Human CYP3A4-introduced HepG2 cells: In vitro screening system of new chemicals for the evaluation of CYP3A4-inhibiting activity

1. The aims were to attest whether HepG2-GS-3A4, a cell line into which the human CYP3A4 gene was introduced, can be used for a screening of chemicals that will inhibit CYP3A4 activity.

2. The capacity of the cells for metabolizing CYP3A4 substrates in vitro was evaluated. Also determined was the effect of CYP3A4 inhibitors and non-inhibitors on nifedipine hydroxylation. Western blot, immunohistochemostry and determination of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-reductase activity were performed.

3. HepG2-GS-3A4 selectively metabolized substrates of CYP3A4 (diazepam, nordiazepam, lidocaine, atorvastatin, and nifedipine) to a greater degree than control. The metabolites were easily detected in the culture medium. Values of V_max of HepG2-GS-3A4 were about 30- to 100-fold higher than those of the control, while values of K_m were comparable. Pre-incubation of cimetidine and ketoconazole significantly inhibited nifedipine hydroxylation, while addition of inhibitors specific to other isoforms of CYPs had no substantial effect. The HepG2-GS-3A4 expressed a higher amount of CYP3A4 protein and mRNA than control. Most NADPH reductase activity was detected in microsomal fractions.

4 In conclusion, HepG2-GS-3A4 sufficiently and selectively metabolize substrates of CYP3A4, and inhibitors of CYP3A4 reduced the metabolism. Because the metabolites were easily detected in the culture medium, this cell might be useful for the new and easy screening of new drugs for the evaluation of CYP3A4-inhibiting activity in vitro.     

中药止咳橘红颗粒对CYP3A4和CYP1A2抑制作用的研究

目的：在人体内研究止咳橘红对CYP3A4和CYP1A2的抑制作用，以预测止咳橘红与常用临床药物的相互作用。方法：咪哒唑仑和咖啡因分别作为CYP3A4和A2的探针药物，采取交叉设计，10名受试者在服用3d止咳橘红的前后均服用7.5mg咪哒唑仑和100mg咖啡因，服药后采血测定两者及代谢产物的代谢动力学参数，探讨针药物及代谢物的浓度用HPLC-MS法测定，Cmax,tmax从药时曲线中直接读出，AUC用梯形法计算，Ke用3P87程序进行拟合计算，分析服药前后CYP3A4和CYP1A2被抑制的情况，结果 服用止咳橘红后，咪哒唑仑的代谢受到了轻微的抑制，它的血药浓度，达峰时间和药时曲线下面积都有了升高趋势，但无显著差异。而咖啡因的代谢未受到影响。结论 止咳橘红对CYP3A4的活性有较弱的抑制作用，能够导致CYP3A4底物咪哒唑仑代谢的轻微抑制，而对CYP1A2的活性没有影响。止咳橘红长期使用或超过治疗剂量使用时是否会对CYP3A4产生显著性影响。尚需进一步的研究证明。     

The involvement of CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 in the metabolism of clozapine

Aims Clozapine (CLZ), an atypical neuroleptic with a high risk of causing agranulocytosis, is metabolized in the liver to desmethylclozapine (DCLZ) and clozapine N-oxide (CLZ-NO). This study investigated the involvement of different CYP isoforms in the formation of these two metabolites. Methods Human liver microsomal incubations, chemical inhibitors, specific antibodies, and different cytochrome P450 expression systems were used. Results K_m and V_max values determined in human liver microsomes were lower for the demethylation (61±21 μm, 159±42 pmol min⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹ mean±s.d.; n=4), than for the N-oxidation of CLZ (308±1.5 μm, 456±167pmol min⁻¹ mg protein⁻¹; n=3). Formation of DCLZ was inhibited by fluvoxamine (53±28% at 10 μm ), triacetyloleandomycin (33±15% at 10 μm ), and ketoconazole (51±28% at 2 μm ) and by antibodies against CYP1A2 and CYP3A4. CLZ-NO formation was inhibited by triacetyloleandomycin (34±16% at 10 μm ) and ketoconazole (51±13% at 2 μm ), and by antibodies against CYP3A4. There was a significant correlation between CYP3A content and DCLZ formation in microsomes from 15 human livers (r=0.67; P=0.04). A high but not significant correlation coefficient was found for CYP3A content and CLZ-NO formation (r=0.59; P=0.09). Using expression systems it was shown that CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 formed DCLZ and CLZ-NO. K_m and V_max values were lower in the CYP1A2 expression system compared to CYP3A4 for both metabolic reactions. Conclusions It is concluded that CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 are involved in the demethylation of CLZ and CYP3A4 in the N-oxidation of CLZ. Close monitoring of CLZ plasma levels is recommended in patients treated at the same time with other drugs affecting these two enzymes.     

The effect of organic solvents on enzyme kinetic parameters of human CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 in vitro

Abstract

Enzyme kinetic parameters provide essential quantitative information about characterization of individual steps in drug metabolism. Such enzymes are located in a (partially) aqueous environment. For in vitro measurements potential lipophilic substrates regularly require organic solvents to achieve concentrations sufficient for access of the drug to the binding site of the enzyme. However, solvents may interact with the enzymes. In this study, we investigated the effects of methanol, ethanol, acetonitrile and dimethyl sulfoxide (1% to 4%) on the assessment of k_m, V_max and Cl_int for the metabolism of midazolam via CYP3A4 to 1-hydroxymidazolam and the metabolism of caffeine to paraxanthine via CYP1A2 using expressed enzymes in vitro. The presence of acetonitrile proved the highest apparent V_max value for paraxanthine formation but the lowest values for 1-hydroxymidazolam formation. The k_m value for midazolam showed no systematic effects of organic solvents, while for caffeine k_m was up to 8-fold lower for solvent free samples compared to solvent containing samples. The present example suggests that effects of solvents may considerably influence enzyme kinetic parameters beyond a mere change in apparent activity. These effects illustrate a difference for individual enzyme--substrate pairs, solvents, and solvent concentrations. What remains is the determination to which extent these effects compromise in vitro–in vivo extrapolations, and which solvents are most appropriate.     

复方银杏叶胶囊对肝损伤大鼠CYP2E1、CYP3A4的影响

目的研究复方银杏叶胶囊(CGB)对酒精性肝损伤大鼠CYP2E1、CYP3A4活性的影响。方法正常组和酒精性肝损伤模型组均以CGB[(250 mg/(kg.d)]灌胃,分别在灌胃CGB前及灌胃1周后,灌胃探针药氯唑沙宗(50 mg/kg)及氨苯砜(20 mg/kg),于探针药灌后24 h内不同时间点采血,测定各探针药血药浓度。结果灌胃CGB前,模型组氯唑沙宗和氨苯砜的AUC0-24、Cmax均显著低于正常组(P<0.05或P<0.01)。灌胃CGB后,模型组氯唑沙宗和氨苯砜的AUC0-24、Cmax均较灌胃前显著升高(P<0.05或P<0.01);且氯唑沙宗的t1/2灌胃CGB后明显高于灌胃前(P<0.05)。结论 CGB能够明显抑制酒精性肝损伤大鼠CYP2E1、CYP3A4酶活性。     

Transport and Metabolic Characterization of Caco-2 Cells Expressing CYP3A4 and CYP3A4 Plus Oxidoreductase

Purpose. To further characterize CYP3A4-transfected Caco-2 cells with regard to morphological, transport, and metabolic properties, and to evaluate a different Caco-2 cell strain transfected with both CYP3A4 and oxidoreductase (OR). Methods. Transfected Caco-2 cells, Caco-2 TC7 cells, and wild-type Caco-2 cells grown onto Millicell were used. We determined the morphological characteristics of transfected cell monolayers using light and transmission electron microscope. We determined the transport and metabolic capabilities of the transfected cells, TC7 cells, and wild-type cells with a variety of drugs, nutrients, and marker compounds. Results. The transfected Caco-2 cells formed a tight monolayer with TEER values and mannitol transport similar to the untransfected parent cell strain (wild type). However, the transfected cells (grown onto Millicell) reached maturity approximately 33% faster than the wild-type cells. Permeabilities of propranolol, nifedipine, testosterone, linopirdine, mannitol, and cephalexin were similar in transfected and wild-type Caco-2 cells. On the other hand, the transfected cells of early passages were much more metabolically active, and metabolized standard CYP3A4 substrates (e.g., testosterone and nifedipine) as much as 100 times faster than untransfected cells. In addition, metabolism of standard substrates was inhibitable by ketoconazole and TAO. Using comparable data, the transfected cells metabolized testosterone the fastest, followed by linopirdine and nifedipine (approximate ratio: 10:6:2). The metabolites of standard substrates were generally preferably excreted to the apical membrane. Conclusions. The monolayers of newly transfected cells (CYP3A4 + OR) have a significantly increased level of CYP3A4 activities compared to untransfected cells. These cell monolayers also have desirable morphological and transport characteristics that are similar to untransfected cells.     

Pharmacokinetics of midazolam in CYP3A4- and CYP3A5-genotyped subjects

Objective We investigated whether differences in pharmacokinetics of midazolam, a CYP3A probe, could be demonstrated between subjects with different CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genotypes.Methods Plasma concentrations of midazolam, and of total (conjugated + unconjugated) 1OH-midazolam, and 4OH-midazolam were measured after the oral administration of 7.5 mg or of 75 µg of midazolam in 21 healthy subjects.Results CYP3A5*7, CYP3A4*1E, CYP3A4*2, CYP3A4*4, CYP3A4*5, CYP3A4*6, CYP3A4*8, CYP3A4*11, CYP3A4*12, CYP3A4*13, CYP3A4*17 and CYP3A4*18 alleles were not identified in the 21 subjects. CYP3A5*3, CYP3A5*6, CYP3A4*1B and CYP3A4*1F alleles were identified in 20, 1, 4 and 2 subjects, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed for the AUC_inf values between the different genotypes after the 75-µg or the 7.5-mg dose.Conclusion Presently, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genotyping methods do not sufficiently reflect the inter-individual variability of CYP3A activity.     

CYP3A5~*3和CYP3A4~*18B基因多态性对肾移植患者环孢素药代动力学的影响

目的回顾性研究肾脏移植后1mon,CYP3A5*3和CYP3A4*18B基因多态性对CsA药代动力学参数的影响。方法采用PCR-RFLP方法分析了63名肾脏移植患者CYP3A5*3和CYP3A4*18B基因型;荧光偏正免疫法用于检测肾移植患者静脉全血中的CsA浓度。结果在63名肾移植患者中,CYP3A5*3和CYP3A4*18B突变等位基因发生频率分别为0.770(95CI:0.767～0.773),0.235(95CI:0.235～0.241),而且这些等位基因表现出完全连锁不平衡。在移植术后1mon内,携带CYP3A4*1/*1野生型纯合子患者的C0以及剂量校正谷血浓度(C0/D)均明显高于携带CYP3A4*1/*18B杂合子或CYP3A4*18B/*18B突变型纯合子患者(P<0.05,Mann-WhitneyUtest);CYP3A5*1/*1基因型组的给药剂量明显高于CYP3A5*1/*3或CYP3A5*3/*3基因型组(P=0.004<0.01,Kruakal-Wallistest);CYP34*18B和CYP3A5*3联合考虑,对于CYP3A5表达组,同样发现C0、C0/D在CYP3A4*1/*1组C0以及C0/D均明显高于CYP3A4*1/*18B或CYP3A4*18B/*18B组(P<0.05,Mann-WhitneyUtest);而其他药动学参数在CYP3A5*3及CYP3A4*18B各组间相比差异则没有统计学意义。结论CYP3A5*3和(或)CYP3A4*18B基因多态性对肾移植后1monCsA药代动力学有一定影响,移植前CYP3A5*3基因型的分析仍需进一步研究。     

