Involvement of human cytochrome P450 2D6 in the bioactivation of acetaminophen.
Article Details
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Dong H, Haining RL, Thummel KE, Rettie AE, Nelson SD
Involvement of human cytochrome P450 2D6 in the bioactivation of acetaminophen.
Drug Metab Dispos. 2000 Dec;28(12):1397-400.
- PubMed ID
- 11095574 [ View in PubMed]
- Abstract
Acetaminophen (APAP), a widely used analgesic and antipyretic agent, can cause acute hepatic necrosis in both humans and experimental animals when consumed in large doses. It is generally accepted that N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) is the toxic, reactive intermediate whose formation from APAP is mediated by cytochrome P450. Several forms of P450 in humans, including 2E1, 1A2, 2A6, 3A4, have been shown to catalyze the oxidation of APAP to NAPQI. We now present evidence which demonstrates that human cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is also involved in the bioactivation of APAP. The formation of NAPQI from APAP by cDNA-expressed CYP2D6 was examined. K(m) and V(max) values were 1.76 mM and 3.02 nmol/min/nmol of P450, respectively, such that the efficiency of CYP2D6 in the conversion of APAP to NAPQI is approximately one-third of that of CYP2E1. The contribution of CYP2D6 to the total formation of NAPQI from APAP (1 mM) in human liver was investigated using quinidine (1 microm) as a CYP2D6-specific inhibitor, and varied from 4.5 to 22.4% among 10 livers, with an average at 12.6%. The correlation between the contribution of CYP2D6 to NAPQI formation in human liver microsomes and the CYP2D6 activity probed by the O-demethylation of dextromethorphan was studied, and found to be strong (r(2) = 0.85), and significant (P <.0001). Our findings indicate that CYP2D6, one of the major P450 isoforms in humans and also one of the pharmacogenetically important isoforms, may contribute significantly to the formation of the cytotoxic metabolite NAPQI, especially in CYP2D6 ultra-rapid and extensive metabolizers and at toxic doses of APAP when plasma APAP concentrations reach 2 mM or more.
DrugBank Data that Cites this Article
- Drug Enzymes
Drug Enzyme Kind Organism Pharmacological Action Actions Acetaminophen Cytochrome P450 2D6 Protein Humans UnknownSubstrateDetails Acetaminophen Cytochrome P450 2E1 Protein Humans UnknownSubstrateDetails Propacetamol Cytochrome P450 2D6 Protein Humans NoSubstrateDetails Propacetamol Cytochrome P450 2E1 Protein Humans NoSubstrateDetails