Methyl cinnamate derivatives enhance UV-induced mutagenesis due to the inhibition of DNA excision repair in Escherichia coli B/r

A Phytochemical Constituent, (E)-Methyl-Cinnamate Isolated from Alpinia katsumadai Hayata Suppresses Cell Survival, Migration, and Differentiation in Pre-Osteoblasts

BACKGROUND

(E)-methyl-cinnamate (EMC), a phytochemical constituent isolated from Alpinia katsumadai Hayata, is a natural flavor compound with anti-inflammatory properties, which is widely used in the food and commodity industry. However, the pharmacological effects of methyl-cinnamate on pre-osteoblasts remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of EMC in pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells (pre-osteoblasts).

METHODS

Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using the MTT assay and TUNEL staining. Cell migration and osteoblast differentiation were examined using migration assays, as well as alkaline phosphatase activity and staining assays. Western blot analysis was used to examine intracellular signaling pathways and apoptotic proteins.

RESULTS

EMC decreased cell viability with morphological changes and increased apoptosis in pre-osteoblasts. EMC also induced the cleavage of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 and reduced the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins. In addition, EMC increased TUNEL-positive cells in pre-osteoblasts, decreased the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases, and suppressed cell migration rate in pre-osteoblasts. Subsequently, EMC inhibited the osteoblast differentiation of pre-osteoblasts, as assessed by alkaline phosphatase staining and activity assays.

CONCLUSION

These findings demonstrate that EMC has a pharmacological and biological role in cell survival, migration, and osteoblast differentiation. It suggests that EMC might be a potential phytomedicine for treating abnormalities of osteoblast function in bone diseases.

Fragrance material review on cinnamic acid

A toxicologic and dermatologic review of cinnamic acid when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented.

Differential photoimmunoprotection by sunscreen ingredients is unrelated to epidermal cis urocanic acid formation in hairless mice

A series of experimental sunscreen preparations based on a common vehicle, containing increasing concentrations of either octyl-N-dimethyl-p-aminobenzoate (o-PABA) or 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate (2-EHMC) as the ultraviolet B (UVB) absorber, has been tested in the hairless mouse for the ability to protect from erythema, from the systemically suppressive effects of UVB (280-320 nm) radiation on contact hypersensitivity, and from photoisomerization of epidermal urocanic acid. All the preparations protected efficiently from the edema component of the erythema response when mice were exposed to UVB radiation equivalent to three times the minimal erythema dose (MED). However, when mice were exposed to UVB radiation equivalent to 15 x MED, protection from erythema was observed only at the higher concentrations of each UVB absorber (10% 2-EHMC and 10% or 15% o-PABA). Protection from the UVB-induced suppression of contact hypersensitivity was shown to be dependent on both the nature of the UVB absorber and its concentration. Photoimmunoprotection by the sunscreens containing 2-EHMC was evident at lower concentrations (5% and 10% 2-EHMC) than with o-PABA, following both 3 x MED and 15 x MED of UVB exposure. Photoimmunoprotection by o-PABA-containing sunscreens was observed only at 15% o-PABA following 3 x MED, and failed at all tested concentrations after 15 x MED of UVB exposure. Regardless of the photoimmunoprotective capacity, sunscreen preparations containing either of the UVB absorbers prevented the UVB-induced formation of cis urocanic acid in the mouse epidermis and in vitro under all conditions tested. Thus, there appeared to be a correlation between protection from edema and from cis urocanic acid formation at 3 x MED of UVB, but a dissociation of these variables at 15 x MED of UVB. There was no relation apparent at either UVB dose between either edema or cis urocanic acid formation and protection from suppression of contact hypersensitivity.

Enhancement of the mutagenicity of amino acid pyrolysates by phthalate esters

The ability of phthalic acid, phthalic acid anhydride, and various phthalate esters to enhance the mutagenicity of many amino acid pyrolysates was observed with the Ames test (Salmonella typhimurium TA98), but not the SOS Chromotest. Phthalate enhancement of the mutagenicity of 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide, 2-nitrofluorene, and benzo[a]pyrene was not observed with either test. The mutagenicity-enhancing ability may be related to the induction of enzymes such as P450IIB, that metabolize amino acid pyrolysates. By quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) analysis, a good correlation was observed between the mutagenicity-enhancing activity of phthalates and their octanol-water partition coefficients.

Enhancing effects of heterocyclic amines and beta-carbolines on the induction of chromosome aberrations in cultured mammalian cells

The effects of post-treatment with heterocyclic amines and beta-carbolines on the induction of chromosome aberrations were studied in Chinese hamster CHO K-1 cells and SV40-transformed excision repair-deficient human XP2OSSV cells. The number of chromosome aberrations induced by UV and MMC were increased by post-treatment with Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2, in both the presence and the absence of S9 mix. A alpha C, MeA alpha C, Glu-P-1, Glu-P-2, IQ, MeIQ, harman and harmine increased chromosome aberrations only in the presence of S9 mix. Glu-P-2, IQ, MeIQ, harman, and harmine did not induce chromosome aberrations by themselves at the concentrations used in this study. Trp-P-1, Trp-P-2, A alpha C, MeA alpha C and Glu-P-1 were weak clastogens by themselves, but at much higher concentrations than those at which they increased the induction of chromosome aberrations in cells pretreated with UV or MMC. Therefore, the increases in chromosome aberrations were not considered to be additive.

Enhancing effect of heterocyclic amines and beta-carbolines on UV or chemically induced mutagenesis in E. coli

Most heterocyclic amines and beta-carbolines--harman, norharman, harmine, harmaline--enhanced UVC (254 nm) induced mutagenesis without microsomal activation in E. coli B/r WP2. 3-Amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) was most effective and increased UVAB (295-400 nm) induced mutations as well as UVC induced ones. Trp-P-1 enhanced the frequencies of mutations induced by not only UV but also 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) or 2-(2-furyl)-3-(5-nitro-2-furyl)acrylamide (AF2), while it showed little effect on N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or gamma-ray induced mutagenesis. Trp-P-1 decreased the survival of UVC irradiated cells of CM571recA. However, these effects of Trp-P-1 on UVC induced mutagenesis and lethality were not observed in WP2suvrA which is excision repair deficient. The alkaline sucrose gradient sedimentation analysis demonstrated that Trp-P-1 blocked the incision step in DNA excision repair. Further, pretreatment with Trp-P-1 before UVC irradiation showed no effect on UVC induced mutagenesis. Similar effects were also seen in the case of harman or norharman. These results suggest that heterocyclic amines and beta-carbolines inhibit DNA excision repair directly or indirectly, thus enhancing UV or chemically induced mutagenesis.

Differential protection by two sunscreens from UV radiation-induced immunosuppression

A controversy has arisen concerning the ability of sunscreens to protect mice from the immunosuppressive effects of UV radiation. We have assessed the photoprotection in hairless mice of two sun protection factor (SPF)15 sunscreens containing different UVB (280-320-nm) absorbers, namely, octyl-N-dimethyl-p-aminobenzoate (o-PABA) or 2-ethylhexyl-p-methoxycinnamate (2-EHMC). Following three minimum erythemal exposures to UV radiation, both systemic suppression of contact hypersensitivity to 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene and induction of susceptibility to transplanted UV radiation-induced tumor cells was established. Topically applied 2-EHMC sunscreen protected totally from both forms of immunosuppression, but the o-PABA sunscreen failed to protect, although both sunscreens were equally effective in protection from UV radiation-induced erythema and edema.

Enhancement and inhibition of mutation by o-vanillin in Escherichia coli

2-Hydroxy-3-methoxybenzaldehyde (omicron-vanillin), the antimutagenic effect of which has been reported on mutagenesis induced by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) in Escherichia coli WP2s, enhanced N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced mutagenesis in the same strain. A remarkable enhancement of mutagenesis provoked by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) was also observed by the addition of omicron-vanillin. No enhancing effect was observed on mutagenesis induced by other mutagens such as methyl methanesulfonate (MMS), dimethylsulfate, N-ethyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (ENNG), N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU), ethyl methanesulfonate, diethylsulfate, 4NQO and furylfuramide (AF-2). On the contrary, omicron-vanillin greatly suppressed AF-2- and 4NQO-induced mutagenesis and showed a slight suppressing effect against mutagenesis induced by MMS, ENNG and ENU. One possible explanation for the enhancing effect of omicron-vanillin on the mutagenesis induced by MNNG or MNU in E. coli WP2s may be inhibition of an inducible adaptive response. Among 7 derivatives of omicron-vanillin, 2-hydroxy-3-ethoxy-benzaldehyde, omicron-hydroxybenzaldehyde and m-methoxybenzaldehyde showed an enhancing effect on MNNG-induced mutagenesis.

Enhancing effects of cinoxate and methyl sinapate on the frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations in cultured mammalian cells

Sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) induced by mitomycin C (MMC), 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide (4NQO) or UV-light in cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO K-1 cells) were enhanced by cinoxate (2-ethoxyethyl p-methoxycinnamate) or methyl sinapate (methyl 3,5-dimethoxy 4-hydroxycinnamate). Both substances are cinnamate derivatives and cinoxate is commonly used as a cosmetic UV absorber. Methyl sinapate also increased the frequency of cells with chromosome aberrations in the CHO K-1 cells treated with MMC, 4NQO or UV. These increasing effects of methyl sinapate were critical in the G1 phase of the cell cycle and the decline of the frequencies of UV-induced SCEs and chromosome aberrations during liquid holding was not seen in the presence of methyl sinapate. Both compounds were, however, ineffective in cells treated with X-rays. In cells from a normal human embryo and from a xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) patient, MMC-induced SCEs were also increased by the post-treatment with methyl sinapate. The SCE frequencies in UV-irradiated normal human cells were elevated by methyl sinapate, but no SCE-enhancing effects were observed in UV-irradiated XP cells. Our results suggest that the test substances inhibit DNA excision repair and that the increase in the amount of unrepaired DNA damage might cause the enhancement of induced SCEs and chromosome aberrations.