Endosulfan induces CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 by activating the pregnane X receptor

Endosulfan is an organochlorine pesticide commonly used in agriculture. Endosulfan has affects on vertebrate xenobiotic metabolism pathways that may be mediated, in part, by its ability to activate the pregnane X receptor (PXR) and/or the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) which can elevate expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. This study examined the dose-dependency and receptor specificity of CYP induction in vitro and in vivo. The HepG2 cell line was transiently transfected with CYP2B6- and CYP3A4-luciferase promoter reporter plasmids along with human PXR (hPXR) or hCAR expression vectors. In the presence of hPXR, endosulfan-alpha exposure caused significant induction of CYP2B6 (16-fold) and CYP3A4 (11-fold) promoter activities over control at 10 µM. The metabolite endosulfan sulfate also induced CYP2B6 (12-fold) and CYP3A4 (6-fold) promoter activities over control at 10 µM. In the presence of hCAR-3, endosulfan-alpha induced CYP2B6 (2-fold) promoter activity at 10 µM, but not at lower concentrations. These data indicate that endosulfan-alpha significantly activates hPXR strongly and hCAR weakly. Using western blot analysis of human hepatocytes, the lowest concentrations at which CYP2B6 and CYP3A4 protein levels were found to be significantly elevated by endosulfan-alpha were 1.0 µM and 10 µM, respectively. In mPXR-null/hPXR-transgenic mice, endosulfan-alpha exposure (2.5 mg/kg/day) caused a significant reduction of tribromoethanol-induced sleep times by approximately 50%, whereas no significant change in sleep times was observed in PXR-null mice. These data support the role of endosulfan-alpha as a strong activator of PXR and inducer of CYP2B6 and CYP3A4, which may impact metabolism of CYP2B6 or CYP3A4 substrates.     

多药耐药蛋白和CYP3A4介导的中草药-西药相互作用

据近年的流行病学报告，国内外越来越多的人终身服用各种中草药，包括各类疾病患者（如：癌症等）和健康人群。随着中草药与处方西药联合应用治疗疾病的日益增多，越来越多的人注意到这两者的同时使用可能引起的中草药-西药相互作用会影响到治疗药物的活性。目前已知P-糖蛋白（P-gp）和CYP3A4一起能构成许多口服吸收药物的高效屏障，然而50％以上的临床用药都会被CYP3A4代谢或被P-gp转运。本文综述了多药耐药蛋白和CYP3A4介导的中草药-西药相互作用，同时也讨论了中草药-西药相互作用的关键因素。     

CYP2C9、CYP2C19、CYP3A4基因多态性对磺脲类降糖药代谢的影响

磺脲类口服降糖药在人体内主要经过肝脏代谢。肝脏中的细胞色素氧化酶P450是一种重要的药物代谢酶系统,在人群中存在基因多态性,导致药物疗效和不良反应在个体间存在着较大的差异。本文将对CYP450中的几种重要的代谢酶亚型CYP2C9、CYP2C19、CYP3A4的基本结构、基因多态性、种族差异及其对磺脲类降糖药代谢的影响作一综述。     

Pioglitazone, an in vitro inhibitor of CYP2C8 and CYP3A4, does not increase the plasma concentrations of the CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 substrate repaglinide

Objective Pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione antidiabetic, inhibits cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8 and CYP3A4 enzymes in vitro. Repaglinide, a meglitinide analogue antidiabetic, is metabolised by CYP2C8 and CYP3A4. In patients with type 2 diabetes, the pioglitazone-repaglinide combination has acted synergistically on glycaemic parameters. Our aim was to determine whether pioglitazone increases the plasma concentrations of repaglinide. Methods In a randomized, 2-phase cross-over study, 12 healthy volunteers received 30 mg pioglitazone or placebo once daily for 5 days. On day 5, they ingested a single 0.25 mg dose of repaglinide 1 h after the last pretreatment dose. Plasma repaglinide and pioglitazone, and blood glucose concentrations were measured for 12 h. Results During the pioglitazone phase, the mean peak plasma repaglinide concentration (C_max) and the total area under the concentration-time curve [AUC(0-∞)] of repaglinide were 100% (range 53–157%, P=0.99) and 90% (range 63–120%, P=0.22), respectively, of those during the placebo phase. Also the half-life of repaglinide was unaffected, but the median peak time of repaglinide was shortened from 40 min to 20 min by pioglitazone (P=0.014). The short-term pioglitazone administration did not modify the blood glucose-lowering effect of a single dose of repaglinide. Conclusions Pioglitazone does not increase the plasma concentrations of repaglinide, indicating that the inhibitory effect of pioglitazone on CYP2C8 and CYP3A4 is very weak in vivo, probably due to its extensive plasma protein binding. The synergistic effect of repaglinide and pioglitazone on the glycaemic parameters, seen in patients with type 2 diabetes during their long-term use, is unlikely to be caused by inhibition of repaglinide metabolism by pioglitazone.     

Comparative analysis of substrate and inhibitor interactions with CYP3A4 and CYP3A5

To evaluate the role that cytochrome (CYP) 3A5 plays in hepatic drug metabolism, the substrate selectivity and inhibitory potential of over 60 compounds towards CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 were assessed using Escherichia coli recombinant cell lines. CYP3A4-mediated metabolism predominated for many of the compounds studied. However, a number of drugs gave similar CL_int estimates using CYP3A5 compared with CYP3A4 including midazolam (CL_int?=?3.4 versus 3.3?µl?min^–1?pmol^–1). Significant CYP3A5-mediated metabolism was also observed for several drugs including mifepristone (CL_int?=?10.3 versus 2.4?µl?min^–1?pmol^–1), and ritonavir (CL_int?=?0.76 versus 0.47?µl?min^–1?pmol^–1). The majority of compounds studied showed a greater inhibitory potential (IC₅₀) towards CYP3A4 compared with CYP3A5 (eightfold lower on average). A greater degree of time-dependent inhibition was also observed with CYP3A4 compared with CYP3A5. The range of compounds investigated in the present study extends significantly previous work and suggests that CYP3A5 may have a significant role in drug metabolism particularly in populations expressing high levels of CYP3A5 and/or on co-medications known to inhibit CYP3A4.     

Tamoxifen cytotoxicity in hepatoblastoma cells stably transfected with human CYP3A4

Tamoxifen can exert its effects through the competitive inhibition of estrogen receptors or other mechanisms. HepG2 cells lacking estrogen receptors and engineered to overexpress CYP3A4, the most important CYP to metabolize the drug, appear to be a good model to study the effects of tamoxifen metabolites. Tamoxifen altered cell cycle of transduced HepG2 cells, decreased G0/G1 cell numbers, diminished proliferation index and induced cell death mostly in cells overexpressing CYP3A4 but was without significant effect on cytotoxicity or proliferation of cells engineered to overexpress CYP2E1 or on empty vector transfected cells. Tamoxifen did not change MDR1 levels irrespectively on CYP450s expression, but inhibited by approximately 50% p-gp functions in all cell types. Drug treatment significantly increased dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase activity and sulfotransferase inhibition significantly decreased tamoxifen cytotoxicity. Our results support the view that metabolic activation of tamoxifen in liver cells may proceed via CYP450-mediated metabolism and subsequent sulfotransferase-mediated activation and point to the role of CYP3A4 and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase in adverse tamoxifen effects.     

