Involvement of a heat-stable and heat-labile component of Bordetella pertussis in the depression of the murine hepatic mixed-function oxidase system

Regulation of cytochromes P450 during inflammation and infection

Hepatic P450 activities are profoundly affected by various infectious and inflammatory stimuli, and this has clinical and toxicological consequences. Whereas the expression of most P450s in the liver is suppressed, some are induced. Many of the effects observed in vivo can be mimicked by pro-inflammatory cytokines and IFNs, and P450s are differentially regulated by these agents. Therefore, different cytokine profiles and concentrations in the vicinity of the hepatocyte in different models of inflammation may result in qualitatively and quantitatively different effects on populations of P450s. In addition to cytokines, glucocorticoids may have an important role in P450 regulation in stress conditions, including that caused by inflammatory stimuli. Although in many cases the decreases in activity are due primarily to a down-regulation of P450 gene transcription, it is likely that modulation of RNA and protein turnover, as well as enzyme inhibition, contributes to some of the observed effects. The mechanisms whereby these effects are produced may also vary with both the P450 under study and the time course of the effect. The complexity of the P450 response to inflammation and infection means that all of the above factors must be considered when trying to predict the effect of a given infectious or inflammatory condition on the clinical or toxic response of humans or animals to an administered drug or toxin. The question of whether the down-regulation of the hepatic P450 system to inflammation or infection is a homeostatic or pathological response cannot be answered at present. It is difficult to discern the physiological benefit of reducing hepatic P450 activities, unless it is to prevent the generation of reactive oxygen species generated by uncoupled catalytic turnover of the enzymes. On the other hand, as we proposed some years ago [64], the suppression of P450 may be due to the liver's need to utilize its transcriptional machinery and energy for the synthesis of APPs involved in the inflammatory response. In that case, one could ask why the organism has gone to the trouble of employing differential mechanisms for suppression of P450. One answer could be that the response evolved after the divergence of many of the P450 genes, necessitating the evolution of multiple redundant mechanisms for P450 suppression. In contrast to the down-regulation of P450s in the liver, the induction of several forms in this and other tissues suggests a more specific homeostatic role of these effects, e.g., in generation or catabolism of bioactive metabolites.

Possible mechanisms of alteration in the capacities of carcinogen metabolizing enzymes during schistosomiasis and their role in bladder cancer induction

Carcinoma of the urinary bladder is the most common malignancy in many tropical and subtropical countries. There is a well documented association with chronic urinary schistosomal infection, and bladder cancer associated with schistosomiasis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the endemic areas. Many factors have been suggested as possible causative agents in schistosome-associated bladder carcinogenesis but theories concerning the possible role of schistosomal infection in altering host metabolism of chemical carcinogens have received most attention. In experimental schistosomiasis there is a common pattern of changes in the activities of several hepatic Phase I and Phase II enzymes. Phase I enzymes show increased activities in the early stages of infection but these activities are reduced to below their preinfection levels in the intermediate and late chronic stages of the disease. The activities of Phase II enzymes are altered in favour of the deconjugation pathways in the later stages of the disease. The possible basic mechanisms that might be involved in such changes during parasitism and their potential role in the induction of bladder neoplasia are discussed.

Increased susceptibility to pentobarbital following mouse cytomegalovirus infection: relative roles of viral-induced interferon and viral infection of the liver

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative roles of viral-induced interferon (IFN) and viral infection of the liver in mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV)-induced depression of cytochrome P-450 (cyt P-450) levels and enhancement of pentobarbital-induced sleeping time (PEN-ST). This was done by establishing the temporal relationship among the IFN response, viral infection of the liver, suppression of cyt P-450 levels, and enhancement of PEN-ST, by determining the effect of anti-IFN antibody treatment on all of these responses, and by manipulating factors known to influence viral pathogenesis and host response to virus such as animal age, virulence of the virus, and dose of virus. In general, manipulation of these factors toward increased stimulation of host immune responses resulted in greater depression of cyt P-450. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that some IFN-dependent mechanism may have contributed to the effects of MCMV infection on both cyt P-450 levels and PEN-ST; however, the temporal relationship among the various responses measured following viral infection suggested that the effect of the IFN response may be indirect and due to modulation of other host defense mechanisms. Use of anti-IFN antisera to definitively establish a role for IFN in the effects observed here proved unsuccessful. Effects on PEN-ST and cyt P-450 levels did not appear to be related to the magnitude of infection in the liver.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of induction of T-cell-dependent antibody with sheep red blood cells on P-450-dependent and -independent xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes

The effect of an antigenic challenge with sheep red blood cells (SRBC) on the activities of cytochrome P-450-dependent and -independent xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and on lipid peroxidation in the liver was investigated. The studies were carried out using three mouse strains of C57B1/10 and three strains of C3H backgrounds which are cogenic, differing genetically at the H-2 complex. The basal levels of aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (7-Ec) were different among congenic strains. The activity of 7-Ec was lower in C3H background mice than in B10 background mice. Similarly, the difference due to the strain and the H-2 locus was detected in the activities of P-450-independent enzymes such as malathion and diethyl succinate carboxylesterases, glutathione S-transferase, and epoxide hydrolases in microsomal and cytosolic fractions. The degree of immune responsiveness in these mice was determined by a plaque forming cell assay. Within the same background, the H-2b mouse strain was a high responder and the H-2k a low responder to SRBC. However, treatment with SRBC had no significant depressive effect on P-450-dependent enzyme activities except in C3H/He. Activity of AHH was suppressed in C3H/He mice. Treatment with SRBC had no effect on P-450-independent enzyme activities except for malathion carboxylesterase: the activity was increased in C3H/He and C3H.JK, whereas it was decreased in B10. The basal level of lipid peroxidation was lower in C3H/He and C3H.JK. The treatment produced a significant enhancement in lipid peroxidation in C3H/He, B10 and B10.BR (P less than 0.05) with a concomitant increase in xanthine oxidase activity (P less than 0.05). Thus, the present study revealed that a specific antigenic challenge, unlike non-specific immunostimulants (e.g. poly IC, endotoxin), does not necessarily inhibit P-450-dependent xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes even though antigen challenge increased XO activity and lipid peroxidation. The possible roles of an increase in lipid peroxidation and xanthine oxidase activity in immune response to SRBC and xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes are discussed.

Effect of murine schistosomiasis on hepatic cytochrome P-450 and microsomal protein

Experimental hepatic schistosomiasis was produced in CBA mice using a local strain of S. mansoni. A comparative study of the hepatic concentrations of cytochrome P-450 and microsomal protein in the control and infected animals was carried out. S. mansoni infection significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced the liver cytochrome P-450 and microsomal protein. This suggests impairment of drug metabolism in the liver of infected animals. The study calls attention to the possible clinical and pharmacokinetic implications of the late severe S. mansoni infection of the liver in man.

Induction of tolerance in mice and rats to the effect of endotoxin to decrease the hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase system. Evidence for a possible macrophage-derived factor in the endotoxin effect

Daily administration of low, non-lethal doses of bacterial endotoxin to mice and rats has been shown to induce tolerance to the effect of an acute challenge dose of endotoxin to decrease the hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing activity, the level of cytochrome P-450, and to increase heme oxygenase activity. The serum collected at various times after injection of endotoxin into control animals when injected into untreated animals markedly depressed aniline hydroxylase activity, ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity, and the level of cytochrome P-450. Tolerant animals were not affected by the post-endotoxin serum injection, suggesting the decreased activity caused by the serum in untreated animals was probably due to endotoxin contained in the serum. Injection of tolerant mice and rats with supernatant medium obtained from cultures of peritoneal macrophages incubated with 100 micrograms/ml of endotoxin caused a loss of hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing activity, and a decrease in the level of cytochrome P-450. These results suggest that peritoneal macrophages release a factor in response to endotoxin that mediates the decreased hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity.

Comparative toxicity, protective, histamine sensitizing and leucocytosis promoting activities in mice of Bordetella pertussis culture fluid, bacterial cells and cell extracts

Bordetella pertussis bacterial cells, bacterial extracts, and concentrated culture supernatant fluid were comparatively examined for histamine sensitizing and leucocytosis promoting activities, toxicity (mouse weight gain test), immunoprotective potency and lipopolysaccharide bioassay. The activity of histamine sensitizing factor always paralleled that of leucocytosis promoting factor. In contrast, important differences were demonstrated regarding the toxicity and protective activity of the three preparations. Culture supernatant was more toxic and less protective than either bacterial cells or cell extract. Although the latter had lower protective potency than whole cells, its lower toxicity might lead to its consideration as a possible potential vaccine.

