Reduced Cytochrome P-450 Research Articles

Reduction in hepatic cytochrome P-450 is correlated to the degree of liver fat content in animal models of steatosis in the absence of inflammation

Background/Aim: Fatty liver has been associated with an increased risk of primary graft non-function and drug toxicity. However, these effects have been observed mainly in fatty liver with inflammation, a situation characterized by an overall reduction in cytochrome P-450 (CYP)-dependent activities as well as a contrasting increase in CYP2E1 activity. Our aim was to examine the impact of liver-fat accumulation on CYP in two animal models of fatty liver without necroinflammation. Methods: Ducks were force-fed with a high-glucidic diet and male Wistar rats, after 48 h fasting, were refed a high-glucidic, fat-free diet for 48 h. Total CYP, aminopyrine- (AND), erythromycin-N-demethylase (END) and chlorzoxazone hydroxylase (CZOHase) activities as well as CYP2E1 and CYP3A proteins were quantified on microsomal proteins. Results: Livers from force-fed ducks exhibited significant decreases in total CYP, AND, END and CZOHase activities, inversely correlated with fat-liver content. Refeeding male Wistar rats a high-glucidic, fat-free diet after 48 h fasting, resulting in a 235% increased live fat content, was associated with a decrease in total CYP (55%), AND (78%), END (55%) and CZOHase (62%) activities as well as in CYP3A (70%) and CYP2E1 (80%) protein content. A significant inverse correlation was observed between CYP and total lipid content. Conclusions: In these models of steatosis induced by nutritional manipulations, fat liver accumulation was associated with a significant decrease in CYP activities and in CYP protein expression. Furthermore, the decreases in both CYP content and related activities were correlated with the degree of liver fat content.

The effect of cimetidine on the pharmacokinetics of epirubicin in patients with advanced breast cancer: Preliminary evidence of a potentially common drug interaction

Epirubicin is known to be metabolized in the liver. Therefore, drugs such as cimetidine, which inhibit the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system or reduce liver blood flow, may reduce the plasma clearance of epirubicin. In a small study, epirubicin 100 mg/m 2 every 3 weeks was administered intravenously to eight patients, who also received oral cimetidine (400 mg b.d. for 7 days starting 5 days before chemotherapy) with either the first or second cycles. Epirubicin pharmacokinetics and liver blood flow (idocyanine green clearance) were assessed at each course. The areas under the plasma concentration time curves (AUCs) were used to compare the systemic exposure to epirubicin and its metabolites with each course. The estimated median percentage increase (95% confidence interval CI) in the AUC with cimetidine were: epirubicin 50% (95% CI −18 to 193, epirubicinol 41% (95% CI 1 to 92). Despite the small numbers studied, the increase in the active metabolite epirubicinol was significant ( P<0.05). These changes in exposure were not explained by reduced cytochrome P-450 activity as the 7-deoxy-doxorubicinol aglycone AUC was not reduced (357% increase: 95% CI 17 to 719) or by a decrease in liver blood flow (17% increase: 95% CI −39 to 104). Cimetidine is likely to be coprescribed or self-administered with epirubicin and therefore clinicians should be aware of this potential interaction.

Gadolinium chloride reduces cytochrome P450: Relevance to chemical-induced hepatotoxicity

