S-oxidation of S-methyl-esonarimod by flavin-containing monooxygenases in human liver microsomes

1. Studies using human liver microsomes and recombinant human cytochrome P450 (CYP) and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) were performed to identify the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of S-methyl-esonarimod (M2), an active metabolite of esonarimod (KE-298, a novel antirheumatic drug). 2. S-oxidative activities of M2 significantly correlated with those of methyl p-tolyl sulfide, a specific substrate of FMOs, as tested using 10 different human liver microsomes (r(2) = 0.539, p<0.05). Thermal treatment of microsomes reduced the S-oxidative activity in the absence of the NADPH-generating system at 45 degrees C for 5 min. However, methimazole, a known competitive substrate of FMOs, was a weak inhibitor of the S-oxidation in liver microsomes. 3. Recombinant human FMO1 and FMO5 produced M3 in greater quantities than recombinant human FMO3. The S-oxidation of M2 by recombinant human FMO5 was not appreciably inhibited in the presence of methimazole. In contrast, methimazole was effective in suppressing the catalytic activity of recombinant human FMO1 and FMO3. 4. The apparent K(m) (K(m app)) for the S-oxidation of M2 in human recombinant FMO5 (2.71 microM) was similar to that obtained using human liver microsomes (2.43 microM). 5. The present results suggest that the S-oxidation of S-methyl esonarimod reflects FMO5 activity in the human liver because the recombinant FMO5 data match well with the human liver microsomal experiments.     

S-oxidation of S-methyl-esonarimod by flavin-containing monooxygenases in human liver microsomes

1. Studies using human liver microsomes and recombinant human cytochrome P450 (CYP) and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) were performed to identify the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of S-methyl-esonarimod (M2), an active metabolite of esonarimod (KE-298, a novel antirheumatic drug).

2. S-oxidative activities of M2 significantly correlated with those of methyl p-tolyl sulfide, a specific substrate of FMOs, as tested using 10 different human liver microsomes (r² = 0.539, p<0.05). Thermal treatment of microsomes reduced the S-oxidative activity in the absence of the NADPH-generating system at 45°C for 5?min. However, methimazole, a known competitive substrate of FMOs, was a weak inhibitor of the S-oxidation in liver microsomes.

3. Recombinant human FMO1 and FMO5 produced M3 in greater quantities than recombinant human FMO3. The S-oxidation of M2 by recombinant human FMO5 was not appreciably inhibited in the presence of methimazole. In contrast, methimazole was effective in suppressing the catalytic activity of recombinant human FMO1 and FMO3.

4. The apparent K_m (K_{m app}) for the S-oxidation of M2 in human recombinant FMO5 (2.71?μM) was similar to that obtained using human liver microsomes (2.43?μM).

5. The present results suggest that the S-oxidation of S-methyl esonarimod reflects FMO5 activity in the human liver because the recombinant FMO5 data match well with the human liver microsomal experiments.     

Stereoselective sulfoxidation of a series of alkyl p-tolyl sulfides by microsomal and purified flavin-containing monooxygenases

The enantioselective sulfoxidation of a series of alkyl p-tolyl sulfides was compared using purified rabbit lung and mini-pig liver flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO). Analysis was performed by chiral-phase high pressure liquid chromatography, which afforded baseline resolution of each pair of enantiomers. The extent of enantioselective sulfoxidation was found to be a function of (a) the isozyme employed, (b) the steric bulk of the alkyl substituent, and (c) pH. At pH 8.5, rabbit lung FMO catalyzed the oxidation of methyl, ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl sulfides to products with greater than 99, 91, 85, and 63% (R)-(+)-stereochemistry, respectively. Corresponding values for the mini-pig liver form were 91, 82, 72, and 41% (R)-(+)-sulfoxide. The stereochemical profile obtained with the isolated rabbit lung form could be duplicated exactly in microsomal preparations if precautions were taken to abolish the contribution that P-450 makes to net stereochemistry. It was noted that increasing the reaction mixture pH from 8.5 to 10 led to a decrease in the stereochemical purity of products obtained from the lung form. In contrast, the stereochemical profile obtained with the isolated mini-pig liver form could not be exactly duplicated in suitably treated microsomal preparations. No evidence for multiple forms of mini-pig liver FMO was obtained, and it was concluded that discrepancies between microsomal and purified FMO metabolic profiles were most consistent with a minor modification to active site geometry occurring during purification of the mini-pig form. These data show that the active site chirality of rabbit lung and mini-pig liver FMO is largely retained following removal from microsomal membranes. Qualitative similarities in the structure-activity relationships exhibited by microsomal or purified FMO from rabbit lung and mini-pig liver suggest some conservation of active site geometry between these two otherwise distinct FMOs. Quantitative differences in the structure-activity relationships exhibited by the two FMO forms indicate that analysis of product stereochemistry may be a useful method for the discrimination of catalytically distinct FMO isozymes.     

A convenient method to discriminate between cytochrome P450 enzymes and flavin-containing monooxygenases in human liver microsomes

 Liver microsomes are a frequently used probe to investigate the phase I metabolism of xenobiotics in vitro. Structures containing nucleophilic heteroatoms are possible substrates for cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450) and flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMO). Both enzymes are located in the endoplasmatic reticulum of hepatocytes and both need oxygen and NADPH as cofactors. The common method to distinguish between the two enzyme systems is to use the thermal inactivation of FMO and to inhibit P450 completely with carbon monoxide, N-octylamine or N-benzylimidazole. In the literature no indication could be found that the heat inactivation of FMO does not affect any of the human P450 enzymes or that the overall P450 inhibitors inhibit the different human P450 enzymes sufficiently and do not affect the FMO. The effect of N-benzylimidazole and heat inactivation was tested on specific activities of seven P450 enzymes in human liver microsomes, 1A2, 2A6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 3A4/5, and 2E1, using methoxyresorufin O-demethylation, coumarin 7-hydroxylation, (S)-warfarin 4-hydroxylation, (S)-(+)-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation, dextrometorphan O-demethylation, oxidation of denitronifedipine, and chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation respectively. The sulfoxidation of methimazole (MMI) was used as a specific probe for the determination of FMO activity. Methimazole sulfoxidation was compared with the well known assay for FMO metabolism, the formation of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) N-oxide, to be confirmed as an exclusively FMO mediated reaction. The participation of P450 and FMO in the sulfoxidation of four sulfur containing pesticides, ametryne; terbutryne, prometryne and methiocarb was investigated using human liver microsomes. All four reactions were demonstrated to be catalysed predominantly by cytochrome P450. Received: 13 March 1996/Accepted: 20 June 1996     

Metabolism of diallyl disulfide by human liver microsomal cytochromes P-450 and flavin-containing monooxygenases.

The metabolism of diallyl disulfide (DADS), a garlic sulfur compound, was investigated in human liver microsomes. Diallyl thiosulfinate (allicin) was the only metabolite observed and its formation followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a Km = 0.61 +/- 0.2 mM and a Vmax = 18.5 +/- 4.2 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively (mean +/- S.E. M., n = 4). Both flavin-containing monooxygenase and the cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases (CYP) were involved in DADS oxidation, but the contribution of CYP was predominant. The cytochrome P-450 isoforms involved in this metabolism were investigated using selective chemical inhibitors, microsomes from cells expressing recombinant CYP isoenzymes, and studying the correlation of the rate of DADS oxidation with specific monooxygenase activities of human liver microsomes. Diethyldithiocarbamate and tranylcypromine inhibited allicin formation, whereas other specific inhibitors had low or no effect. Most of the different human microsomes from cells expressing CYP were able to catalyze this reaction, but CYP2E1 showed the highest affinity with a substantial activity. Furthermore, allicin formation by human liver microsomes was correlated with p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity, a marker of CYP2E1, and tolbutamide hydroxylase activity, a marker of CYP2C9. Among these approaches only CYP2E1 was identified in each case, which suggested that DADS is preferentially metabolized to allicin by CYP2E1 in human liver. However the minor participation of other CYP forms and flavin-containing monooxygenases is likely.     

Different substrate elimination rates of model drugs pH-dependently mediated by flavin-containing monooxygenases and cytochromes P450 in human liver microsomes

The predicted contributions of flavin-containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) to drug candidate N-oxygenations can be estimated using classic base dissociation constants of the N-containing moiety. In this study, metabolic clearance values in human liver microsomes were experimentally determined for available model drugs. Typical metabolic clearance values (34–96 μL/min/mg protein) at pH 8.4 of trimethylamine, benzydamine, and itopride were two-to fourfold higher than those at pH 7.4. In contrast, the metabolic clearance of control drug midazolam at pH 8.4 was half that at pH 7.4. The ratios of clearance values at pH 8.4 to those at pH 7.4 and the substrate pKa (base) values of reported metabolic N-oxygenation sites of trimethylamine, benzydamine, clomipramine, chlorpromazine, tamoxifen, itopride, loxapine, xanomeline, tozasertib, dasatinib, and clozapine were significantly correlated (r = 0.60, p < 0.05, n = 11). These results suggested that the simple comparison of metabolic clearance values at pH 8.4 and at pH 7.4 could be useful for predicting the contributions of FMO3 to the N-oxygenations of new drug candidates. This method, along with in silico pKa (base) values > 8.4, could prove useful for predicting the contributions of FMO3 to N-oxygenations as part of drug development.     

Stereoselective sulfoxidation by human flavin-containing monooxygenase. Evidence for catalytic diversity between hepatic, renal, and fetal forms.

The stereoselective formation of p-tolyl methyl sulfoxide from the corresponding sulfide has been examined in detergent-solubilized human adult liver, adult kidney, and fetal liver microsomes, in order to compare the functional activities of human flavin-containing monooxygenase(s). Solubilization with detergent was performed to eradicate the contribution that cytochrome P-450 would make to the net stereochemistry. Consistent with studies in experimental animal livers, solubilized human fetal liver and adult kidney microsomes formed (R)-p-tolyl methyl sulfoxide in greater than 86% enantiomeric excess. These enzyme activities were sensitive to methimazole inhibition and were markedly thermolabile in the absence of NADPH, attributes that are consistent with a flavin-containing monooxygenase-mediated process. However, solubilized adult human liver microsomes displayed little stereoselectivity (0-40% enantiomeric excess) for the formation of (R)-p-tolyl methyl sulfoxide, although this reaction also displayed several of the characteristics of a flavin-containing monooxygenase-dependent process, including sensitivity to methimazole inhibition and NADPH protection against heat inactivation. Furthermore, this lack of stereoselectivity was not attenuated by the inclusion of activated oxygen scavengers in reaction mixtures. Human tissue metabolite profiling was further studied by using the ethyl, propyl, and isopropyl p-tolyl sulfides. Parallel changes in product stereochemistry as a function of increasing steric bulk were observed with the fetal liver and adult kidney tissue, whereas an anomalous profile was again observed with adult human liver. These data are consistent with the presence of functionally discrete complements of the flavin-containing monooxygenase in detergent-solubilized adult and fetal human liver microsomes.     

Stereoselective metabolism of prazepam and halazepam by human liver microsomes.

