CYP2J2 and CYP2C19 Are the Major Enzymes Responsible for Metabolism of Albendazole and Fenbendazole in Human Liver Microsomes and Recombinant P450 Assay Systems

Albendazole and fenbendazole are broad-spectrum anthelmintics that undergo extensive metabolism to form hydroxyl and sulfoxide metabolites. Although CYP3A and flavin-containing monooxygenase have been implicated in sulfoxide metabolite formation, the enzymes responsible for hydroxyl metabolite formation have not been identified. In this study, we used human liver microsomes and recombinant cytochrome P450s (P450s) to characterize the enzymes involved in the formation of hydroxyalbendazole and hydroxyfenbendazole from albendazole and fenbendazole, respectively. Of the 10 recombinant P450s, CYP2J2 and/or CYP2C19 was the predominant enzyme catalyzing the hydroxylation of albendazole and fenbendazole. Albendazole hydroxylation to hydroxyalbendazole is primarily mediated by CYP2J2 (0.34 μl/min/pmol P450, which is a rate 3.9- and 8.1-fold higher than the rates for CYP2C19 and CYP2E1, respectively), whereas CYP2C19 and CYP2J2 contributed to the formation of hydroxyfenbendazole from fenbendazole (2.68 and 1.94 μl/min/pmol P450 for CYP2C19 and CYP2J2, respectively, which are rates 11.7- and 8.4-fold higher than the rate for CYP2D6). Correlation analysis between the known P450 enzyme activities and the rate of hydroxyalbendazole and hydroxyfenbendazole formation in samples from 14 human liver microsomes showed that albendazole hydroxylation correlates with CYP2J2 activity and fenbendazole hydroxylation correlates with CYP2C19 and CYP2J2 activities. These findings were supported by a P450 isoform-selective inhibition study in human liver microsomes. In conclusion, our data for the first time suggest that albendazole hydroxylation is primarily catalyzed by CYP2J2, whereas fenbendazole hydroxylation is preferentially catalyzed by CYP2C19 and CYP2J2. The present data will be useful in understanding the pharmacokinetics and drug interactions of albendazole and fenbendazole in vivo.     

Tolbutamide and mephenytoin hydroxylation by human cytochrome P450s in the CYP2C subfamily

Previous biochemical studies have suggested that tolbutamide and mephenytoin are metabolized by the same cytochrome P450 enzyme. Conversely, clinical studies indicate the involvement of different P450 forms in tolbutamide and mephenytoin metabolism. Our objective was to elucidate further those P450 enzymes responsible for hydroxylation of these two drugs. We studied both tolbutamide and (S)-mephenytoin hydroxylation in microsomes from 38 different normal adult human livers, and found large variability in the rates of metabolism for both reactions (1.75-47.4 nmol/mg/hr for hydroxytolbutamide formation and 0.1-7.2 nmol/mg/hr for 4-hydroxymephenytoin formation). No significant correlation was found between the two activities. However, both reactions shared common inhibitors in vitro, including inhibition by antikidney-liver-microsome autoantibodies (Meier and Meyer, Biochemistry 26: 8466-8474, 1987) and by teniposide. Two human liver cDNAs for P450s of the CYP2C subfamily designated IIC8 and IIC9 (S. Kimura, J. Pastewka, H. V. Gelboin and F. J. Gonzalez, Nucl. Acids Res. 15: 10053-10054, 1987), were functionally expressed in human HepG2 and TK- cells using a vaccinia virus vector. Interestingly, tolbutamide was hydroxylated by both expressed P450s. Only IIC9 catalyzed the 4-hydroxylation of (R)-mephenytoin and neither enzyme metabolized (S)-mephenytoin. We conclude that tolbutamide and (R)-mephenytoin are both metabolized by the same P450 enzyme, IIC9, and that tolbutamide is hydroxylated by an additional highly related enzyme, IIC8, contributing to the lack of correlation of the two hydroxylase activities among human liver microsomes and indicating the absence of a monogenically controlled polymorphism for tolbutamide.     

Metabolism of methadone and levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) by human intestinal cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4): potential contribution of intestinal metabolism to presystemic clearance and bioactivation

Methadone and levo-alpha-acetylmethadol (LAAM) are opioid agonists used for analgesia and preventing opiate withdrawal. Methadone is sequentially N-demethylated to the inactive metabolites 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) and 2-ethyl-5-methyl-3,3-diphenylpyraline (EMDP). LAAM is essentially a prodrug that undergoes bioactivation via sequential N-demethylation to levo-alpha-acetyl-N-normethadol (nor-LAAM) and levo-alpha-acetyl-N,N-dinormethadol (dinor-LAAM). Methadone and LAAM are metabolized by CYP3A4 in human liver. Since they are administered orally, and CYP3A4 is expressed in human intestine, we tested the hypotheses that human intestine can metabolize methadone and LAAM, and evaluated the participation of CYP3A4. Intestinal microsomal methadone N-demethylation exhibited hyperbolic noncooperative kinetics and biphasic Eadie-Hofstee plots. Using a dual-enzyme Michaelis-Menten model, K(m) values were 11 and 1200 microM for EDDP and 23 and 930 microM for EMDP formation, respectively. CYP3A4 inhibitors (troleandomycin and ketoconazole) inhibited EDDP and EMDP formation by >70%. Methadone N-demethylation by CYP3A4 showed biphasic Eadie-Hofstee plots without evidence of positive cooperativity; K(m) values were 10 and 1100 microM for EDDP and 20 and 1000 microM for EMDP formation. Intestinal microsomal LAAM and nor-LAAM N-demethylation also exhibited hyperbolic kinetics and biphasic Eadie-Hofstee plots. K(m) values were 21 and 980 microM for nor-LAAM from LAAM and 18 and 1200 microM for dinor-LAAM from nor-LAAM. Troleandomycin and ketoconazole inhibited N-demethylation by >70%. LAAM and nor-LAAM metabolism by CYP3A4 showed biphasic Eadie-Hofstee plots without evidence of positive cooperativity; K(m) values were 8 and 1300 microM, 6 and 950 microM, respectively. Predicted in vivo intestinal extraction of methadone and LAAM is 21 and 33%, respectively. We conclude that methadone, LAAM, and nor-LAAM are metabolized by human intestinal microsomes; CYP3A4 is the predominant cytochrome P450 isoform; CYP3A4-catalyzed methadone, LAAM, and nor-LAAM metabolism is characterized by noncooperative, multisite kinetics; and intestinal metabolism may contribute to presystemic methadone inactivation and LAAM bioactivation.     

Evidence for the involvement of human liver microsomes CYP1A2 in the mono-hydroxylation of daidzein

BACKGROUND: In vitro studies with rats and human liver microsomes (HLM) demonstrated that daidzein is readily metabolized to mono-hydroxylated compounds. In this study, daidzein mono-hydroxylated metabolites was investigated using human liver microsomes to identify the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoform(s) involved in this metabolic pathway. METHODS: Kinetic analysis for the formation rates of mono-hydroxylated metabolites of daidzein, including 7,8,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (7,8,4'-THI), 7,3,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (7,3,4'-THI) and 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (6,7,4'-THI), were performed using human liver microsomes (HLM) and recombinant enzymes at substrate concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 400 micromol/l. Nine selective inhibitors or substrate probes specific for different CYP isoforms were applied for screening the isoform(s) responsible for mono-hydroxylated metabolism of daidzein. RESULTS: Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters were best fitted to a one-component enzyme kinetic model. The mean K(m) (micromol/l) and V(max) (micromol/g min) values (+/-S.D.) were 26.86 (10.45) and 4.76 (2.07), 53.83 (22.25) and 2.29 (1.04), 51.48 (29.32) and 2.21(0.82), for the formation rates of 7,8,4'-THI, 7,3',4'-THI and 6,7,4'-THI, respectively. Furafylline, the CYP1A2-specific inhibitor, estrogen and monoclonal antibody raised against human CYP1A2 (MAB-1A2) substantially inhibited the formation rates of mono-hydroxylated metabolites. The IC(50) of Fur for the formation of 7,3',4'-THI, 6,7,4'-THI and 7,8,4'-THI was 1.0, 0.9 and 0.8 micromol/l, respectively. The IC(50) of estrogen for the formation of 7,3',4'-THI, 6,7,4'-THI and 7,8,4'-THI was 51, 60 and 64 micromol/l, respectively. The IC(50) of MAB-1A2 for the formation of the mono-hydroxylated products was 1 micromol/l, but neither other selective inhibitor nor substrate probes, including coumarin (CYP2D6), sulphaphenzole (CYP2C9/10), omeprazole (CYP2C19), quinidine (CYP2D6), diethyldithiocarbamate (CYP2E1), troleandomycin (CYP3A4) and keteconazole (CYP3A4), did so with human liver microsomes. CONCLUSION: Daidzein mono-hydroxylated products are principally metabolized by CYP1A2 in human.     

