CDNA cloning, heterologous expression, and characterization of rat intestinal CYP2J4

CYP2J2-mediated metabolism of arachidonic acid in heart: A review of its kinetics, inhibition and role in heart rhythm control

Cytochrome P450 2 J2 (CYP2J2) is primarily expressed extrahepatically and is the predominant epoxygenase in human cardiac tissues. This highlights its key role in the metabolism of endogenous substrates. Significant scientific interest lies in cardiac CYP2J2 metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA), an omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid, to regioisomeric bioactive epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET) metabolites that show cardioprotective effects including regulation of cardiac electrophysiology. From an in vitro perspective, the accurate characterization of the kinetics of CYP2J2 metabolism of AA including its inhibition and inactivation by drugs could be useful in facilitating in vitro-in vivo extrapolations to predict drug-AA interactions in drug discovery and development. In this review, background information on the structure, regulation and expression of CYP2J2 in human heart is presented alongside AA and EETs as its endogenous substrate and metabolites. The in vitro and in vivo implications of the kinetics of this endogenous metabolic pathway as well as its perturbation via inhibition and inactivation by drugs are elaborated. Additionally, the role of CYP2J2-mediated metabolism of AA to EETs in cardiac electrophysiology will be expounded.

The desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida) induces a diversity of biotransformation genes in response to creosote bush resin

Liver biotransformation enzymes have long been thought to enable animals to feed on diets rich in xenobiotic compounds. However, despite decades of pharmacological research in humans and rodents, little is known about hepatic gene expression in specialized mammalian herbivores feeding on toxic diets. Leveraging a recently identified population of the desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida) found to be highly tolerant to toxic creosote bush (Larrea tridentata), we explored the expression changes of suites of biotransformation genes in response to diets enriched with varying amounts of creosote resin. Analysis of hepatic RNA-seq data indicated a dose-dependent response to these compounds, including the upregulation of several genes encoding transcription factors and numerous phase I, II, and III biotransformation families. Notably, elevated expression of five biotransformation families - carboxylesterases, cytochromes P450, aldo-keto reductases, epoxide hydrolases, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases - corresponded to species-specific duplication events in the genome, suggesting that these genes play a prominent role in N. lepida's adaptation to creosote bush. Building on pharmaceutical studies in model rodents, we propose a hypothesis for how the differentially expressed genes are involved in the biotransformation of creosote xenobiotics. Our results provide some of the first details about how these processes likely operate in the liver of a specialized mammalian herbivore.

Mechanism of Chronic Kidney Disease Progression and Novel Biomarkers: A Metabolomic Analysis of Experimental Glomerulonephritis

While a complex network of cellular and molecular events is known to be involved in the pathophysiological mechanism of chronic kidney disease (CKD), the divergence point between reversal and progression and the event that triggers CKD progression are still unknown. To understand the different mechanisms between reversible and irreversible kidney disease and to search for urinary biomarkers that can predict prognosis, a metabolomic analysis was applied to compare acute and chronic experimental glomerulonephritis (GN) models. Four metabolites, namely, epoxyoctadecenoic acid (EpOME), epoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (EpETE), α-linolenic acid (ALA), and hydroxyretinoic acid, were identified as predictive markers after comparing the chronic nephritis model with acute nephritis and control groups (false discovery rate adjusted p-value (q-value) < 0.05). Renal mRNA expression of cytochrome P450 and epoxide hydrolase was also identified as being involved in the production of epoxide metabolites from these polyunsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.05). These results suggested that the progression of chronic kidney disease is associated with abnormally activated epoxide hydrolase, leading to an increase in EpOME and EpETE as pro-inflammatory eicosanoids.

Cytochrome P450 2J2: Potential Role in Drug Metabolism and Cardiotoxicity

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity may be modulated by endogenous arachidonic acid (AA)-derived metabolites known as epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) synthesized by cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2). The biologic effects of EETs, including their protective effects on inflammation and vasodilation, are diverse because, in part, of their ability to act on a variety of cell types. In addition, CYP2J2 metabolizes both exogenous and endogenous substrates and is involved in phase 1 metabolism of a variety of structurally diverse compounds, including some antihistamines, anticancer agents, and immunosuppressants. This review addresses current understanding of the role of CYP2J2 in the metabolism of xenobiotics and endogenous AA, focusing on the effects on the cardiovascular system. In particular, we have promoted here the hypothesis that CYP2J2 influences drug-induced cardiotoxicity through potentially conflicting effects on the production of protective EETs and the metabolism of drugs.

Marmoset cytochrome P450 2J2 mainly expressed in small intestines and livers effectively metabolizes human P450 2J2 probe substrates, astemizole and terfenadine

1. Common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a New World Monkey, has potential to be a useful animal model in preclinical studies. However, drug metabolizing properties have not been fully understood due to insufficient information on cytochrome P450 (P450), major drug metabolizing enzymes. 2. Marmoset P450 2J2 cDNA was isolated from marmoset livers. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a high-sequence identity (91%) with cynomolgus monkey and human P450 2J2 enzymes. A phylogenetic tree revealed that marmoset P450 2J2 was evolutionarily closer to cynomolgus monkey and human P450 2J2 enzymes, than P450 2J forms in pigs, rabbits, rats or mice. 3. Marmoset P450 2J2 mRNA was abundantly expressed in the small intestine and liver, and to a lesser extent in the brain, lung and kidney. Immunoblot analysis also showed expression of marmoset P450 2J2 protein in the small intestine and liver. 4. Enzyme assays using marmoset P450 2J2 protein heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli indicated that marmoset P450 2J2 effectively catalyzed astemizole O-demethylation and terfenadine t-butyl hydroxylation, similar to human and cynomolgus monkey P450 2J2 enzymes. 5. These results suggest the functional characteristics of P450 2J2 enzymes are similar among marmosets, cynomolgus monkeys and humans.

Cyclooxygenase- and cytochrome P450-derived eicosanoids in stroke

Arachidonic acid (AA) is metabolized by cyclooxygenase (COX) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes into eicosanoids, which are involved in cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Evidence has demonstrated the important functions of these eicosanoids in regulating cerebral vascular tone, cerebral blood flow, and autoregulation of cerebral circulation. Although COX-2 inhibitors have been suggested as potential treatments for stroke, adverse events, including an increased risk of stroke, occur following long-term use of coxibs. It is important to note that prolonged treatment with rofecoxib increased circulating levels of 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE), and 20-HETE blockade is a possible strategy to prevent coxib-induced stroke events. It appears that 20-HETE has detrimental effects in the brain, and that its blockade exerts cerebroprotection against ischemic stroke and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). There is clear evidence that activation of EP2 and EP4 receptors exerts cerebroprotection against ischemic stroke. Several elegant studies have contributed to defining the importance of stabilizing the levels of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), by inhibiting or deleting soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), in stroke research. These reports support the notion that sEH blockade is cerebroprotective against ischemic stroke and SAH. Here, we summarize recent findings implicating these eicosanoid pathways in cerebral vascular function and stroke. We also discuss the development of animal models with targeted gene deletion and specific enzymatic inhibitors in each pathway to identify potential targets for the treatment of ischemic stroke and SAH.

Cytochrome P450 2J2: distribution, function, regulation, genetic polymorphisms and clinical significance

Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) is an enzyme mainly found in human extrahepatic tissues, with predominant expression in the cardiovascular systems and lower levels in the intestine, kidney, lung, pancreas, brain, liver, etc. During the past 15 years, CYP2J2 has attracted much attention for its epoxygenase activity in arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism. It converts AA to four epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) that have various biological effects, especially in the cardiovascular systems. In recent publications, CYP2J2 is shown highly expressed in various human tumor cells, and its EET metabolites are demonstrated to implicate in the pathologic development of human cancers. CYP2J2 is also a human CYP that involved in phase I xenobiotics metabolism. Antihistamine drugs and many other compounds were identified as the substrates of CYP2J2, and studies have demonstrated that these substrates have a broad structural diversity. CYP2J2 is found not readily induced by known P450 inducers; however, its expression could be regulated in some pathological conditions, might through the activator protein-1(AP-1), the AP-1-like element and microRNA let-7b. Several genetic mutations in the CYP2J2 gene have been identified in humans, and some of them have been shown to have potential associations with some diseases. With the increasing awareness of its roles in cancer disease and drug metabolism, studies about CYP2J2 are still going on, and various inhibitors of CYP2J2 have been determined. Further studies are needed to delineate the roles of CYP2J2 in disease pathology, drug development and clinical practice.

Temporal changes of cytochrome P450 (Cyp) and eicosanoid-related gene expression in the rat brain after traumatic brain injury

BACKGROUND

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces arachidonic acid (ArA) release from cell membranes. ArA metabolites form a class of over 50 bioactive eicosanoids that can induce both adaptive and/or maladaptive brain responses. The dynamic metabolism of ArA to eicosanoids, and how they affect the injured brain, is poorly understood due to their diverse activities, trace levels, and short half-lives. The eicosanoids produced in the brain postinjury depend upon the enzymes present locally at any given time. Eicosanoids are synthesized by heme-containing enzymes, including cyclooxygenases, lipoxygenases, and arachidonate monoxygenases. The latter comprise a subset of the cytochrome P450 "Cyp" gene family that metabolize fatty acids, steroids, as well as endogenous and exogenous toxicants. However, for many of these genes neither baseline neuroanatomical nor injury-related temporal expression have been studied in the brain.In a rat model of parietal cortex TBI, Cyp and eicosanoid-related mRNA levels were determined at 6 h, 24 h, 3d, and 7d postinjury in parietal cortex and hippocampus, where dynamic changes in eicosanoids have been observed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction with low density arrays were used to assay 62 rat Cyps, 37 of which metabolize ArA or other unsaturated fatty acids; 16 eicosanoid-related enzymes that metabolize ArA or its metabolites; 8 eicosanoid receptors; 5 other inflammatory- and recovery-related genes, plus 2 mouse Cyps as negative controls and 3 highly expressed "housekeeping" genes.

RESULTS

Sixteen arachidonate monoxygenases, 17 eicosanoid-related genes, and 12 other Cyps were regulated in the brain postinjury (p < 0.05, Tukey HSD). Discrete tissue levels and distinct postinjury temporal patterns of gene expression were observed in hippocampus and parietal cortex.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest complex regulation of ArA and other lipid metabolism after TBI. Due to the temporal nature of brain injury-induced Cyp gene induction, manipulation of each gene (or its products) at a given time after TBI will be required to assess their contributions to secondary injury and/or recovery. Moreover, a better understanding of brain region localization and cell type-specific expression may be necessary to deduce the role of these eicosanoid-related genes in the healthy and injured brain.

Characterization of four new mouse cytochrome P450 enzymes of the CYP2J subfamily

The cytochrome P450 superfamily encompasses a diverse group of enzymes that catalyze the oxidation of various substrates. The mouse CYP2J subfamily includes members that have wide tissue distribution and are active in the metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA), linoleic acid (LA), and other lipids and xenobiotics. The mouse Cyp2j locus contains seven genes and three pseudogenes located in a contiguous 0.62 megabase cluster on chromosome 4. We describe four new mouse CYP2J isoforms (designated CYP2J8, CYP2J11, CYP2J12, and CYP2J13). The four cDNAs contain open reading frames that encode polypeptides with 62-84% identity with the three previously identified mouse CYP2Js. All four new CYP2J proteins were expressed in Sf21 insect cells. Each recombinant protein metabolized AA and LA to epoxides and hydroxy derivatives. Specific antibodies, mRNA probes, and polymerase chain reaction primer sets were developed for each mouse CYP2J to examine their tissue distribution. CYP2J8 transcripts were found in the kidney, liver, and brain, and protein expression was confirmed in the kidney and brain (neuropil). CYP2J11 transcripts were most abundant in the kidney and heart, with protein detected primarily in the kidney (proximal convoluted tubules), liver, and heart (cardiomyocytes). CYP2J12 transcripts were prominently present in the brain, and CYP2J13 transcripts were detected in multiple tissues, with the highest expression in the kidney. CYP2J12 and CYP2J13 protein expression could not be determined because the antibodies developed were not immunospecific. We conclude that the four new CYP2J isoforms might be involved in the metabolism of AA and LA to bioactive lipids in mouse hepatic and extrahepatic tissues.

Investigation on association and expression of ESR2 as a candidate gene for boar sperm quality and fertility

ESR2 is involved in oestrogen-related apoptosis in cell cycle spermatogenesis but their effects have not yet confirmed in pig. Therefore, this study was aimed to investigate the association of ESR2 polymorphism with sperm quality and boar fertility traits and to analyse the ESR2 mRNA and protein expressions in boar reproductive tissues. DNA samples from 203 Pietrain (PI) and 100 Pietrain × Hampshire (PIHA) pigs with records of sperm quality [sperm concentration (SCON), motility (MOT), semen volume (VOL), plasma droplet rate (PDR) and abnormal spermatozoa rate (ASR)] and fertility [non-return rate (NRR) and number of piglet born alive (NBA)] traits were available. A SNP in coding region of ESR2 g.35547A>G in exon 5 was associated with MOT and PDR in the PI and with SCON, VOL, MOT and PDR in PIHA population. For mRNA and protein expression study, a total of six boars were divided into two groups with group I (G-I) and group II (G-II) where G-I characterized for relatively a better sperm quality according to the mean of two groups. mRNA expression was higher in brain and testis than that in all parts of epididymis. Both qRT-PCR and western blot analysis revealed that the ESR2 gene expression and protein expression were significantly higher in testis collected from G-II compared with that of G-I boars. Moreover, ESR2 protein localization in germ cell, Leydig and Sertoli cells, epithelial cells and spermatozoa was remarkable, which indicated the important role of ESR2 in spermatogenesis process. These results might shed new light on the roles of ESR2 in spermatogenesis as candidate for boar fertility, but still the lack of association across populations should be considered.

Molecular cloning and enzymatic characterization of sheep CYP2J

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2Js have been studied in various mammals, but not in sheep, as an animal model used to test veterinary drug metabolism. Sheep CYP2J was cloned from liver messenger RNA (mRNA) by RACE. The cDNA, after modification at its N- and C-terminals, was expressed in Escherichia coli and the sheep CYP2J protein, purified by chromatography, was 80% homologous to human and monkey CYP2J2. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments showed that CYP2J mRNA was expressed in liver, cortex, respiratory and olfactory mucosa, heart, bronchi, lung, spleen, small intestine and kidney. The purified enzyme was catalytically active towards aminopyrine, all-trans-retinoic acid, and particularly arachidonic acid forming 20-HETE, 19-HETE, and 18-HETE (about 86% of the total) and 14,15-, 11,12-, 8,9-, and 5,6-EETs (cis-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids; about 14% of total), with a regioselectivity similar to that shown by the mammalian CYP2J2s.

Increasing or stabilizing renal epoxyeicosatrienoic acid production attenuates abnormal renal function and hypertension in obese rats

Since epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) affect sodium reabsorption in renal tubules and dilate the renal vasculature, we have examined their effects on renal hemodynamics and sodium balance in male rats fed a high-fat (HF) diet by fenofibrate, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPAR-alpha) agonist and an inducer of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) epoxygenases; by N-methanesulfonyl-6-(2-proparyloxyphenyl)hexanamide (MSPPOH), a selective EET biosynthesis inhibitor; and by 12-(3-adamantane-1-yl-ureido)dodecanoic acid (AUDA), a selective inhibitor of soluble epoxide hydrolase. In rats treated with fenofibrate (30 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) ig) or AUDA (50 mg/l in drinking water) for 2 wk, mean arterial pressure, renal vascular resistance, and glomerular filtration rate were lower but renal blood flow was higher than in vehicle-treated control rats. In addition, fenofibrate and AUDA decreased cumulative sodium balance in the HF rats. Treatment with MSPPOH (20 mg.kg(-1).day(-1) iv) + fenofibrate for 2 wk reversed renal hemodynamics and sodium balance to the levels in control HF rats. Moreover, fenofibrate caused a threefold increase in renal cortical CYP epoxygenase activity, whereas the fenofibrate-induced elevation of this activity was attenuated by MSPPOH. Western blot analysis showed that fenofibrate induced the expression of CYP epoxygenases in renal cortex and microvessels and that the induction effect of fenofibrate was blocked by MSPPOH. These results demonstrate that the fenofibrate-induced increase of CYP epoxygenase expression and the AUDA-induced stabilization of EET production in the kidneys cause renal vascular dilation and reduce sodium retention, contributing to the improvement of abnormal renal hemodynamics and hypertension in HF rats.

Validation of a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method to assess the metabolism of bupropion in rat everted gut sacs

We have developed a rapid, sensitive and selective LC-MS method for the simultaneous assay of bupropion and its metabolite hydroxybupropion during its intestinal absorption, studied with the rat everted gut sac model. The method was validated in the concentration range of 1-15 microM (0.024-3.58 microg/mL) for bupropion and 0.005-1 microM (0.00127-0.25 microg/mL) for hydroxybupropion with 10 microL injected. Bupropion is used as a probe for the activity of the CYP2B6 isoenzyme of the P450 family of enzymes in man. Its major metabolite hydroxybupropion was found in the serosal media of the gut sac showing that the isoenzyme of the 2B group was active in the intestinal mucosa and metabolized bupropion during its passage across the mucosa. The metabolite was also quantified in the mucosal media indicating its ability to cross the apical membrane of the epithelial cells.

Validation of a liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry method to assess the metabolism of dextromethorphan in rat everted gut sacs

A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method was developed for the simultaneous assay of dextromethorphan and its metabolites in tissue culture medium and its intestinal metabolism studied with the rat everted gut sac model. The method was validated in the concentration range of 0.1-2.5 microM (27.1 ng/mL-0.677 microg/mL) for dextromethorphan and 0.005-0.5 microM for dextrorphan and 3-methoxymorphinan (1.28 ng/mL-0.128 microg/mL) and 3-hydroxymorphinan (1.22 ng/mL-0.122 microg/mL). The limits of quantification (LOQ) were 0.0025 microM (12.5 fmoles, 3.4 pg, 5 microL injected) for dextromethorphan; 0.0025 microM for dextrorphan, 3-methoxymorphinan (24.9 fmoles, 6.4 pg injected), and 3-hydroxymorphinan (25.1 fmoles, 6.1 pg injected) with 10 microL injected. The detection of dextrorphan and 3-methoxymorphinan showed that both the P450 isoforms CYP3A and 2D were active in the intestinal mucosa and metabolised dextromethorphan during its passage across the mucosa.

