Enzymatic basis of the debrisoquine/sparteine-type genetic polymorphism of drug oxidation. Characterization of bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation in liver microsomes of in vivo phenotyped carriers of the genetic deficiency

The genetically controlled polymorphic oxidation of debrisoquine and sparteine is caused by the absence or functional deficiency of a cytochrome P-450 isozyme. In order to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the differences in cytochrome P-450 function we have studied the 1'-hydroxylation of the prototype drug bufuralol in human liver microsomes of individuals phenotyped in vivo as extensive metabolizers (EM, N = 10), poor metabolizers (PM, N = 5) and in subjects with an intermediate rate of metabolism (IM, N = 4). PM- as compared to EM-microsomes were characterized by a decreased Vmax for (+)-bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation (7.51 +/- 2.03 nmol X mg-1 X hr-1 vs 11.95 +/- 4.80 nmol X mg-1 X hr-1) but not for (-)-bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation (4.72 +/- 0.87 nmol X mg-1 X hr-1 vs 5.55 +/- 1.49 nmol X mg-1 X hr-1). The apparent Km for (+)-bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation was increased in PM microsomes (118 +/- 84.9 microM vs 17.9 +/- 6.30 microM). Inhibition of bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation by quinidine was biphasic in EM microsomes, providing further support for the involvement of at least two cytochrome P-450 isozymes. Quinidine acted as a competitive inhibitor of only the high affinity/stereoselectivity component of the reaction. Our data suggest that the debrisoquine/sparteine type of oxidation polymorphism is caused by an almost complete loss of a minor cytochrome P-450 isozyme which has a high affinity and stereoselectivity for (+)-bufuralol and a high sensitivity to inhibition by quinidine.     

Stereospecificity in the oxidation of phorate and phorate sulphoxide by purified FAD-containing mono-oxygenase and cytochrome P-450 isozymes

1. Both the cytochrome P-450-dependent mono-oxygenase system and the FAD-containing mono-oxygenase catalyse the sulphoxidation of thioether-containing organophosphate insecticides. Using purified FAD-containing mono-oxygenase and purified cytochrome P-450 isozymes isolated from mouse liver microsomes, the stereospecificity of the oxidation of phorate to (+)-and (-)-phorate sulphoxide and the further oxidations of the (+)-and (-)-phorate sulphoxides to the sulphone, the oxon sulphoxide and the oxon sulphone were examined. 2. The FAD-containing mono-oxygenase catalysed the formation of (-)-phorate sulphoxide, while two cytochrome P-450 isozymes (cytochrome P-450-B2, a constitutive form, and cytochrome P-450-PB, the principal form induced by phenobarbital) produced (+)-phorate sulphoxide. The other three constitutive cytochrome P-450 isozymes examined yielded racemic mixtures. 3. The FAD-containing mono-oxygenase had the lowest Km for the sulphoxidation reaction, 32 microM, while the Km values for the cytochrome P-450 isozymes ranged from 67 microM to 250 microM. No additional oxidation of phorate sulphoxide by the FAD-containing monooxygenase was detected using either (+)-phorate sulphoxide or (-)-phorate sulphoxide as substrates. 4. In contrast, all five cytochrome P-450 isozymes tested formed additional oxidation products; the (+)-phorate sulphoxide was the preferred substrate for all cytochrome P-450 forms. 5. The final oxidation product, phorate oxon sulphone, was derived by desulphuration of phorate sulphone, with the formation of the oxon sulphoxide being a terminal pathway.     

Stereoselective oxidation of nilvadipine, a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, in rat and dog liver

The stereoselective oxidation of nilvadipine (NV), a new 1,4-dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, to the corresponding pyridine analog was studied after incubation of (+)- and (-)-NV with rat and dog liver microsomes. The rates of formation of the pyridine analog and disappearance of NV were similar for each species, indicating that aromatization of NV is the primary metabolic step. Formation of the corresponding pyridine required the presence of an NADPH-generating system and was significantly inhibited by carbon monoxide and metyrapone, indicating the participation of cytochrome P-450. In male rat liver microsomes, the apparent Km values for the formation of the pyridine from (+)- and (-)-NV were 11.2 and 8.1 microM, and the Vmax values were 7.48 and 3.37 nmol/mg of protein/min, respectively. Therefore, the Vmax/Km value, which is equivalent to the intrinsic clearance of the drug, for the oxidation of (+)-NV was 1.59-fold greater than that for the oxidation of the (-)-enantiomer. In female rats, (-)-NV oxidation exhibited two distinct apparent Km values, whereas the that of the (+)-enantiomer did not. The (+)/(-) ratio of Vmax/Km was 1.23. On the other hand, in male dog microsomes the Km values for (+)- and (-)-NV were 21.9 and 12.2 microM, and Vmax values were 3.02 and 2.45 nmol/mg of protein/min, respectively; the (+)/(-) ratio of Vmax/Km was 0.69. These results indicate that the stereo-selective oxidation of NV is species dependent and is sex related in rat liver.     

The molecular mechanisms of two common polymorphisms of drug oxidation--evidence for functional changes in cytochrome P-450 isozymes catalysing bufuralol and mephenytoin oxidation

Using the stereospecific metabolism of (+)- and (-)-bufuralol and (+)- and (-)-metoprolol as model reactions, we have characterized the enzymic deficiency of the debrisoquine/sparteine-type polymorphism by comparing kinetic data of subjects in vivo with their microsomal activities in vitro and with reconstituted activities of cytochrome P-450 isozymes purified from human liver. The metabolism of bufuralol in liver microsomes of in vivo phenotyped 'poor metabolizers' of debrisoquine and/or sparteine is characterized by a marked increase in Km, a decrease in Vmax and a virtual loss of the stereoselectivity of the reaction. These parameters apparently allow the 'phenotyping' of microsomes in vitro. A structural model of the active site of a cytochrome P-450 for stereospecific metabolism of bufuralol and other polymorphically metabolized substrates was constructed. Two cytochrome P-450 isozymes, P-450 buf I and P-450 buf II, both with MW 50,000 Da, were purified from human liver on the basis of their ability to metabolize bufuralol to 1'-hydroxy-bufuralol. However, P-450 buf I metabolized bufuralol in a highly stereoselective fashion ((-)/(+) ratio 0.16) as compared to P-450 buf II (ratio 0.99) and had a markedly lower Km for bufuralol. Moreover, bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation by P-450 buf I was uniquely characterized by its extreme sensitivity to inhibition by quinidine. Antibodies against P-450 buf I and P-450 buf II inhibited bufuralol metabolism in microsomes and with the reconstituted enzymes. Immunochemical studies with these antibodies with microsomes and translations in vitro of RNA from livers of extensive and poor metabolizers showed no evidence for a decrease in the recognized protein or its mRNA. Because the antibodies do not discriminate between P-450 buf I and P-450 buf II, both a decreased content of P-450 buf I or its functional alteration could explain the polymorphic metabolism in microsomes. The genetically defective stereospecific metabolism of mephenytoin was determined in liver microsomes of extensive and poor metabolizers of mephenytoin phenotyped in vivo. Microsomes of poor metabolizers were characterized by an increased Km and a decreased Vmax for S-mephenytoin hydroxylation as compared to extensive metabolizers and a loss of stereospecificity for the hydroxylation of S-versus R-mephenytoin. A cytochrome P-450 with high activity for mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation was purified from human liver. Immunochemical studies with inhibitory antibodies against this isozyme suggest the presence in poor-metabolizer microsomes of a functionally altered enzyme.     

Diethyl ether as a substrate for acetone/ethanol-inducible cytochrome P-450 and as an inducer for cytochrome(s) P-450

The ability of diethyl ether to serve as a substrate for microsomal and purified cytochrome P-450 (P-450) and as an inducer for rat hepatic microsomal monooxygenase activities was examined. Microsomal oxidation of ether to acetaldehyde, as monitored by high pressure liquid chromatography, was elevated 3- to 5-fold by treatment of rats with acetone or ethanol, 1.5- to 2-fold by treatment with ether, and only slightly by phenobarbital treatment. Ether also induced N-nitrosodimethylamine demethylase by up to 2-fold and 7-pentoxyresorufin dealkylation by up to 10-fold. These trends agreed with immunoblot experiments in which ether was a weak inducer of the P-450 isozyme IIE1 (encoded by the rat gene P450IIE1), but a stronger inducer of IIB1. A monoclonal antibody against IIE1 inhibited the deethylation by 78% in microsomes from acetone-treated rats and by 45% in controls. N-Nitrosodimethylamine, as well as common inhibitors of IIE1 such as hexane, benzene, pyrazole, and phenylethylamine, strongly inhibited ether deethylation. Using microsomes from acetone-induced rats, the apparent Km for deethylation was 13.4 +/- 2.4 microM and the Vmax was 8.2 +/- 0.2 (nmol of acetaldehyde/min/nmol of P-450). The Km for the controls was 71.3 +/- 9.5 microM. The rates of deethylation at 1 mM ether by purified, reconstituted IIE1 and IIB1 were 4.2 and 0.42 (nmol of acetaldehyde/min/nmol of P-450), respectively. Cytochrome b5 stimulated the rate due to IIE1 apparently by a decrease in the Km. These findings, along with previous work showing marked inhibition by ether of IIE1-dependent reactions, strongly support a major role for this isozyme in ether metabolism.     

Modulation of aflatoxin B1 biotransformation in rabbit pulmonary and hepatic microsomes.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a carcinogenic mycotoxin that requires activation to the corresponding 8,9-epoxide for activity. In addition to being present in foodstuffs, AFB1 can contaminate respirable grain dusts and thus the respiratory system is a potential target for carcinogenesis. In the present study, we have investigated the role of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-inducible forms of cytochrome P-450 in the pulmonary and hepatic microsomal activation ([3H]AFB1-DNA binding) and detoxification ([3H]AFM1 and [3H]AFQ1 formation) of [3H]AFB1. In rabbit lung microsomes, the apparent Vmax for [3H]AFM1 formation was increased significantly when values were expressed per mg microsomal protein or per nmol P-450 present. In liver microsomes, the apparent Vmax for DNA binding and [3H]AFM1 formation were increased by beta-naphthoflavone (BNF) treatment (to 2.3 and 3.3 times control, respectively) when expressed per mg protein, but when expressed per nmol P-450, only AFM1 formation was significantly increased. The apparent Km values for both these reactions were unaffected. The apparent Vmax for [3H]AFQ1 formation was not affected by BNF treatment, but the apparent Km was increased to 4.5 times control. Boiling of microsomes or omitting the NADPH-generating system decreased DNA binding, AFM1 formation and AFQ1 formation by 89-97%, while addition of 1.0 mM SKF-525A inhibited these reactions by 46-57%. Addition of 1.0 mM alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) had no effect on the biotransformation of [3H]AFB1 in lung microsomes of control rabbits, but significantly decreased AFM1 formation (by 31%) in lung microsomes from BNF-treated animals (other reactions were unaffected). In liver microsomes from BNF treated rabbits, 1.0 mM ANF inhibited DNA binding of [3H]AFB1 by 68%, while there was no effect in control microsomes. ANF significantly inhibited AFM1 formation in liver microsomes from both control and BNF-treated animals (by 87-97% and 67-78% at 1.0 mM and 2.0 microM, respectively), but had no effect on AFQ1 formation in liver microsomes from animals in either treatment group. These results indicate an important role for the 1A subclass of P-450 isozymes in the biotransformation of AFB1 to AFM1 in rabbit lung and liver, and a minor role in AFB1 activation in liver.     

Betamethasone-mediated activation of biphenyl 2-hydroxylation in rat liver microsomes. Studies on possible mechanisms

The addition of the steroid betamethasone to intact or detergent-solubilized rat liver microsomes caused a concentration-dependent increase in the rate of biphenyl 2-hydroxylation. Betamethasone (100 microM) increased the apparent Vmax for 2-hydroxybiphenyl formation 2- to 4-fold but had no effect on the apparent Km when either the biphenyl or NADPH concentration was varied. Betamethasone had little or no effect on the apparent Vmax or apparent Km of the 3- and 4-hydroxylations of biphenyl. The steroid did not enhance biphenyl 2-hydroxylation through a peroxidative mechanism. Betamethasone had little or no effect on the rate of the NADPH-dependent reduction of cytochrome c or total microsomal cytochrome P-450. The addition of purified NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase to cholate-solubilized liver microsomes increased the rate of hydroxylation of biphenyl in positions 2 and 4. Betamethasone (100 microM) decreased the apparent Km for purified cytochrome P-450 reductase by 48% and increased the apparent Vmax of 2-hydroxybiphenyl formation by 2-fold when the concentration of cytochrome P-450 reductase was varied. The steroid did not alter the Km or Vmax values for the 4-hydroxylation of biphenyl. The data suggest that betamethasone enhances the interaction between the reductase and the form(s) of cytochrome P-450 responsible for the 2-hydroxylation of biphenyl.     

Metabolism of (R)-(+)-pulegone and (R)-(+)-menthofuran by human liver cytochrome P-450s: evidence for formation of a furan epoxide.

(R)-(+)-Pulegone, a monoterpene constituent of pennyroyal oil, is a hepatotoxin that has been used in folklore medicine as an abortifacient despite its potential lethal effects. Pulegone is metabolized by human liver cytochrome P-450s to menthofuran, a proximate hepatotoxic metabolite of pulegone. Expressed human liver cytochrome (CYP) P-450s (1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4) were tested for their ability to catalyze the oxidations of pulegone and menthofuran. Expressed CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and CYP2C19 oxidized pulegone to menthofuran, with respective Km and Vmax values of 29 microM and 8.4 nmol/min/nmol P-450 for CYP2E1, 94 microM and 2.4 nmol/min/nmol P-450 for CYP1A2, and 31 microM and 1.5 nmol/min/nmol P-450 for CYP2C19. The human liver P-450s involved in the metabolism of menthofuran are the same as pulegone except for the addition of CYP2A6. These P-450s were found to oxidize menthofuran to a newly identified metabolite, 2-hydroxymenthofuran, which is an intermediate in the formation of the known metabolites mintlactone and isomintlactone. Based on studies with 18O2 and H218O, 2-hydroxymenthofuran arises predominantly from a dihydrodiol formed from a furan epoxide. CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and CYP2C19 oxidized menthofuran with respective Km and Vmax values of 33 microM and 0.43 nmol/min/nmol P-450 for CYP2E1, 57 microM and 0.29 nmol/min/nmol P-450 for CYP1A2, and 62 microM and 0.26 nmol/min/nmol P-450 for CYP2C19.     

Studies on the cytochrome P-450 catalyzed ring alpha-carbon oxidation of the nigrostriatal toxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)

In vitro metabolic studies have established that rat liver cytochromes P-450IIB1 and P-450IA1 but not rabbit liver cytochrome P-450IIB4 catalyze the oxidation of the Parkinsonian inducing neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to the corresponding dihydropyridinium (MPDP+) and pyridinium (MPP+) species. Kinetic experiments with the most effective isozyme, cytochrome P-450IA1, indicate that the reaction proceeds at a moderate velocity [Vmax = 20.1 nmol/(min.nmol of P-450IA1)] and high Km (0.87 mM). Furthermore, kinetic deuterium isotope effect measurements provided DV and D(V/K) values of 2.99 and 1.04, respectively. A comparison with the corresponding values for the monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) catalyzed reaction (4.37 and 9.35, respectively) suggests that either these enzymes catalyze the ring alpha-carbon oxidation of MPTP by different pathways or that the initial one-electron transfer to generate an aminium radical intermediate previously proposed for both enzyme systems is reversible in the case of MAO-B and irreversible in the case of cytochrome P-450IA1.     

Evaluation of the role of free hydroxyl radicals in the cytochrome P-450-catalyzed oxidation of benzene and cyclohexanol

The possible role of free hydroxyl radicals in the oxidation of cyclohexanol to cyclohexanone and of benzene to phenol was examined in a reconstituted system containing rabbit phenobarbital-inducible P-450LM2. From steady state kinetic studies, a KM for cyclohexanol of 8.7 mM and a Vmax of 5.7 nmol of cyclohexanone formed/min/nmol of P-450 were determined. Similarly, a KM for benzene of 105 mM and a Vmax of 22 nmol of phenol formed/min/nmol of P-450 were obtained. With intact microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rabbits, a KM for benzene of 18 mM and a Vmax of 1.7 nmol of phenol formed/min/nmol of P-450 were determined. With the use of substrate concentrations in the range of the respective KM values, superoxide dismutase, desferrioxamine, and dimethyl sulfoxide were found to have no significant effect on the P-450-catalyzed reactions. When the oxidation of benzene or cyclohexanol was examined in a model hydroxyl radical-generating system containing xanthine, xanthine oxidase, and Fe-EDTA, no dependence of the rate of oxidation on the substrate concentrations used was observed. Since the rate of hydroxyl radical generation by the model system was adjusted to be greater than the rate of product formation in the P-450 system, the lack of dependence on substrate concentration suggests that free hydroxyl radicals are not involved in the P-450-catalyzed reactions studied. Taken together, these findings indicate that the free hydroxyl radical-mediated pathway observed by other investigators does not contribute significantly to product formation when these substrates are present at concentrations within the range of their respective KM values.     

Oxidation of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane in rat liver microsomes is catalyzed primarily by cytochrome P-450IIE1.

1,1,1,2-Tetrafluoroethane (R-134a), a nonozone-depleting alternative air-conditioning refrigerant and propellant for pharmaceutical preparations, is oxidatively defluorinated by rat hepatic microsomes. In this report we show that induction of cytochrome P-450IIE1 in rats, by pyridine administration, resulted in an 8-fold increase in the rate of R-134a metabolism by hepatic microsomes (Vmax 47 vs. 6 nmol F-/mg microsomal protein/15 min). Furthermore, when data were normalized for P-450 content, a 4-fold increase in R-134a metabolism was noted for IIE1-enriched microsome preparations. In contrast, phenobarbital and Aroclor 1254 decreased the specific activity of hepatic microsomes for this function. The microsomal content of P-450IIE1, as evaluated by Western blot, was elevated significantly only in microsomes from pyridine-treated rats. p-Nitrophenol and aniline, which are metabolized at high rates by rat P-450IIE1, decreased the rate of R-134a defluorination by hepatic microsomes; Dixon plot analysis indicated competitive inhibition with a Ki of 36 microM p-nitrophenol or 115 microM aniline. Pyridine also potently induced defluorination of R-134a catalyzed by rabbit liver microsomes. Studies with individual P-450 isozymes purified from rabbit liver showed that the phenobarbital- and polycyclic hydrocarbon-induced isozymes (IIB1 and IA2) defluorinated R-134a at negligible rates (1.9 and 0.4 nmol F-/nmol P-450/60 min, respectively). In contrast, P-450IIE1 catalyzed defluorination of R-134a at a relatively high rate (16.2 nmol F-/nmol P-450/60 min); isozyme IA1, which also is induced by nitrogen-containing heterocycles such as pyridine, was somewhat active (5.3 nmol F-/nmol P-450/60 min).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Involvement of the macrolide antibiotic inducible cytochrome P-450 LM3c in the metabolism of midazolam by microsomal fractions prepared from rabbit liver

This report characterizes the cytochrome P-450 isozyme involved in midazolam metabolism. This study was undertaken into liver microsomal fractions prepared from untreated rabbits or animals treated with drugs known to specifically induce various cytochrome P-450 isozymes such as form LM2 by phenobarbital, LM4 and LM6 by 3-methylcholanthrene and beta-naphthoflavone, LM3a by ethyl alcohol and acetone, and LM3c by macrolide antibiotics (rifampicin, erythromycin and triacetyloleandomycin). Among this library of characterized microsomal preparations, only those obtained from macrolide antibiotic-treated rabbits exhibited a Type I binding spectrum upon addition of midazolam (Ks = 3.2-5.3 micrograms/ml; 10.6-17.5 microM) and significantly metabolized midazolam to its various hydroxylated metabolites (Km = 2.52 +/- 0.22 micrograms/ml; 8.32 +/- 0.73 microM and Vmax = 20 micrograms metabolites formed/min/mg proteins; 66 nmoles metabolites formed/min/mg proteins). The following observations further confirmed the specific involvement of the cytochrome P-450 LM3c isozyme: (i) only anti-cytochrome P-450 LM3c isozyme antibodies intensively inhibited midazolam metabolism, (ii) incubation of microsomes, prepared from TAO-treated rabbits, with midazolam in the presence of potassium ferricyanide which restored the functional cytochrome P-450 LM3c isozyme, increased midazolam metabolism to a similar extent, and (iii) in the presence of Cyclosporin A, a specific substrate of the rabbit cytochrome P-450 LM3c isozyme, midazolam metabolism was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. These data demonstrated that the rabbit cytochrome P-450 LM3c isozyme was predominantly involved in midazolam metabolism.     

Cytochrome P-450 isozyme selectivity in the oxidation of acetaminophen

Highly purified isozymes of cytochrome P-450 catalyzed the formation of 3-glutathion-S-ylacetaminophen (GS-APAP) and 3-hydroxyacetaminophen (3-OH-APAP) from acetaminophen (APAP). A major isozyme from untreated male rats (P-450UT-A) catalyzed the formation of ca. 2.0 nmol/nmol of P-450/10 min of 3-OH-APAP and approximately 7.2 nmol of GS-APAP/nmol of P-450/10 min. Antibodies specific for cytochrome P-450UT-A caused a decrease in the amounts of both metabolites produced in microsomal incubations. In contrast to these results, two other constitutive P-450 isozymes from rat liver, cytochrome P-450UT-F and the female specific isozyme P-450UT-I, produced less of both oxidative metabolites. Moreover, they produced significantly more of the catechol metabolite than the glutathione conjugate. These results are in accord with the observation that male rats are more susceptible to acetaminophen hepatotoxicity than female rats. Isozymes induced by phenobarbital also produced more of the catechol than the glutathione conjugate. Conversely, the major isozyme induced by beta-naphthoflavone, cytochrome P-450 beta NF-B, produced a significantly greater amount of GS-APAP than 3-OH-APAP. When comparison was made to a major phenobarbital inducible form (cytochrome P-450PB-B) a definite isozyme specificity for the formation of the two metabolites was seen. The catechol was formed at rates of 2.21 and 0.53 nmol/nmol of P-450/10 min by cytochromes P-450PB-B and P-450 beta NF-B, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Purification and characterization of a cytochrome P-450 isozyme catalyzing bunitrolol 4-hydroxylation in liver microsomes of male rats.

A cytochrome P-450 isozyme, P-450 bunitrolol (BTL), catalyzing bunitrolol 4-hydroxylation was partially purified from liver microsomes of adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by hydrophobic affinity chromatographic (omega-aminooctyl-Sepharose 4B) and high-performance liquid chromatographic (anion-exchange diethylaminoethyl-5PW) techniques. The specific content of the final preparation was 5.02 nmol/mg protein, which was 7.8-fold that of microsomes. It showed two protein bands of 49 and 32 kDa in sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. N-Terminal 20 amino acid sequence of the protein of a higher molecular mass (49 kDa) isolated by an electroblotting technique is 94% homologous with that of CYP2D2. In a reconstituted system including NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and an NADPH-generating system, the final preparation had the highest activity toward BTL and debrisoquine 4-hydroxylation among 12 isozymes of cytochrome P-450 examined. Kinetic parameters, KM and Vmax values, of P-450 BTL calculated for BTL 4-hydroxylation were 10.7 microM and 19.68 nmol/min/nmol P-450, respectively, whereas those values (mean +/- SE) of rat liver microsomes were 0.84 +/- 0.05 microM and 2.05 +/- 0.11 nmol/min/nmol P-450. When preincubated with rat liver microsomes, the antibody against the final P-450 BTL preparation suppressed bunitrolol and debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase activities dose-dependently and almost completely. These results suggest that cytochrome P-450 BTL and its immunochemically related P-450 isozyme(s) play a major role in debrisoquine 4-hydroxylation as well as in BTL 4-hydroxylation in rat liver microsomes.     

Effects of acetone administration on drug-metabolizing enzymes in mice: presence of a high-affinity diethylnitrosamine de-ethylase

Treatment of CD1 mice with acetone raised activities of hepatic microsomal p-nitrophenol hydroxylase, ethoxycoumarin de-ethylase, acetone hydroxylase and diethylnitrosamine de-ethylase (DENd) several-fold. P-450IIE1-linked acetone hydroxylase showed the highest inducibility. In microsomes from acetone-pretreated mice the cytochrome b5 and P-450 content was nearly doubled and their electrophoretic profile showed induction of a protein of Mr 53,000, probably P-450IIE1. Liver phase II enzymes were not affected by acetone treatment. Kinetic analyses of DENd were performed in control or acetone-induced microsomes and Km and Vmax were determined. Two distinctly apparent Km values (0.56 and 20.3 mM) were observed for DENd of control microsomes and at least 3 apparent Km values (0.05, 0.51, 8.4 mM) were observed in acetone-induced microsomes. Thus, acetone administration to mice induces a high-affinity form of DENd which can be important in vivo at low diethylnitrosamine (DEN) exposure as this enzyme functions when DEN concentration is below 0.1 mM.     

