Comparison of the sex and subcellular distributions, catalytic and immunochemical reactivities of hepatic epoxide hydrolases in seven mammalian species

Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Deletion Limits High-Fat Diet-Induced Inflammation

The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) enzyme is a major regulator of bioactive lipids. The enzyme is highly expressed in liver and kidney and modulates levels of endogenous epoxy-fatty acids, which have pleiotropic biological effects including limiting inflammation, neuroinflammation, and hypertension. It has been hypothesized that inhibiting sEH has beneficial effects on limiting obesity and metabolic disease as well. There is a body of literature published on these effects, but typically only male subjects have been included. Here, we investigate the role of sEH in both male and female mice and use a global sEH knockout mouse model to compare the effects of diet and diet-induced obesity. The results demonstrate that sEH activity in the liver is modulated by high-fat diets more in male than in female mice. In addition, we characterized the sEH activity in high fat content tissues and demonstrated the influence of diet on levels of bioactive epoxy-fatty acids. The sEH KO animals had generally increased epoxy-fatty acids compared to wild-type mice but gained less body weight on higher-fat diets. Generally, proinflammatory prostaglandins and triglycerides were also lower in livers of sEH KO mice fed HFD. Thus, sEH activity, prostaglandins, and triglycerides increase in male mice on high-fat diet but are all limited by sEH ablation. Additionally, these changes also occur in female mice though at a different magnitude and are also improved by knockout of the sEH enzyme.

Discovery of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibitors from Chemical Synthesis and Natural Products

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is an α/β hydrolase fold protein and widely distributed in numerous organs including the liver, kidney, and brain. The inhibition of sEH can effectively maintain endogenous epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) levels and reduce dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids (DHETs) levels, resulting in therapeutic potentials for cardiovascular, central nervous system, and metabolic diseases. Therefore, since the beginning of this century, the development of sEH inhibitors is a hot research topic. A variety of potent sEH inhibitors have been developed by chemical synthesis or isolated from natural sources. In this review, we mainly summarized the interconnected aspects of sEH with cardiovascular, central nervous system, and metabolic diseases and then focus on representative inhibitors, which would provide some useful guidance for the future development of potential sEH inhibitors.

Estrogen-dependent epigenetic regulation of soluble epoxide hydrolase via DNA methylation

To elucidate molecular mechanisms responsible for the sexually dimorphic phenotype of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) expression, we tested the hypothesis that female-specific down-regulation of sEH expression is driven by estrogen-dependent methylation of the Ephx2 gene. Mesenteric arteries isolated from male, female, ovariectomized female (OV), and OV with estrogen replacement (OVE) mice, as well as the human cell line (HEK293T) were used. Methylation-specific PCR and bisulfite genomic sequencing analysis indicate significant increases in DNA/CG methylation in vessels of female and OVE compared with those of male and OV mice. The same increase in CG methylation was also observed in male vessels incubated with a physiological concentration of 17β-estradiol (17β-E₂) for 48 hours. All vessels that displayed increases in CG methylation were concomitantly associated with decreases in their Ephx2 mRNA and protein, suggesting a methylation-induced gene silencing. Transient transfection assays indicate that the activity of Ephx2 promoter-coding luciferase was significantly attenuated in HEK293T cells treated with 17β-E₂, which was prevented by additional treatment with an estrogen receptor antagonist (ICI). ChIP analysis indicates significantly reduced binding activities of transcription factors (including SP1, AP-1, and NF-κB with their binding elements located in the Ephx2 promoter) in vessels of female mice and human cells treated with 17β-E₂, responses that were prevented by ICI and Decitabine (DNA methyltransferase inhibitor), respectively. In conclusion, estrogen/estrogen receptor-dependent methylation of the promoter of Ephx2 gene silences sEH expression, which is involved in specific transcription factor-directed regulatory pathways.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition alleviates neuropathy in Akita (Ins2 Akita) mice

The soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is a regulatory enzyme responsible for the metabolism of bioactive lipid epoxides of both omega-6 and omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids. These natural epoxides mediate cell signaling in several physiological functions including blocking inflammation, high blood pressure and both inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Inhibition of the sEH maintains the level of endogenous bioactive epoxy-fatty acids (EpFA) and allows them to exert their generally beneficial effects. The Akita (Ins2^Akita or Ins2^C96Y) mice represent a maturity-onset of diabetes of the young (MODY) model in lean, functionally unimpaired animals, with a sexually dimorphic disease phenotype. This allowed for a test of male and female mice in a battery of functional and nociceptive assays to probe the role of sEH in this system. The results demonstrate that inhibiting the sEH is analgesic in diabetic neuropathy and this occurs in a sexually dimorphic manner. Interestingly, sEH activity is also sexually dimorphic in the Akita model, and moreover correlates with disease status particularly in the hearts of male mice. In addition, in vivo levels of oxidized lipid metabolites also correlate with increased sEH expression and the pathogenesis of disease in this model. Thus, sEH is a target to effectively block diabetic neuropathic pain but also demonstrates a potential role in mitigating the progression of this disease.

Sexually dimorphic adaptation of cardiac function: roles of epoxyeicosatrienoic acid and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors

Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) are cardioprotective mediators metabolized by soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) to form corresponding diols (DHETs). As a sex‐susceptible target, sEH is involved in the sexually dimorphic regulation of cardiovascular function. Thus, we hypothesized that the female sex favors EET‐mediated potentiation of cardiac function via downregulation of sEH expression, followed by upregulation of peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptors (PPARs). Hearts were isolated from male (M) and female (F) wild‐type (WT) and sEH‐KO mice, and perfused with constant flow at different preloads. Basal coronary flow required to maintain the perfusion pressure at 100 mmHg was significantly greater in females than males, and sEH‐KO than WT mice. All hearts displayed a dose‐dependent decrease in coronary resistance and increase in cardiac contractility, represented as developed tension in response to increases in preload. These responses were also significantly greater in females than males, and sEH‐KO than WT. 14,15‐EEZE abolished the sex‐induced (F vs. M) and transgenic model‐dependent (KO vs. WT) differences in the cardiac contractility, confirming an EET‐driven response. Compared with M‐WT controls, F‐WT hearts expressed downregulation of sEH, associated with increased EETs and reduced DHETs, a pattern comparable to that observed in sEH‐KO hearts. Coincidentally, F‐WT and sEH‐KO hearts exhibited increased PPARα expression, but comparable expression of eNOS, PPARβ, and EET synthases. In conclusion, female‐specific downregulation of sEH initiates an EET‐dependent adaptation of cardiac function, characterized by increased coronary flow via reduction in vascular resistance, and promotion of cardiac contractility, a response that could be further intensified by PPARα.

Mitochondrial P450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism by TCDD-induced hepatic CYP1A5; conversion of EETs to DHETs by mitochondrial soluble epoxide hydrolase

Several P450 enzymes localized in the endoplasmic reticulum and thought to be involved primarily in xenobiotic metabolism, including mouse and rat CYP1A1 and mouse CYP1A2, have also been found to translocate to mitochondria. We report here that the environmental toxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) induces enzymatically active CYP1A4/1A5, the avian orthologs of mammalian CYP1A1/1A2, in chick embryo liver mitochondria as well as in microsomes. P450 proteins and activity levels (CYP1A4-dependent 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase and CYP1A5-dependent arachidonic acid epoxygenation) in mitochondria were 23-40% of those in microsomes. DHET formation by mitochondria was twice that of microsomes and was attributable to a mitochondrial soluble epoxide hydrolase as confirmed by Western blotting with antiEPHX2, conversion by mitochondria of pure 11,12 and 14,15-EET to the corresponding DHETs and inhibition of DHET formation by the soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitor, 12(-3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido)-dodecanoic acid (AUDA). TCDD also suppressed formation of mitochondrial and microsomal 20-HETE. The findings newly identify mitochondria as a site of P450-dependent arachidonic acid metabolism and as a potential target for TCDD effects. They also demonstrate that mitochondria contain soluble epoxide hydrolase and underscore a role for CYP1A in endobiotic metabolism.

Criteria for the safety evaluation of flavoring substances

The current status of the GRAS evaluation program of flavoring substances operated by the Expert Panel of FEMA is discussed. The Panel maintains a rigorous rotating 10-year program of continuous review of scientific data related to the safety evaluation of flavoring substances. The Panel concluded a comprehensive review of the GRAS (GRASa) status of flavors in 1985 and began a second comprehensive review of the same substances and any recently GRAS materials in 1994. This second re-evaluation program of chemical groups of flavor ingredients, recognized as the GRAS reaffirmation (GRASr) program, is scheduled to be completed in 2005. The evaluation criteria used by the Panel during the GRASr program reflects the significant impact of advances in biochemistry, molecular biology and toxicology that have allowed for a more complete understanding of the molecular events associated with toxicity. The interpretation of novel data on the relationship of dose to metabolic fate, formation of protein and DNA adducts, enzyme induction, and the cascade of cellular events leading to toxicity provides a more comprehensive basis upon which to evaluate the safety of the intake of flavor ingredients under conditions of intended use. The interpretation of genotoxicity data is evaluated in the context of other data such as in vivo animal metabolism and lifetime animal feeding studies that are more closely related to actual human experience. Data are not viewed in isolation, but comprise one component that is factored into the Panel's overall safety assessment. The convergence of different methodologies that assess intake of flavoring substances provides a greater degree of confidence in the estimated intake of flavor ingredients. When these intakes are compared to dose levels that in some cases result in related chemical and biological effects and the subsequent toxicity, it is clear that exposure to these substances through flavor use presents no significant human health risk.

Epoxide hydrolases: their roles and interactions with lipid metabolism

The epoxide hydrolases (EHs) are enzymes present in all living organisms, which transform epoxide containing lipids by the addition of water. In plants and animals, many of these lipid substrates have potent biologically activities, such as host defenses, control of development, regulation of inflammation and blood pressure. Thus the EHs have important and diverse biological roles with profound effects on the physiological state of the host organisms. Currently, seven distinct epoxide hydrolase sub-types are recognized in higher organisms. These include the plant soluble EHs, the mammalian soluble epoxide hydrolase, the hepoxilin hydrolase, leukotriene A4 hydrolase, the microsomal epoxide hydrolase, and the insect juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase. While our understanding of these enzymes has progressed at different rates, here we discuss the current state of knowledge for each of these enzymes, along with a distillation of our current understanding of their endogenous roles. By reviewing the entire enzyme class together, both commonalities and discrepancies in our understanding are highlighted and important directions for future research pertaining to these enzymes are indicated.

The FEMA GRAS assessment of trans-anethole used as a flavouring substance. Flavour and Extract Manufacturer's Association

This publication is the fourth in a series of safety evaluations performed by the Expert Panel of the Flavour and Extract Manufacturers' Association (FEMA). In 1993, the Panel initiated a comprehensive program to re-evaluate the safety of more than 1700 GRAS flavouring substances under conditions of intended use. In this review, scientific data relevant to the safety evaluation of trans-anethole (i.e. 4-methoxypropenylbenzene) as a flavouring substance is critically evaluated by the FEMA Expert Panel. The evaluation uses a mechanism-based approach in which production of the hepatotoxic metabolite anethole epoxide (AE) is used to interpret the pathological changes observed in different species and sexes of laboratory rodents in chronic and subchronic dietary studies. Female Sprague Dawley rats metabolize more trans-anethole to AE than mice or humans and, therefore, are the most conservative model for evaluating the potential for AE-induced hepatotoxicity in humans exposed to trans-anethole from use as a flavouring substance. At low levels of exposure, trans-anethole is efficiently detoxicated in rodents and humans primarily by O-demethylation and omega-oxidation, respectively, while epoxidation is only a minor pathway. At high dose levels in rats, particularly females, a metabolic shift occurs resulting in increased epoxidation and formation of AE. Lower activity of the "fast" acting detoxication enzyme epoxide hydrolase in the female is associated with more pronounced hepatotoxicity compared to that in the male. The continuous intake of high dose levels of trans-anethole (i.e. cumulative exposure) has been shown in dietary studies to induce a continuum of cytotoxicity, cell necrosis and cell proliferation. In chronic dietary studies in rats, hepatotoxicity was observed when the estimated daily hepatic production of AE exceeded 30 mg AE/kg body weight. In female rats, chronic hepatotoxicity and a low incidence of liver tumours were reported at a dietary intake of 550 mg trans-anethole/kg body weight/day. Under these conditions, daily hepatic production of AE exceeded 120 mg/kg body weight. Additionally, neither trans-anethole nor AE show any evidence of genotoxicity. Therefore, the weight of evidence supports the conclusion that hepatocarcinogenic effects in the female rat occur via a non-genotoxic mechanism and are secondary to hepatotoxicity caused by continuous exposure to high hepatocellular concentrations of AE. trans-Anethole was reaffirmed as GRAS (GRASr) based on (1) its low level of flavour intake (54 microg/kg body weight/day); (2) its metabolic detoxication pathway in humans at levels of exposure from use as a flavouring substance; (3) the lack of mutagenic or genotoxic potential; (4) the NOAEL of 120 mg trans-anethole/kg body weight/day in the female rat reported in a 2 + -year study which produces a level of AE (i.e. 22 mg AE/kg body weight/day) at least 10,000 times the level (0.002 mg AE/kg body weight day) produced from the intake of trans-anethole from use as a flavouring substance; and (5) the conclusion that a slight increase in the incidence of hepatocellular tumours in the high dose group (550 mg trans-anethole/kg body weight/day) of female rats was the only significant neoplastic finding in a 2+ -year dietary study. This finding is concluded to be secondary to hepatotoxicity induced by high hepatocellular concentrations of AE generated under conditions of the study. Because trans-anethole undergoes efficient metabolic detoxication in humans at low levels of exposure, the neoplastic effects in rats associated with dose-dependent hepatotoxicity are not indicative of any significant risk to human health from the use of trans-anethole as a flavouring substance.

Lack of influence of modulators of epoxide metabolism on the genotoxicity of trans-anethole in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes assessed with the unscheduled DNA synthesis assay

The aniseed food flavour trans-anethole was implicated as a weak hepatocarcinogen only in female Sprague Dawley-CD rats administered high doses (1% in the diet for 121 wk). However, this substance is apparently non-genotoxic in a range of test systems. Anethole is metabolized in the rat along three primary pathways, one of which is epoxidation across the double bond of the side-chain. The epoxides of a number of the alkenylbenzene family of food flavours, of which anethole is a member, are putative genotoxins, being bacterial mutagens but not mammalian carcinogens. The authors have previously shown that the cytotoxicity of anethole is enhanced when the cellular epoxide defence mechanisms of conjugation with reduced glutathione and hydration by cytosolic epoxide hydrolase are severely compromised. They now report, however, that modulation of epoxide metabolism in cultured cells by the same mechanisms fails to induce unscheduled DNA synthesis (UDS) by anethole nor was there a UDS response in hepatocytes of female rats dosed with anethole in vivo. The epoxide of anethole was synthesized for the first time in this investigation and tested directly. As expected, it was markedly cytotoxic but not genotoxic. Anethole epoxide has chemical characteristics that differ from those of other structurally similar epoxides being labile to hydrolysis in aqueous media at physiological pH and temperature. This gives greater relevance to tests of its genotoxicity after formation within the hepatocyte rather than by adding the epoxide extracellularly to the culture medium. The direct and indirect demonstration of the lack of induction of UDS by anethole epoxide provides further support for the hypothesis that marginal hepatocarcinogenicity observed in female rats given 1% anethole in the diet for 121 wk was not initiated by a genotoxic event.

Differential regulation of soluble epoxide hydrolase by clofibrate and sexual hormones in the liver and kidneys of mice

Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) activity was measured in the liver and kidneys of male, female, and castrated male mice in order to evaluate sex- and tissue-specific differences in enzyme expression. sEH activity was found to be higher in liver than in kidneys. Activity increased with age in the liver of females, males and castrated males, but only in males did activity in the kidneys increase. There was greater activity in both the liver and kidneys of adult males than females. This sexual dimorphism was more pronounced in the kidneys (283% higher) than in the liver (55% higher). Castration of males led to a decrease in activity in both organs, but it had a greater effect on renal activity (67% decrease) than on hepatic activity (27% decrease). Treatment of castrated mice with testosterone led to an increase in sEH activity of 400% in kidneys and 49% in liver compared with surgical controls. These results suggest differential regulation of sEH by testosterone in kidneys and liver. Ovariectomized female mice had renal and hepatic activities approximately 30% greater than control females. Feeding mice with the hypolipidemic drug clofibrate produced stronger induction of sEH in liver than in kidneys. Testosterone treatment, however, caused greater induction in kidneys than in liver of females and castrated males and had no effect in either kidneys or liver in males. When given together, the effects of these two compounds appeared to be additive in both liver and kidneys. Results from western blot showed that the increase in sEH enzyme activity in kidneys is correlated with an increase in sEH protein. These results suggest that clofibrate and testosterone independently regulate sEH activity in vivo, and that kidneys and liver respond differently to clofibrate and testosterone.

Properties of enzymes hydrating epoxides in human epidermis and liver

1. Cytosolic and microsomal epoxide hydrolyzing enzymes of human skin and liver were compared and found to be different. 2. Epidermal and hepatic cytosolic epoxide hydrolases were different in terms of substrate selectivity, pI, inhibitor sensitivity and affinity chromatographic properties. 3. Microsomal epoxide hydrolases had the same pIs but different substrate selectivities. 4. Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from adults had higher specific activity than that from neonates or cultured epidermis, but lower activity than adult hepatic enzymes. 5. The sizes of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from epidermis and liver were similar and lower than that from cultured fibroblasts. 6. Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from all sources shared similar antigenic determinants.

Effects of perfluoro fatty acids on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes, enzymes which detoxify reactive forms of oxygen and lipid peroxidation in mouse liver

Male mice were exposed via their diet to perfluoro fatty acids of various chain-lengths (2-10 carbon atoms) at different doses (0.02 and 0.1% weight) and for different periods of time (2-10 days). Thereafter, we monitored effects on liver and body weights and a number of hepatic parameters, including mitochondrial protein content, microsomal contents of cytochromes P450 and b5, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase activity [measured as NADPH-cytochrome c reductase (EC 1.6.2.3)], microsomal and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (EC 3.3.2.3) activities, cytosolic DT-diaphorase (EC 1.6.99.2), glutathione transferase (EC 2.5.1.18), glutathione peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.9) and superoxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) activities, and levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material (as an indicator of lipid peroxidation) in the mitochondrial subfraction. The most dramatic changes observed were a 5-9-fold increase in mitochondrial protein, a 3-6-fold increase in the microsomal content of cytochrome P450, a 3-10-fold increase in cytosolic DT-diaphorase activity, an approximately 2-fold increase in cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activity and as much as a 60% decrease in the level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive compounds in the mitochondrial fraction. Smaller increases in microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity and decreases in cytosolic glutathione peroxidase activity were also observed. Of the perfluoro fatty acids tested, perfluorooctanoic acid caused the largest changes in the parameters examined here. Dietary exposure of mice to a 0.02% dose of this substance for 10 days results in a maximal or near-maximal effect in most cases.

Influence of modulators of epoxide metabolism on the cytotoxicity of trans-anethole in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes

The effect of modulating epoxide metabolism by inhibiting microsomal and cytosolic epoxide hydrolases and depleting glutathione, on the cytotoxicity of trans-anethole has been examined in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes in suspension. Hepatocytes derived from female Sprague-Dawley CD rats by collagenase perfusion were incubated in suspension and sampled at intervals over a 6-hr period. Cytotoxicity was assessed by the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase into the culture medium and in the cells after lysis. Glutathione was determined by fluorimetry. Anethole showed a dose-dependent cytotoxicity at concentrations ranging from 5 x 10(-4) to 5 x 10(-3) M, with concentrations of 10(-3) M and above causing greater than 63% leakage of lactate dehydrogenase in 6 hr. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase was inhibited by trichloropropene oxide (10(-4) M) and cyclohexene oxide (10(-3) M), and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase by 4-fluorochalcone oxide (5 x 10(-4) M). Cellular glutathione was depleted by diethyl maleate (5 x 10(-4) M), and its synthesis inhibited by 2.5 x 10(-3) M-L-buthionine (S,R)-sulphoximine. Suspensions treated with a sub-cytotoxic concentration of anethole (5 x 10(-4) M) showed a rapid increase in cytotoxicity when 4-fluorochalcone oxide was present (complete loss of viability within 2 hr), while pretreatment of hepatocytes with diethyl maleate in combination with buthionine sulphoximine, to deplete glutathione, slowly increased the cytotoxic response at later times (after 4 hr of incubation). The association of the effects of 4-fluorochalcone oxide with the inhibition of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase is strengthened by the inability of chalcone oxide, a close structural analogue of 4-fluorochalcone oxide, which has no effect on epoxide hydrolase or glutathione conjugation, to influence the effects of anethole on hepatocytes. These data are discussed in terms of the role of anethole epoxide in the cytotoxicity of trans-anethole.

Studies on the intracellular distributions of soluble epoxide hydrolase and of catalase by digitonin-permeabilization of hepatocytes isolated from control and clofibrate-treated mice

Digitonin permeabilization of hepatocytes from control and clofibrate-treated (0.5% by mass, 10 days) male C57bl/6 mice was used to study the intracellular distributions of soluble ('cytosolic') epoxide hydrolase and of catalase. The following conclusions were drawn. (1) About 60% of the total soluble epoxide hydrolase activity in control mouse hepatocytes is situated in the cytosol. (2) The rest is not mitochondrial, but probably peroxisomal. (3) Of the total catalase activity in control mouse hepatocytes, 5-10% is found in the cytosol. (4) Treatment of mice with clofibrate increases the total hepatocyte activity of soluble epoxide hydrolase 4-fold, but does not influence the relative distribution of this enzyme between cytosol and peroxisomes. (5) The total catalase activity is increased 3.5-fold by clofibrate treatment and 15-35% of this activity is shifted from the peroxisomes to the cytosol.

Human and murine cytosolic epoxide hydrolase: physical and structural properties

1. Human and murine liver cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (CEH) had an apparent Mw of 59,000 by SDS-PAGE. 2. Peptide maps of CNBr, trypsin and Staphylococcus aureus V8 digests, as well as amino acid analysis, showed that human and murine CEH were similar. Uninduced and clofibrate induced murine CEH appeared qualitatively identical. 3. The CEHs shared antigenic determinants as determined by Western blotting. 4. Circular dichroism spectra indicate that human CEH had 39% alpha-helix. Uninduced and clofibrate induced murine CEH had 38 and 35% alpha-helix, respectively.

Proliferation of peroxisomes and induction of cytosolic and microsomal epoxide hydrolases in different strains of mice and rats after dietary treatment with clofibrate

1. The effects of dietary clofibrate (0.5%, w/w, for 10 days) on seven inbred strains of mice--C57BL/6, C57BL/B10A(5R), ATL/OLA, C3H/HE/OLA, BALB/C, CBA/CA and A/J/OLA--and three strains of rats--Sprague-Dawley, Wistar and LOU/OLA--have been investigated. Liver weight, peroxisome proliferation, catalase activity, cytosolic, microsomal and mitochondrial epoxide hydrolase activities, cytochrome oxidase activity, microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and cytosolic glutathione transferase activity in liver were determined, together with cytosolic and microsomal epoxide hydrolase and cytosolic glutathione transferase activities in the kidneys. 2. In all cases peroxisome proliferation and induction of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase were observed in livers of rodents exposed to clofibrate. Thus, no non-responsive strains were found and further evidence for a coupling between these two phenomena was provided. In many cases significant increases in the liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 content and decreases in the hepatic cytosolic glutathione transferase activity were also seen. 3. High levels of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase were found in the rat kidney. In several strains of mice and rats renal cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activity was increased by clofibrate. 4. There were often considerable strain differences. However, in general mice had higher cytosolic epoxide hydrolase and glutathione transferase activities, whereas rats had higher microsomal epoxide hydrolase activities.

