Metabolism of 3-methylindole in human tissues.

Bioactivation of 3-methylindole (3MI), a highly selective pneumotoxin in goats, was investigated in human lung and liver tissues in order to provide information about the susceptibility of humans to 3MI toxicity. Human lung microsomes were prepared from eight organ transplantation donors and liver microsomes from one of the donors were utilized. The 3MI turnover rate with human lung microsomes was 0.23 +/- 0.06 nmol/mg/min, which was lower than the rate with the human liver microsomes (7.40 nmol/mg/min). The activities were NADPH dependent and inhibited by 1-aminobenzotriazole, a potent cytochrome P-450 suicide substrate inhibitor. Covalent binding of 3MI reactive intermediates to human tissues was determined by incubation of 14C-3MI and NADPH with human lung and liver microsomal proteins. Although human lung microsomes displayed measurable covalent binding activity (2.74 +/- 2.57 pmol/mg/min), the magnitude of this reaction was only 4% as large as that seen with human liver microsomes (62.02 pmol/mg/min). However, the covalent binding was protein dependent and also was inhibited by 1-aminobenzotriazole. Therefore, the bioactivation of 3MI to covalently binding intermediates is catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 in human pulmonary tissues. These activities were compared to those activities measured with tissues from goats. Proteins from goat and human pulmonary and hepatic microsomal incubations were incubated with radioactive 3MI, and radioactive proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and HPLC and visualized by autoradiography and radiochromatography, respectively. The results showed that a 57-kDa protein was clearly the most prominently alkylated target associated with 3MI reactive intermediates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metabolism-dependent covalent binding of S(−)-3H-nicotine to lung microsomes in vitro

Incubation of S(?)-³H-nicotine with rabbit lung microsomes in the presence of dioxygen and NADPH results in the formation of metabolites that bind covalently to microsomal macromolecules. The addition of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase inhibitors, α-methylbenzyl aminobenzotriazole and aroclor 1260, inhibited both (S)-nicotine metabolism and covalent binding. The relative rates of oxidation of nicotine Δ^1′,5′ iminium ion to cotinine indicates that lung 100,000×g supernatant catalyzed this oxidation approximately 18 times slower than that of liver system based on mg of protein, and increased covalent interactions. Since the activity of lung iminium oxidase appears much lower than the liver, it is tempting to speculate that localized concentrations of nicotine Δ^1′,5′ iminium ion in the lung will survive for a longer period of time. These results support that cytochrome P-450 catalyzed oxidation of nicotine leads to the formation of reactive and electrophilic intermediates capable of chemical interactions with biomacromolecules.     

In vitro studies on the metabolism and covalent binding of [14C]1,1-dichloroethylene by mouse liver, kidney and lung

The metabolism and covalent binding of 1,1-dichloro[1,2-14C]ethylene (DCE) to subcellular fractions of liver, kidney and lung of C57BL/6N mice have been investigated in vitro. Covalent binding was NADPH- and cytochrome P-450-dependent. The microsomal fraction bound more radiolabel than any other subcellular fraction, and the levels of covalent binding in cell fractions correlated well with their cytochrome P-450 content. Covalent binding by mouse liver and lung microsomes also reflected their cytochrome P-450 content. However, although mouse kidney microsomes contained twice as much total cytochrome P-450 as the lung, no detectable covalent binding of DCE-derived radioactivity occurred in kidney. Omission of NADPH, heat inactivation of microsomes, carbon monoxide, addition of SKF-525A, piperonyl butoxide or reduced glutathione (GSH), all inhibited (40-90%) covalent binding of radiolabel to liver and lung microsomes. The absence of O2 (incubation under N2) did not greatly affect the metabolism and covalent binding. Pretreatment of mice with various inducers, phenobarbital (PB), beta-naphthoflavone (beta-NF), pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) and 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), evoked increases in total liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content (2-fold) and corresponding increases in covalent binding (3-fold). However, microsomes from PCN-treated mice showed only a 50% increase in DCE binding. Kidney microsomes from control, PB-, and beta-NF-pretreated mice were incapable of covalent binding of radiolabel but those from PCN- and 3-MC-pretreated mice showed levels of binding similar to untreated mouse lung microsomes. It is proposed that the nephrotoxicity of DCE may be due to translocation of reactive metabolites from the liver to the kidney.     

Role of P-450c in the formation of a reactive intermediate of chlorotrianisene (TACE) by hepatic microsomes from methylcholanthrene-treated rats

A previous study has shown that chlorotrianisene is metabolized by hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase(s) to a reactive intermediate that binds covalently to microsomal proteins [Juedes, Bulger, and Kupfer: Drug Metab. Dispos. 15, 786 (1987)]. Covalent binding of chlorotrianisene in hepatic microsomes is dramatically stimulated by treatment of rats with methylcholanthrene (MC), which is known to induce two major P-450 isozymes, P-450c (IA1) and P-450d (IA2). To determine whether P-450c and/or P-450d are involved in catalysis of covalent binding of chlorotrianisene, antibodies to P-450c and P-450d were used. Incubations of chlorotrianisene were conducted with liver microsomes from MC-treated rats (MC microsomes) and a monoclonal antibody (mAb) raised to the major MC-induced isozyme P450c, mAb 1-7-1, or a polyclonal monospecific antibody (pAb) to P-450d, pAb anti-d (-c). At a 5:1 ratio of antibody to microsomal protein, mAb 1-7-1 inhibited covalent binding by 67%, whereas pAb anti d (-c) showed a 10% inhibition. Maximal inhibition by mAb 1-7-1 was 89% at a 100:1 ratio of antibody to microsomal protein. From these findings it was concluded that P-450c is the major isozyme responsible for the metabolism of chlorotrianisene to the covalently binding reactive intermediate in MC microsomes. Additionally, it was observed that potentiation of covalent binding occurred with the noninhibitory mAbs used in these incubations. Substituting bovine serum albumin (BSA) for antibodies showed that this increase in binding is probably due to an increase in acceptor sites.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

In vitro covalent binding of new brain tracer, para-125I-amphetamine, to rat liver and lung microsomes

p-125I-amphetamine (I-Amp) is retained significantly in liver and lung during brain tomoscintigraphy. To attempt to explain this clinical observation, we have investigated the interaction of I-Amp with rat liver and lung microsomal proteins. Studies using spectral shift technique indicate that low concentration of I-Amp gives a type I complex and high concentration appears very stable type II complex with cytochrome P-450 Fe III. In the presence of NADPH, I-Amp gives rise to a 455 nm absorbing complex with similar properties to the Fe-RNO complexes. This complex formation was greatly enhanced with phenobarbital treated liver microsomes. The in vitro binding study shows that I-Amp and/or its metabolites was covalently bound to macromolecules in the presence of the molecular oxygen and NADPH-generating system. Incubation in the presence of glutathione, cystein and radical scavengers decreases binding. Mixed function oxydase (MFO) inhibitors diminish the amount of covalent binding and alter the extent of metabolite formation. The total covalent binding level increased with liver microsomes from PB pretreated rats as it was observed with the 455nm complex formation. The radioactivity distribution on microsomal proteins was examinated with SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and autoradiography. This experiment proves that the radiolabelled compounds are bound on the cytochrome P-450. The radioactivity bound increased when the PB induced rat liver microsomes were used. All these results indicate that I-Amp was activated by an oxydative process dependent on the MFO system which suggests a N-oxydation of I-Amp and the formation of reactive entities which covalently bind to proteins.     

Relationship between covalent binding to microsomal protein and the destruction of adrenal cytochrome P-450 by spironolactone

Previous investigations have demonstrated that guinea pig adrenal microsomes catalyze an NADPH-dependent activation of spironolactone (SL) resulting in the degradation of cytochrome(s) P-450 and decreases in steroidogenic enzyme activities. Studies were done to evaluate the relationship between the destruction of cytochrome P-450 and the covalent binding to microsomal protein by SL and by 7 alpha-thiospironolactone (7 alpha-thio-SL), an obligatory intermediate in the activation pathway. NADPH-dependent irreversible binding to guinea pig adrenal microsomal protein was demonstrable with 22-14C- and with 35S-labelled SL or 7 alpha-thio-SL as substrates. In the absence of NADPH, there was relatively little binding. NADPH-dependent covalent binding was not demonstrable with hepatic microsomal preparations. The amount of covalent binding to adrenal microsomes was far greater with 7 alpha-thio-SL than with SL and also greater with 35S-labelled than with 14C-labelled substrates. The latter results suggest the possibility of more than one reactive metabolite. Time-course experiments revealed a good correlation between covalent binding and P-450 destruction by SL and by 7 alpha-thio-SL. In addition, the 17 alpha-hydroxylase inhibitor, SU-10'603, and the 17 alpha-hydroxylase substrate, progesterone, prevented both the degradation of cytochrome P-450 and the NADPH-dependent covalent binding by 7 alpha-thio-SL. Reduced glutathione also decreased covalent binding but did not diminish P-450 destruction. The latter results indicate that some of the covalent binding is unrelated to the degradation of cytochrome P-450. However, all of the data are consistent with the hypothesis that 7 alpha-thio-SL is a suicide inhibitor of adrenal cytochrome P-450 and that covalent binding to protein is involved in the degradation of cytochrome P-450.     

Opposite behaviors of reactive metabolites of tienilic acid and its isomer toward liver proteins: use of specific anti-tienilic acid-protein adduct antibodies and the possible relationship with different hepatotoxic effects of the two compounds

Tienilic acid (TA) is responsible for an immune-mediated drug-induced hepatitis in humans, while its isomer (TAI) triggers a direct hepatitis in rats. In this study, we describe an immunological approach developed for studying the specificity of the covalent binding of these two compounds. For this purpose, two different coupling strategies were used to obtain TA-carrier protein conjugates. In the first strategy, the drug was linked through its carboxylic acid function to amine residues of carrier proteins (BSA-N-TA and casein-N-TA), while in the second strategy, the thiophene ring of TA was attached to proteins through a short 3-thiopropanoyl linker, the corresponding conjugates (BSA-S-5-TA and betaLG-S-5-TA) thus preferentially presenting the 2, 3-dichlorophenoxyacetic moiety of the drug for antibody recognition. The BSA-S-5-TA conjugate proved to be 30 times more immunogenic than BSA-N-TA. Anti-TA-protein adduct antibodies were obtained after immunization of rabbits with BSA-S-5-TA (1/35000 titer against betaLG-S-5-TA in ELISA). These antibodies strongly recognized the 2, 3-dichlorophenoxyacetic moiety of TA but poorly the part of the drug engaged in the covalent binding with the proteins. This powerful tool was used in immunoblots to compare TA or TAI adduct formation in human liver microsomes as well as on microsomes from yeast expressing human liver cytochrome P450 2C9. TA displayed a highly specific covalent binding focused on P450 2C9 which is the main cytochrome P450 responsible for its hepatic activation in humans. On the contrary, TAI showed a nonspecific alkylation pattern, targeting many proteins upon metabolic activation. Nevertheless, this nonspecific covalent binding could be completely shifted to a thiol trapping agent like GSH. The difference in alkylation patterns for these two compounds is discussed with regard to their distinct toxicities. A relationship between the specific covalent binding of P450 2C9 by TA and the appearance of the highly specific anti-LKM2 autoantibodies (known to specifically recognize P450 2C9) in patients affected with TA-induced hepatitis is strongly suggested.     

Metabolism-dependent covalent binding of (S)-[5-3H]nicotine to liver and lung microsomal macromolecules

Incubation of (S)-[5-3H]nicotine with rabbit liver microsomes in the presence of dioxygen and NADPH results in the formation of metabolites that bind covalently to microsomal macromolecules (250-550 pmol/mg of protein/hr). The partition ratio [(S)-nicotine metabolized/(S)-nicotine equivalents covalently bound] ranged between 250:1 and 500:1. The addition of SKF 525-A, cytochrome c, or n-octylamine inhibited both (S)-nicotine metabolism and covalent binding whereas phenobarbital pretreatment increased the rates of metabolism and covalent binding. Sodium cyanide, which forms stable adducts with the cytochrome P-450-generated iminium ion metabolites of (S)-nicotine and a variety of other tertiary amines, inhibited covalent binding but also decreased the rate of (S)-nicotine metabolism. The metabolism-dependent covalent binding of (S)-nicotine and its conversion to the delta 1',5'-iminium species were observed also in microsomal incubations prepared from rabbit lung and human liver tissues.     

