Danyi Lu

Identification of glucuronidation and biliary excretion as the main mechanisms for gossypol clearance: in vivo and in vitro evidence

Abstract 1. The natural polyphenol gossypol possesses many therapeutic benefits. Here we aim to determine the elimination pathways of gossypol in vivo and in vitro. 2. Metabolite elucidation of gossypol was performed using UPLC-QTOF/MS coupled with Metabolynx analysis. Clearance of gossypol was evaluated in bile duct cannulated rats and in the single-pass perfused rat intestine model. In vitro glucuronidation of gossypol was characterized using liver and intestine microsomes as well as recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes. 3. Analysis of rat plasma, urine, and feces revealed glucuronidation as the only metabolic pathway for gossypol. In bile duct cannulated rats, considerable amounts of glucuronides (G1, G2 and G3; 58.8–83.2% of dose) and parent compound (5.0–20%) were excreted into bile after IV administration. In the perfused rat intestine model, gossypol was well absorbed with a (the dimensionless effective permeability) value of 4.4. Significant amounts of glucuronides (G1, G2 and G3) were excreted into the gut lumen (2.5%) and into the bile (4.8%). Biliary excretion of unchanged gossypol (6.0%) was comparable to that of glucuronides. Further, gossypol was subjected to rapid glucuronidation by liver and intestine microsomes. Reaction phenotyping showed that multiple UGT1A enzymes (including UGT1A1, 1A3, 1A7 and 1A8) are mainly responsible for gossypol metabolism. 4. In conclusion, glucuronidation was the only metabolic pathway for gossypol in rats. Excretion of unchanged gossypol into bile was also an important clearance mechanism.

Metabolism of the anthelmintic drug niclosamide by cytochrome P450 enzymes and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases: metabolite elucidation and main contributions from CYP1A2 and UGT1A1

Abstract 1. Niclosamide is an old anthelmintic drug that shows potential in fighting against cancers. Here, we characterized the metabolism of niclosamide by cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) using human liver microsomes (HLM) and expressed enzymes. 2. NADPH-supplemented HLM (and liver microsomes from various animal species) generated one hydroxylated metabolite (M1) from niclosamide; and UDPGA-supplemented liver microsomes generated one mono-O-glucuronide (M2). The chemical structures of M1 (3-hydroxy niclosamide) and M2 (niclosamide-2-O-glucuronide) were determined through LC–MS/MS and/or NMR analyses. 3. Reaction phenotyping revealed that CYP1A2 was the main enzyme responsible for M1 formation. The important role of CYP1A2 in niclosamide metabolism was further confirmed by activity correlation analyses as well as inhibition experiments using specific inhibitors. 4. Although seven UGT enzymes were able to catalyze glucuronidation of niclosamide, UGT1A1 and 1A3 were the enzymes showed the highest metabolic activities. Activity correlation analyses demonstrated that UGT1A1 played a predominant role in hepatic glucuronidation of niclosamide, whereas the role of UGT1A3 was negligible. 5. In conclusion, niclosamide was subjected to efficient metabolic reactions hydroxylation and glucuronidation, wherein CYP1A2 and UGT1A1 were the main contributing enzymes, respectively.

Regio- and isoform-specific glucuronidation of psoralidin: evaluation of 3-o-glucuronidation as a functional marker for UGT1A9.

In this study, we aimed to determine the glucuronidation potential of psoralidin in humans and to perform validation on use of psoralidin-3-O-glucuronidation as a functional marker for UGT1A9. Glucuronidation kinetics was determined using human liver microsomes (HLMs), human intestine microsomes (HIM), and expressed UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes. The chemical structures of metabolites were determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analyses. Validation of psoralidin-3-O-glucuronidation as a UGT1A9 marker was performed using combined approaches including reaction phenotyping, chemical inhibition, activity correlation analysis, and determination of relative activity factor (RAF). HLM and UGT1A9 generated two monoglucuronides (9-O-glucuronide and 3-O-glucuronide) from psoralidin, whereas HIM, UGT1A1, UGT1A7, and UGT1A8 generated one only (9-O-glucuronide). Formation of 3-O-glucuronide in HLM was markedly inhibited by the UGT1A9-selective inhibitors magnolol and niflumic acid. Further, psoralidin-3-O-glucuronidation was strongly correlated with propofol-glucuronidation in a group of nine individual HLMs (r = 0.978, p < 0.001). Strong correlation was also observed between psoralidin-3-O-glucuronidation and the UGT1A9 protein levels measured by Western blotting (r = 0.944, p < 0.001). Moreover, UGT1A9 was responsible for 99.6% of psoralidin-3-O-glucuronidation in HLM based on the RAF approach. In conclusion, psoralidin was subjected to efficient glucuronidation, generating one or two monoglucuronides depending on UGT isozymes. Also, psoralidin-3-O-glucuronidation was an excellent in vitro marker for UGT1A9.

Multidrug Resistance-Associated Protein 4 (MRP4/ABCC4) Controls Efflux Transport of Hesperetin Sulfates in Sulfotransferase 1A3–Overexpressing Human Embryonic Kidney 293 Cells

Sulfonation is an important metabolic pathway for hesperetin. However, the mechanisms for the cellular disposition of hesperetin and its sulfate metabolites are not fully established. In this study, disposition of hesperetin via the sulfonation pathway was investigated using human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressing sulfotransferase 1A3. Two monosulfates, hesperetin-3′-O-sulfate (H-3′-S) and hesperetin-7-O-sulfate (H-7-S), were rapidly generated and excreted into the extracellular compartment upon incubation of the cells with hesperetin. Regiospecific sulfonation of hesperetin by the cell lysate followed the substrate inhibition kinetics (Vmax = 0.66 nmol/min per mg, Km = 12.9 μM, and Ksi= 58.1 μM for H-3′-S; Vmax = 0.29 nmol/min per mg, Km = 14.8 μM, and Ksi= 49.1 μM for H-7-S). The pan–multidrug resistance-associated protein (MRP) inhibitor MK-571 at 20 μM essentially abolished cellular excretion of both H-3′-S and H-7-S (the excretion activities were only 6% of the control), whereas the breast cancer resistance protein–selective inhibitor Ko143 had no effects on sulfate excretion. In addition, knockdown of MRP4 led to a substantial reduction (>47.1%; P < 0.01) in sulfate excretion. Further, H-3′-S and H-7-S were good substrates for transport by MRP4 according to the vesicular transport assay. Moreover, sulfonation of hesperetin and excretion of its metabolites were well characterized by a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model that integrated drug uptake and sulfonation with MRP4-mediated sulfate excretion. In conclusion, the exporter MRP4 controlled efflux transport of hesperetin sulfates in HEK293 cells. Due to significant expression in various organs/tissues (including the liver and kidney), MRP4 should be a determining factor for the elimination and body distribution of hesperetin sulfates.

Transcriptional Regulation of Human UDP-Glucuronosyltransferase 2B10 by Farnesoid X Receptor in Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

Little is known about transcriptional regulators of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B10 (UGT2B10), an enzyme known to glucuronidate many chemicals and drugs such as nicotine and tricyclic antidepressants. Here, we uncovered that UGT2B10 was transcriptionally regulated by farnesoid X receptor (FXR), the bile acid sensing nuclear receptor. GW4064 and chenodeoxycholic acid (two specific FXR agonists) treatment of HepG2 cells led to a significant increase in the mRNA level of UGT2B10. The treated cells also showed enhanced glucuronidation activities toward amitriptyline (an UGT2B10 probe substrate). In reporter gene assays, the extent of UGT2B10 activation by the FXR agonists was positively correlated with the amount of cotransfected FXR. Consistently, knockdown of FXR by shRNA attenuated the induction effect on UGT2B10 expression. Furthermore, a combination of electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that the FXR receptor trans-activated UGT2B10 through its specific binding to the -209- to -197-bp region (an IR1 element) of the UGT2B10 promoter. In summary, our results for the first time established FXR as a transcriptional regulator of human UGT2B10.

REV-ERBa Regulates CYP7A1 through Repression of Liver Receptor Homolog-1

Nuclear heme receptor reverse erythroblastosis virus (REV-ERB) α (a transcriptional repressor) is known to regulate cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) and bile acid synthesis. However, the mechanism for REV-ERBα regulation of CYP7A1 remains elusive. Here, we investigate the role of LRH-1 in REV-ERBα regulation of CYP7A1 and cholesterol metabolism. We first characterized the tertiary amine N-(4-chloro-2-methylbenzyl)-N-(4-chlorobenzyl)-1-(5-nitrothiophen-2-yl)methanamine (GSK2945) as a highly specific Rev-erbα/REV-ERBα antagonist using cell-based assays and confirmed expression of Rev-erbα in mouse liver. GSK2945 treatment increased hepatic mouse cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) level and lowered plasma cholesterol in wild-type mice. Likewise, the compound increased the expression and microsomal activity of Cyp7a1 in hypercholesterolemic mice. This coincided with reduced plasma and liver cholesterol and enhanced production of bile acids. Increased levels of Cyp7a1/CYP7A1 were also found in mouse and human primary hepatocytes after GSK2945 treatment. In these experiments, we observed parallel increases in Lrh-1/LRH-1 (a known hepatic activator of Cyp7a1/CYP7A1) mRNA and protein. Luciferase reporter, mobility shift, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Lrh-1/LRH-1 was a direct Rev-erbα/REV-ERBα target gene. Furthermore, conditional deletion of Lrh-1 in the liver abrogated the regulatory effects of Rev-erbα on Cyp7a1 and cholesterol metabolism in mice. In conclusion, Rev-erbα regulates Cyp7a1 and cholesterol metabolism through its repression of the Lrh-1 receptor. Targeting the REV-ERBα/LRH-1 axis may represent a novel approach for management of cholesterol-related diseases.

Cremophor EL-based nanoemulsion enhances transcellular permeation of emodin through glucuronidation reduction in UGT1A1-overexpressing MDCKII cells.

Oral emodin, a natural anthraquinone and active component of many herbal medicines, is poorly bioavailable because of extensive first-pass glucuronidation. Here we aimed to prepare emodin nanoemulsion (EMO-NE) containing cremophor EL, and to assess its potential for enhancing transcellular absorption of emodin using UGT1A1-overexpressing MDCKII cells (or MDCK1A1 cells). EMO-NE was prepared using a modified emulsification technique and subsequently characterized by particle size, morphology, stability, and drug release. MDCKII cells were stably transfected with UGT1A1 using the lentiviral transfection approach. Emodin transport and metabolism were evaluated in Transwell-cultured MDCK1A1 cells after apical dosing of EMO-NE or control solution. The obtained EMO-NE (116 ± 6.5 nm) was spherical and stable for at least 2 months. Emodin release in vitro was a passive diffusion-driven process. EMO-NE administration increased the apparent permeability of emodin by a 2.3-fold (p<0.001) compared to the pure emodin solution (1.2 × 10(-5) cm/s vs 5.3 × 10(-6) cm/s). Further, both apical and basolateral excretion of emodin glucuronide (EMO-G) were significantly decreased (≥56.5%, p<0.001) in EMO-NE group. This was accompanied by a marked reduction (57.4%, p<0.001) in total emodin glucuronidation. It was found that the reduced glucuronidation was due to inhibition of cellular metabolism by cremophor EL. Cremophor EL inhibited UGT1A1-mediated glucuronidation of emodin using the mixed-type inhibition mechanism. In conclusion, cremophor EL-based nanoemulsion greatly enhanced transcellular permeation of emodin through inhibition of UGT metabolism. This cremophor EL-based nanoformulation may be a promising strategy to improve the oral bioavailability of emodin.

Determination of Bioactive Components of Cistanche deserticola (Roucongrong) by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array and Mass Spectrometry Detectors

Cistanche deserticola (Orobanchaceae) has been widely used in China for food and medicinal purposes. Chemical differentiation between the raw and steamed C. deserticola was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometry. Eight chemicals (echinacoside, cistanoside A, acteoside, cistanoside C, 2′-acetylacteoside, isoacteoside, isocistanoside C, and tubuloside B) were obtained from raw and steamed C. deserticola, and the kinetics in the steaming process were investigated in detail. When the steaming time increased, the concentrations of echinacoside, cistanoside A, acteoside, cistanoside C, and 2′-acetylacteoside decreased, while the levels of isoacteoside, isocistanoside C, and tubuloside B increased. Furthermore, two compounds, 5-hydroxymaltol and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, were found only in the steamed form. In addition, hierarchical clustering analysis and principal component analysis were performed to evaluate the classify the chemical concentrations among steamed C. deserticola. The results showed that steaming had a significant influence on the chemical constitution. The study provide chemical analysis of raw and steamed C. deserticola, including possible transformation pathways, and should allow better understanding of the steaming process of this herb.

Simultaneous quantification of six alkaloid components from commercial stemonae radix by solid phase extraction-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detector

Background: Stemonae radix has been applied in traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. Alkaloids are the main active ingredient in stemonae radix, so their composition and concentration levels are directly linked to clinic effects. Objective: The objective was to develop an analytical method with multiple markers for quality survey of commercial stemonae radix. Materials and Methods: A method for simultaneous determination of six compounds in commercial stemonae radix was performed using solid-phase extraction and high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detector. The separation was carried out on an Agilent TC-C18 column with 0.1% acetonitrile solution of triethylamine aqueous solution and acetonitrile as the mobile phase under gradient elution within 70 min. The hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) was successfully used to classify the samples in accordance with their chemical constituents. Results: Linearity (R2 > 0.9990), intra- and inter-day precision (relative standard deviations <4%), limit of detection (0.011–0.086 μg/mL), limit of quantification (0.033–0.259 μg/mL) of the six alkaloids were determined, and the recoveries were between 96.6% and 103.7%. The method was successfully applied to analysis 36 batches of commercial stemonae radix. All the samples could be classified into five clusters by HCA. Conclusion: This article provides an accurate and simple analytical method for quality survey of commercial stemonae radix. Because of the significant chemical variations, careful selection of Stemona sources with obvious antitussive value but devoid of croomine followed by good agricultural practice and good manufacturing practice process is suggested.

Identification of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases 1A1, 1A3 and 2B15 as the main contributors to glucuronidation of bakuchiol, a natural biologically active compound

Abstract 1. Bakuchiol, one of the main active compounds of Psoralea corylifolia, possesses a variety of pharmacological activities such as anti-tumor and anti-aging effects. Here, we aimed to characterize the glucuronidation of bakuchiol using human liver microsomes (HLM) and expressed UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzymes. 2. The glucuronide of bakuchiol was confirmed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and β-glucuronidase hydrolysis assay. Glucuronidation rates and kinetic parameters were derived by enzymatic incubation and model fitting. Activity correlation analyses were performed to identify the main UGT isoforms contributing to hepatic metabolism of bakuchiol. 3. Among the three UGT enzymes (i.e., UGT1A1, UGT1A3 and UGT2B15) capable of catalyzing bakuchiol glucuronidation, UGT2B15 showed the highest activity with a CLint value of 100 μl/min/nmol. Bakuchiol glucuronidation was strongly correlated with glucuronidation of 5-hydroxyrofecoxib (r = 0.933; p < 0.001), 3-O-glucuronidation of β-estradiol (r = 0.719; p < 0.01) and significantly correlated with 24-O-glucuronidation of CDCA (r = 0.594; p < 0.05). In addition, a marked species difference existed in hepatic glucuronidation of bakuchiol. 4. In conclusion, UGT1A1, UGT1A3 and UGT2B15 were identified as the main contributors to glucuronidation of bakuchiol.