New biomarkers of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are metabolized in a complex manner. Although biological activity is associated with diol-epoxide formation, phenolic metabolites have predominantly been used in human biomonitoring. In this study monohydroxylated and new metabolites were characterized as biomarkers for occupational PAH exposure. In 97 male workers, personal exposure to 16 airborne PAH compounds was measured during shift. In postshift urine, 1-hydroxypyrene and 1,6- and 1,8-dihydroxypyrene (1-OHP, DiOHP) were determined as metabolites of pyrene (P), and the sum of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, and 9-hydroxyphenanthrenes (OHPHE), and PHE-dihydrodiols (PHED) as metabolites of phenanthrene (PHE). The referent group comprised 21 nonsmoking construction workers. Median (interquartile range) shift concentrations of airborne P and PHE were 1.46 (0.62-4.05 microg/m(3)) and 10.9 (3.69-23.77 microg/m(3)), respectively. The corresponding parameters were 3.86 (2.08-7.44) microg/g creatinine (crn) for 1-OHP, 0.66 (0.17-1.65) microg/g crn for DiOHP, 11.44 (5.21-34.76) microg/g crn for OHPHE, and 12.28 (3.3-97.76) microg/g crn for PHED in PAH-exposed workers. The median levels of 1-OHP and OHPHE were 0.09 (0.08-0.17 microg/m(3)) and 0.59 (0.45-1.39 microg/m(3)), respectively, in the referents. PHE correlated significantly with OHPHE and PHED, and P with 1-OHP but not with DiOHP. Under a doubling of PHE, OHPHE increased by a factor of 1.56 and PHED by 1.57. With a doubling of P, 1-OHP rose by 1.31 and DiOHP by 1.27. P is predominantly metabolized into 1-OHP, whereas PHE is metabolized equally into OHPHE and PHED. Thus metabolites of PHE were found as reliable biomarkers for PAH exposure.

On the species-specific biotransformation of dibenzo[a,l]pyrene.

We were aimed at investigating the activation of the carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) in Chinese hamster V79 cells that express single human, rat or fish cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. DB[a,l]P is detectable in environmental samples and has been characterized as the most potent carcinogenic species among all PAHs as yet tested in rodent bioassays. Metabolite profiles and metabolite-dependent cytotoxic and clastogenic activities were monitored. The total turnover of CYP-mediated transformation of DB[a,l]P was as follows: human CYP1B1>fish CYP1A1 approximately human CYP1A1>>rat CYP1A2>rat CYP1A1. By contrast, enzyme forms that are not classified as being members of family CYP1, such as CYP2A6, 2E1, 2B1, and 3A4, failed to catalyze any detectable conversion of this substrate. All CYP1A1 enzymes tested formed both the K-region trans-8,9- and the trans-11,12-dihydrodiol, whereas human CYP1B1 failed to catalyze K-region activation. In cells expressing human or fish CYP1A1, human CYP1B1, and rat CYP1A2, the (-)-trans-11,12-dihydrodiol was formed enantiospecifically. DB[a,l]P-dependent cytotoxicities (EC(50)) were found in the following order: human CYP1A1 (12 nM)>fish CYP1A1 (30 nM)>human CYP1B1 (45 nM)>>other forms. In addition, an appreciable micronuclei formation was detected in human CYP1A1- and 1B1-expressing cells during exposure to DB[a,l]P. Our study demonstrates that human CYP1A1, 1B1 and fish CYP1A1 are able to transform DB[a,l]P into genotoxic derivatives in appreciable amounts. In contrast, CYP enzymes from rat predominantly target the K-region of DB[a,l]P and thus are serving more a rather protective route of biotransformation. Together our data suggest that humans might be more susceptible to DB[a,l]P-induced carcinogenicity than rats.

Interaction between metabolism and transport of benzo[a]pyrene and its metabolites in enterocytes.

Epithelial cells of the small intestine are responsible for the resorption of different food components as well as potentially toxic agents such as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a particular contaminant of charcoal-grilled meat. This study was undertaken to investigate any functional relationship between the metabolism of B[a]P and the unidirectional transport of metabolites back into the intestinal lumen mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport proteins. The human intestinal Caco-2 cell line was used. In addition, mdr1- and mrp2-transfected MDCK cells were employed to characterize the possible role of these ABC transport proteins in the polarized transport. After incubations of Caco-2 cells with B[a]P, HPLC analysis revealed that the primary metabolites of B[a]P were B[a]P-1-sulfate and B[a]P-3-sulfate. Other metabolites, such as B[a]P-3-glucuronide, B[a]P-9,10-diol, or B[a]P-3,6-quinone, could be detected only in small amounts. The transport experiments using Transwell chambers clearly showed that B[a]P-1- and B[a]P-3-sulfate were actively transported toward the apical (luminal) region. This transport increased after induction of CYP1A1/CYP1B1 (Phase 1)-metabolism, although a decrease was observed during concomitant inhibition. Inhibition studies using chemical inhibitors of P-glycoprotein, MRPs, showed no effects. A comparison between the transport of B[a]P-1- and B[a]P-3-sulfate in wild-type and mrp2-transfected MDCKII cells revealed no differences at all. The results indicate that B[a]P is metabolized by Caco-2 cells mainly to B[a]P-1- and B[a]P-3-sulfate, which are subject to an apically directed transport. Furthermore ABC transport proteins P-glycoprotein, MRP1, and MRP2 are not involved in this polarized B[a]P-sulfate secretion.

Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in human urine.

Measurement of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) metabolites in human urine is the method of choice to determine occupational and/or environmental exposure of an individual to PAH, in particular, when multiple routes of exposure have to be taken into account. Requirements for methods of biomonitoring PAH metabolites in urine are presented. Studies using 1-hydroxypyrene or phenanthrene metabolites including its phenols and dihydrodiols are summarized. The role of these PAH metabolites as established biomarkers and also more recent developments of PAH biomonitoring are discussed.

[Gentecnically engineered V79 cell lines in combination with analytical-chemical procedures for replacing and refining animal experimentations]

Since 1986 V79 Chinese hamster cells are being genetically engineered for rat and human enzymes for studies on metabolism dependent effects in toxicology and pharmacology under defined conditions. The metabolic activation of potentially harmful chemicals is of interest in toxicology, because metabolites may have their own toxic potency. Anabolic and catabolic pathways of drugs are of interest in pharmacology, because metabolism has a decisive impact on the efficacy of drugs. As an example for the usefulness of V79 cells genetically engineered for metabolic competence, and their advantage over animal experimentation, metabolic activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons has been studied. Comparative studies using V79 cells expressing rat and human enzymes revealed striking differences in the metabolite profile, which made evident, that human beings are at more risk than the rat, when exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. This suggests at the same time, that results obtained from animal experimentation are to be treated with caution, if they form the basis for risk assessment.