The use of sodium phenobarbital (PB, CYP2B1 inducer) combined with β-naphthoflavone (β-NF, 1A1) to induce certain Phase I reactions in S9 liver fractions is a standard method for conducting short-term bioassays for genotoxicity. However, because post-oxidative enzymes are also able to activate many precarcinogens, we tested the possibility of adapting S9 liver fractions derived from Phase II-induced rodents to the field of genetic toxicology. In this study, S9 liver fractions derived from Swiss albino CD1 mice fed 7.5g/kg 2-(3)-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole (BHA; a monofunctional Phase II-inducer) for 3 weeks, show a clear pattern of induction with an approximately 3.5–9.5-fold increase in glutathione S-transferase activity. In vitro DNA binding of the promutagenic agents, [14C]-l,4-dichlorobenzene (DCB) and [14C]-1,4-dibromobenzene (DBB), is mediated by such metabolic liver preparations and showed a significant increase in covalent binding capability. In some instances, enzyme activity was more elevated when compared to that obtained with traditional (Phase I-induced) S9. Together with DNA binding, the genetic response of these chemicals in the diploid D7 strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae used as a biological test system, revealed the ability of the BHA-derived preparations to activate the promutagenic agents, as exemplified by the significant enhancement of mitotic gene-conversion (up to 5.2-fold for DCB and 3.4-fold for DBB) and reverse point mutation (up to 3.6-fold for DCB and 2.5-fold for DBB) at a 4mM concentration. This novel metabolising biosystem, with enhanced Phase II activity, is recommended together with a traditional S9, for detecting unknown promutagens in genotoxicity studies. The routine use of either oxidative or post-oxidative S9 increases the responsiveness of the test and can contribute to the identification of promutagens not detected when using traditional protocols.
In vitro activation of the transcription factor ISGF3 by interferon alpha involves a membrane-associated tyrosine phosphatase and tyrosine kinase.
