The TERT-CLPTM1L lung cancer susceptibility variant associates with higher DNA adduct formation in the lung

Genome-wide association studies have provided evidence that common variation at 5p15.33 [telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)-cleft lip and palate transmembrane 1-like (CLPTM1L)], 6p21.33 and 15q25.1 (CHRNA5-CHRNA3) influences lung cancer risk and cancer types with strong environmental risk factors. To independently validate these associations, we compared 5p15.33 (rs402710, rs401681), 6p21.33 (rs4324798) and 15q25.1 (rs1051730, rs16969968 and rs8034191) genotypes in 365 non-small cell lung cancer cases and 440 controls. Consistent with published data, variant genotypes of 5p15 (rs402710), 6p21 and 15q25 showed dose-dependent associations with lung cancer risk. To examine if variants influence the impact of environmental risk factors on lung carcinogenesis, we studied the relationship between genotype and levels of bulky aromatic/hydrophobic DNA adducts in lung tissue adjacent to tumor from 204 lung cancer cases. The risk allele of rs402710 (TERT-CLPTM1L locus) was associated with significantly higher levels of bulky aromatic/hydrophobic DNA adducts (P = 0.02). These data demonstrate a potential association between the TERT-CLPTM1L variant and levels of bulky DNA adducts measured by P-32-postlabeling and hence a basis for susceptibility to the development of lung cancer

Effects of nitrated-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and diesel exhaust particle extracts on cell signalling related to apoptosis:possible implications for their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects

International audienceNitrated-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAHs) and diesel exhaust particle extracts (DEPE) induced apoptosis in Hepa1c1c7 cells with the following potency: 1,3-dinitropyrene (1,3-DNP)>1-nitropyrene (1-NP) > DEPE > 1,8-dinitropyrene (1,8-DNP). The compounds induced cyp1a1, and activated various intracellular signalling pathways related to apoptosis. The CYP inhibitor alpha-naphthoflavone strongly reduced 1,3-DNP-induced cell death, whereas cell death induced by 1-NP was rather increased. Toxic 1,3-DNP and 1-NP were found to induce a concentration-dependent lipid peroxidation. 1,3-DNP caused pro-apoptotic events, including increased phosphorylation and accumulation of p53 in the nucleus, cleavage of bid and of caspases 8 and 3, down-regulation of bcl-x(L) and phosphorylation of p38 and JNK MAPK. Furthermore, 1,3-DNP increased the activation of survival signals including phosphorylation of Akt and inactivation (phosphorylation) of pro-apoptotic bad. Although less potent, rather similar effects were observed following exposure to DEPE, compared to 1-NP. The most important finding was that the most mutagenic and carcinogenic compound tested, 1,8-DNP, induced little (if any) cell death, despite the fact that this compound seemed to give the most DNA damage as judged by DNA adduct formation, increased phosphorylation of p53 and accumulation of cells in S-phase. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that the p53 protein did not accumulate into the nucleus suggesting that 1,8-DNP inactivated the pro-apoptotic function of the p53 protein by a non-mutagenic event. These results suggest that after exposure to 1,8-DNP more cells may survive with DNA damage, thereby increasing its mutagenic and carcinogenic potential

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP) induces apoptosis and apparently a non-apoptotic programmed cell death (paraptosis) in Hepa1c1c7 cells.

International audienceMechanistic studies of nitro-PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) of interest might help elucidate which chemical characteristics are most important in eliciting toxic effects. 1-Nitropyrene (1-NP) is the predominant nitrated PAH emitted in diesel exhaust. 1-NP-exposed Hepa1c1c7 cells exhibited marked changes in cellular morphology, decreased proliferation and different forms of cell death. A dramatic increase in cytoplasmic vacuolization was observed already after 6 h of exposure and the cells started to round up at 12 h. The rate of cell proliferation was markedly reduced at 24 h and apoptotic as well as propidium iodide (PI)-positive cells appeared. Electron microscopic examination revealed that the vacuolization was partly due to mitochondria swelling. The caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK inhibited only the apoptotic cell death and Nec-1 (an inhibitor of necroptosis) exhibited no inhibitory effects on either cell death or vacuolization. In contrast, cycloheximide markedly reduced both the number of apoptotic and PI-positive cells as well as the cytoplasmic vacuolization, suggesting that 1-NP induced paraptotic cell death. All the MAPKs; ERK1/2, p38 and JNK, appear to be involved in the death process since marked activation was observed upon 1-NP exposure, and their inhibitors partly reduced the induced cell death. The ERK1/2 inhibitor PD 98057 completely blocked the induced vacuolization, whereas the other MAPKs inhibitors only had minor effects on this process. These findings suggest that 1-NP may cause apoptosis and paraptosis. In contrast, the corresponding amine (1-aminopyrene) elicited only minor apoptotic and necrotic cell death, and cells with characteristics typical of paraptosis were absent

Different mechanisms involved in apoptosis following exposure to benzo[a]pyrene in F258 and Hepa1c1c7 cells

International audienceThe present study compares and elucidates possible mechanisms why B[a]P induces different cell signals and triggers apparently different apoptotic pathways in two rather similar cell lines (hepatic epithelial cells of rodents). The rate and maximal capacity of metabolic activation, as measured by the formation of B[a]P-tetrols and B[a]P-DNA adducts, was much higher in mouse hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells than in rat liver epithelial F258 cells due to a higher induced level of cyp1a1. B[a]P increased intracellular pH in both cell lines, but this change modulated the apoptotic process only in F258 cells. In Hepa1c1c7 cells reactive oxygen species (ROS) production appeared to be a consequence of toxicity, unlike F258 cells in which it was an initial event. The increased mitochondrial membrane potential found in F258 cells was not observed in Hepa1c1c7 cells. Surprisingly, F258 cells cultured at low cell density were somewhat more sensitive to low (50nM) B[a]P concentrations than Hepa1c1c7 cells. This could be explained partly by metabolic differences at low B[a]P concentrations. In contrast to the Hepa1c1c7 model, no activation of cell survival signals including p-Akt, p-ERK1/2 and no clear inactivation of pro-apoptotic Bad was observed in the F258 model following exposure to B[a]P. Another important difference between the two cell lines was related to the role of Bax and cytochrome c. In Hepa1c1c7 cells, B[a]P exposure resulted in a "classical" translocation of Bax to the mitochondria and release of cytochrome c, whereas in F258 cells no intracellular translocation of these two proteins was seen. These results suggest that the rate of metabolism of B[a]P and type of reactive metabolites formed influence the resulting balance of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic cell signaling, and hence the mechanisms involved in cell death and the chances of more permanent genetic damage