Multiple activation of chloroform in kidney microsomes from male and female DBA/2J mice

Microsomes from the renal cortex of DBA/2J mice can metabolize chloroform through oxidative and reductive pathways, similar to hepatic microsomes. The oxidative or reductive nature of CHCl₃ activation is strictly dependent on the oxygenation of the incubation mixture, as indicated by the formation of qualitatively different adducts to phos-pholipids (PLs). The protein and lipid binding levels measured in kidney microsomes from control females differed significantly from the binding levels observed with kidney microsomes from male and testosterone-treated female DBA/2J mice in aerobic conditions only. Therefore, the sex-dependent CHCl₃-induced acute nephrotoxicity seems related only with the oxidative CHCl₃activation. The levels of adducts to PL polar heads and to protein showed a strict correlation with each other. Therefore, the assay of adducts to PL polar heads may be used as a substitute for the assay of adducts to protein. This might be especially convenient when studying the effects of both phosgene and the trichloromethyl radicals.     

The contribution of electrophilic and radicalic intermediates to phospholipid adducts formed by halomethanes in vivo

The different production of phosgene and free-radicals from CHCl₃ and CCl₄ was determined in vitro and in vivo, by measuring the regioselective binding of the two intermediates to phospholipid (PL) molecules. Results clearly indicated that this assay can be successfully used to selectively detect electrophilic and radicalic metabolites produced in vivo and selectively quantitate their adducts. The in vivo biotransformation of CCl₄, similarly to the in vitro situation, resulted in the formation of radicals only, the contribution of phosgene to the structural damage of PL being negligible. These findings allowed us to rule out the hypothesis of substantial formation of radicalic intermediates from CHCl₃ in phenobarbital (PB)-pretreated Sprague—Dawley (SD) rats, derived from in vitro data. While the role of reduced glutathione (GSH) in preventing COCl₂-derived damages seems to be less important in vivo than in vitro, it is not possible to rule out the action of radical scavenging systems in decreasing the level of adducts with fatty acyl chains (FC) of PL measured in vivo.     

Preliminary characterization of phospholipid adducts formed by [14C]-CHCl3 reactive intermediates in hepatocyte suspensions

The adducts produced in vitro by the reactive metabolites of [¹⁴C]-chloroform with total phospholipids (PLs) of freshly isolated hepatocytes have been characterized. The radical metabolite formed several adducts with all the major PL classes. These adducts seemed very likely to result from the unspecific attack of the radical on the PL fatty acyl chains. [¹⁴C]-Chloroform-derived phosgene caused the formation of a single PL adduct characterized by a ratio ¹⁴C:P of 1:4. This adduct was tentatively identified as an adduct of phosgene with two molecules of cardiolipin. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Bioactivation of coumarin in rat olfactory mucosal microsomes: Detection of protein covalent binding and identification of reactive intermediates through analysis of glutathione adducts

The presence of high levels, as well as tissue-specific forms, of cytochrome P450 enzymes in mammalian olfactory mucosa (OM) has important implications in the bioactivation and toxicity of xenobiotics entering the tissue. Previous studies have shown that coumarin, a known olfactory toxicant in rats, is bioactivated by OM microsomal P450s to a number of products, presumably via coumarin-3,4-epoxide and other epoxide intermediates. The aim of the current study was to obtain direct evidence for the formation of such reactive intermediates in rat OM through the detection of protein covalent binding and glutathione (GSH) adduct formation. Protein covalent binding experiments with [¹⁴C]coumarin (10 μM) displayed a 7–9-fold higher NADPH-dependent radioactivity binding in rat OM microsomes (2.5 nmol/mg/30 min) compared to those in rat and human liver microsomes; the binding value in rat OM microsomes was substantially but not completely reduced by the addition of GSH (5 mM). LC/MS analyses detected a number of GSH adducts in GSH-supplemented coumarin metabolism reaction in rat OM microsomes; 3-glutathionyl coumarin was found to be the major one, indicating 3,4-epoxidation as the main bioactivation pathway. Additional GSH adducts were identified, presumably forming via the same pathway or epoxidation on the benzene moiety. Our findings provide direct evidence for the formation of multiple coumarin reactive intermediates in rat OM, leading to protein covalent binding and GSH conjugation.     

