Coumarin 7-hydroxylase Research Articles

Protective effects of isothiocyanates alone or in combination with vitamin C towards N‐nitrosodibutylamine or N‐nitrosopiperidine‐induced oxidative DNA damage in the single‐cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/HepG2 assay

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of isothiocyanates alone or in combination with vitamin C towards N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) or N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP)-induced oxidative DNA damage in the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/HepG2 assay. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) alone showed a weak protective effect towards NDBA (0.1 microm, 26-27%, respectively) or NPIP (1 microm, 26-28%, respectively)-induced oxidative DNA damage. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) alone did not attenuate the genotoxic effect provoked by NDBA or NPIP. In contrast, HepG2 cells simultaneously treated with PEITC, I3C and AITC in combination with vitamin C showed a stronger inhibition of oxidative DNA-damage induced by NDBA (0.1 microm, 67%, 42%, 32%, respectively) or NPIP (1 microm, 50%, 73%, 63%, respectively) than isothiocyanates (ITCs) alone. One feasible mechanism by which ITCs alone or in combination with vitamin C exert their protective effects towards N-nitrosamine-induced oxidative DNA damage could be by the inhibition of their cytochrome P450 dependent bioactivation. PEITC and I3C strongly inhibited the p-nitrophenol hydroxylation (CYP2E1) activity (0.1 microm, 66-50%, respectively), while the coumarin hydroxylase (CYP2A6) activity was slightly reduced (0.1 microm, 25-37%, respectively). However, the ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (CYP1A1) activity was only inhibited by PEITC (1 microm, 55%). The results indicate that PEITC and I3C alone or PEITC, I3C and AITC in combination with vitamin C protects human-derived cells against the oxidative DNA damaging effects of NDBA and NPIP, two food carcinogenic compounds.

Activity of liver microsomal enzymes during the chronic phase of murine schistosomiasis

The effects of schistosomiasis on microsomal enzymes were studied on post-infection day 90 when accumulated damage and fibrosis are most intense but granulomatous reaction around the eggs harbored in the liver is smaller than during the earlier phases. Swiss Webster (SW) and DBA/2 mice of either sex (N = 12 per sex per group) were infected with 100 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae on postnatal day 10 and killed on post-infection day 90. Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) concentration and alkoxyresorufin-O-dealkylases (EROD, MROD, BROD, and PROD), p-nitrophenol-hydroxylase (PNPH), coumarin-7-hydroxylase (COH), and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities were measured in hepatic microsomes. Age-matched mice of the same sex and strain were used as controls. In S. mansoni-infected mice, CYP1A- and 2B-mediated activities (control = 100%) were reduced in SW (EROD: male (M) 36%, female (F) 38%; MROD: M 38%, F 39%; BROD: M 46%, F 19%; PROD: M 50%, F 28%) and DBA/2 mice (EROD: M 64%, F 58%; MROD: M 60%; BROD: F 49%; PROD: M 73%) while PNPH (CYP2E1) was decreased in SW (M 31%, F 38%) but not in DBA/2 mice. COH did not differ between infected and control DBA/2 and UGT, a phase-2 enzyme, was not altered by infection. In conclusion, chronic S. mansoni infection reduced total CYP content and all CYP-mediated activities evaluated in SW mice, including those catalyzed by CYP2E1 (PNPH), CYP1A (EROD, MROD) and 2B (BROD, PROD). In DBA/2 mice, however, CYP2A5- and 2E1-mediated activities remained unchanged while total CYP content and activities mediated by other CYP isoforms were depressed during chronic schistosomiasis.