Metabolism of prazepam [PZ, 7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-1- (cyclopropylmethyl)-2H-1,4-benzodiazepin-2-one] and halazepam [HZ,7- chloro-1,3-dihydro-5-phenyl-1-(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl)-2H-1,4- benzodizepin-2-one] was investigated in microsomes prepared from the livers of two male and one female subjects who died of head injuries. PZ (or HZ) and its metabolites were analyzed by normal phase and chiral stationary phase HPLC. The relative amount of products formed in the metabolism of PZ was found to be N-desalkylprazepam (NDZ, also known as N-desmethyldiazepam and nordiazepam) greater than 3-hydroxy-PZ (3-OH-PZ) much greater than oxazepam (OX). In contrast, the relative amount of products formed in the metabolism of HZ was found to be 3-OH-HZ much greater than NDZ greater than OX. Enantiomers of 3-OH-PZ and 3-OH-HZ were resolved by HPLC on an analytical column packed with the chiral stationary phase R-N-(3,5-dinitrobenzoyl)phenylglycine covalently bound to spherical particles of gamma-aminopropylsilanized silica. The 3-OH-PZ formed in the metabolism of PZ by three human liver microsomal preparations were found to have 3R/3S enantiomer ratios of 65:35, 61:39, and 62:38. In the metabolism of HZ, the enzymatically formed 3-OH-HZ had 3R/3S enantiomer ratios of 67:33, 60:40, and 62:38. N-Dealkylations of racemic 3-OH-PZ and 3-OH-HZ by human liver microsomal preparations were substrate-enantioselective; 3S-OH-PZ and 3R-OH-HZ were each N-dealkylated slightly faster than the corresponding antipode. The results indicated that both C3-hydroxylation of PZ and HZ as well as N-dealkylation of 3-OH-PZ and 3-OH-HZ catalyzed by human liver microsomes were stereoselective, resulting in the formation of a C3-hydroxylated product enriched (60-67%) in the 3R-enantiomer.     

Stereoselective glucuronidation of formoterol by human liver microsomes

AIMS: Formoterol is a beta2-adrenoceptor agonist marketed as a racemic mixture of the active (R; R)- and inactive (S; S)-enantiomers (rac-formoterol). The drug produces prolonged bronchodilation by inhalation but there is significant interpatient variability in duration of effect. Previous work has shown that in humans formoterol is metabolized by conjugation with glucuronic acid but little is known about the stereoselectivity of this reaction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the glucuronidation of formoterol enantiomers in vitro by human liver microsomes. METHODS: The kinetics of formation of formoterol glucuronides during incubation of racemate and of single formoterol enantiomers with human liver microsomes (n=9) was characterized by chiral h.p.l.c. assay. RESULTS: The kinetics of glucuronidation of the two formoterol enantiomers obeyed the Michaelis-Menten equation. Glucuronidation of formoterol was stereoselective and occurred more than two times faster for (S; S)-formoterol than for (R; R)-formoterol. In incubations with single formoterol enantiomers, the median (n=9) Km values for (R; R)-glucuronide and (S; S)-glucuronide were 827.6 and 840.4 microm, respectively, and the median V max values were 2625 and 4304 pmol min-1 mg-1, respectively. Corresponding values determined in incubations with rac-formoterol were 357.2 and 312.1 microm and 1435 and 2086 pmol min-1 mg-1 for (R; R)- and (S; S)-glucuronide, respectively. Interindividual variation was large with the ratio of V max/Km (S; S/R; R) ranging from 0.57 to 6.90 for incubations with rac-formoterol. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates that glucuronidation of formoterol by human liver microsomes is stereoselective and subject to high interindividual variability. These findings suggest that clearance of formoterol in humans is subject to variable stereoselectivity which could explain the variation in duration of bronchodilation produced by inhaled formoterol in patients with asthma.     

Drug metabolism by flavin-containing monooxygenases of human and mouse

Introduction: Flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) play an important role in drug metabolism.

Areas covered: We focus on the role of FMOs in the metabolism of drugs in human and mouse. We describe FMO genes and proteins of human and mouse; the catalytic mechanism of FMOs and their significance for drug metabolism; differences between FMOs and CYPs; factors contributing to potential underestimation of the contribution of FMOs to drug metabolism; the developmental and tissue-specific expression of FMO genes and differences between human and mouse; and factors that induce or inhibit FMOs. We discuss the contribution of FMOs of human and mouse to the metabolism of drugs and how genetic variation of FMOs affects drug metabolism. Finally, we discuss the utility of animal models for FMO-mediated drug metabolism in humans.

Expert opinion: The contribution of FMOs to drug metabolism may be underestimated. As FMOs are not readily induced or inhibited and their reactions are generally detoxifications, the design of drugs that are metabolized predominantly by FMOs offers clinical advantages. Fmo1^(-/-),Fmo2^(-/-),Fmo4^(-/-) mice provide a good animal model for FMO-mediated drug metabolism in humans. Identification of roles for FMO1 and FMO5 in endogenous metabolism has implications for drug therapy and initiates an exciting area of research.     

Isoform specificity of N-deacetyl ketoconazole by human and rabbit flavin-containing monooxygenases.

N-Deacetyl ketoconazole (DAK) is the major metabolite of orally administered ketoconazole. This major metabolite has been demonstrated to be further metabolized predominately by the flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) to the secondary hydroxylamine, N-deacetyl-N-hydroxyketoconazole (N-hydroxy-DAK) by adult and postnatal rat hepatic microsomes. Our current investigation evaluated the FMO isoform specificity of DAK in a pyrophosphate buffer (pH 8.8) containing the glucose 6-phosphate NADPH-generating system. cDNA-expressed human FMOs (FMO1, FMO3, and FMO5) and cDNA-expressed rabbit FMOs (FMO1, FMO2, FMO3, and FMO5) were used to assess the metabolism of DAK to its subsequent FMO-mediated metabolites by HPLC analysis. Human and rabbit cDNA-expressed FMO3 resulted in extensive metabolism of DAK in 1 h (71.2 and 64.5%, respectively) to N-hydroxy-DAK (48.2 and 47.7%, respectively) and two other metabolites, metabolite 1 (11.7 and 7.8%, respectively) and metabolite 3 (10.5 and 10.0%, respectively). Previous studies suggest that metabolite 1 is the nitrone formed after successive FMO-mediated metabolism of N-hydroxy-DAK. Moreover, these studies display similar metabolic profiles seen with adult and postnatal rat hepatic microsomes. The human and rabbit FMO1 metabolized DAK predominately to the N-hydroxy-DAK in 1 h (36.2 and 25.3%, respectively) with minimal metabolism to the other metabolites (相似文献   

Stereoselective S-oxygenation of 2-aryl-1,3-dithiolanes by the flavin-containing and cytochrome P-450 monooxygenases

The reaction of NalO4, highly purified flavin-containing monooxygenase (EC 1.14.13.8), and microsomes from hog liver with 2-aryl-1,3-dithiolanes and 2-aryl-1,3-dithiolane S-oxides was investigated. The initial rates determined for the microsome- and purified flavin-containing monooxygenase-catalyzed rate of S-oxidation of para-substituted 2-aryl-1,3-dithiolanes were similar, demonstrating that S-oxidation of these substrates occurred with similar velocities at saturating concentrations of substrate and, at least for the first S-oxidation, the reaction was insensitive to the nature of the para-substituent. The diastereoselectivity of S-oxygenation of 2-aryl-1,3-dithiolanes was determined and, in general, a marked preference for addition of oxygen to the sulfide sulfur atom was observed to occur trans to the aryl groups. In all cases examined, enantioselective enzymatic S-oxidation was observed. For S-oxide formation in microsomes, the data provided evidence for a minor role of cytochrome P-450 in S-oxide formation, but the flavin-containing monooxygenase was mainly responsible for production of S-oxide. In contrast to previous reports, the enantioselectivity of S-oxidation catalyzed by highly purified cytochrome P-450IIB-1 and cytochrome P-450IIB-10 was not always opposite to that catalyzed by hog liver flavin-containing monooxygenase activity. 2-Aryl-1,3-dithiolane S-oxides were also oxidized a second time by NalO4, microsomes, or highly purified flavin-containing monooxygenase from hog liver but not cytochrome P-450IIB-1 or P-450IIB-10. The rate of the second oxidation was 10-15-fold slower than the corresponding first S-oxidation and S,S'-dioxide formation was markedly dependent on the electronic nature of the para-substituent (Hammett correlation rho value of -1.3 and -1.1 for microsomes and highly purified flavin-containing monooxygenase from hog liver, respectively). The large dependence of the rate of S,S'-dioxide formation on the nature of the para-substituent demonstrates that velocity values at saturating concentrations of S-oxide were not the same for all 2-aryl-1,3-dithiolane S-oxides and suggests that the chemical nature of the 2-aryl-1,3-dithiolane S-oxide contributes to the rate-determining step of this enzymatic reaction.     

Stereoselective metabolism of rabeprazole-thioether to rabeprazole by human liver microsomes

Objective Rabeprazole is metabolized mainly non-enzymatically to rabeprazole-thioether. This in vitro study was designed to clarify the stereoselective oxidation mechanism and to identify the enzyme(s) involved in the metabolic breakdown of rabeprazole-thioether to rabeprazole. Methods Rabeprazole-thioether was incubated with human liver microsomes and several recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes (CYPs 1A2, 2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4). High-performance liquid chromatography was used for identification and quantification of each rabeprazole enantiomer. Results The K _m and V _max values for the formation of (R)-rabeprazole from rabeprazole-thioether in human liver microsomes were 6.6 μM and 92 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively, whereas those for the formation of (S)-rabeprazole were 5.1 μM and 21 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. CYP3A4 was found to be the major enzyme responsible for (R)- and (S)-rabeprazole formation from rabeprazole-thioether. The intrinsic clearance (V _max /K _m ) for the oxidation by CYP3A4 of (R)-rabeprazole was 3.5-fold higher than that for the (S)-enantiomer (81 nl/min/pmol of P450 vs. 23 nl/min/pmol of P450). On the other hand, CYP2C19 and CYP2D6 were the main enzymes catalyzing the formation of desmethylrabeprazole-thioether from rabeprazole-thioether. The mean K _m and V _max values of desmethylrabeprazole-thioether formation for CYP2C19 were 5.1 μM and 600 pmol/min/nmol of P450, respectively, whereas those for CYP2D6 were 15.1 μM and 736 pmol/min/nmol of P450, respectively. Discussion Rabeprazole is reduced mainly non-enzymatically to rabeprazole-thioether, which is further stereoselectively re-oxidized by CYP3A4 mainly to (R)-rabeprazole. The difference in the enantioselective disposition of rabeprazole is determined by stereoselectivity in CYP3A4-mediated metabolic conversion from rabeprazole-thioether to rabeprazole.     

Stereoselective metabolism of endosulfan by human liver microsomes and human cytochrome P450 isoforms.

Endosulfan (6,7,8,9,10,10-hexachloro-1,5,5a,6,9,9a-hexahydro-6,9-methano-2,3,4-benzo(e)dioxathiepin-3-oxide) is a broad-spectrum chlorinated cyclodiene insecticide. This study was performed to elucidate the stereoselective metabolism of endosulfan in human liver microsomes and to characterize the cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of endosulfan. Human liver microsomal incubation of endosulfan in the presence of NADPH resulted in the formation of the toxic metabolite, endosulfan sulfate. The intrinsic clearances (CL(int)) of endosulfan sulfate from beta-endosulfan were 3.5-fold higher than those from alpha-endosulfan, suggesting that beta-endosulfan would be cleared more rapidly than alpha-endosulfan. Correlation analysis between the known P450 enzyme activities and the rate of the formation of endosulfan sulfate in the 14 human liver microsomes showed that alpha-endosulfan metabolism is significantly correlated with CYP2B6-mediated bupropion hydroxylation and CYP3A-mediated midazolam hydroxylation, and that beta-endosulfan metabolism is correlated with CYP3A activity. The P450 isoform-selective inhibition study in human liver microsomes and the incubation study of cDNA-expressed enzymes also demonstrated that the stereoselective sulfonation of alpha-endosulfan is mediated by CYP2B6, CYP3A4, and CYP3A5, and that that of beta-endosulfan is transformed by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. The total CL(int) values of endosulfan sulfate formation catalyzed by CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 were consistently higher for beta-endosulfan than for the alpha-form (CL(int) of 0.67 versus 10.46 microl/min/pmol P450, respectively). CYP2B6 enantioselectively metabolizes alpha-endosulfan, but not beta-endosulfan. These findings suggest that the CYP2B6 and CYP3A enzymes are major enzymes contributing to the stereoselective disposition of endosulfan.     

