Mutagenicity at the Hprt locus in T cells of female mice following inhalation exposures to low levels of 1,3-butadiene

1,3-Butadiene: II. Genotoxicity profile

1,3-Butadiene’s (BD’s) major electrophilic metabolites 1,2-epoxy-3-butene (EB), 1,2-dihydroxy-3,4-epoxybutane (EBD), and 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) are responsible for both its mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. EB, EBD, and DEB are DNA reactive, forming a variety of adducts. All three metabolites are genotoxic in vitro and in vivo, with relative mutagenic potencies of DEB >> EB > EBD. DEB also effectively produces gene deletions and chromosome aberrations. BD’s greater mutagenicity and carcinogenicity in mice over rats as well as its failure to induce chromosome-level mutations in vivo in rats appear to be due to greater production of DEB in mice. Concentrations of EB and DEB in vivo in humans are even lower than in rats. Although most studies of BD-exposed humans have failed to find increases in gene mutations, one group has reported positive findings. Reasons for these discordant results are examined. BD-related chromosome aberrations have never been demonstrated in humans except for the possible production of micronuclei in lymphocytes of workers exposed to extremely high levels of BD in the workplace. The relative potencies of the BD metabolites, their relative abundance in the different species, and the kinds of mutations they can induce are major considerations in BD’s overall genotoxicity profile.

1,3-Butadiene: III. Assessing carcinogenic modes of action

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a multisite carcinogen in laboratory rodents following lifetime exposure, with greater potency in the mouse than the rat, and is associated with an increase in leukemia mortality in highly exposed workers. Species differences in the formation of reactive metabolites underlie observed species differences in sensitivity to the carcinogenic effects of BD. The modes of action (MOAs) for human leukemia and rodent tumors are both likely related to mutagenic potencies of one or more of these metabolites. However, differences in the nature of genotoxic lesions associated with human leukemia and rodent tumors, along with their implications for risk assessment, require that they be discussed separately. The MOAs for BD are assessed in this review using the modified Hill criteria and human relevance framework. Key events in MOAs for human and rodent cancers are identified, along with important species differences and sources of nonlinearity for each event that can affect extrapolations made from high- to low-dose exposures. Because occupational exposures to BD have also included co-exposures to styrene and dimethyldithiocarbamide (DMDTC), potential interactions with BD carcinogenicity are also discussed. The MOAs for BD carcinogenesis will be used to guide key decisions made in the quantitative cancer dose-response assessment.

Exposure-response of 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane-specific N-terminal valine adducts in mice and rats after inhalation exposure to 1,3-butadiene

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a known rodent and human carcinogen that is metabolized mainly by P450 2E1 to three epoxides, 1,2-epoxy-3-butene (EB), 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB), and 1,2-epoxy-3,4-butanediol. The individual epoxides vary up to 200-fold in their mutagenic potency, with DEB being the most mutagenic metabolite. It is important to understand the internal formation of the individual epoxides to assign the relative risk for each metabolite and to understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for extensive species differences in carcinogenicity. This study presents a comprehensive exposure-response for the formation of the DEB-specific N,N-(2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butadiyl)valine (pyr-Val) in mice and rats. Using nano-ultra high pressure liquid chromatography-tandem-mass spectrometry allowed analysis of pyr-Val in mice and rats exposed to BD as low as 0.1 and 0.5 ppm BD, respectively, and demonstrated significant differences in the amounts and exposure-response of pyr-Val formation. Mice formed 10- to 60-fold more pyr-Val compared to rats at similar exposures. The formation of pyr-Val increased with exposures, and the formation was most efficient with regard to formation per parts per million BD at low exposures. While formation at higher exposures appeared linear in mice, in rats formation saturated at exposures > or = 200 ppm for 10 days. In rats, amounts of pyr-Val were lower after 20 days than after 10 days of exposure, suggesting that the lifespan of rat erythrocytes may be shortened following exposure to BD. This research supports the hypothesis that the lower susceptibility of rats to BD-induced carcinogenesis results from greatly reduced formation of DEB following exposure to BD.

Age-, gender-, and species-dependent mutagenicity in T cells of mice and rats exposed by inhalation to 1,3-butadiene

Experiments were performed: (i) to investigate potential age- and gender-dependent differences in mutagenic responses in T cells following exposures of B6C3F1 mice and F344 rats by inhalation for 2 weeks to 0 or 1250 ppm butadiene (BD), and (ii) to determine if exposures for 2 weeks to 62.5 ppm BD produce a mutagenic effect in female rats. To evaluate the effect of age on mutagenic response, mutant manifestation curves for splenic T cells of female mice exposed at 8-9 weeks of age were defined by measuring Hprt mutant frequencies (MFs) at multiple time points after BD exposure using a T cell cloning assay and comparing the resulting mutagenic potency estimate (calculated as the difference of areas under the mutant manifestation curves of treated versus control animals) to that reported for female mice exposed to BD in the same fashion beginning at 4-5 weeks of age. The shapes of the mutant T cell manifestation curves for spleens were different [e.g., the maximum BD-induced MFs in older mice (8.0+/-1.0 [S.D.]x10(-6)) and younger mice (17.8+/-6.1 x 10(-6)) were observed at 8 and 5 weeks post-exposure, respectively], but the mutagenic burden was the same for both age groups. To assess the effect of gender on mutagenic response, female and male rodents were exposed to BD at 4-5 weeks of age and Hprt MFs were measured when maximum MFs are expected to occur post-exposure. The resulting data demonstrated that the pattern for mutagenic susceptibility from high-level BD exposure is female mice>male mice>female rats>male rats. Exposures of female rats to 62.5 ppm BD caused a minor but significant mutagenic response compared with controls (n=16/group; P=0.03). These results help explain part of the differing outcomes/interpretations of data in earlier Hprt mutation studies in BD-exposed rodents.

Future directions in butadiene risk assessment and the role of cross-species internal dosimetry

The 2005 International Symposium on the evaluation of butadiene and chloroprene health risks provided the opportunity to consider the past, present and future state of research issues for 1,3-butadiene. Considerable advancements have been made in our knowledge of exposure, metabolism, biomarkers of exposure and effect, and epidemiology. Despite this, uncertainties remain which will impact the human health risk assessment for current worker and environmental exposures. This paper reviews key aspects of recent studies and the role that biomarkers of internal dosimetry can play in addressing low to high exposure, gender, and cross-species differences in butadiene toxicity and metabolism. Considerable information is now available on the detection and quantification of protein adducts formed from the mono-, di- and dihydroxy-epoxide metabolites of butadiene. The diepoxide metabolite appears to play a key role in mutagenesis. Species differences in production of this critical metabolite are reflected by the diepoxybutane-specific hemoglobin adduct, pry-Val. To date, the pry-Val adduct has not been quantifiable in human blood samples from workers with cumulative occupational exposures up to 6.3 ppm-weeks; whereas, the pry-Val was quantifiable in the blood of mice and rats with similar cumulative exposures. Levels in mice were much higher than in rats. Further improvements in analytical sensitivity for the pyr-Val adduct are on the horizon. Epidemiology studies are also described and ongoing efforts promise to help bridge our understanding of past and future risks.

Molecular epidemiological studies in 1,3-butadiene exposed Czech workers: female-male comparisons

