Inhibitory effect of nafenopin upon the development of diethylnitrosamine-induced enzyme-altered foci within the rat liver

Ciprofibrate and triiodothyronine do not suppress in vivo induction of placental glutathione S-transferase expression in rat hepatocytes

Studies on hepatocyte primary cultures have suggested that loss of expression of the placental form of glutathione S-transferase in peroxisome proliferator (PP)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is due to inhibition of glutathione S-transferase P (GSTP) transcription by the PPs. In the present study, we have analyzed the effect of a PP, ciprofibrate, and of another ligand of nuclear receptors, 3,3', 5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), on GSTP mRNA and protein levels in an in vivo model where GSTP expression was induced in Wistar rats by pre-treatment with a single dose of lead nitrate. Results indicate that administration of ciprofibrate or T3, immediately after lead nitrate treatment, did not exert any inhibitory effect on GSTP mRNA and protein levels, as revealed by both Western and immunohistochemical analysis. The results indicate that PPs do not inhibit hepatocyte GSTP expression induced in vivo by lead nitrate and suggest that inhibition of GSTP expression by PPs may not necessarily be the cause for the rapid disappearance of GSTP-positive preneoplastic lesions observed after a short term exposure to these agents.

Cell proliferation induced by 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine is associated with a reduction in the number of preneoplastic hepatic lesions

Previous studies have suggested that liver cell proliferation is fundamental for the growth of carcinogen-initiated cells. To gain further information on the association between cell proliferation and hepatocarcinogenesis, we have examined the effect of the hormone 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3), a strong liver mitogen, on the growth of diethylnitrosamine (DENA)-induced hepatic lesions positive for the placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GSTP). Two weeks after a single initiating dose of DENA (150 mg/kg), cycles of liver cell proliferation were induced in male Fischer rats by feeding a T3-supplemented diet (4 mg/kg) 1 week/month for 7 months. Rats were killed at the end of the seventh cycle or 1 month later. Results indicate that, in spite of an increased labelling index, a 70% reduction in the number/cm(2) of GSTP-positive minifoci occurred in T3-treated rats. A decrease in the number of GSTP-positive foci was also observed in T3-treated rats killed 1 month after the last exposure to the hormone (40, versus 67 foci/cm(2) in controls), indicating that the reduction was not due to an inhibitory effect on GSTP exerted by the concomitant presence of T3. In a second series of experiments where DENA-treated rats were fed T3 for 1 week and then subjected to the resistant hepatocyte (RH) model, it was found that T3 treatment prior to promotion resulted in a decrease in the number of GSTP-positive foci (16 GSTP(+) foci/cm(2) in T3-fed animals versus 45 in the control group). The results indicate that cell proliferation associated with T3 treatment: (i) reduces the number of carcinogen-induced GSTP-positive lesions; (ii) does not exert any differential effect on the growth of the remaining foci; (iii) inhibits the capacity of putative DENA-initiated cells to be promoted by the RH model. Data suggest that cell proliferation may not necessarily represent a stimulus for the growth of putative preneoplastic lesions.

Differential effects of nongenotoxic and genotoxic carcinogens on the preneoplastic lesions in the rat liver

Glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive foci development and its expression in liver exposed by nongenotoxic carcinogens phenobarbital (PB) and clofibrate (CF), and genotoxic carcinogen 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f] quinoline (IQ) were investigated as a measure of carcinogenic potential of these chemicals. Male F344 rats were initially given a single intraperitioneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg), and 2 weeks later, animals were fed diets containing 0.03% IQ or 0.5% CF or 0.05% PB or basal diet as a control for 6 weeks. All rats were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy (PH) at week 3. Sequential sacrifice of rats was performed at 8 weeks or 52 weeks, and liver tissues were examined for immunohistochemical staining of GST-P positive foci. The numbers (No./cm2) and areas (mm2/cm2) of GST-P positive foci were increased by IQ or PB, but were decreased by CF compare to the control. Consistent with the development of GST-P positive foci, a time-related increase in the expression of GST-P mRNA was found in the rats treated with IQ, whereas CF decreased it. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma at 52 weeks was increased by all three chemicals. These results show that PB and IQ induced GST-P positive foci, but the peroxisome proliferator CF did not, which suggest that the prediction of carcinogenic potency based on the development of prenoplastic foci may cause false negative in a particular category compounds like peroxisome proliferators.

