Abstract
The activity of many enzymes that carry out biotransformation of drugs and environmental chemicals can be substantially increased by prior exposure of humans or animals to a wide variety of foreign chemicals. Increased enzyme activity is due to true enzyme induction mediated by increased synthesis of mRNAs which code for specific drug-metabolizing enzymes. Several species of cytochrome P-450 are inducible as are certain conjugating enzymes such as glutathione S-transferases, glucuronosyl transferases, and epoxide hydrolases. Induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes has been shown in several instances to alter the efficacy of some therapeutic agents. Induction of various species of cytochrome P-450 also is known to increase the rate at which potentially toxic reactive metabolic intermediates are formed from drugs or environmental chemicals. Overall, however, induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes appears to be a beneficial adaptive response for organisms living in a "chemically-hostile" world.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 132-141 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Clinical Biochemistry |
Volume | 19 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1986 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- biotransformation
- carcinogenesis
- cytochrome P-450
- environmental exposure
- enzyme induction
- metabolic detoxication drug
- polycyclic hydrocarbons
- receptor drug
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Biochemistry