Inhibition of glutathione-related enzymes and cytotoxicity of ethacrynic acid and cyclosporine.

Glutathione (GSH) is an endogenous thiol that detoxifies active oxygen and reactive species formed during intermediary metabolism and drug detoxification. Compounds with a range of potential toxicities were tested for their abilities to affect GSH reductase and GSH S-transferase activities, which are each components of the two principal detoxification pathways in which GSH participates. A high performance liquid chromatographic method for determining oxidized and reduced GSH was modified to assay GSH reductase activity. With this method it was possible to demonstrate that ethacrynic acid, which inhibits GSH S-transferase, also inhibits the activity of GSH reductase. Inhibition of GSH reductase by ethacrynic acid was similar to that seen with carmustine (BCNU). GSH reductase activity was not affected by cis- or transplatin, buthionine sulfoximine, other loop diuretics, cyclosporine A or aminoglycosides. Cyclosporine inhibited GSH S-transferase at 50 microM and higher concentrations. These results support a role for GSH-mediated detoxification mechanisms in ethacrynic acid- and cyclosporine-associated cytotoxicity, which may mediate their toxicities and their potential as adjunctive agents in antineoplastic therapy. A better understanding of the mechanism of their toxicity can greatly extend the clinical usefulness of these agents, as this toxicity is the basis of both their therapeutic and antitherapeutic actions.

Aminopyrine and biphenyl metabolism in cultured hepatocytes. Induction by alcohols.

Exposure of cultured chick embryo hepatocytes to ethanol, isobutanol, or isopentanol, the predominant alcohols present in commercial alcoholic beverages, resulted in increased metabolism of aminopyrine or biphenyl by the intact cells. The increases correlated with induction of cytochrome P-450. Hydroxylation of biphenyl at the 4-position was preferentially increased in cells pretreated with either the alcohols or propylisopropylacetamide, a barbiturate-like inducer of cytochrome P-450. In contrast, exposure of the cells to 3,4,3',4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl, a planar polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon inducer of P-450, resulted in preferential increased hydroxylation at the 2- and 3-positions of biphenyl.

The early effects of chemical carcinogens on adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture: I. Quantitative changes in intracellular enzyme activities following a single dose of carcinogen.

The effects of exposure of adult rat hepatocytes to chemical carcinogens have been studied using a short-term maintenance culture system. Scanning microdensitometry was used to quantitate the observed changes in enzyme activity. The dose-response curves showed a biphasic response for all 4 enzymes studied (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, NADPH oxidase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase) there being decreased enzyme activities at the higher dose levels used, possibly indicating cytotoxicity. The enhancement of enzyme activity at low dose levels was due to generalised increases occurring in every cell, rather than to selection of a cell species particularly high in enzyme activity. A culture period of 24 h was necessary for the complete adaptation of the cells to the culture environment as evidenced by the response of intracellular glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity to carcinogen treatment. These findings are discussed in relation to previously reported in vivo studies.

DNA damage produced by N-nitrosomethyl(2-oxopropyl)amine (MOP) in hamster and rat pancreas: a role for the liver.

Utilizing the technique of alkaline elution analysis, the ability of N-nitrosomethyl(2-oxopropyl)amine (MOP), a potent pancreatic carcinogen, to damage pancreatic DNA in rats and hamsters was examined. Pancreatic DNA isolated from hamsters exposed for 1 h to MOP given i.p. at doses of 7-60 mg/kg showed dose-related DNA damage. A similar dose-response was observed in the pancreas of rats receiving 20-180 mg MOP/kg, suggesting that hamsters were 2-3 times more sensitive than rats. In contrast to the results obtained in vivo, functionally viable acinar cells from both rat and hamster pancreas, when exposed in vitro to levels of MOP comparable to those in vivo (20-180 micrograms/ml), failed to show dose-related DNA damage. Acinar cells from hamsters pretreated with 5,6-benzoflavone, an inducer of cytochrome P-450 activity, showed greatly enhanced drug-metabolizing capability, but again no DNA damage was observed upon exposure to MOP. Minced hamster or rat pancreas also failed to show DNA damage in response to MOP treatment. When hamsters in which hepatic blood supply was interrupted by ligation were given 60 mg/kg MOP i.v. and sacrificed 15 min later, damage to pancreatic and liver DNA was comparable to that observed in ligated controls which had received saline only. Administration of MOP to sham-operated animals led to extensive DNA damage in both pancreas and liver at 15 min. Analysis by h.p.l.c. showed an almost 2-fold increase in the amount of MOP present in the pancreases of the liver-ligated animals as compared to the sham-operated unligated animals. MOP was absent from the liver of the ligated animals. These experiments strongly suggest that DNA damage by MOP to the pancreatic acinar cells and probably to other pancreatic cell types, as well, requires metabolic activation by the liver.

Covalent binding of N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene and N-hydroxy-N-glycolyl-2-aminofluorene to rat hepatocyte DNA: in vitro and cell-suspension studies.

Two 2-aminofluorene-derived hydroxamic acids that differ only in the nature of the N-acyl group were examined for their relative abilities to undergo covalent binding to nucleic acids. Studies of the bioactivation of N-hydroxy-N-acetyl-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-AAF) and N-hydroxy-N-glycolyl-2-aminofluorene (N-OH-GAF) were conducted with hepatocyte suspensions and subcellular fractions prepared from male Sprague-Dawley rats. Both hydroxamic acid substrates displayed equal binding to both DNA and RNA after incubations with hepatocyte suspensions. The extent of binding of each substrate was approximately the same for DNA and RNA. Investigations with subcellular fractions revealed some major differences between the probable mechanisms by which the two substrates were covalently bound to exogenous DNA. In agreement with the prior literature reports, N-OH-AAF was extensively bound to DNA through the action of cytosol enzymes, including both N,O-acyltransferase and sulfotransferase. The microsomal enzyme fraction also catalyzed binding to DNA, and this process was completely inhibited by paraoxon. The covalent binding of N-OH-GAF to DNA was catalyzed by cytosol enzymes to a significant extent only in the presence of 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate, which suggests the action of sulfotransferase. Covalent binding of N-OH-GAF to DNA was minimal through the action of cytosolic N,O-acyltransferase, which confirms our earlier observation that N-OH-GAF is a potent suicide inhibitor of this enzyme. The microsomal fraction catalyzed the binding of N-OH-GAF to DNA at a rate that was about twice that observed for N-OH-AAF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The metabolism of biphenyl by isolated viable rat hepatocytes.

1. The metabolism of biphenyl by isolated viable rat hepatocytes has been studied and a tentative scheme of metabolism proposed which involves initial hydroxylation at the 2- and 4-positions followed by conjugation and/or further hydroxylation of these primary metabolites. 2. Biphenyl was toxic to viable hepatocytes when used at a concentration approaching that used in conventional microsomal assay systems. 3. The production of small amounts of 4-hydroxybiphenyl appears to activate its subsequent conjugation. 4. The data presented in this paper integrate previous results obtained with cell fractions, and demonstrates the importance of the isolated, viable hepatocyte system as a model for total drug metabolism.

The microsomal metabolism of the organometallic derivatives of the group-IV elements, germanium, tin and lead.

The NADPH- and oxygen-dependent microsomal metabolism of the di-, tri- and tetra-ethyl-substituted derivatives of germanium, tin and lead was shown to give rise to ethylene as a major product and ethane as a minor product. These reactions were shown to be catalysed by the liver microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent mono-oxygenase. Since formation of ethane and ethylene was differentially inhibited by anaerobiosis, the results suggest that at least a large portion of the ethane produced may be derived by a reductive mechanism. Triethyltin bromide in both the absence and presence of NADPH was shown to convert cytochrome P-450 into cytochrome P-420 and to affect the function of the mono-oxygenase in vitro. Tetraethyltin caused the NADPH- and time-dependent formation of cytochrome P-420, suggesting that tetraethyltin is converted into triethyltin salts in significant concentrations. The order of potency in formation of cytochrome P-420 was closely paralleled by the ability of the tin derivatives to induce microsomal lipid peroxidation in vitro.

gamma-Glutamyltransferase activity in atypical acinar cell nodules of rat pancreas.

The biochemical and histochemical measurement of the enzyme gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) was undertaken in normal rat pancreas and in rat pancreas containing azaserine-induced preneoplastic nodules. A steady decrease in pancreatic GGT activity was observed in the normal animals as they aged from 5 to 34 weeks. The azaserine-induced nodules contained a lower average GGT activity than the control pancreas although a 10-fold variation was noted in the GGT activity of individual nodules. A significant increase in concentrations of both reduced glutathione and oxidized glutathione was noted in pancreatic nodules from azaserine-treated rats compared to concentrations found in both control pancreas from untreated rats and internodular pancreas from azaserine-treated rats. A pancreatic acinar cell carcinoma contained low GGT activity--similar to that found in large nodules and about 10% of the level found in control pancreas. Pancreatic GGT levels were higher in 5- and 7-week-old rats fed chow than in rats fed a purified diet, but this effect of chow was not observed at 34 weeks of age. Feeding a purified diet supplemented with a retinoid, N-2-hydroxyethylretinamide (2-HER), for a period of 2 weeks did not influence the GGT activity level in either normal pancreas or in the azaserine-induced nodules. While decreased GGT activity does not serve as a marker for all atypical acinar cell nodules, deficient activity with concomitant increased glutathione levels appears to correlate generally with increased growth potential.

