Myclobutanil enantioselective risk assessment in humans through in vitro CYP450 reactions: Metabolism and inhibition studies.

Myclobutanil is a chiral triazole fungicide that is employed worldwide. Although enantiomers have the same physical-chemical properties, they may differ in terms of activity, metabolism, and toxicity. This investigation consisted of in vitro enantioselective metabolism studies that employed a human model to assess the risks of myclobutanil in humans. A LC-MS/MS enantioselective method was developed and validated. The enzymatic kinetic parameters (VMAX, KMapp, and CLINT) determined for in vitro rac-myclobutanil and S-(+)-myclobutanil metabolism revealed enantioselective differences. Furthermore, human CYP450 enzymes did not metabolize R-(-)-myclobutanil. The predicted in vivo toxicokinetic parameters indicated that S-(+)-myclobutanil may be preferentially eliminated by the liver and suffer the first-pass metabolism effect. However, because CYP450 did not metabolize R-(-)-myclobutanil, this enantiomer could reach the systemic circulation and stay longer in the human body, potentially causing toxic effects. The CYP450 isoforms CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 were involved in rac-myclobutanil and S-(+)-myclobutanil metabolism. Although there were differences in the metabolism of the myclobutanil enantiomers, in vitro inhibition studies did not show significant enantioselective differences. Overall, the present investigation suggested that myclobutanil moderately inhibits CYP2D6 and CYP2C9 in vitro and strongly inhibits CYP3A and CYP2C19 in vitro. These results provide useful scientific information for myclobutanil risk assessment in humans.

Candidate cytochrome P450 genes for ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity in oyster Crassostrea gigas.

Vertebrate cytochrome P450 1 (CYP1) enzymes metabolize endogenous and xenobiotic compounds and usually demonstrate a substrate-inducible response. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity (EROD) is a common method to quantify CYP1 enzymes activity in these organisms. Despite the absence of this gene family in protostomes, CYP1-like genes were identified in several species, even though no evolutionary relationship has been established with the vertebrate CYP1 family. In the present study, EROD activity was evaluated in microsomal fraction of gills, digestive gland and mantle of Crassostrea gigas. Enzyme activity was quantified in gills, although no activity was detected in digestive gland and mantle. EROD kinetic characterization in gills using typical Michaelis-Menten equation demonstrated an apparent Km of 1.15µM and Vmax of 229.2 fmol.min-1mg.protein -1. EROD activity was analyzed in the presence of CYP1 inhibitors, ellipticine (ELP), furafylline (FRF), clotrimazole (CTZ), α-naphthoflavone (ANF), and the non-ionic surfactant Triton X-100. CTZ inhibited EROD activity in all tested concentrations while Triton X-100 (0.5mM) caused 16% inhibition. Transcript levels of four CYP1-like genes were determined in gills, digestive gland and mantle. In general, CYP1-like genes showed higher transcript levels in gills compared to other tissues. The transcript levels of CYP1-like 1 and 2, analyzed together, positively correlated with EROD activity observed in gills, suggesting the possible involvement of these two gene products in EROD activity in this tissue. Homology models of translated CYP1-like 1 and 2 were generated based on human CYP1A1 structure and were similar to the general canonical cytochrome P450 fold. Molecular docking analysis showed that the two putative oyster CYP1-like structures have the potential to metabolize 7-ethoxyresorufin (7-ER), although the contribution of other CYP1-like genes needs to be investigated. Proteins encoded by CYP1-like 1 and 2 genes are plausible candidates for EROD activity observed in gills of C. gigas.

Impact of inhalational exposure to ethanol fuel on the pharmacokinetics of verapamil, ibuprofen and fluoxetine as in vivo probe drugs for CYP3A, CYP2C and CYP2D in rats.

Occupational toxicology and clinical pharmacology integration will be useful to understand potential exposure-drug interaction and to shape risk assessment strategies in order to improve occupational health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of exposure to ethanol fuel on in vivo activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoenzymes CYP3A, CYP2C and CYP2D by the oral administration of the probe drugs verapamil, ibuprofen and fluoxetine. Male Wistar rats exposed to filtered air or to 2000 ppm ethanol in a nose-only inhalation chamber during (6 h/day, 5 days/week, 6 weeks) received single oral doses of 10 mg/kg verapamil or 25 mg/kg ibuprofen or 10 mg/kg fluoxetine. The enantiomers of verapamil, norverapamil, ibuprofen and fluoxetine in plasma were analyzed by LC-MS/MS. The area under the curve plasma concentration versus time extrapolated to infinity (AUC(0-∞)) was calculated using the Gauss-Laguerre quadrature. Inhalation exposure to ethanol reduces the AUC of both verapamil (approximately 2.7 fold) and norverapamil enantiomers (>2.5 fold), reduces the AUC(0-∞) of (+)-(S)-IBU (approximately 2 fold) and inhibits preferentially the metabolism of (-)-(R)-FLU. In conclusion, inhalation exposure of ethanol at a concentration of 2 TLV-STEL (6 h/day for 6 weeks) induces CYP3A and CYP2C but inhibits CYP2D in rats.