Mammalian cell mutagenicity and metabolism of heterocyclic aromatic amines

Heterocyclic aromatic amines are bacterial mutagens which also induce DNA damage in mammalian cells. Damage has been demonstrated using a number of endpoints, including gene mutation, chromosome aberrations, sister-chromatid exchange, DNA-strand breaks, DNA repair and oncogene activation. Although the responses in mammalian cells are weak when compared to bacterial mutagenicity, heterocyclic aromatic amines are rodent carcinogens. Metabolic N-oxidation by cytochrome P450 is an initial activation step with subsequent transformation of the N-hydroxy metabolites to the ultimate mutagenic species by O-acetyltransferase or sulfotransferase. Major routes of detoxification include cytochrome P450-mediated ring oxidation followed by conjugation to glucuronic or sulfuric acid. Direct conjugation to the exocyclic amine group also occurs. Major reactions include N-glucuronidation and sulfamate formation.     

Quantum chemical studies of the metabolism of polycyclic aromatic amines and the stabilities and electrophilicities of their arylnitrenium ions in relation to their mutagenic/carcinogenic potencies.

Electronic parameters related to the cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions of eight polycyclic aromatic amines have been calculated using all valence electron semiempirical molecular orbital methods. The reactions considered lead to the presumably carcinogenic arylnitrenium ions and to the competing hydroxylation and epoxidation products. The stabilities of the arylnitrenium ions relative to the N-hydroxylamines and their sulfate esters were also calculated, together with electrophilic reactivity parameters of the ions. The resulting parameters were used to predict major metabolites of the parent compounds and also to correlate with observed mutagenic activities of the four pairs of polycyclic aromatic amines studied. The major factor in determining mutagenic potencies of parent compounds appears to be the extent of N-hydroxylation and competing ring oxidations, as well as the electrophilic properties of the arylnitrenium ions.     

Relationships between structure and mutagenic activity of environmental chemicals

This review analyzes relationships between chemical structure and biological activity for several series of compounds. Its focus is on mutagenicity and carcinogenicity and the predictability of these properties on the basis of the chemical structure. Examples are selected from monocyclic aromatic amines, benzidine derivatives, aminoazobenzene derivatives, nitrofurans, aflatoxins, and sterigmatocystins. Results from mutagenicity tests in Salmonella typhimurium are summarized, and their correlation with carciogenicity is discussed. The review is concluded with generalizations on the usefulness of studies on relationships between chemical structure and mutagenic activity.     

Use of nitrous acid-dependent decrease in mutagenicity as an indication of the presence of mutagenic primary aromatic amines. Non-specific reactions with phenols and benzo[alpha]pyrene

Treatment of mutagenic primary aromatic amines with nitrous acid is known to decrease their mutagenicity. We examined some factors concerning the validity of using decreases in mutagenicity due to nitrous acid treatment as an indication of the presence of mutagenic primary aromatic amines in complex mixtures. We found that treatment of benzo[alpha]pyrene with nitrous acid for the extended periods of time previously employed leads to formation of three nitrobenzo[alpha]pyrene isomers. Some of the isomers are direct-acting mutagens for S. typhimurium with considerably greater mutagenicity than benzo[alpha]pyrene isomers. In attempts to minimize reaction of chemicals other than aromatic amines, we found that only very brief reaction periods are required for complete reaction of nitrous acid with representative aromatic amines, essentially eliminating their mutagenicity. During such brief reaction periods modification of benzo[alpha]pyrene is negligible, but phenols react readily. Chromatographic analysis indicated that reaction of nitrous acid with aromatic amines leads to the formation of families of products, thereby increasing the complexity of the mixtures in which the amines may occur. Thus, experiments examining the effects of nitrous acid on the mutagenic activity of complex mixtures must be carefully designed, and the results must be interpreted cautiously.     

Mutagenic activity of 2-phenylbenzotriazole derivatives related to a mutagen, PBTA-1, in river water.

A mutagen, 2-[2-(acetylamino)-4-[bis(2-methoxyethyl)amino]-5-methoxyphenyl]5-ami no-7-bromo-4-chloro-2H-benzotriiazole (PBTA-1), isolated from water of the Nishitakase River in Kyoto exhibits potent mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium TA98 with S9 mix and has characteristic moieties, including bromo, chloro, acetylamino, bis(2-methoxyethyl)amino and primary amino groups on a 2-phenylbenzotriazole skeleton. The mutagenicities of PBTA-1, its congeners and five related 2-phenylbenzotriazoles were examined in S. typhimurium TA98 with S9 mix in order to elucidate the structure-activity relationships. The data obtained suggest that a primary amino group plays an essential role in the mutagenic activity as do aromatic amines including heterocyclic amines in cooked foods. The effect of planarity of the 2-phenylbenzotriazole ring was significant, and in addition, halogen groups of PBTA-1 influenced the enhancement of the mutagenic activity.     

Changes in mutagenicity of protein pyrolyzates by reaction with nitrite.

Pyrolyzates of protein and related materials were treated with nitrite under acidic conditions, and the mutagenic activity toward Salmonella tester strains was determined. After treatment with nitrite in acidic solution, casein pyrolyzate, an extract of roasted chicken meat, tobacco-smoke condensate and some aromatic amines showed appreciable decreases in their mutagenic activities toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. Aromatic amines in the pyrolyzates may be changed by nitrite treatment to other forms having no or lower mutagenic activity toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 98. The contribution by aromatic amines to the total mutagenic activity of the pyrolyzates was as high as 80% in both casein pyrolyzate and extract of roasted chicken meat and 50% in tobacco-smoke condensate. Pyrolyzates of protein and related materials did not show a decrease in the mutagenic activity toward Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 with the same treatment.     

Mutagenicity of azo dyes: structure-activity relationships.

Azo dyes are extensively used in textile, printing, leather, paper making, drug and food industries. Following oral exposure, azo dyes are metabolized to aromatic amines by intestinal microflora or liver azoreductases. Aromatic amines are further metabolized to genotoxic compounds by mammalian microsomal enzymes. Many of these aromatic amines are mutagenic in the Ames Salmonella/microsomal assay system. The chemical structure of many mutagenic azo dyes was reviewed, and we found that the biologically active dyes are mainly limited to those compounds containing p-phenylenediamine and benzidine moieties. It was found that for the phenylenediamine moiety, methylation or substitution of a nitro group for an amino group does not decrease mutagenicity. However, sulfonation, carboxylation, deamination, or substitution of an ethyl alcohol or an acetyl group for the hydrogen in the amino groups leads to a decrease in the mutagenic activity. For the benzidine moiety, methylation, methoxylation, halogenation or substitution of an acetyl group for hydrogen in the amino group does not affect mutagenicity, but complexation with copper ions diminishes mutagenicity. The mutagenicity of benzidine or its derivatives is also decreased when in the form of a hydrochloride salt with only one exception. Mutagenicity of azo dyes can, therefore, be predicted by these structure-activity relationships.     

Bioactivation of xenobiotics by prostaglandin H synthase

Prostaglandin H synthase (PHS) catalyzes the oxidation of arachidonic acid to prostaglandin H2 in reactions which utilize two activities, a cyclooxygenase and a peroxidase. These enzymatic activities generate enzyme- and substrate-derived free radical intermediates which can oxidize xenobiotics to biologically reactive intermediates. As a consequence, in the presence of arachidonic acid or a peroxide source, PHS can bioactivate many chemical carcinogens to their ultimate mutagenic and carcinogenic forms. In general, PHS-dependent bioactivation is most important in extrahepatic tissues with low monooxygenase activity such as the urinary bladder, renal medulla, skin and lung. Mutagenicity assays are useful in the detection of compounds which are converted to genotoxic metabolites during PHS oxidation. In addition, the oxidation of xenobiotics by PHS often form metabolites or adducts to cellular macromolecules which are specific for peroxidase- or peroxyl radical-dependent reactions. These specific metabolites and/or adducts have served as biological markers of xenobiotic bioactivation by PHS in certain tissues. Evidence is presented which supports a role for PHS in the bioactivation of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines, two classes of carcinogens which induce extrahepatic neoplasia. It should be emphasized that the toxicities induced by PHS-dependent bioactivation of xenobiotics are not limited to carcinogenicity. Examples are given which demonstrate a role for PHS in pulmonary toxicity, teratogenicity, nephrotoxicity and myelotoxicity.     

Activation of aromatic amines by prostaglandin H synthase

Prostaglandin H synthase catalyzes the first step in the synthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid. The peroxidase activity of this enzyme can support the oxidation of xenobiotics, particularly aromatic amines. This pathway of metabolism may contribute to the activation of carcinogenic aromatic amines in target tissues such as the skin, lung, and bladder. In this review, recent work on this subject is summarized. I emphasize the elucidation of the structures of aromatic amine oxidation products, and their interactions with biological macromolecules. Prostaglandin H synthase supports the activation of benzidine to a mutagenic species in the Ames (Salmonella typhimurium) test, and our studies of the mechanism of this activation are described.     

Mutagenicity of aminophenyl and nitrophenyl ethers, sulfides, and disulfides.

The mutagenic activity of several aromatic amines and aromatic nitro compounds related to 4,4'-methylenedianiline towards Salmonella typhymurium tester strains TA100 and TA98 was evaluated. The heteroatomic analogs of 4,4'-methylenedianiline which include aminophenyl and nitrophenyl ethers, sulfides and disulfides were assayed in the presence of rat-liver homogenate. The relative mutagenic response of these analogs indicated the following order of activity, --S-- greater than --O-- greater than --CH2--CH2-- greater than or equal to --S--S--. In both tester strains 4-aminophenylsulfone was inactive with and without microsomal activation. The p-nitrophenyl ethers, sulfides and disulfides were relatively strong mutagens without microsomal activation towards TA100. While 4-nitrophenyldisulfide was found to possess significantly different mutagenic activity than 4-nitrothiophenol in TA98, 4-AMINOPHENYl disulfide has similar mutagenic properties to 4-aminothiophenol in both tester straains TA100 and TA98.     

Mutagenic profile of rubber dust and fume exposure in two rubber tire companies

The aim of this study was to evaluate current mutagenic activity of ambient rubber dust and fume exposure in the mixing and curing departments of two rubber tire companies situated in The Netherlands and Sweden. Salmonella typhimurium strains YG1021, YG1024 and YG1041 were used to study the possible presence of mutagenic nitroarenes and aromatic amines. A large difference in mutagenic activity was found between the two companies. While the rubber tire company situated in The Netherlands revealed overall high mutagenic activity of rubber dust and fumes in the mixing and curing departments, respectively, 430 and 279 rev/m(3) (YG1041), the Swedish company showed almost no mutagenic activity, respectively, 18 and 54 rev/m(3) (YG1041). Further identification of the mutagenic profile showed that mutagenic activity was exclusively observed in S. typhimurium strains with elevated levels of O-acetyltransferase activity (YG1041 and YG1024) in the presence of a metabolic active liver S9 fraction, possibly indicating the presence of indirect mutagenic aromatic amines. These results show that although production processes and lay-out within rubber tire companies are comparable, differences in rubber chemicals used and overall level of control measures (e.g., good housekeeping, cleanliness) are likely to result in substantial differences in mutagenic exposure levels between companies.     

Carcinogenicity of the aromatic amines: from structure-activity relationships to mechanisms of action and risk assessment

Aromatic amines represent one of the most important classes of industrial and environmental chemicals: many of them have been reported to be powerful carcinogens and mutagens, and/or hemotoxicants. Their toxicity has been studied also with quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) methods: these studies are potentially suitable for investigating mechanisms of action and for estimating the toxicity of compounds lacking experimental determinations. In this paper, we first summarized the QSAR models for the rodent carcinogenicity of the aromatic amines. The gradation of potency of the carcinogenic amines depended firstly on their hydrophobicity, and secondly on electronic (reactivity, propensity to be metabolically transformed) and steric properties. On the contrary, the difference between carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic aromatic amines depended mainly on electronic and steric properties. These QSARs can be used directly for estimating the carcinogenicity of aromatic amines. A two-step prediction is possible: (1) estimation of yes/no activity; (2) if the answer from step 1 is yes, then prediction of the degree of potency. The QSARs for rodent carcinogenicity were put in a wider context by comparing them with those for: (a) Salmonella mutagenicity; (b) general toxicity; (c) enzymatic reactions; (d) physical-chemical reactions. This comparative QSAR exercise generated a coherent global picture of the action mechanisms of the aromatic amines. The QSARs for carcinogenicity were similar to those for Salmonella mutagenicity, thus pointing to a similar mechanism of action. On the contrary, the general toxicity QSARs (both in vitro and in vivo systems) were mostly based on hydrophobicity, pointing to an aspecific mechanism of action much simpler than that for carcinogenicity and mutagenicity. The oxidation of the amines (first step in the main metabolic pathway leading to carcinogenic and mutagenic species) had identical QSARs in both enzymatic and physical-chemical systems, thus providing evidence for the link between simple chemical reactions and those in biological systems. The results show that it is possible to generate mechanistically and statistically sound QSAR models for rodent carcinogenicity, and indirectly that the rodent bioassay is a reliable source of good quality data.     

Hamster hepatocyte-mediated activation of procarcinogens to mutagens in the L5178Y/TK mutation assay

Eight procarcinogens including three nitrosamines, three polycyclic hydrocarbons, and two aromatic amines were tested for mutagenic potential at the thymidine kinase (TK) locus in L5178Y mouse lymphoma cells co-cultivated with viable hamster hepatocytes. All eight chemicals produced substantial mutagenic activity as indicated by increased trifluorothymidine resistance in L5178Y cells treated in the presence of hepatocytes. Mutagenic responses to benzo[a]pyrene, 3-methyl-cholanthrene, N-nitrosodiethylamine, and N-nitrosodipropylamine first increased, then plateaued within the range of mutagen concentrations tested, while consistent dose-dependent increases in mutant frequencies were observed following 2-aminoanthracene, 2-aminofluorene, or N-nitrosodimethylamine treatments. The relatively flat portions of the mutant frequency curves for benzo[a]pyrene and 3-methylcholanthrene coincided with maximum chemical solubility as obvious from visible or microscopically detectable precipitate. These hamster cells readily facilitated the metabolism of 1,2-benzanthracene to a detectable mutagen and were especially competent in the activation of the two aromatic amines. Thus, cultured hamster hepatocytes can activate a variety of chemical carcinogens including polycyclic hydrocarbons to mutagens in a whole cell-mediated in vitro assay using L5178Y/TK^+/? cells as the target organism.     

Intrinsic mutagenicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: A quantitative structure activity study based upon molecular shape analysis

The mutagenic potencies of 30 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, (PAHs) were quantitatively related to the physicochemical properties of the parent structures. The goal of the work was to identify how much information regarding overall mutagenicity of PAHs reside in the unmetabolized structures. Quantitative structure activity relationships (QSARs) were established between measured mutagenic potency and two molecular properties: (1) ΔE, the difference in energy between the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) and the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), and, (2) molecular shape, as measured by common overlap steric volumes between pairs of PAHs. Mutagenic potency can be predicted with an average error of about ±11% for these 30 PAHs. It appears that the physicochemical properties of a parent PAH dictate much of the mutagenic behavior ultimately realized through metabolic activation. Consequently, QSARs developed for the parent PAHs might serve as reliable empirical guides in ranking mutagenic potency.     

Analysis of a method for testing azo dyes for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium in the presence of flavin mononucleotide and hamster liver S9

A protocol for assessing the mutagenic activity of azo dyes derived from mutagenic or potentially mutagenic aromatic amines was evaluated, using 4 model compounds. This protocol is based upon one developed in Sugimura's laboratory with modifications, including the use of flavin mononucleotide (FMN) rather than riboflavin to reduce the azo compounds to free amines, and hamster liver S9 rather then rat liver S9 for metabolic activation. The protocol developed differs from the standard Ames Salmonella plate incorporation assay in 5 ways: (1) uninduced hamster liver S9 rather than Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver S9 is used; (2) 150 μl of S9 is used rather than the maximum of 50 μl of S9 used in the standard assay; (3) FMN is added to the cofactor mix; (4) the cofactor mix is modified to include exogenous glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, NADH, and 4 times the standard amount of glucose 6-phosphate; and (5) a 30-min “pre-incubation” step is used before addition of top agar. We found that each of these 5 changes is necessary for optimal mutagenic activity of azo dyes derived from the mutagenic aromatic amines benzidine, o-tolidine or o-dianisidine. The use of hamster liver S9 rather than rat liver S9 was also required for optimal mutagenic activity of benzidine itself. Rat liver S9 inhibited the ability of hamster S9 to activate benzidine to a mutagen. The presence in rat liver S9 of an inhibitor of the metabolic activation of benzidine may account for the failure of benzidine and a benzidine dye (Congo red) to be strongly mutagenic when tested with this type of S9.     

