Skin Sensitization of Epoxyaldehydes: Importance of Conjugation

Structure–activity relationship (SAR) models are important tools for predicting the skin sensitization potential of new compounds without animal testing. In compounds possessing a structural alert (aldehyde) and an activation alert (double bond), it is important to consider bioactivation/autoxidation (e.g., epoxidation). In the present study, we have explored a series of aldehydes with regard to contact allergy. The chemical reactivity of these 6 aldehydes toward a model hexapeptide was investigated, and their skin sensitization potencies were evaluated using the local lymph node assay (LLNA). Overall, we observed a similar trend for the <i>in vitro</i> reactivity and the <i>in vivo</i> sensitization potency for the structural analogues in this study. The highly reactive conjugated aldehydes (α,β-unsaturated aldehydes and 2,3-epoxyaldehydes) are sensitizing moieties, while nonconjugated aldehydes and nonterminal aliphatic epoxides show low reactivity and low sensitization potency. Our data show the importance of not only double bond conjugation to aldehyde but also epoxide–aldehyde conjugation. The observations indicate that the formation of nonconjugated epoxides by bioactivation or autoxidation is not sufficient to significantly increase the sensitization potency of weakly sensitizing parent compounds

Analogues of the Epoxy Resin Monomer Diglycidyl Ether of Bisphenol F: Effects on Contact Allergenic Potency and Cytotoxicity

Diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and bisphenol F (DGEBF) are widely used as components in epoxy resin thermosetting products. They are known to cause occupational and nonoccupational allergic contact dermatitis. The aim of this study is to investigate analogues of DGEBF with regard to contact allergy and cytotoxicity. A comprehensive knowledge of the structural features that contribute to the allergenic and cytotoxic effects of DGEBF will guide the development of future novel epoxy resin systems with reduced health hazards for those coming into contact with them. It was found that the allergenic effects of DGEBF were dependent on its terminal epoxide groups. In contrast, it was found that the cytotoxicity in monolayer cell culture was dependent not only on the presence of epoxide groups but also on other structural features

Epoxy Resin Monomers with Reduced Skin Sensitizing Potency

Epoxy resin monomers (ERMs), especially diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A and F (DGEBA and DGEBF), are extensively used as building blocks for thermosetting polymers. However, they are known to commonly cause skin allergy. This research describes a number of alternative ERMs, designed with the aim of reducing the skin sensitizing potency while maintaining the ability to form thermosetting polymers. The compounds were designed, synthesized, and assessed for sensitizing potency using the in vivo murine local lymph node assay (LLNA). All six epoxy resin monomers had decreased sensitizing potencies compared to those of DGEBA and DGEBF. With respect to the LLNA EC₃ value, the best of the alternative monomers had a value approximately 2.5 times higher than those of DGEBA and DGEBF. The diepoxides were reacted with triethylenetetramine, and the polymers formed were tested for technical applicability using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Four out of the six alternative ERMs gave polymers with a thermal stability comparable to that obtained with DGEBA and DGEBF. The use of improved epoxy resin monomers with less skin sensitizing effects is a direct way to tackle the problem of contact allergy to epoxy resin systems, particularly in occupational settings, resulting in a reduction in the incidence of allergic contact dermatitis

Protein Flexibility and Conformational Entropy in Ligand Design Targeting the Carbohydrate Recognition Domain of Galectin-3

Rational drug design is predicated on knowledge of the three-dimensional structure of the protein−ligand complex and the thermodynamics of ligand binding. Despite the fundamental importance of both enthalpy and entropy in driving ligand binding, the role of conformational entropy is rarely addressed in drug design. In this work, we have probed the conformational entropy and its relative contribution to the free energy of ligand binding to the carbohydrate recognition domain of galectin-3. Using a combination of NMR spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and X-ray crystallography, we characterized the binding of three ligands with dissociation constants ranging over 2 orders of magnitude. ¹⁵N and ²H spin relaxation measurements showed that the protein backbone and side chains respond to ligand binding by increased conformational fluctuations, on average, that differ among the three ligand-bound states. Variability in the response to ligand binding is prominent in the hydrophobic core, where a distal cluster of methyl groups becomes more rigid, whereas methyl groups closer to the binding site become more flexible. The results reveal an intricate interplay between structure and conformational fluctuations in the different complexes that fine-tunes the affinity. The estimated change in conformational entropy is comparable in magnitude to the binding enthalpy, demonstrating that it contributes favorably and significantly to ligand binding. We speculate that the relatively weak inherent protein−carbohydrate interactions and limited hydrophobic effect associated with oligosaccharide binding might have exerted evolutionary pressure on carbohydrate-binding proteins to increase the affinity by means of conformational entropy

Epoxyalcohols: Bioactivation and Conjugation Required for Skin Sensitization

Allylic alcohols, such as geraniol <b>1</b>, are easily oxidized by varying mechanisms, including the formation of both 2,3-epoxides and/or aldehydes. These epoxides, aldehydes, and epoxy-aldehydes can be interconverted to each other, and the reactivity of them all must be considered when considering the sensitization potential of the parent allylic alcohol. An in-depth study of the possible metabolites and autoxidation products of allylic alcohols is described, covering the formation, interconversion, reactivity, and sensitizing potential thereof, using a combination of <i>in vivo</i>, <i>in vitro</i>, <i>in chemico</i>, and <i>in silico</i> methods. This multimodal study, using the integration of diverse techniques to investigate the sensitization potential of a molecule, allows the identification of potential candidate(s) for the true culprit(s) in allergic responses to allylic alcohols. Overall, the sensitization potential of the investigated epoxyalcohols and unsaturated alcohols was found to derive from metabolic oxidation to the more potent aldehyde where possible. Where this is less likely, the compound remains weakly or nonsensitizing. Metabolic activation of a double bond to form a nonconjugated, nonterminal epoxide moiety is not enough to turn a nonsensitizing alcohol into a sensitizer, as such epoxides have low reactivity and low sensitizing potency. In addition, even an allylic 2,3-epoxide moiety is not necessarily a potent sensitizer, as shown for <b>2</b>, where formation of the epoxide weakens the sensitization potential

Epoxyalcohols: Bioactivation and Conjugation Required for Skin Sensitization

Allylic alcohols, such as geraniol <b>1</b>, are easily oxidized by varying mechanisms, including the formation of both 2,3-epoxides and/or aldehydes. These epoxides, aldehydes, and epoxy-aldehydes can be interconverted to each other, and the reactivity of them all must be considered when considering the sensitization potential of the parent allylic alcohol. An in-depth study of the possible metabolites and autoxidation products of allylic alcohols is described, covering the formation, interconversion, reactivity, and sensitizing potential thereof, using a combination of <i>in vivo</i>, <i>in vitro</i>, <i>in chemico</i>, and <i>in silico</i> methods. This multimodal study, using the integration of diverse techniques to investigate the sensitization potential of a molecule, allows the identification of potential candidate(s) for the true culprit(s) in allergic responses to allylic alcohols. Overall, the sensitization potential of the investigated epoxyalcohols and unsaturated alcohols was found to derive from metabolic oxidation to the more potent aldehyde where possible. Where this is less likely, the compound remains weakly or nonsensitizing. Metabolic activation of a double bond to form a nonconjugated, nonterminal epoxide moiety is not enough to turn a nonsensitizing alcohol into a sensitizer, as such epoxides have low reactivity and low sensitizing potency. In addition, even an allylic 2,3-epoxide moiety is not necessarily a potent sensitizer, as shown for <b>2</b>, where formation of the epoxide weakens the sensitization potential