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Cytochrome P450 and Drug Interactions: Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2001 33: 248-259 Educational Forum
Cytochrome P450 and Drug Interactions: Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2001 33: 248-259 Educational Forum
Cytochrome P450 and Drug Interactions: Indian Journal of Pharmacology 2001 33: 248-259 Educational Forum
248-259
EDUCATIONAL FORUM
Revised: 7.11.2000
Accepted: 10.3.2001
The cytochrome P450(CYP) enzyme family plays a dominant role in the biotransformation of a vast
number of structurally diverse drugs. There are several factors that influence CYP activity directly or at
enzyme regulation level. Many drug interactions are a result of inhibition or induction of CYP enzymes.
Inhibition based drug interactions form a major part of clinically significant drug interactions. Six isoenzymes
of the CYP enzyme system are mainly involved in metabolism of most of the drugs. CYP3A4 isoenzyme
is the most predominant isoenzyme in the liver and is involved in the metabolism of approximately 3040% of drugs.
The advances in the identification, isolation and characterisation of different isoenzymes of CYP enzyme
system made it possible to correlate a specific isoenzyme activity with the metabolism of a specific drug.
This will help in prediction of in vivo drug interactions of new drugs based on their in vitro interaction
data. Based on knowledge of CYP isoenzymes involved in the metabolism of drugs, physicians may
better anticipate drug interactions. This will enhance the use of rational drug therapy and better drug
combinations.
KEY WORDS
Cytochrome P450
isoenzymes
drug interactions
INTRODUCTION
NOMENCLATURE OF CYP
The cytochrome P450(CYP) enzyme system consists of a superfamily of hemoproteins that catalyse
the oxidative metabolism of a wide variety of
exogenous chemicals including drugs, carcinogens,
toxins and endogenous compounds such as steroids,
fatty acids and prostaglandins1. The CYP enzyme
family plays an important role in phase-I metabolism
of many drugs. The broad range of drugs that undergo CYP mediated oxidative biotransformation is
responsible for the large number of clinically significant drug interactions during multiple drug therapy.
Nomenclature of CYP enzyme system has been established by CYP nomenclature committee2. The name
cytochrome P450 is derived from the fact that these
proteins have a heme group and an unusual spectrum. These enzymes are characterised by a maximum absorption wavelength of 450 nm in the reduced
state in the presence of carbon monoxide. Naming a
cytochrome P450 gene include root symbol CYP for
humans(Cyp for mouse and Drosophila), an Arabic
numeral denoting the CYP family (e.g. CYP1, CYP2),
letters A, B, C indicating subfamily (e.g. CYP3A,
CYP3C) and another Arabic numeral representing the
individual gene/isoenzyme/isozyme/isoform (e.g.
CYP3A4, CYP3A5)2. Of the 74 gene families so far
described, 14 exist in all mammals. These 14 families
comprise of 26 mammalian subfamilies2.
CYP450-DRUG INTERACTIONS
amino acid sequence and members of the same subfamily must have >55% homology3. In the human liver
there are at least 12 distinct CYP enzymes2. At present
it appears that from about 30 isozymes, only six isoenzymes from the families CYP1, 2 and 3 are involved
in the hepatic metabolism of most of the drugs. These
include CYP1A2, 3A4, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6 and 2E13.
DRUG INTERACTIONS
Metabolic drug interactions between drugs represent
a major concern for the pharmaceutical industry, for
regulatory agencies and clinically for health care professionals and their patients. It has been estimated
that drug interactions may be fourth to sixth leading
cause of death in hospitalised patients in United
States (U.S.)4. During the past few years a revolution
has taken place in our understanding of drug interactions, mostly as a result of advances in the molecular biology of the CYP enzyme system. Several factors directly or indirectly influence the CYP
activity. Many drug interactions are a result of induction or inhibition of CYP enzymes.
Enzyme inhibition: Inhibition based drug interactions constitute the major proportion of clinically important drug interactions. A drug may inhibit the CYP
isoenzyme whether or not it is a substrate for that
isoenzyme. If the two drugs are substrate for the
same CYP isoenzyme then metabolism of one or both
the drugs may be delayed. Erythromycin and midazolam both are substrates for 3A4 isoenzyme so,
there is competition for enzyme sites and metabolism of midazolam is inhibited5. Fluoroquinolones
antimicrobials and azole antifungals, although not
metabolised by CYP3A4 isoenzyme, cause rapid
reversible inhibition of CYP3A4 isoenzyme 6,7.
