Peroxidase-dependent metabolism of benzene's phenolic metabolites and its potential role in benzene toxicity and carcinogenicity

Journal Article · Sat Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.898223· OSTI ID:7059528

Smith, M T; Yager, J W; Steinmetz, K L ^[1]; Eastmond, D A ^[2]

---

1. Univ. of California, Berkeley (USA)
2. Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, CA (USA)

The metabolism of two of benzene's phenolic metabolites, phenol and hydroquinone, by peroxidase enzymes has been studied in detail. Studies employing horseradish peroxidase and human myeloperoxidase have shown that in the presence of hydrogen peroxide phenol is converted to 4,4{prime}-diphenoquinone and other covalent binding metabolites, whereas hydroquinone is converted solely to 1,4-benzoquinone. Surprisingly, phenol stimulates the latter conversion rather than inhibiting it, an effect that may play a role in the in vivo myelotoxicity of benzene. Indeed, repeated coadministration of phenol and hydroquinone to B6C3F{sub 1} mice results in a dramatic and significant decrease in bone marrow cellularity similar to that observed following benzene exposure. A mechanism of benzene-induced myelotoxicity is therefore proposed in which the accumulation and interaction of phenol and hydroquinone in the bone marrow and the peroxidase-dependent formation of 1,4-benzoquinone are important components. This mechanism may also be responsible, at least in part, for benzene's genotxic effects as 1,4-benzoquinone has been shown to damage DNA and is shown here to induce multiple micronuclei in human lymphocytes. Secondary activation of benzene's phenol metabolites in the bone marrow may therefore play an important role in benzene's myelotoxic and carcinogenic effects.

• OSTI ID: 7059528
• Journal Information: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA), Journal Name: Environmental Health Perspectives; (USA) Vol. 82; ISSN 0091-6765; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL CELLS
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIOCHEMISTRY
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BONE MARROW CELLS
CARCINOGENESIS
CHEMISTRY
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DNA
ENZYMES
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
METABOLISM
METABOLITES
MICE
NUCLEIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDOREDUCTASES
PATHOGENESIS
PEROXIDASES
PHENOLS
QUINONES
RISK ASSESSMENT
RODENTS
SOMATIC CELLS
VERTEBRATES