Longitudinal study of a mouse model of familial porphyria cutanea tarda.

Most rodent models of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) share in common the administration of iron and agents that induce transcription of cytochrome P450s. Dissection of changes related to porphyrin accumulation required generation of a genetic model free from exogenous precipitants. Mice heterozygous for a null Urod mutation and homozygous for null Hfe alleles spontaneously develop major increases in hepatic and urinary porphyrins several months after weaning but the high % uroporphyrin signature of PCT is established earlier, before total hepatic and urinary porphyrins rise. Total porphyrin levels eventually plateau at higher levels in females than in males. Porphyrinogens were the dominant tetrapyrroles accumulating in hepatocytes. Hepatic Urod activity is markedly reduced but total hepatic heme content does not diminish. Microsomal heme, however, is reduced and in vitro metabolism of prototype substrates showed that some but not all cytochrome P450 activities are reduced. High hepatic levels of uroporphyrinogen are also associated with increased glutathione S-transferase activity and elevated mRNA of 2 transporters, Abcc1 and Abcc4. This murine model of familial PCT affords the opportunity to study changes in porphyrinogen and porphyrin accumulation and transport in the absence of exogenous factors that alter P450 activity and transmembrane transporters.

Assessment of acid rock drainage pollutants release in the uranium mining site of Poços de Caldas--Brazil.

We compared three different techniques to assess acid drainage occurrence connected to pyritic waste rock piles at a uranium mining and milling site in Poços de Caldas--Brazil: (1) mass balance calculations, (2) column leaching experiments and (3) geochemical modelling. The study site was chosen because all the drainage coming from the pile is collected in one holding pond and a huge database (monitoring program) was available. The three independent methods predicted similar values for the intrinsic oxidation rate (IOR) (about 10(-9) kg m-3 s-1). We estimate the total time for consumption of all oxidizable material in the dump to be greater than 500 years. Geochemical model results showed a good agreement between predicted sulphate concentrations in relation to those found in the waste pile drainage, although the Al values were overestimated and pH values were underestimated.

The psoralens adversely affect reproductive function in male wistar rats.

The psoralens occur naturally in produce and are widely used in skin therapy. Studies show that 5-methoxypsoralen and 8-methoxypsoralen reduced birth rates in rats. We determined the effect of psoralens on reproductive function in male rats. Male Wistar rats were dosed daily with 5-methoxypsoralen or 8-methoxypsoralen (75 or 150 mg/kg, p.o.), or vehicle control. Treated males had significantly smaller pituitary glands, fewer sperm per ejaculate, and fewer sperm in the vasa defferentia and epididymides than controls. Dosing significantly elevated levels of testosterone and increased relative testis weight, but did not directly affect testicular weight. Females bred to dosed males required more time to become pregnant, and these males required more breeding attempts. The findings demonstrate the importance of determining the potential risk for infertility and/or birth defects in humans who are exposed to therapeutic, dietary, or occupational psoralens.

A mouse model of familial porphyria cutanea tarda.

Approximately one-third of patients with porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), the most common porphyria in humans, inherit a single mutant allele of the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D) gene. PCT associated with URO-D mutations is designated familial PCT. The phenotype is characterized by a photosensitive dermatosis with hepatic accumulation and urinary excretion of uroporphyrin and hepta-carboxylic porphyrins. Most heterozygotes for URO-D mutations do not express a porphyric phenotype unless hepatic siderosis is present. Hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations are frequently found when the phenotype is expressed. We used homologous recombination to disrupt one allele of murine URO-D. URO-D(+/-) mice had half-wild type (wt) URO-D protein and enzymatic activity in all tissues but did not accumulate hepatic porphyrins, indicating that half-normal URO-D activity is not rate limiting. When URO-D(+/-) mice were injected with iron-dextran and given drinking water containing delta-aminolevulinic acid for 21 days, hepatic porphyrins accumulated, and hepatic URO-D activity was reduced to 20% of wt. We bred mice homozygous for an HFE gene disruption (HFE(-/-)) to URO-D(+/-) mice, generating mice with the URO-D(+/-)/HFE(-/-) genotype. These animals developed a porphyric phenotype by 14 weeks of age without ALA supplementation, and URO-D activity was reduced to 14% of wt. These data indicate that iron overload alone is sufficient to reduce URO-D activity to rate-limiting levels in URO-D(+/-) mice. The URO-D(+/-) mouse serves as an excellent model of familial PCT and affords the opportunity to define the mechanism by which iron influences URO-D activity.

