Metabolism of chemical carcinogens by tracheobronchial tissues

Simulation of the hepatic metabolism of stilbene and its tricyclic derivatives by Fenton and Ruff reagents: models for cytochrome P-450 activation of chemical carcinogens

Reactions of trans-stilbene, cis-stilbene, 5H-dibenzo [a,d] cyclo-heptene 5-one and 5H-dibenz [b,f] azepine (iminostilbene) with Fenton reagent [Fe (II)/H2O2] clearly simulate their hepatic metabolism. Expoxidation on the corresponding ethylenic linkage was found to be a common pathway of these compounds. Epoxides of trans-stilbene, cis-stilbene, and 5H-dibenzo[a,d]cycloheptene 5-one were further oxidized to dihydrodiols, alpha-hydroxyketones, diketones, and finally cleavage of the ethylenic bonds to the formation of the corresponding aldehydes. However, the unstable epoxide of iminostilbene gave 9-acridinecarbaldehyde that is further oxidized to 9-acridone. Reaction of both trans- and cis-stilbene with Ruff reagent [Fe III)/H2O2] gave the same oxidative products to that obtained from Fenton reagent. The radical scavenger 2,6 bis (1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methyl phenol (BHT) decreases the total yield conversion and increases the formation ratio of both cis-epoxide and d,l-hydrobenzoin from cis-stilbene.

Benzo[a]pyrene metabolism by purified cytochrome P-450 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats

The metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene in reconstituted pulmonary mono-oxygenase systems has been studied. Metabolites formed by pulmonary cytochrome P450MC, a major form of pulmonary cytochrome P-450 isolated from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats, were analysed by h.p.l.c. The profiles of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites formed by the reconstituted P-450MC systems were different from that obtained with rat-lung microsomes, indicating the presence of several unknown metabolites in the reconstituted systems containing NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and epoxide hydrolase. 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was a major product formed by pulmonary cytochrome P-450MC, in the absence or presence of epoxide hydrolase. The addition of purified epoxide hydrolase to the reconstituted systems increased the formation of dihydrodihydroxy-benzo[a]pyrenes, particularly 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene. The 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was the major dihydrodiol formed by pulmonary cytochrome P-450MC. By the addition of epoxide hydrolase the total amount of phenols decreased in parallel with an increased production of dihydrodiol, but the amount of quinones was not changed. Similar results concerning the related production of phenols and dihydrodiols, in the absence and presence of epoxide hydrolase, were obtained in reconstituted systems of hepatic cytochrome P-450MC, the major form of hepatic cytochrome P-450 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats.