Bioassays of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in ZR-75-1 Human Breast Cancer Cells

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are frequently detected in food, water, soil, and sediment and are widespread environmental pollutants formed by the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels, woods and other organic matter. PAHs are considered to be probable human carcinogens. The mechanism of action of PAHs has been studied extensively, however it is not clear how PAHs turn on CYP1A1 in human breast cancer. Our laboratory have been studied the effect of PAHs in the human breast cancer cell MCF7. In this study, we examined the ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cells as a new system to evaluate bioactivity of PAHs. ZR-75-1 human breast cancer cell line responses to estrogen and progesteron. We have been able to estbilish long term culture system of this cells then used for the study to observe the effect of PAHs. We demonstrate that PAHs induced the CYP1A1 promoter and 7-ethoxyresolufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity in a concentration-dependant manner. RT-PCR analysis indicated that PAHs significantly up-regulate the level of CYP1A1 mRNA. Some of PAHs showed stronger stimulatory effect on CYP1 gene expression than TCDD. Apparently, ZR-75-1 cells have Aryl hydrocarbon receptors, therefore it would be good experimental tool to study the cross-talk between PAHs and steroid actions.