Protective effect of vitamin C towards N-nitrosamine-induced DNA damage in the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/HepG2 assay

The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of vitamin C towards N-nitrosamine-induced DNA damage in the single-cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE)/HepG2 assay. None of the vitamin C concentrations tested (1–10 μM) in presence or absence of formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (Fpg enzyme) caused DNA damage per se. HepG2 cells simultaneously treated with vitamin C and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA), N-nitrosopyrrolidine (NPYR), N-nitrosodibutylamine (NDBA) or N-nitrosopiperidine (NPIP) reduced the genotoxic effects of the N-nitrosamines in a dose-dependent manner. At concentrations of 1–5 μM vitamin C, the protective effect was higher towards NPYR-induced oxidative DNA damage (78–79%) than against NDMA (39–55%), NDBA (12–14%) and NPIP (3–55%), in presence of Fpg enzyme. However, a concentration of 10 μM vitamin C led to a maximum reduction in NDBA (94%), NPYR (81%), NPIP (80%) and NDMA (61%)-induced oxidative DNA damage, in presence of Fpg enzyme. The greatest protective effect of vitamin C (10 μM) was higher towards NDBA-induced oxidative DNA damage. One feasible mechanism by which vitamin C exerted its protective effect is that may interact with the enzyme systems catalyzing the metabolic activation of the N-nitrosamines, blocking the production of genotoxic intermediates. Vitamin C (10 μM) strongly reduced the coumarin hydroxylase (82%) activity. However, the p-nitrophenol hydroxylase and the ethoxyresorufine O-deethylation activities were slightly and weakly reduced (32–19%), respectively.

Activity of liver microsomal enzymes during the chronic phase of murine schistosomiasis

The effects of schistosomiasis on microsomal enzymes were studied on post-infection day 90 when accumulated damage and fibrosis are most intense but granulomatous reaction around the eggs harbored in the liver is smaller than during the earlier phases. Swiss Webster (SW) and DBA/2 mice of either sex (N = 12 per sex per group) were infected with 100 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae on postnatal day 10 and killed on post-infection day 90. Cytochrome P-450 (CYP) concentration and alkoxyresorufin-O-dealkylases (EROD, MROD, BROD, and PROD), p-nitrophenol-hydroxylase (PNPH), coumarin-7-hydroxylase (COH), and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activities were measured in hepatic microsomes. Age-matched mice of the same sex and strain were used as controls. In S. mansoni-infected mice, CYP1A- and 2B-mediated activities (control = 100%) were reduced in SW (EROD: male (M) 36%, female (F) 38%; MROD: M 38%, F 39%; BROD: M 46%, F 19%; PROD: M 50%, F 28%) and DBA/2 mice (EROD: M 64%, F 58%; MROD: M 60%; BROD: F 49%; PROD: M 73%) while PNPH (CYP2E1) was decreased in SW (M 31%, F 38%) but not in DBA/2 mice. COH did not differ between infected and control DBA/2 and UGT, a phase-2 enzyme, was not altered by infection. In conclusion, chronic S. mansoni infection reduced total CYP content and all CYP-mediated activities evaluated in SW mice, including those catalyzed by CYP2E1 (PNPH), CYP1A (EROD, MROD) and 2B (BROD, PROD). In DBA/2 mice, however, CYP2A5- and 2E1-mediated activities remained unchanged while total CYP content and activities mediated by other CYP isoforms were depressed during chronic schistosomiasis.

Determination of microsomal CYP2A6 activity by high performance liquid chromatography

Coumarin has been reported to be a reliable probe for the determination of human microsomal CYP2A6 activity. Coumarin is converted to 7-hydroxycoumarin by CYP2A6. A high pressure liquid chromatographic assay for the estimation of CYP2A6 activity in microsomes was evaluated. A RP C-18 Novapak Waters (15 cm x 3.9 mm, 5 µm) column was used for the assay. The mobile phase composition was methanol : 1% glacial acetic acid (35:65 v/v) (pH~3.1), with a flow rate of 0.6 ml/min, injection volume of 100 µl and detection at 320 nm. The retention times for coumarin and 7-hydroxycoumarin were 8.7 min and 5.3 min, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.05 µM, and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) was 0.1 µM, for 7-hydroxycoumarin. The percent coefficient of variation associated with 7-hydroxycoumarin determination after duplicate estimation was found to be in the range 0.03 to 3.6% for buffer matrix and 0.1 to 6.5% for microsomal matrix. The mean rate of 7-hydroxycoumarin formation in guinea pig liver microsomes was 0.084 nmol/min/nmol P450. Coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity was absent in rat liver microsomes. No interference was observed from incubation mixture components.

The Missense Genetic Polymorphisms of Human CYP2A13: Functional Significance in Carcinogen Activation and Identification of A Null Allelic Variant

Cytochrome P450 2A13 (CYP2A13), an enzyme predominantly expressed in human respiratory tissues, is highly efficient for the metabolic activation of two suspected human lung carcinogens 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Functional genetic polymorphisms of CYP2A13 may therefore be an important factor in human susceptibility to related lung cancers. Among the reported CYP2A13 polymorphisms with missense variations, only CYP2A13*2 variant (containing either a single or double variation of R25Q and R257C) was studied for its NNK-metabolizing activity. The present study demonstrated that there was no remarkable difference in AFB1- and NNK-induced toxicity between the Flp-In Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells stably expressing wild-type CYP2A13 and the cells expressing the individual polymorphic variants R25Q, D158E, R257C, R25Q/R257C, V323L, F453Y, and R494C. In contrast, cells transfected with R101Q variant complementary DNA (cDNA), same as the vector control cells, showed no significant death even at highest concentrations of AFB1 (10microM) and NNK (200microM). This result correlated with the lack of CYP2A13 protein in the R101Q-CHO cells, although the genomic integration of transfected R101Q cDNA and the expression of R101Q messenger RNA were clearly demonstrated in these stable transfectants. Consistent with the possibility that the variation might reduce the protein stability, R101Q variant protein expressed in insect cells showed a loss of P450 peak and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity as well as an increased susceptibility to limited protein digestion. Thus, the R101Q polymorphic change results in a null allelic variant of CYP2A13. Our results should be useful in designing and interpreting molecular epidemiological studies related to CYP2A13 genetic polymorphisms.

THE ROLE OF CYP2A AND CYP2E1 IN THE METABOLISM OF 3-METHYLINDOLE IN PRIMARY CULTURED PORCINE HEPATOCYTES

The accumulation of 3-methylindole (3MI) in uncastrated male pigs (boars) is a major cause of boar taint, which negatively affects the quality of meat from the animal. Previously, CYP2E1 and CYP2A have been identified as cytochrome P450 (P450) isoforms involved in the metabolism of 3MI using porcine liver microsomes. This study further examines the role of these isoforms in the metabolism of 3MI using a primary porcine hepatocyte model by examining metabolic profiles of 3MI after incubation with P450 inhibitors. Incubation of hepatocytes with 4-methylpyrazole resulted in a selective inhibition of CYP2E1 activity as determined by p-nitrophenol hydroxylase activity and an associated significant decrease in the production of the 3MI metabolites 3-hydroxy-3-methyloxindole and 3-methyloxindole. Furthermore, inhibition of CYP2A, as assayed by coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity, using 8-methoxypsoralen and diethyldithiocarbamate was not associated with any further significant inhibition of the production of 3MI metabolites. Treatment with general P450 inhibitors resulted in further decreases in CYP2E1 activity and a more dramatic decrease in the production of 3MI metabolites, suggesting that additional P450s may be involved in the phase 1 metabolism of 3-methylindole. In conclusion, CYP2E1 activity levels are more important than CYP2A activity levels for the metabolism of 3-methylindole in isolated pig hepatocytes.

Evidence for induced microsomal bilirubin degradation by cytochrome P450 2A5

Oxidative metabolism of bilirubin (BR) – a breakdown product of haem with cytoprotective and toxic properties – is an important route of detoxification in addition to glucuronidation. The major enzyme(s) involved in this oxidative degradation are not known. In this paper, we present evidence for a major role of the hepatic cytochrome P450 2A5 (Cyp2a5) in BR degradation during cadmium intoxication, where the BR levels are elevated following induction of haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Treatment of DBA/2J mice with CdCl 2 induced both the Cyp2a5 and HO-1, and increased the microsomal BR degradation activity. By contrast, the total cytochrome P450 (CYP) content and the expression of Cyp1a2 were down-regulated by the treatment. The induction of the HO-1 and Cyp2a5 was substantial at the mRNA, protein and enzyme activity levels. In each case, the up-regulation of HO-1 preceded that of Cyp2a5 with a 5–10 h interval. BR totally inhibited the microsomal Cyp2a5-dependent coumarin hydroxylase activity, with an IC 50 approximately equal to the substrate concentration. The 7-methoxyresorufin 7- O-demethylase (MROD) activity, catalyzed mainly by the Cyp1a2, was inhibited up to 36% by BR. The microsomal BR degradation was inhibited by coumarin and a monoclonal antibody against the Cyp2a5 by about 90%. Furthermore, 7-methoxyresorufin, a substrate for the Cyp1a2, inhibited BR degradation activity by approximately 20%. In sum, the results strongly suggest a major role for Cyp2a5 in the oxidative degradation of BR. Secondly, the coordinated up-regulation of the HO-1 and Cyp2a5 during Cd-mediated injury implicates a network of enzyme systems in the maintenance of balancing BR production and elimination.

CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 are involved in nornicotine formation from nicotine in humans: Interindividual differences in these contributions

Nornicotine is an N-demethylated metabolite of nicotine. In the present study, human cytochrome P450 (P450) isoform(s) involved in nicotine N-demethylation were identified. The Eadie-Hofstee plot of nicotine N-demethylation in human liver microsomes was biphasic with high-affinity (apparent K(m) = 173 +/- 70 microM, V(max) = 57 +/- 17 pmol/min/mg) and low-affinity (apparent K(m) = 619 +/- 68 microM, V(max) = 137 +/- 6 pmol/min/mg) components. Among 13 recombinant human P450s expressed in baculovirus-infected insect cells (Supersomes), CYP2B6 exhibited the highest nicotine N-demethylase activity, followed by CYP2A6. The apparent K(m) values of CYP2A6 (49 +/- 12 microM) and CYP2B6 (550 +/- 46 microM) were close to those of high- and low-affinity components in human liver microsomes, respectively. The intrinsic clearances of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 Supersomes were 5.1 and 12.5 nl/min/pmol P450, respectively. In addition, the intrinsic clearance of CYP2A13 expressed in Escherichia coli (44.9 nl/min/pmol P450) was higher than that of CYP2A6 expressed in E. coli (2.6 nl/min/pmol P450). Since CYP2A13 is hardly expressed in human livers, the contribution of CYP2A13 to the nicotine N-demethylation in human liver microsomes would be negligible. The nicotine N-demethylase activity in microsomes from 15 human livers at 20 microM nicotine was significantly correlated with the CYP2A6 contents (r = 0.578, p < 0.05), coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity (r = 0.802, p < 0.001), and S-mephenytoin N-demethylase activity (r = 0.694, p < 0.005). The nicotine N-demethylase activity at 100 microM nicotine was significantly correlated with the CYP2B6 contents (r = 0.677, p < 0.05) and S-mephenytoin N-demethylase activities (r = 0.740, p < 0.005). These results as well as the inhibition analyses suggested that CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 would significantly contribute to the nicotine N-demethylation at low and high substrate concentrations, respectively. The contributions of CYP2A6 and CYP2B6 would be dependent on the expression levels of these isoforms in any human liver.

Generation and characterization of a transgenic mouse model with hepatic expression of human CYP2A6

The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize a transgenic mouse model in which CYP2A6, a human P450 enzyme, is expressed specifically in the liver. CYP2A6, which is mainly expressed in human liver, is active toward many xenobiotics. Our transgene construct contained the mouse transthyretin promoter/enhancer, a full-length CYP2A6 cDNA, and a downstream neomycin-resistance gene for positive selection in embryonic stem cells. Hepatic expression of the CYP2A6 transgene was demonstrated by immunoblotting, whereas tissue specificity of CYP2A6 expression was confirmed by RNA-PCR. The transgenic mouse was further characterized after being backcrossed to the B6 strain for six generations. Hepatic microsomes from homozygous transgenic mice had activities significantly higher than those of B6 mice toward coumarin. The in vivo activity of transgenic CYP2A6 was also determined. Systemic clearance of coumarin was significantly higher in the transgenic mice than in B6 controls, consistent with the predicted role of CYP2A6 as the major coumarin hydroxylase in human liver. The CYP2A6-transgenic mouse model should be valuable for studying the in vivo function of this polymorphic human enzyme in drug metabolism and chemical toxicity.

CYP2A6 IS A PRINCIPAL ENZYME INVOLVED IN HYDROXYLATION OF 1,7-DIMETHYLXANTHINE, A MAIN CAFFEINE METABOLITE, IN HUMANS

In a caffeine test previously performed with healthy Japanese volunteers, we found that the CYP1A2 index defined as urinary {5-acetylamino-6-amine-3-methyluracil (AAMU)+1-methylxanthine (1X)+1-methyluric acid (1 U)}/1,7-dimethyluric acid (17 U) was affected by the whole deleted allele of CYP2A6 (CYP2A6*4). Since the high value of the CYP1A2 index could be caused by a low urinary concentration of 17 U, we postulated that CYP2A6 was responsible for the 1,7-dimethylxanthine (17 X) metabolism to generate 17 U (17 X 8-hydroxylation). Thus, the role of CYP2A6 in the 17 X 8-hydroxylation was fully examined in the present study. Among 10 isoforms of human cytochrome P450 (CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2E1, CYP3A4, or CYP3A5) expressed in Escherichia coli cells, CYP2A6 and CYP1A2 showed high catalytic activities for the 17 X 8-hydroxylation. The 17 X 8-hydroxylase activities significantly associated with coumarin 7-hydroxylase activities (r=0.67, p<0.01) in liver microsomes from 17 individuals, but not with ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities. Tranylcypromine, an inhibitor of CYP2A6, reduced the 17 X 8-hydroxylase activities of human liver microsomes. The 17 X 8-hydroxylase activities of CYP2A6.7, CYP2A6.10, and CYP2A6.11 expressed in E. coli cells were 12, 13, and 22% of that of CYP2A6.1, respectively. The 17 X 8-hydroxylase activities were found to be low in liver microsomes from individuals possessing the deletion or mutations in the CYP2A6 gene. Based on these data, we conclude that CYP2A6 is a main 17 X 8-hydroxylase and that the catalytic activities for the 17 X 8-hydroxylation are reduced by the genetic polymorphisms of the CYP2A6 gene.

Alterations of hepatic microsomal enzymes in the early phase of murine schistosomiasis

Schistosoma mansoni has been reported to cause a downregulation of hepatic cytochrome P450 activities after granulomas are formed around worm eggs harbored in the mouse liver. Only a few studies, however, provided data on the activity of xenobiotic-biotransaformation enzymes in the early phase of S. mansoni infection. In this study, we evaluated the alterations of liver microsomal enzymes during early infection (post-infection days, PIDs, 15 and 30) when granulomas are not found in the mouse liver yet. Swiss Webster (SW) and DBA/2 mice of either sex were infected with 100 S. mansoni cercariae on postnatal day 10. Levels of total-CYPs and activities of alkoxyresorufin- O-dealkylases (EROD, MROD, PROD and BROD), N-nitrosodimethylamine- N-demethylase (NDMA-d), coumarin 7-hydroxylase (COH, DBA/2 only) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) were measured in liver microsomes from mice killed on PIDs 15 and 30. Age-matched (sham-infected) mice of the same sex and strain were used as controls. Neither total-CYP levels nor microsomal enzyme activities were altered in SW and DBA/2 mice on PID 15. On PID 30, total-CYP levels, and COH, PROD and UGT activities remained unaltered, while gender- and strain-specific minor changes of EROD, MROD, BROD and NDMA-d (i.e., increase in SW and reduction in DBA/2) were found. In conclusion, our results suggest that, contrasting to a consistent and almost generalized downregulation of CYPs in chronic schistosomiasis, alterations of hepatic CYPs in early (acute) infection are isoform and mouse's gender and strain specific.

