title: Identification of the human UDP-glucuronosyltransferases involved in the glucuronidation of combretastatin A-4.
abstract: The stilbenic compound (Z)-combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) has been described as a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor. In vivo, CA-4 binds to tubulin and inhibits microtubule depolymerization, which results in morphological changes in proliferating endothelial cells. Combretastatin A-4 prodrug phosphate is a leading vascular disrupting agent and is currently being evaluated in multiple clinical trials as a treatment for solid tumors. The aim of this study was to identify and characterize the UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) isoforms involved in CA-4 glucuronidation by incubation with human liver microsomes and a panel of nine liver-expressed recombinant UGT Supersomes (1A1, 1A3, 1A4, 1A6, 1A9, 2B4, 2B7, 2B15, and 2B17). As we observed, the high rate of formation of CA-4 glucuronide (V(max) = 12.78 +/- 0.29 nmol/min/mg protein) and the low K(m) (6.98 +/- 0.65 microM) denoted that UGT1A9 was primarily responsible for the in vitro glucuronidation of CA-4. UGT1A6 was also a significant contributor to CA-4 glucuronidation (V(max) = 3.95 +/- 0.13 nmol/min/mg protein and S(50) = 44.80 +/- 3.54 microM). Furthermore, we demonstrated that the kinetics of CA-4 glucuronidation with liver microsomes but also with a panel of recombinant UGTs is atypical as it fits two different models: the substrate inhibition and also the sigmoidal kinetic model. Finally, experiments conducted to inhibit the glucuronosyltransferase activity in the human liver microsomes assay showed that phenylbutazone, trifluoperazine, propofol, and 1-naphthol effectively inhibited CA-4 glucuronidation.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Alimentari, Farmaceutiche e Farmacologiche and Drug and Food Biotechnology Center, Università degli Studi del Piemonte Orientale A. Avogadro, 28100 Novara, Italy. silvio.aprile@pharm.unipmn.it
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aprile
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Del Grosso
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grosa
mesh_terms: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D020719:Glucuronides / Q000378:metabolism*; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007527:Isoenzymes; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020719:Glucuronides; D007527:Isoenzymes; D013267:Stilbenes; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; C058728:fosbretabulin