Cytosolic Epoxide Hydrolase Research Articles

Metabolism of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids by Cytosolic Epoxide Hydrolase: Substrate Structural Determinants of Asymmetric Catalysis

The metabolism of cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), methyl cis-epoxyeicosatrienoates, and cis-epoxyeicosanoic acids by cytosolic epoxide hydrolase was studied to identify substrate structural features important for stereoselective metabolism and chiral diol formation. 14(R), 15(S)-, 11(S),12(R)-, and 8(S),9(R)-EET, the predominant enantiomers present endogenously in rat organs, were metabolized at substantially higher rates than their antipodes. With the exception of 8(R),9(S)-EET (Km = 41 μM), differences in enantiomer hydration rates appear to be caused by Km-independent factors since the apparent Km values for the enantiomers of 14,15-, 11,12-, and 8(S),9(R)-EET were similar (between 3 and 5 μM). Chiral analysis of the diols resulting from enzymatic hydration of homochiral EETs showed that the regio and/or stereochemistry of water addition was EET regioisomer dependent. For the 11,12-EET enantiomers, water addition was nonregioselective; whereas, with both 8,9-EET antipodes water addition occurred predominantly at C9. Importantly, for 14,15-EET the regiochemistry of water addition was enantiomer-dependent. Only with 14(R),15(S)-EET did enzymatic hydration result in regiospecific addition at C15. Hence, enantioselective EET hydration is determined, principally, by enantiomer specific differences in rates of catalytic turnover and/or substrate binding parameters. On the other hand, the chirality of the diol products is determined by EET enantiomer-dependent differences in the regiochemistry of enzymatic oxirane cleavage and water addition. Esterification resulted in an overall reduction in the rates of epoxide hydration for all three EET-methyl esters (59, 89, and 68% of the EET rate for 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-EET-methyl ester, respectively) and in the loss of regioselectivity during methyl 8(S),9(R)-EET oxirane cleavage. Catalytic EET hydrogenation reduced the rates of EET hydration (56, 45, and 23% of the EET rates for 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-epoxyeicosanoic acids, respectively). Compared to 14,15-EET, enzyme catalyzed hydration of 14,15-epoxyeicosanoic acid was less regioselective and yielded products with a substantially lower chiral purity. Based on these data, as well as on the documentation of 14(R),15(R)-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid as an endogenous constituent of rat urine we concluded that: (1) cytosolic epoxide hydrolase plays a significant role in the regio- and stereoselective metabolism of endogenous EETs; (2) differences in the affinities and/or turnover rates of the enzyme for the individual EET antipodes may be responsible for enantioselective EET metabolism; and (3) for 14,15- and 8,9-EET, regioselective and/or enantioselective oxirane water addition is responsible for asymmetric diol formation. The protein spatial coordinates responsible for the asymmetry of EET hydration and diol formation must be circumscribed by a highly structured active site capable of recognizing, regio- and stereospecifically, overall substrate polarity, freedom of CC bond rotation, and/or protein-substrate π-π dipole interactions.

Xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme activities in isolated and cryopreserved human liver parenchymal cells

Liver parenchymal cells (hepatocytes) of human organ donors were isolated using a two-step collagenase perfusion technique. The average viability of the freshly isolated liver parenchymal cells, as judged by trypan blue exclusion, was 82% (SD = 7%; n = 6). The inter-individual differences in the determined enzyme activities were less than a factor of 7.5, despite the different sexes and ages of the donors. Freshly isolated parenchymal cells (PC) were cryopreserved using a computer-controlled freezing protocol. After thawing, cryopreserved cells had a mean viability of 57% (SD = 18%; n = 6). The activities of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in freshly isolated and cryopreserved cells were compared using PC from two donors. The enzyme activities of phenol sulfotransferase, 1-naphthol UDP-glucuronosyltransferase and microsomal epoxide hydrolase were well maintained after thawing (87–117% of activities in freshly isolated cells), whereas the activities of glutathione S-transferase, monitored with the broad spectrum substrate 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, and the major broad spectrum cytosolic epoxide hydrolase were moderately but markedly reduced after cryopreservation (34–64% and 45–89% of levels in fresh cells, respectively). The decrease of both activities was dependent on the viability after thawing. When cryopreserved cells were purified by a Percoll centrifugation after thawing, the viability was increased from 62 to 92% for cells from one of the donors and from 88 to 98% for PC for the other donor. Subsequently the activity of glutathione S-transferase in Percoll-purified PC from the two donors was increased to 71 and 96% of levels in freshly isolated cells. It is concluded that the use of cryopreserved liver parenchymal cells of humans and other species represents a valuable tool in predicting which animal species best represents humans in hepatic metabolism and therefore should be the preferred species for investigations of metabolism and metabolism-dependent toxicities.

Age- and gender-related changes in the hepatic metabolism of 2-methylpropene and relationship to epoxide metabolizing enzymes

The effect of age and gender on the in vitro biotransformation of 2-methylpropene, an alkene metabolized to 2-methyl-1,2-epoxypropane, was studied. The epoxide concentration and the epoxide metabolizing enzymatic activities were investigated in male and female Brown Norway rats of different ages. Liver tissue of senescent rats was exposed to smaller 2-methyl-1,2-epoxypropane concentrations than that of young animals, although changes during ageing were rather modest. With advancing age a feminization of male glutathione S-transferase and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activities was found, as well as a significant decline of the female microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity and an increase of the cytochrome P-450 content in the oldest female rats.

Spectrophotometric Substrates for Cytosolic Epoxide Hydrolase

In this study, we demonstrate the utility of a broad class of spectrophotometric substrates for the assay of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase purified from murine liver. These substrates, epoxy esters or carbonates, cyclize spontaneously upon or during hydrolysis of the epoxide functionality. The alcohol released by cyclization may then be assayed directly or by coupling to a second reaction. The alcohol produced, or its secondary reaction products, can be selected to give an absorption in the visible or near-uv range of the spectrum. This allows the synthesis of a wide variety of useful spectrophotometric substrates. 4-Nitrophenyl (2S,3S)-2,3-epoxy-3-phenylpropyl carbonate, at pH 6.4 and 25°C, had a Vmax of 22 μmol min−1 mg−1 and a Km of 16 μM when assayed with a conventional spectrophotometer. When assayed under the same conditions with a 96-well plate reader, the measured Vmax was 15 μmol min−1 mg−1 and the Km was 6.6 μM. Some of these compounds were also found to be substrates for glutathione S-transferase, microsomal epoxide hydrolase, and porcine liver carboxylesterase. Indeed, 4-nitrophenyl 3,4-epoxy-3-phenylbutanoate was a 3.4-fold better substrate for porcine liver carboxylesterase than 4-nitrophenyl acetate when initial rates of hydrolysis were measured under the same conditions.

Some substrates and inhibitors of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase induce sister-chromatid exchanges in mammalian cells, but do not induce gene mutations in Salmonella typhimurium and V79 cells

Trans-stilbene oxide, trans-β-methylstyrene, 7,8-oxide, trans-β-ethylstyrene, 7,8-oxide, trans-β-propylstyrene 7,8-oxide and 4-fluorochalcone oxide were investigated for genotoxic activity in bacterial and mammalian cells, in the absence of external xenobiotic-metabolising systems. All compounds strongly enhanced the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in cultured human lymphocytes. None of them was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium (reversion of the his − strains TA98, TA100 and TA104). The limit of detection was 1 20,000 to 1 10 6 of the activity of the positive control, benzo[ a]pyrene 4,5-oxide, depending on the compound and the bacterial strain. Trans-β-methylstyrene 7,8-oxide and 4-fluorochalcone oxide were additionally tested for induction of SCE and gene mutations in the same target cells, namely Chinese hamster V79 cells. Their influence on the level of SCE was similar to that observed in human lymphocytes, whilst gene mutations (at the hprt locus) were not induced. The four investigated styrene oxide derivatives are known to be excellent substrates for a mammalian enzyme, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (cEH). 4-Fluorochalcone oxide is a potent selective inhibitor of this enzyme and is structurally similar to the investigated styrene oxide derivatives. These properties of the test compounds however cannot explain the observed discrepancies in the results, since the genetic end point (SCE versus gene mutations) was decisive, and SCE were induced in cEH-proficient human lymphocytes as well as in cEH-deficient V79 cells.

Properties of enzymes hydrating epoxides in human epidermis and liver

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

Isolation and characterization of a cDNA encoding rat liver cytosolic epoxide hydrolase and its functional expression in Escherichia coli

A cDNA of 1992 base pairs encoding the complete rat liver cytosolic epoxide hydrolase has been isolated using a polymerase chain reaction-derived DNA fragment (Arand, M., Knehr, M., Thomas, H., Zeller, H. D., and Oesch, F. (1991) FEBS Lett. 294, 19-22) known to represent the 3'-end of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase mRNA. Sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1662 nucleotides corresponding to 554 amino acids (M(r) = 62,268). The DNA sequence obtained did not display significant homology to the sequences of microsomal epoxide hydrolase or leukotriene A4 hydrolase or to any other DNA included in the EMBL Data Bank (release 32). On Northern blotting of rat liver RNA, a single mRNA species was detected that was strongly induced on treatment of the animal with fenofibrate, a potent peroxisome proliferator. The most significant structure of the deduced protein is a modified peroxisomal targeting signal (Ser-Lys-Ile) at the carboxyl terminus that is regarded to be responsible for the unusual dual localization of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase in peroxisomes as well as in the cytosol. In addition, a leucine zipper-like motif was identified at the amino terminus. Its possible implication for the observed dimeric structure of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase is discussed. The isolated cDNA was expressed in bacteria to yield a catalytically active enzyme. Specific activity of the crude lysate obtained exceeded that of rat liver cytosols from maximally induced animals by a factor of 8.

Epoxide hydrolase in the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini: properties and induction

Using styrene oxide as substrate, most of the epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity monitored in the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus robini was associated with the microsomal compartment. The microsomal and cytosolic EHs did not display any significant preference in hydrating trans stilbene oxide (TSO) and cis stilbene oxide (CSO). The microsomal EH, which has a Km value of 5×10-5M and pH optimum of 7.8, was sensitive to ethanol and its activity was inhibited to a moderate extent by 4-fluorochalcone oxide, TSO, CSO and trans-chalcone oxide at a level of 10-4M. Microsomal EH was considerably induced (4–5-fold) in mites feeding garlic and onion, or ingesting TSO-impregnated filter papers. Other epoxides like CSO, 2,4-dichlorostilbene oxide, methyl chalcone oxide and heptachlor epoxide displayed moderate induction levels (1.4–2.6-fold). Of the toxicants assayed only sodium phenobarbital was a potent inducer. Lindane, malathion and DDT did not stimulate EH activity and 3-methyl-cholanthrene was even inhibitory. A decrease in EH activity was observed with a number of phytochemicals tested such as sinigrin, flavone, menthol, trans-β-carotene, chalcone, allyl sulphide and trans-cinnamic acid.

