ABSTRACT
Lithocholic acid is a cytotoxic bile acid oxidized at the C-3 position by human cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) to form 3-ketocholanoic acid, but it is not known whether this metabolite is cytotoxic. Tocotrienols, in their various isomeric forms, are vitamin E analogues. In the present study, the hypothesis to be tested is that tocotrienols inhibit CYP3A-catalyzed lithocholic acid 3-oxidation, thereby influencing lithocholic acid cytotoxicity. Our enzyme catalysis experiments indicated that human recombinant CYP3A5 in addition to CYP3A4, liver microsomes, and intestinal microsomes catalyzed lithocholic acid 3-oxidation to form 3-ketocholanoic acid. Liver microsomes with the CYP3A5*1/*3 and CYP3A5*3/*3 genotypes were associated with decreased lithocholic acid 3-oxidation. α-Tocotrienol, γ-tocotrienol, δ-tocotrienol, and a tocotrienol-rich vitamin E mixture, but not α-tocopherol (a vitamin E analogue), differentially inhibited lithocholic acid 3-oxidation catalyzed by liver and intestinal microsomes and recombinant CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. Compared to lithocholic acid 3-oxidation, CYP3A-catalyzed testosterone 6ß-hydroxylation was inhibited to a lesser extent by α-tocotrienol, γ-tocotrienol, δ-tocotrienol, and a tocotrienol-rich vitamin E mixture. δ-Tocotrienol inhibited lithocholic acid 3-oxidation by a mixed mode. Like lithocholic acid, 3-ketocholanoic acid was also cytotoxic in human intestinal and liver cell models. δ-Tocotrienol decreased the extent of lithocholic acid 3-oxidation and this inhibition was associated with enhanced cytotoxicity in LS180 cells treated with δ-tocotrienol and lithocholic acid. Overall, vitamin E analogues inhibited in vitro lithocholic acid 3-oxidation in an isomer-dependent manner, with inhibition occurring with tocotrienols, but not α-tocopherol. The enhanced lithocholic acid toxicity by δ-tocotrienol in a human intestinal cell model warrants future investigations in vivo.
Subject(s)
Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A Inhibitors/pharmacology , Lithocholic Acid/toxicity , Microsomes/drug effects , Vitamin E/analogs & derivatives , Vitamin E/pharmacology , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A/metabolism , Female , Humans , Male , Microsomes/metabolism , Oxidation-ReductionABSTRACT
Lithocholic acid (LCA), a hepatotoxic and carcinogenic bile acid, is metabolized to 3-ketocholanoic acid (3-KCA) by cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A). In the present study, the objectives were to develop and validate an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (UPLC-MS/MS) method to quantify 3-KCA and apply it to the human liver microsomal CYP3A-dependent LCA 3-oxidation assay. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a Waters ACQUITY™ UPLC C18 column (50×2.1mm, 1.7µm) with a gradient system consisting of 0.1% v/v formic acid in water (solvent A) and 0.1% v/v formic acid in acetonitrile (solvent B). The retention time was 3.73min for 3-KCA and 2.73min for cortisol (internal standard). Positive electrospray ionization with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was used to quantify 3-KCA (m/z 375.4â135.2) and cortisol (m/z 363.5â121.0). The limit of detection of 3-KCA was 10µM, the lower limit of quantification was 33.3µM, and the calibration curve was linear from 0.05-10µM with r(2)>0.99. Intra-day and inter-day accuracy and precision were <13.7%. The quality control samples were stable when assessed after 4h at room temperature, 24h at 4°C, 14days at -20°C, and three freeze-thaw cycles. The liver microsomal matrix did not affect 3-KCA quantification. The amount of KCA formed in the human liver microsomal LCA 3-oxidation assay was linear with respect to the amount of microsomal protein (up to 40µg) and incubation time (5-30min). Enzyme kinetics experiment indicated that LCA 3-oxidation followed the Michaelis-Menten model with an apparent Km of 26±7µM and Vmax of 303±50pmol/min/mg protein. This novel UPLC-MS/MS method for quantifying 3-KCA offers a specific, sensitive, and fast approach to determine liver microsomal LCA 3-oxidation.
