Search

The understanding of drug biotransformation is an important medical topic. The oxidative pathways that involve CYPs have been extensively studied in drug metabolism in contrast to the reductive pathways. This review focuses on drugs that have been reported to be reduced at the carbonyl group in vivo. Although the carbonyl reduction of these drugs is well known, our understanding of the carbonyl reducing enzymes (CRE) that perform these reactions is limited. We have summarized the published data in order to thoroughly describe the reductive metabolism of the selected drugs and to demonstrate the role of carbonyl reduction in the context of their overall metabolism. The number of drugs recognized as substrates for CREs has increased considerably in recent years. Moreover, the importance of carbonyl reduction in the overall metabolism of these drugs is often surprisingly high. Because only limited information is available about the CREs responsible for these reactions, additional research is needed to improve our understanding of the metabolism of drugs undergoing carbonyl reduction. Carbonyl reduction should be investigated during drug development because it can either positively or negatively influence drug efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The best known, most widely studied enzyme system in phase I biotransformation is cytochrome P450 (CYP), which participates in the metabolism of roughly 9 of 10 drugs in use today. The main biotransformation isoforms of CYP are associated with the membrane of the endoplasmatic reticulum (ER). Other enzymes that are also active in phase I biotransformation are carbonyl reducing enzymes. Much is known about the role of cytosolic forms of carbonyl reducing enzymes in the metabolism of xenobiotics, but their microsomal forms have been mostly poorly studied. The only well-known microsomal carbonyl reducing enzyme taking part in the biotransformation of xenobiotics is 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1, a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily. Physiological roles of microsomal carbonyl reducing enzymes are better known than their participation in the metabolism of xenobiotics. This review is a summary of the fragmentary information known about the roles of the microsomal forms. Besides 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1, it has been reported, so far, that retinol dehydrogenase 12 participates only in the detoxification of unsaturated aldehydes formed upon oxidative stress. Another promising group of microsomal biotransformation carbonyl reducing enzymes are some members of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. Generally, it is clear that this area is, overall, quite unexplored, but carbonyl reducing enzymes located in the ER have proven very interesting. The study of these enzymes could shed new light on the metabolism of several clinically used drugs or they could become an important target in connection with some diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inherent or acquired resistance of tumor cells to anti-cancer drugs is a problem of major importance in chemotherapy. In addition to detailed research into the mechanisms of drug inactivation, attention has also been paid to the synthesis of new structures. Oracin is a promising cytostatic drug, which is presently in phase II of clinical trials. This investigation was designed to characterize the metabolic inactivation of oracin by carbonyl reduction to 11-dihydrooracin (DHO). We identified 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD 1) as the principal enzyme being responsible for oracin carbonyl reduction in human liver microsomes. The purified 11β-HSD 1 catalyses this reaction in a stereospecific manner. Formation of (−)-DHO surpasses that of (+)-DHO by a factor of around four. Moreover, 11β-HSD 1 exhibits enzyme cooperativity for the formation of both enantiomers (Hill coefficients of 2.26±0.20 and 1.84±0.29 for (−)-DHO and (+)-DHO, respectively). Comparing the differences in the stereospecificity and Hill coefficients between the microsomes and purified 11β-HSD 1 could anticipate contribution of another microsomal enzyme. In case of oracin, this enzyme cooperativity may become important with respect to maximal plasma concentrations, and, by inhibition of 11β-HSD 1, to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy of this anti-cancer drug. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Targeting mutations that trigger acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has emerged as a refined therapeutic approach in recent years. Enasidenib (Idhifa) is the first selective inhibitor of mutated forms of isocitrate dehydrogenase 2 (IDH2) approved against relapsed/refractory AML. In addition to its use as monotherapy, a combination trial of enasidenib with standard intensive induction therapy (daunorubicin + cytarabine) is being evaluated. This study aimed to decipher enasidenib off-target molecular mechanisms involved in anthracycline resistance, such as reduction by carbonyl reducing enzymes (CREs) and drug efflux by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. We analysed the effect of enasidenib on daunorubicin (Daun) reduction by several recombinant CREs and different human cell lines expressing aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) exogenously (HCT116) or endogenously (A549 and KG1a). Additionally, A431 cell models overexpressing ABCB1, ABCG2, or ABCC1 were employed to evaluate enasidenib modulation of Daun efflux. Furthermore, the potential synergism of enasidenib over Daun cytotoxicity was