Retronecine-type Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids Research Articles

Hepatotoxicity of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Compound Intermedine: Comparison with Other Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Its Toxicological Mechanism.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are common secondary plant compounds with hepatotoxicity. The consumption of herbal medicines and herbal teas containing PAs is one of the main causes of hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (HSOS), a potentially life-threatening condition. The present study aimed to reveal the mechanism underlying the cytotoxicity of intermedine (Im), the main PA in Comfrey. We evaluated the toxicity of the retronecine-type PAs with different structures to cell lines derived from mammalian tissues, including primary mouse hepatocytes, human hepatocytes (HepD), mouse hepatoma-22 (H22) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells. The cytotoxicity of Im to hepatocyte was evaluated by using cell counting kit-8 assay, colony formation experiment, wound healing assay and dead/live fluorescence imaging. In vitro characterization showed that these PAs were cytotoxic and induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. We also demonstrated that Im induced cell apoptosis by generating excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), changing the mitochondrial membrane potential and releasing cytochrome c (Cyt c) before activating the caspase-3 pathway. Importantly, we directly observed the destruction of the cell mitochondrial structure after Im treatment through transmission electron microscopy (TEM). This study provided the first direct evidence of Im inducing hepatotoxicity through mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. These results supplemented the basic toxicity data of PAs and facilitated the comprehensive and systematic evaluation of the toxicity caused by PA compounds.

Support for Regulatory Assessment of Percutaneous Absorption of Retronecine-type Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids through Human Skin.

1,2-unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids are found naturally in Symphytum officinale, well known as comfrey, which has a longstanding use for the topical treatment of painful muscle and joint complaints. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are a relevant concern for the safety assessment due to their liver genotoxicity profile, and close attention is paid during manufacturing to minimizing their levels. Current regulatory risk assessment approaches include setting limits that derive from toxicity data coming from the oral route of exposure. This study investigated to what extent pyrrolizidine alkaloids are bioavailable following topical exposure, assessing penetration of retronecine-type PAs in an in vitro human skin model. A single comfrey root formulation was spiked with 3 different congeners (a 7R-monoester, an open-chained 7R-diester, and a cyclic diester) and percutaneous absorption measured per OECD guidelines and good laboratory practices. The measured penetration for all 3 PAs was low and compared favourably with existing in vitro data. Although consideration of different regulatory guidance influences the determination of dermally absorbed dose, these data facilitate the understanding of absorption differences following topical exposure, which in turn can be taken into account in the risk assessment.

Chemotaxonomic investigation of Apocynaceae for retronecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloids using HPLC-MS/MS

Apocynaceae are well known for diverse specialized metabolites that are distributed in a phylogenetically informative manner. Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) have been reported sporadically in one lineage in the family, the APSA clade, but few species have been studied to date. We conducted the first systematic survey of Apocynaceae for retronecine-type PAs, sampling leaves from 231 species from 13 of 16 major lineages within the APSA clade using HPLC-MS/MS. We also followed up preliminary evidence for infra-specific variation of PA detectability in Echites umbellatus Jacq. Four precursor ion scans (PREC) were developed for a high-throughput survey for chemicals containing a structural moiety common to many PAs, the retronecine core. We identified with high confidence PAs in 7 of 8 sampled genera of tribe Echiteae, but not in samples from the closely related Odontadenieae and Mesechiteae, confirming the utility of PAs as a taxonomic character in tribal delimitation. Occurrence of PAs in Malouetieae is reported with moderate confidence in Galactophora schomburgkiana Woodson and Eucorymbia alba Stapf, but currently we have low confidence of their presence in Holarrena pubescens Wall. ex G. Don (the one Malouetieae species where they were previously reported), as well as in Holarrena curtisii King & Gamble and in Kibatalia macrophylla (Pierre ex Hua) Woodson. Candidate PAs in some species of Wrightia R. Br. (Wrightieae) and Marsdenia R. Br. (Marsdenieae) are proposed with moderate confidence, but a subset of the compounds in these taxa presenting with a PA-like fragmentation pattern are more likely to be aminobenzoyl glycosides. Candidate PAs are reported in species with predicted (VXXXD) and unexpected (IXXXN) amino acid motifs in their homospermidine synthase-like genes. Detectability of PAs varies among samples of Echites umbellatus and intra-individual plasticity contributes to this variation. Of toxicological importance, novel potential sources of human exposure to pro-toxic PAs were identified in the medicinal plant, Wrightia tinctoria R.Br., and the food plants, Marsdenia glabra Cost. and Echites panduratus A. DC., warranting immediate further research to elucidate the structures of the candidate PAs identified. Method development and limitations are discussed.

Toxic Prediction of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Structure-Dependent Induction of Apoptosis in HepaRG Cells.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are common phytotoxins and could cause liver genotoxicity/carcinogenicity following metabolic activation. However, the toxicity of different structures remains unclear due to the wide variety of PAs. In this study, the absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) of 40 PAs were analyzed, and their toxicity was predicted by Komputer Assisted Technology (TOPKAT) using Discovery Studio software. The in silico results showed that all PAs except retronecine had good intestinal absorption, and all PAs were predicted to have different toxicity ranges. To verify the predictive results, 4 PAs were selected to investigate cell injury and possible mechanisms of the differentiation in HepaRG cells, including retronecine type of twelve-membered cyclic diester (retrorsine), eleven-membered cyclic diester (monocrotaline), noncyclic diester (retronecine), and platynecine type (platyphylline). After 24 h exposure, retronecine-type PAs exhibited concentration-dependent cytotoxicity. The high-content screening assay showed that cell oxidative stress, mitochondrial damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and the concentration of calcium ions increased, and neutral lipid metabolism was changed notably in HepaRG cells. Induced apoptosis by PAs was indicated by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, disrupting the mitochondrial membrane potential. Overall, our study revealed structure-dependent cytotoxicity and apoptosis after PA exposure, suggesting that the prediction results of in silico have certain reference values for compound toxicity. A 1,2-membered cyclic diester seems to be a more potent apoptosis inducer than other PAs.

Protein cross-linking in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes by dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids: Structure–toxicity relationship

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are natural toxins found in about 3%–5% of flowering plants. Dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids contain a double bond in 1, 2-position of the necine bases, including retronecine type PAs (RET-PAs) and their N-oxides (RET N-oxide-PAs), and otonecine type PAs (OTO-PAs), and are known for their significant hepatotoxicity. Most dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids are metabolically activated by cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes to generate active pyrroles, which further bind to proteins to form pyrrole–protein adducts (PPAs). Methods for predicting PA-induced liver injury are generally performed on in vitro models with extremely low activities of CYP450 enzymes, which is different from the situation in vivo. In this regard, primary cultured mouse hepatocytes, which showed comparable CYP450 activity with the in vivo models, were applied to illustrate the structure–toxicity relationship of 13 dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids, namely, eight RET-PAs, three RET N-oxide-PAs, and two OTO-PAs. PA-induced cytotoxicity and PA-generated PPAs were analyzed in primary mouse hepatocytes treated with different PAs. Results showed that PA-induced toxicity was correlated with the amount of PA-generated PPAs. RET-PAs and OTO-PAs were generally more toxic than RET N-oxide-PAs and generated higher amount of PPAs. PPAs were utilized to evaluate the efficiency of metabolic activation and predict the toxic potencies of dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids. The proposed model could be a new approach for toxicity evaluation and risk control of exposure to PAs.

Investigation on Pneumotoxicity Induced by Pyrrolizidine AlkaloidsInvestigation on Pneumotoxicity Induced by Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are most common phytotoxins. Apart from their extensively reported hepatotoxicity, few PAs, such as MCT, are also reported to cause lung injury. However, whether different PAs commonly lead to pneumotoxicity remains largely unknown whether different PAs. PAs require metabolic activation to exert toxicity. Hepatic cytochrome P450s are proposed to be responsible for bioactivation of PAs to reactive dehydro‐PAs, which interact with proteins to form pyrrole‐protein adducts causing intrahepatic cytotoxicity. However, the mechanisms underlying pneumotoxicity of PAs, especially the site of metabolic activation of PAs, have not been delineated. Here we aimed to investigate pneumotoxicity of different types of PAs and also identify the contribution of hepatic P450s and extrahepatic P450s to metabolic bioactivation of PAs.Pulmonary toxicity of four representative PAs of both retronecine and otonecine types and Gynura Segetum (GS) alkaloid extract containing two retronecine type PAs, to mimic human PA poisoning, were investigated. Rats were orally administered with representative PAs and GS at 0.2 mmol/kg for 48 hours. Biochemical and histological examinations were applied to evaluate PA‐induced toxicity in liver and lung. The results showed that all PAs induced liver injury to varied levels. Significant lung lesions including pulmonary arterial hypertrophy, capillary congestion, endothelium damage, and abnormal proliferation of smooth muscle cells were found in all PA‐treated groups, demonstrating that both retronecine and otonecine types of PAs can cause pulmonary toxicity.Further to delineate the role of hepatic and extrahepatic CYPs in metabolic bioactivation of PAs, mice with conditional deletion of cytochrome P450 reductase (Cpr) gene and resultant dysfunctional P450s were used. After oral exposure to MCT (120 mg/kg), a well‐known pneumotoxic PA, metabolic activation and pneumotoxicity of MCT among wild‐type (WT), liver‐specific Cpr‐null (LCN), and extrahepatic Cpr‐knockdown (XhCL) mice were compared. The results demonstrated that comparing with WT mice, pyrrole‐protein adducts were significantly decreased (by >60%) in the serum, liver and lungs in LCN mice but unchanged in XhCL mice. In addition, comparing with WT mice, MCT‐exposed LCN mice had significantly higher blood concentration of the intact MCT. Consistently, lung injury represented by vasculature damage was observed in WT and XhCL mice but not in LCN mice. All the data confirmed that hepatic CYPs, not extrahepatic CYPs, were responsible for metabolic activation of PAs.To conclude, the present study for the first time demonstrated that PAs can commonly induce lung injury, which is dependent on the metabolic activation mediated by functional hepatic CYPs.Support or Funding InformationThe present study was supported by General Research Fund (GRF Project No. 14160817) from Research Grants Council of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Absorption difference between hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids and their N-oxides - Mechanism and its potential toxic impact.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a group of phytotoxins widely present in about 3% of flowering plants. Many PA-containing herbal plants can cause liver injury. Our previous studies demonstrated that PA N-oxides are also hepatotoxic, with toxic potency much lower than the corresponding PAs, due to significant differences in their toxicokinetic fates. This study aimed to investigate the oral absorption of PAs and PA N-oxides for better understanding of their significant differences in toxicokinetics and toxic potency. The oral absorption of PAs and PA N-oxides in rats and in rat in situ single pass intestine perfusion model was investigated. The intestinal permeability and absorption mechanisms of five pairs of PAs and PA N-oxides were evaluated by using Caco-2 monolayer model. The plasma concentrations of total PAs and PA N-oxides within 0-60min were significantly lower in rats orally treated with a PA N-oxide-containing herbal alkaloid extract than with a PA-containing herbal alkaloid extract at the same dose, indicating that the absorption of PA N-oxides was lower than that of PAs. Using the rat in situ single pass intestine perfusion model, less cumulative amounts of retrorsine N-oxide in mesenteric blood were observed compared to that of retrorsine. In Caco-2 monolayer model, all five PAs showed absorption with Papp AtoB values [(1.43-16.26)×10-6cm/s] higher than those of corresponding N-oxides with Papp AtoB values lower than 1.35×10-6cm/s. A further mechanistic study demonstrated that except for senecionine N-oxide, retrorsine N-oxide, and lycopsamine N-oxide, all PAs and PA N-oxides investigated were absorbed via passive diffusion. While, for these 3PAN-oxides, in addition to passive diffusion as their primary transportation, efflux transporter-mediated active transportation was also involved but to a less extent with the efflux ratio of 2.31-3.41. Furthermore, a good correlation between lipophilicity and permeability of retronecine-type PAs and their N-oxides with absorption via passive diffusion was observed, demonstrating that PAs have a better oral absorbability than that of the corresponding PA N-oxides. We discovered that among many contributors, the lower intestinal absorption of PA N-oxides was the initiating contributor that caused differences in toxicokinetics and toxic potency between PAs and PA N-oxides.

Intestinal and hepatic biotransformation of pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxides to toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are among the most significant groups of phytotoxins present in more than 6000 plants in the world. Hepatotoxic retronecine-type PAs and their corresponding N-oxides usually co-exist in plants. Although PA-induced hepatotoxicity is known for a long time and has been extensively studied, the toxicity of PA N-oxide is rarely investigated. Recently, we reported PA N-oxide-induced hepatotoxicity in humans and rodents and also suggested the association of such toxicity with metabolic conversion of PA N-oxides to the corresponding toxic PAs. However, the detailed biochemical mechanism of PA N-oxide-induced hepatotoxicity is largely unknown. The present study investigated biotransformation of four representative cyclic retronecine-type PA N-oxides to their corresponding PAs in both gastrointestinal tract and liver. The results demonstrated that biotransformation of PA N-oxides to PAs was mediated by both intestinal microbiota and hepatic cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYPs), in particular CYP1A2 and CYP2D6. Subsequently, the formed PAs were metabolically activated predominantly by hepatic CYPs to form reactive metabolites exerting hepatotoxicity. Our findings delineated, for the first time, that the metabolism-mediated mechanism of PA N-oxide intoxication involved metabolic reduction of PA N-oxides to their corresponding PAs in both intestine and liver followed by oxidative bioactivation of the resultant PAs in the liver to generate reactive metabolites which interact with cellular proteins leading to hepatotoxicity. In addition, our results raised a public concern and also encouraged further investigations on potentially remarkable variations in PA N-oxide-induced hepatotoxicity caused by significantly altered intestinal microbiota due to individual differences in diets, life styles, and medications.

Structure-dependent induction of apoptosis by hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids in the human hepatoma cell line HepaRG: Single versus repeated exposure

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA) are secondary plant compounds. PA intoxication in humans causes severe acute and chronic hepatotoxicity. However, the molecular mechanisms of PA hepatotoxicity in humans are not well understood yet.Therefore, we investigated cell death parameters in human HepaRG cells following either single (24 h) or repeated dose treatment (14 d) with structurally different PA of the retronecine (echimidine, senecionine), heliotridine (heliotrine), and otonecine type (senkirkine). After 24 h of exposure only retronecine-type PA were cytotoxic in HepaRG cells and induced apoptosis indicated by a loss of membrane asymmetry, disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased pro-caspase and PARP cleavage. In contrast, after 14 d all four PA exerted the aforementioned effects. Furthermore, the apoptotic events caspase 3, 8 and 9 activation as well as nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation were only detected for the retronecine-type PA after single exposure (6 h).Overall, our studies revealed a time- and structure-dependent apoptosis after PA exposure, suggesting that retronecine-type PA seem to be more potent apoptosis inducers than heliotridine- or otonecine-type PA. Furthermore, our results suggest that PA-induced apoptosis in HepaRG cells occur most probably by involving both, the extrinsic death receptor pathway as well as the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway.

Survey of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in seven varieties of Lappula squarrosa: An alternative source of heart-healthy vegetable oil.

Growing demand for heart-healthy omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is putting stress on wild fish stocks. There is now a compelling need for new and novel sources of non-traditional seed oils containing high stearidonic acid (SDA), a precursor of EPA and DHA, to reduce this demand. The seed oil of Lappula squarrosa is one of the richest sources of SDA, however, the plant has been found to contain toxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). In this study, the PA concentrations of seven varieties (A-G) of Lappula squarrosa were analysed to determine the most suitable varieties for commercial seed oil production. Whilst the clean-up procedure for the PAs in the roots, flowers and leaves was on diatomaceous earth columns and finally analysed with GC-EI-MS, that of the seeds was through SCX-SPE and a more sensitive HPLC-ESI-MS/MS sum parameter method was used in the analysis. Altogether six PAs (supinine, amabiline, intermedine, lycopsamine and 3'-acetylintermedine) including one unknown retronecine-type PA were identified with variety C recording the lowest total PA concentration (4.64 mg seneciphylline equivalents (SE)/g dry weight (d.w.)). Besides, the total PA concentrations in the seeds of Lappula squarrosa varieties ranged between 2.88 μg PA/g and 10.36 μg PA/g d.w. Based solely on overall PA concentrations and PA distribution, variety D (5.95 mg SE/g d.w.) was found to be a potential candidate for commercial seed oil cultivation.

9-Glutathionyl-6,7-dihydro-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine Is the Major Pyrrolic Glutathione Conjugate of Retronecine-Type Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Liver Microsomes and in Rats.

Retronecine-, otonecine-, and heliotridine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are all reported to be hepatotoxic. These PAs are suggested to be metabolized to the corresponding electrophilic dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids (dehydro-PAs) and subsequently conjugated with macromolecules, such as glutathione (GSH). In the present study, a total of five glutathione conjugates, named M1-M5, were detected in rat and human liver microsomal incubations with three retrornecine-type PAs (isoline, retrorsine, or monocrotaline) in the presence of glutathione, and were chemically synthesized. M1 and M3 were unambiguously identified as a pair of epimers of 7-glutathionyl-6,7-dihydro-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (7-GSH-DHP), and M4 and M5 were epimers of 7,9-diglutathionyl-6,7-dihydro-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (7,9-diGSH-DHP). M2, an extremely unstable conjugate, was proposed to be 9-glutathionyl-6,7-dihydro-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (9-GSH-DHP). It was the most abundant among the five GSH conjugates, and the finding corrects the mistake that 7-GSH-DHP is the predominant GSH conjugate derived from dehydro-PAs. Similar patterns in glutathione conjugate profile were observed in the bile of rats treated with the PAs. This is the first study to describe 9-GSH-DHP as a major pyrrolic GSH conjugate of retronecine-type PAs, providing insight into the interactions of dehydro-PAs with biomolecules.

In Silico Prediction of the Site of Oxidation by Cytochrome P450 3A4 That Leads to the Formation of the Toxic Metabolites of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids

In humans, the metabolic bioactivation of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) is mediated mainly by cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) via the hydroxylation of their necine bases at C3 or C8 of heliotridine- and retronecine-type PAs or at the N atom of the methyl substituent of otonecine-type PAs. However, no attempts have been made to identify which C atom is the most favorable site for hydroxylation in silico. Here, in order to determine the site of hydroxylation that eventually leads to the formation of the toxic metabolites produced from lasiocarpine, retrorsine, and senkirkin, we utilized the ligand-based electrophilic Fukui function f(-)(r) and hydrogen-bond dissociation energies (BDEs) as well as structure-based molecular docking. The ligand-based computations revealed that the C3 and C8 atoms of lasiocarpine and retrorsine and the C26 atom of senkirkin were chemically the most susceptible locations for electrophilic oxidizing reactions. Similarly, according to the predicted binding orientation in the active site of the crystal structure of human CYP3A4 (PDB code: 4I4G ), the alkaloids were positioned in such a way that the C3 atom of lasiocarpine and retrorsine and the C26 of senkirkin were closest to the catalytic heme Fe. Thus, it is concluded that the C3 atom of lasiocarpine and retrorsine and C26 of senkirkin are the most favored sites of hydroxylation that lead to the production of their toxic metabolites.

A novel ultra-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry method for rapid estimation of total toxic retronecine-type of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in herbs without requiring corresponding standards

Nearly 50% of naturally-occurring pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are hepatotoxic, and the majority of hepatotoxic PAs are retronecine-type PAs (RET-PAs). However, quantitative measurement of PAs in herbs/foodstuffs is often difficult because most of reference PAs are unavailable. In this study, a rapid, selective, and sensitive UHPLC-QTOF–MS method was developed for the estimation of RET-PAs in herbs without requiring corresponding standards. This method is based on our previously established characteristic and diagnostic mass fragmentation patterns and the use of retrorsine for calibration. The use of a single RET-PA (i.e. retrorsine) for construction of calibration was based on high similarities with no significant differences demonstrated by the calibration curves constructed by peak areas of extract ion chromatograms of fragment ion at m/z 120.0813 or 138.0919 versus concentrations of five representative RET-PAs. The developed method was successfully applied to measure a total content of toxic RET-PAs of diversified structures in fifteen potential PA-containing herbs.

Metabolic Activation of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Insights into the Structural and Enzymatic Basis

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are natural toxins widely distributed in plants. The toxic potencies of different PAs vary significantly. PAs are mono- or diesters of necine acids with a necine base. On the basis of the necine bases, PAs are classified into three types: retronecine-type, otonecine-type, and platynecine-type. Hepatotoxic PAs contain an unsaturated necine base. PAs exert hepatotoxicity through metabolic activation by hepatic cytochromes P450s (CYPs) to generate reactive intermediates which form pyrrole-protein adducts. These adducts provide a mechanism-based biomarker to assess PA toxicity. In the present study, metabolic activation of 12 PAs from three structural types was investigated first in mice to demonstrate significant variations in hepatic metabolic activation of different PAs. Subsequently, the structural and enzymatic factors affecting metabolic activation of these PAs were further investigated by using human liver microsomes and recombinant human CYPs. Pyrrole-protein adducts were detected in the liver and blood of mice and the in vitro systems treated with toxic retronecine-type and otonecine-type PAs having unsaturated necine bases but not with a platynecine-type PA containing a saturated necine base. Retronecine-type PAs produced more pyrrole-protein adducts than otonecine-type PAs with similar necine acids, demonstrating that the structure of necine base affected PA toxic potency. Among retronecine-type PAs, open-ring diesters generated the highest amount of pyrrole-protein adducts, followed by macrocyclic diesters, while monoesters produced the least. Only CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 activated otonecine-type PAs, while all 10 CYPs studied showed the ability to activate retronecine-type PAs. Moreover, the contribution of major CYPs involved also varied significantly among retronecine-type PAs. In conclusion, our findings provide a scientific basis for predicting the toxicities of individual PAs in biological systems based on PA structural features and on the pattern of expression and the selectivity of the CYP isoforms present.

Organic cation transporter 1 mediates the uptake of monocrotaline and plays an important role in its hepatotoxicity

