Methoxyresorufin O-demethylation Research Articles

Time effect of rutaecarpine on caffeine pharmacokinetics in rats

Rutaecarpine is reported as a potent inducer of CYP1A2 enzyme in rats. There are natural herbal supplements containing rutaecarpine that are designed to enhance the CYP1A2-dependent removal of caffeine from blood so that people can have coffee later in the day without causing sleep interference. This study aimed to determine the minimum amount of time needed from oral rutaecarpine administration until the observed effect of rutaecarpine on caffeine pharmacokinetics (PK) in 15 male Sprague-Dawley rats. PK parameters for caffeine and its metabolites in the control and rutaecarpine groups were calculated using WinNonlin®. Results showed that orally administered rutaecarpine at 100 mg/kg dose as early as 3 h before oral caffeine administration significantly decreased the oral systemic exposure and mean residence time of caffeine and its metabolites due to decreased caffeine bioavailability (by up to 75%) and increased clearance. The systemic exposure of caffeine and its metabolites were also decreased when caffeine was given intravenously, though this effect was less pronounced than when caffeine was given orally. Although plasma level of rutaecarpine was undetectable (less than 10 ng/mL), rutaecarpine still induced hepatic CYP1A2 activity. Results from 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation activity, which is specific to CYP1A2, showed that 3 h after one rutaecarpine oral dose, CYP1A2 activity in rat liver tissue was increased by 3- fold. This finding suggested that rutaecarpine effectively induced CYP1A2 activity in the liver.

Fipronil induces CYP isoforms in rats

The goal of the present study was to evaluate fipronil effects on the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes in rat liver microsomes. Rats were orally treated with fipronil at doses of 1, 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg bw/day for 6 days. Determinations of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activities were carried out in hepatic microsomes isolated from treated rats. The activities of some members of CYP2E, CYP1A, CYP2A, CYP2B and CYP3A subfamilies significantly increased after fipronil treatment in a dose-dependent manner as compared to control. The major effects were observed in the O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin and O-demethylation of methoxyresorufin (reflecting CYP1A1/2 activities), in the O-depenthylation of pentoxyresorufin and 16β-hydroxylation of testosterone (reflecting CYP2B1/2 activities), and in the N-demethylation of erythromycin and 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone (reflecting CYP3A1/2 activities). Immunoblot studies revealed that fipronil increased the apoprotein levels of CYP1A1. Our results suggest that fipronil is an inducer of hepatic phase I CYP enzymes, causing an increased potential to interact with a wide range of xenobiotics or endogenous chemicals that are substrates of the CYP1A, CYP2B and CYP3A subfamilies. Further investigations are required to in vivo evaluate the potential of the metabolite fipronil sulfone as an inducer of phase I CYP enzymes.

Functional Significance of Cytochrome P450 1A2 Allelic Variants, P450 1A2*8, *15, and *16 (R456H, P42R, and R377Q).

P450 1A2 is responsible for the metabolism of clinically important drugs and the metabolic activation of environmental chemicals. Genetic variations of P450 1A2 can influence its ability to perform these functions, and thus, this study aimed to characterize the functional significance of three P450 1A2 allelic variants containing nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (P450 1A2*8, R456H; *15, P42R; *16, R377Q). Variants containing these SNPs were constructed and the recombinant enzymes were expressed and purified in Escherichia coli. Only the P42R variant displayed the typical CO-binding spectrum indicating a P450 holoenzyme with an expression level of ∼ 170 nmol per liter culture, but no P450 spectra were observed for the two other variants. Western blot analysis revealed that the level of expression for the P42R variant was lower than that of the wild type, however the expression of variants R456H and R377Q was not detected. Enzyme kinetic analyses indicated that the P42R mutation in P450 1A2 resulted in significant changes in catalytic activities. The P42R variant displayed an increased catalytic turnover numbers (kcat) in both of methoxyresorufin O-demethylation and phenacetin O-deethylation. In the case of phenacetin O-deethylation analysis, the overall catalytic efficiency (kcat/Km) increased up to 2.5 fold with a slight increase of its Km value. This study indicated that the substitution P42R in the N-terminal proline-rich region of P450 contributed to the improvement of catalytic activity albeit the reduction of P450 structural stability or the decrease of substrate affinity. Characterization of these polymorphisms should be carefully examined in terms of the metabolism of many clinical drugs and environmental chemicals.

Differential induction of cytochrome P450 isoforms and peroxisomal proliferation by cyfluthrin in male Wistar rats

Cyfluthrin effects on in vivo drug metabolizing enzymes were evaluated using the oxidative substrate antipyrine. Antipyrine pharmacokinetics in plasma and urinary excretion of its major metabolites with and without cyfluthrin oral treatment (20mg/kg/day for 6 days) were investigated in rats. Cyfluthrin increased the apparent intrinsic clearance and decreased the antipyrine half-life at β phase. Cyfluthrin also increased the clearance of the antipyrine metabolites, norantipyrine, 4-hydroxyantipyrine and 3-hydroxymethylantipyrine and the formation rate constants for each of the three metabolites measured in urine. These results suggest that cyfluthrin affects hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) system. In order to confirm, a second experiment was carried out. We evaluated the effects of repeated exposure to cyfluthrin on hepatic and renal CYP2E, CYP1A and CYP4A subfamilies and peroxisomal proliferation in rats following oral administration (10 and 20mg/kg/day for 6 days). At the highest dose, cyfluthrin increased renal and hepatic O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin and O-demethylation of methoxyresorufin, metabolism mediated by the CYP1A subfamily. Liver and kidney were susceptible to cyfluthrin-dependent induction of 12- and 11-hydroxylation of lauric acid, suggesting CYP4A subfamily induction. Also cyfluthrin increased the β-oxidation of palmitoyl-coenzyme A and carnitine acetyltransferase activity, supporting cyfluthrin as a peroxisome proliferator. In conclusion, the demonstration that cyfluthrin induced hepatic CYP1A, CYP4A subfamilies and peroxisomal proliferation raises the possibility of cyfluthrin could produce changes in oxidative stress.

Nanosilver Particle Effects on Drug Metabolism In Vitro

Nanosilver particles are present in consumer and health care products. Their effects on human microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450) activities and induction in luciferase reporter-engineered Caco-2 (MDR1.C) and HepG2 (DPX2 and 1A2DRE) cells have been investigated. The LD(50) values were ∼ 4 μg silver/ml for HepG2 and 5 μg/ml for Caco-2 cells. At silver concentrations that showed no decreased cell viability (<1 μg silver/ml), the pregnane X receptor (PXR)-driven 4.5-fold induction response of MDR1.C cells to 50 μM omeprazole was unaffected. In DPX2 cells, the PXR-driven 5.5- and 6.5-fold induction responses to omeprazole and 10 μM rifampicin were attenuated to 4- and 3.5-fold, respectively. Nanosilver particles alone showed no induction. In 1A2DRE cells, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-driven 5.5-fold induction response to omeprazole was attenuated to 4-fold. In 1A2DRE cells, nanosilver alone elicited slight induction at 1 μg/ml. The inhibition of human P450-selective activities by nanosilver particles in vitro was proportional to the silver/microsomal protein ratio. At a fixed (0.5 mg/ml) protein concentration, P450-selective activities differed in sensitivity (IC(50) value). Coumarin 7-hydroxylation and 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin O-deethylation exhibited the highest IC(50) values (33.5 and 31.9 μM, respectively) and S-mephenytoin 4-hydroxylation exhibited the lowest (6.4 μM). Other IC(50) values were, in ascending order, 8.0 to 9.3 μM (testosterone 6β-hydroxylation, 7-benzyloxyquinoline debenzylation, and diclofenac 4-hydroxylation), 16.0 μM (chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation), 21.2 μM [7-methoxy-4-(aminomethyl)-coumarin O-demethylation], and 24.4 μM (7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation). An investigation of 70 μM nanosilver particles showed that microsomal NADPH cytochrome c reductase activities were inhibited <12%. From our in vitro observations, we extrapolated that nanosilver particles reaching the liver may be a potential source of drug-drug interactions.

Induction of cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase by extracts of the medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza

The herbal medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) is currently used for the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. To assess possible herb-drug interactions, the effects of the aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of S. miltiorrhiza on cytochrome P450 (CYP) were studied. Oral treatment of C57BL/6J mice with the ethyl acetate extract caused a dose-dependent increase in liver microsomal 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD) activity. The ethyl acetate extract caused an 8-, 2-, 3- and 3-fold increase in hepatic MROD, tolbutamide hydroxylation, nifedipine oxidation and warfarin 7-hydroxylation activity, respectively. However, the aqueous extract had no effects on any of the activities determined. Pharmaceutical product of S. miltiorrhiza extract caused a dose-dependent increase in MROD activity without affecting other activity. Immunoblot analysis of microsomal proteins showed that ethyl acetate extract-treatment elevated the protein levels of CYP1A and CYP3A. Tanshinone IIA was the main diterpene quinone in S. miltiorrhiza. At the dose corresponding to its content in ethyl acetate extract, tanshinone IIA-treatment increased mouse liver microsomal MROD activity. These results demonstrated that there were mouse CYP1A, CYP2C and CYP3A-inducing agents present in the ethyl acetate extract, but not in the aqueous extract, of S. miltiorrhiza. Tanshinone IIA played a role in the induction of CYP1A by S. miltiorrhiza. The CYP induction by the ethyl acetate extract and pharmaceutical product suggested that possible drug interactions between S. miltiorrhiza and CYP substrates should be noticed.

Alteration of the pharmacokinetics of theophylline by rutaecarpine, an alkaloid of the medicinal herb Evodia rutaecarpa, in rats

Rutaecarpine is a main active alkaloid present in the medicinal herb, Evodia rutaecarpa. The cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2 substrate, theophylline, is an important therapeutic agent for the treatment of asthma, but has a narrow therapeutic index. To evaluate the pharmacokinetic interaction of theophylline with rutaecarpine, the effects of rutaecarpine on CYP1A2 activity and theophylline pharmacokinetics were investigated. Oral treatment of Sprague-Dawley rats with 50 mg kg(-1) rutaecarpine for three days through a gastrogavage caused a 4- and 3-fold increase in liver microsomal 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation activity, respectively. In the kidney, rutaecarpine treatment caused a 3-fold increase in EROD activity. In the lungs, EROD activity was elevated from an undetectable to a detectable level by rutaecarpine. Pharmacokinetic parameters of theophylline were determined using a microdialysis sampling method. Rutaecarpine pre-treatment increased the clearance of theophylline in a dose-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of rats with 50 mg kg(-1) rutaecarpine caused a 3-fold increase in theophylline clearance and a 70%, 68% and 68% decrease in the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC), mean residence time (MRT) and half-life, respectively. These results demonstrated that rutaecarpine treatment elevated CYP1A2 catalytic activity and theophylline excretion in rats. In patients taking theophylline, adverse effects might be noticed when a rutaecarpine-containing herbal preparation is used concomitantly.

Cytochrome P450 1A-Dependent Activities in Deer, Cattle and Horses

The objective of this study was to investigate and characterize the metabolic activities of CYP1A in deer, cattle and horses in comparison to those of rats using ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) and methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD) assays. We performed an inhibition study for these activities using anti-rat CYP1A1 antibody and identified that these activities were due to the CYP1A subfamily. Interspecies differences in the CYP1A-dependent activities were highly observed in this study. In particular, we found that the horse had the highest EROD and MROD activities among the examined animal species. In the kinetic analysis, the horses showed the highest Vmax and catalytic efficiency (Vmax/Km), followed by the cattle, deer and rats.

EROD and MROD as Markers of Cytochrome P450 1A Activities in Hepatic Microsomes from Entire and Castrated Male Pigs

In the present study, we characterized the kinetic parameters of 7-ethoxy-resorufin O-deethylation (EROD) and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD) in hepatic microsomes from entire and castrated male pigs. Validation parameters of an HPLC-based method to analyse EROD and MROD activities are also described. Eadie-Hofstee plot analysis demonstrated a biphasic kinetic of EROD, indicating that at least two forms of cytochrome P450 are involved in this reaction. MROD followed monophasic kinetic, suggesting that a single enzyme, or enzymes with similar affinities, is responsible for the reaction. Inhibitory effects of α-naphthoflavone (ANF), ellipticine and furafylline were studied using microsomes from entire and castrated male pigs. ANF is a known inhibitor of both cytochrome P450 1A1 and 1A2 (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2); the presence of ANF in the incubations resulted in the inhibition of both EROD and MROD activities in porcine liver microsomes. EROD activities in porcine liver microsomes were also inhibited by selective CYP1A1 inhibitor ellipticine, but not by CYP1A2 inhibitor furafylline. MROD activities were strongly inhibited by ellipticine and to a much lesser extent by furafylline. Further studies are needed to evaluate substrate specificities of porcine CYP1A1 and CYP1A2.

Biotransformation of PCBs in Relation to Phase I and II Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Enzyme Activities in Ringed Seals (Phoca hispida) from Svalbard and the Baltic Sea

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) may induce activity of hepatic enzymes, mainly Phase I monooxygenases and conjugating Phase II enzymes, that catalyze the metabolism of PCBs leading to formation of metabolites and to potential adverse health effects. The present study investigates the concentration and pattern of PCBs, the induction of hepatic phase I and II enzymes, and the formation of hydroxy (OH) and methylsulfonyl (CH3SO2=MeSO2) PCB metabolites in two ringed seal (Phoca hispida) populations, which are contrasted by the degree of contamination exposure, that is, highly contaminated Baltic Sea (n=31) and less contaminated Svalbard (n=21). Phase I enzymes were measured as ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylation (EROD), benzyloxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (BROD), methoxyresorufin-O-demethylation (MROD), and pentoxyresorufin-O-dealkylation (PROD) activities, and phase II enzymes were measured as uridine diphosphophate glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST). Geographical comparison, multivariate, and correlation analysis indicated that sigma-PCB had a positive impact on Phase I enzyme and GST activities leading to biotransformation of group III (vicinal ortho-meta-H atoms and < or =1 ortho-chlorine (Cl)) and IV PCBs (vicinal meta-para-H atoms and < or =2 ortho-Cl). The potential precursors for the main OH-PCBs detected in plasma in the Baltic seals were group III PCBs. MeSO2-PCBs detected in liver were mainly products of group IV PCB metabolism. Both CYP1A- and CYP2B-like enzymes are suggested to be involved in the PCB biotransformation in ringed seals.

The inhibitory effect of tannic acid on cytochrome P450 enzymes and NADPH-CYP reductase in rat and human liver microsomes

Tannic acid has been shown to decrease mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity of several amine derivatives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rodents. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of tannic acid on cytochrome P450 (CYP)-catalyzed oxidations using rat liver microsomes (RLM) and human liver microsomes (HLM) as the enzyme sources. In RLM, tannic acid showed a non-selective inhibitory effect on 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD), 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD), tolbutamide hydroxylation, p-nitrophenol hydroxylation and testosterone 6β-hydroxylation activities with IC 50 values ranged from 14.9 to 27.4 μM. In HLM, tannic acid inhibited EROD, MROD and phenacetin O-deethylation activities with IC 50 values ranged from 5.1 to 7.5 μM, and diclofenac 4-hydroxylation, dextromethorphan O-demethylation, chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation and testosterone 6β-hydroxylation with IC 50 values ranged from 20 to 77 μM. In baculovirus-insect cell-expressed human CYP 1A1 and 1A2, the IC 50 values of tannic acid for CYP 1A1- and 1A2-catalyzed EROD activities were 23.1 and 2.3 μM, respectively, indicating that tannic acid preferably inhibited the activity of CYP1A2. Tannic acid inhibited human CYP1A2 non-competitively with a Ki value of 4.8 μM. Tannic acid was also found to inhibit NADPH-CYP reductase in RLM and HLM with IC 50 values of 11.8 and 17.4 μM, respectively. These results suggested that the inhibition of CYP enzyme activities by tannic acid may be partially attributed to its inhibition of NADPH-CYP reductase activity.

Development of an on-line high performance liquid chromatography detection system for human cytochrome P450 1A2 inhibitors in extracts of natural products

An on-line HPLC screening method for detection of inhibitors of human cytochrome P450 1A2 in extracts was developed. HPLC separation of extracts is connected to a continuous methoxyresorufin- O-demethylation (MROD) assay in which recombinant human P450 1A2 converts methoxyresorufin to its fluorescent metabolite resorufin. The system was tested with three P450 1A2 inhibitors, for which minimum detectable amounts (MDA) ranging from 0.7 to 9.5 ng were obtained. Analysis of a kava kava and a basil extract showed that the on-line system is applicable to complex mixtures, since in both extracts, peaks with P450 1A2 inhibiting activity were observed.