Apoptosis and chemical carcinogenesis

Long recognized as a normal component of organogenesis during development, apoptosis (programmed cell death) has recently been implicated in alterations of cell growth and differentiation. Tissue homeostasis is normally maintained by a balance between cell division and cell death, with apoptosis often functioning in complement to cell growth. Thus, antithetical parallels in chemical carcinogenesis can be drawn between apoptosis and the proliferative events more commonly addressed. While enhanced cell replication may contribute to an increased frequency of mutation, apoptosis within a tissue may counteract chemical carcinogenesis through loss of mutated cells. Many strong carcinogens act as tumor promoters, selectively expanding an initiated cell population advantageously over surrounding cells. Similarly, chemicals with a selective inhibition of apoptosis within an initiated population would offer a growth advantage. In contrast, chemicals causing selective apoptosis of initiated cells would be expected to have an anticarcinogenic effect. Selective apoptosis, in concert with cell-specific replication, may explain the unique promoting effects of different carcinogens such as the peroxisome-proliferating chemicals, phenobarbital, and 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Cell turnover, both cell growth and cell death, is central to the process of chemically induced carcinogenesis in animals and understanding its impact is a critical determinant of the relevance of chemically induced effects to man.

Compensatory regeneration, mitogen-induced liver growth, and multistage chemical carcinogenesis

Liver cell proliferation has often been implicated to play a major role during different steps of the carcinogenic process. Most of the experimental studies indicating a close association between cell proliferation and liver cancer development have made use of a compensatory type of proliferative stimulus. However, liver growth may also be caused by direct hyperplasia after administration of primary mitogens. Our recent studies examined the possible differences between these two types of cell proliferation. Our studies indicate that a) increased expression of proto-oncogenes such as c-fos, c-jun, and c-myc is not necessary for entry into the cell cycle during mitogen-induced liver growth; b) mitogen-induced liver growth does not support initiation of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis; c) repeated proliferative stimuli induced by primary mitogens do not stimulate the growth of initiated cells to a focal and/or nodular stage; and d) mitogen-induced liver growth, unlike compensatory regeneration, is followed by a particular mode of cell death, namely, apoptosis. This type of cell death may be responsible for the elimination of carcinogen-initiated cells.