Liquid chromatographic–mass spectrometric method to assess cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of testosterone by rat everted gut sacs

A rapid, sensitive and specific method was developed for the simultaneous assay of testosterone, androstenedione and 6beta-hydroxytestosterone (6beta-OHT) in the TC199 tissue culture medium used in intestinal drug metabolism studies with the rat everted gut sac model. An electrospray LC-MS method was validated in the concentration range of 0.025-9.5 microM (7.2 ng-2.7 microg/mL) for testosterone and androstenedione and 0.01-4 microM (3 ng-1.2 microg/mL) for 6beta-hydroxytestosterone. The limits of quantification (LOQ) with an injection volume of 10 microL were 0.0005 microM (4.9 fmol, 1.4 pg injected), 0.004 microM (0.04 pmol, 11.4 pg injected) and 0.03 microM (0.3 pmol, 91 pg injected), respectively. The method also detected the other testosterone metabolites, the 16alpha-, 16beta-, 2beta- and 2alpha-hydroxytestosterones and was then used to study the metabolism of testosterone during its absorption by rat intestine in vitro, using everted gut sacs.

Molecular cloning and characterization of mouse CYP2J6, an unstable cytochrome P450 isoform

A cDNA encoding a new cytochrome P450 was cloned from a mouse liver library. Sequence analysis revealed that this 2046-bp cDNA encodes a 501-amino acid polypeptide that is 72-94% identical to other CYP2J subfamily P450s and is designated CYP2J6. Northern analysis demonstrated that CYP2J6 transcripts are abundant in the small intestine and present at lower levels in other mouse tissues. In situ hybridization revealed that CYP2J6 mRNAs are present in luminal epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal mucosa. The CYP2J6 cDNA was expressed in Sf9 cells using baculovirus. The heterologously expressed CYP2J6 protein displayed a typical P450 CO-difference spectrum; however, the protein was unstable as evidenced by the loss of the Soret maxima at 450nm and the appearance of a 420nm peak when CYP2J6-expressing cells were disrupted by mechanical homogenization, sonication, or freeze-thaw. Immunoblotting of mouse microsomes with the anti-human CYP2J2 IgG, which cross-reacts with rodent CYP2Js, demonstrated the presence of multiple distinct murine CYP2J immunoreactive proteins in various tissues. Immunoblotting with an antibody to a CYP2J6-specific peptide detected a prominent 55-57kDa protein in Sf9 cell extracts expressing recombinant CYP2J6 but did not detect a protein of similar molecular mass in mouse small intestinal microsomes. Mixing experiments demonstrated that recombinant CYP2J6 is degraded rapidly in the presence of small intestinal microsomes consistent with proteolysis at highly sensitive sites. Sf9 cells, which express both CYP2J6 and NADPH-P450 oxidoreductase, metabolized benzphetamine but not arachidonic acid. We conclude that CYP2J6 is an unstable P450 that is active in the metabolism of benzphetamine, but not arachidonic acid.

Cloning of CYP2J2 gene and identification of functional polymorphisms

CYP2J2 is abundant in cardiovascular tissue and active in the metabolism of arachidonic acid to eicosanoids that possess potent anti-inflammatory, vasodilatory, and fibrinolytic properties. We cloned and sequenced the entire CYP2J2 gene (approximately 40.3 kb), which contains nine exons and eight introns. We then sequenced the CYP2J2 exons and intron-exon boundaries in 72 healthy persons representing African, Asian, and European/white populations as part of the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences Environmental Genome Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Program. A variety of polymorphisms were found, four of which resulted in coding changes (Arg158Cys, Ile192Asn, Asp342Asn, and Asn404Tyr). A fifth variant (Thr143Ala) was identified by screening a human heart cDNA library. All five variant cDNAs of CYP2J2 were generated by site-directed mutagenesis and expressed in Sf9 insect cells by using a baculovirus system. The recombinant wild-type and variant CYP2J2 proteins immunoreacted with peptide-based antibodies to CYP2J2 and displayed typical cytochrome P450 (P450) CO-difference spectra; however, the Asn404Tyr and Ile192Asn variants also had prominent spectral peaks at 420 nm. The ability of these variants to metabolize arachidonic acid and linoleic acid was compared with that of wild-type CYP2J2. Three variants (Asn404Tyr, Arg158Cys, and Thr143Ala) showed significantly reduced metabolism of both arachidonic acid and linoleic acid. The Ile192Asn variant showed significantly reduced activity toward arachidonic acid only. The Asp342Asn variant showed similar metabolism to wild-type CYP2J2 for both endogenous substrates. Based on these data, we conclude that allelic variants of the human CYP2J2 gene exist and that some of these variants result in a P450 protein that has reduced catalytic function. Insofar as CYP2J2 products have effects in the cardiovascular system, we speculate that these variants may be functionally relevant.

Cytochrome P450 CYP2J9, a new mouse arachidonic acid omega-1 hydroxylase predominantly expressed in brain

A cDNA encoding a new cytochrome P450 was isolated from a mouse brain library. Sequence analysis reveals that this 1,958-base pair cDNA encodes a 57-58-kDa 502-amino acid polypeptide that is 70-91% identical to CYP2J subfamily P450s and is designated CYP2J9. Recombinant CYP2J9 was co-expressed with NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase (CYPOR) in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus system. Microsomes of CYP2J9/CYPOR-transfected cells metabolize arachidonic acid to 19-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE) thus CYP2J9 is enzymologically distinct from other P450s. Northern analysis reveals that CYP2J9 transcripts are present at high levels in mouse brain. Mouse brain microsomes biosynthesize 19-HETE. RNA polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrates that CYP2J9 mRNAs are widely distributed in brain and most abundant in the cerebellum. Immunoblotting using an antibody raised against human CYP2J2 that cross-reacts with CYP2J9 detects a 56-kDa protein band that is expressed in cerebellum and other brain segments and is regulated during postnatal development. In situ hybridization of mouse brain sections with a CYP2J9-specific riboprobe and immunohistochemical staining with the anti-human CYP2J2 IgG reveals abundant CYP2J9 mRNA and protein in cerebellar Purkinje cells. Importantly, 19-HETE inhibits the activity of recombinant P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels that are known to be expressed preferentially in cerebellar Purkinje cells and are involved in triggering neurotransmitter release. Based on these data, we conclude that CYP2J9 is a developmentally regulated P450 that is abundant in brain, localized to cerebellar Purkinje cells, and active in the biosynthesis of 19-HETE, an eicosanoid that inhibits activity of P/Q-type Ca(2+) channels. We postulate that CYP2J9 arachidonic acid products play important functional roles in the brain.

Expression analysis of glycogen synthase kinase-3 in human tissues

Human glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is a multisubstrate, proline-directed kinase that phosphorylates tau, beta-amyloid and neurofilaments. In this study, the expression levels of the two GSK-3 isoforms, alpha and beta, RNA and proteins in different human tissues were examined. Northern analysis demonstrated that GSK-3alpha is encoded by a 2.6-kb mRNA and GSK-3beta by 8.3- and 2.8-kb mRNAs. The two GSK-3beta mRNA species were variably expressed in different tissues. Northern and quantitative polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that both GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta mRNA were prominently expressed in testis, thymus, prostate and ovary but were low in adult lung and kidney. Western blot analysis showed that the 51-kDa GSK-3alpha protein was highly expressed in lung, ovary, kidney and testis, whereas the 46-kDa GSK-3beta protein was highly expressed in lung, kidney and brain. The differential expression of GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta mRNA and proteins and the lack of relationship between transcription and translation in some tissues indicate that GSK-3alpha and GSK-3beta are subject to different means of regulation.

Molecular cloning, enzymatic characterization, developmental expression, and cellular localization of a mouse cytochrome P450 highly expressed in kidney

A cDNA encoding a new cytochrome P450 was isolated from a mouse liver library. Sequence analysis reveals that this 1,886-base pair cDNA encodes a 501-amino acid polypeptide that is 69-74% identical to CYP2J subfamily P450s and is designated CYP2J5. Recombinant CYP2J5 was co-expressed with NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase in Sf9 cells using a baculovirus system. Microsomal fractions of CYP2J5/NADPH-cytochrome P450 oxidoreductase-transfected cells metabolize arachidonic acid to 14,15-, 11,12-, and 8, 9-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids and 11- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (catalytic turnover, 4.5 nmol of product/nmol of cytochrome P450/min at 37 degrees C); thus CYP2J5 is enzymologically distinct. Northern analysis reveals that CYP2J5 transcripts are most abundant in mouse kidney and present at lower levels in liver. Immunoblotting using a polyclonal antibody against a CYP2J5-specific peptide detects a protein with the same electrophoretic mobility as recombinant CYP2J5 most abundantly in mouse kidney microsomes. CYP2J5 is regulated during development in a tissue-specific fashion. In the kidney, CYP2J5 is present before birth and reaches maximal levels at 2-4 weeks of age. In the liver, CYP2J5 is absent prenatally and during the early postnatal period, first appears at 1 week, and then remains relatively constant. Immunohistochemical staining of kidney sections with anti-human CYP2J2 IgG reveals that CYP2J protein(s) are present primarily in the proximal tubules and collecting ducts, sites where the epoxyeicosatrienoic acids are known to modulate fluid/electrolyte transport and mediate hormonal action. In situ hybridization confirms abundant CYP2J5 mRNA within tubules of the renal cortex and outer medulla. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids are endogenous constituents of mouse kidney thus providing direct evidence for the in vivo metabolism of arachidonic acid by the mouse renal epoxygenase(s). Based on these data, we conclude that CYP2J5 is an enzymologically distinct, developmentally regulated, protein that is localized to specific nephron segments and contributes to the oxidation of endogenous renal arachidonic acid pools. In light of the well documented effects of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids in modulating renal tubular transport processes, we postulate that CYP2J5 products play important functional roles in the kidney.

P450 subfamily CYP2J and their role in the bioactivation of arachidonic acid in extrahepatic tissues

Historically, there has been intense interest in P450 metabolic oxidation, peroxidation, and reduction of xenobiotics. More recently, there has been a growing appreciation for the role of P450s in the oxidation of lipophilic endobiotics, such as bile acids, fat-soluble vitamins, and eicosanoids. This review details the emerging CYP2J subfamily of P450s and their role as catalysts of arachidonic acid metabolism.

Identification and characterization of a novel tissue-specific transcriptional activating element in the 5'-flanking region of the CYP2A3 gene predominantly expressed in rat olfactory mucosa

CYP2A3 is expressed preferentially in rat olfactory mucosa and is believed to play important roles in maintaining cellular homeostasis in the chemosensory tissue. DNase I footprinting analysis revealed a single protected region in the proximal promoter of the CYP2A3 gene with nuclear extracts from olfactory mucosa, but not from liver, lung, kidney, or brain. The core sequence of the binding site, named the nasal predominant transcriptional activating (NPTA) element, is similar to that of nuclear factor 1, but it interacted with unique proteins detected only in the olfactory mucosa in electrophoretic mobility shift assays or on Southwestern blots. The NPTA element is conserved in rat CYP2A3, mouse Cyp2a5, and human CYP2A6 genes and was found to be essential for transcriptional activity of the CYP2A3 promoter in in vitro transcription assays. NPTA-binding proteins were detectable at day 1 and were much more abundant at day 8 than at day 60 after birth. Furthermore, their levels decreased dramatically during chemically induced degeneration of the olfactory epithelium, paralleling the disappearance of CYP2A3 protein, and rebounded to higher than pretreatment levels during recovery. Thus, we have identified a novel transcriptional activation element potentially responsible for the olfactory mucosa-predominant expression of the CYP2A3 gene in rats and orthologous genes in mice and humans.

Characterization of the cytochrome P450 CYP2J4: expression in rat small intestine and role in retinoic acid biotransformation from retinal

The sites of expression in the small intestine and the function of CYP2J4, a recently identified rat cytochrome (P450) isoform found to be predominantly expressed in the small intestine, were characterized. Immunoblot analysis with a polyclonal antibody to heterologously expressed CYP2J4 revealed that expression of CYP2J4 was at the highest level in the distal duodenum and jejunum and decreased toward the ileum. Villous cells expressed higher levels of CYP2J4 than crypt cells. Isoform-specific RNA polymerase chain reaction indicated that a related P450 isoform, CYP2J3, was only a minor form in rat small intestine. Since the intestinal mucosa is exposed to high levels of dietary nutrients, we hypothesized that CYP2J4 may be active toward diet-derived factors. We determined that purified, heterologously expressed CYP2J4 is active toward all-trans- and 9-cis-retinal in reconstituted systems, producing the corresponding retinoic acids as the major products. Apparent K(m) values for the formation of retinoic acids were 54 and 49 microM, respectively, and apparent Vmax values were 20 and 21 nmol/min/nmol P450, respectively. These activities were readily inhibited by a polyclonal anti-CYP2J4 antibody. Rat enterocyte microsomes were also active with all-trans-retinal to produce all-trans-retinoic acid in the presence of NADPH, and the majority of retinoic acid synthesis activity was inhibited by the polyclonal anti-CYP2J4 antibody. These findings suggest that CYP2J4 plays a major role in intestinal microsomal metabolism of retinal to retinoic acid and may be involved in the maintenance of retinoid homeostasis in the small intestine in vivo.

Arachidonic acid metabolism in the marine fish Stenotomus chrysops (Scup) and the effects of cytochrome P450 1A inducers

Cytochrome P450-mediated arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism was investigated in the marine fish scup, Stenotomus chrysops. Liver microsomes incubated with AA and NADPH produced epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and their hydration products (dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acids, DHETs), midchain conjugated dienols (midchain HETEs), and C16-through C20-alcohols of AA (omega-terminal HETEs), all identified by HPLC and GC/MS. Gravid females had 4-fold lower AA metabolism rates than males but identical metabolite profiles. The 5,6-EET (inferred from stable metabolites) was most abundant (47% of total EETs) followed by 14,15-, 11,12-, and 8,9-EET (27, 13, and 13%, respectively). The 12-HETE represented 25% of total HETEs followed in abundance by 16-, 15-, 11-, 19-, 20-, 8-, and 9-HETE. Antibodies against scup CYP1A and a scup CYP2B-like protein inhibited liver microsomal AA metabolism by 30 and 46%, respectively. GC/MS analysis revealed EETs and DHETs as endogenous constituents in scup liver; the predominant EETs were 8,9- and 14,15-EET, followed by a lesser amount of 11,12-EET. Chiral analysis showed a preference for the S,R-enantiomers of endogenous 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-EET (optical purities 80, 64, and 64%, respectively). Treatment of scup with the CYP1A inducer benzo(a)pyrene (BP) increased liver microsomal formation of EETs and HETEs by 2.7-fold in spring and 1.7-fold in summer. BP treatment did not affect microsomal EET regioselectivity, but shifted hydroxylation in favor of 19-HETE and induced 17-HETE formation. 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) treatment in summer did not induce liver microsomal AA metabolism rates, yet BP and TCDD both increased endogenous EET content of liver (5- and 3-fold, respectively), with a shift to 14,15-EET. BP treatment increased the selectivity for the S,R-enantiomers of endogenous 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-EET (optical purities 91, 84, and 83%, respectively). Kidney, gill, and heart microsomes all metabolized AA, at rates 10- to 30-fold less than liver microsomes. Similar amounts of endogenous 8,9- and 14,15-EET and less 11,12-EET were detected in heart and kidney, and there was a strong enantioselectivity for 8(R),9(S)-EET in heart (optical purity 78%) but not in kidney. BP treatment did not alter the total EET content in these organs but did shift the regiochemical profile in heart to favor 14,15-EET. Thus, scup liver and extrahepatic organs metabolize AA via multiple cytochrome P450 (CYP) forms to eicosanoids in vitro and in vivo. BP or TCDD induced endogenous AA metabolism in liver, altering EET regioselectivity and, with BP, stereoselectivity. While AhR agonists alter metabolism of AA in early diverging vertebrates expressing both CYP1A and AhR, the magnitude of effects may depend upon the type of inducer.

A keratinocyte-specific epoxygenase, CYP2B12, metabolizes arachidonic acid with unusual selectivity, producing a single major epoxyeicosatrienoic acid

The CYP monooxygenase, CYP2B12, is the first identified skin-specific cytochrome P450 enzyme. It is characterized by high, constitutive expression in an extrahepatic tissue, the sebaceous glands of cutaneous tissues. It is expressed exclusively in a subset of differentiated keratinocytes called sebocytes, as demonstrated by Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and polymerase chain reaction. The onset of its expression coincides with the morphological appearance of sebaceous glands in the neonatal rat. Recombinant CYP2B12 produced in Escherichia coli epoxidizes arachidonic acid to 11,12- and 8,9-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (80 and 20% of total metabolites, respectively). The identification of arachidonic acid as a substrate for this skin-specific CYP monooxygenase suggests an endogenous function in keratinocytes in the generation of bioactive lipids and intracellular signaling.

Mapping of the CYP2J cytochrome P450 genes to human chromosome 1 and mouse chromosome 4

CYP2J subfamily cytochromes P450 catalyze the NADPH-dependent oxidation of arachidonic acid to several unique eicosanoids that possess numerous biological activities including modulation of ion transport, control of bronchial and vascular smooth muscle tone, and stimulation of peptide hormone secretion. We have identified sequence variants in the 3' untranslated regions of two mouse Cyp2j genes (Cyp2j5 and Cyp2j6) and used a PCR-based oligonucleotide hybridization assay to map both genes to the central region of chromosome 4 distal to the Jun oncogene. The corresponding human CYP2J gene (CYP2J2) has been assigned to human chromosome 1 on a panel of somatic hybrid cell lines and to 1p31.3-p31.2 by fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. The proximity of the Cyp2j cluster to the Cyp4a cluster suggests that these genes may be part of a cassette of P450 genes involved in the oxidation of fatty acids.