5-Substituted, 6-Substituted, and Unsubstituted 3-Heteroaromatic Pyridine Analogues of Nicotine as Selective Inhibitors of Cytochrome P-450 2A6

A series of 5- and 6-substituted and unsubstituted 3-heteroaromatic analogues of nicotine were synthesized in an effort to delineate the structural requirements for selectively inhibiting human cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 2A6, the major nicotine metabolizing enzyme. Thiophene, substituted thiophene, furan, substituted furan, imidazole, substituted imidazole, pyridine, substituted pyridine, thiazole, and quinoline moieties were used to replace the N-methylpyrrolidine ring of nicotine. Bromo and methyl groups were introduced at the 5-position of the pyridine ring and fluoro, chloro, and methoxy groups were placed at the 6-position of the pyridine ring in order to explore the structure-activity relationship (SAR) of inhibition of CYP2A6. The inhibitory activity of the most potent CYP2A6 inhibitors on the functional activity of human cytochrome P450s 3A4, 2E1, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, and 2D6 was also examined to determine inhibitor selectivity. We identified 36 compounds that were more potent than nicotine at inhibition of coumarin 7-hydroxylase (CYP2A6) activity. We also found a number of compounds to be highly selective for the inhibition of human CYP2A6 versus the other human CYPs examined.

Expression of human cytochromes P450 in chimeric mice with humanized liver.

Recently, a chimeric mouse line in which the liver could be replaced by more than 80% with human hepatocytes was established in Japan. Because the chimeric mouse produces human albumin (hAlb), replacement by human hepatocytes could be estimated by the hAlb concentration in the blood of chimeric mice. In this study, we investigated human major cytochrome P450 (P450) in the livers of chimeric mice by mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity using real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and high-performance liquid chromatography, respectively. Chimeric mice with humanized liver generated using hepatocytes from a Japanese and white donor were used. Human P450 mRNAs were expressed in the liver of chimeric mice, and major human P450 proteins such as CYP1A2, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 were detected. The expression of P450 mRNA and protein was correlated with the hAlb concentration in the blood. The enzyme activities such as diclofenac 4'-hydroxylase activity, dexamethasone 6-hydroxylase activity, and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity, activities that are specific to human P450 but not to murine P450, were increased in a hAlb concentration-dependent manner. The chimeric mice with nearly 90% replacement by human hepatocytes demonstrated almost the same protein contents of human P450s and drug-metabolizing enzyme activity as those of the donor. It was confirmed that genomic DNA from the livers of the chimeric mice and that from the liver of the donor exhibited the same genotype. In conclusion, the chimeric mice exhibited a similarly efficient capacity of drug metabolism as humans, suggesting that they could be a useful animal model for drug development.

Acute cadmium chloride administration induces hepatic and renal CYP2A5 mRNA, protein and activity in the mouse: involvement of transcription factor NRF2

Modulation of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) monooxygenase system by cadmium was investigated in male, adult DBA/2J mice treated with a single dose (16 μmol/kg body weight, i.p.) of cadmium chloride (CdCl 2). Total CYP content of liver and kidney microsomes decreased maximally (56% and 85%, respectively) 24 and 18 h, respectively, after CdCl 2 treatment. Progressive increases of hepatic coumarin 7-hydroxylase (COH) activity; indicative of CYP2A5 activity, relative to the total CYP content were seen at 8 h (2-fold), 12 h (3-fold), 18 h (12-fold), and 24 h (15-fold). Similar changes were seen in the kidney. Liver and kidney CYP2A5 mRNA levels increased maximally 12 and 4 h after treatment and decreased to almost half 6 h later. In contrast, kidney and liver CYP2A5 protein levels increased maximally at 18 and 24 h. The CYP2A5 mRNA levels in the kidney and liver increased after Cd treatment in Nrf2 +/+ but not in Nrf2 −/− mouse. This study demonstrates that hepatic and kidney CYP2A5 is upregulated by cadmium with a somewhat faster response in the kidney than the liver. The strong upregulation of the CYP2A5 both at mRNA and enzyme activity levels, with a simultaneous decrease in the total CYP concentration suggest an unusual mode of regulation of CYP2A5 in response to cadmium exposure, amongst the CYP enzymes. The observed decrease in the mRNA but not in protein levels after maximal induction may suggest involvement of post-trancriptional mechanisms in the regulation. Upregulation of CYP2A5 by cadmium in the Nrf2 +/+ mice but not in the Nrf2−/− mice indicates a role for this transcription factor in the regulation.

Effect of Nilvadipine, a Dihydropyridine Calcium Antagonist, on Cytochrome P450 Activities in Human Hepatic Microsomes

The effects of nilvadipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, on cytochrome P450 (CYP) activities in human hepatic microsomes were investigated. Nilvadipine competitively inhibited CYP1A2-mediated 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, CYP2A6-mediated coumarin 7-hydroxylase, CYP2C8/9-mediated tolbutamide methylhydroxylase, CYP2C19-mediated S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase, and CYP3A4-mediated nifedipine oxidase activities, and the inhibition constant (Ki) values were 13.0, 35.8, 5.02, 24.5 and 44.3 microM, respectively. On the other hand, no inhibition of CYP2B6-mediated 7-benzyloxyresorufin O-debenzylation, CYP2D6-mediated bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation, or CYP2E1-mediated chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation by nilvadipine at 40 microM concentration was observed. The free fractions of nilvadipine in the incubation mixture estimated by ultracentrifugation were 18.9-27.4%. These results suggest that nilvadipine would not cause clinically significant interactions with other drugs, which are metabolized by CYPs, via the inhibition of metabolism.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress due to altered cellular redox status positively regulates murine hepatic CYP2A5 expression.

Murine hepatic cytochrome P450 2A5 (CYP2A5) is uniquely induced by a variety of agents that cause liver injury and inflammation, conditions that are typically associated with downregulation of P450s. We hypothesized that induction of CYP2A5 occurs in response to hepatocellular damage resulting in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Treatment of mice in vivo and mouse hepatocytes in primary culture with the CYP2A5 inducer pyrazole resulted in overexpression of the ER stress biomarker glucose-regulated protein (GRP) 78. Treatment of primary hepatocytes with ER stress activators thapsigargin, tunicamycin, and trans-4,5-dihydroxy-1,2-dithiane (DTT(ox)) and the calcium ionophore A23187 (calcimycin) resulted in elevated GRP78 mRNA levels; however, only the reducing agent DTT(ox) induced levels of CYP2A5 mRNA, protein, and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity. To test the hypothesis that CYP2A5 induction is due to liver injury resulting from altered cellular redox status, we demonstrated that CYP2A5 induction, elevated serum alanine aminotransferase, and oxidative protein damage occur concurrently in pyrazole-treated mice. Pyrazole also induced the expression of cytosolic alpha and mu class glutathione S-transferase expression both in vivo and in primary mouse hepatocytes. Moreover, treatment of hepatocytes with the redox cycling quinone menadione resulted in overexpression of CYP2A5 and GSTM1 mRNA. Finally, pretreatment of hepatocytes with the antioxidants N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E attenuated pyrazole-mediated increases in CYP2A5 mRNA levels. These findings clearly indicate that induction of mouse hepatic CYP2A5 during liver injury occurs via a novel mechanism involving ER stress due to altered cellular redox status.

Effects of polymorphism in promoter region of human CYP2A6 gene (CYP2A6*9) on expression level of messenger ribonucleic acid and enzymatic activity in vivo and in vitro.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2A6 catalyzes nicotine C-oxidation, leading to cotinine formation, a major metabolic pathway of nicotine in humans. There are genetic polymorphisms in the human CYP2A6 gene. Previously, we demonstrated that in vivo nicotine metabolism is impaired with the CYP2A6*4, CYP2A6*7, and CYP2A6*10 alleles in Japanese subjects and Korean subjects. An allele possessing a point mutation in the TATA box termed CYP2A6*9 (T-48G) has been reported to decrease the transcriptional activity in vitro as assessed by luciferase assay. In this study we investigated the effects of the CYP2A6*9 allele on in vivo enzymatic activity by evaluating nicotine metabolism. The mutation of T-48G was found only on the CYP2A6*1A allele but not on the CYP2A6*1B allele. Allele frequencies of CYP2A6*9 in Japanese subjects (n = 92) and Korean subjects (n = 209) were 21.3% and 22.3%, respectively. In Korean subjects the cotinine/nicotine ratios as an index of nicotine metabolism in the subjects with CYP2A6*9/CYP2A6*9 (4.3 +/- 2.4) were significantly lower than those in the subjects with CYP2A6*1A/CYP2A6*9 (7.7 +/- 5.6) and CYP2A6*1A/CYP2A6*1A (10.4 +/- 9.2) (P <.05 and P <.005, respectively). In Japanese subjects a similar result was observed, although it was not significant. Thus it is suggested that the mutation in the TATA box (CYP2A6*9 allele) caused the decreased in vivo enzymatic activity. With an in vitro study, it was shown that the expression levels of CYP2A6 messenger ribonucleic acid and coumarin 7-hydroxylase activity in human livers genotyped as CYP2A6*1/CYP2A6*9 and CYP2A6*9/CYP2A6*9 tended to be lower than those in human livers genotyped as CYP2A6*1/CYP2A6*1, although there was no significant difference because of the small number of samples. These in vitro data supported the in vivo data demonstrating that the CYP2A6*9 allele caused the decreased expression level and enzymatic activity of CYP2A6.