Human fetal and adult liver metabolism of ethylmorphine. Relation to immunodetected cytochrome P-450 PCN and interactions with important fetal corticosteroids

The N-demethylation of ethylmorphine was studied in liver microsomes from human fetuses and adult patients as well as from human fetal adrenals and kidneys. Unexpectedly the reaction was catalysed at the same rate in fetal (42.3-1277.4 pmol/mg/min in 11 individuals) and adult microsomes (414-1617.8 pmol/mg/min in two individuals), which also had similar values of the apparent Km (1.50, 1.72 mM respectively) and Vmax (1.33, 1.81 nmol/mg/min respectively) in studies of the enzyme kinetics. There was a close correlation (r = 0.96) between the semiquantitative immunoblotting assessment of cytochrome P-450 HL-p in fetal liver microsomes (with the use of a monoclonal antibody against pregnenolone-16-alpha-carbonitrile induced rat hepatic cytochrome P-450) and the catalytic activity. The fetal adrenal microsomal N-demethylation was only 11-30% of the hepatic activity when compared within three fetuses in which such a comparison was possible. No activity was measurable in the kidneys. Two drugs that are believed to be substrates of the cytochrome P-450 HLp were tested as inhibitors of the ethylmorphine N-demethylation in human fetal and adult liver microsomes and in rat liver microsomes. Midazolam was a potent inhibitor (100% at 0.4 mM) of the reaction in all specimens, whereas cyclosporin A inhibited the reaction clearly only in adult liver microsomes. Endogenous steroids of importance in the fetal circulation were also tested as inhibitors. Progesterone and dehydroepiandrosterone inhibited the reaction by 75-80% at a concentration of 0.4 mM, whereas pregnenolone and 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone were almost devoid of inhibitory potency. These results are of interest in the discussion about the physiological role of the human fetal cytochrome P-450 HLp which has an unprecedented relative abundance in the liver.     

Roles of human CYP2A6 and rat CYP2B1 in the oxidation of (+)-fenchol by liver microsomes

The metabolism of (+)-fenchol was investigated in vitro using liver microsomes of rats and humans and recombinant cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) enzymes in insect cells in which human/rat P450 and NADPH-P450 reductase cDNAs had been introduced. The biotransformation of (+)-fenchol was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). (+)-Fenchol was oxidized to fenchone by human liver microsomal P450 enzymes. The formation of metabolites was determined by the relative abundance of mass fragments and retention times on GC. Several lines of evidence suggested that CYP2A6 is a major enzyme involved in the oxidation of (+)-fenchol by human liver microsomes. (+)-Fenchol oxidation activities by liver microsomes were very significantly inhibited by (+)-menthofuran, a CYP2A6 inhibitor, and anti-CYP2A6. There was a good correlation between CYP2A6 contents and (+)-fenchol oxidation activities in liver microsomes of ten human samples. Kinetic analysis showed that the Vmax/Km values for (+)-fenchol catalysed by liver microsomes of human sample HG03 were 7.25 nM-1 min-1. Human recombinant CYP2A6-catalyzed (+)-fenchol oxidation with a Vmax value of 6.96 nmol min-1 nmol-1 P450 and apparent Km value of 0.09 mM. In contrast, rat CYP2A1 did not catalyse (+)-fenchol oxidation. In the rat (+)-fenchol was oxidized to fenchone, 6-exo-hydroxyfenchol and 10-hydroxyfenchol by liver microsomes of phenobarbital-treated rats. Recombinant rat CYP2B1 catalysed (+)-fenchol oxidation. Kinetic analysis showed that the Km values for the formation of fenchone, 6-exo- hydroxyfenchol and 10-hydroxyfenchol in rats treated with phenobarbital were 0.06, 0.03 and 0.03 mM, and Vmax values were 2.94, 6.1 and 13.8 nmol min-1 nmol-1 P450, respectively. Taken collectively, the results suggest that human CYP2A6 and rat CYP2B1 are the major enzymes involved in the metabolism of (+)-fenchol by liver microsomes and that there are species-related differences in the human and rat CYP2A enzymes.     

Metabolism and toxicity of trichloroethylene and S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine in freshly isolated human proximal tubular cells.

Trichloroethylene (Tri) caused modest cytotoxicity in freshly isolated human proximal tubular (hPT) cells, as assessed by significant decreases in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity after 1 h of exposure to 500 microM Tri. Oxidative metabolism of Tri by cytochrome P-450 to form chloral hydrate (CH) was only detectable in kidney microsomes from one patient out of four tested and was not detected in hPT cells. In contrast, GSH conjugation of Tri was detected in cells from every patient tested. The kinetics of Tri metabolism to its GSH conjugate S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)glutathione (DCVG) followed biphasic kinetics, with apparent Km and Vmax values of 0.51 and 24.9 mM and 0.10 and 1.0 nmol/min per mg protein, respectively. S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC), the cysteine conjugate metabolite of Tri that is considered the penultimate nephrotoxic species, caused both time- and concentration-dependent increases in LDH release in freshly isolated hPT cells. Preincubation of hPT cells with 0.1 mM aminooxyacetic acid did not protect hPT cells from DCVC-induced cellular injury, suggesting that another enzyme besides the cysteine conjugate beta-lyase may be important in DCVC bioactivation. This study is the first to measure the cytotoxicity and metabolism of Tri and DCVC in freshly isolated cells from the human kidney. These data indicate that the pathway involved in the cytotoxicity and metabolism of Tri in hPT cells is the GSH conjugation pathway and that the cytochrome P-450-dependent pathway has little direct role in renal Tri metabolism in humans.     

Characteristics of the microsomal N-hydroxylation of benzamidine to benzamidoxime

1. A simple and fast h.p.l.c. analysis of benzamidoxime formed by microsomal N-hydroxylation of benzamidine is presented which is well suited for the determination of the N-oxygenation activity of microsomal enzymes. 2. Optimal reaction conditions were determined. The apparent Km and Vmax values were, respectively, 1.61 mM and 0.38 nmol benzamidoxime/min per mg protein. 3. The effects of the inducers phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene and benzamidine itself on hepatic benzamidine metabolizing activity in rabbits were determined. 4. Neither superoxide anion nor hydrogen peroxide is directly involved in the N-hydroxylation reaction. 5. The direct involvement of cytochrome P-450 in the N-hydroxylation of benzamidine is supported by the observation that inhibitors of cytochrome P-450, in particular carbon monoxide, markedly decreased the rate of N-oxygenation.     

Metabolism of (-)-fenchone by CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 in human liver microsomes

The in vitro metabolism of (-)-fenchone was examined in human liver microsomes and recombinant enzymes. The biotransformation of (-)-fenchone was investigated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. (-)-Fenchone was found to be oxidized to 6-exo-hydroxyfenchone, 6-endo-hydroxyfenchone and 10-hydroxyfenchone by human liver microsomal P450 enzymes. The formation of metabolites was determined by the relative abundance of mass fragments and retention times on gas chromatography (GC). CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 were major enzymes involved in the hydroxylation of (-)-fenchone by human liver microsomes, based on the following lines of evidence. First, of 11 recombinant human P450 enzymes tested, CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 catalysed the oxidation of (-)-fenchone. Second, oxidation of (-)-fenchone was inhibited by thioTEPA and (+)-menthofuran. Finally, there was a good correlation between CYP2A6, CYP2B6 contents and (-)-fenchone hydroxylation activities in liver microsomes of 11 human samples. CYP2A6 may be more important than CYP2B6 in human liver microsomes. Kinetic analysis showed that the Vmax/Km values for (-)-fenchone 6-endo-, 6-exo- and 10-hydroxylation catalysed by liver microsomes of human sample HG-03 were 24.3, 44.0 and 1.3nM(-1)min(-1) , respectively. Human recombinant CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 catalysed (-)-fenchone 6-exo-hydroxylation with Vmax values of 2.7 and 12.9 nmol min(-1) nmol(-1) P450 and apparent Km values of 0.18 and 0.15 mM and (-)-fenchone 6-endo-hydroxylation with Vmax values of 1.26 and 5.33nmolmin(-l) nmol(-1) P450 with apparent Km values of 0.29 and 0.26mM. (-)-Fenchone 10-hydroxylation was catalysed by CYP2B6 with Km and Vmax values of 0.2 mM and 10.66 nmol min(-1) nmol(-1) P450, respectively.