quantified amongst all the cell models. Enasidenib selectively inhibited AKR1C3-mediated inactivation of Daun in vitro and in cell lines expressing AKR1C3, as well as its extrusion by ABCB1, ABCG2, and ABCC1 transporters, thus synergizing Daun cytotoxicity to overcome resistance. This work provides in vitro evidence on enasidenib-mediated targeting of the anthracycline resistance actors AKR1C3 and ABC transporters under clinically achievable concentrations. Our findings may encourage its combination with intensive chemotherapy and even suggest that the effectiveness of enasidenib as monotherapy against AML could lie beyond the targeting of mIDH2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanubrutinib (ZAN) is a Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor recently approved for the treatment of some non-Hodgkin lymphomas. In clinical trials, ZAN is often combined with standard anthracycline (ANT) chemotherapy. Although ANTs are generally effective, drug resistance is a crucial obstacle that leads to treatment discontinuation. This study showed that ZAN counteracts ANT resistance by targeting aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. AKR1C3 catalyses the transformation of ANTs to less potent hydroxy-metabolites, whereas transporters decrease the ANT-effective concentrations by pumping them out of the cancer cells. In our experiments, ZAN inhibited the AKR1C3-mediated inactivation of daunorubicin (DAUN) at both the recombinant and cellular levels. In the drug combination experiments, ZAN synergistically sensitised AKR1C3-expressing HCT116 and A549 cells to DAUN treatment. Gene induction studies further confirmed that ZAN did not increase the intracellular level of AKR1C3 mRNA; thus, the drug combination effect is not abolished by enzyme induction. Finally, in accumulation assays, ZAN was found to interfere with the DAUN efflux mediated by the ABCB1, ABCG2, and ABCC1 transporters, which might further contribute to the reversal of ANT resistance. In summary, our data provide the rationale for ZAN inclusion in ANT-based therapy and suggest its potential for the treatment of tumours expressing AKR1C3 and/or the above-mentioned ABC transporters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxcarbazepine, a second generation antiepileptic drug belonging to the family of dibenz[b,f]azepines, is subjected to a rapid and extensive biotransformation. Oxcarbazepine demonstrates a low potential for drug interactions because its biotransformation is mainly mediated by the reduction pathway instead of oxidative pathways, which are very susceptible to drug interactions. The reductive metabolism of oxcarbazepine yields a 10-monohydroxy derivative (10,11-dihydro-10-hydroxy-carbazepine), which is responsible for the pharmacological activity. The identity and localization of enzymes participating in the reduction of oxcarbazepine in response to this active metabolite have remained unknown until now. Thus, we investigated the reductive metabolism of oxcarbazepine in human liver subcellular fractions and using recombinant carbonyl reducing enzymes. The reduction of oxcarbazepine was shown to occur largely in the liver cytosol rather than liver microsomes. Furthermore, the activity and stereospecificity of cytosolic carbonyl reducing enzymes toward oxcarbazepine were assessed. Of the eight tested enzymes, six reductases were identified to contribute to the reduction of oxcarbazepine. The highest activities were demonstrated by AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3, and AKR1C4. The contribution of CBR1 and CBR3 to the reduction of oxcarbazepine was also significant, although their role in oxcarbazepine metabolism in vivo is unclear. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Until today, the physiologic role of human carbonyl reductase 3 (CBR3; SDR21C2), a member of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily remains obscure. Since the transcriptional regulation is closely related to the function of a protein, elucidation of the regulation of CBR3 should help to understand its physiologic role. We recently identified CBR3 as a novel target gene of Nrf2, a cellular sensor of oxidative stress. In this study, we provide for the first time evidence that pro-inflammatory stimuli induce the expression of the CBR3 gene. Treatment of human cancer cells HT-29 (colon) and HepG2 (liver) with TNF-α, IL-1β, and LPS induced CBR3 expression differentially. While TNF-α (50ng/ml) or IL-1β (1 and 10ng/ml), induced CBR3 mRNA expression in HT-29 cells (up to 10-fold) and HepG2 cells (up to 20-fold), LPS activated the CBR3 gene only in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, overexpression of the NFκB subunits p65 and p50 alone or in combination elevated CBR3 mRNA levels (3.9-fold) in HT-29 cells. According to our results, CBR3 is a novel target gene of inflammatory stimuli, and elucidation of its detailed role in inflammation deserves further investigation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Midostaurin is an FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 receptor (FLT3) inhibitor that provides renewed hope for treating acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The limited efficacy of this compound as a monotherapy contrasts with that of its synergistic combination with standard cytarabine and daunorubicin (Dau), suggesting a therapeutic benefit that is not driven only by FLT3 inhibition. In an AML context, the activity of the enzyme aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) is a crucial factor in chemotherapy resistance, as it mediates the intracellular transformation