Interspecies features of hepatic cytochromes P450 IA1 and P450 IA2 in rodents

1. Antibodies to mouse liver cytochrome P3-450 (anti-P3-450) and antibodies to rat liver cytochrome P-450d (anti-P-450d-c) both inhibit the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxy-resorufin (ER) in liver microsomes of benzo(a)pyrene-induced (BP) mice but do not inhibit the O-deethylase activity in liver microsomes of BP-induced rats. 2. Anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450d-c inhibit BP hydroxylation in BP-induced mouse liver microsomes by 20%, but they do not inhibit this rection at all in BP-induced rat liver microsomes. 3. Isolated cytochrome P3-450 in a reconstituted monooxygenase system metabolized 7-ER and BP. In contrast, its homologue, cytochrome P-450d, does not metabolize these substrates. The fraction containing cytochrome P1-450 metabolized 7-ER at a low rate and BP at a rate of 3.6 nmol product/min per nmol cytochrome. 4. Western blot analysis with anti-P-450c + d revealed two bands in SDS-PAGE gels containing BP-induced mouse liver microsomes corresponding to cytochrome P1-450, 55.0 kDa, and cytochrome P3-450, 54.5 kDa. There appeared a single band (cytochrome P3-450) in interaction of mouse liver BP-microsomes with anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450d-c.     

Cytochrome P-450 3A enzymes are responsible for biotransformation of FK506 and rapamycin in man and rat.

The hepatic cytochrome P-450 responsible for metabolism of the structurally related macrolides FK506 and rapamycin in humans was identified using in vitro studies. FK506 and rapamycin metabolism was significantly correlated with nifedipine oxidation in human liver microsomes of eight different individuals. Immunoinhibition with anti-P450 3A4 abolished almost all FK506 and rapamycin metabolite formation. Inactivation of P450 3A4 by incubation of human liver microsomes with triacetyl oleandomycin (50 microM) or gestodene (10 microM) inhibited metabolism of FK506 and rapamycin. In liver microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats FK506 and rapamycin metabolism was increased compared to liver microsomes from uninduced, phenobarbital-, or 3-methylcholanthrene-induced rats. FK506 and rapamycin were metabolized by reconstituted recombinant human liver P450 3A4. It is concluded that in human and rat liver FK506 and rapamycin are metabolized primarily by cytochrome P-450 3A4.     

Interspecies features of hepatic cytochromes P450 IA1 and P450 IA2 in rodents

1. Antibodies to mouse liver cytochrome P3-450 (anti-P3-450) and antibodies to rat liver cytochrome P-450d (anti-P-450d-c) both inhibit the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin (ER) in liver microsomes of benzo(a)pyrene-induced (BP) mice but do not inhibit the O-deethylase activity in liver microsomes of BP-induced rats.

2. Anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450d-c inhibit BP hydroxylation in BP-induced mouse liver microsomes by 20%, but they do not inhibit this reaction at all in BP-induced rat liver microsomes.

3. Isolated cytochrome P3-450 in a reconstituted monooxygenase system metabolized 7-ER and BP. In contrast, its homologue, cytochrome P-450d, does not metabolize these substrates. The fraction containing cytochrome P1-450 metabolized 7-ER at a low rate and BP at a rate of 3.6 nmol product/min per nmol cytochrome.

4. Western blot analysis with anti-P-450c + d revealed two bands in SDS-PAGE gels containing BP-induced mouse liver microsomes corresponding to cytochrome P1-450, 55.0 kDa, and cytochrome P3-450, 54.5 kDa. There appeared a single band (cytochrome P3-450) in interaction of mouse liver BP-microsomes with anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450d-c.     

Metabolism of alpha-naphthoflavone by rat, mouse, rabbit, and hamster liver microsomes

The metabolism of alpha-naphthoflavone (ANF) was studied in hepatic microsomes from rats, mice, rabbits, and hamsters, species in which ANF exerts its biological activities. The major metabolites produced by all species were ANF-5,6-oxide, ANF-6-phenol, and ANF-7,8-dihydrodiol. Minor metabolites produced by all species were ANF-5,6-dihydrodiol, ANF-7-phenol, and ANF-9-phenol. In general, the total rates of metabolism were similar within all species: 22-32 nmol ANF metabolized/15 min/mg protein. Mouse liver microsomes were approximately 1.7 to 2.9 times as active as the other species on a nanomole of cytochrome P-450 basis. The major sites of enzymatic oxidation were the 5,6 and 7,8 bonds of ANF where for all species, 49-71% and 15-46% of the total metabolism occurred, respectively.     