Activation of human cytochrome P-450 3A4-catalyzed meloxicam 5'-methylhydroxylation by quinidine and hydroquinidine in vitro.

In humans, meloxicam is metabolized mainly by cytochrome P-450 (CYP)-dependent hydroxylation of the 5'-methyl group. The predominant P-450 enzyme involved in meloxicam metabolism is CYP 2C9, with a minor contribution of CYP 3A4. Quinidine, a CYP 3A4 substrate commonly used as a selective in vitro inhibitor of CYP 2D6, was found to markedly increase the rate of meloxicam hydroxylation during in vitro experiments with human liver microsomes. A similar activation was observed with other compounds that are structurally related to quinidine. Besides quinidine, quinine and hydroquinidine were the most potent activators of meloxicam hydroxylation. Using expressed cytochrome P-450 enzymes and selective chemical inhibitors of CYP 2C9 and CYP 3A4, it was found that quinidine markedly increased the rate of CYP 3A4-mediated meloxicam hydroxylation but was virtually without effect on CYP 2C9. Kinetic analysis was performed to obtain insight into the possible mechanism of activation of CYP 3A4 and into the mutual interaction of quinidine/hydroquinidine and meloxicam. Quinidine and hydroquinidine decreased Km and increased Vmax of meloxicam hydroxylation, which was consistent with a mixed-type nonessential activation. Meloxicam, in turn, decreased both Km and Vmax of quinidine metabolism by CYP 3A4, indicating an uncompetitive inhibition mechanism. These results support the assumption that CYP 3A4 possesses at least two different substrate-binding sites. A clinically relevant effect on meloxicam drug therapy is not expected, because the most likely outcome in practice is moderately decreased meloxicam plasma concentrations.     

Metabolic activation of pradefovir by CYP3A4 and its potential as an inhibitor or inducer

Metabolic activation of pradefovir to 9-(2-phosphonylmethoxyethyl)adenine (PMEA) was evaluated by using cDNA-expressed CYP isozymes in portal vein-cannulated rats following oral administration and in human liver microsomes. The enzyme induction potential of pradefovir was evaluated in rats following multiple oral dosing and in primary cultures of human hepatocytes. The results indicated that CYP3A4 is the only cDNA-expressed CYP isozyme catalyzing the conversion of pradefovir to PMEA. Pradefovir was converted to PMEA in human liver microsomes with a K(m) of 60 microM, a maximum rate of metabolism of 228 pmol/min/mg protein, and an intrinsic clearance of about 359 ml/min. Addition of ketoconazole and monoclonal antibody 3A4 significantly inhibits the conversion of pradefovir to PMEA in human liver microsomes, suggesting the predominant role of CYP3A4 in the metabolic activation of pradefovir. Pradefovir at 0.2, 2, and 20 microM was neither a direct inhibitor nor a mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2E1, and CYP1A2 in human liver microsomes. In rats, the liver was the site of metabolic activation of pradefovir, whereas the small intestine did not play a significant role in the metabolic conversion of pradefovir to PMEA. Daily oral dosing (300 mg/kg of body weight) to rats for 8 days showed that pradefovir was not an inducer of P450 enzymes in rats. Furthermore, pradefovir at 10 microg/ml was not an inducer of either CYP1A2 or CYP3A4/5 in primary cultures of human hepatocytes.     

The cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) is the main catalyst of efavirenz primary and secondary metabolism: implication for HIV/AIDS therapy and utility of efavirenz as a substrate marker of CYP2B6 catalytic activity

We used human liver microsomes (HLMs) and recombinant cytochromes P450 (P450s) to identify the routes of efavirenz metabolism and the P450s involved. In HLMs, efavirenz undergoes primary oxidative hydroxylation to 8-hydroxyefavirenz (major) and 7-hydroxyefavirenz (minor) and secondary metabolism to 8,14-dihydroxyefavirenz. The formation of 8-hydroxyefavirenz in two HLMs showed sigmoidal kinetics (average apparent Km, 20.2 micro M; Vmax, 140 pmol/min/mg protein; and Hill coefficient, 1.5), whereas that of 7-hydroxyefavirenz formation was characterized by hyperbolic kinetics (Km, 40.1 micro M and Vmax, 20.5 pmol/min/mg protein). In a panel of 10 P450s, CYP2B6 formed 8-hydroxyefavirenz and 8,14-dihydroxyefavirenz from efavirenz (10 micro M) at the highest rate. The Km value for the formation of 8-hydroxyefavirenz in CYP2B6 derived from hyperbolic Eq. 12.4 micro M) was close to that obtained in HLMs (Km, 20.2 micro M). None of the P450s tested showed activity toward 7-hydroxylation of efavirenz. When 8-hydroxyefavirenz (2.5 micro M) was used as a substrate, 8,14-dihydroxyefavirenz was formed by CYP2B6 at the highest rate, and its kinetics showed substrate inhibition (Ksi, approximately 94 micro M in HLMs and approximately 234 micro M in CYP2B6). In a panel of 11 HLMs, 8-hydroxyefavirenz and 8,14-dihydroxyefavirenz formation rates from efavirenz (10 micro M) correlated significantly with the activity of CYP2B6 and CYP3A. N,N',N"-Triethylenethiophosphoramide (thioTEPA; 50 micro M) inhibited the formation rates of 8-hydroxyefavirenz and 8,14-dihydroxyefavirenz from efavirenz (10 micro M) by > or = 60% in HLMs) and CYP2B6, with Ki values < 4 micro M. In conclusion, CYP2B6 is the principal catalyst of efavirenz sequential hydroxylation. Efavirenz systemic exposure is likely to be subject to interindividual variability in CYP2B6 activity and to drug interactions involving this isoform. Efavirenz may be a valuable phenotyping tool to study the role of CYP2B6 in human drug metabolism.     

Midazolam and triazolam biotransformation in mouse and human liver microsomes: relative contribution of CYP3A and CYP2C isoforms

Midazolam (MDZ) and triazolam (TRZ) hydroxylation, reactions considered to be cytochrome P-4503A (CYP3A)-mediated in humans, were examined in mouse and human liver microsomes. In both species, alpha- and 4-hydroxy metabolites were the principal products. Western blotting with anti-CYP3A1 antibody detected a single band of immunoreactive protein in both human and mouse samples: 0.45 +/- 0. 12 and 2.02 +/- 0.24 pmol/mg protein (mean +/- S.E., n = 3), respectively. Ketoconazole potently inhibited MDZ and TRZ metabolite formation in human liver microsomes (IC(50) range, 0.038-0.049 microM). Ketoconazole also inhibited the formation of both TRZ metabolites and of 4-OH-MDZ formation in mouse liver microsomes (IC(50) range, 0.0076-0.025 microM). However, ketoconazole (10 microM) did not produce 50% inhibition of alpha-OH-MDZ formation in mouse liver microsomes. Anti-CYP3A1 antibodies produced concentration-dependent inhibition of MDZ and TRZ metabolite formation in human liver microsomes and of TRZ metabolite and 4-OH-MDZ formation in mouse liver microsomes to less than 20% of control values but reduced alpha-OH-MDZ formation to only 66% of control values in mouse liver microsomes. Anti-CYP2C11 antibodies inhibited alpha-OH-MDZ metabolite formation in a concentration-dependent manner to 58% of control values in mouse liver microsomes but did not inhibit 4-OH-MDZ formation. Thus, TRZ hydroxylation appears to be CYP3A specific in mice and humans. alpha-Hydroxylation of MDZ has a major CYP2C component in addition to CYP3A in mice, demonstrating that metabolic profiles of drugs in animals cannot be assumed to reflect human metabolic patterns, even with closely related substrates.     

Major role of human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) in the oxidative metabolism of celecoxib, a novel cyclooxygenase-II inhibitor

In vitro studies were conducted to identify the cytochromes P450 (CYP) involved in the oxidative metabolism of celecoxib. The hydroxylation of celecoxib conformed to monophasic Michaelis-Menten kinetics (mean +/- S.D., n = 4 livers, K(m) = 3.8 +/- 0.95 microM, V(max) = 0.70 +/- 0.45 nmol/min/mg protein) in the presence of human liver microsomes, although substrate inhibition was significant at higher celecoxib concentrations. The treatment of a panel of human liver microsomal samples (n = 16 subjects) with antibodies against CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 inhibited the formation of hydroxy celecoxib by 72 to 92% and 0 to 27%, respectively. The presence of both antibodies in the incubation suppressed the activity by 90 to 94%. In addition, the formation of hydroxy celecoxib significantly correlated with CYP2C9-selective tolbutamide methyl hydroxylation (r = 0.92, P <. 001) and CYP3A-selective testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation (r = 0.55, P <.02). In contrast, correlation with activities selective for other forms of CYP was weak (r 相似文献   

Amodiaquine clearance and its metabolism to N-desethylamodiaquine is mediated by CYP2C8: a new high affinity and turnover enzyme-specific probe substrate.

Amodiaquine (AQ) metabolism to N-desethylamodiaquine (DEAQ) is the principal route of disposition in humans. Using human liver microsomes and two sets of recombinant human cytochrome P450 isoforms (from lymphoblastoids and yeast) we performed studies to identify the CYP isoform(s) involved in the metabolism of AQ. CYP2C8 was the main hepatic isoform that cleared AQ and catalyzed the formation of DEAQ. The extrahepatic P450s, 1A1 and 1B1, also cleared AQ and catalyzed the formation of an unknown metabolite M2. The K(m) and V(max) values for AQ N-desethylation were 1.2 microM and 2.6 pmol/min/pmol of CYP2C8 for recombinant CYP2C8, and 2.4 microM and 1462 pmol/min/mg of protein for human liver microsomes (HLMs), respectively. Relative contribution of CYP2C8 in the formation of DEAQ was estimated at 100% using the relative activity factor method. Correlation analyses between AQ metabolism and the activities of eight hepatic P450s were made on 10 different HLM samples. Both the formation of DEAQ and the clearance of AQ showed excellent correlations (r(2) = 0.98 and 0.95) with 6alpha-hydroxylation of paclitaxel, a marker substrate for CYP2C8. The inhibition of DEAQ formation by quercetin was competitive with K(i) values of 1.96 for CYP2C8 and 1.56 microM for HLMs. Docking of AQ into the active site homology models of the CYP2C isoforms showed favorable interactions with CYP2C8, which supported the likelihood of an N-desethylation reaction. These data show that CYP2C8 is the main hepatic isoform responsible for the metabolism of AQ. The specificity, high affinity, and high turnover make AQ desethylation an excellent marker reaction for CYP2C8 activity.     

Beneficial effects of a new 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid synthesis inhibitor, TS-011 [N-(3-chloro-4-morpholin-4-yl) phenyl-N'-hydroxyimido formamide], on hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke

The present study characterized the effects of TS-011 [N-(3-chloro-4-morpholin-4-yl) phenyl-N'-hydroxyimido formamide], a new selective inhibitor of the synthesis of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), on the metabolism of arachidonic acid by human and rat renal microsomes and the inhibitory effects of this compound on hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes involved in drug metabolism. The effects of TS-011 on the fall in cerebral blood flow following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and in reducing infarct size in ischemic stroke models were also examined since 20-HETE may contribute to the development of cerebral vasospasm. TS-011 inhibited the synthesis of 20-HETE by human renal microsomes and recombinant CYP4A11 and 4F2, 4F3A, and 4F3B enzymes with IC50 values around 10 to 50 nM. It had no effect on the activities of CYP1A, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, or 3A4 enzymes. TS-011 inhibited the synthesis of 20-HETE by rat renal microsomes with an IC50 of 9.19 nM, and it had no effect on epoxygenase activity at a concentration of 100 microM. TS-011 (0.01-1 mg/kg i.v.) reversed the fall in cerebral blood flow and the increase in 20-HETE levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of rats after SAH. TS-011 also reduced the infarct volume by 35% following transient ischemic stroke and in intracerebral hemorrhage in rats. Injection of 20-HETE (8 or 12 mg/kg) into the carotid artery produced an infarct similar to that seen in the ischemic stroke model. These studies indicate that blockade of the synthesis of 20-HETE with TS-011 opposes cerebral vasospasm following SAH and reduces infarct size in ischemic models of stroke.     

Contribution of CYP3A5 to the in vitro hepatic clearance of tacrolimus

BACKGROUND: Tacrolimus is metabolized predominantly to 13-O-demethyltacrolimus in the liver and intestine by cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A). Patients with high concentrations of CYP3A5, a CYP3A isoenzyme polymorphically produced in these organs, require higher doses of tacrolimus, but the exact mechanism of this association is unknown. METHODS: cDNA-expressed CYP3A enzymes and a bank of human liver microsomes with known CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 content were used to investigate the contribution of CYP3A5 to the metabolism of tacrolimus to 13-O-demethyltacrolimus as quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. RESULTS: Demethylation of tacrolimus to 13-O-demethyltacrolimus was the predominant clearance reaction. Calculated K(m) and V(max) values for CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and CYP3A7 cDNA-expressed microsomes were 1.5 micromol/L and 0.72 pmol x (pmol P450)(-1) x min(-1), 1.4 micromol/L and 1.1 pmol x (pmol P450)(-1) x min(-1), and 6 micromol/L and 0.084 pmol x (pmol P450)(-1) x min(-1), respectively. Recombinant CYP3A5 metabolized tacrolimus with a catalytic efficiency (V(max)/K(m)) that was 64% higher than that of CYP3A4. The contribution of CYP3A5 to 13-O-demethylation of tacrolimus in human liver microsomes varied from 1.5% to 40% (median, 18.8%). There was an inverse association between the contribution of CYP3A5 to 13-O-demethylation and the amount of 3A4 protein (r = 0.90; P <0.0001). Mean 13-O-demethylation clearances in CYP3A5 high and low expressers, estimated by the parallel-tube liver model, were 8.6 and 3.57 mL x min(-1) x (kg of body weight)(-1), respectively (P = 0.0088). CONCLUSIONS: CYP3A5 affects metabolism of tacrolimus, thus explaining the association between CYP3A5 genotype and tacrolimus dosage. The importance of CYP3A5 status for tacrolimus clearance is also dependent on the concomitant CYP3A4 activity.     

Characterization of human cytochrome P450 isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of vinorelbine

Vinorelbine (VRL) (IV Navelbine) is a semi-synthetic vinca alkaloid, used in therapeutics for the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer and advanced breast cancer. The aim of this study was to characterize the cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes involved in VRL metabolism. VRL was incubated at 1.28 x 10(-5) m for 90 min with human hepatic microsomes prepared from 14 donors (one woman and 13 men aged from 27 to 76 years old) and characterized for CYP1A2, CYP2D6, CYP2E1 and CYP3A4 activities. A four-combined-approach study was performed, including correlation between CYP activities and VRL metabolism among the 14 batches of microsomes, inhibition of VRL biotransformation by isoform-selective substrates and by specific inhibitory antibodies, and incubation with supersomes. Analysis of unchanged VRL and its metabolites was performed using an HPLC method coupled with both radioactive and UV detections. No correlation between CYP1A2 or CYP2E1 and VRL metabolism was observed in the 14 batches of microsomes used. A correlation was shown between VRL metabolism and CYP3A4 activity as determined with the dextromethorphan N-demethylase and nifedipine oxidase activities (r(2)=0.80 and 0.59, respectively). These results were strengthened by a correlation between the metabolism extent of VRL and CYP3A4 protein content determined by immunoblotting (r(2)=0.75). Furthermore, VRL biotransformation was inhibited by troleandomycine, the CYP3A4-specific inhibitor substrate (80% of inhibition) and by anti-CYP3A antibodies (36% of inhibition). On the contrary, a low correlation with CYP2D6 activity as determined by dextrometorphan O-demethylation (r(2)=0.31) was established. CYP2D6 supersomes did not metabolize the drug whereas 63.4% of VRL were metabolized by microsomes overexpressing CYP3A4 isoform. These data indicated that CYP3A4 is the main enzyme involved in the hepatic metabolism of VRL in human, whereas CYP2D6 is not involved.     

CYP2J2*7 single nucleotide polymorphism in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND: Human cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) is the major arachidonic acid epoxygenase that plays important roles in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases such as cardiovascular disorders and cancers, this P450 also plays a role in the metabolism of some antihistamine drugs. Variability of CYP2J2 gene is highly constrained except for at its proximal promoter a relatively common and functionally relevant single nucleotide polymorphism, namely CYP2J2*7, with allele frequency being 17%, 5.49%, 13%, and 4.23% in African, White, Asian, and Korean, respectively. Since this genetic variation differs strikingly between ethnic groups, we characterized the CYP2J2*7polymorphism in Chinese. METHODS: Polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assays were used to genotype CYP2J2*7 in a sample of 384 healthy Chinese Han subjects. RESULTS: In this Chinese population, 20 (5.21%) heterozygotes and no homozygote for CYP2J2*7 allele were observed, and the allelic frequency was 2.60%. CONCLUSION: The CYP2J2*7 variant represents a relatively rare polymorphism in Chinese, with the allele frequency being comparable to that of Korean, but significantly lower than those of African and White groups. This data may be informative to design population-based association study of genetic predisposition to CYP2J2 related diseases and treatments.     

Cytochrome P450 and myocardial ischemia: potential pharmacological implication for cardioprotection

Cytochromes P450 (CYP) are a large family of enzymes widely involved in hepatic drug metabolism. While most CYP are extensively expressed in the liver, some of them are also detected in the heart where they participate through arachidonic acid metabolism to a variety of eicosanoids synthesis with different cardiovascular effects. Studies performed in the last years reported that several isoenzymes of microsomal CYP (i.e. CYP 2J2, CYP 2C8, CYP 2C9, CYP 4F) can play a role in the pathogenesis of ischemia–reperfusion. Moreover, various data indicate that microsomal CYP could represent a relevant target to develop pharmacological therapies to attenuate ischemia–reperfusion injury in the heart. As mitochondria appear to play a central role during ischemia–reperfusion, mitochondrial CYP, mainly involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis, could also become potential therapeutic target for cardioprotective strategies. Indeed, CYP 11A1 and CYP 27A1 could contribute to the preservation of the mitochondrial integrity by limiting the formation and enhancing elimination of toxic oxysterols. Further studies are required to explore whether modulation of these mitochondrial CYP could really produce cardioprotection in the human heart.     

Catalytic activity and isoform-specific inhibition of rat cytochrome p450 4F enzymes