of anthracyclines to less active hydroxy metabolites. Here, we report that midostaurin is a potent inhibitor of Dau inactivation mediated by AKR1C3 in both its recombinant form as well as during its overexpression in a transfected cell model. Likewise, in the FLT3− AML cell line KG1a, midostaurin was able to increase the cellular accumulation of Dau and significantly decrease its metabolism by AKR1C3 simultaneously. The combination of those mechanisms increased the nuclear localization of Dau, thus synergizing its cytotoxic effects on KG1a cells. Our results provide new in vitro evidence of how the therapeutic activity of midostaurin could operate beyond targeting the FLT3 receptor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although novel anticancer drugs are being developed intensively, anthracyclines remain the gold standard in the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The reductive conversion of daunorubicin (Dau) to less active daunorubicinol (Dau-ol) is an important mechanism that contributes to the development of pharmacokinetic anthracycline resistance. Dau is a key component in many AML regimes, in which it is combined with many drugs, including all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), cytarabine, cladribine and prednisolone. In the present study, we investigated the influence of these anticancer drugs on the reductive Dau metabolism mediated by the aldo–keto reductases AKR1A1, 1B10, 1C3, and 7A2 and carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1). In incubation experiments with recombinant enzymes, cladribine and cytarabine did not significantly inhibit the activity of the tested enzymes. Prednisolone inhibited AKR1C3 with an IC50 of 41.73 µM, while ATRA decreased the activity of AKR1B10 (IC50 = 78.33 µM) and AKR1C3 (IC50 = 1.17 µM). Subsequent studies showed that AKR1C3 inhibition mediated by ATRA exhibited tight binding (Kiapp = 0.54 µM). Further, the combination of 1 µM ATRA with different concentrations of Dau demonstrated synergistic effects in HCT116 and KG1a human cells expressing AKR1C3. Our results suggest that ATRA-mediated inhibition of AKR1C3 can contribute to the mechanisms that are hidden beyond the beneficial clinical outcome of the ATRA–Dau combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • DHRS1 is a monotopic membrane protein from the endoplasmic reticulum. • DHRS1 is an NADPH-dependent reductase of steroid hormones and xenobiotics. • DHRS1 expression patterns were determined at both the mRNA and the protein levels. Abstract Many enzymes from the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily (SDR) have already been well characterized, particularly those that participate in crucial biochemical reactions in the human body (e.g. 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 or carbonyl reductase 1). Several other SDR enzymes are completely or almost completely uncharacterized, such as DHRS1 (also known as SDR19C1). Based on our in silico and experimental approaches, DHRS1 is described as a likely monotopic protein that interacts with the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum. The highest expression level of DHRS1 protein was observed in human liver and adrenals. The recombinant form of DHRS1 was purified using the detergent n-dodecyl-β-D-maltoside, and DHRS1 was proven to be an NADPH-dependent reductase that is able to catalyse the in vitro reductive conversion of some steroids (estrone, androstene-3,17-dione and cortisone), as well as other endogenous substances and xenobiotics. The expression pattern and enzyme activities fit to a role in steroid and/or xenobiotic metabolism; however, more research is needed to fully clarify the exact biological function of DHRS1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Abstract Members of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) and aldo-keto reductase (AKR) superfamilies mediate the reduction of anthracyclines to their less potent C-13 alcohol metabolites. This reductive metabolism has been recognized as one of the most important factors that trigger anthracycline resistance in cancer cells. In our study, two purine analogues, purvalanol A and roscovitine, were identified as effective inhibitors of aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3), an enzyme that is overexpressed in many cancer types and is also a key player in tumour cell resistance to anthracyclines. Purvalanol A and roscovitine potently inhibited human recombinant AKR1C3 (Ki = 5.5 μM and 1.4 μM, respectively) and displayed similar activity in experiments with intact cells. Ligand-protein docking calculations suggested that both inhibitors occupied a part of the cofactor-binding site. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the combination of daunorubicin with purvalanol A or roscovitine exhibited a synergistic effect in AKR1C3 overexpressing cells. Based on these findings, it is possible to presume that purvalanol A and roscovitine may have the potential to enhance the therapeutic effectiveness and safety of anthracyclines via inhibition of AKR1C3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dinaciclib is a multi-specific cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor with significant preclinical and clinical activity. It inhibits CDK1, CDK2, CDK5, CDK9 and CDK12 in the nanomolar range and exhibits potent antiproliferative effects on various cancers in vitro and in vivo. Aldo-keto reductases (AKR) and carbonyl reductases (CBR) are enzymes involved at the biosynthesis, intermediary metabolism and detoxification processes, but can also play a significant role in cancer