Modification of chromium(VI)-induced DNA damage by glutathione and cytochromes P-450 in chicken embryo hepatocytes.

The role of glutathione and cytochrome P-450 in the production of DNA damage by chromium(VI) was examined in chicken embryo hepatocytes by the alkaline elution technique. Cellular levels of glutathione and cytochrome P-450 were altered by treating the hepatocytes with N-acetyl-L-cysteine, buthionine sulfoximine, isopentanol, or beta-naphthoflavone. A dramatic increase in chromium(VI)-induced DNA strand breaks was observed after increasing glutathione levels in the cells. Chromium(VI)-induced DNA strand breaks were even more numerous when the level of cytochrome P-450 was also increased. Upon depletion of glutathione levels and induction of cytochrome P-450 or cytochrome P-448, little or no DNA strand breaks or DNA interstrand cross-links were observed after chromium(VI) treatment. Chromium(VI)-induced DNA-protein cross-links generally decreased after either increases or decreases in cellular levels of glutathione or cytochrome P-450 or P-448. These results suggest that glutathione enhances chromium(VI)-induced DNA damage through metabolic activation of chromium(VI). The possible production of reactive chromium species upon metabolism by glutathione and cytochrome P-450 or P-448 and their involvement in DNA damage is discussed.