• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2002.05b
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• pp.1-19
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• 2002

It is well established that the initiating event in chemical carcinogenesis is the binding of reactive carcinogens to DNA. Thus, a number of analytic methods have been developed for determining levels of carcinogen-DNA adducts in humans as a marker of individual exposure and, potentially, of risk for cancer development. In addition, reactive carcinogens also bind to protein suggesting protein adducts can be used as a surrogate for DNA adducts in some situations. We have developed monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies to carcinogen-DNA and protein adductis and highly sensitive ELISA and immunohistochemical assays for determining levels of adducts in human tissues. These studies have demonstrated higher levels of adducts in those with higher exposure as a result of workplace, dietary, chemotherapy, environmental of lifestyle (smoking) exposures. Elevated levels of adducts have been found in lung and liver cancer cases compared to controls. We have also used DNA adducts to determine efficacy of an antiosidant vitamin intervention. DNA adduct studies have demonstrated very different levels of damage in those with similar exposure levels. These interindividual differences are likely the result genetic differences in capacity to activate carcinogens, detoxify reactive intermediates and repair DNA adducts once formed. We are currently investigating the relationship between polymorphisms in a number of these genes to determine their relationship to adduct levels as well as their ability to confer increased risk for cancer development. The ability to identify high risk individuals will allow the targeting of screening and preventive strategies to those most likely to benfit.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.243-251
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• 1998

Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been extensively used in the traditional oriental medicine as a restorative, tonic and prophylatic agent. Petroleum ether extract of panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (GPE) and its several fractions (PI-P5) were tested for the evaluation of antigenotoxicity against N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) and benzo(a)pyrene [B(a)P]-induced micronucleated reticulocytes in mouse peripheral blood. GPE and P2 showed more significant anticlastogenicity than other fractions did. To elucidate the anticlastogenic action mechanism of GPE and P2 against B(a)P, the alteration of B(a)P metabolism was studied. GPE and P2 inhibited B(a)P metabolism in the presence of 8-9 mix and decreased B(a)P-DNA binding in calf thymus DNA with 8-9 mix. They also decreased [$^3H$] MNU induced DNA binding and methylation to 7-methyl guanine and $O^{6}-methyl$ guanine adducts in calf thymus DNA by RPLC analysis. These results suggest that the anticlastogenicity of GPE and P2 on the B(a)P or MNU-induced clastogenicity is due to decrease of DNA binding with B(a)P or MNU, the inhibition of metabolism with B(a)P and the inhibition of methylation in DNA. Therefore, GPE and P2 may be useful chemopreventive agents of alkylating agent like MNU and secondary carcinogen like B(a)P.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.143-149
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• 2018

Excessive exposure to estrogens is the most important risk factor for the development of hormone-sensitive cancers, especially breast cancer. Estrogen stimulates the expression of genes and proteins involved in cell proliferation by binding to estrogen receptor (ER). Another possible mechanism of ER-independent carcinogenicity of estrogens is based on the hydroxylation of estradiol resulting in the formation of catechol estrogens. Catechol estrogen 4-hydroxyestradiol ($4-OHE_2$) is further oxidized to catechol estrogen-3,4-quinones, the major carcinogenic metabolites of estrogens. Evidence increasingly supports the critical role of $4-OHE_2$ in hormonal carcinogenesis via DNA adduct formation or production of reactive oxygen species, which finally contribute to the transformation of normal mammary epithelial cells and the enhanced growth of breast cancer cells. It is also reported that the level of $4-OHE_2$ or its quinones is highly up-regulated in urine or tissues of breast cancer patients. Thus, we highlight the oncogenic roles of $4-OHE_2$ in catechol estrogen-induced breast carcinogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.2 s.125
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• pp.163-167
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• 2001

