title: Depression of drug metabolizing activity in the human liver by interferon-alpha.
abstract: The depressant effect of interferon-alpha on drug metabolizing activity in the liver has been investigated in 12 patients with chronic active hepatitis B. 7-methoxy-coumarin (7-MC) O-demethylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin (7-EC) O-deethylase, in specimens obtained by liver biopsy, were measured before and after interferon treatment. 7-MC and 7-EC O-dealkylase activity were significantly reduced after interferon treatment, from 13.4 to 9.24 nmol.g-1 liver.min-1, and from 3.22 to 2.16 nmol.g-1 liver.min-1, respectively. The magnitude of the fall varied widely between individual patients. The study provides the first direct evidence that interferon-alpha can impair the activity of drug metabolizing enzymes in the human liver.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okuno
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kitao
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takasu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kano
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kunieda
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiozaki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sameshima
mesh_terms: D015660:7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D010090:Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D007370:Interferon Type I; C047335:7-methoxycoumarin-O-demethylase; D010090:Oxidoreductases, O-Demethylating; D015660:7-Alkoxycoumarin O-Dealkylase