An investigation of activities and paraoxon sensitivities of hepatic aliesterases in beta-naphthoflavone-treated rats

Cholin- and carboxylesterase activities in developing zebrafish embryos (Danio rerio) and their potential use for insecticide hazard assessment

Insecticides are a potential hazard for non-target organisms like fish particularly at run off events. The study of effects to embryos of the zebra fish Danio rerio is already an accepted tool in waste water monitoring, but effects of various groups of substances (like most pesticides) to the zebrafish embryo remain to be studied. Enzymes are often taken as biomarkers of exposure and effect. Therefore cholinesterase isozymes and carboxylesterase were examined for their suitability as biomarkers of insecticide exposure. The activities of cholinesterase and of carboxylesterase were monitored in the first 48 h post-fertilization (hpf) of zebrafish development. Significant specific activities in the range of 0.5-25 U could be measured from the sixth somite stage (12 h) up to the Long Pec stage (48 h) for different cholinesterases using acetyl-, acetyl-beta-methyl-, butyryl- and propionylthiocholin as substrates. The specific activity of carboxylesterase ranged from 4 to 16 Umg(-1) protein in the respective developmental stages. Substrate specificity was analysed using specific inhibitors (eserine sulphate, DPDA, BW284c51). The results showed that the observed cholinesterase activities in the whole embryo may be attributed mainly to acetylcholinesterase with a partial capability to use propionylthiocholine as a second substrate. The potential use of cholin- and carboxylesterase as biomarkers was investigated using the organophosphate paraoxon-methyl. A 40% inhibition of enzyme activities was reached by 0.4 microM paraoxon-methyl indicating the possible use of these enzymes as biomarkers of exposure.

Effect of phenobarbital and beta-naphthoflavone on activities of different rat esterases after paraoxon exposure

1. The effects of two model inducers of the cytochrome P450 system, phenobarbital (PB) and beta-naphthoflavone (NF), on the toxicity of paraoxon were studied in rats. 2. Paraoxon toxicity was measured by inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. 3. PB treatment did not affect the toxicity of paraoxon, whereas NF increased the inhibition of brain AChE. PB administration slightly increased the activities of some peripheral cholinesterases and carboxylesterases, as well as liver microsomal paraoxonase (Pxase). 4. NF administration, in contrast, decreased the activities of peripheral esterases. Serum Pxase activity was reduced by both inducers. 5. Hepatic CYP2B and CYP1A were markedly induced by PB and NF, respectively. 6. Cytochrome P450 isoenzymes induced by PB or NF seemed not to be critical in the detoxification of paraoxon in vivo. NF caused a general reduction of peripheral esterases, which led to an increase in paraoxon toxicity. 7. The results indicated the great importance of peripheral cholinesterases and carboxylesterases as a detoxifying mechanism of paraoxon. The role of serum paraoxonase was not critical.

Activity of esterases from different tissues of freshwater fish and responses of their isoenzymes to inhibitors

Activity of nonspecific esterase from different tissues (i.e., liver, gallbladder, heart, intestine, and muscle) of five species of freshwater fish, namely, topmouth gudgeon (Pseudorasbora parva), goldfish (Carassius auratus), nile tilapia (Tilapia nilotica), mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), and rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) was tested using alpha-naphthyl acetate as substrate. The results indicated that activity of the enzyme was mainly concentrated in the digestive system (i.e., intestine, liver, bile). The overall activity was highest in nile tilapia, followed by mosquitofish, topmouth gudgeon, goldfish, and lowest in rainbow trout. Electrophoresis and the following in vitro treatment of the isoenzymes with triphenol phosphate (TPP, an inhibitor of carboxylesterase) indicated the TPP-sensitive esterase was mainly distributed in liver of the five species. The enzyme was not found in the other five tissues (including gill) except in gallbladder of topmouth gudgeon and goldfish. The correlation was obviously improved between susceptibility and detoxification capacity if activity of the TPP-sensitive esterase was employed instead of that of the nonspecific esterase to make the comparison. In vitro treatment of nonspecific esterase in liver with malaoxon proved that the active metabolite of malathion inhibited a different isoenzyme from the TPP-sensitive one.

Biochemical mechanisms contributing to species differences in insecticidal toxicity

Comparison of published LD50 or LC50 levels for a variety of insecticides in several vertebrate species indicate that a wide range of toxicity levels exist, and these cannot be easily predicted within either a chemical group or within a species. There is a relatively limited data base documenting interactions between insecticides and other chemicals, either agricultural or non-agricultural; however, the fact that all major insecticide groups perturb nervous system function as their primary mechanism of acute toxicity suggests the potential for interactions. Studies in our laboratories on a select group of phosphorothionate insecticides in rats indicated that brain acetylcholinesterase sensitivity to inhibition by the oxons, the active metabolites of the phosphorothionates, does not correlate with acute toxicity levels. The activities and properties of hepatic cytochrome P450-mediated activation (desulfuration) and detoxication (dearylation) of the phosphorothionates as well as of A-esterase-mediated hydrolysis of oxons contribute substantially to understanding the acute toxicity levels in rats, as does the sensitivity of the protective aliesterases to phosphorylation. However, in the channel catfish, the acetylcholinesterase sensitivity to oxon inhibition reflects the acute toxicity level of these same insecticides, and may be largely responsible for determining the acute toxicity level in this species. Thus, metabolism of insecticides appears to be far more influential in some species than others in determining the toxicity elicited.

Rat serum carboxylesterase. Cloning, expression, regulation, and evidence of secretion from liver

Multiple forms of carboxylesterase have been identified in rat liver, and five carboxylesterases (designated hydrolases A, B, C, S, and egasyn) have been cloned. Hydrolases A, B, C, and egasyn all have a C-terminal consensus sequence (HXEL) for retaining proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum, and these carboxylesterases are found in rat liver microsomes. In contrast, hydrolase S lacks this C-terminal consensus sequence and is presumed to be secreted. In order to test this hypothesis, a polyclonal antibody was raised against recombinant hydrolase S from cDNA-directed expression in Escherichia coli. In addition to hydrolases A, B, and C (57-59 kDa), this antibody recognized a 67-kDa protein in rat liver microsomes and a 71-kDa protein in rat serum. The 71-kDa protein detected in rat serum was also detected in the extracellular medium from primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Non-denaturing gel electrophoresis with staining for esterase activity showed that a serum carboxylesterase comigrated with the 71-kDa protein. Immunoprecipitation of the 71-kDa enzyme from rat serum decreased esterase activity toward 1-naphthylacetate and para-nitrophenylacetate. The 71-kDa protein immunoprecipitated from rat serum had an N-terminal amino acid sequence identical to that predicted from the cDNA encoding hydrolase S, providing further evidence that hydrolase S is synthesized in and secreted by the liver. The levels of the 67-kDa protein in rat liver microsomes and the levels of the 71-kDa protein in rat serum were co-regulated. Deglycosylation of microsomes and serum converted the 67- and 71-kDa proteins to a 58-kDa peptide, which matches the molecular mass calculated from the cDNA for hydrolase S. These results suggest that the 67-kDa protein in liver microsomes is a precursor form of hydrolase S that undergoes further glycosylation before being secreted into serum. In rats, liver appears to be the only source of hydrolase S because no mRNA encoding hydrolase S could be detected in several extrahepatic tissues. Serum carboxylesterases have been found to play an important role in lipid metabolism and detoxication of organophosphates, therefore, the secretion of hydrolase S and the modulation of its expression by xenobiotics may have physiological as well as toxicological significance.