Accelerated development of uroporphyria in mice heterozygous for a deletion at the uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase locus.

Three weeks after a single dose of iron-dextran and Aroclor 1254, mice maintained continuously on delta-aminolevulinic acid supplemented drinking water showed significantly elevated levels of hepatic uroporphyrin and depressed (25% of normal) uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D) activity. Depressed URO-D activity was paralleled by the ability of heat denatured cytosol to inhibit rhURO-D activity. Mice heterozygous for a targeted disruption at the URO-D locus (URO-D+/-) exhibited half the URO-D activity of homozygous controls prior to treatment. After treatment, these animals showed URO-D activity and rhURO-D inhibitory activity comparable to similarly treated wild type (URO-D +/+) mice but with significantly greater uroporphyrin accumulation. With only 10 days of treatment, URO-D +/- but not URO-D +/+ mice showed changes similar in magnitude to those seen after 21 days. Prior to treatment, URO-D genotype did not influence overall hepatic P450 concentration in either sex and there was no significant difference between sexes. The treatment regimen significantly elevated P450 in animals of either URO-D genotype and in both sexes, although the induction response at the 10-day point was attenuated in URO-D +/- mice. From differences in the CO absorbance maximum, and by P450 activity analysis, this attenuated induction response resulted from an attenuation of the CYP2B not the CYP1A induction.

Transdermal estrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women previously treated for porphyria cutanea tarda.

Oral contraceptives and postmenopausal estrogen replacement therapy are recognized as risk factors for the development of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) in women. The recommended clinical practice is to withhold estrogen therapy in women who have had phlebotomy therapy for PCT and are clinically and biochemically normal. We tested the safety and efficacy of transdermal estrogen replacement therapy in 7 women previously treated for PCT and compared them with 19 non-porphyric control subjects treated with transdermal or oral estrogens. Gonadotrophic hormone levels, estrogen levels, liver function studies, body iron stores, urine porphyrin excretion, and cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2) activity were monitored for 1 year. Four of the women previously treated for PCT completed the study. None had evidence of a porphyric relapse. CYP1A2 activity, measured by three different methods, did not differ between study subjects receiving estrogens, patients with active PCT, and non-porphyric control subjects, nor did CYP1A2 activity change during the study period. Gonadotrophic hormone levels fell and estrogen levels rose in all women receiving estrogens. The administration of estrogens by the transdermal route appeared to be safe in the small number of subjects we studied and should be considered for women previously treated for PCT.

CYP3A-inducing agents and the attenuation of uroporphyrin accumulation and excretion in a rat model of porphyria cutanea tarda.

An experimental model of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) can be achieved in 3 weeks by a single injection of a mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor 1254) into iron-loaded female Fischer 344 rats maintained continuously on delta-aminolevulinic acid-supplemented drinking water. In this model, daily treatment with 5-pregnen-3 beta-ol-20-one-16 alpha-carbonitrile (pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile) attenuated uroporphyrin and heptacarboxylporphyrin accumulation and excretion by 75%. Pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile treatment had only a minor effect on hepatic iron stores, and it had no effect on the induction of CYP1A activities by Aroclor 1254. In the absence of Aroclor 1254, pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile had no effect on the accumulation and excretion of highly carboxylated porphyrins. Attenuation of porphyrin accumulation could also be demonstrated with daily troleandomycin treatment. Troleandomycin increased CYP3A-dependent erythromycin demethylase activity, but to a lesser extent than pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile. Much of the CYP3A induced by troleandomycin was sequestered as a catalytically inactive metabolic-intermediate complex. In the absence of Aroclor 1254, troleandomycin had no effect on the accumulation and excretion of highly carboxylated porphyrins, nor did troleandomycin alter the induction of CYP1A by Aroclor 1254. The results suggest that the major attenuation of hepatic accumulation and urinary excretion of uro- and heptacarboxylporphyrins in the rat PCT model by pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile and troleandomycin is due to an enhancement of CYP3A catalytic activity.

Early events in the induction of rat hepatic UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, glutathione S-transferase, and microsomal epoxide hydrolase by 1,7-phenanthroline: comparison with oltipraz, tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole, and tert-butylhydroquinone.

Several classes of compounds are able to induce a spectrum of drug-metabolizing enzymes without inducing cytochrome P450s. Examples include antioxidants such as tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole and its metabolite tert-butylhydroquinone, dithiolthiones such as oltipraz, and N-heterocycles such as 1,7-phenanthroline. The events associated with induction of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT), glutathione S-transferases, and microsomal epoxide hydrolase after a single oral dose of these agents have been compared. No agent significantly elevated any of these enzyme activities within 24 h, but oltipraz and 1,7-phenanthroline significantly increased glutathione S-transferase and UGT activities by 48 h. 1, 7-Phenanthroline and oltipraz showed generally similar time-course responses of drug-metabolizing enzyme mRNAs; little change from control at 6 h followed by significant and maximal increases 12 to 18 h after treatment. Maximal mRNA changes for 1,7-phenanthroline and oltipraz were of similar magnitude and clustered around 4-fold for most enzymes. With the exception of one UGT isozyme (UGT1A1), the elevations in mRNA were blocked by prior administration of actinomycin D, indicative of a transcription-dependent response. Neither tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole nor tert-butylhydroquinone caused a statistically significant increase in any mRNA examined at any time point.

Hemochromatosis genes and other factors contributing to the pathogenesis of porphyria cutanea tarda.

Inherited and acquired factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT), a disorder characterized by a photosensitive dermatosis and hepatic siderosis. This study, comprising 108 patients with PCT, was intended to define the role of hemochromatosis gene (HFE) mutations in the expression of PCT and to determine the contribution of acquired factors including alcohol, hepatitis C virus (HCV), and estrogen. The 2 known HFE mutations, cysteine 282 tyrosine (Cys282Tyr) and histidine 63 asparagine (His63Asp), were detected by polymerase chain reaction, and anti-HCV immunoglobulin G was detected serologically. Liver biopsies were graded for iron content, inflammation, and fibrosis. Estimates of alcohol and estrogen use were based on a questionnaire. Of the PCT patients tested, 19% were homozygous for the Cys282Tyr mutation; controls were equal to 0.5%. The compound heterozygous genotype was detected in 7% of the PCT patients; controls were less than 1%. The transferrin saturation, serum ferritin, and liver iron burden of all PCT patients were higher than those of nonporphyric controls. The highest values were found in PCT patients homozygous for the Cys282Tyr mutation. Of the patients studied, 59% were HCV positive (compared with 1.8% of the population), and 46% consumed more than 70 g of alcohol daily. Of the female patients, 63% were ingesting estrogens. Hepatic damage was most marked in patients with the Cys282Tyr/Cys282Tyr genotype who had HCV and drank heavily. Homozygosity for the Cys282Tyr mutation and HCV are the greatest risk factors for expression of PCT, and in most patients, more than 1 risk factor was identified. It was common for patients with HCV to consume alcohol. Patients with PCT should be screened for HFE mutations and for HCV. (Blood. 2000;95:1565-1571)

A novel group of ovarian toxicants: the psoralens.

