CYP3A induction aggravates endotoxemic liver injury via reactive oxygen species in male rats

We carried out this experiment to evaluate the relationship between isoforms of cytochrome P450 (P450) and liver injury in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxemic rats. Male rats were intraperitoneally administered phenobarbital (PB), a P450 inducer, for 3 days, and 1 day later, they were intravenously given LPS. PB significantly increased P450 levels (200% of control levels) and the activities (300–400% of control) of the specific isoforms (CYP), CYP3A2 and CYP2B1, in male rats. Plasma AST and ALT increased slightly more in PB-treated rats than in PB-nontreated (control) rats with LPS treatment. Furthermore, either troleandomycin or ketoconazole, specific CYP3A inhibitors, significantly inhibited LPS-induced liver injury in control and PB-treated male rats. To evaluate the oxidative stress in LPS-treated rats, in situ superoxide radical detection using dihydroethidium (DHE), hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE)-modified proteins in liver microsomes and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in liver nuclei were measured in control and PB-treated rats. DHE signal intensity, levels of HNE-modified proteins, and 8-OHdG increased significantly in PB-treated rats. LPS further increased DHE intensity, HNE-modified proteins, and 8-OHdG levels in normal and PB-treated groups. CYP3A inhibitors also inhibited the increases in these items. Our results indicate that the induction or preservation of CYP isoforms further promotes LPS-induced liver injury through mechanisms related to oxidative stress. In particular, CYP3A2 of P450 isoforms made an important contribution to this LPS-induced liver injury.