Biochemical alterations elicited in rat liver microsomes by oxidation and reduction products of chloroform metabolism

The feasibility of an oxygen-independent mechanism of chloroform bioactivation was indicated by the covalent binding to lipid and protein occurring in anaerobic incubations of CHCl3 and microsomes in the presence of NADPH. Under these conditions, the loss of cytochrome P-450 and the inhibition of related monoxygenases were also observed. The chloroform anoxic biotransformation was negligible in uninduced microsomes and seemed to be catalyzed mainly by phenobarbital-inducible P-450 isozymes. Biotransformation could also be supported by NADH as the source of reducing equivalents. Anaerobic metabolism of chloroform led to decreased levels of the main PB-induced P-450 isozymes even at low CHCl3 concentration and did not affect benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase activity. These effects were not decreased by thiolic compounds. The oxidation products of chloroform caused a general impairment of the monoxygenase system, probably related to the formation of protein aggregates with very high molecular weight. In the presence of physiological concentrations of GSH, the targets of aerobically-produced metabolites were lipids and, to a smaller extent, P-450. At low CHCl3 concentrations and/or in the presence of GSH the most changes to microsomal structures seemed to be produced by the reductively-formed intermediates.     

Spin trapping and its application in the study of lipid peroxidation and free radical production with liver microsomes.

Lipid peroxidation in microsomes was studied using a spin-trapping technique. Free radical adducts of phenyltertiarybutylnitrone (PBN) were produced as detected by electron spin resonance during induced lipid peroxidation of microsomes with a system consisting of NADPH, Fe²⁺, and pyrophosphate. The adducts were identified as intermediates of the substrates added to the microsomal system and not OH · or HO₂ radicals. The production of the adduct parallels the NADPH-dependent formation of malondialdehyde (MDA). Analyses of the electron spin resonance hyperfine splitting constants allowed in some instances identification of the adducts. Purified preparations of cytochrome P-450 mimic the results of the microsomes. The carcinogens dimethyl and diethylnitrosoamine were metabolized in this system yelding reactive free radicals and free NO, suggesting an alternate mechanism for the activity of these compounds as ultimate carcinogens.     

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide stimulates phospholipid synthesis and phosphatidylcholine breakdown in cultured human leukemia monocytic THP-1 cells.

1. De novo synthesis of phospholipid and its catabolism in human leukemia monocytic THP-1 cells were investigated. 2. Radiolabelled precursors: [methyl-3H]chloride, [1,2-14C]ethanolamine and myo-[2-3H]inositol were readily incorporated into CHCl3-MEOH extractable lipid fraction as a function of time. 3. The radiolabels derived from choline, ethanolamine and inositol were preferentially incorporated into PC, PE and PI fraction, respectively. The data indicate that de novo PL synthesis takes place, and the CDP-choline pathway is operative as a major pathway for PC synthesized in THP-1 cells. 4. Bacterial endotoxin dose-dependently stimulated the incorporation of radiolabelled precursors. Approximately 50% stimulation in PC and PE synthesis was obtained in 20 hr, while the incorporation of [3H]inositol was rapidly stimulated by 170% within 4 hr, and the stimulation declined drastically thereafter. 5. LPS did not alter the radiolabel distribution into PL in any of the three cases. 6. In pulse-chase studies, the cells prelabelled with radioactive PL were exposed to LPS (1 micrograms/ml). The breakdown of PC was enhanced about 30% within the first 2 hr followed by a stimulated PC synthesis observed in the next 4 hr. In contrast, LPS did not induce the hydrolysis of PE and PI. 7. The data indicate that LPS produces a broad spectrum of stimulatory effects on PL synthesis and selectively stimulates the hydrolysis of PC via phospholipase C/D reaction in THP-1 cells.     

