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J T Buters

Publications and source records attributed to J T Buters.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Comparison of substrate metabolism by wild type CYP2D6 protein and a variant containing methionine, not valine, at position 374.

We have analysed kinetic parameters of cDNA-derived CYP2D6 proteins derived from the original CYP2D6 cDNA isolate (Gonzalez FJ et al. Nature 1988: 331, 442-446) which contains methionine at position 374 (CYP2D6-Met) and a modified cDNA which contains valine at position 374 (CYP2D6-Val). This latter protein is predicted from the CYP2D6 genomic sequence. Several quantitative differences, but no qualitative differences in metabolism were observed. CYP2D6-Met was found to have a two-fold lower Km and a three-fold lower turnover rate for (R)(+)-bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation as compared to CYP2D6-Val. In contrast, CYP2D6-Met and CYP2D6-Val had a similar Km for debrisoquine 4-hydroxylation while CYP2D6-Val had an 18-fold higher turnover rate. CYP2D6-Val and CYP2D6-Met had similar Kms for metoprolol but CYP2D6-Val showed a three-fold higher capacity for the O-demethylation reaction compared to alpha-hydroxylation which is more similar to that seen in human liver. In the case of sparteine, CYP2D6-Val and CYP2D6-Met showed similar capacities for formation of the 2-dehydrosparteine metabolite but the Km value for CYP2D6-Met was six-fold higher than that for CYP2D6-Val. Kinetic differences between CYP2D6-Met and CYP2D6-Val were further probed by examination of apparent Ki for inhibition of (R,S)(+/-)-bufuralol 1'-hydroxylation. Similar Ki values (within a factor of three) were observed for perhexiline and (R,S)-propranolol while quinidine and dextromethorphan were 8.5-fold and 21-fold more effective inhibitors of CYP2D6-Val relative to CYP2D6-Met. An allele specific polymerase chain reaction assay was developed for the CYP2D6-Met allele. The CYP2D6-Met allele was not found among 83 individuals. In the aggregate, these data indicated that the CYP2D6-Val allele is the more common allele in human populations. The quantitative kinetic differences between these two enzymes appears most pronounced for substrates/inhibitors with rigid structures. CYP2D6-Val more often has a substantially lower Km and/or a substantially higher capacity to metabolize those substrates.

B-Lymphocytes↗

cDNA-directed expression of human cytochrome P450 CYP1A1 using baculovirus. Purification, dependency on NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase, and reconstitution of catalytic properties without purification.

A recombinant baculovirus containing the human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A1 cDNA was constructed and used to express CYP1A1 in Spodoptera frugiperda (SF9) insect cells (0.14 +/- 0.04 nmol/mg protein, 53 +/- 14 nmol/liter, N = 30). The enzyme represented approximately 1% of total cellular protein and was partially purified by a three-column procedure to a specific content of 5.0 nmol/mg protein. Catalytic activity was reconstituted with both the purified enzyme using lipid and NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase, and the SF9 insect cell membrane fraction without purification using NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase and small amounts of detergent. Catalytic activity of the enzyme after reconstitution was optimum using molar ratios of CYP1A1 to NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase of 1:8. Cytochrome b5 had no additional stimulating effect. The enzyme metabolized substrates characteristic for CYP1A1:benzo[a]pyrene (4.0 +/- 0.3 nmol/min/nmol CYP), 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethyl- coumarin (36 +/- 2), ethoxyresorufin (37 +/- 1), but not pentoxyresorufin (0.77 +/- 0.02). Recombinant baculovirus expresses the highest amounts of all expression systems published to date of catalytically active CYP1A1. Because human CYP1A1 has never been isolated in a catalytically active state from human tissue, nor has recombinant unmodified human CYP1A1, this system is an excellent alternative for the isolation and characterization of this CYP.

Animals↗

Normal p53 status and function despite the development of drug resistance in human breast cancer cells.

Loss of or mutations in p53 protein have been shown to decrease both radio- and chemosensitivity. The present study assessed the p53 gene status, ability to arrest in G1 of the cell cycle, the functionality of the p53 transduction pathway, and apoptosis following treatment with radiation in a series of drug-resistant human breast cancer cells to determine whether p53 alterations occur during the development of drug resistance. We used 13 sublines derived from MCF-7, ZR75B, and T47D cells, which were resistant to doxorubicin, paclitaxel, vinblastine, cisplatin, etoposide, and amsacrine. Eleven of 12 drug-resistant sublines retained the parental p53 gene status, as determined by sequence analysis and functional yeast assay; only one subline was found to have acquired a mutation in the p53 gene. The MCF-7 TH subline was found to both acquire mutated p53 and to have major changes in p53 protein expression and function. In 12 other drug-resistant sublines, the G1 checkpoint was conserved or only slightly impaired. A normal accumulation of p53, p21Cip1/Waf1, and Mdm2 proteins and hypophosphorylation of Rb protein occurred in response to radiation with only small differences noted in the kinetics of p53 and p21Cip1/Waf1 induction. Increased susceptibility to apoptosis was found in the ZR75B drug-resistant sublines, whereas no evidence for apoptosis was observed in the ZR75B, MCF-7, and T47D parentals and the MCF-7 and T47D drug-resistant sublines. This effect could not be explained by alterations in bcl-2 or bax expression. Our results demonstrate that alterations in: (a) p53 gene status; (b) ability to arrest in G1; (c) induction of p53 protein and p53-dependent genes; and (d) decreased activation of apoptosis is not a requirement for the onset of drug resistance. The function of p53 appears to be dissociated from drug resistance in our model system.

Apoptosis↗

A highly sensitive tool for the assay of cytochrome P450 enzyme activity in rat, dog and man. Direct fluorescence monitoring of the deethylation of 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin.

The O-deethylation of 7-ethoxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (EFC) by liver microsomes has been assessed as a method for monitoring the activity of cytochrome P450. The principle advantage of this substrate is the formation of a fluorescent product 7-hydroxy-4-trifluoromethylcoumarin (HFC) which can be assayed directly in the reaction medium. For rat microsomes the deethylated product was confirmed as the main metabolite, the reaction rate was linear with respect to both time and microsomal protein concentration and was independent of small changes in the added co-factors. A linear formation rate for the deethylated metabolite was also confirmed with dog and human microsomes. The intra-assay precision for rat, dog and human microsomes was 3, 5 and 4%, respectively. Hanes transformations of the dog and human data showed two phases, in contrast to a linear decline seen for the rat. Hybrid parameters for Vmax and Km, calculated from the apparently linear portions of these curves, gave interday SD for the Vmax of rat, dog and man of 2, 14 and 4%, respectively, and approximately 15% for the Km in all species. The Vmax in rat, dog and human microsomes was 1.4 +/- 0.2, 4.3 +/- 1.5 and 0.9 +/- 0.5 nmol HFC/min/nmol P450, respectively. The Km was 11.0 +/- 3.1, 67 +/- 19 and 6.8 +/- 2.5 microM, respectively. Direct evidence that at least two isoenzymes (cytochrome P450 1A2 and 2E1) metabolize EFC was obtained by experiments with competitive, suicide and immuno-inhibitors. Compared with ethoxycoumarin, the involvement of P450 2E1 in O-deethylation seemed similar in the rat. In conclusion, EFC provides a straightforward and reproducible assay for microsomal enzyme activity, requiring at most 25 pmol/mL of cytochrome P450.

Acylation↗

Metabolism of antipyrine in vivo in two rat models of liver cirrhosis. Its relationship to intrinsic clearance in vitro and microsomal membrane lipid composition.

Antipyrine metabolism depends on at least three isoenzymes of cytochrome P450 forming the main metabolites 3-OH-, 4-OH- and norantipyrine. We investigated to what extent antipyrine clearance and metabolite formation are impaired in two models of liver cirrhosis in the rat, namely micronodular cirrhosis induced by chronic exposure to phenobarbital/CCl4 and biliary cirrhosis induced by bile duct ligation. Salivary antipyrine clearance was decreased to a similar extent in cirrhosis induced by CCl4 and bile duct ligation (-35%). Clearance for production of 3-OH-antipyrine was decreased in both models, while 4-hydroxylation was maintained. Metabolic clearance of both 3-OH-antipyrine and 4-OH-antipyrine in vivo correlated with their clearance in vitro (r = 0.658 and r = 0.583) but not with that of norantipyrine. The microsomal cholesterol content was increased by 16% and 90% in CCl4 and bile duct-ligated cirrhotic rats (P < 0.001), respectively. Membrane fluidity, expressed as the ratio of phospholipids to cholesterol, correlated with the in vivo clearance for production of norantipyrine (r = 0.841) but not of 3-OH- or 4-OH-antipyrine, while clearance in vitro was not related to altered lipid composition. Our results demonstrate that the cytochrome P450 isoenzymes responsible for the different pathways of antipyrine metabolism are affected to different extents by cirrhosis. Alterations in intrinsic clearance explain only part of the loss of hepatocellular function. Altered lipid composition contributes to this loss of function but other factors, among them loss of hepatocytes and changes in microcirculation, could be more important determinants of the decrease in xenobiotic metabolism in cirrhosis.

Animals↗

Abnormal lipid composition of microsomes from cirrhotic rat liver--does it contribute to decreased microsomal function?

We determined to what extent a change in the lipid composition of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum contributes to altered microsomal function in cirrhosis. Rats were rendered cirrhotic either by chronic exposure to phenobarbital/CCl4 (MCIR) or by bile duct ligation (BCIR). Microsomal function was tested in vivo by the aminopyrine breath test (ABT), then microsomes were prepared and their phospholipid and cholesterol composition analysed. ABT was reduced by 35 and 41% in BCIR and MCIR, respectively. Cholesterol in microsomes was increased in both cirrhotic groups. (BCIR + 154%, MCIR + 75%) while total phospholipid content was not affected. As shown in other membrane systems, the phospholipid/cholesterol (PL/XOL) ratio showed an excellent inverse correlation with fluorescence anisotropy determined by diphenylhexatriene fluorescence polarization (r = -0.896). The PL/XOL ratio was significantly correlated with aminopyrine N-demethylation in vivo (r = 0.649). Alterations in the composition of phospholipid groups (an increase in sphingomyelin in both cirrhotic groups, and a decrease in phosphatidylcholine and an increase in phosphatidylethanolamine in BCIR) also contributed to increased membrane rigidity. We conclude that altered membrane fluidity contributes to diminished microsomal function but that other factors must also be involved since the PL/XOL ratio explained only 42% of the variance in aminopyrine N-demethylation.

Animals↗

Sex difference in antipyrine 3-hydroxylation. An in vivo-in vitro correlation of antipyrine metabolism in two rat strains.

Antipyrine metabolism depends on at least three isoenzymes of cytochrome P450 forming the main metabolites 3-OH-, 4-OH- and norantipyrine. We investigated to which extent antipyrine clearance and metabolite formation in vivo correlate with metabolite formation by microsomal fractions in vitro. The influence of sex was investigated in two rat strains. Antipyrine clearance in saliva was determined in 10-month-old Sprague-Dawley and Dark Agouti rats of either sex. Antipyrine and its metabolites in urine and microsomes were measured by a new HPLC method after solid phase or liquid extraction. Antipyrine clearance was 46% higher in males than in female rats. This was associated with a 40% higher urinary excretion of 3-OH-antipyrine in the male rats, the other metabolites being excreted to a similar extent. This higher production of 3-OH-antipyrine in vivo was paralleled by a higher intrinsic clearance in vitro while no sex difference in intrinsic clearance for the formation of the other metabolites was seen. The correlation between in vivo and in vitro metabolic clearance for 3-OH-antipyrine was good (r = 0.75) but unconvincing for 4-OH- (r = 0.49) and norantipyrine (r = 0.01). This could be due to further metabolism of 4-OH- and norantipyrine.

Animals↗

Human cytochrome P450 2E1 is a major autoantigen associated with halothane hepatitis.

Autoantibodies against specific human cytochrome P450s have been found in the sera of patients suffering from a variety of diseases, including those caused by drugs. In the cases of tienilic acid- and dihydralazine-induced hepatitis, patients have serum autoantibodies directed against cytochromes P450 2C9 and P450 1A2, respectively. In the present study, we have found that 25 of 56 (45%) patients diagnosed with halothane hepatitis have autoantibodies that react with human cytochrome P450 2E1 that was purified from a baculovirus expression system. The autoantibodies inhibited the activity of cytochrome P450 2E1 and appeared to be directed against mainly conformational epitopes. In addition, because cytochrome P450 2E1 became trifluoroacetylated when it oxidatively metabolized halothane, it is possible that the covalently altered form of cytochrome P450 2E1 may be able to bypass the immunologic tolerance that normally exists against cytochrome P450 2E1. A similar mechanism may explain the formation of autoantibodies that have been found against other cellular targets of the reactive trifluoroacetyl chloride metabolite of halothane.

Acetylation↗

cDNA-directed expression of human cytochrome P450 CYP3A4 using baculovirus.

A recombinant baculovirus containing the human CYP3A4 cDNA was constructed and used to express CYP3A4 in SF9 insect cells (0.46 +/- 0.13 nmol/mg protein, 103 +/- 29 nmol/liter, N = 15). The enzyme represented approximately 2-3% of total cellular protein and could be purified by a two-column procedure to a specific content of 12.7 nmol/mg protein. Catalytic activity of the purified enzyme after reconstitution was optimum using molar ratios of CYP3A4 to cytochrome b5 to NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase of 1:3:20, respectively. The enzyme metabolized cortisol, erythromycin, testosterone, and (R)-warfarin. Recombinant baculovirus expresses the highest amounts of all expression systems published to date of catalytically intact CYP3A4. This system is an excellent alternative for the isolation and characterization of P450 forms from human liver.

Animals↗