Effect of 4-(4-chlorobenzyl)pyridine on rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 and drug-metabolizing enzymes in vivo and in vitro

A novel method of cryopreservation of rat and human hepatocytes by using encapsulation technique and possible use for cell transplantation

Encapsulated hepatocyte transplantation is a promising approach to cell transplantation without immunosuppression as an alternative to whole organ liver transplantation. However, the shortage of donor cells for hepatocyte transplantation has not been resolved, and at this critical point, it seems necessary to establish a method of hepatocyte cryopreservation to allow clinical application of hepatocyte transplantation and the development of a bioartificial liver system in the near future. In this study we demonstrated that cryopreserved microencapsulated rat and human hepatocytes can retain their hepatic function and that cryopreserved microencapsulated human hepatocytes transplanted into rat spleen remain viable without immunosuppression. Rat and human hepatocytes were isolated by a collagenase digestion method, and they were microencapsulated with poly-L-lysine. The microencapsulated rat hepatocytes were transferred to culture medium (DMEM containing 10% FBS and 10% DMSO) and immediately frozen in liquid nitrogen. A warm water bath (37 degrees C) was used to thaw the microencapsulated hepatocytes. Hepatic function, drug metabolism, and cell morphology were assessed after 90 days of cryopreservation. After 1 week of cryopreservation, microencapsulated hepatocytes were cultured for up to 2 weeks to assess their hepatic function and morphology. The morphology of human hepatocytes was assessed after 30 days of cryopreservation. Cryopreserved human hepatocytes were transplanted into rat spleen to assess their morphology. Cryopreserved microencapsulated hepatocytes retained their viability and were strongly positive for expression of albumin, OAT2, CYP3A2, and CYP3A9. Two weeks after cultivation, the cryopreserved microencapsulated rat hepatocytes had retained their hepatic function (urea synthesis). Cryopreserved microencapsulated human hepatocytes also mainly survived and retained their hepatic function for at least 30 days after cryopreservation. Moreover, entrapped cryopreserved human hepatocytes also survived and expressed albumin in rat spleen after transplantation. We demonstrated a novel method of long-term cryopreservation of rat and human hepatocytes by using an encapsulation technique, with retention of biological activity and excellent survival of the cryopreserved microencapsulated human hepatocytes transplanted into rat spleen. We believe that this novel approach to hepatocytes cryopreservation provides a new direction in encapsulated cell therapy with the goal of clinical application in the near future.

Induction and inhibition of cytochrome P450 and drug-metabolizing enzymes by climbazole

To determine the effect of climbazole on hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450) and drug-metabolizing enzymes, four different P450 isoforms (CYP2B1, 3A2, 2E1, and 2C12) were examined in female Long-Evans rats. Treatment of rats with climbazole resulted in the induction of P450 content. Climbazole both induced and inhibited aminopyrine N-demethylase activity, but not erythromycin N-demethylase activity. Uridine 5'-phosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyl transferase and glutathione S-transferase activities were also increased with climbazole treatment. Immunoblot analyses revealed that climbazole induces CYP2B1 and CYP3A2 at the lower dose examined, but it failed to increase CYP2B1 at the higher dose. Northern blot analysis revealed that climbazole markedly increases P450 2B1 mRNA. These results indicate that climbazole induces and inhibits P450-dependent drug-metabolizing enzymes in vivo and may have the dose-differential effect on CYP2B1 in rat liver.

Climbazole is a new potent inducer of rat hepatic cytochrome P450

We examined the effect of climbazole on the induction of rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 (P450), and compared the induction potency with other N-substituted azole drugs such as clorimazole. We found that climbazole is found to be a potent inducer of rat hepatic microsomal P450 as clorimazole. Induced level of P450 by climbazole was almost similar in extent to clorimazole when compared with other imidazole drugs in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Parallel to the increase in P450, climbazole increased aminopyrine and erythromycin N-demethylase, ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase, and androstenedione 16 beta- and 15 alpha/6 beta hydroxylase activities; however, clorimazole did not induce aminopyrine N-demethylase activity irrespective of its marked increase in P450 content. Immunoblot analyses revealed that climbazole induced CYP2B1, 3A2 and 4A1. The present findings indicate that climbazole is a new potent inducer of hepatic microsomal P450 and drug-metabolizing enzymes like clorimazole, but it may have some differential mechanism(s) for these enzymes' induction in rat liver.