Immunologic methods for the detection of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites in urine

Two monoclonal antibodies (10C10 and 4D5) have been developed from the spleen cells of Balb/c mice immunized with 6-aminobenzo[a]pyrene covalently coupled to bovine serum albumin. These antibodies have been used in an immunoassay for the detection of benzo[a]pyrene and its metabolites in mouse urine. The antibodies were characterized in terms of sensitivity and specificity by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). With both antibodies, 50% inhibition of antibody binding is at 4 pmol of BP. The antibodies also cross-react with a number of BP metabolites as well as with several other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including pyrene, 1-aminopyrene, and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene but with different sensitivities. These results suggest that this assay will detect multiple PAH metabolites in urine. To test the assay on biological samples, mice were treated with [3H]BP, and urine was collected and digested with beta-glucuronidase and aryl sulfatase. Several methods were used to isolate BP and its metabolites from the urine, including ethyl acetate extraction, Sep-pak C18 cartridge chromatography, XAD2 resin chromatography, and immunoaffinity chromatography with antibody 4D5. Analysis of the urine extracts with antibody 4D5 gave 50% inhibition at 12-15 pmol of metabolites. Thus, quantitation of metabolites in this sample by competitive ELISA against a standard curve of BP would have underestimated actual metabolite levels by about 70%. This assay will be applied to the analysis of urines from individuals with environmental or occupational exposure. Since humans are usually exposed to BP in complex mixtures of PAHs, multiple metabolites may be present in the urine, making absolute quantitation difficult. This assay should thus serve as a general indicator of exposure to this class of chemicals.