OBJECTIVETo study major human UGT isoforms involved in trans-resveratrol (TR) phase II metabolism.

METHODtrans-resveratrol and 12 major human UGT isoforms were incubated in vitro and then glucuronic acid metabolites were determined by HPLC-MS, in order to preliminarily analyze the structure and observe the effect of different UGT isoforms on the generation rate of glucuronic acid metabolites.

RESULTIn in vitro metabolic system, two metabolites-4'-O-monoglucuronide resveratrol (M-1) and 3-0-monoglucuronide resveratrol (M-2)-were generated from trans-resveratrol after being catalyzed by UGT. During the cause, generation of M-1 and M-2 were catalyzed by UGT1A1, UGT1A3, 1A8, 1A9 andlA10, whereas only UGT1A6 and 1A7 contributed to the forma-tion of M-2. Both the formation rate of M-1 and M-2 catalyzed by UGT1A1, 1A10 and the formation of M-2 catalyzed by UGT1A8 slowed down with the increasing concentration of substrates, causing the phenomenon of "substrate inhibition".

CONCLUSIONUGT1A1, 1A8, 1A9, 1A10 get involved in the formation of M-1, and of them UGTIA9 is the most important contributor. UGT1A3 also makes small contribution to the formation of M-1 and M-2, while other UGT isoforms show hardly any reaction with the trans-resveratrol phase II metabolites.

Glucuronic Acid ; metabolism ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Stilbenes ; chemistry ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of hyaluronan synthasel-3 (HAS1-3) in nasal polyps, and discuss their clinical significance. METHOD: The expression of HA, HAS1, HAS2 and HAS3 in nasal polyps group (25 cases) and inferior turbinate group (15 cases) was detected by immunohistochemistry and semi-quantitative RT-PCR. RESULT: Compared with the control, the expression of HA, HAS1 and HAS3 was higher in nasal polyps (P<0. 05), while there was no significant difference in HAS2 expression (P>0. 05). CONCLUSION The increase of HASI and HAS3 expression may be the main cause of the excessive deposition of HA in nasal polyps, which may play an important role in the pathogenic process of nasal polyps, and become a potential target for therapy of nasal polyps.
Glucuronosyltransferase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Hyaluronan Synthases ; Hyaluronic Acid ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nasal Polyps ; enzymology

This study aims to investigate metabolic activities of psoralidin in human liver microsomes( HLM) and intestinal microsomes( HIM),and to identify cytochrome P450 enzymes( CYPs) and UDP-glucuronosyl transferases( UGTs) involved in psoralidin metabolism as well as species differences in the in vitro metabolism of psoralen. First,after incubation serial of psoralidin solutions with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate( NADPH) or uridine 5'-diphosphate-glucuronic acid( UDPGA)-supplemented HLM or HIM,two oxidic products( M1 and M2) and two conjugated glucuronides( G1 and G2) were produced in HLM-mediated incubation system,while only M1 and G1 were detected in HIM-supplemented system. The CLintfor M1 in HLM and HIM were 104. 3,and57. 6 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1),respectively,while those for G1 were 543. 3,and 75. 9 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1),respectively. Furthermore,reaction phenotyping was performed to identify the main contributors to psoralidin metabolism after incubation of psoralidin with NADPH-supplemented twelve CYP isozymes( or UDPGA-supplemented twelve UGT enzymes),respectively. The results showed that CYP1 A1( 39. 5 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)),CYP2 C8( 88. 0 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)),CYP2 C19( 166. 7 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)),and CYP2 D6( 9. 1 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)) were identified as the main CYP isoforms for M1,whereas CYP2 C19( 42. 0 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)) participated more in producing M2. In addition,UGT1 A1( 1 184. 4 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)),UGT1 A7( 922. 8 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)),UGT1 A8( 133. 0 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)),UGT1 A9( 348. 6 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)) and UGT2 B7( 118. 7 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)) played important roles in the generation of G1,while UGT1 A9( 111. 3 μL·min~(-1)·mg~(-1)) was regarded as the key UGT isozyme for G2. Moreover,different concentrations of psoralidin were incubated with monkey liver microsomes( MkLM),rat liver microsomes( RLM),mice liver microsomes( MLM),dog liver microsomes( DLM) and mini-pig liver microsomes( MpLM),respectively. The obtained CLintwere used to evaluate the species differences.Phase Ⅰ metabolism and glucuronidation of psoralidinby liver microsomes showed significant species differences. In general,psoralidin underwent efficient hepatic and intestinal metabolisms. CYP1 A1,CYP2 C8,CYP2 C19,CYP2 D6 and UGT1 A1,UGT1 A7,UGT1 A8,UGT1 A9,UGT2 B7 were identified as the main contributors responsible for phase Ⅰ metabolism and glucuronidation,respectively. Rat and mini-pig were considered as the appropriate model animals to investigate phase Ⅰ metabolism and glucuronidation,respectively.
Animals ; Benzofurans ; Coumarins ; Dogs ; Glucuronides ; Glucuronosyltransferase/metabolism* ; Kinetics ; Mice ; Microsomes, Liver/metabolism* ; Phenotype ; Rats ; Species Specificity ; Swine ; Swine, Miniature/metabolism*

