Metabolism of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline by cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 enzymes.

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Citation

Olesen OV, Linnet K

Metabolism of the tricyclic antidepressant amitriptyline by cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Pharmacology. 1997 Nov;55(5):235-43. doi: 10.1159/000139533.

PubMed ID
9399333 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The metabolism of amitriptyline was studied in vitro using cDNA-expressed human cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes 1A2, 3A4, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 2E1. CYP 2C19 was the most important enzyme with regard to the demethylation of amitriptyline, the quantitatively most important metabolic pathway. CYP 1A2, 3A4, 2C9 and CYP 2D6 also participated in the demethylation of amitriptyline. CYP 2D6 was the sole enzyme mediating the hydroxylation of amitriptyline, and (E)-10-OH-amitriptyline was exclusively produced. CYP 2E1 did not metabolize amitriptyline. Concerning the quantitative relations, CYP 2C19 and 2D6 exhibited high affinities with Km values in the range of 5-13 mumol/l, whereas the affinities of 1A2, 3A4 and 2C9 were somewhat lower with Km values ranging from 74 to 92 mumol/l. CYP 2C19 displayed the highest reaction capacity per mole with Vmax equal to 475 mol h-1 (mol CYP)-1. The other enzymes had Vmax values in the range of 90-145 mol h-1 (mol CYP)-1. Allowing for the typical relative distribution of amounts of CYP enzymes in the liver, a simulation study suggested that, at therapeutic doses, on average about 60% of the metabolism depended on CYP 2C19. At toxic doses, CYP 2C19 is expected to be saturated, and CYP 3A4 may now play a dominant role in the metabolism.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs
Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
AmitriptylineCytochrome P450 2C9ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
Drug Reactions
Reaction
Details
Details