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Ambient air pollutants have been reported to induce oxidative stress based inflammatory responses in humans and experimental animals. However, most of these reports describe the actions of the particulate phase of ambient and exhaust samples. We describe here results of studies investigating the actions of the vapor phase of ambient air samples collected in the midtown area of Los Angeles on human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells using DNA microarray analysis. Among 26 genes whose expression increased fourfold or more, four genes were associated with detoxifying genes regulated by the transcription factor Nrf2. Consistent with these results, the vapor samples activate the Nrf2-ARE pathway, resulting in up-regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutamate cysteine ligase modifier subunit, and cystine transporter (xCT) mRNA and proteins. No appreciable increases in pro-inflammatory genes were observed. These results suggest that ambient vapor samples activate the Nrf2-ARE pathway but not an inflammatory response. Also, treatment of the vapor samples with glutathione resulted in reduction in the Nrf2 activation and HO-1 induction, suggesting that electrophiles in vapor samples contribute to this Nrf2-dependent antioxidant or adaptive response.

Although exposure to ambient particulate matter (PM) is linked to asthma, the health effects of co-existing vapor-phase organic pollutants (vapor) and their combined effects with PM on this disease are poorly understood. We used a murine asthma model to test the hypothesis that exposure to vapor would enhance allergic sensitization and this effect would be further strengthened by co-existing PM. We found that vapor and PM each individually exerted adjuvant effects on OVA sensitization. Co-exposure to vapor and PM during sensitization further enhanced allergic lung inflammation and OVA-specific antibody production which was accompanied by pulmonary cytokine/chemokine milieu that favored T-helper 2 immunity (i.e. increased IL-4, downregulation of Il12a and Ifng, and upregulation of Ccl11 and Ccl8). TNFα, IL-6, Ccl12, Cxcl1 and detoxification/antioxidant enzyme responses in the lung were pollutant-dependent. Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced IL-12 secretion from primary antigen-presenting dendritic cells correlated positively with vapor's oxidant potential. In conclusion, concurrent exposure to vapor and PM led to significantly exaggerated adjuvant effects on allergic lung inflammation which were more potent than that of each pollutant type alone. These findings suggest that the effects of multi-component air pollution on asthma may be significantly underestimated if research only focuses on a single air pollutant (e.g., PM)., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Chronic methamphetamine use is linked to abnormalities in brain structure, which may reflect neurotoxicity related to metabolism of the drug. As the cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) enzyme is central to the metabolism of methamphetamine, genotypic variation in its activity may moderate effects of methamphetamine on brain structure and function. This study explored the relationship between CYP2D6 genotype and measures of brain structure and cognition in methamphetamine users. Based on the function of genetic variants, a CYP2D6 activity score was determined in 82 methamphetamine-dependent (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition [DSM-IV] criteria) and 79 healthy-control participants who completed tests of cognitive function (i.e., attention, memory, and executive function); most were also evaluated with structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (66 methamphetamine-dependent and 52 controls). The relationship between CYP2D6 activity score and whole brain cortical thickness differed by group (interaction p = 0.024), as increasing CYP2D6 activity was associated with thinner cortical thickness in the methamphetamine users (β = -0.254; p = 0.035), but not in control subjects (β = 0.095; p = 0.52). Interactions between CYP2D6 activity and group were nonsignificant for hippocampal volume (ps > 0.05), but both hippocampi showed trends similar to those observed for cortical thickness (negative relationships in methamphetamine users [ps < 0.05], and no relationships in controls [ps > 0.50]). Methamphetamine users had lower cognitive scores than control subjects (p = 0.007), but there was no interaction between CYP2D6 activity score and group on cognition (p > 0.05). Results suggest that CYP2D6 genotypes linked to higher enzymatic activity may confer risk for methamphetamine-induced deficits in brain structure. The behavioral consequences of these effects are unclear and warrant additional investigation., (©2020 Society for the Study of Addiction.)

We assessed the chemical properties and oxidative stress of particulate matter (PM) emissions from underfired charbroiled meat operations with and without the use of aftertreatment control technologies. Cooking emissions concentrations showed a strong dependence on the control technology utilized, with all emission rates showing decreases with the control technologies compared to the baseline testing. The organic acids profile was dominated by the saturated nonanoic, myristic, palmitic, and stearic acids, and the unsaturated oleic, elaidic, and palmitoleic acids. Cholesterol was also found in relatively high concentrations. Lower and medium-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were the dominant species for all cooking experiments. Heavier PAHs were also detected in high concentrations, especially in the particle-phase. For the nitrated PAH emissions (nitro-PAHs), low molecular weight compounds dominated the cooking emissions. Under the present experimental conditions, the heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) showed very low concentrations, which suggests these species are rarely formed in meat cooking PM. The most efficient control technology for reducing the majority of the toxic pollutants was the electrostatic precipitator, which resulted in total emissions reductions on the order of 95%, 79%, 90%, 96%, 90%, and 94%, respectively, for particle-phase PAHs, gas-phase PAHs, particle-phase nitro-PAHs, gas-phase nitro-PAHs, particle-phase HAAs, and gas-phase HAAs compared to the baseline testing. Our experiment showed that cooking aerosol contained higher levels of prooxidants in the particle-phase and the corresponding vapors contained higher levels of electrophiles. Overall, the use of control technologies reduced the redox and electrophilic activities of cooking PM., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

My chemical training provided a somewhat different perspective of biolo-gical problems, in the problem itself and approaches to its solution. I was fortunate to have in my laboratory postdocs and students who shared this perspective and used appropriate tools to address problems in amphetamine pharmacology and air pollution toxicology. These apparently disparate areas of research shared two chemical reactions: prooxidant-based generation of reactive oxygen and formation of covalent bonds between electrophiles and biological nucleophiles. This article is an attempt to summarize that research and to identify those individuals who made the contributions.

The emissions and the potential health effects of particulate matter (PM) were assessed from two heavy-duty trucks with and without emission control aftertreatment systems when operating on CARB ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) and three different biodiesel blends. The CARB ULSD was blended with soy-based biodiesel, animal fat biodiesel, and waste cooking oil biodiesel at 50vol%. Testing was conducted over the EPA Urban Dynamometer Driving Schedule (UDDS) in triplicate for both trucks. The aftertreatment controls effectively decreased PM mass and number emissions, as well as the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) compared to the uncontrolled truck. Emissions of nitrogen oxides (NO x ) exhibited increases with the biodiesel blends, showing some feedstock dependency for the controlled truck. The oxidative potential of the emitted PM, measured by means of the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay, showed reductions with the use of biodiesel blends relative to CARB ULSD for the uncontrolled truck. Overall, the cellular responses to the particles from each fuel were reflective of the chemical content, i.e., particles from CARB ULSD were the most reactive and exhibited the highest cellular responses., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between macronutrient composition and metabolic syndrome (MetS) incidence in Korean adults. Data were obtained from a cohort of 10,030 members aged 40 to 69 years who were enrolled from the 2 cities (Ansung and Ansan) between 2001 and 2002 to participate in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study. Of these members, 5,565 participants, who were free of MetS and reported no diagnosis of cardiovascular disease at baseline, were included in this study. MetS was defined using the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III and Asia-Pacific criteria for waist circumference. MetS incidence rate were identified during a 2-year follow-up period. Baseline dietary information was obtained using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the association between the quartiles of percentages of total calorie from macronutrients consumed and MetS incidence. In analyses, baseline information, including age, sex, body mass index, income status, educational status, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, and physical activity level was considered as confounding variables. Participants with the second quartile of the percentages of carbohydrate calorie (67%-70%) had a 23% reduced odds ratio (95% confidence interval, 0.61-0.97) for MetS incidence compared with those with the fourth quartile after adjusting for confounding variables. The findings suggest that middle aged or elderly Korean adults who consume approximately 67%-70% of calorie from carbohydrate have a reduced risk of MetS., Competing Interests: Conflict of Interest: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Tramadol is a unique analgesic medication, available in variety of formulations, with both monoaminergic reuptake inhibitory and opioid receptor agonist activity increasingly prescribed worldwide as an alternative for high-affinity opioid medication in the treatment of acute and chronic pain. It is a prodrug that is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 to its more potent opioid analgesic metabolites, particularly the O-demethylation product M1. The opioid analgesic potency of a given dose of tramadol is influenced by an individual's CYP genetics, with poor metabolizers experiencing little conversion to the active M1 opioid metabolite and individuals with a high metabolic profile, or ultra-metabolizers, experiencing the greatest opioid analgesic effects. The importance of the CYP metabolism has led to the adoption of computer clinical decision support with pharmacogenomics tools guiding tramadol treatment in major medical centers. Tramadol's simultaneous opioid agonist action and serotonin (5-HT) and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitory effects result in a unique side effect profile and important drug interactions that must be considered. Abrupt cessation of tramadol increases the risk for both opioid and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor withdrawal syndromes. This review provides updated important information on the pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, CYP genetic polymorphisms, drug interactions, toxicity, withdrawal, and illicit use of tramadol.

Unlabelled: The potential adverse health effects of PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter<2.5 μm) and vapor samples from three communities that neighbor railyards, Commerce (CM), Long Beach (LB), and San Bernardino (SB), were assessed by determination of chemical reactivities attributed to the induction of oxidative stress by air pollutants. The assays used were dithiothreitol (DTT)- and dihydrobenzoic acid (DHBA)-based procedures for prooxidant content and a glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) assay for electrophiles. Prooxidants and electrophiles have been proposed as the reactive chemical species responsible for the induction of oxidative stress by air pollution mixtures. The PM2.5 samples from CM and LB sites showed seasonal differences in reactivities, with higher levels in the winter, whereas the SB sample differences were reversed. The reactivities in the vapor samples were all very similar, except for the summer SB samples, which contained higher levels of both prooxidants and electrophiles. The results suggest that the observed reactivities reflect general geographical differences rather than direct effects of the railyards. Distributional differences in reactivities were also observed, with PM2.5 fractions containing most of the prooxidants (74-81%) and the vapor phase most of the electrophiles (82-96%). The high levels of the vapor-phase electrophiles and their potential for adverse biological effects point out the importance of the vapor phase in assessing the potential health effects of ambient air., Implications: PM2.5 and its corresponding vapor phase, containing semivolatile organics, were collected in three communities in the Los Angeles Basin and examined with toxicologically relevant chemical assays. The PM2.5 phase contained most of the prooxidants and the vapor phase contained most of the electrophiles, whose content was highest in summer samples from a receptor site that reflected greater photochemical processing of the air parcel during its transport. As electrophiles initiate both adverse and adaptive responses to foreign substances by biological systems, their presence in the vapor phase emphasizes the importance of this phase in the overall health effects of ambient air.

Bath salts are designer drugs with stimulant properties that are a growing medical and psychiatric concern due to their widespread availability and use. Although the chemical compounds in the mixtures referred to as "bath salts" vary, many are derivatives of cathinone, a monoamine alkaloid. Cathinones have an affinity for dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine synapses in the brain. Because of the strong selection for these neurotransmitters, these drugs induce stimulating effects similar to those of methamphetamines, cocaine, and 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA). Much of the emerging information about bath salts is from emergency department evaluation and treatment of severe medical and neuropsychiatric adverse outcomes. This review consists of a compilation of case reports and describes the emergent literature that illustrates the chemical composition of bath salts, patterns of use, administration methods, medical and neuropsychiatric effects, and treatments of patients with bath salt toxicity., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.)

1,2-Naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ) is an atmospheric chemical capable of (1) redox cycling with electron donors and (2) covalent modification of nucleophilic groups on proteins. In the present study, we investigated its interaction with the redox protein, thioredoxin1 (Trx1), which led to oxidative stress-dependent cell damage. In experiments with purified wild-type Trx1 and its double mutant (32S/35S Trx1), we found that incubation of Trx1 with 1,2-NQ resulted in a redox cycling reaction, generating superoxide and hydrogen peroxide involving Cys32 and Cys35 and an arylation reaction resulting in covalent modification of Lys85 together with a loss of Trx activity. A significant fraction of the lost Trx1 activity following interaction with 1,2-NQ was restored by dithiothreitol. Exposure of RAW264.7 cells to 1,2-NQ generated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and caused a decrease in Trx activity. Trx is a negative regulator of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), and under the conditions of the experiment, 1,2-NQ activated ASK1 and p38, leading to PARP cleavage and apoptotic cell death that were blocked by pretreatment with polyethylene glycol-catalase. These results suggest that Trx1 readily undergoes oxidative modification by 1,2-NQ through the proximal thiols Cys32 and Cys35. It seems likely that ROS production concomitant with decline in cellular Trx activity plays a role in the activation of ASK1/p38 signaling to promote apoptotic cell death cause by 1,2-NQ exposure.

Quinones are a group of highly reactive organic chemical species that interact with biological systems to promote inflammatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer actions and to induce toxicities. This review describes the chemistry, biochemistry, and cellular effects of 1,2- and 1,4-naphthoquinones and their derivatives. The naphthoquinones are of particular interest because of their prevalence as natural products and as environmental chemicals, present in the atmosphere as products of fuel and tobacco combustion. 1,2- and 1,4-naphthoquinones are also toxic metabolites of naphthalene, the major polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon present in ambient air. Quinones exert their actions through two reactions: as prooxidants, reducing oxygen to reactive oxygen species; and as electrophiles, forming covalent bonds with tissue nucleophiles. The targets for these reactions include regulatory proteins such as protein tyrosine phosphatases; Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1, the regulatory protein for NF-E2-related factor 2; and the glycolysis enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Through their actions on regulatory proteins, quinones affect various cell signaling pathways that promote and protect against inflammatory responses and cell damage. These actions vary with the specific quinone and its concentration. Effects of exposure to naphthoquinones as environmental chemicals can vary with the physical state, i.e., whether the quinone is particle bound or is in the vapor state. The exacerbation of pulmonary diseases by air pollutants can, in part, be attributed to quinone action.

The epiretinal prosthesis aims to restore functional vision by stimulating electrically the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in patients afflicted with degenerative diseases that affect the photoreceptors, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). As degeneration progresses, photoreceptor death is followed by pronounced remodeling and rewiring of remaining inner retinal cells. Despite the loss of rods and cones, a considerable population of RGCs remain receptive to prosthetic stimulation. To stimulate effectively a localized population of RGCs, an improved understanding of the anatomical and physiological properties of these cells is required. Additionally, possible alterations in electrical excitability, produced by the effects of retinal degeneration, needs to be assessed. This study investigates the effect of RGC soma size on the threshold for action potential generation in normal and rd mice and its implications for the rescue of visual function.

1,2-Naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ) is electrophilic, and forms covalent bonds with protein thiols, but its two-electron reduction product 1,2-dihydroxynaphthalene (1,2-NQH(2)) is not, so enzymes catalyzing the reduction with reduced pyridine nucleotides as cofactors could protect cells from electrophile-based chemical insults. To assess this possibility, we examined proteins isolated from the 9000g supernatant from mouse liver for 1,2-NQ reductase activity using an HPLC assay procedure for the hydroquinone of 1,2-NQ and Cibacron Blue 3GA column chromatography and Western blot analysis with specific antibody to determine 1,2-NQ-bound proteins. Among the proteins with high affinities for pyridine nucleotides that also inhibited 1,2-NQ-protein adduct formation in the presence of NADH, a 37-kDa protein was found and identified as glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Using recombinant human GAPDH, we found that this glycolytic enzyme indeed catalyzes the two-electron reduction of 1,2-NQ accompanied by extensive NADH consumption under 20% oxygen conditions. When either 1,2-NQH(2) or 1,2-NQ was incubated with GAPDH in the presence of NADH, minimal covalent bonding to the enzyme occurred compared to that in its absence. These results indicate that GAPDH can inhibit 1,2-NQ-based electrophilic protein modification by conversion to the nonelectrophilic 1,2-NQH(2) via an NADH-dependent process., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Many cellular proteins with reactive thiols form covalent bonds with electrophiles, thereby modifying their structures and activities. Here, we describe the recovery of a glycolytic protein, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), from such an electrophilic attack by 1,2-napthoquinone (1,2-NQ). GAPDH readily formed a covalent bond with 1,2-NQ through Cys152 at a low concentration (0.2 μM) in a cell-free system, but when human epithelial A549 cells were exposed to this quinone at 20 μM, only minimal binding was observed although extensive binding to numerous other cellular proteins occurred. Depletion of cellular glutathione (GSH) with buthionine sulfoximine (BSO) resulted in some covalent modification of cellular GAPDH by 1,2-NQ and a significant reduction of GAPDH activity in the cells. Incubation of native, but not boiled, human GAPDH that had been modified by 1,2-NQ with GSH resulted in a concentration-dependent removal of 1,2-NQ from the GAPDH conjugate, accompanied by partial recovery of lost catalytic activity and formation of a 1,2-NQ-GSH adduct (1,2-NQ-SG). While GAPDH is recognized as a multifunctional protein, our results show that GAPDH also has a unique ability to recover from electrophilic modification by 1,2-NQ through a GSH-dependent S-transarylation reaction.

Unlabelled: Degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP) primarily affect the photoreceptors, ultimately resulting in significant loss of vision. Retinal prostheses aim to elicit neural activity in the remaining retinal cells by detecting and converting light into electrical stimuli that can then be delivered to the retina. The concept of visual prostheses has existed for more than 50 years and recent progress shows promise, yet much remains to be understood about how the visual system will respond to artificial input after years of blindness that necessitate this type of prosthesis. This review focuses on 3 major areas: the histopathologic features of human retina affected by AMD and RP, current results from clinical trials, and challenges to overcome for continued improvement of retinal prostheses., Financial Disclosure(s): Proprietary or commercial disclosures may be found after the references., (Copyright © 2011 American Academy of Ophthalmology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Quinones are reactive chemical species that cause cellular damage by modifying protein thiols and/or catalyzing the reduction of oxygen to reactive oxygen species, thereby promoting oxidative stress. Transcription factor Nrf2 plays a crucial role in cellular defense against electrophilic modification and oxidative stress. In studies using 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ) as a model quinone, we found that Keap1, the negative regulator of Nrf2, was readily arylated at its reactive thiols by 1,2-NQ. Exposure of primary mouse hepatocytes to 1,2-NQ resulted in the activation of Nrf2 and the upregulation of some of Nrf2's downstream genes. This interaction was further investigated in hepatocytes from Nrf2 knockout mice in which the proteins responsible for the metabolism and excretion of 1,2-NQ are minimally expressed. The chemical modification of cellular proteins by 1,2-NQ was enhanced by Nrf2 deletion, resulting in increased toxicity. However, deletion of the negative regulatory protein, Keap1, drastically reduced the covalent binding by 1,2-NQ and its cellular toxicity. Experiments with chemicals that inhibit the biotransformation and extracellular excretion of 1,2-NQ suggest that 1,2-NQ undergoes detoxification and excretion into the extracellular space predominantly by two-electron reduction and subsequent glucuronidation by NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 and uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferases, followed by multidrug resistance-associated protein-dependent excretion. These findings suggest that the Keap1/Nrf2 system is essential for the prevention of cell damage resulting from exposure to 1,2-NQ.

An epiretinal prosthesis aims to restore functional vision by stimulating electrically the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in patients affected by photoreceptor degenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). During retinal degeneration, photoreceptor death is followed by pronounced remodeling and rewiring of inner retinal cells. Despite these changes, a considerable population of RGCs remain receptive to prosthetic stimulation. To target selectively a localized subset of RGCs, an improved understanding of the anatomical and physiological properties of these cells is required. Additionally, potential alterations in electrical excitability produced by the retinal degeneration needs to be assessed. This study investigates the effect of RGC soma size on the threshold for action potential (spike) generation and its implications for the rescue of visual function.

Particulate matter (PM) has been the primary focus of studies aiming to understand the relationship between the chemical properties of ambient aerosols and adverse health effects. Size and chemical composition of PM have been linked to their oxidative capacity which has been postulated to promote or exacerbate pulmonary and cardiovascular diseases. But in the last few years, new studies have suggested that volatile and semi-volatile components may also contribute to many adverse health effects. The objectives of this study were: (i) assess for the first time the redox and electrophilic potential of vapor-phase components of ambient aerosols and (ii) evaluate the relative contributions of particle- and vapor-fractions to the hazard of a given aerosol. To achieve these objectives vapor- and particle-phase samples collected in Riverside (CA) were subjected to three chemical assays to determine their redox and electrophilic capacities. The results indicate that redox active components are mainly associated with the particle-phase, while electrophilic compounds are found primarily in the vapor-phase. Vapor-phase organic extracts were also capable of inducing the stress responding protein, heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), in RAW264.7 murine macrophages. These results demonstrate the importance of volatile components in the overall oxidative and electrophilic capacity of aerosols, and point out the need for inclusion of vapors in future health and risk assessment studies., ((c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Numerous studies have suggested the association of reactive oxygen species (ROS) with adverse health effects derived from exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) and diesel exhaust particles (DEP). This redox activity has been attributed to both inorganic and organic species present in these particles, but a clear distinction has not been established between the contribution of each. This article describes an application of an analytical procedure, based on the reaction of salicylic acid with hydroxyl radical to form dihydroxybenzoate (DHBA) isomers, to measure transition metal-based redox activity associated with ambient and diesel exhaust particles. In the procedure, ascorbic acid (AA) is used as electron source for reduction of metal ions and oxygen to generate superoxide, which is further reduced to hydroxyl radical in the presence of transition metal ions. Hydroxyl radical reacts with salicylate to generate DHBA isomers, which are measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with electrochemical detector. Both copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) ions generated DHBA isomers in a concentration-dependent manner but at different rates. The procedure was applied to DEP and ambient particles and the results showed Cu ion to be the major contributor to DHBA formation. The procedure provides a quantitative measure of transition metal-based redox activity associated with ambient samples with different physicochemical properties.

Advanced exhaust after-treatment devices for diesel vehicles are less effective in controlling semivolatile species than the refractory PM fractions. This study investigated the oxidative potential (OP) of PM from vehicles with six retrofitted technologies (vanadium and zeolite based selective catalytic reduction (V-SCRT, Z-SCRT), Continuously regenerating technology (CRT), catalyzed DPX filter, catalyzed continuously regenerating trap (CCRT), and uncatalyzed Horizon filter) in comparison to a "baseline" vehicle (without any control device). Vehicles were tested on a chassis dynamometer atthree driving conditions, i.e., cruise, transient urban dynamometer driving schedule (UDDS), and idle. The consumption rate of dithiothreitol (DTT), one of the surrogate measures of OP, was determined for PM samples collected at ambient and elevated temperatures (thermally denuded of semivolatile species). Control devices reduced the OP expressed per vehicle distance traveled by 60-98%. The oxidative potential per unit mass of PM however, was highest for the Horizon followed by CRT, DPX -Idle, SCRTs, and baseline vehicles. Significant reduction in OP (by 50-100%) was observed forthermally denuded PM from vehicles with retrofitted technologies (PM with significant semivolatile fraction), whereas particles emitted bythe baseline vehicle (with insignificant semivolatile fraction) did not demonstrate any measurable changes in oxidative activity. This suggests that the semivolatile fraction of particles are far more oxidative in nature than refractory particles-a conclusion further supported by previous tunnel and ambient studies, demonstrating a decline in PM oxidative activity with increasing atmospheric dilution. Correlation analysis performed between all the species, showed that OP is moderately associated (R = 0.76) with organic carbon (OC) and strongly associated (R = 0.94) with the water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC).

The adverse health effects of air pollutants have been associated with their redox and electrophilic properties. Although the specific chemical species involved in these effects are not known, the characterization of their general physical and chemical properties is important to our understanding of the mechanisms by which they cause health problems. This manuscript describes results of a study examining the partition properties of these activities in aqueous and organic media. The water and dichloromethane (DCM) solubility of redox active and electrophilic constituents of seven diesel exhaust particle (DEP) samples were determined with assays developed earlier in this laboratory. The constituents exhibiting redox activity, which included both metals and nonmetal species, were associated with the particles in the aqueous suspensions. Portions of the redox active compounds were also DCM-soluble. In contrast, the electrophilic constituents included both water-soluble and DCM-soluble species. The role of quinones or quinone-like compounds in redox and electrophilic activities of the DCM-soluble constituents was assessed by reductive acetylation, a procedure that inactivates quinones. The results from this experiment indicated that most of the activities in the organic extract were associated with quinone-like substances. The partition properties of the reactive species are important in exposure assessment since the toxicokinetics of particles and solutes are quite distinct.

Methamphetamine (METH)-associated alterations in the human striatal dopamine (DA) system have been identified with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and post-mortem studies but have not been well correlated with behavioral changes or cumulative METH intake. Animal studies that model some aspects of human long-term METH abuse can establish dose-dependency profiles of both behavioral changes and potential brain neurotoxicities for identifying consequences of particular cumulative exposures. Based on parameters from human and our monkey pharmacokinetic studies, we modeled a prevalent human METH exposure of daily multiple doses in socially housed vervet monkeys. METH doses were escalated over 33 weeks, with final dosages resulting in estimated peak plasma METH concentrations of 1-3 microM, a range measured in human abusers. With larger METH doses, progressive increases in abnormal behavior and decreases in social behavior were observed on 'injection' days. Anxiety increased on 'no injection' days while aggression decreased throughout the study. Thereafter, during 3 weeks abstinence, differences in baseline vs post-METH behaviors were not observed. Post-mortem analysis of METH brains showed 20% lower striatal DA content while autoradiography studies of precommissural striatum showed 35% lower [3H]WIN35428 binding to the DA transporter. No statistically significant changes were detected for [3H]dihydrotetrabenazine binding to the vesicular monoamine transporter (METH-lower by 10%) or for [3H]SCH 23390 and [3H]raclopride binding to DA D1 and D2 receptors, respectively. Collectively, this long-term, escalating dose METH exposure modeling a human abuse pattern, not associated with high-dose binges, resulted in dose-dependent behavioral effects and caused persistent changes in presynaptic striatal DA system integrity.

9,10-Phenanthraquinone (PQ), a component of airborne particulate matter, causes marked cellular protein oxidation and cytotoxicity through a two-electron reduction to 9,10-dihydroxyphenanthrene (PQH2), which is associated with the propagation of reactive oxygen species (K. Taguchi et al., Free Radic. Biol. Med. 43:789-799, 2007). In the present study, we explored a biotransformation pathway for the detoxification of PQ. Exposure of human pulmonary epithelial A549 cells to PQ resulted in a time-dependent appearance of an unknown metabolite in the medium that was identified as the monoglucuronide of PQH2 (PQHG). Whereas a variety of isozymes of uridine 5'-diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase (UGTs) are responsible for PQHG formation, UGT1A10 and UGT1A6 were particularly effective catalysts for glucuronide conjugation. In cell-free systems, PQ exhibited a rapid thiol oxidation and subsequent oxygen consumption in the presence of dithiothreitol, whereas PQHG did not. Unlike the parent compound, PQHG completely lost the ability to oxidize cellular proteins and cause cell death in A549 cells. In addition, deletion of the transcription factor Nrf2 decreased PQHG formation and increased PQ-mediated toxicity of mouse primary hepatocytes. Thus, we conclude that PQHG is a metabolite of PQ, generated through PQH2, that terminates its redox cycling and transports it to extracellular space.

1,2-Naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ), an atmospheric contaminant, causes the contraction of guinea pig trachea through the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by inhibiting protein-tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs). Phosphorylation of EGFR is negatively regulated by PTPs, but details of the mechanism by which 1,2-NQ inhibits PTPs have not been elucidated. Results described in this report demonstrate that 1,2-NQ forms covalent bonds with PTP1B after exposure to human epithelial A431 cells. In this study, a concentration-dependent phosphorylation of EGFR was found to be coupled to the reduction of PTP activity in the cells. The reduction in PTP activity was due to the irreversible modification of PTP1B, and when PTP1B was overexpressed by the cells, the 1,2-NQ-mediated EGFR phosphorylation was suppressed. Studies with purified PTP1B and 1,2-NQ showed that the reduction in enzyme activity was due to a nucleophilic attack by the quinone on the enzyme, to form covalent bonds. Matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis and mutation experiments revealed that PTP1B inactivation was primarily due to covalent attachment of the quinone to Cys-121 of the enzyme, with binding to His-25 and Cys-215 as well. Collectively, the results show that covalent attachment of 1,2-NQ to PTP1B is at least partially responsible for the reduction of PTP activity, which leads to prolonged transactivation of EGFR in the cells.

Quinones are widely used as medicines or redox agents. The chemical properties are based on the reactions against an electron donor. 9,10-Phenanthraquinone (PQ), which is a quinone contaminated in airborne particulate matters, forms redox cycling, not Michael addition, with electron donors. Redox cycling of PQ contributes to its toxicity, following generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Detoxification of quinones is generally thought to be two-electron reduction forming hydroquinones. However, a hydroquinone of PQ, 9,10-dihydroxyphenanthrene (PQH(2)), has been never detected itself, because it is quite unstable. In this paper, we succeeded in detecting PQH(2) as its stable derivative, 9,10-diacetoxyphenanthrene (DAP). However, higher concentrations of PQ (>4 microM) form disproportionately with PQH(2), producing the 9,10-phenanthraquinone radical (PQ(-)) which is a one-electron reducing product of PQ. In cellular experiments using DAP as a precursor of PQH(2), it was shown that PQH(2) plays a critical role in the oxidative protein damage and cellular toxicity of PQ, showing that two-electron reduction of PQ can also initiate redox cycling to cause oxidative stress-dependent cytotoxicity.

We have recently demonstrated that naphthoquinone (NQ), one of extractable chemical compounds of diesel exhaust particles (DEP), enhances antigen-related airway inflammation with goblet cell hyperplasia in mice (Inoue et al. in Eur Respir J 209(2):259-267, 2007). Further, NQ has enhanced lung expressions of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5. However, the effects of NQ on other cardinal features of asthma have not been completely investigated. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of NQ on airway responsiveness on the model. Vehicle, NQ, ovalbumin (OVA), or NQ + OVA was administered intratarcheally to ICR mice for 6 weeks. Twenty-four hours after the last instillation, lung histology, lung functions such as total respiratory system resistance (R) and Newtonian resistance (R (n)), and protein level of IL-13 and mRNA level for MUC5AC in the lung were examined. Repetitive exposure to NQ aggravated antigen-related lung inflammation. NQ alone enhanced R and R (n) as compared to vehicle without statistical significance. OVA alone or NQ plus OVA showed increases in R and R (n), which was prominent in NQ plus OVA (P < 0.05 vs. vehicle). Combined exposure to NQ and OVA elevated the levels of IL-13 and MUC5AC in the lung as compared with exposure to NQ or OVA alone. These results indicate that NQ can enhance airway hyperresponsiveness in the presence or absence of an antigen. Also, amplified lung expressions of IL-13 and MUC5AC might partly contribute to the deterioration of asthma features by NQ.

Background: Although the mechanisms of airborne particulate matter (PM) related health effects remain incompletely understood, one emerging hypothesis is that these adverse effects derive from oxidative stress, initiated by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within affected cells. Typically, ROS are formed in cells through the reduction of oxygen by biological reducing agents, with the catalytic assistance of electron transfer enzymes and redox active chemical species such as redox active organic chemicals and metals. The purpose of this study was to relate the electron transfer ability, or redox activity, of the PM samples to their content in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and various inorganic species. The redox activity of the samples has been shown to correlate with the induction of the stress protein, hemeoxygenase-1., Results: Size-fractionated (i.e. < 0.15; < 2.5 and 2.5 - 10 microm in diameter) ambient PM samples were collected from four different locations in the period from June 2003 to July 2005, and were chemically analyzed for elemental and organic carbon, ions, elements and trace metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The redox activity of the samples was evaluated by means of the dithiothreitol activity assay and was related to their chemical speciation by means of correlation analysis. Our analysis indicated a higher redox activity on a per PM mass basis for ultrafine (< 0.15 microm) particles compared to those of larger sizes. The PM redox activity was highly correlated with the organic carbon (OC) content of PM as well as the mass fractions of species such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and selected metals., Conclusion: The results of this work demonstrate the utility of the dithiothreitol assay for quantitatively assessing the redox potential of airborne particulate matter from a wide range of sources. Studies to characterize the redox activity of PM from various sources throughout the Los Angeles basin are currently underway.

Characterization of methamphetamine's (METH) dose-dependent effects on brain neurochemistry may represent a critical component for better understanding the range of resultant behavioral pathologies. Most human studies, however, have assessed only the effects of long term, high dose METH abuse (e.g., greater than 1000 mg/day) in individuals meeting DSM-IV criteria for METH dependence. Yet, for the majority of METH abusers, their patterns of METH exposure that consist of lower doses remain less well-characterized. In this study, blood samples were obtained from 105 individuals detained by police for possible criminal activity and testing positive for stimulants by EMIT assay. METH blood concentrations were subsequently quantified by GC-MS and were predominantly in the low micromolar range (0.1-11.1 microM), with median and mean values of 1.3 microM (0.19 mg/l) and 2 microM (0.3 mg/l), respectively. Pharmacokinetic calculations based on these measured values were used to estimate initial METH body burdens, the median value being 52 mg. Modeling a 52 mg dose for a 4 day-METH maintenance exposure pattern of 4 doses/day at 4 h intervals showed that blood concentrations remained between 1 and 4 microM during this period. Collectively, these data present evidence for a METH exposure pattern distinct from high dose-METH abuse and provide the rationale for assessing potential brain pathology associated with such lower dose-METH exposure.

A major feature of human methamphetamine (METH) abuse is the gradual dose escalation that precedes high-dose exposure. The period of escalating doses (EDs) is likely associated with development of tolerance to aspects of METH's pharmacologic and toxic effects but the relative contributions of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic factors have not been well defined. In our prior studies in rats, we showed that pretreatment with an ED-METH regimen (0.1-4.0 mg/kg over 14 days) attenuated the toxicity of a subsequently administered high-dose METH binge (4 x 6 mg/kg at 2 h interval) that itself produced behavioral stereotypy, increases in core temperature, and decreases in DA system phenotypic markers in caudate-putamen (CP). Using those ED-METH and binge protocols in the present studies, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters that may have contributed to the apparent neuroprotection afforded by ED-METH were assessed. The ED-METH regimen itself reduced [(3)H]WIN35,428 (WIN) binding to the dopamine transporter (DAT) by 15% in CP, but did not affect DA content. During the METH binge, ED-METH pretreated animals showed attenuated increases in core temperature while concurrent microdialysis studies in CP showed a reduced DA response despite unaltered extracellular levels of METH. At 1 h after the binge, concentrations of METH and its metabolite amphetamine in brain and plasma were unaffected by the ED-METH. The results show that ED-METH pretreatment produces reductions in DAT binding and the DA response during a subsequent METH binge by altering pharmacodynamic and not pharmacokinetic parameters.

1,2-Naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ) has recently been identified as an environmental quinone in diesel exhaust particles (DEP) and atmospheric PM2.5. We have found that this quinone is capable of causing a concentration-dependent contraction of tracheal smooth muscle in guinea pigs with EC50 value of 18.7 microM. The contraction required extracellular calcium and was suppressed by L-type calcium channel blockers nifedipine and diltiazem. It was found that 1,2-NQ activated phospholipase A2 (PLA2)/lipoxygenase (LO)/vanilloid receptor (VR1) signaling. Additionally, 1,2-NQ was capable of transactivating protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in guinea pig trachea, suggesting that phosphorylation of PTKs contributes to 1,2-NQ-induced tracheal contraction. Consistent with this notion, this action was blocked by the PTKs inhibitor genistein and the EGFR antagonist PD153035, indicating that contraction was, at least in part, attributable to PTKs phosphorylation that activates VR1, resulting in increased intracellular calcium content in the smooth muscle cells.

