Biomedical subjects

Yoshihiko Funae

Publications and source records attributed to Yoshihiko Funae.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Nicorandil elevates tissue cGMP levels in a nitric-oxide-independent manner.

The K(+) channel opener nicorandil is a hybrid compound that contains nitrate in its structure. It has been reported that nicorandil can relax vascular tissue in vitro via a mechanism that involves activation of K(ATP) channels and stimulation of soluble guanylyl cyclase. However, it is not known whether the increase of cGMP levels occurs through an elevation of nitric oxide (NO). The aim of the present study was to determine whether NO release was a direct effect of nicorandil. We reported here that nicorandil did not generate NO using ozone chemiluminescence detection methods in human or rat liver microsomes (P450-rich fractions) with addition of NADPH. However, nicorandil elevated cGMP levels in rat liver, aorta, and human coronary smooth muscle cells in vitro. The elevation was not inhibited by the NO trapping agent carboxy-2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-imidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (carboxy-PTIO). These results suggest that nicorandil elevates cGMP without NO generation.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

CYP2A13 expressed in human bladder metabolically activates 4-aminobiphenyl.

Cigarette smoking is the predominant risk factor for bladder cancer. Aromatic amines such as 4-aminobiphenyl (ABP) is the major carcinogens found in tobacco smoke. Although it is generally accepted that ABP is metabolically activated via N-hydroxylation by CYP1A2 in human liver, previous studies using Cyp1a2-null mice indicated the involvement of other enzyme(s). Here we found that CYP2A13 can metabolically activate ABP to show genotoxicity by Umu assay. The K(m) and V(max) values for ABP N-hydroxylation by recombinant CYP2A13 in E. coli were 38.5 +/- 0.6 microM and 7.8 +/- 0.0 pmol/min/pmol CYP, respectively. The K(m) and V(max) values by recombinant CYP1A2 were 9.9 +/- 0.9 microM and 39.6 +/- 0.9 pmol/min/pmol CYP, respectively, showing 20-fold higher intrinsic clearance than CYP2A13. In human bladder, CYP2A13 mRNA, but not CYP1A2, is expressed at a relatively high level. Human bladder microsomes showed ABP N-hydroxylase activity (K(m) = 34.9 +/- 4.7 microM and V(max) = 57.5 +/- 1.9 pmol/min/mg protein), although the intrinsic clearance was 5-fold lower than that in human liver microsomes (K(m) = 33.2 +/- 2.0 microM and V(max) = 293.9 +/- 5.8 pmol/min/mg protein). The activity in human bladder microsomes was prominently inhibited by 8-methoxypsoralen, but not by fluvoxamine, anti-CYP1A2 or anti-CYP2A6 antibodies. CYP2S1, which is expressed in human bladder and has relatively high amino acid identities with CYP2As, did not show detectable ABP N-hydroxylase activity. In conclusion, although the enzyme responsible for ABP N-hydroxylation in human bladder microsomes could not be determined, we found that CYP2A13 metabolically activates ABP.

Aminobiphenyl Compounds↗

PubMed2006

Recovery of hepatic function determined by cytochrome P450-dependent drug metabolism lags after compensatory hepatic volume changes after portal vein ligation in rats.

BACKGROUND: Clinically, portal vein embolization has been proven to be useful as a preoperative treatment for major hepatic surgeries with impaired liver function. However, its effects on the metabolism and elimination of various drugs after portal vein embolization or ligation remain to be elucidated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A portal vein branch that perfuses the central and left lobes of the liver of male Wistar rat was ligated, and changes in the weights of ligated and nonligated lobules as well as hepatic levels and activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms, such as CYP3A2 and CYP2C11, were determined. To evaluate in vivo the effect of PVL on hepatic drug metabolism, the narcotic activity (sleep time) of midazolam, a specific substrate for CYP3A2, was measured. RESULTS: Although plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and hepatic weight returned to basal levels at day 7 after the portal vein ligation, hepatic activities of CYP3A2 and CYP2C11 still remained low (53% and 54% of control levels, respectively), and returned to their initial levels after about day 14. The metabolism of midazolam was prolonged by approximately three times at day 7 after ligation and returned to basal levels at day 14. CONCLUSIONS: Because hepatic CYP-dependent drug metabolism by CYP isoforms recovered more slowly than the apparent recovery of hepatic volume and plasma alanine aminotransferase levels, the therapeutics of drugs metabolized by the CYP isoforms should be used carefully in patients who receive major hepatectomy with portal vein branch embolization.

Alanine Transaminase↗

PubMed2006

Bisphenol A binds to protein disulfide isomerase and inhibits its enzymatic and hormone-binding activities.

Bisphenol A [2,2-bis-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane; BPA] is a versatile industrial material for plastic products, but is increasingly being recognized as a pervasive industrial pollutant as well. Accumulating evidence indicates that the environmental contaminant BPA is one of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals that potentially can adversely affect humans as well as wildlife. To define the molecular aspects of BPA action, we first investigated the molecules with which it physically interacts. High BPA-binding activity was detected in the P2 membrane fraction prepared from rat brains. As determined by SDS-PAGE analysis, the molecular mass of a BPA-binding protein purified from the rat brain P2 fraction was 53 kDa. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified BPA-binding protein was identical with that of the rat protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), which is a multifunctional protein that is critically involved in the folding, assembly, and shedding of many cellular proteins via its isomerase activity in addition to being considered to function as an intracellular hormone reservoir. The Kd value of BPA binding to recombinant rat PDI was 22.6 +/- 6.6 microm. Importantly, the binding activity of L-T3 and 17beta-estradiol hormones to PDI was competitively inhibited by BPA in addition to abolishing its isomerase activities. In this paper we report that the ubiquitous and multifunctional protein PDI is a target of BPA and propose that binding to PDI and subsequent inhibition of PDI activity might be mechanistically responsible for various actions of BPA.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Alpha-benzene hexachloride exerts hormesis in preneoplastic lesion formation of rat hepatocarcinogenesis with the possible role for hepatic detoxifying enzymes.

Recently there has been a shift in the prevailing paradigm regarding the dose dependence of carcinogen action with increasing acceptance of hormesis phenomenon, although underlying mechanisms remain to be established. To ascertain whether alpha-benzene hexachloride (alpha-BHC) might act by hormesis, rats were initiated with diethylnitrosamine and then alpha-BHC ranging from 0.01 to 500 ppm was administered in the diet for 10 weeks. The highest concentration of alpha-BHC significantly increased the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form (GST-P) positive foci, preneoplastic lesions in the liver, but its low dose, 0.05 ppm, caused significant reduction, showing a J-shape dose-response curve. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen positive index for GST-P positive foci in the low dose-treated group was significantly reduced. The dose response curves of CYP450 content, NADPH-P450 reductase activity and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine formation revealed the same pattern as GST-P positive foci data. The response curves of CYP2B1 and 3A2 in their activities, protein and mRNA expression showed a threshold but CYP2C11 activity exhibited an inverted J-shape. These results might suggest the possibility of hormesis of alpha-BHC at early stages of rat hepatocarcinogenesis. The possible mechanism involves induction of detoxifying enzymes at low dose, influencing free radical production and oxidative stress, and consequently pathological change in the liver.

8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine↗

PubMed2005

Cytochrome P450 2E polymorphism in feline liver.

Only one isoform of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E subfamily was known in human and various animals. Three cDNAs corresponding to CYP 2E subfamily members (CYP2E-a, CYP2E-b and CYP2E-c) were obtained from feline liver. These cDNAs each had a 1488-bp nucleotide coding region encoding a predicted amino acid sequence of 495 residues. Eleven amino acid substitutions were observed between CYP2E-a and CYP2E-b, but only one substitution between CYP2E-b and CYP2E-c. The CO difference spectrums about 450 nm wave length and similar values of Vmax and Km of 6-hydoxygenase activity toward chlorzoxazone were observed in all three isoforms expressed in AH22 yeast cells. By PCR-RFLP, mRNA of the CYP2E-a was found to be expressed in liver, mononuclear cells, kidney, lung, stomach, intestine and pancreas, whereas CYP2E-b and CYP2E-c were expressed mainly in the liver and mononuclear cells. Expression of CYP2E-a was observed in the livers of all felines tested, but CYP2E-b and CYP2E-c were not expressed in all cats. The sequences of two different introns between exons I and II and between exons VII and VIII were obtained in genomic DNA from the feline liver. Based on these results, we conclude that cats have two highly similar CYP2E genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2005

Importance of CYP2D3 in polymorphism of diazepam p-hydroxylation in rats.

Diazepam was metabolized to three primary metabolites, 3-hydroxy-diazepam, N-desmethyl-diazepam, and p-hydroxy-diazepam. Our previous studies reported metabolic position-specific inter- or intrastrain differences in diazepam metabolism among Sprague-Dawley, Brown Norway, Dark Agouti, and Wistar rats. Especially, there were marked ( approximately 300 fold) inter- or intrastrain differences in diazepam p-hydroxylation activity at low concentration of substrate. In this study, we investigated the enzyme that catalyzes diazepam p-hydroxylation. The activity toward diazepam p-hydroxylation was inhibited by anti-cytochrome P450 2D (CYP2D) antibody, suggesting that this activity was catalyzed by CYP2D isoforms. Comparing the expression levels of the CYP2D subfamily in liver microsomes from various strains of rats using anti-CYP2D2 antibody, we found that there was a band of protein that was consistent with the phenotype of diazepam p-hydroxylation. N-terminal amino acid sequences of the specific protein exactly corresponded to those of CYP2D3, indicating that CYP2D3 might be involved in diazepam p-hydroxylation. Moreover, using rat CYP2D isoforms expressed in yeast, we tested CYP2Ds to catalyze diazepam p-hydroxylation. CYP2D1 and CYP2D2 practically did not participate in diazepam metabolism. On the other hand, diazepam p-hydroxylation was catalyzed by CYP2D3. CYP2D4 had high activity toward diazepam N-desmethylation, but not p-hydroxylation. In conclusion, the polymorphic expression of CYP2D3 caused the inter- or intrastrain differences in diazepam p-hydroxylation among rat strains or individuals.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed2005

Mechanisms of chemopreventive effects of 8-methoxypsoralen against 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone-induced mouse lung adenomas.

Recently we reported that the occurrence of lung adenoma caused by 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) was completely prevented by pretreatment of female A/J mice with 8-methoxypsoralen, a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 (P450 or CYP) 2A [Takeuchi et al. (2003) Cancer Res., 63, 7581-7583]. Thus, the aim of this study was to confirm that 8-methoxypsoralen exhibits chemopreventive effects by inhibiting CYP2A in the mouse lung. The involvement of CYP2A in the metabolic activation of NNK in the lung was first evidenced by the fact that the mutagenic activation of NNK by mouse lung microsomes was inhibited by 8-methoxypsoralen, coumarin and antibodies to rat CYP2A1. Supporting this, the mutagenic activation of NNK was efficiently catalyzed by mouse CYP2A4 and CYP2A5 co-expressed with NADPH-P450 reductase in a genetically engineered Salmonella typhimurium YG7108. The expression of mRNA for CYP2A5, but not for CYP2A4 or CYP2A12, in the mouse lung was proven by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, probably indicating that CYP2A5 present in the mouse lung was involved in the metabolic activation of NNK. In accordance with these in vitro data, treatment of gpt delta transgenic mice with 8-methoxypsoralen prior to NNK completely inhibited the mutation of the gpt delta gene. The in vivo chemopreventive effects of 8-methoxypsoralen towards NNK-induced adenoma was seen only when the agent was given to female A/J mice prior to, but not posterior to, NNK, lending support to the idea that NNK is activated by CYP2A5 in the mouse lung as an initial step to cause adenoma. The inhibition by 8-methoxypsoralen of NNK-induced adenoma was seen in a dose-dependent manner: the dose to show apparent 50% suppression was calculated to be 1.0 mg/kg. To our surprise, CYP2A protein(s) was expressed in the lesion of NNK-induced lung adenomas, probably suggesting that 8-methoxypsoralen could inhibit the possible occurrence of further mutation of the adenoma cells induced by NNK. Based on these lines of evidence, we propose that 8-methoxypsoralen inhibits the CYP2A5-mediated metabolic activation of NNK in the mouse lung, leading to the prevention of NNK-induced adenoma.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2005

Dose-dependence of promotion of 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline-induced rat hepatocarcinogenesis by ethanol: evidence for a threshold.

Although ethanol is thought to be a tumor-promoter, there are conflicting results concerning its effects on experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. Furthermore, the relationship between the amount of ethanol consumed and tumor promoting effects has hitherto not been investigated in detail. In the present study, 21-day-old F344/DuCrj rats were fed 200 p.p.m. 2-amino-3,8-dimethylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoxaline (MeIQx) in their diet for 8 weeks and thereafter received ethanol at doses of 0, 0.1, 0.3, 1, 3, 10 and 20% in drinking water ad libitum for 16 weeks. The incidences of hepatocellular adenoma and total tumors increased dose-dependently with statistical significance at doses of 10% and 20%, compared to the initiated control value. Similarly, dose dependence was observed for the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, which was elevated significantly at the dose of 20%. No alteration in development of preneoplastic glutathione-S-transferase placental form positive foci or tumors was observed with 0.1-1%. Cell proliferation also increased dose-dependently and CYP2E1 protein induction was recognized in centrilobular regions without alteration in mRNA levels, but no effects were evident on formation of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, an oxidative DNA damage marker, or lipid peroxidation in any of the initiated groups. The mRNA expression of cyclin D1 increased dose dependently. The results demonstrated that ethanol dose-dependently promotes hepatocarcinogenesis induced by MeIQx, but with no adverse influence at doses of 1% or less, comparable to sensible drinking levels in humans.

Adenoma↗

PubMed2005

A new epitope of CYP2D6 recognized by liver kidney microsomal autoantibody from japanese patients with autoimmune hepatitis.

Liver-kidney microsomal antibodies type 1 (LKM-1) are a diagnostic marker for autoimmune hepatitis type II (AIH-II). However, LKM autoantibodies are also detected in a small percentage of patients with chronic hepatitis C. The autoantigen to anti-LKM-1 has been identified to be CYP2D6. To identify the specific antigenic site of CYP2D6 for LKM-1 serum, we established an ELISA with peptides spanning the entire sequence of CYP2D6. Human CYP2D6 containing histidine tag was expressed in Escherichia coli. Purified CYP2D6 was digested by lysyl endopeptidase. The linker including the histidine tag has a lysine residue in its C-terminal and can be removed by digestion. Digested peptides were separated by reversed-phase HPLC and coated on ELISA plates chemically with glutaraldehyde. The immunoreactivity of two LKM-1-positive sera (HCV-negative) and five HCV-positive sera from Japanese patients was investigated with the plates. These sera recognized peptides 1-146, 181-214, 246-281, 284-391, and 412-429. The peptide 1-146 was recognized by LKM-1-positive sera but not HCV-positive sera and is a new epitope found in this study. Seven short peptides spanning peptide 1-146 were synthesized and ELISAs were conducted with these peptides. However, two sera recognized none of these peptides, suggesting that two LKM-1-positive sera recognize the conformational immunogenic site of peptide 1-146.

Asian People↗

PubMed2005

Different effects of desipramine on bufuralol 1''-hydroxylation by rat and human CYP2D enzymes.