resistance. Here, we report that dinaciclib is a strong inhibitor of aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3), an enzyme that is known to be an important regulator of cell proliferation and differentiation. AKR1C3 is overexpressed in a range of cancer types and is also involved in tumour cell resistance to anthracyclines. In our study, dinaciclib displayed tight-binding inhibition of human recombinant AKR1C3 (Kiapp = 0.07 µM) and was also active at the cellular level (IC50 = 0.23 µM). Dinaciclib acts as a noncompetitive inhibitor with respect to daunorubicin and as an uncompetitive inhibitor with respect to the NADPH. In subsequent experiments, pretreatment with dinaciclib (0.1 µM) significantly sensitized AKR1C3-overexpressing anthracycline-resistant cancer cells to daunorubicin. In conclusion, our results indicate that dinaciclib may potentially increase the therapeutic efficacy and safety of anthracyclines by preventing anthracycline resistance and minimizing their adverse effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tiaprofenic acid is a widely used anti-inflammatory drug; however, the reductive metabolism of tiaprofenic acid is not yet well understood. Here, we compared the reduction of tiaprofenic acid in microsomes and cytosol from the human liver. The microsomes exhibited lower K m value toward tiaprofenic acid than the cytosol (K m = 164 ± 18 μM vs. 569 ± 74 μM, respectively), whereas the cytosol showed higher specific activity during reduction than the microsomes (V max = 728 ± 52 pmol mg of protein −1 min −1 vs. 285 ± 11 pmol mg of protein −1 min −1 , respectively). Next, a panel of recombinant carbonyl reducing enzymes from AKR and SDR superfamilies has been studied to find the enzymes responsible for the cytosolic reduction of tiaprofenic acid. CBR1 was identified as the reductase of tiaprofenic acid with high specific activity (56,965 ± 6741 pmol mg of protein −1 min −1 ). Three other enzymes, AKR1A1, AKR1B10, and AKR1C4, were also able to reduce tiaprofenic acid, but with very low activity. Thus, CBR1 was shown to be a tiaprofenic acid reductase in vitro and was also suggested to be the principal tiaprofenic acid reductase in vivo . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fenofibric acid is a hypolipidemic drug that is used as an active ingredient per se or is administered in the form of fenofibrate that releases fenofibric acid after absorption. The metabolism of fenofibric acid is mediated primarily by glucuronidation. However, the other part of fenofibric acid is excreted as reduced fenofibric acid. Enzymes responsible for the formation of reduced fenofibric acid as well as their subcellular localization have remained unknown until now. We have found that the predominant site of fenofibric acid reduction is the human liver cytosol, whereas liver microsomes reduced fenofibric acid to a lower extent and exhibited a lower affinity for this drug (K m > 1000 μM). Of nine carbonyl-reducing enzymes (CREs) tested, CBR1 exhibited the greatest activity for fenofibric acid reduction (CL int = 85.975 μl/mg protein/min). CBR1 predominantly formed (−)-enantiomers of reduced fenofibric acid similar to liver cytosol and in accordance with the in vivo data. AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3 and AKR1B1 were also identified as reductases of fenofibric acid but are expected to play only a minor role in fenofibric acid metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warfarin is a widely used anticoagulant and, unfortunately, is a drug that is commonly implicated in serious adverse events including fatalities. Although several factors, including the metabolism of warfarin via CYP450, have been reported to affect the safety and efficacy of warfarin therapy, the wide variance in the warfarin dosage in patients has not been completely clarified. In addition to the oxidative metabolism of warfarin mediated by CYP450, reductive metabolism is involved in warfarin biotransformation. However, the reductive metabolism of warfarin has been largely unexplored and deserves further investigation. We studied warfarin reduction by human liver fractions and found a 9-fold higher velocity of warfarin reduction in the cytosol than in microsomes ( V max = 77.2 vs. 8.7 pmol/mg protein/min, respectively). Furthermore, of nine recombinant cytosolic carbonyl reducing enzymes tested for their ability to reduce warfarin, AKR1C3 and CBR1 were identified as warfarin reductases and their kinetic parameters were determined. The internal clearance of warfarin was 3 orders of magnitude higher with AKR1C3 than with CBR1 (CL int = 65.922 vs. 0.070 μl/mg protein/min, respectively). This is the first time that warfarin reducing enzymes in human liver subcellular fraction have been identified. Moreover, we have described the chiral aspects of warfarin reduction using an HPLC method that enabled the detection of individual warfarin alcohol stereoisomers. Cytosol and AKR1C3 exhibit the stereoselective metabolism of ( R )-warfarin to preferentially form ( SR )-warfarin alcohol as the primary in vivo metabolite of warfarin. On the other hand, microsomes and CBR1 preferentially reduce ( S )-warfarin to form ( RS )-warfarin alcohol and ( SS )-warfarin alcohol, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metabolism of steroids and retinoids has been studied in detail for a long time, as these compounds are involved in a broad spectrum of physiological processes. Many enzymes participating in the conversion of such compounds are members of the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily. Despite great effort, there