Results of a recent molecular epidemiological study of 1,3-butadiene (BD) exposed Czech workers, conducted to compare female to male responses, have confirmed and extended the findings of a previously reported males only study (HEI Research Report 116, 2003). The initial study found that urine concentrations of the metabolites 1,2-dihydroxy-4-(acetyl) butane (M1) and 1-dihydroxy-2-(N-acetylcysteinyl)-3-butene (M2) and blood concentrations of the hemoglobin adducts N-[2-hydroxy-3-butenyl] valine (HB-Val) and N-[2,3,4-trihydroxy-butyl] valine (THB-Val) constitute excellent biomarkers of exposure, both being highly correlated with BD exposure levels, and that GST genotypes modulate at least one metabolic pathway, but that irreversible genotoxic effects such as chromosome aberrations and HPRT gene mutations are neither associated with BD exposure levels nor with worker genotypes (GST [glutathione-S-transferase]-M1, GSTT1, CYP2E1 (5' promoter), CYP2E1 (intron 6), EH [epoxide hydrolase] 113, EH139, ADH [alcohol dehydrogenase]2 and ADH3). The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for chromosome aberrations and HPRT mutations was 1.794 mg/m(3) (0.812 ppm)--the mean exposure level for the highest exposed worker group in this initial study. The second Czech study, reported here, initiated in 2003, included 26 female control workers, 23 female BD exposed workers, 25 male control workers and 30 male BD exposed workers (some repeats from the first study). Multiple external exposure measurements (10 full 8-h shift measures by personal monitoring per worker) over a 4-month period before biological sample collections showed that BD workplace levels were lower than in the first study. Mean 8-h TWA exposure levels were 0.008 mg/m(3) (0.0035 ppm) and 0.397 mg/m(3) (0.180 ppm) for female controls and exposed, respectively, but with individual single 8-h TWA values up to 9.793 mg/m(3) (4.45 ppm) in the exposed group. Mean male 8-h TWA exposure levels were 0.007 mg/m(3) (0.0032 ppm) and 0.808 mg/m(3) (0.370 ppm) for controls and exposed, respectively; however, the individual single 8-h TWA values up to 12.583 mg/m(3) (5.72 ppm) in the exposed group. While the urine metabolite concentrations for both M1 and M2 were elevated in exposed compared to control females, the differences were not significant, possibly due to the relatively low BD exposure levels. For males, with greater BD exposures, the concentrations of both metabolites were significantly elevated in urine from exposed compared to control workers. As in the first study, urine metabolite excretion patterns in both sexes revealed conjugation to be the minor detoxification pathway (yielding the M2 metabolite) but both M1 and M2 concentration values were lower in males in this second study compared to their concentrations in the first, reflecting the lower external exposures of males in this second study compared to the first. Of note, females showed lower concentrations of both M1 and M2 metabolites in the urine per unit of BD exposure than did males while exhibiting the same M1/(M1+M2) ratio, reflecting the same relative utilization of the hydrolytic (producing M1) and the conjugation (producing M2) detoxification pathways as males. Assays for the N,N-(2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butadyl) valine (pyr-Val) hemoglobin (Hb) adduct, which is specific for the highly genotoxic 1,2,3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) metabolite of BD, have been conducted on blood samples from all participants in this second Czech study. Any adduct that may have been present was below the limits of quantitation (LOQ) for this assay for all samples, indicating that production of this important BD metabolite in humans is below levels produced in both mice and rats exposed to as little as 1.0 ppm BD by inhalation (J.A. Swenberg, M.G. Bird, R.J. Lewis, Future directions in butadiene risk assessment, Chem. Biol. Int. (2006), this issue). Results of assays for the HB-Val and THB-Val hemoglobin adducts are pending. HPRT mutations, determined by cloning assays, and multiple measures of chromosome level changes (sister-chromatid exchanges [SCE], aberrations determined by conventional methods and FISH) again showed no associations with BD exposures, confirming the findings of the initial study that these irreversible genotoxic changes do not arise in humans occupationally exposed to low levels of BD. Except for lower production of both urine metabolites in females, no female-male differences in response to BD exposures were detected in this study. As in the initial study, there were no significant genotype associations with the irreversible genotoxic endpoints. However, as in the first, differences in the metabolic detoxification of BD as reflected in relative amounts of the M1 and M2 urinary metabolites were associated with genotypes, this time both GST and EH.

Quantification of DNA and hemoglobin adducts of 3,4-epoxy-1,2-butanediol in rodents exposed to 3-butene-1,2-diol

1,3-Butadiene (BD) is a confirmed rodent carcinogen and a suspect human carcinogen that forms mutagenic epoxide metabolites during biotransformation. Species differences in the roles of individual DNA reactive intermediates in BD mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are not completely understood. Evidence suggests that 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane (DEB) is responsible for the mutagenic effect induced by exposures to low concentrations of BD in mice and that metabolites of 3-butene-1,2-diol (BD-diol) are involved in the mutagenicity at high exposures in both mice and rats. Two reactive metabolites, 3,4-epoxy-1,2-butanediol (EB-diol) and hydroxymethylvinyl ketone (HMVK), are formed during the biotransformation of BD-diol and could potentially be involved in BD-diol associated mutagenicity. To examine the role of EB-diol in BD-diol mutagenicity we have evaluated the dosimetry of N7-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)guanine (THB-Gua) and N-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)valine (THB-Val) in female B6C3F1 mice and female F344 rats exposed by inhalation to 0, 6, 18 and 36 p.p.m. BD-diol for 4 weeks (6 h/day x 5 days/week). Results showed higher levels of both THB-Gua and THB-Val in mice than in rats. An evaluation of THB-Gua adducts showed virtually no differences between liver and lung for either species, suggesting that EB-diol is stable and is freely circulated. The data also indicated that THB adduct formation began to plateau around 18 p.p.m. in both species. Most importantly, the shape of the dose-response curve for THB adduct formation mimicked the one observed for hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Hprt) mutation frequency. This showed that THB adducts, which are not thought to be responsible for causing the mutations, are good quantitative indicators of mutagenicity in rodents exposed to BD-diol. Although the potential contribution of HMVK still needs to be evaluated, the data suggest that EB-diol is responsible, at least in part, for BD-diol associated mutagenicity in rodents.

