title: Mechanistic influences for mutation induction curves after exposure to DNA-reactive carcinogens.
abstract: A mechanistic understanding of carcinogenic genotoxicity is necessary to determine consequences of chemical exposure on human populations and improve health risk assessments. Currently, linear dose-responses are assumed for DNA reactive compounds, ignoring cytoprotective processes that may limit permanent damage. To investigate the biological significance of low-dose exposures, human lymphoblastoid cells were treated with alkylating agents that have different mechanisms of action and DNA targets: methylmethane sulfonate (MMS), methylnitrosourea (MNU), ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS), and ethylnitrosourea (ENU). Chromosomal damage and point mutations were quantified with the micronucleus and hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase forward mutation assays. MNU and ENU showed linear dose-responses, whereas MMS and EMS had nonlinear curves containing a range of nonmutagenic low doses. The lowest observed effect level for induction of chromosomal aberrations was 0.85 microg/mL MMS and 1.40 microg/mL EMS; point mutations required 1.25 microg/mL MMS and 1.40 microg/mL EMS before a mutagenic effect was detected. This nonlinearity could be due to homeostatic maintenance by DNA repair, which is efficient at low doses of compounds that primarily alkylate N(7)-G and rarely attack O atoms. A pragmatic threshold for carcinogenicity may therefore exist for such genotoxins.
authors: School of Medicine, University of Wales Swansea, Singleton Park, Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom. s.h.doak@swansea.ac.uk
authors: Shareen H
authors: SH
authors: Doak
authors: Gareth J S
authors: GJ
authors: Jenkins
authors: George E
authors: GE
authors: Johnson
authors: Emma
authors: E
authors: Quick
authors: Elizabeth M
authors: EM
authors: Parry
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Parry
mesh_terms: D000477:Alkylating Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004249:DNA Damage; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D017354:Point Mutation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000477:Alkylating Agents; D018736:DNA Adducts; D009153:Mutagens; D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D004247:DNA; D005020:Ethyl Methanesulfonate; D008741:Methyl Methanesulfonate; D007041:Hypoxanthine Phosphoribosyltransferase; D005038:Ethylnitrosourea