still remain a number of poorly characterized SDR proteins. According to various bioinformatics predictions, many of these proteins may play a role in the metabolism of steroids and retinoids. Dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR family) member 7 (DHRS7) is one such protein. In a previous study, we determined DHRS7 to be an integral membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum facing the lumen which has shown at least in vitro NADPH-dependent reducing activity toward several eobiotics and xenobiotics bearing a carbonyl moiety. In the present paper pure DHRS7 was used for a more detailed study of both substrate screening and an analysis of kinetics parameters of the physiologically important substrates androstene-3,17-dione, cortisone and all- trans -retinal. Expression patterns of DHRS7 at the mRNA as well as protein level were determined in a panel of various human tissue samples, a procedure that has enabled the first estimation of the possible biological function of this enzyme. DHRS7 is expressed in tissues such as prostate, adrenal glands, liver or intestine, where its activity could be well exploited. Preliminary indications show that DHRS7 exhibits dual substrate specificity recognizing not only steroids but also retinoids as potential substrates and could be important in the metabolism of these signalling molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteins, peptides and nucleic acids are commonly isolated and purified in almost all bioscience laboratories. Methods based on molecular recognition are currently the most powerful tool in separation processes due to their selectivity and recovery. The aim of this study was to prove the versatility and the ability of an affinity carrier containing the immobilised ligand oracin (previously developed by our workgroup) to selectively bind carbonyl-reducing enzymes. These enzymes play an important role in metabolic pathways of various endogenic compounds and xenobiotics. Many important drugs, such as doxorubicin, daunorubicin, haloperidol and the model anticancer drug oracin, are metabolised by carbonyl-reducing enzymes. The functionality of the presented carrier was demonstrated with pure recombinant enzymes (AKR1A1, AKR1B1, AKR1B10, AKR1C1, AKR1C2, AKR1C3, AKR1C4, CBR1 and CBR3) as well as with two model biological samples (cell extract from genetically modified Escherichia coli and pre-purified human liver cytosol). Enzymes that show an affinity toward oracin were efficiently captured, gently eluted using 150 mM ammonium hydroxide and subsequently identified by MS. The method is highly selective and robust and may be applied to the purification and identification of various carbonyl-reducing enzymes from any biological sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR family) member 3 (DHRS3), also known as retinal short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (retSDR1) is a member of SDR16C family. This family is thought to be NADP(H) dependent and to have multiple substrates; however, to date, only all- trans -retinal has been identified as a DHRS3 substrate. The reductive reaction catalysed by DHRS3 seems to be physiological, and recent studies proved the importance of DHRS3 for maintaining suitable retinoic acid levels during embryonic development in vivo . Although it seems that DHRS3 is an important protein, knowledge of the protein and its properties is quite limited, with the majority of information being more than 15 years old. This study aimed to generate a more comprehensive characterisation of the DHRS3 protein. Recombinant enzyme was prepared and demonstrated to be a microsomal, integral-membrane protein with the C-terminus oriented towards the cytosol, consistent with its preference of NADPH as a cofactor. It was determined that DHRS3 also participates in the metabolism of other endogenous compounds, such as androstenedione, estrone, and DL-glyceraldehyde, and in the biotransformation of xenobiotics (e.g., NNK and acetohexamide) in addition to all- trans -retinal. Purified and reconstituted enzyme was prepared for the first time and will be used for further studies. Expression of DHRS3 was shown at the level of both mRNA and protein in the human liver, testis and small intestine. This new information could open other areas of DHRS3 protein research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The most suitable detergent for the solubilisation of DHRS7 was determined. [•] DHRS7 was purified using a His10 tag on the C terminus. [•] DHRS7 was reconstituted into liposomes. [•] DHRS7 was confirmed as a carbonyl-reducing enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbonyl-reducing enzymes are important in both metabolism of endogenous substances and biotransformation of xenobiotics. Because sufficient amounts of native enzymes must be obtained to study their roles in metabolism, an efficient purification strategy is very important. Oracin (6-[2-(2-hydroxyethyl)aminoethyl]-5,11-dioxo-5,6-dihydro-11 H-indeno[1,2- c] isoquinoline) is a prospective anticancer drug and one of the xenobiotic substrates for carbonyl-reducing enzymes. A new purification strategy based on molecular recognition of carbonyl-reducing enzymes with oracin as a ligand is reported here. The type of covalent bond, ligand molecules orientation, and their distance from the backbone of the solid matrix for good stearic accessibility were taken into account during the designing of the carrier. The carriers based on magnetically active microparticles were tested by recombinant enzymes AKR1 C3 and CBR1. The Si MAG- COOH magnetic microparticles with N-alkylated oracin and BAPA as spacer arm provide required parameters: proper selectivity and specificity enabling to isolate the target enzyme in sufficient quantity, purity, and activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbonyl reductase 1 (CBR1 or SDR21C1) is a ubiquitously-expressed, cytosolic, monomeric, and NADPH-dependent enzyme. CBR1 participates in apoptosis, carcinogenesis and drug resistance, and has a protective role in oxidative stress, cancer and neurodegeneration. S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) represents the newest addition to its diverse substrate spectrum, which includes a wide range of xenobiotics and endogenous substances. GSNO has also been shown to covalently modify and inhibit CBR1. The aim of the present study was to quantify and characterize the resulting modifications. Of five candidate cysteines for modification by 2mM GSNO (positions 26, 122, 150, 226, 227), the last four were analyzed using MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry and then quantified using the Selected Reaction Monitoring Approach on hyphenated HPLC with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. The analysis confirmed GSNO concentration-dependent S-glutathionylation of cysteines at positions 122, 150, 226, 227 which was 2–700times higher compared to wild-type CBR1 (WT-CBR1). Moreover, a disulfide bond between neighboring Cys-226 and Cys-227 was detected. We suggest a role of these two cysteines as a redox-sensitive cysteine pair. The catalytic properties of wild-type and enzyme modified with 2mM GSNO were also investigated by steady state kinetic experiments with various substrates. GSNO treatment of CBR1 resulted in a 2–5-fold decrease in kcat with menadione, 4-benzoylpyridine, 2,3-hexanedione, daunorubicin and 1,4-naphthoquinone. In contrast, the same treatment increased kcat for substrates containing a 1,2-diketo group in a ring structure (1,2-naphthoquinone, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, isatin). Except for 9,10-phenanthrenequinone, all changes in kcat were at least in part compensated for by a similar change in Km , overall yielding no drastic changes in catalytic efficiency. The findings indicate that GSNO-induced covalent modification of cysteine residues affects the kinetic mechanism of CBR1 both in terms of substrate binding and turnover rate, probably by covalent modification of Cys-226 and/or Cys-227. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A new series of 2-methoxy-2′-hydroxybenzanilide derivatives and their thioxo analogues have been synthesised and characterised by IR, NMR and elemental analysis. These compounds were investigated for their in vitro antimycobacterial activities against Mycobacterium tuberculosis 331/88, Mycobacterium avium 330/88, Mycobacterium kansasii 235/80, clinically isolated M. kansasii 6509/96 and the ability to act as in vitro isocitrate lyase inhibitors. The best ICL inhibitors were two compounds from the thiobenzanilide group (8f, 8m), which exhibited an inhibition potential that was equal to the standard compound, 3-nitropropionic acid. In addition, the best antimycobacterial properties were exhibited by benzanilide derivatives 6h, 6k and 6l with 5-Cl and 4′ or 5′ Cl/Br substitution. For all the thiobenzanilide derivatives tested, two conformers were observed in the NMR spectra, which is most likely due to the hindered rotation of the C–N bond. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Anthracyclines (ANTs) are widely used in the treatment of various forms of cancer. Although their usage contributes to an improvement in life expectancy, it is limited by severe adverse effects—acute and chronic cardiotoxicity. Several enzymes from both AKR and SDR superfamilies have been reported as participants in the reduction of ANTs. Nevertheless all of these are located in the cytosolic compartment. One microsomal reductase has been found to be involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics—11beta-HSD1, but no further information has been reported about its role in the metabolism of ANTs. The aim of this study is to bring new information about the biotransformation of doxorubicin (DOX), daunorubicin (DAUN) and idarubicin (IDA), not only in human liver microsomal fraction, but also by a novel human liver microsomal carbonyl reductase that has been purified by our group. The reduction of ANTs at C-13 position is regarded as the main pathway in the biotransformation of ANTs. However, our experiments with human liver microsomal fraction show different behaviour, especially when the concentration of ANTs in the incubation mixture is increased. Microsomal fraction was incubated with doxorubicin, daunorubicin and idarubicin. DOX was both reduced into doxorubicinol (DOXOL) and hydrolyzed into aglycone DOX and then subsequently reduced. The same behaviour was observed for the metabolism of DAUN and IDA. The activity of hydrolases definitely brings a new look to the entire metabolism of ANTs in microsomal fraction, as formed aglycones undergo reduction and compete for the binding site with the main ANTs. Moreover, as there are two competitive reducing reactions present for all three ANTs, kinetic values of direct reduction and the reduction of aglycone were calculated. These results were compared to previously published data for human liver cytosol. In addition, the participation of the newly determined human liver microsomal carbonyl reductase was studied. No reduction of DOX into DOXOL was detected. Nevertheless, the involvement in reduction of DAUN into DAUNOL as well as IDA into IDAOL was demonstrated. The kinetic