Oxidative DNA damage induced by a metabolite of 2-naphthylamine, a smoking-related bladder carcinogen

N-acetyltransferase 2 acetylator genotype-dependent N-acetylation and toxicity of the arylamine carcinogen β-naphthylamine in cryopreserved human hepatocytes

We used cryopreserved human hepatocytes that express rapid, intermediate, and slow acetylator N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) genotypes to measure the N-acetylation of β-naphthylamine (BNA) which is one of the aromatic amines found in cigarette smoke including E-cigarettes. We investigated the role of NAT2 genetic polymorphism in genotoxicity and oxidative stress induced by BNA. In vitro BNA NAT2 activities in rapid acetylators was 1.6 and 3.5-fold higher than intermediate (p < 0.01) and slow acetylators (p < 0.0001). BNA N-acetylation in situ was 3 to 4- fold higher in rapid acetylators than slow acetylators, following incubation with 10 and 100 µM BNA (p < 0.01). DNA damage was two to threefold higher in the rapid versus slow acetylators (p < 0.0001) and 2.5-fold higher in intermediate versus slow acetylators following BNA treatment at 100 and 1000 μM, ROS/RNS level was the highest in rapid acetylators followed by intermediate and then slow acetylators (p < 0.0001). Our findings show that the N-acetylation of BNA is NAT2 genotype dependent in cryopreserved human hepatocytes and our data further document an important role for NAT2 genetic polymorphism in modifying BNA-induced genotoxicity and oxidative damage.

Differences in β-naphthylamine metabolism and toxicity in Chinese hamster ovary cell lines transfected with human CYP1A2 and NAT2*4, NAT2*5B or NAT2*7B N-acetyltransferase 2 haplotypes

β-naphthylamine (BNA) is an important aromatic amine carcinogen. Current exposures derive primarily from cigarette smoking including e-cigarettes. Occupational and environmental exposure to BNA is associated with urinary bladder cancer which is the fourth most frequent cancer in the United States. N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is an important metabolizing enzyme for aromatic amines. Previous studies investigated mutagenicity and genotoxicity of BNA in bacteria and in rabbit or rat hepatocytes. However, the effects of human NAT2 genetic polymorphism on N-acetylation and genotoxicity induced by BNA still need to be clarified. We used nucleotide excision repair-deficient Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that were stably transfected with human CYP1A2 and NAT2 alleles: NAT2*4 (reference allele), NAT2*5B (variant slow acetylator allele common in Europe) or NAT2*7B (variant slow acetylator allele common in Asia). BNA N-acetylation was measured both in vitro and in situ via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) mutations, double-strand DNA breaks, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured as indices of toxicity. NAT2*4 cells showed significantly higher BNA N-acetylation rates followed by NAT2*7B and NAT2*5B. BNA caused concentration-dependent increases in DNA damage and ROS levels. NAT2*7B showed significantly higher levels of HPRT mutants, DNA damage and ROS than NAT2*5B (p < 0.001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001 respectively) although both are slow alleles. Our findings suggest that BNA N-acetylation and toxicity are modified by NAT2 polymorphism. Furthermore, they confirm heterogeneity among slow acetylator alleles for BNA metabolism and toxicity supporting differential risk for individuals carrying NAT2*7B allele.

Unboxing the molecular modalities of mutagens in cancer

The etiology of the majority of human cancers is associated with a myriad of environmental causes, including physical, chemical, and biological factors. DNA damage induced by such mutagens is the initial step in the process of carcinogenesis resulting in the accumulation of mutations. Mutational events are considered the major triggers for introducing genetic and epigenetic insults such as DNA crosslinks, single- and double-strand DNA breaks, formation of DNA adducts, mismatched bases, modification in histones, DNA methylation, and microRNA alterations. However, DNA repair mechanisms are devoted to protect the DNA to ensure genetic stability, any aberrations in these calibrated mechanisms provoke cancer occurrence. Comprehensive knowledge of the type of mutagens and carcinogens and the influence of these agents in DNA damage and cancer induction is crucial to develop rational anticancer strategies. This review delineated the molecular mechanism of DNA damage and the repair pathways to provide a deep understanding of the molecular basis of mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. A relationship between DNA adduct formation and cancer incidence has also been summarized. The mechanistic basis of inflammatory response and oxidative damage triggered by mutagens in tumorigenesis has also been highlighted. We elucidated the interesting interplay between DNA damage response and immune system mechanisms. We addressed the current understanding of DNA repair targeted therapies and DNA damaging chemotherapeutic agents for cancer treatment and discussed how antiviral agents, anti-inflammatory drugs, and immunotherapeutic agents combined with traditional approaches lay the foundations for future cancer therapies.

Mechanism of reactive oxygen species generation and oxidative DNA damage induced by acrylohydroxamic acid, a putative metabolite of acrylamide

Acrylamide is formed during the heating of food and is also found in cigarette smoke. It is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a probable human carcinogen (Group 2A). Glycidamide, an epoxide metabolite of acrylamide, is implicated in the mechanism of acrylamide carcinogenicity. Acrylamide causes oxidative DNA damage in target organs. We sought to clarify the mechanism of acrylamide-induced oxidative DNA damage by investigating site-specific DNA damage and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by a putative metabolite of acrylamide, acrylohydroxamic acid (AA). Our results, using ³²P-5'-end-labeled DNA fragments, indicated that, although AA alone did not damage DNA, AA treated with amidase induced DNA damage in the presence of Cu(II). DNA cleavage occurred preferentially at T and C, and particularly at T in 5'-TG-3' sequences, and the DNA cleavage pattern was similar to that of hydroxylamine. The DNA damage was inhibited by methional, catalase, and Cu(I)-chelator bathocuproine, suggesting that H₂O₂ and Cu(I) are involved in the mechanism of DNA damage induced by AA treated with amidase. In addition, amidase-treated AA increased 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine formation in calf thymus DNA, an indicator of oxidative DNA damage, in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, hydroxylamine, possibly produced from AA treated with amidase, was autoxidized via the Cu(II)/Cu(I) redox cycle and H₂O₂ generation, suggesting that oxidative DNA damage induced by ROS plays an important role in acrylamide-related carcinogenesis.

DNA-damaging activities of twenty-four structurally diverse unsubstituted and substituted cyclic compounds in embryo-fetal chicken livers

DNA-damaging activities of twenty-four structurally diverse unsubstituted and substituted cyclic compounds were assessed in embryo-fetal chicken livers. Formation of DNA adducts and strand breaks were measured using the nucleotide ³²P-postlabelling (NPL) and comet assays, respectively. Unsubstituted monocyclic benzene, polycyclic fused ring compound naphthalene, covalently connected polycyclic ring compound biphenyl, and heterocyclic ring compound fluorene did not produce DNA damage. Amino-substituted monocyclic compounds, aniline and p-phenylenediamine, as well as polycyclic 1-naphthylamine were also negative. In contrast, carcinogenic monocyclic methyl-substituted anilines: o-toluidine, 2,6-xylidine, 3,4-dimethylaniline, 4-chloro-o-toluidine; 2 methoxy-substituted methylaniline: p-cresidine; 2,4 and 2,6 diamino- or dinitro- substituted toluenes all produced DNA damage. Genotoxic polycyclic amino-substituted 2-naphthylamine, 4-aminobiphenyl, benzidine, methyl-substituted 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl and 4-dimethylaminoazobenzene as well as amino- and nitro- fluorenes substituted at the 1 or 2 positions also were positive in at least one of the assays. Overall, the DNA damaging activity of cyclic compounds in embryo-fetal chicken livers reflected the type and position of the substitution on the aromatic ring. Additionally, substituted polycyclic compounds exhibited higher DNA-damaging potency compared to monocyclic chemicals. These results are congruent with in vivo findings in other species, establishing chicken eggs as a reliable system for structure-activity assessment of members of groups of related chemicals.

Direct LC-MS/MS Detection of Guanine Oxidations in Exon 7 of the p53 Tumor Suppressor Gene

Oxidation of DNA by reactive oxygen species (ROS) yields 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxodG) as primary oxidation product, which can lead to downstream G to T transversion mutations. DNA mutations are nonrandom, and mutations at specific codons are associated with specific cancers, as widely documented for the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Here, we present the first direct LC-MS/MS study (without isotopic labeling or hydrolysis) of primary oxidation sites of p53 exon 7. We oxidized a 32 base pair (bp) double-stranded (ds) oligonucleotide representing exon 7 of the p53 gene. Oxidized oligonucleotides were cut by a restriction endonuclease to provide small strands and enable positions and amounts of 8-oxodG to be determined directly by LC-MS/MS. Oxidation sites on the oligonucleotide generated by two oxidants, catechol/Cu2+/NADPH and Fenton's reagent, were located and compared. Guanines in codons 243, 244, 245, and 248 were most frequently oxidized by catechol/Cu2+/NADPH with relative oxidation of 5.6, 7.2, 2.6, and 10.7%, respectively. Fenton's reagent oxidations were more specific for guanines in codons 243 (20.3%) and 248 (10.4%). Modeling of docking of oxidizing species on the ds-oligonucleotide were consistent with the experimental codon oxidation sites. Significantly, codons 244 and 248 are mutational "hotspots" in nonsmall cell and small cell lung cancers, supporting a possible role of oxidation in p53 mutations leading to lung cancer.

Evaluating Metabolite-Related DNA Oxidation and Adduct Damage from Aryl Amines Using a Microfluidic ECL Array

Damage to DNA from the metabolites of drugs and pollutants constitutes a major human toxicity pathway known as genotoxicity. Metabolites can react with metal ions and NADPH to oxidize DNA or participate in SN2 reactions to form covalently linked adducts with DNA bases. Guanines are the main DNA oxidation sites, and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) is the initial product. Here we describe a novel electrochemiluminescent (ECL) microwell array that produces metabolites from test compounds and measures relative rates of DNA oxidation and DNA adduct damage. In this new array, films of DNA, metabolic enzymes, and an ECL metallopolymer or complex assembled in microwells on a pyrolytic graphite wafer are housed in dual microfluidic chambers. As reactant solution passes over the wells, metabolites form and can react with DNA in the films to form DNA adducts. These adducts are detected by ECL from a RuPVP polymer that uses DNA as a coreactant. Aryl amines also combine with Cu2+ and NADPH to form reactive oxygen species (ROS) that oxidize DNA. The resulting 8-oxodG was detected selectively by ECL-generating bis(2,2'-bipyridine)-(4-(1,10-phenanthrolin-6-yl)-benzoic acid)Os(II). DNA/enzyme films on magnetic beads were oxidized similarly, and 8-oxodG determined by LC/MS/MS enabled array standardization. The array limit of detection for oxidation was 720 8-oxodG per 106 nucleobases. For a series of aryl amines, metabolite-generated DNA oxidation and adduct formation turnover rates from the array correlated very well with rodent 1/TD50 and Comet assay results.

2-Nitroanisole-induced oxidative DNA damage in Salmonella typhimurium and in rat urinary bladder cells

2-Nitroanisole (2-NA) is used in the manufacturing of azo dyes and causes cancer, mainly in the urinary bladder. Previous in vivo genotoxic data seems to be insufficient to explain the mechanism through which 2-NA induces carcinogenesis, and several bladder carcinogens were reported to induce oxidative DNA damage. Thus, we examined the potential induction of oxidative DNA damage by 2-NA using bacterial strain YG3008, a mutM_ST-deficient derivative of strain TA100. Consequently, strain YG3008, when compared with strain TA100, was found to be more sensitive to 2-NA, indicating oxidative DNA damage in bacterial cells. For further investigation, we performed the comet assay using the urinary bladder and liver of rats, with and without human 8-oxoguanine DNA-glycosylase 1 (hOGG1), to confirm the potential of 2-NA for inducing oxidative DNA damage. Simultaneously, we conducted a micronucleus test using bone marrow from rats to assess the genotoxicity of 2-NA in vivo. 2-NA was administered orally to male Fischer 344 rats for 3 consecutive days. The rats were divided into 6 treatment groups: 3 groups treated with 2-NA at doses of 125, 250, and 500mg/kg; a group treated with the combination of 2-NA and glutathione-SH (GSH); a negative control group; and a positive control group. The comet assay without hOGG1 detected no DNA damage in the liver or urinary bladder, and the micronucleus test did not show clastogenic effects in bone marrow cells. However, the comet assay with hOGG1 was positive in the urinary bladder samples, indicating the induction of oxidative DNA damage in the urinary bladder for the group treated with 2-NA at 500mg/kg. Moreover, an antioxidant of GSH significantly reduced oxidative DNA damage caused by 2-NA. These results indicate that oxidative DNA damage is a possible mode of action for carcinogenesis in the urinary bladder of rats treated with 2-NA.

