The role of metabolism in determining susceptibility to parathion toxicity in man

Diazinon is activated by CYP2C19 in human liver

Phosphorothioate compounds are used throughout the world as agricultural and domestic pesticides. Here, the activation of the phosphorothioate diazinon to diazoxon in human liver is described. In an initial study using three human liver microsomal samples, K(m) for diazoxon formation varied markedly (31, 208, and 660 microM; V(max) 1125, 685, and 1028 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively), suggesting the involvement of more than one P450 enzyme. A wide variation in activity was found using 50 microM diazinon as substrate, (11-648 pmol/min/mg protein, n = 15), whereas, with 500 microM, variation was less (164-978 pmol/min/mg protein). Among eight P450-catalyzed reactions, the putative high-affinity component (50 microM diazinon) correlated with S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase activity (r = 0.686, p < 0.01), suggesting the involvement of CYP2C19. The putative low-affinity component (500 microM diazinon) correlated with both S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (r = 0.714; p < 0.005) and high-affinity phenacetin O-deethylase activity (r = 0.625; p < 0.05). This activity was partially inhibited by furafylline, troleandomycin, and ketoconazole. These data suggest contributions from CYP2C19, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4. None of the inhibitors affected the high-affinity component. Of seven heterologously expressed human P450 enzymes, CYP2C19 activated diazinon (500 microM) at the fastest rate, followed by CYP3A4, CYP1A2, and CYP2C9. Both hepatic microsomal S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase and high-affinity phenacetin O-deethylase activities were strongly inhibited by diazinon (IC50 < 2.5 microM), while no effect was seen on midazolam 1'-hydroxylase activity. These data indicate that CYP2C19 is the major enzyme involved in diazinon activation in human liver, while other enzymes including CYP1A2 may play a more minor role.

Evidence for the activation of organophosphate pesticides by cytochromes P450 3A4 and 2D6 in human liver microsomes

The role of specific cytochrome P450 isoforms in catalysing the oxidative biotransformation of the organophosphorothioate pesticides parathion, chlorpyrifos and diazinon into structures that inhibit cholinesterase has been investigated in human liver microsomes using chemical inhibitors. Pesticides were incubated with human liver microsomes and production of the anticholinergic oxon metabolite was investigated by the inhibition of human serum cholinesterase. Quinidine and ketoconazole at 10 micromol/l inhibited oxidative biotransformation. Compared to control incubations (no inhibitor) where cholinesterase activity was inhibited to between 1 and 4% of control levels, incorporation of the CYP2D6 inhibitor quinidine into the microsomal incubation resulted in cholinesterase activity of 50% for parathion, 38% for diazinon and 30% for chlorpyrifos. Addition of the CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole to microsomal incubations resulted in 66% cholinesterase activity with diazinon, 20% with parathion and 5% with chlorpyrifos. The unexpected finding that CYP2D6, as well as CYP3A4, catalysed oxidative biotransformation was confirmed for chlorpyrifos and parathion using microsomes prepared from a human lymphoblastoid cell line expressing CYP2D6. While parathion has been investigated only as a model compound, chlorpyrifos and diazinon are both very important, widely used pesticides and CYP2D6 appears to be an important enzyme in their bioactivation pathway. CYP2D6 is polymorphic and hence may influence individual susceptibility to exposure to chlorpyrifos and diazinon as well as other structurally similar pesticides.

Electrophysiological and biochemical effects of single and multiple doses of the organophosphate diazinon in the mouse

Diazinon is an organophosphorus compound (OP) widely used in pesticides. The relationship between dose of diazinon, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, and effect on neuromuscular transmission has been studied in a mouse model. Inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity occurred within 1 h, was maximal by 3 h and remained inhibited for at least 24 h. Blood, brain, diaphragm, and soleus acetylcholinesterase activities were differentially affected by diazinon. Brain and soleus activities were not affected by low doses. Multiple daily dosing of diazinon caused a cumulative decrease in acetylcholinesterase activity, although to a lesser extent in brain and soleus. Diazinon had no effect on the activity of neuropathy target esterase. Plasma and brain levels of diazinon peaked at 15 min after dosing and declined with a half-life of 2.5 h. Metabolic products of diazinon were cleared from the urine within 24 h. Increased miniature end-plate current half decay times occurred in a dose-dependent manner. Single doses of diazinon caused an increase in the jitter (variability of latencies) of evoked action potentials recorded in the diaphragm but did not affect end-plate potential (EPP) jitter. Multiple lower doses of diazinon caused an increase in EPP jitter after 28 days. This effect on nerve function was delayed and occurred when acetylcholinesterase activity had returned to control levels. The results indicate that diazinon produces long-term electrophysiological changes in neurotransmission following repeated dosing in the mouse. This has implications for the current use of diazinon; however, there is a need to further define the mechanism of this effect.

Maturation-dependent effects of chlorpyrifos and parathion and their oxygen analogs on acetylcholinesterase and neuronal and glial markers in aggregating brain cell cultures

An in vitro model, the aggregating brain cell culture of fetal rat telencephalon, has been used to study the maturation-dependent sensitivity of brain cells to two organophosphorus pesticides (OPs), chlorpyrifos and parathion, and to their oxon derivatives. Immature (DIV 5-15) or differentiated (DIV 25-35) brain cells were treated continuously for 10 days. Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory potency for the OPs was compared to that of eserine (physostigmine), a reversible AChE inhibitor. Oxon derivatives were more potent AChE inhibitors than the parent compounds, and parathion was more potent than chlorpyrifos. No maturation-dependent differences for AChE inhibition were found for chlorpyrifos and eserine, whereas for parathion and paraoxon there was a tendency to be more effective in immature cultures, while the opposite was true for chlorpyrifos-oxon. Toxic effects, assessed by measuring protein content as an index of general cytotoxicity, and various enzyme activities as cell-type-specific neuronal and glial markers (ChAT and GAD, for cholinergic and GABAergic neurons, respectively, and GS and CNP, for astrocytes and oligodendrocytes, respectively) were only found at more than 70% of AChE inhibition. Immature compared to differentiated cholinergic neurons appeared to be more sensitive to OP treatments. The oxon derivates were found to be more toxic on neurons than the parent compounds, and chlorpyrifos was more toxic than parathion. Eserine was not neurotoxic. These results indicate that inhibition of AChE remains the most sensitive macromolecular target of OP exposure, since toxic effects were found at concentrations in which AChE was inhibited. Furthermore, the compound-specific reactions, the differential pattern of toxicity of OPs compared to eserine, and the higher sensitivity of immature brain cells suggest that the toxic effects and inhibition of AChE are unrelated.