Abstract

The cytochrome P4503A (CYP3A) subfamily of enzymes are responsible for the metabolism of a large number of endogenous and exogenous compounds, and activation of some procarcinogens; but the activity is not well understood. N-Hydroxylation of dapsone in human liver microsomes has been shown to be mediated largely by CYP3A4. We have also observed the formation of an as yet unidentified metabolite of dapsone, whose formation is inhibited by antibody to CYP3A4, by these microsomes. This study investigated the influence of various (22) CYP3A putative substrates on the formation of both metabolites of dapsone in human liver microsomes. The compounds fall into four different categories on the basis of the pattern of their inhibitory interaction with the formation of both metabolites: those that inhibited both metabolites; those that inhibited N-hydroxylamine alone; those that inhibited the unidentified metabolite alone; and those with no significant effect on either metabolite. Some others were stimulatory. These results are consistent with two alternative but not mutually exclusive hypotheses: 1) different isoforms of CYP3A are involved in the formation of the alternative metabolites and the pattern of interaction observed was caused by the particular isoform(s) that each compound interacted with; or 2) formation of the alternative metabolites is a result of dapsone's interaction with and orientation at the enzyme's active site and the pattern of interaction observed is a consequence of changes in orientation caused by these compounds. This study provides relevant observations that must be considered in understanding mechanisms of CYP3A-mediated metabolism.