Atropselective Oxidation of 2,2’,3,3’,4,6’-Hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 132) to Hydroxylated Metabolites by Human Liver Microsomes and Its Implications for PCB 132 Neurotoxicity

Abstract

PCBs and their hydroxylated metabolites have been associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Several neurotoxic congeners display axial chirality and atropselectively affect cellular targets implicated in PCB developmental neurotoxicity; however, only limited information is available regarding the metabolism of these congeners in humans. We hypothesize that the oxidation of 2,2',3,3',4,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 132) by human liver microsomes (HLMs) is atropselective and displays inter-individual variability. To test this hypothesis, PCB 132 (50 M) was incubated with pooled or single donor HLMs for 10, 30 or 120 min at 37 {degrees}C, and levels and enantiomeric fractions of PCB 132 and its metabolites were determined gas chromatographically. The major metabolite formed by different HLM preparations was either 2,2',3,4,4',6'-hexachlorobiphenyl-3'-ol (3'-140) or 2,2',3,3',4,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl-5'-ol (5'-132). 2,2',3,3',4,6'-Hexachlorobiphenyl-4'-ol (4'-132) and 2,2',3,3',4,6'-hexachlorobiphenyl-4',5'-diol (4',5'-132) were minor metabolites. The second eluting atropisomer of PCB 132 was slightly enriched in some HLM incubations. The formation of the first eluting atropisomer of 3'-140 was nearly enantiospecific (EF > 0.8). The second eluting atropisomer of 5'-132 was enriched in all microsomal preparations investigated. EF values differed slightly between single donor HLM preparations (EF = 0.84 to 0.96 for 3'-140; EF = 0.12 to 0.19 for 5'-132). These findings suggest that there are inter-individual differences in the atropselective biotransformation of PCB 132 to OH-PCBs in humans that may affect neurotoxic outcomes.