The psoralens are naturally occurring metabolites found in many crop plants; synthetic forms of 5-methoxypsoralen (bergapten) and 8-methoxypsoralen (xanthotoxin) are widely used in skin photochemotherapy. Our previous research documented that dietary bergapten and xanthotoxin reduced birthrates in female rats when males and females were exposed to these chemicals. The present study was designed to determine the cause of this reduced birthrate and whether this resulted from direct impact on the females. The study demonstrates that bergapten and xanthotoxin administered, either alone or in combination to female rats (mated to undosed males), significantly reduced the number of implantation sites, pups, and corpora lutea in dosed females compared with control animals. Additionally, full uterine weight and empty uterine weight were significantly reduced. These compounds also significantly reduced circulating estrogen levels in a dose-dependent manner. Interestingly, the psoralens significantly induced mRNAs of liver enzymes typically induced by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, CYP1A1 and UGT1A6; the higher the dose, the greater the induction. UGT 2B1 mRNA, typically induced by phenobarbital-like compounds, was not significantly affected. Thus, enhanced oxidative metabolism and conjugation of estrogens in psoralen-treated animals may provide a partial explanation for the effects observed. These findings are also consistent with psoralen-induced reduction in ovarian follicular function and ovulation.

Induction of drug metabolizing enzymes by 1,7-phenanthroline and oltipraz in mice is unrelated to Ah-responsiveness.

The protective effect of several classes of compounds against the toxic and neoplastic effects of xenobiotics has been attributed to the induction of noncytochrome P450 (P450) drug metabolizing enzymes. Glutathione S-transferases (GST), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (QOR), and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) play a prominent role in detoxification and can be induced by oltipraz and other N-heterocyclic compounds in rats. In contrast to the induction of these enzymes by aryl hydrocarbon (Ah)-receptor agonists, induction by oltipraz and 1,7-phenanthroline is not accompanied by CYP1A induction. This study investigated the induction of drug metabolizing enzymes following administration of oltipraz and 1,7-phenanthroline in four mouse strains (C57B6A-J, Frings x C57B6J, Frings, CF-1) exhibiting varying degrees of responsiveness to an Ah-receptor agonist. The relative Ah responsiveness was determined in all strains by the induction of hepatic Cypla after three daily doses of 3-methylcholanthrene (20 mg/kg). After treatment with 1,7-phenanthroline and oltipraz (150 mg/kg i.g.) daily for 3 days, all strains showed similar induction of GST and QOR activities for each inducer. Both compounds were equally effective in elevating GST activity, but 1,7-phenanthroline was more effective than oltipraz in elevating QOR activity. In addition to GST and QOR changes, 1,7-phenanthroline significantly elevated UGT (1-naphthol) activity in the Frings strain. Neither compound produced significant changes in Cypla parameters. The independence of 1,7-phenanthroline and oltipraz induction of GST and QOR from Cypla-responsiveness is in line with the concept that N-heterocycle-containing inducers act by mechanisms other than an Ah-receptor-dependent pathway in which the P450 response has been masked or prevented.

Drug-metabolizing enzyme induction by 2,2'-dipyridyl, 1,7-phenanthroline, 7,8-benzoquinoline and oltipraz in mouse.

1. Changes in the major hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes by compounds identified as atypical inducers (multienzyme response but devoid of cytochrome P450-inducing ability) in rat were investigated in mouse. Animals were treated with 1,7-phenanthroline, 2,2'-dipyridyl, 7,8-benzoquinoline and oltipraz at 75 and 150 mg/kg daily for 3 days. 2. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities showed only limited changes, UGT activity towards 4-nitrophenol and 1-naphthol was induced by the 75 mg/kg dose of 2,2'-dipyridyl and UGT activity towards morphine was induced by 150 mg/kg doses of 7,8-benzoquinoline and oltipraz. UGT activity towards oestrone was not induced by any treatment regimen and showed a decrease following treatment with the lower dose of 7,8-benzoquinoline. 3. In contrast with the limited effect on UGT activities, glutathione S-transferase and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase activities were significantly elevated by most compounds. Glutathione S-transferase activity was significantly elevated by the 150 mg/kg dose of 1,7-phenanthroline (73%), 2,2'-dipyridyl (52%) and oltipraz (75%), and also the lower dose of 1,7-phenanthroline (47%). NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase activity was significantly elevated by the higher dose of all N-heterocycles (155-323%) as well as the lower dose of 1,7-phenanthroline (180%). 4. In contrast with the effect previously seen in rat, 7,8-benzoquinoline significantly elevated mouse cytochrome P450 concentration but not 7-ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity. As in rat, no N-heterocycle-containing compound significantly elevated pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity. 5. Overall, mouse show a more limited response in the range of drug-metabolizing enzymes induced by N-heterocycles compared with rat, but as in rat, cytochrome P450 was largely unaffected.

Differential chemoprotection against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity by latentiated L-cysteines.

Novel thiazolidine prodrugs were prepared by the condensation of L-cysteine with aldose disaccharides. Using a disaccharide in prodrug construction allows for a terminal cyclic sugar moiety to be present on the prodrug, which may allow the delivery of the agent to specific receptors, such as the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) of hepatocytes, that require specific structural motifs for recognition. Three L-cysteine prodrugs were synthesized with a pendant cyclic galactose moiety; two related glucose-bearing prodrugs were synthesized for comparison. The prodrugs were designed to release L-cysteine, which is then available to support glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis and provide cytoprotection against a variety of toxic insults. Protection studies in Swiss-Webster mice used acetaminophen (575 mg/kg), a well-documented hepatotoxin which depletes GSH at overdose. Three prodrugs performed exceptionally well against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity, as measured by increased survival and improved histological profiles of liver tissue after 48 h. In further experimentation, two of the disaccharide-based prodrugs, prepared from alpha- and beta-lactose, were compared with the monosaccharide-based compound prepared from ribose. Co-administration of the selected prodrugs with a 400 mg/kg dose of acetaminophen to Swiss-Webster mice prevented the short-term depletion in hepatic GSH and also reduced hepatotoxicity as determined by histological damage and serum levels of alanine aminotransferase. A single dose of the prodrugs alone had no effect on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes [glutathione S-transferase (GST), NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QOR), UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), and cytochrome P450], but, concordant with the reduction of hepatotoxicity, the latentiated forms prevented the significant elevation in QOR activity and mRNA and GST mRNA elicited by acetaminophen itself. GST activity, UGT activity and mRNA, and cytochrome P450 concentration were all unaffected by acetaminophen or the prodrugs. These studies identified novel L-cysteine prodrugs with potentially useful hepatoprotective activity. However, no structure-activity relationships were obvious. In addition, the occurrence of targeted delivery to hepatocytes remains ambiguous.

Phase II-selective induction of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes by oltipraz -5-(2-pyrazinyl)-4-methyl-1,2-dithiol-3-thione-, 1,7-phenanthroline, and 2,2'-dipyridyl in rats is not accompanied by induction of intestinal enzymes.

The induction of hepatic and intestinal cytochrome P450, NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (QOR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities by intragastric administration of 1,7-phenanthroline, 2,2'-dipyridyl, and oltipraz has been investigated in rats. In the liver, all three compounds induced phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes without inducing overall cytochrome P450 concentrations and, in a direct comparison, all agents induced the enzymes to a greater extent than did the same dose of tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. With a 75 mg/kg daily, 3-day regimen, UGT, GST, and QOR activities were induced by all compounds. The changes in hepatic GST, QOR, and UGT activities induced by N-heterocyclic compounds were accompanied by increases in the amounts of mRNA for GST Ya (2-2.4-fold), QOR (1.6-2.8-fold), and the UGTs UGT2B1 (4-6-fold) and UGT1A6 (4-10-fold). Changes in the amounts of UGT2B1 mRNA and UGT1A6 mRNA were highly correlated (r = 0. 9), but there was no correlation between changes in either UGT2B1 or UGT1A6 mRNA and GST Ya mRNA. No significant mRNA changes were elicited by tert-butyl-4-hydroxyanisole. Neither GST nor UGT activities were induced in the small intestinal mucosa by any agent. QOR activity was slightly induced by oltipraz. The data suggest that requirements for induction of phase II enzymes in the intestine are markedly different from requirements in the liver.

