Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “UGT1A1 Enzyme”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Genetic polymorphisms of bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase gene in Japanese patients with Crigler-Najjar syndrome or Gilbert's syndrome as well as in healthy Japanese subjects.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Numerous mutations of bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyltransferase gene (UGT1A1) have been reported in patients with familial unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The UGT1A1 mutation appears to be considerably different among ethnic groups. To clarify the incidence of this gene mutation in the Japanese population, the presence of UGT1A1 mutation was investigated in a group of Japanese patients with Crigler-Najjar syndrome type 2 (CNS2) and Gilbert's syndrome (GS), as well as in healthy anicteric subjects. METHODS: Four patients with CNS2, 63 patients with GS, and 71 healthy subjects were enrolled in the study. The promoter and coding regions of UGT1A1 were amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from genomic DNA isolated from leukocytes. The PCR products were directly sequenced by a dye terminating method. The UGT1A1 enzyme activity was determined in COS7 cells transfected with wild or P364L (1091 C > T) mutant DNA. RESULTS: Homozygous Y486D was observed in all four patients with CNS2. The GS patients had UGT1A1 mutations with 13 different genotypes in the promoter and coding region. Homozygous TA insertion in the TATA box (TA7) of the promoter region (TA7/7; 33%), homozygous G71R (9%), and combination of TA7/6 and heterozygous G71R (17%) were the most frequent findings in GS patients. Homozygous or heterozygous Y486D (8%) and P229Q (8%) were also observed in GS. A novel mutation, heterozygous P364L, was also identified in a GS patient. In addition to GS patients, homozygous or heterozygous TA7, G71R, and heterozygous Y486D were also observed in healthy subjects. The allele frequency of G71R and TA7 was 0.183 and 0.113 in healthy subjects, respectively. The P364L UGT1A1 enzyme activity was 64.4% lower than the wild-type enzyme activity. CONCLUSIONS: Polymorphisms in the coding region of UGT1A1 were commonly observed in Japanese patients with GS and in healthy subjects. The genetic basis of hyperbilirubinemia appears to be different between the Japanese and Caucasian populations.

Adult↗

UGT1A1 polymorphisms are important determinants of dietary carcinogen detoxification in the liver.

PhIP (2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-f]pyridine), the most abundant heterocyclic amine in diet, is involved in the etiology of cancer. PhIP and its carcinogenic metabolite N-hydroxy-PhIP (N-OH-PhIP) are extensively conjugated by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGTs) with wide variability. This study aimed to determine the genetic influence of UGTs on the hepatic detoxification of this carcinogen. The formation of N-OH-PhIP glucuronides was studied in 48 human liver samples by mass spectrometry. Liver samples were genotyped for common polymorphisms and correlated with UGT protein levels and N-OH-PhIP glucuronidation activities. The formation of four different N-OH-PhIP glucuronide metabolites was observed in all livers. The major metabolite was N-OH-PhIP-N(2)-glucuronide (N(2)G), which is the primary metabolite found in human urine, and showed a high interindividual variability (up to 28-fold). Using an heterologous expression system, the bilirubin-conjugating UGT1A1 enzyme was identified among all known UGTs (n = 16) as the predominant enzyme involved. The significant correlation between UGT1A1 protein content and formation of N(2)G (Rs = 0.87; P < .0001) suggests a critical role for UGT1A1 in the hepatic metabolism of this carcinogen. UGT1A1 expression was strongly determined by the presence of the common promoter polymorphisms, UGT1A1*28 (TATA box polymorphism) (P = .0031), -3156G/A (P = .0006) and -3279G/T (P = .0017), and rates of N(2)G were indeed correlated with these polymorphisms (P < .05), whether analyzed individually or in combination (haplotypes). In conclusion, UGT1A1 polymorphisms modulate the hepatic metabolism of the carcinogenic intermediate of PhIP and may determine the level of its exposure and potentially influence the risk of cancer through dietary exposure to HCAs.

Carcinogens↗

In vitro inhibition of UDP glucuronosyltransferases by atazanavir and other HIV protease inhibitors and the relationship of this property to in vivo bilirubin glucuronidation.

Several human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors, including atazanavir, indinavir, lopinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, and saquinavir, were tested for their potential to inhibit uridine 5'-diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity. Experiments were performed with human cDNA-expressed enzymes (UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A9, and 2B7) as well as human liver microsomes. All of the protease inhibitors tested were inhibitors of UGT1A1, UGT1A3, and UGT1A4 with IC(50) values that ranged from 2 to 87 microM. The IC50 values found for all compounds for UGT1A6, 1A9, and 2B7 were >100 microM. The inhibition (IC50) of UGT1A1 was similar when tested against the human cDNA-expressed enzyme or human liver microsomes for atazanavir, indinavir, and saquinavir (2.4, 87, and 7.3 microM versus 2.5, 68, and 5.0 microM, respectively). By analysis of the double-reciprocal plots of bilirubin glucuronidation activities at different bilirubin concentrations in the presence of fixed concentrations of inhibitors, the UGT1A1 inhibition by atazanavir and indinavir was demonstrated to follow a linear mixed-type inhibition mechanism (Ki = 1.9 and 47.9 microM, respectively). These results suggest that a direct inhibition of UGT1A1-mediated bilirubin glucuronidation may provide a mechanism for the reversible hyperbilirubinemia associated with administration of atazanavir as well as indinavir. In vitro-in vivo scaling with [I]/Ki predicts that atazanavir and indinavir are more likely to induce hyperbilirubinemia than other HIV protease inhibitors studied when a free Cmax drug concentration was used. Our current study provides a unique example of in vitro-in vivo correlation for an endogenous UGT-mediated metabolic pathway.

Atazanavir Sulfate↗

Spectrum of UGT1A1 mutations in Crigler-Najjar (CN) syndrome patients: identification of twelve novel alleles and genotype-phenotype correlation.

Crigler-Najjar syndrome types I and II (CN1 and CN2) are usually inherited as autosomal recessive conditions and are characterized by non-hemolytic unconjugated hyperbilirubinaemia. CN1 is the most severe form, associated with the absence of hepatic bilirubin-uridinediphosphoglucuronate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) activity. CN2 presents intermediate levels of hyperbilirubinaemia as a result of an incomplete deficiency of hepatic UGT1A1 activity. Here, we present the analysis of UGT1A1 gene in 31 unrelated Crigler-Najjar (CN) syndrome patients. This analysis allowed us to identify 22 mutations, 12 of which were not previously described, expanding the spectrum of known UGT1 mutations to 77. Novel mutations, considered pathogenic, including one nonsense mutation, two altered splice sites, one single base deletion and nine missense mutations were identified in coding exons of the UGT1A1gene and flanking introns. Several novel missense mutations localize in critical domain of UGT1A1 enzyme. In addition, the evaluation of Gilbert-type promoter of UGT1A1in Crigler-Najjar (CN) syndrome patients was performed. The polymorphisms of the promoter region can modify the UGT1A1 mutation phenotype. This study represents the molecular characterization of the largest cohort of Italian Crigler-Najjar Gilbert syndrome patients studied so far; increase the mutational spectrum of UGT1A1 allelic variants worldwide and provide a new insight useful for clinical diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Alleles↗

[Genetic analysis of the UGT1A1 gene mutation sites in a Chinese family suffered from Gilbert's syndrome].

To learn the variation in the gene for UGT1A1 enzyme, the genetic mechanism in a Chinese Han nationality family suffered from Gilbert's syndrome was studied. At first, genomic DNA from peripheral blood of the sufferer in this family was used for amplifying all of the five exons of the UGT1A1 gene by PCR, and then direct sequencing of the PCR product was applied to analyze gene mutation. The results showed that there existed a G-->A homozygous transition at nucleotide 211 leading the substitution of arginine for glycine at position 71 of corresponding protein product (G71R) and a T-->G homozygous transition at nucleotide 1456 leading the substitution of aspartic acid for tyrosine at position 486 of corresponding protein product (Y486D). No mutation was detected in promoter region and the splicing junction sites. The relevant mutation sites of the other family members were sequenced and identified to be heterozygous in the two above-mentioned mutation sites and in the TA repeat mutation in the promoter region. Furthermore, fresh blood samples were collected from all of the members to detect the serum bilirubin levels to determine the sufferer. The result was consistent with the mutation analysis. It could thus be inferred that this family was caused by mutation in the open reading frame of the gene UGT1A1.

Asian People↗

Isothiocyanate iberin modulates phase II enzymes, posttranslational modification of histones and inhibits growth of Caco-2 cells by inducing apoptosis.

The aim of presented study was to further investigate the concentration-dependent changes induced by isothiocyanate iberin (IBN) in human colon carcinoma Caco-2 cells. The concentrations of IBN below IC(50) value (18 microM, 72 h) triggered the augmentation of mRNA levels for phase II detoxification GSTA1 and UGT1A1 enzymes and antioxidant thioredoxin reductase 1 gene in cells treated for 24 h. In addition a significant increase of acetylated H4 histone was detected. The mRNA induction peaked at IC(50) value and returned to level of control cells at 40 microM concentration of IBN. The cell cycle changes, gamma-H2AX stainability and the increase of phospho-H3 mitotic marker were induced at concentrations above IC(50) value. Appearance of Annexin V positive apoptotic cells and sub-G1 fragmented DNA as well as decrease of mitochondrial transmembrane potential confirmed cytotoxic effect of IBN observed in MTT assay. The predominance of necrotic cells and profound positivity of gamma-H2AX took place at the highest concentration of IBN. Thus, IBN represents the effective member of natural chemopreventive isothiocyanate family with which apoptotic potential can by employed to eliminate tumor cells.

Acetylation↗

Quaternary ammonium-linked glucuronidation of 1-substituted imidazoles: studies of human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases involved and substrate specificities.

A series of eight 1-substituted imidazoles was investigated as model substrates for glucuronidation at an aromatic tertiary amine of polyaza heterocyclic ring systems. The human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) involved and substrate specificities were investigated. Nine expressed enzymes (UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, UGT1A9, UGT1A10, UGT2B7, and UGT2B15) were examined, but only UGT1A4 catalyzed the formation of a quaternary ammonium-linked glucuronide metabolite for six of the substrates. UGT1A3 also catalyzed the glucuronidation of the previously investigated 1-phenylimidazole but none of the newly investigated compounds. No glucuronidation was observed with 1-(4-nitrophenyl)imidazole, the compound with the 4-phenyl substituent with the largest electron withdrawing effect. The incubation conditions for the determination of the kinetic constants for UGT1A4 catalysis of six substrates were optimized and included incubation at pH 7.4 with alamethicin at 10 microg/mg of protein. Latency disrupting agents, including alamethicin and sonication, enhanced glucuronidation 1.25-fold at most. There were 17.5- and 2.2-fold variations in the apparent K(m) (range, 0.18-3.15 mM) and V(max) values (range, 0.16-0.35 nmol/min/mg of protein). Linear correlation analyses between UGT1A4 kinetics and substrate physicochemical parameters showed significant correlation between V(max) and both the partition coefficient (log P, n-octanol/water) and pK(a) and between K(m) and pK(a), thereby indicating that the lipophilicity and the ease of availability of the tertiary amine lone pair of electrons of the substrate are important with respect to enzyme catalysis.

Catalysis↗

Normal hepatocytes correct serum bilirubin after repopulation of Gunn rat liver subjected to irradiation/partial resection.

