Substituted polychlorinated dibenzofuran receptor binding affinities and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase induction potencies--a QSAR analysis

Biological and tumor-promoting effects of dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls in mouse liver after single or combined treatment

To assess the impact of a mixture containing dioxin-like and non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), male mice were initiated with N-nitroso-diethylamine and subsequently treated with PCB126, an Ah-Receptor agonist, and PCB153, acting via activation of the constitutive androstane receptor. The two congeners were given at two dose levels: the low dose was adjusted to induce ~150-fold increases in cytochrome P450 (Cyp)1a1 (PCB126) and Cyp2b10 mRNAs (PCB153), and the high dose was chosen as twice the low dose. To keep the liver PCB levels constant, mice were given initial loading doses followed by weekly maintenance doses calculated on the basis of the PCBs' half-lives. Mice were treated with the individual congeners (low and high dose) or with a mixture consisting of the low doses of the 2 PCBs. The following results were obtained: (1) the 2 PCBs produced dose-dependent increases in Cyp1a1 and Cyp2b10 mRNA, protein, and activity when given individually; (2) combined treatment caused more than additive effects on Cyp1a1 mRNA expression, protein level, and ethoxyresurofin activity; (3) changes in the levels of several proteins were detected by proteome analysis in livers of PCB-treated mice; (4) besides these biological responses, the individual PCBs caused no significant increase in the number of glucose-6-phospatase (G6Pase)-deficient neoplastic lesions in liver, whereas a moderate significant effect occurred in the combination group. These results suggest weak but significant response-additive effects of the 2 PCBs when given in combination. They also suggest that the Cyp biomarkers tend to overestimate the carcinogenic response produced by the PCBs in mouse liver.

The H4IIE Cell Bioassay as an Indicator of Dioxin-like Chemicals in Wildlife and the Environment

The H4IIE cell bioassay has proven utility as a screening tool for planar halogenated hydrocarbons (PHHs) and structurally similar chemicals accumulated in organisms from the wild. This bioassay has additional applications in hazard assessment of PHH exposed populations. In this review, the toxicological principles, current protocols, performance criteria, and field applications for the assay are described. The H4IIE cell bioassay has several advantages over the analytical measurement of PHHs in environmental samples, but conclusions from studies can be strengthened when both bioassay and analytical chemistry data are presented together. Often, the bioassay results concur with biological effects in organisms and support direct measures of PHHs. For biomonitoring purposes and prioritization of PHH-contaminated environments, the H4IIE bioassay may be faster and less expensive than analytical measurements. The H4IIE cell bioassay can be used in combination with other biomarkers such as in vivo measurements of CYP1A1 induction to help pinpoint the sources and identities of dioxin-like chemicals. The number of studies that measure H4IIE-derived TCDD-EQs continues to increase, resulting in subtle improvements over time. Further experiments are required to determine if TCDD-EQs derived from mammalian cells are adequate predictors of toxicity to non-mammalian species. The H4IIE cell bioassay has been used in over 300 published studies, and its combination of speed, simplicity, and ability to integrate the effects of complex contaminant mixtures makes it a valuable addition to hazard assessment and biomonitoring studies.

QSARs for congener-specific toxicity of polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins with DFT and WHIM theory

Polyhalogenated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PHDDs) have become the most notorious pollutants in the environment. However, the origin of their congener-specific toxicity is not well understood. For explaining the difference in toxicity between PHDDs as well as their potencies of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) induction, quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) were constructed through the combined application of DFT (density functional theory) and WHIM (weighted holistic invariant molecular) theory. Results from the QSAR analyses suggest that dispersion interaction along the lateral sites of PHDDs should interpret the vast majority of variance of binding affinities as well as the consequent toxicity. Although electrostatic interaction is comparatively less influential, it should not be negligible. Long-range dispersion interaction is also described in QSARs with minute influence. Quadrupole moment tensor perpendicular to the ring plane, i.e., Q(zz) and its implicated electrostatic interaction plays an important role in the contribution to induction potencies.

