Theophylline metabolism in human liver microsomes: inhibition studies.

Article Details

Citation

Tjia JF, Colbert J, Back DJ

Theophylline metabolism in human liver microsomes: inhibition studies.

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1996 Mar;276(3):912-7.

PubMed ID
8786569 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

In this paper we describe the kinetics of formation of 1-methylxanthine (1-MX), 3-methylxanthine (3-MX) and 1,3-dimethyluric acid (1,3-DMU) from theophylline in human liver microsomal incubations and use the selective inhibitor approach to define the role of the individual cytochrome P450s (CYP) in each pathway. A biphasic model fitted the data best for the formation of each metabolite. The high-affinity site Km and Vmax values were: 1-MX, Km = 0.29 +/- 0.21 mM, Vmax = 5.92 +/- 3.74 pmol.mg(-1).min(-1) (mean +/- S.D.; n = 4); 3-MX, Km = 0.28 +/- 0.08 mM, Vmax = 3.32 +/- 2.19 pmol.mg(-1).min(-1); 1,3-DMU,Km = 0.31 +/- 0.14 mM, Vmax = 43.3 +/- 9.3 pmol.mg(-1).min(-1). The relative contribution of the high- and the low-affinity enzymes in 1,3-DMU formation was calculated based on the enzyme kinetic parameters. To characterize the high-affinity site, a range of CYP isozyme substrates and inhibitors were incubated with 100 microM theophylline. The CYP1A2 inhibitors furafylline, ellipticine and alpha-naphthoflavone were potent inhibitors of both 1-MX and 3-MX formation with more that 80% of N-demethylase activities inhibited below a concentration of 5 microM. These compounds also markedly inhibited 1,3-DMU formation. Enzyme kinetic and selective inhibition data indicated that about 80% of 1,3-DMU formation was catalyzed by the high-affinity isoform (CYP1A2) at a theophylline concentration of 100 microM. To investigate the role of other isoforms in 8-hydroxylation, experiments were performed involving incubation with a combination of inhibitors. It is evident that in addition to CYP1A2, CYP2E1 has a minor role om 8-hydroxylation. This based on the fact that 80% inhibition was seen on preincubation with furafylline and about 90% inhibition on preincubation with furafylline plus diethyldithiocarbamate. Low concentrations of ketoconazole (selective for CYP3A4) only produced marginal inhibition of 1,3-DMU and, therefore, CYP3A4 is only of minor significance in this reaction. Human B-lymphoblastoid cell lines expressing CYP1A2 catalyzed theophylline metabolism with formation of 1-MX, 3-MX and 1,3-MDU. CYP2E1 cells also catalyzed formation of 1,3-DMU. The CYP3A4 cell line did not catalyze theophylline metabolism.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
AminophyllineCytochrome P450 2E1ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
AminophyllineCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
Drug Interactions
DrugsInteraction