Cortisol metabolism in vitro--III. Inhibition of microsomal 6 beta-hydroxylase and cytosolic 4-ene-reductase.

Article Details

Citation

Abel SM, Back DJ

Cortisol metabolism in vitro--III. Inhibition of microsomal 6 beta-hydroxylase and cytosolic 4-ene-reductase.

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 1993 Dec;46(6):827-32. doi: 10.1016/0960-0760(93)90325-q.

PubMed ID
8274418 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The in vitro metabolism of cortisol in human liver fractions is highly complex and variable. Cytosolic metabolism proceeds predominantly via A-ring reduction (to give 3 alpha,5 beta-tetrahydrocortisol; 3 alpha,5 beta-THF), while microsomal incubations generate upto 7 metabolites, including 6 beta-hydroxycortisol (6 beta-OHF), and 6 beta-hydroxycortisone (6 beta-OHE), products of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A subfamily. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to examine two of the main enzymes involved in cortisol metabolism, namely, microsomal 6 beta-hydroxylase and cytosolic 4-ene-reductase. In particular, we wished to assess the substrate specificity of these enzymes and identify compounds with inhibitory potential. Incubations for 30 min containing [3H]cortisol, potential inhibitors, microsomal or cytosolic protein (3 mg), and co-factors were followed by radiometric HPLC analysis. The Km value for 6 beta-OHF and 6 beta-OHE formation was 15.2 +/- 2.1 microM (mean +/- SD; n = 4) and the Vmax value 6.43 +/- 0.45 pmol/min/mg microsomal protein. The most potent inhibitor of cortisol 6 beta-hydroxylase was ketoconazole (Ki = 0.9 +/- 0.4 microM; n = 4), followed by gestodene (Ki = 5.6 +/- 0.6 microM) and cyclosporine (Ki = 6.8 +/- 1.4 microM). Both betamethasone and dexamethasone produced some inhibition (Ki = 31.3 and 54.5 microM, respectively). However, substrates for CYP2C (tolbutamide), CYP2D (quinidine), and CYP1A (theophylline) were essentially non-inhibitory. The Km value for cortisol 4-ene-reductase was 26.5 +/- 11.2 microM (n = 4) and the Vmax value 107.7 +/- 46.0 pmol/min/mg cytosolic protein. The most potent inhibitors were androstendione (Ki = 17.8 +/- 3.3 microM) and gestodene (Ki = 23.8 +/- 3.8 microM). Although both compounds have identical A-rings to cortisol, and undergo reduction, inhibition was non-competitive.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
HydrocortisoneCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Inducer
Details
HydrocortisoneCytochrome P450 3A5ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
HydrocortisoneCytochrome P450 3A7ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
Drug Reactions
Reaction
Details