Arachidonic acid is omega-hydroxylated to 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), which has effects on vasoactivity and renal tubular transport and has been implicated in the regulation of blood pressure. Cytochrome p450 (p450) 4A isoforms are generally considered the major arachidonic acid omega-hydroxylases; however, little is known about the role of rat CYP4F isoforms in 20-HETE formation. The rat CYP4F isoforms, CYP4F1, CYP4F4, CYP4F5, and CYP4F6, were heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and their substrate specificity in fatty acid metabolism was characterized. Substrate-binding assays indicated that leukotriene B(4) (LTB(4)) and arachidonic acid bound CYP4F1 and CYP4F4 in a type-I manner with a K(s) of 25 to 59 microM, and lauric acid bound CYP4F4 poorly. Reconstituted CYP4F1 and CYP4F4 catalyzed the omega-hydroxylation of LTB(4) with a K(m) of 24 and 31 microM, respectively, and CYP4F5 had minor activity in LTB(4) metabolism. Importantly, CYP4F1 and CYP4F4 catalyzed the omega-hydroxylation of arachidonic acid with an apparent k(cat) of 9 and 11 min(-1), respectively. Lauric acid was a poor substrate for all of the CYP4F isoforms, and CYP4F6 had no detectable fatty acid omega-hydroxylase activity. The p450 omega-hydroxylase inhibitors 17-octadecynoic acid, 10-undecynyl sulfate, and N-methylsulfonyl-12,12-dibromododec-11-enamide showed isoform-specific inhibition of CYP4F1- and CYP4F4-catalyzed omega-hydroxylation of arachidonic acid and potency differences between the CYP4A and CYP4F isoforms. These data support a significant role for CYP4F1 and CYP4F4 in the formation of 20-HETE and identify p450 inhibitors that can be used to understand the relative contribution of the CYP4A and CYP4F isoforms to renal 20-HETE formation.     

Analysis of differential substrate selectivities of CYP2B6 and CYP2E1 by site-directed mutagenesis and molecular modeling

Human CYP2B6 and CYP2E1 were used to investigate the extent to which differential substrate selectivities between cytochrome P450 subfamilies reflect differences in active-site residues as opposed to distinct arrangement of the backbone of the enzymes. Reciprocal CYP2B6 and CYP2E1 mutants at active-site positions 103, 209, 294, 363, 367, and 477 (numbering according to CYP2B6) were characterized using the CYP2B6-selective substrate 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin, the CYP2E1-selective substrate p-nitrophenol, and the common substrates 7-ethoxycoumarin, 7-butoxycoumarin, and arachidonic acid. This report is the first to study the active site of CYP2E1 by systematic site-directed mutagenesis. One of the most intriguing findings was that substitution of CYP2E1 Phe-477 with valine from CYP2B6 resulted in significant 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin deethylation. Use of three-dimensional models of CYP2B6 and CYP2E1 based on the crystal structure of CYP2C5 suggested that deethylation of 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin by CYP2E1 is impeded by van der Waals overlaps with the side chain of Phe-477. Interestingly, none of the CYP2B6 mutants acquired enhanced ability to hydroxylate p-nitrophenol. Substitution of residue 363 in CYP2E1 and CYP2B6 resulted in significant alterations of the metabolite profile for the side chain hydroxylation of 7-butoxycoumarin. Probing of CYP2E1 mutants with arachidonic acid indicated that residues Leu-209 and Phe-477 are critical for substrate orientation in the active site. Overall, the study revealed that differences in the side chains of active-site residues are partially responsible for differential substrate selectivities across cytochrome P450 subfamilies. However, the relative importance of active-site residues appears to be dependent on the structural similarity of the compound to other substrates of the enzyme.     

Chloramphenicol is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes

The inhibitory effect of chloramphenicol on human cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms was evaluated with human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed CYPs. Chloramphenicol had a potent inhibitory effect on CYP2C19-catalyzed S-mephytoin 4′-hydroxylation and CYP3A4-catalyzed midazolam 1-hydroxylation, with apparent 50% inhibitory concentrations (inhibitory constant [K_i] values are shown in parentheses) of 32.0 (7.7) and 48.1 (10.6) μM, respectively. Chloramphenicol also weakly inhibited CYP2D6, with an apparent 50% inhibitory concentration (K_i) of 375.9 (75.8) μM. The mechanism of the drug interaction reported between chloramphenicol and phenytoin, which results in the elevation of plasma phenytoin concentrations, is clinically assumed to result from the inhibition of CYP2C9 by chloramphenicol. However, using human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed CYPs, we showed this interaction arises from the inhibition of CYP2C19- not CYP2C9-catalyzed phenytoin metabolism. In conclusion, inhibition of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 is the probable mechanism by which chloramphenicol decreases the clearance of coadministered drugs, which manifests as a drug interaction with chloramphenicol.