Naoto Uramaru

Nuclear Hormone Receptor Activity of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers and Their Hydroxylated and Methoxylated Metabolites in Transactivation Assays Using Chinese Hamster Ovary Cells

Background An increasing number of studies are reporting the existence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and their hydroxylated (HO) and methoxylated (MeO) metabolites in the environment and in tissues from wildlife and humans. Objective Our aim was to characterize and compare the agonistic and antagonistic activities of principle PBDE congeners and their HO and MeO metabolites against human nuclear hormone receptors. Methods We tested the hormone receptor activities of estrogen receptor α (ERα), ERβ, androgen receptor (AR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), thyroid hormone receptor α1 (TRα1), and TRβ1 against PBDE congeners BDEs 15, 28, 47, 85, 99, 100, 153, and 209, four para-HO-PBDEs, and four para-MeO-PBDEs by highly sensitive reporter gene assays using Chinese hamster ovary cells. Results Of the 16 compounds tested, 6 and 2 showed agonistic activities in the ERα and ERβ assays, respectively, and 6 and 6 showed antagonistic activities in these assays. 4′-HO-BDE-17 showed the most potent estrogenic activity via ERα/β, and 4′-HO-BDE-49 showed the most potent anti estrogenic activity via ERα/β. In the AR assay, 13 compounds showed antagonistic activity, with 4′-HO-BDE-17 in particular inhibiting AR-mediated transcriptional activity at low concentrations in the order of 10−8 M. In the GR assay, seven compounds, including two HO-PBDEs and two MeO-PBDEs, showed weak antagonistic activity. In the TRα1 and TRβ1 assays, only 4-HO-BDE-90 showed weak antagonistic activity. Conclusions Taken together, these results suggest that PBDEs and their metabolites might have multiple endocrine-disrupting effects via nuclear hormone receptors, and para-HO-PBDEs, in particular, possess more potent receptor activities compared with those of the parent PBDEs and corresponding para-MeO-PBDEs.

Design, Synthesis, and Pharmacological Activity of Nonallergenic Pyrazolone-Type Antipyretic Analgesics

To develop novel nonallergenic pyrazolone analgesics, we synthesized a series of compounds in which position 1 of the pyrazolone ring was substituted in place of the original methyl group in order to block the formation of allergenic metabolites via N-dealkylation. These pyrazolone analogues were found to show as potent an antipyretic and analgesic effect as antipyrine (AT). In an examination of allergenicity, AT induced a typical skin reaction in guinea pigs, whereas the pyrazolone analogues were inactive. When AT was administered (po) to rats, norantipyrine (NORA) as an active metabolite was detected in the urine, whereas similar administration of the pyrazolone analogues did not afford NORA. We conclude that these novel pyrazolone analogues were nonallergenic because they were not converted to allergenic metabolites in vivo. Because these compounds retain the antipyretic and analgesic activities of AT, they are considered to be promising candidates for nonallergenic antipyretic analgesics.

Similarities in the Endocrine-Disrupting Potencies of Indoor Dust and Flame Retardants by Using Human Osteosarcoma (U2OS) Cell-Based Reporter Gene Assays

Indoor dust is a sink for many kinds of pollutants, including flame retardants (FRs), plasticizers, and their contaminants and degradation products. These pollutants can be migrated to indoor dust from household items such as televisions and computers. To reveal high-priority end points of and contaminant candidates in indoor dust, using CALUX reporter gene assays based on human osteosarcoma (U2OS) cell lines, we evaluated and characterized the endocrine-disrupting potencies of crude extracts of indoor dust collected from Japan (n = 8), the United States (n = 21), Vietnam (n = 10), the Philippines (n = 17), and Indonesia (n = 10) and for 23 selected FRs. The CALUX reporter gene assays used were specific for compounds interacting with the human androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor α (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2). Indoor dust extracts were agonistic to ERα, GR, and PPARγ2 and antagonistic against AR, PR, GR, and PPARγ2. In comparison, a majority of FRs was agonistic to ERα and PPARγ2 only, and some FRs demonstrated receptor-specific antagonism against all tested nuclear receptors. Hierarchical clustering clearly indicated that agonism of ERα and antagonism of AR and PR were common, frequently detected end points for indoor dust and tested FRs. Given our previous results regarding the concentrations of FRs in indoor dust and in light of our current results, candidate contributors to these effects include not only internationally controlled brominated FRs but also alternatives such as some phosphorus-containing FRs. In the context of indoor pollution, high-frequency effects of FRs such as agonism of ERα and antagonism of AR and PR are candidate high-priority end points for further investigation.

Comparative study on transcriptional activity of 17 parabens mediated by estrogen receptor α and β and androgen receptor

The structure-activity relationships of parabens which are widely used as preservatives for transcriptional activities mediated by human estrogen receptor α (hERα), hERβ and androgen receptor (hAR) were investigated. Fourteen of 17 parabens exhibited hERα and/or hERβ agonistic activity at concentrations of ≤ 1 × 10(-5)M, whereas none of the 17 parabens showed AR agonistic or antagonistic activity. Among 12 parabens with linear alkyl chains ranging in length from C₁ to C₁₂, heptylparaben (C₇) and pentylparaben (C₅) showed the most potent ERα and ERβ agonistic activity in the order of 10(-7)M and 10(-8)M, respectively, and the activities decreased in a stepwise manner as the alkyl chain was shortened to C₁ or lengthened to C₁₂. Most parabens showing estrogenic activity exhibited ERβ-agonistic activity at lower concentrations than those inducing ERα-agonistic activity. The estrogenic activity of butylparaben was markedly decreased by incubation with rat liver microsomes, and the decrease of activity was blocked by a carboxylesterase inhibitor. These results indicate that parabens are selective agonists for ERβ over ERα; their interactions with ERα/β are dependent on the size and bulkiness of the alkyl groups; and they are metabolized by carboxylesterases, leading to attenuation of their estrogenic activity.

Metabolism of UV-filter benzophenone-3 by rat and human liver microsomes and its effect on endocrine-disrupting activity

Benzophenone-3 (2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone; BP-3) is widely used as sunscreen for protection of human skin and hair from damage by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In this study, we examined the metabolism of BP-3 by rat and human liver microsomes, and the estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities of the metabolites. When BP-3 was incubated with rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH, 2,4,5-trihydroxybenzophenone (2,4,5-triOH BP) and 3-hydroxylated BP-3 (3-OH BP-3) were newly identified as metabolites, together with previously detected metabolites 5-hydroxylated BP-3 (5-OH BP-3), a 4-desmethylated metabolite (2,4-diOH BP) and 2,3,4-trihydroxybenzophenone (2,3,4-triOH BP). In studies with recombinant rat cytochrome P450, 3-OH BP-3 and 2,4,5-triOH BP were mainly formed by CYP1A1. BP-3 was also metabolized by human liver microsomes and CYP isoforms. In estrogen reporter (ER) assays using estrogen-responsive CHO cells, 2,4-diOH BP exhibited stronger estrogenic activity, 2,3,4-triOH BP exhibited similar activity, and 5-OH BP-3, 2,4,5-triOH BP and 3-OH BP-3 showed lower activity as compared to BP-3. Structural requirements for activity were investigated in a series of 14 BP-3 derivatives. When BP-3 was incubated with liver microsomes from untreated rats or phenobarbital-, 3-methylcholanthrene-, or acetone-treated rats in the presence of NADPH, estrogenic activity was increased. However, liver microsomes from dexamethasone-treated rats showed decreased estrogenic activity due to formation of inactive 5-OH BP-3 and reduced formation of active 2,4-diOH BP. Anti-androgenic activity of BP-3 was decreased after incubation with liver microsomes.