Hepatic peroxisome proliferation in rodents and its significance for humans

Peroxisomes are subcellular organelles found in all eukaryotic cells. In the liver they are usually round and measure about 0.5-1.0 microns; in rodents they contain a prominent crystalloid core, but this may be absent in newly formed rodent peroxisomes as well as in human peroxisomes. A major role of the peroxisomes is the breakdown of long-chain fatty acids, thereby complementing mitochondrial fatty-acid metabolism. Many chemicals are known to increase the number of peroxisomes in rat and mouse hepatocytes. This peroxisome proliferation is accompanied by replicative DNA synthesis and liver growth. No clear structure-activity relationships are apparent. Many of these peroxisome proliferators contain acid functions that can modulate fatty acid metabolism. Two mechanisms have been proposed for the induction of peroxisome proliferation. One is based on the existence of one or several specific cytosolic receptors that bind the peroxisome proliferator, facilitating its translocation to the cell nucleus and the activation of the expression of specific genes. The second, perhaps more general, hypothesis involves chemically mediated perturbation of lipid metabolism. These two hypotheses are not mutually exclusive. Many peroxisome proliferators have been shown to induce hepatocellular tumours, despite being uniformly non-genotoxic, when administered at high dose levels to rats and mice for long periods. Three mechanisms have been proposed to explain the induction of tumours. One is based on increased production of active oxygen species due to imbalanced production of peroxisomal enzymes; it has been proposed that these reactive oxygen species cause indirect DNA damage with subsequent tumour formation. In rodents, an alternative mechanism is the promotion of endogenous lesions by sustained DNA synthesis and hyperplasia. Thirdly, it is conceivable that sustained growth stimulation may be sufficient for tumour formation. Marked species differences are apparent in response to peroxisome proliferations. Rats and mice are extremely sensitive, and hamsters show an intermediate response while guinea pigs, monkeys and humans appear to be relatively insensitive or non-responsive at dose levels that produce a marked response in rodents. These species differences may be reproduced in vitro using primary culture hepatocytes isolated from a variety of species including humans. The available experimental evidence suggests a strong association and a probable casual link between peroxisome-proliferator-elicited liver growth and the subsequent development of liver tumours in rats and mice. Since humans are insensitive or unresponsive, at therapeutic dose levels, to peroxisome-proliferator-induced hepatic effects, it is reasonable to conclude that the encountered levels of exposure to these non-genotoxic agents do not present a hepatocarcinogenic hazard to humans.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Effect of the peroxisome proliferator perfluorodecanoic acid on the promotion of two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

This study was conducted to determine if the peroxisome proliferator perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA) has promoting activity in two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis. Because PFDA is a non-competitive inhibitor of the peroxisomal bifunctional enzyme and thus inhibits the peroxisomal beta pathway, we hypothesized that PFDA may not have promoting activity as do other peroxisome proliferators, because hydrogen peroxide production is inhibited. Twenty-four hours after partial hepatectomy, female Sprague-Dawley rats were given an initiating dose of 10 mg/kg diethylnitrosamine by gavage. The rats were divided into five groups that received monthly i.p. injections of 0.0, 0.05, 0.50 or 5.0 mg/kg PFDA in corn oil or were placed on diets that contained either 0.01% ciprofibrate or 0.05% phenobarbital for 9 or 18 months. Both ciprofibrate and the highest dose of PFDA increased the activity of the peroxisomal enzyme fatty acyl CoA oxidase. PFDA treatment did not increase the tumor incidence or the number of altered hepatic foci at 9 or 18 months, although the mean volume of foci was increased at 9 months. Ciprofibrate increased the incidence of hepatocellular carcinomas at 18 months but did not increase the number or volume of altered hepatic foci at 9 or 18 months. Phenobarbital increased the number and volume of foci but did not influence the tumor incidence. The results of this investigation indicate that PFDA is not a promoter of hepatocarcinogenesis.

Toxicity of peroxisome proliferators

Peroxisome proliferators are not a chemical class of compounds. They do not have a similar chemical structure but all induce characteristic effects in the liver of treated rats or mice. They produce within a few days a striking dose-dependent hepatomegaly accompanied by a characteristic proliferation of the peroxisomal and microsomal compartment as assessed morphologically and biochemically. Such effects are not observed in other species including human. In addition, life-long feeding of the susceptible laboratory animals results in the formation of liver tumor. The effects induced in subchronic studies can be reproduced and investigated in cultured hepatocytes, the target cells. The species specificity is observed with all peroxisome proliferators, and by large the effects observed in subchronic studies are reversible. The hepatocarcinogenesis by peroxisome proliferators is not fully understood, because these compounds are not directly genotoxic, but the understanding of their tumor promotor potential has some implications for the toxicological testing and risk assessment.

Toxicological studies on a benzofurane derivative. I. A comparative study with phenobarbital on rat liver

The benzofurane derivative benzbromarone (BBR) previously has led to liver tumor formation after long-term treatment of rats, but no indications of genotoxicity were detected. The present studies were designed to elucidate the mechanism(s) possibly involved in liver tumor formation by BBR. Female Wistar rats were used. Phenobarbital (PB) served as a positive control. (1) Short-term treatment (7 days) with daily doses of 2 to 100 mg/kg BBR led to adaptive responses in the liver, i.e., growth (increases in DNA, RNA, and protein) and induction of monooxygenases. These changes were also observed after feeding BBR for 8, 33, 77, and 102 weeks at doses of 2, 10, and 50 mg/kg/day but tended to weaken with time. Similar effects were obtained with PB fed at 2, 10, or 50 mg/kg/day. However, unlike PB, BBR did not enhance the expression of cytochrome P450-PB as demonstrated by immunostaining of histological liver sections. (2) BBR feeding for 102 weeks, but not for 77 weeks, produced some neoplastic liver nodules and at 50 mg/kg produced one hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Thus, BBR was tumorigenic in the present study, but was clearly weaker than PB which had induced liver nodules and HCCs at 77 weeks and even more markedly at 102 weeks. (3) To check for tumor-initiating activity 100 mg/kg BBR was given 14 hr after a two-thirds hepatectomy followed by promotion with PB (50 mg/kg) for 15 weeks. No phenotypically altered liver foci were detected. (4) To test for tumor-promoting activity rats received a single dose of N-nitrosomorpholine (250 mg/kg), and subsequently BBR or PB at doses of 2, 10, and 50 mg/kg/day. While PB markedly enhanced the development of neoplastic nodules and HCCs, BBR had only a weak enhancing effect on the induction of HCC, which was not dose related. gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-positive foci dramatically increased in PB-treated animals, in contrast they showed no response after 2 and 10 mg/kg BBR and even decreased after 50 mg/kg BBR. (5) With PB changes in liver growth, monooxygenase activity, foci expansion, and tumor promotion all correlating with tumorigenesis in a quantitative manner, apparent no-observed-effect-levels are somewhat below 2 mg/kg (or 10 mg/kg for liver enlargement). (6) These studies suggest that BBR belongs to a group of nongenotoxic, growth-stimulating drugs with tumorigenic potential in rat liver. Its effects on the liver are different from those of PB, but seemed to resemble those of peroxisome proliferators, a hypothesis studied in the subsequent papers.

Modulation of P-450 IIC7 and IIIA1,2 mRNA in pre-neoplastic liver. Effect of promotion by phenobarbital

P-450 IIC7 and IIIA2 mRNAs are constitutively expressed in the hepatic tissue under developmental control. Both forms--as well as IIIA1, 90% homologous to IIIA2 mRNA--display positive modulation by phenobarbital a prototype inducer of the liver monooxygenases and a strong promoter of experimental chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. In the present work the variations in the concentration of these P-450 mRNA were studied in rats submitted to the hepatocarcinogenic protocol of Solt and Farber. We demonstrate that a decrease in the relative concentrations of P-450 IIC7 and IIIA1, 2 mRNA is set up along the tumor promotion stage. Animals--starting the experimental carcinogenic protocol at pubertal age--show a partial inhibition of the physiological expression of P-450 IIIA1,2 mRNA associated to male sex maturation. Administration of phenobarbital results in an acceleration of the pre-neoplastic process which is concomitant with an induction of P-450 IIC7 as well as IIIA1,2 at the earlier promotion stages. P-450 mRNA concentration markedly decreases as the preneoplastic process develops. While an impaired P-450 IIIA1,2 mRNA relative abundance is observed, an inversion of the modulation of P-450 IIC7 as well as of the male phenotype marker alpha-2u-globulin mRNA arises as the tumor promotion stage progresses, both mRNA becoming repressed in response to phenobarbital.

