title: In vitro and in vivo studies of the effect of vitamin E on microsomal cytochrome P450 in rat liver.
abstract: Administration of a diet supplemented with 0.06% vitamin E acetate to male rats over a 6-week period doubled hepatic microsomal stores of alpha-tocopherol over those in control (vitamin E adequate) rat liver. Total cytochrome P450 content and NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase activity were significantly elevated in hepatic microsomes from vitamin E-supplemented rats to 111% and 123% of respective control values. Androstenedione 16 alpha-hydroxylase activity was increased in these fractions (2.57 +/- 0.31 nmol product/min/mg protein vs 1.81 +/- 0.38 in controls) whereas activities of the 6 beta-, 7 alpha- and 16 beta-hydroxylase pathways were unchanged. Immunoquantitation of the microsomal 16 alpha-hydroxylase, P450 IIC11, indicated a corresponding increase in the hepatic content of the enzyme. In view of the established antioxidant role of tocopherols, the effects of dietary vitamin E manipulation on the concentration of protein sulphydryl groups and the susceptibility of microsomes to ferric sulphate-ADP-NADPH-mediated lipid peroxidation were also assessed. Dietary supplementation did not influence microsomal protein sulphydryl content (68 +/- 10 nmol glutathione equivalents/mg protein) but decreased the extent of lipid peroxidation produced by the ferric sulphate-ADP-NADPH system in vitro. Further in vitro experiments demonstrated that vitamin E acetate (2 microM) protected protein sulphydryl groups and lipids against peroxidation in control microsomes and partially reduced the associated losses of P450-mediated steroid hydroxylase activities. Western immunoquantitation of P450 IIC11 revealed that exogenous vitamin E acetate protected completely against peroxidation-induced apoprotein loss. These studies establish that the in vitro protective effects of vitamin E acetate against sulphydryl and lipid peroxidation extend to protection of the P450 apoprotein but that enzyme activity is only partially protected. This finding suggests that peroxidation-dependent loss of P450 in vitro is mediated by haem degradation from the P450 holoenzyme and is not directly related to lipid/sulphydryl oxidation. In contrast, the in vivo effects of dietary vitamin E on drug metabolizing enzymes are regulatory in nature and are unrelated to effects on lipid peroxidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murray
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology*; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D039181:Steroid 16-alpha-Hydroxylase; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones; D013438:Sulfhydryl Compounds; D014810:Vitamin E; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D010105:Oxygenases; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; D039181:Steroid 16-alpha-Hydroxylase