Kausar M. Ansari

Patulin causes DNA damage leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through modulation of Bax, p53 and p21/WAF1 proteins in skin of mice

Patulin (PAT), a mycotoxin found in apples, grapes, oranges, pear and peaches, is a potent genotoxic compound. WHO has highlighted the need for the study of cutaneous toxicity of PAT as manual labour is employed during pre and post harvest stages, thereby causing direct exposure to skin. In the present study cutaneous toxicity of PAT was evaluated following topical application to Swiss Albino mice. Dermal exposure of PAT, to mice for 4 h resulted in a dose (40-160 mug/animal) and time (up to 6 h) dependent enhancement of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a marker enzyme of cell proliferation. The ODC activity was found to be normal after 12 and 24 h treatment of patulin. Topical application of PAT (160 mug/100 mul acetone) for 24-72 h caused (a) DNA damage in skin cells showing significant increase (34-63%) in olive tail moment, a parameter of Comet assay (b) significant G 1 and S-phase arrest along with induction of apoptosis (2.8-10 folds) as shown by annexin V and PI staining assay through flow cytometer. Moreover PAT leads to over expression of p(21/WAF1) (3.6-3.9 fold), pro apoptotic protein Bax (1.3-2.6) and tumor suppressor wild type p(53) (2.8-3.9 fold) protein. It was also shown that PAT induced apoptosis was mediated through mitochondrial intrinsic pathway as revealed through the release of cytochrome C protein in cytosol leading to enhancement of caspase-3 activity in skin cells of mice. These results suggest that PAT has a potential to induce DNA damage leading to p(53) mediated cell cycle arrest along with intrinsic pathway mediated apoptosis that may also be correlated with enhanced polyamine production as evident by induction of ODC activity, which may have dermal toxicological implications.

Citrinin-Generated Reactive Oxygen Species Cause Cell Cycle Arrest Leading to Apoptosis via the Intrinsic Mitochondrial Pathway in Mouse Skin

The mycotoxin, citrinin (CTN), is a contaminant of various food and feed materials. Several in vivo and in vitro studies have demonstrated that CTN has broad toxicity spectra; however, dermal toxicity is not known. In the present investigation, dermal exposure to CTN was undertaken to study oxidative stress, DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis in mouse skin. A single topical application of CTN caused significant change in oxidative stress markers, such as lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl content, glutathione (GSH) content, and antioxidant enzymes in a dose-dependent (25-100 μg/mouse) and time-dependent (12-72 h) manner. Single topical application of CTN (50 μg/mouse) for 12-72 h caused significant enhancement in (1) reactive oxygen species (ROS); (2) cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase (30-71%) and G2/M phase (56-65%) along with the induction of apoptosis (3.6-27%); (3) expression of p53, p21/waf1; (4) Bax/Bcl₂ ratio and cytochome c release; and (5) activities of caspase 9 (22-46%) and 3 (42-54%) as well as increased poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. It was also observed that pretreatment with bio-antioxidants viz butylated hydroxyanisole (55 μmol/100 μl), quercetin (10 μmol/100 μl), or α-tocopherol (40 μmol/100 μl) resulted in decreases of ROS generation, arrest in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle, and apoptosis. These data confirm the involvement of ROS in apoptosis and suggest that these bio-antioxidants may be useful in the prevention of CTN-induced dermal toxicity.

Correlation of DNA damage in epidemic dropsy patients to carcinogenic potential of argemone oil and isolated sanguinarine alkaloid in mice

In recent times, a higher incidence of gall bladder carcinoma in the Indo‐Gangetic basin has been linked with the consumption of contaminated mustard oil. Consumption of mustard oil contaminated with argemone oil (AO) is well known to cause clinical manifestation referred to as “epidemic dropsy.” Because sanguinarine, an active alkaloid of AO, has been shown to intercalate DNA, a possible correlation of DNA damage in epidemic dropsy patients to tumorigenic potential of AO and isolated sanguinarine alkaloid in mice was investigated in the present study. Single topical application of AO (0.15–0.3 ml) or isolated sanguinarine (4.5–18 μmol) followed by twice‐weekly application of tetradecanoylphorbolmyristate acetate (TPA) for 25 weeks resulted in formation of tumors. Histopathologically these tumors were of squamous cell carcinoma type and similar to those found in the positive control group using dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA)/TPA. The activities of cutaneous γ‐glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) and glutathione‐S‐transferase P (GST‐P), marker enzymes of tumorigenesis, were found to exhibit higher expression in AO or isolated sanguinarine/TPA treated groups when compared to control. The higher expression of p53 and p21/WAF1 in skin after single topical application of AO or isolated sanguinarine further confirms the tumorigenic response. Single topical application of AO or isolated sanguinarine alkaloid to mice showed significant DNA damage in terms of Olive tail moment (89–129%), tail length (54%) and tail DNA (153–205%) using Comet assay in skin cells. Further, the extent of DNA damage in blood cells of epidemic dropsy patients in alkaline Comet assay was found to be significantly higher as compared to normal population, indicating the genotoxic response of AO exposure. Although the genotoxic lesions may be repaired to some extent on withdrawal of consumption of AO contaminated mustard oil and the residual genotoxic effects caused by AO may not be expressed as signs of carcinogenesis. Environmental factors or hormonal changes during aging process may lead to stimulate/promote the genetically altered latent cells to form neoplastic lesions and can act as one of the etiological factors responsible for higher incidence of gall bladder carcinoma in the population of Indo‐Gangetic basin.

Unequivocal evidence of genotoxic potential of argemone oil in mice

Consumption of mustard oil adulterated with argemone oil leads to a clinical condition, commonly referred to as “Epidemic Dropsy.” Since in vitro studies have shown that sanguinarine, an active benzophenanthridine alkaloid of argemone oil, intercalates DNA molecule, the in vivo clastogenic and DNA damaging potential of argemone oil was investigated in mice. Swiss albino mice were intraperitoneally administered 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ml/kg body wt. of argemone oil to analyze chromosome aberrations and micronucleus test, while 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 ml/kg body wt. were given for alkaline comet assay. The frequencies of chromosomal aberrations and micronucleated erythrocytes formation in mouse bone marrow cells increased in a dose‐dependent manner following argemone oil treatment. However, significant induction in chromosomal aberrations (83%) and micronucleated erythrocytes formation (261%) were observed at a minimum dose of 1.0 ml/kg. The results of comet assay revealed DNA damage in blood, bone marrow and liver cells following argemone oil treatment. Olive tail moment (OTM) and tail DNA showed significant increase in bone marrow (35–44%) and blood cells (25–40%) even at a dose of 0.25 ml/kg body wt. of argemone oil. In liver cells, OTM was significantly increased (20%) at a dose of 0.25 ml/kg, while all the comet parameters including OTM, tail length and tail DNA showed significant increase (31–101%) at a dose of 0.5 ml/kg. These results clearly suggest that single exposure of argemone oil even at low doses produces genotoxic effects in mice.

Topical Application of Ochratoxin A Causes DNA Damage and Tumor Initiation in Mouse Skin

Skin cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer and 2–3 million new cases are being diagnosed globally each year. Along with UV rays, environmental pollutants/chemicals including mycotoxins, contaminants of various foods and feed stuffs, could be one of the aetiological factors of skin cancer. In the present study, we evaluated the DNA damaging potential and dermal carcinogenicity of a mycotoxin, ochratoxin A (OTA), with the rationale that dermal exposure to OTA in workers may occur during their involvement in pre and post harvest stages of agriculture. A single topical application of OTA (20–80 µg/mouse) resulted in significant DNA damage along with elevated γ-H2AX level in skin. Alteration in oxidative stress markers such as lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl, glutathione content and antioxidant enzymes was observed in a dose (20–80 µg/mouse) and time-dependent (12–72 h) manner. The oxidative stress was further emphasized by the suppression of Nrf2 translocation to nucleus following a single topical application of OTA (80 µg/mouse) after 24 h. OTA (80 µg/mouse) application for 12–72 h caused significant enhancement in- (a) reactive oxygen species generation, (b) activation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK MAPKs, (c) cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase (37–67%), (d) induction of apoptosis (2.0–11.0 fold), (e) expression of p53, p21/waf1, (f) Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, (g) cytochrome c level, (h) activities of caspase 9 (1.2–1.8 fold) and 3 (1.7–2.2 fold) as well as poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage. In a two-stage mouse skin tumorigenesis protocol, it was observed that a single topical application of OTA (80 µg/mouse) followed by twice weekly application of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate for 24 week leads to tumor formation. These results suggest that OTA has skin tumor initiating property which may be related to oxidative stress, MAPKs signaling and DNA damage.

Role of mitogen activated protein kinases in skin tumorigenicity of Patulin

WHO has highlighted the need to evaluate dermal toxicity of mycotoxins including Patulin (PAT), detected in several fruits. In this study the skin carcinogenic potential of topically applied PAT was investigated. Single topical application of PAT (400 nmol) showed enhanced cell proliferation (~2 fold), along with increased generation of ROS and activation of ERK, p38 and JNK MAPKs, in mouse skin. PAT exposure also showed activation of downstream target proteins, c-fos, c-Jun and NF-κB transcription factors. Further, single topical application of PAT (400 nmol) followed by twice weekly application of TPA resulted in tumor formation after 14 weeks, indicating the tumor initiating activity of PAT. However no tumors were observed when PAT was used either as a complete carcinogen (80 nmol) or as a tumor promoter (20 nmol and 40 nmol) for 25 weeks. Histopathological findings of tumors found in PAT/TPA treated mice showed that these tumors were of squamous cell carcinoma type and similar to those found in the positive control group (DMBA/TPA) along with significant increase of lipid peroxidation and decrease in free sulfydryls, catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase activities. The results suggest the possible role of free radicals in PAT mediated dermal tumorigenicity involving MAPKs.

Nexrutine® Inhibits Tumorigenesis in Mouse Skin and Induces Apoptotic Cell Death in Human Squamous Carcinoma A431 and Human Melanoma A375 Cells

Nexrutine(®) (NX), a herbal extract from Phellodendron amurense, has been shown to possess antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and other biological activities. In the present investigation, we explored the mechanism of chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic efficacy of NX against skin cancer. Single application of NX (1.0mg/mouse) prior to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) application significantly inhibited TPA-induced skin edema, hyperplasia, thymidine incorporation and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity; expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS); phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2, p38 and c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs); and activation of I kappa B kinase (IKK), IκBα and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) in mouse skin. In a two-stage mouse skin tumorigenesis model, it was found that twice-weekly treatment of NX prior to TPA application in 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (DMBA)-initiated animals showed reduced tumor incidence, lower tumor body burden and significant delay in latency period compared with DMBA-initiated and TPA-promoted animals. Furthermore, the therapeutic efficacy of NX was assessed against human squamous carcinoma (A431) and human melanoma (A375) cells. A431 and A375 cells treated with NX (2.5-10.0 μg/ml, 48h) showed a decrease in viability and enhanced cell cycle arrest at the G(0)/G(1) phase and apoptosis; however, NX had minimal cytotoxic effect on HaCaT cells and primary murine keratinocytes, suggesting its high therapeutic index. In addition, NX treatment also modulates the levels of Bax and Bcl-2 proteins along with cytochrome c release, cleavage and enhanced expression of poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase as well as catalytic activities of caspases 3 and 9 in both A431 and A375 cells. Based on our in vivo and in vitro studies, NX could be useful in the management (chemoprevention as well as chemotherapy) of skin cancer.

Patulin in apple juices: Incidence and likely intake in an Indian population

Fifty samples of apple juices were investigated for patulin levels using HPLC with UV detection. It was found that 38 (76? samples contained no detectable patulin (LOD = 7.5 µg l−1), but some samples had high patulin levels (845 µg l−1) compared to other branded mixed juices (21–70 µg l−1) and apple juices procured from local vendors (191 µg l−1). The survey provides evidence of a need to educate the apple-juice industry in the use of good quality apples for juice production. In addition, the levels of patulin found showed a saturation of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) based on intake figures in terms of an average and 90th percentile of 27–60% and 107–190%, respectively, in different age groups. This monitoring study may help in formulating guidelines for patulin levels, which are not yet implemented by Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act of India.

Ochratoxin A-induced cell proliferation and tumor promotion in mouse skin by activating the expression of cyclin-D1 and cyclooxygenase-2 through nuclear factor-kappa B and activator protein-1

Our prior studies have indicated that ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin, has skin tumor initiating activity. In the present investigation, skin tumor promoting activity of OTA and the mechanism/(s) involved therein was undertaken. A single topical application of OTA (100 nmol/mouse) caused significant enhancement in short-term markers of skin tumor promotion such as ornithine decarboxylase activity, DNA synthesis, hyperplasia as well as expression of cyclin-D1 and COX-2 in mouse skin. In a two-stage mouse skin tumorigenesis protocol, twice-weekly exposure of OTA (50 nmol/mouse) to 7,12-dimethylbenz[α]anthracene (120 nmol/mouse) initiated mice skin for 24 weeks leads to tumor formation. Further, exposure of primary murine keratinocytes (PMKs) with non-cytotoxic dose of OTA (5.0 µM) caused (i) significant enhancement of DNA synthesis, (ii) enhanced phosphorylation and subsequent activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its downstream signaling pathways viz Akt, ERK1/2, p38 and JNK mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), (iii) overexpression of c-jun, c-fos, cyclin-D1 and COX-2 and (iv) increased binding of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and AP-1 transcription factors to the promoter region of cyclin-D1 and COX-2 genes. It was also observed that knocking down the messenger RNA expression of NF-κB, c-jun, c-fos, cyclin-D1 and COX-2 results in significant inhibition in OTA-induced PMKs proliferation. These results suggest that OTA has cell proliferative and tumor-promoting potential in mouse skin, which involves EGFR-mediated MAPKs and Akt pathways along with NF-κB and AP-1 transcription factors and that cyclin-D1 and COX-2 are the target genes responsible for tumor-promoting activity of OTA.

Association between children death and consumption of Cassia occidentalis seeds: clinical and experimental investigations.

Recently, children with high mortality rate have been observed in northern parts of India, for which the etiology is still not established, although a case control study has been linked to the consumption of Cassia occidentalis (CO) seeds. In the present investigation toxicity of CO seeds (0.5, 1 and 2% w/w) in diet were carried out in wistar rats. After 28 days it was observed that CO seeds caused significant increases in the serum markers viz transaminases, alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase along with histopathological lesions in hepatic tissue. CO consumption also showed decrease in grip strength, vacuolization and myopathy of skeletal muscles along with increases in serum creatinine and creatinine phosphokinase suggesting muscular damage in animals. Neuronal damage in CO treated animals was evident by a marked increase in glial fibrilar acidic protein and decrease in β-tubulin III. The experimental findings of CO consumption showed liver, muscles and brain to be the target organs, which were similar to that of the clinical data of poisoning cases as observed in the present study. Overall, the study suggests that CO seed consumption is the main etiological factor in children population suffering from hepatomyoencephalopathy in India.