The Kupffer cell inhibitor, gadolinium chloride (GdCl3), protects the liver from a number of toxicants that require biotransformation to elicit toxicity (i.e. 1,2-dichlorobenzene and CCl4), as well as compounds that do not (i.e. cadmium chloride and beryllium sulfate). The mechanism of this protection is thought to result from reduced secretion of inflammatory and cytotoxic products from Kupffer cells (KC). However, since other lanthanides have been shown to decrease cytochrome P450 (P450) activity, the following studies were designed to determine if GdCl3 pretreatment alters hepatic P450 levels or activity. The toxicological relevance of GdCl3-mediated alterations in P450 activity was also estimated by determining the effect of GdCl3 pretreatment on the susceptibility of primary cultured hepatocytes to CCl4 and cadmium chloride (CdCl2). Male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were given GdCl3 (i.v., 10 mg/kg). Twenty-four hours later, livers were either processed for preparation of microsomes or for primary cultures of hepatocytes. Gadolinium chloride treatment reduced total hepatic microsomal P450 as well as aniline hydroxylase activity by approximately 30% in males and 20% in females. In hepatocytes isolated from rats pretreated with GdCl3, the toxicity caused by CCl4, but not CdCl2 was reduced. Interestingly, when GdCl3 was administered in vitro to microsomes, there was no effect on either the microsomal P450 difference spectra or p-hydroxylation of aniline. However, when GdCl3 was incubated with isolated hepatocytes, the cytotoxicity of CCl4 (but not CdCl2) was partially attenuated. These results suggest that, in addition to its inhibitory effects on KC, GdCl3 produces other effects which may alter the susceptibility of hepatocytes to toxicity caused by certain chemicals.

Influence of partial hepatectomy in rats on the activity of hepatic microsomal enzymatic systems.

The influence of partial hepatectomy on the activity of the hepatic microsomal enzymatic systems was determined in rats. Cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b5, four mixed functional oxidase (MFO) activities (microsomal aniline hydroxylase, p-nitroanisole O-demethylase, aminopyrine N-demethylase and NADPH cytochrome c reductase) and glutathione levels were measured in unhepatectomized rats (control group) and in hepatectomized rats 12 h, 24 h, 3 days and 6 days after 70% hepatectomy. Following surgery the remaining lobes of the liver grow rapidly in order to restore the original liver mass. Partial hepatectomy significantly reduces cytochrome P-450 and b5 content in the remaining liver as well as the four MFO activities studied. But when the enzymatic systems are expressed as nmoles/mg microsomal protein, only cytochrome P-450 shows statistical differences. The hepatic biotransformation capacity of drugs and xenobiotics decreases during the regeneration period due to the reduction of hepatic mass rather than because of a reduction of their metabolic capacity. Glutathione levels are increased after partial hepatectomy but increased glutathione-dependent protector mechanisms are not expected.

Changes in rat liver microsomal enzyme activities induced by injection of rat liver growth factor into male rats

Microsomal cytochromes P450 and b 5 and enzyme activities linked to P450 isoforms IA1 2 , IIB1 2 , IIC11 and IIIA were assessed over a 72 h period in male Wistar rats after intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of 4 μg/100 g body weight of rat liver growth factor (r-LGF) and compared with those of partially hepatectomized and sham-operated animals. The injection provoked a marked decrease in the activities of cytochrome P450 isozymes IIB1 2 , IIC11 and IIIA and about a 50% reduction in cytochrome P450 and b 5 contents during the first 48 h postinjection, which were slowly restored to the levels observed in control or sham-operated animals. The findings in partially hepatectomized rats were similar. These results suggest that, alone, the rat liver growth factor selectively mimics the effects of the initial stages of in vivo liver regeneration in certain hepatic microsomal detoxifying enzymes.

Stimulatory effect of anesthetics on dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride in guinea-pig liver microsomes

Effects of the anesthetics isoflurane, enflurane, halothane and sevoflurane on the dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride to produce chloroform were investigated using guinea pig liver microsomes. Under anaerobic conditions, chloroform is produced from carbon tetrachloride by the microsomes in the presence of NADPH, and chloroform production from 86 μM carbon tetrachloride was enhanced to 146%, 133%, 123% and 115% by the addition of isoflurane, enflurane, halothane and sevoflurane, respectively. The half-life of oxidized cytochrome P450 which remained during the reduction by the addition of NADPH was shortened to 51%, 54%, 60% and 80% by isoflurane, enflurane, halothane and sevoflurane, respectively, without alteration of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. These anesthetics hastened the onset of the 445 nm absorption band formation which was shown by microsomes with carbon tetrachloride in the presence of NADPH under anaerobic conditions. These results indicate that the anesthetics isoflurane, enflurane, sevoflurane and halothane stimulate the reduction of cytochrome P450 results in the acceleration of the carbon tetrachloride dechlorination. These results may have implications for other type II drugs that are administered during anesthesia.

