title: In vivo mutagenicity and hepatocarcinogenicity of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) in bitransgenic c-myc/lambda lacZ mice.
abstract: 2-Amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) is a mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amine found in cooked meat. Hepatic DNA adduct formation, in vivo mutagenicity, and hepatocarcinogenicity of MeIQx were examined in mice harboring the lacZ mutation reporter gene (Muta mice) and bitransgenic mice overexpressing the c-myc oncogene. C57Bl/lambda lacZ and bitransgenic c-myc (albumin promoter)/lambda lacZ mice were bred and weaned onto an American Institute of Nutrition-76-based diet containing 0.06% (w/w) MeIQx or onto control diet. After 30 weeks on diet, only male bitransgenic mice on MeIQx developed hepatocellular carcinoma (100% incidence). By 40 weeks, hepatic tumor incidence was 100%/75% (17%/0%) and 44%/17% (0%/0%) in male c-myc/lambda lacZ and C57Bl/lambda lacZ mice who were given MeIQx (or control) diet, respectively, supporting a synergism between MeIQx and c-myc overexpression in hepatocarcinogenesis. At either time point, mutant frequency in the lacZ gene was at least 40-fold higher in MeIQx-treated mice than in control mice of either strain. These findings suggest that MeIQx-induced hepatocarcinogenesis is associated with MeIQx-induced mutations. Elevated mutant frequency in MeIQx-treated mice also occurred concomitant with the formation of MeIQx-guanine adducts, as detected by the 32P-postlabeling assay. Irrespective of strain or diet, sequence analysis of the lacZ mutants from male mouse liver showed that the principal sequence alterations were base substitutions at guanine bases. Adenine mutations, however, were detected only in animals on control diet. MeIQx-fed mice harboring the c-myc oncogene showed a 1.4-2.6-fold higher mutant frequency in the lacZ gene than mice not carrying the transgene. Although there was a trend toward higher adduct levels in c-myc mice, MeIQx-DNA adduct levels were not significantly different between c-myc/lambda lacZ and C57Bl/lambda lacZ mice after 30 weeks on diet. Thus, it seemed that factors in addition to MeIQx-DNA adduct levels, such as the enhanced rate of proliferation associated with c-myc overexpression, may have accounted for a higher mutant frequency in c-myc mice. In the control diet groups, the lacZ mutant frequency was significantly higher in c-myc/lambda lacZ mice than in C57Bl/lambda lacZ mice. The findings are consistent with the notion that c-myc overexpression is associated with an increase in mutagenesis. The mechanism for the synergistic effects of c-myc overexpression on MeIQx hepatocarcinogenicity seems to involve an enhanced expression of MeIQx-induced mutations.
authors.affiliation: Chemical Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
authors.forename: D Y
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Schut
authors.forename: E G
authors.initials: EG
authors.lastname: Snyderwine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D005260:Female; D007763:Lac Operon; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000633:toxicity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D018736:DNA Adducts; D009153:Mutagens; D011810:Quinoxalines; C045421:3,4,8-trimethylimidazo(4,5-f)quinoxalin-2-amine