Differential effects of cryptoporic acids D and E, inhibitors of superoxide anion radical release, on tumor promotion of okadaic acid in mouse skin.

Abstract

Cryptoporic acids D and E, isolated from the fungus Cryptoporus volvatus, are inhibitors of superoxide anion radical release. Cryptoporic acid E inhibited tumor promotion of okadaic acid in two-stage carcinogenesis experiments on mouse skin, initiated with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene. Treatment with cryptoporic acid E using two different doses per application, 1 (1.2 mumol) and 5 mg (5.9 mumol), reduced the percentage of tumor-bearing mice from 73.3 to 53.3% and 20.0%, and the average number of tumors per mouse from 4.2 to 2.3 and 0.5 respectively in week 20 of tumor promotion. However, cryptoporic acid D slightly enhanced tumor promotion rather than inhibition of okadaic acid. Cryptoporic acid D was expected to have additional biochemical activities, such as activation of protein kinases. Cryptoporic acid D at concentrations of up to 100 microM activated protein kinase C and stimulated other protein kinase activity in vitro, whereas cryptoporic acid E did not. These two compounds provided differential effects on tumor promotion of okadaic acid on mouse skin.