Synergistic vascular toxicity and fatty acid anilides in the toxic oil syndrome.

The underlying etiology of the toxic oil syndrome may be related to any of several toxic contaminants. The hypothesis is made that two or more toxic compounds may act synergistically to cause vascular damage in the toxic oil syndrome. To support this hypothesis, previous studies are reviewed concerning the remarkable synergistic toxic action of allylamine and beta-aminopropionitrile on the media of blood vessels. Although these toxins are not directly related to the toxic oil syndrome, this previous experimental work emphasizes the possibility that unexplored synergistic actions may be important. Furthermore, the hypothesis that contaminating fatty acid anilides in toxic oil undergo alterations during cooking is supported by high pressure liquid chromatographic analysis. The theoretic metabolism of fatty acid anilides is discussed. Recent data concerning the toxic actions of the anilides of oleic and linoleic acid are given. These data suggest that these anilides induce immunologic alterations that may be similar to those seen in the toxic oil syndrome. In addition, the heated anilides appear to have increased toxicity, supporting the concept that the use of toxic oil in cooking may increase its toxicity.

Methyl palmitate: inhibitor of phagocytosis in primary rat Kupffer cells.

Kupffer cells are involved in phagocytosis and known to release biologically active mediators during early events of liver injury. Such functional properties of Kupffer cells can be modulated by methyl palmitate (MP). Therefore, efficacy of MP to modulate Kupffer cell function was evaluated in cultured primary Kupffer cells from rat liver. Phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells was measured by their capacity to phagocytize latex beads and the release of TNF-alpha, IL-10, IL-6, nitric oxide, and PGE2 was determined in cell culture medium after incubating the cells with various concentrations of MP for 24 h followed stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 6 h. To understand the mechanism of phagocytosis, we investigated the hydrolysis of MP, and determine ATP levels and activity of NF-kappaB in MP-inhibited Kupffer cells. A significant decrease was observed in phagocytosis. Phagocytosis evaluated at 0.5 mM MP was found to be time-dependent with a maximum decrease of 49% at 6 h. Exposure of Kupffer cells to MP followed by LPS stimulation showed a dose-dependent decrease in phagocytosis and reduced the release of TNF-alpha, IL-10, nitric oxide, and PGE2 but not of IL-6 levels in the supernatant as compared to the control. While ATP levels were unchanged, the nuclear factor NF-kappaB (p65) activity was inhibited in Kupffer cells treated with MP after LPS stimulation (35.6 RLU versus 49.6 RLU in control). Hydrolysis of MP was found to be time-dependent; maximum concentration of MP and palmitic acid (hydrolysis products) in the cell being at 3 and 6 h, respectively. In general, MP appears to reduce phagocytosis and levels of TNF-alpha, IL-10, nitric oxide, and PGE2 without affecting ATP levels and is probably mediated by NF-kappaB. This in vitro model is useful for detailed mechanistic studies of inhibition of phagocytosis by MP and other fatty acid esters.

Selective pancreatic toxicity of palmitoylpentachlorophenol.

Palmitoylpentachlorophenol (PPCP), which is a lipid conjugate of a xenobiotic compound, has been found in human fat. To study the toxicity associated with PPCP, rats were given 100 mg/kg PPCP and sacrificed at 4, 8 and 12 days. The target organ identified was the exocrine pancreas; no other major organs examined showed any gross or histopathological abnormality. At 4 and 8 days after treatment, focal, spotty vacuolation, and loss of pancreatic acini was observed. Acute inflammatory infiltrate was also observed in parenchyma at all time points and the loss of acinar tissue was resolved through fibrous tissue formation by 12 days. The present study indicates that PPCP has a specific target organ toxicity.

Heated linoleic acid anilide: toxicity and relevance to toxic oil syndrome.

The present study was undertaken to investigate toxic potentials of linoleic acid anilide (LAA) and heated linoleic acid anilide (HLAA) and their possible role in the etiology of toxic oil syndrome (TOS). Male Sprague-Dawley rats were given 250 mg/kg of LAA or HLAA in mineral oil through gavage, on alternate days for 2 weeks (total 7 doses). Control rats received an equal volume of vehicle only. The animals were sacrificed at day 1, 7 and 28 following the last dose. Ratio of organ weight/body weight showed a significant increase in lung in LAA group at day 7 while spleen showed remarkable increases in both treatment groups at day 1 and 7. On the other hand, this ratio showed decreases in case of liver, brain and heart at some time points. Among blood parameters, red cell counts and hemoglobin content decreased at day 1 in both LAA and HLAA treated groups, while platelet counts showed an increase. Serum LDH, GOT and GPT activities significantly decreased at day 1 and 7 in both LAA and HLAA treated groups, however, these changes were more prominent in the HLAA treated group. Interestingly, at day 28, these serum enzyme levels recovered to control levels. Both LAA and HLAA treated groups showed a decrease in serum IgM levels at day 1, however, at day 7 only the LAA group showed a significant decrease. IgA levels significantly increased in both groups at all the time points studied and were more pronounced in the HLAA treated group. Similarly, IgG levels also showed increases in both the groups. In addition to serum immunoglobulin changes, alterations in the lymphocyte subpopulations were also observed. While T-cell population decreased, B-cell population remained unchanged. Among T-cell subsets, T-helper cells did not show any change while T-suppressor cells decreased significantly at day 1 in the LAA group and at day 1 and 7 in the HLAA group, but regained control levels at day 28. The biochemical and immunological alterations observed in this study as a result of LAA and HLAA exposure and more so by HLAA further support that the fatty acid anilides may play a role in the etiology of TOS.

Covalent binding of ethylene dibromide and its metabolites to albumin.

The present study was undertaken to determine covalent binding of [1,2-14C]ethylene dibromide (EDB) to albumin under in vivo and in vitro conditions. For the in vivo covalent binding, 25 mg/kg body weight of [1,2-14C]EDB was given daily to male rats for 12 consecutive days and the animals were sacrificed at 24 h following the last dose. Blood was withdrawn from inferior vena cava in heparinized tubes and plasma was separated, dialyzed against ice-cold 10 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and then subjected to size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC). A major radioactive peak eluted at an elution volume corresponding to 65,000 dalton molecular mass was found to be associated to albumin at a level of 0.14 nmol equivalent EDB/mg protein. For the in vitro covalent binding, human plasma or purified albumin was incubated with [1,2-14C]EDB in the presence of phenobarbital-treated rat liver microsomes and NADPH-generating system for 2 h at 37 degrees C. The 100,000 x g supernatant of the incubation mixture was dialyzed extensively and analyzed as described for the in vivo studies. Approximately 0.28 nmol equivalent EDB/mg protein was found to be associated to albumin (about 2-fold higher than the in vivo binding). Binding of 14C-label to albumin under in vivo and in vitro conditions was further supported by the affinity chromatography of albumin fraction isolated by SE-HPLC. Reversed-phase HPLC analysis of pronase digest of the albumin obtained from in vitro studies indicated formation of several amino acid adducts of EDB and/or its metabolites. Structure elucidation of such amino acid adducts will be helpful in developing a relatively non-invasive method of measuring the EDB exposure.

Fatty acid conjugates of xenobiotics.

In this review, we discuss the formation and toxicity of fatty acid conjugates of xenobiotics. Conjugates formed in vivo and in vitro and those detected as contaminants are reviewed. Due to the lipophilic nature of these conjugates, they may accumulate in various body organs and cause toxic manifestations. In vivo formation of these fatty acid conjugates appears to be catalyzed by enzyme(s). Fatty acid ethyl esters are the most widely studied esters and have been implicated in the onset or pathogenesis of myocardial and pancreatic diseases in alcoholics. In experimental animals, studies on 2-chloroethyl linoleate, palmitoylpentachlorophenol and oleoyl and linoleoyl anilides clearly indicate that lipid conjugates of xenobiotics are involved in target organ toxicity. These findings warrant further detailed studies to isolate and identify other fatty acid conjugates and to evaluate their toxicity. Thorough toxicokinetic and metabolic studies are also needed to identify putative toxic agents. Identifying these agents could help in understanding the mechanism of pathogenesis associated with lipid conjugation. Finally fatty acid conjugates of drugs (prodrugs), have been shown to have increased half-lives and long-lasting dose-response. Thus these conjugates may be useful for enhancing the therapeutic potential of drugs and should be explored further.

Acute hematopoietic toxicity of aniline in rats.