Variations among untreated rabbits in benzo(a)pyrene metabolism and its modulation by 7,8-benzoflavone

The metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by rabbit liver microsomes can be stimulated or inhibited by 7,8-benzo(a)flavone (ANF) depending on the distribution of specific P-450 enzymes present within the microsomes. Treatment of rabbits with either 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) or rifampicin leads to an increase of hepatic microsomal metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene. ANF stimulates the rate of benzo(a)pyrene metabolism catalyzed by microsomes isolated from rabbits treated with rifampicin by 3-fold. In contrast, ANF moderately inhibits the activity of microsomes from TCDD-treated rabbits. Variations in the benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity of microsomes from untreated rabbits apparently reflect differences in the expression of P-450 1, a constitutive form of P-450. Thus, the benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase activity of microsomes from untreated rabbits, which varies from 0.40 to 1.5 nmol/min/mg of protein, is directly correlated with the microsomal concentration of P-450 1. The metabolism of benzo(a)pyrene by microsomes containing high concentrations of P-450 1 is inhibited by a monoclonal antibody specific for this cytochrome to approximately the rate exhibited by microsomes with a low concentration of P-450 1. The benzo(a)pyrene activity stimulated by ANF in microsomes with a low concentration of P-450 1 is not inhibited by the monoclonal antibody. The activity of P-450 1 is inhibited by ANF at concentrations that stimulate other constitutive forms of P-450. Thus, ANF produces offsetting effects on benzo(a)pyrene metabolism in microsomes from untreated animals by stimulating the activity of at least one cytochrome and inhibiting P-450 1-mediated activity.     

Co-induction of cytochrome P-450 isozymes in rat liver by 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl or 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene

A multitude of xenobiotics have been demonstrated to co-induce either cytochromes P-450c and P-450d or cytochromes P-450b and P-450e in rat hepatic microsomes. Recently, the compounds 2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCB) and 3-methoxy-4-aminoazobenzene (3-MeO-AAB) have been suggested as selective inducers of cytochrome P-450b (Eur. J. Biochem. 151:67 (1985)) and P-450d (Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 133:1072 (1985)), respectively. Since the identification of inducers with such unique characteristics would have implications with regard to the mechanism of induction of all four isozymes, we have examined the induction of cytochromes P-450b and P-450e by HCB and cytochromes P-450c and P-450d by 3-MeO-AAB in liver microsomes from adult male rats. Immunoblot analysis with monoclonal antibodies directed against cytochromes P-450b and P-450e indicate that HCB induces both isozymic species at the three dosage levels examined (10, 90, and 180 mg/kg). Similarly, 3-MeO-AAB does not appear to represent a unique inducer. Immunoblots of hepatic microsomes from animals treated with three different dosage regimens of 3-MeO-AAB demonstrate that, even at the lowest dosage level (50 mg/kg), both cytochromes P-450c and P-450d are induced. Moreover, immunoinhibition of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity by monospecific antibody against either cytochrome P-450c or P-450d confirms this result. 3-MeO-AAB increases this enzyme activity 10-fold; approximately one-third of this induced activity is inhibited with monospecific anti-P-450c, while two-thirds is inhibited with monospecific anti-P-450d. This study also demonstrates that hepatic EROD activity is not an accurate estimate of cytochrome P-450c content since the majority of this enzyme activity in control and 3-MeO-AAB-treated rats is inhibited with monospecific anti-P-450d but not with monospecific anti-P-450c.     

Immunochemical study on the contribution of hypolipidaemic-induced cytochrome P-452 to the metabolism of lauric acid and arachidonic acid

The influence of four hypolipidaemic drugs (clofibrate, WY-14,643, clobuzarit and bezafibrate) on hepatic cytochrome P-450 and fatty acid metabolism in male rat liver microsomes has been investigated. All of the hypolipidaemic drugs tested significantly induced the hydroxylation of lauric acid and, furthermore, this was accompanied by a concomitant 3-fold induction of a specific isoenzyme of cytochrome P-450 (termed cytochrome P-452) as determined by a single radial immunodiffusion technique. In addition, immunochemical quantitation of cytochrome P-452 in control, uninduced rat liver microsomes revealed that this particular isoenzyme constituted 22% of the total carbon monoxide-discernible cytochrome P-450 population. This has led us to the conclusion that cytochrome P-452 is a constitutive cytochrome P-450 isoenzyme and therefore that hypolipidaemic agents function as inducers of constitutive haemoprotein isoenzymes. Cytochrome P-452 plays a significant role in the hydroxylation of lauric acid as evidenced by inhibition of hydroxylase activity in the presence of an anti-P-452 IgG fraction. In addition, this antibody preferentially inhibits the 12-hydroxylation of lauric acid in rat liver microsomes by comparison to the 11-hydroxylase activity. Our studies have also shown that arachidonic acid serves as an excellent substrate for hypolipidaemic-induced cytochrome P-452, resulting in the formation of several metabolites that have been separated by reverse phase HPLC. Furthermore, a specific metabolite (or group of metabolites) of arachidonic acid is induced by clofibrate pretreatment and that the formation of this metabolite(s) is inhibited by an antibody to cytochrome P-452. By comparison, other metabolites of arachidonic acid remain refractory to induction by clofibrate and are not inhibited by the presence of anti-P-452 IgG. In addition, a reconstituted enzyme system containing highly purified cytochrome P-452 actively catalyses the above specific oxidation of arachidonic acid, a reaction that is significantly stimulated by the presence of cytochrome b5. Taken collectively, our data provide compelling evidence that hypolipidaemic agents induce a specific isoenzyme of hepatic microsomal P-450 that readily oxidizes fatty acids and that arachidonic acid may serve as an excellent endogenous substrate for this novel haemoprotein.     

Bioactivation and detoxication of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine by cytochrome P-450 enzymes in rat liver

Rats display a marked sex difference in the oxidation of the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine, especially with respect to N-oxidation. This sex difference was largely eliminated following treatment with dexamethasone. These observations suggested the potential involvement of the male-specific cytochrome P-450 UT-A and the P-450 PCN-E in the metabolism of this pyrrolizidine alkaloid. Reconstituted rat P-450 UT-A exhibited a high rate of N-oxidation (15 nmol min-1 nmol P-450-1) which is almost 3-fold higher than the turnover number observed with male rat liver microsomes. In contrast, rat P-450 UT-A displayed a much lower activity toward necine pyrrole [+/-)-6,7-dihydro-7-hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-5H-pyrrolizine, DHP) formation (1.0 nmol min-1 nmol P-450-1). The N-oxygenation and pyrrole formation activities displayed by rat cytochromes P-450 PB-B and P-450 BNF-B toward senecionine were low, with rates less than 1 nmol min-1 nmol P-450-1. Rabbit antibody to rat P-450 UT-A inhibited the senecionine-N-oxidation activity of untreated male rat liver microsomes by 60%, with lesser inhibition of DHP production. Rabbit antibody to human P-450NF (the human homologue to rat P-450 PCN-E) was a potent inhibitor of DHP production by untreated male rat liver microsomes. With microsomes from dexamethasone-pretreated rats, anti-P-450NF inhibited DHP and N-oxide production in parallel. We conclude that the large sex difference in senecionine N-oxidation probably is the result of the specificity of P-450 isozymes UT-A and PCN-E.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

An investigation of the antigenic determinants on chloroperoxidase and purified rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450b

Chloroperoxidase (CPO) exhibits many physicochemical and catalytic properties similar to those of the bacterial and microsomal cytochromes P-450. Therefore, the possible similarities between the antigenic determinants of CPO and rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450b were investigated. Polyclonal antibodies against CPO and rat liver cytochrome P-450b were raised in rabbits and used to investigate the antigenic cross-reactivity between CPO and P-450b. Although anti-CPO antibodies were capable of inhibiting the ethyl hydroperoxide-supported N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) demethylation activity of CPO by more than 80%, they were unable to inhibit the NADPH-supported demethylation of DMA by cytochrome P-450b in the reconstituted system. The ethyl hydroperoxide-supported demethylation of DMA by CPO was not affected by the addition of anti-P-450b antibodies which inhibited cytochrome P-450 activity greater than 90%. In order to probe for the possible existence of common antigenic determinants which were not involved in catalytic activity, the cross-reactivities were investigated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. There was no cross-reactivity between anti-CPO and cytochrome P-450b, or anti-P-450b and CPO using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. When control, phenobarbital-, isosafrole-, and beta-naphthoflavone-induced rat and rabbit liver microsomes and CPO were analyzed by Western blotting and developed with anti-P-450 antibodies, only the phenobarbital- and isosafrole-induced microsomes showed a positive reaction in the P-450 region. When anti-CPO antibodies were used on Western blots of the same series of proteins, a positive reaction was observed only with CPO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Characterization of human liver cytochromes P-450 involved in theophylline metabolism.

