Relationship of Cellular Topoisomerase Iiα Inhibition to Cytotoxicity and Published Genotoxicity of Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics in V79 Cells

Fluoroquinolone (FQ) antibiotics are bacteriocidal through inhibition of the bacterial gyrase and at sufficient concentrations in vitro, they can inhibit the homologous eukaryotic topoisomerase (TOPO) II enzyme. FQ exert a variety of genotoxic effects in mammalian systems through mechanisms not yet established, but which are postulated to involve inhibition of TOPO II enzymes. To assess the relationship of inhibition of cell nuclear TOPO II to cytotoxicity and reported genotoxicity, two FQ, clinafloxacin (CLFX) and lomefloxacin (LOFX), having available genotoxicity data showing substantial differences with CLFX being more potent than LOFX, were selected for study. The relative inhibitory activities of these FQ on nuclear TOPO IIα in cultured Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79 cells) over dose ranges and at equimolar concentrations were assessed by measuring nuclear stabilized cleavage complexes of TOPO IIα-DNA. Cytotoxicity was measured by relative cell counts. Both FQ inhibited V79 cell nuclear TOPO IIα. The lowest-observed-adverse-effect levels for TOPO IIα inhibition were 55 μM for CLFX, and 516 μM for LOFX. The no-observed-adverse-effect-levels were 41 μM for CLFX, and 258 μM for LOFX. At equimolar concentrations (175 μM), CLFX was more potent than LOFX. Likewise, CLFX was more cytotoxic than LOFX. Thus, the two FQ, inhibited TOPO IIα in intact V79 cells, differed in their potencies and exhibited no-observed-adverse-effect levels. These findings are in concordance with published genotoxicity data and observed cytotoxicity

Large interindividual variability in the in vitro formation of tamoxifen metabolites related to the development of genotoxicity

The definitive version is available at www.blackwell-synergy.comAIMS: To characterize the interindividual variability and the individual CYP involved in the formation of α-hydroxy-, N-desmethyl- and N-didesmethyl-tamoxifen from tamoxifen. METHODS: Microsomes from 50 human livers were used to characterize the interindividual variability in the α-hydroxylation, N-desmethylation and N-didesmethylation of tamoxifen. Selective inhibitors and recombinant enzymes were used to identify the forms of CYP catalysing these reactions. RESULTS: The rates of formation of α-hydroxy-, N-desmethyl- and N-didesmethyl-tamoxifen were highly variable, and correlated with each other (P < 0.0001). The respective ranges were 0.7–11.4, 25.7–411, and below the limit of quantification – 4.4 pmol mg1 protein min1. Formation of all metabolites was observed with expressed recombinant CYP3A4, inhibited by troleandomycin (65, 77 and 35%, respectively, P < 0.05) and associated with CYP3A4 expression (rs = 0.612, rs = 0.585 and rs = 0.430, P < 0.01, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Formation of α-hydroxy-, N-desmethyl- and N-didesmethyl-tamoxifen in vitro is highly variable and mediated predominantly by CYP3A4.Janet K. Coller, Niels Krebsfaenger, Kathrin Klein, Renzo Wolbold, Andreas Nüssler, Peter Neuhaus, Ulrich M. Zanger, Michel Eichelbaum and Thomas E. Mürdte