title: Use of a fluorescent substrate for the selective quantification of rat CYP3A in the liver and the intestine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quantification of cytochrome P450 is a major issue in the development of new drugs. Different assays have been reported, but few are very selective for the 3A isoform or cytochrome P450. The benzyloxy-substituted lactone cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor 3-[(3, 4-difluorobenzyl)oxy]-5,5-dimethyl-4-[4-methylsulfonyl) phenyl] furan-2(5H)-one has recently been used successfully to probe isoform 3A of cytochrome P450 in the liver. However, its selectivity for the rat isoform remains to be established as well as its applicability in other tissue, such as the intestine. The purpose of this study was to ascertain the specificity of this substrate for the rat 3A isoform of cytochrome P450 using Supersomes and its application in non-hepatic tissue (e.g., intestine).
  
  
  METHODS
  Specificity of the 3-[(3,4-difluorobenzyl)oxy]-5,5-dimethyl-4-[4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl] furan-2(5H)-one for the isoform 3A of rat cytochrome P450 was established by using either isoform-specific inhibitory antibody or microsomes expressing only one cytochrome P450 isoform. Activity was assayed in rat liver and intestinal microsomal protein preparations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Experiments with inhibitory antibodies revealed that in liver and intestinal microsomes, more than 90% of the substrate metabolism was inhibited by antibodies against isoform 3A. Selectivity of the substrate for rat 3A isoform was further determined by testing the metabolic activity of various Supersomes preparations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, our results validate the usefulness of 3-[(3,4-difluorobenzyl)oxy]-5,5-dimethyl-4-[4-methylsulfonyl)phenyl] furan-2(5H)-one as a simple and specific substrate to study the activity of the isoform 3A of cytochrome P450 in the rat liver and intestine.
authors.affiliation: Service de Néphrologie et Centre de Recherche Guy-Bernier, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, 5415 boulevard de l'Assomption, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Josée
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Michaud
authors.forename: Francois A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Leblond
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Naud
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boisvert
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Desbiens
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Nicoll-Griffith
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pichette
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking / Q000494:pharmacology; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A; D005453:Fluorescence; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005464:Fluorobenzenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005663:Furans / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D008861:Microsomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013379:Substrate Specificity
chemical_list: C421259:3,4-difluorobenzyloxy-5,5-dimethyl-4-(4-methylsulfonylphenyl)-(5H)-furan-2-one; D019138:Antibodies, Blocking; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D005464:Fluorobenzenes; D005663:Furans; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D001189:Aryl Hydrocarbon Hydroxylases; C465260:Cyp3a2 protein, rat; C465138:Cyp3a23-3a1 protein, rat; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A