Association of DNA methyltransferases 3A and 3B polymorphisms, and plasma folate levels with the risk of urothelial carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Interindividual genetic variations of human DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), which involve the methyl donor from the folate-related one-carbon metabolism pathway, are hypothesized as a risk factor for urothelial carcinoma (UC). Therefore, we evaluated the role of gene-environment interaction in UC carcinogenesis.

METHODS

A hospital-based case-control study was conducted by recruiting 192 patients with UC and 381 controls. Their plasma folate levels were measured using a competitive immunoassay kit. In addition, DNMT3A -448A>G and DNMT3B -579G>T genotyping was evaluated using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique. Multivariate logistic regression and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were applied to estimate the UC risk.

RESULTS

We observed that patients with UC exhibited a higher prevalence rate of folate insufficiency (folate levels ≤6 ng/mL) compared with the controls (35.94% and 18.37%, respectively). Furthermore, folate levels were higher in the prevalent UC patients than in the incident UC patients. However, folate insufficiency was similarly associated with a nearly two-fold increase in the risk of UC regardless of the UC patient group. In addition, the frequencies of the variant alleles for DNMT3A and DNMT3B were 0.80 and 0.92, respectively, and no association was observed with UC risk. However, participants with a variant homozygous genotype of DNMT3B -579G>T and folate insufficiency or with high cumulative cigarette smoking exhibited an increased risk of UC.

CONCLUSION

Overall, environmental factors may contribute more significantly to UC carcinogenesis compared with genetic susceptibility. Future studies should investigate other polymorphisms of DNMT3A and DNMT3B to determine genetic susceptibility.

Genetic polymorphisms in NQO1 and SOD2: interactions with smoking, schistosoma infection, and bladder cancer risk in Egypt

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in men among Egyptians, for whom tobacco smoke exposure and Schistosoma haematobium (SH) infection are the major risk factors. We hypothesized that functional polymorphisms in

NAD(P)H

quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), modulators of the effects of reactive oxidative species, can influence an individual's susceptibility to these carcinogenic exposures and hence the risk of bladder cancer.

METHODS

We assessed the effects of potential interactions between functional polymorphisms in the NQO1 and SOD2 genes and exposure to smoking and SH infection on bladder cancer risk among 902 cases and 804 population-based controls in Egypt. We used unconditional logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (CI) 95%.

RESULTS

Water pipe and cigarette smoking were more strongly associated with cancer risk among individuals with the TT genotype for SOD2 (OR [CI 95%] = 4.41 [1.86-10.42]) as compared with those with the CC genotype (OR [CI 95%] = 2.26 [0.97-6.74]). Conversely, the risk associated with SH infection was higher among the latter (OR [CI 95%] = 3.59 [2.21-5.84]) than among the former (OR [CI 95%] = 1.86 [1.33-2.60]). Polymorphisms in NQO1 genotype showed a similar pattern, but to a much lesser extent. The highest odds for having bladder cancer following SH infection were observed among individuals with the CC genotypes for both NQO1 and SOD2 (OR [CI 95%] = 4.41 [2.32-8.38]).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that genetic polymorphisms in NQO1 and SOD2 play important roles in the etiology of bladder cancer by modulating the effects of known contributing factors such as smoking and SH infection.

XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and bladder cancer risk: updated meta-analyses based on 5767 cases and 6919 controls

Previous reports implicate XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism as a possible risk factor for several cancers. Published meta-analyses have been conducted on the association of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism with susceptibility to bladder cancer, and have generated conflicting results. The present study aimed to derive a more precise estimation of the relationship. Updated meta-analyses assessing the association of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism with bladder cancer were conducted and subgroup analyses on ethnicity, smoking status and source of controls were further performed. Eligible studies were identified for the period up to May 2012. A total of 19 case-control studies comprising 5767 cases and 6919 controls were lastly selected for analysis. The overall data failed to indicate significant associations between XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and bladder cancer risk (Gln/Gln versus Arg/Arg: odds ratio (OR) = 0.97; 95% CI = 0.85-1.10; dominant model: OR = 1.02; 95% CI = 0.94-1.09; recessive model: OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.84-1.07). In subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity, smoking status and source of controls, respectively, similar results were obtained. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism might not modify the susceptibility to bladder cancer. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this conclusion.

Studies on the toxic interaction mechanism between 2-naphthylamine and herring sperm DNA

The toxic interaction between 2-naphthylamine (2-NA) and herring sperm deoxyribonucleic acid (hs-DNA) has been thoroughly investigated by UV absorption, fluorescence, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic methods. UV absorption result indicates that 2-NA may intercalate into the stack base pairs of DNA during the toxic interaction of 2-NA with DNA. A fluorescence quenching study shows that DNA quenches the intrinsic fluorescence of 2-NA via a static pathway. The studies on effects of ionic strength and anionic quenching rule out electrostatic and groove bindings as the dominant binding modes. Further studies on denatured DNA fluorescence quenching and thermal melting studies confirm that the dominant binding mode of 2-NA-DNA is intercalative binding. A CD spectral study shows that the binding interaction of 2-NA with DNA leads to the disorganization of the neat double-helical structure of hs-DNA.

Nuclear localization of COX-2 in relation to the expression of stemness markers in urinary bladder cancer

Inflammation may activate stem cells via prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production mediated by cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. We performed an immunohistochemical analysis of the expression of stemness markers (Oct3/4 and CD44v6) and COX-2 in urinary bladder tissues obtained from cystitis and cancer patients with and without Schistosoma haematobium infections. Immunoreactivity to Oct3/4 was significantly higher in S. haematobium-associated cystitis and cancer tissues than in normal tissues. CD44v6 expression was significantly higher in bladder cancer without S. haematobium than in normal tissues. COX-2 was located in the cytoplasmic membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus of the cancer cells. Interestingly, the nuclear localization of COX-2, which was reported to function as a transcription factor, was significantly associated with the upregulation of Oct3/4 and CD44v6 in bladder cancer tissues with and without S. haematobium infection, respectively. COX-2 activation may be involved in inflammation-mediated stem cell proliferation/differentiation in urinary bladder carcinogenesis.

Parental smoking and childhood leukemia

Childhood leukemia is the most common cancer among children, representing 31% of all cancer cases occurring in children younger than the age of 15 years in the USA. There are only few known risk factors of childhood leukemia (sex, age, race, exposure to ionizing radiation, and certain congenital diseases, such as Down syndrome and neurofibromatosis), which account for only 10% of the childhood leukemia cases. Several lines of evidence suggest that childhood leukemia may be more due to environmental rather than genetic factors, although genes may play modifying roles. Human and animal studies showed that the development of childhood leukemia is a two-step process that requires a prenatal initiating event(s) plus a postnatal promoting event(s). Despite a substantial public health effort to reduce cigarette smoking, a large proportion of the US and world population still smoke. Tobacco smoke contains at least 60 known human or animal carcinogens, with the major chemical classes being volatile hydrocarbons, aldehydes, aromatic amines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and nitrosamines; among these chemicals, only benzene is an established leukemogen, although other chemicals in the tobacco could interact with one another in a complex way to jointly attain a significant carcinogenic effect on the development of leukemia. Although tobacco smoke is an established risk factor for adult myeloid leukemia, the studies of association between parental smoking and childhood leukemia have produced inconsistent results. The majority of the studies on maternal smoking and childhood leukemia did not find a significant positive association and some even reported an inverse association. In contrast to studies of maternal smoking, studies of paternal smoking and childhood leukemia reported more positive associations but only by less than half of the studies. Future directions to be considered for improving the study of parental smoking and childhood leukemia are: 1) consider all sources of benzene exposure in addition to smoking, including occupational exposure and traffic exhausts; 2) childhood leukemia is a heterogeneous disease and epidemiologic studies of childhood leukemia can be greatly improved by grouping childhood leukemia into more homogeneous groups by molecular techniques (e.g., structural and numerical chromosomal changes); and 3) assess gene-environment interaction. It is hoped that through the continual effort, more will be uncovered regarding the causes of childhood leukemia. In the meantime, more effort should be spent on educating the parents to quit smoking, because parental smoking is known to affect many childhood diseases (e.g., asthma, respiratory tract infection, and otitis media) that are much more prevalent than childhood leukemia.

Tyrosine-dependent oxidative DNA damage induced by carcinogenic tetranitromethane

Tetranitromethane (TNM) is used as an oxidizer in rocket propellants and explosives and as an additive to increase the cetane number of diesel fuel. TNM was reported to induce pulmonary adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas in mice and rats. However, the mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis induced by TNM has not yet been clarified. We previously revealed that nitroTyr and nitroTyr-containing peptides caused Cu(II)-dependent DNA damage in the presence of P450 reductase, which is considered to yield nitroreduction. Since TNM is a reagent for nitration of Tyr in proteins and peptides, we have hypothesized that TNM-treated Tyr and Tyr-containing peptides induce DNA damage by the modification of Tyr. We examined DNA damage induced by TNM-treated amino acids or peptides using (32)P-5'-end-labeled DNA fragments obtained from the human p53 tumor suppressor gene and the c-Ha-ras-1 protooncogene. TNM-treated Tyr and Lys-Tyr-Lys induced DNA damage including the formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in the presence of Cu(II) and NADH. DNA damage was inhibited by catalase and bathocuproine, indicating the involvement of H(2)O(2) and Cu(I). The cytosine residue of the ACG sequence complementary to codon 273, well-known hotspots of the p53 gene, was cleaved with piperidine and Fpg treatments. On the other hand, nitroTyr and Lys-nitroTyr-Lys did not induce DNA damage in the presence of Cu(II) and NADH. Time-of-flight mass spectrometry confirmed that reactions between Lys-Tyr-Lys and TNM yielded not only Lys-nitroTyr-Lys but also Lys-nitrosoTyr-Lys. Therefore, it is speculated that the nitrosotyrosine residue can induce oxidative DNA damage in the presence of Cu(II) and NADH. It is concluded that Tyr-dependent DNA damage may play an important role in the carcinogenicity of TNM. TNM is a new type of carcinogen that induces DNA damage not by itself but via Tyr modification.

Enhanced expression of peroxiredoxin I and VI correlates with development, recurrence and progression of human bladder cancer

PURPOSE

PRDXs are antioxidant enzymes that have an important role in cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. We investigated whether PRDX I and VI expression is related to bladder cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PRDX I and VI mRNA levels were examined in 149 tumor specimens in patients with primary bladder cancer, in 19 specimens with corresponding normal-appearing bladder mucosa surrounding cancer and in 18 with normal bladder mucosa using real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

PRDX I and VI expression in bladder cancer (0.6644 and 0.1455 pg/ml) was significantly higher than in normal tissue (0.0278 and 0.0542 pg/ml, each p <0.05) and higher than in corresponding normal bladder mucosa surrounding cancer (0.2353 and 0.0304 pg/ml, respectively, each p <0.0005). PRDX I and VI expression was enhanced in patients with no recurrence (0.8148 and 0.2232 pg/ml) and no progression (0.7405 and 0.1716 pg/ml) compared with levels in those with recurrence (0.4314 and 0.0588 pg/ml) and progression (0.4338 and 0.0668 pg/ml, respectively, each p <0.05). PRDX I and VI expression did not correlate with disease-free survival in patients with bladder cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Enhanced PRDX I and VI expression is strongly associated with bladder cancer development. Moreover, enhanced PRDX I and VI expression is also positively associated with a low rate of bladder cancer recurrence and progression. It might be useful as a marker for assessing the recurrence or progression of human bladder cancer.

