Shigeo Manabe

Carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products in cigarette smoke condensate and cigarette smoke-polluted indoor air.

The carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), have been measured in condensate of cigarette mainstream smoke by high-performance liquid chromatography. These carcinogens have been detected in indoor air as well as in the air of the outdoor environment. Levels of these carcinogens in indoor air were much higher than those in outdoor air. The source of these carcinogens in indoor air was determined to be cigarette smoke by the application of smoking machine studies. Concentrations of these carcinogens in indoor air increased markedly with an increase in cigarettes smoked. The results in this investigation suggest that cigarette smoking is a source of carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products in the indoor environment. Our data also suggest that smokers are persistently exposed to the carcinogenic heterocyclic amines together with potent carcinogens such as polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and N-nitroso compounds.

Carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products in airborne particles and rain water

This is the first report that carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products are present in airborne particles and rain water. The airborne particles were collected from August 1988 through October 1988 at 4 locations in Japan. The amounts of 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) in the air were 0.23 +/- 0.17 pg/m3 air (mean +/- SD, n = 18) and 0.16 +/- 0.15 pg/m3 air (n = 18), respectively. Moreover, these carcinogens were detected in rain water. These results indicate that Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 are ubiquitous environmental components.

Analysis of human plasma as an exposure level monitor for carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products

A high-performance liquid chromatography method for detecting 3-amino-1,4- dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2) in human plasma was developed. Plasma samples of 10 normal subjects were examined. Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2, carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products, were detected in all specimens, and the concentrations of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 in plasma were 68.31 +/- 24.03 fmoles/ml (mean +/- S.D., n = 10) and 18.79 +/- 4.99 fmoles/ml, respectively. Our results suggest that plasma levels of carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products may be useful indicators for estimating the exposure levels of the dietary carcinogens.

Carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products in human lens

Mutagenic and carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products, 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-2), have been identified in human cataractous lenses, but not in young bovine lenses. The amounts of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 in senile cataractous lenses were 156.34 +/- 35.63 fmol (mean +/- S.D., n = 10) and 128.27 +/- 40.45 fmol (n = 10), respectively, while those of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 in diabetic cataractous lenses were 158.29 +/- 40.06 fmol (n = 10) and 150.34 +/- 23.77 fmol (n = 10), respectively. In both senile and diabetic cataractous lenses, the concentrations of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 in the insoluble protein fraction (fmol mg-1 protein) were significantly higher than those in the water-soluble protein fraction. Moreover, proteinase-K treatment of lens protein before extraction with methylene chloride significantly increased the recoveries of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2. These results clearly indicate that carcinogenic tryptophan pyrolysis products, gamma-carboline derivatives, are present in human cataractous lenses and that these fluorescent carcinogens are significantly concentrated in the insoluble lens proteins.