Cytotoxic Homo- and Hetero-Dimers of o-toluidine, o-anisidine, and Aniline Formed by In Vitro Metabolism

Chem Res Toxicol. 2022 Sep 19;35(9):1625-1630. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.2c00226. Epub 2022 Aug 24.

Abstract

Several aromatic amine compounds are urinary bladder carcinogens. Activated metabolites and DNA adducts of polycyclic aromatic amines, such as 4-aminobiphenyl, have been identified, whereas those of monocyclic aromatic amines, such as o-toluidine (o-Tol), o-anisidine (o-Ans), and aniline (Ani), have not been completely determined. We have recently reported that o-Tol and o-Ans are metabolically converted in vitro and in vivo to cytotoxic and mutagenic p-semidine-type dimers, namely 2-methyl-N4-(2-methylphenyl) benzene-1,4-diamine (MMBD) and 2-methoxy-N4-(2-methoxyphenyl) benzene-1,4-diamine (MxMxBD), respectively, suggesting their roles in urinary bladder carcinogenesis. In this study, we found that when o-Tol and o-Ans were incubated with S9 mix, MMBD and MxMxBD as well as two isomeric heterodimers, MMxBD and MxMBD, were formed. Therefore, any two of o-Tol, o-Ans, and Ani (10 mM each) were incubated with the S9 mix for up to 24 h and then subjected to LC-MS to investigate their metabolic kinetics. Metabolic conversions to all nine kinds of p-semidine-type homo- and hetero-dimers were observed, peaking at 6 h of incubation with the S9 mix; MxMxBD reached the peak at 6.1 ± 1.4 μM. Homo- and hetero-dimers containing the o-Ans moiety in the diamine structure showed a faster dimerization ratio, whereas levels of these dimers, such as MxMxBD, markedly declined with further incubation. Dimers containing o-Tol and Ani were relatively stable, even after incubation for 24 h. The electron-donating group of the o-Ans moiety may be involved in rapid metabolic conversion. In the cytotoxic assay, dimers with an o-Ans moiety in the diamine structure and MMBD showed approximately two- to four-fold higher cytotoxicity than other dimers in human bladder cancer T24 cells. These chemical and biological properties of homo- and hetero-dimers of monocyclic aromatic amines may be important when considering the combined exposure risk for bladder carcinogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amines
  • Aniline Compounds / metabolism
  • Benzene*
  • Carcinogenesis
  • Carcinogens / toxicity
  • DNA Adducts*
  • Humans
  • Phenylenediamines
  • Toluidines

Substances

  • Amines
  • Aniline Compounds
  • Carcinogens
  • DNA Adducts
  • Phenylenediamines
  • Toluidines
  • 4-aminodiphenylamine
  • 2-toluidine
  • Benzene
  • 2-anisidine
  • aniline