The Influence of Tobacco Smoke/Nicotine on CYP2A Expression in Human and African Green Monkey Lungs.

CYP2A enzymes metabolically inactivate nicotine and activate tobacco-derived procarcinogens [e.g., 4-[methylnitrosamino]-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone]. Smoking decreases nicotine clearance, and chronic nicotine reduces hepatic CYP2A activity. However, little is known about the impact of smoking or nicotine on the expression of CYP2A in the lung. We investigated 1) the levels of human lung CYP2A mRNA in smokers versus nonsmokers and 2) the impact of daily nicotine treatment on lung CYP2A protein levels in African green monkeys (AGMs). Lung CYP2A13, CYP2A6, and CYP2A7 (and CYP1A2) mRNA levels in smokers and nonsmokers were assessed in Gene Expression Omnibus data sets (GSE30063, GSE108134, and GSE11784). The impact of chronic, twice-daily, subcutaneous nicotine at two doses (0.3 and 0.5 mg/kg) versus vehicle on lung CYP2A protein levels was assessed. The impact of ethanol self-administration was also investigated, with and without nicotine treatment. Smokers versus nonsmokers (from GSE30063 and GSE108134) had lower (1.04- to 1.12-fold) levels of lung CYP2A13, CYP2A6, and CYP2A7 (and higher CYP1A2) mRNA. Both doses of nicotine tested decreased AGM lung CYP2A protein (3- to 7-fold). Ethanol self-administration had no effect on AGM lung CYP2A protein, and there was no interaction between ethanol and nicotine. Our results suggest that smoking was associated with a reduction in human lung CYP2A13, CYP2A6, and CYP2A7 mRNA, consistent with the role of nicotine treatment in reducing AGM lung CYP2A protein. This regulation by smoking/nicotine will increase interindividual variation in lung CYP2A levels, which may impact the localized metabolism of inhaled drugs and tobacco smoke procarcinogens. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: CYP2A13 and CYP2A6 are expressed in the lung and may contribute to local procarcinogen activation. Smokers had lower lung CYP2A mRNA levels compared with nonsmokers. Lung CYP2A protein expression was decreased by systemic treatment with nicotine. Decreased lung CYP2A expression may alter smoking-related lung cancer risk and tissue damage from other inhaled toxins. This novel regulatory impact of nicotine, including nicotine found in smoking-cessation nicotine-replacement therapies, may have potential benefits on smoking-related lung cancer risk.

Downregulation of the cytochrome P450 4B1 protein confers a poor prognostic factor in patients with urothelial carcinomas of upper urinary tracts and urinary bladder.

The objective of this study was to examine the expression level of cytochrome P450 4B1 (CYP4B1) protein and its clinical significance in specimens from patients with urothelial carcinomas (UC) including upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC, n = 340) and urinary bladder urothelial carcinoma (UBUC, n = 295). Data mining on public domains identified five potential candidate transcripts which were downregulated in advanced UBUCs, indicating that it might implicate in UC progression. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the CYP4B1 protein levels on 635 tissues from UC patients retrospectively. Immunoexpression of CYP4B1 was further estimated using the H-score method. Correlations between CYP4B1 H-score and important clinicopathological factors, as well as the significance of CYP4B1 expression level for disease-specific and metastasis-free survivals were evaluated. In UTUCs and UBUCs, 118 (34.7%) and 92 (31.2%) patients, respectively, were identified to be of CYP4B1 downregulation. The CYP4B1 expression level was found to be associated with several clinicopathological factors and patient survivals. Downregulation of CYP4B1 protein was correlated to advanced primary tumor (p < 0.001), nodal metastasis (p < 0.001), high histological grade (p = 0.001), vascular invasion (p < 0.001), perineural invasion (p = 0.017) and mitotic rate (p = 0.036) in UTUCs and/or UBUCs. Low CYP4B1 protein level independently predicted inferior disease-specific (p = 0.009; p < 0.001) and metastasis-free (p = 0.035; p < 0.001) survivals in UTUC and UBUC patients. Our findings showed that downregulation of CYP4B1 protein level is an independent unfavorable prognosticator. Loss of the CYP4B1 gene expression may play an important role in UC progression.