Metabolic activation of the tricyclic antidepressant amineptine--I. Cytochrome P-450-mediated in vitro covalent binding

Incubation of [14C]amineptine (1 mM) with hamster liver microsomes resulted in the irreversible binding of an amineptine metabolite to microsomal proteins. Covalent binding measured in the presence of various concentrations of amineptine (0.0625-1 mM) followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Pretreatment with phenobarbital increased not only the Vmax, but also the Km, for this binding. Covalent binding required NADPH and molecular oxygen and was decreased when the incubation was made in the presence of inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 such as piperonyl butoxide (4 mM), SKF 525-A (4 mM) or carbon monoxide (80:20 CO-O2 atmosphere). In contrast, binding was increased when microsomes from untreated hamsters were incubated in the presence of 0.5 mM 1,1,1-trichloropropene 2,3-oxide, an inhibitor of epoxide hydrolase. Metabolic activation also occurred in kidney microsomes. In vitro covalent binding to kidney microsomal proteins required NADPH and was decreased by piperonyl butoxide (4 mM) but was not increased by pretreatment with phenobarbital. We conclude that amineptine is activated by hamster liver and kidney microsomes into a chemically reactive metabolite that covalently binds to microsomal proteins.     

Activation of misonidazole by rat liver microsomes and purified NADPH-cytochrome c reductase

Rat liver microsomes and purified NADPH-cytochrome c reductase metabolized [14C]misonidazole anaerobically to a reactive intermediate that covalently binds to tissue macromolecules. Air strongly inhibited the binding whereas carbon monoxide had no effect, indicating that misonidazole is activated via reduction and not by cytochrome P-450-dependent oxidation. Both systems showed an absolute requirement for NADPH and were stimulated by flavine (FAD) and paraquat. The apparent Km for misonidazole binding to microsomal protein was 0.74 mM the apparent Vmax was 0.64 nmole 14C bound . mg-1 . min-1. At a single substrate concentration, nitrofurantoin, nitrofurazone and desmethylmisonidazole inhibited the covalent binding of misonidazole to microsomal protein by 47, 26, and 38% respectively. The effect of nitrofurantoin on the kinetics of misonidazole binding gave a complex interaction indicative of uncompetitive inhibition. Glutathione reduced the binding of misonidazole to microsomal protein below the level observed for boiled microsomes while ascorbic acid had no effect. Compared to nitrofurantoin and paraquat, misonidazole was a poor stimulator of superoxide production as measured by adrenochrome formation.     

In vitro metabolism of etoposide (VP-16-213) by liver microsomes and irreversible binding of reactive intermediates to microsomal proteins

We have studied the metabolism of VP-16-213 (etoposide, VP-16), an antitumor agent, by mouse liver microsomes to reactive intermediates and the subsequent covalent binding to microsomal proteins. This metabolism was shown to involve the O-demethylation of VP-16 and resulted in the formation of a 3',4'-dihydroxy derivative (DHVP-16) which was identified by both HPLC and mass spectrometry. The formation of DHVP-16 was cytochrome P-450-mediated as indicated by its dependence on NADPH, its increased production following treatment of mice with phenobarbital, and its marked inhibition by SKF-525A and piperonyl butoxide. Furthermore, DHVP-16 formation required oxygen. Microsomal incubation of VP-16 resulted in an irreversible binding of the drug to the proteins, which was also shown to be cytochrome P-450 dependent. The covalent binding of the VP-16 metabolite(s) was inhibited by DHVP-16 in a dose-dependent fashion, suggesting that the reactive intermediates that bound to proteins were derived from DHVP-16. Electron spin resonance studies indicated that the same semiquinone radical was formed during enzymatic (oxidation or reduction) metabolism of DHVP-16 and the o-quinone derivative of VP-16 (VP-16-Q). VP-16-Q and its semiquinone radical are suggested to be the bioalkylating species.     

