The formation of phenylethane-1,2-diol 2-acetate in the metabolism of styrene oxide by rabbit liver microsomes in vitro

Development of enantioselective polyclonal antibodies to detect styrene oxide protein adducts

Styrene has been reported to be pneumotoxic and hepatotoxic in humans and animals. Styrene oxide, a major reactive metabolite of styrene, has been found to form covalent binding with proteins, such as albumin and hemoglobin. Styrene oxide has two optical isomers and it was reported that the (R)-enantiomer was more toxic than the (S)-enantiomer. The purpose of this study was to develop polyclonal antibodies that can stereoselectively recognize proteins modified by styrene oxide enantiomers at cysteine residues. Immunogens were prepared by alkylation of thiolated keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) with styrene oxide enantiomers. Polyclonal antibodies were raised by immunization of rabbits with the chiral immunogens. Titration tests showed all six rabbits generated high titers of antisera that recognize (R)- or (S)-coating antigens accordingly. No cross-reaction was observed toward the carrier protein (BSA). All three rabbits immunized with (R)-immunogen produced antibodies that show enantioselectivity to the corresponding antigen, while only one among the three rabbits immunized with (S)-immunogen generated antibodies with enantioselectivity of the recognition. The enantioselectivity was also observed in competitive ELISA and immunoblot analysis. Additionally, competitive ELISA tests showed that the immunorecognition required the hydroxyl group of the haptens. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that the immunorecognition depended on the amount of protein adducts blotted and hapten loading in protein adducts. In summary, we successfully developed polyclonal antibodies to stereoselectively detect protein adducts modified by styrene oxide enantiomers.

Styrene-7,8-oxide in blood of workers exposed to styrene

A field study was carried out on 13 workers exposed to styrene vapors at time-weighted average concentrations between 10 and 73 ppm. The reactive intermediate styrene-7,8-oxide was determined in blood samples using a direct gas chromatographic method. Styrene-7,8-oxide concentrations were in the range between 0.9 and 4.1 micrograms/l blood. Linear correlations were found between styrene-7,8-oxide in blood and styrene in ambient air and blood. For an exposure concentration of 20 ppm styrene (German MAK value) a steady-state level of about 1 microgram styrene-7,8-oxide/l blood was calculated.