Yakov M. Koen

Protein targets of reactive metabolites of thiobenzamide in rat liver in vivo.

Thiobenzamide (TB) is a potent hepatotoxin in rats, causing dose-dependent hyperbilirubinemia, steatosis, and centrolobular necrosis. These effects arise subsequent to and appear to result from the covalent binding of the iminosulfinic acid metabolite of TB to cellular proteins and phosphatidylethanolamine lipids [ Ji et al. ( 2007) Chem. Res. Toxicol. 20, 701- 708 ]. To better understand the relationship between the protein covalent binding and the toxicity of TB, we investigated the chemistry of the adduction process and the identity of the target proteins. Cytosolic and microsomal proteins isolated from the livers of rats treated with a hepatotoxic dose of [ carboxyl- (14)C]TB contained high levels of covalently bound radioactivity (25.6 and 36.8 nmol equiv/mg protein, respectively). These proteins were fractionated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, and radioactive spots (154 cytosolic and 118 microsomal) were located by phosphorimaging. Corresponding spots from animals treated with a 1:1 mixture of TB and TB- d 5 were similarly separated, the spots were excised, and the proteins were digested in gel with trypsin. Peptide mass mapping identified 42 cytosolic and 24 microsomal proteins, many of which appeared in more than one spot on the gel; however, only a few spots contained more than one identifiable protein. Eighty-six peptides carrying either a benzoyl or a benzimidoyl adduct on a lysine side chain were clearly recognized by their d 0/ d 5 isotopic signature (sometimes both in the same digest). Because model studies showed that benzoyl adducts do not arise by hydrolysis of benzimidoyl adducts, it was proposed that TB undergoes S-oxidation twice to form iminosulfinic acid 4 [PhC(NH)SO 2H], which either benzimidoylates a lysine side chain or undergoes hydrolysis to 9 [PhC(O)SO 2H] and then benzoylates a lysine side chain. The proteins modified by TB metabolites serve a range of biological functions and form a set that overlaps partly with the sets of proteins known to be modified by several other metabolically activated hepatotoxins. The relationship of the adduction of these target proteins to the cytotoxicity of reactive metabolites is discussed in terms of three currently popular mechanisms of toxicity: inhibition of enzymes important to the maintenance of cellular energy and homeostasis, the unfolded protein response, and interference with kinase-based signaling pathways that affect cell survival.

The reactive metabolite target protein database (TPDB) – a web-accessible resource

BackgroundThe toxic effects of many simple organic compounds stem from their biotransformation to chemically reactive metabolites which bind covalently to cellular proteins. To understand the mechanisms of cytotoxic responses it may be important to know which proteins become adducted and whether some may be common targets of multiple toxins. The literature of this field is widely scattered but expanding rapidly, suggesting the need for a comprehensive, searchable database of reactive metabolite target proteins.DescriptionThe Reactive Metabolite Target Protein Database (TPDB) is a comprehensive, curated, searchable, documented compilation of publicly available information on the protein targets of reactive metabolites of 18 well-studied chemicals and drugs of known toxicity. TPDB software enables i) string searches for author names and proteins names/synonyms, ii) more complex searches by selecting chemical compound, animal species, target tissue and protein names/synonyms from pull-down menus, and iii) commonality searches over multiple chemicals. Tabulated search results provide information, references and links to other databases.ConclusionThe TPDB is a unique on-line compilation of information on the covalent modification of cellular proteins by reactive metabolites of chemicals and drugs. Its comprehensiveness and searchability should facilitate the elucidation of mechanisms of reactive metabolite toxicity. The database is freely available at http://tpdb.medchem.ku.edu/tpdb.html