Diversity of selective environmental substrates for human cytochrome P450 2A6: alkoxyethers, nicotine, coumarin, N-nitrosodiethylamine, and N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine

Cytochrome P450 2A6 constitutes 5–10% of the total microsomal CYPs of human liver. Although CYP2A6 is the major coumarin 7-hydroxylase, other known substrates of CYP2A6 include many toxicants and precarcinogens. The chemical structure diversity of these substrates raises the question of their selectivity. Thus, kinetic parameters were determined for the hydroxylation of five substrates of diverse chemical structures known to be selective for cytochrome P450 2A6: methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), nicotine, coumarin, N-nitrosobenzylmethylamine (NBzMA), and N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA). Sources of enzymes were either human liver microsomes or heterologously expressed CYPs. Coumarin was shown to be the substrate with the highest affinity, followed by NDEA, nicotine, NBzMA, and MTBE. Variability of CYP2A6 catalytic activities in human liver was between 24-fold for MTBE to sevenfold for coumarin, while CYP2A6 content varied 68-fold in human liver microsomes. These five catalytic activities were highly significantly correlated between them and with hepatic CYP2A6 content. The most selective chemical inhibitor of these five substrates was shown to be 8-methoxypsoralen. Based upon chemical inhibition of the enzymatic activities of pure recombinant human CYPs, it cannot be totally excluded that P450s other than CYP2A6, especially CYP2E1, are involved, although to a lesser extent, in NDEA and NBzMA metabolism. In conclusion, the prototype probes for CYP2A6 phenotyping are coumarin and nicotine.

Predictive value of comparative molecular field analysis modelling of naphthalene inhibition of human CYP2A6 and mouse CYP2A5 enzymes

The objects of this study were first to compare how well the recently constructed structure–inhibition activity relationship models of mouse CYP2A5 and human CYP2A6 predict the interaction of naphthalene in liver microsomes and secondly to study if these CYP enzymes actually oxidize naphthalene. The CoMFA model of CYP2A5 predicted the IC 50 value of naphthalene to be 42 μM (18–115 μM 95% CL) whereas in the in vitro experiment the result was 74 μM (65–83 μM) with the corresponding values for CYP2A6 being 41 μM (18–112 μM) and 25 μM (21–30 μM), respectively. Naphthalene appeared to be a competitive inhibitor both for mouse and human liver microsomal coumarin 7-hydroxylase, which is the specific probe activity for CYP2A5 and CYP2A6. The K i-value for the mouse enzyme was between 12–26 μM and for the human enzyme 1.2–5.6 μM. A 1-h in vitro incubation of naphthalene with human and pyrazole treated mouse liver microsomes produced more 1-naphthol than 2-naphthol. Antibody against the purified CYP2A5 inhibited 50–60% of the formation of 1-naphthol and 30–40% of the formation of 2-naphthol. These results indicate that in silico CoMFA models predict relatively well the interaction of naphthalene with CYP2A5 and CYP2A6 and that these CYPs actually oxidize naphthalene in vitro. CoMFA CYP2A5 and CYP2A6 models are thus useful as a technique for elucidating the interaction and potency of untested chemicals with these CYPs.