In the present study, acute hematopoietic toxicity of aniline as a function of time was investigated in rats. The animals were given a single oral dose of aniline hydrochloride (2 mmol/kg) and euthanized at zero (control), 0.25, 0.5, 1, 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h following the treatment. The blood methemoglobin level increased dramatically and attained a peak level of 37% (31 fold greater than the controls) at 0.5 h. Thereafter, the increases were less pronounced and the level declined with time. Spleen weight to body weight ratio remained unchanged up to 24 h, but increased approximately 25% at 48 h. Lipid peroxidation (MDA content) in the spleen increased by 39% at 24 h and remained steady even at 48 h. MDA-protein adducts, as quantitated by a competitive ELISA, showed 94, 126 and 265% increases in the spleen homogenates at 12, 24 and 48 h, respectively, following the treatment. However, no changes were observed in the splenic protein oxidation. Morphological examination showed congestion of splenic blood vessels and marked expansion of red pulp at 24 and 48 h. These studies suggest that aniline related changes in the blood are reflected very early as evident from increases in the methemoglobin content, whereas changes in the spleen appear later and are characterized by splenic weight changes, increased lipid peroxidation, MDA-protein adduct formation and morphological changes after a single high dose exposure. The increased lipid peroxidation in the spleen also suggests that free radical-mediated reactions could be the potential mechanism of splenic toxicity of aniline and lipid peroxidation precedes protein oxidation.

Immunohistochemical localization of trichloroacylated protein adducts in tetrachloroethene-treated mice.

Tetrachloroethene (PCE), a common industrial solvent and environmental contaminant, is primarily used in the dry-cleaning industry. The toxicity of PCE has been linked to vision disorders, renal and hepatic cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Although the mechanism of toxicity is not fully understood, PCE forms trichloroacylated protein adducts in tissues where toxicity is known to occur. These adducts may be responsible for toxicity by altering the function of cellular proteins. Using Western blot analysis, formation of trichloroacylated protein adducts has been reported. To determine the localization of the adducts in a specific zone of a tissue, immunohistochemical staining was used in the study. An antiserum to trichloroacylated proteins was raised in rabbits and its specificity was established by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Female MRL-lpr/lpr and MRL +/+ mice were treated with PCE using a single 5-mmol/kg dose over 24 h or on every fourth day for 6 wk (total 20 doses). Formation of trichloroacylated protein adducts was observed in the liver, and localized to the centrilobular zones. Intensity and circumference of the staining around the central vein were much greater in subchronically treated mice than in acutely treated mice. No immunochemical reactivity was observed in any of the other tissues examined. This study shows that hepatic trichloroacylated protein adducts are localized in a region of the liver where PCE-mediated toxicity is known to occur. Immunohistochemical localization of these adducts and its association with PCE-induced toxicity support the contention that adducts may contribute to toxicity.

Rapid chromatographic analysis of fatty acid anilides suspected of causing toxic oil syndrome.

A rapid method for isolation and determination of fatty acid anilides of palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, linoleic, and erucic acids from oil samples was developed. Corn oil samples mixed with the fatty acid anilides were diluted with petroleum ether, passed through silica gel Sep-Pak cartridges, and washed with petroleum ether. The fatty acid anilides were eluted with petroleum ether-diethyl ether (19:1, v/v), dried under a vacuum, separated, and quantitated by reversed-phase thin-layer and high-performance liquid chromatographic methods. The recovery was between 79 and 97% for the anilides from the fortified oil sample. This method can be used for the identification and quantitation of the fatty acid anilides found in adulterated oil samples.

Hepatic fatty acid conjugation of 2-chloroethanol and 2-bromoethanol in rats.

To study the formation of fatty acid conjugates of 2-chloroethanol (2-CE) and 2-bromoethanol (2-BE), rats were administered (by gavage) 50 mg/kg of 2-CE and 2-BE in mineral oil and sacrificed on fifth day of the treatment. Hepatic microsomal lipids were extracted, and the fatty acid esters were separated by preparative thin-layer chromotography. The ester fraction was further purified by reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography and analyzed by ammonia chemical ionization mass spectrometry. Pseudomolecular ions (M + NH4+, base peak) at m/z 336/338, 362/364, and 364/366 in a ratio of 3:1 and 380/382 and 408/410 in a ratio of 1:1 confirmed the in vivo formation of 2-chloroethyl palmitate, 2-chloroethyl oleate, 2-chloroethyl stearate, 2-bromoethyl palmitate, and 2-bromoethyl stearate, respectively. These results demonstrate the formation of fatty acid conjugates of 2-CE and 2-BE in vivo. These fatty acid conjugates may be retained in the body for a longer time and cause toxic manifestations.

Covalent modification of hepatic microsomal lipids of rats by carbon tetrachloride.

The present study was undertaken to isolate and identify various lipids bound to 14C label during hepatic microsomal metabolism of 14CCl4 in vitro under anaerobic conditions and in vivo in rats. The two major radioactive fractions identified by thin-layer chromatography each for neutral lipids and phospholipids from in vitro and in vivo experiments corresponded to fatty acids and triglycerides and to phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), respectively. Approximately 89% of the radioactivity associated with phospholipids was found in PC and PE fractions. Hydrolysis of PC and PE with phospholipase A2 (EC 3.1.1.4) released about 50% of the total radioactivity as lipid moieties corresponding to fatty acids. The radioactive neutral lipids and the lipid moieties hydrolyzed from PC and PE were methylated with boron trifluoride in methanol. These methylated lipids were separated by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the elution profiles of 14C label found for the lipids obtained from in vitro experiments were similar to those from in vivo. The major radioactive fractions eluted immediately after methyl oleate were identified as trichloromethyloctadecenoic and trichloromethyleicosatrienoic acid methyl esters by chemical ionization mass spectrometry. The mass spectral analysis of these fractions also indicated the formation of dichlorocarbene adduct of oleic acid. However, similar mass spectrometric detection of trichloromethylated lipids was not evident in neutral lipids and phospholipids isolated from in vivo studies. The 14C-labeled lipids eluted as a nonpolar fraction exhibited a high molecular weight containing more than three chlorines. Dimerization and cross-linking of trichloromethylated lipids based on HPLC and mass spectral analysis are also discussed in this paper.

DDT and BHC residues in some body tissues of goats, buffalo, and chickens, Lucknow, India.

Muscle, liver, brain, and abdominal body fat samples of goats, buffalo, and chickens, all common meat sources in India, were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) for residues of DDT and benzene hexachloride (BHC). A few samples of goat and buffalo bone marrow were also included. Relatively high residue levels were found in body fat and bone marrow compared with other tissues. DDT and BHC residue levels were highest in chicken body fat, averaging 4.157 ppm sigma DDT and 3.879 ppm BHC. DDT content was much higher in goat and buffalo bone marrow than in the corresponding body fat. DDT levels in brain samples were highest (0.138 ppm) in buffalo. p,p'-TDE levels were higher than p,p'-DDE levels in buffalo; overall DDT levels were lowest in goats. BHC residues were generally low in buffalo; alpha-BHC accounted for most BHC residues in brain tissues. Greater accumulations of DDT and BHC were found in leg muscles than in breast muscles of chickens.

Purification and characterization of rat hepatic microsomal low molecular weight fatty acid ethyl ester synthase and its relationship to carboxylesterases.

We reported purification of a high molecular weight (HMW) (ca. 180 kD) and a low molecular weight (LMW) (ca. 60 kD) protein fractions from digitonized rat liver microsomes using ammonium sulfate precipitation followed by ion exchange and gel filtration column chromatography. Both fractions expressed fatty acid ethyl ester (FAEE) synthase as well as p-nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA)-hydrolyzing (esterase) activities. The HMW fraction was found to be a trimer with subunit molecular weight ca. 60 kD and structurally and functionally similar to rat hepatic microsomal carboxylesterase (CE, pI 6.1) and adipose tissue FAEE synthase. In this article, we report further purification and characterization of the LMW (minor) fraction expressing FAEE synthase activity and its structural and functional relationship to hepatic microsomal CEs. Using isoelectric focusing (IEF) followed by gel filtration-high-performance liquid chromatography (GF-HPLC), five proteins were purified, which expressed FAEE synthase as well as PNPA-hydrolyzing activity. The isoelectric point values of 6.5, 5.8, 5.6, 5.3, and 5.0 were found for the purified LMW proteins by IEF and each showed a peak corresponding to ca. 60 kD molecular weight by GF-HPLC, which expressed FAEE synthase as well as PNPA-hydrolyzing activity. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel elecrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of the GF-HPLC purified LMW proteins revealed that these proteins are monomers (ca. 60 kD). All the purified LMW proteins cross-reacted with antibodies to rat adipose tissue FAEE synthase. Coelution of PNPA-hydrolyzing and FAEE synthase activity at each step of purification and cross-reactivity with rat adipose tissue FAEE synthase antibodies suggest that the purified proteins are related to various hepatic microsomal CEs. This conclusion is further supported by the homology of N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified LMW proteins to various hepatic microsomal CEs and protease precursors. Therefore, LMW FAEE synthase activity most probably is expressed by various isozymes of hepatic microsomal CEs, which are also involved in the biotransformation of xenobiotic alcohols and amines.