Effects of clofibrate treatment and of starvation on peroxisomes, mitochondria, and lipid droplets in mouse hepatocytes: a morphometric study

Adult male mice of the NMRI strain were treated with a diet containing 0.5% clofibrate for 4 days to study its effects on peroxisomes, mitochondria, and lipid droplets in hepatocytes. Animals were also starved overnight to study the additional effects of starvation. Starvation of control animals had small effects on peroxisomes while the mitochondria became enlarged and occupied more of the cytoplasm. The number and fractional area of lipid droplets increased fivefold. Clofibrate treatment caused a doubling in number and average size of peroxisomes. No significant effects were observed in the number of mitochondrial profiles or lipid droplets although the size of the latter decreased to a third the value of the fed control. Starvation of clofibrate-treated animals led to a slight increase in the number of peroxisomes although their average size decreased by 30%. Mitochondrial average area increased and their fractional cytoplasmic area increased despite the decrease in numerical density. The number of lipid droplets increased twofold compared to that of clofibrate-treated animals while the size was not affected.

Enzymatic formation of 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid: kinetics of the reaction and stereochemistry of the product

The enzymatic conversion of leukotriene A4 into 5,6-dihydroxy-7,9,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid, catalyzed by mouse liver cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (EC 3.3.2.3), was recently described (Haeggström, J., Meijer, J. and Rådmark, O. (1986) J. Biol. Chem. 261, 6332-6337). In the present study, we report analytical data confirming the stereochemistry of this novel enzymatic metabolite of leukotriene A4. By steric analysis of the vicinal diol and comparison with synthetic material, the structure was established as (5S,6R)-dihydroxy-7,9-trans-11,14-cis-eicosatetraenoic acid. Apparent kinetic constants of this reaction were determined and found to be 5 microM and 550 nmol.mg-1.min-1, for Km and Vmax, respectively. Also, a semipurified preparation of human liver cytosolic epoxide hydrolase avidly catalyzed the same hydrolysis of leukotriene A4 (apparent Km was 8 microM). The enzyme was not inactivated by leukotriene A4, as judged by time-course experiments with a second substrate addition.

Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase

Epoxide hydrolase activity is recovered in the high-speed supernatant fraction from the liver of all mammals so far examined, including man. For some as yet unexplained reason, the rat has a very low level of this activity, so that cytosolic epoxide hydrolase is generally studied in mice. This enzyme selectively hydrolyzes trans epoxides, thereby complementing the activity of microsomal epoxide hydrolase, for which cis epoxides are better substrates. Cytosolic epoxide hydrolase has been purified to homogeneity from the livers of mice, rabbits and humans. Certain of the physicochemical and enzymatic properties of the mouse enzyme have been thoroughly characterized. Neither the primary amino acid, cDNA nor gene sequences for this protein are yet known, but such characterization is presently in progress. Unlike microsomal epoxide hydrolase and most other enzymes involved in xenobiotic metabolism, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase is not induced by treatment of rodents with substances such as phenobarbital, 2-acetylaminofluorene, trans-stilbene oxide, or butylated hydroxyanisole. The only xenobiotics presently known to induce cytosolic epoxide hydrolase are substances which also cause peroxisome proliferation, e.g., clofibrate, nafenopin and phthalate esters. These and other observations indicate that this enzyme may actually be localized in peroxisomes in vivo and is recovered in the high-speed supernatant because of fragmentation of these fragile organelles during homogenization, i.e., recovery of this enzyme in the cytosolic fraction is an artefact. The functional significance of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase is still largely unknown. In addition to deactivating xenobiotic epoxides to which the organism is exposed directly or which are produced during xenobiotic metabolism, primarily by the cytochrome P-450 system, this enzyme may be involved in cellular defenses against oxidative stress.