Metabolic Activation of Gemfibrozil Mediated by Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Sulfotransferases

Gemfibrozil (GEM), a lipid regulator, is a fibric acid derivative widely used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia. It has been reported that GEM can induce acute liver injury in the course of therapy in clinical practice, so it is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms of toxic action. The present study focused on metabolic activation of GEM, possibly participating in GEM-mediated liver injury. A benzylic alcohol metabolite (M1), along with a phenol metabolite (M2), was detected in microsomal incubations, rat primary hepatocyte culturing, and rats given GEM. A GSH conjugate (M3) was detected in cultured rat hepatocytes after exposure to GEM. Formation of M1 was found to be NADPH dependent, and generation of M3 required M1 and 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate. It is most likely that GEM was biotransformed to M1, which was further metabolized to a sulfate. The resulting sulfate was reactive to bio-thiols. Cytochrome P450 and sulfotransferases participated in the phase I and phase II reactions, respectively. M1 and M3 were chemically synthesized, and their structures were characterized by mass spectrometry and NMR. The present study has particular value for elucidating the mechanism of liver injury caused by GEM.

Identification of reaction products from reactions of free chlorine with the lipid-regulator gemfibrozil

High global consumption rates have led to the occurrence of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) in wastewater. The use of chlorine to disinfect wastewater prior to release into the environment may convert PhACs into uncharacterized chlorinated by-products. In this investigation, chlorination of a common pharmaceutical, the antihyperlipidemic agent gemfibrozil, was documented. Gemfibrozil (2,2-dimethyl-5-(2,5-dimethylphenoxy)pentanoic acid) was reacted with sodium hypochlorite and product formation was monitored by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The incorporation of one, two or three chlorine atoms into the aromatic region of gemfibrozil was demonstrated using negative-ion electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) and tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS). Further analysis using (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy identified the reaction products as 4'-ClGem (5-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylpentanoic acid) 4',6'-diClGem (5-(4,6-dichloro-2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylpentanoic acid), and 3',4',6'-triClGem (5-(3,4,6-trichloro-2,5-dimethylphenoxy)-2,2-dimethylpentanoic acid), products consistent with electrophilic aromatic substitution reactions. The rapid reaction of gemfibrozil with free chlorine at pH conditions relevant to water treatment indicates that a mixture of chlorinated gemfibrozils is likely to be found in wastewater disinfected with chlorine.