CLint Values Research Articles

Relative contribution of cytochromes P-450 and flavin-containing monoxygenases to the metabolism of albendazole by human liver microsomes.

Albendazole (ABZ; methyl 5-propylthio-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl carbamate) is a broad spectrum anthelmintic whose activity resides both in the parent compound and its sulphoxide metabolite (ABS). There are numerous reports of ABZ metabolism in animals but relatively few in humans. We have investigated the sulphoxidation of ABZ in human liver microsomes and recombinant systems. The specific enzymes involved in the sulphoxidation of ABZ were determined by a combination of approaches; inhibition with an antiserum directed against cytochrome P450 reductase, the effect of selective chemical inhibitors on ABZ sulphoxidation in human liver microsomes, the capability of expressed CYP and FMO to mediate the formation of ABS, regression analysis of the rate of metabolism of ABZ to ABS in human liver microsomes against selective P450 substrates and regression analysis of the rate of ABS sulphoxidation against CYP expression measured by Western blotting. Comparison of Vmax values obtained following heat inactivation (3min at 45 degrees C) of flavin monoxygenases (FMO), chemical inhibition of FMO with methimazole and addition of an antiserum directed against cytochrome P450 reductase indicate that FMO and CYP contribute approximately 30% and 70%, respectively, to ABS production in vitro. Comparison of CLint values suggests CYP is a major contributor in vivo. A significant reduction in ABZ sulphoxidation (n = 3) was seen with ketoconazole (CYP3 A4; 32-37%), ritonavir (CYP3 A4: 34-42%), methimazole (FMO: 28-49%) and thioacetamide (FMO; 32-35%). Additive inhibition with ketoconazole and methimazole was 69 +/- 8% (n = 3). ABS production in heat - treated microsomes (3 min at 45 degrees C) correlated significantly with testosterone 6beta-hydroxylation (CYP3A4; P < 0.05) and band intensities on Western blots probed with an antibody selective for 3A4 (P < 0.05). Recombinant human CYP3 A4, CYP1A2 and FMO3 produced ABS in greater quantities than control microsomes, with those expressing CYP3A4 producing threefold more ABS than those expressing CYP1A2. Kinetic studies showed the Km values obtained with both CYP3A4 and FMO3 were similar. We conclude that the production of ABS in human liver is mediated via both FMO and CYP, principally CYP3A4, with the CYP component being the major contributor.

Effect of 4-tert-octylphenol on cytochrome P450 enzymes in rat liver.

The effects were studied of 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) on hepatic cytochrome P450 enzymes in rats. Rats were treated intraperitoneally with OP twice, at doses of 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg. Among the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase activities, testosterone 2alpha-hydroxylase activity, which is associated with CYP2C11, was significantly decreased by OP at all doses. The level relative to control activity was 67-22%. CYP3A2-dependent monooxygenase, testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity was also decreased by 51% by OP at 20 mg/kg. Furthermore, immunoblotting showed that OP (10 or 20 mg/kg) significantly decreased CYP2C11/6 and CYP3A2/1 protein levels. However, the reduction ratio of CYP2C11/6 and CYP3A2/1 protein levels by OP treatment was lower than that of testosterone 2alpha-hydroxylase and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activities. The Cl(int) (Vmax/Km) value for testosterone 2alpha-hydroxylase was significantly decreased by OP at all doses, whereas the Cl(int) value for testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase was only decreased by OP at 20 mg/kg. In addition, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase activity was significantly decreased by 32% by the highest dose of OP. By contrast, CYP1A1-, CYP1A2-, CYP2A1-, CYP2B1/2-, CYP2D1-, CYP2E1- and CYP4A1/2/3-dependent monooxygenase activities were not affected by OP at any dose. These results suggest that OP changes the male-specific cytochrome P450 isoforms in rat liver, and that these changes closely relate to the toxicity of OP.

Hepatic Metabolic Clearance of Midazolam, a Cytochrome P450 3A Substrate, in the Presence of Ketoconazole in Rats

Evaluation of the unbound concentration of an inhibitor (Iu) at a target site is the key to predicting in-vivo drug-drug interactions in metabolism, based on in-vitro data. In this study, the in-vivo hepatic extraction ratio (EH) and intrinsic clearance (CLint) of midazolam, a cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A substrate, in the presence of ketoconazole, a CYP inhibitor, was predicted. The plasma concentration of unbound ketoconazole (Iu) in the portal vein or hepatic vein was evaluated in untreated and dexamethasone-pretreated rats. The in-vivo EH of midazolam in the presence and absence of ketoconazole was, 0.70 and 0.86 in untreated rats, and 0.81 and 0.98 in dexamethasone-pretreated rats, respectively. The in-vivo CLint of midazolam under different conditions was estimated using well-stirred, parallel-tube and dispersion models. The in-vivo EH of ketoconazole alone was approximately 0.59. The invitro CLint of midazolam was 0.95 and 3.44 mL min−1 (mg microsomal protein)−1 in untreated and dexamethasone-pretreated rats, respectively. Ki values of ketoconazole, which showed non-competitive inhibition, were 0.126 and 0.063 μM in untreated and dexamethasone-pretreated rats, respectively. The predicted in-vivo CLint and EH values of midazolam in the presence of ketoconazole based on in-vitro data using the portal Iu as the Iu of ketoconazole in the liver were in good agreement with corresponding in-vivo values, determined using parallel-tube and dispersion models. The in-vivo hepatic metabolic clearance of midazolam in the presence of ketoconazole was reasonably predicted from in-vitro data using the portal rather than the hepatic Iu, as the Iu of ketoconazole in the liver.

Microsomal prediction of in vivo clearance of CYP2C9 substrates in humans.