Intestinal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities in rat and rabbit.

1. Tissues other than the liver can contribute significantly to the drug-metabolizing capacity of an animal. In the current study, the glucuronidation of several aglycones in microsomes from the small intestinal mucosa of rat and rabbit has been investigated and compared with glucuronidation in liver microsomes. 2. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities in intestinal microsomes were generally higher in rabbit when compared with rat, ranging from 200 to 300% for 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol, 4-methylumbelliferone, 2-hydroxybiphenyl and 4-hydroxybiphenyl. 3. In contrast, hepatic activities were much higher in rat than in rabbit, ranging from 300 to 400% for 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol, 4-methylumbelliferone, 2-hydroxybiphenyl and testosterone; and from 150 to 250% for 4-nitrophenol and diclofenac. 4. In rabbit, activities in the small intestinal mucosa were comparable (70-100%) with hepatic activities for most aglycones. In rat, intestinal mucosa activities were much lower than in liver, with activities toward 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol, 4-nitrophenol, 4-methylumbelliferone, 2-hydroxybiphenyl and 4-hydroxybiphenyl in the small intestine representing 5-15% of hepatic activities. 5. With a higher intestine:liver activity ratio, intestinal UDP-glucuronosyltransferases could be anticipated to contribute more to overall drug glucuronidation in rabbit as compared with rat, thereby contributing more to reducing drug bioavailability.

Selective induction of phase II drug metabolizing enzyme activities by quinolines and isoquinolines.

Rats treated with quinoline, and to a lesser extent, isoquinoline (75 mg/kg, daily for 3 days) showed induction of phase II drug metabolizing enzyme activities without inducing either cytochrome P450 concentration or CYP1A-, CYP2B-, CYP2E-, and CYP3A-selective activities. Elevations of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol, and morphine elicited by quinoline (1.9- to 2.7-fold), were greater than those elicited by isoquinoline (1.4- to 1.8-fold). UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards estrone and testosterone were not increased by either compound. Microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity was increased only by quinoline (2.7-fold). NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase activity was increased 2-fold by quinoline and isoquinoline. Cytosolic glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was increased similarly (approximately 20%) by both agents. Similar treatment of rats with either quinine (75 mg/kg) or chloroquine (150 mg/kg) increased 1-naphthol glucuronidation and GST (quinine only) activities. At 75 mg/kg, chloroquine did not affect any phase II enzyme activities but caused a minor elevation of a phase I enzyme, CYP1A; ascertained from an elevation of 7-ethoxyresorufin deethylase activity and a small hypsochromic shift to the absorbance maximum of the cytochrome P450 CO-complex. With quinoline and isoquinoline treatments (n = 14), the correlation coefficients (R) between microsomal epoxide hydrolase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol and morphine were 0.96 and 0.92 respectively, suggesting a highly coordinated induction. The highest NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase correlations were with microsomal epoxide hydrolase and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol and morphine (R approximately 0.78). Correlation coefficients between GST and microsomal epoxide hydrolase and NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase activities were approximately 0.49. Quinoline and isoquinoline, nitrogen heterocyclic analogs of naphthalene, join the list of simple nitrogen-containing polycyclic aromatic agents capable of selective induction of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes. The position of the single heterocyclic nitrogen atom in the bicyclic ring influences the magnitude and breadth of the induction response. The addition of bulky ring substituents (quinine, chloroquine) reduced the induction response.