Single step thin-layer chromatographic method for quantitation of enzymatic formation of fatty acid anilides.

The activity of the enzyme involved in catalyzing the formation of fatty acid anilides can be measured by quantitating the fatty acid anilides formed. We have shown earlier that oleic acid is the most preferred substrate among other fatty acids studied for the conjugation with aniline. The reaction product (oleyl anilide) could be separated by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and then quantified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Using [1-(14)C]oleic acid as substrate, the fatty acid anilide forming activity can be determined in a single step by TLC analysis. The conventional TLC methods used for the separation of the fatty acid esters, however, could not resolve oleyl anilide from the residual [1-(14)C]oleic acid. Therefore, a simple and reliable TLC method was developed for the separation of oleyl anilide from oleic acid using a freshly prepared solvent consisting of petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-ammonium hydroxide (80:20:1, v/v). Using this solvent system the relative flow (Rf) values were found to be 0.54 for oleyl anilide and 0.34 for aniline, whereas oleic acid remained at the origin. The TLC procedure developed in the present study could be used to determine the fatty acid anilide forming activity using [1-(14)C]oleic or other fatty acids as substrate and was also found suitable for the analysis of fatty acid anilides from the biological samples.

Fatty acid ethyl esters and ethanol-induced pancreatitis.

Conjugation of xenobiotic alcohols with endogenous fatty acids is considered one of the mechanisms of their retention in the target organs. A number of fatty acid esters of alcohol's detected in the human tissues were found to be toxic in vivo and in vitro. Non-oxidative metabolism of ethanol resulting in the formation of fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEEs) appears to be one of the major pathways of ethanol disposition in the pancreas during chronic alcohol abuse, and could be associated with pancreatitis. In most cases, pancreatic damage occurs in alcoholics preceding the onset of clinical pancreatitis. Early markers of ethanol-induced pancreatitis could be important for early prevention of such injury. Although FAEEs have been implicated in the ethanol-induced pancreatitis, mechanism(s) of such injury is not well understood. Studies by others and by our own group have shown that plasma levels of FAEEs correlate well with plasma/blood alcohol concentration. FAEE synthase is known to catalyze the formation of FAEEs. The activity of FAEE synthase was found highest in the pancreas. Excessive synthesis of FAEEs during chronic alcohol abuse in the pancreas may be associated with pancreatic injury as supported by in vivo and cell culture studies. Human studies correlating plasma FAEE levels with that of markers of pancreatic injury could be important in developing markers of ethanol-induced toxicity. Although toxicity of exogenously administered FAEEs is shown in vivo and in vitro, the toxicity associated with endogenously formed FAEEs has not been studied. Therefore, studies regarding the role of endogenously formed FAEEs could be important in understanding the mechanism of ethanol-induced pancreatitis.

Time-dependent autoimmune response of dichloroacetyl chloride in female MRL +/+ mice.

Welders are exposed to dichloroacetyl chloride (DCAC) when trichloroethene (TCE) is used as a degreasing agent. Human exposure to TCE and tetrachloroethane can also lead to formation of DCAC in situ through metabolism. Due to its strong acylating property, it can bind with cellular macromolecules and act as hapten and consequently may elicit autoimmune (Al) response. Earlier, we reported that both TCE and DCAC induce/accelerate Al response in MRL +/+ mice, and DCAC even at 50 fold lower concentration induced greater Al responses. These studies, however, were conducted at a single time point (six weeks of treatment) and therefore necessitate a time-dependent characterization of this DCAC-induced Al response. Female MRL +/+ were given ip treatments of 0.2 mmol/kg DCAC in 100 microliters of corn oil every 4th day, while controls received an equal volume of corn oil only. DCAC treatment resulted in spleen weight increases at all time points whereas serum IgG showed significant increases at 4, 6 and 8 weeks of treatment. Serum autoantibodies, i.e., antinuclear antibodies, anti-single stranded DNA antibodies and anticardiolipin antibodies showed positive responses only after 4 weeks of treatment. However, the optimal responses were observed at 6 weeks and subsequently the responses diminished (at 8 weeks). The DCAC-specific antibodies showed a pattern similar to autoantibodies, i.e., an optimal response at 6 weeks of treatment. Our results thus suggest that DCAC under the current experimental conditions induces an optimal Al response at 6 weeks of treatment and further emphasize the usefulness of MRL +/+ mice in studying chemical-induced autoimmunity.