title: Mechanism of cytotoxicity of aflatoxin B1: role of cytochrome P1-450.
abstract: A mouse hepatoma cell line, Hepa-1, is highly sensitive to the toxic effects of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Half maximal survival (LD50) of cells occurs at 0.068 ug AFB1/ml. Benzo(a)anthracene, which induces aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and cytochrome P1-450 in Hepa-1, causes a slight increase in the toxicity of AFB1 (LD50 = 0.034 ug/ml). An aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase- and cytochrome P1-450-deficient mutant of Hepa-1 is, however, over 100 times more resistant to AFB1 than Hepa-1. Almost no decline in survival is observed at 5 ug AFB1/ml. Cytochrome P1-450 thus effects strongly on the cytotoxicity of AFB1 in these cells. The basal activity in Hepa-1 is enough to elicit an almost full toxic effect. AFB1, although a substrate for cytochrome P1-450, does not act as an inducer of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase.
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D000818:Animals; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D007928:Lethal Dose 50; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation
chemical_list: D000348:Aflatoxins; D001551:Benz(a)Anthracenes; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D016604:Aflatoxin B1; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide