Search

Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) play an important role in bioactivating or detoxifying polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), common environmental contaminants. While it is widely accepted that exposure to PAHs induces CYPs, effectively increasing rates of xenobiotic metabolism, dose- and time-response patterns of CYP induction are not well known. In order to better understand dose- and time-response relationships of individual CYPs following induction, we exposed B6129SF1/J mice to single or repeated doses (2–180 μmol/kg/d) of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) or Supermix-10, a mixture of the top 10 most abundant PAHs found at the Portland Harbor Superfund Site. In hepatic microsomes from exposed mice, we measured amounts of active CYPs using activity-based protein profiling and total CYP expression using global proteomics. We observed rapid Cyp1a1 induction after 6 hr at the lowest PAH exposures and broad induction of many CYPs after 3 daily PAH doses at 72 hr following the first dose. Using samples displaying Cyp1a1 induction, we observed significantly higher metabolic affinity for BaP metabolism (K(m) reduced 3-fold), 3-fold higher intrinsic clearance, but no changes to the V(max). Mice dosed with the highest PAH exposures exhibited 1.7 to 5-fold higher intrinsic clearance rates for BaP compared to controls and higher V(max) values indicating greater amounts of enzymes capable of metabolizing BaP. This study demonstrates exposure to PAHs found at Superfund Sites induces enzymes in dose- and time-dependent patterns in mice. Accounting for specific changes in enzyme profiles, and relative rates of PAH bioactivation and detoxification, and resulting risk will help translate internal dosimetry of animal models to humans and improve risk assessments of PAHs at Superfund sites.

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) comprise a diverse family of phase II drug metabolizing enzymes whose shared function is the conjugation of reduced glutathione (GSH) to endo- and xenobiotics. Although the conglomerate activity of these enzymes can be measured, the isoform-specific contribution to the metabolism of xenobiotics in complex biological samples has not been possible. We have developed two activity-based probes (ABPs) that characterize active GSTs in mammalian tissues. The GST active site is composed of a GSH binding “G site” and a substrate binding “H site”. Therefore, we developed (1) a GSH-based photoaffinity probe (GSTABP-G) to target the “G site”, and (2) an ABP designed to mimic a substrate molecule and have “H site” activity (GSTABP-H). The GSTABP-G features a photoreactive moiety for UV-induced covalent binding to GSTs and GSH-binding enzymes. The GSTABP-H is a derivative of a known mechanism-based GST inhibitor that binds within the active site and inhibits GST activity. Validation of probe targets and “G” and “H” site specificity was carried out using a series of competition experiments in the liver. Herein, we present robust tools for the characterization of enzyme- and active site-specific GST activity in mammalian model systems.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contaminants that are ubiquitously found in the environment, produced through combustion of organic matter or petrochemicals, and many of which are procarcinogens. The prototypic PAH, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) and the highly carcinogenic dibenzo[def,p]chrysene (DBC) are metabolically activated by isoforms of the P450 enzyme superfamily producing benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol (B[a]P diol), dibenzo[def,p]chrysene-11,12 diol (DBC diol). Each of these diols can be further metabolized by cytochrome P450 enzymes to highly reactive diol-epoxide metabolites that readily react with DNA or by phase II conjugation facilitating excretion. To complement prior in vitro metabolism studies with parent B[a]P and DBC, both phase I metabolism and phase II glucuronidation of B[a]P diol and DBC diol were measured in hepatic microsomes from female B6129SF1/J mice, male Sprague-Dawley rats, and female humans. Metabolic parameters, including intrinsic clearance and Michaelis-Menten kinetics were calculated from substrate depletion data. Mice and rats demonstrated similar B[a]P diol phase I metabolic rates. Compared to rodents, human phase I metabolism of B[a]P diol demonstrated lower overall metabolic capacity, lower intrinsic clearance at higher substrate concentrations (>0.14μM), and higher intrinsic clearance at lower substrate concentrations (

Radiotherapy for head and neck cancers can result in extensive damage to the salivary glands, significantly affecting patient quality of life. However, the salivary gland can recover in patients receiving lower doses of radiation. In addition, there is considerable interest in delineating the mechanisms by which stem cells survive radiation exposure and promote tissue regeneration. In this study, we isolated stable radioresistant acinar progenitor cells from the submaxillary gland of the Sprague Dawley rat. Progenitor cells are characterized as c-Kithigh/alpha-amylase+ and are resistant to X rays (≤5 Gy).We further isolated a radiosensitive acinar counterpart, characterized as c-Kitlow/alpha-amylase+, which is effectively killed by exposure to 2 Gy X ray of radiation. Phosphopeptides with homology to the treacle protein (TCOF1) were disproportionately increased in progenitor cells, compared to their radiosensitive counterparts. Silencing of TCOF1 expression (shRNA) radiosensitized progenitor cells, a response conserved in human cells with TCOF1 knockdown. Collectively, these observations indicate that radiation resistance is an intrinsic property of c-Kithigh salivary gland progenitor cells. Since human salivary gland stem cells with c-Kit expression are believed to have enhanced regenerative potencies, our model system provides a stable platform to investigate molecular features associated with c-Kit expression that may contribute to protection or stabilization of the stem cell niche.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants generated from combustion of carbon-based matter. Upon ingestion, these molecules can be bioactivated by cytochrome P450 monooxygenases to oxidized toxic metabolites. Some of these metabolites are potent carcinogens that can form irreversible adducts with DNA and other biological macromolecules. Conjugative enzymes, such as glutathione S-transferases or UDP-glucuronosyltransferases, are responsible for the detoxification and/or facilitate the elimination of these carcinogens. While responses to PAH exposures have been extensively studied for the bioactivating cytochrome P450 enzymes, much less is known regarding the response of glutathione S-transferases in mammalian systems. In this study, we investigated the expression and activity responses of murine hepatic glutathione S-transferases to benzo[ a]pyrene exposure using global proteomics and activity-based protein profiling for chemoproteomics, respectively. Using this approach, we identified several enzymes exhibiting increased activity including GSTA2, M1, M2, M4, M6, and P1. The activity of one GST enzyme, GSTA4, was found to be downregulated with increasing B[ a]P dose. Activity responses of several of these enzymes were identified as being expression-independent when comparing global and activity-based data sets, possibly alluding to as of yet unknown regulatory post-translational mechanisms.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential for non-invasive biomonitoring of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in saliva. Using an in vitro rat salivary gland epithelial cell (SGEC) system, a collection of experiments investigating chemical protein binding, temporal and directional transport, as well as competitive transport with para-aminohippuric acid (PAH), a substrate for renal organic anion transporters, was conducted to identify cellular transport parameters required to computationally model salivary transport of 2,4-D. Additionally, a physiological protein gradient was implemented to mimic physiologically relevant concentrations of protein in rat plasma and saliva, and under these conditions the transfer of 2,4-D was markedly slower, driven by increased protein binding (i.e. reduced free 2,4-D species available to cross salivary barrier). The rate of transfer was directly proportional to the amount of unbound 2,4-D and demonstrated no indication of active transport. An in vivo assessment of 2,4-D exposure in rats revealed non-linear protein binding in plasma, indicating saturated protein binding and increased levels of unbound 2,4-D species at higher doses. A strong correlation between 2,4-D concentrations in saliva and unbound 2,4-D in plasma was observed (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.95). Saliva:plasma 2,4-D ratios measured in vivo (0.0079) were consistent within the linear protein binding range and expected 2,4-D levels from occupational exposures but were significantly different than ratios measured in vitro (physiological conditions) (0.034), possibly due to 2,4-D concentrations in saliva not being at equilibrium with 2,4-D concentrations in blood, as well as physiological features absent in in vitro settings (e.g. blood flow). We demonstrated that 2,4-D is consistently transported into saliva using both in vitro and in vivo models, making 2,4-D a potential candidate for human non-invasive salivary biomonitoring. Further work is needed to understand whether current sensor limits of detection are sufficient to measure occupationally relevant exposures.

Lung diseases and disorders are a leading cause of death among infants. Many of these diseases and disorders are caused by premature birth and underdeveloped lungs. In addition to developmentally related disorders, the lungs are exposed to a variety of environmental contaminants and xenobiotics upon birth that can cause breathing issues and are progenitors of cancer. In order to gain a deeper understanding of the developing lung, we applied an activity-based chemoproteomics approach for the functional characterization of the xenometabolizing cytochrome P450 enzymes, active ATP and nucleotide binding enzymes, and serine hydrolases using a suite of activity-based probes (ABPs). We detected P450 activity primarily in the postnatal lung; using our ATP-ABP, we characterized a wide range of ATPases and other active nucleotide- and nucleic acid-binding enzymes involved in multiple facets of cellular metabolism throughout development. ATP-ABP targets include kinases, phosphatases, NAD- and FAD-dependent enzymes, RNA/DNA helicases, and others. The serine hydrolase-targeting probe detected changes in the activities of several proteases during the course of lung development, yielding insights into protein turnover at different stages of development. Select activity-based probe targets were then correlated with RNA in situ hybridization analyses of lung tissue sections.

Due to robustness, easy large-scale preparation and low cost, nanomaterials with enzyme-like characteristics (defined as 'nanozymes') are attracting increasing interest for various applications. However, most of currently developed nanozymes show much lower activity in comparison with natural enzymes, and the deficiency greatly hinders their use in sensing and biomedicine. Single-atom catalysts (SACs) offer the unique feature of maximum atomic utilization, providing a potential pathway to improve the catalytic activity of nanozymes. Herein, we propose a Fe-N-C single-atom nanozyme (SAN) that exhibits unprecedented peroxidase-mimicking activity. The SAN consists of atomically dispersed Fe─Nx moieties hosted by metal-organic frameworks (MOF) derived porous carbon. Thanks to the 100% single-atom active Fe dispersion and the large surface area of the porous support, the Fe-N-C SAN provided a specific activity of 57.76 U mg-1, which was almost at the same level as natural horseradish peroxidase (HRP). Attractively, the SAN presented much better storage stability and robustness against harsh environments. As a proof-of-concept application, highly sensitive biosensing of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activity using the Fe-N-C SAN as a substitute for natural HRP was further verified.

A physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PBPK/PD) model combined with Monte Carlo analysis of inter-individual variation was used to assess the effects of the insecticide, chlorpyrifos and its active metabolite, chlorpyrifos oxon in humans. The PBPK/PD model has previously been validated and used to describe physiological changes in typical individuals as they grow from birth to adulthood. This model was updated to include physiological and metabolic changes that occur with pregnancy. The model was then used to assess the impact of inter-individual variability in physiology and biochemistry on predictions of internal dose metrics and quantitatively assess the impact of major sources of parameter uncertainty and biological diversity on the pharmacodynamics of red blood cell acetylcholinesterase inhibition. These metrics were determined in potentially sensitive populations of infants, adult women, pregnant women, and a combined population of adult men and women. The parameters primarily responsible for inter-individual variation in RBC acetylcholinesterase inhibition were related to metabolic clearance of CPF and CPF-oxon. Data Derived Extrapolation Factors that address intra-species physiology and biochemistry to replace uncertainty factors with quantitative differences in metrics were developed in these same populations. The DDEFs were less than 4 for all populations. These data and modeling approach will be useful in ongoing and future human health risk assessments for CPF and could be used for other chemicals with potential human exposure.

A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (sELISA) has been developed for detection of organophosphorylated butyrylcholinesterase (OP-BChE), a potential biomarker for human exposure to organophosphate insecticides and nerve agents. A pair of antibodies specific to OP-BChE adduct were identified through systematic screening of several anti BChE antibodies (anti-BChE) and anti-phosphoserine antibodies (anti-P ser ) from different sources. The selected anti-BChE (set as capture antibody) antibodies recognize both phosphorylated and nonphosphorylated BChE. These antibodies can therefore be used to capture both BChE and OP-BChE from the sample matrices. The anti-P ser (set as detecting antibody) was used to recognize the OP moiety of OP-BChE adducts. With the combination of the selected antibody pair, several key parameters (such as the concentration of anti-BChE and anti-P ser , and the blocking agent) were optimized to enhance the sensitivity and selectivity of the sELISA. Under the optimal conditions, the sELISA has shown a wide linear range from 0.03 nM to 30 nM, with a detection limit of 0.03 nM. Furthermore, the sELISA was successfully applied to detect OP-BChE using in vitro biological samples such as rat plasma spiked with OP-BChE with excellent adduct recovery ( z > 99%). These results demonstrate that this novel approach holds great promise to develop an ELISA kit and offers a simple and cost-effective tool for screening/evaluating exposure to organophosphate insecticides and nerve agents.

We report a new approach for electrochemical quantification of enzymatic inhibition and phosphorylation for biomonitoring of exposure to organophosphorus (OP) pesticides and nerve agents based on a magnetic bead (MB) immunosensing platform. The principle of this approach is based on the combination of MB immunocapture-based enzyme activity assay and competitive immunoassay of the total amount of enzyme for simultaneous detection of enzyme inhibition and phosphorylation in biological fluids. Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) was chosen as a model enzyme. In competitive immunoassay, the target BChE in a sample competes with the BChE immobilized on the MBs to bind to the limited sites of anti-BChE antibody labeled with quantum dots (QD-anti-BChE), followed by stripping voltammetric analysis of the bound QD conjugate on the MBs. This assay shows a linear response over the total BChE concentration range of 0.1-20 nM. Simultaneous real time BChE activity was measured on an electrochemical carbon nanotube-based sensor coupled with a microflow injection system after immunocapture by the MB-anti-BChE conjugate. Therefore, the formed phosphorylated BChE adduct (OP-BChE) can be estimated by the difference values of the total amount of BChE (including active and OP-inhibited) and active BChE from established calibration curves. This approach not only eliminates the difficulty in screening of low-dose OP exposure (less than 20% inhibition of BChE) because of individual variation of BChE values but also avoids the drawback of the scarce availability of OP-BChE antibody. It is sensitive enough to detect 0.5 nM OP-BChE, which is less than 2% BChE inhibition. This method offers a new method for rapid, accurate, selective, and inexpensive quantification of OP-BChE and enzyme inhibition for biomonitoring of OP and nerve agent exposures.

A portable, rapid, and sensitive assessment of subclinical organophosphorus (OP) agent exposure based on reactivation of cholinesterase (ChE) from OP-inhibited ChE using rat saliva (in vitro) was developed using an electrochemical sensor coupled with a microflow-injection system. The sensor was based on a carbon nanotube (CNT)-modified screen printed carbon electrode (SPE), which was integrated into a flow cell. Because of the extent of interindividual ChE activity variability, ChE biomonitoring often requires an initial baseline determination (noninhibited) of enzyme activity which is then directly compared with activity after OP exposure. This manuscript describes an alternative strategy where reactivation of the phosphorylated enzyme was exploited to enable measurement of both inhibited and baseline ChE activity (after reactivation by an oxime, i.e., pralidoxime iodide) in the same sample. The use of CNT makes the electrochemical detection of the products from enzymatic reactions more feasible with extremely high sensitivity (5% ChE inhibition) and selectivity. Paraoxon was selected as a model OP compound for in vitro inhibition studies. Some experimental parameters, e.g., inhibition and reactivation time, have been optimized such that 92-95% of ChE reactivation can be achieved over a broad range of ChE inhibition (5-94%) with paraoxon. The extent of enzyme inhibition using this electrochemical sensor correlates well with conventional enzyme activity measurements. On the basis of the double determinations of enzyme activity, this flow-injection device has been successfully used to detect paraoxon inhibition efficiency in saliva samples (95% of ChE activity is due to butyrylcholinesterase), which demonstrated its promise as a sensitive monitor of OP exposure in biological fluids. Since it excludes inter- or intraindividual variation in the normal levels of ChE, this new CNT-based electrochemical sensor thus provides a sensitive and quantitative tool for point-of-care assessment and noninvasive biomonitoring of the exposure to OP pesticides and chemical nerve agents.

Contamination by hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) has been identified at areas of explosive manufacturing, processing, storage, and usage. Anaerobic conversion of RDX to N-nitroso metabolites (hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine (MNX), hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine (DNX), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine (TNX)) has been demonstrated in the environment and in gastrointestinal tracts of mammals in vivo. Thus, potential exists for exposure to these N-nitroso compounds. While exposed to TNX via drinking water ad libitum, deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) were bred in three generations to produce cohorts F1A-D, F2A-B, and F3A. TNX was administered at four exposure levels: control (0 microg L(-1)), 10 microg L(-1), 100 microg L(-1), and 1000 microg L(-1). Endpoints investigated include: offspring production, offspring survival, offspring weight gain, and offspring organ weights. TNX exposure decreased litter size and increased postpartum mortality of offspring at the highest exposure level.

Given the potent carcinogenic effects of most N-nitroso compounds, the reductive transformation of the common explosive hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) to a group of N-nitroso derivatives, hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine (MNX), hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine (DNX), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine (TNX) in the environment have caused concerns among the general public. Questions are arising about whether the same transformations also occur in mammals, and if true, to what extent. This study investigated the N-nitroso derivatives production in the deer mouse GI tract following RDX administration. Findings verified that such transformations do occur in the mammalian GI tract at notable levels: the average MNX concentrations in deer mice stomach were 85 microg/kg and 1318 microg/kg for exposure to 10mg/kg and 100mg/kg diet, respectively. DNX in stomach were 217 microg/kg for the 10mg/kg dose group and 498 microg/kg for the 100mg/kg dose group. Changes in other toxic endpoints including body weight gain, food consumption, organ weight, and behavior were also reported.

Cytochrome P450s are oxidative metabolic enzymes that play critical roles in the biotransformation of endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. The expression and activity of P450 enzymes varies considerably throughout human development; the deficit in our understanding of these dynamics limits our ability to predict environmental and pharmaceutical exposure effects. In an effort to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the ontogeny of P450 enzymes, we employed a multi-omic characterization of P450 transcript expression, protein abundance, and functional activity. Modified mechanism-based inhibitors of P450s were used as chemical probes for isolating active P450 proteoforms in human hepatic microsomes with developmental stages ranging from early gestation to late adult. High-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantify probe-labeled P450s, allowing for a functional profile of P450 ontogeny. Total protein abundance profiles and P450 rRNA was also measured, and our results reveal life-stage–dependent variability in P450 expression, abundance, and activity throughout human development and frequent discordant relationships between expression and activity. We have significantly expanded the knowledge of P450 ontogeny, particularly at the level of individual P450 activity. We anticipate that these results will be useful for enabling predictive therapeutic dosing, and for avoiding potentially adverse and harmful reactions during maturation from both therapeutic drugs and environmental xenobiotics.

Direct measurements of exposure represent the most accurate assessment of a subject's true exposure. The clearance of many drugs and chemicals, including pesticides such as chlorpyrifos (CPF), can be detected non-invasively in saliva. Here we have developed a serous-acinar transwell model system as an in vitro screening platform to prioritize chemicals for non-invasive biomonitoring through salivary clearance mechanisms. Rat primary serous-acinar cells express both α-amylase and aquaporin-5 proteins and develop significant tight junctions at postconfluence - a feature necessary for chemical transport studies in vitro. CPF exhibited bidirectional passage across the serous-acinar barrier that was disproportional to the passage of a cell impermeable chemical (lucifer yellow), consistent with a hypothesized passive diffusion process. CPF was metabolized to trichlorpyridinol (TCPy) by serous-acinar cells, and TCPy also displayed bidirectional diffusion in the transwell assay. This model system should prove useful as an in vitro screening platform to support the non-invasive monitoring of toxicons and pharmacons in human saliva and provide guidance for development of advanced in vitro screening platforms utilizing primary human salivary gland epithelial cells.

Quantitative exposure data is important for evaluating toxicity risk and biomonitoring is a critical tool for evaluating human exposure. Direct personal monitoring provides the most accurate estimation of a subject’s true dose, and non-invasive methods are advocated for quantifying exposure to xenobiotics. In this regard, there is a need to identify chemicals that are cleared in saliva at concentrations that can be quantified to support the implementation of this approach. This manuscript reviews the computational modeling approaches that are coupled to in vivo and in vitro experiments to predict salivary uptake and clearance of xenobiotics and provides additional insight on species-dependent differences in partitioning that are of key importance for extrapolation. The primary mechanism by which xenobiotics leave the blood and enter saliva involves paracellular transport, passive transcellular diffusion, or trancellular active transport with the majority of xenobiotics transferred by passive diffusion. The transcellular or paracellular diffusion of unbound chemicals in plasma to saliva has been computationally modeled using compartmental and physiologically based approaches. Of key importance for determining the plasma:saliva partitioning was the utilization of the Schmitt algorithm that calculates partitioning based upon the tissue composition, pH, chemical pKa and plasma protein-binding. Sensitivity analysis identified that both protein-binding and pKa (for weak acids and bases) have significant impact on determining partitioning and species dependent differences based upon physiological variance. Future strategies are focused on an in vitro salivary acinar cell based system to experimentally determine and computationally predict salivary gland uptake and clearance for xenobiotics. It is envisioned that a combination of salivary biomonitoring and computational modeling will enable the non-invasive measurement of chemical exposures in human populations.

Airborne nanoparticles (NPs) that enter the respiratory tract are likely to reach the alveolar region. Accumulating observations support a role for zinc oxide (ZnO) NP dissolution in toxicity, but the majority of in-vitro studies were conducted in cells exposed to NPs in growth media, where large doses of dissolved ions are shed into the exposure solution. To determine the precise intracellular accumulation dynamics and fate of zinc ions (Zn(2+)) shed by airborne NPs in the cellular environment, we exposed alveolar epithelial cells to aerosolized NPs at the air-liquid interface (ALI). Using a fluorescent indicator for Zn(2+), together with organelle-specific fluorescent proteins, we quantified Zn(2+) in single cells and organelles over time. We found that at the ALI, intracellular Zn(2+) values peaked 3 h post exposure and decayed to normal values by 12 h, while in submerged cultures, intracellular Zn(2+) values continued to increase over time. The lowest toxic NP dose at the ALI generated peak intracellular Zn(2+) values that were nearly three-folds lower than the peak values generated by the lowest toxic dose of NPs in submerged cultures, and eight-folds lower than the peak values generated by the lowest toxic dose of ZnSO4 or Zn(2+). At the ALI, the majority of intracellular Zn(2+) was found in endosomes and lysosomes as early as 1 h post exposure. In contrast, the majority of intracellular Zn(2+) following exposures to ZnSO4 was found in other larger vesicles, with less than 10% in endosomes and lysosomes. Together, our observations indicate that low but critical levels of intracellular Zn(2+) have to be reached, concentrated specifically in endosomes and lysosomes, for toxicity to occur, and point to the focal dissolution of the NPs in the cellular environment and the accumulation of the ions specifically in endosomes and lysosomes as the processes underlying the potent toxicity of airborne ZnO NPs.

Sensors have been developed for noninvasive biomonitoring of the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos (CPF), and previous studies have suggested consistent partitioning of 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), a metabolite of CPF, into saliva after exposure to TCPy. The objective of this study was to quantitatively evaluate in vivo pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of CPF and TCPy in saliva after CPF administration. Rats were coadministered CPF (0.5–5 mg/kg) and pilocarpine (~13 mg/kg) iv. Saliva and blood were collected, and levels of CPF, TCPy, and cholinesterase (ChE) activity were quantified. Experimental results suggest that CPF is rapidly metabolized after iv administration. Formation of TCPy from administered CPF at the low dose (0.5 mg/kg) was slower than from higher CPF doses, potentially due to differences in plasma protein binding to CPF. CPF was measured in saliva only at the first time point sampled (0–15 min), indicating low partitioning and rapid metabolism. After formation, TCPy pharmacokinetics were very similar in blood and saliva. Saliva/blood TCPy concentration ratios were not affected by TCPy concentration in blood, saliva flow rate, or salivary pH and were consistent with previous studies. ChE activity in plasma demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease, and ChE activity in saliva was extremely variable and demonstrated no dose relationship. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic model for CPF was modified and predicted the data reasonably well. It is envisioned that a combination of biomonitoring compounds like TCPy in saliva coupled with computational modeling will form an approach to measure pesticide exposure to susceptible human populations such as agricultural workers.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphorus insecticide, and neurotoxicity results from inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) by its metabolite, chlorpyrifos-oxon. Routine consumption of alcohol and tobacco modifies metabolic and physiological processes impacting the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of other xenobiotics, including pesticides. This study evaluated the influence of repeated ethanol and nicotine coexposure on in vivo CPF dosimetry and cholinesterase (ChE) response (ChE- includes AChE and/or butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE)). Hepatic microsomes were prepared from groups of naive, ethanol-only (1 g/kg/d, 7 d, po), and ethanol + nicotine (1 mg/kg/d 7 d, sc)-treated rats, and the in vitro metabolism of CPF was evaluated. For in vivo studies, rats were treated with saline or ethanol (1 g/kg/d, po) + nicotine (1 mg/kg/d, sc) in addition to CPF (1 or 5 mg/kg/d, po) for 7 d. The major CPF metabolite, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy), in blood and urine and the plasma ChE and brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities were measured in rats. There were differences in pharmacokinetics, with higher TCPy peak concentrations and increased blood TCPy AUC in ethanol + nicotine groups compared to CPF only (approximately 1.8- and 3.8-fold at 1 and 5 mg CPF doses, respectively). Brain AChE activities after ethanol + nicotine treatments showed significantly less inhibition following repeated 5 mg CPF/kg dosing compared to CPF only (96 ± 13 and 66 ± 7% of naive at 4 h post last CPF dosing, respectively). Although brain AChE activity was minimal inhibited for the 1-mg CPF/kg/d groups, the ethanol + nicotine pretreatment resulted in a similar trend (i.e., slightly less inhibition). No marked differences were observed in plasma ChE activities due to the alcohol + nicotine treatments. In vitro, CPF metabolism was not markedly affected by repeated ethanol or both ethanol + nicotine exposures. Compared with a previous study of nicotine and CPF exposure, there were no apparent additional exacerbating effects due to ethanol coexposure.

Age-dependent chlorpyrifos (CPF) metabolism was quantified by in vitro product formation in human hepatic microsomes (ages 13 days to 75 years) and plasma (ages 3 days to 43 years) with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Hepatic CPF cytochrome P450 desulfuration [CPF to chlorpyrifos-oxon (CPF-oxon)] and dearylation (CPF to 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol) V(max) values were 0.35 ± 0.21 and 0.73 ± 0.38 nmol · min(-1) · mg microsomal protein (-1) (mean ± S.D.), respectively. The mean (±S.D.) hepatic CPF-oxon hydrolysis (chlorpyrifos-oxonase [CPFOase]) V(max) was 78 ± 44 nmol · min(-1) · mg microsomal protein (-1). None of these hepatic measures demonstrated age-dependent relationships on a per microsomal protein basis using linear regression models. Ratios of CPF bioactivation to detoxification (CPF desulfuration to dearylation) V(max) values were consistent across ages. CPFOase in plasma demonstrated age-dependent increases on a volume of plasma basis, as did total plasma protein levels. Mean (±S.D.) CPF-oxon hydrolysis V(max) values for children

Routine use of tobacco products may modify physiological and metabolic functions, including drug metabolizing enzymes, which may impact the pharmacokinetics of environmental contaminants. Chlorpyrifos is an organophosphorus (OP) insecticide that is bioactivated to chlorpyrifos-oxon, and manifests its neurotoxicity by inhibiting acetylcholinesterase (AChE). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of repeated nicotine exposure on the pharmacokinetics of chlorpyrifos (CPF) and its major metabolite, 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCPy) in blood and urine and also to determine the impact on cholinesterase (ChE) activity in plasma and brain. Animals were exposed to 7-daily doses of either 1 mg nicotine/kg or saline, and to either a single oral dose of 35 mg CPF/kg or a repeated dose of 5 mg CPF/kg/day for 7 days. Groups of rats were then sacrificed at multiple time-points after receiving the last dose of CPF. Repeated nicotine and CPF exposures resulted in enhanced metabolism of CPF to TCPy, as evidenced by increases in the measured TCPy peak concentration and AUC in blood. However, there was no significant difference in the amount of TCPy (free or total) excreted in the urine within the first 24-h post last dose. The extent of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition was reduced due to nicotine co-exposure consistent with an increase in CYP450-mediated dearylation (detoxification) versus desulfuration. It was of interest to note that the impact of nicotine co-exposure was experimentally observed only after repeated CPF doses. A physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for CPF was used to simulate the effect of increasing the dearylation Vmax based upon previously conducted in vitro metabolism studies. Predicted CPF-oxon concentrations in blood and brain were lower following the expected Vmax increase in nicotine treated groups. These model results were consistent with the experimental data. The current study demonstrated that repeated nicotine exposure could alter CPF metabolism in vivo, resulting in altered brain AChE inhibition.

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) transforms anaerobically into N-nitroso compounds: hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine (MNX), hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine (DNX), and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine (TNX). Exposure to these N-nitroso metabolites may occur in areas contaminated with explosives, as anaerobic degradation occurs via some bacteria and is one remediation strategy used for RDX. Few papers report acute oral toxicity and none have evaluated age dependent toxicity of RDX or its N-nitroso metabolites. Median lethal dose (LD50) was determined in deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus) of three age classifications 21 d, 50 d, and 200 d for RDX, MNX, and TNX using the US EPA up-and-down procedure (UDP). Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine and N-nitroso metabolites caused similar overt signs of toxicity. Median lethal dose for 21 d deer mice were 136, 181, and 338 mg/kg for RDX, MNX, and TNX, respectively. Median lethal dose for 50 d deer mice were 319, 575, and 338 mg/kg for RDX, MNX, and TNX, respectively. Median lethal dose for 200 d deer mice were 158, 542, and 999 mg/kg for RDX, MNX, and TNX, respectively. These data suggest that RDX is the most potent compound tested, and age dependent toxicity may exist for all compounds and could play a role in RDX and RDX N-nitroso metabolite ecological risk evaluation of terrestrial wildlife at RDX contaminated sites.

Contamination with hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (Royal Demolition Explosive [RDX]) has been identified at areas of explosive manufacturing, processing, storage, and usage. Thus, the potential exists for exposure to N-nitroso compounds, hexahydro-1-nitroso-3,5-dinitro-1,3,5-triazine, hexahydro-1,3-dinitroso-5-nitro-1,3,5-triazine, and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine (TNX), formed via anaerobic transformation of RDX. Following exposure, reproductive toxicity of TNX was evaluated in three consecutive litters of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitroso-1,3,5-triazine was administered ad libitum via drinking water at four doses: 0 (control), 1, 10, and 100 microg/L. Endpoints investigated included reproductive success, offspring survival, offspring weight gain, offspring organ weights, and liver TNX residues. Data from the present study indicate that TNX bioaccumulates in the liver and is associated with postpartum mortality, dose-dependent decrease in body weight from birth to weaning, and decrease in kidney weight of deer mice offspring.