The treatment of inherited metabolic liver diseases by hepatocyte transplantation (HT) would be greatly facilitated if the transplanted normal hepatocytes could be induced to proliferate preferentially over the host liver cells. We hypothesized that preparative hepatic irradiation (HIR) should inhibit host hepatocyte proliferation in response to partial hepatectomy (PH). Normal nonirradiated hepatocytes transplanted in this setting should have a selective growth advantage over the host liver cells and should progressively repopulate the liver. To test this hypothesis, we transplanted 5 million hepatocytes from normal Wistar-Roman High Avoidance (RHA) rats into the livers of congeneic bilirubin-uridine 5'-diphosphoglucuronate glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1)-deficient jaundiced Gunn rats by intrasplenic injection after one of the following treatments: (1) 68% PH, (2) HIR (50 Gy), or (3) HIR + PH. In rats receiving either PH or HIR alone before HT, serum bilirubin concentrations declined by 25% to 30% in 28 weeks. In contrast, serum bilirubin levels were normalized completely in rats receiving HIR + PH before HT. Massive repopulation of the Gunn rat liver by the UGT1A1-positive Wistar-RHA hepatocytes was shown by UGT1A1 enzyme assay, immunoblot analysis, and immunohistochemical staining of the recipient liver. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the bile collected from Gunn rats 5 months after PH, HIR, and HT showed normalization of the pigment profile, with bilirubin diglucuronide and monoglucuronide as the predominant pigments. In conclusion, a preparative regimen of HIR + PH results in massive repopulation of the liver with functionally normal transplanted hepatocytes, resulting in complete correction of a metabolic deficiency. Noninvasive strategies to replace PH for providing proliferative stimuli to the transplanted cells should make this regimen valuable in augmenting the effects of HT for the treatment of liver diseases.

Animals↗

Uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms as genomic predictors of toxicity and response to irinotecan-, antifolate- and fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy.

Pharmacogenetics could be a useful tool for performing tailored anticancer chemotherapy. Several polymorphisms potentially affecting enzymes responsible for metabolism, transport and mechanism of action of irinotecan, fluoropyrimidines and antifolate agents have been investigated and sometimes associated with toxicity and response. In particular, uridine diphosphoglucuronosyl transferase 1A1 (UGT1A1) enzyme is responsible for detoxification of irinotecan active metabolite, SN38. A polymorphic structure in the promoter region (UGT1A1*28) may affect irinotecan toxicity and SN38 plasma level. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the folate cycle, presenting two common polymorphisms (677C>T and 1298 A>C) which have impact on toxicity and efficacy of methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗

Characterization of benzo(a)pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol glucuronidation by human tissue microsomes and overexpressed UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT)-mediated glucuronidation of benzo(a)pyrene-trans-7,8-dihydrodiol (BPD), precursor to the potent mutagen benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide, may be an important pathway in the detoxification of benzo(a)pyrene. To better characterize this pathway in humans, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to detect glucuronide conjugates of BPD formed in vitro. Three peaks were detected by HPLC after incubation of racemic BPD with human liver microsomes; these were identified as monoglucuronides by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy of isolated fractions, combined with HPLC analysis of the glucuronide products from human liver microsomal incubations with purified benzo(a)pyrene-trans-7S,8S-dihydrodiol [(+)-BPD] and benzo(a)pyrene-trans-7R,8R-dihydrodiol [(-)-BPD] forms of BPD, indicated that peak 1 contained the 7-glucuronide of 7S,8S-BPD (BPD-7S-Gluc), peak 2 was a mixture of the 7-glucuronide of 7R,8R-BPD (BPD-7R-Gluc) and the 8-glucuronide of 7S,8S-BPD (BPD-8S-Gluc), and peak 3 contained the 8-glucuronide of 7R, 8R-BPD (BPD-8R-Gluc). In liver microsomes, peak 1 (BPD-7S-Gluc) was the largest peak observed, whereas in microsomes from aerodigestive tract tissues, peak 2 (both BPD-7R-Gluc and BPD-8S-Gluc) was the largest HPLC peak observed. The liver enzymes UGT1A1 and UGT2B7 formed BPD-7S-Gluc as the major diastereomer, whereas UGT1A8 and UGT1A10, extrahepatic enzymes present in the aerodigestive tract, preferentially formed both BPD-7R-Gluc and BPD-8S-Gluc. In addition, both UGT1A9 and UGT1A7 preferentially formed BPD-7R-Gluc. No detectable glucuronidating activity against BPD was observed by UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT2B4, UGT2B15, or UGT2B17. The affinity of individual UGT enzymes as determined by K(m) analysis was UGT1A10 > UGT1A9 > UGT1A1 > UGT1A7 for (-)-BPD and UGT1A10 > UGT1A9 > UGT2B7 approximately UGT1A1 > UGT1A7 for (+)-BPD. These results suggest that several UGTs may play an important role in the overall glucuronidation of BPD in humans, with UGT1A1, UGT1A7, UGT1A9, UGT1A10 and potentially UGT1A8 playing an important role in the glucuronidation of the procarcinogenic (-)-BPD enantiomer, and that the stereospecific activity exhibited by different UGTs against BPD is consistent with tissue-specific patterns of BPD glucuronide diastereomer formation and UGT expression.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗

Genetic polymorphisms in uridine diphospho-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 and association with breast cancer among African Americans.

We examined the role of constitutional genetic variation at the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 1A1 locus in breast cancer susceptibility. The UGT1A1 enzyme is a major UGT involved in estradiol glucuronidation. To date, four UGT1A1 variant alleles characterized by a variation in the number of TA from five through eight repeats in the atypical TATA box region have been described in the African-American population. Functional analyses of the transcriptional activity in breast and liver cells revealed that the transcription activation of a reporter gene is inversely correlated with the number of repeats. Reverse transcription-PCR analysis confirmed the expression of UGT1A1 in human liver in the hepatocarcinoma cell line HepG2 and provided evidence of the expression of UGT1A1 in breast cancer tissue, where a positive signal was observed in 11 of 12 breast cancer cell lines tested. The population-based case-control study involved 200 women with breast cancer and 200 female controls of African ancestry. We postulated that breast cancer cases might have a higher prevalence of low activity allele-containing genotypes than controls (alleles presenting seven and eight repeats in the A(TA)nTAA motif of the TATA box). The age-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for breast cancer comparing women with seven and eight allele-containing genotypes versus 5/5, 5/6, and 6/6 genotypes was 1.8 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.0-3.1; P = 0.06] in premenopausal women and 1.0 (95% CI, 0.5-1.7; P = 0.9) in postmenopausal women. The observed 1.8-fold elevated risk in premenopausal women with invasive breast cancer is highly suggestive of a possible interaction between UGT genotype and hormones. Additional analyses suggested a stronger association of UGT1A1 genotype with estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast cancer. Among premenopausal women, the association was stronger for ER- breast cancer (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0-4.2; P = 0.04) than ER+ breast cancer (OR, 1.3; 95% CI, 0.6-3.0; P = 0.5). The OR was slightly stronger among women who used oral contraceptives, and the association remained null in postmenopausal women, regardless of whether they took hormone replacement therapy. Our current findings suggest that further investigations are warranted to elucidate the role of UGT1A1 in breast cancer risk.

Adult↗

Pharmacogenetics of irinotecan toxicity.

Irinotecan is an anticancer drug approved in combination therapy for advanced colorectal cancer. Severe, life-threatening toxicities can occur from irinotecan treatment. Although multiple genes may play a role in irinotecan activity, the UDP glycuronosyltransferase 1 family, polypeptide A1 (UGT1A1) enzyme has been strongly associated with toxicity. A common dinucleotide repeat polymorphism in the UGT1A1 promoter region (UGT1A1*28) has been correlated with severe toxicity in cancer patients receiving irinotecan-containing therapy. Prospective screening of patients prior to chemotherapy selection may reduce the frequency of severe toxicities by allowing alternate therapy selections for patients carrying the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

UGT1A1*28 polymorphism as a determinant of irinotecan disposition and toxicity.

The metabolism of irinotecan (CPT-11) involves sequential activation to SN-38 and detoxification to the pharmacologically inactive SN-38 glucuronide (SN-38G). We have previously demonstrated the role of UGT1A1 enzyme in the glucuronidation of SN-38 and a significant correlation between in vitro glucuronidation of SN-38 and UGT1A1 gene promoter polymorphism. This polymorphism (UGT1A1*28) is characterized by the presence of an additional TA repeat in the TATA sequence of the UGT1A1 promoter, ((TA)7TAA, instead of (TA)6TAA). Here we report the results from a prospective clinical pharmacogenetic study to determine the significance of UGT1A1*28 polymorphism on irinotecan disposition and toxicity in patients with cancer. Twenty patients with solid tumors were treated with a 90 min i.v. infusion of irinotecan (300 mg m(-2)) once every 3 weeks. The frequency of UGT1A1 genotypes was as follows: 6/6--45%, 6/7--35% and 7/7--20%, with allele frequencies of 0.375 and 0.625 for (TA)7TAA and (TA)6TAA, respectively. Patients with the (TA)7TAA polymorphism had significantly lower SN-38 glucuronidation rates than those with the normal allele (6/6>6/7>7/7, P = 0.001). More severe grades of diarrhea and neutropenia were observed only in patients heterozygous (grade 4 diarrhea, n = 1) or homozygous (grade 3 diarrhea/grade 4 neutropenia, n = 1 and grade 3 neutropenia, n = 1) for the (TA)7TAA sequence. The results suggest that screening for UGT1A1*28 polymorphism may identify patients with lower SN-38 glucuronidation rates and greater susceptibility to irinotecan induced gastrointestinal and bone marrow toxicity.

Adult↗

Isolation and characterization of the monkey UDP-glucuronosyltransferase cDNA clone monUGT1A01 active on bilirubin and estrogens.

Although enzymes that catalyze the formation of steroids are well known, less information is available about the enzymes involved in the metabolism of these hormones. Steroid glucuronidation, by UDP-glucuronosyltransferase enzymes, is one mechanism by which steroid hormones can be metabolized and eliminated from a tissue. Previous results suggest that the monkey represents the most appropriate animal model for studying the physiologic relevance of steroid glucuronidating enzymes. The monkey UGT1A01 cDNA clone was isolated by RT-PCR amplification of the liver RNA. The cDNA contains an open reading frame of 1599 bp encoding a protein of 533 residues. The primary structure of monkey UGT1A01 is 95% identical to human UGT1A1. To compare monkey and human UGT1A1 enzymes, both cDNA clones were transfected into HK293 cells and stable cell lines expressing each UGT1A1 protein were established. Western blot analysis of the monUGT1A01-HK293 and hUGT1A1-HK293 cell lines using a anti-UGT1A polyclonal antibody (RC-71) revealed expression of exogenous 55 kDa UGT1 proteins. The transferase activities of monkey and human UGT1A1 proteins were tested with over 60 compounds and were demonstrated to be active on the same compounds. For endogenous compounds only bilirubin and C18 steroids were glucuronidated by these enzymes. Using microsome preparation (from HK293 cell expressing monkey UGT1A01), the apparent K(m) values were 13, 5 and 6 microM for the conjugation of estradiol, 2-hydroxyestradiol and 2-hydroxyestrone, respectively, and were very similar to the values obtained with human UGT1A1. Specific RT-PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of monkey and human UGT1A1 transcripts in several tissues including liver, kidney, intestine, prostate, testis and ovary suggesting a contribution of this isoenzyme to estrogen metabolism in the cynomolgus monkey as in human.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1 is the principal enzyme responsible for etoposide glucuronidation in human liver and intestinal microsomes: structural characterization of phenolic and alcoholic glucuronides of etoposide and estimation of enzyme kinetics.

Etoposide, an important anticancer agent, undergoes glucuronidation both in vitro and in vivo. In this study, three isomeric glucuronides of etoposide, including one phenolic (EPG) and two alcoholic glucuronides (EAG1 and EAG2), were biosynthesized in vitro with human liver microsomes (HLMs), and identified by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry and confirmed by beta-glucuronidase cleavage. In vitro UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) reaction screening with 12 recombinant human UGTs demonstrated that etoposide glucuronidation is mainly catalyzed by UGT1A1. Although UGT1A8 and 1A3 also catalyzed the glucuronidation of etoposide, their activities were approximately 10 and 1% of UGT1A1. Enzyme kinetic study indicated that the predominant form of etoposide glucuronide in HLMs and human intestinal microsomes (HIMs) was EPG, whereas EAG1 and EAG2 were the minor metabolites, with approximately an 8 to 10% glucuronidation rate of EPG. For the formation of EPG, the V(max) of HLMs (110 pmol/min/mg protein) was very similar to that of recombinant UGT1A1 (124 pmol/min/mg protein), whereas the V(max) of HIMs (54.4 pmol/min/mg protein) was 2-fold lower than those of HIMs and UGT1A1. The K(m) values of HLMs (530 microM) and HIMs (608 microM) were 2-fold higher than that of UGT1A1 (285 microM). The V(max)/K(m) values for the formation of EPG were 0.21 and 0.09 microl/min/mg protein for HLMs and HIMs, respectively. The data indicated that UGT1A1 is principally responsible for the formation of etoposide glucuronides, mainly in the form of phenolic glucuronide, suggesting that etoposide can be used as a highly selective probe substrate for human UGT1A1 in vitro.

Alcohols↗

N-glucuronidation of nicotine and cotinine in human: formation of cotinine glucuronide in liver microsomes and lack of catalysis by 10 examined UDP-glucuronosyltransferases.

Two predominant human glucuronide metabolites of nicotine result from pyridine nitrogen atom conjugation. The present objectives included determination of the kinetics of formation of S(-)-cotinine N1-glucuronide in pooled human liver microsomes and investigation of the UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) involved in N-glucuronidation of nicotine isomers and S(-)-cotinine by use of recombinant enzymes (UGT1A1, UGT1A3, UGT1A4, UGT1A6, UGT1A7, UGT1A8, UGT1A9, UGT1A10, UGT2B7, and UGT2B15). Quantification was by radiochemical high-performance liquid chromatography with use of radiolabeled substrates. S(-)-Cotinine N1-glucuronide formation in human liver microsomes was proven by comparing the chromatographic behaviors and electrospray ionization-mass spectral characteristics of the metabolite with a synthetic reference standard. This glucuronide was formed by one-enzyme kinetics with K(m) and V(max) values of 5.4 mM and 696 pmol/min/mg, respectively, and the apparent intrinsic clearance value (V(max/Km)) was 9-fold less than that previously determined for S(-)-nicotine N1-glucuronide (0.13 versus 1.2 microl/min/mg) using the same pooled microsomes. This comparison of values is consistent with the observation that on smoking cigarettes, although the average S(-)-cotinine plasma levels usually far exceed S(-)-nicotine levels, the urinary recovery of S(-)-cotinine N1-glucuronide only averages 3-fold greater than for S(-)-nicotine N1-glucuronide. None of the UGTs examined catalyzed the N-glucuronidation of S(-)-nicotine, R(+)-nicotine, and S(-)-cotinine, including UGT1A3 and UGT1A4, the only isoforms known to catalyze many substrates at a tertiary amine. Also, neither S(-)-nicotine or S(-)-cotinine affected enzyme inhibition of trifluoperazine, a UGT1A4 substrate. It would appear that the same, as yet unexamined, UGT catalyzes the N-glucuronidation of both cotinine and nicotine.

Catalysis↗

Required buried alpha-helical structure in the bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, UGT1A1, contains a nonreplaceable phenylalanine.

A conserved hydrophobic region in the bilirubin-type UDP-glucuronosyltransferase isozyme was first uncovered as a consequence of a deleterious mutation in the UGT1A1 (HUG-Br1) isozyme of a Crigler-Najjar (CN) Type I patient. According to analysis by the RAOARGOS computer program, this hydrophobic region in UGT1A1 is located between residues 159-177 and defines a buried helix centered over position 169-172 with a positive factor of 1.22. Further analysis showed that the planar phenol-type UGT1A6 (HLUG P1) isoform, unlike the steroid-type UGT2B7 (UDPGTh2) isozyme, has a similar conserved hydrophobic region and that the positive factor for its buried helix is 1.14 compared to the threshold of 1.13 for such a structure. The analysis detected the typical membrane-insertion-signal sequence and a membrane-anchoring domain in each isoform. The different amino acid sequence patterns between positions 168-172 for the three types of isoforms and the deleterious mutations in this microregion (MRA) of UGT1A1 in CN-I patients are evidence of a critical and descriminating role for MRA. With the recombinant UGT1A1 enzyme and its mutants, P167G, F170del, F170L, F170I, F170V, F170A, F170Y, F170E, F171L, F171I, F171V, F171A, F171Y, or L175Q, expressed in COS-1 cells, bilirubin glucuronidating activity at both pH 6.4 and 7.6 demonstrated that Phe-170 is not replaceable, whereas Phe-171 can be replaced by Leu without any loss of activity. The less hydrophobic buried helix in the phenolic-type UGT1A6 has a Tyr/Leu at position 170/171; this isoform glucuronidated bilirubin at 1/10 the level of that by UGT1A1 with a Km (bilirubin) of 25 microM compared to that for UGT1A1 of 5. 0 microM.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Expression of cytochromes P450, conjugating enzymes and nuclear receptors in human hepatoma HepaRG cells.

Most human hepatocyte cell lines lack a substantial set of liver-specific functions, especially major cytochrome P450 (P450)-related enzyme activities, making them unrepresentative of in vivo hepatocytes. We have used the HepaRG cells, derived from a human hepatocellular carcinoma, which exhibit a high differentiation pattern after 2 weeks at confluency to determine whether they could mimic human hepatocytes for drug metabolism and toxicity studies. We show that when passaged at low density, these cells reversed to an undifferentiated morphology, actively divided, and, after having reached confluency, formed typical hepatocyte-like colonies surrounded by biliary epithelial-like cells. By contrast, when seeded at high density, hepatocyte-like clusters retained their typical differentiated morphology. Transcripts of various nuclear receptors (aryl hydrocarbon receptor, pregnane X receptor, constitutive androstane receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha), P450s (CYP1A2, 2C9, 2D6, 2E1, 3A4), phase 2 enzymes (UGT1A1, GSTA1, GSTA4, GSTM1), and other liver-specific functions were estimated by reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and were found to be expressed, for most of them, at comparable levels in both confluent differentiated and high-density differentiated HepaRG cells and in cultured primary human hepatocytes. For several transcripts, the levels were strongly increased in the presence of 2% dimethyl sulfoxide. Measurement of basal activities of several P450s and their response to prototypical inducers as well as analysis of metabolic profiles and cytotoxicity of several compounds confirmed the functional resemblance of HepaRG cells to primary cultured human hepatocytes. In conclusion, HepaRG cells constitute the first human hepatoma cell line expressing high levels of the major P450s involved in xenobiotic metabolism and represent a reliable surrogate to human hepatocytes for drug metabolism and toxicity studies.

Acetaminophen↗