Mercedes Casanova

Covalent Binding of Inhaled Formaldehyde to DNA in the Respiratory Tract of Rhesus Monkeys: Pharmacokinetics, Rat-to-Monkey Interspecies Scaling, and Extrapolation to Man

DNA-protein cross-links were formed in the respiratory tract of rhesus monkeys exposed to [14C]formaldehyde (0.7, 2, or 6 ppm; 6 hr). Concentrations of cross-links (pmol/mg DNA) were highest in the mucosa of the middle turbinates; lower concentrations were produced in the anterior lateral wall/septum and nasopharynx. Very low concentrations were found in the larynx/trachea/carina and in the proximal portions of the major bronchi of some monkeys exposed to 6 ppm but not to 0.7 ppm. No cross-links were detected in the maxillary sinuses or lung parenchyma. The pharmacokinetics of cross-link formation in the nose were interpreted using a model in which the rate of formation is proportional to the tissue concentration of formaldehyde. The model includes both saturable and nonsaturable elimination pathways and describes regional differences in DNA binding as having an anatomical rather than a biochemical basis. Using this model, the concentration of cross-links formed in corresponding tissues of different species can be predicted by scaling the pharmacokinetic parameter that depends on minute volume (V) and quantity of nasal mucosal DNA (MDNA). The concentration-response curve for the average rate of cross-link formation in the turbinates, lateral wall, and septum of rhesus monkeys was predicted from that of F-344 rats exposed under similar conditions. There was significant overlap between predicted and fitted curves, implying that V and MDNA are major determinants of the rate of cross-link formation in the nasal mucosa of different species. Concentrations of cross-links that may be produced in the nasal mucosa of adult men were predicted based on experimental data in rats and monkeys. The results suggest that formaldehyde would generate lower concentrations of cross-links in the nasal mucosa of humans than of monkeys, and much lower concentrations in humans than in rats. The rate of formation of DNA-protein cross-links can be regarded as a surrogate for the delivered concentration of formaldehyde. Use of this surrogate should decrease the uncertainty of human cancer risk estimates derived by interspecies extrapolation by providing a more realistic measure of the delivered concentration at critical target sites.

Covalent binding of inhaled formaldehyde to DNA in the nasal mucosa of Fischer 344 rats: Analysis of formaldehyde and DNA by high-performance liquid chromatography and provisional pharmacokinetic interpretation

Inhalation of 3HCHO and H14CHO (6 ppm, 6 hr) resulted in the formation of DNA-protein crosslinks in the rat nasal respiratory mucosa. The DNA was extracted and was fractionated into aqueous (AQ) and interfacial (IF) portions. AQ DNA and IF DNA were enzymatically hydrolyzed to deoxyribonucleosides in Tris buffer and analyzed by HPLC with liquid scintillation counting (LSC). HCHO was bound exclusively to the IF DNA, indicating that the HCHO was bound as DNA-protein crosslinks. Hydrolysis of the DNA quantitatively released the HCHO; no evidence was obtained for the formation of hydroxymethyl adducts. An adduct detected previously following incubation of mammalian cells with HCHO, N6-hydroxymethyldeoxyadenosine (hm6dA) [Beland, F.A., Fullerton, N.F., and Heflich, R.H. (1984) J. Chromatogr. 308, 121-131], was shown to be produced by reaction of HCHO with deoxyadenosine (dA) in bis-Tris buffer under conditions similar to those used for hydrolysis of the DNA. This reaction does not occur in Tris buffer. Evidence was obtained that most or all of the hm6dA observed can be explained by this reaction. Based on these results, an improved method to determine the amount of H14CHO bound to DNA was developed: the DNA is hydrolyzed in Tris buffer and analyzed by HPLC, and the released H14CHO is derivatized with dimedone and quantitated by LSC. Rats were exposed to a wide range of H14CHO concentrations (0.3, 0.7, 2, 6, or 10 ppm; 6 hr). DNA-protein crosslinking occurred at all concentrations. The formation of crosslinks was interpreted in terms of a nonlinear pharmacokinetic model incorporating oxidation of inhaled HCHO as a defense mechanism. The slope of the fitted concentration-response curve at 10 ppm is 7.3-fold greater than at 0.3 ppm, and the detoxication pathway is half-saturated at an airborne concentration of 2.6 ppm.

