Metabolism of monochlorobiphenyls by hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450

Metabolism of 3-Chlorobiphenyl (PCB 2) in a Human-Relevant Cell Line: Evidence of Dechlorinated Metabolites

Lower chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyls (LC-PCBs) and their metabolites make up a class of environmental pollutants implicated in a range of adverse outcomes in humans; however, the metabolism of LC-PCBs in human models has received little attention. Here we characterize the metabolism of PCB 2 (3-chlorobiphenyl), an environmentally relevant LC-PCB congener, in HepG2 cells with in silico prediction and nontarget high-resolution mass spectrometry. Twenty PCB 2 metabolites belonging to 13 metabolite classes, including five dechlorinated metabolite classes, were identified in the cell culture media from HepG2 cells exposed for 24 h to 10 μM or 3.6 nM PCB 2. The PCB 2 metabolite profiles differed from the monochlorinated metabolite profiles identified in samples from an earlier study with PCB 11 (3,3'-dichlorobiphenyl) under identical experimental conditions. A dechlorinated dihydroxylated metabolite was also detected in human liver microsomal incubations with monohydroxylated PCB 2 metabolites but not PCB 2. These findings demonstrate that the metabolism of LC-PCBs in human-relevant models involves the formation of dechlorination products. In addition, untargeted metabolomic analyses revealed an altered bile acid biosynthesis in HepG2 cells. Our results indicate the need to study the disposition and toxicity of complex PCB 2 metabolites, including novel dechlorinated metabolites, in human-relevant models.

Characterization of the Metabolic Pathways of 4-Chlorobiphenyl (PCB3) in HepG2 Cells Using the Metabolite Profiles of Its Hydroxylated Metabolites

The characterization of the metabolism of lower chlorinated PCB, such as 4-chlorobiphenyl (PCB3), is challenging because of the complex metabolite mixtures formed in vitro and in vivo. We performed parallel metabolism studies with PCB3 and its hydroxylated metabolites to characterize the metabolism of PCB3 in HepG2 cells using nontarget high-resolution mass spectrometry (Nt-HRMS). Briefly, HepG2 cells were exposed for 24 h to 10 μM PCB3 or its seven hydroxylated metabolites in DMSO or DMSO alone. Six classes of metabolites were identified with Nt-HRMS in the culture medium exposed to PCB3, including monosubstituted metabolites at the 3'-, 4'-, 3-, and 4- (1,2-shift product) positions and disubstituted metabolites at the 3',4'-position. 3',4'-Di-OH-3 (4'-chloro-3,4-dihydroxybiphenyl), which can be oxidized to a reactive and toxic PCB3 quinone, was a central metabolite that was rapidly methylated. The resulting hydroxylated-methoxylated metabolites underwent further sulfation and, to a lesser extent, glucuronidation. Metabolomic analyses revealed an altered tryptophan metabolism in HepG2 cells following PCB3 exposure. Some PCB3 metabolites were associated with alterations of endogenous metabolic pathways, including amino acid metabolism, vitamin A (retinol) metabolism, and bile acid biosynthesis. In-depth studies are needed to investigate the toxicities of PCB3 metabolites, especially the 3',4'-di-OH-3 derivatives identified in this study.

Disposition of phenolic and sulfated metabolites after inhalation exposure to 4-chlorobiphenyl (PCB3) in female rats

PCBs, such as PCB3, are air contaminants in buildings and outdoors. Metabolites of PCB3 are potential endocrine disrupting chemicals and genotoxic agents. We studied the disposition of phenolic and sulfated metabolites after acute nose-only inhalation exposure to airborne PCB3 for 2 h in female rats. Inhalation exposure was carried out in three groups. In the first group, rats exposed to an estimated dose of 26 μg/rat were euthanized at 0, 1, 2, and 4 h after exposure. Highest concentrations of phenols and sulfates were observed at 0 h, and the values were 7 ± 1 and 560 ± 60 ng/mL in serum, 213 ± 120 and 842 ± 80 ng/g in liver, 31 ± 27 and 22 ± 7 ng/g in lung, and 27 ± 6 and 3 ± 0 ng/g in brain, respectively. First-order serum clearance half-lives of 0.5 h for phenols and 1 h for sulfates were estimated. In the second group, rats exposed to an estimated dose of 35 μg/rat were transferred to metabolism cages immediately after exposure for the collection of urine and feces over 24 h. Approximately 45 ± 5% of the dose was recovered from urine and consisted mostly of sulfates; the 18 ± 5% of the dose recovered from feces was exclusively phenols. Unchanged PCB3 was detected in both urine and feces but accounted for only 5 ± 3% of the dose. Peak excretion of metabolites in both urine and feces occurred within 18 h postexposure. In the third group, three bile-cannulated rats exposed to an estimated dose of 277 μg/rat were used for bile collection. Bile was collected for 4 h immediately after 2 h exposure. Biliary metabolites consisted mostly of sulfates, some glucuronides, and lower amounts of the free phenols. Control rats in each group were exposed to clean air. Clinical serum chemistry values, serum T4 level, and urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine were similar in treated and control rats. These data show that PCB3 is rapidly metabolized to phenols and conjugated to sulfates after inhalation and that both of these metabolites are distributed to liver, lungs, and brain. The sulfates elaborated into bile are either reabsorbed or hydrolyzed in the intestine and excreted in the feces as phenols.

Semiquinone radicals from oxygenated polychlorinated biphenyls: electron paramagnetic resonance studies

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) can be oxygenated to form very reactive hydroquinone and quinone products. A guiding hypothesis in the PCB research community is that some of the detrimental health effects of some PCBs are a consequence of these oxygenated forms undergoing one-electron oxidation or reduction, generating semiquinone radicals (SQ^•−). These radicals can enter into a futile redox cycle resulting in the formation of reactive oxygen species, that is, superoxide and hydrogen peroxide. Here, we examine some of the properties and chemistry of these semiquinone free radicals. Using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) to detect SQ^•− formation, we observed that (i) xanthine oxidase can reduce quinone PCBs to the corresponding SQ^•−; (ii) the heme-containing peroxidases (horseradish and lactoperoxidase) can oxidize hydroquinone PCBs to the corresponding SQ^•−; (iii) tyrosinase acting on PCB ortho-hydroquinones leads to the formation of SQ^•−; (iv) mixtures of PCB quinone and hydroquinone form SQ^•− via a comproportionation reaction; (v) SQ^•− are formed when hydroquinone-PCBs undergo autoxidation in high pH buffer (≈>pH 8); and, surprisingly, (vi) quinone-PCBs in high pH buffer can also form SQ^•−; (vii) these observations along with EPR suggest that hydroxide anion can add to the quinone ring; (viii) H₂O₂ in basic solution reacts rapidly with PCB-quinones; and (ix) at near-neutral pH SOD can catalyze the oxidization of PCB-hydroquinone to quinone, yielding H₂O₂. However, using 5,5-dimethylpyrroline-1-oxide (DMPO) as a spin-trapping agent, we did not trap superoxide, indicating that generation of superoxide from SQ^•− is not kinetically favorable. These observations demonstrate multiple routes for the formation of SQ^•− from PCB-quinones and hydroquinones. Our data also point to futile redox cycling as being one mechanism by which oxygenated PCBs can lead to the formation of reactive oxygen species, but this is most efficient in the presence of SOD.

2,2',3,3',6,6'-Hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 136) atropisomers interact enantioselectively with hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 enzymes

2,2',3,3',6,6'-Hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 136) is a chiral and highly neurotoxic PCB congener of environmental relevance. (+)-PCB 136 was previously shown to be enriched in tissues from mice treated with racemic PCB 136. We investigated the spectral interactions of (+)-, (-)-, and (+/-)-PCB 136 with mouse and rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes to test the hypothesis that enantioselective binding to specific P450 enzymes causes the enrichment of (+)-PCB 136 in vivo. Hepatic microsomes prepared from C57BL/6 mice or Long Evans rats treated with beta-naphthoflavone or 3-methylcholanthrene, phenobarbital, and dexamethasone (prototypical inducers of CYP1A, CYP2B, and CYP3A, respectively) were used to determine first, whether the (+)-PCB 136 atropisomer binds to hepatic microsomal P450 enzymes to a greater extent than does the (-)-PCB 136 atropisomer and second, whether P450 enzymes of one subfamily bind the two PCB 136 atropisomers more efficiently than do P450 enzymes of other subfamilies. Increasing concentrations of (+)-, (-)-, or (+/-)-PCB 136 were added to hepatic microsomes, and the difference spectrum and maximal absorbance change, a measure of PCB binding to P450 enzymes, were measured. A significantly larger absorbance change was observed with (+)-PCB 136 than with (-)-PCB 136 with all four hepatic microsomal preparations in mice and rats, indicating that (+)-PCB 136 interacted with microsomal P450 enzymes to a greater degree than did (-)-PCB 136. In addition, binding of the PCB 136 atropisomers was greatest in microsomes from PB-treated mice and rats and was inhibited by CYP2B antibodies, indicating the involvement of CYP2B enzymes. Together, these results suggest preferential binding of (+)-PCB 136 to P450 enzymes (such as CYP2B and CYP3A) in hepatic microsomes, an observation that may explain the enantioselective enrichment of the (+)-PCB 136 atropisomer in tissues of mice.

Redox cycling of 2-(x'-mono, -di, -trichlorophenyl)- 1, 4-benzoquinones, oxidation products of polychlorinated biphenyls

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) preparations are complete liver carcinogens in rodents and efficacious promoters in two-stage hepatocarcinogenesis. Cytochrome P450 isozymes catalyze the oxidation of PCBs to mono- and dihydroxy metabolites. The potential for further enzymatic or nonenzymatic oxidation of ortho- and para-dihydroxy PCB metabolites to (semi)quinones raises the possibility that redox cycling involving reactive oxygen species may be involved in PCB toxicity. Seven synthetic 2-(x'-chlorophenyl)-1, 4-benzoquinones (containing one to three chlorines) were investigated for their participation in oxidation-reduction reactions by following the oxidation of NADPH. These observations were made: (i) NADPH alone directly reduced all quinones but only 2-(2'-chlorophenyl)- and 2-(4'-chlorophenyl)-1,4-benzoquinone supported NADPH consumption beyond that required to quantitatively reduce the quinone. (ii) For all quinones, superoxide dismutase increased NADPH oxidation in excess of the amount of quinone, demonstrating the participation of the superoxide radical. (iii) The presence of microsomal enzymes from rat liver increased the rate of NADPH consumption, but only 2-(2'-chlorophenyl)- and 2-(4'-chlorophenyl)-1,4-benzoquinone autoxidized. (iv) The combination of superoxide dismutase with microsomal enzymes accelerated autoxidation from 1.6- to 6.8-fold higher than that found in the absence of microsomal protein. These data support the concept that in the absence of microsomal protein, there occurs a two-electron reduction of the quinone by NADPH to the corresponding hydroquinone that comproportionates with the large reservoir of quinone to initiate autoxidation. In the presence of microsomes, enzymatic one-electron reduction generates a semiquinone radical whose autoxidation with oxygen propagates the redox cycle. These results show the potential of some 2-(x'-chlorophenyl)-1, 4-benzoquinones to initiate the wasteful loss of NADPH.

Involvement of singlet oxygen in cytochrome P450-dependent substrate oxidations

Cytochrome P450 (P450)-dependent p-hydroxylation of aniline and o-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin were examined in rat liver microsomes in the presence of radical scavengers. The addition of beta-carotene, a quencher of singlet oxygen species ((1)O(2)), suppressed the aniline hydroxylation, while the addition of sodium azide (NaN(3)) ((1)O(2) quencher) enhanced the reaction. No other reactive oxygen scavengers or chelating agents such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, dimethylsulfoxide, or deferoxamine altered the reaction. In contrast, the microsomal o-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin was suppressed by the addition of NaN(3). (1)O(2) was detectable during the reaction of microsomes and NADPH by ESR spin-trapping when 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidone (TMPD) was used as a spin trap, and the (1)O(2) was quenched by the additions of beta-carotene, NaN(3), aniline, and 7-ethoxycoumarin. The enhancement effect of NaN(3) in the hydroxylation of aniline appeared to be due to the conformational change of P450 protein, which in turn enhances the binding of aniline to P450 in terms of the spectral dissociation constant (K(s)). In contrast, (1)O(2) appeared to be active in the o-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin. On the basis of the results, the involvement of (1)O(2) in P450-dependent substrate oxygenations is proposed.

Metabolism of 3,5,3',5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl by rat liver microsomes and purified P4501A1

1. The metabolism of 3,5,3',5'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB) was investigated with liver microsomes and purified P450 from the male Wistar rat. 2. One novel metabolite was produced after incubation with liver microsomes derived from the 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)- and 3,4,5,3',4'-pentachlorobiphenyl-pretreated rat, but not after incubation with those from the untreated or phenobarbital (PB)-pretreated rat. These results suggest that P450 isozyme(s) induced by MC-type inducers is involved in 3,5,3',5'-TCB metabolism. 3. The chemical structure of this metabolite was identified to be 4-hydroxy-3,5,3',5'-TCB by comparison of its retention time in glc and the ms with those of a synthetic sample. 4. Purified rat P4501A1, a major MC-inducible P450 isozyme, catalyzed the 4-hydroxylation of 3,5,3',5'-TCB, but P4502B1, a major PB-inducible isozyme, was inactive. 5. Reduced glutathione completely inhibited the formation of the hydroxylated metabolite, suggesting that 4-hydroxylation of 3,5,3',5'-TCB proceeded via the 3,4-epoxide.

tert-butyl hydroperoxide-dependent microsomal release of iron and lipid peroxidation. I. Evidence for the reductive release of nonheme, nonferritin iron

Rat liver microsomes were found to contain a small pool of nonheme, nonferritin iron. In the presence of ADP, low concentrations of tert-butyl hydroperoxide promoted the reductive release of nonheme, nonferritin iron, as evidenced by mobilization of bathophenanthroline-chelatable Fe2+. Iron release was inhibited by SKF 525-A and metyrapone, which are known to interfere with cytochrome P450-catalyzed reactions. Iron release was also inhibited by high concentrations of t-BOOH, which caused rapid and extensive destruction of cytochrome P450. These observations suggested that iron release was catalyzed by cytochrome P450. Treatment of rats with phenobarbital (PB) caused simultaneous increase of cytochrome P450 and decrease of nonheme, nonferritin iron. The effects of PB were minimized by simultaneous administration of hematin, an inhibitor of heme synthesis, indicating that the nonheme iron was utilized for the synthesis of the heme iron of inducible cytochrome P450 isozymes. Consistently, microsomes from the liver of PB-treated rats were found to release low amounts of Fe2+, unless rats had also been treated with hematin to prevent utilization of nonheme, nonferritin iron for the synthesis of heme iron.

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): mutagenicity and carcinogenicity

The potential mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of commercial PCBs has been investigated in both in vivo and in vitro systems and several conclusions can be drawn from these studies. (1) PCBs can covalently adduct DNA both in vivo and in vitro (using a source of metabolic activation); the more highly chlorinated biphenyls are poorly metabolized and these compounds tend to exhibit very low binding to DNA. Based on the structure-activity relationships for PCBs (Safe, 1984) it is unlikely that the more toxic compounds such as 3,3',4,4',5-penta- and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl, would form covalent adducts with DNA. (2) PCB mixtures and individual compounds exhibit minimal mutagenic activity in most assay systems. (3) The more highly chlorinated PCB mixtures (i.e. greater than 50% Cl by weight) are hepatocarcinogens in rodents whereas data from a limited number of studies suggest that the lower chlorinated mixtures are not carcinogenic. (4) In some model systems, the higher chlorinated PCB mixtures act as promoters of preneoplastic lesions and hepatocellular carcinomas in rodents treated with a variety of initiators. (5) Aroclor 1254 acts as a promoter of skin papilloma formation in HRS/J hairless mice and structure-activity and genetic studies suggest that the Ah receptor is necessary but not sufficient for the activity of halogenated aryl hydrocarbons as promoters in hairless mice. (6) Individual PCB congeners and higher chlorinated commercial mixtures also exhibit anti-carcinogenic activity in the CD-1 mouse skin cancer model. (7) Results from occupational studies suggest that individuals exposed to PCBs may have an excess of cancer at some sites, however, the most comprehensive study (Brown, 1987) suggests that there are no significant increases in the overall cancer rate in workers exposed to PCBs. Follow-up and continuing epidemiological studies on the PCB-exposed workers are required to further clarify the potential carcinogenic effects of PCBs on humans. In several strains of rats and mice, there is a high incidence of hepatic preneoplastic lesions and carcinomas and these lesions can be induced by diverse promoting agents (Schulte-Hermann et al., 1983; Weinstein, 1984). Since PCBs are not mutagenic and do not readily form covalent adducts with cellular DNA, it is likely that the higher chlorinated biphenyls are not genotoxic and act as promoters of carcinogenesis in rodents. A comparable mechanism has been suggested for 2,3,7,8-TCDD (Shu et al., 1987; Weinstein, 1984). For PCBs, the role of the Ah receptor in mediating their activity as promoters has not been delineated.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Metabolism-related spectral characterization and subcellular distribution of polychlorinated biphenyl congeners in isolated rat hepatocytes

The disposition and biotransformation of 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl (4-DCB), 2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl (236-HCB), and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (245-HCB) were studied in isolated rat hepatocyte suspensions. The polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were taken up rapidly by the cells but incompletely metabolized. Metabolism followed first-order Michaelis-Menten kinetics for 20 min and plateaued by 60 min, at which point only 32% of 4-DCB (0.005 to 100 microM) and 60% of 236-HCB (0.001 to 100 microM) were metabolized, while metabolism of 245-HCB was not detected (0.1 to 200 microM). Kinetic studies revealed that both 4-DCB and 236-HCB were metabolized by two Michaelis-Menten processes, displaying high- and low-affinity binding. Readdition of congener once metabolism plateaued resulted in a reinitiation of metabolism with the same proportion of metabolites produced. The termination of metabolism was not due to destruction of the mixed-function oxidases or to depletion of cofactors. The metabolism of PCB congeners is influenced by the affinity of the congener for cytochrome P-450 and partitioning of the congener within the hepatocyte. Analysis of absorbance differences (delta absorbance 390-240 nm) of equimolar concentrations of congener (100 microM) revealed that 236-HCB displayed the greatest affinity of binding to cytochrome P-450 followed by 4-DCB, while 245-HCB showed virtually no binding. Microsomal preparations demonstrated equivalent but greater absorbance values. Subcellular distribution of 14C-labeled congener and its metabolites showed that the majority of radioactivity appeared in the cytosolic fraction, representing 70% of the dose added for each congener. Cytosolic binding of congener and metabolites may influence both the availability of congener to cytochrome P-450 and the excretion rate of metabolites from the cell.

Studies on the structure-activity relationships for the metabolism of polybrominated biphenyls by rat liver microsomes

The in vitro metabolism of polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) congeners by cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases was investigated using hepatic microsomes isolated from immature male rats pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) or phenobarbital (PB). MC pretreatment increased the NADPH-dependent microsomal metabolism of pure PBB congeners which possessed adjacent nonhalogenated ortho and meta carbons on at least one ring. 4,4'-Dibromobiphenyl (-DBB) was metabolized at the fastest rate, followed by 3,4,4'-tribromobiphenyl, 3,4,3',4'-tetrabromobiphenyl (-TBB), 2,3,3',4'-TBB, 2,5,3',4'-TBB, and 2,4,2',5'-TBB in decreasing order. It appeared that further bromination prevented metabolism since 2,4,5,3',4'-pentabromobiphenyl (-PBB), 2,3,4,2',4',5'-hexabromobiphenyl (-HBB), and 2,3,4,5,3'.4'-HBB were not metabolized although they possess adjacent nonhalogenated ortho and meta carbons. PB pretreatment increased in vitro rat hepatic microsomal metabolism of PBB congeners which possessed adjacent nonhalogenated meta and para carbons on at least one ring. 2,2'-DBB was metabolized at the fastest rate, followed by 2,4,2',5'-TBB, 2,5,2',5'-TBB, 2,3,3',4'-TBB, 2,5,3',4'-TBB, and 2,4,5,2',5'-PBB in decreasing order. The results suggest that the rates of metabolism of PBB congeners are dependent upon the positions of bromine and the form of cytochrome P-450 induced. In vitro rates of metabolism of 3,4,3',4'-TBB using hepatic microsomes isolated from rats pretreated with either 3,4,5,3',4',5'-HBB or 3,4,3',4'-TBB were also investigated. There was good correlation between the rates of 3,4,3',4'-TBB metabolism, induction of microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity, and specific content of MC-inducible cytochrome P-450 (P-450 beta NF-B). The results suggest that the isozyme P-450 beta NF-B is responsible for the metabolism of 3,4,3',4'-TBB.

Rat liver microsomal NADPH-dependent release of iron from ferritin and lipid peroxidation

Microsomes prepared by the usual method of differential centrifugation were found to contain ferritin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase which could be removed by chromatography on Sepharose CL-2B. Addition of purified rat liver ferritin to chromatographed microsomes resulted in a significant stimulation of NADPH-dependent lipid peroxidation which was inhibited by exogenously added SOD. Iron release from ferritin by these microsomes was also inhibited by SOD. Ferritin did not promote NADPH-dependent microsomal lipid peroxidation when added to microsomes isolated in the usual manner, presumably due to the endogenous SOD present in the microsomes. Accordingly, only very low rates of iron release from ferritin were observed with these microsomes. Paraquat (PQ), which generates superoxide O2-. via redox cycling, greatly stimulated iron release from ferritin and lipid peroxidation in chromatographed microsomes. Paraquat had no effect on iron release from ferritin or lipid peroxidation in microsomes. which were not chromatographed unless they were first treated with CN- to inhibit endogenous SOD. These studies indicate that the majority of microsomal iron is contained within ferritin and that following release by O2-. this iron serves to promote the peroxidation of microsomal lipids.

Metabolism of 4-chlorobiphenyl by guinea pig adrenocortical and hepatic microsomes

Studies were carried out to determine if 4-chlorobiphenyl (4-CB) was a substrate for adrenal monooxygenases and to compare its interactions with adrenal and hepatic microsomal enzymes. Addition of 4-CB to guinea pig adrenal microsomes produced a typical type I spectral change, indicative of binding to cytochrome(s) P-450 and similar to that seen in hepatic microsomal preparations. The activities of several adrenal and hepatic microsomal monooxygenases were decreased by 4-CB in vitro. High pressure liquid chromatographic analyses revealed that both adrenal and hepatic microsomes, in the presence of NADPH, converted 4-CB to a major metabolite which eluted with a retention time identical to that of 4-chloro-4'-biphenylol (4'-OH-4-CB). The identity of 4'-OH-4-CB was confirmed by mass spectrometry. The maximal rate of 4-CB metabolism was greater in adrenal, compared with liver microsomes, but 4-CB had a higher affinity for hepatic than for adrenal enzymes. The rate of adrenal 4-CB metabolism was four to five times greater in microsomes derived from the inner cortical zone (zona reticularis) than those from the outer zones (zona fasciculata and zona glomerulosa). Hepatic microsomes also converted 4-CB to a minor metabolite whose production was blocked by epoxide hydrolase inhibitors, suggesting it might be a diol. 4-CB metabolism was not demonstrable in adrenal mitochondrial preparations. The results indicate that chlorinated biphenyls can serve as substrates for adrenal microsomal monooxygenases, suggesting that local activation may contribute to their adrenocortical toxicity.

Metabolism of 2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl and 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl by human hepatic microsomes

Since the metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) is the critical factor that determines whether or not they accumulate in adipose tissue, we have studied the metabolism of two hexachlorobiphenyls (HCBs), 2,2'3,3',6,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl (236-HCB) and 2,2'4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (245-HCB), by human hepatic microsomes. Human microsomes were isolated from patients undergoing liver resection and were found to have cytochrome P-450 levels (0.28 nmoles/mg microsomal protein) and cytochrome P-450-dependent enzymatic activities similar to those reported by other workers. 245-HCB was not metabolized by human microsomes under various conditions, while 236-HCB was metabolized with an apparent Km of 8.8 microM and a Vmax of 5.1 pmoles/mg microsomal protein/min. Two major metabolites were formed and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry as 2,2',3,3',6,6'-hexachloro-4-biphenylol and 2,2',3,3'6,6'-hexachloro-5-biphenylol. [14C]236-HCB equivalents were found to covalently bind to microsomal protein. Addition of 1 or 5 mM reduced glutathione decreased the degree of covalent binding. These data suggest that HCBs are metabolized through an arene oxide. The fact that 245-HCB was not metabolized explains why it is the predominant PCB found in human adipose tissue.

Cytochrome P-450-mediated metabolism of biphenyl and the 4-halobiphenyls

The in vitro metabolism of biphenyl, 4-fluoro-, 4-chloro-, 4-bromo- and 4-iodobiphenyl by cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenases was investigated using hepatic microsomes from immature male rats pretreated with phenobarbitone or 3-methylcholanthrene. The major route of metabolism of biphenyl and the 4-halobiphenyls was 4'-hydroxylation, i.e. para to the phenyl-phenyl bridge. The minor route of metabolism apparently changed from 2-hydroxylation for biphenyl (i.e. ortho to the phenyl-phenyl bridge) to 3-hydroxylation for all 4-halobiphenyls (i.e. ortho to the halogen). In marked contrast to biphenyl, the regioselectivity of 4-halobiphenyl metabolism was not altered by pretreatment of rats with either phenobarbitone or 3-methylcholanthrene. The overall rate of metabolism of 4-fluoro- and 4-bromobiphenyl to water-soluble metabolites increased 2-fold and 5- to 6-fold using microsomes from rats pretreated with phenobarbitone and 3-methylcholanthrene respectively. In contrast, the overall rates of metabolism of 4-chloro- and 4-iodobiphenyl were refractory to the inductive effects of phenobarbitone but were increased more than 10-fold following pretreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene. There was a correlation between the apparent binding affinities of microsomes from phenobarbitone-treated rats for biphenyl and the 4-halobiphenyls and their calculated log octanol/water partition coefficients (lipophilicity). However, the effects of the halogen substituents on the rates of metabolism of the 4-halobiphenyls by microsomes from control and induced rats did not correlate with their binding affinities or with any physiochemical differences between the fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo substituents.