Under the catalysis of a variety of metabolic enzymes in vivo, such as UDP-glucuronyl transferases, cytochrome P450, carboxylesterase, sulfotransferase, butyrylcholinesterase, catechol-O-methyl transferase and 6-morphine dehydrogenase, the drugs perform glucuronidation, hydrolysis, oxidation, sulfonation and other reactions, then translate into active or inactive metabolites, which are excreted through urination, bile or the other pathways at last. Different drugs own their different metabolic pathways. This paper introduces the studies about the metabolism of drugs in human and animal in recent years, such as morphine-like drugs, amphetamine, ketamine, cannabis and cocaine, and reviews the research progress about the sites of metabolism, metabolic enzymes, metabolites and physiological activity of those drugs metabolic in vivo.
Alcohol Oxidoreductases/metabolism* ; Animals ; Carboxylesterase/metabolism* ; Catechol O-Methyltransferase/metabolism* ; Cholinesterases/metabolism* ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System/metabolism* ; Glucuronosyltransferase/metabolism* ; Humans ; Illicit Drugs/metabolism* ; Oxidation-Reduction ; Sulfotransferases/metabolism*

The paper summarizes the interactions between luteolin (glucosides) and drug-metabolizing enzyme from the literature of recent years and our research work. The metabolism of luteolin is chiefly mediated by phase II metabolic enzyme. Its glucosides are firstly hydrolyzed into aglycone in intestinal tract, and then absorbed and metabolized. Luteolin has the effect on the induction of CYP3A, and on the inhibition of CYPIA, 1B and 2E. Also, luteolin is an effective inhibitor of CYP2B6, CYP2C9 and CYP2D6. Luteolin can induce and inhibit UGTs and SULTs. It can also inhibit multi ABC transport proteins. Understanding the interactions between luteolin (glucosides) and drug-metabolizing enzyme has an important significance in guiding clinical use of the drug.
ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters ; metabolism ; Animals ; Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases ; metabolism ; Drug Interactions ; Enzyme Induction ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; metabolism ; Humans ; Luteolin ; metabolism ; Microsomes, Liver ; metabolism ; Sulfotransferases ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo bioinformatically predict and analyze target genes of miRNA-126(*), with the aim of providing certain basis for related research about target genes and regulatory mechanism in the future.

METHODSThe miRNA chip technology was applied to measure expression levels of miRNA-126(*) in 3 time points (embryo 16, 19 and 21 days) of fetal lung development. Then the target genes of miRNA-126(*) were screened through miRGen2.0 database. Subsequent bioinformatic analysis of these target genes was performed by Gene Ontology analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathway analysis (KEGG Pathway analysis).

RESULTSmiRNA-126(*) manifested continuously upregulated expression with the lung development (from embryo 16 to 21 days). There were 422 predicted target genes in total, and the gene set mainly located in glucuronosyltransferase activity, transferase activity (GO molecular function), multicellular organismal development, developmental process (GO biology process) and intracellular part (GO cellular component). The KEGG Pathway analysis demonstrated that the gene set mostly located in RNA degradation (signal transduction pathway) and prion diseases (disease pathway).

CONCLUSIONSThe results suggest that miRNA-126(*) plays a certain role in fetal lung development and provide a basis for lung development research in the future.

Animals ; Computational Biology ; Female ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; metabolism ; Lung ; embryology ; Male ; MicroRNAs ; physiology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction ; physiology

To evaluate the hepatotoxicity risks of physcion on the basis of the bilirubin metabolism mediated by glucuronidation of UDP-glucuronosyltransferases 1A1(UGT1A1 enzyme). The monomers were added into the rat liver microsomes to test the hepatotoxicity by using bilirubin as UGT1A1 enzyme substrate, with apparent inhibition constant K_i as the evaluation index. Liver microsome incubation in vitro was adopted to initiate phase Ⅱ metabolic reaction and investigate the inhibitory effect of physcion. Then the phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ metabolic reactions were initiated to investigate the comprehensive inhibition of metabolites and prototype components. The results showed that when only the phase Ⅱ reaction was initiated, physcion directly acted on the UGT1A1 enzyme in a prototype form, exhibited weak inhibition and the inhibition type was mixed inhibition; When the phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ reactions were initiated simultaneously, the inhibitory effects of physcion on UGT1A1 enzyme became strong and the inhibition type was mixed inhibition, suggesting that physcion had phase Ⅰ and Ⅱ metabolic processes, and the metabolites had strong inhibitory effect on UGT1A1 enzyme. This experiment preliminarily proved that the metabolites of physcion may be the main components to induce hepatotoxicity.
Animals ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; Emodin ; analogs & derivatives ; toxicity ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; metabolism ; Kinetics ; Microsomes, Liver ; drug effects ; Rats

