Effects of multi-kinase inhibitors on the activity of cytochrome P450 2J2

Abstract

1. Cytochrome P450 2J2 (CYP2J2) shows high expression in extrahepatic tissues, including the heart and kidney and in tumours. Inhibition of CYP2J2 has attracted attention for cancer treatment because it metabolises arachidonic acid (AA) to epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EET), which inhibits apoptosis and promotes tumour growth. Multi-kinase inhibitor (MKI) is a molecular-targeted drug with antitumor activities. This study aimed to clarify the inhibitory effects of MKIs on CYP2J2 activity. We also investigated whether MKIs affected CYP2J2-catalysed EET formation from AA.

2. Twenty MKIs showed different inhibitory potencies against astemizole O-demethylation in CYP2J2. In particular, apatinib, motesanib, and vatalanib strongly inhibited astemizole O-demethylation. These three MKIs exhibited competitive inhibition with inhibition constant (K_i) values of 9.3, 15.4, and 65.0 nM, respectively. Apatinib, motesanib, and vatalanib also inhibited CYP2J2-catalysed 14,15-EET formation from AA.

3. In simulations of docking to CYP2J2, the U energy values of apatinib, motesanib, and vatalanib were low, and measured −84.5, −69.9, and −52.3 kcal/mol, respectively.

4. In conclusion, apatinib, motesanib, and vatalanib strongly inhibited CYP2J2 activity, suggesting that the effects of a given CYP2J2 substrate may be altered upon the administration of these MKIs.

Keywords:

• CYP2J2
• multi-kinase inhibitor
• inhibition
• K_i
• epoxyeicosatrienoic acid

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Ms Maiko Minoura and Ms Mami Shibata for their technical assistance.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).