Bile acids produce a generalized reduction of the catalytic activity of cytochromes P450 and other hepatic microsomal enzymes in vitro: relevance to drug metabolism in experimental cholestasis.

In bile duct-ligated male rats, there is a reduction of total hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450) levels and of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (P450-reductase) activity, but the changes in activity of individual microsomal enzymes are nonuniform. We have proposed that the initial effect of cholestasis on microsomal proteins is a non-specific reduction caused by bile acid-mediated destruction, whereas the disproportionate lowering of male-specific P450 enzymes results from secondary down-regulation of some cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes. We report herein the results of experiments to test the first part of this hypothesis, at least as indicated by enzyme inhibition. Hepatic microsomal fractions from normal male rats were incubated at 37 degrees C with increasing concentrations of a range of bile acids selected for their varying physicochemical properties. The endpoints were catalytic activity of three individual CYP proteins, CYP 2A1 (measured as testosterone 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity), 2C11 (testosterone 2 alpha-hydroxylase and 16 alpha-hydroxylase) and 3A2 (testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase), and the non-CYP enzymes, steroid 17 beta-dehydrogenase and P450-reductase. With 0.25 mmol/L cholic acid, a concentration exceeded in serum following bile duct ligation, there was a significant reduction in the activity of all enzymes at 4 h. Cholic acid-mediated inhibition was dose-dependent and there was no difference in inhibitory activity towards the male sex-dependent CYP 2C11 and 3A2 and the non-sex-dependent CYP 2A1 and other microsomal enzymes. Taurocholic acid was twice as potent an inhibitor as unconjugated cholic acid, the respective apparent I50 values being approximately 0.6 mmol/L compared with approximately 1.2 mmol/L. The dihydroxy bile acids, chenodeoxycholic acid and deoxycholic acid, were also more potent inhibitors than cholic acid, exhibiting I50 values in the range of 0.3-0.5 mmol/L, but the monohydroxy bile acid, lithocholic acid, was the most potent inhibitor (I50 approximately 0.2 mmol/L). Thus, the inhibitory potential of bile acids towards microsomal enzymes was inversely related to their extent of hydroxylation, while taurine conjugation enhanced the inhibitory potential of cholic acid. These data confirm the potential of bile acids to inhibit the activity of microsomal enzymes in livers of bile ductligated rats and indicate that such changes can occur with concentrations of bile acids that are physiologically relevant. Further, the results are consistent with the proposal that the disproportionately greater reduction of the male sex-dependent CYP, 2C11 and 3A2, is not explained by a destructive mechanism.

Isoflurane enhances dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride in guinea-pig liver microsomes.

Effect of isoflurane on the dechlorination of carbon tetrachloride to chloroform was investigated in the guinea-pig liver microsomes. Under anaerobic conditions, chloroform is produced from carbon tetrachloride through the microsomes in the presence of NADPH, and such production of chloroform was increased by the addition of isoflurane. The K(m) for the production of chloroform from carbon tetrachloride was decreased to 86% by isoflurane compared with the control; however the maximum velocity of chloroform production was also decreased to 50%. The formation of the 445 nm band in the mixture of reduced cytochrome P-450 and carbon tetrachloride, and cytochrome P-450 reduction by NADPH were both accelerated by isoflurane, without alteration of NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activity. These results indicate that trichloromethyl radical, an intermediate product of carbon tetrachloride, easily combines to the haeme part of cytochrome P-450, whereas the protein part combines to isoflurane after being reduced by NADPH, which results in acceleration of carbon tetrachloride dechlorination under a lower concentration of carbon tetrachloride. These results may have implications for other drugs that are administered during isoflurane anaesthesia.

