Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes: evaluation in hepatitis C and diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) is expressed in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs), and previous reports have suggested the possibility of using this readily available tissue as a reporter of CYP2E1 status. To further explore the relevance of this approach we assessed CYP2E1 expression in PBLs in two contrasting conditions, chronic hepatitis C and insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD), illustrating an organ and a systemic disease, respectively.


METHODS
Total RNA was isolated from extracted PBLs (hepatitis C patients + IDD) and by percutaneous needle biopsy (hepatitis C patients only). Gene expression for CYP2E1 was determined by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Histological changes in liver tissue were assessed according to Ludwig's criteria.


RESULTS
In patients with chronic hepatitis C a clear relationship was found between CYP2E1 expression in the liver and the progression of hepatic disease (both lobular inflammation and fibrosis indices), and observed variations were consistent with the preferential distribution of CYP2E1 in the lobular zone. No effect of the liver disease was, however, found at the PBL level. A statistically significant increase in mean CYP2E1 expression level was observed in the lymphocytes from poorly controlled IDD subjects compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, our data indicate that the measurement of CYP2E1 expression in PBLs is not useful in liver diseases. However, in a systemic condition (IDD) this measurement can be proposed for monitoring the CYP2E1 induction in a relatively noninvasive manner. This tool should therefore be further validated in clinical field or experimental studies for CYP2E1 phenotyping purposes.
Industrial Toxicology and Occupational Medicine Unit, Catholic University of Louvain, Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30/54, 1200 Brussels, Belgium. haufroid@toxi.ucl.ac.be
Vincent
V
Haufroid
Danuta
D
Ligocka
Martin
M
Buysschaert
Yves
Y
Horsmans
Dominique
D
Lison
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019392:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2E1