Latest Publications

@article{vondracek_role_2009,

title = {The role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in regulation of enzymes involved in metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a model of rat liver progenitor cells.},

author = {Jan Vondrácek and Pavel Krcmár and Jirina Procházková and Lenka Trilecová and Martina Gavelová and Lenka Skálová and Barbora Szotáková and Martin Buncek and Hana Radilová and Alois Kozubík and Miroslav Machala},

doi = {10.1016/j.cbi.2009.03.011},

issn = {1872-7786 0009-2797},

year  = {2009},

date = {2009-07-01},

journal = {Chemico-biological interactions},

volume = {180},

number = {2},

pages = {226–237},

abstract = {In contrast to hepatocytes, there is only limited information about the expression and activities of enzymes participating in metabolic activation of environmental mutagens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), in liver progenitor cells. In rat liver "stem-like" WB-F344 cell line, sharing many characteristics with rat liver progenitor cells, PAHs are efficiently activated to their ultimate genotoxic metabolites forming DNA adducts. The present study aimed to characterize expression/activities of enzymes of two major pathways involved in the metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP): cytochrome P450 (CYP) family 1 enzymes and cytosolic aldo-keto reductases (AKRs). We report here that, apart from induction of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression and the corresponding enzymatic activity, both BaP and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induced rat 3alpha-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (AKR1C9) expression and activity. In contrast, the aldehyde reductase AKR1A1 was not induced by either treatment. Thus, both CYP1 and AKR metabolic pathways were inducible in the model of liver progenitor cells. BaP and TCDD were efficient inducers of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) expression and activity in WB-F344 cells, a principal enzyme of cellular antioxidant defense. Both compounds also induced expression of transcription factor NRF2, involved in control of enzymes protecting cells from oxidative stress. However, although BaP induced a significant formation of reactive oxygen species, it did not induce expression of heme oxygenase-1, suggesting that induction of oxidative stress by BaP was limited. Using shRNA against the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), we found that similar to CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, the AKR1C9 induction was AhR-dependent. Moreover, constitutive AKR1C9 levels in AhR-deficient rat BP8 hepatoma cells were significantly lower than in their AhR-positive 5L variant, thus supporting possible role of AhR in regulation of AKR1C9 expression. Taken together, both CYP1 and AKR1C9 appear to be AhR-regulated metabolic pathways, which may contribute to formation of pro-carcinogenic PAH metabolites in liver progenitor cells.},

note = {Place: Ireland},

keywords = {Animals, Aryl Hydrocarbon/*metabolism, Benzo(a)pyrene/toxicity, Cell Line, Dimethyl Sulfoxide/toxicity, Enzymologic/drug effects, Gene Expression Regulation, Gene Silencing, Hydrogen Peroxide/toxicity, Liver/*cytology/*enzymology, Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins/analogs & derivatives/toxicity, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*metabolism, Rats, Reactive Oxygen Species, Receptors, Stem Cells/*drug effects/*metabolism},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}

@article{marvanova_toxic_2008,

title = {Toxic effects of methylated benz[a]anthracenes in liver cells.},

author = {Sona Marvanová and Jan Vondrácek and Katerrina Penccíková and Lenka Trilecová and Pavel Krcmárr and Jan Topinka and Zuzana Nováková and Alena Milcová and Miroslav Machala},

doi = {10.1021/tx700305x},

issn = {0893-228X},

year  = {2008},

date = {2008-02-01},

journal = {Chemical research in toxicology},

volume = {21},

number = {2},

pages = {503–512},

abstract = {Monomethylated benz[ a]anthracenes (MeBaAs) are an important group of methylated derivatives of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although the methyl substitution reportedly affects their mutagenicity and tumor-initiating activity, little is known about the impact of methylation on the effects associated with activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-dependent gene expression and/or toxic events associated with tumor promotion. In the present study, we studied the effects of a series of MeBaAs on the above-mentioned end points in rat liver cell lines and compared them with the effects of benz[ a]anthracene (BaA) and the potent carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[ a]anthracene (DMBA). Methyl substitution enhanced the AhR-mediated activity of BaA derivatives determined in a reporter gene assay, as the induction equivalency factors (IEFs) of all MeBaAs were higher than that of BaA. IEFs of 6-MeBaA and 9-MeBaA, two of the most potent MeBaAs, were more than two orders of magnitude higher than the IEF of BaA. Correspondingly, all MeBaAs induced higher levels of cytochrome P450 1A1 mRNA. Both BaA and MeBaAs had similar effects on the expression of cytochrome P450 1B1 or aldo-keto reductase 1C9 in rat liver epithelial WB-F344 cells. In contrast to genotoxic DMBA, MeBaAs induced low DNA adduct formation. Only 10-MeBaA induced apoptosis and accumulation of phosphorylated p53, which could be associated with the induction of oxidative stress, similar to DMBA. With the exception of 10-MeBaA, all MeBaAs induced cell proliferation in contact-inhibited WB-F344 cells, which corresponded with their ability to activate AhR. 1-, 2-, 8-, 10-, 11-, and 12-MeBaA inhibited gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in WB-F344 cells. This mode of action, like disruption of cell proliferation control, might contribute to tumor promotion. Taken together, these data showed that the methyl substitution significantly influences those effects of MeBaAs associated with AhR activation or GJIC inhibition.},

note = {Place: United States},

keywords = {10-Dimethyl-1, 2-benzanthracene/chemistry/metabolism/toxicity, 9, Animals, Apoptosis/drug effects, Benz(a)Anthracenes/chemistry/metabolism/*toxicity, Carcinoma, Cell Line, Cell Proliferation/drug effects, Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/genetics/metabolism, DNA Adducts/analysis/metabolism, DNA/drug effects/metabolism, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Enzyme Induction, Enzymologic/drug effects, Gap Junctions/drug effects, Gene Expression Regulation, Genes, Hepatocellular, Hepatocytes/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology, Inbred F344, Liver Neoplasms, Messenger/metabolism, Methylation, Rats, Reporter/drug effects, RNA, Stem Cells/*drug effects/metabolism/pathology, Tumor},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {article}

}