Detection of aneuploidy-inducing carcinogens in the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay

Our plain-English summary of Detection of aneuploidy-inducing carcinogens in the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay, by D.P. Gibson, M.J. Aardema, G.A. Kerckaert, et al (Mutation Research, 1995).

The study

• Authors: D.P. Gibson, M.J. Aardema, G.A. Kerckaert, G.J. Carr, R.M. Brauninger, R.A. LeBoeuf
• Journal: Mutation Research
• Published: 1995;343(1):7-24
• Cited by: 21 articles, as counted by NIH iCite
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

As evidenced by the recent report of the Commission of the European Communities (CEEC) project (Detection of Aneugenic Chemicals-CEEC project, 1993), there currently is a great deal of effort towards developing and validating assays to detect aneuploidy-inducing chemicals. In this report, we describe the utility of the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay for detecting carcinogens with known or suspected aneuploidy-inducing activity. The following carcinogens were tested: asbestos, benomyl, cadmium chloride, chloral hydrate, diethylstilbestrol dipropionate, and griseofulvin. Thiabendazole, a noncarcinogen, was also tested. Chemicals of unknown or inconclusive carcinogenicity data, colcemid, diazepam, econazole nitrate, and pyrimethamine were also evaluated. All of the above chemicals except thiabendazole induced a significant increase in morphological transformation (MT) in SHE cells. Based on these results as well as those published in the literature previously, the SHE cell transformation assay appears to have utility for detecting carcinogens with known or suspected aneuploidy-inducing ability.

In plain English

This laboratory study tested whether the Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cell transformation assay detects carcinogens known or suspected to cause abnormal chromosome numbers (aneuploidy). Cells from hamster embryos were exposed to chrysotile asbestos and ten other chemicals, either for 24 hours or continuously for 7 days. Colonies were then examined microscopically for a 'transformed' (abnormal) appearance. With the 24-hour exposure, chrysotile at 0.1 to 0.4 micrograms per square centimetre significantly increased transformed colonies at every concentration. Controls had 3 of 865 colonies (0.35%) transformed, and the highest dose had 3 of 35 (8.57%). That dose also reduced relative plating efficiency, a toxicity measure, to 8%. The 8.6% frequency was the largest of any chemical tested. The 7-day exposure at 0.25 and 0.50 micrograms per square centimetre also gave positive results, without significant toxicity. Of the other ten chemicals, all except thiabendazole were positive. The authors concluded that the assay appears to have utility for detecting such carcinogens. They noted that this study did not examine aneuploidy's role in transformation, that the assay is not specific to such chemicals, and that more data are needed.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Laboratory (in vitro) experiment: cell transformation assay in cultured hamster embryo cells
• Who was studied: Primary embryo cells from 13-day-gestation Golden Syrian hamsters. No humans or live animals were studied. The work was done at the Procter & Gamble, Hazleton Washington and Microbiological Associates laboratories.
• Exposure: Chrysotile asbestos suspended in culture medium was tested at 0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4 micrograms per square centimetre for 24 hours, and at 0.25 and 0.50 micrograms per square centimetre for 7 days. Ten other chemicals were also tested: benomyl, cadmium chloride, chloral hydrate, diethylstilbestrol dipropionate, griseofulvin, colcemid, diazepam, econazole nitrate, pyrimethamine and thiabendazole.
• Main results:
  • Chrysotile asbestos, 24-hour exposure: transformed colonies increased significantly at all concentrations. Control: 3/865 (0.35%). 0.1 micrograms per square centimetre: 8/487 (1.64%). 0.2: 4/212 (1.89%). 0.3: 4/129 (3.10%). 0.4: 3/35 (8.57%).
  • The transformation frequency at 0.4 micrograms per square centimetre of asbestos (8.6%) was the highest of all chemicals in the report.
  • Chrysotile asbestos, 24-hour exposure: toxicity rose with dose. Relative plating efficiency fell to 8% at the highest concentration.
  • Chrysotile asbestos, 7-day exposure: results were positive without significant toxicity. Control: 4/1659 (0.24%). 0.25 micrograms per square centimetre: 13/1398 (0.93%). 0.5: 14/1391 (1.01%).
  • Asbestos and cadmium chloride gave large significant increases at several concentrations, with a clear dose response at both exposure times.
  • All tested chemicals except thiabendazole, the one noncarcinogen tested, significantly increased transformation.
• The authors' conclusion: The authors concluded, based on their results and the published literature, that the SHE cell transformation assay appears to have utility for detecting aneuploidy-inducing carcinogens.
• Limitations the authors state:
  • The role of aneuploidy induction in transformation of SHE cells was not addressed in this study.
  • The assay detects carcinogens acting by various mechanisms and is not specific to aneuploidy-inducing chemicals.
  • The database of carcinogens and noncarcinogens tested needs to be increased. Only one aneuploidy-inducing noncarcinogen was tested.
  • Transformation frequencies varied from experiment to experiment in some treated and untreated groups.

Related studies

• Morphological transformation of Syrian hamster embryo cells induced by mineral fibres and the alleged enhancement of benzo[a]pyrene — S.O. Mikalsen, E. Rivedal, et al. (1988)
• Asbestos and benzo(a)pyrene synergism in the transformation of Syrian hamster embryo cells — J.A. DiPaolo, A.J. DeMarinis, et al. (1983)
• Characterization of activated proto-oncogenes in chemically transformed Syrian hamster embryo cells — T.M. Gilmer, L.A. Annab, et al. (1988)
• In vitro cytotoxicity and transforming potential of industrial carbon dust (fibers and particles) in syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells — C. Darne, F. Terzetti, et al. (2010)
• Mineral fibers induce apoptosis in Syrian hamster embryo fibroblasts — E. Dopp, B. Nebe, et al. (1995)
• Mitotic disturbances and micronucleus induction in Syrian hamster embryo fibroblast cells caused by asbestos fibers — E. Dopp, J. Saedler, et al. (1995)

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