Interaction of prostaglandins with adrenal microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the guinea pig

The role of the drug-metabolizing enzymes

Drug-metabolizing enzymes function in the biotransformation of both endogenous and exogenous lipophilic compounds. Phylogenetic studies indicate that the drug-metabolizing enzymes were a late evolutionary development. Stimuli for the evolution of these enzymes were probably movement to a terrestrial environment, a diet of higher plants and an increasing tissue specialization, with a consequential need for the formation and inactivation of hormones, bile salts etc. Most drug-metabolizing enzymes exist in multiple forms. Some are concerned solely with the metabolism of a very limited range of endogenous lipids; others such as 'phenobarbitone-type cytochrome P-450' seem to be concerned mainly wih the metabolism of exogenous compounds. In mammals the liver and intestine have a major role in the biotransformation of exogenous compounds, whereas in other tissues the primary function of the drug-metabolizing enzymes appears to be the metabolism of endogenous lipids such as steroids, lipid-soluble vitamins and fatty acids.

Studies on the mechanism of the protective action of 16,16-dimethylPGE2 in carbon tetrachloride induced acute hepatic injury in the rat

We have previously demonstrated the partial protection of the rat liver by 16,16-dmPGE2 (DMPG) against a number of hepatotoxins including carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). However, it has not been determined whether hepatoprotection by DMPG represents a true "cytoprotective" action or if merely accomplished through inhibition of CCl4 metabolism to reactive, toxic trichoromethyl (CCl3.) free radicals. This report details a series of experiments in which the effects of DMPG on CCl4 metabolism was evaluated in the rat. These data indicate that pretreatment with DMPG may reduce the hepatic concentration of the toxic CCl3. free radicals in CCl4 poisoned rats. Evidence is presented which suggests that this reduction in binding may have been due to a decrease in the rate of CCl4 metabolism. However, DMPG did not affect the hepatic concentration of total microsomal cytochrome P450, the necessary enzyme in this metabolic process. On the other hand, free radical spin trapping experiments indicate that the rate of free radical formation from CCl4 was slowed by treatment. Also, indirect evidence suggests that the metabolism of another cytochrome P450 substrate, phenobarbital, was slowed in DMPG treated rats. We conclude that the rate of CCl4 metabolism may be reduced by pretreatment with DMPG. Furthermore, some measure of hepatic protection might be expected to occur as a result of the reduction in the rate of CCl4 metabolism. However, we are unable to determine if this action was solely responsible for the observed hepatic protection.

Prostaglandins: a possible mediator to inhibit hepatic drug metabolism in adjuvant arthritic rats

In the liver of adjuvant arthritic rats perfused with a hemoglobin-free buffer solution, the rate of metabolism of a model drug, 2,6-dichloro-4-nitroanisole, was approximately half that of the control, while the bile flow rate was normal. Granulation tissue extracts and arthritic rat serum had no effect on the activity of CNA metabolism in normal rat liver preparations. In the perfused normal rat liver, the rate of CNA metabolism was inhibited by addition of prostaglandin (PG) E1, PGE2, and PGF2 alpha, respectively, in a final concentration of 0.5 microM. The inhibition by PGE1 was increased in the concentration range from 0.1 to 2.5 microM. The bile flow rate was not affected by the added PGs. However, these PGs had no direct effect on the CNA demethylating activity of the isolated hepatocytes from normal rat liver in a high concentration of 10 microM. Serotonin stimulated slightly CNA metabolism and bile production in the perfused livers by the intermittent infusion, but was without effect in the isolated hepatocytes. Epinephrine and histamine had no significant effect on CNA metabolism in both liver preparations. A similar pattern of the inhibition of CNA metabolism by PGs was reproduced in the normal rat liver perfused with the medium containing the supernatant of the hepatic nonparenchymal cells incubated in the presence of PGE1. The involvement of liver sinusoidal cells as secretory cells in depression of hepatic drug metabolism has been discussed.

Comparison of the effects of inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions on human platelet aggregation and arachidonic acid metabolism

Metyrapone and SKF-525A, together with amphenone B, a structural analogue of metyrapone, which are all inhibitors of cytochrome P-450-mediated reactions, were shown to inhibit the arachidonic acid-induced aggregation of human platelets. Amphenone B, like metyrapone, exhibited a type II (ligand) binding spectrum with rat liver microsomal cytochrome P-450, in contrast to SKF 525A which is a type I (substrate) binding agent. Independently of their type of binding spectra and of their maximum spectral change, however, the affinity of the three compounds for rat liver cytochrome P-450 showed a close proportional correlation with their platelet aggregation inhibitory potency. All three compounds inhibited the formation of [1-14C]thromboxane B2 from [1-14C]arachidonic acid by human platelets aggregated with collagen. The effect of metyrapone on the remaining labelled products suggested that it is a selective thromboxane synthesis inhibitor, while amphenone B exhibited activity reminiscent of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors. SKF 525A produced complex effects possibly attributable to cyclo-oxygenase inhibition and enhanced lipid peroxidation, since it also enhanced platelet malonaldehyde formation, which the other two compounds inhibited. These data provide further support for a role of cytochrome P-450 in thromboxane synthesis and platelet aggregation.