B[a]P-DNA adduct formation and induction of human epithelial lung cell transformation

In this study we tested the suitability of the human epithelial lung cell line BEAS‐2B for in vitro studies of lung carcinogenesis. The human bronchial epithelial lung cell line BEAS‐2B, immortalized with an SV‐40/Ad‐12 hybrid virus construct, was treated for 24 hours with five different concentrations of the lung carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene (B[a]P) to assess the relationship between DNA adduct levels, cell cycle distribution, micronuclei formation (MN), colony forming efficiency (CFE), and anchorage independent growth (AIG). There appeared to be a strong linear correlation between B[a]P concentration and DNA adduct formation, but no difference in cell cycle distribution was observed after incubation with various concentrations of B[a]P. In the incubation range of 4 to 100 nM B[a]P, the number of DNA adducts was linearly correlated with colony formation in AIG and with the number of cells within individual colonies but not the number of colonies in the CFE test. At higher B[a]P concentrations, the clonal expansion of cells in the CFE and the number of colonies in the AIG declined. Also, the number of micronuclei increased with the formation of DNA adducts. It is concluded that after 24 hours of incubation with 100 nM B[a]P, the formation of BPDE‐DNA adducts in the human epithelial lung cells BEAS‐2B results in maximal induction of cell transformation. Because of this correlation between DNA adduct formation and lung epithelial cell transformation, the BEAS‐2B cells seem suitable for in vitro studies on lung carcinogens. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 30:287–292, 1997 © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.