Formaldehyde concentrations in the blood of rhesus monkeys after inhalation exposure

The effect of subchronic exposure to formaldehyde (HCHO; 6 ppm; 6 hr/day, 5 days/wk for 4 wk) on the HCHO concentration in the blood of three rhesus monkeys was investigated. Immediately after the final exposure, the monkeys were sedated, and blood samples were withdrawn 7 min after the end of exposure. The HCHO concentration in the blood, determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was 1.84 +/- 0.15 micrograms/g blood and did not differ significantly after a further 45 hr without exposure to HCHO (2.04 +/- 0.40 micrograms/g blood). The average concentration of HCHO in the blood of exposed monkeys was also not significantly different from that of three unexposed controls (2.42 +/- 0.09 micrograms/g blood). However, individual monkeys differed significantly from one another with respect to their blood concentrations of HCHO. These results indicate that subchronic inhalation exposure of non-human primates to HCHO has no significant effect on the HCHO concentration in the blood, and that the average concentration of HCHO in the blood of monkeys is similar to that in the blood of humans.

Depletion of nasal mucosal glutathione by acrolein and enhancement of formaldehyde-induced DNA-protein cross-linking by simultaneous exposure to acrolein.

Incubation of homogenates of rat nasal mucosa with acrolein resulted in the apparent formation of DNA-protein cross-links. However, inhalation exposure of male Fischer-344 rats to acrolein (2.0 ppm, 6 h) did not cause detectable DNA-protein cross-linking in the nasal respiratory mucosa. Simultaneous exposure of rats to both acrolein (2.0 ppm) and formaldehyde (6.0 ppm) for 6 h resulted in a significantly higher yield of DNA-protein cross-links than was obtained following exposure to formaldehyde (6.0 ppm) alone. Acrolein exposure at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, or 2.5 ppm resulted in a concentration-dependent depletion of nonprotein sulfhydryl groups in the nasal respiratory mucosa. A plausible explanation for the enhancement of DNA-protein cross-links by simultaneous exposure to formaldehyde and acrolein may be that depletion of glutathione by acrolein inhibited the oxidative metabolism of formaldehyde, leading to an increase of formaldehyde-induced DNA-protein cross-links.

Decreased extractability of DNA from proteins in the rat nasal mucosa after acetaldehyde exposure

Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde have been found to induce nasal cancer in two species of rodents. To understand the mechanism of carcinogenesis by acetaldehyde, studies were carried out to determine whether acetaldehyde can react with DNA in target tissues of the rat nasal cavity. When fresh homogenates of the nasal respiratory mucosa were incubated with acetaldehyde (distilled under N2) at concentrations of 10, 100, or 500 mM, followed by solubilization and extraction with a strongly denaturing aqueous-immiscible organic solvent mixture, a decrease was observed in the amount of DNA partitioned into the aqueous phase at the two higher acetaldehyde concentrations. The absent DNA was recovered from the interfacial layer by proteolytic digestion. Similarly, incubation of calf thymus nucleohistones with acetaldehyde (100, 300, Similarly, incubation of calf thymus nucleohistones with acetaldehyde (100, 300, or 1000 mM) or with formaldehyde (10, 30, or 100 mM) followed by precipitation of the DNA with H2SO4 and analysis of the supernatants by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resulted in concentration-dependent decreases in the quantities of histone proteins released from the DNA. These results indicate that acetaldehyde as well as formaldehyde can form DNA-protein crosslinks in vitro. A single 6-hr exposure of male Fischer-344 rats to acetaldehyde (100, 300, 1000, or 3000 ppm) resulted in a significant increase relative to air-exposed controls in the percent interfacial DNA from the nasal respiratory mucosa at concentrations equal to or greater than 1000 ppm. No increase in the interfacial DNA from the olfactory mucosa was detected after a single 6-hr exposure (1000 or 3000 ppm), but a significant increase was found in rats hr/day for 5 days) to acetaldehyde (1000 ppm). Thus, evidence has been obtained hr/day for 5 days) to acetaldehyde (1000 ppm). Thus, evidence has been obtained for the formation of DNA-protein crosslinks by acetaldehyde in target tissues of the rat nasal cavity at concentrations similar to those that induced nasal cancer.

Regular articleDecreased extractability of DNA from proteins in the rat nasal mucosa after acetaldehyde exposure