Medical check-up findings characteristic of smokers: aimed at improving smoking cessation interventions by physicians

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the medical check-up findings associated with smoking habit, which medical professionals, particularly physicians, should use for the promotion of quitting smoking.

METHODS

In 6,215 male and 1,627 female employees who participated in annual medical check-up, we compared the results of each test between smokers and nonsmokers.

RESULTS

Many results were significantly different between smokers and nonsmokers in both males and females. Among them, the hematocrit, leukocyte count, and levels of hemoglobin and triglyceride were significantly higher, the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly lower, and the frequencies of positive urinary occult blood and hearing loss were significantly higher in male smokers than in male nonsmokers. Furthermore, the hematocrit, leukocyte count, positive urinary occult blood, hearing loss, and levels of hemoglobin, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol showed significant trends for male nonsmoker, and light, moderate, and heavy male smokers, that is, significant associations with larger numbers of cigarettes smoked per day.

CONCLUSION

Not only polycythemia and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level but also high leukocyte count, hearing loss, positive urinary occult blood, and high triglyceride level are smoking-related abnormal findings. In the medical check-up, medical professionals should inform smokers of these data and encourage them to quit smoking.

Oxidative DNA Damage Induced by Carcinogenic Dinitropyrenes in the Presence of P450 Reductase

Nitropyrenes are widespread in the environment due to mainly diesel engine emissions. Dinitropyrenes (DNPs), especially 1,8-dinitropyrene (1,8-DNP) and 1,6-dinitropyrene (1,6-DNP), are much more potent mutagens than other nitropyrenes. The carcinogenicity of 1,8-DNP and 1,6-DNP is stronger than 1,3-dinitropyrene (1,3-DNP). It is considered that adduct formation after metabolic activation plays an important role in the expression of carcinogenicity of nitropyrenes. However, Djuric et al. [(1993) Cancer Lett.] reported that oxidative DNA damage was also found as well as adduct formation in rats treated with 1,6-DNP. We investigated oxidative DNA damage by DNPs in the presence of NAD(P)H-cytochrome P450 reductase using 32P-5'-end-labeled DNA. After P450 reductase treatment, DNPs induced Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage in the presence of NAD(P)H. The intensity of DNA damage by 1,8-DNP or 1,6-DNP was stronger than 1,3-DNP. We also examined synthetic 1-nitro-8-nitrosopyrene (1,8-NNOP) and 1-nitro-6-nitrosopyrene (1,6-NNOP) as one of the metabolites of 1,8-DNP and 1,6-DNP, respectively, to find that 1,8-NNOP and 1,6-NNOP induced Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage in the presence of NAD(P)H but untreated DNPs did not. In both cases of P450 reductase-treated DNPs and NNOPs, catalase and a Cu(I) specific chelator attenuated DNA damage, indicating the involvement of H2O2 and Cu(I). Using a Clarke oxygen electrode, oxygen consumption by the reaction of NNOPs with NAD(P)H and Cu(II) was measured to find that NNOP was nonenzymatically reduced by NAD(P)H and that the addition of Cu(II) promoted the redox cycle. Therefore, these results suggest that DNPs are enzymatically reduced to NNOPs via nitro radical anion and that NNOPs are further reduced nonenzymatically by NAD(P)H. Subsequently, autoxidation of nitro radical anion and the reduced form of NNOP occurs, resulting in O2- generation and DNA damage. We conclude that oxidative DNA damage in addition to DNA adduct formation may play important roles in the carcinogenesis of DNPs via their metabolites.