Metabolism-dependent activation of food and environmental mutagens in endothelial cells

Abstract: The endothelial cells of blood vessels have been proposed as a target for toxic effects ofxenobiotics in the cardiovascular system. In the present studies, induction of cytochromeP450 1A (CYP1A) enzymes and metabolic activation of food and environmentalmutagens were examined in endothelial cells of rodents, birds, and humans. Theheterocyclic amine 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido[4,3-b]indole (Trp-P-1) and thepolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA) andbenzo[a]pyrene were used as models for food and environmental mutagens.The results showed that Trp-P-1 was activated into tissue-binding metabolites in endothelial cells, preferentially of capillaries and veins, in rodents pretreated with the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonist β-naphthoflavone (BNF), whereas similar activationdid not occur in vehicle-treated animals. Similarly, exposure to BNF increased the tissue-binding of Trp-P-1 and DMBA in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), as compared with vehicle-treated cells. In contrast, exposure to BNF did not increase the binding of the mutagens in human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC). The formation of reactive metabolites of Trp-P-1 and DMBA correlated with induction of CYP1A1 protein and/or CYP1A-dependent catalytic activities, such as 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and DMBA hydroxylase, in endothelial cells of rodents and cultured HUVEC. Moreover, exposure to BNF increased the activation ofbenzo[a]pyrene into genotoxic metabolites in HUVEC as compared with vehicle-treated cells.In chicken and eider duck embryos, BNF induced EROD and activation of Trp-P-1 to tissue binding metabolites in the endothelial linings, preferentially of capillaries and veins, in heart and chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). In vehicle-treated embryos, these activities were low.Overall, the present studies show that CYP1A-dependent activation of xenobiotics into tissue binding or genotoxic metabolites can be induced in blood vessel endothelia in various species following exposure to Ah receptor agonists. The results also show that there is a differential response to Ah receptor agonists within the vascular tree; CYP1A and enzymatic activities are preferentially induced in endothelial cells of veins and capillaries, and to lesser extent in arteries. The results suggest that certain endothelial cellsmay be targets for CYP1A-dependent activation of xenobiotics in individuals exposed to Ah receptor agonists.