氯米帕明在体外人肝微粒体中的氮位去甲基代谢

采用人肝微粒体应用酶促动力学分析,观察特异性细胞色素P450(CYP450)抑制剂对氯米帕明(CIM) N-去甲基代谢的作用以及CIM去甲基代谢与S-美芬妥英4′-羟化代谢的相关性,以阐明参与CIM N-去甲基代谢的CYP450的种类, 性质及其在代谢中的作用. 酶促动力学分析结果表明有高亲和力酶及具有底物别构激活特性的低亲和力酶参与了CIM的N-去甲基代谢. 抑制实验结果表明CYP 1A2特异性抑制剂呋拉茶碱（Fur）主要抑制低浓度CIM的去甲基代谢,CYP 3A4特异性 抑制剂醋竹桃霉素（TAO）主要抑制高浓度CIM去甲基代谢. 相关实验发现3 μmol·L^-1 CIM代谢生成N-去甲基CIM的速率与200 μmol·L^-1 S-美芬妥英生成4′-羟基美芬妥英的速率无显著相关性, 提示CYP 2C19对于催化人肝微粒体中CIM的去甲基代谢仅起较为次要或很小的作用. 结果表明,CYP 1A2主要参与低浓度CIM在体外人肝微粒体N-去甲基代谢,CYP 3A4因其底物激活特性主要在高浓度CIM的去甲基代谢中起作用,CYP 2C19则作用很小.     

PAC-1在人肝微粒体中的代谢产物分析

目的初步阐明procaspase activating compound 1(PAC-1)在人肝微粒中的代谢情况。方法在一定的人肝微粒体浓度中加入药物,温孵后,采用液相色谱-飞行时间质谱法对孵化体系中的代谢产物进行分析。在正离子模式下,采用全扫描方式对代谢物进行检测。结果在人肝微粒体孵化体系中,除原型外共检测到4个代谢产物,代谢物的结构为脱苄基PAC-1和羟基化PAC-1。结论PAC-1在人肝微粒体系中的代谢途径为脱苄基化和羟基化。本研究结果对于进一步了解PAC-1在人体中的代谢和结构修饰具有重要的意义。     

Guanethidine N-oxidation in human liver microsomes

The capacity of human liver microsomes to N-oxidize guanethidine from 25 subjects has been assessed. Guanethidine N-oxidation was optimal at pH 8.5 and proceeded at only 16% of the maximal rate at pH 7.4. The mean rates of guanethidine N-oxidation at pH 8.5 and 7.4 were 2.46 +/- 0.89 (mean +/- s.d., n = 25) and 0.38 +/- 0.22 (mean +/- s.d., n = 22), respectively. Interindividual differences in the rate of guanethidine N-oxidation at pH 8.5 and 7.4 were 17- and 11-fold, respectively. The cytochrome P450 inhibitors, proadifen and 2,4-dichloro-6-phenylphenoxyethylamine (DPEA), at both pH 8.5 and 7.4 caused less than 20% reduction in the rate of guanethidine N-oxidation by human liver microsomes. These data indicate that guanethidine N-oxidation can be used as a measure of flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in human liver.     

Raloxifene glucuronidation in human intestine, kidney, and liver microsomes and in human liver microsomes genotyped for the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism

Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, exhibits quite large interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. In women, raloxifene is metabolized extensively by different isoforms of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) to its glucuronides. To gain an insight into intestine, kidney, liver, and lung glucuronidation of raloxifene, human microsomes of all tested organs were used. Raloxifene-6-β-glucuronide (M1) formation followed the Michaelis-Menten kinetics in intestinal, kidney, and liver microsomes; meanwhile, raloxifene-4'-β-glucuronide (M2) formation followed the substrate inhibition kinetics. Human lung microsomes did not show any glucuronidation activity. The tissue intrinsic clearances for kidney, intestine, and liver were 3.4, 28.1, and 39.6 ml · min(-1) · kg(-1), respectively. The aim of our in vitro study was to explain the mechanism behind the observed influence of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism on raloxifene pharmacokinetics in a small-sized in vivo study (Br J Clin Pharmacol 67:437-444, 2009). Incubation of raloxifene with human liver microsomes genotyped for UGT1A1*28 showed a significantly reduced metabolic clearance toward M1 in microsomes from donors with *28 allele. On the contrary, no significant genotype influence was observed on the formation of M2 because of the high variability in estimated apparent kinetic parameters, although a clear trend toward lower glucuronidation activities was observed when UGT1A1*28 polymorphism was present. The liver intrinsic clearances of both homozygotes differed significantly, whereas the clearance of heterozygotes did not differ from the wild-type and the mutated homozygotes. In conclusion, our results show the high importance of the liver and intestine in raloxifene glucuronidation. Moreover, the significant influence of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism on metabolism of raloxifene was confirmed.     

