Sulfonation of 17β-estradiol and inhibition of sulfotransferase activity by polychlorobiphenylols and celecoxib in channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus

The sulfonation of 17β-estradiol (E2) by human liver and recombinant sulfotransferases is influenced by environmental contaminants such as hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls (OH-PCBs), which are potent inhibitors, and the therapeutic drug, celecoxib, which affects positional sulfonation of E2. In some locations, the aquatic environment is contaminated by PCBs, OH-PCBs and widely used therapeutic drugs. The objectives of this study were to investigate the sulfonation kinetics of E2 in liver cytosol from channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); to examine the effect of OH-PCBs on E2 sulfonation; and to determine if celecoxib altered the position of E2 sulfonation, as it does with human liver cytosol. E2 was converted to both 3- and 17-sulfates by catfish liver cytosol. At E2 concentrations below 1 μM, formation of E2-3-sulfate (E2-3-S) predominated, but substrate inhibition was observed at higher concentrations. Rates of E2-3-S formation at different E2 concentrations were fit to a substrate inhibition model, with K′mK′m and V′maxV′max values of 0.40 ± 0.10 μM and 91.0 ± 4.7 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively and Ki of 1.08 ± 0.09 μM. The formation of E2-17-S fit Michaelis-Menten kinetics over the concentration range 25 nM to 2.5 μM, with Km and Vmax values of 1.07 ± 0.23 μM and 25.7 ± 4.43 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The efficiency (Vmax/Km) of formation of E2-3-S was 9.8-fold higher than that of E2-17-S. Several OH-PCBs inhibited E2 3-sulfonation, measured at an E2 concentration of 1 nM. Of those tested, the most potent inhibitor was 4′-OH-CB79, with two chlorine atoms flanking the OH group (IC50: 94 nM). The inhibition of estrogen sulfonation by OH-PCBs may disrupt the endocrine system and thus contribute to the known toxic effects of these compounds. Celecoxib did not stimulate E2-17-S formation, as is the case with human liver cytosol, but did inhibit the formation of E2-3-S (IC50: 44 μM) and to a lesser extent, E2-17-S (IC50: >160 μM), suggesting the previously found effect of celecoxib on E2-17-S formation may be specific to human SULT2A1.