Identification of the pharmacogenetic determinants of alfentanil metabolism: cytochrome P-450 3A4. An explanation of the variable elimination clearance

Anesthesiology. 1992 Sep;77(3):467-74. doi: 10.1097/00000542-199209000-00011.

Abstract

There is considerable variability in the elimination clearance of the opioid analgesic alfentanil. It has been shown previously that alfentanil clearance is independent of the polymorphic debrisoquine hydroxylase (P-450 2D6), and it is therefore of interest to identify the human cytochrome P-450 enzymes involved in noralfentanil formation, the primary reaction involved in the oxidative N-dealkylation at the piperidine nitrogen. Purified human P-450 3A4 showed appreciable catalytic activity, and yeast recombinant P-450 3A4 also showed alfentanil oxidation activity. When microsomes prepared from different human liver samples were compared, noralfentanil formation activity was well correlated (r = 0.95,P less than 0.005) with nifedipine oxidation (a P-450 3A4 marker) but not with markers of other P-450s, including phenacetin O-deethylation (P-450 1A2), chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation (P-450 2E1), and (S)-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylation (a P-450 2C enzyme). Using antibodies that recognize specific human P-450 enzymes (immunoinhibition techniques), it was possible to demonstrate that anti-P-450 3A4 nearly completely inhibited alfentanil oxidation activity in the human liver microsomes, but no other antibodies showed a measurable inhibitory effect. Selective chemical inhibitors of P-450 3A4, gestodene and troleandomycin, inhibited as much as 90% of the microsomal noralfentanil formation activity, but other chemical inhibitors did not show a detectable inhibitory effect. 7,8-Benzoflavone inhibited as much as 90% of the alfentanil oxidation activity of the microsomal or reconstituted P-450 3A4 system. This work indicates that P-450 3A4 contributes significantly to human liver microsomal alfentanil oxidation, whereas P-450 2D6 does not contribute.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alfentanil* / metabolism
  • Alfentanil* / pharmacokinetics
  • Benzoflavones / pharmacology
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / metabolism*
  • Drug Interactions
  • Fentanyl / analogs & derivatives
  • Fentanyl / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Microsomes, Liver / enzymology
  • Microsomes, Liver / metabolism*

Substances

  • Benzoflavones
  • Alfentanil
  • alpha-naphthoflavone
  • Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System
  • noralfentanil
  • Fentanyl