Modulation of Cyp3a11 mRNA expression by α-tocopherol but not γ-tocotrienol in mice

Metabolism of vitamin E is initiated by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes usually involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics. Like other CYP substrates, vitamin E induced a reporter gene under the control of the pregnane X receptor (PXR) which regulates the expression of CYPs including CYP3A4. γ-Tocotrienol, the most effective PXR activator, also induced endogenous CYP3A4 mRNA in HepG2 cells. Since these findings imply an interference of vitamin E with drug metabolism it was deemed necessary to investigate their in vivo relevance. Therefore, mice were grown for 3 months with α-tocopherol-deficient, -adequate, and -supranutritional diet, i.e. 2, 20 and 200 mg RRR-α-tocopheryl acetate/kg diet, respectively. Half of them received 250 μg γ-tocotrienol/day for the last 7 days. After 3 months, hepatic levels of Cyp3a11 mRNA, the murine homolog to human CYP3A4, were about 2.5-fold higher in the 20 and 200 mg α-tocopherol groups than in the 2 mg group. After feeding 200 mg α-tocopherol for 9 months, Cyp3a11 mRNA was 1.7-fold higher than after 3 months. In contrast, γ-tocotrienol did not induce Cyp3a11 mRNA. This could be explained by its high metabolism as demonstrated by the 20- to 25-fold increase in the urinary excretion of γ-CEHC, the final metabolite of γ-tocotrienol degradation. In conclusion, α-tocopherol maintains an adequate level of xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes. If fed in supranutritional dosages, especially for longer times, α-tocopherol induces Cyp3a11 to levels which might interfere with drug metabolism.