DNA-damaging properties and cytotoxicity in human fibroblasts of tetrachlorohydroquinone, a pentachlorophenol metabolite

The metabolic activation of pentachlorophenol to chloranil as a potent inhibitor of human and rat placental 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a widely used pesticide. However, whether PCP and its metabolite chloranil have endocrine-disrupting effects by inhibiting placental 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 (3β-HSD1) remains unclear. The study used in vitro assays with human and rat placental microsomes to measure 3β-HSD activity as well as human JAr cells to evaluate progesterone production. The results showed that PCP exhibited moderate inhibition of human 3β-HSD1, with an IC50 value of 29.83 μM and displayed mixed inhibition in terms of mode of action. Conversely, chloranil proved to be a potent inhibitor, demonstrating an IC50 value of 147 nM, and displaying a mixed mode of action. PCP significantly decreased progesterone production by JAr cells at 50 μM, while chloranil markedly reduced progesterone production at ≥1 μM. Interestingly, PCP and chloranil moderately inhibited rat placental homolog 3β-HSD4, with IC50 values of 27.94 and 23.42 μM, respectively. Dithiothreitol (DTT) alone significantly increased human 3β-HSD1 activity. Chloranil not PCP mediated inhibition of human 3β-HSD1 activity was completely reversed by DTT and that of rat 3β-HSD4 was partially reversed by DTT. Docking analysis revealed that both PCP and chloranil can bind to the catalytic domain of 3β-HSDs. The difference in the amino acid residue Cys83 in human 3β-HSD1 may explain why chloranil is a potent inhibitor through its interaction with the cysteine residue of human 3β-HSD1. In conclusion, PCP is metabolically activated to chloranil as a potent inhibitor of human 3β-HSD1.

Mechanistic Study on Oxidative DNA Damage and Modifications by Haloquinoid Carcinogenic Intermediates and Disinfection Byproducts

Haloquinones (XQs) are a group of carcinogenic intermediates of the haloaromatic environmental pollutants and newly identified chlorination disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in drinking water. The highly reactive hydroxyl radicals/alkoxyl radicals and quinone enoxy/ketoxy radicals were found to arise in XQs and H₂O₂ or organic hydroperoxides system, independent of transition-metal ions. However, it was not clear whether these haloquinoid carcinogens and hydroperoxides can cause oxidative DNA damage and modifications, and if so, what are the underlying molecular mechanisms. We found that 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), DNA strand breaks, and three methyl oxidation products could arise when DNA was treated with tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone and H₂O₂ via a metal-independent and intercalation-enhanced oxidation mechanism. Similar effects were observed with other XQs, which are generally more efficient than the typical Fenton system. We further extended our studies from isolated DNA to genomic DNA in living cells. We also found that potent oxidation of DNA to the more mutagenic imidazolone dIz could be induced by XQs and organic hydroperoxides such as t-butylhydroperoxide or the physiologically relevant hydroperoxide 13S-hydroperoxy-9Z,11E-octadecadienoic acid via an unprecedented quinone-enoxy radical-mediated mechanism. These findings should provide new perspectives to explain the potential genotoxicity, mutagenesis, and carcinogenicity for the ubiquitous haloquinoid carcinogenic intermediates and DBPs.

Residues His172 and Lys238 are Essential for the Catalytic Activity of the Maleylacetate Reductase from Sphingobium chlorophenolicum Strain L-1

Maleylacetate reductase (PcpE), the last enzyme in the pentachlorophenol biodegradation pathway in Sphingobium chlorophenolicum L-1, catalyzes two consecutive reductive reactions, reductive dehalogenation of 2-chloromaleylacetate (2-CMA) to maleylacetate (MA) and subsequent reduction of MA to 3-oxoadipate (3-OXO). In each reaction, one molecule of NADH is consumed. To better understand its catalytic function, we undertook a structural model-based site-directed mutagenesis and steady-state kinetics study of PcpE. Our results showed that the putative catalytic site of PcpE is located in a positively charged solvent channel at the interface of the two domains and the binding of 2-CMA/MA involves seven basic amino acids, His172, His236, His237, His241 and His251, Lys140 and Lys238. Mutagenesis studies showed that His172 and Lys238 are essential for the catalytic activity of PcpE. However, the mutation of His236 to an alanine can increase the catalytic efficiency (k _cat /K _m ) of PcpE by more than 2-fold, implying that PcpE is still in an early stage of molecular evolution. Similar to tetrachlorobenzoquinone reductase (PcpD), PcpE is also inhibited by pentachlorophenol in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, our studies showed that PcpE exhibits an extremely low but detectable level of alcohol dehalogenase activity toward ethanol and supports the notion that it is evolved from an iron-containing alcohol dehydrogenase.

Assessment of Pentachlorophenol Exposure in Humans using the Clearance Concept

1 Pentachlorophenol (PeCP), a widely-used wood preservative, is a ubiquitous compound which has been found to be carcinogenic in mice. The objective of this study is to assess the average net daily intake of PeCP in cohorts of individuals who are: (1) not specifically exposed to PeCP, (2) residents of homes made of PeCP-treated logs and (3) occupationally exposed to PeCP.

2 The average net daily intake was calculated using a basic pharmacokinetic principle, the clearance (CL) concept: net daily intake equals CL (in 1 d-1) times the average steady-state concentration of PeCP in plasma ( Css). Css values reported in the literature were used for the calculations.

3 Because the two definitive studies on PeCP toxicokinetics in humans have given conflicting results, kinetic information from human exposure to PeCP was reviewed. Plasma clearance was estimated from retrospective analysis of urine and plasma concentrations measured in people after long-term exposure to PeCP. An overall clearance of 0.425 1 d-1 was obtained.

4 In groups of individuals who are not specifically exposed to PeCP, net daily intake estimated in eight countries varied from 5 μg (Nigeria) to 37 μg (The Netherlands). Net intake was between 51 μg d-1 and 157 μg d-1 in residents of homes made of PeCP-treated logs. In individuals occupationally exposed to PeCP, net daily intake varied widely (from 35 μg to about 24 000 μg) depending on the type of work.

Hepatoprotective effect of Caesalpinia gilliesii and Cajanus cajan proteins against acetoaminophen overdose-induced hepatic damage

This study aims to evaluate two proteins derived from the seeds of the plants Cajanus cajan (Leguminosae) and Caesalpinia gilliesii (Leguminosae) for their abilities to ameliorate the toxic effects of chronic doses of acetoaminphen (APAP) through the determination of certain biochemical parameters including liver marker enzymes: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin. Also, total protein content and hepatic marker enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase were studied. Moreover, liver antioxidants, glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide, and lipid peroxides were determined in this study. Hepatic adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), adenylate energy charge (ATP, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, and inorganic phosphate), and phosphate potential, serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and myeloperoxidase were also examined in the present study. On the other hand, histopathological examination of intoxicated and liver treated with both proteins was taken into consideration. The present results show disturbances in all biochemical parameters and hepatic toxicity signs including mild vascular congestion, moderate inflammatory changes with moderate congested sinusoids, moderate nuclear changes (pyknosis), moderate centrilobular necrosis, fatty changes, nuclear pyknosis vascular congestion, and change in fatty centrilobular necrosis liver. Improvement in all biochemical parameters studied was noticed as a result of treatment intoxicated liver with C. gilliesii and C. cajan proteins either paracetamol with or post paracetamol treatment. These results were documented by the amelioration signs in rat's hepatic architecture. Thus, both plant protein extracts can upregulate and counteract the inflammatory process, minimize damage of the liver, delay disease progression, and reduce its complications.