CYP2A13 Metabolizes the Substrates of Human CYP1A2, Phenacetin, and Theophylline

Human cytochrome CYP2A13 shows overlapping substrate specificity with CYP2A6, catalyzing the metabolism of coumarin, nicotine, cotinine, and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone. Recently, it was found that CYP2A13 could catalyze the metabolic activations of 4-aminobiphenyl and aflatoxin B(1), which are known to be catalyzed by human CYP1A2. In the present study, we investigated the substrate specificity of CYP2A13. It was shown that CYP2A13 could catalyze ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation, methoxyresorufin O-demethylation, and phenacetin O-deethylation, which are used as marker activities for human CYP1A2. Although the intrinsic clearances (V(max)/K(m)) of the two former reactions by CYP2A13 were much lower than that of CYP1A2, the value of the last reaction by CYP2A13 was 2-fold higher than that of CYP1A2. Of particular interest was that CYP2A13 has higher affinity toward phenacetin than CYP1A2. In contrast, CYP2A6 hardly catalyzed these reactions, although the amino acid identity with CYP2A13 is as high as 93.5%. Furthermore, we found that CYP2A13 can catalyze theophylline 8-hydroxylation and 3-demethylation, which are known to be mainly catalyzed by human CYP1A2, although the intrinsic clearances were approximately one-tenth that of CYP1A2. CYP2A13 would not contribute to the systemic clearance of these drugs because CYP2A13 is hardly expressed in human liver. However, it may play a role in metabolism in local tissues such as lung or trachea. In conclusion, the results of the present study could extend our understanding of the substrate specificity of CYP2A13.

P.1.c.020 Regulation of cytochrome P-450 activity by the brain dopaminergic system

The goal of the present study was to evaluate fipronil effects on the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes in rat liver microsomes. Rats were orally treated with fipronil at doses of 1, 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg bw/day for 6 days. Determinations of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activities were carried out in hepatic microsomes isolated from treated rats. The activities of some members of CYP2E, CYP1A, CYP2A, CYP2B and CYP3A subfamilies significantly increased after fipronil treatment in a dose-dependent manner as compared to control. The major effects were observed in the O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin and O-demethylation of methoxyresorufin (reflecting CYP1A1/2 activities), in the O-depenthylation of pentoxyresorufin and 16β-hydroxylation of testosterone (reflecting CYP2B1/2 activities), and in the N-demethylation of erythromycin and 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone (reflecting CYP3A1/2 activities). Immunoblot studies revealed that fipronil increased the apoprotein levels of CYP1A1. Our results suggest that fipronil is an inducer of hepatic phase I CYP enzymes, causing an increased potential to interact with a wide range of xenobiotics or endogenous chemicals that are substrates of the CYP1A, CYP2B and CYP3A subfamilies. Further investigations are required to in vivo evaluate the potential of the metabolite fipronil sulfone as an inducer of phase I CYP enzymes.

The Induction of Hepatic Cytochrome P4501A Subfamily Enzymes by Nitroanisidines: Species Difference among Experimental Rodents

Species differences in the induction of hepatic cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) subfamily enzymes by nitroanisidines, such as 2-methoxy-4-nitroaniline (2-MeO-4-NA), 2-methoxy-5-nitroaniline (2-MeO-5-NA), and 4-methoxy-2-nitroaniline (4-MeO-2-NA), were investigated among male F344 rats, C57BL/6 Cr mice, and Hartley guinea pigs. All species of animals were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of each chemical (0.44 mmol/kg body weight), and changes in hepatic microsomal activities for methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD) and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD), which were mainly catalyzed by CYP1A2 and CYP1A1, respectively, were examined. Gene expression levels of hepatic CYP1A subfamily enzymes were also examined by a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. These results indicated that all the chemicals examined showed abilities to induce hepatic CYP1A subfamily enzymes in rats but not in the other examined animal species. In the rat liver, the abilities of the chemicals to induce microsomal MROD activity and CYP1A2 gene expression were in the order 2-MeO-4-NA > 2-MeO-5-NA > 4-MeO-2-NA, whereas their abilities to induce microsomal EROD activity and CYP1A1 gene expression were in the order 4-MeO-2-NA > 2-MeO-5-NA > 2-MeO-4-NA. These findings demonstrate for the first time that there are species differences in the induction of hepatic CYP1A subfamily enzymes by the nitroanisidine isomers among rats and other rodents, mice, and guinea pigs.

A hepatocarcinogenic tryptophan–pyrolyzate component, Trp‐P‐1, decreases serum total testosterone level and induces hepatic Cyp1a2 in male mice

Male (BALB/c x DBA/2) F(1) mice were given 3-amino-1,4-dimethyl-5H-pyrido [4,3-b] indole acetate (Trp-P-1; 20 mg/kg body weight) by gavage at 24-h intervals for 1 or 2 weeks, and the effects of Trp-P-1 on the levels of serum total testosterone and hepatic cytochrome P4501a2 (Cyp1a2) were examined. A significant decrease in serum total testosterone level was observed after treatment with Trp-P-1 for 2 weeks, but not for 1 week. Likewise, gene expression levels of testicular androgenic enzymes, including cholesterol side chain cleavage cytochrome P450, 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and steroid 17alpha-hydroxylase/C17-20 lyase, decreased only in the mice treated with Trp-P-1 for 2 weeks. In contrast, levels of the mRNA and apoprotein of hepatic Cyp1a2 and its enzyme activity for O-demethylation of methoxyresorufin significantly increased in the mice treated with Trp-P-1 for 2 weeks, but only a small increase was observed in mice treated for 1 week. In the present study, we demonstrate for the first time that treatment of male mice with Trp-P-1 results in a decrease in serum total testosterone level through suppression of the gene expression of testicular enzymes responsible for androgen biosynthesis, and this then leads to induction of hepatic Cyp1a2.

Induction of Rat Hepatic Cytochrome P-450 by Ketamine and its Toxicological Implications

Ketamine is a common intravenous anesthetic and a frequent drug of abuse, alone or in combination with cocaine. However, the pharmacokinetic effects of ketamine have not been fully investigated. This study determined the effects of ketamine on cytochrome P-450 (P-450)-dependent catalytic activities, protein levels, and hepatotoxicity using male Wistar rats treated with 10, 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg ketamine intraperitoneally twice daily for 4 d. Treatment with ketamine produced a dose-dependent increase of pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation activity of liver microsomes. Treatment with 80 mg/kg ketamine resulted in 14-, 3-, and 2-fold rise in O-dealkylation of pentoxyresorufin, ethoxyresorufin, and methoxyresorufin of rat liver microsomes, respectively. The treatment produced 31% and 86% increases in 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation and erythromycin N-demethylation, respectively. In addition, aniline hydroxylation activity was elevated by 62%. Protein blot analysis of liver microsomal proteins revealed that 80 mg/kg ketamine induced P-450 1A, 2B, 2E1, and 3A proteins by 2-, 13-, 2-, and 2-fold, respectively. In reversibility study, ketamine-induced pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylation, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation, erythromycin N-demethylation, and methoxyresorufin O-demethylation activities of liver microsomes prepared from rats 4 d after ketamine treatment were 75%, 48%, 29%, and 38% lower than the respective activities of liver microsomes prepared from rats 1 d after treatment. Protein blot analysis showed that ketamine-induced P-450 2B1/2 proteins also decreased in a time-dependent manner in 4 d. In hepatotoxicity study, treatment of rats with 1 ml/kg CCl4 produced a 7-fold increase in serum alanine aminotransferase activity level and a 17-fold rise in rats pretreated with 80 mg/kg ketamine for 4 d. Treatment of ICR mice with 120 mg/kg cocaine produced a 17% mortality, whereas the same dose of cocaine produced a 50% mortality in mice pretreated with ketamine. Treatment of mice with 100 mg/kg cocaine produced a 76-fold increase in serum alanine aminotransferase activity level and a 260-fold rise in mice pretreated with 80 mg/kg ketamine for 4 d. The present study shows that ketamine induces the expression of multiple forms of P-450 in rat liver microsomes and increases CCl4-induced liver toxicity and cocaine-mediated acute toxicity. Other potential pharmacological or toxicological events related to ketamine use need to be further explored.

