The role of mouse intestinal microflora in the metabolism of trichloroethylene, an in vivo study

Trichloroethylene biotransformation and its role in mutagenicity, carcinogenicity and target organ toxicity

Metabolism is critical for the mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and other adverse health effects of trichloroethylene (TCE). Despite the relatively small size and simple chemical structure of TCE, its metabolism is quite complex, yielding multiple intermediates and end-products. Experimental animal and human data indicate that TCE metabolism occurs through two major pathways: cytochrome P450 (CYP)-dependent oxidation and glutathione (GSH) conjugation catalyzed by GSH S-transferases (GSTs). Herein we review recent data characterizing TCE processing and flux through these pathways. We describe the catalytic enzymes, their regulation and tissue localization, as well as the evidence for transport and inter-organ processing of metabolites. We address the chemical reactivity of TCE metabolites, highlighting data on mutagenicity of these end-products. Identification in urine of key metabolites, particularly trichloroacetate (TCA), dichloroacetate (DCA), trichloroethanol and its glucuronide (TCOH and TCOG), and N-acetyl-S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (NAcDCVC), in exposed humans and other species (mostly rats and mice) demonstrates function of the two metabolic pathways in vivo. The CYP pathway primarily yields chemically stable end-products. However, the GST pathway conjugate S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)glutathione (DCVG) is further processed to multiple highly reactive species that are known to be mutagenic, especially in kidney where in situ metabolism occurs. TCE metabolism is highly variable across sexes, species, tissues and individuals. Genetic polymorphisms in several of the key enzymes metabolizing TCE and its intermediates contribute to variability in metabolic profiles and rates. In all, the evidence characterizing the complex metabolism of TCE can inform predictions of adverse responses including mutagenesis, carcinogenesis, and acute and chronic organ-specific toxicity.

Issues in the pharmacokinetics of trichloroethylene and its metabolites

Much progress has been made in understanding the complex pharmacokinetics of trichloroethylene (TCE) . Qualitatively, it is clear that TCE is metabolized to multiple metabolites either locally or into systemic circulation. Many of these metabolites are thought to have toxicologic importance. In addition, efforts to develop physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have led to a better quantitative assessment of the dosimetry of TCE and several of its metabolites. As part of a mini-monograph on key issues in the health risk assessment of TCE, this article is a review of a number of the current scientific issues in TCE pharmacokinetics and recent PBPK modeling efforts with a focus on literature published since 2000. Particular attention is paid to factors affecting PBPK modeling for application to risk assessment. Recent TCE PBPK modeling efforts, coupled with methodologic advances in characterizing uncertainty and variability, suggest that rigorous application of PBPK modeling to TCE risk assessment appears feasible at least for TCE and its major oxidative metabolites trichloroacetic acid and trichloroethanol. However, a number of basic structural hypotheses such as enterohepatic recirculation, plasma binding, and flow- or diffusion-limited treatment of tissue distribution require additional evaluation and analysis. Moreover, there are a number of metabolites of potential toxicologic interest, such as chloral, dichloroacetic acid, and those derived from glutathione conjugation, for which reliable pharmacokinetic data is sparse because of analytical difficulties or low concentrations in systemic circulation. It will be a challenge to develop reliable dosimetry for such cases.

Dietary controlled carcinogenicity study of chloral hydrate in male B6C3F1 mice

Chloral hydrate, which is used as a sedative in pediatric medicine and is a by-product of water chlorination, is hepatocarcinogenic in B6C3F1 mice, a strain that can exhibit high rates of background liver tumor incidence, which are associated with increased body weight. In this study, dietary control was used to manipulate body growth in male B6C3F1 mice in a 2-year bioassay of chloral hydrate. Male B6C3F1 mice were treated with water or 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg chloral hydrate by gavage. The study compared ad libitum-fed mice with dietary controlled mice. The latter received variably restricted feed allocations to maintain their body weights on a predetermined "idealized" weight curve predictive of a terminal background liver tumor incidence of 15-20%. These mice exhibited less individual body weight variation than did their ad libitum-fed counterparts. This was associated with a decreased variation in liver to body weight ratios, which allowed the demonstration of a statistically significant dose response to chloral hydrate in the dietary controlled, but not the ad libitum-fed, test groups. Chloral hydrate increased terminally adjusted liver tumor incidence in both dietary controlled (23.4, 23.9, 29.7, and 38.6% for the four dose groups, respectively) and ad libitum-fed mice (33.4, 52.6, 50.6, and 46.2%), but a statistically significant dose response was observed only in the dietary controlled mice. This dose response positively correlated with markers of peroxisomal proliferation in the dietary controlled mice only. The study suggests that dietary control not only improves terminal survival and decreases interassay variation, but also can increase assay sensitivity by decreasing intra-assay variation.

Nondigestible oligosaccharides do not increase accumulation of lipid soluble environmental contaminants by mice

Supplementing diets with nondigestible fibers that are fermented by the gastrointestinal tract bacteria increases the dimension and absorptive capacities of the small intestine; we hypothesized that this would increase the accumulation of environmental contaminants. This was tested by feeding mice for 6-8 wk diets with fiber at two levels (0 and 100 g/kg) and from different sources (cellulose, lactosucrose, polydextrose, indigestible dextrin, inulin) before a 2-wk oral exposure to (14)C-labeled mirex or methylmercury in combination with (3)H-labeled retinol. Concentrations of contaminants and retinol were measured in urine and feces collected for the last 2 d of exposure and in seven tissues (small and large intestine, brain, liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract mesentery, gall bladder). Mice fed the same diets, but not exposed to the contaminants, were used for routine microbiology of alimentary canal contents, measurements of intestinal dimensions and in vitro rates of glucose, mirex, methylmercury and retinol absorption by the small intestine. Mice fed the diets with nondigestible oligosaccharides had higher densities of anaerobic bacteria and larger small and large intestines, but did not have greater rates of contaminant absorption or accumulation. Mice exposed to methylmercury accumulated less retinol than mice exposed to mirex. Although diets with nondigestible oligosaccharides fibers reduce accumulation of environmental contaminants, but not retinol, the specific responses vary among tissues, sources of fiber and contaminants. The mechanisms responsible for the influence of nondigestible oligosaccharides can include reduced absorption, increased fecal elimination and transformation to forms that are excreted in the urine.

Trichloroethylene activates CD4+ T cells: potential role in an autoimmune response

Trichloroethylene is an industrial solvent and has become a major environmental contaminant. Autoimmune-prone MRL +/+ mice were treated for up to 22 weeks with trichloroethylene in the drinking water (0, 2.5, and 5.0 mg/mL) in order to study the immunoregulatory effects of this environmental toxicant. After only 4 weeks of treatment, trichloroethylene was shown to promote the expansion of CD4+ T cells that expressed a memory/activation phenotype (i.e., CD44hi CD45RBlo) and secreted high levels of IFN-gamma, but not IL-4. In addition, trichloroethylene treatment accelerated the development of an autoimmune response in the MRL +/+ mice as evidenced by an earlier appearance of antinuclear antibodies and increased levels of total IgG2a. MRL +/+ mice treated with trichloroethylene for 22 weeks also contained antibodies specific for trichloroethylene adducts, suggesting the activation of trichloroethylene-specific T cells. The results suggest that trichloroethylene can stimulate antigen nonspecific as well as specific T cells that are capable of promoting autoimmunity in genetically predisposed individuals.

A human physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for trichloroethylene and its metabolites, trichloroacetic acid and free trichloroethanol

Nine male and eight female healthy volunteers were exposed to 50 or 100 ppm trichloroethylene vapors for 4 h. Blood, urine, and exhaled breath samples were collected for development of a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model for trichloroethylene and its two major P450-mediated metabolites, trichloroacetic acid and free trichloroethanol. Blood and urine were analyzed for trichloroethylene, chloral hydrate, free trichloroethanol and trichloroethanol glucuronide, and trichloroacetic acid. Plasma was analyzed for dichloroacetic acid. Trichloroethylene was also measured in exhaled breath samples. Trichloroethylene, free trichloroethanol, and trichloroacetic acid were found in blood samples of all volunteers and only trace amounts of dichloroacetic acid (4-12 ppb) were found in plasma samples from a few volunteers. Trichloroethanol glucuronide and trichloroacetic acid were found in urine of all volunteers. No chloral hydrate was detected in the volunteers. Gender-specific PBPK models were developed with fitted urinary rate constant values for each individual trichloroethylene exposure to describe urinary excretion of trichloroethanol glucuronide and trichloroacetic acid. Individual urinary excretion rate constants were necessary to account for the variability in the measured cumulative amount of metabolites excreted in the urine. However, the average amount of trichloroacetic acid and trichloroethanol glucuronide excreted in urine for each gender was predicted using mean urinary excretion rate constant values for each sex. A four-compartment physiological flow model was used for the metabolites (lung, liver, kidney, and body) and a six-compartment physiological flow model was used for trichloroethylene (lung, liver, kidney, fat, and slowly and rapidly perfused tissues). Metabolic capacity (Vmaxc) for oxidation of trichloroethylene was estimated to be 4 mg/kg/h in males and 5 mg/kg/h in females. Metabolized trichloroethylene was assumed to be converted to either free trichloroethanol (90%) or trichloroacetic acid (10%). Free trichloroethanol was glucuronidated forming trichloroethanol glucuronide or converted to trichloroacetic acid via back conversion of trichloroethanol to chloral (trichloroacetaldehyde). Trichloroethanol glucuronide and trichloroacetic acid were then excreted in urine. Gender-related pharmacokinetic differences in the uptake and metabolism of trichloroethylene were minor, but apparent. In general, the PBPK models for the male and female volunteers provided adequate predictions of the uptake of trichloroethylene and distribution of trichloroethylene and its metabolites, trichloroacetic acid and free trichloroethanol. The PBPK models for males and females consistently overpredicted exhaled breath concentrations of trichloroethylene immediately following the TCE exposure for a 2- to 4-h period. Further research is needed to better understand the biological determinants responsible for the observed variability in urinary excretion of trichloroethanol glucuronide and trichloroacetic acid and the metabolic pathway resulting in formation of dichloroacetic acid.