Prunella vulgaris L. aqua-acupuncture solution (PVAS) was tested for cancer chemopreventive activity using chemoprevention-associated biochemical end points. The following effects were measured. : (a) inhibition of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced cytochrome P4501A1 activity (b) inhibition of $[^3H]B[a]P-DNA$ binding (c) inhibition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA)-induced free radical formation in HL-60 cells (d) inhibition of polyamine metabolism. PVAS inhibited cytochrome P4501A1-mediated ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity. The binding of $[^3H]B[a]P$ metabolites to DNA of NCTC-clone 1469 cells was inhibited significantly by PVAS. There is 22% inhibition of TPA-induced free radical formation in human leukemic cells with 5 mg/ml PVAS. Proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii was inhibited by PAVS at concentration of 30 mg/ml. PAVS positive in these assays may inhibit the carcinogenesis process and is considered very promising cancer-preventing agent because of its multiple activities.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.14-21
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• 1993

N-Heterocyclic aromatics (NHA) are widely occurring environmental pollutants formed during the pyrolysis of nitrogen-containing organic chemicals. NAH are found in significant amounts in tobacco condensates, synthetic fuels, polluted river sediment, and effluents from the heating of coal. Following topical application 7H-dibenzo[c, g]carbazole (DBC) induces cancer in liver as well as skin, indicating that dermal exposure can lead to systemic effect. DBC and dibenz[a,j]acridine (DBA) are examples of NHA. The potency of many carcinogenic compounds is related, at least in part, to the efficiency of their biological activation. We undertook studies to determine which initial metabolites lead to the formation of high levels of carcinogen-DNA adducts in vivo. DBC and DBA's, DBA, trans-DBA-1,2-dihydrodiol (DBA-1,2-DHD), trans-DBA-3,4-dihydrodiol (DBA-3,4-DHD), and trans-DBA-5,6-dihydrodiol (DBA-5,6-DHD), were applied to the skin of mice. There were six adducts that were related to DBC application. These addusts were seen in the target organ, liver at high levels, but at very low levels in non-target organs, skin, lung and kidney. In skin, DBA produced two distinct adducts. The same two adducts were seen when DBA-3,4-DHD was applied. In addition the total adduct level elicited by DBA-3,4-DHD higher than that of parent compound. Two adducts were seen when DBA-5,6-DHD was applied, but these were very different from adducts seen with DBA. These results suggested that activation of DBA to DNA-binding compounds in skin includes initial formation of DBA-3,4-DHD.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.570-576
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• 2006

Phytoestrogen biochanin A is an isoflavone derivative isolated from red clover Trifolium pratense with anticarcinogenic properties. This study examined the action of biochanin A with the carcinogen activation pathway that is mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. Treating the cells with biochanin A alone caused the accumulation of CYP1A1 mRNA and an increase in CYP1A1-specific 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a dose dependent manner. A concomitant treatment with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and biochanin A markedly reduced the DMBA-inducible EROD activity and CYP1A1 mRNA level. In addition, the biochanin A treatment alone activated the DNA-binding capacity of the AhR for the dioxin-response element (DRE) of CYP1A1, as measured by the electrophoretic-mobility shift assay (EMSA). EMSA revealed that biochanin A reduced the level of the DMBA-inducible AhR-DRE binding complex. Furthermore, biochanin A competed with the prototypical AhR ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), for binding to the AhR in an isolated rat cytosol. The biochanin A competitively inhibited the metabolic activation of DMBA, as measured by the formation of the DMBA-DNA adducts. These results suggest that biochanin A may thus be a natural ligand to bind on AhR. Therefore, biochanin A may be due to act an antagonist/agonist of the AhR pathway.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.1_2
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• pp.65-73
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• 1999

