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J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 278, Issue 21, 19526-19533, May 23, 2003

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The Role of the Ah Receptor and p38 in Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol and Benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide-induced Apoptosis^*

Shujuan Chen, Nghia Nguyen, Kumiko Tamura , Michael Karin  and Robert H. Tukey 

From the Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Departments of Pharmacology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0636, Laboratory of Gene Regulation, Department of Pharmacology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0636

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous contaminants in the environment. Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a prototypical member of this class of chemicals, affects cellular signal transduction pathways and induces apoptosis. In this study, the proximate carcinogen of B[a]P metabolism, trans-7,8-dihydroxy-7,8-dihydrobenzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol) and the ultimate carcinogen, B[a]P-r-7,t-8-dihydrodiol-t-9,10-epoxide(±) (BPDE-2) were found to induce apoptosis in human HepG2 cells. Apoptosis initiated by B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol was linked to activation of the Ah receptor and induction of CYP1A1, an event that can lead to the formation of BPDE-2. With both B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol and BPDE-2 treatment, changes in anti- and pro-apoptotic events in the Bcl-2 family of proteins correlated with the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c and caspase activation. The onset of apoptosis as monitored by caspase activation was linked to mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. Utilizing mouse hepa1c1c7 cells and the Arnt-deficient BPRc1 cells, activation of MAP kinase p38 by B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol was shown to be Ah receptor-dependent, indicating that metabolic activation by CYP1A1 was required. This was in contrast to p38 activation by BPDE-2, an event that was independent of Ah receptor function. Confirmation that MAP kinases play a critical role in BPDE-2-induced apoptosis was shown by inhibiting caspase activation of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase 1 (PARP-1) by chemical inhibitors of p38 and ERK1/2. Furthermore, mouse embryo p38^-/- fibroblasts were shown to be resistant to the actions of BPDE-2-induced apoptosis as determined by annexin V analysis, cytochrome c release, and cleavage of PARP-1. These results confirm that the Ah receptor plays a critical role in B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-induced apoptosis while p38 MAP kinase links the actions of an electrophilic metabolite like BPDE-2 to the regulation of programmed cell death.

Received for publication, January 23, 2003 , and in revised form, March 11, 2003.

To whom correspondence should be addressed: Dept. of Pharmacology, Chemistry & Biochemistry, UCSD, La Jolla, CA 92093-0636. Tel.: 858-822-0288; Fax: 858-822-0363; E-mail: rtukey{at}ucsd.edu.

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