Effects of phenothiazine neuroleptics on the rate of caffeine demethylation and hydroxylation in the rat liver.

The primary metabolic pathways of caffeine are 3-N-demethylation to paraxanthine (CYP1A2), 1-N-demethylation to theobromine and 7-N-demethylation to theophylline (CYP1A2 and other enzymes), and 8-hydroxylation to 1,3,7-trimethyluric acid (CYP3A). The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of phenothiazine neuroleptics (chlorpromazine, levomepromazine, thioridazine, perazine) on cytochrome P-450 activity measured by caffeine oxidation in rat liver microsomes. The obtained results showed that all the investigated neuroleptics competitively inhibited caffeine oxidation in the rat liver, though their potency to inhibit particular metabolic pathways was not equal. Levomepromazine exerted the most potent inhibitory effect on caffeine oxidation pathways, the effect on 8-hydroxylation being the most pronounced. This indicates inhibition of CYP 1 A2 (inhibition of 3-N- and 1-N-demethylation; Ki = 36 and 32 microM, respectively), CYP3A2 (inhibition of 8-hydroxylations; Ki = 20 microM), and possibly other CYP isoenzymes (inhibition of 7-N-demethylation; Ki = 58 microM) by the neuroleptics. The potency of inhibition of caffeine oxidation by perazine was similar to levomepromazine. Thioridazine was a weaker inhibitor of caffeine 3-N- and 7-N-demethylation, while chlorpromazine was weaker in inhibiting caffeine 1-N- and 7-N-demethylation, compared to levomepromazine. In summary, the obtained results showed that all the investigated neuroleptics had a broad spectra of CYP inhibition in the rat liver. The isoenzymes CYP1A2 and CYP3A2 were distinctly inhibited by all the investigated neuroleptics, while other CYP isoenzymes (CYP2B and/or 2E1) by perazine and levomepromazine. The CYP3A2 inhibition was most pronounced. (Ki = 20-40 microM).

Effects of antidepressant drugs on the activity of cytochrome P-450 measured by caffeine oxidation in rat liver microsomes.

Caffeine is a marker drug for testing the activity of CYP1A2 (3-N-demethylation) in humans and rats. Moreover, it is also a relatively specific substrate of CYP3A (8-hydroxylation). In the case of 1-N- and in particular 7-N-demethylation of caffeine, apart from CYP1A2, other cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes play a considerable role. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of imipramine, amitriptyline and fluoxetine on cytochrome P-450 activity measured by caffeine oxidation in rat liver microsomes. The obtained results showed that imipramine exerted a most potent inhibitory effect on caffeine metabolism. Imipramine decreased the rate of 3-N-, 1-N- and 7-N-demethylations, and 8-hydroxylation of caffeine, the effect on 3-N-demethylation being most pronounced (Ki = 33 microM). Amitriptyline showed distinct inhibition of 3-N- and 1-N-demethylation of caffeine, though its effect was less potent than in the case of imipramine (Ki = 57 and 61 pM, respectively). The influence of amitriptyline on 8-hydroxylation and especially on 7-N-demethylation of caffeine was weaker (Ki = 108 and 190 pM, respectively) than on 3-N- or 1-N-demethylation, suggesting a narrower spectrum of cytochrome P-450 inhibition by amitriptyline than by imipramine, involving mainly the subfamily CYP1A2, and--to a lesser degree--CYP3A. In contrast to the tested tricyclic antidepressants, fluoxetine did not exert any considerable effect on the 3-N- or 1-N-demethylation of caffeine (Ki = 152 and 196 microM, respectively), which indicates its low affinity for CYP1A2. However, fluoxetine displayed a clear inhibitory effect on caffeine 7-N-demethylation (Ki = 72 microM), the reaction which is catalyzed mainly by other than CYP1A2 isoenzymes. Fluoxetine diminished markedly the 8-hydroxylation of the marker drug; as reflected by Ki values, the potency of inhibition of rat CYP3A by fluoxetine was similar to that of imipramine (Ki = 40 and 45 microM, respectively). In summary, CYP1A2 was distinctly inhibited by imipramine and amitriptyline, CYP3A by imipramine and fluoxetine, while other CYP isoenzymes (CYP2B and/or 2E1) by imipramine and fluoxetine.