Chemical characterization of direct-acting airborne mutagens: The functional group

Durham NC air was sampled, extracted, and bioassayed for mutagenic activity in Salmonella typhimurium TA98. Portions of the extracts were treated with sodium borohydride over copper(II) acetylacetonate to reduce any nitroaromatic substances to their corresponding amines. All of the reduced extracts were not directly mutagenic, but the 2 that were derived from cold-weather air samplings did contain substances that could be activated oxidatively. These “indirect-acting” mutagens were present in the same 2 reduced extracts that contained detectable concentrations of aromatic amines. These results suggest that a major portion of the total mutagenic activity in air-pollution particles is contributed by nitro-substituted compounds that are detectable as their corresponding amines. They also suggest that the atmospheric concentrations of these substances may be high in the colder months of Durham's year.     

Screening complex hazardous wastes for mutagenic activity using a modified version of the TLC/Salmonella assay

10 complex hazardous wastes were tested for mutagenic activity using a modified version of the TLC/Salmonella assay developed by Bj?rseth et al. (1982). This fractionation/bioassay scheme couples thin-layer chromatography (TLC) with the Salmonella/mammalian-microsome (Ames) assay for the detection of mutagenic constituents in complex mixtures. Crude (unadulterated) hazardous wastes and selected hazardous waste extracts were fractionated on commercially available cellulose TLC plates. Mutagenicity testing was performed in situ by applying a single overlay of minimal growth agar, tester strain TA98 or TA100, and the optional metabolic activation system directly onto the developed chromatogram. A mutagenic effect was indicated either by the appearance of localized clusters of revertant colonies or by an increase in total revertant growth vis-à-vis control plates. 7 of 10 hazardous wastes (including tars, emulsions, sludges, and spent acids and caustics) demonstrated mutagenic activity when tested by this method. To assess the sensitivity of the modified TLC/Salmonella assay, 14 Salmonella mutagens from a wide range of chemical classes and polarities were tested. Selected compounds included heterocyclics, aromatic amines, alkylating agents, antitumor agents, a nitrosamine and a nitroaromatic. 11 of the 14 mutagens were positive in this test system. The 3 compounds refractory to analysis included a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and two volatiles.     

Mutagenic activity of promutagens in plants: indirect evidence of their activation

This review summarizes data concerning mutagenic activity of promutagens in various plant in vivo assays. These data are compared with the present knowledge about the metabolism of xenobiotics and activation of promutagens in plants obtained by biochemical studies and by the separation of the activation process from the genetic endpoints assayed for the mutagenicity. The article documents a differential response of plant species in the endogenous transforming of various classes of promutagens into mutagens. Attention is devoted to the following types of promutagens: nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines, aflatoxins, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, diallate, styrene, vinylchloride, ethanol, cycasin, nitrofurans, sodium azide, s-triazine herbicides, 1,2-dibromoethane and maleic hydrazide.     

Modulation of the mutagenicity of heterocyclic amines by organophosphate insecticides and their metabolites

People are commonly exposed to organophosphorus ester (OP) insecticides through the treatment of pets, homes, lawns, gardens, workplaces and in commercial agriculture. Aromatic amines are another chemical class with wide human exposure particularly dietary heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs). Previously, we reported that specific aromatic amines and ethyl paraoxon (the metabolite of the insecticide ethyl parathion) induced enhanced mutagenic responses in Salmonella typhimurium. In the present study, we demonstrated that the mutagenicity of 2-acetoxyacetylaminofluorene (2AAAF) and the heterocyclic dietary carcinogen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine (PhIP) was enhanced in the presence of the OP insecticides, ethyl parathion or methyl parathion or a metabolite (methyl paraoxon). The mutagenicity of 2-amino-3-methylimidazo-(4,5-f)quinoline (IQ) was increased by methyl parathion and methyl paraoxon but not by ethyl parathion. This mutagenic synergy was expressed in S. typhimurium strain YG1024. Mammalian microsomal activation was required for PhIP and IQ to express mutagenic synergy. Synergistic responses are rarely incorporated in risk assessment models, yet such responses are important in establishing accurate toxicological characteristics of agents. Under real world conditions where people are exposed to a multitude of agents, the results of this study raise a concern about the environmental and public health impacts of OP insecticides.