Deletion of 30 murine cytochrome p450 genes results in viable mice with compromised drug metabolism

In humans, 75% of all drugs are metabolized by the cytochrome P450-dependent monooxygenase system. Enzymes encoded by the CYP2C, CYP2D, and CYP3A gene clusters account for ∼80% of this activity. There are profound species differences in the multiplicity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, and the use of mouse models to predict pathways of drug metabolism is further complicated by overlapping substrate specificity between enzymes from different gene families. To establish the role of the hepatic and extrahepatic P450 system in drug and foreign chemical disposition, drug efficacy, and toxicity, we created a unique mouse model in which 30 cytochrome P450 genes from the Cyp2c, Cyp2d, and Cyp3a gene clusters have been deleted. Remarkably, despite a wide range of putative important endogenous functions, Cyp2c/2d/3a KO mice were viable and fertile, demonstrating that these genes have evolved primarily as detoxification enzymes. Although there was no overt phenotype, detailed examination showed Cyp2c/2d/3a KO mice had a smaller body size (15%) and larger livers (20%). Changes in hepatic morphology and a decreased blood glucose (30%) were also noted. A five-drug cocktail of cytochrome P450 isozyme probe substrates were used to evaluate changes in drug pharmacokinetics; marked changes were observed in either the pharmacokinetics or metabolites formed from Cyp2c, Cyp2d, and Cyp3a substrates, whereas the metabolism of the Cyp1a substrate caffeine was unchanged. Thus, Cyp2c/2d/3a KO mice provide a powerful model to study the in vivo role of the P450 system in drug metabolism and efficacy, as well as in chemical toxicity.

Phenobarbital-mediated tumor promotion in transgenic mice with humanized CAR and PXR

The nuclear receptors CAR (constitutive androstane receptor) and possibly PXR (pregnane X receptor) mediate the hepatic effects of phenobarbital (PB) and similar-acting compounds. Although PB is a potent nongenotoxic tumor promoter in rodent liver, epidemiological data from epilepsy patients treated with phenobarbital do not show a specific role of PB in human liver cancer risk. That points to species differences in the susceptibility to tumor promotion by PB, which might be attributed to divergent functions of the PB receptors CAR and PXR in mice and humans. In the present study, male transgenic mice expressing human CAR and PXR were used to detect possible differences between wild-type (WT) and humanized mice in their response to CAR activation in a tumor initiation/promotion experiment with a single injection of the tumor initiator N-nitrosodiethylamine preceding chronic PB treatment for 10 months. Analysis of liver tumor burden revealed that PB strongly promoted the outgrowth of hepatocellular adenoma driven by activated β-catenin in WT mice, whereas the tumor-promoting effect of PB was much less pronounced in the humanized group. In conclusion, the present findings demonstrate that human CAR and PXR support tumor promotion by PB in mouse liver, but to a significantly lesser extent than the WT murine receptors.

Cytochrome b5 and epoxide hydrolase contribute to benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adduct formation catalyzed by cytochrome P450 1A1 under low NADPH:P450 oxidoreductase conditions

In previous studies we had administered benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) to genetically engineered mice (HRN) which do not express NADPH:cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR) in hepatocytes and observed higher DNA adduct levels in livers of these mice than in wild-type mice. To elucidate the reason for this unexpected finding we have used two different settings for in vitro incubations; hepatic microsomes from control and BaP-pretreated HRN mice and reconstituted systems with cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1), POR, cytochrome b5, and epoxide hydrolase (mEH) in different ratios. In microsomes from BaP-pretreated mice, in which Cyp1a1 was induced, higher levels of BaP metabolites were formed, mainly of BaP-7,8-dihydrodiol. At a low POR:CYP1A1 ratio of 0.05:1 in the reconstituted system, the amounts of BaP diones and BaP-9-ol formed were essentially the same as at an equimolar ratio, but formation of BaP-3-ol was ∼ 1.6-fold higher. Only after addition of mEH were BaP dihydrodiols found. Two BaP-DNA adducts were formed in the presence of mEH, but only one when CYP1A1 and POR were present alone. At a ratio of POR:CYP1A1 of 0.05:1, addition of cytochrome b5 increased CYP1A1-mediated BaP oxidation to most of its metabolites indicating that cytochrome b5 participates in the electron transfer from NADPH to CYP1A1 required for enzyme activity of this CYP. BaP-9-ol was formed even by CYP1A1 reconstituted with cytochrome b5 without POR. Our results suggest that in livers of HRN mice Cyp1a1, cytochrome b5 and mEH can effectively activate BaP to DNA binding species, even in the presence of very low amounts of POR.

