Simo Lötjönen

Genotoxic effects of the drinking water mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]-furanone (MX) in mammalian cells in vitro and in rats in vivo

The potent bacterial mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2[5H]- furanone) (MX), which is formed during chlorination of drinking water and accounts for about one third of the Ames mutagenicity of tap water, has been studied with respect to its genotoxicity in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with 30-300 microM MX (1 h) induced DNA damage in a concentration-dependent manner in suspensions of rat hepatocytes, as measured by an automated alkaline elution system. The effect was similar in hepatocytes from PCB-induced and uninduced rats. DNA damage was induced in V79 Chinese hamster cells and in isolated rat testicular cells, at the same concentration level as in hepatocytes. Pretreating testicular cells with diethylmaleate, which depletes 85% of cellular glutathione, had no significant effect on the DNA damage induced by MX. The treatment conditions used in the alkaline elution experiments were not cytotoxic to any of the cell types used, as determined by trypan blue exclusion. V79 cells exposed to 2-5 microM MX (2 h) showed an increased frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) whereas no significant effect on HGPRT mutation induction was observed. Higher concentrations (greater than 10 microM, 2 h) apparently blocked cell division. The data indicate that MX can react directly with DNA or that MX is metabolized to an ultimate mutagen via some enzyme which is common in mammalian cells. The in vivo experiments showed no evidence of genotoxicity after intraperitoneal (18 mg/kg, 1 h) or oral (18, 63 or 125 mg/kg, 1 h) administration of MX, as measured by alkaline elution, in any of the following organs: the pyloric part of the stomach, the duodenum, colon ascendens, liver, kidney, lung, bone marrow, urinary bladder and the testes. In conclusion, MX is a direct-acting genotoxicant in vitro but no in vivo genotoxicity was detected.

Does mercury promote lipid peroxidation? An in vitro study concerning mercury, copper, and iron in peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein.

In order to explore the observed association among mercury, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease, the effects of mercury, copper, and iron on the peroxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and on the enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase and myeloperoxidase were investigated in vitro. On the basis of our nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments, we conclude that mercury does not promote the direct nonenzymatic peroxidation of LDL, like copper and iron. In our enzyme measurements, mercury inhibited slightly myeloperoxidase, although not significantly in presence of LDL. Instead, inorganic mercury, but not methylmercury chloride, inhibited glutathione peroxidase effectively and copper event at 10 μmol/L, below physiological concentrations, doubled the inhibition rate. Copper and iron had no direct effect on glutathione peroxidase, but they both seem to activate production of HOCl by myeloperoxidase. We conclude here that, first, mercury and methylmercury do not promote direct lipid peroxidation, but that, second, a simultaneous exposure to high inorganic mercury, copper, and iron and low selenium concentrations can lead to a condition in which mercury promotes lipid peroxidations. This mechanism provides a plausible molecular-level explanation for the observed association between high body mercury content and atherosclerosis.

About the mutagenicity of chlorine-substituted furanones and halopropenals. A QSAR study using molecular orbital indices

Electron affinities, frontier molecular orbital energies and electron densities at individual carbon atoms were calculated for 11 chlorofuranones including the strong mutagen 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) and for 5 halopropenals by semi-empirical AM1 and ab initio STO-3G methods. Significant correlations were found between Ames TA100 mutagenicity and the following AM1 electronic parameters of chlorofuranones: electron affinity (r = 0.9556). LUMO energy (r = 0.9332) and frontier electron density of LUMO at the alpha-carbon (r = 0.8882). In halopropenals only LUMO electron density at the beta-carbon correlates well with mutagenicity. The observed correlations suggest a reaction mechanism in which chlorofuranones and halopropenals act as electron acceptors in the interaction with DNA.

Structural and electronic properties of MX compounds related to TA100 mutagenicity. A semi-empirical molecular orbital QSAR study.

The structural and electronic properties of chlorofuranones including MX and its anhydride were calculated using the semi-empirical AM1 method to elucidate the key features related to the strong mutagenic activity of MX. Significant correlations were found between Ames TA100 mutagenicity and the following electronic parameters of chlorofuranones: LUMO energy (r = 0.9607, n = 17), electron affinity (r = 0.9557), LUMO electron density at the alpha-carbon (r = 0.8855) and partial charge of the alpha-carbon (r = 0.8812). Based on these results, a molecular orbital QSAR model for the mutagenic activity of 17 MX analogues is presented. The controversial role of the open-chain tautomers of MX compounds, chlorinated butenoic acids, is discussed briefly.