Cytochrome P450 induction, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase depression, porphyrin accumulation and excretion, and gender influence in a 3-week rat model of porphyria cutanea tarda.

An experimental model of porphyria cutanea tarda, consisting of depressed hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D) activity and accumulation of highly carboxylated porphyrins in the liver, was produced in 3 weeks in Fischer 344 rats. A single administration of a polychlorinated biphenyl mixture (Aroclor 1254) to iron-loaded female rats maintained continuously on delta-aminolevulinic acid supplemented drinking water produced the porphyric state. Without iron loading, URO-D activity appeared slightly less inhibited (33% of normal vs 23% of normal) but porphyrin accumulation was dramatically less (70 vs 605 micrograms porphyrin/g liver). Similar treatment in male rats produced URO-D activities of 54 and 70% of normal with and without iron loading, respectively, and porphyrin concentrations of 76 and 17 micrograms/g. When hexachlorobenzene was substituted for Aroclor 1254 treatment in female rats, URO-D activity was 61 and 69% of normal (with and without iron loading, respectively) and liver porphyrin concentrations were 96 and 25 micrograms/g, respectively. Hexachlorobenzene did not produce significant porphyric effects in male rats. Aroclor 1254 induced CYP1A to a greater extent in females than in males and to a greater extent than hexachlorobenzene, which showed a greater propensity to induce CYP2B. Overall correlation between URO-D activity depression and porphyrin accumulation was highest when fitted to an exponential curve, indicating the importance of the extreme of the depression URO-D activity in evoking experimental porphyria cutanea tarda.

Mutational analysis of human uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase.

Uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase (URO-D), a heme biosynthetic enzyme, catalyzes the multi-step decarboxylation reaction converting uroporphyrinogen I or III to coproporphyrinogen I or III. The URO-D protein has been purified from several sources and its gene has been cloned from many organisms. In spite of this, little is known about the active site(s) of the enzyme. Inhibitor studies suggest that cysteine and histidine residues are important for enzyme activity. We employed the Kunkel method of site-directed mutagenesis to convert each of the six cysteines in human URO-D to serine and each of the three conserved histidines to asparagine. Recombinant mutant URO-D's were expressed in Escherichia coli, partially purified, and their kinetic properties compared to recombinant wild-type URO-D. All cysteine mutants retained approx. 40% wild-type enzyme activity, indicating that no single cysteine is absolutely critical for the integrity of the catalytic site. The three histidine mutants also retained significant enzyme activity and one, (H339N), displayed unique properties. The H339N mutation resulted in an enzyme with high residual activity but decarboxylation of intermediate reaction products of the I isomer series was markedly abnormal. The histidine at residue 339 is likely important in imparting isomer specificity.

Correlations of the induction of microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity with phase II drug conjugating enzyme activities in rat liver.

Within the selective induction of phase II enzymes following treatment with dipyridyls or N-heterocyclic analogs of phenanthrene, strong correlations (r > or = 0.70) are observed between the increase of microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) activity and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities towards 4-nitrophenol, 1-naphthol and morphine. The present study investigates whether this correlation is maintained with inducing agents known to also increase phase I enzyme activities. Rats were treated with beta-naphthoflavone, isosafrole, phenobarbital, ethanol, dexamethasone and clofibric acid regimens in which P450 isozyme induction could be confirmed. Comparisons between the responses of mEH, UGT and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were made. mEH activity was increased by beta-naphthoflavone, isosafrole, phenobarbital and clofibric acid. The elevation in mEH activity by these agents showed modest but significant correlations with GST activities toward all the substrates monitored (r values range between 0.49 and 0.65) and a strong correlation with UGT activity towards only one substrate, morphine (r = 0.70). This study suggests that induction of mEH activity correlates with the increases in select phase II enzyme activities whether it is accompanied by P450 induction or not.