Abstract
There is no doubt that chromium has been the most extensively investigated metal with respect to the assessment of long-term effects and to the evaluation of the underlying mechanisms. Notwithstanding the huge data-base available in the literature, many aspects, bearing both scientific and practical interest, are still unclear or controversial. This paper will briefly discuss some relevant problems, including carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of chromium compounds as related to their valency and solubility, interactions with other compounds, bioavailability to target cells and molecules, interconversion processes between different oxidation states in various body areas and cell compartments, mechanisms of chromium metabolism and carcinogenicity, and existence of thresholds in chromium carcinogenesis.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Abbreviations
- Cr(0), Cr(II), Cr(III), Cr(IV), Cr(V), Cr(VI):
-
chromium with oxidation state 0, +2, +3, +4, +5, +6
- ELF:
-
epithelial-lining fluid
- GSH:
-
reduced glutathione
- PAM:
-
pulmonary alveolar macrophages
References
Aaseth J, Alexander J, Norseth T (1982) Uptake of 51Cr-chromate by human erythrocytes - A role of glutathione. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol 50: 310–315
Banks RB, Cooke Jr RT (1986) Chromate reduction by rabbit liver aldehyde oxidase. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 137: 8–14
Bennicelli C, Camoirano A, Petruzzelli S, Zanacchi P, De Flora S (1983) High sensitivity of Salmonella TA102 in detecting hexavalent chromium mutagenicity and its reversal by liver and lung preparations. Mutation Res 122: 1–5
Beyersmann D, Köster A (1987) On the role of trivalent chromium in chromium genotoxicity. Toxicol Environ Chem 14: 11–22
Bianchi V, Levis AG (1984) Mechanisms of chromium genotoxicity. Toxicol Environ Chem 9: 1–25
Bianchi V, Levis AG (1987) Recent advances in chromium genotoxicity. Toxicol Environ Chem 15: 1–24
Bidstrup PL, Davies JM (1986) Epidemiology: update to 1985. In: Serrone DM (ed) Chromate Symposium 1986: An Update, Industrial Health Foundation, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, pp 192–209
Cupo DY, Wetterhahn KE (1985) Modification of chromium(VI)-induced DNA damage by glutathione and cytochromes P-450 in chicken embryo hepatocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 82: 6755–6759
De Flora S (1978) Metabolic deactivation of mutagens in the Salmonella/microsome test. Nature (London) 271: 455–456
De Flora S (1982) Biotransformation and interaction of chemicals as modulators of mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. In: Sugimura T, Kondo S, Takebe H (eds) Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens, University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo/Alan R Liss, Inc, New York, pp 527–541
De Flora S (1985) Possible thresholds in genotoxicity and carcinogenicity resulting from detoxication mechanisms. Ann Am Conf Ind Hyg 12: 145–155
De Flora S, Boido V (1980) Effect of human gastric juice on the mutagenicity of chemicals. Mutation Res 77: 307–315
De Flora S, Zanacchi P, Bennicelli C, Arillo A (1982) Influence of liver S-9 preparations from rats and rainbow trout on the activity of four mutagens. Toxicol Letters 10: 345–349
De Flora S, Zanacchi P, Camoirano A, Badolati G (1984 a) Genotoxic activity and potency of 135 compounds in the Ames reversion test and in a bacterial DNA-repair test. Mutation Res 133: 161–198
De Flora S, Bennicelli C, Zanacchi P, Camoirano A, Petruzzelli S, Giuntini C (1984 b) Metabolic activation and deactivation of mutagens by preparations of human lung parenchyma and bronchial tree. Mutation Res 139: 9–14
De Flora S, Morelli A, Basso C, Romano M, Serra D, De Flora A (1985 a) Prominent role of DT-diaphorase as a cellular mechanism reducing chromium (VI) and reverting its mutagenicity. Cancer Res 45: 3188–3196
De Flora S, Russo P, Pala M, Fassina GF, Zunino AL, Bennicelli C, Zanacchi P, Camoirano A, Parodi S (1985b) Assay of phenacetin genotoxicity in in vitro and in vivo test systems. J Toxicol Environ Hlth 16: 355–377
