Toxic effects of 2-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene in normal and partially hepatectomized rats

In order to obtain a more precise definition of the conditions under which 2-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (2-Me-DAB) and liver cell proliferation play a role in the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis, the toxicity of 2-Me-DAB for normal and partially hepatectomized rats was investigated. Continuous feeding of a basal low protein, low riboflavin diet supplemented with 2-Me-DAB was found to be highly toxic for male albino rats. All animals fed on such a diet died before 200 days. Sham operation and partial hepatectomy (PH) at 30 days of 2-Me-DAB feeding reduced the median survival time from 122 days to 107 and 94 days, respectively. Transfer to the basal diet after 30 days of 2-Me-DAB feeding and PH prolonged the median survival time to 216 days while 97% of the rats returned to the normal complete diet after the same treatments survived for more than 300 days. 2-Me-DAB was not necrogenic and there was no evidence of reparative proliferation or hepatic tumor formation in any group. Feeding rats with the 2-Me-DAB containing diet for 1 month delayed and strongly inhibited the mitotic response of the liver to the stimulus of partial hepatectomy. This is the result of a blockage of the cells in G1 as revealed by the fact that only 1% of the hepatocytes became labeled when 2-Me-DAB fed animals were injected with tritiated thymidine prior to sacrifice at 24 h post-hepatectomy, as compared to 40% in rats fed the normal or the control basal diet. This inhibitory effect of 2-Me-DAB is reversible however since rats returned to the normal diet for 1 or 2 months after 2-Me-DAB feeding showed percentages of mitoses and labeling indices comparable to those of control animals following PH. The number of abnormal mitoses was high (13%) in regenerating livers of rats fed 2-Me-DAB and the lesions responsible for this effect are apparently not repaired since 2-Me-DAB fed rats partially hepatectomized after being transferred to the normal diet for 1 or 2 months showed the same number of mitotic irregularities. The present results suggest that assays with 2-Me-DAB as 'pure initiator' or agent of selective toxicity should be pursued in attempts to improve existing experimental models of hepatocarcinogenesis.     

Critical importance of microsome concentration in mutagenesis assay with V79 Chinese hamster cells.

For optimum mutagensis in V79 Chinese hamster cells, the amount of liver postmitochondrial fraction in the assay was found to be of critical importance, depending on the chemicals being tested. Benzo[a]pyrene (BP) required lower (1-5%) concentrations of the liver 15 000 X g supernatant (S15) from methylcholanthrene pretreated rats for a maximum induction of cytotoxicity and mutagenicity, as determined by 8-azaguanine- and ouabain-resistance. A sharp peak of mutagenicity and cytotoxicity was induced by 7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (7,8-diol BP) at a concentration of 1% of the S15 fraction. Little or no response was induced by these compounds with the S15 concentrations of more than 10%. Similarly, aflatoxin B1 induced a sharp peak of mutagenicity and cytotoxicity at a concentration of 2% of the liver S15 fraction from Aroclor-pretreated rats. Under the same condition, non-carcinogenic aflatoxin G2 did not induce cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. Analysis of BP metabolites by high-pressure liquid chromatography indicates that with the 30% S15 fraction, more than 80% of BP was metabolized during the first 15 min, while with the 2% S15 fraction, 7,8-diol BP increased continuously throughout the 120-min incubation period, suggesting a strong metabolic competition to rapidly remove BP and 7,8-diol BP with a high concentration of the S15. In contrast with these compounds, N-nitrosodimethylamine induced mutagenicity and cytotoxicity which increased linearly in proportion to the increasing amount of the S15 fraction from phenobarbitone- and Aroclor-pretreated rats. Various nitrosamines with different lipophilicity were examined at a high (30%) and low (2%) concentration of the S15 fraction from Aroclor-pretreated rats, in which ratios of mutation frequencies at 30% and 2% correlated inversely with lipophilicity of the compound. This result suggests that the lipid solubility of test compounds may be one factor which determines the concentration of post-mitochondrial supernatant for optimum mutagenesis.     

Dual character of Toll-like receptor signaling: Pro-tumorigenic effects and anti-tumor functions

As a major class of pattern-recognition receptors, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a critical role in defense against invading pathogens. Increasing evidence demonstrates that, in addition to infection, TLRs are involved in other important pathological processes, such as tumorigenesis. Activation of TLRs results in opposing outcomes, pro-tumorigenic effects and anti-tumor functions. TLR signaling can inhibit apoptosis and promote chronic inflammation-induced tumorigenesis. TLR activation in tumor cells and immune cells can induce production of cytokines, increase tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis resistance, promote invasion and metastasis, and inhibit immune cell activity resulting in tumor immune escape. In contrast, the engagement of other TLRs directly induces growth inhibition and apoptosis of tumor cells and triggers activation of immune cells enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. Thus, the interpretation of the precise function of each TLR in tumors is very important for targeting TLRs and using TLR agonists in tumor therapy. We review the role of TLR signaling in tumors and discuss the factors that affect outcomes of TLR activation.     

二乙基亚硝胺诱导大鼠肝癌组织CLDN1基因表达及其甲基化

目的探讨二乙基亚硝胺（diethylnitrosamine,DEN）诱导大鼠肝癌发生中肝癌组织CLDN1基因表达及其启动子甲基化的规律。方法65只雄性Wistar大鼠随机选择40只作为模型组,其余作为正常组。模型组在1-12周饮用含DEN80mg／L的饮水以诱癌（每日8mg／kg）,各组在造模过程的第4周、8周、12周、16周随机5只取肝,第20周剩余大鼠取肝,应用RT-PCR方法检测肝组织CLDN1mRNA的表达,应用MSP法检测肝组织CLDN1启动子甲基化和非甲基化。结果模型大鼠病死率为10％（4／40）,正常组无死亡。至第20周,成瘤率达到100％。RT—PCR显示,与正常组比较,模型组在16周和20周CLDN1 mRNA表达下调（P〈0．05）,其他各周两组差异不显著。MSP结果表明,模型组肝组织CLDN1甲基化率达77．78％,而正常肝组织甲基化率为24％,两者比较差异有显著性（P〈0．01）。结论CLDN1启动子甲基化及CLDN1基因表达下调与大鼠肝癌病变相关,对其机制值得进一步深入研究。     

CpG island hypermethylation of multiple tumor suppressor genes associated with loss of their protein expression during rat lung carcinogenesis induced by 3-methylcholanthrene and diethylnitrosamine

The epigenetic mechanisms underlying the tumorigenesis caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and nitrosamine compounds such as 3-methylcholanthrene (MCA) and diethylnitrosamine (DEN) are currently unknown. We reported previously that dynamic changes in DNA methylation occurred during MCA/DEN-induced rat lung carcinogenesis. Here, we used the same animal model to further study the evolution of methylation alterations in tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) DAPK1, FHIT, RASSF1A, and SOCS-3. We found that none of these genes were methylated in either normal or hyperplasia tissue. However, as the severity of the cancer progressed through squamous metaplasia and dysplasia to carcinoma in situ (CIS) and infiltrating carcinoma, so methylation became more prevalent. Particularly dramatic increases in the level of methylation, the average number of methylated genes, and the incidence of concurrent methylation in three genes were observed in CIS and infiltrating carcinoma. Similar but less profound changes were seen in squamous metaplasia and dysplasia. Furthermore, methylation status was closely correlated to loss of protein expression for these genes, with protein levels markedly declining along the continuum of carcinogenesis. These results suggest that progressive CpG island hypermethylation leading to inactivation of TSGs might be a vital molecular mechanism in the pathogenesis of MCA/DEN-induced multistep rat lung carcinogenesis.     

四氯化碳联合二乙基亚硝胺对小鼠精巢的毒性作用

为了研究四氯化碳(CCL4)联合二乙基亚硝胺(DEN)对小鼠(Mus musculus domesticus)精巢的毒性作用。将昆明小鼠随机分为对照组与实验组,各12只个体。实验组每周2次腹腔注射含有15%CCl4的花生油溶液,同时自由饮用0.07‰的DEN溶液,连续诱导8周。对照组每周2次注射花生油,饮用蒸馏水。分别于第3、6、8周处死实验组及对照组小鼠各4只,对其精巢组织进行常规固定、包埋、切片、H.E染色,观察精巢的形态及精子数量的变化。与实验组比较,对照组小鼠体重明显增加,且实验组与对照组差异显著;与对照组相比,实验组睾丸系数以及精子存活率均显著减少。对照组小鼠精巢都具有正常的生精小管结构,管腔中存在大量精子;第3周,实验组小鼠的精巢与对照组类似,生精小管较为完整,生精细胞稍有散乱;第6周,实验组生精小管变形,生精细胞排列疏松,精子数目减少且畸形;第8周,实验组生精小管残缺不全,生精细胞和精子散乱排列,精子数量大大减少且变形更为严重。实验说明,CCl4联合DEN能够造成小鼠精巢组织的损害以及精子数目的减少和畸变。     

门静脉高压脾功能亢进对大鼠肝癌发生率的影响

目的:通过对门静脉高压脾功能亢进大鼠药物诱导肝癌过程中进行脾脏切除,探讨门静脉高压脾功能亢进对大鼠肝癌发生率的影响。方法:将雌雄SD大鼠性别内分别分为对照组、脾亢组、脾亢切脾组,脾功能亢进大鼠模型采用门静脉缩窄术联合脾静脉结扎术进行制备,各组均予以DEN(二乙基亚硝胺)腹腔注射,按体重20mg/kg给药,每周3次,12周停药,14周处死。其中,脾亢脾切除组于给药第四周进行脾切除术,手术恢复期间持续给药。观察各组实验动物的肝脏大体变化及病理改变,计算成瘤率。结果:实际成瘤率显示脾亢组较对照组明显升高,而雄性脾亢切脾组的成瘤率较脾亢组有所降低。雌性脾亢切脾组成瘤率同脾亢组差异不明显。结论:门静脉高压脾功能亢进状态下进行脾切除,对于雄性能减低肝癌发生的风险,对于雌性的意义不大,给临床实际工作提供了新的思路。     

埃及伊蚊对登革Ⅱ型病毒感染Balb/C实验小鼠的增强

以Balb/C小鼠为实验动物,探讨了埃及伊蚊Aedes aegypti唾液对登革病毒感染宿主的影响。结果显示,在皮下接种剂量相同的情况下,如果Balb/C实验小鼠预先被一定数量的埃及伊蚊叮咬以后,实验小鼠感染病毒的程度有所提高,血清中的抗体滴度明显降低,腹腔巨噬细胞感染登革病毒的阳性率及感染的时间动态曲线也有明显差异,感染高峰期延迟。这些说明实验小鼠被媒介蚊虫叮咬以后变得相对容易被登革病毒感染,可能是媒介蚊虫叮咬小鼠时分泌的唾液对宿主的免疫反应系统有一定作用。因此可以初步肯定埃及伊蚊在登革病毒的感染传播过程中,影响了Balb/C实验小鼠的免疫功能,对登革病毒的感染有一定推动作用。