Covalent interaction of metabolites of the carcinogen trichloroethylene in rat hepatic microsomes.

Trichloroethylene (TCE), a structural analog of vinyl chloride, is known to induce hepatocellular carcinoma and other tumors in C57BL/6 X C3H/He F1 (hereafter known as B6C3F1) hybrid mice. TCE epoxide, a possible metabolite, is expected to be highly reactive toward cellular nucleophiles, e.g., proteins and nucleic acids. Hence, the microsomal metabolism of TCE and its covalent binding to microsomal protein were examined. Rat liver microsomes were incubated in vitro with [14C]TCE. The results showed that TCE binds covalently to microsomal protein since extensive organic extractions and Pronase digestion do not dissociate the TCE-protein complex. The binding was decreased by 7,8-benzoflavone, blocked by SKF-525A, and enhanced by i.p. administration of phenobarbital. The possibility that TCE epoxide, once formed, could be converted to water-soluble products through enzymatic hydrolysis by epoxide hydrase was also investigated. Addition of 3,3,3-trichloropropene oxide, a potent inhibitor of epoxide hydrase, to the incubation system markedly enhanced the binding of TCE. These observations support the view that, in order to bind to protein, it is necessary for TCE to be metabolized to its epoxide, a reactive intermediate that is most likely involved in TCE carcinogenesis and toxicity.