Species and inter-individual differences in metabolic capacity of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) between human and mouse livers.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to assess inter-species and inter-individual differences in the metabolism of di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) in humans and mice.


METHODS
The activities of four DEHP-metabolizing enzymes [lipase, UDP-glucuronocyltransferase (UGT), alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH)] were measured in the livers of 38 human subjects of various ages and in eight 129/Sv male mice.


RESULTS
Microsomal lipase activity was significantly lower in humans than in mice. The V max/K m value in humans was one-seventh of that in mice, microsomal UGT activity in humans was a sixth of that in mice, and cytosolic ALDH activity for 2-ethylhexanal in humans was one-half of that in mice. In contrast, ADH activity for 2-ethylhexanol was twofold higher in humans than in mice. The total amount of DEHP urinary metabolites and the concentration of mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) were much higher in intact mice than in the U.S. general population based on data reported elsewhere, regardless of the similar estimated DEHP intake between these mice and the human reference population. However, mono(2-ethyl-5-oxo-hexyl)phthalate (5oxo-MEHP) and mono(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl)phthalate (5cx-MEPP) levels were higher in the latter than in the former. Of note, inter-subject variability in the activities of all enzymes measured was 10-26-fold.


CONCLUSIONS
The inter-individual variation in the metabolism of DEHP in humans may be greater than the difference between mice and humans (inter-species variation), and both may affects the risk assessment of DEHP.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, 467-8601, Japan, yukey@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp.
Yuki
Y
Ito
Michihiro
M
Kamijima
Chie
C
Hasegawa
Masahiro
M
Tagawa
Toshio
T
Kawai
Mio
M
Miyake
Yumi
Y
Hayashi
Hisao
H
Naito
Tamie
T
Nakajima
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008049:Lipase / Q000378:metabolism*; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D057507:Mice, 129 Strain; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity; D055815:Young Adult
D004051:Diethylhexyl Phthalate; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D008049:Lipase