Characteristics of monooxygenase-mediated covalent binding of methoxychlor in human and rat liver microsomes

The characteristics of the activation of methoxychlor by the hepatic microsomal monooxygenases and its covalent binding to microsomal proteins in human and untreated rat were compared. The Vmax of covalent binding is similar in both species, being 21 and 11 pmol/min/mg protein in human and rat, respectively. However, their Kmapp values show marked differences: 146 versus 5 microM for human and rat, respectively. These differences in Km values seem to reflect the affinities of the respective P-450s for methoxychlor in catalyzing the formation of the reactive intermediate (M*) and not the availability of acceptor binding sites. The observations that alternate substrates and inhibitors of P-450 monooxygenases inhibit covalent binding of methoxychlor to human liver microsomes, demonstrate that covalent binding is catalyzed by typical monooxygenases. Antioxidants/free radical scavengers, and sulfhydryl-containing compounds inhibit covalent binding in human liver microsomes, suggesting that the reactive intermediate is a free radical. A similar finding in phenobarbital (Pb)-treated rats (Bulger, Temple and Kupfer, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 68:367, 1983) indicates that the mechanism of covalent binding in the two species is similar. Of interest is the observation with human liver samples that, despite differences in age, sex, and, probably, in diet among individuals, their rates of covalent binding of methoxychlor were similar. By contrast, there is a much higher covalent binding in the mature male rat than in the mature female or immature male or female rat, suggesting that developmentally controlled male-specific P-450s contribute to covalent binding in the adult male.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Studies on the formation of methoxychlor-protein adduct in rat and human liver microsomes. Is demethylation of methoxychlor essential for cytochrome P450 catalyzed covalent binding?

Previous studies demonstrated that liver microsomal monooxygenases metabolize the pesticide methoxychlor into phenolic estrogenic derivatives. Additionally, methoxychlor is activated by the hepatic cytochrome P450 monooxygenase to bind covalently to microsomal proteins (Bulger WH, Temple JE and Kupfer D, Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 68: 367-374, 1983). The current study examines, in liver microsomes from control and phenobarbital-treated rats and humans, whether demethylation of methoxychlor is essential for covalent binding and whether demethylated methoxychlor metabolites are on the pathway of formation of the reactive intermediate and protein adduct. Using 3H-methoxyl-labeled and 14C-ring-labeled methoxychlor, it was demonstrated that demethylation is not essential for covalent binding. Namely, the major portion of the methoxychlor moiety in the protein adduct was found to contain intact methoxyls. Nevertheless, in the absence of methoxychlor, both the mono- and bis-demethylated methoxychlor metabolites could undergo monooxygenase-mediated covalent binding to proteins. This was demonstrated in incubations of purified 14C-labeled mono- and bis-demethylated methoxychlor metabolites with liver microsomes, in the presence of NADPH. Additionally, the dehydrochlorinated metabolite of methoxychlor, containing a double bond, underwent covalent binding, which exhibited characteristics similar to those of methoxychlor. These findings demonstrated that the protein adduct from relatively brief incubation periods contains a methoxychlor derivative with intact methoxyls. The possibility that the activation of methoxychlor involves modification of the side chain, which is the active site that binds to proteins, is discussed.     

Inhibition of 3-methylindole bioactivation by the cytochrome P-450 suicide substrates 1-aminobenzotriazole and alpha-methylbenzylaminobenzotriazole

The cytochrome P-450 suicide substrates 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT) and alpha-methylbenzylaminobenzotriazole (alpha MB) were used as probes to examine the participation of cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases in the metabolism and covalent binding of 3-methylindole. ABT was a potent inactivator of 3-methylindole turnover and covalent binding of [methyl-14C]3-methylindole to protein in goat lung microsomal incubations. Both covalent binding and 3-methylindole turnover were decreased approximately 50% at 0.01 mM and 100% at 0.1 mM concentrations of ABT. The effects of ABT indicated that toxicity, as related to covalent binding, was directly dependent upon cytochrome P-450 catalysis. The inactivation of 3-methylindole turnover was greater with a 0.01 mM concentration of the isozyme-selective inhibitor alpha MB, 74% as compared with 47% for ABT. alpha MB (0.01 mM) decreased benzphetamine N-demethylase activity by 82% but decreased 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity by only 28%. Thus, both 3-methylindole metabolism and benzphetamine oxidation were selectively inactivated by alpha MB. These findings suggest that 3-methylindole is metabolized to alkylating, electrophilic intermediates preferentially by the homologues of "phenobarbital-inducible" isozymes (presumably forms 2 and 5 in analogy to rabbit lung isozymes) to cytochrome P-450 in pulmonary microsomes, rather than by the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-inducible isozymes.     

Covalent binding of 14C- and 35S-labeled thiocarbamides in rat hepatic microsomes.

The covalent binding of a series of 14C- or 35S-labeled benzimidazole-2-thione (MBI) derivatives to rat liver microsomal proteins was studied to determine the mechanisms of hepatic monooxygenase oxidation of model anti-hyperthyroid compounds. All thiocarbamides tested (including methimazole) produced an NADPH-dependent loss of cytochrome P450 (P450) chromophore which could be prevented by the addition of glutathione (GSH). The covalent binding of MBI to liver microsomal proteins from dexamethasone (DEX)-pretreated rats was enhanced 10-fold with NADPH, unaffected by P450 inactivation with 1-aminobenzotriazole (ABT) and attenuated by GSH addition. Heat treatment of microsomes to inactivate the flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) decreased the observed binding. Equivalent amounts of [35S]- and [14C]MBI were covalently bound to hepatic microsomal proteins, suggesting retention of both the carbon and sulfur portions of the molecule in the MBI/protein adduct. Thiophilic reagents effected release of covalently bound [14C]- and [35S]MBI in equal amounts suggesting the presence of disulfide bonds between an MBI-derived sulfenic acid and microsomal protein thiols. Coincubation with bovine serum albumin (BSA) resulted in NADPH-dependent binding of [14C]-MBI to BSA sulfhydryls which was blocked by prior treatment of BSA with iodoacetamide. 1-Methyl-benzimidazole-2-thione (MMBI) also covalently bound to microsomal proteins and BSA but at levels lower than with MBI. P450, however, appeared to be more important than FMO in the metabolism of MMBI based on the effects of microsome heat pretreatment or ABT addition. In addition, ca. 1.5-fold more 35S- than 14C-label became bound. The covalent binding of [35S]1,3-dimethyl-benzimidazole-2-thione (DMMBI) to microsomal proteins was ca. six times greater than that of [14C]DMMBI. ABT, catalase and superoxide dismutase had a minimal effect on [35S]DMMBI binding, while FMO inactivation decreased binding by ca. 30%. These findings suggest that both monooxygenases contribute significantly to the hepatic metabolism of thiocarbamides. However, FMO activates thiocarbamides primarily to sulfenic acids, whereas P450 appears to produce both sulfenic acid and other reactive sulfur-derived metabolites. Thiol groups of P450 and other proteins are the molecular targets for these reactive species formed during the hepatic metabolism of anti-hyperthyroid drugs.     

Reductive metabolism and activation of benznidazole

Benznidazole (Bz) (N-benzyl-2-nitro-1-imidazole-acetamide) is a drug used against Chagas' disease. Rat liver microsomal and cytosolic fractions, but not mitochondria, exhibited Bz nitroreductase activity under anaerobic conditions in the presence of NADPH. Microsomal nitroreductase activity was enhanced by FAD and was inhibited totally by oxygen and partially by carbon monoxide. Liver cystosol fraction was able to reduce Bz nitrogroups in the presence of either N-methylnicotinamide or hypoxanthine as substrates. These enzyme activities were inhibited by menadione or allopurinol respectively. Under every experimental condition leading to enzymatic reduction of Bz nitrogroups and its inhibition or enhancement, reactive metabolites that bind covalently to proteins were also produced. This covalent binding was effectively prevented by reduced glutathione. Results suggest the participation of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome c reductase in liver microsomal processes and of xanthine oxidase and aldehyde oxidase in liver cytosolic processes of Bz nitroreduction and activation to reactive metabolites that bind covalently to proteins. Possible pharmacological and toxicological implications of the described observations were discussed.     