Theophylline is metabolized in the liver by one or more cytochrome P-450 enzymes. To assess the amounts and types of these human cytochromes P-450, we incubated theophylline with microsomes prepared from 22 different human livers in the presence of NADPH, and measured simultaneous rates of 1- and 3-N-demethylations to 3-methylxanthine (3-MX) and 1-methylxanthine (1-MX), respectively; and 8-hydroxylation to 1,3-dimethyluric acid (1,3-DMU). Under optimal conditions, 3-MX, 1-MX, and 1,3-DMU formation proceeded with mean Km values of 2.05, 1.93, and 5.34 mM and Vmax values of 2.28, 2.48, and 23.4 pmol/mg/min, respectively. Formation of 3-MX and 1-MX correlated best with amounts of the immunoreactive protein HLd (P-450IA2) (p less than 0.05), whereas formation of 1,3-DMU correlated with the microsomal content of HLp (P-450IIIA3) and HLj (P-450IIE1). In immunoinhibition experiments, incubations conducted with a polyclonal anti-rat P-450c/d antibody, the formation of all the three theophylline metabolites (p less than 0.05) was significantly inhibited. However, addition of isoform-specific anti-rat-P-450d antibodies to the microsomal mixture significantly inhibited 1-N-demethylation, selectively, with little (if any) inhibition of 3-N-demethylation or 8-hydroxylation. Nonspecific cytochrome P-450 inhibition was ruled out by showing that erythromycin N-demethylation, an activity catalyzed by HLp, was unaffected by either anti-P-450c/d (P-450IA1/IA2) or anti-P-450d. Anti-rat-P-450p antibodies failed to block formation of theophylline metabolism, but did inhibit erythromycin N-demethylase.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Metabolism of cyclosporin A. II. Implication of the macrolide antibiotic inducible cytochrome P-450 3c from rabbit liver microsomes

The in vitro metabolism of cyclosporin A (CsA) was investigated by rabbit liver microsomes in order to identify the form(s) of cytochrome P-450 responsible for its biotransformation. Metabolites including monohydroxy-, N-demethylated, dihydroxy- and dihydroxy-N-demethylated derivatives were detected and quantified by HPLC from incubates of liver microsomes, CsA, and NADPH. Kinetic data indicated that monohydroxy- and N-demethylated derivatives were first generated and then served as substrates for production of dihydroxylated derivatives. Liver microsomes from phenobarbital-, beta-naphthoflavone-, triacetyloleandomycin-, erythromycin-, or rifampicin-treated and untreated rabbits were investigated, but only microsomes from animals treated with macrolide antibiotics (specific inducers of form P-450 3c) exhibited a type I binding spectrum upon CsA addition (Ks = 1.5 +/- 0.5 microM) and extensively metabolized the drug to all groups of derivatives (Km = 5.0 +/- 0.5 microM, Vmax = 1.0 +/- 0.2 nmol/mg/min). A linear correlation existed between CsA oxidase activity and P-450 3c specific content. Antibodies to P-450 3c strongly inhibited CsA oxidase activity of microsomes from macrolide antibiotic-induced animals, whereas antibodies to other forms, including P-450 2, 3b, 4, and 6, did not. When highly purified forms of P-450, including P-450 2, 3b, 3c, and 4, were assayed in a reconstituted system, only P-450 3c exhibited type I binding spectrum upon CsA addition (Ks = 1.4 +/- 0.5 microM) and extensively metabolized the drug to all derivatives. We conclude that the macrolide antibiotic-inducible form P-450 3c (or P-450 3c related from(s)) is responsible for the major part of CsA metabolism by rabbit liver microsomes.     