Predictability of Metabolism of Ibuprofen and Naproxen Using Chimeric Mice with Human Hepatocytes

Prediction of human drug metabolism is important for drug development. Recently, the number of new drug candidates metabolized by not only cytochrome P450 (P450) but also non-P450 has been increasing. It is necessary to consider species differences in drug metabolism between humans and experimental animals. We examined species differences of drug metabolism, especially between humans and rats, for ibuprofen and (S)-naproxen as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which are metabolized by P450 and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase, sulfotransferase, and amino acid N-acyltransferase for taurine conjugation in liver, using human chimeric mice (h-PXB mice) repopulated with human hepatocytes and rat chimeric mice (r-PXB mice) transplanted with rat hepatocytes. We performed the direct comparison of excretory metabolites in urine between h-PXB mice and reported data for humans as well as between r-PXB mice and rats after administration of ibuprofen and (S)-naproxen. Good agreement for urinary metabolites (percentage of dose) was observed not only between humans and h-PXB mice but also between rats and r-PXB mice. Therefore, the metabolic profiles in humans and rats reflected those in h-PXB mice and r-PXB mice. Our results indicated that h-PXB mice should be helpful for predicting the quantitative metabolic profiles of drugs mediated by P450 and non-P450 in liver, and r-PXB mice should be helpful for evaluation of species differences in these metabolic enzymes.

Comparative study of the hydrolytic metabolism of methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, heptyl- and dodecylparaben by microsomes of various rat and human tissues

Abstract 1. Hydrolytic metabolism of methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, heptyl- and dodecylparaben by various tissue microsomes and plasma of rats, as well as human liver and small-intestinal microsomes, was investigated and the structure–metabolic activity relationship was examined. 2. Rat liver microsomes showed the highest activity toward parabens, followed by small-intestinal and lung microsomes. Butylparaben was most effectively hydrolyzed by the liver microsomes, which showed relatively low hydrolytic activity towards parabens with shorter and longer alkyl side chains. 3. In contrast, small-intestinal microsomes exhibited relatively higher activity toward longer-side-chain parabens, and showed the highest activity towards heptylparaben. 4. Rat lung and skin microsomes showed liver-type substrate specificity. Kidney and pancreas microsomes and plasma of rats showed small-intestinal-type substrate specificity. 5. Liver and small-intestinal microsomal hydrolase activity was completely inhibited by bis(4-nitrophenyl)phosphate, and could be extracted with Triton X-100. Ces1e and Ces1d isoforms were identified as carboxylesterase isozymes catalyzing paraben hydrolysis by anion exchange column chromatography of Triton X-100 extract from liver microsomes. 6. Ces1e and Ces1d expressed in COS cells exhibited significant hydrolase activities with the same substrate specificity pattern as that of liver microsomes. Small-intestinal carboxylesterase isozymes Ces2a and Ces2c expressed in COS cells showed the same substrate specificity as small-intestinal microsomes, being more active toward longer-alkyl-side-chain parabens. 7. Human liver microsomes showed the highest hydrolytic activity toward methylparaben, while human small-intestinal microsomes showed a broadly similar substrate specificity to rat small-intestinal microsomes. Human CES1 and CES2 isozymes showed the same substrate specificity patterns as human liver and small-intestinal microsomes, respectively.

Prediction of human metabolism of the sedative-hypnotic zaleplon using chimeric mice transplanted with human hepatocytes.

Abstract 1. Human chimeric mice (h-PXB mice) having humanized liver, constructed by transplantation of human hepatocytes, were evaluated as an experimental model for predicting human drug metabolism. Metabolism of zaleplon in h-PXB mice was compared with that in rat chimeric mice (r-PXB mice) constructed by transplantation of rat hepatocytes. 2. Zaleplon is metabolized to 5-oxo-zaleplon by aldehyde oxidase and to desethyl-zaleplon by cytochrome P450 (CYP3A4) in rat and human liver preparations. 3. Liver S9 fraction of h-PXB mice metabolized zaleplon to 5-oxo-zaleplon and desethyl-zaleplon in similar amounts. However, liver S9 fractions of r-PXB and control (urokinase-type plasminogen activator-transgenic severe combined immunodeficient) mice predominantly metabolized zaleplon to desethyl-zaleplon. 5-Oxo-zaleplon was detected as a minor metabolite. 4. Oxidase activity of h-PXB mouse liver cytosol toward zaleplon was about 10-fold higher than that of r-PXB or control mice. In contrast, activities for desethyl-zaleplon formation were similar in liver microsomes from these mice, as well as rat and human liver microsomes. 5. In vivo, the level of 5-oxo-zaleplon in plasma of h-PXB mice was about 7-fold higher than that in r-PXB or control mice, in agreement with the in vitro data. Thus, aldehyde oxidase in h-PXB mice functions as human aldehyde oxidase, both in vivo and in vitro. 6. In contrast, the plasma level of desethyl-zaleplon in r-PXB and control mice was higher than that in h-PXB mice. 7. These results suggest h-PXB mice with humanized liver could be a useful experimental model to predict aldehyde oxidase- and CYP3A4-mediated drug metabolism in humans.

Transesterification of a series of 12 parabens by liver and small-intestinal microsomes of rats and humans

Hydrolytic transformation of parabens (4-hydroxybenzoic acid esters; used as antibacterial agents) to 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and alcohols by tissue microsomes is well-known both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we investigated transesterification reactions of parabens catalyzed by rat and human microsomes, using a series of 12 parabens with C1-C12 alcohol side chains. Transesterification of parabens by rat liver and small-intestinal microsomes occurred in the presence of alcohols in the microsomal incubation mixture. Among the 12 parabens, propylparaben was most effectively transesterified by rat liver microsomes with methanol or ethanol, followed by butylparaben. Relatively low activity was observed with longer-side-chain parabens. In contrast, small-intestinal microsomes exhibited higher activity towards moderately long side-chain parabens, and showed the highest activity toward octylparaben. When parabens were incubated with liver or small-intestinal microsomes in the presence of C1-C12 alcohols, ethanol and decanol were most effectively transferred to parabens by rat liver microsomes and small-intestinal microsomes, respectively. Human liver and small-intestinal microsomes also exhibited significant transesterification activities with different substrate specificities, like rat microsomes. Carboxylesterase isoforms, CES1b and CES1c, and CES2, exhibited significant transesterification activity toward parabens, and showed similar substrate specificity to human liver and small-intestinal microsomes, respectively.

Effects of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and plasma tolbutamide concentration in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BT) is the dry powder derived from the aqueous extract of a mixture of 10 medicinal herbs. It is a traditional Chinese medicine being used for the treatment of various immune-related diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the effect of BT on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and its effect on plasma concentrations of tolbutamide, a substrate of CYP2C, in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS EXP 1: Thirty-two male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Rats were fed a control diet and a control diet containing 1, 2.5 and 5% (w/w) of BT, respectively, for eight weeks. The activities of the major CYP and Phase II conjugating enzymes in rat liver microsomes as well as the antioxidant system in rat liver were assessed. Exp 2: Male Wistar rats were fed a control diet or a control diet containing 2.5% of BT, respectively, for eight weeks. A single 20-mg/kg oral dose of tolbutamide was then administered to each rat. Plasma samples were collected from each rat at 0.5, 1, 2, 4 and 8h after dosing. The concentrations of tolbutamide and glucose level in plasma were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (HPLC/MS) and enzymatic method, respectively. RESULTS Significant decrease in microsomal CYP2C-catalyzed diclofenac 4-hydroxylation in the liver of rats fed the BT diet was observed. Increased UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were also observed in the liver of rats fed the diet containing 2.5 and 5% of BT. Immunoblot analyses also showed decreases of CYP2C11 proteins in the liver of BT fed rats. In addition, rats fed the 2.5% BT diet for eight weeks had no effects on the disposition of tolbutamide and reduction of glucose level in plasma after orally administered of tolbutamide. CONCLUSIONS Rats fed the BT diet for eight weeks may decrease CYP2C enzyme activity and protein expression and increase Phase II conjugating enzyme activities in liver. However, BT may not affect the disposition and efficacy of tolbutamide.