To assess the utility of human hepatic microsomes for predicting in vivo intrinsic clearance (CLint ) via the use of four cytochrome P450 2C9 substrates: phenytoin, tolbutamide (S)-ibuprofen (two pathways) and diclofenac, and to examine the role of exogenous albumin within the microsomal incubation. V max, Km and CLint (defined as V max/Km ratio) were estimated under initial rate conditions for five pathways of metabolism in a bank of 15 human hepatic microsomal samples and were scaled to in vivo units using the microsomal protein index. Non-metabolic related binding in microsomes was measured for phenytoin and tolbutamide in the presence and absence of albumin. Microsomal CLint values differed by over two orders of magnitude, with the means ranging from 0.18 (phenytoin) to 40.70 (diclofenac) microl min-1 mg-1 microsomal protein. When these data were scaled and compared with published in vivo studies a similar rank order was obtained, however, the actual CLint tended to be underpredicted. While the in vivo unbound Km for phenytoin, 1-5 micron is substantially lower than the value determined in microsomes based on total concentrations (56 micron), correction for the in vitro binding reduces this value to 20 micron and 6 micron in the absence and presence of albumin, respectively. Similar trends were seen with tolbutamide Km. An appreciation of the utility of in vitro prediction can be best achieved when the range of CLint values predicted from the individual hepatic microsomal samples are compared with the range of individual in vivo CLint values reported in the literature. The degree of underprediction is less evident using the range than the mean data and no consistent advantage in adding albumin to the incubation media is apparent.

Methadone N-demethylation in human liver microsomes: lack of stereoselectivity and involvement of CYP3A4.

To investigate the kinetics of CYP-mediated N-demethylation of methadone in human liver microsomes, and examine the role of stereoselectivity and CYP isoforms involved. The kinetics of 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine (EDDP) formation via N-demethylation of rac-, (R)- and (S)-methadone in human liver microsomes prepared from six liver samples were determined by h.p.l.c., and inhibition of metabolic function was studied using isoform-specific chemical inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. Microsomes containing expressed CYP3A4, CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 were also used to examine the formation of EDDP. The V max, Km, and CLint values for the formation of EDDP from rac-, (R)- and (S)-methadone were in the ranges of 20-77 nmol mg-1 protein h-1, 125-252 microm, and 91-494 ml h-1 g-1 protein. Km and CLint values for (R)- and (S)-methadone were not statistically significantly different (P >0.05), while V max values for (S)-methadone were 15% (P=0.045) lower than for (R)-methadone. Expressed CYP3A4 and CYP2C19 showed similar reaction rates for both (R)- and (S)-methadone, while CYP2D6 did not catalyse this reaction. Selective chemical inhibitors of CYP3A (troleandomycin, ketoconazole) and monoclonal human CYP3A4 antibodies significantly inhibited (P<0.05) the formation of EDDP in a concentration dependent manner by up to 80%. Sulphaphenazole (CYP2C9) also significantly inhibited (P<0.05) EDDP formation (range 14-25%). There were no statistically significant differences in the inhibition observed between the three substrates. Selective inhibitors of CYP1A2 (furafylline), CYP2A6 (coumarin), CYP2C19 ((S)-mephenytoin), CYP2D6 (quinidine) and CYP2E1 (diethyldithiocarbamic acid sodium salt and monoclonal human CYP2E1 antibodies) had no significant (P >0.05) effect. The N-demethylation of methadone in human liver microsomes is not markedly stereoselective, and is mediated mainly by CYP3A4 with the possible involvement of CYP2C9 and CYP2C19. Thus, the large interindividual variation reported for methadone pharmacokinetics may be due to variability in the expression of these CYP isoforms, and the reported stereoselectivity in the systemic clearance of methadone in vivo is not due to stereoselectivity in N-demethylation.

Purification of a desmethylimipramine and debrisoquine hydroxylating cytochrome P-450 from human liver

To clarify whether CYP2C19 is involved in the overall metabolism of clarithromycin (CAM) or not, in vitro studies using human liver microsomes and recombinant CYPs were performed by an approach based on the disappearance rate of parent compound from the incubation mixture. In addition, the results of disappearance rate were compared with those obtained from the formation rates of the major metabolites of CAM, 14-(R)-hydroxy-CAM and N-demethyl-CAM.The intrinsic clearance (CLint) values determined from the disappearance of CAM in nine different human liver microsomes were highly correlated with the testosterone 6β-hydroxylation activity (r= 0.957, p< 0.001). The CLint of CAM was markedly reduced by selective inhibitors of CYP3A4 (ketoconazole and troleandomycin) and by polyclonal antibodies raised against CYP3A4/5 in human liver microsomes. Among the 11 isoforms of recombinant human CYP, only CYP3A4 revealed the metabolic activity for the disappearance of CAM. These results were fairly consistent with those obtained from the conventional approach based on the formation of major metabolites of CAM. Comparison of the kinetic parameters estimated from the disappearance rate of CAM and the formation rates of 14-(R)-hydroxy-CAM and N-demethyl-CAM indicates that N-demethylation and 14-(R)-hydroxylation account for 65% of CLint derived from the disappearance of CAM in human liver microsomes.The findings suggest that CYP3A4 plays a predominant role in the overall metabolic clearance of CAM as well as in the formation of 14-(R)-hydroxy-CAM and N-demethyl-CAM. CYP2C19 does not appear to be involved in the overall metabolism of CAM at least in human liver microsomes. A combination of the disappearance rate of a parent compound and the formation rate of metabolites appears to be a useful approach for estimating the percentage contribution of the formation of metabolites to the overall metabolic clearance of a parent compound in vitro.