Species and diet related resistance to chemical carcinogens: biochemical mechanisms of aflatoxin B1 detoxification

To provide insight into the biochemical mechanisms mediating species and diet related resistance to chemical carcinogens, the biotransformation and covalent binding to DNA of the potent hepatocarcinogen aflatoxin B1(AFB) was investigated in resistant and susceptible species fed standard and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)-supplemented diets. The rat is sensitive to the hepatocarcinogenic effects of AFB, whereas the mouse, and rats fed BHA-supplemented diet, are resistant. To differentiate between enzyme induction and direct antioxidant effects, BHA was administered to rats for 9 days, or as a single dose 4-7 hrs prior to i.p. injection of 3H-AFB. Long-term treatment with BHA doubled the biliary excretion of the glutathione conjugate of AFB and the AFP1-glucuronide, and reduced the binding of AFB to hepatic DNA to 16% of control. Single-dose BHA treatment had no effect. To determine if glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity towards the AFB-epoxide mediates both treatment and species related resistance to AFB carcinogenesis, a method was developed to measure the rate of formation of the AFB-epoxide, and the rate of inactivation of the epoxide via GST. To demonstrate the importance of GST-mediated detoxification of the AFB-epoxide in the mouse in vivo, depletion of hepatic GSH was accomplished by administration of L-buthionine-S,R-sulfoximine and diethyl maleate, prior to administration of AFB. GSH depletion was associated with a 30-fold increase in AFB-DNA binding