TY - JOUR T1 - The Glucuronidation of Δ<sup>4</sup>-3-Keto C19- and C21-Hydroxysteroids by Human Liver Microsomal and Recombinant UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs): 6α- and 21-Hydroxyprogesterone Are Selective Substrates for UGT2B7 JF - Drug Metabolism and Disposition JO - Drug Metab Dispos SP - 363 LP - 370 DO - 10.1124/dmd.106.013052 VL - 35 IS - 3 AU - K. Bowalgaha AU - D. J. Elliot AU - P. I. Mackenzie AU - K. M. Knights AU - J. O. Miners Y1 - 2007/03/01 UR - http://dmd.aspetjournals.org/content/35/3/363.abstract N2 - The stereo- and regioselective glucuronidation of 10 Δ4-3-keto monohydroxylated androgens and pregnanes was investigated to identify UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) enzyme-selective substrates. Kinetic studies were performed using human liver microsomes (HLMs) and a panel of 12 recombinant human UGTs as the enzyme sources. Five of the steroids, which were hydroxylated in the 6β-, 7α-, 11β- or 17α-positions, were not glucuronidated by HLMs. Of the remaining compounds, comparative kinetic and inhibition studies indicated that 6α- and 21-hydroxyprogesterone (OHP) were glucuronidated selectively by human liver microsomal UGT2B7. 6α-OHP glucuronidation by HLMs and UGT2B7 followed Michaelis-Menten kinetics, whereas 21-OHP glucuronidation by these enzyme sources exhibited positive cooperativity. UGT2B7 was also identified as the enzyme responsible for the high-affinity component of human liver microsomal 11α-OHP glucuronidation. In contrast, UGT2B15 and UGT2B17 were the major forms involved in human liver microsomal testosterone 17β-glucuronidation and the high-affinity component of 16α-OHP glucuronidation. Activity of UGT1A subfamily enzymes toward the hepatically glucuronidated substrates was generally low, although UGT1A4 and UGT1A9 contribute to the low-affinity components of microsomal 16α- and 11α-OHP glucuronidation, respectively. Interestingly, UGT1A10, which is expressed only in the gastrointestinal tract, exhibited activity toward most of the glucuronidated substrates. The results indicate that 6α- and 21-OHP may be used as selective “probes” for human liver microsomal UGT2B7 activity and, taken together, provide insights into the regio- and stereoselectivity of hydroxysteroid glucuronidation by human UGTs. The American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics ER -