Analysis of DNA adducts in rats exposed to pentachlorophenol

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a widely used biocide that has been reported to be hepatocarcinogenic in mice. Its effects in rats are equivocal, but the liver clearly is not a target organ for carcinogenesis. The carcinogenic effects of PCP in mice may relate to reactive oxygen species generated during metabolism. PCP is known to increase the hydroxyl radical-derived DNA lesion, 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (ohdG), in the liver of exposed mice. To investigate whether the generation of oxidative DNA damage and direct DNA adducts may explain the species difference in carcinogenicity, we have analyzed ohdG in hepatic DNA from PCP-exposed rats. Rats were exposed acutely to PCP for 1 or 5 days. Tissues also were obtained from a 27 week interim sacrifice of the 2 year National Toxicology Program carcinogenesis bioassay. We used HPLC with electrochemical array detection for ohdG analysis. Single or 5 day exposure to PCP (up to 120 or 60 mg/kg/day, respectively) did not increase ohdG. Dietary exposure to 1000 p.p.m. PCP (equivalent to 60 mg/kg/day) for 27 weeks induced a 2-fold increase in ohdG (1.8 versus 0.91x10(-6) in controls). In parallel, formation of direct DNA adducts was analyzed by 32P-post-labeling following nuclease P1 adduct enrichment. We detected two major DNA adducts with relative adduct labeling of 0.78x10(7) adducts per total nucleotides. One of these adducts was found to co-migrate with the adduct induced by the metabolite, tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone. We observed differences in DNA adduct formation between acute and chronic studies, with acute studies not inducing any detectable amount of DNA adducts. These results indicated that chronic, but not acute exposure to PCP increased ohdG and direct adducts in hepatic DNA. As the same exposure conditions that enhanced ohdG did not produce liver cancer in rats, the generation of reactive oxygen species, oxidative DNA damage and direct DNA adducts is not sufficient for the induction of hepatocarcinogenesis by PCP in the rat.

Prevention of the down-regulation of gap junctional intercellular communication by green tea in the liver of mice fed pentachlorophenol

Much evidence has been documented supporting the hypothesis that the down-regulation of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is a cellular event underlying the tumor promotion process and that treatment to prevent the down-regulation or to up-regulate GJIC is important in preventing tumor promotion. We explored the potential preventive effects of green tea against the promoting action of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in mouse hepatocarcinogenesis, examining whether drinking green tea prevents the down-regulation of GJIC inhibition in the liver caused by tumorigenic doses of PCP. We used a modified in vivo GJIC assay, the incision loading/dye transfer method. Male B6C3F1 mice were given a green tea infusion for 1 week and then PCP was fed at a dose of 300 or 600 p.p.m. in the diet for the following 2 weeks, along with green tea treatment. A dose-related inhibition of GJIC in the hepatocytes was evident in the mice treated with PCP alone that was associated with a reduction in connexin32 (Cx32) plaques in the plasma membrane and an increase in the cell proliferation index. Drinking green tea significantly protected mice against GJIC inhibition, the reduction in Cx32 and the elevation of the labeling index. These findings suggest that green tea might act as an anti-promoter against PCP-induced mouse hepatocarcinogenesis via its ability to prevent down-regulation of GJIC.

Evidence for production of hydroxyl radicals by pentachlorophenol metabolites and hydrogen peroxide: A metal-independent organic Fenton reaction

The production of hydroxyl radicals by tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ, a major metabolite of the widely used biocide pentachlorophenol) in the presence of H(2)O(2) was studied by salicylate hydroxylation method. HPLC with electrochemical detection was used to measure the levels of 2,3- and 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (DHBA) formed when the hydroxyl radicals react with salicylate. We found that TCHQ and H(2)O(2) could produce both 2,3- and 2,5-DHBA when incubated with salicylate. Their production was markedly inhibited by hydroxyl radical scavenging agents dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol, as well as by tetrachlorosemiquinone radical scavengers desferrioxamine and other hydroxamic acids. In contrast, their production was not affected by the nonhydroxamate iron chelators diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA), bathophenanthroline disulfonic acid, and phytic acid, as well as the copper-specific chelator bathocuprione disulfonic acid. A comparison of product formation and distribution from the reaction of ferrous iron with hydrogen peroxide (the classic Fenton system) strongly suggests that the same hydroxyl radical adducts are formed as in the TCHQ/H(2)O(2) experiments. Taken together, we propose that hydroxyl radicals were produced by TCHQ in the presence of H(2)O(2), probably through a metal-independent organic Fenton reaction.