Activation of chloroform and related trihalomethanes to free radical intermediates in isolated hepatocytes and in the rat in vivo as detected by the ESR-spin trapping technique

When hepatocytes isolated from phenobarbital-induced rats were incubated with chloroform and the spin trap phenyl-t-butyl nitrone (PBN) under anaerobic conditions, a free radical-spin trap adduct was detectable by ESR spectroscopy. A similar incubation of hepatocytes in the presence of air resulted in an ESR signal that was eight times less intense than that seen under anaerobic conditions; incubation mixtures exposed to pure oxygen had no detectable adduct signal. A significant reduction in the signal intensity was also produced by the addition of cytochrome P-450 inhibitors such as SKF-525A, metyrapone and carbon monoxide, indicating that free radical formation depended upon the reductive metabolism of chloroform mediated by the mixed oxidase system. The origin of the CHCl3-derived free radical has been confirmed by using [13C]CHCl3, while the comparison between the ESR spectra obtained in the presence of deuterated chloroform (CDCl3) and bromodichloro-methane (CHBrCl2) suggests that the free radical derived from CHCl3 may be CHCl2. Free radical intermediates were also detected during the aerobic and anaerobic incubation of isolated hepatocytes with bromoform (CHBr3), and iodoform (CHI3). The intensity of the ESR signal obtained with the various trihalomethanes increases in the order CHCl3 less than CHBrCl2 less than CHBr3 less than CHI3. The formation of PBN-free radical adducts has also been observed in phenobarbital-induced rats in vivo when intoxicated with chloroform, bromoform or iodoform, suggesting that the reductive metabolism of trihalomethanes might be of relevance to their established toxicity in the whole animal.     

Loss of stereospecificity of phospholipases C and D upon introduction of a 2-alkyl group into rac-1,2-diacylglycero-3-phosphocholine

rac-1-[1-14C]Lauroyl-2-oleylglycero-3-phospho[methyl-3H]choline and rac-1-lauroyl-2-[1-14C]oleoylglycero-3-phospho[methyl-3H]choline along with rac-1-palmitoyl-2-oleylglycero-3-phosphocholine and sn-1-palmitoyl-2-oleylglycero-3-phosphocholine were synthesized and subjected to hydrolysis with phospholipase C (EC 3.1.4.3) from Clostridium perfringens and phospholipase D (EC 3.1.4.4) from cabbage. Kinetics of hydrolysis of the radioactive substrates were determined by measuring the 3H radioactivity retained in the aqueous phase due to free choline and phosphocholine and the 3H and 14C radioactivity recovered in the organic phase due to the released diacylglycerols and phosphatidic acids and the residual phosphatidylcholines. The rate of hydrolysis of the unlabelled substrates by phospholipase C was determined by thin-layer chromatography and gas-liquid chromatography of the methanolysis products. The relative initial rates of hydrolysis of sn-1,2,- and sn-2,3-enantiomers were 100-200:1 for phospholipase C and 40-50:1 for phospholipase D using rac-1-lauroyl-2-oleoylglycero-3-phosphocholine as the substrate. The substitution of the 2-acyl group by an alkyl group resulted in a loss of stereospecificity, which was partial for phospholipase C (relative rates equal to 8-13:1) and total for phospholipase D. There was a parallel dramatic decrease (500-1000-fold) in the initial rate of hydrolysis with phospholipase C but the activity of phospholipase D was only moderately reduced (18-fold). These findings are consistent with the earlier observed loss of the stereospecificity of lipoprotein lipase following introduction of a 2-alkyl group into triacylycerols, and point to a general unsuitability of 2-alkyl-linked acylglycerols as substrates for the assay of the stereospecificity of lipases, as well as for the isolation of enantiomeric 2-alkylacylglycerols by means of stereospecific lipases.     

In vivo spin-trap study on anaerobic dehalogenation of halothane

Radical formation in vivo by anaerobic dehalogenation of halothane is described in this paper. The radicals were stabilized by spin-trapping and assayed by electron spin resonance spectrometry. The radical adducts were formed by inhalation of halothane in vivo and increased with decrease in inspired oxygen concentration. Following administration of the spin-trap, the expired concentration of CF2CHCl and CF3CH2Cl which are the anaerobic metabolites of halothane decreased, but bilious trifluoroacetate which are aerobic did not change. These results strongly suggest that radical intermediates are produced in anaerobic dehalogenation of halothane to CF2CHCl and CF3CH2Cl.     