Investigation of adrenergic and prostaglandin influences in the endotoxin alteration of hepatic heme oxygenase, microsomal mixed-function oxidase, and glucocorticoid-induced tryptophan oxygenase activities

The possible role for adrenergic influences or prostaglandins in the effects of endotoxin to inhibit the glucocorticoid induction of hepatic tryptophan oxygenase (TO) activity, to decrease the hepatic microsomal cytochrome P--450-dependent drug-metabolizing activity, and to induce heme oxygenase activity was examined. Administration of the alpha-adrenergic locking agents phenoxybenzamine or phentolamine attenuated the inhibitory effect of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide on the induction of TO activity by dexamethasone. Injection of a beta-adrenergic blocker, propranolol, or of indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin biosynthesis, accentuated the effect of endotoxin to inhibit TO induction. Neither phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, nor indomethacin altered the effect of endotoxin to decrease aniline hydroxylase activity, ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity, or the levels of cytochrome P--450. Also, dexamethasone administration did not significantly protect against the effects of endotoxin on the hepatic microsomal drug metabolizing enzyme system, and none of the pharmacological agents diminished the effects of endotoxin to induce hepatic heme oxygenase activity. Endotoxin administration was also shown to diminish, but not prevent, the induction of cytochrome P--450 and ethylmorphine N-demethylase activity produced by phenobarbital. The results indicate that alpha-adrenergic mechanisms are involved in the endotoxic inhibition of the glucocorticoid induction of TO activity and suggest that neither adrenergic influences nor prostaglandins play a significant role in the effect of endotoxin to decrease hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity.

Depression of hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity by B. pertussis in splenectomized and athymic nude mice

Administration of Bordetella pertussis (B. pertussis), Corynebacterium parvum (C. parvum), and several other immunoactive substances is known to cause a marked decrease in the activity of the hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase system. The effect of C parvum has been reported to involve the reticuloendothelial system. In the present study, the effect of B. pertussis administration to decrease hepatic microsomal drug metabolism was studied in unoperated, sham-operated, and splenectomized mice as well as in athymic nude (nu/nu) mice and their phenotypically heterozygous (+/nu) littermates. Administration of B. pertussis to the splenectomized, sham-operated, and unoperated mice resulted in a decrease in the activity of the microsomal enzyme system that was approximately the same for each of the three groups of animals. Administration of B. pertussis to nu/nu mice and the +/nu mice also decreased the microsomal enzyme activity measured 24 hr after injection. However, at 7 days after B. pertussis administration, the hepatic drug-metabolizing activity of the nu/nu mice was not significantly different from control values, whereas the activity of the +/nu mice was still significantly depressed. The failure of splenectomy to prevent the decrease in microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity caused by B. pertussis indicated that the effect of this agent differs from that of C. parvum, whose effect was prevented by splenectomy. Indeed, the results obtained with the athymic nude mouse suggests that the depression of hepatic mixed-function oxidase activity by B. pertussis may involve T-cell dependent responses.

Endotoxin depression of hepatic mixed function oxidase system in C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN mice

The effect of endotoxin to depress the hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme activity has been studied in the C3H/HeJ and C3H/HeN strains of mice. The C3H/HeJ mouse strain is generally considered to be unresponsive to the biological effects of endotoxin. However, injection of these mice with 0.5 mg/kg body weight of E.coli endotoxin (Westphal extracted) produced a decrease in the rate of N-demethylation of ethylmorphine and in the levels of cytochrome P-450 and cytochrome b5 comparable to that observed in the endotoxin-sensitive C3H/HeJ mouse strain. Although the mechanism of endotoxin action to decrease hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing activity is presently unknown, the results suggest that: 1) the C3H/HeJ mouse stain is responsive to this endotoxin effect, and 2)that cellular constituents other than B-cells or macrophages are probably involved in eliciting the response, since these cells of the C3H/HeJ mouse are unresponsive to endotoxin.