Predictive value of animal models for human cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated metabolism: a comparative study in vitro

One major challenge in drug development is defining of the optimal animal species to serve as a model of metabolism in man. The study compared the hepatic drug metabolism characteristics of humans and six widely used experimental animal species. Classical in vitro model enzyme assays with known human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme selectivity were employed and optimized to target human hepatic CYP forms. The profile of CYP activities best resembling the human was seen in mouse followed by monkey, minipig, and dog liver microsomes, with rats displaying the most divergent. The widest interindividual variability was found in CYP3A-mediated midazolam -hydroxylase, and omeprazole sulphoxidase activities in human and monkey liver microsomes. These data demonstrate that if hepatic xenobiotic-metabolizing characteristics were to be the sole reason for the selection of animal species for toxicity studies, then the rat might not be the most appropriate model to mimic human CYP activity patterns.     

The different metabolism of morusin in various species and its potent inhibition against UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and cytochrome p450 (CYP450) enzymes

1.?The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of morusin on Glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms and cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s). We also investigated the metabolism of morusin in human, rat, dog, monkey, and minipig liver microsomes.

2.?100?μM of morusin exhibited strong inhibition on all UGTs and CYP450s. The half inhibition concentration (IC₅₀) values for CYP3A4, CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2E1, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, and UGT1A8 were 2.13, 1.27, 3.18, 9.28, 4.23, 0.98, and 3.00?μM, and the inhibition kinetic parameters (K_i) were 1.34, 1.16, 2.98, 6.23, 4.09, 0.62, and 2.11?μM, respectively.

3.?Metabolism of morusin exhibited significant species differences. The quantities of M₁ from minipig, monkey, dog, and rat were 7.8, 11.9, 2.0, and 6.3-fold of human levels. The K_m values in HLMs, RLMs, MLMs, DLMs, and PLMs were 7.84, 22.77, 14.32, 9.13, and 22.83?μM, and V_max for these species were 0.09, 1.23, 1.43, 0.15, and 0.75?nmol/min/mg, respectively. CL_int (intrinsic clearance) values (V_max/K_m) for morusin obeyed the following order: monkey?>?rat?>?minipig?>?dog?>?human. CL_H (hepatic clearance) values for humans, dogs, and rats were calculated to be 8.28, 17.38, and 35.12?mL/min/kg body weight, respectively.

4.?This study provided vital information to understand the inhibitory potential and metabolic behavior of morusin among various species.     

Endotoxin depresses hepatic cytochrome P450-mediated drug metabolism in women

Aims In men, the inflammatory response to intravenous endotoxin depresses apparent oral clearances of antipyrine, hexobarbitone, and theophylline. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there might be gender differences in the regulation of hepatic cytochromes P450.
Methods Experiments were carried out in seven healthy women volunteers (ages 19–51, median 22 years). Each woman received a cocktail of the three drugs on two occassions, once after a saline injection and again after endotoxin.
Results Endotoxin injections, but not saline, caused the expected physiologic responses of inflammation including fever and increases in circulating tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and C-reactive protein. When compared with the saline control studies, endotoxin significantly decreased clearances of all probes: antipyrine, 31% (95%CI 21%–41%); hexobarbitone, 20% (95%CI 10–31%); and theophylline, 20% (95%CI 10%–30%). The decreases were comparable with those found in the men previously studied (35%, 27%, and 22%, respectively).
Conclusions These data show that endotoxin-induced inflammation decreases hepatic cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of selected probe drugs in women as it does in men.     

Effects of non-ionic surfactants on cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism in vitro

The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of commonly used non-ionic surfactants on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4-mediated metabolism of testosterone and the CYP2C9-mediated metabolism of diclofenac. Polysorbate 80 (PS 80), D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol (1000) succinate (TPGS), sucrose laurate, Cremophor EL (CR EL), and Cremophor RH 40 (Cr RH 40) were incubated with human liver microsomes at different concentrations to determine the IC₅₀ of the reduced metabolism of the model substrates. Inhibitory potential in case of all tested compounds could be observed already below their critical micelle concentrations (CMC) and in concentration-dependant manner. The IC₅₀ of the CYP 3A4-mediated 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone has been determined as 0.40 mM (PS 80), 0.15 mM (TPGS), 0.20 mM (sucrose laurate), 0.60 mM (Cr EL), and 0.80 mM (Cr RH 40). The IC₅₀ concerning the CYP 2C9-mediated 4-hydroxylation of diclofenac has been calculated to be 0.04 mM (PS 80), 0.30 mM (TPGS), 0.07 mM (sucrose laurate), 0.03 mM (Cr EL), and 0.03 mM (Cr RH 40). The results indicate that these non-ionic surfactants are in vitro inhibitors of CYP-mediated metabolism and might have the potential to modify the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs, which are substrates of CYP, and thereby enhance their bioavailability.     

Inhibitory effects of gypenosides on seven human cytochrome P450 enzymes in vitro

Among the various possible causes for drug interactions, pharmacokinetic factors such as inhibition of drug-metabolizing enzymes, especially cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, are regarded as the most frequent and clinically important. Gypenosides is widely used as functional food and over-the-counter drug in East Asia. In this study, the in vitro inhibitory effects of gypenosides on the major human CYP enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4) activities in human liver microsomes were examined using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Gypenosides showed the strongest inhibition of CYP2D6, followed by CYP2C8, CYP3A4 and CYP2C9. The IC₅₀ values were 1.61 μg/mL, 20.06 μg/mL, 34.76 μg/mL (CYP3A4/midazolam), 46.73 μg/mL (CYP3A4/testosterone), and 54.52 μg/mL, respectively. Gypenosides exhibited competitive inhibition of CYP2D6 (Ki = 1.18). In conclusion, Gypenosides might cause herb–drug interactions via inhibition of CYP2D6. An in vivo study is needed to examine this further.     

甘草次酸在人细胞色素CYP450中体外代谢研究(英)

甘草根是中医临床常用解毒草药, 其活性成分甘草次酸主要是通过肝脏代谢。本文研究了人肝微粒体以及人源性CYP450s对甘草次酸的体外代谢影响, 以及甘草次酸对几种CYP450酶活性的影响。实验结果表明, 甘草次酸体外主要代谢酶为CYP3A4。体外药代动力学参数K_m, V_max和CL_int分别为18.6 μmol·L⁻¹, 4.4 nmol·mg⁻¹(protein)·min⁻¹和0.237 mL·mg⁻¹(protein)·min⁻¹。体外抑制试验显示, 50 μmol·L⁻¹甘草次酸可以抑制CYP2C19、CYP2C9、CYP3A4酶的活性, 其抑制率可高达50%以上。     

细胞色素P450与药物代谢的研究现状

细胞色素P450(CYP)在众多中西药物代谢中起着非常重要的作用。本文综述了与药物代谢相关的CYP亚型、CYP与药物相互作用的关系及中药对CYP的影响，旨在合理解释和预测临床上药物间相互作用和药物不良反应等。同时选择适当的药物作为探针来评价CYP的活性，为实现临床个体化给药提供科学依据。     

CYP450氧化还原酶遗传多态性对CYP酶影响的研究进展

细胞色素P450氧化还原酶(Cytochrome P450 0xidoreductase,POR)是将电子从NADPH转运至所有肝微粒体的细胞色素P450氧化酶(Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases,CYP)中的唯一供体.药物、类固醇激素等物质的代谢和转化需要CYP参与.POR基因具有遗传多态性,遗传变异可以改变CYP活性,引起P450氧化还原酶缺陷(P450 0xidoreductase deficiency,PORD)、临床药物代谢和反应差异.本文将从POR的结构功能、基因突变引起的疾病及其对酶活性影响三个方面进行论述,总结近年来POR遗传多态性对CYP酶影响的最新研究进展.     

CYP450氧化还原酶的药物基因组学研究进展

细胞色素P450氧化酶(cytochrome P450enzymes,CYP)的氧化还原反应是人体内重要的生理生化反应,参与许多内、外源化合物的代谢和激素类化合物的合成.CYP450氧化还原酶(cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase,POR)是所有肝微粒体内CYP酶的唯一电子供体.POR不仅可作为电子供体参与由CYP介导的药物代谢,而且可通过1-电子还原反应直接介导一些抗肿瘤前体药物的代谢和转化.可见,POR在药物代谢过程中发挥着极其重要的作用.众多研究证实,编码人POR的基因具有遗传多态性,对临床药物代谢乃至疗效有着显著影响,具有重要的临床意义.下面对近年来POR的药物基因组学最新研究进展作一综述.     

Biotransformation of chlorpyrifos and diazinon by human liver microsomes and recombinant human cytochrome P450s (CYP)

1. The cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated biotransformation of the organophosphorothioate insecticides chlorpyrifos and diazinon was investigated. Rates of desulphuration to the active oxon metabolite (chlorpyrifos-oxon and diazinon-oxon) and dearylation to non-toxic hydrolysis products were determined in human liver microsome preparations from five individual donors and in recombinant CYP enzymes.

2. Chlorpyrifos and diazinon underwent desulphuration in human liver microsome with mean K_m = 30 and 45 μM and V_max = 353 and 766 pmol min^?1 mg^?1, respectively. Dearylation of these compounds by human liver microsome proceeded with K_m = 12 and 28 μM and V_max = 653 and 1186?pmol min^?1 mg^?1, respectively. The apparent intrinsic clearance (V_max/K_m) of dearylation was 4.5- and 2.5-fold greater than desulphuration for chlorpyrifos and diazinon, respectively.

3. Recombinant human CYP2B6 possessed the highest desulphuration activity for chlorpyrifos, whereas CYP2C19 had the highest dearylation activity. In contrast, both desulphuration and dearylation of diazinon were catalysed at similar rates, in the rank order CYP2C19 > CYP1A2 > CYP2B6 > CYP3A4.

4. Both organophosphorothioates were more readily detoxified (dearylation) than bioactivated (desulphuration) in all human liver microsome preparations. However, the role of individual CYP enzymes in these two biotransformation pathways varied according to the structure of the organophosphorothioate, which was reflected in different activation/detoxification ratios for chlorpyrifos and diazinon. Variability in activity of individual CYP enzymes may influence interindividual sensitivity to the toxic effects of chlorpyrifos and diazinon.     

细胞色素P450的基因多态性与药物代谢

细胞色素P450（cytochrome P450，CYP）是重要的药物代谢酶，参与催化多种内源和外源化合物，特别是多种临床药物的生物转化。CYP存在广泛的基因多态性和表型多态性，使其对于各种化合物的代谢存在统计学个体差异。核受体是配体依赖性转录因子超家族，与药物代谢过程中的基因表达调控密切相关，被外源物质活化后诱导或抑制CYP基因的表达。现综述CYP与药物代谢、CYP的基因多态性、CYP表达的诱导机制、核受体及其配体诱导CYP表达及近年研究CYP450的各种实验方法。     

Cytochrome P450s and other enzymes in drug metabolism and toxicity

The cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are the major catalysts involved in the metabolism of drugs. Bioavailability and toxicity are 2 of the most common barriers in drug development today, and P450 and the conjugation enzymes can influence these effects. The toxicity of drugs can be considered in 5 contexts: on-target toxicity, hypersensitivity and immunological reactions, off-target pharmacology, bioactivation to reactive intermediates, and idiosyncratic drug reactions. The chemistry of bioactivation is reasonably well understood, but the mechanisms underlying biological responses are not. In the article we consider what fraction of drug toxicity actually involves metabolism, and we examine how species and human interindividual variations affect pharmacokinetics and toxicity.     

Elucidation of individual cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in the metabolism of clozapine

