Aim: Cytochrome P450 2C9 (CYP2C9) is a polymorphic enzyme that is responsible for the metabolism of approximately 15% of clinically important drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the catalytic characteristics of 37 CYP2C9 allelic isoforms found in Chinese Han population on the metabolism of tolbutamide in vitro. Methods: The wild-type and 36 CYP2C9 variants were expressed in sf21 insect cells using a baculovirus-mediated expression system. Then the insect microsomes were prepared for assessing the metabolic characteristics of each variant toward the CYP2C9-specific drug substrate tolbutamide. Results: Of 36 allelic variants tested, the intrinsic clearance values of 2 allelic isoforms (CYP2C9.36 and CYP2C9.51) were much higher than the wild-type CYP2C9.1 protein, 3 allelic isoforms (CYP2C9.11, CYP2C9.56 and N418T) exhibited similar intrinsic clearance values as the wild-type enzyme, whereas the other 31 variants showed significantly reduced intrinsic clearance values, ranging from 0.08% to 66.88%, for tolbutamide. Conclusion: Our study provides the most comprehensive data concerning the enzymatic activity of the CYP2C9 variants that are present in the Chinese Han population, and our data suggest that most of the carriers of these alleles might be paid more attention when using CYP2C9 mediated drugs clinically.

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is one of the most widely investigated CYPs related to genetic polymorphisms and is responsible for one-quarter of the currently used clinical drugs. We previously detected 22 novel, non-synonymous, mutated sites in the Chinese population, but nothing is known about the functional effects of these mutations in terms of specific CYP2D6 substrates. In this study, wild-type CYP2D6, two common allelic variants and 22 newly reported CYP2D6 isoforms were transiently expressed in 293FT cells, and the enzymatic activities of these variants were systematically assessed using dextromethorphan and bufuralol as the probing substrates. Consequently, 19 and 21 allelic variants were found to exhibit significantly decreased enzymatic activities for dextromethorphan and bufuralol, respectively. Of 22 novel CYP2D6 variants, six allelic isoforms (CYP2D6.89, CYP2D6.92, CYP2D6.93, CYP2D6.96, E215K and R440C) exhibited absent or extremely reduced metabolic activities compared with those observed for the wild-type enzyme. Our in vitro functional data can be useful for CYP2D6 phenotype prediction and provide valuable information for the study of clinical impact of these newly found CYP2D6 variants in China.As one of the most important drug-metabolizing enzymes, cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is responsible for approximately 25% of clinically used drugs including analgesics, antiarrhythmics, antiemetics, antipsychotics, antidepressants, beta-adrenergic blockers and chemotherapeutic/hormone replacement agents [1][2][3]. Similar to other P450 subfamily members, the CYP2D6 gene locus is also highly polymorphic across different ethnic populations and individuals [4]. To date, a total of 105 allelic variants are defined and described in the Human CYP Allele Nomenclature database (http://www.cypalleles.ki.se/cyp2d6.htm). These genetic variants can be associated with increased, decreased or abolished enzymatic functions, which results in differences of up to 30-to 40-fold changes in substrate drug clearance values. Consequently, these differences in CYP2D6 activity have been demonstrated to be prominent contributors to interindividual drug response variability [2,5,6].It has been reported that significant ethnic and geographic differences exist in CYP2D6 alleles [7,8]. For Eastern Asians, only 1-2% of individuals have been found to be poor metabolizers (PMs), and approximately 57% of the Chinese population are intermediate metabolizers (IMs) [9,10]. Polymorphic studies have revealed that the IM allele CYP2D6*10 is predominant in Asian populations with frequencies ranging from 30% to 50% [7,11]. In a recent large-scale, genetic screening study, we sequenced all nine exons of the CYP2D6 gene in 2129 unrelated Chinese individuals. As a result, 22 new nonsynonymous, mutated sites were found, and 12 of them were designated as novel alleles (*87-*93, *94A, *94B and *95-*98) by the Human CYP Allele Nomenclature Committee [12]. Considering the fact that there are more than 1.4 billion people living in the mainland ...

