title: Cytochrome P450-mediated drug metabolism in the brain.
abstract: Cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYPs) metabolize many drugs that act on the central nervous system (CNS), such as antidepressants and antipsychotics; drugs of abuse; endogenous neurochemicals, such as serotonin and dopamine; neurotoxins; and carcinogens. This takes place primarily in the liver, but metabolism can also occur in extrahepatic organs, including the brain. This is important for CNS-acting drugs, as variation in brain CYP-mediated metabolism may be a contributing factor when plasma levels do not predict drug response. This review summarizes the characterization of CYPs in the brain, using examples from the CYP2 subfamily, and discusses sources of variation in brain CYP levels and metabolism. Some recent experiments are described that demonstrate how changes in brain CYP metabolism can influence drug response, toxicity and drug-induced behaviours. Advancing knowledge of brain CYP-mediated metabolism may help us understand why patients respond differently to drugs used in psychiatry and predict risk for psychiatric disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases and substance abuse.
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miksys
authors.forename: Rachel F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Tyndale
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002491:Central Nervous System Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D009928:Organ Specificity / Q000502:physiology; D010302:Parkinson Disease, Secondary / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000201:enzymology; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D002491:Central Nervous System Agents; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System