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Some Chloramphenicol (CAP) metabolites are suspected to be involved in the etiology of bone marrow aplasia in man. The objective of the present study was to investigate the cytotoxicity as well as the genotoxicity of CAP and six of its metabolites on human bone marrow cells (RiBM cells) and to compare these results with those obtained on human peripheral blood lymphocytes in order to estimate the relative sensitivity of the two types of cells. Three CAP metabolites NO-CAP, DH-CAP and NPAP inhibited 3H thymidine incorporation in RiBM cells at concentrations ranging from 2.10(-5) M to 2.10(-4) M. NO-CAP appeared as the most potent cytotoxic compound. CAP itself and NAPD presented some toxic effect at high concentration (1-2.10(-3) M). CAPG and HAP did not present any cytotoxic effect. By comparison, the response of human lymphocytes to CAP and its metabolites showed a similar pattern but DH-CAP was the most inhibitory compound. Concerning the genotoxic potential, NO-CAP and DH-CAP induced DNA single strand breaks in RiBM cells at concentrations of 1 and 2.10(-4) M with a dose response relationship. CAP and other metabolites were completely devoid of genotoxicity up to 4.10(-3) M. The results clearly showed that RiBM cells were much less susceptible to the genotoxic effect of CAP metabolites than human lymphocytes.

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We report here data on the spontaneous resumption of proliferation in long-term primary cultures and we show that the proliferating areas are neoplastic. Normal rat hepatocytes were explanted in serum-supplemented Ham F12 medium and maintained over 8 months without transfer. The cells remained quiescent for the first 10 weeks and they were not tumorigenic when injected into nude mice. Later, without any modification of the culture conditions or transfer, progressive changes spontaneously occurred. Foci of dividing cells were detected, some displaying gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (gamma-GT) activity and F-actin fragmentation. These proliferating foci overcame the quiescent population. When injected into nude mice, the 15-week-old primary cultures were highly tumorigenic, with a 3-6 week latency for tumour formation. Furthermore, a cell line was derived from a primary culture started with a liver carcinogen promoter (biliverdin-enriched medium). This cell line proliferated rapidly and differed from a liver epithelial line, also established from our primary cultures, in its 1 karyotype (hyperploidy and translocation on chromosome 3), 2 requirement for arginine to proliferate, 3 gamma-GT positive reaction correlated to changes in actin fibre pattern, 4 sensitivity to protease inhibitors (i.e. alpha2 macroglobulin, PMSF) and 5 tumorigenicity. Long-term primary cultures and the karyotypically defined cell line are useful tools for further studies on in vitro genetic deviations.

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Chloramphenicol (CAP) is an antibiotic which has been implicated in the etiology of aplastic anemia in man. This product is also used in veterinary medicine. The medical use of chloramphenicol has been limited to cases where the drug is indispensible but veterinary use may lead to the presence of residues in the meat of treated animals and it is essential to establish acceptable levels of intake of such residues in order to protect human health. CAP is metabolized into at least 6 metabolites: nitroso-CAP (NO-CAP), formed in the liver, 3 excretion products: the glucuronide (CAP-G), the CAP base (NAPD), and an alcoholic derivative, HAP. Dehydro-CAP (DH-CAP) and the dehydro-CAP base (NPAP) are formed by enterobacteria in the large bowel. The objective of the present study was to investigate (1) the cytotoxicity of CAP and its metabolites and (2) their ability to induce DNA damage in human cells. This work was performed with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and with a lymphoma cell line (Raji).

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Initiated/selected (ISH) and normal (NH) rat hepatocytes were used to study cytoskeleton modifications induced by three liver acting chemicals: 2-AAF, a liver complete carcinogen; PB, a liver tumor promoter; and 4-AAF, a non-carcinogen analogue of 2-AAF. Cytoskeleton alterations were visualized by disappearance of F-actin fibers and tubulin depolymerization. The three drugs induced actin fragmentation in normal hepatocytes; a net loss of actin protein was observed with PB. They also induced varied tubulin depolymerization. The principal difference between chemicals is that 2-AAF led to non-reversible effects, in comparison with PB and 4-AAF which induced reversible damages on cytoskeleton. By contrast to normal hepatocytes, the cytoskeleton of ISH obtained from rats subjected to the "resistant" hepatocyte protocol was much less susceptible to the effect of the three chemicals. Moreover, we observed a lack of LDH release in the culture medium and a very rapid inducibility of GST activity after exposure of ISH to drugs. The moderate effect of the three chemicals on actin and tubulin in ISH could thus be explained by the "resistant" metabolic profile of these cells.

