Relative contributions of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 to the bioactivation and clearance of 4-aminobiphenyl in adult mice

4-Aminobiphenyl (ABP), a prototypical aromatic amine carcinogen in rodents and humans, requires bioactivation to manifest its toxic effects. A traditional model of ABP bioactivation, based on in vitro enzyme kinetic evidence, had postulated initial N-hydroxylation by the cytochrome P450 isoform CYP1A2. This is followed by phase 2 O-conjugation and hydrolysis to form a reactive nitrenium ion that covalently binds to DNA and produces tumor-initiating mutations. However, Cyp1a2(-/-) mice still possess significant liver ABP N-hydroxylation activity, DNA damage, and incidence of ABP-induced liver tumors, and in vivo induction of CYP1A2 paradoxically reduces levels of ABP-induced DNA damage. Competing ABP detoxification pathways can include N-acetylation by arylamine N-acetyltransfer-ase 1 (NAT1) and/or NAT2; however, wild-type and Nat1/2(-/-) mice have similar in vivo ABP clearance rates. Together, these studies suggest the existence of novel ABP bioactivating and clearance/detoxification enzymes. In the present study, we detected similar reductions in V_max for ABP N-hydroxylation by liver microsomes from Cyp1a2(-/-) and Cyp2e1(-/-) mice when compared with wild-type mice. In addition, recombinant mouse CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 were both able to N-hydroxylate ABP in mouse hepatoma cells. However, the in vivo clearance of ABP was significantly reduced in Cyp1a2(-/-) but not in Cyp2e1(-/-) mice. Our results support a significant role for CYP2E1 as a novel ABP N-oxidizing enzyme in adult mice, and suggest a more important contribution of CYP1A2 to the in vivo plasma clearance and thus detoxification of ABP.