Peroxidase-mediated glutathione conjugation of benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol is enhanced by benzo[a]pyrene phenols in vitro.

We reported previously that glutathione (GSH) is oxidized by peroxidases to a thiyl radical that can react with a number of chemicals, including the penultimate carcinogenic metabolite benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol (7,8-B[a]PD), to give GSH conjugates. Here, we report that phenolic metabolites of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) enhance the peroxidase-mediated formation of glutathione conjugates of 7,8-B[a]PD. The GSH conjugation of 7,8-B[a]PD in a horseradish peroxidase/peroxide system was increased over control values as follows: 9-OH-B[a]P by 4-fold, 7-OH-B[a]P by 3-fold, 1-OH-B[a]P by 2-fold. In contrast 3-OH-B[a]P was ineffective. A phenolic derivative of another polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), benz[a]anthracene, also enhanced GSH conjugation of 7,8-B[a]PD. The enhancement was dependent upon the presence of the phenol, horseradish peroxidase and peroxide. The phenolic compounds, including 3-OH-B[a]P, were also efficient reducing cofactors for the peroxidase. With the exception of 3-OH-B[a]P, the phenolic metabolites of PAH enhanced peroxidase-mediated formation of thiyl radical as detected by electron spin resonance spectrometry. Since both phenols and dihydrodiols are metabolites of B[a]P catalyzed by the cytochromes P450 system, enhancement of peroxidase-dependent 7,8-B[a]PD-GSH conjugation by phenols suggests a possible interaction between peroxidases and cytochromes P450 systems. This interaction may contribute to the detoxication of the penultimate carcinogenic PAH-dihydrodiols and other chemicals.