Gabriele_2021_Life.Sci__119486

AIMS: Human carboxylesterases (CESs) and arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC) are serine-esterase enzymes catalyzing the hydrolysis of many compounds containing esters, amides, thioesters, or acetyl groups. This study aimed to investigate the presence, kinetic parameters, and inhibition of CES1, CES2, and AADAC in A549, H460, and H727 pulmonary cells in both living cells and S9 fractions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The p-nitrophenyl acetate (pNPA) and 4-methylumbelliferyl acetate (4-MUA) were used as non-selective esterase substrates, whereas phenacetin as selective AADAC substrate. CESs activities were also investigated in living cells by cellular bioimaging using selective fluorescent probes. KEY FINDINGS: AADAC gene was detected in A549 and H460 cells; nevertheless, arylesterase activity was not found in relative S9 fractions. Besides, CES1 and CES2 were expressed to a different extent by all lung cells, and enzymatic activities were quite overlapping each other. All enzymes exhibited a typical Michaelis-Menten saturation curve and, regarding 4-MUA, similar K(m) values were found in both living cells and S9 fractions. Conversely, kinetic parameters relative to the pNPA hydrolysis by S9 fractions were significantly lower than those detected in living cells. Inhibition studies revealed that 4-MUA hydrolysis was inhibited by bis-p-nitrophenyl phosphate and phenylmethanesulfonyl fluoride more than loperamide; on the contrary, pNPA hydrolysis inhibition was limited with similar inhibition profiles being obtained in both living cells and S9 fractions. The presence of carboxylesterases was definitely confirmed by cellular bioimaging. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings add information to esterase knowledge in pulmonary cells that could be used as in vitro models for toxicological and pharmacological studies.