Latest Publications

@article{kabatkova_inhibition_2015,

title = {Inhibition of β-catenin signalling promotes DNA damage elicited by benzo[a]pyrene in a model of human colon cancer cells via CYP1 deregulation.},

author = {Markéta Kabátková and Ondřej Zapletal and Zuzana Tylichová and Jiří Neča and Miroslav Machala and Alena Milcová and Jan Topinka and Alois Kozubík and Jan Vondráček},

doi = {10.1093/mutage/gev019},

issn = {1464-3804 0267-8357},

year  = {2015},

date = {2015-07-01},

journal = {Mutagenesis},

volume = {30},

number = {4},

pages = {565–576},

abstract = {Deregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer. Interestingly, this pathway has been recently implicated in transcriptional control of cytochrome P450 (CYP) family 1 enzymes, which are responsible for bioactivation of a number of dietary carcinogens. In the present study, we investigated the impact of inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin pathway on metabolism and genotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a highly mutagenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and an efficient ligand of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, which is known as a primary regulator of CYP1 expression, in cellular models derived from colorectal tumours. We observed that a synthetic inhibitor of β-catenin, JW74, significantly increased formation of BaP-induced DNA adducts in both colorectal adenoma and carcinoma-derived cell lines. Using the short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting β-catenin, we then found that β-catenin knockdown in HCT116 colon carcinoma cells significantly enhanced formation of covalent DNA adducts by BaP and histone H2AX phosphorylation, as detected by (32)P-postlabelling technique and immunocytochemistry, respectively, and it also induced expression of DNA damage response genes, such as CDKN1A or DDB2. The increased formation of DNA adducts formed by BaP upon β-catenin knockdown corresponded with enhanced production of major BaP metabolites, as well as with an increased expression/activity of CYP1 enzymes. Finally, using siRNA-mediated knockdown of CYP1A1, we confirmed that this enzyme plays a major role in formation of BaP-induced DNA adducts in HCT116 cells. Taken together, the present results indicated that the siRNA-mediated inhibition of β-catenin signalling, which is aberrantly activated in a majority of colorectal cancers, modulated genotoxicity of dietary carcinogen BaP in colon cell model in vitro, via a mechanism involving up-regulation of CYP1 expression and activity.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {*DNA Damage, Apoptosis, Aryl Hydrocarbon/genetics/metabolism, Benzo(a)pyrene/*adverse effects, beta Catenin/*antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/metabolism, Blotting, Carcinogens, Cell Proliferation, Colonic Neoplasms/drug therapy/*etiology/*pathology, Cultured, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics/*metabolism, DNA Adducts/*adverse effects, Environmental/adverse effects, Enzymologic/*drug effects, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Immunoenzyme Techniques, Messenger/genetics, Neoplastic/*drug effects, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Receptors, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, RNA, Small Interfering/genetics, Tumor Cells, Western},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{hruba_gene_2011,

title = {Gene expression changes in human prostate carcinoma cells exposed to genotoxic and nongenotoxic aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands.},

author = {Eva Hrubá and Jan Vondráček and Helena Líbalová and Jan Topinka and Vítězslav Bryja and Karel Souček and Miroslav Machala},

doi = {10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.07.011},

issn = {1879-3169 0378-4274},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-10-01},

journal = {Toxicology letters},

volume = {206},

number = {2},

pages = {178–188},

abstract = {Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known as efficient mutagens and ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which has been suggested to play an important role in prostate carcinogenesis. In order to evaluate the complex relationship between the genotoxicity and the AhR-mediated activity of PAHs in prostate cells, we selected benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), as model genotoxic and nongenotoxic AhR ligands, respectively, to explore global changes in gene expression in LNCaP cells by microarray analysis. We identified 112 genes that were differentially expressed in cells treated for 24h with BaP, TCDD or both compounds. Our data indicated that the impacts of BaP and TCDD on transcriptome of LNCaP cells significantly overlap, since over 64% of significantly up-regulated genes and 47% of down-regulated genes were similarly affected by both AhR ligands. This suggested that the activation of AhR played a prominent role in the nongenotoxic effects of BaP in the prostate carcinoma cell model LNCaP. Both AhR ligands suppressed expression of genes associated with cell cycle progression, DNA replication, spindle assembly checkpoint or DNA repair, which probably occurred secondary to inhibition of cell cycle progression. In contrast, we identified Wnt5a, an important regulator of prostate cancer progression, to be induced as early as 6h after exposure to both AhR ligands. The AhR ligand-induced Wnt5a upregulation, together with other observed alterations of gene expression, may further contribute to enhanced cell plasticity of prostate carcinoma cells.},

note = {Place: Netherlands},

keywords = {Aryl Hydrocarbon/*agonists, Benzo(a)pyrene/*toxicity, Carcinogens, Carcinoma/metabolism, Cell Cycle/drug effects, Cell Line, DNA Repair/drug effects, DNA Replication/drug effects, Environmental/*toxicity, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation, Humans, Ligands, Male, Mutagens/*toxicity, Neoplastic/*drug effects, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/*toxicity, Prostatic Neoplasms/*metabolism, Proto-Oncogene Proteins/genetics/metabolism, Receptors, Spindle Apparatus/drug effects, Time Factors, Tumor, Wnt Proteins/genetics/metabolism, Wnt-5a Protein},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{umannova_benzopyrene_2011,

title = {Benzo[a]pyrene and tumor necrosis factor-α coordinately increase genotoxic damage and the production of proinflammatory mediators in alveolar epithelial type II cells.},

author = {Lenka Umannová and Miroslav Machala and Jan Topinka and Jana Schmuczerová and Pavel Krčmář and Jiří Neča and Klára Šujanová and Alois Kozubík and Jan Vondráček},

doi = {10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.06.029},

issn = {1879-3169 0378-4274},

year  = {2011},

date = {2011-10-01},

journal = {Toxicology letters},

volume = {206},

number = {2},

pages = {121–129},

abstract = {Alveolar type II epithelial (AEII) cells regulate lung inflammatory response and, simultaneously, they are a target of environmental carcinogenic factors. We employed an in vitro model of rat AEII cells, the RLE-6TN cell line, in order to analyze the interactive effects of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a cytokine which plays a key role in the initiation of inflammatory responses in the lung, and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a highly carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. TNF-α strongly augmented the formation of stable BaP diol epoxide-DNA adducts in AEII cells, which was associated with enhanced p53-Ser15 phosphorylation and decreased cell survival. The increased genotoxicity of BaP was associated with altered expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes involved in its bioactivation, a simultaneous suppression of CYP1A1 and enhancement of CYP1B1 expression. Importantly, BaP and TNF-α acted synergistically to upregulate key inflammatory regulators in AEII cells, including the expression of inducible NO synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and enhanced prostaglandin E2 production and expression of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α, interleukin-1β and interleukin-6. We observed that BaP and TNF-α together strongly activated p38 kinase, a principal regulator of inflammatory response. SB202190, a specific p38 inhibitor, prevented induction of both COX-2 and proinflammatory cytokines, thus confirming that p38 activity was crucial for the observed inflammatory reaction. Taken together, our data demonstrated, for the first time, that a proinflammatory cytokine and an environmental PAH may interact to potentiate both DNA damage and the inflammatory response in AEII cells, which may occur through coordinated upregulation of p38 activity.},

note = {Place: Netherlands},

keywords = {Alveolar Epithelial Cells/*drug effects/immunology/*metabolism, Animals, Apoptosis/drug effects, Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases/genetics/metabolism, Benzo(a)pyrene/metabolism/*toxicity, Carcinogens, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation/drug effects, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1/genetics/metabolism, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1B1, DNA Adducts/*metabolism, Environmental/toxicity, Enzyme Activation/drug effects, Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects, Inflammation Mediators/*metabolism, Messenger/metabolism, Mutagens/*toxicity, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/antagonists & inhibitors/metabolism, Phosphorylation/drug effects, Post-Translational/drug effects, Protein Kinase Inhibitors/pharmacology, Protein Processing, Rats, RNA, Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/*metabolism, Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{upham_tumor_2008,

title = {Tumor promoting properties of a cigarette smoke prevalent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon as indicated by the inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication via phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C.},

author = {Brad L. Upham and Ludek Bláha and Pavel Babica and Joon-Suk Park and Iva Sovadinova and Charles Pudrith and Alisa M. Rummel and Liliane M. Weis and Kimie Sai and Patti K. Tithof and Miodrag Guzvić and Jan Vondrácek and Miroslav Machala and James E. Trosko},

doi = {10.1111/j.1349-7006.2008.00752.x},

issn = {1349-7006 1347-9032},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-04-01},

