocyanins are reported to have inhibitory effects on carcinogenesis. Purple corn color (PCC), an anthocyanin containing extract of purple corn seeds, is used as a food colorant. The major anthocyanin in PCC is cyanidin 3‐O‐β‐d‐glucoside (C3‐G). The present study was conducted to assess the influence of dietary PCC on 7,12‐dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)‐induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats. PCC significantly inhibited DMBA‐induced mammary carcinogenesis in human c‐Ha‐ras proto‐oncogene transgenic (Hras128) rats and in their non‐transgenic counterparts. PCC and C3‐G also inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis in mammary tumor cells derived from Hras128 rat mammary carcinomas. At the molecular level, PCC and C3‐G treatment resulted in a preferential activation of caspase‐3 and reduction of Ras protein levels in tumor cells. It is proposed that C3‐G could act as a chemopreventive and possibly chemotherapeutic agent for cancers with mutations in ras. Secondly, the in vitro–in vivo system used in this study can be utilized for screening for cancer preventive compounds that act via Ras down‐regulation. (Cancer Sci 2008; 99: 1841–1846)

Comparative Study of Toxic Effects of Anatase and Rutile Type Nanosized Titanium Dioxide Particles in vivo and in vitro

Two types of nanosized titanium dioxide, anatase (anTiO2) and rutile (rnTiO2), are widely used in industry, commercial products and biosystems. TiO2 has been evaluated as a Group 2B carcinogen. Previous reports indicated that anTiO2 is less toxic than rnTiO2, however, under ultraviolet irradiation anTiO2 is more toxic than rnTiO2 in vitro because of differences in their crystal structures. In the present study, we compared the in vivo and in vitro toxic effects induced by anTiO2 and rnTiO2. Female SD rats were treated with 500 ?g/ml of anTiO2 or rnTiO2 suspensions by intra-pulmonary spraying 8 times over a two week period. In the lung, treatment with anTiO2 or rnTiO2 increased alveolar macrophage numbers and levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG); these increases tended to be lower in the anTiO2 treated group compared to the rnTiO2 treated group. Expression of MIP1??mRNA and protein in lung tissues treated with anTiO2 and rnTiO2 was also significantly up-regulated, with MIP1??mRNA and protein expression significantly lower in the anTiO2 group than in the rnTiO2 group. In cell culture of primary alveolar macrophages (PAM) treated with anTiO2 and rnTiO2, expression of MIP1??mRNA in the PAM and protein in the culture media was significantly higher than in control cultures. Similarly to the in vivo results, MIP1??mRNA and protein expression was significantly lower in the anTiO2 treated cultures compared to the rnTiO2 treated cultures. Furthermore, conditioned cell culture media from PAM cultures treated with anTiO2 had less effect on A549 cell proliferation compared to conditioned media from cultures treated with rnTiO2. However, no significant difference was found in the toxicological effects on cell viability of ultra violet irradiated anTiO2 and rnTiO2. In conclusion, our results indicate that anTiO2 is less potent in induction of alveolar macrophage infiltration, 8-OHdG and MIP1??expression in the lung, and growth stimulation of A549 cells in vitro than rnTiO2.

Lack of promoting effect of titanium dioxide particles on ultraviolet B-initiated skin carcinogenesis in rats.

Titanium dioxide (TiO(2)) is used in sunscreens and cosmetics as an ultraviolet light screen. TiO(2) has carcinogenic activity in the rat lung, but its effect on the skin has not been reported. We examined the promoting/carcinogenic effect of nano-size TiO(2) particles using a two-stage skin model. c-Ha-ras proto-oncogene transgenic (Hras128) rats, which are sensitive to skin carcinogenesis, and their wild-type siblings were exposed to ultraviolet B radiation on shaved back skin twice weekly for 10 weeks; then the shaved area was painted with a 100 mg/ml TiO(2) suspension twice weekly until sacrifice. All rats were killed at week 52 except for female Hras128 rats which were sacrificed at week 16 because of early mammary tumor development. Skin tumors developed in male Hras128 rats and mammary tumors developed in both sexes of Hras128 rats and in wild-type female rats, but tumor incidence was not different from controls. TiO(2) particles were detected in the upper stratum corneum but not in the underlying skin tissue layers. TiO(2) particles also did not penetrate a human epidermis model in vitro. Our data suggest that TiO(2) does not cause skin carcinogenesis, probably due to its inability to penetrate through the epidermis and reach underlying skin structures.

An animal model of preclinical diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a highly lethal disease, which is usually diagnosed in an advanced stage. Animal PDA models which reflect the human condition are clearly necessary to develop early diagnostic tools and explore new therapeutic approaches. We have established transgenic rats carrying a mutated H- or K-ras gene (Hras250 and Kras327) controlled by Cre/loxP activation. These animals develop PDA which are histopathologically similar to that in humans. We utilized this model to identify biomarkers to detect early PDA. We report here that serum levels of Erc/Mesothelin are significantly higher in rats bearing PDA than in controls. Importantly, the levels are significantly elevated in rats before grossly visible carcinomas develop. Even in rats with very small microscopic ductal carcinoma lesions, elevated serum Erc/Mesothelin can be detected. We believe this is the first report of a pancreas tumor animal model in which pre-symptomatic lesions can be diagnosed.

Chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 3 detection in the serum of persons exposed to asbestos: A patient‐based study

Exposure to asbestos results in serious risk of developing lung and mesothelial diseases. Currently, there are no biomarkers that can be used to diagnose asbestos exposure. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether the levels or detection rate of chemokine (C‐C motif) ligand 3 (CCL3) in the serum are elevated in persons exposed to asbestos. The primary study group consisted of 76 healthy subjects not exposed to asbestos and 172 healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The secondary study group consisted of 535 subjects possibly exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with pleural plaque (412), benign hydrothorax (10), asbestosis (86), lung cancer (17), and malignant mesothelioma (10). All study subjects who were possibly exposed to asbestos had a certificate of asbestos exposure issued by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. For the primary study group, levels of serum CCL3 did not differ between the two groups. However, the detection rate of CCL3 in the serum of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos (30.2%) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than for the control group (6.6%). The pleural plaque, benign hydrothorax, asbestosis, and lung cancer groups had serum CCL3 levels and detection rates similar to that of healthy subjects possibly exposed to asbestos. The CCL3 chemokine was detected in the serum of 9 of the 10 patients diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. Three of the patients with malignant mesothelioma had exceptionally high CCL3 levels. Malignant mesothelioma cells from four biopsy cases and an autopsy case were positive for CCL3, possibly identifying the source of the CCL3 in the three malignant mesothelioma patients with exceptionally high serum CCL3 levels. In conclusion, a significantly higher percentage of healthy persons possibly exposed to asbestos had detectable levels of serum CCL3 compared to healthy unexposed control subjects.