Photo-initiated crosslinking extends mapping of the protein-protein interface to membrane-embedded portions of cytochromes P450 2B4 and b5.

Protein-protein interactions play a central role in the regulation of many biochemical processes (e.g. the system participating in enzyme catalysis). Therefore, a deeper understanding of protein-protein interactions may contribute to the elucidation of many biologically important mechanisms. For this purpose, it is necessary to establish the composition and stoichiometry of supramolecular complexes and to identify the crucial portions of the interacting molecules. This study is devoted to structure-functional relationships in the microsomal Mixed Function Oxidase (MFO) complex, which is responsible for biotransformation of many hydrophobic endogenous compounds and xenobiotics. In particular, the cytochrome b5 interaction with MFO terminal oxygenase cytochrome P-450 (P450) was studied. To create photolabile probes suitable for this purpose, we prepared cytochrome b5 which had a photolabile diazirine analog of methionine (pMet) incorporated into the protein sequence, employing recombinant expression in Escherichia coli. In addition to wild-type cytochrome b5, where three methionines (Met) are located at positions 96, 126, and 131, six mutants containing only one Met in the sequence were designed and expressed (see Table 1). In these mutants, a single Met was engineered into the catalytic domain (at positions 23, 41, or 46), into the linker between the protein domains (at position 96), or into the membrane region (at positions 126 or 131). These mutants should confirm or exclude these portions of cytochrome b5 which are involved in the interaction with P450. After UV irradiation, the pMet group(s) in the photolabile cytochrome b5 probe was(were) activated, producing covalent crosslinks with the interacting parts of P450 2B4 in the close vicinity. The covalent complexes were analyzed by the "bottom up" approach with high-accuracy mass spectrometry. The analysis provided an identification of the contacts in the supramolecular complex with low structural resolution. We found that all the above-mentioned cytochrome b5 Met residues can form intermolecular crosslinks and thus participate in the interaction. In addition, our results indicate the existence of at least two P450:cytochrome b5 complexes which differ in the orientation of individual proteins. The results demonstrate the advantages of the photo-initiated crosslinking technique which is able to map the protein-protein interfaces not only in the solvent exposed regions, but also in the membrane-embedded segments (compared to a typical crosslinking approach which generally only identifies crosslinks in solvent exposed regions).

Impact of Herbal Medicines like Nigella sativa, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Ferula asafoetida, on Cytochrome P450 2C11 Gene Expression in Rat Liver.

AIM: Combined use of herbs and drugs may result in clinically important herb-drug interactions. The majorities of these interactions are thought to be metabolism-based and involve induction or inhibition of cytochrome P450 (CYP). The current study was designed to investigate the effect of some commonly used herbs on rat CYP2C11 gene expression and metabolic activity. METHODS: Wistar rats were treated for 7 days with increasing doses of 3 herbs; Nigella sativa, Trigonella foenum-graecum, and Ferula asafoetida. Thereafter, CYP2C11 mRNA and protein levels were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blot analyses, respectively. In vitro metabolic activity of CYP2C11 was performed on rat hepatic microsomes using tolbutamide as specific substrate. RESULTS: Our results showed that all the 3 herbs significantly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression levels of CYP2C11 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the in vitro enzyme metabolic activity study showed a significant decrease in the formation of 4-hyroxy-tolbutamide, a tolbutamide metabolite, at the higher doses. The inhibitory effects of the investigated herbs on rat CYP2C11 was in the order: Nigella Sativa > Trigonella foenum-graecum > Ferula asafoetida. CONCLUSIONS: The 3 herbs are strong inhibitor of CYP2C11 expression, which can lead to an undesirable pharmacological effect of clinically used CYP2C11 substrate drugs with a low therapeutic index.

Phenotypic and in vivo functional characterization of immortalized human fetal liver cells.

We report the establishment and characterization of immortalized human fetal liver progenitor cells by expression of the Simian virus 40 large T (SV40 LT) antigen. Well-characterized cells at various passages were transplanted into nude mice with acute liver injury and tested for functional capacity. The SV40LT antigen-immortalized fetal liver cells showed a morphology similar to primary cells. Cultured cells demonstrated stable phenotypic expression in various passages, of hepatic markers such as albumin, CK 8, CK18, transcription factors HNF-4α and HNF-1α and CYP3A/7. The cells did not stain for any of the tested cancer-associated markers. Albumin, HNF-4α and CYP3A7 expression was confirmed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Flow cytometry showed expression of some progenitor cell markers. In vivo study showed that the cells expressed both fetal and differentiated hepatocytes markers. Our study suggests new approaches to expand hepatic progenitor cells, analyze their fate in animal models aiming at cell therapy of hepatic diseases.

An "ex vivo" model to evaluate toxicological responses to mixtures of contaminants in cetaceans: integumentum biopsy slices.

The need for powerful new tools to detect the effects of chemical pollution, in particular of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on Mediterranean cetaceans led us to develop and apply a suite of sensitive biomarkers for integument biopsies of stranded and free-ranging animals. This multi-response ex vivo method has the aim to detect toxicological effects of contaminant mixtures. In the present study, we applied an ex vivo assay using skin biopsy and liver slices, combining molecular biomarkers [Western blot of Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and Cytochrome P450 2B (CYP2B)] and gene expression biomarkers (Quantitative real-time PCR of CYP1A1, heat shock protein 70, estrogen receptor alpha and E2F transcription factor) in response to chemical exposure [organochlorines compounds (OCs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and PAHs] for stranded Mediterranean Stenella coeruleoalba. The main goal of this experiment was to identify the biomarker and/or a suite of biomarkers that could best detect the presence of a specific class of pollutants (OCs, PBDEs, and PAHs) or a mixture of them. This multi-response biomarker methodology revealed an high sensitivity and selectivity of responses (such as CYP1A and ER α mRNA variations after OCs and PAHs exposure) and could represent a valid future approach for the study of inter- and intra-species sensitivities to various classes of environmental contaminants.

Selective expression of CYP2A13 in human pancreatic α-islet cells.

Exposure to cigarette smoke is an etiological factor of human pancreatic cancer and has been associated with an increased risk of pancreatic diseases, including pancreatitis and diabetes. The toxicants in cigarette smoke can reach pancreatic tissue, and most of the toxicants require cytochrome P450 (P450)-mediated metabolic activation to exert their toxicity. Among all the human P450 enzymes, CYP2A13 is the most efficient enzyme in the metabolic activation of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), a major tobacco-specific toxicant and a suspected human carcinogen. It also metabolically activates 4-aminobiphenyl, another toxicant in cigarette smoke. Immunohistochemical analysis in this study demonstrated that CYP2A13 was selectively expressed in the islets but not in the exocrine portion of adult human pancreas. Further study using dual immunofluorescence labeling technique showed that CYP2A13 protein was mainly expressed in the α-islet but not in ß-islet cells. The selective expression of CYP2A13 in human pancreatic α-islet cells suggests that these islet cells could be damaged by the toxicants existing in cigarette smoke through CYP2A13-mediated in situ metabolic activation. Our result provides a mechanistic insight for human pancreatic diseases that have been associated with cigarette smoke exposure.

[Effects of dietary fat level on the xenobiotic metabolism enzymes activity and antioxidant enzymes in rats].

Male Wistar rats received fat-free diet or diets containing 5, 10 and 30% of fat (sunflower oil + lard, 1:1) for 4 weeks. The direct relationship between dietary fat level and ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity of CYP1A1, methoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity of CYP1A2, pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase activity of CYP2B1 and testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity of CYP3A was found. Activities of key enzymes of phase II xenobiotic metabolism (total activity of glutathione transferase, activity of UDP-glucuronosyle transferase) and antioxidant enzymes (catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, paraoxonase-1 and heme oxygenase-1) also increased with higher dietary fat level.

Mass spectrometry-based quantification of CYP enzymes to establish in vitro/in vivo scaling factors for intestinal and hepatic metabolism in beagle dog.

PURPOSE: Physiologically based models, when verified in pre-clinical species, optimally predict human pharmacokinetics. However, modeling of intestinal metabolism has been a gap. To establish in vitro/in vivo scaling factors for metabolism, the expression and activity of CYP enzymes were characterized in the intestine and liver of beagle dog. METHODS: Microsomal protein abundance in dog tissues was determined using testosterone-6ß-hydroxylation and 7-hydroxycoumarin-glucuronidation as markers for microsomal protein recovery. Expressions of 7 CYP enzymes were estimated based on quantification of proteotypic tryptic peptides using multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry. CYP3A12 and CYP2B11 activity was evaluated using selective marker reactions. RESULTS: The geometric mean of total microsomal protein was 51 mg/g in liver and 13 mg/cm in intestine, without significant differences between intestinal segments. CYP3A12, followed by CYP2B11, were the most abundant CYP enzymes in intestine. Abundance and activity were higher in liver than intestine and declined from small intestine to colon. CONCLUSIONS: CYP expression in dog liver and intestine was characterized, providing a basis for in vitro/in vivo scaling of intestinal and hepatic metabolism.

Pharmacokinetics and safety of a new paediatric fixed-dose combination of zidovudine/lamivudine/nevirapine in HIV-infected children.

BACKGROUND: Alternatives to the available stavudine-containing paediatric fixed-dose combination (FDC) tablets are rapidly needed due to concerns regarding the cumulative toxicity of long-term stavudine exposure. We report the bioavailability and short-term safety of a novel paediatric FDC tablet of zidovudine (ZDV)/lamivudine (3TC)/nevirapine (NVP; 30/15/28 mg) in HIV-infected children. METHODS: In this Phase I/II open-label pharmacokinetic study, 42 children weighing 6-30 kg treated with NVP-based HAART for ≥4 weeks were randomized to receive the FDC tablets (GPO-VIR Z30) or the liquid formulations. Dosing was weight-based. Intensive 12-h blood sampling was performed after 2 weeks; subjects then crossed-over to the alternate formulation at equal doses and sampling repeated 2 weeks later. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined by non-compartmental analysis. Buccal-swab samples were collected for cytochrome P450 (CYP)2B6 polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: With the FDC tablet, the geometric mean (90% CI) area under the curve (AUC) for ZDV, 3TC and NVP was 1.58 (1.49-1.68), 7.78 (7.38-8.19) and 68.88 (62.13-76.36) µg•h/ml, respectively. Rules for NVP therapeutic inadequacy were defined a priori, and despite lower NVP exposure with the tablet (P<0.001), the levels remained therapeutically adequate. ZDV AUC was similar between formulations. 3TC exposure was significantly higher with the tablet but comparable to historical data in adults and children taking branded tablets. While receiving the tablet, NVP AUC in children with CYP2B 516 GG (45%), GT (45%) and TT (10%) genotypes were 67.0, 74.5 and 106.4 µg•h/ml, respectively (P=0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities in drug exposure between formulations were observed; however, the FDC tablet delivered therapeutically adequate exposures of each drug and could well play an important role in simplifying antiretroviral treatment for children.

Are there differences in the catalytic activity per unit enzyme of recombinantly expressed and human liver microsomal cytochrome P450 2C9? A systematic investigation into inter-system extrapolation factors.