The atypical antipsychotic clozapine has been reported to be metabolised mainly to its N-oxide and N-demethylated products. In the present study, individual recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) enzymes were used to elucidate which enzymes are responsible for these metabolic con-versions. In vitro metabolism of clozapine was investigated using human CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2C8, CYP2EI, CYP2C9-arg₁₄₄, CYP2C9-cys₁₄₄, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and FMO3 supplemented with an NADPH generating system. Clozapine and its N-oxidation and N-demethylation metabolites were determined by an HPLC method with a Hypersil CN column and a UV detector. Of the enzymes investigated, CYP1A2, CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C8, CYP2C19 and, to a lesser extent, CYP2C9-cys, CYP2C9-arg and CYP3A5 were apparently involved in N-demethylation, while CYP1A2, CYP3A4, FMO3 and, to a lesser extent, CYP2C8, CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 were found to catalyse the formation of clozapine N-oxide. A bank of 16 human liver microsome preparations was investigated for ability to catalyze the production of clozapine N-oxide and N-desmethylclozapine. Attempts were made to correlate the rates of formation of these metabolites of clozapine to previously determined catalytic activities of CYP1A2, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4. At a clozapine concentration of 20 μM, the rate of formation of clozapine N-oxide showed significant correlations with activities of CYP3A4 (P<0.01) and CYP1A2 (P<0.05). The formation of N-desmethylclozapine exhibited significant correlations with CYP1A2 (P<0.01) and CYP3A4 (P<0.01). Similar correlations were observed when the clozapine concentration was increased to 300 μM except that the formation of clozapine N-oxide no longer correlated with CYP1A2 activity. It can be seen from these results that although some recombinant enzymes individually are capable of metabolising clozapine, the activities of several of these enzymes did not correlate with clozapine metabolism when mixtures of the enzymes are used. By combining the results of the current study and those reported in the literature, it is proposed that CYP3A4 and FMO3 are primarily responsible for the production of clozapine N-oxide, and CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 are primarily responsible for the formation of N-desmethylclozapine. The present study demonstrates the importance of the use of multiple techniques for the elucidation of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of certain drugs. Received: 2 December 1997 / Accepted: 15 June 1998     

In vitro inhibition of human liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes by rose bengal: system-dependent effects on inhibitory potential

Abstract

1. Rose bengal (4,5,6,7-tetrachloro-2′,4′,5′,7′-tetraiodofluorescein) is being developed for the treatment of cutaneous melanoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. Interestingly, rose bengal can generate singlet oxygen species upon exposure to light.

2. We evaluated rose bengal as an in vitro inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (CYP) or UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes in both human liver microsomes (HLM) and cryopreserved human hepatocytes (CHHs) under both yellow light and dark conditions.

3. Rose bengal directly inhibited CYP3A4/5 and UGT1A6 in HLM under yellow light with inhibitor concentration that causes 50% inhibition (IC₅₀) values of 0.072 and 0.035?μM, respectively; whereas much less inhibition was observed in the dark with the IC₅₀ values increasing 43- and 120-fold, respectively. To determine if a more physiologically-relevant test system could be protected from such an effect, rose bengal was evaluated as an inhibitor of CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4/5 and UGT enzymes in CHH. All IC₅₀ values were similar (64?±?8?μM) and little to no effect of light on inhibitory potential was observed.

4. Given the IC₅₀ values in CHH increased an order of magnitude compared to HLM and the atypical pharmacokinetics of the drug, the risk of rose bengal to cause clinically relevant drug–drug interactions is likely low, particularly when administered to cancer patients on an intermittent schedule.     

Terfenadine metabolism of human cytochrome P450 2J2 containing genetic variations (G312R,P351L and P115L)

The human cytochrome P450 2J2 is involved in several metabolic reactions, including the oxidation of important therapeutics and epoxidation of endogenous arachidonic acid. At least ten genetic variations of P450 2J2 have been identified, but their effects on enzymatic activity have not been clearly characterized. Here, we evaluated the functional effects of three genetic variations of P450 2J2 (G312R, P351L, and P115L). Recombinant enzymes of wild-type and three variant P450 2J2 were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. P450 expression levels in the wild-type and two variants (P351L and P115L) were 142–231 nmol per liter culture, while the G312R variant showed no holoenzyme peak in the CO-binding spectra. Substrate binding titrations to terfenadine showed that the wild-type and two variants displayed K_d values of 0.90–2.2 μM, indicating tight substrate binding affinities. Steady-state kinetic analysis for t-butyl methyl hydroxylation of terfenadine indicated that two variant enzymes had similar k_cat and K_m values to wild-type P450 2J2. The locations of mutations in three-dimensional structural models indicated that the G312R is located in the I-helix region near the formal active site in P450 2J2 and its amino acid change affected the structural stability of the P450 heme environment.     

