Mediating role of metabolic activation in in vitro cytotoxicity assays

Enzymatic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and its effect on cytotoxicity were studied using the neutral red viability assay as the end point. Benzo[a]pyrene was progressively cytotoxic to human hepatoma (HepG2) cells over a 1- to 3-d period, and after induction of monooxygenase activity with a polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) mixture (Arochlor 1254), cytotoxicity was increased about threefold. Concomitant with Arochlor exposure was an increase in the activity of 7-ethoxycoumarin odeethylase, which could be inhibited by exposure to alpha-naphthoflavone. Human keratinocytes (NHEK), but not fibroblasts (HFF), were sensitive to the cytotoxicity of benzo[a]pyrene. However, preexposure of the keratinocytes to Arochlor did not increase their sensitivity to benzo[a]pyrene. Neither the keratinocytes, fibroblasts, nor HepG2 cells were sensitive to acenaphthene. Addition of hamster or rat hepatic S9 mix, however, resulted in toxicity from benzo[a]pyrene and acenaphthene. 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene was only mildly cytotoxic to the fibroblasts, and its cytotoxicity was not enhanced in the presence of rat or hamster S9 mix. Exposure of the HepG2 cells to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene showed progressive toxicity over a 1- to 3-d period. Prior exposure of the HepG2 cells to Arochlor did not enhance their sensitivity to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Human keratinocytes were sensitive to 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene, with cytotoxicity markedly increasing over a 1- to 3-d period.