Effects of the peroxisome proliferator di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate on enzymes in rat liver and on carcinogen-induced liver altered foci in comparison to the promoter phenobarbital

The livers of rats given either the peroxisome proliferating hepatocarcinogen di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) following initiation by 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) or the neoplasm promoter phenobarbital (PB) were studied for changes in 8 histochemical properties. Male F344 rats were fed 200 ppm AAF for 7 weeks to induce hepatocellular altered foci, and were then fed diets containing either no chemical, 12,000 ppm DEHP or 500 ppm PB for 24 weeks. In hepatocytes, DEHP increased alkaline phosphatase activity throughout the lobule, but reduced gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activity in periportal hepatocytes. PB, in contrast, increased GGT activity in periportal hepatocytes. In foci that were induced by AAF, DEHP reduced the histochemical activity of GGT and did not increase the number, mean volume or volume % of foci detected by deficiencies in iron storage, glucose-6-phosphatase, adenosine triphosphatase or fibronectin. PB enhanced the expression of all 8 phenotypic abnormalities in foci such that either more profiles were detected or the area of foci was increased.

Effects of a choline-deficient diet and a hypolipidemic agent on single glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive hepatocytes in rat liver

Using the placental form of glutathione S-transferase (GST-P) as a marker of carcinogen-initiated hepatocytes, we investigated how a choline-deficient (CD) diet and BR931, a carcinogenic hypolipidemic agent, modify populations of single GST-P-positive hepatocytes. The liver of male Fischer rats (6-7 weeks old) fed a CS or basal diet contained mostly single or double GST-P-positive hepatocytes. Feeding a CD diet for 2-4 weeks led to increases in the number of aggregates of two and three GST-P-positive hepatocytes. By 8-12 weeks, there was an emergence of discrete foci of GST-P-positive hepatocytes consisting of more than 20 hepatocytes. Feeding a BR931 diet for 4-8 weeks resulted in no significant change in the number of single GST-P-positive hepatocytes in the liver as compared to feeding a basal diet. It is suggested that single GST-P-positive hepatocytes in the liver of relatively young rats maintained on a commercial diet may represent endogenously initiated cells. A CD diet promotes endogenously initiated cells to form larger aggregates or foci of GST-P-positive cells.

The significance of chemically-induced hepatocellular altered foci in rat liver and application to carcinogen detection

This review describes the pathogenesis and significance of chemically-induced hepatocellular altered foci in rat liver. The measurement of induction of foci can be used for carcinogen detection and the measurement of the modulation of foci by chemicals other than the inducing agent identifies enhancers or inhibitors of liver carcinogenesis.

Effects of non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogens phenobarbital and nafenopin on phenotype and growth of different populations of altered foci in rat liver

Non-genotoxic hepatocarcinogens share the ability to induce liver growth in rodents. Phenobarbital (PB), as one prototype compound, promotes the development of liver tumors; altered cell foci of the clear-eosinophilic phenotype, also identified by gamma-glutamyltransferase expression, appear to be precursor lesions. These foci seem to over-respond to the growth-inducing effect of PB. In contrast, the question as to whether peroxisome inducers are also tumor promoters is still unsettled. We will present evidence which strongly suggests that the peroxisome inducer, nafenopin (Naf), promotes tumor development in rat livers by stimulating selective growth of a hitherto undescribed subtype of altered foci. This subtype is characterized by weak diffuse cytoplasmic basophilia of its hepatocytes. Initiation in rats by aflatoxin B1 followed by promotion with Naf produced numerous adenomas and carcinomas; their morphology resembled that of the weakly basophilic foci. Both clear-eosinophilic and weakly basophilic foci appear "spontaneously" in the liver of aging rats. Promotion of such lesions by PB-type compounds or peroxisome inducers may explain cancer formation by these non-genotoxic agents.

