Pharmacogenetic profiling and metabolic activity of human embryonic stem cell derived hepatocytes: focus on CYP450-mediated oxidation

Jenna L Voellinger,Edward J Kelly

doi:10.5599/admet.4.2.280

Abstract

<p class="ADMETkeywordsheading">Primary human hepatocytes are commonly used to evaluate liver drug metabolism and toxicity. Pluripotent stem cell derived hepatocytes (SCDHs) have the potential to overcome access and function-related limitations associated with primary hepatocytes. SCDHs may also provide an improved system for evaluating genotype-phenotype relationships, e.g. cytochrome P450 (CYP) gene polymorphisms and their impact on drug metabolism and toxicity. However, in order for SCDHs to become routinely used in preclinical drug metabolism and toxicity screening, they must demonstrate reproducible activity of drug metabolism proteins, particularly the oxidative CYP enzymes. We characterized the differentiation status of SCDHs, with emphasis on the expression and functional capacity of drug-metabolizing enzymes, and genetically profiled the commonly used WiCell® hESC lines, focusing on CYP2D6 in our analysis. An assay of enzymatic function in SCDHs using a CYP cocktail assay designed to measure 8 different isozymes revealed only minimal activity for CYP3A, below that observed in primary hepatocytes. With regard to CYP2D6 gene copy number variation, we found the H1 line has only one gene copy, which also harbors the CYP2D6*41 splicing defect, predictive of a CYP2D6 poor/intermediate metabolizer. We identified no CYP2D6 gene duplications, indicating no representative ultra-rapid metabolizer. The H7 and H14 lines are heterozygous for the non-functional CYP2D6*4 variant resulting in a predicted intermediate metabolizer phenotype. In addition, we compared the penetrance of the CYP2D6*41 splicing defect in SCDHs and liver tissue via reverse-transcription PCR assay. We found incomplete penetrance of the CYP2D6*41 allele in liver tissue and variable penetrance in SCDHs. Based on gene expression profiling, SCDHs most closely resemble fetal hepatocytes, especially with regards to AFP, CYP3A7 and FMO1 expression. Finally, these studies indicate a low degree of genetic diversity of pharmacogenetically-relevant genes in the WiCell® hESC lines.</p>

Highlights

Preclinical screening and characterization of the metabolic pathways of a new drug is a necessary part of its development and can be used to aid in predicting drug bioavailability, drug efficacy, drug-drug interactions, and drug toxicity
Overall, published studies demonstrate that Stem cell derived hepatocytes (SCDHs) generated from either human embryonic stem cells or induced pluripotent stem cells, do express cytochrome P450 (CYP) and other drug-metabolizing enzymes, they seem to be at levels below those in primary human hepatocytes
We focused on CYP2D6 in our analysis in utilizing SCDHs for genotype-phenotype predictions, given its highly polymorphic nature and role in metabolizing about 20 % of marketed drugs [9, 10]

Summary

Introduction

Preclinical screening and characterization of the metabolic pathways of a new drug is a necessary part of its development and can be used to aid in predicting drug bioavailability, drug efficacy, drug-drug interactions, and drug toxicity. Overall, published studies demonstrate that SCDHs generated from either human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), do express CYPs and other drug-metabolizing enzymes, they seem to be at levels below those in primary human hepatocytes. In order to evaluate the maturity level of SCDHs and gain a better understanding of their potential utility in preclinical drug metabolism screens, gene expression profiling of select pluripotency markers, hepatocytes markers, transcription factors, drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters was done.

Results

Conclusion