De Flora S, Romano M, Basso C, Serra D, Astengo M, Picciotto A (1985 c) Metabolic activation of hepatocarcinogens in chronic hepatitis B. Mutation Res 144: 213–219
De Flora S, Bennicelli C, Camoirano A, Serra D, Romano M, Rossi GA, Morelli A, De Flora A (1985d) In vivo effects of N-acetylcysteine on glutathione metabolism and on the bibtransformation of carcinogenic and/or mutagenic compounds. Carcinogenesis 6: 1735–1745
De Flora S, Romano M, Basso C, Bagnasco M, Cesarone CF, Rossi GA, Morelli A (1986) Detoxifying activities in alveolar macrophages of rats treated with acetylcysteine, diethyl maleate and/or Aroclor. Anticancer Res 6: 1009–1012
De Flora S, Camoirano A, Romano M, Astengo M, Cesarone CF, Millman I (1987 a) Metabolism of mutagens and carcinogens in woodchuck liver and its relationship with hepatitis virus infection. Cancer Res 47: 4052–4058
De Flora S, Petruzzelli S, Camoirano A, Bennicelli C, Romano M, Rindi M, Ghelarducci L, Giuntini C (1987 b) Pulmonary metabolism of mutagens and its relationship with lung cancer and smoking habits. Cancer Res 47: 4740–4745
De Flora S, Badolati GS, Serra D, Picciotto A, Magnolia MR, Savarino V (1987 c) Circadian reduction of chromium in the gastric environment. Mutation Res 192: 169–174
De Flora S, Camoirano A, Serra D, Basso C, Zanacchi P, Bennicelli C (1987d) DT diaphorase and the action of chemical mutagens and carcinogens. Chem Scripta 27A: 151–155
De Flora S, Bennicelli C, Camoirano A, Serra D, Hochstein P (1988) Influence of DT diaphorase on the mutagenicity of organic and inorganic compounds. Carcinogenesis 9: 611–617
Donaldson RM, Barreras RF (1966) Intestinal absorption of trace quantities of chromium. J Lab Clin Med 68: 484–493
Galli A, Boccardo P, Del Carratore R, Cundari E, Bronzetti G (1985) Conditions that influence the genetic activity of potassium dichromate and chromium chloride in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutation Res 144: 165–169
Garcia JD, Wetterhahn-Jennette KE (1981) Electron-transport cytochrome P-450 system is involved in the microsomal metabolism of the carcinogen chromate. J Inorg Biochem 14: 281–295
Gray SJ, Sterling GJ (1950) Tagging of red cells and plasma proteins with radioactive chromium. J Clin Invest 29: 1604–1613
Green GM, Jakab GJ, Low RB, Davis GE (1977) Defense mechanisms of the respiratory membrane. Am Rev Respir Dis 115: 479–514
IARC (1980) Some Metals and Metallic Compounds. In: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans, vol 23. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, pp 205–415
IARC (1987) Overall Evaluation of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42. In: IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of the Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Humans. Suppl 7. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, pp 165–168
Jennette KE (1982) Microsomal reduction of the carcinogen chromate produces chromium(V). J Am Chem Soc 104: 874–875
Kawanishi S, Inoue S, Sano S (1986) Mechanism of DNA cleavage by sodium chromate(VI) in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. J Biol Chem 261: 5952–5958
Kitagawa S, Seki H, Kametani F, Sakurai H (1982) Uptake of hexavalent chromium by bovine erythrocytes and its interaction with cytoplasmic components; the role of glutathione. Chem Biol Interactions 40: 265–274
Korallus U, Harzdorf C, Lewalter J (1984) Experimental bases for ascorbic acid therapy of poisoning by hexavalent chromium compounds. Int Arch Environ Health 53: 247–256
Langård S (1980) Chromium. In: Waldron HA (ed) Metals in the Environment, Academic Press, New York, pp 111–132
Langård S (1982) Absorption, transport, and excretion of chromium in man and animals. In: Langård S (ed) Biological and Environmental Effects of Chromium, Elsevier, New York, pp 149–159
Langård S (1988) Basic mechanisms of the carcinogenic action of chromium: animal and human data. Toxicol Environ Chem in press
Levy LS, Martin PA, Bidstrup PL (1986) Investigation of the potential carcinogenicity of a range of chromium containing materials on rat lung. Br J Ind Med 43: 243–256
Lind C, Hochstein P, Ernster L (1982) DT-diaphorase as a quinone reductase: a cellular control device against semiquinone and superoxide radical formation. Arch Biochem Biophys 216: 178–185
Norseth T (1986) The carcinogenicity of chromium and its salts. Br J Ind Med 43: 649–651
Petrilli FL, De Flora S (1978 a) Metabolic deactivation of hexavalent chromium mutagenicity. Mutation Res 54: 139–147
Petrilli FL, De Flora S (1978 b) Oxidation of inactive trivalent chromium to the mutagenic hexavalent form. Mutation Res 58: 167–173
Petrilli FL, De Flora S (1980) Mutagenicity of chromium compounds. In: Chromate Symposium 80. Focus of a Standard, Industrial Health Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, pp 76–99
Petrilli FL, De Flora S (1982) Interpretations on chromium mutagenicity and carcinogenicity. In: Sorsa M, Vainio H (eds) Mutagens in Our Environment, Alan R Liss Inc, New York, NY, pp 453–464
Petrilli FL, De Flora S (1988) Metabolic reduction of chromium as a threshold mechanism limiting its in vivo activity. Sci Total Environ 71: 357–364
Petrilli FL, Camoirano A, Bennicelli C, Zanacchi P, Astengo M, De Flora S (1985) Specificity and inducibility of the metabolic reduction of chromium (VI), mutagenicity by subcellular fractions of rat tissues. Cancer Res 45: 3179–3187
Petrilli FL, Zanacchi P, Camoirano A, Astengo M, Basso C, De Flora S (1986 a) Selective genotoxicity of chromium compounds. In: Serrone D (ed) Chromium Symposium 1986: An Update, Industrial Health Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, pp 100–111
Petrilli FL, Bennicelli C, Serra D, Romano M, De Flora A, De Flora S (1986 b) Metabolic reduction and detoxification of hexavalent chromium. In: Serrone D (ed) Chromium Symposium 1986: An Update, Industrial Health Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA, pp 112–130
Petrilli FL, Rossi GA, Camoirano A, Romano M, Serra D, Bennicelli C, De Flora A, De Flora S (1986c) Metabolic reduction of chromium by alveolar macrophages and its relationships to cigarette smoke. J Clin Invest 77: 1917–1924
Petruzzelli S, De Flora S, Bagnasco M, Hietanen E, Saracci R, Izzotti A, Bartsch H, Giuntini C (1989) Metabolism of carcinogens and mutagens in human bronchus and lung parenchyma. Am Rev Respir Dis, in press
Ryberg D, Alexander J (1984) Inhibitory action of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] on the mitochondrial respiration and a possible coupling to the reduction of Cr(VI). Biochem Pharmacol 33: 2461–2466
Shubik P et al (Interdisciplinary Panel on Carcinogenicity) (1984) Criteria for evidence of chemical carcinogenicity. Science 225: 682–687
Simic MG (1988) Mechanisms of inhibition of free radical processes in mutagenesis and carcinogenesis. Mutation Res 202: 377–386
Steinhoff D, Gad SC, Hatfield GK, Mohr U (1986) Carcinogenicity study with sodium dichromate in rats. Exp Pathol 30: 129–141
Wetterhahn KE, Aijar J, Borges K (1988) Role of chromium(V) and oxygen radical intermediates in chromium(V) carcinogenesis. Toxicol Environ Chem in press
Wiegand HJ, Ottenwalder H, Bolt HM (1984) The reduction of chromium(VI) to chromium(III) by glutathione : an intracellular redox pathway in the metabolism of the carcinogen chromate. Toxicology 33: 341–348
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1989 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this paper
Cite this paper
De Flora, S., Serra, D., Basso, C., Zanacchi, P. (1989). Mechanistic Aspects of Chromium Carcinogenicity. In: Chambers, P.L., Chambers, C.M., Greim, H. (eds) Biological Monitoring of Exposure and the Response at the Subcellular Level to Toxic Substances. Archives of Toxicology, vol 13. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74117-3_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-74117-3_3
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-50336-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-74117-3
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive