Chimeric mice with humanized livers: a unique tool for in vivo and in vitro enzyme induction studies

Int J Mol Sci. 2013 Dec 20;15(1):58-74. doi: 10.3390/ijms15010058.

Abstract

We performed in vivo and in vitro studies to determine the induction of human cytochrome P450 (CYP) using chimeric mice with humanized liver (PXB-mice®) and human hepatocytes isolated from the PXB-mice (PXB-cells), which were derived from the same donor. For the in vivo study, PXB-mice were injected with 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC, 2 or 20 mg/kg) or rifampicin (0.1 or 10 mg/kg) for four days. For the in vitro study, PXB-cells were incubated with 3-MC (10, 50, or 250 ng/mL) or with rifampicin (5 or 25 μg/mL). The CYP1A1 and 1A2, and CYP3A4 mRNA expression levels increased significantly in the PXB-mouse livers with 20 mg/kg of 3-MC (Cmax, 12.2 ng/mL), and 10 mg/kg rifampicin (Cmax, 6.9 µg/mL), respectively. The CYP1A1 mRNA expression level increased significantly in PXB-cells with 250 ng/mL of 3-MC, indicating lower sensitivity than in vivo. The CYP1A2 and CYP3A4 mRNA expression levels increased significantly with 50 ng/mL of 3-MC, and 5 μg/mL of rifampicin, respectively, which indicated that the sensitivities were similar between in vivo and in vitro studies. In conclusion, PXB-mice and PXB-cells provide a robust model as an intermediate between in vivo and in vitro human metabolic enzyme induction studies.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Chimera
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / biosynthesis*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / biosynthesis*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / biosynthesis*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / genetics
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Half-Life
  • Hepatocytes / enzymology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Keratin-18 / metabolism
  • Keratin-8 / metabolism
  • Liver / enzymology*
  • Methylcholanthrene / pharmacokinetics
  • Mice
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rifampin / pharmacokinetics

Substances

  • Keratin-18
  • Keratin-8
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Methylcholanthrene
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • Rifampin