In vitro chromosome aberration assay using human bronchial epithelial cells.

The determination of chromosome aberrations (CA) in Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (CHL) cells was compared with that in normal human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells, which upon adenovirus infection were reported to possess carcinogen metabolizing capacities similar to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. CHL and BEAS-2B cells were treated with increasing concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) or N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). In BEAS-2B cells, BaP, at a concentration of 50 microg/ml, produced a significant increase in the CA frequency, while NDEA did not markedly alter the number of aberrations in the absence of S9 mixture. The CHL cells exposed to BaP and NDEA in the presence of S9 mixture responded as anticipated with a 30% and 14% frequency of CA observed in the BaP (50 microg/ml) and NDEA (1000 microg/ml) treated cells, respectively. The results of this study show that the CA assay using human cell line with intrinsic metabolic activation system, such as BEAS-2B cells, may be a useful model for predicting human clastogens and carcinogens.