Microsomal Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylase Comparison of the Direct, Indirect and Radiometric Assays

Functional expression of house fly (Musca domestica) cytochrome P450 CYP6D1 in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae)

Cytochrome P450 CYP6D1 from the house fly is important in the detoxication of xenobiotics and in resistance to pyrethroid insecticides. In house fly microsomes CYP6D1 requires cytochrome b5 for the metabolism of some substrates, such as benzo[a]pyrene, but does not require cytochrome b5 for the metabolism of other substrates such as methoxyresorufin. To examine the molecular mechanisms involved in its metabolism of pyrethroids and other substrates, a system for the heterologous expression of CYP6D1 in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was developed. Heterologous CYP6D1 can be inducibly expressed by culture in media with galactose as the sole carbon source, and is successfully inserted into the yeast microsomes. CYP6D1 is enzymatically active, as measured by methoxyresorufin-O-demethylation, indicating that CYP6D1 is able to interact with yeast P450 reductase. However, CYP6D1 expression did not result in measurable benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation, suggesting that CYP6D1 cannot interact with yeast cytochrome b5, or that there is insufficient cytochrome b5 in the yeast microsomes to support this CYP6D1-mediated activity. Some suggestions are made for improving the yeast microsomal oxidoreductase environment in order to optimize CYP6D1 function.

Genetic analysis of factors controlling high-level expression of cytochrome P450, CYP6D1, cytochrome b5, P450 reductase, and monooxygenase activities in LPR house flies, Musca domestica

To understand better the biochemical genetics of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase-mediated insecticide resistance, we examined the microsomal monooxygenases in insecticide-susceptible (aabys) and pyrethroid-resistant (LPR) house fly strains, as well as 15 house fly lines derived from crosses of LPR and aabys. In comparison to the aabys strain, LPR had higher levels of total cytochromes P450, cytochrome b5, P450 reductase, CYP6D1, and three P450 monooxygenase activities: 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD), methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD), and aromatic hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH). The elevated levels of cytochrome b5 were linked to factors on autosomes 1 and 2. This is similar to previous reports on monooxygenase-mediated resistance and is consistent with the idea that elevated cytochrome b5 levels are involved in monooxygenase-mediated resistance in the LPR strain. Linkage of the elevated P450 reductase is different from that of monooxygenase-mediated resistance. Strains having high levels of CYP6D1 (i.e., like LPR) had high levels of P450 reductase, while strains having intermediate levels of CYP6D1 also had high levels of reductase. Therefore, there is no clear evidence that the elevated P450 reductase in the LPR strain is required for the increased monooxygenase activity. Overexpression of total cytochromes P450, CYP6D1 (mRNA and protein), and CYP6D1-mediated monooxygenase activities (MROD and AHH) in LPR microsomes was linked to a combination of factors on autosomes 1 and 2. This demonstrates that increased expression of CYP6D1 in the LPR strain is both cis regulated by a factor(s) on autosome 1 and trans regulated by a factor(s) on autosome 2. The correlation between the overexpression of CYP6D1 mRNA and protein suggests that CYP6D1 expression is regulated transcriptionally. Monooxygenase-mediated resistance in LPR is controlled by factors on autosomes 1 and 2, which supports previous claims that CYP6D1 is responsible for monooxygenase-mediated resistance in the LPR strain.

Regulation of cytochrome P-450 isozymes CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP2B10 by three benzodioxole compounds

Three benzodioxole (BD) compounds were used to investigate the structural requirement for regulation of the cytochrome P450 isozymes, CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP2B10, in mouse liver. Male mice (C57BL/6) were treated intraperitoneally for 3 days with 5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (t-BBD), 5-n-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (n-BBD) and 5-(3-oxobutyl)-1,3-benzodioxole (o-BBD). t-BBD-induced liver microsomes showed the highest pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation (PROD) activity, while o-BBD induced microsomes showed slightly higher activity in ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD), benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylation (BaP-OH) and acetanilide hydroxylation (Acet-OH) assays. In vitro enzyme inhibition assays showed that n-BBD inhibited EROD and Acet-OH activities more than either o-BBD or t-BBD, while PROD activity was evenly inhibited by all three compounds. Western and northern blots showed that CYP1A1 was not detectably induced by any of the three BD compounds. The levels of CYP1A2 protein and mRNA were increased in all three treated livers. In addition to CYP1A2 induction, t-BBD also induced the protein and mRNA for CYP2B10.

