title: The glucuronidation of Delta4-3-Keto C19- and C21-hydroxysteroids by human liver microsomal and recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs): 6alpha- and 21-hydroxyprogesterone are selective substrates for UGT2B7.
abstract: The stereo- and regioselective glucuronidation of 10 Delta(4)-3-keto monohydroxylated androgens and pregnanes was investigated to identify UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme-selective substrates. Kinetic studies were performed using human liver microsomes (HLMs) and a panel of 12 recombinant human UGTs as the enzyme sources. Five of the steroids, which were hydroxylated in the 6beta-, 7alpha-, 11beta- or 17alpha-positions, were not glucuronidated by HLMs. Of the remaining compounds, comparative kinetic and inhibition studies indicated that 6alpha- and 21-hydroxyprogesterone (OHP) were glucuronidated selectively by human liver microsomal UGT2B7. 6alpha-OHP glucuronidation by HLMs and UGT2B7 followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, whereas 21-OHP glucuronidation by these enzyme sources exhibited positive cooperativity. UGT2B7 was also identified as the enzyme responsible for the high-affinity component of human liver microsomal 11alpha-OHP glucuronidation. In contrast, UGT2B15 and UGT2B17 were the major forms involved in human liver microsomal testosterone 17beta-glucuronidation and the high-affinity component of 16alpha-OHP glucuronidation. Activity of UGT1A subfamily enzymes toward the hepatically glucuronidated substrates was generally low, although UGT1A4 and UGT1A9 contribute to the low-affinity components of microsomal 16alpha- and 11alpha-OHP glucuronidation, respectively. Interestingly, UGT1A10, which is expressed only in the gastrointestinal tract, exhibited activity toward most of the glucuronidated substrates. The results indicate that 6alpha- and 21-OHP may be used as selective "probes" for human liver microsomal UGT2B7 activity and, taken together, provide insights into the regio- and stereoselectivity of hydroxysteroid glucuronidation by human UGTs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bowalgaha
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Elliot
authors.forename: P I
authors.initials: PI
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Knights
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Miners
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones / Q000378:metabolism*; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000378:metabolism; D015215:Zidovudine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D020719:Glucuronides; D006908:Hydroxyprogesterones; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013739:Testosterone; D015215:Zidovudine; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase