Interspecies differences in metabolism of arsenic by cultured primary hepatocytes

Drobná, Z; Walton, FS; Harmon, AW; Thomas, DJ; Stýblo, M

HERO ID

710969

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year

2010

Language

English

PMID

20138079

HERO ID 710969
In Press No
Year 2010
Title Interspecies differences in metabolism of arsenic by cultured primary hepatocytes
Authors Drobná, Z; Walton, FS; Harmon, AW; Thomas, DJ; Stýblo, M
Journal Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Volume 245
Issue 1
Page Numbers 47-56
Abstract Biomethylation is the major pathway for the metabolism of inorganic arsenic (iAs) in many mammalian species, including the human. However, significant interspecies differences have been reported in the rate of in vivo metabolism of iAs and in yields of iAs metabolites found in urine. Liver is considered the primary site for the methylation of iAs and arsenic (+3 oxidation state) methyltransferase (As3mt) is the key enzyme in this pathway. Thus, the As3mt-catalyzed methylation of iAs in the liver determines in part the rate and the pattern of iAs metabolism in various species. We examined kinetics and concentration-response patterns for iAs methylation by cultured primary hepatocytes derived from human, rat, mice, dog, rabbit, and rhesus monkey. Hepatocytes were exposed to [(73)As]arsenite (iAs(III); 0.3, 0.9, 3.0, 9.0 or 30 nmol As/mg protein) for 24 h and radiolabeled metabolites were analyzed in cells and culture media. Hepatocytes from all six species methylated iAs(III) to methylarsenic (MAs) and dimethylarsenic (DMAs). Notably, dog, rat and monkey hepatocytes were considerably more efficient methylators of iAs(III) than mouse, rabbit or human hepatocytes. The low efficiency of mouse, rabbit and human hepatocytes to methylate iAs(III) was associated with inhibition of DMAs production by moderate concentrations of iAs(III) and with retention of iAs and MAs in cells. No significant correlations were found between the rate of iAs methylation and the thioredoxin reductase activity or glutathione concentration, two factors that modulate the activity of recombinant As3mt. No associations between the rates of iAs methylation and As3mt protein structures were found for the six species examined. Immunoblot analyses indicate that the superior arsenic methylation capacities of dog, rat and monkey hepatocytes examined in this study may be associated with a higher As3mt expression. However, factors other than As3mt expression may also contribute to the interspecies differences in the hepatocyte capacity to methylate iAs.
Doi 10.1016/j.taap.2010.01.015
Pmid 20138079
Wosid WOS:000277674000005
Is Certified Translation No
Dupe Override No
Comments |WOS:000277674000005
Is Public Yes
Language Text English
Keyword Arsenic; Primary hepatocytes; Metabolism; As3mt; Mammalian species
Is Qa No