Rat hepatic microsomal metabolism of ethylenethiourea. Contributions of the flavin-containing monooxygenase and cytochrome P-450 isozymes

The contributions of the rat hepatic flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) and cytochrome P-450 isozymes (P-450) in the ethylenethiourea (ETU) mediated inactivation of P-450 isozymes and covalent binding of the compound to microsomal proteins were investigated. In vitro, ETU was found to inhibit P-450 marker activities in microsomes obtained from untreated (UT) and phenobarbital (PB), beta-naphthoflavone (BNF), and dexamethasone (DEX) pretreated rats. This inhibition was dependent on the presence of NADPH and was completely abolished by coincubation with glutathione (GSH). Heat treatment of microsomes prior to ETU-mediated P-450 inactivation led to diminished loss of P-450 marker activities in microsomes obtained from UT and PB-pretreated, but not BNF- or DEX-pretreated rats, suggesting FMO involvement in the inactivation of some P-450 isozymes. Covalent binding of [14C]ETU to microsomal proteins was found to be NADPH-dependent and enhanced with BNF or DEX pretreatment of rats. This binding was completely inhibited by coincubation with GSH. Heat treatment of microsomes and P-450 inactivation studies indicated a predominant role of FMO in the observed covalent binding. Addition of the sulfhydryl reagents dithiothreitol (DTT) or GSH after the incubation of microsomes, [14C]ETU, and NADPH resulted in the complete release of bound ETU, suggesting the reduction of disulfide bonds between oxidized ETU and protein sulfhydryls. Microsomal heme content was not decreased following incubation of microsomes with ETU and NADPH, and P-450 appeared to be converted to P-420.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tetrachloroethylene metabolism by the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 system

The interaction of tetrachloroethylene with hepatic microsomal cytochromes P-450 has been investigated using male Long-Evans rats. The spectral binding of tetrachloroethylene to cytochromes P-450 in hepatic microsomes from uninduced rats was characterized by a K_s of 0.4 mM. The K_s was not affected by phenobarbital induction, but was increased following pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile induction. The K_M of 1.1 mM, calculated for the conversion of tetrachloroethylene to total chlorinated metabolites by the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 system, was decreased by phenobarbital induction and increased by pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile induction. The maximum extents of binding (ΔA_max) and metabolism (V_max) of tetrachloroethylene were increased by both phenobarbital and pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile induction. Induction with β-naphthoflavone was without effect on any of the above parameters. The effects of the inducing agents on tetrachloroethylene-stimulated CO-inhibitable hepatic microsomal NADPH oxidation followed the same trend as their effects on V_max for the metabolism of tetrachloroethylene, although in all cases the extent of NADPH oxidation was 5- to 25-fold greater than the extent of metabolite production. The inhibitors of cytochromes P-450, viz. metyrapone, SKF 525-A, and CO, inhibited the hepatic microsomal binding and metabolism of tetrachloroethylene. Free trichloroacetic acid was found to be the major metabolite of tetrachloroethylene from the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 system. Neither 2.2,2-trichloroethanol nor chloral hydrate was produced in measurable amounts from tetrachloroethylene. A minor but significant metabolite of tetrachloroethylene by cytochrome P-450 was the trichloroacetyl moiety covalently bound to components of the hepatic microsomes. Incubation of tetrachloroethylene. an NADPH-generating system. EDTA and hepatic microsomes was without effect on the levels of microsomal cytochromes P-450, cytochrome b₅, beme, and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase. It is concluded that hepatic microsomal cytochromes P-450 bind and metabolize tetrachloroethylene. The major product of this interaction is trichloroacetic acid, which is also the major urinary metabolite of tetrachloroethylene in vivo. The forms of cytochrome P-450 that bind and metabolize tetrachloroethylene include those induced by pregnenolone-16α-carbonitrile and by phenobarbital. Cytochrome P-448. which was induced in rat liver by β-naphthoflavone, does not appear to spectrally bind or metabolize tetrachloroethylene. The metabolism and toxicity of tetrachloroethylene are considered in relation to other chlorinated ethylenes.     

Differential oxidation of two thiophene-containing regioisomers to reactive metabolites by cytochrome P450 2C9

The uricosuric diuretic agent tienilic acid (TA) is a thiophene-containing compound that is metabolized by P450 2C9 to 5-OH-TA. A reactive metabolite of TA also forms a covalent adduct to P450 2C9 that inactivates the enzyme and initiates immune-mediated hepatic injury in humans, purportedly through a thiophene-S-oxide intermediate. The 3-thenoyl regioisomer of TA, tienilic acid isomer (TAI), is chemically very similar and is reported to be oxidized by P450 2C9 to a thiophene-S-oxide, yet it is not a mechanism-based inactivator (MBI) of P450 2C9 and is reported to be an intrinsic hepatotoxin in rats. The goal of the work presented in this article was to identify the reactive metabolites of TA and TAI by the characterization of products derived from P450 2C9-mediated oxidation. In addition, in silico approaches were used to better understand both the mechanisms of oxidation of TA and TAI and/or the structural rearrangements of oxidized thiophene compounds. Incubation of TA with P450 2C9 and NADPH yielded the well-characterized 5-OH-TA metabolite as the major product. However, contrary to previous reports, it was found that TAI was oxidized to two different types of reactive intermediates that ultimately lead to two types of products, a pair of hydroxythiophene/thiolactone tautomers and an S-oxide dimer. Both TA and TAI incorporated 1?O from 1?O? into their respective hydroxythiophene/thiolactone metabolites indicating that these products are derived from an arene oxide pathway. Intrinsic reaction coordinate calculations of the rearrangement reactions of the model compound 2-acetylthiophene-S-oxide showed that a 1,5-oxygen migration mechanism is energetically unfavorable and does not yield the 5-OH product but instead yields a six-membered oxathiine ring. Therefore, arene oxide formation and subsequent NIH-shift rearrangement remains the favored mechanism for formation of 5-OH-TA. This also implicates the arene oxide as the initiating factor in TA induced liver injury via covalent modification of P450 2C9. Finally, in silico modeling of P450 2C9 active site ligand interactions with TA using the catalytically active iron-oxo species revealed significant differences in the orientations of TA and TAI in the active site, which correlated well with experimental results showing that TA was oxidized only to a ring carbon hydroxylated product, whereas TAI formed both ring carbon hydroxylated products and an S-oxide.     

Covalent binding of [14C]methoxychlor metabolite(s) to rat liver microsomal components

[14C]Methoxychlor was incubated with NADPH-fortified liver microsomes from male rats, and covalent binding to microsomal components was determined. The binding process was markedly enhanced when microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rats were employed. However, when microsomes from methylcholanthrene-treated rats were used the level of binding was not significantly affected. Incubation in the presence of glutathione, cysteine, or ascorbate markedly diminished binding. Metyrapone and SKF 525-A, inhibitors of hepatic cytochrome P-450-linked monooxygenase activity, inhibited the binding. Also, ethylmorphine and hexobarbital, alternate substrates of the monooxygenase system, inhibited binding. There was no binding to microsomal components in the absence of NADPH or oxygen. TCPO (1,1,1-trichloropropane-2,3-oxide), an inhibitor of epoxide hydrase activity, failed to enhance the binding process. However, N,N'-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (NDP) and n-propyl gallate (PG), both free radical scavengers, decreased binding at micromolar concentrations without altering the extent of formation of polar [14C]methoxychlor metabolites. It was concluded that methoxychlor undergoes a hepatic microsomal monooxygenase(s)-mediated activation and that the resultant reactive metabolites (possibly free radicals) bind covalently to microsomal components. By contrast, the binding resulting from the incubation of an impure mixture of polar [14C]methoxychlor metabolites with liver microsomes did not require NADPH and O2 and was not affected by NDP, Pg, ascorbate, or heat-treatment of microsomes. This finding suggested that the binding subsequent to the initial metabolic activation of methoxychlor does not require further enzymatic transformation. However, whether the binding with metabolites represents the same chemical species as the binding with [14C]methoxychlor remains to be established.