Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0596263 (carcinogenesis)
 64,820 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

One of the major mechanisms of protection against carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and other forms of toxicity mediated by carcinogens is the induction of enzymes involved in their metabolism, particularly phase 2 enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases, UDP-glucuronosyl transferases, and quinone reductases. Animal studies indicate that induction of phase 2 enzymes is a sufficient condition for obtaining chemoprevention and can be achieved by administering any of a diverse array of naturally-occurring and synthetic chemopreventive agents. Alliaceous and cruciferous plants are rich in organosulfur compounds with inducer activity. Indeed, monitoring of enzyme induction has led to the recognition or isolation of novel, potent chemopreventive agents such as 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones, dithiins and the isothiocyanate sulforaphane. For example, oltipraz, a substituted 1,2-dithiole-3-thione originally developed as an antischistosomal agent, possesses chemopreventive activity against different classes of carcinogens targeting multiple organs. Mechanistic studies in rodent models for chemoprevention of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by oltipraz indicates that increased expression of phase 2 genes is of central importance, although inhibition of phase 1 activation of aflatoxin B1 can also contribute to protection. Exposure of rodents to 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones triggers nuclear accumulation of the transcription factor Nrf2 and its enhanced binding to the Antioxidant Response Element, leading to transcriptional activation of a score of genes involved in carcinogen detoxification and attenuation of oxidative stress. Nrf2-deficient mice fail to induce many of these genes in response to oltipraz and the impact of this genotype on the chemopreventive efficacy of dithiolethiones is currently under investigation. To test the hypothesis that enzyme induction is a useful strategy for chemoprevention in humans, three key elements are necessary: a candidate agent, an at-risk population and modulatable intermediate endpoints. Towards this end, a placebo-controlled, double blind clinical trial of oltipraz was conducted in residents of Qidong, P.R. China who are exposed to dietary aflatoxins and who are at high risk for the development of liver cancer. Oltipraz significantly enhanced excretion of a phase 2 product, aflatoxin-mercapturic acid, a derivative of the aflatoxin-glutathione conjugate, in the urine of study participants administered 125 mg oltipraz by mouth daily. Administration of 500 mg oltipraz once a week led to a significant reduction in the excretion of the primary oxidative metabolite of AFB1, aflatoxin M1, when measured shortly after drug administration. While this study highlighted the general feasibility of inducing phase 2 enzymes in humans, a longer term intervention is addressing whether protective alterations in aflatoxin metabolism can be sustained for extended periods of time in this high-risk population. Food-based approaches to chemoprotection, targeted both to the general population and high-risk individuals, offer many practical advantages compared to the use of pharmaceutical agents. Thus, identification and utilization of naturally-occurring organosulfur chemoprotectors including dithiins should be a high priority.
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PMID:Chemoprotection by organosulfur inducers of phase 2 enzymes: dithiolethiones and dithiins. 1120 1

Induction of phase 2 enzymes, which neutralize reactive electrophiles and act as indirect antioxidants, appears to be an effective means for achieving protection against a variety of carcinogens in animals and humans. Transcriptional control of the expression of these enzymes is mediated, at least in part, through the antioxidant response element (ARE) found in the regulatory regions of their genes. The transcription factor Nrf2, which binds to the ARE, appears to be essential for the induction of prototypical phase 2 enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1). Constitutive hepatic and gastric activities of GST and NQO1 were reduced by 50-80% in nrf2-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. Moreover, the 2- to 5-fold induction of these enzymes in wild-type mice by the chemoprotective agent oltipraz, which is currently in clinical trials, was almost completely abrogated in the nrf2-deficient mice. In parallel with the enzymatic changes, nrf2-deficient mice had a significantly higher burden of gastric neoplasia after treatment with benzo[a]pyrene than did wild-type mice. Oltipraz significantly reduced multiplicity of gastric neoplasia in wild-type mice by 55%, but had no effect on tumor burden in nrf2-deficient mice. Thus, Nrf2 plays a central role in the regulation of constitutive and inducible expression of phase 2 enzymes in vivo and dramatically influences susceptibility to carcinogenesis. Moreover, the total loss of anticarcinogenic efficacy of oltipraz in the nrf2-disrupted mice highlights the prime importance of elevated phase 2 gene expression in chemoprotection by this and similar enzyme inducers.
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PMID:Sensitivity to carcinogenesis is increased and chemoprotective efficacy of enzyme inducers is lost in nrf2 transcription factor-deficient mice. 1124 7

One of the major mechanisms of protection against carcinogenesis, mutagenesis, and other forms of toxicity mediated by carcinogens is the induction of enzymes involved in their metabolism, particularly phase 2 enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), UDP-glucuronosyl transferases, and quinone reductases. Animal studies indicate that induction of phase 2 enzymes is a sufficient condition for obtaining chemoprevention and can be achieved by administering any of a diverse array of naturally-occurring and synthetic chemopreventive agents. Indeed, monitoring of enzyme induction has led to the recognition or isolation of novel, potent chemopreventive agents such as 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones, terpenoids and the isothiocyanate sulforaphane. For example, oltipraz, a substituted 1,2-dithiole-3-thione originally developed as an antischistosomal agent, possesses chemopreventive activity against different classes of carcinogens targeting multiple organs. Mechanistic studies in rodent models for chemoprevention of aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1))-induced hepatocarcinogenesis by oltipraz indicates that increased expression of phase 2 genes is of central importance, although inhibition of phase 1 activation of AFB(1) can also contribute to protection. Exposure of rodents to 1,2-dithiole-3-thiones triggers nuclear accumulation of the transcription factor Nrf2 and its enhanced binding to the "antioxidant response element" (ARE), leading to transcriptional activation of a score of genes involved in carcinogen detoxication and attenuation of oxidative stress. Nrf2-deficient mice fail to induce many of these genes in response to dithiolethiones; moreover, basal expression of these genes is typically repressed. To test the hypothesis that enzyme induction is a useful strategy for chemoprevention in humans, three key elements are necessary: a candidate agent, an at-risk population and modulatable intermediate endpoints. Towards this end, a placebo-controlled, double blind clinical trial of oltipraz was conducted in residents of Qidong, PR China who are exposed to dietary aflatoxins and who are at high risk for the development of liver cancer. Oltipraz significantly enhanced excretion of a phase 2 product, aflatoxin-mercapturic acid, a derivative of the aflatoxin-glutathione conjugate, in the urine of study participants administered 125 mg oltipraz by mouth daily. Administration of 500 mg oltipraz once a week led to a significant reduction in the excretion of the primary oxidative metabolite of AFB(1), AFM(1), when measured shortly after drug administration. While this study highlighted the general feasibility of inducing phase 2 enzymes in humans, a longer term intervention is addressing whether protective alterations in aflatoxin metabolism can be sustained for extended periods of time in this high-risk population.
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PMID:Role of phase 2 enzyme induction in chemoprotection by dithiolethiones. 1150 23

NRF2 is a transcription factor important in the protection against carcinogenesis and oxidative stress through antioxidant response element (ARE)-mediated transcriptional activation of several phase 2 detoxifying and antioxidant enzymes. This study was designed to determine the role of NRF2 in the pathogenesis of hyperoxic lung injury by comparing pulmonary responses to 95-98% oxygen between mice with site-directed mutation of the gene for NRF2 (Nrf2-/-) and wild-type mice (Nrf2+/+). Pulmonary hyperpermeability, macrophage inflammation, and epithelial injury in Nrf2-/- mice were 7.6-fold, 47%, and 43% greater, respectively, compared with Nrf2+/+ mice after 72 h hyperoxia exposure. Hyperoxia markedly elevated the expression of NRF2 mRNA and DNA-binding activity of NRF2 in the lungs of Nrf2+/+ mice. mRNA expression for ARE- responsive lung antioxidant and phase 2 enzymes was evaluated in both genotypes of mice to identify potential downstream molecular mechanisms of NRF2 in hyperoxic lung responses. Hyperoxia-induced mRNA levels of NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), glutathione-S-transferase (GST)-Ya and -Yc subunits, UDP glycosyl transferase (UGT), glutathione peroxidase-2 (GPx2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were significantly lower in Nrf2-/- mice compared with Nrf2+/+ mice. Consistent with differential mRNA expression, NQO1 and total GST activities were significantly lower in Nrf2-/- mice compared with Nrf2+/+ mice after hyperoxia. Results demonstrated that NRF2 has a significant protective role against pulmonary hyperoxic injury in mice, possibly through transcriptional activation of lung antioxidant defense enzymes.
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PMID:Role of NRF2 in protection against hyperoxic lung injury in mice. 1180 63

Whether single cells immunohistochemically positive for glutathione S-transferase P1-1 (GSTP1-1) induced in the female mouse liver by DEN (Hatayama et al., Carcinogenesis, 14, 537-538, 1993) are precursor initiated cells of preneoplastic foci, is of importance in chemical hepatocarcinogenesis. Nrf2 transactivates a wide variety of ARE (anti-oxidant response element)-mediated enzymes including GSTP1-1. Quantitative examination revealed that the basal expression of hepatic GSTP1-1 was 60% lower in Nrf2 gene knock-out female mice(-/-) than in wild type females, and that treatment with butyrated hydroxyanisole (BHA) increased by 10-fold GSTP1-1 expression in the liver of wild type female mice but not in knockout female mice(-/-). Despite the lack of Nrf2, GSTP1-1-positive single cells were detected in livers of DEN-treated female(-/-) 3 months after treatment. Subsequent BHA feeding to the positive cell-bearing females for one more week clearly showed that the single cells were detectable with females(-/-) but not with females(+/+,+/-) due to the strong induction of GSTP1-1 in the surrounding hepatocytes. The sensitivity to DEN hepatocarcinogenesis was not significantly different among genotypes. These results demonstrate that Nrf2 is regulatory in normal hepatocytes but not in the single cells positive for GSTP1-1 inducible in the female mouse liver by DEN. The transcriptional distinction observed for the DEN-transformants is suggestive of a preneoplastic character of precursor initiated cells.
Carcinogenesis 2002 Mar
PMID:Nrf2 transactivator-independent GSTP1-1 expression in "GSTP1-1 positive" single cells inducible in female mouse liver by DEN: a preneoplastic character of possible initiated cells. 1189 60

Induction of phase 2 enzymes, which neutralize reactive electrophiles and act as indirect antioxidants, is an important mechanism for protection against carcinogenesis. The transcription factor Nrf2, which binds to the antioxidant response element (ARE) found in the upstream regulatory region of many phase 2 genes, is essential for the induction of these enzymes. We have investigated the effect of the potent enzyme inducer and anticarcinogen 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) on the fate of Nrf2 in murine keratinocytes. Both total and nuclear Nrf2 levels increased rapidly and persistently after treatment with D3T but could be blocked by cotreatment with cycloheximide. Nrf2 mRNA levels increased approximately 2-fold 6 h after D3T treatment. To examine the transcriptional activation of Nrf2 by D3T, the proximal region (1 kb) of the nrf2 promoter was isolated. Deletion and mutagenesis analyses demonstrated that nrf2 promoter-luciferase reporter activity was enhanced by treatment with D3T and that ARE-like sequences were required for this activation. Gel shift assays with nuclear extracts from PE cells indicated that common factors bind to typical AREs and the ARE-like sequences of the nrf2 promoter. Direct binding of Nrf2 to its own promoter was demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. Overexpression of Nrf2 increased the activity of the nrf2 promoter-luciferase reporter, while expression of mutant Nrf2 protein repressed activity. Thus, Nrf2 appears to autoregulate its own expression through an ARE-like element located in the proximal region of its promoter, leading to persistent nuclear accumulation of Nrf2 and protracted induction of phase 2 genes in response to chemopreventive agents.
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PMID:Enhanced expression of the transcription factor Nrf2 by cancer chemopreventive agents: role of antioxidant response element-like sequences in the nrf2 promoter. 1194 Jun 47

The Pi-class glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play pivotal roles in the detoxification of xenobiotics, carcinogenesis and drug resistance. The mechanisms of regulation of these genes during drug induction and carcinogenesis are yet to be elucidated. Recently, Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2; a bZip-type transcription factor) knockout mice were shown to display impaired induction of Pi-class GST genes by drugs. It is known that the mouse Pi-class GST gene GST-P1 is expressed predominantly in the male liver, and is regulated by androgen. To determine whether Nrf2 and the androgen receptor regulate GST-P1 directly, we analysed the molecular mechanism of activation of this gene by these factors. The promoter of the GST-P1 gene was activated markedly by Nrf2 in transient transfection analyses. Gel mobility shift assay and footprinting analyses revealed three Nrf2 binding sites: one at the proximal and two at distal elements, located at positions -59, -915 and -937 from the cap site. The fifth intron of the GST-P1 gene contains the androgen-responsive region. Multiple androgen receptor binding sites are clustered within a 500 bp region of this intron. The whole fragment contains a minimum of seven androgen receptor binding sites, which collectively display strong androgen-dependent enhancer activity. However, on division into small fragments containing two or three elements each, individual enhancer activities were dramatically decreased. This suggests that multiple elements work synergistically as a strong androgen-responsive enhancer. Our findings indicate that Nrf2 and the androgen receptor directly bind to and activate the mouse GST-P1 gene.
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PMID:Activation of mouse Pi-class glutathione S-transferase gene by Nrf2(NF-E2-related factor 2) and androgen. 1202