journal = {Cancer science},

volume = {99},

number = {4},

pages = {696–705},

abstract = {Inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and the activation of intracellular mitogenic pathways are common hallmarks of epithelial derived cancer cells. We previously determined that the 1-methyl and not the 2-methyl isomer of anthracene, which are prominent cigarette smoke components, activated extracellular receptor kinase, and inhibited GJIC in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells. Using these same cells, we show that an immediate upstream response to 1-methylanthracene was a rapid (<1 min) release of arachidonic acid. Inhibition of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C prevented the inhibition of GJIC by 1-methylanthracene. In contrast, inhibition of phosphatidylinositol specific phospholipase C, phospholipase A(2), diacylglycerol lipase, phospholipase D, protein kinase C, and tyrosine protein kinases had no effect on 1-methylanthracene-induced inhibition of GJIC. Inhibition of protein kinase A also prevented inhibition of GJIC by 1-methylanthracene. Direct measurement of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C and sphingomyelinase indicated that only phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C was activated in response to 1-methylanthracene, while 2-methylanthracene had no effect. 1-methylanthracene also activated p38-mitogen activated protein kinase; however, like extracellular kinase, its activation was not involved in 1-methylanthracene-induced regulation of GJIC, and this activation was independent of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C. Although mitogen activated protein kinases were activated, Western blot analyzes indicated no change in connexin43 phosphorylation status. Our results indicate that phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C is an important enzyme in the induction of a tumorigenic phenotype, namely the inhibition of GJIC; whereas mitogen activated protein kinases triggered in response to 1-methylanthracene, were not involved in the deregulation of GJIC.},

note = {Place: England},

keywords = {Animals, Anthracenes/chemistry/*toxicity, Carcinogens, Cell Communication/drug effects, Cell Line, Connexin 43/analysis/metabolism, Connexins/metabolism, Environmental/*toxicity, Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology, Gap Junctions/chemistry/*drug effects/metabolism, Neoplasms/chemically induced/enzymology, Nicotiana/toxicity, p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism, Phosphorylation, Rats, Smoke, Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase/analysis/metabolism, Type C Phospholipases/antagonists & inhibitors/*metabolism},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{vondracek_induction_2004,

title = {Induction of aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated and estrogen receptor-mediated activities, and modulation of cell proliferation by dinaphthofurans.},

author = {Jan Vondrácek and Katerina Chramostová and Martina Plísková and Ludek Bláha and Werner Brack and Alois Kozubík and Miroslav Machala},

doi = {10.1897/03-620},

issn = {0730-7268},

year  = {2004},

date = {2004-09-01},

journal = {Environmental toxicology and chemistry},

volume = {23},

number = {9},

pages = {2214–2220},

abstract = {A group of heterocyclic aromatic compounds, dinaphthofurans (DNFs), recently have been identified as potentially significant contaminants in freshwater sediments. In the present study, a battery of in vitro assays was used for detection of toxic effects of DNFs that are potentially associated with endocrine disruption and tumor promotion. Dinaphthofurans were found to act as relatively potent inducers of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-mediated activity in the chemical-activated luciferase reporter gene expression DR-CALUX assay. The relative AhR-inducing potencies of DNFs were similar or even higher than relative potencies of unsubstituted polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), with dinaphtho[1,2-b;2'3'-d]furan being the most potent AhR agonist. Two compounds, dinaphtho[2,1-b;2'3'-d]furan and dinaphtho[1,2-b;1'2'-d]furan, induced estrogen receptor (ER)-mediated activity in the estrogen receptor-mediated CALUX (the ER-CALUX) assay. Two types of potential tumor-promoting effects of DNFs were investigated, using in vitro bioassays for detection of inhibition of gap-junctional intercellular communication and detection of a release from contact inhibition. Although the acute inhibition of gap-junctional intercellular communication was not observed, all six tested DNFs were able to release rat liver epithelial WB-F344 cells from contact inhibition at concentrations as low as 100 nM. In summary, the present study indicated that DNFs can exert multiple biological effects in vitro, including induction of the AhR-mediated activity, release of cells from contact inhibition, and induction of ER-mediated activity.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {Animals, Aryl Hydrocarbon/*drug effects, Carcinogens, Cell Count, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation/drug effects, Environmental/*pharmacology, Estrogen/*drug effects, Estrogens/*pharmacology, Furans/*pharmacology, Molecular Structure, Naphthalenes/*pharmacology, Rats, Receptors, S Phase/drug effects, Tumor},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}