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) is a highly polymorphic enzyme that metabolizes a large number of therapeutic drugs. To date, more than 100 CYP2D6 allelic variants have been reported. Among these variants, we recently identified 22 novel variants in the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to functionally characterize the enzymatic activity of these variants in vitro. A baculovirus-mediated expression system was used to express wild-type CYP2D6.1 and other variants (CYP2D6.2, CYP2D6.10 and 22 novel CYP2D6 variants) at high levels. Then, the insect microsomes containing expressed CYP2D6 proteins were incubated with bufuralol or dextromethorphan at 37°C for 20 or 25 min., respectively. After termination, the metabolites were extracted and used for the detection with high-performance liquid chromatography. Among the 24 CYP2D6 variants tested, two variants (CYP2D6.92 and CYP2D6.96) were found to be catalytically inactive. The remaining 22 variants exhibited significantly decreased intrinsic clearance values for bufuralol 1 0 -hydroxylation and 20 variants showed significantly lower intrinsic clearance values for dextromethorphan O-demethylation than those of the wild-type CYP2D6.1. Our in vitro results suggest that most of the variants exhibit significantly reduced catalytic activities compared with the wild-type, and these data provide valuable information for personalized medicine in Chinese and other Asian populations.The human cytochrome P450 (CYP450) superfamily contains the most important phase I drug-metabolizing enzymes that catalyse the oxidative metabolism of more than 90% of prescribed medications [1]. CYP2D6 (also referred to as debrisoquine 4-hydroxylase) belongs to the CYP2D subfamily and is an important member of the hepatic P450 enzymes. Despite accounting for only approximately 2% of the total human liver CYP protein content, CYP2D6 plays a major role in the metabolism of a wide variety of drugs [2]. It has been reported that approximately 20% of drugs in common clinical use are metabolized by CYP2D6 [3]. These drugs include the antidepressants fluoxetine, amitriptyline and venlafaxine; the antitussive dextromethorphan; the b-adrenergic antagonists bufuralol, propranolol and metoprolol; the opioid analgesics codeine, dihydrocodeine and tramadol; the antipsychotic agent risperidone; and the antiarrhythmic propafenone [4][5][6].

1.  CYP2C9 is an important member of the cytochrome P450 enzyme superfamily, with 57 CYP2C9 allelic variants being previously reported. Among these variants, we recently identified 21 novel alleles (*36-*56) in the Han Chinese population. The aim of this study was to assess the catalytic activities of 36 CYP2C9 variants found in the Chinese population toward losartan in vitro. 2.  Insect microsomes expressing the 36 CYP2C9 variants were incubated with 0.5-25 μM losartan for 30 min at 37 °C. Next, the products were extracted, and signal detection was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography. 3.  Compared with wild-type CYP2C9.1, the intrinsic clearance (Vmax/Km) values of all variants except for CYP2C9.56 were significantly altered. One variant exhibited markedly increased values (>250%), whereas 33 variants exhibited significantly decreased values (from 20 to 96%) due to increased Km and/or decreased Vmax values. 4.  These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to subjects carrying these infrequent CYP2C9 alleles when administering losartan in the clinic.

Of the 57 reported CYP2C9 alleles, to date, 36 of them have been identified in the Chinese population. The aim of this study was to assess the catalytic characteristics of these allelic isoforms and their effects on the metabolism of glimepiride in vitro. Baculovirus-mediated expressing system was used to highly express wild-type and the 35 CYP2C9 allelic variants in insect cell microsomes. Then, the enzymatic characteristics of each variant were evaluated using glimepiride as the substrate. Reactions were performed at 37°C with the insect microsomes and 0.125-10 lM glimepiride for 40 min. After termination, the products were extracted and used for signal collection by LC-MS/MS. Of the 36 tested CYP2C9 allelic isoforms, only four variants (CYP2C9.40, CYP2C9.47, CYP2C9.51 and CYP2C9.54) exhibited similar relative clearance values to that of wild-type CYP2C9.1. In addition, one variant (CYP2C9.36) showed a higher intrinsic clearance value than the wild-type protein, while the remaining 30 CYP2C9 allelic isoforms exhibited significantly decreased clearance values (from 0.1% to 87.2%) compared to CYP2C9.1. This study provided the most comprehensive data on the enzymatic activities of all reported CYP2C9 variants in the Chinese population with regard to the commonly used antidiabetic drug, glimepiride. Our results indicate that most of the tested rare alleles significantly decrease the catalytic activity of CYP2C9 variants towards glimepiride hydroxylation in vitro.As one of the second-generation sulphonylurea-type antidiabetic drugs, glimepiride has been widely used for the treatment of patients with type II diabetes mellitus and is currently available in more than 60 countries worldwide [1,2]. Compared with other sulphonylureas drugs, glimepiride achieves metabolic control with the lowest dose (1-8 mg/day) and can be administered once daily at any time of day, while still providing acceptable glycaemic control as long as 24 hr. In addition, there appears to be a lower risk of hypoglycaemia during physical exercise with glimepiride, as it maintains a more physiological regulation of insulin secretion than glibenclamide. Based on these special characteristics, glimepiride has been regarded as a particularly important second-generation sulphonylurea drug in clinics [2,3].Previous in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed that glimepiride is primarily metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme 2C9 (CYP2C9) in human beings, which can convert glimepiride into the main active metabolite M1 (cyclohexyl hydroxymethyl glimepiride). CYP2C9 constitutes approximately 20% of total human liver microsome CYP proteins and metabolizes approximately 15-20% of therapeutically important drugs [4,5]

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Multidrug resistance (MDR) against chemotherapeutic agents has become one of the major obstacles to successful cancer therapy and MDR-associated proteins (MRPs)-mediated drug efflux is the key factor for MDR. In this study, a redox-responsive polymer based on dextran (DEX) and indomethacin (IND), which could reduce MRPs-mediated efflux of chemotherapeutics, was synthesized, and the obtained polymer could spontaneously form stable micelles with well-defined core-shell structure and a uniform size distribution with an average diameter of 50 nm and effectively encapsulate doxorubicin (DOX); the micelles contain a disulfide bridge (cystamine, SS) between IND and DEX (DEX-SS-IND). In vitro drug release results indicated that DEX-SS-IND/DOX micelles could maintain good stability in a stimulated normal physiological environment and promptly depolymerized and released DOX in a reducing environment. After incubating DEX-SS-IND/DOX micelles with drug-resistant tumor (MCF-7/ADR) cells, the intracellular accumulation and retention of DOX were significantly increased under the synergistic effects of redox-responsive delivery and the inhibitory effect of IND on MRPs. In vitro cytotoxicity showed that DEX-SS-IND/DOX micelles exhibited higher cytotoxicity against MCF-7/ADR cells. Moreover, DEX-SS-IND/DOX micelles showed significantly enhanced inhibition of tumor in BALB/c nude mice bearing MCF-7/ADR tumors and reduced systemic toxicity. Overall, the cumulative evidence indicates that DEX-SS-IND/DOX micelles hold significant promise for overcoming MDR for cancer therapy.

Dendrobine, considered as the major active alkaloid compound, has been used for the quality control and discrimination of Dendrobium which is documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. In this work, a sensitive and simple ultra-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for determination of dendrobine in rat plasma is developed. After addition of caulophyline as an internal standard (IS), protein precipitation by acetonitrile-methanol (9:1, v/v) was used to prepare samples. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a UPLC BEH C18 (2.1 ×100 mm, 1.7 µm) column with acetonitrile and 0.1% formic acid as the mobile phase with gradient elution. An electrospray ionization source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; multiple reaction monitoring mode was used for quantification using target fragment ions m/z 264.2 → 70.0 for dendrobine and m/z 205.1 → 58.0 for IS. Calibration plots were linear throughout the range 2-1000 ng/mL for dendrobine in rat plasma. The RSDs of intra-day and inter-day precision were both <13%. The accuracy of the method was between 95.4 and 103.9%. The method was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic study of dendrobine after intravenous administration. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.