values obtained were then compared with data which have already been reported for cytosolic ANTs reductases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carbonyl reducing enzymes play important roles in the biotransformation and detoxification of endo- and xenobiotics. They are grouped into two protein superfamilies, the short-chain dehydrogenases (SDR) and aldo–keto reductases (AKR), and usually are present in the cytoplasm of a cell. So far, only one membraneous carbonyl reductase has been described, 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1), which is located in the endoplasmic reticulum and which significantly contributes to the metabolism of a variety of carbonyl containing drugs and toxicants. Oracin is a new and prospective anticancer drug bearing a prochiral carbonyl moiety. The main metabolic pathway of oracin is carbonyl reduction to 11-dihydrooracin (DHO) which, however, eliminates the therapeutic potential of the drug, because the two DHO enantiomers formed have significantly less anti-tumor activities. Therefore, the oracin inactivating enzymes should urgently be identified to search for specific inhibitors and to enhance the chemotherapeutic efficacy. Interestingly, the calculation of enzyme specific activities and stereospecificities of (+)-DHO and (−)-DHO formation strongly suggested the existence of a second, hitherto unknown microsomal oracin carbonyl reductase in human liver. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to provide proof for the existence of this new enzyme and to develop a purification method for further characterization. First, we succeeded in establishing a gentle solubilization technique which provided a favourable detergent surrounding during the further purification procedure by stabilizing the native form of this fragile protein. Second, we could partially purify this new microsomal carbonyl reductase by a two step separation on Q-sepharose followed by Phenyl-sepharose. The enzyme turned out to be NADPH specific, displaying kinetic values for oracin carbonyl reduction of K m =42μM and V max =813nmol/(30min×mg protein). Compared to the microsomal fraction, the enzyme specific activity towards oracin could be enhanced 73-fold, while the stereospecificity of (+)-DHO formation shifted from 40% to 86%. Considering these data for 11β-HSD1, as described in previous reports, it is clear that the microsomal carbonyl reductase investigated in the present study is new and has a great potential to significantly impair the chemotherapy with the new anticancer drug oracin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: AKR1C3 (also known as 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 5 or 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2) functions as a 3-keto, 17-keto and 20-ketosteroid reductase and as a 3α-, 17β- and 20α-hydroxysteroid oxidase. Relatively high mRNA expression of AKR1C3 was found in human prostate and mammary gland where it is implicated in regulating ligand access to the androgen and estrogen receptor, respectively. AKR1C3 is an interesting target for the development of agents for treating hormone-dependent forms of cancer like prostate cancer, breast cancer, and endometrial cancer. However, only a few clinically promising and selective inhibitors have been reported so far. Very potent inhibitors of AKR1C3 are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. indomethacin or flufenamic acid. Also dietary phytoestrogens such as coumestrol, quercetin, and biochanin were reported to inhibit the enzyme in low micromolar concentrations. In this study, some dietary flavonoids and other phenolic compounds were tested for their ability to specifically inhibit AKR1C3. Carbonyl reduction of the anticancer drug oracin, which is a very good substrate for AKR1C3 and which could be well monitored by a sensitive HPLC system with fluorescence detection, was employed to determine the inhibitory potency of the compounds. Our results reveal that AKR1C3 could be potentially un-competitively inhibited by 2′-hydroxyflavanone, whose IC50 value of 300nM is clinically promising. Moreover, since the inhibition is selective towards AKR1C3, 2′-hydroxyflavanone could be useful for treating or preventing hormone-dependent malignancies like prostate and breast cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Glucuronidation of the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory chiral drug flobufen and its major metabolite M17203 has been implicated as an important mechanism of flobufen elimination. To characterize flobufen metabolism by O-glucuronidation, new liquid chromatographic method (LC) coupled with ESI-MS was developed to detect the conjugates of flobufen and its metabolites formed in vitro in rat liver microsomes. Discovery DSC-18 LT cartridge columns were utilized for solid phase extraction (SPE) and Discovery C18 column (150mm×2.1mm, 5μm particle size) was used for LC separation. Chiral inversion of flobufen and its metabolites enantiomers was checked by special 1-allyl-(5R,8S,10R)-terguride column (150mm×4.6mm). O-Glucuronidation of the S-enantiomer displayed a typical Michaelis–Menten kinetics, whereas the R-enantiomer exhibited a substrate inhibition type of kinetics. The study of glucuronidation of M17203 led to kinetics with sigmoidal characteristics. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] Bcr-Abl tyrosine kinase inhibitors significantly improved Philadelphia chromosome-positive leukaemia therapy. Apart from Bcr-Abl kinase, imatinib, dasatinib, nilotinib, bosutinib and ponatinib are known to have additional off-target effects that might contribute to their antitumoural activities. In our study, we identified aldo–keto reductase 1B10 (AKR1B10) as a novel target for dasatinib. The enzyme AKR1B10 is upregulated in several cancers and influences the metabolism of chemotherapy drugs, including anthracyclines. AKR1B10 reduces anthracyclines to alcohol metabolites that show less antineoplastic properties and tend to accumulate in cardiac tissue. In our experiments, clinically achievable concentrations of dasatinib selectively inhibited AKR1B10 both in experiments with recombinant enzyme (Ki = 0.6 µM) and in a cellular model (IC 50 = 0.5 µM). Subsequently, the ability of dasatinib to attenuate AKR1B10-mediated daunorubicin (Daun) resistance was determined in AKR1B10-overexpressing cells. We have demonstrated that dasatinib can synergize with Daun in human cancer cells and enhance its therapeutic effectiveness. Taken together, our results provide new information on how dasatinib may act beyond targeting Bcr-Abl kinase, which may help to design new chemotherapy regimens, including those with anthracyclines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The enzyme aldo-keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) is present in several cancers, in which it is capable of actively metabolising different chemotherapy drugs and decreasing their cytotoxic effects. Therefore, the combination with specific inhibitors of AKR1C3 might prevent drug metabolism and increase its efficacy. We investigated the ability of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib to block the AKR1C3 mediated inactivation of the anthracycline daunorubicin. Experimentation with recombinant AKR1C3 and different cancer cells expressing this enzyme outlined BTK-inhibitors as potential partners to synergise daunorubicin cytotoxicity in vitro. This evidence could be useful to improve the clinical outcome of anthracycline-based chemotherapies. Over the last few years, aldo-keto reductase family 1 member C3 (AKR1C3) has been associated with the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR), thereby hindering chemotherapy against cancer. In particular, impaired efficacy of the gold standards of induction therapy in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has been correlated with AKR1C3 expression, as this enzyme metabolises several drugs including anthracyclines. Therefore, the development of selective AKR1C3 inhibitors may help to overcome chemoresistance in clinical practice. In this regard, we demonstrated that Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors ibrutinib and acalabrutinib efficiently prevented daunorubicin (Dau) inactivation mediated by AKR1C3 in both its recombinant form as well as during its overexpression in cancer cells. This revealed a synergistic effect of BTK inhibitors on Dau cytotoxicity in cancer cells expressing AKR1C3 both exogenously and endogenously, thus reverting anthracycline resistance in vitro. These findings suggest that BTK inhibitors have a novel off-target action, which can be exploited against leukaemia through combination regimens with standard chemotherapeutics like anthracyclines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sample summary: Anthracyclines (ANT) are anti-tumor agents frequently used for the treatment of various cancers. Unfortunately, their clinical success is overshadowed by the emergence of drug resistance. Metabolism by carbonyl reducing enzymes (CREs) represents a critical mechanism of ANT resistance. Here, we have explored possible interactions of CREs with olaparib, an FDA-approved targeted chemotherapeutic. Although olaparib has been demonstrated to potentiate the antiproliferative effect of ANT in experimental models, the causing mechanisms remain unclear. In our study, we demonstrated that olaparib potently inhibits the AKR1C3 reductase at clinically relevant concentrations. Furthermore, we showed that this interaction mediates the reversal of ANT resistance and thus represents a critical mechanism of the synergy between ANT and olaparib. Our observations represent valuable knowledge that could be transformed into the more effective therapy of AKR1C3-expressing tumors. Olaparib is a potent poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitor currently used in targeted therapy for treating cancer cells with BRCA mutations. Here we investigate the possible interference of olaparib with daunorubicin (Daun) metabolism, mediated by carbonyl-reducing enzymes (CREs), which play a significant role in the resistance of cancer cells to anthracyclines. Incubation experiments with the most active recombinant CREs showed that olaparib is a potent inhibitor of the aldo–keto reductase 1C3 (AKR1C3) enzyme. Subsequent inhibitory assays in the AKR1C3-overexpressing cellular model transfected human colorectal carcinoma HCT116 cells, demonstrating that olaparib significantly inhibits AKR1C3 at the intracellular level. Consequently, molecular docking studies have supported these findings and identified the possible molecular background of the interaction. Drug combination experiments in HCT116, human liver carcinoma HepG2, and leukemic KG1α cell lines showed that this observed interaction can be exploited for the synergistic enhancement of Daun's antiproliferative effect. Finally, we showed that olaparib had no significant effect on the mRNA expression of AKR1C3 in HepG2 and KG1α cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that olaparib interferes with anthracycline metabolism, and suggest that this phenomenon might be utilized for combating anthracycline resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]