Phenobarbital induces cell cycle transcriptional responses in mouse liver humanized for constitutive androstane and pregnane x receptors

The constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) and the pregnane X receptor (PXR) are closely related nuclear receptors involved in drug metabolism and play important roles in the mechanism of phenobarbital (PB)-induced rodent nongenotoxic hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we have used a humanized CAR/PXR mouse model to examine potential species differences in receptor-dependent mechanisms underlying liver tissue molecular responses to PB. Early and late transcriptomic responses to sustained PB exposure were investigated in liver tissue from double knock-out CAR and PXR (CAR(KO)-PXR(KO)), double humanized CAR and PXR (CAR(h)-PXR(h)), and wild-type C57BL/6 mice. Wild-type and CAR(h)-PXR(h) mouse livers exhibited temporally and quantitatively similar transcriptional responses during 91 days of PB exposure including the sustained induction of the xenobiotic response gene Cyp2b10, the Wnt signaling inhibitor Wisp1, and noncoding RNA biomarkers from the Dlk1-Dio3 locus. Transient induction of DNA replication (Hells, Mcm6, and Esco2) and mitotic genes (Ccnb2, Cdc20, and Cdk1) and the proliferation-related nuclear antigen Mki67 were observed with peak expression occurring between 1 and 7 days PB exposure. All these transcriptional responses were absent in CAR(KO)-PXR(KO) mouse livers and largely reversible in wild-type and CAR(h)-PXR(h) mouse livers following 91 days of PB exposure and a subsequent 4-week recovery period. Furthermore, PB-mediated upregulation of the noncoding RNA Meg3, which has recently been associated with cellular pluripotency, exhibited a similar dose response and perivenous hepatocyte-specific localization in both wild-type and CAR(h)-PXR(h) mice. Thus, mouse livers coexpressing human CAR and PXR support both the xenobiotic metabolizing and the proliferative transcriptional responses following exposure to PB.

A targeted in vivo SILAC approach for quantification of drug metabolism enzymes: regulation by the constitutive androstane receptor

The modulation of drug metabolism enzyme (DME) expression by therapeutic agents is a central mechanism of drug-drug interaction and should be assessed as early as possible in preclinical drug development. Direct measurement of DME levels is typically achieved by Western blotting, qPCR, or microarray, but these techniques have their limitations; antibody cross-reactivity among highly homologous subfamilies creates ambiguity, while discordance between mRNA and protein expression undermines observations. The aim of this study was to design a simple targeted workflow by combining in vivo SILAC and label-free proteomics approaches for quantification of DMEs in mouse liver, facilitating a rapid and comprehensive evaluation of metabolic potential at the protein level. A total of 197 peptides, representing 51 Phase I and Phase II DMEs, were quantified by LC-MS/MS using targeted high resolution single ion monitoring (tHR/SIM) with a defined mass-to-charge and retention time window for each peptide. In a constitutive androstane receptor (Car) activated mouse model, comparison of tHR/SIM-in vivo SILAC with Western blotting for analysis of the expression of cytochromes P450 was favorable, with agreement in fold-change values between methods. The tHR/SIM-in vivo SILAC approach therefore permits the robust analysis of multiple DME in a single protein sample, with clear utility for the assessment of the drug-drug interaction potential of candidate therapeutic compounds.

A role for cytochrome b5 in the In vivo disposition of anticancer and cytochrome P450 probe drugs in mice

The role of microsomal cytochrome b5 (Cyb5) in defining the rate of drug metabolism and disposition has been intensely debated for several decades. Recently we described mouse models involving the hepatic or global deletion of Cyb5, demonstrating its central role in in vivo drug disposition. We have now used the cytochrome b5 complete null (BCN) model to determine the role of Cyb5 in the metabolism of ten pharmaceuticals metabolized by a range of cytochrome P450s, including five anticancer drugs, in vivo and in vitro. The extent to which metabolism was significantly affected by the absence of Cyb5 was substrate-dependent; AUC increased (75-245%) and clearance decreased (35-72%) for phenacetin, metoprolol, and chlorzoxazone. Tolbutamide disposition was not significantly altered by Cyb5 deletion, while for midazolam clearance was decreased by 66%. The absence of Cyb5 had no effect on gefitinib and paclitaxel disposition, while significant changes in the in vivo pharmacokinetics were measured for: cyclophosphamide [maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and terminal half-life increased 55% and 40%, respectively], tamoxifen (AUClast and Cmax increased 370% and 233%, respectively), and anastrozole (AUC and terminal half-life increased 125% and 62%, respectively; clearance down 80%). These data provide strong evidence that both hepatic and extrahepatic Cyb5 levels are an important determinant of in vivo drug disposition catalyzed by a range of cytochrome P450s, including currently prescribed anticancer agents, and that individuality in Cyb5 expression could be a significant determinant in rates of drug disposition in man.

Cytochrome P450 CYP1B1 interacts with 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) and influences psoralen-ultraviolet A (PUVA) sensitivity

Background

There are unpredictable inter-individual differences in sensitivity to psoralen-UVA (PUVA) photochemotherapy, used to treat skin diseases including psoriasis. Psoralens are metabolised by cytochrome P450 enzymes (P450), and we hypothesised that variability in cutaneous P450 expression may influence PUVA sensitivity. We previously showed that P450 CYP1B1 was abundantly expressed in human skin and regulated by PUVA, and described marked inter-individual differences in cutaneous CYP1B1 expression.

Objectives

We investigated whether CYP1B1 made a significant contribution to 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) metabolism, and whether individuality in CYP1B1 activity influenced PUVA sensitivity.

Methods

We used E. coli membranes co-expressing various P450s and cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR) to study 8-MOP metabolism and cytotoxicity assays in CYP1B1-expressing mammalian cells to assess PUVA sensitivity.

Results

We showed that P450s CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP1B1, CYP2A6 and CYP2E1 influence 8-MOP metabolism. As CYP1B1 is the most abundant P450 in human skin, we further demonstrated that: (i) CYP1B1 interacts with 8-MOP (ii) metabolism of the CYP1B1 substrates 7-ethoxyresorufin and 17-β-estradiol showed concentration-dependent inhibition by 8-MOP and (iii) inhibition of 7-ethoxyresorufin metabolism by 8-MOP was influenced by CYP1B1 genotype. The influence of CYP1B1 on PUVA cytotoxicity was further investigated in a Chinese hamster ovary cell line, stably expressing CYP1B1 and CPR, which was more sensitive to PUVA than control cells, suggesting that CYP1B1 metabolises 8-MOP to a more phototoxic metabolite(s).

Conclusion

Our data therefore suggest that CYP1B1 significantly contributes to cutaneous 8-MOP metabolism, and that individuality in CYP1B1 expression may influence PUVA sensitivity.

Epigenetic profiles as defined signatures of xenobiotic exposure

With the advent of high resolution sequencing technologies there has been increasing interest in the study of genome-wide epigenetic modification patterns that govern the underlying gene expression events of a particular cell or tissue type. There is now mounting evidence that perturbations to the epigenetic landscape occur during a host of cellular processes including normal proliferation/differentiation and aberrant outcomes such as carcinogenesis. Furthermore, epigenetic perturbations have been associated with exposure to a range of drugs and toxicants, including non-genotoxic carcinogens (NGCs). Although a variety of epigenetic modifications induced by NGCs have been studied previously, recent genome-wide integrated epigenomic and transcriptomic studies reveal for the first time the extent and dynamic nature of the epigenetic perturbations resulting from xenobiotic exposure. The interrogation and integration of one such epigenetic mark, the newly discovered 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) modification, reveals that drug treatment associated perturbations of the epigenome can result in unique epigenetic signatures. This review focuses on how recent advances in the field of epigenetics can enhance our mechanistic understanding of xenobiotic exposure and provide novel safety biomarkers.

Generation and utility of genetically humanized mouse models

Identifying in vivo models that are naturally predictive for particular areas of study in humans can be challenging due to the divergence that has occurred during speciation. One solution to this challenge that is gaining increasing traction is the use of genetic engineering to introduce human genes into mice to generate superior models for predicting human responses. This review describes the state-of-the-art for generating such models, provides an overview of the types of genetically humanized mouse models described to date and their applications in basic research, drug discovery and development and to understand clinical drug toxicity. We discuss limitations and explore promising future directions for the use of genetically humanized mice to further improve translational research.

The involvement of mitochondrial amidoxime reducing components 1 and 2 and mitochondrial cytochrome b5 in N-reductive metabolism in human cells

The mitochondrial amidoxime reducing component mARC is a recently discovered molybdenum enzyme in mammals. mARC is not active as a standalone protein, but together with the electron transport proteins NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (CYB5R) and cytochrome b5 (CYB5), it catalyzes the reduction of N-hydroxylated compounds such as amidoximes. The mARC-containing enzyme system is therefore considered to be responsible for the activation of amidoxime prodrugs. All hitherto analyzed mammalian genomes code for two mARC genes (also referred to as MOSC1 and MOSC2), which share high sequence similarities. By RNAi experiments in two different human cell lines, we demonstrate for the first time that both mARC proteins are capable of reducing N-hydroxylated substrates in cell metabolism. The extent of involvement is highly dependent on the expression level of the particular mARC protein. Furthermore, the mitochondrial isoform of CYB5 (CYB5B) is clearly identified as an essential component of the mARC-containing N-reductase system in human cells. The participation of the microsomal isoform (CYB5A) in N-reduction could be excluded by siRNA-mediated down-regulation in HEK-293 cells and knock-out in mice. Using heme-free apo-CYB5, the contribution of mitochondrial CYB5 to N-reductive catalysis was proven to strictly depend on heme. Finally, we created recombinant CYB5B variants corresponding to four nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Investigated mutations of the heme protein seemed to have no significant impact on N-reductive activity of the reconstituted enzyme system.

Evidence that cytochrome b5 and cytochrome b5 reductase can act as sole electron donors to the hepatic cytochrome P450 system

We previously described the development of genetic models to study the in vivo functions of the hepatic cytochrome P450 (P450) system, through the hepatic deletion of either cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase [POR; HRN (hepatic reductase null) line] or cytochrome b(5) [HBN (hepatic cytochrome b(5) null) line]. However, HRN mice still exhibit low levels of mono-oxygenase activity in spite of the absence of detectable reductase protein. To investigate whether this is because cytochrome b(5) and cytochrome b(5) reductase can act as the sole electron donor to the P450 system, we crossed HRN with HBN mice to generate a line lacking hepatic expression of both electron donors (HBRN). HBRN mice exhibited exacerbation of the phenotypic characteristics of the HRN line: liver enlargement, hepatosteatosis, and increased expression of certain P450s. Also, drug metabolizing activities in vitro were further reduced relative to the HRN model, in some cases to undetectable levels. Pharmacokinetic studies in vivo demonstrated that midazolam half-life, C(max), and area under the concentration-time curve were increased, and clearance was decreased, to a greater extent in the HBRN line than in either the HBN or HRN model. Microsomal incubations using NADPH concentrations below the apparent K(m) of cytochrome b(5) reductase, but well above that for POR, led to the virtual elimination of 7-benzyloxyquinoline turnover in HRN samples. These data provide strong evidence that cytochrome b(5)/cytochrome b(5) reductase can act as a sole electron donor to the P450 system in vitro and in vivo.

Water quality assessment using the AREc32 reporter gene assay indicative of the oxidative stress response pathway

The reporter gene assay AREc32 is based on the induction of the Nrf2 mediated oxidative stress response pathway in the human breast cancer cell line MCF7, where eight copies of the antioxidant response element (ARE) are linked to a reporter gene encoding for luciferase. The Nrf2-ARE pathway is responsive to many chemicals that cause oxidative stress, among them a large number of pesticides and skin irritants. We adopted and validated the AREc32 bioassay for water quality testing. tert-Butylhydroquinone served as the positive control, phenol as the negative control and other reactive chemicals were assessed for their specificity. An environmentally relevant reference chemical, benzo(a)pyrene was the most potent inducer of all tested chemicals. The concentration causing an induction ratio (IR) of 1.5 (EC(IR1.5)) was chosen as the effect benchmark value. The assay was applied to 21 water samples ranging from sewage to drinking water, including secondary treatment and various tertiary treatment options (ozonation, biologically activated carbon filtration, membrane filtration, reverse osmosis, advanced oxidation, chlorination, chloramination). The samples were enriched by solid phase extraction. In most samples the oxidative stress response was far more sensitive than cytotoxicity. The primary and secondary treated effluent exceeded the effect threshold IR 1.5 at a relative enrichment factor (REF) of 1, i.e., the native samples were active. All tertiary treated samples were less potent and their EC(IR1.5) lay between REF 1 and 10. The Nrf2 pathway was induced at a REF of approximately 10 for surface waters and drinking water, and above this enrichment cytotoxicity took over in most samples and quenched the induction. The blank (ultrapure water run through the sample enrichment process) was cytotoxic at an REF of 100, which is the limit of concentrations range that can be evaluated. Treatment typically decreased both the cytotoxicity and oxidative stress response apart from drinking water treatment where chlorination caused an increase in oxidative stress response, presumably due to the formation of disinfection by-products. This study demonstrates the relevance and applicability of the oxidative stress response pathway for water quality monitoring.

Simultaneous non-negative matrix factorization for multiple large scale gene expression datasets in toxicology

Non-negative matrix factorization is a useful tool for reducing the dimension of large datasets. This work considers simultaneous non-negative matrix factorization of multiple sources of data. In particular, we perform the first study that involves more than two datasets. We discuss the algorithmic issues required to convert the approach into a practical computational tool and apply the technique to new gene expression data quantifying the molecular changes in four tissue types due to different dosages of an experimental panPPAR agonist in mouse. This study is of interest in toxicology because, whilst PPARs form potential therapeutic targets for diabetes, it is known that they can induce serious side-effects. Our results show that the practical simultaneous non-negative matrix factorization developed here can add value to the data analysis. In particular, we find that factorizing the data as a single object allows us to distinguish between the four tissue types, but does not correctly reproduce the known dosage level groups. Applying our new approach, which treats the four tissue types as providing distinct, but related, datasets, we find that the dosage level groups are respected. The new algorithm then provides separate gene list orderings that can be studied for each tissue type, and compared with the ordering arising from the single factorization. We find that many of our conclusions can be corroborated with known biological behaviour, and others offer new insights into the toxicological effects. Overall, the algorithm shows promise for early detection of toxicity in the drug discovery process.

Xenobiotic receptor humanized mice and their utility

The nuclear receptors pregnane X receptor, constitutive androstane receptor, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha have important endogenous functions and are also involved in the induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters in response to exogenous xenobiotics. Though not belonging to the same protein family, the Per-Sim-ARNT domain receptor aryl hydrocarbon receptor functionally overlaps with the three nuclear receptors in many aspects and is therefore included in this review. Significant species differences in ligand affinity and biological responses as a result of activation of these receptors have been described. Several xenobiotic receptor humanized mice have been created to overcome these species differences and to provide in vivo models that are more predictive for human responses. This review provides an overview of the different xenobiotic receptor humanized mouse models described to date and will summarize how these models can be applied in basic research and improve drug discovery and development. Some of the key applications in the evaluation of drug induction, drug-drug interactions, nongenotoxic carcinogenicity, other toxicity, or efficacy studies are described. We also discuss relevant considerations in the interpretation of such data and potential future directions for the use of xenobiotic receptor humanized mice.

NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase: roles in physiology, pharmacology, and toxicology

This is a report on a symposium sponsored by the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and held at the Experimental Biology 2012 meeting in San Diego, California, on April 25, 2012. The symposium speakers summarized and critically evaluated our current understanding of the physiologic, pharmacological, and toxicological roles of NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (POR), a flavoprotein involved in electron transfer to microsomal cytochromes P450 (P450), cytochrome b(5), squalene mono-oxygenase, and heme oxygenase. Considerable insight has been derived from the development and characterization of mouse models with conditional Por deletion in particular tissues or partial suppression of POR expression in all tissues. Additional mouse models with global or conditional hepatic deletion of cytochrome b(5) are helping to clarify the P450 isoform- and substrate-specific influences of cytochrome b(5) on P450 electron transfer and catalytic function. This symposium also considered studies using siRNA to suppress POR expression in a hepatoma cell-culture model to explore the basis of the hepatic lipidosis phenotype observed in mice with conditional deletion of Por in liver. The symposium concluded with a strong translational perspective, relating the basic science of human POR structure and function to the impacts of POR genetic variation on human drug and steroid metabolism.

Exposure to benzo[a]pyrene of Hepatic Cytochrome P450 Reductase Null (HRN) and P450 Reductase Conditional Null (RCN) mice: Detection of benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-DNA adducts by immunohistochemistry and 32P-postlabelling

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a widespread environmental carcinogen activated by cytochrome P450 (P450) enzymes. In Hepatic P450 Reductase Null (HRN) and Reductase Conditional Null (RCN) mice, P450 oxidoreductase (Por) is deleted specifically in hepatocytes, resulting in the loss of essentially all hepatic P450 function. Treatment of HRN mice with a single i.p. or oral dose of BaP (12.5 or 125mg/kg body weight) resulted in higher DNA adduct levels in liver (up to 10-fold) than in wild-type (WT) mice, indicating that hepatic P450s appear to be more important for BaP detoxification in vivo. Similar results were obtained in RCN mice. We tested whether differences between hepatocytes and non-hepatocytes in P450 activity may underlie the increased liver BaP-DNA binding in HRN mice. Cellular localisation by immunohistochemistry of BaP-DNA adducts showed that HRN mice have ample capacity for formation of BaP-DNA adducts in liver, indicating that the metabolic process does not result in the generation of a reactive species different from that formed in WT mice. However, increased protein expression of cytochrome b(5) in hepatic microsomes of HRN relative to WT mice suggests that cytochrome b(5) may modulate the P450-mediated bioactivation of BaP in HRN mice, partially substituting the function of Por.

Generation and characterization of a novel multidrug resistance protein 2 humanized mouse line

The multidrug resistance protein (MRP) 2 is predominantly expressed in liver, intestine, and kidney, where it plays an important role in the excretion of a range of drugs and their metabolites or endogenous compounds into bile, feces, and urine. Mrp knockout [Mrp2(-/-)] mice have been used recently to study the role of MRP2 in drug disposition. Here, we describe the first generation and initial characterization of a mouse line humanized for MRP2 (huMRP2), which is nulled for the mouse Mrp2 gene and expresses the human transporter in the organs and cell types where MRP2 is normally expressed. Analysis of the mRNA expression for selected cytochrome P450 and transporter genes revealed no major changes in huMRP2 mice compared with wild-type controls. We show that human MRP2 is able to compensate functionally for the loss of the mouse transporter as demonstrated by comparable bilirubin levels in the humanized mice and wild-type controls, in contrast to the hyperbilirubinemia phenotype that is observed in MRP2(-/-) mice. The huMRP2 mouse provides a model to study the role of the human transporter in drug disposition and in assessing the in vivo consequences of inhibiting this transporter by compounds interacting with human MRP2.

Generation and characterization of novel cytochrome P450 Cyp2c gene cluster knockout and CYP2C9 humanized mouse lines

Compared with rodents and many other animal species, the human cytochrome P450 (P450) Cyp2c gene cluster varies significantly in the multiplicity of functional genes and in the substrate specificity of its enzymes. As a consequence, the use of wild-type animal models to predict the role of human CYP2C enzymes in drug metabolism and drug-drug interactions is limited. Within the human CYP2C cluster CYP2C9 is of particular importance, because it is one of the most abundant P450 enzymes in human liver, and it is involved in the metabolism of a wide variety of important drugs and environmental chemicals. To investigate the in vivo functions of cytochrome P450 Cyp2c genes and to establish a model for studying the functions of CYP2C9 in vivo, we have generated a mouse model with a deletion of the murine Cyp2c gene cluster and a corresponding humanized model expressing CYP2C9 specifically in the liver. Despite the high number of functional genes in the mouse Cyp2c cluster and the reported roles of some of these proteins in different biological processes, mice deleted for Cyp2c genes were viable and fertile but showed certain phenotypic alterations in the liver. The expression of CYP2C9 in the liver also resulted in viable animals active in the metabolism and disposition of a number of CYP2C9 substrates. These mouse lines provide a powerful tool for studying the role of Cyp2c genes and of CYP2C9 in particular in drug disposition and as a factor in drug-drug interaction.

Glutathione S-transferase pi mediates MPTP-induced c-Jun N-terminal kinase activation in the nigrostriatal pathway

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive movement disorder resulting from the death of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Neurotoxin-based models of PD using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) recapitulate the neurological features of the disease, triggering a cascade of deleterious events through the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). The molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of JNK activity under cellular stress conditions involve the activation of several upstream kinases along with the fine-tuning of different endogenous JNK repressors. Glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTP), a phase II detoxifying enzyme, has been shown to inhibit JNK-activated signaling by protein-protein interactions, preventing c-Jun phosphorylation and the subsequent trigger of the cell death cascade. Here, we use C57BL/6 wild-type and GSTP knockout mice treated with MPTP to evaluate the regulation of JNK signaling by GSTP in both the substantia nigra and the striatum. The results presented herein show that GSTP knockout mice are more susceptible to the neurotoxic effects of MPTP than their wild-type counterparts. Indeed, the administration of MPTP induces a progressive demise of nigral dopaminergic neurons together with the degeneration of striatal fibers at an earlier time-point in the GSTP knockout mice when compared to the wild-type mice. Also, MPTP treatment leads to increased p-JNK levels and JNK catalytic activity in both wild-type and GSTP knockout mice midbrain and striatum. Moreover, our results demonstrate that in vivo GSTP acts as an endogenous regulator of the MPTP-induced cellular stress response by controlling JNK activity through protein-protein interactions.

Characterization of a human keratinocyte HaCaT cell line model to study the regulation of CYP2S1

CYP2S1 is an extrahepatic cytochrome P450 (P450) that shows marked individuality in constitutive and inducible expression. CYP2S1 mRNA expression is increased in psoriasis and by treatments for psoriasis, including retinoids and UV radiation, although endogenous substrates remain poorly characterized. Because previous model systems have overexpressed modified CYP2S1 in bacteria, human HaCaT keratinocyte cells were screened for constitutive and regulatable CYP2S1 expression and CYP2S1 activity in HaCaT cells compared with a novel Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-based cell line engineered to stably coexpress CYP2S1 and NADPH cytochrome P450 reductase. Constitutive mRNA expression for CYP2S1 and additional P450s, retinoid acid receptors (RARα, RARβ, RARγ), and retinoid X receptors (RXRα, RXRβ and RXRγ) was assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis in HaCaT cells. Cells were then exposed to retinoids or to UV radiation (UVR), and changes in CYP2S1 mRNA abundance were further examined by qRT-PCR analysis. P450 expression in HaCaT cells was similar to human skin, with abundant CYP2S1 expression. RARα and RARγ (but not RARβ) and all RXR isoforms were also detectable. All-trans retinoic acid (atRA) induced CYPS1 mRNA expression more potently than 9-cis RA or 13-cis RA. P450-dependent atRA metabolism was demonstrated in HaCaT cells, with a very similar metabolite profile to that produced by our CYP2S1-expressing CHO cells. CYP2S1 mRNA expression was also induced by UVR, more potently than CYP1B1, a known UVR-inducible P450. Our results demonstrate regulatable and functional CYP2S1 expression in HaCaT cells, thus identifying a human cell line model with utility for further analysis of CYP2S1 regulation and substrate specificity.

Humanizing π-class glutathione S-transferase regulation in a mouse model alters liver toxicity in response to acetaminophen overdose

Background

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) metabolize drugs and xenobiotics. Yet despite high protein sequence homology, expression of π-class GSTs, the most abundant of the enzymes, varies significantly between species. In mouse liver, hepatocytes exhibit high mGstp expression, while in human liver, hepatocytes contain little or no hGSTP1 mRNA or hGSTP1 protein. π-class GSTs are known to be critical determinants of liver responses to drugs and toxins: when treated with high doses of acetaminophen, mGstp1/2+/+ mice suffer marked liver damage, while mGstp1/2−/− mice escape liver injury.

Methodology/Principal Findings

To more faithfully model the contribution of π-class GSTs to human liver toxicology, we introduced hGSTP1, with its exons, introns, and flanking sequences, into the germline of mice carrying disrupted mGstp genes. In the resultant hGSTP1+mGstp1/2−/− strain, π-class GSTs were regulated differently than in wild-type mice. In the liver, enzyme expression was restricted to bile duct cells, Kupffer cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells, reminiscent of human liver, while in the prostate, enzyme production was limited to basal epithelial cells, reminiscent of human prostate. The human patterns of hGSTP1 transgene regulation were accompanied by human patterns of DNA methylation, with bisulfite genomic sequencing revealing establishment of an unmethylated CpG island sequence encompassing the gene promoter. Unlike wild-type or mGstp1/2−/− mice, when hGSTP1+mGstp1/2−/− mice were overdosed with acetaminophen, liver tissues showed limited centrilobular necrosis, suggesting that π-class GSTs may be critical determinants of toxin-induced hepatocyte injury even when not expressed by hepatocytes.

Conclusions

By recapitulating human π-class GST expression, hGSTP1+mGstp1/2−/− mice may better model human drug and xenobiotic toxicology.

Modeling human cytochrome P450 2D6 metabolism and drug-drug interaction by a novel panel of knockout and humanized mouse lines

The highly polymorphic human cytochrome P450 2D6 enzyme is involved in the metabolism of up to 25% of all marketed drugs and accounts for significant individual differences in response to CYP2D6 substrates. Because of the differences in the multiplicity and substrate specificity of CYP2D family members among species, it is difficult to predict pathways of human CYP2D6-dependent drug metabolism on the basis of animal studies. To create animal models that reflect the human situation more closely and that allow an in vivo assessment of the consequences of differential CYP2D6 drug metabolism, we have developed a novel straightforward approach to delete the entire murine Cyp2d gene cluster and replace it with allelic variants of human CYP2D6. By using this approach, we have generated mouse lines expressing the two frequent human protein isoforms CYP2D6.1 and CYP2D6.2 and an as yet undescribed variant of this enzyme, as well as a Cyp2d cluster knockout mouse. We demonstrate that the various transgenic mouse lines cover a wide spectrum of different human CYP2D6 metabolizer phenotypes. The novel humanization strategy described here provides a robust approach for the expression of different CYP2D6 allelic variants in transgenic mice and thus can help to evaluate potential CYP2D6-dependent interindividual differences in drug response in the context of personalized medicine.