RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Identification of the Cytochromes P450 That Catalyze Coumarin 3,4-Epoxidation and 3-Hydroxylation JF Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO Drug Metab Dispos FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 483 OP 487 DO 10.1124/dmd.30.5.483 VO 30 IS 5 A1 Born, Stephanie L. A1 Caudill, Douglas A1 Fliter, Kristine L. A1 Purdon, Michael P. YR 2002 UL http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/30/5/483.abstract AB Coumarin, a widely used fragrance ingredient, is a rat liver and mouse lung toxicant. Species differences in toxicity are metabolism-dependent, with injury resulting from the cytochrome P450-mediated formation of coumarin 3,4-epoxide (CE). In this study, the enzymes responsible for coumarin activation in liver and lung were determined. Recombinant human and rat CYP1A forms and recombinant human CYP2E1 readily catalyzed CE production. Coinhibition with CYP1A1/2 and CYP2E1 antibodies blocked CE formation by 38, 84, and 67 to 92% (n = 3 individual samples) in mouse, rat, and human hepatic microsomes, respectively. Although CYP1A and 2E forms seem to be the most active catalysts of CE formation in liver, studies conducted with the mechanism-based inhibitor 5-phenyl-pentyne demonstrated that CYP2F2 is responsible for up to 67% of CE formation in whole mouse lung microsomes. In contrast to the CE pathway, coumarin 3-hydroxylation is a minor product of coumarin in liver microsomes from mice, rats, and humans and is catalyzed predominately by CYP3A and CYP1A forms, confirming that CE and 3-hydroxycoumarin are formed via distinct metabolic pathways. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics