Suppression of aflatoxin B1- or methyl methanesulfonate-induced chromosome aberrations in rat bone marrow cells after treatment with S-methyl methanethiosulfonate.

The suppressive effect of S-methyl methanethiosulfonate (MMTS) on aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)- or methyl methanesulfonate (MMS)-induced chromosome aberrations (CA) in rat bone marrow cells was studied. MMTS significantly suppressed CA induced by both AFB1 (an indirect-acting carcinogen) and MMS (a direct-acting carcinogen). Suppression was observed at all periods (6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h) after AFB1 or MMS treatment and in all doses of AFB1 (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) or MMS (50, 75 and 100 mg/kg) investigated. AFB1-induced CA was potently suppressed by MMTS given between 2 h before and 6 h after the AFB1 injection. The suppression of AFB1-induced CA by MMTS paralleled the dose of MMTS when MMTS was given in a dose range of 1-20 mg/kg body weight. MMS-induced CA was potently suppressed by MMTS given between 2 h before and 2 h after the MMS injection. The suppressive effect of MMTS on MMS-induced CA paralleled the dose of MMTS when MMTS was given in a dose range of 1-15 mg/kg body weight. Diphenyl disulfide, which modifies -SH groups in proteins like MMTS, also significantly suppressed both AFB1- and MMS-induced CA. Although other mechanisms are not excluded, the suppression of carcinogen-induced CA by MMTS may result from the ability of MMTS to modify -SH groups in proteins. The juices of cabbage and onion, which contain considerable amounts of MMTS and S-methyl-L-cysteinesulfoxide (the precursor of MMTS), also significantly suppressed AFB1- or MMS-induced CA. These results suggest that MMTS is a possible chemopreventive agent against cancer.