Binding of the strong bacterial mutagen, 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone(MX) to bovine serum albumin

Binding of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) to bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied. MX bound mainly reversibly to BSA but, for a minor part, also irreversibly. It was possible to extract the main part of the reversibly bound MX with ethyl acetate and the extractable compound was chromatographically identical to MX. The affinity-binding characteristics of the interaction with albumin were K = 1.6 x 10(7) M-1, n = 3.4. Furthermore, mutagenicity studies indicated that reversibly bound MX remained mutagenic but that irreversibly bound MX was no longer mutagenic in the Ames test. These results suggest that the binding of MX to albumin is an important factor for both the toxicological effects and the toxicokinetics of MX.

On the mutagenicity of MX compounds

Electronic properties of chlorofuranones including MX, one of the strongest bacterial mutagens, were studied using the semi-empirical AM1 method to elucidate the key features related to the high mutagenic activity of MX. The electronic structures of MX and guanine (the target base of the Salmonella typhimurium TA100 tester strain) are rationalized with the frontier electron theory. Hydrophobic properties of the MX family are examined. Based on these results and our previous QSAR model a possible mechanism for the MX-DNA interaction is proposed.

Mercury-binding capacity of organic and inorganic selenium in rat blood and liver

The mercury-binding capacity of seleno-DL-methionine and selenium dioxide was assessed in male Wistar rats. Mercury was supplied as fish loaves made of northern pike or rainbow trout. We used a selenium concentration of 3.4 mg/kg fish, about sixfold compared to the equivalent quantity of mercury. Seleno-DL-methionine had a tendency to increase both methyl mercury and total mercury in blood, although it also seemed to reduce the proportion of methyl mercury of total mercury. Selenium dioxide lowered mercury levels by 24–29% both in the blood and in the liver of rats that were fed with northern pike.

Preparation of [ 18F]β-CFT-FP and [ 11C]β-CFT-FP, selective radioligands for visualisation of the dopamine transporter using Positron Emission Tomography (PET)

In this study the N-fluoropropyl analogue of the cocaine congener β-CFT (I), N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carbomethoxy-3β-(4-fluorophenyl)nortropane (β-CFT-FP, III), was labelled with 18F or 11C. Syntheses of the precursors nor-β-CFT (II) and β-CFT-FP acid (IV) as well as III itself are described. [18F]β-CFT-FP was prepared starting from I using two different labelling reagents: [18F]fluoropropyl bromide (V) and [18F]fluoropropyl tosylate (VI). A reversed-phase HPLC system proved to be effective in separating the labelled product from precursor II. The radiochemical incorporation of V or VI to yield [18F]β-CFT-FP (18F-III) was in general 30–50% and the radiochemical purity was higher than 99%. [11C]β-CFT-FP (11C-III) was synthesised by esterification of IV using [11C]methyl triflate (VII). An HPLC-purification system using a reversed-phase column proved to be effective in separating the product from the acid precursor. The radiochemical yield starting from [11C]carbon dioxide was 30–40% and the radiochemical purity was better than 99%. 18F-III and 11C-III have potential as radioligands for visualisation of the dopamine transporter (DAT) using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Copyright

Toxic effects and excretion in urine of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX) in the rat after a single oral dose

Toxic effects and excretion in urine of 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), the potent mutagenic compound in chlorinated drinking water, was evaluated in male Wistar rats by the up-and-down method. MX was dosed by gavage in deionized water at doses between 200 mg/kg and 600 mg/kg, for one animal at a time, and effects were observed for 14 days. Urine was collected in metabolism cages up to 72 h after dosing for chemical analysis of MX in urine. The animals receiving 200 mg/kg did not display clear clinical signs but at higher doses the signs of ill effects included dyspnea, laborious, wheezing and gasping breathing, decreased spontaneous motor activity, ataxia, nostril discharges, catalepsia and cyanosis. In necropsy bronchi contained foamy liquid and the lungs appeared edematous and spongy. The stomach cavity was expanded due to accumulation of fluid and gas and the gastrointestinal tract from stomach to caecum was reddish. Microscopically, the main target organ of toxicity was the gastrointestinal tract (diffuse congestion and necrosis in the mucosa). Signs of toxicity were recorded also in lungs (slight edema) and kidneys (dilated tubules, thin tubular epithelium, brownish tubular and interstitial concretion). The LD50 in 48 h was 230 mg/kg. Only 0.03–0.07% of the dose (200 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg) was excreted in urine as intact MX. The results indicate that at high doses MX has a strong local irritating effect in the gastrointestinal tract and it probably increases liquid permeability in lungs. MX may also cause tubular damage in kidneys. Data also indicate that after an oral dose only traces of MX are excreted in urine as intact compound, suggesting that MX is subjected to intense metabolism before excretion, even at lethal doses.

Electrophilic substitution at the δ-methine bridge of pheophorbide a and a′

Abstract A chloro-substituted derivative was prepared from chlorophyll a ′. The derivative was shown to be δ-chloro-methyl pheophorbide a by UV/VIS, MS and ′H NMR.