DFT study on the structure-toxicity relationship of dioxin compounds using PLS analysis

Density functional theory (DFT) at B3LYP/6-311G** level was employed to optimise the dioxin compounds, i.e., 25 polychlorinated or brominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs or PBDDs) and 34 polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) involved in this investigation. Three groups of descriptors mainly related to chemical reactivity, molecular overall charge distribution and thermochemical property were calculated. With partial least squares (PLS) analysis and variable importance in the projection (VIP), the least significant descriptors were removed from the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR), which was focused on exploring the influential factors responsible for the variance of binding affinities of dioxins to aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). With better-improved and predictive QSAR (Q(2)(cum) = 0.827), further understanding of the nature of toxicity was available. Both dispersion interaction and electrostatic interaction were considered to be important and together capable of accounting for the most part of the total binding affinities, though the former could make more contribution than the latter. Comparatively, the long-range dispersion interaction should be very small.

QSARs for the toxicity of polychlorinated dibenzofurans through DFT-calculated descriptors of polarizabilities, hyperpolarizabilities and hyper-order electric moments

DFT-B3LYP method with 6-31G(**) basis set was employed to fully optimize the electronic structures of 135 polychlorinated dibenzofurans and parent compound, namely dibenzofuran. It was demonstrated that polarizability anisotropy and mean polarizability could change sensitively and systematically with chlorine number and substitution pattern. And new quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) focused on the binding affinities of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) induction potencies of PCDFs were developed. It was concluded that polarizability anisotropy in conjunction with hyperpolarizabilties and hyper-order electric moments, e.g. octupole moments could well interpret the variation of toxicity of different congeners and dispersion interaction should be the leading form among various interactions. Although the terms of hyperpolarizabilities and hyper-order electric moments were not the same significant ones as polarizability anisotropy, the long-range interactions characterized by them should not be ignored in explaining the toxicity.

The Challenge of Predicting Drug Toxicity in silico

Poor pharmacokinetics, side effects and compound toxicity are frequent causes of late-stage failures in drug development. A safe in silico identification of adverse effects triggered by drugs and chemicals would be highly desirable as it not only bears economical potential but also spawns a variety of ecological benefits: sustainable resource management, reduction of animal models and possibly less risky clinical trials. In computer-aided drug discovery, both existing and hypothetical compounds may be studied; the methods are fast, reproducible, and typically based on human bioregulators, making the question of transferability obsolete. In the recent past, our laboratory contributed towards the development of in silico concepts (--> multi-dimensional QSAR) and validated a series of "virtual test kits" based on the oestrogen, androgen, thyroid, and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (endocrine disruption, receptor-mediated toxicity) as well as on the enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 (metabolic transformations, drug-drug interactions). The test kits are based on the three-dimensional structure of their target protein (i.e. ER(alphabeta), AR, TR(alphabeta), CYP450) or a surrogate thereof (AhR) and were trained using a representative selection of 362 substances. Subsequent evaluation of 107 compounds different therefrom showed that binding affinities are predicted close to experimental uncertainty. These results suggest that our approach is suited for the in silico identification of adverse effects triggered by drugs and chemicals and encouraged us to compile an Internet Database for the virtual screening of drugs and chemicals for toxic effects.

Modulation of endocrine pathways by 4,4'-DDE in the deer mouse Peromyscus maniculatus

4,4'-DDT and 4,4'-DDE are widespread environmental contaminants that cause eggshell thinning in birds, altered sex ratios in the American alligator, and changes in the anal-genital distance in rodents. These contaminants are known to cause some of their toxicity by altering steroid receptor-mediated mechanisms. However, chemical-specific alterations in the expression of hormone-metabolizing enzymes may also be a mechanism for endocrine disruption, by altering the half-life of hormones in critical tissues. Previously, we showed that 4,4'-DDE causes a dose-dependent increase in ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, but not pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (PROD) activity, in the deer mouse. In this study, we demonstrated that 4,4'-DDE elicited a corresponding increase in CYP1A protein expression but not CYP2B using Western blotting and immunoprecipitation. 4,4'-DDE-mediated changes in phase II conjugating enzymes; UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and phenolsulfotransferase (ST), were also investigated for the first time. Prepubescent female deer mice were dosed with 4,4'-DDE by gavage on days 1 and 2, then euthanized on day 4. As anticipated, dose-dependent increases in hepatic EROD and MROD activities, but not PROD or BROD, were observed. UGT activity was monitored by incubating liver microsomes and 14C-UDP-GA with potential substrates and measuring incorporation of radioactivity into TLC-resolved glucuronides. Dose-dependent increases in conjugation were observed with p-nitrophenol (a general UGT substrate) but not testosterone. Interestingly, a biphasic dose-response curve was observed for ST activity, with a peak at the 3 mg/kg dose. Dose-dependent increases in CYP1A1 and UGT-specific immunoreactive proteins were observed, suggesting de novo synthesis as a consequence of 4,4'-DDE exposure. We also measured Phase I and II enzymes in deer mouse platelets. Preliminary results indicate that the 4,4'-DDE-induced changes in liver Phase I and II enzyme activity were similar, but not identical, to those found in platelets. These results indicate that environmentally-relevant levels of 4,4'-DDE modulate the activity and expression of CYP1A1 and phase II enzymes in the deer mouse and that certain changes may be measured non-lethally.

Induction of CYP1A in primary cultures of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) liver cells: concentration-response relationships of four model substances

The study aims to evaluate short-term teleost hepatocyte cultures to establish dose-response curves for CYP1A induction and to rank the relative potencies of xenobiotics. Hepatocytes isolated from rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were incubated in vitro in coculture with RTG-2 cells in serum-free, chemically defined medium. Concentration-dependent induction of cytochrome P4501A was observed after treatment of the hepatocytes for 48 h with one of the four polyaromatic hydrocarbons: 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo[a]pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, and beta-naphthoflavone. The induction response was assessed by measuring 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase (ECOD). From the data, EC50 and maximal induction response values were calculated. The rank order of EC50 values differed among the four model compounds, depending on the endpoint parameter. EC50 values for EROD and ECOD also differed in comparison to published affinity data for mammalian arylhydrocarbon receptor. The results of this study indicate the potential of primary teleostean hepatocyte cultures for studies on induction potency and regulation of piscine cytochrome P4501A. A drawback, however, appears to be the pronounced interindividual variation of the quantitative response of the cells.

Relevance of different biological assays in assessing initiating and promoting properties of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with respect to carcinogenic potency

The results from assays that describe biological effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were explored using multivariate methods. Based on the availability of data, 29 PAH were included in the study. Five variables described the carcinogenic potency in rodents of the PAH. Biological effects were assayed using 14 variables. These included bacterial mutagenicity, enhancement and inhibition of bacterial mutagenicity, Ah receptor (AhR) affinity, and induction of enzymes that bioactivate many PAH to proximal bacterial mutagens. A principal components analysis (PCA) showed that the highest correlations with the cancer data were observed for variables describing AhR affinity, whereas bacterial mutagenicity data were poorly correlated with cancer data. When a partial least squares (PLS) regression analysis was applied, only one bacterial mutagenicity variable, but all AhR affinity variables were statistically relevant to describe carcinogenic potency. The latter variables were also correlated with the inhibition of bacterial mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene. It was concluded that structural requirements for AhR affinity are the same as those required for metabolism by enzymes that bioactivate benzo(a)pyrene. Negative correlations between mutagenicity and induction of enzymes were observed. The roles of cancer initiation and cancer promotion are discussed regarding the biological properties studied. It is proposed that bacterial mutagenicity reflects the cancer initiation potency, whereas the AhR affinity reflects the promotive effect of some PAH at the high doses applied in rodent carcinogenicity tests. It is thus indicated that initiation and promotion are provoked by different chemical species: reactive metabolites and the parent hydrocarbons, respectively. At doses reflecting a normal human exposure situation the effects of initiation may be more important in the course of chemical carcinogenesis. The mechanisms of cancer initiation and cancer promotion should therefore be studied in more detail for reliable quantitative risk assessments.