Benzo[a]pyrene metabolism by purified cytochrome P-450 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats

The metabolism of benzo[a]pyrene in reconstituted pulmonary mono-oxygenase systems has been studied. Metabolites formed by pulmonary cytochrome P450MC, a major form of pulmonary cytochrome P-450 isolated from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats, were analysed by h.p.l.c. The profiles of benzo[a]pyrene metabolites formed by the reconstituted P-450MC systems were different from that obtained with rat-lung microsomes, indicating the presence of several unknown metabolites in the reconstituted systems containing NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase and epoxide hydrolase. 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was a major product formed by pulmonary cytochrome P-450MC, in the absence or presence of epoxide hydrolase. The addition of purified epoxide hydrolase to the reconstituted systems increased the formation of dihydrodihydroxy-benzo[a]pyrenes, particularly 7,8-dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene. The 9,10-dihydro-9,10-dihydroxybenzo[a]pyrene was the major dihydrodiol formed by pulmonary cytochrome P-450MC. By the addition of epoxide hydrolase the total amount of phenols decreased in parallel with an increased production of dihydrodiol, but the amount of quinones was not changed. Similar results concerning the related production of phenols and dihydrodiols, in the absence and presence of epoxide hydrolase, were obtained in reconstituted systems of hepatic cytochrome P-450MC, the major form of hepatic cytochrome P-450 from 3-methylcholanthrene-treated rats.     

Rat lung and liver cytochrome P-450 isozymes involved in the hydroxylation of m-xylene

The primary metabolism of m-xylene in rat lung and liver microsomes was investigated. The ratio of side chain to aromatic hydroxylation was found to be approximately 1:1 in lung microsomes from untreated rats and in a reconstituted system containing the major cytochrome P-450 isozyme induced in rat liver by phenobarbital, cytochrome P-450-PB-B2, as compared to 8:1 in liver microsomes. Antibody inhibition studies showed the major importance of cytochrome P-450-PB-B2 for the formation of both primary m-xylene metabolites (3-methylbenzylalcohol and 2,4-dimethylphenol) in lung microsomes. Antibodies to the major cytochrome P-450 isozyme induced in rat liver by beta-naphthoflavone, P-450-BNF-B2, did not inhibit m-xylene metabolism in either liver or lung microsomes from beta-naphthoflavone treated rats although this isozyme efficiently catalyzed m-xylene hydroxylation in a reconstituted system. m-Xylene metabolism by purified P-450-BNF-B2 appeared to cause rapid inactivation of the enzyme.     

The molecular mechanisms of two common polymorphisms of drug oxidation--evidence for functional changes in cytochrome P-450 isozymes catalysing bufuralol and mephenytoin oxidation

Using the stereospecific metabolism of (+)- and (-)-bufuralol and (+)- and (-)-metoprolol as model reactions, we have characterized the enzymic deficiency of the debrisoquine/sparteine-type polymorphism by comparing kinetic data of subjects in vivo with their microsomal activities in vitro and with reconstituted activities of cytochrome P-450 isozymes purified from human liver. The metabolism of bufuralol in liver microsomes of in vivo phenotyped 'poor metabolizers' of debrisoquine and/or sparteine is characterized by a marked increase in Km, a decrease in Vmax and a virtual loss of the stereoselectivity of the reaction. These parameters apparently allow the 'phenotyping' of microsomes in vitro. A structural model of the active site of a cytochrome P-450 for stereospecific metabolism of bufuralol and other polymorphically metabolized substrates was constructed. Two cytochrome P-450 isozymes, P-450 buf I and P-450 buf II, both with MW 50,000 Da, were purified from human liver on the basis of their ability to metabolize bufuralol to 1'-hydroxy-bufuralol. However, P-450 buf I metabolized bufuralol in a highly stereoselective fashion ((-)/(+) ratio 0.16) as compared to P-450 buf II (ratio 0.99) and had a markedly lower Km for bufuralol. Moreover, bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation by P-450 buf I was uniquely characterized by its extreme sensitivity to inhibition by quinidine. Antibodies against P-450 buf I and P-450 buf II inhibited bufuralol metabolism in microsomes and with the reconstituted enzymes. Immunochemical studies with these antibodies with microsomes and translations in vitro of RNA from livers of extensive and poor metabolizers showed no evidence for a decrease in the recognized protein or its mRNA. Because the antibodies do not discriminate between P-450 buf I and P-450 buf II, both a decreased content of P-450 buf I or its functional alteration could explain the polymorphic metabolism in microsomes. The genetically defective stereospecific metabolism of mephenytoin was determined in liver microsomes of extensive and poor metabolizers of mephenytoin phenotyped in vivo. Microsomes of poor metabolizers were characterized by an increased Km and a decreased Vmax for S-mephenytoin hydroxylation as compared to extensive metabolizers and a loss of stereospecificity for the hydroxylation of S-versus R-mephenytoin. A cytochrome P-450 with high activity for mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation was purified from human liver. Immunochemical studies with inhibitory antibodies against this isozyme suggest the presence in poor-metabolizer microsomes of a functionally altered enzyme.     

Biphenyl metabolism by rat liver microsomes: regioselective effects of inducers, inhibitors, and solvents

Examination of the regioselective metabolism of biphenyl was explored as a means of characterizing different forms of cytochrome P-450 in microsomal and purified mono-oxygenase systems. In the present study the effects of the inducers phenobarbital and 3-methylcholanthrene, the inhibitors 7,8-benzoflavone and 1-benzylimidazole, and the solvents methanol, acetone, and dimethyl sulfoxide on the 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxylation of biphenyl and the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin by rat liver microsomes were examined. Phenobarbital pretreatment primarily induced 2- and 3-hydroxylation, the latter most dramatically. 3-Methylcholanthrene pretreatment induced 2- and 3-hydroxylation to similar extents. The inhibitors and solvents had regioselective effects on biphenyl metabolism that were characteristic of the uninduced, phenobarbital-induced, and 3-methylcholanthrene-induced microsomes. The presence of multiple forms of cytochrome P-450 in uninduced microsomes is indicated by the regioselective effects of the solvents and the inhibitors. The 3-methylcholanthrene-dependent increases in 2- and 3-hydroxylation appear due to induction of a single form of cytochrome P-450, as indicated by similar dose-response relationships and similar changes in sensitivity to the inhibitors. The phenobarbital-dependent increases in 2- and 3-hydroxylation appear due to the induction of two forms of cytochrome P-450, as indicated by different changes in sensitivity to the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide and 7,8-benzoflavone. The results indicate that examination of the regioselectivity of biphenyl metabolism is a useful approach for characterizing microsomal mono-oxygenases, and they suggest that the approach may also be useful in the characterization of purified mono-oxygenase systems.     

Metabolism and metabolic inhibition of gambogic acid in rat liver microsomes

AIM: To study the metabolism of gambogic acid (GA) and the effects of selective cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) inhibitors on the metabolism of GA in rat liver microsomes in vitro. METHODS: Rat liver microsomes were used to perform metabolism studies. Various selective CYP450 inhibitors were used to investigate their effects on the metabolism of GA and the principal CYP450 isoform involved in the formation of major metabolite M(1) in rat liver microsomes. Types of inhibition in an enzyme kinetics model were used to model the interaction. RESULTS: GA was rapidly metabolized to two phase I metabolites, M(1) and M(2), in rat liver microsomes. M(1) and M(2) were tentatively presumed to be the hydration metabolite and epoxide metabolite of GA, respectively. alpha-Naphthoflavone uncompetitively inhibited the formation of M(1) while ketoconazole, sulfaphenazole, diethyl dithiocarbamate and quinidine had little or no inhibitory effects on the formation of M(1). CONCLUSION: GA is rapidly metabolized in rat liver microsomes and M(1) is crucial for the elimination of GA. Cytochrome P-450 1A2 is the major rat CYP involved in the metabolism of GA.     

Oxidative N-demethylation of N,N-dimethylaniline by purified isozymes of cytochrome P-450

The metabolism of N,N-dimethylaniline (DMA) by rabbit liver microsomes results in the formation of N-methylaniline (NMA) and formaldehyde. The N-oxide of DMA (DMA N-oxide) has been suggested as an intermediate in the cytochrome P-450-catalyzed demethylation reaction. The role of DMA N-oxide as an intermediate in demethylation has been investigated in a reconstituted system consisting of NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, phospholipid, and several different purified isozymes of cytochrome P-450. The abilities of several cytochrome P-450 isozymes from rabbit liver (P-450 form 2 and P-450 form 4) and rat liver (P-450b and P-450c) to catalyze N-oxide formation and their abilities to catalyze demethylation of the N-oxide were determined and compared with their abilities to catalyze the demethylation of DMA. The metabolism of DMA by the purified isozymes of cytochrome P-450 in the reconstituted system did not result in the formation of measurable amounts of the N-oxide. The turnover numbers for the metabolism of DMA and DMA N-oxide to formaldehyde by the reconstituted system containing cytochrome P-450 form 2 were 25.6 and 3.4 nmol/min/nmol cytochrome P-450, respectively. The three other isozymes (P-450 form 4, P-450b, and P-450c) also exhibited significantly greater rates for the demethylation of DMA than for the N-oxide. If the N-oxide were an intermediate in the demethylation reaction, it should be metabolized at a rate greater than or at least equal to DMA. Therefore, these data, along with the inability to detect N-oxide formation during the cytochrome P-450-catalyzed demethylation of DMA, suggest that the N-oxide of DMA is not an intermediate in demethylation of DMA by these forms of cytochrome P-450 and that DMA N-oxidase activity is not associated with these isozymes.     