Drug metabolism by isolated fetal human hepatocytes in suspension and primary culture.

Isolated viable hepatocytes of human fetuses (weeks 12-34 of gestation) were prepared by collagenase/hyaluronidase digestion of liver slices. These cells have the ability to catalyze certain metabolic transformations involved in the disposition of xenobiotics. The levels of enzymes catalyzing oxidative metabolism (phase I) were very low in the fetal liver cells, although such cells possess appreciable metabolic capacity to catalyze synthetic (phase II) reactions. These cells retained the ability to metabolize 7-ethoxycoumarin when maintained in short term, nonproliferating monolayer culture for up to 4 days. The metabolism of 7-ethoxycoumarin was significantly increased by treatment of cells with 1,2-benzanthracene, but not with phenobarbital. The usefulness of isolated fetal human hepatocytes both in suspension and short term culture as model systems for the study of developmental aspects of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of foreign compounds and as a tool for study of various toxic effects of chemicals on the human fetus is discussed.

Metabolic activation of the terminal N-methyl group of N-isopropyl-alpha-(2-methylhydrazino)-p-toluamide hydrochloride (procarbazine).

The NADPH-dependent microsomal metabolism of [14C]procarbazine, labeled on the terminal N-methyl group, resulted in the covalent binding of the drug to exogenously added DNA; this reaction was inhibited by metyrapone. Procarbazine metabolism was also shown to result in covalent binding of the methyl group of the drug to microsomal protein upon metabolism, but the extent of protein binding was at least an order of magnitude smaller than that seen with its primary oxidative metabolite. N-isopropyl-alpha-(2-methylazo)-p-toluamide. The characteristics of the reactions leading to the covalent binding of the N-methyl group of the azo derivative to microsomal protein and its metabolism to form the hydrocarbon, methane, possessed a number of similarities in the apparent kinetic parameters (Km and Vmax), induction, and inhibition patterns indicating a common pathway of metabolism to form a reactive intermediate and the involvement of cytochrome P-450. Reduced glutathione stimulated methane formation and inhibited covalent binding to protein. One azoxy derivative, N-isopropyl-alpha-(2-methyl-ONN-azoxy)-p-toluamide, was chemically unstable and its decomposition was shown to lead to covalent binding to microsomal protein. A diazene intermediate and a methyl radical are proposed to be intermediates in the formation of methane during the oxidative metabolism of the azo derivative of procarbazine and a common intermediate in the activation of procarbazine may result in both covalent binding to cellular macromolecules and methane production. In addition, chemical decomposition of the azoxy metabolites may also contribute to a small portion of the covalent binding, but not to methane formation.

Oxidative and conjugative metabolism of xenobiotics by isolated rat and hamster acinar cells.

Isolated rat and hamster acinar cell suspensions possess the ability to carry out the cytochrome P-450-dependent O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin, 2-,3-, and 4-hydroxylation of biphenyl and 3-hydroxylation of benzo(a)pyrene. Rat and hamster acinar cells isolated from 5,6-benzoflavone-pretreated animals oxidize all three substrates at measurable rates. These rates are considerably lower (16-210-fold in the rat and 290-2670-fold in the hamster) than those in incubations using hepatocytes isolated from 5,6-benzoflavone-pretreated animals. Hydroxylation of biphenyl at the 2-, 3-, and 4-positions proceeds at similar rates in rat acinar cells. The rate of 3-hydroxybiphenyl formation is barely detectable in hamster acinar cells where the rates of 2- and 4-hydroxybiphenyl formation are slower than in the rat. No detectable oxidation products of 7-ethoxycoumarin, biphenyl, or benzo(a)pyrene are found with acinar cells of either species isolated from untreated and phenobarbital-pretreated animals. The O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin in rat and hamster acinar cells is decreased in the presence of inhibitors of the cytochrome P-450-dependent monooxygenase system, 7,8-benzoflavone being much more effective than metyrapone. The deethylation product of 7-ethoxycoumarin, 7-hydroxycoumarin, is conjugated with sulfate and glucuronic acid moieties at appreciable rates by acinar cells isolated from both rat and hamster. Pretreatment of rats and hamsters with either 5,6-benzoflavone or phenobarbital has little effect on the rates of conjugation in isolated acinar cell preparations.