Investigation of bioactivation and toxicity of styrene in CYP2E1 transgenic cells

Styrene has been found to be toxic to the respiratory system, and the toxicity of styrene is metabolism-dependent. CYP2E1 is suggested to be one of the cytochrome P450 enzymes responsible for the bioactivation of styrene. Our work focused on the roles of CYP2E1 and epoxide, a metabolite of styrene epoxidation, in the cytotoxicity of styrene. Styrene was found to be more toxic to h2E1 cells than to the wild type, while there was no difference found when styrene oxide was administered. Both soluble and microsomal epoxide hydrolase inhibitors dramatically enhanced styrene toxicity. Glutathione and glutathione ethyl ester showed protection against styrene cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity of a selection of styrene analogues, such as ethylbenzene, vinylcyclohexane, and ethylcyclohexane, was assessed to determine if unsaturation is required for styrene toxicity. Ethylbenzene and vinylcyclohexane were found to be as toxic as styrene to h2E1 cells, whereas little toxicity of ethylcyclohexane to h2E1 cells was observed. This indicates the importance of vinyl group of styrene in its cytotoxicity, but saturation of the vinyl group does not necessarily eliminate styrene toxicity. An N-acetylcysteine conjugate derived from styrene oxide was identified by LC/MS/MS in the sample obtained from the incubation of h2E1 cell lysate with styrene in the presence of N-acetylcysteine. Formation of the N-acetylcysteine conjugate was found to be NADPH-dependent. These studies provided strong evidence in support of toxic role of styrene epoxide metabolite in styrene toxicity.