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Three factors involved in the Solt and Farber model of rat liver carcinogenesis were studied alone and in various combinations: diethylnitrosamine (DEN) initiating dose, 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AAF) feeding and partial hepatectomy. The administration of DEN alone (200 mg/kg) was able to switch on glutathione-S-transferase, placental type (GST-P) expression 3 weeks later at a low level (85 U/micrograms protein) which was stable for 10 weeks in the absence of histopathological lesions. During the same time, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) activity presented 2 waves of increase. The feeding of 0.03% 2-AAF for 2 weeks appeared as a determinant factor in the expression of GST-P protein as well as GGT induction (15- and 7-fold versus DEN alone, respectively). The addition of partial hepatectomy enhanced again GST-P expression (1.5-fold) and GGT induction (2-fold). However, GST-P foci increased in size, not in number while GGT foci increased both in size and in number. These data indicated that 2-AAF was a crucial component of the selection procedure since partial hepatectomy alone, with or without DEN initiation was inefficient in promoting GST-P expression. Therefore, 2-AAF would be able to promote the growth of GST-P-positive cells initiated by DEN, a mechanism likely responsible for its tumor-promoting effect.

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The organization of microfilaments and microtubules was studied in human epithelial HBL-100 cells at different steps in their malignant conversion. This conversion was obtained either spontaneously upon successive in vitro subcultures (approximately p. 70), or after superinfection of early passage non-tumorigenic cells (p. 28) with Kirsten murine sarcoma virus. Our results point out a clear relationship between the progression of cells toward malignancy, whatever the modality of malignant transformation, and severe cytoskeleton modifications. The fragmentation of F-actin fibers was the earliest event occurring at p. 46, before the appearance of tumorigenicity. In tumorigenic cells, intracytoplasmic F-actin was nearly completely fragmented, the bundle of peripheral actin was loosened and poorly stained whereas the tubulin network was more important and more largely extended throughout the cytoplasm than in non tumorigenic cells.

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P-450 IIC7 and IIIA2 mRNAs are constitutively expressed in the hepatic tissue under developmental control. Both forms--as well as IIIA1, 90% homologous to IIIA2 mRNA--display positive modulation by phenobarbital a prototype inducer of the liver monooxygenases and a strong promoter of experimental chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. In the present work the variations in the concentration of these P-450 mRNA were studied in rats submitted to the hepatocarcinogenic protocol of Solt and Farber. We demonstrate that a decrease in the relative concentrations of P-450 IIC7 and IIIA1, 2 mRNA is set up along the tumor promotion stage. Animals--starting the experimental carcinogenic protocol at pubertal age--show a partial inhibition of the physiological expression of P-450 IIIA1,2 mRNA associated to male sex maturation. Administration of phenobarbital results in an acceleration of the pre-neoplastic process which is concomitant with an induction of P-450 IIC7 as well as IIIA1,2 at the earlier promotion stages. P-450 mRNA concentration markedly decreases as the preneoplastic process develops. While an impaired P-450 IIIA1,2 mRNA relative abundance is observed, an inversion of the modulation of P-450 IIC7 as well as of the male phenotype marker alpha-2u-globulin mRNA arises as the tumor promotion stage progresses, both mRNA becoming repressed in response to phenobarbital.

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The induction of primary DNA damage by the non-carcinogen 4-AAF was reinvestigated in liver cells by comparison with the carcinogen 2-AAF. DNA alkaline elution showed the appearance of single-strand breaks in total liver DNA of rats 4 h after gavage with 200 mg/kg of 4-AAF. The decrease in hepatocyte viability and yield observed in these livers after collagenase perfusion indicated a cytotoxic effect of 4-AAF treatment. Viable hepatocytes isolated from 4-AAF-treated rats as well as hepatocytes from normal rats treated with 4-AAF in vitro did not present DNA single-strand breaks.

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Microfilaments and microtubules are components of the cytoskeleton which could be implicated in neoplastic transformation. We studied the effect of two hepatic tumor promoters, phenobarbital (PB) and biliverdin (BV), on microfilaments and microtubules of non-transformed (Cl3) and transformed (FV) hepatic epithelial cells. Cl3 non-transformed cells cultured in the presence of 1 X 10(-6) M BV for 48 h showed a loss of F-actin, fragmentation of actin and the appearance of star-like structures in the cytoplasm, as well as loosening of the peripheral bundle of actin, and some ruffling of cell membranes. In Cl3 cells exposed to 0.2 X 10(-3) M PB a similar disappearance of F-actin staining and a very prominent ruffling of cell membrane were observed. BV and PB also produced in these cells modifications of microtubules characterized by a disappearance of centrosome staining in numerous cells, a condensed ring of tubulin around the nucleus and a depolymerized aspect of the microtubular network. All these modifications of microfilaments and microtubules closely resembled those observed in FV transformed cells in the absence of any treatment (Solvent DMSO only). We did not observe an effect of BV and PB on FV cells. The present data demonstrate that the cytoskeleton of non-transformed epithelial liver cells is sensitive to the action of liver tumor promoters suggesting that it might play a role as to yet be defined in the promotion mechanism.

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Non transformed epithelial hepatic cells (established cell line and adult rat hepatocytes) treated by liver tumor promoters, phenobarbital and biliverdin, for 24 and 48 h showed a fragmentation and loss of F-actin and a depolymerisation of microtubules. This pattern closely resembles that of transformed cells which were not susceptible to the action of promoters. In liver preneoplastic nodules obtained from rats submitted to an initiation-promotion process, actin almost completely disappeared with the concomitant appearance of a characteristic enzymatic pattern rich in GGT and GST-P. Therefore, cytoskeleton of hepatic cells is a target for tumor promoters and could play a role in promotion mechanism.

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The phenotypic response of rat liver to a carcinogenic protocol involving initiation/selection and promotion with and without phenobarbital (PB) feeding was studied in pubertal and adult male rats. Considering the early presence of preneoplastic nodular areas, it appeared that pubertal rats, initiated at 6-7 weeks, presented a higher susceptibility to the protocol than adult rats initiated at 9-10 weeks. Altered liver phenotype was characterized by: (1) gamma-glutamyl-transpeptidase (GGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities; (2) the expression of two forms of cytochrome P-450; de novo PB-inducible P-450 II B 1,2 and P-450 II C 7 normally expressed in 45-day-old rats and PB-inducible, and (3) the expression of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein cDNAs. In the absence of PB, the susceptibility of pubertal rat liver to hepatocarcinogenesis was related to a special metabolic phenotype enriched in GGT and GST activities by comparison with the quasi-normal expression of both P-450s. Adult rat liver presented a less altered pattern closer to that of noninitiated rat liver. During PB promotion, the loss of PB inducibility of P-450 II C 7 in pubertal rat liver suggested that the hormonal status of the animals could interact with initiation to modulate specific gene expression. The late phase of PB promotion revealed the loss of highly differentiated functions (P-450s, albumin), whereas enzymatic markers associated with preneoplastic foci showed a persistent high expression.

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Two tryptophan pyrolysis products, Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 were assayed in the SOS-chromotest using PQ 37 (uvr A) and PQ 35 (uvr+) E. coli K12 strains, in the presence of S9 fraction from Aroclor-induced rats. Both compounds were able to induce the expression of SOS functions in uvr A bacteria, in the following order: Trp-P-1 less than Trp-P-2 less than aflatoxin B1, at low concentrations (less than 125 ng/assay). In this range, the induction of SOS functions was significantly decreased in the uvr+ strain. This implies that the uvr gene product plays an important role in the repair of genotoxic damage induced by Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2. At higher concentrations (125-500 ng/assay), Trp-P-1 became more efficient in inducing SOS functions than Trp-P-2 and excision repair was less efficient than at low concentration.

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Methods permitting to monitor human populations exposed to genotoxic agents are based either on research of cytogenetic alterations in germinal and somatic cells, or on the demonstration of genotoxic effects in biological fluids, especially urine and blood components. These effects are represented by: formation of mutation producing derivatives, sought in urine with mutagenesis bacterial tests, formation of additives with DNA in lymphocytes and with hemoglobin in red cells, induction of a non-programmed synthesis of DNA (reconstructive synthesis) in lymphocytes, presence of enzymatic mutants with a deficiency in hypoxanthine-phosphoribosyl-transferase in the lymphocytes. This second group of methods is described and examples of application are given.

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Trp-P-1, a DL-tryptophan pyrolysis product, was previously known for its mutagenic and hepato-carcinogenic properties and for inducing nucleolar damage in adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture. In this paper, the effect of Trp-P-1 was investigated on DNA, RNA and protein synthesis in hepatocytes treated with 1, 5 and 10 micrograms/ml for 1, 2 and 4 h in order to determine the cascade of events which could occur in cells exposed to this agent. The inhibition of the 3 biosynthetic pathways was linearly dependent on the concentration of Trp-P-1 in the culture medium for each duration of treatment. For a given concentration, the degree of inhibition depended on the duration of incubation and varied according to the type of synthesis. DNA synthesis appeared as the most rapidly and strongly impaired: 16% of control values in hepatocytes treated with 10 micrograms/ml Trp-P-1 for 1 hour against 50.7% for RNA and 66.7% for protein synthesis. These data indicated that DNA should be the primary target of Trp-P-1 action in good agreement with the genotoxic activity of this agent. The complete recovery of RNA synthetic capability within 2 h after the removal of Trp-P-1 from the medium could however indicate that transcription was not definitely altered. By contrast the lack of protein synthesis recovery in a Trp-P-1 free medium for 24 h might signify the extended impairment of a step of translational process at the cytoplasmic level.

