Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may be metabolized to hydroxylated compounds. While many of these metabolites are further converted to either the glucuronic acid or the sulfate conjugates by phase II enzymes, which facilitates their excretion, some hydroxylated PCBs persist in the body. This may reflect their inability to be conjugated. A possible role of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl transferase (UGT) in the elimination of hydroxylated metabolites of PCBs was therefore investigated. Glucuronidation studies of PCB metabolites included ones which are eliminated with relative ease and also ones which are reported to be retained in blood. Liver microsomes, prepared from male Wistar rats treated by intraperitoneal injections of phenobarbital for 3 days (400 micromol/kg/day), were used as the source of UGT. Enzyme kinetics (V(max) and K(m)) were determined for each of the metabolites. The efficiency of glucuronidation (V(max)/K(m)) was found to vary from <3 to 116 microL/min/mg and was dependent on the structure of the metabolites. Substitution of chlorine atoms on the nonhydroxylated ring greatly lowered the V(max) of the enzyme, with substitution in the meta and para positions being least favorable for enzyme activity. Steric hindrance around the hydroxyl group by chlorines on adjacent carbon atoms did not play a major role. A weak relationship between the calculated dihedral angle (planarity), pK(a), log D, and enzyme activity was determined (r(2) < 0.5). However, a stronger relationship for the surface area and surface volume of the molecule was observed (r(2) >or= 0.5). This study explains in part why some PCB metabolites persist in the body.

No abstract

Environmental chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), may be atherogenic by disrupting normal functions of the vascular endothelium. To investigate this hypothesis, porcine pulmonary artery-derived endothelial cells were exposed to 3,3',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl (PCB 77), 2,3,4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 114), or 2,2',4,4',5,5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) for up to 24 hours. These PCBs were selected for their varying binding avidities with the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor and differences in their induction of cytochrome P450. PCB 77 and PCB 114 significantly disrupted, in a dose-dependent manner, endothelial barrier function by allowing an increase in albumin transfer across endothelial monolayers. These PCBs also contributed markedly to cellular oxidative stress, as measured by 2,7-dichlorofluorescin (DCF) fluorescence and lipid hydroperoxides, and caused a significant increase in intracellular calcium ([Ca2+]i) levels. Enhanced oxidative stress and [Ca2+]i in PCB 77- and PCB 114-treated cells were accompanied by increased activity and content of cytochrome P450 1A and by a decrease in the vitamin E content in the culture medium. In contrast to the effects of PCB 77 and PCB 114, cell exposure to PCB 153 had no effect on cellular oxidation, [Ca2+]i, or endothelial barrier function. These results suggest that certain PCBs may play a role in the development of atherosclerosis by causing endothelial cell dysfunction and a decrease in the barrier function of the vascular endothelium. It is possible that interaction of PCBs with the Ah receptor and activation of the cytochrome P450 1A subfamily are involved in this pathology.

We designed a study to provide reversibility and comparative injury data for several candidate urinary biomarkers of kidney injury in the United States Food and Drug Administration biomarker qualification process. The nephrotoxin gentamicin was given to rats once on each of three days and the animals were killed during dosing or over the following 42 days. Between days one and three, all biomarkers except albumin were elevated, peaked at day 7, and returned to control levels by day 10 (μ- and α-glutathione S-transferases, and renal papillary antigen-1) or day 15 (kidney injury molecule-1, lipocalin-2, osteopontin, and clusterin). All biomarkers performed better during injury than during recovery except osteopontin, which performed equally well in both time periods. During the evolution of injury, kidney injury molecule-1, renal papillary antigen-1, and clusterin best mirrored the histopathologic lesions. During injury resolution, kidney injury molecule-1, osteopontin, and blood urea nitrogen best reflected recovery. Based on histopathology, necrosis, or apoptosis scoring, kidney injury molecule-1 was the best biomarker of overall renal injury. Evaluation by regeneration score showed that renal papillary antigen-1 best reflected tubular and/or collecting duct regeneration, especially during recovery. Thus, these biomarkers performed with different effectiveness when evaluated by individual pathological processes such as necrosis, apoptosis, and regeneration.