Abstract Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde have been found to induce nasal cancer in two species of rodents. To understand the mechanism of carcinogenesis by acetaldehyde, studies were carried out to determine whether acetaldehyde can react with DNA in target tissues of the rat nasal cavity. When fresh homogenates of the nasal respiratory mucosa were incubated with acetaldehyde (distilled under N 2 ) at concentrations of 10, 100, or 500 m m , followed by solubilization and extraction with a strongly denaturing aqueous-immiscible organic solvent mixture, a decrease was observed in the amount of DNA partitioned into the aqueous phase at the two higher acetaldehyde concentrations. The absent DNA was recovered from the interfacial layer by proteolytic digestion. Similarly, incubation of calf thymus nucleohistones with acetaldehyde (100, 300, or 1000 m m ) or with formaldehyde (10, 30, or 100 m m ) followed by precipitation of the DNA with H 2 SO 4 and analysis of the supernatants by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis resulted in concentration-dependent decreases in the quantities of histone proteins released from the DNA. These results indicate that acetaldehyde as well as formaldehyde can form DNA-protein crosslinks in vitro . A single 6-hr exposure of male Fischer-344 rats to acetaldehyde (100, 300, 1000, or 3000 ppm) resulted in a significant increase relative to air-exposed controls in the percent interfacial DNA from the nasal respiratory mucosa at concentrations equal to or greater than 1000 ppm. No increase in the interfacial DNA from the olfactory mucosa was detected after a single 6-hr exposure (1000 or 3000 ppm), but a significant increase was found in rats exposed repeatedly (6 hr/day for 5 days) to acetaldehyde (1000 ppm). Thus, evidence has been obtained for the formation of DNA-protein crosslinks by acetaldehyde in target tissues of the rat nasal cavity at concentrations similar to those that induced nasal cancer.

Dichloromethane (Methylene chloride) : metabolism to formaldehyde and formation of DNA-protein cross-links in B6C3F1 mice and Syrian Golden Hamsters

Dichloromethane (DCM) is metabolized via a glutathione transferase (GST)-dependent pathway to formaldehyde (HCHO), a mutagenic compound that could play an important role in the carcinogenic effects of DCM observed in the liver and lungs of B6C3F1 mice at 2000 and 4000 ppm. Syrian hamsters metabolize DCM more slowly than mice via this pathway, and hamsters exposed to 3500 ppm showed no apparent carcinogenic response. The possible formation of DNA-protein cross-links (DPX) from DCM in both species was examined. Male mice and hamsters were pre-exposed for 2 days (6 hr/day) to 4000 ppm of DCM and on the third day were exposed (6 hr) to a decaying concentration (4500 to 2500 ppm) of [14C]DCM. DPX were detected in mouse liver, but not in mouse lung, hamster liver, or hamster lung. The failure to detect DPX in mouse lung does not exclude their possible formation in a subpopulation of lung cells. Metabolic incorporation of 14C derived from [14C]DCM into DNA suggested a higher rate of turnover of some mouse lung cells than of hamster lung cells, but no large difference in the turnover rates of liver cells in the two species under these conditions. These results demonstrate that HCHO derived from DCM can form DNA-protein cross-links in the liver of the B6C3F1 mouse. The formation of DPX is dependent on the activity of the GST pathway, and species such as hamsters and humans having much lower rates of DCM metabolism via this pathway may not generate toxicologically significant concentrations of HCHO and DPX.

LACK OF EVIDENCE FOR THE INVOLVEMENT OF FORMALDEHYDE IN THE HEPATOCARCINOGENICITY OF METHYL TERTIARY-BUTYL ETHER IN CD-1 MICE

The oxygenated fuel additive methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) induced hepatocellular adenomas in female but not male CD-1 mice exposed to 8000 ppm; liver cancer was not induced in female or male mice exposed to 3000 or 400 ppm. Since MTBE is metabolized by cytochrome P450 to formaldehyde (HCHO), a potentially mutagenic intermediate capable of forming DNA-protein cross-links (DPX), the formation of DPX and of another HCHO derivative, RNA-formaldehyde adducts (RFA), from MTBE was investigated using freshly isolated hepatocytes from female CD-1 mice incubated with MTBE-(O-methyl-14C). DPX and RFA were detected, but the adduct yields were very small and were independent of the concentration of MTBE in the hepatocyte suspension over a wide concentration range (0.33-6.75 mM). Similar results were obtained using hepatocytes from male B6C3F1 mice and male F344 rats. Induction of cytochrome P450 by pretreatment of mice with MTBE prior to isolation of hepatocytes did not result in a measurable increase in the yields of either DPX or RFA. In contrast to the absence of concentration-dependent DPX and RFA formation from MTBE, there was a marked, concentration-dependent increase in the yields of both DPX and RFA when [14C]formaldehyde was added directly to the medium. These results suggest that the metabolism of MTBE to HCHO approaches saturation at concentrations below 0.33 mM, and that the rate of HCHO production from metabolism of MTBE is slow relative to the rate of HCHO metabolism. The lack of concentration dependence and the absence of species or sex differences in the formation of DPX and RFA from MTBE indicate that metabolism of MTBE to HCHO is not a critical component of its carcinogenic mechanism in mice.