Dioxins refer to a family of chemicals comprising 75 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and 135 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furan (PCDF) congeners, which may cause skin disorder, human immune system disruption, birth defects, severe hormonal imbalance, and cancer. The effects of exposure of dioxin-like compounds such as PCBs are mediated by binding to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), which is a ligand-activated transcription factor. To grasp physicochemical factors affecting human toxicity of dioxins, six geometrical and topological indices, eleven thermodynamic variables, and quantum mechanical descriptors including ESP (electrostatic potential) were analyzed using QSAR and semi-empirical AM1 method. Planar dioxins with high lipophilicity and large surface tension show the probability that negative electrostatic potential in the lateral oxygen may make hydrogen bonding with DNA bases to be a carcinogen.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2002

The effects of Cnidium officinale Makino aqua-acupuncture solution (COMAS) and Cnidium officinale Makino water-extraced solution (COMWS) on the CYP1A1 activity and benzo[a]pyrene(B[a]P)-DNA adduct formation were examined. There were 6.8%, 12.1%, 15.1%, 18.3% and 22.6% inhibition in the activity of cytochrome 4501A1 enzyme with the treatment of $0.1{\times},\;0.5{\times},\;1{\times},\;3{\times},\;and\;5{\times}$ COMAS, respectively. At concentration of $0.1{\times}$ COMAS, the binding of $[^3H]B[a]P$ metabolites to DNA of NCTC-clone 1469 cell was significantly inhibited by 56.9%. These results suggest that COMAS has chemopreventive potential by inhibiting cytochrome P4501A1 activity and benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 1989

To study the selective organospecific carcinogenesis by the specific chemical carcinogens, the breast cancer induction model by oral administration of 7, 12-dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA) or by intravenous injection of N-methylni-trosourea (NMU) on female rats was analyzed. In the present experiment, we compared the effexts of ages on the chemical mammary carcinogenesis by studying the metabolic system of the carcinogenic activation, detoxification or DNA damage and repair. The breast tumor incidence was significantly higher in the young rats of 50 days old than in those of one year old rats. As an index of organospecific DNA damage or repair, the in vivo covalent binding index(CBI) of the specific organs by the specific chemical carcinogens was monitored. And for the analysis of carcinogenic activation, the quantity of cytochrome P450`s was determined with the respective type-specific monoclonal antibody, while the detoxication capacity was deduced by the activity monitoring of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and peroxidase. The skin tissues of the mammary region had the highest CBI with both of DMBA and NMU at 50 days of age. And there were contrasting differences in the contents of carcinogenic activation and detoxication system: that is, the content of T.C.D.D.-inducible cytochrome P450 was high, while the activities of GST and peroxidase was low in the mammary skin tissues at tumor prevalent age. These results led us to conclude that the molecular organospecific carcinogenesis, as illustrated with mammary carcinoge-nesis by DMBA and NMU, is operated probably through the differential capacity of the target tissues in the high carcinogenic activation, low detoxication and the low DNA repair function.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.135-142
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• 2007

Formononetin is an isoflavonoid phytoestrogen found in certain foodstuffs such as soy and red clover. In this study, we examined the action of formononetin with the carcinogen activation pathway mediated through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in MCF-7 breast carcinoma cells. Treating the cells with formononetin alone caused the accumulation of CYP1A1 mRNA as well as elevation in CYP1A1-specific 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a dose dependent manner. However, a concomitant treatment with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) and formononetin markedly reduced both the DMBA-inducible EROD activity and CYP1A1 mRNA level. Under the same conditions, formononetin inhibited the DMBA-induced AhR transactivation, as shown by reporter gene analysis using a xenobiotic responsive element (XRE). Additionally, formononetin inhibited both DMBA-inducible nuclear localization of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and metabolic activation of DMBA, as measured by the formation of the DMBA-DNA adducts. Furthermore, formononetin competed with the prototypical AhR ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), for binding to the AhR in an isolated rat cytosol. These results suggest that formononetin might be considered as a natural ligand to bind on AhR and consequently produces a potent protective effect against DMBA-induced genotoxicity. Therefore, that's the potential to act as a chemopreventive agent that is related to its effect on AhR pathway as antagonist/agonist.