title: 2,4,5-T and 2,4,5-TCP induce oxidative damage in human erythrocytes: the role of glutathione.
abstract: The molecular basis of the toxic properties of phenoxy herbicides in humans and animals has been insufficiently studied. In this study, damage parameters [levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and total glutathione; activity of glutathione reductase (GR); activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD); levels of adenine nucleotides and adenine energy charge (AEC)] were measured in human erythrocytes exposed in vitro to 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) and its metabolite 2,4,5-trichlorophenol (2,4,5-TCP). Both 2,4,5-T and 2,4,5-TCP decreased the level of reduced glutathione (GSH) in erythrocytes in comparison to the control, but did not significantly change the total glutathione (2GSH + GSSG). This suggests that GSH concentration decreases concomitantly with an increase in oxidized glutathione (GSSG). 2,4,5-TCP at 100 ppm significantly decreased catalase and SOD activities. 2,4,5-T and 2,4,5-TCP did not significantly change the activity of glutathione reductase. 2,4,5-TCP decreased the level of ATP and increased the content of ADP and AMP, indicating a fall in AEC. 2,4,5-T and 2,4,5-TCP significantly changed the erythrocyte morphology. All these data are evidence of oxidative stress in erythrocytes incubated with 2,4,5-T and 2,4,5-TCP; the stress appears to be more intense in the case of 2,4,5-TCP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biophysics of Environmental Pollution, University of Lodz, Banacha 12/16, 90-237 Lodz, Poland. bukow@biol.uni.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Bozena
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bukowska
mesh_terms: D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D000818:Animals; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006540:Herbicides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002733:Chlorophenols; D006540:Herbicides; C009534:2,4,5-trichlorophenol; D015085:2,4,5-Trichlorophenoxyacetic Acid; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione