The present manuscript describes the development of a cell-based reporter transcriptional activation assay for evaluating induction of UGT1A1. A reporter construct (pGL-UGT1A1-Luc) encompassing the proximal promoter (nucleotide -254 to +38) and distal enhancer (-3483 to -3194) regions of the human UGT1A1 gene was generated by PCR cloning, and co-transfected with a previously generated PXR construct (pSG5-PXR) into HepG2 cells. The system was then validated using known ligands of PXR, rifampicin (RIF), clotrimazole (CLOT) sulfinpyrazone (SPZ) and phenobarbital (PB), which produced dose dependent induction of UGT1A1 luciferase activity by 4.4, 5.3, 4.7 and 3.7 fold, respectively, relative to the vehicle control, 0.1 % dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligands a-naphthoflavone (a-Naph), b-naphthoflavone (b-Naph) and 3-methylchloranthene (3-MC) increased UGT1A1 luciferase activity in a concentration dependent manner resulting in 17.2, 11.3 and 6.1 fold, respectively, at their highest concentrations, suggesting that endogenous AhR is also involved in the regulation of the UGT1A1 reporter construct in HepG2 cells. For comparison with transcriptional regulation of endogenous UGT1A1, 10 mM RIF, 50 mM SPZ, 10 mM CLOT, 4 mM 3-MC, 10 mM b-Naph and 25 mM a-Naph also induced UGT1A1 mRNA in human primary hepatocytes by 2.5, 2.8, 3.2, 3.7, 3.9 and 4.3 fold, respectively. In summary, by co-transfecting the UGT1A1 reporter and PXR constructs into HepG2 cells, we have developed a cellular model for evaluating induction of UGT1A1. Data from the reporter gene assay correlated with that generated in human primary hepatocytes. Based on these data, we suggest that this reporter gene assay can be used as a screening tool in the early stages of drug discovery, to evaluate potential induction of UGT1A1 by new chemical entities and to aid in lead selection and optimization.

CYP2D6 is an important enzyme that is involved in first pass metabolism and is responsible for metabolizing ~25% of currently marketed drugs. A homology model of CYP2D6 was built using X-ray structures of ligand-bound CYP2C5 complexes as templates. This homology model was used in docking studies to rationalize and predict the site of metabolism of known CYP2D6 substrates. While the homology model was generally found to be in good agreement with the recently solved apo (ligand-free) X-ray structure of CYP2D6, significant differences between the structures were observed in the B′ and F–G helical region. These structural differences are similar to those observed between ligand-free and ligand-bound structures of other CYPs and suggest that these conformational changes result from induced-fit adaptations upon ligand binding. By docking to the homology model using Glide, it was possible to identify the correct site of metabolism for a set of 16 CYP2D6 substrates 85% of the time when the 5 top scoring poses were examined. On the other hand, docking to the apo CYP2D6 X-ray structure led to a loss in accuracy in predicting the sites of metabolism for many of the CYP2D6 substrates considered in this study. These results demonstrate the importance of describing substrate-induced conformational changes that occur upon binding. The best results were obtained using Glide SP with van der Waals scaling set to 0.8 for both the receptor and ligand atoms. A discussion of putative binding modes that explain the distribution of metabolic sites for substrates, as well as a relationship between the number of metabolic sites and substrate size, are also presented. In addition, analysis of these binding modes enabled us to rationalize the typical hydroxylation and O -demethylation reactions catalyzed by CYP2D6 as well as the less common N -dealkylation.

OBJECTIVE Identification of potential pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions is an important step in clinical drug development.We assessed and compared the drug-drug interaction potential of desvenlafaxine and venlafaxine, based on their inhibitory potency on human cytochrome P450 (CYP) and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activities in vitro. METHODS Reversible inhibition of CYP1A2, CYP2A6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4, and mechanism-based inhibition of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A activity by desvenlafaxine and venlafaxine were determined in human liver microsomes.Whether these drugs were substrates for efflux or inhibitors of P-gp were determined in Caco-2 monolayers. RESULTS Desvenlafaxine and venlafaxine showed little or no reversible inhibition of various CYP enzymes (concentration that inhibits 50% [IC50] or inhibition constant [Ki] ~ or >100 muM). In addition, neither drug acted as a mechanism-based inhibitor of CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, or CYP3A as they did not reduce the IC50 value for any of these enzymes in the presence of preincubations with or without a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-regenerating system. Desvenlafaxine and venlafaxine showed little inhibition of P-gp activity (IC50 values >250 muM) and did not act as substrates (efflux ratios <2) for efflux in Caco-2 monolayers. CONCLUSIONS Considering in vitro and available clinical data, desvenlafaxine and venlafaxine appear to have low potential for pharmacokinetic drug-drug interactions via inhibiting the metabolic clearance of concomitant drugs that are substrates of various CYP enzymes, in particular CYP2D6. In addition, these data suggest that desvenlafaxine and venlafaxine exhibit little potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with concomitant drugs that are substrates or inhibitors of P-gp.

5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)1A receptors play an important role in multiple cognitive processes, and compelling evidence suggests that 5-HT1A antagonists can reverse cognitive impairment. We have examined the therapeutic potential of a potent (Ki = 1.1 nM), selective (>100-fold), orally bioavailable, silent 5-HT1A receptor antagonist (KB = 1.3 nM) (R)-N-(2-methyl-(4-indolyl-1-piperazinyl)-ethyl)-N-(2-pyridinyl)-cyclohexane carboxamide (WAY-101405). Oral administration of WAY-101405 was shown to be effective in multiple rodent models of learning and memory. In a novel object recognition paradigm, 1 mg/kg enhanced retention (memory) for previously learned information, and it was able to reverse the memory deficits induced by scopolamine. WAY-101405 (1 mg/kg) was also able to reverse scopolamine-induced deficits in a rat contextual fear conditioning model. In the Morris water maze, WAY-101405 (3 mg/kg) significantly improved learning in a paradigm of increasing task difficulty. In vivo microdialysis studies in the dorsal hippocampus of freely moving adult rats demonstrated that acute administration of WAY-101405 (10 mg/kg) increased extracellular acetylcholine levels. The selective radioligand [3H]WAY-100635, administered i.v., was used for in vivo receptor occupancy studies, where WAY-101405 occupied 5-HT1A receptors in the rat cortex, with an ED50 value of 0.1 mg/kg p.o. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that WAY-101405 is a potent and selective, brain penetrant, orally bioavailable 5-HT1A receptor “silent” antagonist that is effective in preclinical memory paradigms at doses where approximately 90% of the postsynaptic 5-HT1A receptors are occupied. These results further support the rationale for use of this compound class in the treatment of cognitive dysfunction associated with psychiatric and neurological conditions.

Discovery Neuroscience (W.D.H., T.H.A., S.A., T.A.C., L.A.D., M.D., S.M.G., Z.A.H., H.L., S.R.-L., D.L.S., K.S., S.S.-R., L.E.S.) and Chemical & Screening Sciences (W.E.C., B.L.H., M.G.K., A.L.S., M-Y.Z.), Wyeth Research, Princeton, New Jersey; Drug Safety and Metabolism (I.B.F., J.K. and C.T.), Wyeth Research, Collegeville, Pennsylvania. JPET Fast Forward. Published on January 8, 2008 as DOI:10.1124/jpet.107.133082

Drug metabolism in pharmaceutical research has traditionally focused on the well-defined aspects of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion, commonly-referred to ADME properties of a compound, particularly in the areas of metabolite identification, identification of drug metabolizing enzymes (DMEs) and associated metabolic pathways, and reaction mechanisms. This traditional emphasis was in part due to the limited scope of understanding and the unavailability of in vitro and in vivo tools with which to evaluate more complex properties and processes. However, advances over the past decade in separate but related fields such as pharmacogenetics, pharmacogenomics and drug transporters, have dramatically shifted the drug metabolism paradigm. For example, knowledge of the genetics and genomics of DMEs allows us to better understand and predict enzyme regulation and its effects on exogenous (pharmacokinetics) and endogenous pathways as well as biochemical processes (pharmacology). Advances in the transporter area have provided unprecedented insights into the role of transporter proteins in absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of drugs and their consequences with respect to clinical drug–drug and drug–endogenous substance interactions, toxicity and interindividual variability in pharmacokinetics. It is therefore essential that individuals involved in modern pharmaceutical research embrace a fully integrated approach and understanding of drug metabolism as is currently practiced. The intent of this review is to reexamine drug metabolism with respect to the traditional as well as current practices, with particular emphasis on the critical aspects of integrating chemistry and biology in the interpretation and application of metabolism data in pharmaceutical research.

An integrated systems biology approach of measuring mRNA, protein and enzyme activity, was used to determine the molecular mechanisms responsible for reductions in thyroid hormone levels observed in rats given 1000 mg/kg/day of a nonsteroidal progesterone agonist (NSP). The effect of NSP on drug metabolizing enzyme (DME) expression was determined in livers from treated and vehicle control rats. In treated males, CYP1A1, CYP2B1, CYP2B2, CYP2C12, CYP3A1 and UGT1A mRNAs increased by 2.2, 31.0, 9.4, 13.0, 6.4 and 2.3 fold, while CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 levels decreased by 4.8 and 15.0 fold respectively. CYP1A, CYP2B and UGT1A enzyme activities increased by 2.9, 6.2 and 1.4 fold while CYP2C and CYP3A activities decreased by 2.2 and 1.8 fold respectively. CYP2B and CYP2C proteins increased by 2.1 and 1.3 fold but CYP2C11, the male-specific isozyme, and CYP3A protein decreased by 2.0 and 1.4 fold respectively. In treated females, CYP1A, CYP2B, CYP2C, CYP3A and UGT activities increased by 1.9, 12.0, 23.0, 13.0 and 2.2 fold respectively; with corresponding increases in mRNA ranging from 1.5 to 783 fold. CYP2B, CYP2C and CYP3A proteins increased by 3.6, 2.2 and 6.4 fold respectively, but CYP2C11 remained unchanged. These data suggest that NSP modulates the transcriptional regulation DME in rats and could account for the observed reductions in thyroid hormones, since UGT conjugation is the main pathway of thyroid hormone elimination in rats. These data also show gender and isozyme-specific regulation of some genes, thus demonstrating the value of an integrated approach in determining the contribution of individual genes in drug safety and metabolism observations.

A cell-based reporter gene assay to study CYP3A4 induction was developed in the present study. The pregnane X receptor (PXR) gene or variant (PXR2) was cloned into the pSG5 vector and cotransfected into HepG2 cells, with a construct, pGL3-3A4-Luc, containing the promoter/enhancer region of the CYP3A4 gene. The two systems were validated using rifampicin (RIF). The variant, PXR2, did not mediate induction of CYP3A4 by rifampicin (10 mu M) whereas PXR showed dose-dependent induction of CYP3A4, with a fold change of 40-60, compared to the vehicle control, 0.1% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). Further validation of the PXR/3A4 system was performed using other inducers of CYP3A4, after which CYP3A4 inducibility by a Wyeth compound, Tanaproget (TNPR), and the synthetic steroid, 3-ketodesogestrel (3-KDG), were assessed. At the highest concentrations tested, troleandomycin (TROL) and phenobarbital (PB) induced CYP3A4 by 15-25-fold, while carbamazepine (CMZ), dexamethasone (DEX), and erythromycin (ERY) produced fold induction of < 3. Pregnenolone 16-alpha carbonitrile (PCN), a rat-specific CYP3A inducer, did not induce CYP3A4. TNPR did not induce CYP3A4 at concentrations up to 10 mu M while 3-KDG produced a concentration-dependent induction, with a fold change of 14 at 20 mu M. These data show that the variant PXR2 is not activated by rifampicin. The PXR/3A4 system described can be used to study CYP3A4 induction and provides a robust, specific, and reproducible in vitro system that can be used to assess CYP3A4 inducibility by compounds in the drug development process.

The 5-HT(2C) receptor subtype has been implicated in a wide variety of conditions including obesity, anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, migraine and erectile dysfunction and as a consequence has received considerable attention as a target for drug discovery. Here we review the pharmacological, pharmacokinetic and toxicological profile of WAY-163909 {(7bR,10aR)-1,2,3,4,8,9,10,10a-octahydro-7bH-cyclopenta-[b][1,4]diazepino[6,7,1hi]indole}, a novel 5-HT(2C) receptor selective agonist. Consistent with a potential therapeutic utility in obesity, schizophrenia and depression WAY-163909 was found to have robust dose-dependent effects in animal models of obesity, psychotic-like behavior or depression.

Current regulatory guidances do not address specific study designs for in vitro and in vivo drug-drug interaction studies. There is a common desire by regulatory authorities and by industry sponsors to harmonize approaches, to allow for a better assessment of the significance of findings across different studies and drugs. There is also a growing consensus for the standardization of cytochrome P450 (P450) probe substrates, inhibitors and inducers and for the development of classification systems to improve the communication of risk to health care providers and to patients. While existing guidances cover mainly P450-mediated drug interactions, the importance of other mechanisms, such as transporters, has been recognized more recently, and should also be addressed. This article was prepared by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) Drug Metabolism and Clinical Pharmacology Technical Working Groups and represents the current industry position. The intent is to define a minimal best practice for in vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetic drug-drug interaction studies targeted to development (not discovery support) and to define a data package that can be expected by regulatory agencies in compound registration dossiers.

Signal transducer and activator of transcription (Stat), a family of transcriptional factors, has been demonstrated to play a critical role in gene regulation in response to inflammatory cytokines, such as interferon and interleukin-6. Inflammatory cytokines and bacterial endotoxin are known to suppress, in most of cases, the constitutive or induced cytochromes P450 (P450) in animals and humans. However, it is not clear if the suppression of P450 by cytokines is through the Stat-signaling pathway. In the present study, we determined whether Stat1 is involved in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated modulation of P450 in mouse liver. In both Stat1(+/+) (wild type) and Stat1(-/-) (null) mice, a single dose of LPS treatment (1 mg/kg of body weight, i.p.) significantly reduced the expression of CYP3A11, 2C29, and 1A2 mRNA to 8 to 40% of the control levels as determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The reduction was supported by Western blot analysis. In contrast, LPS significantly induced the level of CYP4A10 mRNA in both Stat1(+/+) (338% of control) and Stat1(-/-) mice (264% of control). Although suppression of mRNA levels of CYP2E1, and 2D9 was not observed in either LPS-treated Stat1 null or wild-type animals, LPS treatment resulted in a reduction of CYP2E1 protein content, which was more significant in Stat1(+/+) (23% of control) than in Stat1(-/-) mice (67% of control). Consistent with this result, the chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylase and lauric acid 11-hydroxylase activities, as CYP2E1 representative activities, were reduced markedly by LPS in Stat1(+/+) but not in Stat1(-/-) mice. The ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, as a representative CYP1A activity, was also reduced significantly only in LPS-treated Stat1(+/+) mice. These data clearly demonstrate that LPS-mediated modulation of CYP3A11, 2B10, 2C29, 1A2, and 4A10 in mouse liver is Stat1-independent. However, the significant difference between the LPS-treated Stat1(+/+) and Stat1(-/-) mice in the levels of CYP2E1 protein and activity as well as in the activity level of CYP1A suggests that Stat1 may be indirectly involved in the post-transcriptional modulation of these two mouse P450 enzymes.

There is considerable interindividual variation in man's ability to metabolize drugs and foreign compounds. These differences can partly be attributed to genetic polymorphisms that result in the generation of multiple phenotypes with different drug-metabolizing capabilities. Genetically derived differences can easily be assessed by genotyping assays in cases where the polymorphism has been identified. However, many of the polymorphisms that result in these are not known, secondly not all the differences can be attributed to genetic polymorphisms, hence genotyping methods cannot be employed. We have therefore, developed real-time (Taqman) PCR assays to quantitate levels of P450 mRNAs in human tissues. These assays are highly sensitive, reproducible, and specific and will allow quantitation of P450 mRNA levels in various human tissues. We have applied these assays to quantitate cytochrome P450 mRNA levels in human skin samples from 27 healthy volunteers. The expression of 13 P450s was assessed. The major enzymes detected were CYP1B1, CYP2B6, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4 with mean values of 2.5, 2.6, 2.7, and 1.1 fg/18S rRNA in 50ng total RNA, respectively. Lower levels of CYP2C18, CYP2C19, and CYP3A5 were also detected while CYP1A2, 2A6, and 2C8 were below limits of detection. There was interindividual variation in the levels of mRNA among the 27 subjects studied although Poisson analysis showed data to be normally distributed, except for CYP2B6, as some individuals completely lacked CYP2B6 mRNA.

AIMS:In order to anticipate drug-interactions of potential clinical significance the ability of the novel antidepressant, venlafaxine, to inhibit CYP2D6 dependent imipramine and desipramine 2-hydroxylation was investigated in human liver microsomes. The data obtained were compared with the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, fluoxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine and paroxetine. Venlafaxine's potential to inhibit several other major P450 s was also studied (CYP3A4, CYP2D6, CYP1A2).METHODS:Ki values for venlafaxine, paroxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and sertraline as inhibitors of imipramine and desipramine 2-hydroxylation were determined from Dixon plots of control and inhibited rate data in human hepatic microsomal incubations. The inhibitory effect of imipramine and desipramine on liver microsomal CYP2D6 dependent venlafaxine O-demethylation was determined similarly. Venlafaxine's IC50 values for CYP3A4, CYP1A2 CYP2C9 were determined based on inhibition of probe substrate activities (testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation, ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase and tolbutamide 4-hydroxylation, respectively).RESULTS:Fluoxetine, paroxetine, and fluvoxamine were potent inhibitors of imipramine 2-hydroxylase activity (Ki values of 1.6 +/- 0.8, 3.2 +/- 0.8 and 8.0 +/- 4.3 microM, respectively; mean +/- s.d., n = 3), while sertraline was less inhibitory (Ki of 24.7 +/- 8.9 microM). Fluoxetine also markedly inhibited desipramine 2-hydroxylation with a Ki of 1.3 +/- 0.5 microM. Venlafaxine was less potent an inhibitor of imipramine 2-hydroxylation (Ki of 41.0 +/- 9.5 microM) than the SSRIs that were studied. Imipramine and desipramine gave marked inhibition of CYP2D6 dependent venlafaxine O-demethylase activity (Ki values of 3.9 +/- 1.7 and 1.7 +/- 0.9 microM, respectively). Venlafaxine did not inhibit ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (CYP1A2), tolbutamide 4-hydroxylase (CYP2C9) or testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylase (CYP3A4) activities at concentrations of up to 1 mM.CONCLUSIONS:It is concluded that venlafaxine has a low potential to inhibit the metabolism of substrates for CYP2D6 such as imipramine and desipramine compared with several of the most widely used SSRIs, as well as the metabolism of substrates for several of the other major human hepatic P450s.

The metabolism of [14C]7-ethoxycoumarin ([14C]7-EC) has been studied in rat liver slice cultures in vitro by using a direct radiometric high-pressure liquid chromatography method. [14C]7-EC was extensively biotransformed in these incubations to 7-hydroxycoumarin (7-OHC), 7-hydroxycoumarin glucuronide, and 7-hydroxycoumarin sulfate, as well as to a large number of previously unrecognized metabolites, the majority of which are sulfate conjugates. The liver slice [14C]7-EC metabolite profile was also very complex and seemed to be qualitatively similar to the medium metabolite profile. Quantitative comparisons, however, demonstrated that there was approximately two to five times more 7-OHC in the liver slice than in the medium, whereas 7-hydroxycoumarin sulfate, the most abundant metabolite in the medium, was present only at low levels in the liver slice. These data demonstrate that 7-OHC levels are considerably underestimated when only levels in the medium are considered. Total metabolite levels were approximately equal in the medium and liver slice after a 2-hr incubation, with considerably higher total metabolite levels present in the medium at the end of the incubation period (8 hr). Additional studies are needed to identify the structures of the previously unrecognized metabolites observed in this study and the enzymes responsible for their formation, as well as studies to define the metabolism of [14C]7-EC in other in vitro models by using tissue from humans and other animal species.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1996) 59, 170–170; doi: 10.1038/sj.clpt.1996.180