Benzene metabolism in mouse liver microsomes

Mouse liver microsomes metabolized benzene more rapidly than microsomes prepared from rat and rabbit liver. Treatment of mice with benzene increased the metabolism of benzene in vitro without increasing cytochrome P-450 concentrations. Conversely, treatment of mice with phenobarbital increased cytochrome P-450 values but did not increase benzene metabolism. Benzene metabolism was inhibited by compounds known to interact with the mixed function oxidase system, e.g., aniline, metyrapone, aminopyrine, SKF-525A and cytochrome c, but not by KCN or 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole. CO also inhibited benzene metabolism and the Warburg partition coefficient was similar to that obtained for other drugs metabolized by cytochrome P-450. Addition of benzene to mouse liver microsomes yielded a type I binding spectrum. Induction with benzene increased the magnitude of the type I spectral change (ΔE_max) by a factor approximately equal to the increase in benzene metabolism. The evidence suggests that benzene metabolism is mediated by the mixed function oxidase and binding of benzene to cytochrome P-450 is a significant factor in determining the rate of benzene metabolism.     

Antibodies to a synthetic peptide that react specifically with a common surface region on two hydrocarbon-inducible isoenzymes of cytochrome P-450 in the rat

An antibody that reacts with two hydrocarbon-inducible isoenzymes of rat cytochrome P-450 (c and d) in the rat was produced by immunising with a synthetic peptide, Leu-Ile-Ser-Lys-Phe-Gln-Lys-Leu-Met, which has the same primary structure as that of a region of both of these isoenzymes. There was no crossreactivity with hydrocarbon-inducible isoenzymes in liver microsomes from rabbit, mouse or in man. Nor was there any crossreactivity detected with liver microsomes from uninduced rats, or rats induced with phenobarbitone or isonicotinic acid hydrazide. This is consistent with the primary structure of these isoenzymes in the regions aligned with amino acids 174-182 (the immunising peptide) in rat isoenzyme c and demonstrates the ability to produce antibodies of defined specificity against isoenzymes of cytochrome P-450 by using synthetic peptide. As the antibody preparation is able to bind to isoenzymes c and d in their native conformations, either as partially purified enzymes, or in microsomes, it is suggested that this region is present on the surface of these cytochromes P-450.     

Purification and characterization of the major hepatic cannabinoid hydroxylase in the mouse: a possible member of the cytochrome P-450IIC subfamily

Acute cannabidiol treatment of mice inactivated hepatic microsomal cytochrome P-450IIIA (P-450IIIA) and markedly inhibited in vitro cannabinoid metabolism. Antibodies raised against purified P-450IIIA inhibited the microsomal formation of quantitatively minor cannabinoid metabolites but had no effect on the major metabolites. Cannabinoid hydroxylation to the major metabolites was used as a functional probe to isolate and purify a P-450 (termed P-450THC) from hepatic microsomes of untreated mice. The purified protein had an apparent molecular weight of 47,000 and a specific content of 15.4 nmol/mg and exhibited an absorbance maximum at 452 nm for the reduced carbon monoxide complex. NH2-terminal sequence analysis of the first 16 residues of P-450THC suggests that it is a member of the P-450IIC subfamily, because its sequence is 85 and 69% identical to published sequences of rat hepatic P-450IIC7 and P-450IIC6, respectively. P-450THC exhibited high activity for cannabinoid hydroxylation and specifically produced 6 alpha- and 7-hydroxy-delta 1-tetrahydrocannabinol, as well as 6 alpha-, 7-, and 4"-hydroxycannabidiol. Unlike anti-P-450IIIA antibody, antibody raised against purified P-450THC markedly inhibited the microsomal formation of all major cannabinoid metabolites. Similar immunoinhibition studies also revealed the existence of orthologs of mouse P-450THC and P-450IIIA in human liver microsomes. Thus, cannabidiol treatment of mice resulted in the inactivation of at least two constitutive P-450 isozymes, which together account for the majority of the detected cannabinoid metabolites.