Macrolide antimicrobials, fluoxetine, lidocaine and
amiodarone cause slowly reversible inhibition of CYP
isoenzymes7,8. These drugs are converted through
multiple CYP dependent steps to nitroso derivatives
that bind with high affinity to the reduced form of CYP
enzymes. Thus CYP enzymes are unavailable for
further oxidation and synthesis of new enzymes is
therefore the only means by which activity can be
restored and this may take several days9. Cimetidine
and macrolide antimicrobials directly form complex
with heme moiety of CYP isoenzyme9,10. Cimetidine,
amiodarone and stiripentol are non-specific inhibitors of CYP450 enzyme system9,11. Reversible inhibition can be competitive or non-competitive.
249
250
CYP450-DRUG INTERACTIONS
251
INHIBITORS
Azole antifungals:
Itraconazole
Ketoconazole
Fluconazole
Terfenadine16, triazolam17
Macrolide antimicrobials:
Tacrolimus15, astemizole20
Erythromycin
Clarithromycin
Midazolam4, cisapride32
Fluoxetine
Paroxetine
Alprazolam33
Tacrolimus15
Verapamil
Diltiazem
Nifedipine
Midazolam4
Protease inhibitors
Grapefruit juice
Ciprofloxacin
Tacrolimus46
Cimetidine
Propofol
Midazolam48
Nafimidone, omeprazole
Carbamazepine3,49
INDUCERS
Rifampicin
Rifabutin
Carbamazepine
Phenytoin, Phenobarbitone
2C19: This isoenzyme also exhibits genetic polymorphism. It is involved in metabolism of a number of
clinically important drugs e.g. omeprazole, diazepam,
antidepressants and antimalarials76. Important interactions are listed in Table 2.
2E1: This isoenzyme is involved in metabolism of
low molecular weight toxins, fluorinated ether vola-
252
Fluoxetine
Propafenone
Cimetidine
Propranolol, quinidine47
Quinidine
Terbinafine
Sparteine, debrisoquine61
Nortriptyline62
Amiodarone
CYP1A2
Flecainide63
INHIBITORS
Fluvoxamine
Fluoxetine
Ciprofloxacin
Grapefruit juice
Cimetidine
Theophylline, warfarin47
Verapamil, diltiazem
Estradiol, levonorgestrel
Antipyrine67, theophylline68
Tacrine69
Omeprazole
INDUCER
Theophylline49
Tobacco
Theophylline70
CYP2C9
INHIBITORS
Ketoconazole, metronidazole
Fluconazole
S-warfarin70,73
Phenytoin9, S-warfarin73
Amiodarone, benzbromarone,
S-warfarin63,75
Cimetidine, stiripentol
INDUCER
Phenytoin3,47
Rifampicin
CYP2C19
Phenytoin53
INHIBITORS
Fluvoxamine
Fluoxetine
Omeprazole
Ticlopidine
Diazepam49
Phenytoin3
Cimetidine
Imipramine, benzodiazepines47
Ketoconazole
INDUCER
Omeprazole4
Artemisinin
CYP2E1
Omeprazole77
INHIBITORS
Disulfiram, isoniazid
INDUCER
Chloroxazone78
Ethanol
Acetaminophen79
CYP450-DRUG INTERACTIONS
253
254
CYP450-DRUG INTERACTIONS
Feyereisen R, Waxman DJ et al. P450 superfamily: update on new sequence, gene mapping, accession numbers and nomenclature. Pharmacogenetics 1996;6:1-42.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Thummel KE, Wilkinson GR. In vitro and in vivo drug interactions involving CYP3A. Ann Rev Pharmacol Toxicol
1998;38:389-430.
9.
CONCLUSION
Drug interactions involving inhibition and induction
of CYP enzymes will undoubtedly continue to be of
scientific interest and clinical importance simply because of enzymes role in metabolism of currently
available and future drugs. Mibefradil, terfenadine and
cisapride provide classical examples indicating the
critical importance of CYP enzyme mediated drug
interactions in the development, regulation and ultimate economic success of drugs33,38. Our knowledge
of the isoenzymes involved in metabolism of drugs
will allow a prediction of interactions of these drugs
with new drugs, to be developed in the future. Indeed an editorial from US FDA suggests that this
type of information will be required for future new
drugs100.
By understanding the unique functions and characteristics of CYP enzymes, physicians may better anticipate and manage drug interactions. This practice
will increase in future and will result in the formation
of a rational information base that would indicate drug
combinations to be avoided. For example inhibitors
or inducers of 3A4 isoenzyme would not be given
along with substrates of 3A4 and instead will receive
alternative drugs that are not inhibitors or inducers
of 3A4. This will improve rational drug use and facilitate better selection of drug combinations.
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