ABSTRACT:The objectives of this study were to determine the contributions of CYP2A13 and CYP2A6 to 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) metabolism in human peripheral lung microsomes and to determine the influence of the genetic polymorphism, CYP2A13 Arg257Cys, on NNK metabolism. 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), the keto-reduced metabolite of NNK, was the major metabolite produced, ranging from 0.28 to 0.9%/mg protein/min. Based on total bioactivation of NNK and NNAL by ␣-carbon hydroxylation, subjects could be classified as either high (17 subjects) or low (12 subjects) bioactivators [(5.26 ؎ 1.23) ؋ 10 ؊2 and (6.49 ؎ 5.90) ؋
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؊3% total ␣-hydroxylation/mg protein/min, P < 0.05]. Similarly, for detoxification, subjects could be grouped into high (9 subjects) and low (20 subjects) categories [(2.03 ؎ 1.65) ؋ 10 ؊3 and (2.50 ؎ 3.04) ؋
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؊4% total N-oxidation/mg protein/min, P < 0.05]. When examining data from all individuals, no significant correlations were found between levels of CYP2A mRNA, CYP2A enzyme activity, or CYP2A immunoinhibition and the degree of total NNK bioactivation or detoxification (P > 0.05). However, subgroups of individuals were identified for whom CYP2A13 mRNA correlated with total NNK and NNAL ␣-hydroxylation and NNAL-N-oxide formation (P < 0.05). The degree of NNAL formation and CYP2A13 mRNA was also correlated (P < 0.05). Subjects (n ؍ 84) were genotyped for the CYP2A13 Arg257Cys polymorphism, and NNK metabolism for the one variant (Arg/Cys) was similar to that for other subjects. Although results do not support CYP2A13 or CYP2A6 as predominant contributors to NNK bioactivation and detoxification in peripheral lung of all individuals, CYP2A13 may be important in some.Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the world, and it is estimated that cigarette smoking accounts for approximately 90% of lung cancer cases (Hecht, 2003). The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) is thought to play a major role in human tobacco-related cancers (Hecht, 2003). NNK is the most prevalent pulmonary carcinogen in tobacco smoke and the most potent cancer-causing tobacco-specific nitrosamine in all animal species tested (Hecht, 1998). NNK selectively induces lung adenocarcinoma in animals (Hecht, 1998) and is believed to be a causal agent in the induction of human lung adenocarcinoma, which is now the leading form of lung cancer (Hoffmann et al., 1996;Thun et al., 1997).To induce carcinogenesis, NNK and its keto-reduced metabolite, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), require metabolic activation via ␣-carbon hydroxylation (Fig. 1). Hydroxylation of the ␣-methylene carbons of NNK and NNAL leads to the formation of DNA-methylating species, whereas hydroxylation of the ␣-methyl carbons of NNK and NNAL results in the formation of DNA-pyridyloxobutylating and -pyridylhydroxybutylating species, respectively. The formation of both types of adducts is believed to be important in the induction of ...