Biosynthesis of lipid-linked oligosaccharides in embryonic liver. Formation of mannose containing derivatives

In the presence of exogenous dolichyl phosphate mannosyl transferase activity towards dolichyl phosphate was nearly 3-fold higher in microsomes from pig embryonic liver compared to that from adult liver. After incubation of microsomes from embryonic liver with UDP-N-acetylglucosamine and GDP-[14C]mannose lipid-linked tri- to undecasaccharides were discovered in CHCl3-CH3OH (2:1, v/v) and CHCl3-CH3OH-H2O (1:1:0.3, by vol) extracts. The main proportion of the radioactivity was incorporated into penta-, sexta and undecasaccharides. Amphomycin at concentration 500 micrograms/ml inhibited almost completely dolichyl phosphate mannose synthesis in embryonic liver microsomes without inhibition the formation of lipid-linked penta- and sextasaccharides. It was suggested that mannose transferred to lipid-linked tetra- to heptasaccharides comes from GDP-mannose but not from dolichyl phosphate mannose.     

The role of different cytochrome P450 isoforms in in vitro chloroform metabolism

The two CHCl₃ activation pathways have been studied in incubations at different oxygenation conditions with hepatic microsomes from control Sprague Dawley (SD) rats or SD rats treated with different cytochrome P450 inducers (acetone, phenobarbital, pyrazole, dexamethasone, and β-naphthoflavone). The present results provide direct evidence that CHCl₃ concentration is critical in determining the role of different cytochrome P450 isoforms (CYP) and the related effects of metabolic inducers. At 0.1 mM CHCl₃ concentration, the only major contribution to its oxidative biotransformation in liver microsomes from untreated rats was due to CYP2E1, as shown by metabolic inhibition due to 4-methylpyrazole or by anti-CYP2E1 antibodies. Moreover, animal treatments with acetone and pyrazole increased the production of adducts of phosgene to microsomal phospholipid by about 10–15 times. At 5 mM chloroform, in control rat liver microsomes, CYP2B1/2 was the major participant responsible for chloroform activation, while CYP2E1 and CYP2C11 were also significantly involved. Consistently, at this chloroform concentration, the effect of phenobarbital (CYP2B1/2 inducer) was maximal, producing very high levels of adducts. The reductive pathway was expressed at 5 mM CHCl₃ only and was not significantly increased by any of the inducers used. Moreover, it was not inhibited by metyrapone and 4-methylpyrazole or by anti CYP2C11 antibodies. Therefore, it may be concluded that, in the range of chloroform concentrations tested, those CYPs involved in CHCl₃ oxidative bioactivation do not participate in CHCl₃ reduction. Chloroform oxidative metabolism in PB-microsomes could achieve very high absolute rates, much higher than those in C-microsomes; in contrast, the metabolic rates in AC- and PYR-microsomes remained within the activity levels observable in C-microsomes at high chloroform concentration. Therefore, it can be argued that the CYP2B1/2-mediated induction of CHCl₃ activation is the basis for the effect of PB in potentiating chloroform hepatotoxicity. Moreover, processes other than CYP2E1-mediated metabolic induction may be more relevant in the ketones potentiation of chloroform-induced acute toxicity. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Biochem Toxicol 11: 305–312, 1997.     

Drug residue formation from ronidazole, a 5-nitroimidazole. VIII. Identification of the 2-methylene position as a site of protein alkylation.

Ronidazole protein-bound adducts were generated by the in vitro anaerobic incubation of [2-methylene-14C]ronidazole with microsomes from the livers of male rats. Acid hydrolysis of the protein adducts yielded an imidazole ring fragment bearing the radiolabel and an amino acid residue derived from the proteins. This fragment has been identified as carboxymethylcysteine by co-chromatography of the amino acid and its dansyl derivative with known standards under a variety of conditions. The carboxymethylcysteine was estimated to represent at least 15% of the radioactivity derived from the protein-bound adducts and provides unequivocal evidence that nucleophilic attack by protein cysteine thiols occurred at the 2-methylene position of ronidazole.     

Biological fate of [14C]-1-nitropyrene in rats following intragastric administration

1-Nitropyrene (1-NP), a weak carcinogen associated with diesel exhaust particles, has previously been detected in workplace atmospheres with in-use diesel engines and in the general environment. In order to gain insight in its biological fate, a single dose of [14C]-1-NP (27.6 microCi, 750 mg/kg body weight, b.w.) was administered intragastrically to rats and the presence of metabolites in blood and tissue homogenates, and radioactivity associated with blood proteins and tissue DNA, were studied. Early peak levels of radioactivity observed in blood and tissue homogenates indicated a rapid absorption of [14C]-1-NP from the gastrointestinal tract. Metabolite patterns observed in plasma, liver and kidney homogenates strongly suggested an important role of the intestinal microflora in the enterohepatic recirculation, but not in nitroreduction of 1-NP prior to absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. This might explain the low levels of radioactivity associated with blood proteins, since 1-nitrosopyrene, a product of nitroreduction of 1-NP, is likely to be involved in protein binding. Levels of radioactivity associated with plasma proteins were approximately four times higher than the levels of radioactivity associated with hemoglobin (401.0 and 84.1 pmol/g protein per micromol 1-NP kg b.w., respectively, at 24 h). Maximal 25% of the associated radioactivity was released following mild alkaline hydrolysis of either hemoglobin or plasma proteins. 1-Aminopyrene was the only released compound after hydrolysis of hemoglobin. In addition to 1-aminopyrene, two more polar unidentified metabolites were detected following hydrolysis of plasma proteins. Association of radioactivity with DNA was highest in the liver at the first moments of observation (7.4 pmol 14C Eq./mg DNA per micromol 1-NP kg b.w.), but decreased rapidly to levels lower than observed for kidney DNA (max. 3.0 pmol 14C Eq./mg DNA per micromol 1-NP kg b.w. at 24 h). In lungs 8-50 times less radioactivity was associated with DNA than observed in the liver and kidneys. The results of this study show, that 1-NP undergoes an extensive and complex biotransformation in vivo, resulting in a variety of metabolites present in blood and tissue homogenates and a diversity of blood protein adducts. Concentrations of plasma metabolites, blood protein adducts and DNA adducts were rather low. In addition, previous studies also showed relatively low concentrations of metabolites present in urine. Therefore, sensitive and selective methods will be needed in order to evaluate the biological fate of 1-NP, associated with diesel exhaust particles, in humans.     

Investigation of the lipid dependence of pyrophosphatase activity from rat liver microsomes and hepatoma by phospholipase C

The lipid dependence of pyrophosphatase activity was studied by treatment of liver and hepatoma microsomes with phospholipase C from Cl. perfringens and B. cereus and a subsequent incorporation of various classes of phospholipids into the delipidated microsomes. Phospholipase C hydrolysis sharply lowers the pyrophosphatase activity of liver and hepatoma microsomes. The enzyme activity is restored after introduction of phospholipids into delipidated liver microsomes, the maximal effect being achieved on incorporation of phosphatidylcholine. All the phospholipids tested exerted the same reactivation effects on the delipidated microsomes of hepatoma. However, a more complete delipidation of hepatoma microsomes by phospholipase C hydrolysis and a subsequent organic solvent extraction revealed a specific dependence of the enzyme activity on phosphatidylserine.     

Studies on the interactions between phospholipids and membrane-bound enzymes in microsomes. Effects of phospholipases C on the glucose-6-phosphatase system of rat liver microsomes

The role of phospholipids in the glucose-6-phosphatase system, including glucose-6-P phosphohydrolase and glucose-6-P translocase, was studied in rat liver microsomes by using phospholipases C and detergents. In the time course experiments on detergent exposure, the maximal activation of glucose-6-P phosphohydrolase varied according to the nature of the detergent used. On treatment of microsomes with phospholipase C of C. perfringens, the activity of glucose-6-P phosphohydrolase without detergent (i.e. without rupture of translocase activity) was gradually decreased with the progressive hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine on the microsomal membrane, and was restored by incubation of these microsomes with egg yolk phospholipids. The extent of decrease in this phosphohydrolase activity in the detergent-exposed microsomes (with rupture of translocase activity) also varied depending on the detergent used (Triton X-114 or taurocholate). When 66% of the phosphatidylinositol on the membrane was hydrolyzed by phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C of B. thuringiensis, the inhibition of glucose-6-P phosphohydrolase activity without detergent was very small. Although the inhibition of enzyme activity with detergent was apparently greater than that without detergent, the enzyme activity was stimulated by the breakdown of phosphatidylinositol when the enzyme activity was measured at lower concentration (0.5 mM) of substrate, glucose-6-P. The latency of mannose-6-P phosphohydrolase, a plausible index of microsomal integrity, remained above 70% after the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, or phosphatidylinositol. The results show that the glucose-6-phosphatase system requires microsomal phospholipids for its integrity, suggesting that there exists a close relation between phosphatidylinositol and glucose-6-P translocase.     

The role of biotransformation-detoxication in acetone-, 2-butanone-, and 2-hexanone-potentiated chloroform-induced hepatotoxicity

The hepatotoxicity of chloroform (CHCl3) is thought to require biotransformation, by the polysubstrate monooxygenase system (P-450), to a reactive intermediate(s). Therefore, the potentiation of CHCl3-induced hepatotoxicity, which occurs following exposure to certain ketones, may hypothetically be explained by a reduced capacity of the cell to form glutathione conjugates (detoxicate the intermediate) and (or) by an increased rate of reactive intermediate(s) generation secondary to a modification of the P-450 system. To test these hypotheses, liver damage, as indicated by elevation in plasma alanine aminotransferase and ornithine carbamyl transferase activities, was modulated in male Sprague-Dawley rats by varying the time interval (10, 18, 24, 48, 72, 96 h) between acetone, 2-butanone, or 2-hexanone (15 mmol/kg, p.o.) pretreatment and CHCl3 (0.5 mL/kg, p.o.) administration. These data were compared with hepatic glutathione and with various parameters of the polysubstrate monooxygenase system: cytochrome P-450, cytochrome c reductase, cytochrome b5, and microsomal binding of 14CHCl3-derived radiolabel. Reduced detoxication capacity does not appear to be involved as hepatic glutathione levels were not reduced. Globally, a relationship between modifications to the polysubstrate monooxygenase system and potentiation of CHCl3-induced hepatotoxicity appears to exist. The rank order of each ketone's ability to modify P-450 parameters was the same in most instances as that based on peak ability to potentiate CHCl3-induced hepatotoxicity: 2-hexanone greater than 2-butanone greater than or equal to acetone. Therefore, these results suggest that a general relationship exists between the ketone-induced potentiation of CHCl3-induced hepatotoxicity and increased CHCl3 reactive metabolite generation. However, other factors may also contribute to the phenomenon.     

Studies on enzymes related to diacylglycerol production in activated platelets: I. phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipasec: Further characterization using a simple method for determination of activity

A simple method of determination of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity in soluble platelet extracts has been devised. It is based on the use of a total lipid extract from rat liver microsomes incubated with [³H]inositol in the presence of MnCl₂. Phosphatidylinositol hydrolysis can thus be detected by determining hydrosoluble radioactivity formed upon incubation with enzyme fractions. Owing to the presence of other phospholipids in the assay system, phospholipase C was inhibited. However, activity was restored by sodium deoxycholate (0.1%, w/v). Optimal conditions also included calcium (1–10 mM) and a pH between 5 and 7, allowing the detection of phospholipase C without the need for purifying the substrate. Using this simplified procedure, platelet phospholipase C was submitted to preparative electrofocusing and to gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-200. Phospholipase C focused in one single peak at pH 6.1. An M_r of 86000 was found upon gel chromatography of a crude extract, against 68 000 when phospholipase C had been previously purified by electrofocusing. These data indicate that phospholipase C might be associated with lipids or with an M_r 20 000 protein, the significance of which is discussed.     