Monocrotaline (MCT) is a kind of toxic retronecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) from plants of Crotalaria, which can be bio-activated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in liver and then induce hepatotoxicity. Since CYPs are localized in the endoplasmic reticulum, the influx of MCT to the liver is the key step for its hepatotoxicity. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of organic cation transporter 1 (OCT1), a transporter mainly expressed in liver, in the uptake of MCT and in hepatotoxicity induced by MCT. The results revealed that MCT markedly inhibited the uptake of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), an OCT1 substrate, in Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells stably expressing human OCT1 (MDCK-hOCT1) with the IC50 of 5.52±0.56μM. The uptake of MCT was significantly higher in MDCK-hOCT1 cells than in MDCK-mock cells, and MCT uptake in MDCK-hOCT1 cells followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics with the Km and Vmax values of 25.0±6.7μM and 266±64pmol/mg protein/min, respectively. Moreover, the OCT1 inhibitors, such as quinidine, d-tetrahydropalmatine (d-THP), obviously inhibited the uptake of MCT in MDCK-hOCT1 cells and isolated rat primary hepatocytes, and attenuated the viability reduction and LDH release of the primary cultured rat hepatocytes caused by MCT. In conclusion, OCT1 mediates the hepatic uptake of MCT and may play an important role in MCT induced-hepatotoxicity.

Proteomic characterization of the possible molecular targets of pyrrolizidine alkaloid isoline-induced hepatotoxicity

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are distributed in plants worldwide including medicinal herbs or teas. In the present study, we investigated the effects of isoline, which is a retronecine-type PA isolated from traditional Chinese medicinal herb Ligularia duciformis, on mouse liver proteins by using proteomic approaches. Firstly, our results showed that 110mg/kg isoline increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities in serum, and hepatic tissue pathological observation further confirmed isoline-induced liver injury. Proteomic analysis showed that the liver samples from mice of isoline group demonstrated about 13 differentially expressed proteins compared with normal group, and those proteins may be involved in isoline-induced liver injury in mice. Next, all these 13 protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF MS or LTQ MS; and among them 9 differentially expressed proteins are involved in the process of oxidative stress or cellular energy metabolism. Further lipid peroxidation analysis and ATPase assay confirmed the existing of oxidative injury induced by isoline and consequent disruption of energy metabolism. Furthermore, an in silico drug target searching program INVDOCK identified 2 potential protein targets of isoline, and the results are in support of proteomic analysis. In summary, the possible signaling molecules related with isoline-induced liver injury were demonstrated in this study.

Comparison of metabolism-mediated effects of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in a HepG2/C3A cell-S9 co-incubation system and quantification of their glutathione conjugates

Toxicity of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) largely depends on their metabolic activation by hepatic enzymes, including cytochrome P450s, to become chemically reactive pyrrolic derivatives. These then spontaneously release the esterifying acids to generate carbonium ions that form covalent adducts with cellular nucleophiles to exhibit toxicity.In our investigation, metabolism-mediated toxicity of monocrotaline, retrorsine, lycopsamine, echimidine (retronecine-type PAs), heliotrine (a heliotridine-type PA) and senkirkine (an otonecine-type PA) was studied using an in vitro co-incubation assay.Human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2/C3A) cells were incubated with PAs in the presence and absence of rat liver S9 fraction and the toxicity was assessed as lowered mitochondrial activity.Bioactivation potential was measured by incubating PAs with rat liver S9 fraction, NADPH and GSH in a cell free system. Pyrrolic metabolites generated were entrapped as glutathione conjugates (7-GSH-DHP and 7,9-di-GSH-DHP) which were quantified using LC-MS-MS analysis.Our results indicated that PAs were metabolized by rat liver S9 fraction into reactive pyrrolic derivatives which were toxic to HepG2/C3A cells. This approach can be used to determine and compare bioactivation potential and metabolism-mediated toxicity of various PAs.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloid profile in a traditional Chinese herbal medicine Chuan Zi Wan (Ligulariae Radix et Rhizoma) by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry

Chuan Zi Wan (CZW) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine derived from Ligularia species and used as an antitussive and expectorant folk remedy. Its toxicity was recently demonstrated in rats, for which the hepatotoxic pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) were detected but not fully examined. In order to further assess its safety, the entire PA profile of CZW was investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to electrospray ionization ion trap mass spectrometry. Twenty-six toxic PAs (25 otonecine-type and one retronecine-type PAs) and one non-toxic PA of platynecine-type were detected and/or characterized based on diagnostic ions, mass fragmentation patterns, chromatographic behaviors and biosynthetic consideration. Except clivorine, ligularine, hodgsonine and ligularizine, all other PAs were described for the first time; moreover, most otonecine-type PAs were found to contain the acetyl group, an important substructure closely linked to their toxic effects in vivo. Clivorine was unequivocally identified as a major PA in the extract, with a content of 3.94 mg g−1 dried extractant determined by a HPLC/UV assay. The total content of the toxic PAs was estimated to be about 7.92 mg g−1 dried extract. These results indicated that this herbal product may have a potential health threat to humans in its Chinese medical practice.

Intracellular glutathione plays important roles in pyrrolizidine alkaloids-induced growth inhibition on hepatocytes

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are well-known natural hepatotoxins distributed widely in thousands of plants in the world. Adonifoline (Adon), senecionine (Sene) and monocrotaline (Mono) are retronecine-type PAs, and the present study is designed to observe the effects of intracellular glutathione on toxicity of these three PAs in human normal liver L-02 cells. The ratio of cellular reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) was assayed after L-02 cells were incubated with these three PAs for various times. Results showed that Adon, Sene and Mono all significantly decreased the ratio of GSH/GSSG in L-02 cells in the time- and concentration-dependent manner. The results of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and trypan blue staining assay showed that these three PAs all significantly decreased cell viability in L-02 cells when pretreated with 10 μM BSO (L-Buthionine-S-R-Sulfoximine) for 24 h to deplete intracellular GSH. Further results showed that anti-oxidant compounds such as NAC (N-Acetyl-Cysteine) and GSH could rescue the cytotoxicity caused by these three PAs with BSO pretreatment. Taken together, those results suggest that intracellular GSH plays important roles in regulating the cytotoxicity induced by PAs.

Metabolic activation of retronecine and retronecine N-oxide – formation of DHP-derived DNA adducts

We have previously reported that metabolism of a series of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in vitro and in vivo generated a set of (+/-)6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine (DHP)-derived DNA adducts. It has also been shown that the levels of the DHP-derived DNA adduct formation correlated closely with the tumorigenic potencies of the mice fed with different doses of riddelliine. Retronecine is the necine base and the structurally smallest chemical of the retronecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Although it has been reported that microsomal metabolism of retronecine generated DHP as a metabolite, it was yet not known whether metabolism of retronecine in vivo could generate DHP-derived DNA adducts and if formed, whether or not the levels of DNA adducts were comparable with those formed from the other tumorigenic retronecine-type pyrrolizidine alkaloids, such as riddelliine, retrorsine, and monocrotaline. In this investigation, the in-vitro and in-vivo metabolic activation of retronecine was studied. Rat liver microsomal metabolism of retronecine in the presence of calf thymus DNA resulted in the formation of a set of DHP-DNA adducts. The metabolism of retronecine N-oxide under similar conditions also formed the similar set of DHP-DNA adducts. The level of DNA adducts from retronecine was enhanced when metabolism by liver microsomes from phenobarbital (PB)-induced rats were used. The DHP-DNA adducts were also found in the liver DNA of female F344 rats treated with retronecine or retronecine N-oxide. The highest level of the total DHP-DNA adducts was found in liver DNA from the rats treated with dehydroretronecine (DHR). The order of the levels of DNA adducts in the liver DNA samples from rats treated with various pyrrolizidine alkaloids was: DHR > riddelliine > riddelliine N-oxide >> retronecine > retronecine N-oxide. The results indicate that 1) retronecine can be metabolized to form DHP by rat liver microsomal enzymes and interacts with DNA to produce DHP-DNA adducts and 2) retronecine N-oxide undergoes the biotransformation to the parent compound, retronecine. The results from this and our previous findings strongly suggest that formation of DHP-DNA adducts may be a potential biomarker for pyrrolizidine alkaloid carcinogenesis.