Azide inhibits human cytochrome P -4502E1, 1A2, and 3A4.

BACKGROUND: Recently, we showed that, in addition to cytochrome P-4502E1 (CYP2E1), CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 also contribute to the microsomal ethanol oxidizing system (MEOS). When MEOS activity is measured, sodium azide commonly is used to block the contaminating catalase. However, although CYP2E1 is considered insensitive to azide, its effect on the other P-450s is unknown. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the effect of azide on human recombinant and hepatic CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4. METHODS AND RESULTS: Concentrations of sodium azide as low as 0.1 mM markedly inhibited the specific ethanol oxidation (mean +/- SEM) by recombinant CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 expressed in HepG2 cells (to 16 +/- 1% and 22 +/- 2% of control without azide, respectively; p < 0.01). By contrast, the specific activity of CYP2E1 was only slightly (and not significantly) inhibited at this azide concentration (to 79 +/- 12% of control). Similarly, in human liver microsomes (n = 6), 0.1 mM azide strongly inhibited CYP1A2-dependent (to 25 +/- 2%) and CYP3A4-dependent (to 15 +/- 2%) ethanol oxidation, whereas CYP2E1 was inhibited only at 10 mM azide (to 60 +/- 10%). Azide also strongly affected the apparent kinetic values of all three isoenzymes. Furthermore, azide inhibited the specific monooxygenase activities, both by recombinant and microsomal P-450s. CYP2E1-specific p-nitrophenol hydroxylation was the most sensitive to azide, whereas CYP1A2-dependent 7-methoxyresorufin O-dealkylation was only slightly inhibited. Judging from its effect on p-nitrophenol hydroxylation by human liver microsomes, the inhibition of azide was competitive (Ki 0.09 mM). CONCLUSIONS: Sodium azide at a concentration as low as 0.1 mM inhibited ethanol oxidation by CYP1A2 and CYP3A4. With CYP2E1, although oxidation of 50 mM ethanol was not inhibited by 0.1 mM azide, higher azide concentrations were inhibitory and 0.1 mM azide seemed to affect the kinetics of ethanol oxidation by CYP2E1. Therefore, azide should be avoided when measuring the MEOS activity because it may lead to underestimation, especially of CYP1A2- and CYP3A4-dependent ethanol oxidation.

Uroporphyrinogen oxidation catalyzed by human cytochromes P450.

Porphyria cutanea tarda is associated with excess hepatic production of uroporphyrin. Oxidation of uroporphyrinogen to uroporphyrin was previously demonstrated to be specifically catalyzed by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A2. Here, we investigated the ability of human CYP1A2 to catalyze uroporphyrinogen oxidation (UROX). UROX activity in human liver microsomes was maximally only 10% of the activity in microsomes from livers of untreated mice. There was a poor correlation of UROX activity with methoxyresorufin demethylation, an activity catalyzed predominantly by CYP1A2 and strongly correlated with immunodetectable CYP1A2. With CYP forms expressed in HepG2 cells, the methoxyresorufin demethylation and (ethoxyresorufin deethylation) activities of murine and human CYP1A2 forms were similar, but UROX activity catalyzed by human CYP1A2 was only 15-20% of the activity catalyzed by murine CYP1A2. Human CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4 expressed in lymphoblastoid cells all catalyzed UROX. In insect cells, CYP1A2 was more active in catalyzing UROX than was CYP1A1, CYP2E, CYP3A4, or CYP3A5. Human CYP1A2 expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with rat CYP oxidoreductase also catalyzed UROX. Reconstituted human CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 were active in catalyzing UROX, with reconstituted CYP1A2 having the highest specific activity obtained in this study. From inhibitor studies, it was concluded that some of the UROX activity in the insect cell microsomes was attributable to expressed CYP and some to an unidentified source. These results indicate that human CYP1A2 is active in catalyzing UROX but has lower activity than the murine orthologue. The results also indicate that most of the UROX activity found in human liver microsomes is not due to CYP1A2.

Respective roles of human cytochrome P-4502E1, 1A2, and 3A4 in the hepatic microsomal ethanol oxidizing system.

The microsomal ethanol oxidizing system comprises an ethanol-inducible cytochrome P-4502E1, but the involvement of other P-450s has also been suggested. In our study, human CYP2E1, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4 were heterologously expressed in HepG2 cells, and their ethanol oxidation was assessed using a corresponding selective inhibitor: all three P-450 isoenzymes metabolized ethanol. Selective inhibitors-4-methylpyrazole (CYP2E1), furafylline (CYP1A2), and troleandomycin (CYP3A4)-also decreased microsomal ethanol oxidation in the livers of 18 organ donors. The P-450-dependent ethanol oxidizing activities correlated significantly with those of the specific monooxygenases and the immunochemically determined microsomal content of the respective P-450. The mean CYP2E1-dependent ethanol oxidation in human liver microsomes [1.41+/-0.11 nmol min(-1) (mg protein)(-1)] was twice that of CYP1A2 (0.61+/-0.07) or CYP3A4 (0.73+/-0.11) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, CYP2E1 had the highest (p < 0.05) specific activity [28+/-2 nmol min(-1) (nmol CYP2E1)(-1) versus 17+/-3 nmol min(-1) (nmol CYP1A2)(-1), and 12+/-2 nmol min(-1) (CYP3A4)(-1), respectively]. Thus, in human liver microsomes, CYP2E1 plays the major role. However, CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 contribute significantly to microsomal ethanol oxidation and may, therefore, also be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease.

Reactions of phenoxyl radicals with NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase and NADPH: reduction of the radicals and inhibition of the enzyme.

Phenoxyl radicals are intermediates of one-electron oxidation of phenolic compounds by various peroxidases. This report describes reactions of phenoxyl radicals with human NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase (OR) and NADPH. Purified truncated OR catalyzed quenching of EPR signal of the phenoxyl radical of a vitamin E homolog, 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychromane. The quenching required both reductase and NADPH and was not supported by NADH. NADPH quenched directly the EPR signal of phenoxyl radical of a phenolic antitumor drug, etoposide, in the absence of the OR. Quenching of the EPR signal was accompanied by increased rate of NADPH oxidation and decreased rate of etoposide oxidation. Phenoxyl radicals of etoposide did not inactivate the OR. In the absence of NADPH, OR was inhibited irreversibly when exposed to phenoxyl radicals of phenol. The activity of the flavoprotein could not be recovered by dithiothreitol (DTT) but the inhibition was prevented by saturation of OR with NADP+ prior to the exposure to phenoxyl radicals. The OR was also inhibited by 5,5'-dithionitrobenzoic acid (DTNB). The inhibition was reversible by subsequent addition of DTT. OR pretreated with DTNB was protected from inhibition by phenoxyl radicals of phenol. The results indicate that phenoxyl radical of 2,2,5,7,8-pentamethyl-6-hydroxychromane is likely reduced enzymatically by transfer of electrons from NADPH via the FAD/FMN of the OR. Phenoxyl radicals with higher redox potential, e.g., phenoxyl radicals of etoposide, oxidize NADPH directly. Phenoxyl radicals of phenol can also inactivate OR likely by oxidation of cysteine 565 in the NADPH binding region of the enzyme.

Isozyme- and species-specific susceptibility of cDNA-expressed CYP1A P-450s to different flavonoids.

The inhibitory and stimulatory effects of six flavonoids with distinct hydroxylation patterns on the recombinant and hepatic mouse and human CYP1A P-450s were studied. cDNA-expressed mouse CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 differed in their sensitivity to both hydroxylated and nonhydroxylated flavonoids, respectively. A comparison between the mouse and human CYP1A2 revealed that alpha-naphthoflavone and flavone did not change the benzo[a]pyrene 3-hydroxylation activity of human CYP1A2 but inhibited its 7-ethoxyresorufin and 7-methoxyresorufin O-dealkylation activities. In contrast, hydroxylated flavonoids increased the 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylation and acetanilide 4-hydroxylation activities of cDNA-expressed human CYP1A2 and in human liver microsomes. These compounds inhibited the benzo[a]pyrene 3-hydroxylase activity of cDNA-expressed CYP1A1 and CYP1A2s as well as in mouse and human liver microsomes. Hydroxylated flavonoids did not inhibit NADPH-cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase activity but inhibited NADPH-2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol oxidoreductase activity in liver microsomes and in microsomes from recombinant Hep G2 cells. Structure-activity relationships indicated the importance of hydroxyl groups in the 5- and 7-positions on the A ring of the flavane nucleus. These hydroxyl groups accounted for the inhibitory potency of chrysin on each of the activities of the expressed P-450s, while presence of a hydroxyl group at the 4'-position on the B ring decreased the inhibitory potency of naringenin compared to that of chrysin. The ortho-orientation of a hydroxyl group on the B ring was of importance, inasmuch as quercetin was more potent than morin as an inhibitor of cDNA-expressed and hepatic microsomal monooxygenases.

[The enzymes of mono-oxygenase oxidation in the lymphocytes and liver of persons subjected to chlorophenoxy herbicide exposure]. / Issledovanie fermentov monooksigenaznogo okisleniia v limfotsitakh i pecheni liudei, podvergavshikhsia vozdeistviiu khlorfenoksigerbitsidov.

The activity of benzopyrene hydroxylase (cytochrome P-450IA1) was studied in a mitogen-stimulated culture of peripheral blood lymphocytes from residents of the South Vietnam area treated with chlorophenoxy herbicides in the years of American aggression. The population residing in the untreated territory served as the control. The basal and induced benzopyrene hydroxylase activities, as well as the inducibility ratio were determined for each patient using the "lymphocytic test". The content of antipyrine metabolites and their percentage were estimated in the urine of the same patients using the antipyrine test. The computer processing of data allowed to perform primary analysis of the monooxygenase system in lymphocytes by groups in order to reveal correlations between the content of antipyrine metabolites in the urine and the cytochrome P-450IA1 in blood lymphocytes. The effect of residual amount of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) on the human monooxygenase system is discussed.

Enzyme-kinetic and immunochemical characteristics of mouse cDNA-expressed, microsomal, and purified CYP1A1 and CYP1A2.

Kinetics of benzo[alpha]pyrene hydroxylase (AHH), 7-methoxyresorufin o-demethylase (MROD), and 7-ethoxyresorufin o-deethylase (EROD) were estimated in microsomes of Hep G2 cells infected with a recombinant vaccinia virus bearing mouse CYP1A1 or CYP1A2 cDNAs. The kcat and Km values obtained were compared with those of liver microsomal and purified mouse CYP1A1 and CYP1A2. In the matter of AHH activity, the kcat CYP1A1/CYP1A2 ratios were 21.2, 12.3, and 1.5 for expressed, microsomal, and purified CYPs, respectively. As to MROD activity, the kcat CYP1A2/CYP1A1 ratio was 3.0 for both expressed and microsomal CYPs and was 8.0 for purified CYPs. As regards EROD activity, the kcat CYP1A2/CYP1A1 ratios were 1.0, 1.1, and 6.25 for expressed, microsomal, and purified CYPs, respectively. Whereas furafylline displayed an isozyme-specific inhibition of CYP1A2-catalyzing MROD and EROD activities, alpha-naphthoflavone was an equally strong inhibitor of AHH activity of the CYP1A1s and MROD activities of the CYP1A2s. Immunodepleted polyclonal anti-CYP1A1(-A2) and anti-CYP1A2(-A1) showed an isozyme-specific immunoblotting and inhibition of mouse CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 while monoclonal antibody (Mab) 1-7-1 displayed a striking difference between its immunoblotting and inhibitory effects. Western blot/densitometry analysis revealed a 4.8 times lower binding of Mab 1-7-1 to cDNA-expressed CYP1A2 than to CYP1A1. The results demonstrate the reliability of the vaccinia virus expression system for studies on the enzymology of mouse CYP1A1 and CYP1A2.

Stimulatory effect of the CYP1A1 inducer 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin on the reproduction of HIV-1 in human lymphoid cell culture.

1. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) was an inducer of microsomal benzo[alpha]pyrene hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) in MT-4 human lymphoid cell culture. 2. The monoclonal antibody (Mab), 1-7-1 and the immunodepleted polyclonal antibody (Pab), anti-CYP1A1(-A2), inhibit AHH and EROD activities pre-induced by 10 nM TCDD in MT-4 cells. Hence, the specific monooxygenase isoform induced in the lymphoid cells by TCDD appears to be CYP1A1 the expression of which is mediated by the Ah receptor. 3. Incubation of MT-4 cells with TCDD at 10, 50 and 150 nM for 1.5 and 48 h followed by infection of the cells with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) was accompanied by a 3-6-fold increase in the activity of viral RNA-dependent DNA-polymerase. The most marked effect on reverse transcriptase activity occurred with 10 nM TCDD 5-9 days after HIV-1 infection. 4. In the same period there was accumulation of viral protein, determined by ELISA, with a 4-8-fold increase in production of viral protein. The above effects of TCDD have been observed even when MT-4 cells were washed 1.5 h after beginning the incubation with TCDD.

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-dioxin as a possible activator of HIV infection.

The effects of 10-150 nM 2,3,7,8-TCDD on the HIV infection in the various lymphoid cell cultures have been studied. The level of reproduction of HIV was examined by determination of virus antigen as well as by measurement of reverse trascriptase activity. 2,3,7,8-TCDD does not exert any toxic influence in this concentration on the MT-4 cells and causes the induction of cytochrome P-450-containing monooxygenase. Furthermore, in MT-4 cell culture infected by HIV-1 virus an increase of virus production after a treatment of cells with 2,3,7,8-TCDD has been revealed.

Aminopyrine-N-demethylase. II. Characterization of a unique monooxygenase isoform P-450ap.

A previously unidentified cytochrome P-450ap possessing the highest aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity has been isolated from liver microsomes of 4-isopropylaminoantipyrine-induced rats, using affinity chromatography in combination with ion-exchange chromatography with subsequent separation on a hydroxyapatite column. The isolated cytochrome P-450ap has the following characteristics: Mr = 49 kD, CO-peak maximum at 450.5 nm, rate of demethylation in a reconstituted system for aminopyrine of 25.5 nmoles of HCHO/min per nmole of P-450, and for benzphetamine a rate of 17.0 nmoles of HCHO/min per nmole of P-450. The hemoprotein synthesis is paralleled by the synthesis of a protein with Mr of 51 kD. Immunochemical analysis permitted the identification of the latter protein as cytochrome P-450b. It was, demonstrated that cytochrome P-450ap does not interact with the antibodies to the major phenobarbital induced form, i.e. with cytochrome P-450b.

Aminopyrine-N-demethylase. I. Directed modification of substrates' structure as a way of production of inducer of the monooxygenase isoform P-450b.

The effect of the phenobarbital-type monooxygenase inducers is accomplished via the native molecule. This made it possible to transform the typical substrate of cytochrome P-450b aminopyrine into an inducer of this isozyme by blocking the substrate molecule position undergoing monooxygenation. Substitution of two methyl groups in the aminopyrine -N(CH3)2 position by an isopropyl group gave rise to a clear-cut inducive effect. This was registered by spectral, kinetic, radiological and immunochemical methods.

[Functional characteristics of cytochromes P-4501A1 and P-4501A2 in rodent liver]. / Funktsional'nye osobennosti tsitokhromov P-4501A1 i P-4501A2 v pecheni gryzunov.

Antibodies to mouse liver cytochrome P3-450 (anti-P3-450) and antibodies to rat liver cytochrome P-450d (anti-P-450d-c) inhibit the 0-deethylation of 7-ethoxyresorufin (ER) in liver microsomes of benz(a)pyrene-induced (BP) mice but do not inhibit the 0-deethylase activity in liver microsomes of BP-induced rats. Anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450c inhibit BP-hydroxylation in BP-induced mouse liver microsomes by 20%, but they do not inhibit this reaction at all in BP-induced rat liver microsomes. In a reconstituted monooxygenase system isolated cytochrome P3-450 metabolized 7-ER and BP. In contrast, its homologue, cytochrome P-450d, did not metabolize these substrates. The fraction containing cytochrome P1-450 metabolized 7-ER at a low rate and BP at a rate of 3.6 nmol product/min/nmol cytochrome. Western blot analysis with anti-P-450c + d revealed two bands in SDS-PAGE gels containing BP-induced mouse liver microsomes. The interaction of mouse liver BP-microsomes with anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450d-c was accompanied by the appearance of a single band (cytochrome P3-450).

Interspecies features of hepatic cytochromes P450 IA1 and P450 IA2 in rodents.

1. Antibodies to mouse liver cytochrome P3-450 (anti-P3-450) and antibodies to rat liver cytochrome P-450d (anti-P-450d-c) both inhibit the O-deethylation of 7-ethoxy-resorufin (ER) in liver microsomes of benzo(a)pyrene-induced (BP) mice but do not inhibit the O-deethylase activity in liver microsomes of BP-induced rats. 2. Anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450d-c inhibit BP hydroxylation in BP-induced mouse liver microsomes by 20%, but they do not inhibit this rection at all in BP-induced rat liver microsomes. 3. Isolated cytochrome P3-450 in a reconstituted monooxygenase system metabolized 7-ER and BP. In contrast, its homologue, cytochrome P-450d, does not metabolize these substrates. The fraction containing cytochrome P1-450 metabolized 7-ER at a low rate and BP at a rate of 3.6 nmol product/min per nmol cytochrome. 4. Western blot analysis with anti-P-450c + d revealed two bands in SDS-PAGE gels containing BP-induced mouse liver microsomes corresponding to cytochrome P1-450, 55.0 kDa, and cytochrome P3-450, 54.5 kDa. There appeared a single band (cytochrome P3-450) in interaction of mouse liver BP-microsomes with anti-P3-450 and anti-P-450d-c.

[Benz(a)anthracene and 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo(p)dioxin modulate mitogen-stimulated proliferation of lymphocytes]. / Benz(a)antratsen i 2,3,7,8-tetrakhlordibenzo(p)dioksin modiliruiut mitogenstimulirovannuiu proliferatsiiu limfotsitov.

The influence of benzo(a)anthracene (BA) and 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) on functional properties of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBC) has been investigated. Incubation of mitogen-stimulated cells in the presence of xenobiotics induced high activity of benzo(a) pyrene-hydroxylase (BH) and suppressed lymphocyte blast transformation. Preincubation of unstimulated PBC with BA and TCDD caused insignificant increase of BH activity. The results show modulated effect of xenobiotics on functional properties of PBC.

[Benzopyrene hydroxylase induction and the functioning of the immunocompetent cells in human peripheral blood]. / Induktsiia benzpirengidroksilazy i funktsional'noe sostoianie immunokompetentnykh kletok perifericheskoi krovi cheloveka.

Xenobiotics--inducers of benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase (BPH)--exert different effects on mitogen-stimulated and mitogen-unstimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBC). In mitogen-stimulated culture xenobiotics highly increase BPH activity and suppress cell blast transformation. The incubation of the unstimulated PBC in the presence of xenobiotics increases insignificantly BPH activity, intensifies T-cell differentiation and concanavalin A-induced proliferation. The BPH activity is mainly associated with the PBC adhered to plastic Petri dishes. However, the control and induced levels of BPH activity depend on the interaction between adhered and nonadhered cells.

[The effect of separate and consecutive administration of cytochrome P-450 inducers to rats on the localization of various isoforms of the enzyme in liver lobe cells]. / Vliianie razdel'nogo i posledovatel'nogo vvedeniia krysam induktorov tsitokhroma P-450 na lokalizatsiiu razlichnykh izoform fermenta v kletkakh pechenochnoi dol'ki.

By means of immunohistochemical methods a study of the liver intralobular localization of cytochromes P-450b(+e) and P-450c(+d) has been carried out after separate and consecutive treatment of rats with phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC). PB-treatment leads to localization of P-450b in the centrilobular region, whereas homogeneous distribution of P-450c in the lobule is observed after MC-treatment. The consecutive treatment with PB and MC is accompanied by the localization of P-450c only in cells of the periportal region of the lobule. PB-treatment of rats after preliminary MC-injection also results in the periportal localization of P-450c, and a small quantity of P-450b is localized in hepatocytes of the centrilobular region. Hence, the consecutive treatment with inducers of different molecular forms of cytochrome P-450 is accompanied by the redistribution of these isoenzymes in parenchymatous cells of the liver lobule. That is confirmed also by biochemical testing and immunochemical analysis of the microsomal fraction of hepatocytes.

[Comparison of cytochrome P-450 forms induced by phenobarbital and 1,4-bis[3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene in the mouse and rat liver]. / Sravnenie form tsitokhroma P-450, indutsiruemykh fenobarbitalom i 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dikhloropiridiloksi)]benzolom v pecheni myshei i krys.

A form of cytochrome P-450 (P-450PB) with a molecular weight of 53.5-54.0 kD possessing a high benzphetamine-N-demethylase activity (100-120 nmol formaldehyde/min/nmol cytochrome) was isolated from liver microsomes of phenobarbital-induced C57Bl/6 mice. This cytochrome P-450 form is immunologically identical to its rat liver counterpart-P-450b (Mr = 52 kD) which is also characterized by a high rate of benzphetamine-N-demethylation. It was shown that 1.4-bis[2-(3.5-dichloropyridyloxy])benzene (TCPOBOP) induces in mouse liver the synthesis of the monoxygenase form whose substrate specificity and immunologic properties are identical to those of cytochromes P-450PB and P-450b. The immunochemically quantitated content of this form makes up to 20% of the total P-450 pool in liver microsomes of phenobarbital- or TCPOBOP-induced mice. Immunochemical analysis of microsomes with the use of antibodies to cytochromes P-450PB and P-450b revealed the presence on the electrophoregrams of phenobarbital-induced rat liver microsomes of two immunologically identical forms of cytochrome P-450, i.e., P-450b and P-450e (the latter had a low ability to benzphetamine N-demethylation). Liver microsomes of phenobarbital- or TCPOBP-induced mice gave only one precipitation band corresponding to cytochrome P-450PB.

[Multiple forms of cytochrome P-450. Characteristics of isolated aminopyrine-N-demethylase (cytochrome P-450AP)]. / Mnozhestvennye formy tsitokhroma P-450. Kharakteristiki izolirovannoi aminopirin-N-demetilazy (tsitokhroma P-450AP).

A previously unidentified cytochrome P-450AP possessing the highest aminopyrine-N-demethylase activity has been isolated from liver microsomes of 4-isopropylaminoantipyrine-induced rats, using affinity chromatography in combination with ion-exchange chromatography with subsequent separation on hydroxyl apatite. Using radioisotope techniques, it was found that 4-isopropylaminoantipyrine induces cytochrome P-450AP synthesis de novo. The isolated cytochrome P-450AP has the following characteristics: Mr = 49,000 Da. CO-peak maximum at 450.5 mm, rate of aminopyrine demethylation in a reconstituted system-20 nmol HCHO/min/nmol of cytochrome P-450, benzphetamine-15. The hemoprotein synthesis is paralleled with the synthesis of a protein with Mr of 51,000 Da. Immunochemical analysis permitted to identify the latter protein as cytochrome P-450b. It was demonstrated that cytochrome P-450AP does not interact with the antibodies to the major phenobarbital-induced form, i.e., with cytochrome P-450b.