Stereoselective metabolism of the monoterpene carvone by rat and human liver microsomes

The large amounts of carvone enantiomers consumed as food additives and in dental formulations justifies the evaluation of their biotransformation pathway. The in-vitro metabolism of R-(-)- and S-(+)-carvone was studied in rat and human liver microsomes using chiral gas chromatography. Stereoselective biotransformation was observed when each enantiomer was incubated separately with liver microsomes. 4R, 6S-(-)-Carveol was NADPH-dependently formed from R-(-)-carvone, whereas 4S, 6S-(+)-carveol was produced from S-(+)-carvone. Metabolite formation followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics exhibiting a significant lower apparent Km (Michaelis-Menten Constant) for 4R, 6S-(-)-carveol compared with 4S, 6S-(+)-carveol in rat and human liver microsomes (28.4+/-10.6 microM and 69.4+/-10.3 microM vs 33.6+/-8-55 microM and 98.3+/-22.4 microM). The maximal formation rate (Vmax) determined in the same microsomal preparations yielded 30.2+/-5.0 and 32.3+/-3.9 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1) in rat liver and 55.3+/-5.7 and 65.2+/-4.3 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1) in human liver microsomes. Phase II conjugation of the carveol isomers by rat and human liver microsomes in the presence of UDPGA (uridine S'-diphosphogluaronic acid) only revealed glucuronidation of 4R, 6S-(-)-carveol. Vmax for glucuronide formation was more than 4-fold higher in the rat liver compared with human liver preparations (185.9+/-34.5 and 42.6+/-7.1 pmol (mg protein)(-1) min(-1), respectively). Km values, however, showed no species-related difference (13.9+/-4.1 microM and 10.2+/-2.2 microM). This study demonstrated stereoselectivity in phase-I and phase-II metabolism for R-(-)- and S-(+)-carvone and might be predictive for carvone biotransformation in man.     

Stereoselective metabolism by human liver CYP enzymes of a substituted benzimidazole.

H 259/31 is a substituted benzimidazole developed as a structural analog of omeprazole. Metabolites of H 259/31 formed in human liver microsomes were identified by using the synthetic reference compounds and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The predominant metabolic pathways found include oxidation of the sulfoxide to sulfone, oxidative O-dealkylation of the cyclopropylmethoxy group to the corresponding pyridone and aromatic hydroxylation to give the phenolic derivative. Stereoselectivity in the metabolism of the enantiomers of H 259/31 was demonstrated in human liver microsomes. The sum of the formation intrinsic clearances of all three metabolites was higher for the S-enantiomer than that of the R-form, indicating that the S-enantiomer is eliminated more rapidly. It was also shown in the present study that the sulfone metabolite is subject to additional metabolism, which should be taken into account when determining the intrinsic clearance for formation of metabolites and when the relative importance of metabolic pathways is determined. Expressed enzymes indicate major involvement of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 2C19 in the formation of the hydroxy derivative as well as in pyridone formation from the enantiomers of H 259/31. CYP3A4 and CYP2C9 seem to contribute as low-affinity enzymes in both reactions. The sulfone metabolite was formed mainly from CYP3A4. Stereoselectivity in CYP3A4-, CYP2C19-, and CYP2C9-mediated metabolic pathways was demonstrated.     

Stereoselective metabolism of lansoprazole by human liver cytochrome P450 enzymes.

The stereoselective metabolism of lansoprazole enantiomers was evaluated by incubation of human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed cytochrome p450 (p450) enzymes to understand and predict their stereoselective disposition in humans in vivo. The intrinsic clearances (Clint) of the formation of both hydroxy and sulfone metabolites from S-lansoprazole were 4.9- and 2.4-fold higher than those from the R-form, respectively. The sums of formation Clint of both metabolites were 13.5 and 57.3 microl/min/mg protein for R- and S-lansoprazole, respectively, suggesting that S-lansoprazole would be cleared more rapidly than the R-form. The p450 isoform selective inhibition study in liver microsomes, and the incubation study of cDNA-expressed enzymes, demonstrated that the stereoselective sulfoxidation is mediated by CYP3A4 and that the hydroxylation is mediated by CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 as well as by CYP2C19. Total Clint values of hydroxy and sulfone metabolite formation catalyzed by all these p450 enzymes were consistently higher for S-lansoprazole than for the R-form. The CYP3A4 produced the greatest difference of Clint between S- and R-enantiomers, mainly due to a difference of sulfoxidation metabolism (Clint 76.5 versus 10.8 microl/min/nmol of p450, respectively), whereas CYP2C19-catalyzed hydroxylation resulted in a minor difference of Clint between S- and R-enantiomers (179.6 versus 143.3 microl/min/nmol of p450, respectively). However, the affinity of CYP2C19 on hydroxylation was 5.7-fold higher for S-enantiomer than for the R-form (Km 2.3 versus 13.1 microM), suggesting that the role of CYP2C19 on stereoselective hydroxylation would be more prominent at concentrations around the usual therapeutic level. These findings suggest that both CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 are major enzymes contributing to the stereoselective disposition of lansoprazole, but stereoselective hydroxylation of lansoprazole enantiomers is mainly influenced by CYP2C19, especially at the usual therapeutic doses.     

The implications of polymorphisms in mammalian flavin-containing monooxygenases in drug discovery and development

Use of the human flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) in drug design and discovery could represent a paradigm shift in drug development and basic research. Although FMOs have been previously viewed as minor contributors to drug metabolism, the advantages associated with using FMOs to diversify the metabolism of a drug are now being recognized. Because FMOs typically oxygenate a wide variety of nucleophilic compounds to polar, benign metabolites, and because drugs do not induce expression of FMOs or inhibit their activity, potential drug-drug interactions are minimized. Interindividual variation for this class of enzyme is largely dependent on genetic variation. Examples of FMO allelic variation and splicing variants suggest that these genetic mutations could contribute to the interindividual and interethnic variability of FMO-mediated metabolism.     

Characterization of diuron N-demethylation by mammalian hepatic microsomes and cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Diuron, a widely used herbicide and antifouling biocide, has been shown to persist in the environment and contaminate drinking water. It has been characterized as a "known/likely" human carcinogen. Whereas its environmental transformation and toxicity have been extensively examined, its metabolic characteristics in mammalian livers have not been reported. This study was designed to investigate diuron biotransformation and disposition because metabolic routes, metabolizing enzymes, interactions, interspecies differences, and interindividual variability are important for risk assessment purposes. The only metabolic pathway detected by liquid chromatography/mass spectometry in human liver homogenates and seven types of mammalian liver microsomes including human was demethylation at the terminal nitrogen atom. No other phase I or phase II metabolites were observed. The rank order of N-demethyldiuron formation in liver microsomes based on intrinsic clearance (V(max)/K(m)) was dog > monkey > rabbit > mouse > human > minipig > rat. All tested recombinant human cytochrome P450s (P450s) catalyzed diuron N-demethylation and the highest activities were possessed by CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6. Relative contributions of human CYP1A2, CYP2C19, and CYP3A4 to hepatic diuron N-demethylation, based on average abundances of P450 enzymes in human liver microsomes, were approximately 60, 14, and 13%, respectively. Diuron inhibited relatively potently only CYP1A1/2 (IC(50) 4 microM). With human-derived and quantitative chemical-specific data, the uncertainty factors for animal to human differences and for human variability in toxicokinetics were within the range of the toxicokinetics default uncertainty/safety factors for chemical risk assessment.     

Developmental and tissue-specific expression of human flavin-containing monooxygenases 1 and 3

Substantial changes occur in drug and toxicant disposition during early life stages that can impact therapeutic efficacy and adverse reactions to drugs and toxicants. Of the many parameters involved, alterations in drug metabolism are of major importance. Although the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenases are accepted as playing a substantial role in drug and toxicant metabolism, the flavin-containing monooxygenases (FMOs) also have an important role. Apparently unique to the human, FMO3 is the most abundant FMO family member in the adult human liver, whereas FMO1 dominates in most animal models. However, early studies documented that FMO1 is the most abundant FMO enzyme in the human fetal liver, whereas FMO3 is essentially absent. This review focuses on recent studies characterising human FMO ontogeny and, in particular, the 'switch' in hepatic FMO enzyme expression. Because it is so closely related, tissue-specific expression patterns also are examined. Finally, a summary of what is known in animal models is presented as a point of comparison.