Acrolein, an alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde, is by far the strongest electrophile present in cigarette smoke which is involved in several lung pathophysiological conditions. Acrolein depletes glutathione and creates thiol imbalance. Acrolein due to thiol imbalance as well as covalent modification of cysteine is known to inhibit the activity of redox sensitive transcription factors such as NF-kappaB and AP-1. Exposure of human type II lung epithelial (A549) cells to non-lethal dose of acrolein (150 fmol/cell for 1 h) depletes 80% of intracellular glutathione and increases the transcription of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase (gamma-GCS) at 6-12 h post-treatment, which helps in replenishing the glutathione to normal level. Acrolein treatment activates transcription of phase II genes in general, as indicated by an increase in mRNA for NAD (P) H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1). Western blot analysis revealed the increased level of the transcription factor, Nrf2 in the nuclear extract from acrolein treated cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay shows increased binding of nuclear proteins to human antioxidant response element (ARE) consensus sequence after treatment with acrolein. The involvement of Nrf2 in ARE mediated transcriptional activation in response to acrolein exposure has been confirmed by human NQO1-ARE reporter assay. The ability of acrolein to transcriptionaly activate genes responsible for phase II enzymes may form the basis of resistance against cell death and can have implications in cigarette smoke related lung carcinogenesis.
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PMID:Acrolein causes transcriptional induction of phase II genes by activation of Nrf2 in human lung type II epithelial (A549) cells. 1208 17

Many drugs and xenobiotics induce signal transduction events leading to gene expression of either pharmacologically beneficial effects, or unwanted side effects such as cytotoxicity which can compromise drug therapy. Using dietary chemopreventive compounds (isothiocyanates and green tea polyphenols), which are effective against various chemically-induced carcinogenesis models in animals studies, we studied the signal transduction events and gene expression profiles. These compounds have typically generated cellular "oxidative stress" and modulated gene expression including phase II detoxifying enzymes GST and QR as well as cellular defensive enzymes, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and GST via the antioxidant/electrophile response element (ARE/EpRE). Members of the bZIP transcription factor, Nrf2 which heterodimerizes with Maf G/K, were found to bind to ARE, and transcriptionally activate ARE. Additionally the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK; ERK, JNK and p38) were differentially activated by these compounds, and involved in the transcriptional activation of ARE-mediated reporter gene. Transfection studies with various cDNA encoding for wild-type of MAPK and Nrf2 showed synergistic response during co-transfection and to these agents. However, by increasing the concentrations of these xenobiotics, caspase activities and apoptosis were observed which were preceded by mitochondria damage and cytochrome c mitochondria release. Further, increased concentrations led to rapid cell necrosis. [corrected] Thus, we have proposed a model, that at low concentrations, these compounds activate MAPK pathway leading to activation of Nrf2 and ARE with subsequent induction of phase II and other defensive genes which protect cells against toxic insults thereby enhancing cell survival, a beneficial homeostatic response. At higher concentrations, these agents activate the caspase pathways, leading to apoptosis, a potential cytotoxic effect if it occurred in normal cells. The studies of these signaling pathways may yield important insights into the pharmacodynamic and toxicodynamic effects of drugs and xenobiotics during pharmaceutical drug discovery and development.
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PMID:Antioxidants and oxidants regulated signal transduction pathways. 1221 68

Enzyme inducers such as 3H-1,2-dithiole-3-thione (D3T) enhance the detoxication of environmental carcinogens and protect against neoplasia. The putative molecular sensor for inducers is Keap1, a sulfhydryl-rich protein that sequesters the transcription factor Nrf2 in the cytoplasm. Expression of these detoxication enzymes is blunted in nrf2-deficient mice; moreover, these mice are more sensitive to carcinogenesis, and the protective actions of dithiolethiones are lost with nrf2 disruption. Hepatic gene expression profiles were examined by oligonucleotide microarray analysis in vehicle- or D3T-treated wild-type mice as well as in nrf2 single and keap1-nrf2 double knockout mice to identify those genes regulated by the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Transcript levels of 292 genes were elevated in wild-type mice 24 h after treatment with D3T; 79% of these genes were induced in wild-type, but not nrf2-deficient mice. These nrf2-dependent, D3T-inducible genes included known detoxication and antioxidative enzymes. Unexpected clusters included genes for chaperones, protein trafficking, ubiquitin/26 S proteasome subunits, and signaling molecules. Gene expression patterns in keap1-nrf2 double knockout mice were similar to those in nrf2-single knockout mice. D3T also led to nrf2-dependent repression of 31 genes at 24 h; principally genes related to cholesterol/lipid biosynthesis. Collectively, D3T increases the expression of genes through the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway that directly detoxify toxins and generate essential cofactors such as glutathione and reducing equivalents. Induction of nrf2-dependent genes involved in the recognition and repair/removal of damaged proteins expands the role of this pathway beyond primary control of electrophilic and oxidative stresses into secondary protective actions that enhance cell survival.
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PMID:Modulation of gene expression by cancer chemopreventive dithiolethiones through the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway. Identification of novel gene clusters for cell survival. 1250 15


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