Reduced cytochrome P450 and increased heme oxygenase in liver during rabbit aflatoxicosis

The administration of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in New Zealand rabbit for 5 days at a daily oral dose of 0.05 or 0.1 mg/kg decreased microsomal hepatic cytochrome P450 whereas a dose-dependent increase in the reduced microsomal 420nm absorption occured. The nature of such an absorption was then investigated. Either in vitro incubation of control microsomal proteins with AFB1 up to 800μM and NADPH, or primary rabbit hepatocyte cultures exposure to AFB1 up to 30μ.M for 24 to 72h, failed to produce any 420nm absorbing species, suggesting that the 420nm absorption observed in vivo was due to an hemoprotein increase. Chemical reductions of microsomal proteins from AFB 1-treated rabbits confirmed this hypothesis. Enzyme activity determinations revealed an increase in both microsomal heme oxygenase and NADPH-cytochrome c reductase activities in AFB1 treated rabbits, suggesting that the 420nm absorption observed in vivo was related to a particular increase in heme oxygenase.

Alterations in expression of CYPlA1 and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase during lung tumor development in SWR/J mice

We investigated the expression of the cytochrome P450 isozyme, CYP1A1, during the course of tumor development and examined the distribution of the CYP1A1 protein in hyperplastic foci, adenomas and carcinomas. The expression of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, a flavoprotein that mediates the reduction of cytochrome P450, was also determined. Mice were administered urethane (1 mg/g body wt) and were killed at 10, 22 and 52 weeks to coincide with the time at which hyperplastic foci, adenomas and carcinomas were established, respectively. Protein immunoblotting revealed that the antibody for CYP1A1 detected a protein band of approximately M(r) 56,000 in microsomes from mice treated with beta-naphthoflavone. The antibody for NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase detected a protein band of approximately M(r) 79,000 in microsomes from control mice and mice treated with beta-naphthoflavone. Immunohistochemical studies showed that CYP1A1 was not detected constitutively in the lungs of both non-tumor- and tumor-bearing mice. Treatment with beta-naphthoflavone evoked high induction of CYP1A1 in morphologically normal tissues of all mice, with localization of the protein mainly in endothelial and alveolar type II cells. In contrast, inducibility of CYP1A1 by beta-naphthoflavone was markedly reduced in early hyperplastic foci seen 10 weeks after urethane exposure. At 22 weeks, CYP1A1 was found at low levels in both solid and papillary tumors, whereas at 52 weeks, lung carcinomas were devoid of expression of this protein. However, CYP1A1 inducibility was highly expressed in late hyperplastic foci manifested at 52 weeks. NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was expressed in morphologically normal lung tissue of all mice under control conditions and after treatment with beta-naphthoflavone, and was localized mainly in Clara and alveolar type II cells. In contrast, reductase expression in all tumor sites was diminished and closely paralleled that of CYP1A1. These results demonstrated progressive depression of induced CYP1A1 and reductase expression in early hyperplasias, adenomas and carcinomas, suggesting that the co-ordinate regulation of both enzymes is highly conserved during tumor development. Furthermore, these findings suggested diminished capabilities for metabolic activation of potential toxicants and/or carcinogens after neoplastic transformation.

Isoflurane acts as an inhibitor of oxidative dehalogenation while acting as an accelerator of reductive dehalogenation of halothane in guinea pig liver microsomes

The effects of isoflurane, 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethyl difluoromethyl ether, on the oxidative metabolism of halothane to produce trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and on the reductive metabolism of halothane to produce chlorodifluoroethylene (CDE) and chlorotrifluoroethane (CTE) in liver microsomes of guinea pig were examined. Isoflurane enhanced the production of CDE and CTE and inhibited the production of TFA. Isoflurane enhanced cytochrome P450 reduction and formation of an intermediate complex with cytochrome P450 without enhancement of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (EC 1.6.2.4) activity. We conclude that isoflurane interacts with cytochrome P450 to prevent the formation of the halothane-cytochrome P450 complex, causing inhibition of the oxidative dehalogenation. This interaction of isoflurane enhances the reduction of cytochrome P450 and the formation of a reductive intermediate-cytochrome P450 complex under anaerobic conditions causing reductive dehalogenation of halothane.

Molecular mechanisms of tirapazamine (SR 4233, Win 59075)-induced hepatocyte toxicity under low oxygen concentrations

Previously we showed that tirapazamine (SR 4233, Win 59075) is cytotoxic towards hepatocytes under conditions of hypoxia but not in 10% or 95% oxygen and that bioreduction by DT-diaphorase or cytochrome P450 is not a major pathway. In the present study, we report that tirapazamine is highly cytotoxic to isolated rat hepatocytes maintained under 1% oxygen and the molecular cytotoxic mechanism has been elucidated. Cytotoxicity was prevented by the cytochrome P450 2E1 inhibitors phenyl imidazole, isoniazid, isopropanol or ethanol, suggesting that cytochrome P450 2E1 catalysed tirapazamine reductive bioactivation. By contrast, dicoumarol, a DT-diaphorase inhibitor, markedly increased tirapazamine-induced cytotoxicity. Cytotoxicity was also inhibited in normal but not DT-diaphorase-inactivated hepatocytes by increasing cellular NADH levels with lactate or ethanol or the mitochondrial respiratory inhibitors. Evidence that oxygen activation contributed to cytotoxicity was that glutathione oxidation occurred well before cytotoxicity ensued and that tirapazamine was more cytotoxic towards catalase- or glutathione reductase-inactivated hepatocytes. Furthermore, polyphenolic antioxidants such as quercetin, caffeic acid or purpurogallin, the radical trap Tempol or the iron chelator desferrioxamine prevented tirapazamine-mediated cytotoxicity. However, the antioxidants diphenylphenylenediamine, butylated hydroxyanisole or butylated hydroxytoluene did not prevent cytotoxicity and malonaldehyde formation was not increased, suggesting that lipid peroxidation was not important. The above results suggest that DT-diaphorase detoxifies tirapazamine whereas reduced cytochrome P450 reduces tirapazamine to a nitrogen oxide anion radical which forms cytotoxic reactive oxygen species as a result of redox cycling.

Influence of Ionic Strength on the P450 Monooxygenase Reaction and Role of Cytochrome b 5 in the Process

A stimulatory effect of increased salt content on the metabolism of benzphetamine, 7-ethoxycoumarin, and coumarin by rabbit liver microsomes, CYP2B4 and rabbit CYP1A2, was seen, indicating that the effect was not specific for either substrate or form of cytochrome P450. The stimulation was not due to an action on the cytochrome P450 itself as increased salt concentration minimally affected the substrate turnover when cumene hydroperoxide was used as the source of active oxygen. The elevation of ionic strength increased the coupling efficiency of the monooxygenase reaction with benzphetamine as substrate. Cytochrome b 5 also can increase the monooxygenase coupling efficiency. At low ionic strength cytochrome b 5 did not much influence the reduction of P450, but the rate constant of the cytochrome b 5 reduction was increased about 15-fold by its binding to cytochrome P450. A stimulatory effect of cytochrome b 5 on benzphetamine oxidation was seen at low ionic strength, but it was lost at elevated ionic strength as the binding of cytochrome b 5 to cytochrome P450 was weakened. At the higher ionic strength cytochrome b 5 competes with cytochrome P450 for the reductase, an action that slows cytochrome P450 reduction. Based upon these observations, plus those in the literature, a scheme is suggested that proposes the stimulatory effect of cytochrome b 5 on the cytochrome P450-mediated monooxygenation reaction is due to an increase in the efficiency of the electron transfer reaction: With cytochrome b 5 bound to cytochrome P450, two electrons can be provided from the reductase to the P450-b 5 complex in a single interaction, obviating the need for a second interaction with the reductase.

The effect of parenteral nutrition on hepatic cytochrome P-450.

Total parenteral nutrition (TPN) has been shown to affect liver function tests. Additional investigations in animals and humans have demonstrated that hepatic cytochrome P-450 content and enzyme activity are also affected. To review the literature on the effect of TPN on hepatic cytochrome P-450, an English-language literature search was performed using MEDLINE (1966 through 1993). Studies in laboratory rats show that administration of dextrose, with or without amino acids, decreases the cytochrome P-450 content and the in vitro or in vivo microsomal oxidation rates of various drugs. The addition of lipid emulsions to TPN decreases oxidation rates for meperidine demethylase but does not affect ethoxyresorufin deethylase. Using immunoquantitation, it was shown that the components of TPN selectively affect specific hepatic P-450 enzymes. In humans, dextrose decreases antipyrine clearance, whereas amino acids and possibly lipids increase antipyrine clearance. However, the effects of protein-calorie malnutrition in these studies obscure the results. Possible mechanisms for the reduction of hepatic cytochrome P-450 seen during TPN administration include altered gastrointestinal hormone response, mucosal barrier, and the effect of sepsis. Additional studies are needed to determine the actual mechanisms of hepatic cytochrome P-450 reduction observed during TPN.

Quantitative analyses of electrostatic interactions between NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and cytochrome P450 enzymes.

A decline in the ionic interactions in the medium with increasing ionic strength (decrease in the ionic activity coefficients) was accompanied by an increase in the fast phase rate constants of CYP2B4 and CYP1A2 reduction. The stimulations were observed both in reconstituted P450 systems and in microsomes. An increase in the ionic strength from 10 to 100 mM sodium phosphate resulted in a 7-fold decrease in the Km of CYP1A2 for NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase, while the Vmax was unchanged. When ionic interactions were neutralized without changing the ionic strength by addition of charged oligopeptides (polylysine and polyglutamic acid), stimulations of CYP1A2 and CYP2B4 reduction were observed. Increase in the ionic strength also enhanced the rate of cytochrome P450 reduction in control and phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes and in reconstituted systems containing purified rat liver CYP2C6, CYP2C12, CYP2C13, and CYP2E1, and rat reductase. A method was devised for the quantification of the number of charges involved in protein-protein interactions based on the estimation of the ionic activity coefficients. Different numbers of charged residues are involved in the repulsion between different P450 forms and the reductase. The product of the number of charges involved in the interaction between rabbit reductase and CYP2B4 is 10.84 compared with the value of 6.64 for the reductase-CYP1A2 interaction.

Cimetidine prevents and partially reverses CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis.

Liver injury produced by CCl4 depends on its metabolism by the liver cytochrome P450 enzyme system to a highly reactive intermediate (CCl3.). Cimetidine impairs cytochrome P450 and stimulates regenerative processes acting on DNA synthesis. This work was performed to investigate whether cimetidine may prevent CCl4-induced liver cirrhosis. Male Wistar rats were used: animals in group 1 received CCl4 (0.04 g per 100 g, i.p.) three times a week for 8 weeks; group 2 was treated with CCl4 plus cimetidine (120 mg kg-1, p.o.) three times a week for 8 weeks; group 3 received CCl4 for 8 weeks and then cimetidine for 4 weeks. Alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GTP) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities, as well as protein and bilirubin, were measured in serum; collagen and lipoperoxidation were quantified in liver. Intoxication with CCl4 increased (P < 0.05) serum activities of alkaline phosphatase, gamma-GTP and ALT, and bilirubin concentration; liver collagen and lipoperoxidation were also increased. Cimetidine treatment prevented or reverted the increases in the three enzyme activities and in bilirubin content and the fall in proteins. It is worth noting that cimetidine co-treatment completely prevented both the increase in collagen content and the lipid peroxidation. The protective effect of cimetidine can be attributed to a reduction in cytochrome P450. However, it could also stimulate regenerative processes.

In vivo effects of the anesthetic, benzocaine, on liver microsomal cytochrome P450 and mixed-function oxidase activities of gilthead seabream ( Sparus aurata)

Gilthead seabreams were exposed to benzocaine, 4-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester, 57 mg/l in sea water for 3 min, daily, for 2 or 3 consecutive days. The fish were killed 20 hr after the last treatment. Benzocaine treatment for 2 or 3 days resulted in 57% and 67% inhibition of liver microsomal aniline 4-hydroxylase and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activities,respectively. The total cytochrome P450 content of fish liver microsomes was unaltered following the 2-day benzocaine treatment. However, additional 3 min benzocaine treatment on day 3 reduced cytochrome P450 level by 50%. Benzocaine produced type II difference spectra with rabbit liver microsomes. Difference spectra of fish liver microsomes elicited by benzocaine were complex. The position of peak and intensity were greatly influenced by the concentration of benzocaine.

1H-NMR study of reduced heme proteins myoglobin and cytochrome P450.

The 1H-NMR spectra of deoxymyoglobin and reduced cytochrome P450 are analyzed by NOE spectroscopy. Progress has been made in the assignment of the hyperfine-shifted signals of deoxymyoglobin. The nuclear longitudinal-relaxation-time values indicate short electron-relaxation times whereas Curie relaxation contributes significantly to the signals linewidths. For reduced cytochrome P450 the linewidths are larger due to the Curie-relaxation contribution in a large protein. Therefore, the spectral information is poor. The electron-relaxation rates are discussed in terms of possible electronic structure.

Formation of ligand and metabolite complexes as a means for selective quantitation of cytochrome P450 isozymes

The suitability of triacetyloleandomycin (TAO) metabolite complex formation and metyrapone binding to reduced cytochrome P450 as a means for selective isozyme quantitation has been studied. Although isozymes of both subfamilies bind metyrapone in the reduced state, selective quantitation of 2B isozymes through the metyrapone complex is possible after complex formation of P450 3A with a TAO metabolite. Thus, consecutive application of both reactions allows the spectroscopic quantitation of P450 3A and 2B isozymes. Complete conversion of P450 3A into the complex, a precondition for P450 3A quantitation, requires NADH in addition to NADPH. A precise collective quantitation of 3A + 2B isozymes as metyrapone complexes alone is not possible because the corresponding complexes possess different molar extinction coefficients, i.e 71.5 and 52 mM −1 cm −1 at 446–490 nm, respectively. The formation of the TAO complex appears to be quite specific, since it correlates well with 3A-specific enzymatic activities, i.e. TAO N-demethylation and formation of 2β-hydroxy-, 15β-hydroxy- and 6-dehydrotestosterone. P450 3A levels in liver microsomes of male rats either untreated or treated with TAO, dexamethasone (DEX), phenobarbital or hexachlorobenzene amount to 13%, 78%, 66%, 24% and 11% of total P450, respectively. Good correlation between these values and P450 3A-specific enzymatic activities is obtained. By the spectroscopic method, P450 2B isozymes could not be detected in microsomes of untreated rats. With TAO, DEX and hexachlorobenzene the microsomal 2B level is elevated to about 20% of total P450, i.e. to 0.8, 0.4 and 0.4 nmol P450/mg protein, respectively. 2B levels of about 60% of total P450 (0.75 nmol P450/mg protein) are obtained by phenobarbital treatment. Immunoblotting with anti-P450 2B shows that the ratio of expressed 2B1 and 2B2 differs depending on the type of inducer. DEX predominantly leads to induction of 2B2, which may explain the low pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase activity in these microsomes.

Interaction of cimetidine with cytochrome P450 and effect on mixed-function oxidase activities of liver microsomes.

The histamine H2-receptor antagonist drug, cimetidine (CM), was investigated to determine its effect on the metabolism of 'model' alkoxyphenoxazone substrates ethoxyresorufin (ER) and pentoxyresorufin (PR). The investigation was carried out under different conditions in rat liver microsomes from rodents pretreated with various classical cytochrome P450 inducers. CM exerted a dual effect on uninduced and PB-induced liver microsomal ethoxyresorufin-O-de-ethylase (EROD) activities; it was initially stimulatory but became inhibitory. However, when 3-MC-induced preparations were used. CM only exerted an inhibitory effect on EROD activity over the whole concentration range (0.01 microM-20 mM). Pre-incubating PB-induced and uninduced liver microsomes with NADPH before the addition of ER and CM decreased the stimulatory effect of CM and increased the inhibitory effect in the concentration range (5-20 mM). With 3-MC-induced preparations, the inhibition of EROD was only marginally potentiated. Overall conclusions for the diphasic effects of CM on biological activities were due to CM binding with differing affinities to different P450s. Subsequent decreases and increases in stimulation and inhibition, respectively, on pre-incubation with NADPH were thought to be due to an increased affinity of CM for reduced cytochrome P450.