Epoxide metabolites

Residues of PCBs in animal tissues include not only the original congeners themselves, but also hydroxy metabolites that bind to cellular proteins, for example, transthyretin (TTR Klasson-Wehler et al. 1992 Brouwer et al. 1990 Fans et al. 1993). Small residues are also found of methyl-sulfonyl metabolites of certain PCBs (Bakke et al. 1982, 1983). These appear to originate from the formation of glutathione conjugates of primary epoxide metabolites, thus providing further evidence of the existence of epoxide intermediates. Further biotransformation, including methylation, yields methyl-sulfonyl products that are relatively nonpolar and persistent. 

Lee H, RG Harvey (1986) Synthesis of the active diol epoxide metabolites of the potent carcinogenic hydrocarbon 7,12-dunethybenz[a]anthacene. J Am Chem Soc 51 3502-3507. 

Hulbert, P. B. Grover, P. L. Chemical rearrangement of phenol-epoxide metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to quinone-methides. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 1983, 117, 129-134. 

Research in PAH carcinogenesis has made major advances in the past decade. Most notable has been identification of diol epoxide metabolites as the active forms of benzo[a]pyrene, 7,12-dimethylbenz[tf]anthracene, and other carcinogenic PAH. This finding has stimulated enormous research activity and opened the way to determination of the detailed molecular mechanism of action of this important class of carcinogenic molecules. 

Synthesis of the Dihydrodiol and Diol Epoxide Metabolites of Carcinogenic Polycyclic Hydrocarbons... 

Methods for the synthesis of the biologically active dihydrodiol and diol epoxide metabolites of both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are reviewed. Four general synthetic routes to the trans-dihydrodiol precursors of the bay region anti and syn diol epoxide derivatives have been developed. Syntheses of the oxidized metabolites of the following hydrocarbons via these methods are described benzo(a)pyrene, benz(a)anthracene, benzo-(e)pyrene, dibenz(a,h)anthracene, triphenylene, phen-anthrene, anthracene, chrysene, benzo(c)phenanthrene, dibenzo(a,i)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)pyrene, 7-methyl-benz(a)anthracene, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, 3-methylcholanthrene, 5-methylchrysene, fluoranthene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(j)fluoranthene, benzo(k)-fluoranthene, and dibenzo(a,e)fluoranthene. 

Recent advances in PAH carcinogenesis research over the past decade have led to identification of diol epoxide metabolites as the principal active forms of the PAH investigated to date Q,2). Benzo-(a)pyrene (BP) has been most intensively investigated, and it has been demonstrated that a diol epoxide metabolite anti-BPDE is the active intermediate which binds covalently to DNA in human and other mammalian tissues 0,4). Anti-BPDE was also demonstrated to be a powerful mutagen in both bacterial and mammalian cells (15) These findings stimulated an outpouring of research directed towards elucidation of the molecular mechanism of PAH carcinogenesis. 

Carbamazepine may interact with other drugs by inducing their metabolism. Valproic acid increases concentrations ofthe 10,11-epoxide metabolite without affecting the concentration of carbamazepine. The interaction of erythromycin and clarithromycin (CYP3A4 inhibition) with carbamazepine is particularly significant. 

In contrast, a number of alkene epoxides (10.3) are chemically quite stable, i.e., intrinsically less reactive than arene oxides. Examples of epoxide metabolites that have proven to be stable enough to be isolated in the absence of degrading enzymes include 1,2-epoxyoctane (10.4), 1,2-epoxycyclohex-ane (10.5), 1-phenyl-1,2-epoxy ethane (styrene oxide, 10.6), and cis- 1,2-diphenyl-1,2-epoxyethane (cfv-stilbene oxide, 10.7) [12], The same is true of alclofenac epoxide (10.8), hexobarbital epoxide (10.9), and a few other epoxides of bioactive compounds. 

J. A. Slack, A. W. Ford-Hutchinson, M. Richold, B. C. K. Choi, Some Biochemical and Pharmacological Properties of an Epoxide Metabolite of Alclofenac , Chem.-Biol. Interact. 1981, 34, 95 - 107. 

Epoxide metabolites can be generated from a variety of aromatic systems. Anticonvulsants are a class of drug whose side-effects, such as hepatic necrosis and aplastic anaemia, are thought to be mediated by chemically reactive epoxide metabolites formed by cytochrome P450 oxidation. For instance phenytoin (Figure 8.6) toxicity is correlated with oxidation and the inhibition of epoxide hydrolase [8]. 

Fig. 8.6 Structure of pheny-toin, a drug believed to assert its toxicity through reactive epoxide metabolites.

Fig. 8.7 Structures of carbamezepine (A), its 10-11 -epoxide metabolite (B), and oxcarbazepine (C) and its hydroxyl metabolite (D).

The greater sensitivity in mice than in rats to induction of carcinogenesis is likely related to species differences in metabolism to the active epoxide metabolites. ... 

Lactation Carbamazepine and its epoxide metabolite are transferred into breast milk. Because of the potential for serious adverse reactions, decide whether to discontinue nursing or to discontinue the drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother. 

Carbamazepine Lamotrigine Increased concentrations of epoxide metabolite leading to toxicity... 

Valproate may increase concentrations of phenobarbital, etho-suximide, and the active 10,11-epoxide metabolite of carba-mazepine, increasing the risk of toxicity. Valproate may also raise lamotrigine levels, increasing the risk of rash. 

---