The damage-inducible (din) genes of Escherichia coli are induced by various genotoxins in a different way

The SOS response of Escherichia coli strains carrying the lacZ gene fused to the polB (dinA), dinB or dinD gene were investigated after treatment with several chemical agents and gamma-radiation. The induction levels of polB::lacZ reached levels between 4.0- and 9.0-fold 120 min after treatment with nalidixic acid, H2O2 or ethanol. Pentachlorophenol did not significantly induce any din genes. gamma-Irradiation is not an inducer of polB and ethanol failed to induce dinB::lacZ and dinD::lacZ. Following irradiation with a dose of 10 Gy the responses of dinB and dinD were induced about 2.5-3.0-fold above non-irradiated dinB and dinD. We found that the responses of din::lacZ fusion genes to these genotoxins are induced in a dose-dependent manner. The polB gene showed antagonistic responses to the simultaneous treatment of nalidixic acid and H2O2 or nalidixic acid and ethanol. In addition, dinB and dinD in the presence of both nalidixic acid and H2O2 at the same time showed no synergistic responses.

New modes of action of desferrioxamine: scavenging of semiquinone radical and stimulation of hydrolysis of tetrachlorohydroquinone

Desferrioxamine (DFO) is a common drug used in the treatment of iron overload. In addition to its iron-chelation, other properties have been identified. Alas, DFO has demonstrable effects which cannot be explained by its classically established properties; i.e., DFO protects against DNA single strand breaks induced by tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ), while other iron chelators such as DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) do not. The autooxidation process of TCHQ yielding the tetrachlorosemiquinone radical (TCSQ.) intermediate, was studied here in the presence of chelators. DFO led to a marked reduction in both concentration and life span of TCSQ. via formation of DFO-nitroxide radical (DFO.). In contrast, DTPA had no detectable effect on TCHQ autooxidation. Present studies indicate that the protective effects of DFO on TCHQ-induced DNA damage were not due to the binding of iron, but rather to scavenging of the reactive TCSQ. and the formation of the less reactive DFO.. An additional mode of action of DFO was identified, via stimulation of the hydrolysis (dechlorination) of tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranil), which is the oxidation product of TCHQ, to form 2,5-dichloro-3,6-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone (chloranilic acid). The results of this study demonstrate two new modes of action for DFO: the scavenging of deleterious semiquinone radical, and the stimulation of the hydrolysis of halogenated substituents on the quinone structure. Both modes might prove highly relevant to the biological activities of DFO.

Protection from acetaminophen-induced liver damage by the synergistic action of low doses of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-inhibitor nicotinamide and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine or the amino acid L-methionine

1. An array of therapeutically used analgetic and antirheumatic drugs cause severe liver damage. The present study investigates the hepatoprotective effects of inhibitors of NAD-dependent adenoribosylation reactions and of antioxidants in analgesic-induced hepatic injury. 2. Male NMRI mice were treated PO with 500 mg/kg of acetaminophen, and the activities of both glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase (GPT) were determined in serum. 3. The acetaminophen-induced release of both GOT and GPT from injured liver cells could be inhibited in a dose-dependent manner, when mice were injected additionally either with increasing amounts (from (25 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg i.p.) of the PARP-inhibitor nicotinamide, with increasing amounts (from 25 mg/kg to 100 mg/kg i.p.) of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine, or with increasing amounts (from 50 mg/kg to 300 mg/kg i.p.) of the amino acid L-methionine. 4. A combination of both nicotinamide and N-acetylcysteine (at the low dose of 12.5 mg/kg i.p. each) results in a complete protection from acetaminophen-induced release of GOT and GPT from injured liver cells. 5. A combination of both L-methionine and N-acetylcysteine or nicotinamide (at the low dose of 12.5 mg/kg IP each) resulted also in complete protection from acetaminophen-induced release of GOT and GPT.

Pentachlorophenol-induced oxidative DNA damage in mouse liver and protective effect of antioxidants

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) was determined as a marker of oxidative DNA damage in male B6C3F1 mice treated with the hepatocarcinogen pentachlorophenol (PCP). A single oral administration of PCP (0-80 mg/kg) significantly and dose-dependently increased the 8-OH-dG level specifically in the liver at 6 hr. Repeated doses (0-80 mg/kg) over 5 days caused a further increase. Elevation of the 8-OH-dG level caused by a single dose of PCP (60 mg/kg) was not affected by ip injection of buthionine sulfoximine (2 mmol/kg), an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, or aminotriazole (1 g/kg), an inhibitor of catalase, showing no clear evidence for enhancement by the oxidative stress due to reduction of antioxidative factors under these experimental conditions. However, examination of the effects of natural antioxidants on repeated PCP treatment (60 mg/kg/day, for 5 days) revealed that oral administration of vitamin E and diallyl sulfide 3 hr before each PCP challenge significantly protected against elevation of hepatic 8-OH-dG levels. beta-Carotene did not have any effect. Ellagic acid, epigallocatechin gallate and vitamin C demonstrated partial protection. These findings indicate that PCP causes oxidative DNA damage in the target organ liver which can be blocked by a number of antioxidant agents.

Role of active oxygen species in DNA damage by pentachlorophenol metabolites

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been shown to be carcinogenic for mice, although it does not seem to be mutagenic in bacterial test systems. In this study, the mechanism of DNA damage by PCP metabolites in the presence of metals was investigated with a DNA sequencing technique using 32P-labeled DNA fragments and with an electrochemical detector coupled to an HPLC. The metabolite tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ) caused DNA damage in the presence of Cu(II) but not in the presence of either Mn(II) or Fe(III). TCHQ plus Cu(II) frequently induced piperidine-labile sites at thymine residues and guanine residues. The most preferred sites were the thymine residues of the 5'-GTC-3' sequence. TCHQ increased 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine in calf thymus DNA in the presence of Cu(II). Typical OH scavengers showed no inhibitory effects on TCHQ- plus Cu(II)-induced DNA damage. Bathocuproine and catalase inhibited DNA damage, suggesting that Cu(I) and H2O2 have important roles in the production of active species causing DNA damage. Tetrachloro-p-benzoquinone (TCBQ) alone did not induce DNA damage in the presence of Cu(II), but addition of NADH induced DNA cleavage even in the absence of NADH-FMN oxidoreductase. UV-visible and ESR spectroscopies have demonstrated that TCHQ is rapidly autoxidized into semiquinone even in the absence of metal ions, indicating that the semiquinone radical itself is not the main active species inducing DNA damage. These results suggest that the semiquinone radical produced by the autoxidation of TCHQ and/or the reduction of TCBQ by NADH reacts with dioxygen to form superoxide and subsequently H2O2, which is activated by transition metals to cause DNA damage.

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (TCP) induces chromosome breakage and aneuploidy in vitro

2,4,6-Trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP), a non-mutagen to Salmonella, was reportedly negative in tests for chromosome breakage in vitro, but did produce numerical chromosome changes and micronuclei in V79 cells (Jansson and Jansson, 1992). This apparent specific ability to induce aneuploidy is of interest since aneuploidy testing is not part of routine genotoxicity test procedures. Here we show 2,4,6-TCP clearly induces structural chromosome aberrations in CHO cells and in V79 cells using a 3-h treatment and 20-h sampling time (17-h recovery). The isomers 2,4,5- and 2,3,6-TCP were also clastogenic in this protocol. There was no increase in aberrations when we used the protocol of Jansson and Jansson (1992), i.e., a 24-h treatment with sampling either immediately, or with a 24-h recovery period. However, positive results were obtained when a recovery time of 4-12 h was allowed after the 24-h treatment with 2,4,6-TCP. Previous negative aberration tests of 2,4,6-TCP (Galloway et al., 1987; Ishidate, 1988) are also likely due to inappropriate protocols. All these results were obtained without S9 metabolic activation. We also found positive results in CHO cells when 2,4,6-TCP was tested with S9. The present study demonstrates that 2,4,6-TCP induces both structural and numerical aberrations, and underscores the importance of protocol design, in particular the appropriate recovery time after treatment, for detecting clastogenic activity in vitro.

