title: Quinone methide mediates in vitro induction of ornithine decarboxylase by the tumor promoter butylated hydroxytoluene hydroperoxide.
abstract: Metabolism of the skin tumor promoter butylated hydroxy-toluene hydroperoxide (2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroperoxyl-4-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienone; BHTOOH) to reactive intermediates is required for tumor promotion by this compound. In particular, an electrophilic quinone methide is known to mediate both in vivo tumor promotion as well as in vitro cytotoxicity by BHTOOH. In the present study, the role of this reactive intermediate in the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), a gene strongly associated with tumor promotion, was investigated in cultured keratinocytes. BHTOOH stimulates a time-dependent increase in ODC enzyme activity, paralleled by ODC mRNA induction, suggesting transcriptional regulation of ODC by BHTOOH. Depletion of intracellular glutathione caused a 5-fold potentiation of keratinocyte sensitivity to BHTOOH. Concordantly, ODC induction by BHTOOH could be completely inhibited by soluble thiol compounds. These results suggest that ODC induction is mediated by a thiol-reactive metabolite of BHTOOH. The iron-specific chelator desferal blocked ODC induction by BHTOOH, indicating that formation of this intermediate is iron-dependent. Substitution of the 4-methyl group of BHTOOH with alkyl groups of incrementally larger size is known to reduce accordingly quinone methide production; comparative study of these BHTOOH analogs demonstrated a corresponding loss of potency for ODC induction, indicating that BHT-quinone methide mediates the in vitro induction of ODC by BHTOOH. Finally, kinase inhibitor studies suggested a role for protein kinase C in the induction of ODC by BHTOOH. Taken together, these results provide insight into the cellular mechanisms through which the reactive electrophile BHT-quinone methide can mediate alterations in gene expression, such as occur in tumor promotion in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205.
authors.forename: K Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Guyton
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Dolan
authors.forename: T W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Kensler
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000187:drug effects; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D045563:Indolequinones; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D015603:Keratinocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D010212:Papilloma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology; D010545:Peroxides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D011809:Quinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D002614:Chelating Agents; D045563:Indolequinones; D007211:Indoles; D007546:Isoquinolines; D065108:Ornithine Decarboxylase Inhibitors; D010545:Peroxides; D010879:Piperazines; D011809:Quinones; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; C068040:quinone methide; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; C046508:2,6-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroperoxy-4-methyl-2,5-cyclohexadienone; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D009955:Ornithine Decarboxylase