Genetic deficiency of human class mu glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in relation to the urinary excretion of the mercapturic acids of Z- and E-1,3-dichloropropene

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Abstract
Mononuclear lymphocytes were isolated from the blood of 12 individuals, who had been exposed to the vapour of the soil fumigant 1,3-dichloropropene (DCP). Western blot experiments were performed on the crude lymphocyte homogenates, using a monoclonal antibody against human hepatic glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzyme μ, to determine the presence or absence of mu-class isoenzymes μ, and/or ψ. Nine of the individuals were found to be positive for μ and/or ψ, the remaining three individuals being negative. In addition, all individuals showed a positive staining on immunoblot of a protein of somewhat lower molecular mass than the hepatic standard. This protein was bound by the S-hexylglutathione affinity column, and presumably constitutes a new mu-class isoenzyme, which is not subject to genetic polymorphism. Determination of the specific activities of individual human GST isoenzymes towards Z-(cis-) and E-(trans-)-DCP demonstrated that mu-class isoenzymes show a considerably higher specific activity with Z-DCP than alpha-class or pi-class isoenzymes. In addition, mu-class isoenzymes were found to be 2- to 3-fold more active with Z-DCP than with E-DCP. Their activity towards E-DCP was similar to the specific activity of alpha-class isoenzymes. Genetic polymorphism for mu-class isoenzymes could thus be a determinant in the extent of excretion of mercapturic acids from Z- and E-DCP. The urinary excretion of Z- and E-DCP mercapturic acids and the respiratory exposure to Z- and E-DCP were determined for nine and eight phenotyped individuals, respectively. Urinary excretion levels (corrected for the time weighted average 8-h exposure), the urinary ratio and the elimination half-lives of the mercapturic acids of Z- and E-DCP were compared with the data on the mu-phenotype. No statistically significant differences were observed between mu-class positive and mu-class negative individuals.

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