Human pentachlorophenol poisoning

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) was, and still is, one of the most frequently used fungicides and pesticides. Its toxicity is due to interference with oxidative phosphorylation. Acute and chronic poisoning may occur by dermal absorption, inhalation or ingestion. Chronic poisoning occurs mainly in sawmill workers or people living in log homes treated with PCP-containing wood protecting formulations. Quantitative determination of PCP in urine and serum is useful to detect occupational or subclinical exposure. The clinical features of acute and chronic PCP poisoning can be classified systematically into effects on the skin, metabolism (fever), the haematopoietic tissue, the respiratory system, the central and peripheral nervous system, the kidney and the gastrointestinal tract. Although PCP is not classified as a human carcinogen, some epidemiological observations suggest that exposure to chlorophenols in general and PCP solutions in particular may result in an increased risk for certain malignant disorders such as nasal carcinoma and soft tissue sarcoma. There is concern that contamination of PCP-solutions with products such as chlorodibenzo-p-dioxins is the real cause of this suspected carcinogenicity. No specific antidote exists for the treatment of (acute) PCP poisoning. The basis of the treatment of acute poisoning is intensive supportive care with prevention of dangerous rise in temperature. Use of PCP-based products as indoor wood preservatives poses an unacceptable risk to human health.

Pentachlorophenol carcinogenicity: extrapolation of risk from mice to humans

1. Pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been found to be carcinogenic in mice. The objective of this study was to extrapolate to humans the risk of cancer from data obtained in mice using information on disposition, serum protein binding and metabolism of PCP across species. 2. A review of the literature indicates that neither PCP nor a mutagenic metabolite, tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ), has been specifically identified as responsible for the carcinogenicity. In addition, the occurrence of TCHQ as a metabolite of PCP in humans is still questionable. Therefore, cancer risk assessment is performed on the assumption that PCP itself is responsible for the carcinogenicity. 3. For interspecies extrapolation, a new method in which interspecies differences in clearance and serum protein binding are taken into account is used. The method gives estimates of equivalent human doses of PCP which are up to 4 times smaller than those obtained using body surface area. For both interspecies extrapolation methods, the estimated virtually-safe doses of PCP are smaller than the average daily intakes reported in groups of subjects nonspecifically exposed to PCP. Corresponding extra risks of cancer for lifetime exposure are from 20 to 140 times greater than the acceptable extra risk (10(-6)). The results obtained with this approach indicate that PCP is a possible public health hazard.

Disposition, bioavailability, and serum protein binding of pentachlorophenol in the B6C3F1 mouse

The toxicokinetics of pentachlorophenol (PCP) were studied in B6C3F1 mice, a strain in which PCP was previously found to be carcinogenic. In a crossover design, doses of 15 mg/kg were given intravenously (bolus) and orally (gastric intubation) to six animals. Concentrations of PCP in blood, urine, and feces were measured by capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection. After intravenous administration, the values of clearance and volume of distribution were 0.057 +/- 0.007 L/hr/kg and 0.43 +/- 0.06 L/kg, respectively. These two parameters exhibited low intermouse variability (coefficients of variation less than 14%). The elimination half-life was 5.2 +/- 0.6 hr. After oral administration, the PCP peak plasma concentration (28 +/- 7 micrograms/ml) occurred at 1.5 +/- 0.5 hr and absorption was complete (bioavailability = 1.06 +/- 0.09). The elimination half-life was 5.8 +/- 0.6 hr. Only 8% of the PCP dose was excreted unchanged by the kidney. PCP was primarily recovered in urine as conjugates. A portion of the dose was recovered in urine as the mutagen, tetrachlorohydroquinone (5%) (TCHQ), and its conjugates (15%). For both PCP and TCHQ, sulfates accounted for 90% or more of the total conjugates (glucuronides and sulfates).