The 'relative activity factor' (RAF) compares the activity per unit of microsomal protein in recombinantly expressed cytochrome P450 enzymes (rhCYP) and human liver without separating the potential sources of variation (i.e. abundance of enzyme per mg of protein or variation of activity per unit enzyme). The dimensionless 'inter-system extrapolation factor' (ISEF) dissects differences in activity from those in CYP abundance. Detailed protocols for the determination of this scalar, which is used in population in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE), are currently lacking. The present study determined an ISEF for CYP2C9 and, for the first time, systematically evaluated the effects of probe substrate, cytochrome b5 and methods for assessing the intrinsic clearance (CL(int) ). Values of ISEF for S-warfarin, tolbutamide and diclofenac were 0.75 ± 0.18, 0.57 ± 0.07 and 0.37 ± 0.07, respectively, using CL(int) values derived from the kinetic values V(max) and K(m) of metabolite formation in rhCYP2C9 + reductase + b5 BD Supersomes™. The ISEF values obtained using rhCYP2C9 + reductase BD Supersomes™ were more variable, with values of 7.16 ± 1.25, 0.89 ± 0.52 and 0.50 ± 0.05 for S-warfarin, tolbutamide and diclofenac, respectively. Although the ISEF values obtained from rhCYP2C9 + reductase + b5 for the three probe substrates were statistically different (p < 0.001), the use of the mean value of 0.54 resulted in predicted oral clearance values for all three substrates within 1.4 fold of the observed literature values. For consistency in the relative activity across substrates, use of a b5 expressing recombinant system, with the intrinsic clearance calculated from full kinetic data is recommended for generation of the CYP2C9 ISEF. Furthermore, as ISEFs have been found to be sensitive to differences in accessory proteins, rhCYP system specific ISEFs are recommended.

Biomarkers and bioaccumulation of clam Ruditapes philippinarum in response to combined cadmium and benzo[α]pyrene exposure.

Biochemical and molecular biomarkers (the contents of metallothionein (MT), glutathione (GSH), the activities of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the mRNA expressions of GST-pi and Cu, Zn-SOD) were evaluated in clams Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to cadmium (Cd, 15 µg/L) and benzo[α]pyrene (BaP, 0.01 µg/L) individually and in combination (15 µg/L Cd+0.01 µg/L BaP) for 21 days. The accumulation of Cd, BaP and the biomarkers measured in the gills and digestive glands of the clam showed significant increase in combination treatment and it was significantly higher than the Cd or BaP treatment (P>0.05). The contents of MT increased in Cd and Cd+BaP treatment, while AHH activities were increased in Bap and Cd+BaP treatment (P>0.05). GSH levels enhanced in Cd group and declined significantly in Cd+BaP treatment (P>0.05). The activities of GST, SOD, and mRNA expressions of GST-pi, Cu, Zn-SOD increased remarkably in the clams exposed to combined pollutants. In this study, a significant interaction was observed for Cd and BaP accumulation in the clam and the current findings demonstrate the differences in antioxidant response of the biomarkers in clam to single contaminant and the mixtures.

Suppressive effect of enzymatically modified isoquercitrin on phenobarbital-induced liver tumor promotion in rats.

To investigate the effect of enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) on hepatocellular tumor promotion induced by phenobarbital (PB), male rats were administered a single intraperitoneal injection of 200 mg/kg N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and then fed with a diet containing PB (500 ppm) for 8 weeks, with or without EMIQ (2,000 ppm) in the drinking water. One week after PB administration, rats underwent a two-thirds partial hepatectomy. The PB-induced increase in the number and area of glutathione S-transferase placental form-positive foci and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive ratio was significantly suppressed by EMIQ. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed increases in mRNA expression levels of Cyp2b2 and Mrp2 in the DEN-PB and DEN-PB-EMIQ groups compared with the DEN-alone group, while the level of Mrp2 decreased in the DEN-PB-EMIQ group compared with the DEN-PB group. There were no significant changes in microsomal reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and oxidative stress markers between the DEN-PB and DEN-PB-EMIQ groups. Immunohistochemically, the constitutive active/androstane receptor (CAR) in the DEN-PB group was clearly localized in the nuclei, but its immunoreactive intensity was decreased in the DEN-PB-EMIQ group. These results indicate that EMIQ suppressed the liver tumor-promoting activity of PB by inhibiting nuclear translocation of CAR, and not by suppression of oxidative stress.

Differential neonatal testosterone imprinting of GH-dependent liver proteins and genes in female mice.