Inhibitory effects of desipramine (DMI) on rat and human CYP2D enzymes were studied using bufuralol (BF) 1''-hydroxylation as an index. Inhibition was examined under the following two conditions: 1) DMI was co-incubated with BF and NADPH in the reaction mixture containing rat or human liver microsomes or yeast cell microsomes expressing rat CYP2D1, CYP2D2 or human CYP2D6 (co-incubation); 2) DMI was preincubated with NADPH and the same enzyme sources prior to adding the substrate (preincubation). When either rat liver microsomes or recombinant CYP2D2 was employed, the preincubation with DMI (0.3 microM) caused a greater inhibition of BF 1''-hydroxylation than the co-incubation did, whereas BF 1''-hydroxylation by rat CYP2D1 was not markedly affected under the same conditions. The inhibitory effect of DMI on BF 1''-hydroxylation by human liver microsomal fractions or recombinant CYP2D6 was much lower than that on the hydroxylation by rat liver microsomes or CYP2D2. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the inhibition-type changed from competitive for the co-incubation to noncompetitive for the preincubation in the case of CYP2D2, whereas the inhibition-type was competitive for both the co-incubation and the preincubation in the case of CYP2D6. Furthermore, the loss of activity of rat CYP2D2 under the preincubation conditions followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. Binding experiments employing the recombinant enzymes and [(3)H]-DMI revealed that CYP2D2 and CYP2D6 were the only prominent proteins to which considerable radioactive DMI metabolite(s) bound. These results indicate that rat CYP2D2 biotransforms DMI into reactive metabolite(s), which covalently bind to CYP2D2, resulting in inactivation of the enzyme. In contrast, human CYP2D6 may also biotransform DMI into some metabolite(s) that covalently bind to CYP2D6, but that do not inactivate the enzyme.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Localization of rat cytochrome P450 in various tissues and comparison of arachidonic acid metabolism by rat P450 with that by human P450 orthologs.

Metabolites of arachidonic acid produced by P450 are interesting substances with prominent physiological functions. To elucidate the physiological function of P450, it is necessary to identify a specific P450 in a particular tissue or organ and to characterize its catalytic activities. In this study, the expression of CYP2A1, 2B1, 2C23, 2J3, and 4F1 was investigated in liver, lung, kidney, spleen, heart, brain, and testis of rats by RT-PCR. Furthermore, arachidonic acid metabolism was investigated using the rat P450s described above and human CYP2A6, 2B6, 2C9, 2C18, 2C19, 2J2, and 4F2. Among the rat P450s, CYP2B1 and 2C23 efficiently produced EETs and CYP4F1 produced 19/20-HETE in abundace. CYP2B1 was specifically expressed in the lung. CYP2C23 was detected in all tissues used in this study. CYP4F1 was expressed in the kidney as well as in the liver. Among the human P450s, CYP2C9 and 2C19 efficiently produced EETs. CYP4F2 produced 19/20-HETE. The catalytic properties of rat CYP2C23 were similar to those of human CYP2C9 and 2C19. The catalytic properties of CYP4F isoforms were also similar between humans and rats. A systematic analysis of P450 expression in various tissues and of its catalytic property may provide valuable information on the physiological roles of P450s in each tissue.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Inhibitory effects of environmental chemicals on protein disulfide isomerase in vitro.

BACKGROUND: The influence of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) upon physiological functions and their mechanisms is of concern. We have previously demonstrated that protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was a target molecule of bisphenol A (BPA), which is considered to be EDC. PDI plays a key role in protein folding as an isomerase and also possesses a 3,3',5-triiodo-L-thyronine (T3)-binding activity. Since PDI activities were inhibited by BPA in our previous study, BPA might have adverse effects on physiological functions via the inhibition of PDI activities. We conducted this study to identify the compounds which disturb PDI activities as well as BPA, and to discuss their structural characteristics. METHODS: We examined the effects of 22 suspected EDC on both the T3-binding activity and isomerase activity of rat recombinant PDI. RESULTS: Among the 22 compounds, only phenolic compounds, namely BPA, p-octylphenol, p-nonylphenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, pentachlorophenol, tetrabromobisphenol A, and tetrachlorobisphenol A, inhibited T3 binding to PDI. Furthermore non-halogenated compounds among these phenolic compounds, such as BPA, p-octylphenol, and p-nonylphenol, showed inhibitory effects on the isomerase activity of PDI. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that phenolic groups might have important inhibitory effects on the T3-binding activity of PDI, and that compounds with phenolic groups might have the same effects on PDI. Furthermore, non-halogenated phenolic compounds had inhibitory effects on the isomerase activities of PDI in addition to T3-binding activity, indicating that these compounds might also have adverse effects on protein folding, which PDI participates in by catalyzing rearrangements of disulfide bonds as an isomerase.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The roles of amino acid residues at positions 43 and 45 in microsomal contents and enzymatic functions of rat CYP2D1 and CYP2D2.

The effects of the substitution of amino acid residues at positions 43 and 45 of rat CYP2D1 and CYP2D2 on their microsomal contents and enzymatic functions were examined. The substitution of Val-45 of CYP2D1 by glycine decreased the microsomal content, whereas the substitution of Gly-45 of CYP2D2 by valine increased. The substitution of Leu-43 of CYP2D2 by tryptophan also increased the microsomal protein content. In reduced CO-difference spectra, CYP2D2 showed a P420 peak as well as a P450 peak, whereas CYP2D1 gave only a P450 peak. The substitution of Leu-43 and Gly-45 of CYP2D2 by valine and tryptophan, respectively, markedly decreased the P420 peak in parallel with an increase in P450 content. These substitutions did not cause remarkable changes in drug oxidation capacities (bufuralol 1''-hydroxylation and debrisoquine 4-hydroxylation) of the recombinant enzymes in terms of nmol/min/nmol CYP. The results indicate that amino acid residues at positions 43 and 45 are important for anchoring of the rat CYP2D proteins and their stabilities in the endoplasmic reticulum membrane.

Alcohol Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed2004

Effect of genetic polymorphism on the metabolism of endogenous neuroactive substances, progesterone and p-tyramine, catalyzed by CYP2D6.

Metabolic activities toward endogenous substrates in the brain, progesterone and p-tyramine, by cytochrome P450 2D6.2 (CYP2D6.2), CYP2D6.10A, CYP2D6.10C, and P34S, G42R, R296C, and S486T mutants expressed in recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae were compared with those by CYP2D6.1 (wild-type) in order to clarify the effects of genetic polymorphism of CYP2D6 on the metabolism of neuroactive steroids and amines in the brain. For the 6beta-hydroxylation of progesterone, the V(max) values for CYP2D6.2, CYP2D6.10A, and the P34S and G42R mutants, were less than half of those for CYP2D6.1, and CYP2D6.10C had a higher K(m) and a lower V(max) than the wild-type. The V(max)/K(m) values for CYP2D6.10A, CYP2D6.10C, and the P34S and G42R mutants were 12-31% of that for CYP2D6. The 16alpha-hydroxylation and 21-hydroxylation of progesterone by CYP2D6.10A, CYP2D6.10C, and the P34S and G42R mutants were not detected, and the R296C mutant had a higher K(m) for the 16alpha-hydroxylation and a lower V(max) for the 21-hydroxylation than those for CYP2D6.1. For dopamine formation from p-tyramine, the K(m) values for CYP2D6.2 and the R296C mutant were higher than those for CYP2D6.1, CYP2D6.10A, and CYP2D6.10C had a higher K(m) and a lower V(max) than the wild-type. The V(max)/K(m) values for CYP2D6.2, CYP2D6.10A, CYP2D6.10C and the P34S, G42R and R296C mutants were less than 45% of those for the wild-type. These results suggest the possibility that the polymorphism of CYP2D6, including CYP2D6*2, CYP2D6*10 and CYP2D6*12, might affect an individual behavior and the central nervous system through endogenous compounds, such as neuroactive steroids and tyramine, in the brain.

Adrenergic Uptake Inhibitors↗

PubMed2004

Apigenin suppresses the expression of VEGF, an important factor for angiogenesis, in endothelial cells via degradation of HIF-1alpha protein.

Apigenin, a plant-derived flavone, is a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation and angiogenesis, but the mechanisms leading to the pathological anti-angiogenic effects of apigenin are still unclear. In this study, we found that apigenin inhibited the hypoxia-induced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA in human umbilical artery endothelial cells. Apigenin also suppressed the expression of erythropoietin mRNA, which is a typical hypoxia-inducible gene, via the degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) alpha. We investigated the effect of apigenin on the interaction of HIF-1alpha with heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90), which is reported to be important for the stabilization of HIF-1alpha, and found that VEGF expression was inhibited via degradation of HIF-1alpha through interference with the function of Hsp90.

Angiogenesis Inhibitors↗

PubMed2004

CYP3A induction aggravates endotoxemic liver injury via reactive oxygen species in male rats.

We carried out this experiment to evaluate the relationship between isoforms of cytochrome P450 (P450) and liver injury in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemic rats. Male rats were intraperitoneally administered phenobarbital (PB), a P450 inducer, for 3 days, and 1 day later, they were intravenously given LPS. PB significantly increased P450 levels (200% of control levels) and the activities (300-400% of control) of the specific isoforms (CYP), CYP3A2 and CYP2B1, in male rats. Plasma AST and ALT increased slightly more in PB-treated rats than in PB-nontreated (control) rats with LPS treatment. Furthermore, either troleandomycin or ketoconazole, specific CYP3A inhibitors, significantly inhibited LPS-induced liver injury in control and PB-treated male rats. To evaluate the oxidative stress in LPS-treated rats, in situ superoxide radical detection using dihydroethidium (DHE), hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified proteins in liver microsomes and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in liver nuclei were measured in control and PB-treated rats. DHE signal intensity, levels of HNE-modified proteins, and 8-OHdG increased significantly in PB-treated rats. LPS further increased DHE intensity, HNE-modified proteins, and 8-OHdG levels in normal and PB-treated groups. CYP3A inhibitors also inhibited the increases in these items. Our results indicate that the induction or preservation of CYP isoforms further promotes LPS-induced liver injury through mechanisms related to oxidative stress. In particular, CYP3A2 of P450 isoforms made an important contribution to this LPS-induced liver injury.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Bisphenol A, an environmental endocrine-disrupting chemical, inhibits hypoxic response via degradation of hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha): structural requirement of bisphenol A for degradation of HIF-1alpha.

Bisphenol A (BpA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical, is known to be a xenoestrogen and to affect the reproductive functions of animals. Recent reports have documented BpA-induced developmental abnormalities in the neuronal systems of humans and animals, and these effects appear to be non-estrogenic. In this study, we found that BpA inhibited the hypoxic response of human hepatoma cells. The expression of hypoxic response genes such as the erythropoietin (EPO) gene is done via a hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1)-dependent signaling pathway. To investigate possible structural requirements for this inhibitory effect, several BpA analogs were synthesized and added to this system. The blocking of two phenol groups in BpA did not change the effect, but the inhibition completely disappeared by the removal of two central methyl groups in BpA (the resulting compound is designated BpF). BpA, but not BpF, promoted degradation of the HIF-1alpha protein, which is a component of HIF-1, followed by inhibition of EPO induction. An immunoprecipitation assay indicated that BpA dissociated heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) from HIF-1alpha and destabilized HIF-1alpha protein. HIF-1alpha is usually degraded first by ubiquitination and then by the proteasome pathway. Cobalt ion inhibits ubiquitination of HIF-1alpha and stabilizes it. In the present study, BpA promoted HIF-1alpha degradation in the presence of cobalt and in the presence of proteasome inhibitor. These results suggest that BpA degraded HIF-1alpha via a currently unknown pathway, and that this phenomenon required two methyl groups in BpA.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