The increase in urinary excretion of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol as a marker of human hepatic cytochrome P450IIIA induction

1. Urinary excretion of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol, hepatic microsomal cortisol 6 beta-hydroxylase and the specific content of several forms of cytochrome P450 were measured in 8 to 14 patients before and after treatment with rifampicin (600 mg orally per day for 4 days). 2. Rifampicin treatment produced an average five fold increase in daily excretion of urinary 6 beta-hydroxycortisol. 3. Cortisol 6 beta-hydroxylase activity increased from 15 +/- 6 pmol min-1 mg-1 in organ donors (considered as 'control subjects') to 87 +/- 31 pmol min-1 mg-1 in rifampicin treated patients. 4. Among three forms of human P450 (P450IA, IIC and IIIA), (1), (2), measured by Western blots, only P450IIIA was significantly induced by the antibiotic. 5. Only antibodies against P450IIIA selectively inhibited cortisol 6 beta-hydroxylase in human liver microsomes. 6. Cortisol 6 beta-hydroxylase was correlated with P450IIIA specific content. 7. The urinary level of 6 beta-hydroxycortisol correlated with liver microsomal cortisol 6 beta-hydroxylase and P450IIIA specific content. 8. We conclude that P450IIIA is predominantly responsible for cortisol 6 beta-hydroxylase activity in human liver microsomes and that urinary 6 beta-hydroxycortisol is a marker of the induction of this cytochrome P450.

Metabolic activation of the antidepressant tianeptine. I. Cytochrome P-450-mediated in vitro covalent binding

Incubation under air of [14C]tianeptine (0.5 mM) with a NADPH-generating system and hamster, mouse or rat liver microsomes resulted in the in vitro covalent binding of [14C]tianeptine metabolites to microsomal proteins. Covalent binding to hamster liver microsomes required NADPH and oxygen; it was decreased in the presence of the cytochrome P-450 inhibitors, carbon monoxide, piperonyl butoxide (4 mM), and SKF 525-A (4 mM) or in the presence of the nucleophile, glutathione (1 or 4 mM). In vitro covalent binding to hamster liver microsomes was not decreased in the presence of quinidine (1 microM), and was similar with microsomes from either female Dark Agouti, or female Sprague-Dawley rats. In contrast, in vitro covalent binding to hamster liver microsomes was decreased in the presence of troleandomycin (0.25 mM), while covalent binding was increased with microsomes from either hamsters, mice or rats pretreated with dexamethasone. Preincubation with IgG antibodies directed against rabbit liver glucocorticoid-inducible cytochrome P-450 3c(P-450 IIIA4) decreased in vitro covalent binding by 53 and 89%, respectively, with microsomes from control hamsters and dexamethasone-pretreated hamsters, and by 60 and 81%, respectively, with microsomes from control and dexamethasone-pretreated rats. We conclude that tianeptine is activated by hamster, mouse and rat liver cytochrome P-450 into a reactive metabolite. Metabolic activation is mediated in part by glucocorticoid-inducible isoenzymes but not by the isoenzyme metabolizing debrisoquine. In vivo studies are reported in the accompanying paper.

Electric-field-induced permeabilization and fusion of embryonic amphibian cells

The technique of electropulsation has been shown to be highly efficient in promoting penetration of exogenous molecules into living cells, transfection, and cell fusion in different animal, vegetal, and bacterial cell systems. Introduction of such exogenous compounds, i.e., plasmids, into living cells is of great interest for embryological studies. Embryonic amphibian ectodermal cells from Pleurodeles waltl gastrulae, either freshly dissociated or cultured for 5 days, can be permeabilized when submitted to an external electric field of sufficient intensity: 500 V/cm for isolated spherical cells and 150-200 V/cm for plated cultured cells. Permeabilization was indicated by both the leakage of metabolites (ATP) from the cells and the uptake of exogenous compounds (pyranin) into the cells. With the use of higher field intensities (600 V/cm for freshly dissociated cells and 300 V/cm for cultured cells) cell fusion and syncytial structures could also be obtained. Isolated spherical cells had 100% viability immediately after being pulsed at intensities up to 600 V/cm. Cell lysis was observed above this value, although the nonlysed cells were observed to spread on a substrate and differentiate normally. For the cultured plated cells, cell viability fell with increasing electric-field strength, and for a given electric field value, cell viability decreased with the age of the culture after pulsing. Nevertheless, for electric-field intensities less than or equal to 300 V/cm, 100% of the cells remained attached to the substrate and differentiated normally over the following 5 days.

Rat liver microsomal progesterone metabolism: evidence for differential troleandomycin and pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile inductive effects in the cytochrome P-450 III family

The effect of Troleandomycin (TAO) and pregnenolone 16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) on the hepatic microsomal progesterone metabolism in the rat is evaluated. Over thirteen hydroxylated progesterone derivatives are detected, including the novel 6 beta, 21-, 6 beta, 16 alpha-, 6 beta, 16 beta- and 2,21-dihydroxy derivatives, suggesting the induction of several cytochrome P-450 isozymes. PCN treatment results overall in an augmented production of progesterone metabolites whereas TAO treatment both induces and represses specific hydroxylase activities. Progesterone metabolism with purified isozymes isolated from liver microsomes from TAO and PCN treated rats differs significantly from that observed with intact microsomes, reflecting the complexity of the induction pattern of the cytochrome P-450 III family.

Metabolism of cyclosporin A. IV. Purification and identification of the rifampicin-inducible human liver cytochrome P-450 (cyclosporin A oxidase) as a product of P450IIIA gene subfamily

A cytochrome P-450 involved in the metabolism of cyclosporin A (CsA) was isolated and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from human liver microsomes of renal transplant donors. This cytochrome, designated P-450(CsA), exhibited a type I binding spectrum in the presence of CsA with a Ks(app) of 25 microM, a molecular weight of 52 kDa on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and a maximal absorbance at 449 nm when reduced in the presence of carbon monoxide. The N-terminal sequence of P-450(CsA), determined by Edman degradation reaction, was 63% homologous with that of the rabbit liver CsA oxidase P-450 3c and 100% homologous with that of the human liver isozyme P-450(HLp/NF), recently identified as the human nifedipine (NF) oxidase. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies directed against P-450 3c and P-450(HLp/NF), respectively, recognized native microsomal and highly purified P450(CsA). As observed in the rabbit, human liver microsomes were shown to generate mono- and dihydroxy, as well as dihydroxy and/or monohydroxy N-demethylated, derivatives of CsA. Production of these metabolites was shown to be specifically inhibited by anti-P-450 3c polyclonal antibodies. CsA oxidase, NF oxidase, and erythromycin demethylase were shown to be closely correlated with the level of P-450(CsA) determined from Western blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Moreover, these monoxygenase activities and the hepatic level of P-450(CsA) were simultaneously increased in the liver of patients treated for 4 days with 600 mg of rifampicin per day. Finally, NF was shown to be a competitive inhibitor of CsA oxidation and vice versa. We conclude that P-450(CsA) is responsible for most (80%) of CsA oxidase activity in human liver, is encoded by gene P450IIIA3, as is NF oxidase, or a very closely related gene, and is strongly inducible by rifampicin pretreatment.

Inhibition of cytochrome P-450p (P450IIIA1) gene expression during liver regeneration from two-thirds hepatectomy in the rat

Regenerating liver from partial hepatectomy (HPX) is known to exhibit a strong and transient deficiency in both spectrally detectable microsomal cytochrome P-450 (P-450) and related monooxygenase activities. Male Wistar rats (250-300 g) were HPX or sham operated and liver was excised at different times after operation. The time course of accumulation of five different forms of P-450 (including P-450b/e, P-450c, P-450d, P-450p and P-450UT-A) was determined in the regenerating liver, by Western blots developed with specific antibodies. With the exception of P-450c, whose level was not affected, the accumulation of other forms strongly decreased during the first 24 hr after HPX. For P-450b/e and P-450d, 80% of initial level was restored at 96 hr, whereas for P-450p and P-450UT-A, two major forms in control rat liver, the accumulation was only 20-25% of the initial, 1 week after HPX. No significant decrease was observed in sham operated animals. Plasmid pDex 12 containing a cDNA insert coding for P-450p was used to further investigate the effects of HPX on P-450p mRNA level and gene transcription. Northern blot analysis of RNA from regenerating liver (cDNA insert of pDex 12 being used as a probe) demonstrated that P-450p mRNA level decreased strongly to a minimum 12 hr after operation. This was correlated with a strong and transient decrease in P-450p gene transcription determined from nuclear run on experiments, the time course of which, however, did not account for the early decrease in mRNA level. We conclude that P-450p deficiency in the regenerating liver results from a combination of transient inhibition of gene transcription and early increase of mRNA degradation. Time course and amplitude of the decrease in P-450 UT-A accumulation suggest an inhibition of gene transcription as observed with P-450p.

Metabolism of cyclosporin A. III. Interaction of the macrolide antibiotic, erythromycin, using rabbit hepatocytes and microsomal fractions

The interaction between cyclosporin A (CsA) and the macrolide antibiotic, erythromycin, has been studied in freshly isolated rabbit hepatocytes and in rabbit liver microsomal fractions. In hepatocytes, CsA was rapidly accumulated inside the cells and metabolized to its different groups of derivatives (mono- and/or dihydroxylated and/or N-demethylated metabolites) [Fabre, Bertault-Peres, Fabre, Maurel, Just, and Cano: Drug Metab. Dispos. 15, 384 (1987)]. In the presence of erythromycin in the extracellular compartment, CsA metabolism was inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner. However, erythromycin did not affect intracellular CsA accumulation and binding of CsA to its intracellular protein binding site(s). Since CsA was specifically metabolized by the cytochrome P-450 LM3c isozyme [Bertault-Peres, Bonfils, Fabre, Just, Cano, and Maurel: Drug Metab. Dispos. 15, 391 (1987)], we further studied the effect of erythromycin on CsA metabolism by liver microsomal fractions. In the presence of erythromycin, CsA metabolism was also decreased. Lineweaver-Burk analysis of erythromycin-CsA interaction demonstrated that erythromycin was a competitive inhibitor (Ki = 156 microM) of CsA metabolism (Km = 0.43 microM; Vmax = 4.8 nmol/min). In agreement with these data, CsA inhibited (i) erythromycin N-demethylation to a large extent and (ii) the appearance of the erythromycin-cytochrome P-450 LM3c complex. We could conclude that the interaction between CsA and erythromycin most likely results from the fact that both drugs are extensively metabolized by the same cytochrome P-450 form: P-450 LM3c or P-450 III A4 according to the new nomenclature.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Complete sequence of cytochrome P450 3c cDNA and presence of two mRNA species with 3' untranslated regions of different lengths

Two cDNAs (pLM3c 4.1 and pLM3c 6.1) coding for rabbit cytochrome P450 3c were sequenced. cDNA 4.1 (1768 bp) exhibits an open reading frame from nucleotides 74 to 1576 encoding the 501 amino acid residues of the entire protein. cDNA 6.1 (189 bp) appears to encode the last 24 amino acids. Comparative amino acid sequence analysis indicated that P450 PCN1, PCN2, and HLp from rat and man, were 70, 67, and 73% homologous, respectively, to P450 3c. According to the cytochrome P450 nomenclature, the P450 3c gene is termed P450IIIA4. Comparison of the nucleotide sequences indicated that cDNA 6.1 was 100% homologous to cDNA 4.1. However, whereas a poly(A) tract started 23 nucleotides after the AATAAA consensus sequence in cDNA 6.1, cDNA 4.1 had a 3' untranslated region extending 101 bp beyond the polyadenylation signal, which lacked poly(A). This observation is consistent with the previous finding that both cDNA 4.1 and 6.1 hybridized with two distinct species of poly(A)RNA (1700 and 1850 bases) from rabbit liver. The extreme 3'-end 79-bp fragment of cDNA 4.1 therefore was isolated by subcloning in pUC12 (clone p18-Rsa I) and used to probe Northern blots of poly(A)RNA from control and rifampicin-treated rabbit liver. In contrast to cDNA 4.1 and 6.1, p18-Rsa I cDNA hybridized only with the largest (1850 bases) mRNA species. We conclude that rabbit liver contains two P450 3c mRNA species differing in the length of their 3' untranslated region.

Expression of five forms of microsomal cytochrome P-450 in primary cultures of rabbit hepatocytes treated with various classes of inducers

In order to investigate the expression of five different forms of microsomal cytochrome P-450 including P-450 2 (P450IIBI), 3b (P450IIC3), 3c (P450IIIA4), 4 and 6 (P450IA2 and A1), hepatocytes were isolated from untreated rabbit and maintained in primary monolayer cultures in serum free modified Waymouth medium in the absence and in the presence of various classes of inducers including phenobarbital (PB), rifampicin (RIF), dexamethasone (DEX) and B-naphthoflavone (BNF). In untreated cultures the level of the various forms of P-450, determined by immunoblot with the use of specific antibodies, generally declined with time but at markedly different rates. In cultures treated with the inducers decline of the various forms was either unaffected, reduced, or even reversed, so that 96 hr after plating some of these forms appeared to be induced several-fold with respect to the untreated cultures. The forms 2 and 3c were co-induced by PB, RIF or DEX; as in vivo, BNF induced forms 4 and 6. Induction of forms 2, 3c, 4 and 6 was accompanied by stimulation of related monooxygenase activities, benzphetamine demethylase, progesterone 6B hydroxylase and benzpyrene hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufin deethylase, respectively. In all cases, induction was accompanied by an increased rate of de novo synthesis of the protein, determined by radio-immunoprecipitation assay with the use of specific antibodies on [3H]-Leu labeled cell lysate. Both induction and increased de novo synthesis were time- and inducer concentration-dependent. In cultures treated with RIF or BNF de novo synthesis of P-450 3c or of P-450 4 and 6 was correlated with the level of their specific mRNA quantitated from northern blots probed with either pLM3c-4.1 or pLM6.1, two plasmids containing inserted cDNA coding for P-450 3c or P-450 6, respectively. We conclude from these experiments that rabbit hepatocytes in primary monolayer cultures represent suitable models for studying regulation induction and pharmacological implications of the microsomal cytochromes P-450.

Metabolism of cyclosporin A. I. Study in freshly isolated rabbit hepatocytes

The metabolism of cyclosporin A (CsA), a widely used immunosuppressive agent, was evaluated in freshly isolated rabbit hepatocytes by HPLC which separated CsA from its major group of derivatives, e.g. "first generation" metabolites (monohydroxylated and N-demethylated) and "second generation" derivatives (dihydroxylated and dihydroxy-N-demethylated). After exposure of hepatocytes to radiolabeled CsA (0.5 mg/liter), CsA was rapidly accumulated inside the cells and metabolized. The dihydroxylated metabolites represent the major intracellular forms after 1 hr. CsA metabolites synthesized inside the cells are then rapidly detected in the extracellular compartment. Unchanged drug and the various metabolites are concentrated inside the cells with transmembrane chemical gradients ranging between 20:1 and 40:1. Transport and metabolic processes for CsA have been evaluated over the following CsA extracellular concentration range, 0.1-10 mg/liter. Metabolism appears to be the rate-limiting step. The apparent affinity constant of CsA for the enzyme system involved in its metabolism is approximately 15 microM. Besides the lipophilicity of the molecule, which is responsible for the retention of CsA and its metabolites in the intracellular compartment, the presence of a binding component(s) in the hepatocytes was also demonstrated. CsA and its metabolites seem to have similar affinities for this binding site. These studies demonstrate that CsA is rapidly transformed inside the hepatocytes to various metabolites which may play an important role in the pharmacological activity of the drug and/or in its clinical toxicity.

Metabolism of cyclosporin A. II. Implication of the macrolide antibiotic inducible cytochrome P-450 3c from rabbit liver microsomes

The in vitro metabolism of cyclosporin A (CsA) was investigated by rabbit liver microsomes in order to identify the form(s) of cytochrome P-450 responsible for its biotransformation. Metabolites including monohydroxy-, N-demethylated, dihydroxy- and dihydroxy-N-demethylated derivatives were detected and quantified by HPLC from incubates of liver microsomes, CsA, and NADPH. Kinetic data indicated that monohydroxy- and N-demethylated derivatives were first generated and then served as substrates for production of dihydroxylated derivatives. Liver microsomes from phenobarbital-, beta-naphthoflavone-, triacetyloleandomycin-, erythromycin-, or rifampicin-treated and untreated rabbits were investigated, but only microsomes from animals treated with macrolide antibiotics (specific inducers of form P-450 3c) exhibited a type I binding spectrum upon CsA addition (Ks = 1.5 +/- 0.5 microM) and extensively metabolized the drug to all groups of derivatives (Km = 5.0 +/- 0.5 microM, Vmax = 1.0 +/- 0.2 nmol/mg/min). A linear correlation existed between CsA oxidase activity and P-450 3c specific content. Antibodies to P-450 3c strongly inhibited CsA oxidase activity of microsomes from macrolide antibiotic-induced animals, whereas antibodies to other forms, including P-450 2, 3b, 4, and 6, did not. When highly purified forms of P-450, including P-450 2, 3b, 3c, and 4, were assayed in a reconstituted system, only P-450 3c exhibited type I binding spectrum upon CsA addition (Ks = 1.4 +/- 0.5 microM) and extensively metabolized the drug to all derivatives. We conclude that the macrolide antibiotic-inducible form P-450 3c (or P-450 3c related from(s)) is responsible for the major part of CsA metabolism by rabbit liver microsomes.

Cloning of a cDNA coding for P-450 LM3c from rabbit liver microsomes and regulation of its expression

Liver cytochromes P-450 LM3c in the rabbit and P-450p in the rat are two related forms, inducible by macrolide antibiotics such as triacetyloleandomycin (TAO) and glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone. We prepared a cDNA library from TAO induced rabbit liver mRNA and characterized a cDNA (pLM3c-4.1) that hybridized to pDex 3.22, a cDNA complementary to cytochrome P-450p mRNA. Northern blots of liver poly(A)RNA from untreated or TAO, erythromycin and rifampicin treated animals, revealed two mRNA species of approximately 1700 and 1850 nucleotides in length, that hybridized to LM3c cDNA and to pDEX 3.22. The level of both mRNAs was increased five fold over control by macrolide antibiotics but unaffected by both phenobarbital and B-naphthoflavone. After 5 days of TAO treatment LM3c mRNA had increased 5 fold while LM3c protein had increased 25 fold. However, the rate of P-450 LM3c gene transcription measured in isolated liver nuclei remained unchanged throughout five days of TAO treatment. We conclude that TAO may induce cytochrome P-450 LM3c by post-transcriptional effects.

Macrolide antibiotics inhibit the degradation of the glucocorticoid-responsive cytochrome P-450p in rat hepatocytes in vivo and in primary monolayer culture

Treatment of rats with macrolide antibiotics such as triacetyloleandomycin (TAO) dramatically increases the hepatic concentration of a cytochrome P-450 indistinguishable from P-450p, the major liver cytochrome induced by glucocorticoids such as dexamethasone (Wrighton, S. A., Maurel, P., Schuetz, E. G., Watkins, P. B., Young, B., and Guzelian, P. S. (1985) Biochemistry 24, 2171-2178). To investigate the mechanism of induction of P-450p, we treated rats for 4 days with these agents and found that dexamethasone and TAO induced the synthesis of P-450p at least 70- and 35-fold over control values, respectively, as estimated from measurements of P-450p mRNA translatable in a cell-free system. However, the accumulation of P-450p holocytochrome (measured as TAO-metabolite spectral complex) or P-450p protein (measured by quantitative immunoblotting) increased at least 150-fold by TAO but only 32-fold by dexamethasone. The possibility that TAO decreases the degradation of P-450p was supported by the observation that administration of TAO to dexamethasone-treated rats labeled with NaH[14C]O3 and [3H]-delta-aminolevulinic acid retarded the decay of radioactive immunoprecipitable P-450p protein (t1/2 = 60 versus 14 h) and heme (t1/2 = 73 versus 10 h). To confirm these results, P-450p protein synthesis was measured as radioactivity incorporated into immunoprecipitable P-450p in primary monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes incubated with [3H]leucine. Dexamethasone treatment of the cultures stimulated P-450p synthesis by at least 30-fold whereas macrolides were without effect. However, macrolide antibiotics but not dexamethasone inhibited the disappearance of radiolabeled P-450p from cultured hepatocytes similar to the results obtained in vivo. We conclude that macrolide antibiotics induce P-450p, the most rapidly turning over cytochrome yet reported, by stimulating its synthesis indirectly and by blocking its degradation, significantly.

Purification and characterization of a new form of cytochrome P-450 (LM2b) from untreated male rabbit liver microsomes

A new form of cytochrome P-450 has been purified from untreated male rabbit liver microsomes. This form was designated P-450 LM2b on the basis of its electrophoretic mobility on SDS polyacrylamide gel, where it migrates as a polypeptide of apparent molecular weight of 50,250. This hemoprotein exhibits a maximum at 448.5 nm in the Soret band of the CO-Ferrous state spectrum. On the basis of its molecular, spectral, enzymologic and immunologic data, P-450 LM2b was shown to be distinct from the other P-450 forms, already characterized in rabbit liver microsomes. However P-450 LM2b and P-450 LM3b appear to be immunologically related proteins.

Identification of an inducible form of cytochrome P-450 in human liver

It has not yet been determined whether human liver contains inducible cytochromes P-450 similar to those that catalyze the oxidative metabolism of foreign substances in animals. We carried out immunoblot analyses of liver microsomes isolated from eight patients and found that each contained a cytochrome P-450, termed HLp, that reacted with antibodies directed against P-450p, a rat liver cytochrome that is inducible by the anti-glucocorticoid pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, by glucocorticoids, by anti-seizure drugs, and by such macrolide antibiotics as triacetyloleandomycin. In the two patients who received dexamethasone and anti-seizure medications and in the one patient who was given triacetyloleandomycin, the concentrations of immunoreactive HLp and the ability to demethylate erythromycin and/or to convert triacetyloleandomycin to a metabolite that forms a spectral complex with cytochrome P-450 heme (catalytic properties unique to P-450p in rat liver) were significantly higher as compared to the values for patients who received no inducing drugs. We purified HLp to homogeneity and found that it was immunochemically related to P-450p and to its homologue in the rabbit (LM3c), actively demethylated erythromycin in a reconstituted system, exhibited electrophoretic mobility identical to that of P-450p, and shared 57% homology in its NH2-terminal amino acid sequence with that of a pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile-inducible rat cytochrome P-450. We conclude that HLp is a human representative of the multigene family of the glucocorticoid-inducible cytochromes P-450.

Demonstration in multiple species of inducible hepatic cytochromes P-450 and their mRNAs related to the glucocorticoid-inducible cytochrome P-450 of the rat

We have recently demonstrated that P-450p, a form of rat liver cytochrome P-450 inducible by steroids such as dexamethasone and pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, by the macrolide antibiotic triacetyloleandomycin, and by phenobarbital, is immunochemically related to and shares 73% NH2-terminal amino acid sequence homology with rabbit cytochrome LM3c. Extending this interspecies comparison we now report that liver microsomes prepared from the rabbit, hamster, gerbil, and mouse contain inducible cytochromes P-450 that resemble P-450p in: (a) converting triacetyloleandomycin to a metabolite that forms a distinct spectral complex with cytochrome P-450 heme, (b) catalyzing the demethylation of erythromycin, and (c) reacting on immunoblots with antibodies directed against P-450p or LM3c. These three characteristics changed in parallel within treatment groups of a given species receiving different inducers of cytochrome P-450. However, there were striking qualitative and quantitative interspecies differences in the responses to inducers. For example, rifampicin was the most efficacious inducer of LM3c in the rabbit and yet was not at all an inducer of P-450p in the rat whereas pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile, an inducer in the rat, failed to induce LM3c in the rabbit. Immunoblot analysis of these microsomes revealed in each species except the rabbit a single immunochemically related protein. A second immunoreactive protein was present in microsomes from male and female and rifampicin- and dexamethasone-treated female rabbits. Two cloned cDNAs, which hybridized to a species of liver mRNA directing the synthesis of P-450p in a cell-free translation system, were used to probe Northern blots of liver RNAs. These revealed a single band of hybridizable mRNA in each species (except RNA from the rabbit which gave no signal even under conditions of reduced stringency) that was induced in qualitative proportions to that of the accumulated immunoreactive protein. We conclude that P-450p appears to be conserved in evolution and is represented in each of the species tested by one or more immunochemically related proteins which exhibit similar catalytic activities to those of P-450p.

Triacetyloleandomycin as inducer of cytochrome P-450 LM3c from rabbit liver microsomes

A cytochrome P-450 LM3 isozyme has been isolated and purified to electrophoretic homogeneity from liver microsomes of New Zealand white rabbits treated with TAO. On the basis of N-terminal sequence analysis and Ouchterlony double diffusion experiments, this isozyme appeared to be closely related to P-450 LM3c isolated from control animals and was designated LM3c (TAO). Anti LM3c (TAO) IgG totally inhibited both erythromycin demethylase and P-450-TAO metabolite complex formation, two monooxygenase activities specifically stimulated by TAO in liver microsomes from male and female rabbits. Moreover, immunoquantitation experiments showed that the level of LM3c (TAO) was increased 10-15 times above control values in liver microsomes from TAO treated male and female rabbits. We conclude that an isozyme identical or closely related to LM3c is the major form of P-450 induced by TAO in rabbit liver microsomes.

Identification of the cytochrome P-450 induced by macrolide antibiotics in rat liver as the glucocorticoid responsive cytochrome P-450p

We administered triacetyloleandomycin (TAO) to rats and found that this macrolide antibiotic is the most efficacious inducer of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 (P-450) examined to date. Liver microsomes prepared from TAO-treated rats contained greater than 5.0 nmol of P-450/mg of protein and a single induced protein as judged by analysis on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. This protein comigrated with P-450p, the major form of P-450 induced in liver microsomes of rats treated with pregnenolone-16 alpha-carbonitrile (PCN) or dexamethasone (DEX). On immunoblots of such gels developed with antibodies to P-450p, the TAO-induced protein reacted strongly as a single band. There was strict parallelism between the amount of immunoreactive P-450p in liver microsomes prepared from untreated rats or from rats treated with phenobarbital, TAO, DEX, or PCN, the ability of these microsomes to catalyze conversion of TAO to a metabolite which forms a spectral complex, and the ethylmorphine and erythromycin demethylase activities. Antibodies to P-450p specifically blocked microsomal TAO metabolite complex formation and ethylmorphine and erythromycin demethylase activities. Moreover, anti-P-450p antibodies completely immunoprecipitated solubilized TAO metabolite complexes prepared by detergent treatment of liver microsomes obtained from TAO-treated rats. Finally, we found that the major form of P-450 isolated from liver microsomes of TAO-treated rats and purified to homogeneity was indistinguishable from purified P-450p as judged by molecular weights, spectral characteristics, enzymatic activities, ability to bind TAO, peptide maps, and amino-terminal amino acid sequences. We concluded that, in addition to glucocorticoids, macrolide antibiotics are specific inducers of P-450p.

Isolation and partial characterization of a rifampicin induced rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450

Rifampicin administration to New Zealand male rabbits increased the concentration of an LM3 form of cytochrome P-450 to up to 30% of the microsomal P-450 concentration. This enzyme was purified to electrophoretic homogeneity with a yield of 8% of the original total microsomal P-450 concentration. Isolated as a low spin hemoprotein in its substrate free oxidized form, it displays in its reduced CO-complexed form an absorption maximum at 449 nm. Immunological assays, as well as activity measurements, in particular its stereospecific progesterone hydroxylation in the 6 beta-position, show a relationship between LM3,Rif and LM3c (from untreated rabbits).

Inductive and repressive effects of rifampicin on rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450

New Zealand White rabbits were treated with rifampicin at a dose of 50 mg/kg for 4 days. The total amount of microsomal hepatic cytochrome P-450 was not modified in treated, with respect to control, animals. However, further studies involving SDS-PAGE analysis, monooxygenase activity measurements and radial immunodiffusion assays indicated that rifampicin strongly affects the level of two P-450 isoenzymes. An LM3 form was induced; this form, apparently associated with erythromycine demethylase activity and hydroxylation of progesterone preferentially in position 6 beta, was shown to be immunologically and functionally different from LM3a and LM3b. On the other hand, an LM4 form, typically induced by beta-naphthoflavone, was repressed. The concomitant inductive/repressive effect of rifampicine on two cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes makes this drug a very atypical inducer, at least in the rabbit.

Cytochrome P-450 isozyme LM3b from rabbit liver microsomes. Induction by triacetyloleandomycin purification and characterization

Oral administration of triacetyloleandomycin (TAO), 1 mmol/kg/day for 7 days to mature male New Zealand White rabbit results in a significant increase in the content of liver microsomal cytochrome P-450. This increase is accompanied by the occurrence on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the microsomes of a strong band in the zone of electrophoretic mobility associated with the LM3 isozymes and the stimulation of a number of monooxygenase activities of these microsomes including aminopyrine, chlorcyclizine, TAO, and erythromycin demethylation as well as 2-OH-estradiol and 6 beta OH-testosterone hydroxylation. Cytochrome P-450 LM3 (TAO) from these liver microsomes, purified to electrophoretic homogeneity, had Mr = 52,000 as determined by calibrated sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison with isozymes LM3a, LM3b, and LM3c isolated from control animals, by a number of criteria including spectral data, amino acid content, NH2-terminal sequence analysis, peptide mapping, immunological properties, and monooxygenase activities of reconstituted system, indicated that isozymes LM3 (TAO) and LM3b are very similar, if not identical, proteins. We conclude that TAO must be considered as a new type of inducer of microsomal cytochrome P-450 from rabbit liver.

Polyamines as modulators of drug oxidation reactions catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 from liver microsomes

The effect of polyamines on the activity of the mixed-function oxidase (MFO) system from human, rat and rabbit liver microsomes was investigated in detail. It was shown that polyamine (spermine) stimulates NADPH-dependent activity of the MFO system several-fold whatever the substrate (foreign drug or natural), not only with microsomes but also with the reconstituted system consisting of highly purified cytochrome P-450 (LM2 isozyme), cytochrome P-450 NADPH reductase and dilauroylphosphorylcholine. Stimulation (extent and concentration dependence) appeared to be dependent on a number of parameters such as ionic strength, pH, animal species and treatment, nature of the substrate, and was stereospecific (different effect on 6 beta-and 16 alpha-testosterone hydroxylation). Further, the spermine effect was evaluated on some elementary steps of the cytochrome P-450 reaction cycle, like substrate binding, P-450 reduction and second electron transfer. Finally, it was shown that the organic peroxide dependent activity was not stimulated by spermine with microsomes nor with the purified P-450 LM2 isozyme. On the basis of this study, it was concluded that the locus of polyamine action is cytochrome P-450 and that stimulation could result either from increased stability of the oxyferrous intermediate of P-450 or from an increased rate of second electron transfer from reductase to P-450.