Protein Targets of Thioacetamide Metabolites in Rat Hepatocytes

Thioacetamide (TA) has long been known as a hepatotoxicant whose bioactivation requires S-oxidation to thioacetamide S-oxide (TASO) and then to the very reactive S,S-dioxide (TASO2). The latter can tautomerize to form acylating species capable of covalently modifying cellular nucleophiles including phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) lipids and protein lysine side chains. Isolated hepatocytes efficiently oxidize TA to TASO but experience little covalent binding or cytotoxicity because TA is a very potent inhibitor of the oxidation of TASO to TASO2. However, hepatocytes treated with TASO show extensive covalent binding to both lipids and proteins accompanied by extensive cytotoxicity. In this work, we treated rat hepatocytes with [(14)C]-TASO and submitted the mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions to 2DGE, which revealed a total of 321 radioactive protein spots. To facilitate the identification of target proteins and adducted peptides, we also treated cells with a mixture of TASO/[(13)C2D3]-TASO. Using a combination of 1DGE- and 2DGE-based proteomic approaches, we identified 187 modified peptides (174 acetylated, 50 acetimidoylated, and 37 in both forms) from a total of 88 nonredundant target proteins. Among the latter, 57 are also known targets of at least one other hepatotoxin. The formation of both amide- and amidine-type adducts to protein lysine side chains is in contrast to the exclusive formation of amidine-type adducts with PE phospholipids. Thiobenzamide (TB) undergoes the same two-step oxidative bioactivation as TA, and it also gives rise to both amide and amidine adducts on protein lysine side chains but only amidine adducts to PE lipids. Despite their similarity in functional group chemical reactivity, only 38 of 62 known TB target proteins are found among the 88 known targets of TASO. The potential roles of protein modification by TASO in triggering cytotoxicity are discussed in terms of enzyme inhibition, protein folding, and chaperone function, and the emerging role of protein acetylation in intracellular signaling and the regulation of biochemical pathways.

Covalent modification of lipids and proteins in rat hepatocytes and in vitro by thioacetamide metabolites.

Thioacetamide (TA) is a well-known hepatotoxin in rats. Acute doses cause centrilobular necrosis and hyperbilirubinemia while chronic administration leads to biliary hyperplasia and cholangiocarcinoma. Its acute toxicity requires its oxidation to a stable S-oxide (TASO) that is oxidized further to a highly reactive S,S-dioxide (TASO(2)). To explore possible parallels among the metabolism, covalent binding, and toxicity of TA and thiobenzamide (TB), we exposed freshly isolated rat hepatocytes to [(14)C]-TASO or [(13)C(2)D(3)]-TASO. TLC analysis of the cellular lipids showed a single major spot of radioactivity that mass spectral analysis showed to consist of N-acetimidoyl PE lipids having the same side chain composition as the PE fraction from untreated cells; no carbons or hydrogens from TASO were incorporated into the fatty acyl chains. Many cellular proteins contained N-acetyl- or N-acetimidoyl lysine residues in a 3:1 ratio (details to be reported separately). We also oxidized TASO with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of dipalmitoyl phosphatidylenthanolamine (DPPE) or lysozyme. Lysozyme was covalently modified at five of its six lysine side chains; only acetamide-type adducts were formed. DPPE in liposomes also gave only amide-type adducts, even when the reaction was carried out in tetrahydrofuran with only 10% water added. The exclusive formation of N-acetimidoyl PE in hepatocytes means that the concentration or activity of water must be extremely low in the region where TASO(2) is formed, whereas at least some of the TASO(2) can hydrolyze to acetylsulfinic acid before it reacts with cellular proteins. The requirement for two sequential oxidations to produce a reactive metabolite is unusual, but it is even more unusual that a reactive metabolite would react with water to form a new compound that retains a high degree of chemical reactivity toward biological nucleophiles. The possible contribution of lipid modification to the hepatotoxicity of TA/TASO remains to be determined.

Bioinformatic Analysis of 302 Reactive Metabolite Target Proteins. Which Ones Are Important for Cell Death