Investigations on the human hepatic cytochrome P450 isozymes involved in the metabolism of 3,4-methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA) and benzodioxolyl-butanamine (BDB) enantiomers

3,4-Methylenedioxy-amphetamine (MDA) and benzodioxolyl-butanamine (BDB) are chiral designer drugs distributed on the illicit drug market and they are also N-dealkyl metabolites of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, Ecstasy, Adam), 3,4-methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA, Eve), and N-methyl-benzodioxolyl-butanamine (MBDB, Eden), respectively. MDA and BDB are mainly metabolized via demethylenation to the corresponding catecholamines. The aim of the present work was to elucidate the contribution of the relevant human P450s in the demethylenation of the MDA and BDB enantiomers. They were incubated using heterologously expressed human P450s and the corresponding metabolites dihydroxyamphetamine and 1,2-dihydroxy-4-[2-amino-butyl]benzene were determined. Highest contributions to the demethylenation as calculated from the enzyme kinetic data were obtained for CYP2D6 (MDA and BDB) and additionally CYP3A4 in the case of BDB at substrate concentrations corresponding to plasma concentrations of recreational users. A preferred transformation of the S-enantiomer could be observed for the CYP2D6- and CYP3A4-catalyzed reactions.     

Cytochrome P450 reductase dependent inhibition of cytochrome P450 2B1 activity: Implications for gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy

Cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes are often used in suicide gene cancer therapy strategies to convert an inactive prodrug into its therapeutic active metabolites. However, P450 activity is dependent on electrons supplied by cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR). Since endogenous CPR activity may not be sufficient for optimal P450 activity, the overexpression of additional CPR has been considered to be a valuable approach in gene directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). We have analysed a set of cell lines for the effects of CPR on cytochrome P450 isoform 2B1 (CYP2B1) activity. CPR transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cells showed both strong CPR expression in Western blot analysis and 30-fold higher activity in cytochrome c assays as compared to parental HEK293 cells. In contrast, resorufin and 4-hydroxy-ifosfamide assays revealed that CYP2B1 activity was up to 10-fold reduced in CPR/CYP2B1 cotransfected HEK293 cells as compared to cells transfected with the CYP2B1 expression plasmid alone. Determination of ifosfamide-mediated effects on cell viability allowed independent confirmation of the reduction in CYP2B1 activity upon CPR coexpression. Inhibition of CYP2B1 activity by CPR was also observed in CYP2B1/CPR transfected or infected pancreatic tumour cell lines Panc-1 and Pan02, the human breast tumour cell line T47D and the murine embryo fibroblast cell line NIH3T3. A CPR mediated increase in CYP2B1 activity was only observed in the human breast tumour cell line Hs578T. Thus, our data reveal an effect of CPR on CYP2B1 activity dependent on the cell type used and therefore demand a careful evaluation of the therapeutic benefit of combining cytochrome P450 and CPR in respective in vivo models in each individual target tissue to be treated.     

Alterations in cytochrome P450-derived arachidonic acid metabolism during pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy

Cardiac hypertrophy is a major risk factor for many serious heart diseases. Recent data demonstrated the role of cytochrome P450 (CYP)-derived arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites in cardiovascular pathophysiology. In the current study our aim was to determine the aberrations in CYP-mediated AA metabolism in the heart during cardiac hypertrophy. Pressure overload cardiac hypertrophy was induced in Sprague Dawley rats using the descending aortic constriction procedure. Five weeks post-surgery, the cardiac levels of AA metabolites were determined in hypertrophied and normal hearts. In addition, the formation rate of AA metabolites, as well as, CYP expression in cardiac microsomal fraction was also determined. AA metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy, whereas, the expression of CYPs was determined by Western blot analysis. Non-parametric analysis was performed to examine the association between metabolites formation and CYP expressions. Our results showed that 5,6-, 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), and 5-, 12-, 15-, and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) levels were increased, whereas, 19-HETE formation was decreased in hypertrophied hearts. The increase in EETs was linked to CYP2B2. On the other hand, CYP1B1 and CYP2J3 were involved in mid-chain HETE metabolism, whereas, CYP4A2/3 inhibition was involved in the decrease in 19-HETE formation in hypertrophied hearts. In conclusion, CYP1B1 played cardiotoxic role, whereas, CYP2B2, CYP2J3 and CYP4A2/3 played cardioprotective roles during pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. These CYP can be valid targets for the development of drugs to treat and prevent cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.