Chemically induced proliferation of peroxisomes: implications for risk assessment

An increasing number of beneficial and economically important drugs, industrial chemicals, and agrichemicals are being found to cause a dose-related hepatomegaly in rodent species which is associated with the proliferation of the subcellular organelle, the peroxisome. The prolonged proliferation of hepatocellular peroxisomes and the enhanced production of the normal peroxisomal metabolic byproduct, hydrogen peroxide, in these animals during chronic bioassays has been hypothesized to account for the tumorigenicity of several of these compounds, most of which lack any measurable genotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo assays. This paper briefly reviews the basic morphology and enzymology of the peroxisome and its relationship to specific pathologic changes in animals. The potential impact of the mechanism of action of peroxisome proliferators upon the design of toxicity studies and, in conjunction with interspecies sensitivity data, upon risk assessment is discussed.

In vivo studies on the mechanism of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate carcinogenesis

In a study sponsored by the National Toxicology Program, di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) fed in the diet at 1.2% significantly increased the incidence of female rats with hepatocellular carcinomas. Extensive evaluation of DEHP for carcinogenicity has yielded negative results. The present investigations were designed to elucidate the mechanism of DEHP hepatocarcinogenesis under the conditions of the original bioassay. Short-term studies designed to evaluate the promoting capability of DEHP, when administered after initiation, were negative when livers of female Fischer-344 rats were evaluated using multiple histochemical stains to identify foci of cellular alteration. Two different protocols were used to evaluate the initiating potential of DEHP in the liver using histochemically defined foci as the endpoint. In both experiments the results were negative. Chronic exposure to DEHP at 1.2% in the diet for 2 years resulted in elevation of hepatic peroxisomal enzymes while DNA replication, an indication of cell proliferation, was not affected in hepatocytes. The number of foci was not elevated in the DEHP group compared to the controls, even though a low incidence of rats with liver tumors occurred in the treated group. The results of this series, as well as other published results, suggest that DEHP and other peroxisomal proliferating chemicals have unique effects on the development of hepatic neoplasms. The absence of altered foci after chronic administration or in initiation-promotion protocols distinguishes DEHP and perhaps other peroxisomal proliferating chemicals from both classic liver carcinogens and promoters.

Initiation and promotion in hepatocarcinogenesis

Initiation and promotion have been recognized as essential parts of the multi-stage concept of chemical carcinogenesis. In the liver, initiation by genotoxic carcinogens results in appearance of foci of phenotypically altered hepatocytes. Accelerated growth and phenotypic changes of these foci during tumor promotion by phenobarbital are described, and possible mechanisms of initiation and promotion considered.

Differential induction profile of drug-metabolizing enzymes after treatment with hypolipidaemic agents

Various hypolipidaemic agents differentially induced microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes. Clofibrate, clofibric acid, fenofibric acid and dulofibrate, which are mainly hypotriglyceridaemic, increased the content in cytochromes P-450 (77-185% over control), and especially cytochrome P-452-dependent lauric acid 12-hydroxylation (5.6- to 8.4-fold increase). Bilirubin glucuronidation was 2.1- to 2.8-fold stimulated; epoxide hydrolase activity (benzo(a)pyrene-oxide) was only slightly increased by the drugs. By contrast, F1379, which lowers plasma cholesterol only, did not change cytochromes P-450 content and slightly affected the 12-hydroxylation of lauric acid. It dramatically enhanced the epoxide hydrolase activity (7.6-fold), and increased (200%) the glucuronidation of planar group I substrates (4-nitrophenol, 4-methylumbelliferone, 1-naphthol). These effects were accompanied by a highly positive staining of gamma-glutamyltransferase in the liver characterized by a great number of intensively coloured foci in the periportal and perilobular area of the tissue. Treatment of rats for three weeks with F1379 did not modify this typical profile in enzyme induction. Such continuous effect could reveal some biochemical changes of hepatocytes with important toxicological relevance. Compared to the parent compound, treatment of rats with two metabolites of F1379 led to a decrease in the induction potency on epoxide hydrolase and on the forms I of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase; by contrast, the content in cytochromes P-450 was increased.

Free radical injury and liver tumor promotion

One of the underlying mechanisms of tumor promotion both in the skin and liver involves free radical mediated injury to informational macromolecules of target cells. A choline-deficient (CD) diet, which is an efficient liver tumor promoter, induces peroxidative damage of liver cell membrane lipids. By modifying components of a CD diet, we have shown that the efficacy of the promotion is correlated with the extent of lipid peroxidation. The substitution of fats in a CD diet with predominantly polyunsaturated fat and the addition of methapyrilene to a CD diet enhances membrane lipid peroxidation and the promoting effects. An antioxidant (BHT) and hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators (BR931 and DEHP) suppress both of these effects. Contrary to these findings, phenobarbital did not induce membrane lipid peroxidation, and its addition to a CD diet inhibited the diet-induced lipid peroxidation, though such a combination exerted a stronger promoting action. Thus, a CD diet and phenobarbital exert their promoting actions through different mechanisms. The consequence of membrane lipid peroxidation in the liver cells induced by a CD diet may be multiple. Our recent study of surface membrane insulin receptors of liver cells of rats fed a CD diet showed a decrease in number and an enhanced binding affinity leading to altered responsiveness of liver cells to insulin mediated glycogen synthesis. It is suggested that CD diet-induced lipid peroxidation leads to functional alterations of membrane receptors involved in cell growth control and may thereby exert its promoting action.

Enzymes of glutathione metabolism as biochemical markers during hepatocarcinogenesis

Enzymes of glutathione metabolism, particularly gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), play a role in multistage hepatocarcinogenesis. The enhanced expression of these enzymes in preneoplastic altered hepatic foci, nodules, and hepatocellular carcinomas has been demonstrated after treatment with a variety of initiating and promoting agents. Glutathione is necessary for the detoxification of xenobiotics and carcinogens and for cell replication. Induction of GGT in altered hepatocytes may permit these cells to utilize extracellular glutathione to preserve their internal glutathione levels. GST induction allows glutathione utilization for the protection of the altered hepatocyte in an environment of exposure to xenobiotics, such as promoting agents. Thus, the combined effects of GGT and GST, in a toxic environment, may provide for the enhanced proliferation observed in preneoplastic hepatocytes. New clinical and research opportunities may involve the use of GGT and the placental isozyme of GST (PGST) as markers of preneoplasia and neoplasia in humans. Many factors, such as hormones, diet, and exposure to initiating and promoting agents, influence GGT and GST expression. The recent cloning of cDNAs to GGT and PGST offers opportunities for the study of factors involved in the genetic expression of these two enzymes. Coupled with the use of hepatocyte culture and transplantation, the factors involved at the molecular level in the creation of hepatocellular neoplasia may be discovered.

Inhibitory potential of acetaminophen and o-, m-, p- aminophenols for development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive liver cell foci in rats pretreated with diethylnitrosamine

The inhibitory potential of treatment with acetaminophen (AAP) and 3 different isometric forms of monoaminophenols (o-, m-, p-AP) for the development of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-positive (gamma-GT+) liver cell foci was examined in an in vivo short-term assay system. Rats were initially given a single intraperitoneal injection of diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and fed test compounds from week 2 until they were killed at week 6, all rats being subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at week 3. All 4 compounds exerted obvious inhibition of the development of gamma-GT foci with both number and area (mm2) being reduced. AAP proved the most potent agent whereas dose-related inhibitory potential was observed within the 2 doses of p-AP treated.

Comparative effects of carcinogens on the induction of placental glutathione S-transferase-positive liver nodules in a short-term assay and of hepatocellular carcinomas in a long-term assay

The dose-dependent effects of three hepatocarcinogens were investigated by measuring the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P)-positive foci and nodules appearing in the liver under short-term conditions (Experiment I) and evaluating the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma after long-term chronic administration (Experiment II). For these purposes, three different doses of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF), 3'-methyl-4-dimethy-laminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB), and DL-ethionine (ethionine) were given to male F344 rats for 6 weeks after a single injection of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) in Experiment I or for 104 weeks without initiation by DENA in Experiment II. In Experiment I, the induction of GST-P-positive foci and nodules by 2-AAF and 3'-Me-DAB was clearly dose-dependent. In contrast, ethionine showed enhancing effects inducing GST-P-positive foci and nodules only in groups given the highest dose level. Similarly, in Experiment II, induction of hepatocellular carcinomas by 2-AAF and 3'-Me-DAB was clearly dose-dependent, whereas liver neoplasms were only induced by the highest dose level of ethionine. These results indicate that degree of induction of GST-P positive foci and nodules in a short-term in vivo test for liver carcinogens corresponds with the incidences of hepatocellular carcinomas revealed in a long-term in vivo assay.

An approach to the development of a short-term whole-animal bioassay to distinguish initiating agents (incomplete carcinogens), promoting agents, complete carcinogens, and noncarcinogens in rat liver

With increased knowledge of the stages of initiation and promotion in the natural history of neoplastic development and the multiple observations that such stages are likely to be ubiquitous in the natural history of all histogenetic types of neoplasms, it is becoming increasingly important to distinguish chemical agents that act selectively during one or the other of these stages. Utilizing data obtained from the published literature as well as further observations, the experimental findings reported in this paper serve to indicate an approach to the development of a short-term whole-animal bioassay capable of distinguishing agents that act at one or the other or both of the stages of initiation and promotion in rat liver. Because of the tissue specificity for both complete carcinogens and promoting agents, this bioassay system is not likely to identify the initiating and promoting capabilities of all carcinogenic agents and thus at present is not designed to replace the standard chronic bioassay systems. However, in view of the diverse metabolic capabilities of hepatic tissue, the system proposed in this paper may represent a model capable of distinguishing the stages of carcinogenesis at which many, if not most, specific carcinogenic chemicals exert their primary action.

Absence of a promoting or sequential syncarcinogenic effect in rat liver by the carcinogenic hypolipidemic drug nafenopin given after N-2-fluorenylacetamide

The hypolipidemic agent nafenopin, (NF), has been reported to be carcinogenic to rat liver. To determine whether nafenopin exerts a promoting or syncarcinogenic effect in rat liver, its effect on liver carcinogenesis induced by N-2-fluorenylacetamide (FAA) was studied. In two separate experiments, male F344 rats were fed 0.02% FAA for either 10 or 8 weeks to induce preneoplastic liver lesions. Following a recovery period of 1 week, rats were given 0.01 or 0.02% NF in the diet for 23 weeks in one experiment and 0.05 or 0.1% for 24 weeks in the other. The final incidence of neoplasms, and their numbers, size distribution, and degrees of differentiation were not significantly different in groups given NF after FAA compared to those maintained on a basal diet after FAA. In the group treated with the highest dose level of NF following FAA, however, there was a decrease in the number of grossly visible small neoplasms. In contrast, the liver neoplasm promoter phenobarbital increased the multiplicity, although not the incidence, of liver neoplasms when given after FAA. Thus, four different dose levels of NF showed no promoting or syncarcinogenic effect on FAA-induced hepatocarcinogenesis.

Neoplastic progression in experimental hepatocarcinogenesis

The evolution of cancer through a series of progressive steps is discussed in the rat liver model on the basis of the multi-hit-multi-step hypothesis. The available evidence for this hypothesis is reviewed with special attention to its kinetic aspects. The neoplastic cell stages which can be distinguished during the protracted developmental process leading from the early precancerous foci to the malignant hepatocellular carcinoma are discussed in the light of the histological evidence for step-by-step progression manifested as focus-in-focus lesions. The inducibility of progression of the early precancerous foci to the transplantable neoplastic nodule stage by a new experimental protocol of the initiation-promotion-initiation type is indicative of the operation of a common molecular mechanism, i.e., somatic mutation, during the first and later steps of the carcinogenic process.