Substituted flavones as aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonists and antagonists

The structure-dependent aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor agonist and antagonist activities of the following substituted flavones were investigated: flavone, 4'-methoxy-, 4'-amino-, 4'-chloro-, 4'-bromo-, 4'-nitro-, 4'-chloro-3'-nitro-, 3'-amino-4'-hydroxy-, 3',4'-dichloro-, and 4'-iodoflavone. The halogenated flavones exhibited competitive Ah receptor binding affinities (IC50 = 0.79 to 2.28 nM) that were comparable to that observed for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) (1.78 nM). The compounds also induced transformation of the rat cytosolic Ah receptor and induced CYP1A1 gene expression in MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. However, despite the high Ah receptor binding affinities for these responses, the halogenated flavones were > 1000 times less active than TCDD for the other responses. Moreover, for other substituted flavones, there was no correlation between Ah receptor binding affinities and their activities as Ah receptor agonists. For example, 4'-aminoflavone induced CYP1A1 mRNA levels in MCF-7 cells but exhibited relatively low Ah receptor binding affinity (IC50 = 362 nM) and did not induce transformation of the rat cytosolic Ah receptor. All of the substituted flavones inhibited TCDD-induced transformation of the Ah receptor, and 4'-iodoflavone, an Ah receptor agonist at high concentrations (1-50 microM), inhibited the transformation at concentrations as low as 0.05 and 0.5 microM. Subsequent interaction studies with TCDD and 4'-iodoflavone confirmed that the latter compound inhibits induction of CYP1A1 gene expression by TCDD in MCF-7 cells. The results obtained for the substituted flavones suggest that within this structural class of compounds, various substituent groups can affect markedly the activity of each individual congener as an Ah receptor agonist or antagonist. These substituent-dependent differences in activity may be related to ligand-induced conformational changes in the Ah receptor complex and/or support the proposed existence of more than one form of the Ah receptor.

Different competition of thyroxine binding to transthyretin and thyroxine-binding globulin by hydroxy-PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs

In an earlier study several hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) competitively displaced [125I]thyroxine (T4) from transthyretin with different potencies. Transthyretin is the major T4 transport protein in plasma of rodents. In man, however, thyroxine-binding globulin transports most of the T4 in blood. In this study, hydroxylated PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs were tested in an in vitro competitive binding assay, using purified human thyroxine-binding globulin and [125I]T4 as the displaceable radioligand. None of the tested hydroxylated PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs inhibited [125I]T4 binding to thyroxine-binding globulin. In addition, some T4 derived compounds, e.g., tyrosine, mono-iodotyrosine, di-iodotyrosine and tri-iodophenol were tested on both transthyretin and thyroxine-binding globulin to investigate possible differences in structural characteristics determining T4 binding to thyroxine-binding globulin and transthyretin. The T4 derived compounds also did not inhibit [125I]T4 binding to thyroxine-binding globulin as tested in the in vitro assay. However, tri-iodophenol and to a lesser extent di-iodotyrosine inhibited [125I]T4-transthyretin binding. These results indicate a marked difference in T4 binding to thyroxine-binding globulin or transthyretin. The hydroxylated PCBs, PCDDs and PCDFs can inhibit T4 binding to transthyretin, but not to thyroxine-binding globulin, and thus may cause different effects in rodents and man.

The toxicokinetics and metabolism of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and their relevance for toxicity

This article reviews the present state of the art regarding the toxicokinetics and metabolism of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). The absorption, body distribution, and metabolism can vary greatly between species and also may depend on the congener and dose. In biota, the 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDDs and PCDFs are almost exclusively retained in all tissue types, preferably liver and fat. This selective tissue retention and bioaccumulation are caused by a reduced rate of biotransformation and subsequent elimination of congeners with chlorine substitution at the 2,3,7, and 8 positions. 2,3,7,8-Substituted PCDDs and PCDFs also have the greatest toxic and biological activity and affinity for the cytosolic arylhydrocarbon (Ah)-receptor protein. The parent compound is the causal agent for Ah-receptor-mediated toxic and biological effects, with metabolism and subsequent elimination of 2,3,7,8- substituted congeners representing a detoxification process. Congener-specific affinity of PCDDs and PCDFs for the Ah-receptor, the genetic events following receptor binding, and toxicokinetics are factors that contribute to the relative in vivo potency of an individual PCDD or PCDF in a given species. Limited human data indicate that marked species differences exist in the toxicokinetics of these compounds. Thus, human risk assessment for PCDDs and PCDFs needs to consider species-, congener-, and dose-specific toxicokinetic data. In addition, exposure to complex mixtures, including PCBs, has the potential to alter the toxicokinetics of individual compounds. These alterations in toxicokinetics may be involved in some of the nonadditive toxic or biological effects that are observed after exposure to mixtures of PCDDs or PCDFs with PCBs.

Structure-dependent, competitive interaction of hydroxy-polychlorobiphenyls, -dibenzo-p-dioxins and -dibenzofurans with human transthyretin

Previous results from our laboratory indicated specific and competitive interactions of hydroxylated metabolites of 3,3', 4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl with the plasma thyroid hormone transport protein, transthyretin (TTR), in rats in vivo and with human TTR in vitro. In the present study the structural requirements for competition with thyroxine (T4) for TTR-binding were investigated in more detail. Several hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were tested in an in vitro competitive binding assay, using purified human TTR and [125I]T4 as a displaceable radioligand. All hydroxylated PCBs, but not the single PCB tested, competitively displaced [125I]T4 from TTR with differential potency. The highest competitive binding potency was observed for hydroxylated PCB congeners with the hydroxygroup substituted on meta or para positions and one or more chlorine atoms substituted adjacent to the hydroxy group on either or both aromatic rings (IC50 range 6.5-25 nM; Ka range: 0.78-3.95 x 10(8) M-1). The relative potency of all meta or para hydroxylated PCBs was higher than that of the physiological ligand, T4 (relative potency range: 3.5-13.6 compared to T4). There were no marked distinctions in TTR-T4 competitive binding potencies between the ortho- and non-ortho-chlorine substituted hydroxy-PCB congeners tested. Marked differences in TTR-T4 binding competition potency were observed between the limited number of hydroxylated PCDDs and PCDFs tested. The hydroxy-PCDD/Fs, with chlorine substitution adjacent to the hydroxy-group, i.e. 7-OH-2,3,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2-OH-1,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and 3-OH-2,6,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, all showed a similar or higher relative binding potency, i.e. 1, 4.4 and 4.5 times higher, respectively, than T4. No detectable [125I]T4 displacement was observed with 2-OH-7,8-dichlorodibenzofuran, 8-OH-2,3,4-trichlorodibenzofuran and 8-OH-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, which did not contain chlorine substitution adjacent to the OH-group. These results indicate a profound similarity in structural requirements for TTR binding between hydroxy-PCB, -PCDD and -PCDF metabolites and the physiological ligand, T4, e.g. halogen substitution adjacent to the para hydroxy group, while planarity does not seem to influence the ligand-binding potency.

The presence of genotoxic and bioactive components in indigo dyed fabrics--a possible health risk?

Extracts of pure cotton and jeans fabrics were tested for mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100. The vat dye indigo, technical grade as well as 98% and greater than 99.5% pure, was also tested for mutagenicity. Synthetic indigo, indirubin and isatin were tested for TCDD receptor affinity in competition experiments in vitro. The mutagenicity of the extracts was associated with the cotton denim and nondyed cotton gave only marginal effects. The mutagenicity of the indigo dyed fabrics was dependent on type and treatment of the fabrics. Extracts of both bleached and nonbleached jeans gave mutagenic effects on TA98 +/- S9 and TA100 +/- S9. The greatest effects were seen in the presence of S9. Bleaching gave an additional increase in the mutagenicity in the absence of S9. Normal washing of the fabrics after bleaching reduced the mutagenicity. Synthetic indigo of technical grade or 98% pure showed mutagenic effects, especially on TA98 + S9. Further purification to 99.5% reduced the mutagenicity to 24 revertants/mg (6.2 rev/mu mole). Considering the amount of indigo in the extracts and its low mutagenicity, the genotoxicity of jeans extracts must be caused by other unknown components. However, indigo showed a high (Kd = 1.9 nM) affinity for the Ah or TCDD receptor. Indigo can therefore still be a potential health risk either by eliciting toxic effects of other compounds or by being a nongenotoxic carcinogen. The worldwide use of jeans with a possible exposure of a large population to genotoxic and biologically active components emphasizes the need for a more thorough characterization of these effects.

Competitive binding of 7-substituted-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins with human placental ah receptor--a QSAR analysis

The competitive binding affinities of thirteen 7-substituted-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins to the human placental cytosolic aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor were determined using [3H]2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin as the radioligand. Multiple parameter linear regression analysis of the competitive binding C50 values for these compounds gave the following equation: pEC50 (M) = 6.246 + 1.632 pi - 1.764 sigma 0m + 1.282 HB where pi, sigma m and HB are the physiochemical parameters for substituent lipophilicity, meta-directing electronegativity, and hydrogen bonding capacity respectively. The 7-t-butyl- and 7-phenyl-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins were treated as outliers for the derivation of this equation, and these results suggest that only substituents with van der Waals' volumes less than 40 cm3/mol were accommodated in the receptor binding site. The equations previously derived from the binding of the 7-substituted-2,3-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxins to the rat, mouse, guinea pig, and hamster hepatic cytosolic receptor were different than the correlation obtained using human placental receptor and provide further evidence for the interspecies differences in the molecular and binding properties of the Ah receptor protein.

Chemically induced hepatic cytosol from the Sprague-Dawley rat: evidence for specific binding of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin to components kinetically distinct from the Ah receptor

A series of exogenous chemicals was used as potential inducers for the hepatic Ah receptor in the Sprague-Dawley rat. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl and phenobarbital all induced an elevated level of 3H-2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin specific binding, while 3,3',4,4'-tetrachloroazobenzene and trans-3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorostilbene caused a depression. Mixtures of these chemicals caused additive effects. Elevated levels of specific binding appeared to be heterologous, comprising a binding species having the normal high stability of the Ah receptor in its liganded form, and another less stable substance having a half-life of approximately 2 h at 37 degrees C.

6-substituted-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofurans as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin antagonists in the rat: structure activity relationships

The activities of several 6-substituted-1,3,8-trichlorodibenzofurans (CDFs) as partial antagonists of the induction of hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activities in the rat by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) were structure-dependent. Treatment of the rats with TCDD (16 nmol/kg), the 6-substituted-1,3,8-triCDFs (50 mumol/kg) and TCDD plus the 6-substituted-1,3,8-triCDFs showed that most of the substituted congeners were either inactive (6-methyl, ethyl, propyl, i-propyl, t-butyl) or weak (6-cyclohexyl, nitro) inducers of AHH and EROD activities, whereas TCDD caused an 8.1- and 58-fold induction of these enzyme activities respectively. In the co-administration studies, the 6-methyl, propyl, ethyl, isopropyl and t-butyl analogs partially antagonized the induction of the monooxygenase enzyme activities by TCDD, whereas, the 6-cyclohexyl and 6-nitro-1,3,8-triCDFs exhibited minimal activity as TCDD antagonists. The Ah receptor binding affinities of the 6-substituted compounds were determined in a series of in vitro competitive binding studies using [3H]TCDD as the radioligand. Analysis of the data by Scatchard and Dixon plots showed that the avidities for the Ah receptor by the 6-substituted-1,3,8-triCDFs followed the order 6-methyl greater than 6-t-butyl greater than 6-i-propyl greater than 6-propyl approximately 6-ethyl greater than 6-cyclohexyl greater than 6-nitro-1,3,8-triCDF. In addition there was a good correlation between the in vitro binding avidities and Ki values for these compounds and their in vivo activity as partial antagonists of the induction of AHH and EROD activities by TCDD. The results suggested that the 6-substituted-1,3,8-triCDFs competitively displayed TCDD from the Ah receptor and this interaction may play a role in the mechanism of action of this class of TCDD antagonists.

Polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins and related compounds: quantitative in vivo and in vitro structure-activity relationships

The effects of structure on the in vitro receptor binding affinities, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) induction potencies in rat hepatoma cells were determined for the following compounds: 2-bromo-, 2,7/2,8-dibromo-, 2,3,7-tribromo-, 2,4,6,8/1,3,7,9-tetrabromo-, 2,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,2,3,7,8-pentabromo-, 1,2,4,7,8-pentabromo-, 2,3-dibromo-7,8-dichloro-, 2,8-dibromo-3,7-dichloro- and 2-bromo-3,7,8-trichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. The structure-activity relationships (SARs) for the polybrominated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PBDDs) were comparable for both in vitro responses: the most active compounds were substituted only in the lateral 2,3,7 and 8 position and the addition of non-lateral or removal of lateral halogen substituents reduced the activity of the resultant compound. The biologic and toxic effects of 2,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,3,7,8-tetrabromo-, 1,2,4,7,8-pentabromo-1,2,3,7,8-pentabromo-, 2-bromo-3,7,8-trichloro- and 2,3-dibromo-7,8-dichlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on several receptor-mediated responses (thymic atrophy, body weight loss, hepatic microsomal AHH and EROD induction) were determined in a dose-response fashion in immature male Wistar rats. A comparison of the ED50 values for the in vivo responses demonstrated that the SARs for the PBDDs and brominated polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins were comparable to those observed for in vitro receptor binding and AHH induction. Moreover, there was an excellent linear correlation between the -log EC50 (in vitro AHH induction) vs. the in vivo -log ED50 (thymic atrophy) and -log ED50 (body wt loss) correlation coefficient, r = 0.97 for all 2 correlations).

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins: quantitative in vitro and in vivo structure-activity relationships

There were marked effects of structure on the activities of 14 polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) as competitive ligands for the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) receptor and as inducers of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) in rat hepatoma H-4-II E cells in culture. 2,3,7,8-TCDD was the most active compound in both assays and several PCDD congeners which were fully substituted in the lateral 2, 3, 7 and 8 positions but also contained additional chlorosubstituents in non-lateral 1, 4, 6 and 9 positions were less active. It was also evident that there was a decrease in in vitro binding and induction activities with decreasing lateral chlorine substitution. Although comparable structure-activity relationships (SARs) for the PCDDs were observed for the induction and receptor binding assays, there was not a linear or rank order correlation between the 2 sets of data. Several in vivo biologic and toxic activities of 2,3,7-trichloro-, 2,3,7,8- and 1,3,7,8-tetrachloro-, 1,2,4,7,8- and 1,2,3,7,8-pentachloro- and 1,2,3,4,7,8-hexachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin were determined in a dose-response fashion in immature male Wistar rats. The ED50 values for hepatic microsomal AHH and EROD induction, body weight loss and thymic atrophy were obtained. There was an excellent linear correlation between the -log EC50 values for AHH or EROD induction in cell culture and the -log ED50 values for enzyme induction, body weight loss and thymic atrophy in the rat. The in vitro enzyme induction data could be used to quantitatively estimate the toxicity of the PCDD congeners in the rat: this latter correlation has previously been observed for a series of polychlorinated dibenzofurans.