Cyclophosphamide metabolism in the primary immune organs of the chick: assays of drug activation, P450 expression, and aldehyde dehydrogenase

Several diagnostic catalytic assays were used to determine whether organ-specific metabolic activation or detoxification of cyclophosphamide (CP) contributes to the selective toxicity of CP directed towards differentiating B cells as compared to T cells in the developing chicken. An assay for the alkylation of 4-[p-nitrobenzyl] pyridine (NBP) was used to assess comparative levels of CP activation products generated from microsomal preparations from liver, bursa of Fabricius (B cells), and thymus (T cells) of day-old chicks. Three catalytic assays were used to characterize and compare cytochrome P450-associated enzyme activities in neonatal hepatic and lymphoid tissues. Aldrin epoxidase (AE) was used to detect phenobarbital (PB)-inducible P450 activity. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) were used for the evaluation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-inducible P450 activities in control and PB- or 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (TCB)-induced animals. Using the NBP assay, basal and PB-induced CP activation were observed using chick liver microsomes. However, no evidence of CP activation from immune organ microsomes was observed in control, PB-, or TCB-induced chicks. Basal and PB-induced AE activities were observed in thymus, but not bursa, and represented less than 1% of basal liver activity. EROD activity was detected in TCB-induced samples from both thymus and bursa, the thymus having the greater activity. Activities of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), an enzyme involved in CP detoxification, were about equal in cytosolic fractions from the bursa and thymus. These studies suggest strongly that tissue-specific differences in metabolic capacities are not the major factors governing the selective toxicity of CP directed towards differentiating B lymphocytes in vivo.

Differences in induction of hepatic cytochrome P450 isozymes by mice in eight methylenedioxyphenyl compounds

Eight methylenedioxyphenyl (MDP) compounds were examined for their ability to induce cytochrome P450 (P450) in mouse liver. Induction by safrole, isosafrole, and dihydrosafrole was studied in both C57BL/6N (Ah-responsive) and DBA/2N (Ah-nonresponsive) male mice after IP administration of 200 mg/kg/day MDP compound for 3 days. Hepatic P450 content, ethylmorphine N-demethylase, ethoxy-resorufin O-deethylase, and acetanilide hydroxylase activities were induced to the same extent in both strains of mice. Benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity, however, was not induced in either C57 or DBA mice. The similarity of results in both strains of mice indicated induction of these P450 isozymes by these three MDP compounds is not mediated by the Ah receptor. Induction of P450 by butylbenzodioxole (n-butyl-BD), tertiarybutylbenzodioxole (t-butyl-BD), methylbenzodioxole (methyl-BD), nitrobenzodioxole (nitro-BD), and bromobenzodioxole (bromo-BD) was examined only in C57BL/6N mice. Methyl-BD, nitro-BD, and bromo-BD did not induce hepatic microsomal proteins or selected P450 monooxygenase activities. In contrast, n-butyl-BD, and t-butyl-BD induced P450 content, ethylmorphine N-demethylase, acetanilide hydroxylase, and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities. Benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase was not induced by any of the treatments. Induction of these P450 activities is consistent with induction of P450 IIB1 and P450 IA2, but not induction of P450 IA1. Western blot analysis with antibodies to P450 isozymes induced with either phenobarbital (Pb) or 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) confirmed that both IIB1 and IA2 were induced, but that IA1 was not induced.

Ah receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin: ontogeny in chick embryo liver

Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH, cytochrome P1-450) is induced in chick liver very early during embryonic development if embryos are treated with 3-methylcholanthrene-type compounds such as 3,4,3'4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl. In mammals, AHH induction is known to be mediated by the Ah receptor. Liver from embryonic and newly hatched chicks was found to contain a cytosolic receptor for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) which has properties that are very similar to properties of the Ah receptor previously characterized in mammalian tissues. In chick embryo liver, cytosolic binding sites for TCDD were of high affinity (Kd for [3-H]-TCDD = 0.2 nM) and were specific for 3-methylcholanthrene-type inducers. The specific binding component sedimented at about 9S on sucrose density gradients prepared at low ionic strength. A high level of Ah receptor was detected in chick embryo liver by the fifth day of incubation (5 DI); this is at least 24 hours prior to the onset of AHH inducibility. The Ah receptor concentration increased from 5 DI to 8 DI, the period when chick liver is undergoing early morphological differentiation. After 8 DI, Ah receptor levels dropped substantially and remained low into the posthatching period. In contrast, AHH inducibility was high by 7 DI and remained high throughout embryonic development and into the posthatching period. The discrepancy between Ah receptor levels and the degree of AHH inducibility suggests that only a small fraction of the Ah receptor population is required for maximal AHH induction.

Cytochrome P-450 induction by 3-methylcholanthrene and its antagonism by 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole

Previous studies in this laboratory have shown 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (DBBD) to antagonize 3-methylcholanthrene induction of cytochrome P-450 in Dub:ICR mice yet have no effect on phenobarbital induction. In the present experiments, C57BL/6 mice, an Ah responsive strain, produced a similar response under the same experimental conditions. The hypothesis that DBBD, although not a cytochrome P-450 inducer, competes with 3-methylcholanthrene for binding to the Ah receptor was tested. Using sucrose density gradients, the Ah receptor was measured in hepatic cytosol from Dub:ICR and C57BL/6 male mice. DBBD was unable to displace either 2,3,7,8-tetra-chlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or 3-methylcholanthrene from the Ah receptor, in vitro. However, in in vivo experiments, DBBD treatment of Dub:ICR mice caused Ah receptor depression at 6 and 24 hr with complete recovery in between, while 3-methylcholanthrene treatment caused a 2-fold Ah receptor reduction at 2 hr followed by complete recovery after 12 hr. When 3-methylcholanthrene and DBBD were coadministered, the depression of the Ah receptor was additive. DBBD-pretreated mice had a 2.25-fold reduction in Ah receptor level, effectively blocking the ability of 3-methylcholanthrene to increase the cytochrome P-450 content and either benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase or ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis confirmed that 3-methylcholanthrene induction of cytochrome P-450 was inhibited by DBBD pretreatment. Hence, although DBBD does not displace 3-methylcholanthrene from the Ah receptor in vitro, it does antagonize 3-methylcholanthrene induction of cytochrome P-450 and also reduces the amount of available receptor in vivo. This interaction may be due either to antagonism or to downregulation of the Ah receptor.

Twin study methodology and variability in xenobiotic placental metabolism

The present study assesses the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to variability in placental aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione transferase activities using twin study methodology. Twin placentas were collected at the time of delivery. The placenta, except for a single layer of maternal decidua, consists of fetal tissue exhibiting fetal genotype. Microsomal and cytosolic fractions were prepared under stringent protocols to prevent enzyme activity loss. There were two monozygotic-monochorionic pairs, five monozygotic-dichorionic pairs, and 21 dizygotic-dichorionic pairs that showed measurable aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity using the direct fluorometric assay. Most of the mothers were smokers. Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity was measured with two different substrates, benzo(a)pyrene and 7-ethoxyresorufin. Glutathione transferase activity was measured using glutathione and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as substrates for a spectrophotometric assay that follows the conversion of the aromatic substrate. Twin pair similarity was calculated with intraclass correlation coefficients. There is a high correlation between the activities of the two aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase substrates (r = .814), but no correlation between aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and glutathione transferase activity levels. There is little evidence of genetic variability underlying the variation in the enzyme activities because monozygotic-dichorionic twins are no more similar to each other for the three substrate activities than are the dizygotic twins. To delineate the prenatal environmental influences on placental enzyme variability, dichorionic placentation was subdivided further into contiguous and noncontiguous placental position. Lower intraclass correlation coefficients are obtained for the dizygotic twins whose placentas were noncontiguous compared with dizygotic twins with contiguous placentas. The results suggest that most of the variability seen in these placental enzyme systems is due to environmental differences within uteri, rather than genetic variability in the population. This does not negate the possibility that between-pair, or population, variability may have a genetic component, because even dizygotic twins share a large proportion of their genes. This study points out that a significantly variable environment exists within the human uterus.

Cytochrome P-450 and monooxygenase activity in hepatic microsomes from N-phenylimidazole-treated rats

Repeated administration of N-phenylimidazole (PI) to rats (3 daily doses of 200 mumol/kg/day) enhanced hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450 levels (approx. 130%) and aminopyrine N-demethylase (APDM) and aniline p-hydroxylase (APH) activities (approx. 140%); aryl hydrocarbon (benzo[a]pyrene) hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) activities were not enhanced over control values under similar conditions. Spectral studies with PI-induced microsomes indicated that although type II PI-binding characteristics were similar to those observed in controls, the 427 nm/455 nm absorbance ratio of the type III dihydrosafrole metabolite-cytochrome P-450 complex was lower than that in control microsomes. The results suggest that the inducing characteristics of PI bear some resemblance to those of phenobarbital (PB).

Identification of the Ah receptor in selected mammalian species and induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

The Ah receptor protein, important in the mechanism of induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity, has been identified and partially characterized in hepatic cytosolic preparations from rat, BALB/c mouse, gerbil, hamster, rabbit, ferret and guinea-pig by means of sucrose density centrifugation analysis and hydroxyapatite binding assays. Using 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro[3H]dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) as the ligand, total specific binding capacities ranged over 74-691 fmol [3H]TCDD/mg cytosolic protein and apparent dissociation constants ranged over 0.30-7.8 nM. There was no quantitative correlation between the concentration of cytosolic Ah receptors and the 3-methylcholanthrene-mediated induction of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in the species studied. Competitive binding studies with a series of monohydroxylated benzo[a]pyrene derivatives suggested the importance of electronic character in their ability to bind to the Ah receptor and to compete with TCDD for specific binding sites on the receptor.

Partial purification and characterization of cytochrome P-450 from human placenta

Two isozymes of cytochrome P-450 were partially purified to specific contents of 7.0 and 0.5 nmol/mg of protein, respectively, from placenta of non-smoking women by chromatography on octyl Sepharose, hydroxylapatite, DEAE-cellulose and CM-cellulose. NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase was purified from phenobarbital-induced mouse liver and from human placenta and was combined with cytochrome P-450 and dilauroylphosphatidylcholine to reconstitute the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase system. Substrates investigated were benzo[a]pyrene, 7-ethoxycoumarin and delta 4-androstene-3,17-dione.

Comparative studies of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and the Ah receptor in nonmammalian species

In vivo treatment of chicks, quail and rats with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) caused a dose-dependent increase in hepatic microsomal aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity. A much lower level of AHH induction was observed following similar treatment of trout with high concentrations of TCDD or MC. No induction was apparent in midgut tissues from southern armyworm larvae exposed to the same inducers. A low level of receptor exhibiting specific binding of [3H]TCDD was demonstrated in chick hepatic cytosol, but no evidence of receptor was obtained with the other species. Although the specific binding of the receptor in chick cytosol was only 6-8 fmoles TCDD bound/mg protein compared to 135 fmoles/mg in rat hepatic cytosol, the chick receptor exhibited properties similar to those of Ah receptors in mammals.

2,2-Dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole: an unusual inducer of microsomal enzymes

Our previous studies have shown that 2,2-dimethyl-5-t-butyl-1,3-benzodioxole (DBBD), a methylenedioxyphenyl (MDP) analog in which the methylene hydrogens have been replaced by methyl groups, does not form an inhibitory complex with cytochrome P-450 nor induce this cytochrome. However, in the present experiments, DBBD-treated male Dub:ICR mice showed an increase in NADPH-dependent cytochrome c (P-450) reductase and epoxide hydrolase activity. This separation of cytochrome P-450 induction from the induction of epoxide hydrolase and NADPH-dependent cytochrome c (P-450) reductase appears to be unique among inducers of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. In similar experiments, mice were treated with phenobarbital + DBBD or 3-methylcholanthrene + DBBD and the following parameters were measured: cytochrome P-450 content; NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c; ethylmorphine and benzphetamine N-demethylase; 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase; benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase; and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase. The microsomal proteins were examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). Phenobarbital + DBBD treatment gave results which did not differ significantly from those obtained with phenobarbital alone. In contrast, cytochrome P-450 content and benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities were less in mice treated with 3-methylcholanthrene + DBBD than in animals treated with 3-methylcholanthrene alone. SDS-PAGE confirmed that induction of cytochrome P-450 by 3-methylcholanthrene was reduced by DBBD, suggesting that the latter compound may be an antagonist to the Ah cytosolic receptor.