title: In vivo effects of afobazole (2-mercaptobenzimidazole derivative) on the 7,12-dimethylbenz [alpha]anthracene-induced oncogene and suppressor gene expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Afobazole, a new 2-mercapto-benzimidazole derivative, exhibited antimutagenic activity in chromosome aberration tests and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the potential chemopreventive effect of afobazole on the level of early biological effects by analysing changes in oncogene and tumor suppressor gene expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Single intraperitoneal (i.p.) treatment with 7,12-dimethylbenz[alpha]anthracene (DMBA) combined with afobazole was administered to CBA/Ca (sensitive H-2K haplotype) female mice. The expression of Ha-ras and p53 was determined in the vital organs (liver, spleen, lung, kidney, thymus, lymph nodes and bone marrow) 24, 48 and 72 hours later.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coadministration of afobazole and DMBA resulted in a decrease of DMBA-induced overexpression of Ha-ras and p53. Reduction of the DMBA-induced gene expression was most striking when afobazole was given in parallel with DMBA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results strengthen the previous assumption, which was based on in vitro results, that afobazole has a chemopreventive effect in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pécs, Munkdcsy u. 2, H-7621 Pécs, Hungary. istvan.szanyi@aok.pte.hu
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Szanyi
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lujber
authors.forename: Imre
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gerlinger
authors.forename: József
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pytel
authors.forename: Miklós
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: András
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Csejtey
authors.forename: Eszter
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szele
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gombos
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kiss
authors.forename: Sergey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Seredenin
authors.forename: Milada
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yarkova
authors.forename: István
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ember
mesh_terms: D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016147:Genes, Tumor Suppressor; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D009025:Morpholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009857:Oncogenes
chemical_list: C410924:2-((2-morpholino)ethylthio)-5-ethoxybenzimidazole; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D009025:Morpholines; D015127:9,10-Dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene