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S Ekins

Publications and source records attributed to S Ekins.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Pharmacophore and three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship methods for modeling cytochrome p450 active sites.

Structure activity relationships (SAR), three-dimensional structure activity relationships (3D-QSAR), and pharmacophores represent useful tools in understanding cytochrome P450 (CYP) active sites in the absence of crystal structures for these human enzymes. These approaches have developed over the last 30 years such that they are now being applied in numerous industrial and academic laboratories solely for this purpose. Such computational approaches have helped in understanding substrate and inhibitor binding to the major human CYPs 1A2, 2B6, 2C9, 2D6, 3A4 as well as other CYPs and additionally complement homology models for these enzymes. Similarly, these approaches may assist in our understanding of CYP induction. This review describes in detail the development of pharmacophores and 3D-QSAR techniques, which are now being more widely used for modeling CYPs; the review will also describe how such approaches are likely to further impact our active site knowledge of these omnipresent and important enzymes.

Binding Sites↗
PubMed2000

Characterization of transgenic mouse strains using six human hepatic cytochrome P450 probe substrates.

1. Transgenic mice were evaluated with six human cytochrome P450 (CYP) selective probe substrates, as little is known about their metabolism in the mouse. Mouse strains characterized include C57BL/SJL, FVB/N, mdr 1a/1b (-/-), ob/ob and ACCA. 2. Human CYP probe substrates used for characterization of mouse CYP activities included bufuralol, testosterone, dextromethorphan, phenacetin, diclofenac and S-mephenytoin. Activities were compared with those obtained in human liver microsomes and in human recombinant enzyme preparations. All transgenic mouse strains showed similar apparent K(m) with bufuralol, testosterone and dextromethorphan which compared favourably with those observed in human liver microsomes. 3. K(m) for phenacetin O-deethylase and S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation were more variable across strains and in some cases demonstrated biphasic kinetics. Phenacetin O-deethylase activity was low in all mouse strains except FVB/N and mdr 1a/1b (-/-). Diclofenac 4-hydroxylation did not occur to any significant extent in the five strains of mouse evaluated here. 4. The findings suggest the validity of using five of the probes for transgenic mouse hepatic CYP characterization and gross comparison with data generated with human CYP.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Three- and four-dimensional-quantitative structure activity relationship (3D/4D-QSAR) analyses of CYP2C9 inhibitors.

The interaction of competitive type inhibitors with the active site of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 has been predicted using three- and four-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D-/4D-QSAR) models constructed using previously unreported and literature-derived data. 3D-QSAR pharmacophore models of the common structural features of CYP2C9 inhibitors were built using the program Catalyst and compared with 3D- and 4D-QSAR partial least-squares models, which use molecular surface-weighted holistic invariant molecular descriptors of the size and shape of inhibitors. The Catalyst models generated from multiple conformers of competitive inhibitors of CYP2C9 activities contained at least one hydrophobic and two hydrogen bond acceptor/donor regions. Catalyst model 1 was constructed with Ki(apparent) values for inhibitors of tolbutamide and diclofenac 4'-hydroxylation (n = 9). Catalyst model 2 was generated from literature Ki(apparent) values for (S)-warfarin 7-hydroxylation (n = 29), and Catalyst model 3 from literature IC50 values for tolbutamide 4-hydroxylation (n = 13). These three models illustrated correlation values of observed and predicted inhibition for CYP2C9 of r = 0.91, 0.89, and 0.71, respectively. Catalyst pharmacophores generated with Ki(apparent) values were validated by predicting the Ki(apparent) value of a test set of CYP2C9 inhibitors also derived from the literature (n = 14). Twelve of fourteen of these Ki(apparent) values were predicted to be within 1 log residual of the observed value using Catalyst model 1, whereas Catalyst model 2 predicted 10 of 14 Ki(apparent) values. The corresponding partial least-squares molecular surface-weighted holistic invariant molecular 3D- and 4D-QSAR models for all CYP2C9 data sets yielded predictable models as assessed using cross-validation. These 3D- and 4D-QSAR models of CYP inhibition will aid in future prediction of drug-drug interactions.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2000

(R)-, (S)-, and racemic fluoxetine N-demethylation by human cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Fluoxetine is one of the most widely prescribed selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that is marketed worldwide. However, details of its human hepatic metabolism have been speculative and incomplete, possibly due to the sensitivity of analytical techniques and selectivity of specific in vitro probes and reagents used. Studies with (R)-, (S)-, and racemic fluoxetine were undertaken to determine the stereospecific nature of its metabolism and estimate intrinsic clearance contributions of each CYP for fluoxetine N-demethylation. Measurable fluoxetine N-demethylase activity was catalyzed by CYP1A2, -2B6, -2C9, -2C19, -2D6, -3A4, and -3A5. All enzymes catalyzed this reaction for both enantiomers and the racemate, and intrinsic clearance values were similar for the enantiomers for all CYP enzymes except CYP2C9, which demonstrated stereoselectivity for R- over the S-enantiomer. Scaling the intrinsic clearance values for the individual CYP enzymes to estimate contributions of each in human liver microsomes suggested that CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP3A4 contribute the greatest amount of fluoxetine N-demethylation in human liver microsomes. These data were corroborated with the examination of the effects of CYP-specific inhibitors quinidine (CYP2D6), sulfaphenazole (CYP2C9), and ketoconazole (CYP3A4) on fluoxetine N-demethylation in pooled human liver microsomes. Together, these findings suggest a significant role for the polymorphically expressed CYP2D6 in fluoxetine clearance and are consistent with reports on the clinical pharmacokinetics of fluoxetine.

Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System↗
PubMed2000

Three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship computational approaches for prediction of human in vitro intrinsic clearance.

Future alternatives to the presently accepted in vitro paradigm of prediction of intrinsic clearance, which could be used earlier in the drug discovery process, would potentially accelerate efforts to identify better drug candidates with more favorable metabolic profiles and less likelihood of failure with regard to human pharmacokinetic attributes. In this study we describe two computational methods for modeling human microsomal and hepatocyte intrinsic clearance data derived from our laboratory and the literature, which utilize pharmacophore features or descriptors derived from molecular structure. Human microsomal intrinsic clearance data generated for 26 known therapeutic drugs were used to build computational models using commercially available software (Catalyst and Cerius(2)), after first converting the data to hepatocyte intrinsic clearance. The best Catalyst pharmacophore model gave an r of 0.77 for the observed versus predicted clearance. This pharmacophore was described by one hydrogen bond acceptor, two hydrophobic features, and one ring aromatic feature essential to discriminate between high and low intrinsic clearance. The Cerius(2) quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) model gave an r(2) = 0.68 for the observed versus predicted clearance and a cross-validated r(2) (q(2)) of 0.42. Similarly, literature data for human hepatocyte intrinsic clearance for 18 therapeutic drugs were also used to generate two separate models using the same computational approaches. The best Catalyst pharmacophore model gave an improved r of 0.87 and was described by two hydrogen bond acceptors, one hydrophobe, and 1 positive ionizable feature. The Cerius(2) QSAR gave an r(2) of 0.88 and a q(2) of 0.79. Each of these models was then used as a test set for prediction of the intrinsic clearance data in the other data set, with variable successes. These present models represent a preliminary application of QSAR software to modeling and prediction of human in vitro intrinsic clearance.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1999

Molecular cloning, expression, and characterization of CYP2D17 from cynomolgus monkey liver.

The cynomolgus monkey is a species used in drug-safety evaluation and biotransformation studies by the pharmaceutical industry. Relatively little is known, however, about the catalytic activities and specificities of cytochromes P450 (CYP) in this species. As a first step in characterizing monkey CYPs, a cDNA was cloned by reverse-transcriptase PCR from cynomolgus monkey liver mRNA using oligonucleotide primers based on the human CYP2D6 sequence. The full-length cDNA (called CYP2D17) encoded a 497-amino-acid protein that is 93% identical to human CYP2D6 and 90% identical to marmoset CYP2D19. The CYP2D17 cDNA was cloned into a baculovirus expression vector, and microsomes prepared from CYP2D17-infected insect cells were used to determine the catalytic properties of the recombinant enzyme. The recombinant CYP2D17 results were compared to data generated with monkey liver microsomes, human liver microsomes, and recombinant CYP2D6 and demonstrated catalytic similarity using probe substrates and inhibitors. Recombinant CYP2D17 catalyzed the oxidation of bufuralol to 1'-hydroxybufuralol and dextromethorphan to dextrorphan, reactions shown to be mediated by CYP2D6 in humans; the apparent K(m) values for bufuralol and dextromethorphan were 1 and 0.8 microM, respectively. Moreover, both of these reactions were more strongly inhibited by quinidine than by quinine. A more complete understanding of the substrate specificities and activities of monkey CYPs will be advantageous in delineating species differences in metabolite profiles and metabolic activation of new chemical entities in the pharmaceutical industry.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1999

Three- and four-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship analyses of cytochrome P-450 3A4 inhibitors.

The program Catalyst was used to build three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D-QSAR) pharmacophore models of the structural features common to competitive-type inhibitors of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4. These were compared with 3D- and four-dimensional (4D)-QSAR partial least-squares (PLS) models built using molecular surface-weighted holistic invariant molecular (MS-WHIM) descriptors for size and shape of the inhibitor. The Catalyst pharmacophore model generated from multiple conformers of competitive inhibitors of CYP3A4-mediated midazolam 1'-hydroxylation (n = 14) yielded a high correlation of observed and predicted Ki values of r = 0.91. Similarly, PLS MS-WHIM was used to produce 3D- and 4D-QSARs for this data set and produced models that were statistically predictable after cross-validation. Two additional Catalyst pharmacophores were constructed from literature Ki values (n = 32) derived from the inhibition of CYP3A-mediated cyclosporin A metabolism and IC50 data (n = 22) from the inhibition of CYP3A4-mediated quinine 3-hydroxylation. These Catalyst pharmacophores illustrated correlations of observed and predicted inhibition for CYP3A4 of r = 0.77 and 0.92, respectively. The corresponding 4D-QSARs generated by PLS MS-WHIM for these data sets were of comparable quality as judged by cross-validation. Both Ki pharmacophores generated with Catalyst were also validated by predicting the Ki(apparent) values of a test set of eight CYP3A4 inhibitors not included in either model. In seven of eight cases, the residuals of the predicted Ki(apparent) values were within 1 log unit of the observed values. The 3D- and 4D-QSAR models produced in this study suggest the utility of future in silico prediction of CYP3A4-mediated drug-drug interactions.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1999

Three-dimensional-quantitative structure activity relationship analysis of cytochrome P-450 3A4 substrates.

To gain a better understanding of the active site of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) 3A4, a three-dimensional-quantitative structure activity relationship model was constructed using the structures and K(m (apparent)) values of 38 substrates of human liver microsomal CYP3A4. This pharmacophore was built using the program Catalyst and consisted of four features: two hydrogen bond acceptors, one hydrogen bond donor, and one hydrophobic region. The pharmacophore demonstrated a fit value (r) of observed and expected K(m(apparent)) value of 0.67. The validity of the CYP3A4 substrate model was tested by twice permuting (randomizing) the activity values and substrate structures. The results of this validation procedure indicated that the original model was a significant representation of the features required of CYP3A4 substrates. The second validation method used the Catalyst model to predict the K(m(apparent)) values of a test set of structurally diverse substrates for CYP3A4 not included in the 38 molecules used to build the model. Two fitting algorithms included in this software were examined: fast fit and best fit. The fast fitting method resulted in predictions for all 12 substrates that were within 1 log unit for the residual [i.e., the difference between predicted and observed K(m(apparent))]. In contrast, the best fit algorithm poorly predicted the K(m (apparent)) values (i.e., residual >1 log unit) of 4 of 12 substrates. These poor fits with the best fit function suggest that the fast fit method within Catalyst is more representative of the observed K(m(apparent)) values for CYP3A4 substrates and enables good in silico prediction of this activity. A Catalyst common features pharmacophore was also constructed from three molecules known to activate their own metabolism included in the 38 molecules of the initial CYP3A4 model. This demonstrated that activators of CYP3A4 possess multiple hydrophobic regions that might correspond with a region in the active site away from the metabolic site.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1999

Three and four dimensional-quantitative structure activity relationship (3D/4D-QSAR) analyses of CYP2D6 inhibitors.

Three- and four-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D/4D-QSAR) pharmacophore models of competitive inhibitors of CYP2D6 were constructed using data from our laboratory or the literature. The 3D-QSAR pharmacophore models of the common structural features of CYP2D6 inhibitors were built using the program Catalyst (Molecular Simulations, San Diego, CA, USA). These 3D-QSAR models were compared with 3D and 4D-QSAR partial least squares (PLS) models which were constructed using molecular surface-weighted holistic invariant molecular (MS-WHIM) descriptors of size and shape of inhibitors. The first Catalyst model was generated from multiple conformers of competitive inhibitors (n = 20) of CYP2D6 mediated bufurolol 1'-hydroxylation. This model demonstrated a correlation of observed and predicted Ki (apparent) values of r = 0.75. A second Catalyst model was constructed from literature derived Ki (apparent) values (n = 31) for the inhibition of CYP2D6. This model provided a correlation of observed and predicted inhibition for CYP2D6 of r = 0.91. Both Catalyst Ki pharmacophores were then validated by predicting the Ki (apparent) of a test set of known CYP2D6 inhibitors (n = 15). Ten out of 15 of these Ki (apparent) values were predicted to be within one log residual of the observed value using our CYP2D6 inhibitor model, while the literature model predicted nine out of 15 values. Similarly, 3D- and 4D-QSARs derived from PLS MS-WHIM for our dataset yielded predictable models as assessed using cross-validation. The corresponding cross-validated PLS MS-WHIM model for the literature dataset yielded a comparable 3D-QSAR and improved 4D-QSAR value. Such computational models will aid in future prediction of drug-drug interactions.

Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors↗
PubMed1999

Three-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship analyses of substrates for CYP2B6.

To begin to build an understanding of the interactions of CYP2B6 with substrates, two different 3-dimensional quantitative structure activity relationship (3D-QSAR) models were constructed using 16 substrates of B-lymphoblastoid expressed CYP2B6. A pharmacophore model was built using the program Catalyst, which was compared with a partial least-squares (PLS) model using molecular surface-weighted holistic invariant molecular (MS-WHIM) descriptors. The Catalyst model yielded a 3-dimensional model of the common structural features of CYP2B6 substrates, whereas PLS MS-WHIM generated a model based on statistical analyses of molecular descriptors for size and shape of the substrate. The pharmacophore model obtained with Catalyst consisted of three hydrophobes and one hydrogen bond acceptor region. The cross-validated PLS MS-WHIM model gave a good q2 value of 0.607. Size, positive electrostatic potential, hydrogen bonding acceptor capacity, and hydrophobicity were found to be the most relevant descriptors for the model. These models were then used to predict the Km (apparent) values of a test set of structurally diverse substrates for CYP2B6 not included in the model building, specifically lidocaine, amitriptyline, bupropion, arteether, and verapamil. Overall, both 3D-QSAR methods yielded satisfactory Km (apparent) value predictions for the majority of the molecules in the test set. However, PLS MS-WHIM was unable to reliably predict the Km (apparent) value for verapamil, whereas Catalyst did not predict the Km (apparent) value for lidocaine. In both of these cases the residual of the Km (apparent) value was greater than one log unit. The strengths and limitations of both of these 3D-QSAR approaches are discussed.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗
PubMed1998

Further characterization of the expression in liver and catalytic activity of CYP2B6.

Previous studies in this laboratory have determined the lack of specificity of several antibody and substrate probes of CYP2B6. The goals of the current study were to examine the expression of CYP2B6 in a bank of human liver microsome (HLM) samples using a new specific monoclonal antibody (MAb 49-10-20) and to further characterize the substrate specificity of CYP2B6. A 100-fold variability in expression of immunodetectable CYP2B6 was demonstrated in a bank of 19 HLM samples (0.7 pmol/mg protein to 71. 1 pmol/mg protein) using MAb 49-10-20. CYP2B6 levels were found to significantly (P < .0001) correlate with S-mephenytoin N-demethylation to nirvanol (r2 = 0.89), 7-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin formation (r2 = 0.81) and several markers of CYP3A levels and activity. The relationships between nirvanol formation and CYP3A levels or activity were found to depend on two HLM samples. Km (apparent) values were generated for benzyloxyresorufin O-deethylation (1.3 microM), benzphetamine N-demethylation (93.4 microM), 3-cyano 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation (71.3 microM), midazolam 1'-hydroxylation (46.1 microM) and 4-chloromethyl-7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation (33.7 microM) using expressed CYP2B6. Testosterone 16beta-hydroxylation by expressed CYP2B6 resulted in atypical kinetics characteristic of substrate activation. The data best fit the Hill equation with a Km (apparent) of 50.5 microM and an n of 1.3 (n = number of sites bound by activator). In conclusion, the highly specific MAb 49-10-20 was used to provide further confirmation that S-mephenytoin N-demethylation to nirvanol is a CYP2B6 selective probe. Finally, some, but not all substrates of CYP2B6 demonstrate autoactivation.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMed1998

Alterations of the catalytic activities of drug-metabolizing enzymes in cultures of human liver slices.

Precision-cut human liver slices are an important tool for defining the metabolism and hepatotoxicity of drug candidates early in development. Because of the frequent use of this in vitro tool, a knowledge of the catalytic activities of the drug-metabolizing enzymes during human liver slice culture is necessary. Therefore, marker catalytic activities for various cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) forms, as well as phase II activities (glucuronidation and sulfation of 7-hydroxycoumarin), were measured in slices from three different human livers during 96 hr in culture. Standard viability measures were found to be stable from 8 to 24 hr and then declined to 96 hr. Catalytic activities measured for the P450s were ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (CYP1A2), coumarin 7-hydroxylase (CYP2A6), (S)-mephenytoin N-demethylase (CYP2B6), diclofenac 4'-hydroxylase (CYP2C9), (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (CYP2C19), bufuralol 1'-hydroxylase (CYP2D6), chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylase (CYP2E1), and midazolam 1'-hydroxylase (CYP3A). The P450 activities decreased by approximately 20% by 4 hr and by at least 65% by 24 hr and were not measurable by 96 hr. In contrast to the phase I activities, 7-hydroxycoumarin glucuronosyltransferase activity was increased at the 8-hr time point by approximately 100% and then decreased to approximately initial values by 96 hr. The 7-hydroxycoumarin sulfotransferase activity of the slices decreased significantly more slowly than did the P450 activities. In conclusion, using conventional methods of liver slice preparation and culture, most of the metabolic capabilities of human liver slices are rapidly lost with time. Therefore, the development of culture methods for human liver slices that can improve the preservation of the drug-metabolizing capabilities may be required.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1998

Autoactivation and activation of the cytochrome P450s.

OBJECTIVE: In order to reliably predict in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters from in vitro data, we must thoroughly understand the systems we currently use to determine enzyme kinetic parameters. There have been a number of reports of atypical Michaelis-Menten kinetics for cytochrome- (CYP) P4503A mediated metabolism in vitro but little discussion of its clinical relevance. In this manuscript, we examined the scope of CYP autoactivation and confirmed that CYP1A2 demonstrates atypical Michaelis-Menten kinetics in vitro. MATERIALS: Human liver microsomes, baculovirus-expressed CYP1A2, CYP1A2 in the RECO format, and E. coli expressed CYP1A2 were utilized. METHODS: Enzyme kinetics were performed using the various human CYP1A2 sources and ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation as a prototypical biotransformation. The data were fit to various models of enzyme kinetics. In some cases the data best fit the Hill equation, which was used to empirically model allosteric-type autoactivation kinetics. RESULTS: RECO CYP1A2 and E. coli expressed CYPIA2 both demonstrated autoactivation kinetics for ethoxyresorufin O-deethylation. When the data were fit to the Hill equation, n (the slope factor) was found to be 1.4 and 1.8 for RECO and E. coli expressed CYP1A2, respectively. Human liver microsomal and insect expressed sources of CYP1A2 illustrated classical Michaelis-Menten kinetics for the O-deethylation of ethoxyresorufin. CONCLUSION: Data generated in the current study and previous work suggest many CYPs, not only CYP3A, appear to behave as allosteric enzymes. We would argue that this is not necessarily a classical allosteric mechanism because n is frequently a non-integer. This autoactivation appears to be a function of several factors including substrate physicochemical characteristics, specific interactions of the substrates (activators) with the enzyme active site, and presence of other enzyme modulators. These factors interact to increase the catalytic activity of CYP and thus the complexity of predicting enzyme kinetic parameters or drug interactions.

Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1↗
PubMed1997

Examination of purported probes of human CYP2B6.

7-Ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (7-EFC) was examined as a substrate for cytochrome P450 (P450) in microsomes from human livers and expressed in B-lymphoblastoid cells. The O-deethylation of 7-EFC to 7-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (7-HFC) varied over a liver bank (n = 19) by a factor of 13 (40-507 pmol min-1 mg-1 protein). When compared with the ability of the bank of human liver samples to metabolize form-selective substrates of the P450, 7-HFC formation correlated strongly with the formation of the S-mephenytoin metabolite, nirvanol (r2 = 0.86, p < 0.0001). alpha-Napthoflavone (ANF), diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC) and chloramphenicol (CAP) inhibited the O-deethylation of 7-EFC by microsomes from human livers by greater than 60%. Orphenadrine (ORP), a reported specific CYP2B6 inhibitor, was a less potent inhibitor of 7-HFC formation by microsomes from human liver than DDC or ANF. Using microsomes from B-lymphoblastoid cells expressing specific P450s, CYP2B6 and CYP1A2 were found to produce substantial levels of 7-HFC whereas CYP2E1 and CYP2C19 produced detectable amounts of this metabolite. ORP inhibited expressed CYP2E1 and CYP2B6 mediated 7-HFC formation to a greater extent than the inhibition observed for CYP1A2. Methoxychlor and S-mephenytoin inhibited expressed CYP2B6 but not CYP1A2 mediated 7-EFC O-deethylation. Livers (n = 5) with high relative rates of 7-HFC formation displayed biphasic enzyme kinetics with the low K(m) site (average K(m) = 3.3 microM) demonstrating allosteric activation. Five livers with low relative rates of 7-HFC formation also exhibited biphasic kinetics but lacked evidence of an allosteric mechanism being involved in the low K(m) component (average K(m) = 2.4 microM). Furthermore, expressed CYP2B6 and CYP2E1 converted 7-EFC to 7-HFC with allosteric activation indicated, while CYP1A2 mediated metabolism of 7-EFC to 7-HFC best fit the classic Michaelis-Menten model. A commercially available antibody to rat CYP2B, suggested to be specific for CYP2B6, was found to cross react with all members to the CYP2 family examined including CYP2C19, which possessed a nearly identical electrophoretic mobility to that of CYP2B6 in the system examined. In total, the evidence presented indicates that multiple P450s are involved in the formation of 7-HFC from 7-EFC, therefore this does not appear to be a useful or a selective probe of CYP2B6 catalytic activity. Furthermore, the specificity of both antibody and chemical inhibitor (ORP) probes previously suggested to be specific for CYP2B6 is also questioned.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases↗
PubMed1996

Short-term maintenance of phase I and II metabolism in precision-cut liver slices in dynamic organ culture.

Testosterone and 7-ethoxycoumarin were used as substrates to quantify the maintenance of phase I and II enzymes in precision-cut rat liver slices in dynamic organ culture. Testosterone hydroxylations, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation, 7-hydroxycoumarin sulfate, and 7-hydroxycoumarin glucuronide formation were all maintained at initial levels in the slice incubation media after incubation for up to 4 hr. The activities of various cytochrome P450 isozymes, measured using the stereospecific and regiospecific hydroxylation of testosterone and the maintenance of phase I and II metabolism using 7-ethoxycoumarin, are therefore suggested to be stable over short-term incubations in a physiological buffer. The testosterone hydroxylation assay is also suggested as a versatile slice metabolic viability marker for various P450 activities over longer periods.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Xenobiotic metabolism in rat, dog, and human precision-cut liver slices, freshly isolated hepatocytes, and vitrified precision-cut liver slices.

Human, rat, and dog phase I and phase II xenobiotic metabolism in precision-cut liver slices and freshly isolated hepatocytes was compared using a range of substrates. Carbamazepine (50 microM) and styrene (2 mM) were used as probes to study the maintenance of cytochrome P450 and epoxide hydrolase-mediated metabolism in male Sprague-Dawley rat, precision-cut liver slices and hepatocytes. Carbamazepine metabolism in both models resulted in the formation of the bioactive 10,11-epoxide (KM = 766 microM and Vmax = 2.5 pmol/min/mg protein in precision-cut slices). Epoxide formation was higher (2.4-fold) in hepatocytes than slices. Styrene was deactivated to styrene diol at a higher rate in hepatocytes (9.7-fold) than slices. The lower rate of metabolism in slices compared with hepatocytes confirms our previous observations using testosterone, 7-ethoxycoumarin, 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene and 2-(5'-chloro-2'-phosphoryloxyphenyl)-6-chloro-4-(3H)-quinazolinone in the rat. Testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation in human liver slices was similar to cultured hepatocytes, but lower than in freshly isolated hepatocytes. 7-Ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation was higher in freshly isolated human hepatocytes, as was the ratio of glucuronide to 7-hydroxycoumarin. Testosterone hydroxylations, 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylation, and 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene conjugation were also lower in male beagle dog slices, compared with freshly isolated hepatocytes. Attempts at long-term preservation of dog liver slices using vitrification and storage for up to 9 days at -196 degrees C resulted in the retention of phase I and phase II metabolism, although conjugation was lower than in freshly prepared slices. Xenobiotic metabolism in short-term incubations is consistently lower in dog and rat precision-cut slices than in freshly isolated hepatocytes; whereas, in humans, this quantitative difference is partly hidden by the large interindividual variation.

Adolescent↗