尼莫地平在人肝微粒体内的代谢

:采用人肝微粒体在体外研究尼莫地平 (Nim)在人体内的代谢物及代谢途径 . Nim在人肝微粒体内被迅速代谢成 3个代谢物 ,分别是 Nim二氢吡啶环脱氢代谢物 M1,二氢吡啶环侧链脱甲基代谢物M2 ,二氢吡啶环脱氢及其侧链脱甲基代谢物 M3.Nim在人肝微粒体中的最初的两步代谢反应是其二氢吡啶环脱氢氧化及其侧链脱甲基反应 ,两者的代谢产物可以被进一步代谢为代谢物 M3.CYP3A的特异性抑制剂醋竹桃霉素和酮康唑可以抑制Nim的二氢吡啶环脱氢氧化及其侧链脱甲基反应 ,使 Nim的代谢速率明显下降 ,结果提示 CYP3A参与了 Nim在人肝微粒体内的代谢     

Metabolic activation of 1alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 in human liver microsomes.

1. 1Alpha-hydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha-OH-D3) is a synthetic prodrug of the active form of vitamin D3, and requires the hydroxylation at the C-25 position before eliciting its biological activity. 2. 25-Hydroxylation activities for 1alpha-OH-D3 were present in both microsomal and mitochondrial fractions of human liver. 3. To determine the P450 enzyme(s) involved in microsomal 25-hydroxylation, 14 P450s (CYP1A1, 1A2, 1B1, 2A6, 2B6, 2C8, 2C9-Arg, 2C9-Cys, 2C19, 2D6-Val, 2D6-Met, 2E1, 3A4, 4A11) were tested for their 25-hydroxylation activity of 1alpha-OH-D3. None catalysed the 25-hydroxylation reaction. 4. 1Alpha-OH-D3 in a high concentration (2.5 ng ml(-1)) showed small but significant inhibition of the catalytic activities of CYP2C8, 2C9-Cys, 2C19, 2D6-Val and 2E1 for their typical substrates. However, 1alpha-OH-D3 in a clinically used low concentration will not significantly affect drug metabolism catalysed by the 14 P450s tested. 5. In summary, the 25-hydroxylation activity of 1alpha-OH-D3 that localizes in the microsomal fraction appears to be attributable to a cytochrome P450 other than the microsomal forms tested in this study.     

Flavin-containing monooxygenase activity in human liver microsomes

Human liver microsomal flavin-containing monooxygenase activity has been studied using dimethylaniline N-oxidation and thiobenzamide S-oxidation. Except for one subject, the capacity of human liver microsomes to mediate these reactions were markedly increased at pH 8.4 compared to pH 7.4. The mean dimethylaniline N-oxidase activities at pH 7.4 and 8.4 in the four subjects tested were 2.49 +/- 1.13 and 6.59 +/- 4.04 nmol mg-1 min-1, respectively (mean +/- SD, N = 4). The mean thiobenzamide S-oxidase activities at pH 7.4 and 8.4 were 1.39 +/- 0.51 and 2.74 +/- 1.28 nmol mg-1 min-1, respectively. At pH 7.4, an antibody to the human liver NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase inhibited dimethylaniline N-oxidation between 4 and 38%. The same antibody had no effect on this reaction at pH 8.4. Except for one subject, a battery of cytochrome P-450 inhibitors also had little effect on this reaction. Further, preincubating human microsomes at 45 degrees C in the absence of NADPH for 4 min destroyed approximately 90% of the dimethylaniline N-oxidase activity. These data collectively suggested that the flavin-containing mono-oxygenase is the major enzyme mediating this reaction in human liver microsomes. In contrast to dimethylaniline N-oxidation, thiobenzamide S-oxidation was significantly inhibited by the anti-reductase at both pH 7.4 and 8.4, respectively. These data indicate that cytochromes P-450 contribute significantly to this reaction in human liver microsomes.     

Characterization of moclobemide N-oxidation in human liver microsomes

1. Moclobemide undergoes morpholine ring N-oxidation to form a major metabolite in plasma, Ro12-5637. 2. The kinetics of moclobemide N-oxidation in human liver microsomes (HLM) (n = 6) have been investigated and the mixed-function oxidase enzymes catalysing this reaction have been identified using inhibition, enzyme correlation, altered pH and heat pretreatment experiments. 3. N-oxidation followed single enzyme Michealis-Menten kinetics (0.02-4.0 mM). K_{m app} and V_max ranged from 0.48 to 1.35 mM (mean ± SD 0:77 ± 0:34 mM) and 0.22 to 2.15 nmol mg^?1 min^?1 (1:39 ± 0:80 nmol mg^?1 min^?1), respectively. 4. The N-oxidation of moclobemide strongly correlated with benzydamine N-oxidation, a probe reaction for flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) activity, (0.1 mM moclobemide, r_S = 0:81; p < 0:005; 4 mM moclobemide, r_S = 0:94; p = 0:0001). Correlations were observed between moclobemide N-oxidation and specific cytochrome P450 (CYP) activities at both moclobemide concentrations (0.1 mM moclobemide, CYP2C19 r_S = 0:66; p < 0:05; 4 mM moclobemide, CYP2E1 r_S = 0:56; p < 0:05). 5. The general P450 inhibitor, N-benzylimidazole, did not affect the rate of Ro12-5637 formation (0% inhibition versus control) at 1.3 mM moclobemide. Furthermore, the rate of Ro12-5637 formation in HLM was unaffected by inhibitors or substrates of specific P450s (<10% inhibition versus control). 6. Heat pretreatment of HLM in the absence of NADPH (inactivating FMOs) resulted in 97% inhibition of Ro12-5637 formation. N-oxidation activity was greatest when incubated at pH 8.5. These results are consistent with the reaction being FMO mediated. 7. In conclusion, moclobemide N-oxidation activity has been observed in HLM in vitro and the reaction is predominantly catalysed by FMOs with a potentially small contribution from cytochrome P450 isoforms.     

Characterization of bropirimine O-glucuronidation in human liver microsomes

1. The antitumour agent bropirimine undergoes significant Phase II conjugation in vivo. Incubation of [14C]bropirimine with human liver microsomes resulted in the formation of a single product peak (M1) using high-performance liquid chromatography with radiochemical detection and was tentatively assigned as bropirimine glucuronide based on sensitivity to beta-glucuronidase and by obtaining the expected mass of 442/444 amu with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Following metabolite isolation, the structure of M1 was established as bropirimine O-glucuronide by 1H-nuclear magnetic spectroscopy. 2. Studies aimed at identifying the human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme(s) involved in the glucuronidation of bropirimine were carried out using recombinant human UGTs and it was determined that glucuronidation of bropirimine was catalysed by UGT1A1, UGT1A3 and UGT1A9. Bropirimine O-glucuronidation followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics and the Km and Vmax (mean +/- SD; n = 3) were 1217 +/- 205 microM and 667 +/- 188 pmol min(-1) mg(-1), respectively. 3. The activity of bropirimine O-glucuronidation by human liver microsomes was inhibited by bilirubin (40%) and with mefenamic acid (80%). Although buprenorphine extensively inhibited the activity of bropirimine O-glucuronidation by UGT1A3, the inhibition profile did not parallel that observed in HLMs. 4. The results demonstrate that UGT1A9 and to a lesser extent UGT1A1 are responsible for the majority of bropirimine O-glucuronidation in man.     

Characterization of bropirimine O-glucuronidation in human liver microsomes

1. The antitumour agent bropirimine undergoes significant Phase II conjugation in vivo. Incubation of [¹⁴C]bropirimine with human liver microsomes resulted in the formation of a single product peak (M1) using high-performance liquid chromatography with radiochemical detection and was tentatively assigned as bropirimine glucuronide based on sensitivity to β-glucuronidase and by obtaining the expected mass of 442/444 amu with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Following metabolite isolation, the structure of M1 was established as bropirimine O-glucuronide by ¹H-nuclear magnetic spectroscopy.

2. Studies aimed at identifying the human liver UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme(s) involved in the glucuronidation of bropirimine were carried out using recombinant human UGTs and it was determined that glucuronidation of bropirimine was catalysed by UGT1A1, UGT1A3 and UGT1A9. Bropirimine O-glucuronidation followed Michaelis–Menten kinetics and the K_m and V_max (mean ± SD; n?=?3) were 1217 ± 205?μM and 667 ± 188?pmol?min^?1 mg^?1, respectively.

3. The activity of bropirimine O-glucuronidation by human liver microsomes was inhibited by bilirubin (40%) and with mefenamic acid (80%). Although buprenorphine extensively inhibited the activity of bropirimine O-glucuronidation by UGT1A3, the inhibition profile did not parallel that observed in HLMs.

4. The results demonstrate that UGT1A9 and to a lesser extent UGT1A1 are responsible for the majority of bropirimine O-glucuronidation in man.     

Studies of UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities in human liver microsomes

Human liver samples from a "liver bank" which have been previously characterized by the ability to catalyze cytochrome P-450 dependent reactions were analyzed for various UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities. When stored at -80 degrees C, UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities and latency characteristics of the enzyme appeared to be stable for up to 2 years. The correlation of UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity (4-methylumbelliferone as substrate) with enzyme activities towards 4-nitrophenol and 1-naphthol was much higher (r greater than 0.8) than that (r less than 0.3) observed with other enzyme activities (4-hydroxybiphenyl, morphine, and chloramphenicol as substrates), suggesting the presence of multiple enzyme forms in human liver. Livers of three patients treated with phenytoin or pentobarbital showed significantly higher UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards 1-naphthol, 4-methylumbelliferone, and bilirubin than those from five patients who did not receive these inducing agents.     

用Cu-PAN系统作EDTA对钙、钡、镁、铝、铬、锌、铁、铅、铋、汞、铜等化合物的测定

本文重新研究了EDTA絡合量法中用Cu-PAN系統滴定Ca⁺⁺,Ba⁺⁺,Mg⁺⁺,Al⁺⁺⁺,Cr⁺⁺⁺,Zn⁺⁺,Fe⁺⁺⁺,Pb⁺⁺⁺,Bi⁺⁺⁺,Hg⁺⁺,Cu⁺⁺等的pH、溫度、指示剂用量等条件,测定准确度为1%.建立了用Cu-PAN系統滴定鉻盐及鋇盐的方法,測定終点較用鉻黑T指示剂明显.測定了Cu-PAN絡合物的組成为1:1,稳定常数为:pH2,1.4×10⁶;pH4,1.9×10⁶;pH 6,1×10⁵;pH 8,7.5×10⁴;pH 10,2.1×10⁵.根据这些結論,改进了Cu-PAN系統的滴定方法。     

双环醇在大鼠和人肝微粒体的代谢

目的研究参与双环醇代谢的主要药物代谢酶及代谢动力学参数，分离鉴定双环醇代谢产物。方法双环醇与大鼠和人肝微粒体进行温孵，以高效液相色谱、质谱、核磁共振技术检测并分离鉴定双环醇及其代谢产物。结果双环醇在地塞米松诱导大鼠肝微粒体中的代谢速率显著高于正常大鼠肝微粒体，酮康唑可显著抑制双环醇的代谢。双环醇主要代谢产物为:4-羟基-4′-甲氧基-6-羟甲基-6′-甲氧羰基-2，3，2′，3′-双亚甲二氧基联苯和4-甲氧基-4′-羟基-6-羟甲基-6′-甲氧羰基-2，3，2′，3′-双亚甲二氧基联苯。结论双环醇在大鼠和人肝微粒体的主要代谢产物为4-羟基-4′-甲氧基-6-羟甲基-6′-甲氧羰基-2，3，2′，3′-双亚甲二氧基联苯和4-甲氧基-4′-羟基-6-羟甲基-6′-甲氧羰基-2，3，2′，3′-双亚甲二氧基联苯，细胞色素P450 3A主要参与双环醇代谢。     

Variation in glucuronidation of lamotrigine in human liver microsomes

1. Lamotrigine (LTG), a diaminotriazine anti-epileptic, is principally metabolized at the 2-position of the triazine ring to form a quaternary ammonium glucuronide (LTGG) by uridine glucuronosyl transferease (UGT) 1A3 and UGT1A4. It has been hypothesized that glucuronidation of anti-epileptic drugs is spared with age, despite a known decrease in liver mass, based on older studies with benzodiazepines such as lorazepam. To examine this, the formation rates of LTGG formation were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in a bank of human liver microsomes (HLMs) obtained from younger and elderly donors at therapeutic concentrations.

2. The formation rate of LTGG was not significantly different in HLMs obtained from younger and elderly subjects. A four- to five-fold variation for the formation of LTGG was observed within each microsomal bank obtained from elderly and younger donors, and the range of LTGG formation was observed to be 0.15–0.78?nmoles min^?1 mg^?1 of protein across the entire set of HLMs (n?=?36, elderly and younger HLMs).

3. UGT1A4 and UGT1A3 catalysed the formation of LTGG with an intrinsic clearances of 0.28 and 0.02?μl min^?1 mg^?1 protein, respectively. UGT2B7 and UGT2B4 showed no measurable activity. No correlation was observed across the HLM bank for glucuronidation of LTG and valproic acid (a substrate for multiple UGT isoforms including UGT1A4).

     

氯米帕明在人肝微粒体中的N—去甲基代谢

目的：研究ＣＹＰ４５０选择性抑制剂对体外氯米帕明（Ｃｌｏ）Ｎ－去甲基代谢的影响。方法：应用米氏方程计算肝微粒体中Ｃｏｌ Ｎ－去甲基代谢的动力学参数，比较加入抑制剂前后这些参数的改变。结果：Ｋｍ１，Ｋｍ２，Ｖｍａｘ１，Ｖｍａｘ２，Ｖａｍｘ２／Ｖｍ１和Ｖａｍｘ２／Ｋｍ２分别为（０．１１±０．０６），（２４±１１）μｍｏｌ·Ｌ＾－１，（１１４±４７），（４２８±１８８）ｎｍｏｌ·ｇ＾－１·ｍｉｎ＾－１。     

大豆苷元在人肝微粒体中的单羟化代谢机制大豆苷元在人肝微粒体中的单羟化代谢机制

目的探讨大豆苷元在人肝微粒中羟基化代谢所涉及的肝细胞色素P450(CYP)同工酶，为研究其在人体内的代谢提供基础。方法通过分析大豆苷元在肝微粒体中和重组CYP酶中形成的单羟化代谢物的酶促动力学,分析其酶学模型，然后用不同CYP同工酶选择性抑制剂或底物进行抑制实验，初步筛选出介导大豆苷元单羟化代谢所涉及的CYP同工酶。结果代谢物的形成动力学符合米氏方程单酶模型。CYP1A2选择性抑制剂呋喃茶碱和CYP1A2单克隆抗体均能明显抑制3种单羟化代谢物的形成。而其他CYP选择性的抑制剂对3种代谢物的形成没有或较小产生抑制作用。用重组酶实验得出相同结果。结论体外肝微粒体研究表明，大豆苷元的单羟基代谢主要由CYP1A2所介导。     

人肝脏微粒体在体外对丝裂霉素C的代谢

丝裂霉素C（mitomycin C，MMC）是一种醌类DNA烷化剂，是生物还原活性物的代表之一，也是临床常用的化疗药物，被广泛用于治疗膀胱癌、乳腺癌、头颈部癌、非小细胞肺癌等。作为MMC与肝脏药物代谢酶相互作用的两个方面，作者曾发表了MMC对肝脏3种细胞色素P450同工酶活性影响的报道。已往关于MMC代谢酶学的研究材料主要使用动物肝脏微粒体及纯化酶、体外肿瘤细胞系和／或肿瘤组织，而人肝脏药物代谢酶对MMC代谢的研究尚未见报道。本实验用体外方法初步研究了人肝脏微粒体对MMC的代谢作用。     

Characterization of fimasartan metabolites in human liver microsomes and human plasma

1.?The metabolites of fimasartan (FMS), a new angiotensin II receptor antagonist, were characterized in human liver microsomes (HLM) and human subjects.

2.?We developed a method for a simultaneous quantitative and qualitative analysis using predictive multiple reaction monitoring information-dependent acquisition-enhanced product ion scanning. To characterize metabolic reactions, FMS metabolites were analyzed using quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometer in full-scan mode.

3.?The structures of metabolites were confirmed by comparison of chromatographic retention times and mass spectra with those of authentic metabolite standards.

4.?In the cofactor-dependent microsomal metabolism study, the half-lives of FMS were 56.7, 247.9 and 53.3?min in the presence of NADPH, UDPGA and NADPH?+?UDPGA, respectively.

5.?The main metabolic routes in HLM were S-oxidation, oxidative desulfuration, n-butyl hydroxylation and N-glucuronidation.

6.?In humans orally administered with 120?mg FMS daily for 7 days, the prominent metabolites were FMS S-oxide and FMS N-glucuronide in the 0–8-h pooled plasma sample of each subject.

7.?This study characterizes, for the first time, the metabolites of FMS in humans to provide information for its safe use in clinical medicine.     

Glucuronidation of etoposide in human liver microsomes is specifically catalyzed by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1.

A metabolite formed by incubation of human liver microsomes, etoposide, and UDP-glucuronic acid was identified as etoposide glucuronide by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis. According to the derivatization with trimethylsilylimidazole (Tri-Sil-Z), it was confirmed that the glucuronic acid is linked to an alcoholic hydroxyl group of etoposide and not to a phenolic group. Among nine recombinant human UGT isoforms (UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A8, UGT1A9. UGT1A10, UGT2B7, and UGT2B15), only UGT1A1 exhibited the catalytic activity of etoposide glucuronidation. The enzyme kinetics in pooled human liver microsomes and recombinant UGT1A1 microsomes showed a typical Michaelis-Menten plot. The kinetic parameters of etoposide glucuronidation were K(m) = 439.6 +/- 70.7 microM and V(max) = 255.6 +/- 19.2 pmol/min/mg of protein in human liver microsomes and K(m) = 503.2 +/- 110.2 microM and V(max) = was 266.5 +/- 28.6 pmol/min/mg of protein in recombinant UGT1A1. The etoposide glucuronidation in pooled human liver microsomes was inhibited by bilirubin (IC(50) = 31.7 microM) and estradiol (IC(50) = 34 microM) as typical substrates for UGT1A1. The inhibitory effects of 4-nitrophenol (IC(50) = 121.0 microM) as a typical substrate for UGT1A6 and UGT1A9, imipramine (IC(50) = 393.8 microM) as a typical substrate for UGT1A3 and UGT1A4, and morphine (IC(50) = 109.3 microM) as a typical substrate for UGT2B7 were relatively weak. The interindividual difference in etoposide glucuronidation in 13 human liver microsomes was 78.5-fold (1.4-109.9 pmol/min/mg of protein). The etoposide glucuronidation in 10 to 13 human liver microsomes was significantly correlated with beta-estradiol-3-glucuronidation (r = 0.841, p < 0.01), bilirubin glucuronidation (r = 0.935, p < 0.01), and the immunoquantified UGT1A1 protein content (r = 0.800, p < 0.01). These results demonstrate that etoposide glucuronidation in human liver microsomes is specifically catalyzed by UGT1A1.     

Enantioselective carbonyl reduction of eperisone in human liver microsomes

1. Eperisone, 4-ethyl-2-methyl-3-piperidinopropiophenone, is a centrally acting muscle relaxant widely used to relieve muscle stiffness and back pain. In this study, enantioselectivity for carbonyl reduction of eperisone was investigated in human liver microsomes, and the enzymes involved in the carbonyl reduction were characterised.

2. Carbonyl reduction of eperisone predominantly occurred in microsomal fractions and 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1(11β-HSD 1) played a major role in this reaction as judged by selective inhibition of the activity by BVT-14225 and KR-66344. The kinetic study with (+)-S- and (?)-R-eperisone showed that the formation of the carbonyl reduced metabolite (M5) from the (?)-R-isomer was more efficient than that from the (?)-S-isomer.

3. As eperisone is a racemic compound with one chiral centre, the carbonyl reduced metabolite of eperisone (M5) may have four possible diastereoisomeric structures. Chiral separation of incubation mixtures of racemic eperisone with human liver microsome revealed that (1S, 2S)-M5 and (1R, 2R)-M5 were generated specifically from (+)-S- and (?)-R-eperisone, respectively. Selective formation of anti-diastereomers was further confirmed by incubation of individual enantiomer with microsomes.

4. Carbonyl reduction of eperisone by microsomal 11β-HSD 1 may significantly contribute to the metabolic disposition of eperisone in human and (?)-R-isomer is preferentially reduced by this enzyme.