Analysis of Diepoxide-Specific Cyclic N-Terminal Globin Adducts in Mice and Rats after Inhalation Exposure to 1,3-Butadiene

1,3-Butadiene is an important industrial chemical used in the production of synthetic rubber and is also found in gasoline and combustion products. It is a multispecies, multisite carcinogen in rodents, with mice being the most sensitive species. 1,3-Butadiene is metabolized to several epoxides that form DNA and protein adducts. Previous analysis of 1,2,3-trihydroxybutyl-valine globin adducts suggested that most adducts resulted from 3-butene-1,2-diol metabolism to 3,4-epoxy-1,2-butanediol, rather than from 1,2;3,4-diepoxybutane. To specifically examine metabolism of 1,3-butadiene to 1,2;3,4-diepoxybutane, the formation of the 1,2;3,4-diepoxybutane-specific adduct N,N-(2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butadiyl)-valine was evaluated in mice treated with 3, 62.5, or 1250 ppm 1,3-butadiene for 10 days and rats exposed to 3 or 62.5 ppm 1,3-butadiene for 10 days, or to 1000 ppm 1,3-butadiene for 90 days, using a newly developed immunoaffinity liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry assay. In addition, 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl-valine and 1,2,3-trihydroxybutyl-valine adducts were determined. The analyses of several adducts derived from 1,3-butadiene metabolites provided new insight into species and exposure differences in 1,3-butadiene metabolism. Mice formed much higher amounts of N,N-(2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butadiyl)-valine than rats. The formation of 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl-valine and N,N-(2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butadiyl)-valine was similar in mice exposed to 3 or 62.5 ppm 1,3-butadiene, whereas 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl-valine was 3-fold higher at 1250 ppm. In both species, 1,2,3-trihydroxybutyl-valine adducts were much higher than 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl-valine and N,N-(2,3-dihydroxy-1,4-butadiyl)-valine. Together, these data show that 1,3-butadiene is primarily metabolized via the 3-butene-1,2-diol pathway, but that mice are much more efficient at forming 1,2;3,4-diepoxybutane than rats, particularly at low exposures. This assay should also be readily adaptable to molecular epidemiology studies on 1,3-butadiene-exposed workers.

Characterization of Hprt mutations in cDNA and genomic DNA of T-cell mutants from control and 1,3-butadiene-exposed male B6C3F1 mice and F344 rats

A multiplex PCR procedure for analysis of genomic DNA mutations in the mouse hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (Hprt) gene was developed and then used with other established methods for the coincident identification of large- and small-scale genetic alterations in the Hprt gene of mutant T-cell isolates propagated from sham- and 1,3-butadiene (BD)-exposed mice and rats. The spectra data for RT-PCR/cDNA analysis and multiplex PCR of genomic DNA from Hprt mutants were combined, and statistical analyses of the mutant fractions for the classes of mutations identified in control versus exposed animals were conducted. Under the assumption that the mutant fractions are distributed as Poisson variates, BD exposure of mice significantly increased the frequencies of (1) nearly all types of base substitutions; (2) single-base deletions and insertions; and (3) all subcategories of deletions. Significantly elevated fractions of G:C-->C:G and A:T-->T:A transversions in the Hprt gene of BD-exposed mice were consistent with the occurrence of these substitutions as the predominant ras gene mutations in multiple tumor types increased in incidence in carcinogenicity studies of BD in mice. BD exposure of rats produced significant increases in (1) base substitutions only at A:T base pairs; (2) single-base insertions; (3) complex mutations; and (4) deletions (mainly 5' partial and complete gene deletions). Future coincident analyses of large- and small-scale mutations in rodents exposed to specific BD metabolites should help identify species differences in the sources of deletion mutations and other types of mutations induced by BD exposures in mice versus rats.