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of apigenin on UGT1 A1 enzyme activity and to predict the potential drug-drug interaction of apigenin in clinical use. First,on the basis of previous experiments,the binding targets and binding strength of apigenin to UGT1 A1 enzyme were predicted by computer molecular docking method. Then the inhibitory effect of apigenin on UGT1 A1 enzyme was evaluated by in vitro human liver microsomal incubation system. Molecular docking results showed that apigenin was docked into the active region of UGT1 A1 enzyme protein F,consistent with the active region of bilirubin docking,with moderate affinity. Apigenin flavone mother nucleus mainly interacted with amino acid residues ILE343 and VAL345 to form hydrophobic binding Pi-Alkyl. At the same time,the hydroxyl group on the mother nucleus and the amino acid residue LYS346 formed an additional hydrogen bond,which increased the binding of the molecule to the protein. These results suggested that the flavonoid mother nucleus structure had a special structure binding to the enzyme protein UGT1 A1,and the introduction of hydroxyl groups into the mother nucleus can increase the binding ability. In vitro inhibition experiments showed that apigenin had a moderate inhibitory effect on UGT1 A1 enzyme in a way of competitive inhibition,which was consistent with the results of molecular docking. The results of two experiments showed that apigenin was the substrate of UGT1 A1 enzyme,which could inhibit the activity of UGT1 A1 enzyme competitively,and there was a risk of drug interaction between apigenin and UGT1 A1 enzyme substrate in clinical use.
Apigenin/chemistry* ; Bilirubin/chemistry* ; Drug Interactions ; Glucuronosyltransferase/metabolism* ; Humans ; Hydrogen Bonding ; Microsomes, Liver/drug effects* ; Molecular Docking Simulation

Ferulic acid (FA) is an active component of herbal medicines. One of the best documented activities of FA is its antioxidant property. Moreover, FA exerts antiallergic, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects. However, the metabolic pathways of FA in humans remain unclear. To identify whether human CYP or UGT enzymes are involved in the metabolism of FA, reaction phenotyping of FA was conducted using major CYP-selective chemical inhibitors together with individual CYP and UGT Supersomes. The CYP- and/or UGT-mediated metabolism kinetics were examined simultaneously or individually. Relative activity factor and total normalized rate approaches were used to assess the relative contributions of each major human CYPs towards the FA metabolism. Incubations of FA with human liver microsomes (HLM) displayed NADPH- and UDPGA-dependent metabolism with multiple CYP and UGT isoforms involved. CYPs and UGTs contributed equally to the metabolism of FA in HLM. Although CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 appeared to be the major contributors in the CYP-mediated clearance, their contributions to the overall clearance are still minor (< 25%). As a constitute of many food and herbs, FA poses low drug-drug interaction risk when co-administrated with other herbs or conventional medicines because multiple phase I and phase II enzymes are involved in its metabolism.
Coumaric Acids ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; metabolism ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Humans ; Kinetics ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Microsomes, Liver ; chemistry ; enzymology

AIMTo investigate the mechanism of androgen-independent growth of prostate cancer after androgen ablation in LNCaP cells and the effect of glucuronidation activity.

METHODSTo establish androgen-independent growth in prostate cancer LNCaP-SF, continuous passage was performed in androgen-stripped medium and the cells were evaluated for glucuronidation activity. The expression vector of antisense uridine diphosphate glucuronosyl-transferase (UGT) 2B15 cDNA was also constructed and evaluated.

RESULTSLNCaP-SF lead to a higher expression in UGT2B15 and their glucuronidation activity is 2.5 times higher than that of LNCaP cells. Significantly fewer LNCaP and LNCaP-SF than control were transfected with the antisense UGT2B15 cDNA, suggesting that UGT2B15 plays an important part in the glucuronidation activity of androgens in both cells.

CONCLUSIONThe alteration of UGT2B15 expression in LNCaP-SF cells is proposed as a biological characteristic involved in the growth of hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Androgens ; metabolism ; Cell Division ; physiology ; DNA, Antisense ; Glucuronic Acid ; metabolism ; Glucuronosyltransferase ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Transfection ; Tumor Cells, Cultured ; cytology ; enzymology