Sulforaphane-Mediated Reduction of Aflatoxin B1-N7-Guanine in Rat Liver DNA: Impacts of Strain and Sex

Aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) is a DNA-binding toxin that contributes to the burden of liver cancer in tropical areas. AFB(1)-DNA adducts are powerful biomarkers that discern individual and population risk from exposure to this carcinogen. The discovery of concordance between the metabolic pathways of the male Fischer rat and humans allowed data from rats to guide the development of chemoprevention strategies employed in clinical trials in high-risk regions. In this study, the variables of strain and sex are studied in the rat model, as a step toward understanding how ethnic differences and sex influence DNA adduct formation and the induction of enzymes by chemoprotective agents. Sulforaphane (SF), which induces phase II enzymes including glutathione S-transferases (GSTs), was evaluated for its ability to induce GST activity and reduce the AFB(1)-DNA adducts in livers of both sexes of two rat strains that differ in susceptibility to AFB(1) hepatocarcinogenesis. A dose-dependent relationship was found for SF for both induction of GST and reduction in of AFB(1)-N-7-guanine in both Fischer (sensitive to AFB(1)) and Sprague-Dawley rats (relatively resistant). Sprague-Dawley rats exhibited the greatest increase in GST levels and the largest reduction in AFB(1)-N-7-guanine in liver DNA. Males and females of each strain were also compared to determine if the ability of SF to induce GST and reduce AFB(1)-N-7-guanine correlated with gender differences in sensitivity to AFB(1) carcinogenesis. No gender-specific responses to SF were observed. These results support the view that SF induction of liver GST activity may play a role in its chemoprotective activity.