A Method for the Cryopreservation of Liver Parenchymal Cells for Studies of Xenobiotics

An optimized computer-controlled freezing protocol for the cryopreservation of rat liver parenchymal cells was developed. The best survival rates were obtained when a slow cooling rate was used and when the supercooling was interrupted with a shock cooling to initiate ice nucleation. Ten percent dimethyl sulfoxide was added and removed gradually for best results. Thawed rat liver parenchymal cells had a viability, as judged by trypan blue exclusion, of 69% (SD = 6) versus 82% (SD = 7) for freshly isolated cells. The content and activities of the xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450. UDP-glucuronosyl transferase, and microsomal and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase, were not affected, whereas a slight reduction of glutathione S -transferase and sulfotransferase occurred. If cryopreserved cells were purified by a Percoll centrifugation after thawing the enzyme activities were not significantly different from those of freshly isolated parenchymal cells and also the viability was 86% (SD = 3). Cryopreserved rat liver parenchymal cells only metabolized about 50% of benzo(a)pyrene compared to freshly isolated cells. It is less likely that the reduction in enzyme activities was due to the cryopreservation procedure than that it was due to the loss of NADPH as a cofactor for cytochrome P450 which then resulted in the decreased xenobiotic metabolism. This cryopreservation protocol was also suitable for a variety of liver parenchymal cells from other species when trypan blue exclusion was used as a viability marker.

Regio- and enantiofacial selectivity of epoxyeicosatrienoic acid hydration by cytosolic epoxide hydrolase.

The hydration of cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids to the corresponding vic-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids by cytosolic epoxide hydrolase demonstrates moderate regioselectivity with rates of hydration highest for the 14,15-epoxide and lower for the 11,12- and 8,9-epoxide (4.5, 1.6, and 1.5 mumol of product/mg of protein/min, respectively). Incubations of the 8,9- and 14,15-epoxides with cytosolic epoxide hydrolase show stereoselective formation of diols (7:3 and 4:1 ratio of antipodes, respectively) and concomitant chiral enrichment of the remaining unmetabolized substrate. In contrast, hydration of the 11,12-epoxide is nonenantioselective. The Km value of the enzyme for the 14(R),15(S)-epoxide is 3 microM. Incubations of the enantiomerically pure 8,9- and 14,15-epoxides with lung or liver cytosol, followed by chiral analysis of the resulting diols demonstrate selective cleavage of the oxirane ring at C9 and C15, respectively. On the other hand, cleavage of the 11,12- oxirane ring was less selective. The stereochemical preference of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase, together with the known chiral composition of the endogenous arachidonate epoxide pools, suggests a functional role for this enzyme in the metabolism of these important compounds.

Stereochemical aspects of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase hydration of methyl diepoxystearates

Hydration of methyl diepoxystearate ( 2) at high cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (CEH) concentration produces the corresponding tetraol, while at physiological CEH concentration four tetrahydrofuran diol products ( 3–6) are produced. These same four products are obtained in the acid-catalyzed hydration of 2. Spectroscopic studies, primarily EI mass spectrometry and difference spectrum NOE, are reported which establish the regio- and stereoselectivity of 2 → 3–6 (MS differentiating 3 4 from 5 6 and NOE differentiating 3 5 from 4 6 ). The observed syn arrangement of the two adjacent groups (i.e., substituents at C 2 and C 3) in the four THF-diols can only arise from an A 2 type opening of the first epoxide. The resulting epoxydiol intermediate then cyclizes by A 2 opening of the second cis-epoxide as established by synthesis of these hypothetical epoxydiol intermediates and their subsequent conversion to THF-diols 3–6.

Inhibition of epoxide hydrolase from human, monkey, bovine, rabbit and murine liver by trans-3-phenylglycidols

1. 1. trans-3-Phenylglycidols were potent inhibitors of cytosolic epoxide hydrolases in all species tested. 2. 2. The order of inhibitor potency varied from species to species but trans-3-(4-nitrophenyl)glycidols were always the most potent inhibitors tested for cytosolic epoxide hydrolase. 3. 3. The S,S-enantiomer was a more potent cytosolic epoxide hydrolase inhibitor than the R,R-enantiomer when a free hydroxyl group was present. However, (2R,3R)-1-benzoyloxy-2,3-epoxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propane was always a better inhibitor than the (2S,3S)-enantiomer. 4. 4. All microsomal epoxide hydrolases were poorly inhibited by the trans-3-phenylglycidols, and related compounds, tested. The best new microsomal epoxide hydrolase inhibitor tested was (1S,2S)-1-phenyl-propylene oxide which gave 18–63% inhibition, at 2 mM, depending on the species tested.

Inhibition of human and murine cytosolic epoxide hydrolase by group-selective reagents

1. 1. Human and murine cytosolic epoxide hydrolase were inhibited by thiol-, imidazole- and carboxyl-selective reagents. They were not inhibited by amino-, guanido- or activated serine-selective reagents. 2. 2. Murine, but not human, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase was inhibited by N-bromosuccinimide, a tryptophan selective reagent. 3. 3. Based on sequence data from peptides isolated from CNBr digests, human and murine CEH share areas of sequence homology. Of the five unique human CEH CNBr peptides sequenced, three shared common sequences with one of the unique murine CEH CNBr peptides. The human and murine CEH peptides with common sequences had between 64 and 78% sequence identity. 4. 4. A cysteine important for the activity of murine CEH appears not to be in the active site as judged by N-phenylmaleimide inhibition in the presence and absence of either (2S,3S)-2,3-epoxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)glycidol, a competitive inhibitor, or trans-stilbene oxide, a substrate.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid is a potent inducer of peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation and other activities known to be affected by peroxisome proliferators in mouse liver.

Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid is almost as potent as perfluorooctanoic acid in causing increases in peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation, peroxisomal catalase activity, omega-hydroxylation of lauric acid, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase activity and cytosolic DT-diaphorase activity. Octane sulfonic acid was ineffective at doses used for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid. The results support the theory of co-regulation of these parameters and peroxisome proliferation. The fact that perfluorooctane sulfonic acid causes peroxisome proliferation challenges the hypothesis that the first step in this process is formation of a thioester between the proliferator (the carboxylic group) and coenzyme A.

The interaction of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase with chiral epoxides

1. 1. The kinetic parameters of the cytosolic epoxide hydrolase were examined with two sets of spectrophotometric substrates. The (2 S,3 S)- and (2 R,3 R)-enantiomers of 4-nitrophenyl trans-2,3-epoxy-3-phenylpropyl carbonate had a K m of 33 and 68 μm and a V max of 16 and 27 μmol/min/mg, respectively. With the (2 S,3 S)- and (2 R,3 R)- enantiomers of 4-nitrophenyl trans-2,3-epoxy-3-(4-nitrophenyl)propyl carbonate, cytosolic epoxide hydrolase had a K M of 8.0 and 15 μM and a V max of 7.8 and 5.0 μmol/min/mg, respectively. 2. 2. Glycidyl 4-nitrobenzoate had the lowest I 50 of the compounds tested in the glycidyl 4-nitrobenzoate series (I 50= 140 μM). The I 50 of the (2 R)-enantiomer was 3.7-fold higher. The inhibitor with the lowest i 50 in the glycidol series, and the lowest I 50 of any compound tested, was (2 S,3 S)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)glycidol (I 50 = 13.0 μM). It also showed the greatest difference in I 50 between the enantiomers (330-fold). 3. 3. All enantiomers of glycidyl 4-nitrobenzoates and trans-3-phenylglycidols gave differential inhibition of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase. However, neither the ( S, S)-/( S)- or ( R, R)-/( R)-enantiomer always had the lower I 50. 4. 4. Addition of one or more methyl groups to either enantiomer of glycidyl 4-nitrobenzoate resulted in increased I 50. However, addition of a methyl group to C 2 of either enantiomer of 3-phenylglycidol resulted in a decreased I 50. Finally, when the hydroxyl group of trans-3-(4-nitrophenyl)glycidol was esterified the I 50 of the (2 S,3 S)- but not the (2 R,3 R)-enantiomer increased.