Hprt mutant frequencies in splenic T-cells of male F344 rats exposed by inhalation to propylene

Propylene is a major industrial intermediate and atmospheric pollutant to which humans are exposed by inhalation. In this study, 6-week-old male F344 rates were exposed to 0, 200, 2000, or 10,000 ppm propylene by inhalation for 4 weeks (6 h/day, 5 days/week), and mutant frequencies were determined in the Hprt gene of splenic T-lymphocytes. Twenty milligrams of cyclophosphamide monohydrate (CPP)/kg bw, given on the penultimate day of propylene exposure, was used as a positive control mutagen. Rats (n = 8/group) were necropsied for isolation of T-cells 8 weeks after the last dose, a sampling time that produced peak spleen Hprt mutant frequencies (Mfs) in a preliminary mutant manifestation study using CCP treatment. Hprt Mfs were measured via the T-cell cloning assay, which was performed without knowledge of the animal treatment groups. Mean Hprt Mfs were significantly increased over control values (mean Mf = 5.24 +/- 1.55 (SD) x 10(-6)) in CPP-treated rats (10.37 +/- 4.30 x 10(-6), P = 0.007). However, Hprt Mfs in propylene-exposed rats were not significantly increased over background, with mean Mfs of 4.90 +/- 1.84 x 10(-6) (P = 0.152), 5.05 +/- 3.70 x 10(-6) (P = 0.895), and 5.95 +/- 2.49 x10(-6) (P = 0.500) for animals exposed to 200, 2000, or 10,000 ppm propylene, respectively. No significant increase in F344 rat or B6C3F1 mouse cancer incidence was reported in the National Toxicology Program carcinogenicity studies of propylene across this same exposure range. Taken together, these findings support the conclusion that inhalation exposure of rats to propylene does not cause mutations or cancer.

Analysis of spontaneous, gamma ray- and ethylnitrosourea-induced hprt mutants in HL-60 cells with multiplex PCR

AIM: To explore the molecular spectra and mechanism of human hypoxanthine guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (hprt) gene mutation induced by ethyluitrosourea (ENU) and ⁶⁰Co γ-rays.

METHODS: Independent human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) mutants at the hprt locus were isolated from untreated, ethyluitrosourea (ENU) and ⁶⁰Co γ-ray-exposed cells, respectively, and verified by two-way screening. The genetic changes underlying the mutation were determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and electrophoresis technique.

RESULTS: With dosage increased, survival rate of plated cell reduced (in the group with dosage of ENU with 100-200 μg/mL, P < 0.01; in the group with dosage of ⁶⁰Co γ-ray with 2-4 Gy, P < 0.05) and mutational frequency increased (in the group of ENU 12.5-200.0 μg/mL, P < 0.05; in the group of ⁶⁰Co γ-ray with 1-4 Gy, P < 0.05) significantly. In the 13 spontaneous mutants analyzed, 92.3% of mutant clones did not show any change in number or size of exon, a single exon was lost in 7.7%, and no evidence indicated total gene deletion occurred in nine hprt exons. However, deletions were found in 79.7% of ENU-induced mutations (62.5%-89.4%, P < 0.01) and in 61.7% of gamma-ray-induced mutations (28.6%-76.5%, P < 0.01). There were deletion mutations in all 9 exons of hprt gene and the most of induced mutations were chain deletion with multiplex exons (97.9% in gamma-ray-induced mutants, 88.1% in ENU-induced mutants).

CONCLUSION: The spectra of spontaneous mutations differs completely from that induced by EUN or ⁶⁰Co γ-ray. Although both ENU and γ-ray can cause destruction of genetic structure, mechanism of mutagenesis between them may be different.

The use of non-tumor data in cancer risk assessment: reflections on butadiene, vinyl chloride, and benzene

The estimation and characterization of a cancer risk is grounded in the observation of tumors in humans and/or experimental animals. Increasingly, however, other kinds of data (non-tumor data) are finding application in cancer risk assessment. Metabolism and kinetics, adduct formation, genetic damage, mode of action, and biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility, and effects are examples. While these and other parameters have been studied for many important chemicals over the past 30-40 years, their use in risk assessments is more recent, and new insights and opportunities are continuing to unfold. To provide some perspective on this field, the ILSI Risk Science Institute asked a select working group to characterize the pertinent non-tumor data available for 1,3-butadiene, benzene, and vinyl chloride and to comment on the utility of these data in characterizing cancer risks. This paper presents the findings of that working group and concludes with 15 simple principles for the use of non-tumor data in cancer risk assessment.