Synthesis of specific phenazine derivatives of 2-hydroxyestrogens

Assay of labile estrogen o-quinones, potent carcinogenic molecular species, by high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry with phenazine derivatization

A sensitive and selective assay method for labile estrogen o-quinones, estrone (E(1))-2,3-quinone (Q), E(1)-3,4-Q, estradiol (E(2))-2,3-Q and E(2)-3,4-Q, based on the use of phenazine (Phz) derivatization with o-phenylenediamine and high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) was described. The Phz derivatives of four estrogen o-quinones were purified by solid phase extraction and analyzed by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The protonated molecule was observed as a base peak for all Phz derivatives in their ESI-mass spectra (positive mode). In multiple reaction monitoring, the transition from [M+H]+ to m/z 231 was chosen for quantification. Calibration curves for the o-quinones were obtained using standard catechol estrogens after sodium metaperiodate treatment and Phz derivatization. Using this method, these four estrogen o-quinones were analyzed with the limit of quantification of 5 ng/ml in acetonitrile (MeCN)-blank matrix (1:4, v/v), respectively, on a basis of the weight of catechol estrogens. Assay accuracy and precision for four estrogen o-quinones were 89.6-113.0% and 3.1-12.6% (5, 125 and 2000 ng/ml in MeCN-blank matrix). Applications of this method enabled to determine the catalytic activities on hydroxylation and subsequent oxidation of E(1) and E(2) of Mushroom tyrosinase and rat liver microsomal fraction. It was confirmed by this method that tyrosinase exhibited 2- and 4-hydroxylation and further oxidation activities for catechols in the ring-A of estrogens. Whereas rat liver microsomal fraction possessed only 2- and 4-hydroxylation activities, and further oxidation activity for catechol estrogens was low.

Catalysis of the oxidation of steroid and stilbene estrogens to estrogen quinone metabolites by the beta-naphthoflavone-inducible cytochrome P450 IA family

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) or catecholestrogens are metabolized by microsomal enzymes to quinones, DES Q or catecholestrogen quinones, respectively, which have been shown to bind covalently to DNA and to undergo redox cycling. The isoforms of cytochrome P450 catalyzing this oxidation of estrogens to genotoxic intermediates were not known and have been identified in this study by (a) using microsomes of rats treated with various inducers of cytochrome P450; (b) using purified cytochrome P450 isoforms; and (c) examining the peroxide cofactor concentrations necessary for this oxidation by microsomes or pure isoenzymes. The highest rate of oxidation of DES to DES Q was obtained using beta-naphthoflavone-induced microsomes (14.0 nmol DES Q/mg protein/min) or cytochrome P450 IA1 (6.4 pmol DES Q/min/pmol P450). Isosafrole-induced microsomes or cytochrome P450 IA2 oxidized DES to quinone at one-third or one-fifth of that rate, respectively. Low or negligible rates of oxidation were measured when oxidations were catalyzed by microsomal rat liver enzymes induced by phenobarbital, ethanol, or pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile or by pure cytochromes P450 IIB1, IIB4, IIC3, IIC6, IIE1, IIE2, IIG1, or IIIA6. Cytochrome P450 IA1 also catalyzed the oxidation of 2- or 4-hydroxyestradiol to their corresponding quinones. The beta-naphthoflavone-induced microsomes and cytochrome P450 IA1 had the highest "affinity" for cumene hydroperoxide cofactor (Km = 77 microM). Cofactor concentrations above 250 microM resulted in decreased rates of oxidation. The other cytochrome P450 isoforms required much higher cofactor concentrations and were not inactivated at high cofactor concentrations. The data demonstrate that beta-naphthoflavone-inducible cytochrome P450 IA family enzymes catalyze most efficiently the oxidation of estrogenic hydroquinones to corresponding quinones. This oxidation may represent a detoxification pathway to keep organic hydroperoxides at minimal concentrations. The resulting quinone metabolites may be detoxified by other pathways. However, in cells with decreased detoxifying enzyme activities, quinones metabolites may accumulate and initiate carcinogenesis or cell death by covalent arylation of DNA or proteins.

Target organ-specific inactivation of drug metabolizing enzymes in kidney of hamsters treated with estradiol

Chronic treatment of hamsters with estradiol for several months has previously been shown to decrease the specific content of cytochrome P450 in the kidney, a target of hormonal carcinogenesis, but not in liver. The reason for this decrease in metabolic enzyme activity is unknown and has been examined in this investigation. We now report that the decrease in specific content of renal cytochrome P450 by 73% in response to estradiol was not affected by co-treatment with tamoxifen for 1 month. The subcutaneous infusion of 250 micrograms/day estradiol for 7 days lowered renal cytochrome P450 by 71% from control values and was therefore used for further mechanistic studies. This treatment decreased renal activities of estradiol 2- or 4-hydroxylase by 77 to 80%, of 7-ethoxycoumarin-O-deethylase by 66% of control values, respectively, and completely eliminated aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activities, whereas liver enzymes remained unaffected. After 7 days of infusion of estradiol, fluorescent products of lipid peroxidation were more than doubled in hamster kidney but remained unchanged in liver. The possibility of enzyme destruction by binding of estradiol 2,3-quinone to metabolizing enzymes was investigated in vitro. In the presence of 2-hydroxyestradiol, cumene hydroperoxide, and microsomes, conditions known to favor the oxidation of the steroid to quinone, the binding of catechol estrogen metabolite to microsomal protein increased 60 fold over control values in the absence of cofactor. Purified rat liver cytochrome P450c also oxidized 2-hydroxyestradiol to 2,3-estradiol quinone. The rate of oxidation was linear for the first 2-3 min, but thereafter decreased with time.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Formation of 3H2O from [2-3H]- and [4-3H] estradiol by rat uteri in vitro: possible role of peroxidase

The mitochondrial fraction of diethylstilbestrol-treated rat uteri, known to contain an estrogen-induced peroxidase, was able to catalyze the release of 3H2O from either [2-3H]- or [4-3H]estradiol. Hydrogen peroxide added to this system increased the yield of 3H2O but had no effect on mitochondrial preparations from ovariectomized rat uteri having only very low peroxidase activity. The reaction was inhibited by catalase and also occurred with lactoperoxidase in the presence of H2O2 but 2-hydroxyestradiol was not detected in any of these experiments. Under similar conditions, tyrosinase catalyzed the formation of the catechol estrogen with loss of 3H from [2-3H]- or [2,4,6,7-3H]- but not [4-3H]- or [6,7-3H]estradiol. It is proposed that the formation of 3H2O from 3H-labeled estradiol in the estrogen-treated rat uterus may occur by a peroxidative mechanism which does not necessarily result in hydroxylation of the steroid.

Metabolism of diethylstilbestrol: identification of a catechol derived from dienestrol

The enzymatic oxidation of E-3,4-bis-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-hex-3-ene (diethylstilbestrol) by either mushroom tyrosinase or rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH and air yields a catechol. Upon further oxidation of both compounds with periodate and condensation of the resulting o-quinones with o-phenylenediamine, phenazines are produced. The phenazines derived from the products of both the plant and animal enzyme systems are identical to the product obtained by oxidation of diethylstilbestrol with potassium nitrosodisulfonate and condensation of the o-quinone produced with o-phenylenediamine. High and low resolution mass spectra of the phenazine are consistent with its derivation from a catechol having two fewer hydrogens than diethylstilbestrol.