title: Effect of bleomycin-induced fibrosis on pulmonary metabolism of selected xenobiotics.
abstract: Few studies are available characterizing the effects of fibrosis on pulmonary disposition of drugs or environmental pollutants. Two model substrates, p-nitroanisole and carbofuran, were selected to evaluate the effect of bleomycin-induced fibrosis on pulmonary disposition and metabolism using the isolated perfused lung and in vitro enzyme preparations. The rate of p-nitroanisole oxidation in the isolated perfused lung was significantly lower in fibrotic (k = 0.0334 min-1) than in control (k = 0.0493 min-1) lungs. However, there was no difference in the amount of p-nitrophenol formed between control (38 +/- 4 micrograms) and fibrotic (47 +/- 7 micrograms) lungs. Carbofuran clearance was similar in control (t1/2 = 91 min, ke = 0.008 min-1) and fibrotic (t1/2 = 75 min, ke = 0.009 min-1) lungs and was consistent with a one-compartment model. The Km value for p-nitrophenol formation in microsomes (0.185 +/- 0.095 mM) from control lungs was similar to fibrotic lungs (0.054 +/- 0.014 mM); however, Vmax was significantly higher in healthy (34.6 +/- 6.3 pmoles/min per mg microsomal protein) than in fibrotic (11.16 +/- 3.19 pmoles/min per mg microsomal protein) lungs. In vitro carbofuran studies indicated limited metabolism of carbofuran in both healthy and fibrotic microsomal enzyme preparations (< 5% of the administered dose). Lower p-nitroanisole metabolism in fibrotic lungs was consistent with lower levels of cytochrome P-450 2B1/B2 measured in bleomycin-treated lungs. Results suggest that individuals with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis may be at greater risk when exposed to certain toxic environmental chemicals or drugs that require detoxification by pulmonary microsomal enzymes.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, University of Arizona.
authors.forename: U A
authors.initials: UA
authors.lastname: Pillai
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schlenk
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frith
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Ferguson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000840:Anisoles / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D001761:Bleomycin; D002235:Carbofuran / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008861:Microsomes / Q000201:enzymology; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011658:Pulmonary Fibrosis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*
chemical_list: D000840:Anisoles; D015262:Xenobiotics; D001761:Bleomycin; C005306:4-nitroanisole; D002235:Carbofuran