Peroxisome proliferators as inducers and substrates of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases

Peroxisome proliferators, despite their chemically unrelated structures, share the common property of being able to stimulate the glucuronidation of bilirubin in rodents and, probably, also in man. The aryloxycarboxylic acids (clofibric acid, fenofibrate, bezafibrate, ciprofibrate), tiadenol and probucol, all of which have hypolipidemic properties, as well as the fatty acid-like perfluorodecanoic acid all enhanced the expression of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) form involved in the conjugation of the pigment. This induction is manifested by an increase in the mRNA species encoding the protein with a subsequent increase in the neosynthesis of the corresponding protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. The induction process is concomitant with that of cytochrome P-450-IVA1 and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase, which, like bilirubin UGT, are mainly involved in the metabolism of endogenous substrates. With a series of carboxylic acids related to clofibric acid, it was possible to demonstrate that induction was mediated via specific interactions based on the physicochemical properties of the inducers. Until now, the molecular basis of induction of bilirubin UGT is not known. The peroxisome poliferators that possess a carboxyl group are good substrates of UGT, especially in man. The acylglucuronides formed are known for their instability and reactivity which could contribute to the toxicity encountered in some patients treated with the drugs. There is convincing evidence that UGT bilirubin does not catalyze the glucuronidation of these substances even if the two types of substrate form acylglucuronides.

Biochemical characterization of a variant form of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase induced by parental exposure to N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea.

1. ENU4 mice express a protein variant originally detected in a CBF1 mouse sired by a C57BL/6 mouse exposed to N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea. It appears to be an isoelectric point variant of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase. Affinity purified cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from ENU4 mice has a pI of approximately 5.1 compared to 5.6 in other mouse strains. 2. Clofibrate induced cytosolic epoxide hydrolase to similar levels in five strains of mice. However, CBF1 and ENU4 mice were more sensitive to the induction of palmitoyl CoA oxidase activity. 3. Except for isoelectric point, the physico- and immunochemical properties of cytosolic epoxide hydrolase from ENU4 mice were similar to those of the other mouse strains. Substrate specificities for five of six substrates tested were also similar.

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 b 5, 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 super-oxide dismutase (EC 1.15.1.1) activities, and levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material (as an indicator of lipid peroxidation) in the mitochondrial subtraction. 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.

Studies on the developmental and adrenal regulation of cytosolic and microsomal epoxide hydrolase activities in rat liver

The present study was undertaken to ascertain developmental profiles of microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) and cytosolic epoxide hydrolase (cEH) enzyme activities in rat liver. During development, mEH activity reached an optimum by 6 weeks of age (63 nmol/min/mg protein). Activities decreased thereafter in both sexes although in adult male liver the activity was twice that measured in adult female liver. Thus, the importance of pituitary maturation was suggested from these findings. Since glucocorticoids have been implicated in the regulation of mEH gene expression the effect of adrenalectomy on mEH activity was investigated in adult male rat liver. The procedure increased mEH activity almost two-fold and the increase was reversed by dexamethasone, but not deoxycorticosterone, administration. With respect to hepatic cEH activity, the developmental profiles indicated that enzyme activity was greatest in rats at 1 week of age (12–15 nmol/min/mg protein) and very little activity was detected beyond 4 weeks of age (~5 nmol/min/mg protein); sex differences in cEH activity were not apparent at any age. Thus, the pituitary appears to be important in the developmental induction of mEH but not cEH. Glucocorticoids appear to provide the major hormonal influence on mEH expression. Thus, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis is involved in the regulation of mEH but the regulation of the cEH enzyme remains unclear.

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 × 10 −4 to 5 × 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 × 10 −4 m). Cellular glutathione was depleted by diethyl maleate (5 × 10 −4 m), and its synthesis inhibited by 2.5 × 10 −3 m-l-buthionine ( S, R)-sulphoximine. Suspensions treated with a sub-cytotoxic concentration of anethole (5 × 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 malcate 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.