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The mutagenic activation of tryptophan pyrolysis products, Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2, was studied in a Salmonella TA98/hepatocyte mutagenesis assay. Adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture were either untreated or induced by the addition of Aroclor 1254 (2 micrograms/ml) 18-20 h before the mutagenesis test which was performed at day 1 and at day 2 after the isolation of hepatocytes. The mutagenic activation of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 was studied as a function of the time of incubation and of the concentration of chemical. Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 incubated for 20 min in the presence of untreated hepatocytes and bacteria gave rise to a weak number of revertants which doubled the level of spontaneous mutants. Aroclor-induced hepatocytes became highly competent in mutagenic activation of tryptophan pyrolysis products and the induction ratio reached 4.9 and 7.1 for Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2, respectively, after 60 min of incubation, on day 2 of the experiment. It should be noted that the induction ratio was higher on day 2 than on day 1. When conditions were standardized, i.e. Aroclor-induced hepatocytes on day 2, final concentration of cellular protein about 1 mg/ml, 20 min of incubation, the Salmonella/hepatocyte assay produced a linear concentration-dependent mutagenic response for Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2. By comparing the results obtained with Aroclor-induced hepatocytes and Aroclor-induced liver S9 fraction in the Salmonella test, it could be estimated that hepatocytes were 3 times less active than the S9 fraction with regard to mutagenic activation of both Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2.

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In the Ames test, after the addition of glutathione (GSH) or uridine-5'-diphosphoglucuronic acid (UD-PGA), we observed for Trp-P-1 an unchanged or a reduced mutagenicity by both the liver and intestine S9 fraction. For Trp-P-2, the same was true when we used the intestine S9 fraction. In the presence of liver S9 fraction, Trp-P-2 mutagenicity was also decreased by the addition of UDPGA but was increased by the addition of GSH. These results show that cofactors for glucuronide and GSH conjugation may alter the metabolic activation of Trp-P-1 and Trp-P-2 and consequently their mutagenicity.

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Adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture were used to study the effect of tryptophan pyrolysis products on the transcriptional process. Hepatocytes were treated with 1, 5 and 10 micrograms/ml of 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b]-indole (Trp-P-1) or 3-amino-1-methyl-5H-pyrido-[4,3-b]-indole (Trp-P-2) for 2 and 4 h. The ultrastructural study revealed the appearance of nucleolar microsegregation accompanied by a reduction in peri- and interchromatin fibrils and granules in hepatocytes exposed to 10 micrograms/ml of each pyrolysate for 1 or 2 h. Biochemical investigation showed that the incorporation of [3H]uridine into nuclear RNA of treated hepatocytes was strongly decreased. Time- and concentration-related inhibition have been established; however, the inhibitory effect of Trp-P-1 was always superior to that of Trp-P-2. The determination of Mg2+-dependent RNA polymerase activity in an in vitro system functioning with isolated rat liver nuclei incubated in the presence of Trp-P-1 or Trp-P-2 showed a 40% inhibition of this activity. After a 1-h exposure of hepatocytes to 5 and 10 micrograms/ml of Trp-P-1, the recovery of RNA synthesis capacity was complete by 2 h and that of normal ultrastructural aspect was achieved within 4 h. All these results indicated that Trp-P-1 and Try-P-2 acted at the nucleolar level by a blockade of pre-rRNA synthesis and at the extranucleolar by decreasing the ultrastructural RNP responsible for hnRNA synthesis.

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The effect of short-term oral administration of captan, [N-(trimethylthio)-4-cyclohexene-1,2-carboximide] on the immune response was studied in rats and mice. Animals were fed a diet with or without 0.3% (w/w) of captan for 7, 14, 21 and 42 days. The SRBC-antibody formation was depressed by about 70% in both species after 14 days of treatment. A release of inhibition occurred in mice at day 42. In a parallel manner, the lymphoblastic stimulation of splenic cells by PHA and by LPS was studied in captan-treated mice and their controls. The stimulation by PHA of splenic cells that were mainly T cells was clearly inhibited (45%) by day 14 of captan ingestion. Thereafter, the inhibition was only partially released until day 42. B cells, stimulated by LPS, presented a decrease in stimulation in captan-treated mice, during the first week of diet (20%). Then an important increase in the stimulation of these cells occurred at day 21 (85%) followed by a return to the normal value at day 42. These results pointed out a clear depressive effect of captan-diet on the immune response of the animals. The inhibition of SRBC-antibody formation during the first stage of the treatment may be correlated to the inhibitory effect of captan on T cells, which were cooperative with B cells for the expression of SRBC-antibody synthesis. These effects were obtained at a level of captan which was considerably lower than the toxic dose.

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