[Drug glucuronidation and disposition in brain].

ABSTRACT

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT), a kind of phase II drug-metabolizing enzyme, catalyzes the conjugation of glucuronic acid and drugs. UGTs are widely expressed in brain, but at a relatively low level compared to that in liver. Brain UGTs are inducible or inhibitable, which influences the drug distribution in the central nervous system. UGTs, cytochrome P450 (CYPs) and transporters act together to effect pharmacokinetics of drugs in brain. Several drugs have the capacity to cross the blood brain barrier after glucuronidation and certain drugs may be subject to direct glucuronidate in brain by the function of UGTs. The brain UGTs' isoforms, localization, induction, inhibition, and interaction with CYP and transporters are introduced in this review. The process of drug glucuronidation and distribution in brain is summarized for five drugs. A deep insight into the process of drug metabolism and distribution in brain may provide a valuable reference for drug design for the central nervous system.