Induction of micronuclei in V79 Chinese hamster cells by tetrachlorohydroquinone, a metabolite of pentachlorophenol

Tetrachlorohydroquinone, a metabolite of the fungicide pentachlorophenol, induced significant dose-related increases in micronuclei in V79 Chinese hamster cells without exogenous metabolic activation. The lowest observed effective dose was 10 microM, where the relative survival was about 62%. At the highest dose tested, 20 microM, the relative survival was about 8% and the frequency of cells with micronuclei was about 6 times the solvent control frequency. The induction of micronuclei by tetrachlorohydroquinone was significantly inhibited by the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide at 5% (v/v).

Induction of mutation in V79 Chinese hamster cells by tetrachlorohydroquinone, a metabolite of pentachlorophenol

Tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCHQ) and tetrachlorocatechol (TCC), two metabolites of the environmental mutagen and carcinogen pentachlorophenol, were tested without exogenous activation in V79 Chinese hamster cells for the induction of mutation at the hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) locus to 6-thioguanine resistance (TGr) and at the Na/K-ATPase locus to ouabain resistance (OuaR). Treatment was for 24 h at 37 degrees C. TCHQ produced statistically significant increases in the frequency of TGr mutants. The lowest observed effective dose (LOED) was 20 microM, where the relative cloning efficiency was 63%. The relationship between the dose of TCHQ and the frequency of TGr mutants was approximately linear over the range of 0-60 microM with an estimated slope (+/- 95% confidence limits) of 1.1 +/- 0.3 mutants per 10(6) clonable cells per microM. At the highest tested dose of TCHQ, 60 microM, the relative cloning efficiency was reduced to 7%. In contrast to TCHQ, TCC was unable to induce TGr mutants at doses up to 120 microM. The relative cloning efficiency at this dose was 5%. Both TCHQ and TCC were unable to induce OuaR mutants. The results suggest that TCHQ is at least partly responsible for the genotoxic activity of pentachlorophenol. TCHQ can produce reactive oxygen species, which may cause large genetic damage such as deletions, resulting in mutation to TGr but not to OuaR.

Pentachlorophenol

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is a substance whose widespread use, mainly in wood protection and pulp and paper mills, has led to a substantial environmental contamination. This in turn accounts for a significant exposure of the general human population, with rather high exposure levels being attained in occupational settings. Investigations on the genotoxic activity of PCP have given rise to divergent results which would seem to make an evaluation difficult. By grouping them into 3 categories a somewhat clearer picture, allowing finally an (admittedly tentative) assessment, can be obtained. PCP does seem to be at most a weak inducer of DNA damage: it produces neither DNA-strand breaks nor clear differential toxicity to bacteria in rec-assays in the absence of metabolic activation. Also in SCE induction no increase can be observed in vivo, while PCP is found marginally active in a single in vitro experiment. Metabolic activation, however, leads to prophage induction and to DNA strand breaks in human lymphocytes, presumably through the formation of oxygen radicals. A possible further exception in this area might be the positive results in the yeast recombination tests, although their inadequate reporting makes a full evaluation difficult. PCP does not seem to induce gene (point) mutations, as most bacterial assays, the Drosophila sex-linked recessive lethal test and in vitro assays with mammalian cells did not demonstrate any effects. Marginally positive results were obtained in the mammalian spot test in vivo and in one bacterial test; the positive result in the yeast assay for cycloheximide resistance is fraught somewhat with its questionable genetic basis. PCP does, however, induce chromosomal aberrations in mammalian cells in vitro and in lymphocytes of exposed persons in vivo. Those in vivo results that were unable to provide evidence of chromosomal damage are hampered either by methodological inadequacies or by too low exposure levels. The (rodent) metabolite tetrachlorohydroquinone might be a real genotoxic agent, capable of binding to DNA and producing DNA strand breaks; this activity is probably due to semiquinone radical formation and partly mediated through active oxygen species. Since this compound has not been tested in the common bacterial and mammalian mutagenicity assays, the few ancillary results on this substance cannot be used in a meaningful human risk assessment of PCP. Furthermore, this metabolite has only been produced by human liver microsomes in vitro, but has not been detected in exposed humans in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The induction of DNA strand breaks and formation of semiquinone radicals by metabolites of 2,4,5-trichlorophenol

The industrial pollutant 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP) was metabolized with postmitochondrial liver fraction from Aroclor-1254 induced rats. The generated metabolites induced single strand breaks in PM2 DNA. Among the metabolites produced are the 3,4,6-trichlorocatechol (TCC) and the 2,5-dichlorohydro-quinone (DCH), whereby the induction of DNA scission by DCH was approximately one hundred times greater than that of TCC. In the 2,4,5-TCP metabolization mixture radicals were observed by ESR. They were identified as the semiquinones of TCC and DCH. ESR studies confirmed that both TCC and DCH autoxidize in aqueous solution to their semiquinone radicals. The involvement of reactive oxygen species in the DNA strand scission was demonstrated by using DMSO, SOD, and catalase as scavengers. Inhibition of strand breaks with the scavenger enzymes did not give homogeneous results for DCH and TCC. This indicated that the directly damaging species might be different for DCH and TCC.

The effect of pentachlorophenol and its metabolite tetrachlorohydroquinone on cell growth and the induction of DNA damage in Chinese hamster ovary cells

It is shown that p-tetrachlorohydroquinone (TCH), the metabolite of the environmental chemical pentachlorophenol (PCP), is more toxic to cultured CHO cells than PCP, and that it causes DNA single-strand breaks and/or alkali-labile sites at concentrations of 2-10 microgram/ml as demonstrated by the alkaline elution technique.

Metabolic studies on pentachlorophenol (PCP) in rats

1. The metabolism of pentachlorophenol in rats was studied. 2. Metabolites isolated from rat urine and identified were: 2,3,4,5-tetrachlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, 2,3,5,6-tetrachlorophenol, tetrachlorocatechol, tetrachlororesorcinol, trichlorohydroquinone, tetrachlorohydroquinone, and traces of trichloro-1,4-benzoquinone, and tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone.

Mutagenic activation of xenobiotics by plant enzymes

Genetic evidence has indicated that plants can activate certain xenobiotics to mutagens, but biochemical evidence is as yet scarce. Nevertheless, plant microsomal enzymes and peroxidases have been shown to form reactive intermediates, the best studied examples being 2-aminofluorene, benzo[a]pyrene and pentachlorophenol. The latter two xenobiotics are converted to quinoid derivatives which are, in principle, able to redox cycle and generate active oxygen species. In analogy to results obtained in mammalian systems, covalent binding of reactive intermediates to DNA as well as fragmentation of DNA, are proposed as major mechanisms of action of mutagenic plant metabolites.

Inhibitory effect of tetrachloro-p-hydroquinone and other metabolites of hexachlorobenzene on hepatic uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase activity with reference to the role of glutathione

Exposure of rats to HCB caused a dose-dependent depletion of GSH. Chlorophenolic and sulfur-containing metabolites of HCB incubated with GSH-free rat liver cytosolic protein drastically diminished the UROD activity. In addition, HCB also exhibited inhibitory potency. The most effective compounds studied were TCH and its oxidation product, chloranil. Incubation of liver cytosolic protein and of GSH with HCB and its metabolites yielded results that suggested interaction between the compounds and cell constituents--an interaction that may cause inhibition of the hepatic UROD activity in the HCB-exposed organism.