Metabolic inactivation of five glycidyl ethers in lung and liver of humans, rats and mice in vitro

1. Some glycidyl ethers (GE) have been shown to be direct mutagens in short-term in vitro tests and consequently GE are considered to be potentially mutagenic in vivo. However, GE may be metabolically inactivated in the body by two different enzymatic routes: conjugation of the epoxide moiety with the endogenous tripeptide glutathione (GSH) catalysed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) or hydrolysis of the epoxide moiety catalysed by epoxide hydrolase (EH). 2. The metabolic inactivation of five different GE, the diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A (BADGE), 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbiphenyl (Epikote YX4000) and 1,6-hexanediol (HDDGE) and the GE of 1-dodecanol (C12GE) and o-cresol (o-CGE), has been studied in subcellular fractions of human, C3H mouse and F344 rat liver and lung. 3. All GE were chemically very stable and resistant to aqueous hydrolysis, but were rapidly hydrolysed by EH in cytosolic and microsomal fractions of liver and lung. The aromatic GE were very good substrates for EH. In general, microsomal EH is more efficient than cytosolic EH in hydrolysis of GE, and human microsomes are more efficient than rodent microsomes. 4. The more water-soluble GE, o-CGE and HDDGE, were good substrates for GST whereas the more lipophilic GE, YX4000 and C12GE, were poor substrates for GST. In general, rodents are more efficient in GSH conjugation of GE than humans. 5. In general, the epoxide groups of YX4000 are the most and those of HDDGE the least efficiently inactivated of the five GE under study. For the other three GE no general trend was observed: the relative efficiency of inactivation varied with organ and species. 6. The large variation in metabolism observed with five representative GE indicate that GE have variable individual properties and should not be considered as a single, homogenous class of compounds.     

Metabolic inactivation of five glycidyl ethers in lung and liver of humans,rats and mice in vitro

1. Some glycidyl ethers (GE) have been shown to be direct mutagens in short-term in vitro tests and consequently GE are considered to be potentially mutagenic in vivo. However, GE may be metabolically inactivated in the body by two different enzymatic routes: conjugation of the epoxide moiety with the endogenous tripeptide glutathione (GSH) catalysed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) or hydrolysis of the epoxide moiety catalysed by epoxide hydrolase (EH). 2. The metabolic inactivation of five different GE, the diglycidyl ethers of bis phenol A (BADGE), 4,4'-dihydroxy-3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbiphenyl (Epikote YX4000) and 1,6- hexanediol (HDDGE)and the GE of 1-dodecanol (C₁₂GE)and o-cresol (o-CGE), has been studied in subcellular fractions of human, C3H mouse and F344 rat liver and lung. 3. All GE were chemically very stable and resistant to aqueous hydrolysis, but were rapidly hydrolysed by EH in cytosolic and microsomal fractions of liver and lung. The aromatic GE were very good substrates for EH. In general, microsomal EH is more efficient than cytosolic EH in hydrolysis of GE, and human microsomes are more efficient than rodent microsomes. 4. The more water-soluble GE, o-CGE and HDDGE, were good substrates for GST whereas the more lipophilic GE, YX4000 and C₁₂GE, were poor substrates for GST. In general, rodents are more efficient in GSH conjugation of GE than humans. 5. In general, the epoxide groups of YX4000 are the most and those of HDDGE the least efficiently inactivated of the five GE under study. For the other three GE no general trend was observed: the relative efficiency of inactivation varied with organ and species. 6. The large variation in metabolism observed with five representative GE indicate that GE have variable individual properties and should not be considered as a single, homogenous class of compounds.     

N-Glucuronidation of some 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazoles by rat, dog, and human liver microsomes.

N-Glucuronidation in vitro of six 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazoles (both enantiomers of medetomidine, detomidine, atipamezole, and two other closely related compounds) by rat, dog, and human liver microsomes and by four expressed human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoenzymes was studied. Human liver microsomes formed N-glucuronides of 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazoles with high activity, with apparent V(max) values ranging from 0.59 to 1.89 nmol/min/mg of protein. In comparison, apparent V(max) values for two model compounds forming the N-glucuronides 4-aminobiphenyl and amitriptyline were 5.07 and 0.56 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. Atipamezole showed an exceptionally low apparent K(m) value of 4.0 microM and a high specificity constant (V(max)/K(m)) of 256 compared with 4-aminobiphenyl (K(m), 265 microM; V(max)/K(m), 19) and amitriptyline (K(m), 728 microM; V(max)/K(m), 0.8). N-Glucuronidation of medetomidine was highly enantioselective in human liver microsomes; levomedetomidine exhibited a 60-fold V(max)/K(m) value compared with dexmedetomidine. Furthermore, two isomeric imidazole N-glucuronides were formed from dexmedetomidine, but only one was formed from levomedetomidine. Dog liver microsomes formed N-glucuronides of 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazoles at a low rate and affinity, with apparent V(max) values ranging from 0.29 to 0.73 nmol/min/mg of protein and apparent K(m) values from 279 to 1640 microM. Rat liver microsomes glucuronidated these compounds at a barely detectable rate. Four expressed human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoenzymes (UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, and UGT1A9) were studied for 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazole-conjugating activity. Only UGT1A4 glucuronidated these compounds at an activity of about 5% of that measured for 4-aminobiphenyl. The observed activity of UGT1A4 does not explain the high efficiency of glucuronidation of 4-arylalkyl-1H-imidazoles in human liver microsomes.     

Depentylation of the rat esophageal carcinogen, methyl-n-pentylnitrosamine, by microsomes from various human and rat tissues and by cytochrome P450 2A3.

Methyl-n-pentylnitrosamine (MPN) is carcinogenic for the rat esophagus. To determine organ specificity for MPN activation by human tissues, microsomes isolated from human organs (snap-frozen <6 h after death or removed surgically) were incubated with [pentyl-(3)H]MPN, and [(3)H]pentaldehyde formation was measured by high-pressure liquid chromatography of its 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone using radioflow assay. With 100 microM MPN, mean depentylation rates were 6.6 (liver), 2.9 to 3.8 (kidney, stomach, small intestine, and colon), and 0.4 to 1.6 (esophagus, lung, and skin) pmol of pentaldehyde/mg of protein/min. Of 14 human esophagi, four showed relatively high depentylation rates of 3.3 to 4.1 pmol/mg/min. Apparent K(m) was 80 to 160 microM (V(max), 3-15 pmol/mg/min) for three esophagi, 90 to 130 (2 livers), and 1330 (1 kidney) microM. Rat tissues showed mean depentylation rates for 100 microM MPN of 24.9 (liver), 14.5 (esophagus), 7.0 (lung), and 0.0 to 2.7 (5 other tissues) pmol/mg/min. MPN depentylation by rat cytochrome P450 2A3 showed an apparent K(m) of 8 microM (V(max), 70 pmol/nmol of P450/min) and was competitively inhibited by the CYP2A inhibitor coumarin (apparent K(i), 4 microM). Coumarin (0.4 mM) inhibited microsomal depentylation of 100 microM MPN by 37 to 62% for human esophagus, liver, kidney, and colon and for rat esophagus but not for rat liver and lung. MPN depentylation by rat esophageal microsomes increased up to 90% on adding P450 reductase. The results indicate organ-specific MPN metabolism by rat but not human esophagus. Nevertheless, the relatively high activity of four human esophagi might indicate increased susceptibility of some individuals to carcinogenesis by unsymmetrical dialkylnitrosamines.     

Activities of hepatic epoxide hydrolase and glutathione S-transferase in rats under the influence of tetramethyl thiuramdisulfide, tetramethyl thiurammonosulfide or dimethyl dithiocarbamate

The epoxide hydrolase (EH) activity in the liver of adult female Wistar rats significantly increased 18 h after the administration by gavage of tetramethyl thiuramdisulfide (TMTD, 1 mmol/kg) or tetramethyl thiurammonosulfide (TMTM, 2 mmol/kg). No increase was observed 5 h after administration of Na-dimethyl dithiocarbamate (Na-DMDTC, 4 mmol/kg). The glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in the cytosol and microsomes of the liver was slightly enhanced after oral (gavage) administration of TMTD, TMTM or Na-DMDTC (doses up to 4 mmol/kg). In vitro, TMTD, TMTM, and Na-DMDTC significantly enhanced the hepatic activity of EH prepared from adult female Wistar rats. Cytosolic and microsomal GST activities from the liver were significantly raised in vitro by Na-DMDTC. The results have a bearing on the evaluation of the risk to health of these chemicals in the workplace.     

Kinetic factors involved in the metabolism of benzene in mouse lung and liver

Benzene is an occupational and environmental toxicant. The main human health concern associated with benzene exposure is acute myelogenous leukemia. Benzene produces lung tumors in mice, while its effects on human lung are not clear. The adverse effects of benzene are dependent on its metabolism by the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system. The isozymes CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 play roles in the metabolism of benzene at low, environmentally relevant concentrations. Previous studies indicate that the mouse lung readily metabolizes benzene and that CYP2F2 plays a role in this biotransformation. The significance of CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 in benzene metabolism was determined by measuring their apparent kinetic parameters K(m) and V(max). Use of wild-type and CYP2E1 knockout mice and selective inhibitors allowed the determination of the individual importance of both CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 in mouse liver and lung. A simple Michaelis-Menten relationship involving Lineweaver-Burk plots for the microsomal metabolism of benzene shows the apparent kinetic factors are different between the wild-type (K(m): 30.4 microM, V(max): 25.3 pmol/mg protein/min) and knockout (K(m): 1.9 microM, V(max): 0.5 pmol/mg protein/min) mouse livers. Wild-type lung has a K(m) of 2.3 microM and V(max) of 0.9 pmol/mg protein/min. CYP2E1 knockout lung has similar affinity and metabolic activity with a K(m) of 3.7 microM and V(max) of 1.2 pmol/mg protein/min. These data suggest CYP2E1 is less important in the lung than liver, and that it has a lower affinity for benzene but higher rate of hydroxylated metabolite production than does CYP2F2, which plays the predominant role in metabolizing benzene in mouse lung.     

Kinetic modeling of beta-chloroprene metabolism: I. In vitro rates in liver and lung tissue fractions from mice, rats, hamsters, and humans.

Beta-chloroprene (2-chloro-1,3-butadiene, CD) is carcinogenic by inhalation exposure to B6C3F1 mice and Fischer F344 rats but not to Wistar rats or Syrian hamsters. The initial step in metabolism is oxidation, forming a stable epoxide (1-chloroethenyl)oxirane (1-CEO), a genotoxicant that might be involved in rodent tumorigenicity. This study investigated the species-dependent in vitro kinetics of CD oxidation and subsequent 1-CEO metabolism by microsomal epoxide hydrolase and cytosolic glutathione S-transferases in liver and lung, tissues that are prone to tumor induction. Estimates for Vmax and Km for cytochrome P450-dependent oxidation of CD in liver microsomes ranged from 0.068 to 0.29 micromol/h/mg protein and 0.53 to 1.33 microM, respectively. Oxidation (Vmax/Km) of CD in liver was slightly faster in the mouse and hamster than in rats or humans. In lung microsomes, Vmax/Km was much greater for mice compared with the other species. The Vmax and Km estimates for microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity toward 1-CEO ranged from 0.11 to 3.66 micromol/h/mg protein and 20.9 to 187.6 microM, respectively, across tissues and species. Hydrolysis (Vmax/Km) of 1-CEO in liver and lung microsomes was faster for the human and hamster than for rat or mouse. The Vmax/Km in liver was 3 to 11 times greater than in lung. 1-CEO formation from CD was measured in liver microsomes and was estimated to be 2-5% of the total CD oxidation. Glutathione S-transferase-mediated metabolism of 1-CEO in cytosolic tissue fractions was described as a pseudo-second order reaction; rates were 0.0016-0.0068/h/mg cytosolic protein in liver and 0.00056-0.0022 h/mg in lung. The observed differences in metabolism are relevant to understanding species differences in sensitivity to CD-induced liver and lung tumorigenicity.     

Glucuronidation of antiallergic drug, Tranilast: identification of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoforms and effect of its phase I metabolite.

Tranilast is an oral antiallergic agent widely used in Japan. Recently, in Western populations, hyperbilirubinemia induced by tranilast was suspected during clinical trials. Tranilast has been reported to be mainly metabolized to a glucuronide and a phase I metabolite, 4-demethyltranilast (N-3). In the present study, we investigated the in vitro metabolism of tranilast in human liver and jejunum microsomes and recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs). The glucuronidation of tranilast was clarified to be mainly catalyzed by UGT1A1 in human liver and intestine. The K(m) values of tranilast glucuronosyltransferase activity were 51.5, 50.6, and 38.0 microM in human liver microsomes, human jejunum microsomes, and recombinant UGT1A1, respectively. The V(max) values were 10.4, 42.9, and 19.7 pmol/min/mg protein in human liver microsomes, human jejunum microsomes, and recombinant UGT1A1, respectively. When the intrinsic clearance was calculated using the in vitro kinetic parameters, microsomal protein content, and weight of tissues, tranilast glucuronosyltransferase activity was 2.5-fold higher in liver than in intestine. Tranilast glucuronosyltransferase activity was strongly inhibited by bilirubin, a typical UGT1A1 substrate, and N-3, indicating that the phase I metabolite could affect the tranilast glucuronosyltransferase activity. In the case of N-3 formation, the K(m) and V(max) values were 37.1 microM and 27.6 pmol/min/mg protein in human liver microsomes. The bilirubin glucuronosyltransferase activity was strongly inhibited by both tranilast and N-3, suggesting that tranilast-induced hyperbilirubinemia would be responsible for the inhibition by tranilast and N-3 of the bilirubin glucuronosyltransferase activity, as would the UGT1A1 genotype.     

Assessment of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase catalyzed formation of Picroside II glucuronide in microsomes of different species and recombinant UGTs

This study compared the hepatic glucuronidation of Picroside II in different species and characterized the glucuronidation activities of human intestinal microsomes (HIMs) and recombinant human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) for Picroside II. The rank order of hepatic microsomal glucuronidation activity of Picroside II was rat > mouse > human > dog. The intrinsic clearance of Picroside II hepatic glucuronidation in rat, mouse and dog was about 10.6-, 6.0- and 2.3-fold of that in human, respectively. Among the 12 recombinant human UGTs, UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9 and UGT1A10 catalyzed the glucuronidation. UGT1A10, which are expressed in extrahepatic tissues, showed the highest activity of Picroside II glucuronidation (K(m)?=?45.1 μM, V(max)?=?831.9 pmol/min/mg protein). UGT1A9 played a primary role in glucuronidation in human liver microsomes (HLM; K(m)?=?81.3 μM, V(max)?=?242.2 pmol/min/mg protein). In addition, both mycophenolic acid (substrate of UGT1A9) and emodin (substrate of UGT1A8 and UGT1A10) could inhibit the glucuronidation of Picroside II with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 173.6 and 76.2 μM, respectively. Enzyme kinetics was also performed in HIMs. The K(m) value of Picroside II glucuronidation was close to that in recombinant human UGT1A10 (K(m)?=?58.6 μM, V(max)?=?721.4 pmol/min/mg protein). The intrinsic clearance was 5.4-fold of HLMs. Intestinal UGT enzymes play an important role in Picroside II glucuronidation in human.     

Stereoselective sulfoxidation of sulindac sulfide by flavin-containing monooxygenases. Comparison of human liver and kidney microsomes and mammalian enzymes

The stereoselective sulfoxidation of the pharmacologically active metabolite of sulindac, sulindac sulfide, was characterized in human liver, kidney, and cDNA-expressed enzymes. Kinetic parameter estimates (pH = 7.4) for sulindac sulfoxide formation in human liver microsomes (N = 4) for R- and S-sulindac sulfoxide were V(max) = 1.5 +/- 0.50 nmol/min/mg, K(m) = 15 +/- 5.1 microM; and V(max) = 1.1 +/- 0.36 nmol/min/mg, K(m) = 16 +/- 6.1 microM, respectively. Kidney microsomes (N = 3) produced parameter estimates (pH = 7.4) of V(max) = 0.9 +/- 0.29 nmol/min/mg, K(m) = 15 +/- 2.9 microM; V(max) = 0.5 +/- 0.21 nmol/min/mg, K(m) = 22 +/- 1.9 microM for R- and S-sulindac sulfoxide, respectively. In human liver and flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) the V(max) for R-sulindac sulfoxide increased 60-70% at pH = 8.5, but for S-sulindac sulfoxide was unchanged. In fourteen liver microsomal preparations, significant correlations occurred between R-sulindac sulfoxide formation and either immunoquantified FMO or nicotine N-oxidation (r = 0.88 and 0.83; P < 0.01). The R- and S-sulindac sulfoxide formation rate also correlated significantly (r = 0.85 and 0.75; P < 0.01) with immunoquantified FMO in thirteen kidney microsomal samples. Mild heat deactivation of microsomes reduced activity by 30-60%, and a loss in stereoselectivity was observed. Methimazole was a potent and nonstereoselective inhibitor of sulfoxidation in liver and kidney microsomes. n-Octylamine and membrane solubilization with lubrol were potent and selective inhibitors of S-sulindac sulfoxide formation. cDNA-expressed CYPs failed to appreciably sulfoxidate sulindac sulfide, and CYP inhibitors were ineffective in suppressing catalytic activity. Purified mini-pig liver FMO1, rabbit lung FMO2, and human cDNA-expressed FMO3 efficiently oxidized sulindac sulfide with a high degree of stereoselectivity towards the R-isomer, but FMO5 lacked catalytic activity. The biotransformation of the sulfide to the sulfoxide is catalyzed predominately by FMOs and may prove to be useful in characterizing FMO activity.     

Comparative activities of glutathione-S-transferase and dialdehyde reductase toward aflatoxin B1 in livers of experimental and farm animals.

In order to gain a better understanding of the relative activities of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and aldehyde reductase toward aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in relation to the variation of species susceptibilities, we studied the in vitro cytosolic GST and reductase activities in liver tissues from male Fischer rats, ICR mice and golden hamsters, adult male rainbow trouts and female piglets. The GST activity was determined by incubating the liver cytosol with glutathione (GSH) and AFB1 in the presence of the hamster liver microsomes to metabolize AFB1 to AFB1-8, 9-epoxide. The reaction product, AFB1 and GSH conjugate (AFB1-GSH), was quantified with HPLC. The reductase activity was determined by incubating liver cytosol with AFB1-dialdehyde, followed by the quantification of the metabolic product, AFB1-dialcohol, with HPLC. All the animal species possessed the GST activities, and AFB1-GSH formed increasingly with the increase of the AFB1 concentration according to the model of first-order enzyme reaction kinetics. The V(max) and K(m) values of the GST activities in rodent species were higher and lower, respectively, than those in the trout and pig, being consistent with the relative susceptibilities to AFB1 of these animal species. However, no relationship was noted between the reductase activity and species susceptibility. Thus, the result of this study shows that GST toward AFB1, but not aldehyde reductase, is a determinant of the variation of species susceptibilities.     

Isolation of nuclear fractions from human fetal tissues. Ultrastructure and presence of epoxide hydrolase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase

The aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and epoxide hydrolase (EH) activities with styrene oxide and benzo[a]pyrene-4,5-oxide as substrates were investigated and compared in the nuclear and microsomal fractions isolated from the human fetal liver, adrenals, kidneys and lungs. The purity of the fractions was estimated by electron microscopy and found to be around 85% for the nuclear and 90% for the microsomal fractions. All tissues catalyzed the hydration of the two epoxides at significant rates. The EH followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics in all fractions. The highest activities were seen in the liver and the adrenals. The nuclear/microsomal ratios of the EH activity was tissue dependent, being highest in the kidneys and lungs. AHH was measurable in the microsomes of all investigated tissues. As to the nuclear fraction it was detectable only in the adrenals and the liver. The nuclear/microsomal ratio of AHH was four times higher in the adrenals than in the liver. It is concluded that not only the microsomal but also the nuclear fraction of several human fetal tissues have the potential of catalyzing formation and elimination of epoxides.     

Metabolism of 3-methylindole in human tissues.

Bioactivation of 3-methylindole (3MI), a highly selective pneumotoxin in goats, was investigated in human lung and liver tissues in order to provide information about the susceptibility of humans to 3MI toxicity. Human lung microsomes were prepared from eight organ transplantation donors and liver microsomes from one of the donors were utilized. The 3MI turnover rate with human lung microsomes was 0.23 +/- 0.06 nmol/mg/min, which was lower than the rate with the human liver microsomes (7.40 nmol/mg/min). The activities were NADPH dependent and inhibited by 1-aminobenzotriazole, a potent cytochrome P-450 suicide substrate inhibitor. Covalent binding of 3MI reactive intermediates to human tissues was determined by incubation of 14C-3MI and NADPH with human lung and liver microsomal proteins. Although human lung microsomes displayed measurable covalent binding activity (2.74 +/- 2.57 pmol/mg/min), the magnitude of this reaction was only 4% as large as that seen with human liver microsomes (62.02 pmol/mg/min). However, the covalent binding was protein dependent and also was inhibited by 1-aminobenzotriazole. Therefore, the bioactivation of 3MI to covalently binding intermediates is catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 in human pulmonary tissues. These activities were compared to those activities measured with tissues from goats. Proteins from goat and human pulmonary and hepatic microsomal incubations were incubated with radioactive 3MI, and radioactive proteins were analyzed by SDS-PAGE and HPLC and visualized by autoradiography and radiochromatography, respectively. The results showed that a 57-kDa protein was clearly the most prominently alkylated target associated with 3MI reactive intermediates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Validation of serotonin (5-hydroxtryptamine) as an in vitro substrate probe for human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A6.

Investigation of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms has been limited by a lack of specific substrate probes. In this study serotonin was evaluated for use as a probe substrate for human UGT1A6 using recombinant human UGTs and tissue microsomes. Of the 10 commercially available recombinant UGT isoforms, only UGT1A6 catalyzed serotonin glucuronidation. Serotonin-UGT activity at 40 mM serotonin concentration varied more than 40-fold among human livers (n = 54), ranging from 0.77 to 32.9 nmol/min/mg of protein with a median activity of 7.1 nmol/min/mg of protein. Serotonin-UGT activity kinetics of representative human liver microsomes (n = 7) and pooled human kidney, intestinal and lung microsomes and recombinant human UGT1A6 typically followed one enzyme Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Serotonin glucuronidation activity in these human liver microsomes had widely varying V(max) values ranging from 0.62 to 51.3 nmol/min/mg of protein but very similar apparent K(m) values ranging from 5.2 to 8.8 mM. Pooled human kidney, intestine, and lung microsomes had V(max) values (mean +/- standard error of the estimates) of 8.8 +/- 0.4, 0.22 +/- 0.00, and 0.03 +/- 0.00 nmol/min/mg of protein (respectively) and apparent K(m) values of 6.5 +/- 0.9, 12.4 +/- 2.0, and 4.9 +/- 3.3 mM (respectively). In comparison, recombinant UGT1A6 had a V(max) of 4.5 +/- 0.1 nmol/min/mg of protein and an apparent K(m) of 5.0 +/- 0.4 mM. A highly significant correlation was found between immunoreactive UGT1A6 protein content and serotonin-UGT activity measured at 4 mM serotonin concentration in human liver microsomes (R(s) = 0.769; P < 0.001) (n = 52). In conclusion, these results indicate that serotonin is a highly selective in vitro probe substrate for human UGT1A6.     

Species differences in tissue distribution and enzyme activities of arylacetamide deacetylase in human, rat, and mouse

Human arylacetamide deacetylase (AADAC) is a major esterase responsible for the hydrolysis of clinical drugs such as flutamide, phenacetin, and rifampicin. Thus, AADAC is considered to be a relevant enzyme in preclinical drug development, but there is little information about species differences with AADAC. This study investigated the species differences in the tissue distribution and enzyme activities of AADAC. In human, AADAC mRNA was highly expressed in liver and the gastrointestinal tract, followed by bladder. In rat and mouse, AADAC mRNA was expressed in liver at the highest level, followed by the gastrointestinal tract and kidney. The expression levels in rat tissues were approximately 7- and 10-fold lower than those in human and mouse tissues, respectively. To compare the catalytic efficiency of AADAC among three species, each recombinant AADAC was constructed, and enzyme activities were evaluated by normalizing with the expression levels of AADAC. Flutamide and phenacetin hydrolase activities were detected by the recombinant AADAC of all species. In flutamide hydrolysis, liver microsomes of all species showed similar catalytic efficiencies, despite the lower AADAC mRNA expression in rat liver. In phenacetin hydrolysis, rat liver microsomes showed approximately 4- to 6.5-fold lower activity than human and mouse liver microsomes. High rifampicin hydrolase activity was detected only by recombinant human AADAC and human liver and jejunum microsomes. Taken together, the results of this study clarified the species differences in the tissue distribution and enzyme activities of AADAC and facilitate our understanding of species differences in drug hydrolysis.     

Metabolism of tridiphane (2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)oxirane) by hepatic epoxide hydrolases and glutathione S-transferases in mouse

The transformation of the herbicide tridiphane (Tandem, Dowco 356, 2-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2(2,2,2-trichloroethyl)oxirane by the epoxide-metabolizing enzymes, epoxide hydrolases (EH) and glutathione S-transferases (GST), was investigated in mouse liver microsomes and cytosol. The microsomal EH catalyzed the formation of tridiphane diol. The production of this metabolite was prevented by cyclohexene oxide at 1 mM, a known inhibitor of microsomal EH. The structure of the diol was verified by comparison of retention time or Rf of the compound with those of an authentic standard using gas-liquid chromatography or thin-layer chromatography techniques. The diol formed a diester with 1-butane boronic acid or an aldehyde with lead tetraacetate. Mass spectral analysis supported the structural assignment. After optimization of the assay conditions, kinetic constants for the hydration of tridiphane by the microsomal EH were determined (Km = 65 microM and Vmax = 0.9 nmol/min/mg protein). Dietary exposure of mice to the hypolipidemic drug clofibrate at a dose of 0.5% (w/w) for 2 weeks increased by 173% the metabolism of tridiphane to tridiphane diol by the microsomal fraction. No diol could be detected following incubation of tridiphane with the cytosolic EH, even after induction by clofibrate. Tridiphane was also a substrate for GST, but administration of clofibrate did not change the specific activity for the formation of the glutathione conjugate. The herbicide was a rather weak inhibitor of the microsomal EH and the cytosolic GST activities measured with cis-stilbene oxide and trans-stilbene oxide as substrates with I50's of 3.0 x 10(-5) and 1.8 x 10(-4)M, respectively. Tridiphane diol was a poor inhibitor of the enzymes studied, and the glutathione conjugate of tridiphane caused marked inhibition of only the GST activity (I50, 2.0 x 10(-5)M). By contrast the activity of cytosolic EH (trans-stilbene oxide) was relatively insensitive to the addition of tridiphane or of tridiphane metabolites.     

Characterization of afloqualone N-glucuronidation: species differences and identification of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isoform(s).

Afloqualone (AFQ) is one of the centrally acting muscle relaxants. AFQ N-glucuronide is the most abundant metabolite in human urine when administered orally, whereas it was not detected in the urine when administered to rats, dogs, and monkeys. Species differences in AFQ N-glucuronidation were investigated with liver microsomes obtained from humans and experimental animals. The kinetics of AFQ N-glucuronidation in human liver microsomes showed a typical Michaelis-Menten plot. The K(m) and V(max) values accounted for 2019 +/- 85.9 muM and 871.2 +/- 17.9 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The V(max) and intrinsic clearance (CL(int)) values of AFQ N-glucuronidation in human liver were approximately 4- to 10-fold and 2- to 4-fold higher than those in rat, dog, and monkey, respectively. Among 12 recombinant human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms, both UGT1A4 and UGT1A3 exhibited high AFQ N-glucuronosyltransferase activities. The K(m) value of AFQ N-glucuronidation in recombinant UGT1A4 microsomes was very close to that in human liver microsomes. The formation of AFQ N-glucuronidation by human liver, jejunum, and recombinant UGT1A4 microsomes was effectively inhibited by trifluoperazine, a known specific substrate for UGT1A4. The AFQ N-glucuronidation activities in seven human liver microsomes were significantly correlated with trifluoperazine N-glucuronidation activities (r(2) = 0.798, p < 0.01). In contrast, the K(m) value of AFQ N-glucuronidation in recombinant UGT1A3 microsomes was relatively close to that in human jejunum microsomes. These results demonstrate that AFQ N-glucuronidation in human is mainly catalyzed by UGT1A4 in the liver and by UGT1A3, as well as UGT1A4 in the intestine.     

Glucuronidation of thyroxine in human liver, jejunum, and kidney microsomes.

Glucuronidation of thyroxine is a major metabolic pathway facilitating its excretion. In this study, we characterized the glucuronidation of thyroxine in human liver, jejunum, and kidney microsomes, and identified human UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms involved in the activity. Human jejunum microsomes showed a lower K(m) value (24.2 microM) than human liver (85.9 microM) and kidney (53.3 microM) microsomes did. Human kidney microsomes showed a lower V(max) value (22.6 pmol/min/mg) than human liver (133.4 pmol/min/mg) and jejunum (184.6 pmol/min/mg) microsomes did. By scaling-up, the in vivo clearances in liver, intestine, and kidney were estimated to be 1440, 702, and 79 microl/min/kg body weight, respectively. Recombinant human UGT1A8 (108.7 pmol/min/unit), UGT1A3 (91.6 pmol/min/unit), and UGT1A10 (47.3 pmol/min/unit) showed high, and UGT1A1 (26.0 pmol/min/unit) showed moderate thyroxine glucuronosyltransferase activity. The thyroxine glucuronosyltransferase activity in microsomes from 12 human livers was significantly correlated with bilirubin O-glucuronosyltransferase (r = 0.855, p < 0.001) and estradiol 3-O-glucuronosyltransferase (r = 0.827, p < 0.0001) activities catalyzed by UGT1A1, indicating that the activity in human liver is mainly catalyzed by UGT1A1. Kinetic and inhibition analyses suggested that the thyroxine glucuronidation in human jejunum microsomes was mainly catalyzed by UGT1A8 and UGT1A10 and to a lesser extent by UGT1A1, and the activity in human kidney microsomes was mainly catalyzed by UGT1A7, UGT1A9, and UGT1A10. The changes of activities of these UGT1A isoforms via inhibition and induction by administered drugs as well as genetic polymorphisms may be a causal factor of interindividual differences in the plasma thyroxine concentration.     

Troglitazone glucuronidation in human liver and intestine microsomes: high catalytic activity of UGT1A8 and UGT1A10.

Troglitazone glucuronidation in human liver and intestine microsomes and recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) were thoroughly characterized. All recombinant UGT isoforms in baculovirus-infected insect cells (UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9, UGT1A10, UGT2B7, and UGT2B15) exhibited troglitazone glucuronosyltransferase activity. Especially UGT1A8 and UGT1A10, which are expressed in extrahepatic tissues such as stomach, intestine, and colon, showed high catalytic activity, followed by UGT1A1 and UGT1A9. The kinetics of the troglitazone glucuronidation in the recombinant UGT1A10 and UGT1A1 exhibited an atypical pattern of substrate inhibition when the substrate concentration was over 200 micro M. With a Michaelis-Menten equation at 6 to 200 micro M troglitazone, the K(m) value was 11.1 +/- 5.8 micro M and the V(max) value was 33.6 +/- 3.7 pmol/min/mg protein in recombinant UGT1A10. In recombinant UGT1A1, the K(m) value was 58.3 +/- 29.2 micro M and the V(max) value was 12.3 +/- 2.5 pmol/min/mg protein. The kinetics of the troglitazone glucuronidation in human liver and jejunum microsomes also exhibited an atypical pattern. The K(m) value was 13.5 +/- 2.0 micro M and the V(max) value was 34.8 +/- 1.2 pmol/min/mg for troglitazone glucuronidation in human liver microsomes, and the K(m) value was 8.1 +/- 0.3 micro M and the V(max) was 700.9 +/- 4.3 pmol/min/mg protein in human jejunum microsomes. When the intrinsic clearance was estimated with the in vitro kinetic parameter, microsomal protein content, and weight of tissue, troglitazone glucuronidation in human intestine was 3-fold higher than that in human livers. Interindividual differences in the troglitazone glucuronosyltransferase activity in liver microsomes from 13 humans were at most 2.2-fold. The troglitazone glucuronosyltransferase activity was significantly (r = 0.579, p < 0.05) correlated with the beta-estradiol 3-glucuronosyltransferase activity, which is mainly catalyzed by UGT1A1. The troglitazone glucuronosyltransferase activity in pooled human liver microsomes was strongly inhibited by bilirubin (IC(50) = 1.9 micro M), a typical substrate of UGT1A1. These results suggested that the troglitazone glucuronidation in human liver would be mainly catalyzed by UGT1A1. Interindividual differences in the troglitazone glucuronosyltransferase activity in S-9 samples from five human intestines was 8.2-fold. The troglitazone glucuronosyltransferase activity in human jejunum microsomes was strongly inhibited by emodin (IC(50) = 15.6 micro M), a typical substrate of UGT1A8 and UGT1A10, rather than by bilirubin (IC(50) = 154.0 micro M). Therefore, it is suggested that the troglitazone glucuronidation in human intestine might be mainly catalyzed by UGT1A8 and UGT1A10.     

Glucuronidation of anti-HIV drug candidate bevirimat: identification of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases and species differences.

Bevirimat [BVM, PA-457, 3-O-(3',3'-dimethylsuccinyl)-betulinic acid], a new anti-human immunodeficiency virus drug candidate, is metabolized to two monoglucuronides [mono-BVMG (I) and mono-BVMG (II)] and one diglucuronide (di-BVMG) both in vivo and in vitro. UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) reaction screening, enzyme kinetics, and species differences for the glucuronidation of BVM in vitro were investigated with pooled human liver microsomes (HLMs) and human intestinal microsomes (HIMs), animal liver microsomes, and 12 recombinant human UGT isoforms. Glucuronidation of BVM with HLMs predominantly involved the formation of mono-BVMG (I) (V(max) = 61 pmol/min/mg protein, K(m) = 27 microM) and mono-BVMG (II) (V(max) = 48 pmol/min/mg protein, K(m) = 16 microM). Di-BVMG was also observed but was a minor metabolite. HIMs mainly revealed glucuronidation to form mono-BVMG (II) (V(max) = 90 pmol/min/mg of protein, K(m) = 8.3 microM). UGT1A3 predominantly formed mono-BVMG (I) (V(max) = 65 pmol/min/mg of protein, K(m) = 13 microM), whereas UGT1A4 is a less active isoform (V(max) = 1.8 pmol/min/mg of protein, K(m) = 5.6 microM). UGT2B7 was involved in the formation of both mono-BVMG (I) (V(max) = 6.1 pmol/min/mg of protein, K(m) = 6.0 microM) and mono-BVMG (II) (V(max) = 6.5 pmol/min/mg of protein, K(m) = 7.8 microM). Among the animal liver microsomes examined, all species (rat, mouse, dog, and marmoset) demonstrated conjugation to form both mono-BVMG (I) and mono-BVMG (II), with dog liver microsomes exhibiting a higher formation rate for mono-BVMG (I), whereas marmoset liver microsomes showed a higher formation rate for mono-BVMG (II). The data suggest a primary role of UGT1A3 for the glucuronidation of BVM.