Black tea intake modulates the excretion of urinary mutagens in rats exposed to 6-aminochrysene: induction of cytochromes P450 by 6-aminochrysene in the rat

Rats were exposed to black tea (2.5% w/v) as their sole drinking liquid for either 1 day (short-term) or 1 month (long-term), while controls received water. After exposure, all animals received a single oral dose of 6-aminochrysene and urine was collected for 72 h. Urinary mutagenicity was determined in the Ames test using an activation system comprising hepatic cytosol from Aroclor 1254-induced rats and utilizing the Salmonella typhimurium O-acetylase overexpressing bacterial strain YG1024. Both tea treatments suppressed the urinary excretion of indirect acting mutagens; no direct acting mutagenic activity was detectable. Furthermore, both tea treatments induced hepatic CYP1A2 activity, as exemplified by the O-demethylation of methoxyresorufin, when compared with the corresponding controls; similarly, an increase in CYP1A2 apoprotein levels was observed. The O-depentylation of pentoxyresorufin was also induced by the long-term tea treatment only, but the effect was less pronounced. No significant changes were seen in glutathione S-transferase and glucuronosyl transferase activities. When rats were exposed to caffeine at a dose level corresponding to that in black tea, a marked decrease was observed in the urinary excretion of indirect acting mutagens following a single oral dose of 6-aminochrysene. It is concluded that even after short-term exposure, black tea enhances the metabolism of 6-aminochrysene and that this is probably related to the up-regulation of hepatic CYP1A2 by the caffeine present in black tea. Finally, 6-aminochrysene was a potent inducer of CYP1A1, as assessed by the O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin and immunoblot analysis. The same treatment modestly increased glutathione S-transferase activity when assessed using 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene as the accepting substrate.

The effects of flubendazole and mebendazole on cytochromes P4501A in pheasant hepatocytes

Many benzimidazoles are known inducers of cytochromes P4501A (CYP1A) in laboratory animals and cell lines. As flubendazole and mebendazole are benzimidazole anthelmintics often used in a pheasant, in the present study an effect of these drugs in primary cultures of pheasant ( Phasianus colchicus) hepatocytes was investigated. After 48 h incubation of the hepatocytes with the benzimidazoles (0.2–5 μM), CYP1A activities – ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation (EROD) and methoxyresorufin O-demethylation (MROD) activities were measured and the CYP1A protein levels were determined by Western blotting. None of the tested benzimidazoles influenced the CYP1A protein content. No pharmacologically significant enhancement of CYP1A after exposure of the hepatocytes to flubendazole and mebendazole was found. Inhibition of the EROD/MROD activities caused by both tested substances was observed only at the highest concentration (5 μM). From a point of view of CYP1A induction or inhibition, the treatment of pheasants by both anthelmintics tested seems to be safe. Our study demonstrates the inter-species differences in CYP1A inducibility and the importance of induction/inhibition studies on target animals.

Enhancement of 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation activity of human cytochrome P450 1A2 by molecular breeding

Alkylresorufins are model substrates for cytochrome P450 (P450) 1A2. The ability of human P450 1A2 to catalyze 7-methoxyresorufin O -demethylation was improved by screening of random mutant libraries (expressed in Escherichia coli ) on the basis of 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation. After three rounds of mutagenesis and screening, the triple mutant E163K/V193M/K170Q yielded a k cat > five times faster than wild type P450 1A2 in steady-state kinetic analysis using either isolated membrane fractions or purified, reconstituted enzymes. The enhanced catalytic activity was not attributed to changes in substrate affinity. The kinetic hydrogen isotope effect of the triple mutant did not change from wild type enzyme and suggests that C–H bond cleavage is rate-limiting in both enzymes. Homology modeling, based on an X-ray structure of rabbit P450 2C5, suggests that the locations of mutated residues are not close to the substrate binding site and therefore that structural elements outside of this site play roles in changing the catalytic activity. This approach has potential value in understanding P450 1A2 and generating engineered enzymes with enhanced catalytic activity.