Abnormal exposure to steroid hormones within a critical developmental period elicits permanent alterations in female reproductive physiology in rodents, but the impact on the female GH axis and the underlying sexual differences in hepatic enzymes have not been described in detail. We have investigated the effect of neonatal androgenization of female mice (achieved by s.c. injection of 100 µg testosterone propionate (TP) on the day of birth: TP females) on the GHRH-somatostatin-GH axis and downstream GH targets, which included female and male predominant liver enzymes and secreted proteins. At 4 months of age, an organizational effect of neonatal testosterone was evidenced on hypothalamic Ghrh mRNA level but not on somatostatin (stt) mRNA level. Ghrh mRNA levels were higher in males than in females, but not in TP females. Increased expression in TP females correlated with increased pituitary GH content and somatotrope population, increased serum and liver IGF-I concentration, and ultimately higher body weight. Murine urinary proteins (MUPs) that were excreted at higher levels in male urine, and whose expression requires pulsatile occupancy of liver GH receptors, were not modified in TP females and neither was liver Mup 1/2/6/8 mRNA expression. Furthermore, a male predominant liver gene (Cyp2d9) was not masculinized in TP females either, whereas two female predominant genes (Cyp2b9 and Cyp2a4) were defeminized. These data support the hypothesis that neonatal steroid exposure contributes to the remodeling of the GH axis and defeminization of hepatic steroid-metabolizing enzymes, which may compromise liver physiology.

Advances in capillary electrophoretic enzyme assays.

In recent years, capillary electrophoresis (CE) has become a frequently used tool for enzyme assays due to its well-recognized advantages such as high separation efficiency, short analysis time, small sample and chemicals consumption. The published applications cover all aspects of enzyme characterization and analysis including the determination of the enzyme activity, substrate and modulator characterization and identification, as well as the investigation of enzyme-mediated metabolic pathways of bioactive molecules. The CE assays may be classified into two general categories: (1) pre-capillary assays where the reactions are performed offline followed by CE analysis of the substrates and products and (2) online assays when the enzyme reaction and separation of the analytes are performed in the same capillary. In online assays, the enzyme may be either immobilized or in solution. The latter is also referred to as electrophoretically mediated microanalysis (EMMA). The present review will highlight the literature of CE-based enzyme assays from 2006 to November 2009. One section will be devoted to applications of microfluidic devices.

Immunohistochemical analysis of CYP2A13 in various types of human lung cancers.

Human CYP2A13, which is expressed in the respiratory tract, is the most efficient enzyme for the metabolic activation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines such as 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The relevance of CYP2A13 in carcinogenicity and toxicity in the respiratory tract has been suggested, but the expression of CYP2A13 protein in lung cancer tissues remains to be determined. We first prepared a mouse monoclonal antibody against human CYP2A13. The antibody showed no cross reactivity with the other CYP isoforms including CYP2A6. Using the specific antibody, we performed immunohistochemical analysis for human lung carcinomas. In adenocarcinomas (n = 15), all specimens were positive for the staining and five samples showed strong staining. In squamous cell carcinomas (n = 15) and large cell carcinomas (n = 15), each 14 samples were positive for the staining and two and three samples showed strong staining, respectively. In small cell carcinoma samples (n = 15), eight samples were negative for the staining and five samples showed weak or moderate staining. In conclusion, we first found that the expression of CYP2A13 was markedly increased in non-small cell lung carcinomas. The high expression might be associated with the tumor development and progression in non-small cell lung carcinomas.

Renal expression of arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes and RhoA/Rho kinases in fructose insulin resistant hypertensive rats.

Fructose feeding has been shown to induce insulin resistance and hypertension. Renal protein expression for the cytochrome P (CYP) 450 arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes has been shown to be altered in other models of diet-induced hypertension. Of special interest is CYP4A, which produces the potent vasoconstrictor, 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and CYP2C, which catalyzes the formation of the potent dilators epoxyeicosatrienoic acids as well as soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) which metabolizes the latter to dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids. The RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) signaling pathway is downstream of arachidonic acid and is reported to mediate metabolic-cardio-renal dysfunctions in some experimental models of insulin resistance and diabetes. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of CYP4A, CYP2C23, CYP2C11, sEH, RhoA, ROCK-1, ROCK-2, and phospho-Lin-11/Isl-1/Mec-3 kinase (LIMK) in kidneys of fructose-fed (F) rats. Male Wistar rats were fed a high fructose diet for 8 weeks. Body weight, systolic blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and renal expression of the aforementioned proteins were assessed. No change was observed in the body weight of F rats; however, euglycemia and hyperinsulinemia implicating impaired glucose tolerance and significant elevation in systolic blood pressure were observed. Renal expression of CYP4A and CYP2C23 was significantly increased while that of CYP2C11 and sEH was not changed in F rats. Equal expression for RhoA in both control and F rats and an enhanced level of ROCK-1 and ROCK-2 constitutively activate 130 kDa cleavage fragments as well as phospho-LIMK. These data suggest that the kidneys could be actively participating in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance-induced hypertension through the arachidonic acid CYP 450-RhoA/Rho kinase pathway(s).

[An immunohistochemical study of aromatase, estrogen 4-hydroxylase and fatty acid synthetase in breast cancer tissues from BRCA1 mutation carriers].

Breast cancer in germline BRCA1 mutation carriers features a peculiar endocrine and metabolic profile which is yet to be studied properly in clinical settings. We used a novel immunohistochemical method to compare expression levels of aromatase, estrogen 4-hydroxylase (CYP1B1) and fatty acid synthetase in breast cancer tissues from 12 BRCA1 mutation carriers and 22 non-carriers. Rates of aromatase in carriers were significantly higher than in control (p=0.04) to match the data obtained earlier in cell lines employed in down-regulation of the wild BRCA1 gene. These findings make a case for use of aromatase inhibitors in such patients. No differences in CYP1B1 and fatty acid synthetase expression levels were found between the mutation and the wild BRCA1 gene groups. Further search is warranted for manifestations of excess genotoxic effects of estrogens and enhanced lipogenesis in BRCA1 mutation carriers.

Rapid single-nucleotide polymorphism detection of cytochrome P450 (CYP2C9) and vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKORC1) genes for the warfarin dose adjustment by the SMart-amplification process version 2.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphisms of the CYP2C9 (cytochrome P450, family 2, subfamily C, polypeptide 9) gene (CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3) and the VKORC1 (vitamin K epoxide reductase complex, subunit 1) gene (-1639G>A) greatly impact the maintenance dose for the drug warfarin. Prescreening patients for their genotypes before prescribing the drug facilitates a faster individualized determination of the proper maintenance dose, minimizing the risk for adverse reaction and reoccurrence of thromboembolic episodes. With current methodologies, therapy can be delayed by several hours to 1 day if genotyping is to determine the loading dose. A simpler and more rapid genotyping method is required. METHODS: We developed a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-detection assay based on the SMart Amplification Process version 2 (SMAP 2) to analyze CYP2C9*2, CYP2C9*3, and VKORC1 -1639G>A polymorphisms. Blood from consenting participants was used directly in a closed-tube real-time assay without DNA purification to obtain results within 1 h after blood collection. RESULTS: We analyzed 125 blood samples by both SMAP 2 and PCR-RFLP methods. The results showed perfect concordance. CONCLUSIONS: The results validate the accuracy of the SMAP 2 for determination of SNPs critical to personalized warfarin therapy. SMAP 2 offers speed, simplicity of sample preparation, the convenience of isothermal amplification, and assay-design flexibility, which are significant advantages over conventional genotyping technologies. In this example and other clinical scenarios in which genetic testing is required for immediate and better-informed therapeutic decisions, SMAP 2-based diagnostics have key advantages.

Measurement of in vitro cytochrome P450 2B6 activity.

Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) is responsible for the metabolism of a number of therapeutically relevant drugs and environmental chemicals. While not as frequently involved in xenobiotic metabolism as other more commonly studied P450 enzymes such as CYP3A, CYP2D6, or CYP2C9, its importance is becoming increasingly realized. Bupropion hydroxylase activity is an excellent indicator of in vitro CYP2B6 activity, and the metabolite formed is easily measured by HPLC/MS/MS. This assay allows the use of very low concentrations of human liver microsomes or recombinant enzyme, and it represents a selective, sensitive approach to assessing in vitro CYP2B6 activity, with minimal sample preparation.