Epidemiologic studies have shown associations between ambient particulate matter (PM) and adverse health outcomes including increased mortality, emergency room visits, and time lost from school and work. The mechanisms of PM-related health effects are still incompletely understood, but a hypothesis under investigation is that many of the adverse health effects may derive from oxidative stress, initiated by the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within affected cells. While the adverse effects from PM have historically been associated with the airborne concentration of PM and more recently fine-particle PM, we considered it relevant to develop an assay to quantitatively measure the ability of PM to catalyze ROS generation as the initial step in the induction of oxidative stress. This ability of PM could then be related to different sources, chemical composition, and physical and spatial/temporal characteristics in the ambient environment. The measurement of ROS-forming ability in relation to sources and other factors will have potential relevance to control of redox-active PM. If oxidative stress represents a relevant mechanism of toxicity from PM, the measurement of redox activity represents a first step in the elucidation of the subsequent downstream processes. We have developed an assay for PM redox activity, utilizing the reduction of oxygen by dithiothreitol which serves as an electron source. We have found that PM will catalyze the reduction of oxygen and have examined the distribution and chemical characteristics of the redox activity of PM fractions collected in different sites in the Los Angeles Basin. Samples of concentrated coarse, fine, and ultrafine PM, obtained with aerosol concentrators, were studied with regard to their chemical properties and redox activity. Redox activity was highest in the ultrafine fraction, in agreement with results indicating ultrafines were the most potent toward inducing that heme oxygenase expression and depleting intracellular glutathione, which has relevance to induction of oxidative stress. Comparison of the redox activity with chemical composition showed a reasonable correlation of redox activity with elemental carbon (r(2)=0.79), organic carbon (r(2)=0.53), and with benzo[ghi]perylene (r(2)=0.82), consistent with species typically found in mobile emission sources.

The goal of this study was to test the following hypotheses: (1) exposure to mobile emissions from mobile sources close to a heavily trafficked roadway will exacerbate airway inflammation and allergic airway responses in a sensitized mouse model, and (2) the magnitude of allergic airway disease responses will decrease with increasing distance from the roadway. A particle concentrator and a mobile exposure facility were used to expose ovalbumin (OVA)-sensitized BALB/c mice to purified air and concentrated fine and concentrated ultrafine ambient particles at 50 m and 150 m downwind from a roadway that was heavily impacted by emissions from heavy duty diesel-powered vehicles. After exposure, we assessed interleukin (IL)-5, IL-13, OVA-specific immunoglobulin E, OVA-specific immunoglobulin G1, and eosinophil influx as biomarkers of allergic responses and numbers of polymorphonuclear leukocytes as a marker of inflammation. The study was performed over a two-year period, and there were differences in the concentrations and compositions of ambient particulate matter across those years that could have influenced our results. However, averaged over the two-year period, exposure to concentrated ambient particles (CAPs) increased the biomarkers associated with airway allergies (IL-5, immunoglobulin E, immunoglobulin G1 and eosinophils). In addition, mice exposed to CAPs 50 m downwind of the roadway had, on the average, greater allergic responses and showed greater indications of inflammation than did mice exposed to CAPs 150 m downwind. This study is consistent with the hypothesis that exposure to CAPs close to a heavily trafficked roadway influenced allergic airway responses.

The translational value of preclinical models of methamphetamine abuse depends in large part on the degree to which the drug regimens used in animals produce methamphetamine exposure patterns similar to those experienced by human methamphetamine abusers. To approximate one common form of methamphetamine abuse, we studied the effects of a schedule of intravenous methamphetamine administration in rats which included 2 weeks of progressively more frequent drug injections (0.125 mg/kg/injection) followed by 40 maintenance days during which animals received 40 daily injections (at 15-min intervals), with the dose gradually increasing (0.125-0.25 mg/kg per injection) every 5-10 days. This treatment produced an emerging behavioral profile characterized by gradually more continuous periods of activation consisting of progressively more intense, focused stereotypy interrupted by episodic bursts of locomotion. We also assessed markers of dopamine neurotransmission (dopamine transporter, vesicular monoamine transporter, and dopamine D1 and D2 receptors) at 15 min and (including dopamine levels) at 6 and 30 days following cessation of methamphetamine treatment. All dopamine components measured in caudate-putamen were significantly reduced at 15 min and 6 days after the final methamphetamine injection. Dopamine D1 and D2 receptors fully recovered after 30 days of drug abstinence, whereas dopamine and the dopamine transporter exhibited significant but incomplete recovery by this time point. In contrast, only the vesicular monoamine transporter exhibited no evidence of recovery over the 30-day withdrawal period. These data are discussed in terms of damage to dopamine terminals and compensatory adjustments in mechanisms maintaining functional dopaminergic transmission.

Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) catalyzes the oxidative phosphorylation of glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate to 1,3-diphosphoglycerate, one of the precursors for glycolytic ATP biosynthesis. The enzyme contains an active site cysteine thiolate, which is critical for its catalytic function. As part of a continuing study of the interactions of quinones with biological systems, we have examined the susceptibility of GAPDH to inactivation by 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ). In a previous study of quinone toxicity, this quinone, whose actions have been exclusively attributed to reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, caused a reduction in the glycolytic activity of GAPDH under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, indicating indirect and possible direct actions on this enzyme. In this study, the effects of 9,10-PQ on GAPDH were examined in detail under aerobic and anaerobic conditions so that the role of oxygen could be distinguished from the direct effects of the quinone. The results indicate that, in the presence of the reducing agent DTT, GAPDH inhibition by 9,10-PQ under aerobic conditions was mostly indirect and comparable to the direct actions of exogenously-added H2O2 on this enzyme. GAPDH was also inhibited by 9,10-PQ anaerobically, but in a somewhat more complex manner. This quinone, which is not considered an electrophile, inhibited GAPDH in a time-dependent manner, consistent with irreversible modification and comparable to the electrophilic actions of 1,4-benzoquinone (1,4-BQ). Analysis of the anaerobic inactivation kinetics for the two quinones revealed comparable inactivation rate constants (k(inac)), but a much lower inhibitor binding constant (K(i)) for 1,4-BQ. Protection and thiol titration studies suggest that these quinones bind to the NAD+ binding site and modify the catalytic thiol from this site. Thus, 9,10-PQ inhibits GAPDH by two distinct mechanisms: through ROS generation that results in the oxidization of GAPDH thiols, and by an oxygen-independent mechanism that results in the modification of GAPDH catalytic thiols.

Although several studies have reported that diesel exhaust particles (DEP) affect cardiorespiratory health in animals and humans, the responsible components in DEP for the effects remain to be defined. Diesel exhaust particles contain quinones that can catalyse the generation of reactive oxygen species, resulting in the induction of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can correlate with a variety of diseases and health effects. In the present study, we investigated the effects of phenanthraquinone--a relatively abundant quinone in DEP--on lung inflammation and the local expression of cytokine proteins in mice as a measure of oxidative damage. The animals were randomized into two experimental groups that received vehicle or phenanthraquinone by intratracheal instillation. The cellular profiles of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and local expression of cytokines were evaluated 24 and 48 h after the instillation. Phenanthraquinone challenge revealed an increase in the numbers of neutrophils and eosinophils in BALF as compared to vehicle challenge (P < 0.05 at 48 h post-instillation). Phenanthraquinone induced the lung expression of interleukin (IL)-5 and eotaxin 48 h and 24 h after the challenge, respectively. These results indicate that intratracheal exposure to phenanthraquinone induces recruitment of inflammatory cells, at least partly, through the local expression of IL-5 and eotaxin., (Copyright 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The toxicity of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) can be due to the particle itself, extractable components, or both. Many studies focus on the biological properties of DEP-extractable components although it is possible that chemical properties inherent to the DEP itself can lead to toxicity. Thus, an examination of the chemistry inherent to DEP was carried out. Herein, we report that DEP are capable of catalyzing the consumption of O2 (monitored using a Clarke electrode) by ascorbate and thiols leading to the generation of reactive oxygen species. Consistent with the idea that DEP are capable of catalyzing the generation of reactive oxygen species, they were also found to catalyze DNA strand breakage via an O2- and reductant-dependent process. Significantly, extraction of DEP with either organic solvent (methylene chloride) or acid (aqueous HCl) did little to abrogate this chemistry. Finally, using electron paramagnetic spectrometry (EPR), DEP were found to have paramagnetic properties. The paramagnetic character of DEP may be important to their ability to catalyze the formation of reactive oxygen species and at least partially responsible for their toxicity. These findings indicate that studies that primarily consider or examine particle extracts as the toxic components of DEP may be insufficient in describing the toxicity associated with DEP exposure.

The toxicity of quinones is generally thought to occur by two mechanisms: the formation of covalent bonds with biological molecules by Michael addition chemistry and the catalytic reduction of oxygen to superoxide and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) (redox cycling). In an effort to distinguish between these general mechanisms of toxicity, we have examined the toxicity of five quinones to yeast cells as measured by their ability to reduce growth rate. Yeast cells can grow in the presence and absence of oxygen and this feature was used to evaluate the role of redox cycling in the toxicity of each quinone. Furthermore, yeast mutants deficient in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were used to assess the role of this antioxidant enzyme in protecting cells against quinone-induced reactive oxygen toxicity. The effects of different quinones under different conditions of exposure were compared using IC50 values (the concentration of quinone required to inhibit growth rate by 50%). For the most part, the results are consistent with the chemical properties of each quinone with the exception of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (9,10-PQ). This quinone, which is not an electrophile, exhibited an unexpected toxicity under anaerobic conditions. Further examination revealed a potent induction of cell viability loss which poorly correlated with decreases in the GSH/2GSSG ratio but highly correlated (r2 > 0.7) with inhibition of the enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), suggesting disruption of glycolysis by this quinone. Together, these observations suggest an unexpected oxygen-independent mechanism in the toxicity of 9,10-phenanthrenequinone.

The neurotoxic effects of methamphetamine (METH) have been characterized primarily from the study of high-dose binge regimens in rodents. However, this drug administration paradigm does not include a potentially important feature of stimulant abuse in humans, that is, the gradual escalation of stimulant doses that frequently occurs prior to high-dose exposure. We have argued that pretreatment with escalating doses (EDs) might significantly alter the neurotoxic profile produced by a single high-dose binge. In the present study, we tested this hypothesis by pretreating rats with saline or gradually increasing doses of METH (0.1-4.0 mg/kg over 14 days), prior to an acute METH binge (4 x 6 mg/kg at 2 h intervals). These animals, whose behavior was continuously monitored throughout drug treatment, were then killed 3 days later for determination of caudate-putamen dopamine (DA) content, levels of [(3)H]WIN 35,428 binding to the DA transporter, and levels of [(3)H]dihydrotetrabenazine ([(3)H]DTBZ) binding to the vesicular monoamine transporter. ED pretreatment markedly attenuated the stereotypy response, as well as the hyperthermia and indices of sympathetic activation associated with the acute binge. In addition, ED pretreatment prevented the decline in [(3)H]WIN 35,428 binding, and significantly diminished the decrease in DA levels, but did not affect the decrease in [(3)H]DTBZ binding associated with the acute binge. We suggest that further study of the effects produced by a regimen which includes a gradual escalation of doses prior to high-dose METH binge exposure could more accurately identify the neurochemical and behavioral changes relevant to those that occur as a consequence of high-dose METH abuse in humans.

The abuse of methamphetamine (METH) continues to increase throughout all age groups in different regions of the United States. "Ice," the popularized jargon for (+) methamphetamine hydrochloride, is the predominant drug form that is now consumed. "Ice" is effectively absorbed after either smoking or snorting and it is this rapid influx of drug that produces effects similar to those after intravenous administration. The intensity of METH actions in the central and peripheral nervous system shows tolerance after chronic administration, indicating that neuroadaptations have occurred. Thus, the physiological processes and corresponding biochemical mechanisms that regulate neuronal function have been changed by METH exposure. These biological alterations contribute to the craving and dependence associated with METH abuse and the withdrawal syndrome upon abstinence. However, these changes in behavior may also result from METH-induced neurotoxicity. This article reviews aspects of METH pharmacokinetics and related molecular pharmacodynamics that represent METH pharmacology and then relates those actions to their potential to produce neurotoxicity in humans.

In the preceding paper in this issue [Ost, T. W. B., Miles, C. S., Munro, A. W., Murdoch, J., Reid, G. A., and Chapman, S. K. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 13421-13429], we have established that the primary role of the phylogenetically conserved phenylalanine in flavocytochrome P450 BM3 (F393) is to control the thermodynamic properties of the heme iron, so as to optimize electron-transfer both to the iron (from the flavin redox partner) and onto molecular oxygen. In this paper, we report a detailed study of the F393H mutant enzyme, designed to probe the structural, spectroscopic, and metabolic profile of the enzyme in an attempt to identify the factors responsible for causing the changes. The heme domain structure of the F393H mutant has been solved to 2.0 A resolution and demonstrates that the histidine replaces the phenylalanine in almost exactly the same conformation. A solvent water molecule is hydrogen bonded to the histidine, but there appears to be little other gross alteration in the environment of the heme. The F393H mutant displays an identical ferric EPR spectrum to wild-type, implying that the degree of splitting of the iron d orbitals is unaffected by the substitution, however, the overall energy of the d-orbitals have changed relative to each other. Magnetic CD studies show that the near-IR transition, diagnostic of heme ligation state, is red-shifted by 40 nm in F393H relative to wild-type P450 BM3, probably reflecting alteration in the strength of the iron-cysteinate bond. Studies of the catalytic turnover of fatty acid (myristate) confirms NADPH oxidation is tightly coupled to fatty acid oxidation in F393H, with a product profile very similar to wild-type. The results indicate that gross conformational changes do not account for the perturbations in the electronic features of the P450 BM3 heme system and that the structural environment on the proximal side of the P450 heme must be conformationally conserved in order to optimize catalytic function.

Repetitive administration of propranolol (PL) in rats decreases the activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2D enzyme(s) in hepatic microsomes. We examined the properties of 4-hydroxypropranolol (4-OH-PL) as an inactivator of rat liver microsomal CYP2D enzyme(s) using bunitrolol (BTL) 4-hydroxylation and PL 5- and 7-hydroxylations as indices of CYP2D enzyme activity. Rat microsomal BTL 4-hydroxylase activity was inhibited by the addition of 4-OH-PL to the incubation medium. The inhibition was greater after preincubation of microsomes with 4-OH-PL in the presence of NADPH than in its absence. The type of inhibition kinetics of BTL 4-hydroxylase by 4-OH-PL was changed from a competitive type to a noncompetitive type by the preincubation. The inhibition of rat liver microsomal PL 5- and 7-hydroxylases by 4-OH-PL was blocked efficiently by co-incubation with quinine, a typical inhibitor of rat CYP2D enzyme(s), or to a lesser extent by BTL. However, quinidine, a diastereomer of quinine, did not significantly protect against the enzyme inactivation. The protective capacities of the substrate and inhibitors reflected their affinities for rat CYP2D enzyme(s). BTL hydroxylase was not affected by either 1,4-naphthoquinone or 1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene which are possible metabolites of 4-OH-PL. These results provide further evidence to support the notion that PL is biotransformed by rat CYP2D enzyme(s) to 4-OH-PL, which is further oxidized to a chemically reactive metabolite in the active site. The inactivation of CYP is likely the result of covalent binding of the reactive species to an amino acid residue of the active site.

Although the behavioral consequences of methamphetamine (METH) abuse have been extensively documented, a more precise and thorough understanding of underlying neurobiological mechanisms still requires the use of animal models. To study these biochemical processes in experimental animals requires consideration for the broad range of human METH abuse patterns and the many factors that have been identified to profoundly influence the behavioral and neurochemical effects of exposure to METH-like stimulants. One potentially critical issue relates to pharmacokinetic differences between the species. In this review, METH plasma pharmacokinetic profiles after single and multiple dose intravenous METH administration are compared for the rat and human. Significant differences in elimination half-life between the two species (t1/2: rat-70 min, human-12 h) result in markedly dissimilar profiles of METH exposure. However, the plasma profile of a human METH binge pattern can be approximated in the rat by increasing METH dose frequency. Consideration of METH pharmacokinetics in animal models should permit a closer simulation of the temporal profile of METH exposure in the human CNS and should provide further insight into the mechanisms contributing to the addiciton and psychopathology associated with METH abuse.

Studies of most drugs of abuse utilize in vivo animal experimentation so that the responses measured reflect the pharmacokinetics of the administered drug as well as its pharmacodynamics. These drugs are generally lipid soluble chemicals and their elimination is dependent on metabolism, so an understanding of this process is critical to the interpretation of responses. This review summarizes the interaction between drugs of abuse and cytochromes P450, the oxidative enzymes that catalyze the first step of the metabolic process. Although they process their substrates by a common chemical mechanism, these enzymes differ markedly in their regulation, i.e. induction and inhibition, their substrate selectivities, the metabolites they generate and their relative concentration in different species. The activity of an enzyme catalyzing a specific metabolic reaction can be altered by prior xenobiotic exposure, by its genetics and by a co-administered drug, so that the pharmacokinetics of the drug under study can vary with the history of the individual subject. These issues are obviously important in human studies so, when possible, the relevant human enzymes involved in the processes described have been identified.

We compared the behavioral and caudate-putamen extracellular dopamine responses following intravenous (3.6 mg/kg) and subcutaneous (8 mg/kg) amphetamine administration using 2-min microdialysate sampling intervals, and doses of the drug selected to achieve comparable maximal brain concentrations. Following intravenous amphetamine, dopamine peaked within the first 2 min, then declined with a first-order decay rate of 0.018+/-0.007 min(-1). Following subcutaneous amphetamine, dopamine achieved maximum concentrations at 9 min and remained near peak levels for about 30 min before declining with a first-order decay rate of 0.019+/-0.008 min(-1). Maximal brain amphetamine levels and peak dopamine concentrations were equivalent following either route of drug administration. In contrast to the short latency to maximal extracellular dopamine, the onset of oral stereotypies was delayed until about 30 min following both routes of drug administration. Furthermore, in contrast to the behavioral response to amphetamine, apomorphine administration resulted in the rapid appearance of oral stereotypies within 5-10 min after drug administration. These results suggest that although caudate-putamen dopamine receptor activation may be a critical factor in the expression of focused oral stereotypies, other effects of amphetamine may interfere with the ability of animals to exhibit these behaviors.

This study evaluated whether the caudate-putamen dopamine response that has been observed after deprenyl administration could be attributed exclusively to metabolically generated l-methamphetamine (l-MeAmp). Brain and plasma levels of deprenyl and l-MeAmp were measured after deprenyl (10 mg/kg s.c.) from 10 to 60 min in conscious rats. Peak caudate-putamen levels were observed for deprenyl (15 nmol/g) at 10 min and for l-MeAmp (3 nmol/g) at 30 min. In a parallel study, l-MeAmp metabolism was evaluated. After l-MeAmp (20 mg/kg s.c.), metabolite levels remained low relative to those of the parent compound: l-amphetamine, approximately 5 to 12%; and para-hydroxy-l-methamphetamine (OH-MeAmp), approximately 0.25%. Accordingly, l-MeAmp was considered to be the primary pharmacologically active deprenyl metabolite. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic analysis was then used to relate these pharmacokinetic data to the results of previous microdialysis studies in which increases in extracellular dopamine were measured in the caudate-putamen after l-MeAmp (3-18 mg/kg) and after deprenyl (10 mg/kg). Dopamine response-area under curve versus dose plots were generated and used to show that an administered dose of 4 mg/kg l-MeAmp would be necessary to effect a dopamine response-area under curve comparable to that observed after the deprenyl dose. However, the present pharmacokinetic results indicated that l-MeAmp brain levels after deprenyl corresponded to those that would be obtained from 0.4 mg/kg l-MeAmp (i.e., one tenth of the required dose). Collectively, these results suggest that the acute increases in extracellular dopamine observed after deprenyl are not due uniquely to metabolically generated l-MeAmp but also to other actions of deprenyl at the dopamine terminal.

Methamphetamine (MeAmp) abuse has recently experienced a resurgence and approaches to the treatment of its addiction similar to those used with cocaine have been considered. As the treatment regimes are likely to use drugs whose metabolism is related to that of MeAmp, studies were initiated to establish the enzymology of the fate of MeAmp. This report describes investigations of the role of CYP2D6, the human isoform of the enzyme that catalyzes debrisoquine hydroxylation, in the 4-hydroxylation and N-demethylation of MeAmp. The results of studies with human liver microsomes including those from a genetically poor metabolizer with respect to CYP2D6, showing correlation between MeAmp and metoprolol hydroxylation and MDMA demethylenation, were consistent with a major involvement of CYP2D6 in the aromatic 4-hydroxylation of MeAmp. This was confirmed by studies with recombinant CYP2D6 expressed in yeast, which was also shown to effect the N-demethylation of MeAmp. The rate of the 4-hydroxylation reaction was substantially slower than the demethylenation of MDMA. In contrast to MeAmp, MDMA was not N-demethylated by CYP2D6. Since CYP2D6 participates in the major steps of MeAmp metabolism, pharmacokinetic interactions are likely with other drug substrates proposed for the treatment of MeAmp addiction. Furthermore, the genetic polymorphism associated with the enzyme could manifest itself in abnormal responses to MeAmp.