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Article: Henri J. L. M. Timmers, Anna Kozupa, Graeme Eisenhofer, Margarita Raygada, Karen T. Adams, Daniel Solis, Jacques W.M. Lenders, and Karel Pacak Clinical presentations, biochemical phenotypes, and genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with SDHB-associated pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2007; 0: jc.2006-2315v1 [Abstract]

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Occupational inhibitors of SDH

Heikki Savolainen   (6 February 2007)

Occupational inhibitors of SDH 6 February 2007
Heikki Savolainen, Prof. Dept. of Occup. Safety & Hlth., Tampere, Finland Send letter to journal: Re: Occupational inhibitors of SDH heikki.savolainen{at}stm.fi Heikki Savolainen	The investigation by Timmers et al. (1) clearly demonstrates the importance of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) mutations in the malignant transformation. It is important to note that SDH activity can also be inhibited by toxicants, e.g. 3-nitropropionic acid. Agents in occupational environment include aliphatic ethylene glycol ethers which are extensively used as solvents in water miscible paints. Their eventual end metabolites, the alkoxy acetic acids are SDH inhibitors (2, 3). One wonders whether the environmental contributors mentioned by the authors could include toxic metabolites from absorbed chemicals. References 1. Timmers HJLM, Kozupa A, Eisenhofer G, Raygada M, Adams KT, Solis D, Lenders JWM, Pacak K. 2007. Clinical presentations, biochemical phenotypes, and genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with SDHB-associated pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas. J Clin Endocrinol Metab doi:10.1210/jc.2006-2315 2. Laitinen J, Liesivuori J, Turunen H, Savolainen H. 1994. Urinary biochemistry in occupational exposure to glycol ethers. Chemosphere 29:781-787 3. Liesivuori J, Laitinen J, Savolainen H. 1999. Rat model for renal effects of 2-alkoxyalcohols and their acetates. Arch Toxicol 73:229-232