慢性间断性低氧对大鼠肝脏CYP3A_2和CYP2E_1的影响研究

目的研究慢性间断性低氧对大鼠肝脏CYP3A2和CYP2E1的影响。方法将大鼠随机分为对照组、低氧3d组、低氧7d组、低氧14d组、低氧28d组,低氧处理结束24h后,常规腹腔注射麻醉,摘取眼球血液2ml制备血清,并测定丙氨酸氨基转移酶(ALT)、天门冬酸氨基转移酶(AST)、红霉素N-脱甲基酶(ERD)、苯胺羟化酶(ANH)活性;取新鲜肝组织以制备微粒体和提取核糖核酸(RNA),并以RT-PCR进行基因片段扩增以检测大鼠肝脏细胞色素CYP3A2、CYP2E1的mRNA表达水平。结果慢性间断性低氧对血清ALT、AST活性无明显影响;低氧7d后,大鼠肝脏ERD、ANH活性明显升高,28d时诱导率分别为155.5%、42.2%;同时,CYP3A2、CYP2E1mRNA的表达水平也分别增加了220.5%、102.8%。结论慢性间断性低氧能显著增加大鼠肝脏ERD、ANH活性,其机制可能与其在转录水平上提高肝脏CYP3A2和CYP2E1的基因表达水平有关。     

银杏叶提取物及其黄酮类单体对ChangLiver细胞中CYP3A4和CYP2C9的影响

目的研究银杏叶提取物（GBE）及其黄酮类单体槲皮素和山柰酚对Chang Liver细胞CYP3A4、CYP2C9表达的影响。方法 CCK-8法检测GBE、槲皮素、山柰酚对Chang Liver细胞增殖的抑制作用;RT-PCR方法检测其不同浓度对Chang Liver细胞中CYP3A4 mRNA、CYP2C9 mRNA表达的影响;Western blot方法测定CYP3A4、CYP2C9蛋白表达的相对含量。结果 GBE呈浓度依赖性地诱导CYP3A4 mRNA和蛋白的表达,对CYP2C9mRNA和蛋白的表达没有显著作用;槲皮素对CYP3A4 mRNA和蛋白的表达有较明显的诱导作用,呈浓度依赖性地抑制CYP2C9 mRNA和蛋白的表达;山柰酚呈浓度依赖性地抑制细胞中CYP3A4 mRNA和蛋白的表达,对CYP2C9 mRNA和蛋白的表达没有显著影响。结论 GBE、槲皮素、山柰酚对Chang Liver细胞中CYP3A4、CYP2C9的表达具有不同的影响作用,这些结果为GBE与其他药物相互作用提供理论基础,提高联合用药的有效性及安全性,为黄酮类单体新药开发提供参考信息和理论依据。     

大鼠肝微粒体法测定3种中药对CYP3A4 亚型的作用

［摘要］目的建立肝微粒体测定法,观察中药制剂对CYP3A4 亚型的作用。方法取大鼠肝脏,制备肝微粒体,分别优化肝微粒体体外温孵系统的反应时间、蛋白浓度及探针药物咪达唑仑的浓度;高效液相色谱 质谱联用（HPLC MS MS）法测定大鼠肝微粒体中咪达唑仑的浓度,计算咪达唑仑的活性;在肝微粒体体外温孵系统中分别加入不同浓度的血脂康胶囊、通心络胶囊、枣仁安神胶囊内容物及对照药物酮康唑,测定其半数抑制浓度（IC50）及抑制常数（Ki）。结果肝微粒体体外温孵系统的反应条件为0.4 g&;#8226;L 1大鼠肝微粒体,4 μmol&;#8226;L 1咪达唑仑溶液,37 ℃温育5 min。酮康唑、血脂康胶囊、通心络胶囊的IC50分别为（3.4±0.2）,（25.1±0.3）,（56.2±0.3） mg&;#8226;L 1,枣仁安神胶囊的IC50﹥150 mg&;#8226;L 1;酮康唑、血脂康胶囊、通心络胶囊的Ki分别为（1.7±0.1）,（25.0±0.2）,（50.0±0.3） mg&;#8226;L 1。结论建立了中药制剂对CYP3A4亚型作用的大鼠肝微粒体研究模型。血脂康胶囊和通心络胶囊对大鼠CYP3A4亚型有较弱的抑制作用。     

The potent mechanism-based inactivation of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 with fusidic acid in in vivo bioaccumulation

1.?The accumulation of fusidic acid (FA) after multiple doses of FA has been reported on in previous studies but the related mechanisms have not been clarified fully. In the present study, we explain the mechanisms related to the mechanism-based inactivation of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4.

2.?The irreversible inhibitory effects of FA on CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 were examined via a series of experiments, including: (a) time-, concentration- and NADPH-dependent inactivation, (b) substrate protection in enzyme inactivation and (c) partition ratio with recombinant human CYP enzymes. Metoprolol α-hydroxylation and midazolam 1′-hydroxylation were used as marker reactions for CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 activities, and HPLC-MS/MS measurement was also utilised.

3.?FA caused to the time- and concentration-dependent inactivation of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4. About 55.8% of the activity of CYP2D6 and 75.8% of the activity of CYP3A4 were suppressed after incubation with 10?μM FA for 15?min. K_I and k_inact were found to be 2.87?μM and 0.033?min^?1, respectively, for CYP2D6, while they were 1.95?μM and 0.029?min^?1, respectively, for CYP3A4. Inhibition of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 activity was found to require the presence of NADPH. Substrates of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 showed that the enzymes were protected against the inactivation induced by FA. The estimated partition ratio for the inactivation was 7 for CYP2D6 and 12 for CYP3A4.

4.?FA is a potent mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP2D6 and CYP3A4, which may explain the accumulation of FA in vivo.     

Effect of St John's wort on the activities of CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2D6, N-acetyltransferase 2, and xanthine oxidase in healthy males and females

AIMS: To investigate the influence of St. John's wort (SJW) on CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2D6, N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), and xanthine oxidase (XO) activities in healthy males and females. METHODS: Eight males and eight females were treated with SJW extract (3 x 300 mg day(-1)) for 14 days. Assessment of CYP1A2, NAT2, XO, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 activities was performed before and at the end of the study period, using caffeine, dextromethorphan, and endogenous cortisol as probes. The corresponding metabolic ratios measured were 17MX/137MX in saliva and (AFMU+1MX+1MU)/17MU in urine for CYP1A2, AFMU/1MX for NAT2, 1MU/1MX for XO, DOR/DMO for CYP2D6, 3MM/DMO and 6OHC/C for CYP3A4, all determined in urine. RESULTS: The ratios of the treatment to baseline values for CYP3A4 using cortisol as the probe were 1.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 1.9] for males, and 1.9 (1.1, 3.0) for females. The corresponding ratios using dextromethorphan as the probe for CYP2D6 were 0.9 (95% CI 0.5, 2.1) for males and 1.9 (1.3, 3.2) for females. For CYP1A2, a significant increase in the metabolic ratios was found only for females (ratio of values 1.2; 95% CI 1.1, 1.4). No influence of SJW on CYP2D6, NAT2, and XO activities was observed. CONCLUSIONS: An induction of CYP3A4 by SJW was confirmed. CYP1A2 appears to be induced by SJW only in females. The activities of CYP2D6, NAT2, and XO were not affected by SJW.     

Poor Correlation Between Intestinal and Hepatic Metabolic Rates of CYP3A4 Substrates in Rats

Purpose. To clarify the contribution of the intestinal first-pass metabolism to the drug bioavailability, the correlation between the intestinal and hepatic metabolism of human CYP3A4 substrates was investigated in rats. Methods. The metabolic rates of four compounds (lidocaine, quinidine, nifedidpine, and rifabutin) were examined with excised intestinal tissues and liver microsomes. The intestinal and hepatic expression of CYP3A1/23 and CYP3A2 was evaluated by Western blot analysis. Results. Rifabutin was metabolized fastest, and lidocaine was metabolized slowest in excised intestinal tissues. By contrast, lidocaine was metabolized fastest and rifabutin was the slowest in liver microsomes. The hepatic metabolism of lidocaine was inhibited by a CYP2D6 substrate desipramine, not by a CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole. In addition, members of the CYP3A subfamily expressed in the intestine were different from those expressed in the liver. Conclusions. Poor correlation between the intestinal and hepatic metabolism of human CYP3A4 substrates in rats may be caused by the contribution of the CYP2D subfamily to the drug metabolisms in the liver and also by the unique expression of the CYP3A subfamily in the intestine.