Biotransformation of tamoxifen in a human endometrial explant culture model

Although long-term tamoxifen therapy is associated with increased risk of endometrial cancer, little is known about the ability of endometrial tissue to biotransform tamoxifen to potentially reactive intermediates, capable of forming DNA adducts. The present study examined whether explant cultures of human endometrium provide a suitable in vitro model to investigate the tissue-specific biotransformation of tamoxifen. Fresh human endometrial tissue, microscopically uninvolved in disease, was cut into 1 x 2-mm uniform explants and incubated with media containing either 25 or 100 microM tamoxifen in a 24-well plate. Metabolites were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC using postcolumn, online, photochemical activation and fluorescence detection. Three metabolites, namely, alpha-hydroxytamoxifen, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, and N-desmethyltamoxifen were identified in culture medium and tissue lysates. N-desmethyltamoxifen was found to be the major metabolite in both tissue and media extracts of tamoxifen-exposed explants. Incubations of tamoxifen with recombinant human cytochrome P-450s (CYPs) found that CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 produced all three of the above tamoxifen metabolites, while CYP1A1 and CYP3A4 catalyzed the formation of alpha-hydroxytamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen, and CYP1A2 and CYP1B1 only formed the alpha-hydroxy metabolite. CYP2D6 exhibited the greatest activity for the formation of all three tamoxifen metabolites. Western immunoblots of microsomes from human endometrium detected the presence of CYPs 2C9, 3A, 1A1 and 1B1 in fresh endometrium, while CYPs 2D6 and 1A2 were not detected. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis also confirmed the presence of CYPs 2C9, 3A and 1B1 in fresh human endometrium and in viable tissue cultured for 24 h with or without tamoxifen. Together, the results support the use of explant cultures of human endometrium as a suitable in vitro model to investigate the biotransformation of tamoxifen in this target tissue. In addition, the results support the role of CYPs 2C9, 3A, 1A1 and 1B1 in the biotransformation of tamoxifen, including the formation of the DNA reactive alpha-hydroxytamoxifen metabolite, in human endometrium.     

Evidence for trichloroethylene bioactivation and adduct formation in the rat epididymis and efferent ducts

Recent studies indicate that trichloroethylene (TCE) may be a male reproductive toxicant. It is metabolized by conjugation with glutathione and cytochrome p450-dependent oxidation. Reactive metabolites produced along both pathways are capable of forming protein adducts and are thought to be involved in TCE-induced liver and kidney damage. Similarly, in situ bioactivation of TCE and subsequent binding of metabolites may be one mechanism by which TCE acts as a reproductive toxicant. Cysteine-conjugate beta-lyase (beta-lyase) bioactivates the TCE metabolite dichlorovinyl cysteine (DCVC) to a reactive intermediate that is capable of binding cellular macromolecules. In the present study, Western blot analysis indicated that the soluble form of beta-lyase, but not the mitochondrial form, was present in the epididymis and efferent ducts. Both forms of beta-lyase were detected in the kidney. When rats were dosed with DCVC, no protein adducts were detected in the epididymis or efferent ducts, although adducts were present in the proximal tubule of the kidney. Trichloroethylene can also be metabolized and form protein adducts through a cytochrome p450-mediated pathway. Western blot analysis detected the presence of cytochrome p450 2E1 (CYP2E1) in the efferent ducts. Immunoreactive proteins were localized to efferent duct and corpus epididymis epithelia. Metabolism of TCE was demonstrated in vitro using microsomes prepared from untreated rats. Metabolism was inhibited 77% when efferent duct microsomes were preincubated with an antibody to CYP2E1. Dichloroacetyl adducts were detected in epididymal and efferent duct microsomes exposed in vitro to TCE. Results from the present study indicate that the cytochrome p450-dependent formation of reactive intermediates and the subsequent covalent binding of cellular proteins may be involved in the male reproductive toxicity of TCE.