Many low molecular weight compounds undergo biotransformation to chemically reactive metabolites (CRMs) that covalently modify cellular proteins. However, the mechanisms by which this covalent binding leads to cytotoxicity are not understood. Prior analyses of lists of target proteins sorted by functional categories or hit frequency have not proven informative. In an attempt to move beyond covalent binding, we hypothesized that xenobiotic posttranslational modification of proteins might disrupt important protein-protein interactions (PPIs) and thereby direct cells from homeostasis into cell death pathways. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed a list of 302 proteins (66% rat, 26% mouse, 5% human) known to be targeted by 41 different cytotoxic CRMs. Human orthologs of rodent proteins were found by blast sequence alignment, and their interacting partners were found using the Human Protein Reference Database. The combined set of target orthologs and partners was sorted into KEGG pathways and Gene Ontology categories. Those most highly ranked based on sorting statistics and toxicological relevance were heavily involved with intracellular signaling pathways, protein folding, unfolded protein response, and regulation of apoptosis. Detailed examination revealed that many of the categories were flagged primarily by partner proteins rather than target proteins and that a majority of these partners interacted with just a small number of proteins in the CRM target set. A similar analysis performed without the partner proteins flagged very few categories as significant. These results support the hypothesis that disruption of important PPIs may be a major mechanism contributing to CRM-induced acute cytotoxicity.

Identification of protein targets of reactive metabolites of tienilic acid in human hepatocytes.

Tienilic acid (TA) is a uricosuric diuretic that was withdrawn from the market only months after its introduction because of reports of serious incidents of drug-induced liver injury including some fatalities. Its hepatotoxicity is considered to be primarily immunoallergic in nature. Like other thiophene compounds, TA undergoes biotransformation to a S-oxide metabolite which then reacts covalently with cellular proteins. To identify protein targets of TA metabolites, we incubated [(14)C]-TA with human hepatocytes, separated cellular proteins by 2D gel electrophoresis, and analyzed proteins in 36 radioactive spots by tryptic digestion followed by LC-MS/MS. Thirty-one spots contained at least one identifiable protein. Sixteen spots contained only one of 14 nonredundant proteins which were thus considered to be targets of TA metabolites. Six of the 14 were also found in other radioactive spots that contained from 1 to 3 additional proteins. Eight of the 14 had not been reported to be targets for any reactive metabolite other than TA. The other 15 spots each contained from 2 to 4 identifiable proteins, many of which are known targets of other chemically reactive metabolites, but since adducted peptides were not observed, the identity of the adducted protein(s) in these spots is ambiguous. Interestingly, all the radioactive spots corresponded to proteins of low abundance, while many highly abundant proteins in the mixture showed no radioactivity. Furthermore, of approximately 16 previously reported protein targets of TA in rat liver ( Methogo, R., Dansette, P., and Klarskov, K. ( 2007 ) Int. J. Mass Spectrom. , 268 , 284 -295 ), only one (fumarylacetoacetase) is among the 14 targets identified in this work. One reason for this difference may be statistical, given that each study identified a small number of targets from among thousands present in hepatocytes. Another may be the species difference (i.e., rat vs human), and still another may be the method of detection of adducted proteins (i.e., Western blot vs C-14). Knowledge of human target proteins is very limited. Of more than 350 known protein targets of reactive metabolites, only 42 are known from humans, and only 21 of these are known to be targets for more than one chemical. Nevertheless, the demonstration that human target proteins can be identified using isolated hepatocytes in vitro should enable the question of species differences to be addressed more fully in the future.

Liver Protein Targets of Hepatotoxic 4-Bromophenol Metabolites

The hepatotoxicity of bromobenzene (BB) is directly related to the covalent binding of both initially formed epoxide and secondary quinone metabolites to at least 45 different liver proteins. 4-Bromophenol (4BP) is a significant BB metabolite and a precursor to reactive quinone metabolites; yet, when administered exogenously, it has negligible hepatotoxicity as compared to BB. The protein adducts of 4BP were thus labeled as nontoxic [Monks, T. J., Hinson, J. A., and Gillette, J. R. (1982) Life Sci. 30, 841-848]. To help identify which BB-derived adducts might be related to its cytotoxicity, we sought to identify the supposedly nontoxic adducts of 4BP and eliminate them from the BB target protein list. Administration of [(14)C]-4BP to phenobarbital-induced rats resulted in covalent binding of 0.25, 0.33, and 0.42 nmol equiv 4BP/mg protein in the mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions, respectively. These values may be compared to published values of 3-6 nmol/mg protein from a comparable dose of [(14)C]-BB. After subcellular fractionation and 2D electrophoresis, 47 radioactive spots on 2D gels of the mitochondrial, microsomal, and cytosolic fractions were excised, digested, and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Twenty-nine of these spots contained apparently single proteins, of which 14 were nonredundant. Nine of the 14 are known BB targets. Incubating freshly isolated rat hepatocytes with 4BP (0.1-0.5 mM) produced time- and concentration-dependent increases in lactate dehydrogenase release and changes in cellular morphology. LC-MS/MS analysis of the cell culture medium revealed rapid and extensive sulfation and glucuronidation of 4BP as well as formation of a quinone-derived glutathione conjugate. Studies with 7-hydroxycoumarin, (-)-borneol, or D-(+)-galactosamine showed that inhibiting the glucuronidation/sulfation of 4BP increased the formation of a GSH-bromoquinone adduct, increased covalent binding of 4BP to hepatocyte proteins, and potentiated its cytotoxicity. Taken together, our data demonstrate that protein adduction by 4BP metabolites can be toxicologically consequential and provide a mechanistic explanation for the failure of exogenously administered 4BP to cause hepatotoxicity. Thus, the probable reason for the low toxicity of 4BP in vivo is that rapid conjugation limits its oxidation and covalent binding and thus its toxicity.

Protein Targets of Isoniazid-Reactive Metabolites in Mouse Liver in Vivo.

Isoniazid (INH) has been a first-line drug for the treatment of tuberculosis for more than 40 years. INH is well-tolerated by most patients, but some patients develop hepatitis that can be severe in rare cases or after overdose. The mechanisms underlying the hepatotoxicity of INH are not known, but covalent binding of reactive metabolites is known to occur in animals and is suspected in human cases. A major unresolved question is the identity of the liver proteins that are modified by INH metabolites. Treating mice with INH leads to accumulation of isonicotinoyl-lysine residues on numerous proteins in the hepatic S9 fraction. Analysis of this fraction by SDS-PAGE followed by tryptic digestion of bands and LC-MS/MS revealed a single adducted peptide derived from d-dopachrome decarboxylase. When a tryptic digest of whole S9 was applied to anti-INH antibody immobilized on beads, only 12 peptides were retained, 5 of which clearly contained isonicotinoyl-lysine adducts and could be confidently assigned to 5 liver proteins. In another experiment, undigested S9 fractions from INA-treated and untreated (UT) mice were adsorbed in parallel on anti-INA beads and the retained proteins were digested and analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The INA-S9 digest showed 1 adducted peptide that was associated with a unique protein whose identity was corroborated by numerous nonadducted peptides in the digest and 13 other proteins identified only by multiple nonadducted peptides. None of these 14 proteins was associated with any peptides present in the UT-S9 fraction. Overall, we identified 7 mouse liver proteins that became adducted by INH metabolites in vivo. Of these 7 INH target proteins, only 2 have been previously reported as targets of any reactive metabolite in vivo.

Bioactivation of trimethoprim to protein-reactive metabolites in human liver microsomes

The formation of drug-protein adducts via metabolic activation and covalent binding may stimulate an immune response or may result in direct cell toxicity. Protein covalent binding is a potentially pivotal step in the development of idiosyncratic adverse drug reactions (IADRs). Trimethoprim (TMP)-sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a combination antibiotic that commonly causes IADRs. Recent data suggest that the contribution of the TMP component of TMP-SMX to IADRs may be underappreciated. We previously demonstrated that TMP is bioactivated to chemically reactive intermediates that can be trapped in vitro by N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and we have detected TMP-NAC adducts (i.e., mercapturic acids) in the urine of patients taking TMP-SMX. However, the occurrence and extent of TMP covalent binding to proteins was unknown. To determine the ability of TMP to form protein adducts, we incubated [14C]TMP with human liver microsomes in the presence and absence of NADPH. We observed protein covalent binding that was NADPH dependent and increased with incubation time and concentration of both protein and TMP. The estimated covalent binding was 0.8 nmol Eq TMP/mg protein, which is comparable to the level of covalent binding for several other drugs that have been associated with covalent binding–induced toxicity and/or IADRs. NAC and selective inhibitors of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 significantly reduced TMP covalent binding. These results demonstrate for the first time that TMP bioactivation can lead directly to protein adduct formation, suggesting that TMP has been overlooked as a potential contributor of TMP-SMX IADRs.