title: Induction of epidermal NAD(P)H:quinone reductase by chemical carcinogens: a possible mechanism for the detoxification.
abstract: NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, which plays an important role in the detoxification of carcinogenic metabolites as well as oxidative cellular damage, was found to be present in epidermal cytosol where its specific activity far exceeds (140-160%) the corresponding hepatic value. The effect of topical application of crude coal tar, 3-methylcholanthrene and polychlorinated biphenyl Aroclor 1254, on epidermal and hepatic cytosolic NAD(P)H:quinone reductase activities was investigated in neonatal rats, Sencar and athymic nude mice. A single topical application of each agent resulted in significant increases in epidermal (185%-389%) and hepatic (150-255%) enzyme activities. This inducible enzyme may play an important role in the detoxification of reactive quinone species during the course of malignant neoplasia and against oxidative cellular damage in skin.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001140:Aroclors / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D003033:Coal Tar / Q000494:pharmacology; D003600:Cytosol / Q000201:enzymology; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005260:Female; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008748:Methylcholanthrene / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008819:Mice, Nude; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); D011247:Pregnancy; D011808:Quinone Reductases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012867:Skin / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D001140:Aroclors; D002273:Carcinogens; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D003033:Coal Tar; D016660:NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone); D011808:Quinone Reductases